Big Al's Daily Angle: NFL, NBA, NCAA Basketball, and EPL Preview

by Big Al Staff

Sunday, Jan 03, 2021
The Sunday sports card features Week 17 in the NFL, along with action in the NBA and college basketball, and the continuation of Matchweek 17 in the English Premier League.

The NFL regular season concludes with all sixteen Week 17 games on Sunday. Seven kick off the card at 1 PM ET. The primary game on CBS has Cleveland hosting Pittsburgh. The Steelers clinched the third seed in the AFC playoffs last week. They can move up to the second seed with a victory over the Browns and a Buffalo loss to Miami. Yet Pittsburgh is benching many of their starters, including quarterback Ben Roethlisberger for this game. Cleveland clinches a wildcard spot with a victory. They can also make the playoffs with a loss if Indianapolis also loses to Jacksonville. The Browns can make the playoffs even with a loss if Tennessee loses to Houston, combined with a Miami win or tie against the Bills and a win or tie by Baltimore. Cleveland is a 10-point favorite with the total set at 43.5 (all odds from BetOnline).

The national game on Fox at 1 PM ET has Dallas playing at New York against the Giants. The Cowboys win the NFC East with a victory along with a Washington loss or tie against Philadelphia. The Giants claim the NFC East division title with a win combined with a Washington loss to the Eagles. Dallas is a 1.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 44.5. 

Eight games start at 4:25 PM ET. Fox has Green Bay visiting Chicago at Soldier Field. The Packers have already won the NFC North. They can claim the top seed in the NFC playoffs with a win or tie in this game. Green Bay also clinch the top seed if Seattle loses or ties against San Francisco. The Bears make the playoffs as a wildcard with a victory against the Packers. Chicago also makes the playoffs even with a loss if Arizona loses to the Los Angeles Rams. If Chicago and Arizona end in ties, the Bears make the playoffs. Green Bay is a 4-point road favorite with a total of 49.5.

CBS has Arizona playing in Los Angeles against the Rams at 4:25 PM ET. The Cardinals make the playoffs as a wildcard with a victory. They also make the playoffs with a tie along as the Bears lose. Los Angeles clinches a wildcard spot with a win. The Rams also make the playoffs even with a Chicago loss or tie. Los Angeles will have to rely on John Wolford at quarterback given the thumb injury to Jared Goff that will keep him out. Arizona is a 3-point favorite with an over/under of 41.

Sunday Night Football on NBC at 8:20 PM ET has Washington playing at Philadelphia. A victory for Washington clinches the NFC East and hosting a wildcard playoff game next week. The Football Team also makes the playoffs as the NFC East champion with a tie combining with a Dallas loss or tie earlier in the afternoon against the New York Giants. Philadelphia was eliminated from the playoffs last week with their 33-17 upset loss at Dallas a 3-point favorite. Washington is a 3.5-point favorite with the total at 46.

The college basketball card tips off at noon ET with Elon playing at Northeastern. At 4 PM ET, Lehigh plays at Lafayette on the CBS Sports Network. 

Rhode Island hosts Saint Joseph’s at 4:30 PM ET on the NBC Sports Network. The Rams are an 11.5-point favorite with an over/under of 152.5. 

At 6 PM ET, Drake plays at home against Southern Illinois on ESPNU as an 11.5-point favorite with the total at 141.5. The CBS Sports Network has Navy playing at Bucknell. 

Houston visits SMU at 7 PM ET on ESPN2. The Cougars are ranked fifth in the nation in the Associated Press poll. They are a 2.5-point road favorite with the over/under at 136.

Eight games are in the NBA. None of the games are on national television.

Matchweek 17 in the English Premier League continues with two matches. The Fulham/Burnley contest got postponed after a potential COVID outbreak with Fulham.

At 9:15 AM ET, Leicester City visits Newcastle United on the NBC Sports Network as a -0.75 goal line road favorite with the total set at 2.5. The NBC Sports Network double-header concludes with Manchester City traveling to Stamford Bridge to play Chelsea at 11:30 AM ET as a -0.25 goal line road favorite with an over/under of 2.75.

All photographic images used for editorial content have been licensed from the Associated Press.

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