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Top Factors to Consider Betting on College Basketball

As we approach the start of conference play in NCAA men’s basketball, the Connecticut Huskies are not favored to get a threepeat after winning two straight national championships.

Depending on which book you look at, their sports betting odds tend to hover between +1500 and +2000 to hoist the trophy again, well behind the favorites (Auburn at +800 and Duke at +850). Tennessee is still unbeaten and is ranked #1 in the nation, but there are several one- and two-loss teams above them on the odds list. College basketball has a longer season than college football, with multiple games per week, so a loss here and there doesn’t hurt your chances quite as much, especially if the loss comes in the first few weeks of the season and/or if the loss comes against another quality opponent.

We see this in the highest echelons of the sport right now – Auburn has one loss, to Duke. Duke has lost twice – to Kentucky and Kansas.

Iowa State has only lost once – to Auburn. Houston has two losses – to Alabama and Auburn. Gonzaga?

Also two losses – to Kentucky and UConn. UConn lost three in a row in Hawai’i a few weeks back, leading coach Dan Hurley to get on TV and rant that he will never go to multi-day tournaments again…but we’ll see.

So we have a good deal of parity, even at the top of this sport. So have you wondered how to choose college basketball picks? Read on for some important factors to consider when betting on college basketball.


NCAA Betting: Top Factors to Consider in College Basketball Betting

Take a look at imbalances in point spreads and moneylines

You’re not going to find imbalances when Gonzaga plays Kansas. There’s just too much research out there when there’s a matchup of national powerhouses. You’re probably not going to find many when powerhouses take on cupcakes, like when Gonzaga plays Pacific. However, when two teams below the national sports media radar take the court, you might be able to find imbalances. One example took place earlier this week when Wisconsin-Green Bay lost at home to Division II opponent Michigan Tech. Wisconsin-Green Bay fell to 2-10 with the loss after letting a late lead slip away. Their coach, Doug Gottlieb, had referred to D-II teams as “Nobody U” after the team had lost to Wisconsin-Milwaukee last week, making the setback even more embarrassing. According to reporting on the game, there was a lot of expectation that Michigan Tech would pull off the upset because their coaching staff has a lot more savvy than Gottlieb, who is a former radio host coaching D-I basketball for the first time. Savvy sports bettors would have been able to leverage that possibility into a nice payday.

You don’t have to troll D-II schedules to find imbalances, though. If you look at your mid-major conferences and track injury reports and recent form, you can often find point spreads that have been set, shall we say, without a lot of research in mind, and you can take advantage of those. All of that brings another factor to mind…the place where the game takes place.

Home court has a huge effect on college basketball

College basketball generally has more of a home-court effect than NBA action does. The players are younger, and they often don’t handle the crowd noise and the ins and outs of travel as well as their professional counterparts. If you’ve ever watched college basketball on television at places like Indiana’s Assembly Hall or Duke’s Cameron Indoor, then you know how crazy the scene can get. You have fans waving elaborate patterns in front of free-throw shooters. You have arenas that are smaller with seating that is closer to the floor than what you find in NBA arenas, which are also built to hold hockey rinks and huge concerts. You have acoustics that can be deafening, as those buildings are designed to get loud as opposed to spread concert sound around in the best acoustic way possible.


Many times, the oddsmakers don’t give home court enough space in a point spread. This is also true when it comes to NCAA tournament games when top seeds have what one might consider “home” games even though the event doesn’t take place on campus. For example, Kansas City almost always hosts sub-regional action, and the Kansas Jayhawks are often a 1- or 2-seed in the tournament. This leads to the Jayhawks getting a game in Kansas City, within easy driving distance of campus. Now that two of the Power 4 conferences spread from one coast to the other, the Big 12 spreads from Arizona to Utah to West Virginia, and the SEC spreads from Florida to Missouri to Texas, long travel is more and more a part of college basketball. Expect to see more road upsets as a result – as we saw last week, when Virginia headed to SMU in the first ACC contest for both games and the underdog Mustangs prevailed.


Stay away from public trends when making your college basketball bets

This is especially important when the most popular teams are taking the court. Such teams as Arizona, Duke, North Carolina, Kentucky, Kansas, and the like get a lot of love from the casual betting public. A lot of these bettors are amateurs placing wagers for fun instead of doing significant research into the actual matchups. The action increases when a game makes it onto national television as casual bettors want to put money on games that they can easily watch. If Alabama takes on Georgia, for example, you have a bitter SEC rivalry, but one that is much closer in football than it is in basketball. If the game is at Georgia and it’s on national television, you might see a lot of money go toward Georgia as the underdog and narrow the point spread. That’s a good time to take advantage of the imbalance and bet on Alabama as Nate Oats’ squad is seasoned enough (and talented enough) to win this game handily, even though it is on the road. You can also find imbalances in the more obscure matchups, but with the nationally televised games involving well-known teams, you can often find these imbalances where the opinions of the betting public don’t square with the reality of the matchups.


Consider underdogs in the futures market

Obviously, as we approach the start of the new year, this is less and less of an option, particularly once we’re well into conference play. However, if you have insight about a particular team and are willing to take a bit of risk, this can pay off. People who knew how much Steph Curry could do made a lot of money when he took Davidson on a respectable run into the Big Dance. If you go back to 2013, at least one team seeded #5 or lower has gotten to the Final Four. We’ve seen teams like Loyola-Chicago and Saint Peter’s take very low seeds and run a long way with them. Understanding form and roster construction from the beginning of the season can make you a lot of money.

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NCAAB Tournament Betting for the Game

March Madness 2024/25 Season

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Buccaneers vs Cowboys: Betting Odds & Predictions for Week 16

Buccaneers at Cowboys Odds | Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones was recently named as the Bum Steer Award winner by Texas Monthly for 2024 – the “prize” given to the public figure that the magazine considers least competent and most ridiculous. The article about the award compares Jones to the “world’s oldest, weirdest toddler” when describing Jones’ public rant about his decision not to close the curtains at the stadium’s sides for late-afternoon games even though the glare from the sun at that time of day has cost his team receptions and touchdowns during the lifetime of the stadium. In the offseason, Jones opted to wait until the last minute to extend quarterback Dak Prescott and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (and having to pay top dollar to get them to sign) and left the rest of the roster largely unaddressed, particularly in the area of depth.

The injuries that have mounted on defense have played a large role in the routs that the Cowboys have taken this season, even before the season-ending injury to Prescott. The latest season-ending casualty is defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence – who hasn’t played since Week 4, when he suffered a Lisfranc injury to his right foot. The team has worked hard to rehab him and bring him back, but now that there are only three games left on the slate, the team has decided to shut him down until 2025. His 2024 season was the last on his contract; he has spent all 11 of his pro seasons with the Cowboys, with four trips to the Pro Bowl on his resume. Will he be back? We’ll see.

For now, the Cowboys prepare to welcome Tampa Bay – fresh off a 40-17 tattooing of the L.A. Chargers – into AT&T Stadium for what could easily become another prime time beating in front of their own home fans. No other team in the long history of the NFL had trailed by at least 20 points in six straight home games until Dallas accomplished that “feat” earlier this season. Read on to get our sports betting thoughts on this showdown.

 

Buccaneers at Cowboys Odds: NFL Game Lines in Week 16 | NFL 2024/25 Season

NFL Odds: Tampa Bay -4.5 / O/U 48.5
When: Sunday, December 22, 2024, 8:20 pm ET
Where: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX
TV: NBC
Radio: Westwood One / WIP 94.1 FM Dallas
Live Stream: NFL Sunday Ticket

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Why Should You Bet On the Buccaneers?

Even though Tampa Bay is just 8-6, you have to view them as NFC contenders. They upset Detroit and Philadelphia in the early going before losing both Chris Godwin and Mike Evans for an extended time. Their four-game losing streak came against tough teams (especially the overtime loss to Kansas City), but now that Evans is back, Baker Mayfield is finding ways to lead explosive drives. Evans has now caught multiple touchdown passes in 23 games, the fifth most by a player with one team in league history. The Bucs finished their 40-17 win over the Chargers by scoring the last 27 points of the game, and those 40 points came against the league’s top scoring defense. Ball security is still an issue for this team, which has given the ball away seven times in the last three games. The fact that they were able to shut the Chargers down in the second half might not be that surprising (as this was the third time this has happened to Jim Harbaugh’s offense this season), but the Bucs did it without their top three safeties. Mike Edwards (hamstring), Jordan Whitehead (pectoral) and Antoine Winfield Jr (knee) were all on the shelf. Cornerback Jamel Dean permitted just two catches on six targets and snagged an interception, and Lavonte David and Logan Hall each posted 1.5 sacks.

In the win over the Chargers, Mayfield went 22 of 27 for 288 yards and four touchdowns, along with an interception. Bucky Irving carried the ball 15 times for 117 yards, and Evans had nine catches for 159 yards and two scores. The team is scoring 28.8 points per game, which ranks fourth in the league, while the defense (23.3 points permitted per game) is ranked 19th. The Cowboys have a nine-game losing streak straight up when they have been underdogs by between 3.5 and 7 points, while the Bucs have an eight-game winning streak in December when favored on the road. At home, the Cowboys have a six-game losing streak against the spread against teams above .500.

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Why Should You Put Your Money on the Cowboys?

The Cowboys went to Carolina last week and turned a 10-7 halftime lead into a 30-14 win behind backup quarterback Cooper Rush, who had the first three-touchdown game of his NFL career. We did learn that Rush should keep the ball on many zone reads, as one of his carries this time turned into his fourth lost fumble of 2024. Tailback Rico Dowdle has run for 100 or more yards three weeks in a row, but doing that a fourth time will be hard against a Buccaneers D that only allows 115.2 rushing yards per game. The Cowboys are now 6-8, which means they’re still mathematically alive for the playoffs – but their draft position is not likely to bring them a high pick. It was impressive to see Dallas bounce back, particularly in the second half, after a boneheaded special teams play, followed by ridiculous tackling in the secondary, allowed the Cincinnati Bengals to steal a win in Arlington the previous Monday. The O-line did its job against a Panthers team that is slightly above average against the run.

Cooper Rush struggled in his first game in relief of Prescott, but since then he has looked like the solid backup that did well in his starting stint a few years ago as well, going 4-1 in five games. He threw for 214 yards, and all three of his touchdown passes came under duress, the first time a Dallas quarterback had done that since Prescott did it in 2016. Despite the injuries, the defense snagged two interceptions against Carolina quarterback Bryce Young, and the Bucs are also a turnover-prone team. The defense is still ranked 30th in the league, permitting 27.1 points per game, and the D will need to stand tall in this game for the Cowboys to avoid another embarrassing rout, let alone cover this spread.

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Buccaneers at Cowboys Odds, Final Score and Prediction in Week 14

The Cowboys are only scoring 21.3 points per game, and the Buccaneers have the personnel to clog up the Dallas running game and put Cooper Rush under pressure. Dallas has found Jalen Tolbert for touchdowns, but the Buccaneers have the personnel to put a clamp on CeeDee Lamb and force Rush to check multiple reads. This game has the potential to turn into a track meet, but I don’t see Tampa Bay giving up as much to Dallas’ offense as some sports betting writers think they will.

I predict a final score of Tampa Bay 34, Dallas 16. .

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Motor Sports Top Events for 2025: Expert Analysis for the Upcoming Season

Motor Sports Top Events for 2025 | The first days of winter are not a time when people do a lot of online betting on motor sports – team rosters are in flux, calendars are being announced.

That doesn’t mean that this sport lacks drama this time of year, though. Formula 1 is seeing Lewis Hamilton leaving Mercedes after a storied career to join Red Bull.

Hamilton’s friction with teammate George Russell, combined with performance issues that have kept the Silver Arrows from being competitive for several seasons now, both contributed to the British legend’s move.

Red Bull currently has an open seat next to Max Verstappen, who has dominated F1 during Mercedes’ period of vulnerability.

Sergio Perez was taken off the team after getting just two points in his last five races, and rumors are swirling about his replacement.

Is McLaren, historically a midfield team but now a podium regular, going to stay strong as both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri return?

In NASCAR news, the Cup Series will race in Mexico City for the first time, building on the popularity of the NASCAR Mexico race at the L.A. Coliseum last year.

Looking ahead to 2025, let’s take a look at some of the top events in each of the major motor sports circuits.

 

Motor Sports Top Events for 2025: NASCAR, Formula 1, MotoGP, IndyCar & Rally

 

NASCAR

The 2025 Cup Series schedule features 38 races and brings in two historic exhibition tracks in addition to 36 events that deliver points – and the first points-based event in Mexico City in the modern era.

The calendar will start with an exhibition once again – this time on February 2 at the 0.25 mile track at Bowman Gray, which hosted 29 Cup Series races between 1958 and 1971 and saw Richard Petty get his 100th win in the series.

 

Daytona 500

Starts the regular season two weeks later with the 67th Daytona 500. On June 15, NASCAR will have its Cup Series race at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City, the first international points-paying event for the Cup Series since the summer of 1958.

NASCAR will also have an in-season tournament for the first time. Seeding will be based on a five-race series that starts Memorial Day weekend with the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway and then continue through Nashville, Michigan, Mexico City and Pocono Raceway, with all five events broadcast on Prime Video.

Then the five-race tournament will start on June 28 in Atlanta and move through the Chicago Street Course, Sonoma, Dover, and Indianapolis, where the Brickyard 400 will wind the tournament up. The postseason begins August 31 at Darlington with the Southern 500 to open the Round of 16.

New Hampshire will host a postseason race for the first time in eight years, and then Talladega Superspeedway will round out the Round of 8, and the chaos that is a part of super speedway racing could bring seismic change to the standings. The Championship 4 will end the season in Phoenix on November 2.

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Formula 1

The regular season begins March 14-16 with the Australian Grand Prix. The Middle Eastern races (Bahrain and Saudi Arabia) are moved to April this year, as Ramadan takes place in March.

August has its usual summer break, with three weekends off between the Hungarian Grand Prix and the Dutch Grand Prix. The series will also see six sprints, in Shanghai, Miami, Spa, Austin, São Paulo, and Qatar. Preseason testing is set for Bahrain from February 26-28, ahead of the 75th season of the FIA Formula 1 World Championship.

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Motor Sports Top Events for 2025 MotoGP

In 2025, MotoGP will see 22 Grands Prix around the world, starting March 2 in Thailand, the second straight year for the series to start in this country. The second race goes around the globe to Argentina on the Termas de Rio Hondo circuit, which is back in MotoGP for the first time in years.

April 27 is the first European race – the Spanish Grand Prix in Jerez. Before that, Qatar and the United States will host MotoGP. The European swing will continue through Le Mans, Silverstone – and Brno in the Czech Republic, where the series has not raced since 2021. Hungary will open the Balaton Park circuit, a new track, on August 24. The Valencia circuit in Spain will host the final round on November 16.

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IndyCar

IndyCar has 17 races in 2025, including a quadruple-header. That goes one race beyond the triple-header from 2024, which saw the Indy 500, Detroit and Road America take place back-to-back. This time around, IndyCar will run consecutive events at Mid-Ohio, Iowa Speedway, Toronto, and Laguna Seca.

The Thermal Club race will offer points for the first time as well. The season opens on March 2 at St. Petersburg and winds up on August 31 at Nashville Superspeedway.

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Motor Sports Top Events for 2025 FIA World Rally Championship

The WRC slate for 2025 starts with the Rallye Monte-Carlo in just over a month, starting on January 23, and the series runs 14 races. New stops this year take place in Spain, Paraguay and Saudi Arabia, with Saudi Arabia hosting the finale from November 27-30.

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NASCAR Odds to Win
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Motor Sports Top Events for 2025 Season

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NCAAF Playoff First Round Lines: SMU Mustangs at Penn State Nittany Lions Preview

NCAAF Playoff First Round Lines | If you look at the main problems that SMU football has faced over the last two years, they begin with opponents who have superior size on the offensive line and who can pound the ball on the ground against them.

We saw this in the Mustangs’ loss to Boston College in last season’s Fenway Bowl, and we saw it in their home loss to BYU in the regular season.

They got revenge on BC and won at home this season, but the Eagles’ ability to dominate the line of scrimmage when they had the ball and run the ball mostly at will made life harder for SMU.

Penn State ran for 292 yards in their Big Ten Championship loss to Oregon.

SMU’s rushing defense has been solid this season, ranking fourth in the nation and permitting just 93.4 yards per game, but even in the ACC, most of their opponents haven’t had the line advantage that Penn State has.

Kaytron Allen ran for 124 yards and a touchdown for the Nittany Lions against Oregon. Nick Singleton ran for 105 yards, and quarterback Drew Allar ran for 54 yards and a touchdown.

Can SMU slow the Penn State rushing attack down – or keep up, using their tempo offense? We have your sports betting preview right here.

 

NCAAF Playoff First Round Lines: SMU Mustangs at Penn State Nittany Lions

NCAAF Odds: Penn State -8.5 / O/U 53.5
When: Saturday, December 21, 2024, 12:00 pm ET
Where: Beaver Stadium, State College, PA
TV: TNT
Radio: No National Broadcast
Live Stream: Hulu

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NCAAF Playoff First Round Lines, Final Score and Prediction

Did you know that Penn State is just 6-7 against the spread this year? When they have entered as the favorite, they have covered six times in 10 opportunities. If SMU is going to post the upset, they will have to give Kevin Jennings protection. The Mustangs are 23rd in the nation in sack percentage permitted, but the Nittany Lions are 23rd in the nation in defensive sack percentage.

Also, SMU has to avoid the sort of disastrous start that they put out there in the ACC Championship, giving Clemson two short fields and allowing two easy touchdowns in the first five minutes of the game. SMU did come back to tie the game late in the fourth quarter, but it was a matter of too little, too late. The Mustangs have done well in tough road environments – Louisville and Duke particularly come to mind – but Penn State is next level.

SMU should be able to stay within a touchdown here, though, and if the Mustangs can generate pressure on Allar, they have an excellent shot at prying a turnover or two away.

I predict a final score of SMU 27, Penn State 24.

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SMU Mustangs Analysis

Quarterback Kevin Jennings led Dallas South Oak Cliff (TX) to a Texas state football championship. He came off the bench to lead SMU to an AAC Championship win at Tulane last season. This season, he’s improved once again, taking the starting job from Preston Stone and earning praise from no less than Nick Saban, who has referred to Jennings as the “most underrated quarterback” in the nation. He has thrown for 3,050 yards and has a 22:8 TD:INT ratio. He has also run for 379 yards and five scores.

His top receiver is Roderick Daniels Jr, who has 38 catches for 599 yards and three touchdowns, and he has run for three other touchdowns. Key’Shawn Smith has caught 31 balls for 512 yards and five scores. Jordan Huson has 35 catches for 382 yards and five scores as Jennings has excelled at spreading the offense around. On the ground, Brassard Smith has run for 1,270 yards and four scores. L.J. Johnson has 277 yards on the ground and five scores.

The defense is 28th in the nation in points permitted, and 30th in yards permitted. Kobe Wilson is the top tackler with 110, along with three sacks, two picks, two passes defensed, a forced fumble, and a defensive touchdown.

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Penn State Nittany Lions Analysis

Quarterback Drew Allar has responded to challenges after last season that he needed to stretch the ball and bring more dynamic action to the passing game. He has thrown for 2,894 yards and 21 touchdowns with seven interceptions. On the ground, he has 279 yards and six touchdowns.

Wide receiver Tyler Warren has 88 catches for 1,062 yards and received votes in the Heisman Trophy race. Harrison Wallace III has 39 catches for 638 yards, and he and Warren have combined for 10 scores. Tailback Kaytron Allen has run for 822 yards and six scores, and he has 119 receiving yards and a pair of touchdown catches.

Nicholas Singleton has 838 rushing yards and seven scores, and he caught 37 balls for 335 and four more touchdowns. The Penn State D ranks seventh in points permitted and fifth in yards permitted. Abdul Carter has 10 sacks, three passes defensed and two forced fumbles.

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Xbet NCAA Football Odds for the Game

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Gasparilla Bowl Lines: Tulane Green Wave vs Florida Gators Preview

Gasparilla Bowl Lines | The Florida Gators flipped a switch down the stretch, turning a disappointing 4-5 start into a 7-5 finish and returning to bowl eligibility after a year in the dark. They face the AAC runners-up, the 9-4 Tulane Green Wave.

The line initially opened at Florida -9.5, and it has expanded significantly since then due to the Tulane quarterback situation.

The Gators have freshman quarterback DJ Lagway all set to continue a strong second half to the season; he has gone 5-1 as the starter, throwing for 1,610 yards and 11 touchdown passes with seven interceptions.

Tulane lost their starting quarterback, Darian Mensah, via the transfer portal after the Green Wave took a 35-14 beating at the hands of Army in the AAC Championship.

Ty Thompson, Tulane’s backup, has entered the transfer portal, but his coaches allow him to play to provide a competent signal-caller and boost his resume. Despite only going 6 of 11 for 74 yards this season, he has run for 243 yards and scored six times.

The Gators are expected to perform better this time around than under head coach Billy Napier’s first bowl game at Florida, which was a 30-3 loss to Oregon State in the Las Vegas Bowl two years ago.

 

NCAAF Gasparilla Bowl Lines: Gasparilla Bowl Tulane Green Wave vs Florida Gators

NCAAF Odds: Florida -13.5 / O/U 49.5
When: Friday, December 20, 2024, 3:30 pm ET
Where: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL
TV: ESPN2
Radio: No National Broadcast
Live Stream: Hulu

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Gasparilla Bowl Lines, Final Score and Prediction

For Florida, tailback Montrell Johnson Jr has also picked up his game in recent weeks, hitting at least 90 rushing yards in three of the Gators’ last four games.

The loss of Mensah means that Tulane’s offense will likely struggle to move the ball. Lagway and the Florida offense have looked more than solid since the freshman quarterback returned to the starting lineup, and it’s not like Tulane has an SEC-qualify defense.

I predict a final score of Florida 34, Tulane 13.

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Why should you bet on the Green Wave?

Tulane finished with two regular-season losses, but they made it to the AAC title game for the third straight year. They had rolled off eight wins in a row before dropping those last two.

Florida has lost two of their key defensive players to the transfer portal – Jack Pyburn and T.J. Searcy.

The Green Wave hasn’t lost much of their high-octane offense despite losing head coach Willie Fritz to the Houston Cougars last off-season, and they could find plenty of room to operate against the Gators.

Also, it’s not like the Green Wave are new to high-level bowl opposition, as they stopped USC two years ago.

They are in the top ten in the nation with a 62.6% rush rate, and the Gators allowed the second-most rushing attempts per game among SEC teams – and the third-most rushing yards.

Pyburn notched 60 tackles on the year, so losing him to the transfer portal should make Tulane’s running game even stronger.

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Why should you put your money on the Gators?

The Gators took down Florida State in dominant fashion to end their regular season, but they’ll face a tougher foe in Tulane.

The Gators should benefit from the departure of Mensah to the transfer portal, but Thompson’s rushing abilities will still remain something that the Gators need to watch.

Florida’s three-game winning streak included takedowns of ranked opponents LSU and Ole Miss before the laugher over Florida State.

Lagway’s only loss as a starting quarterback came against Georgia, and that was the game that sent him to the locker room early with a leg injury.

Tulane had four losses – three against ranked oppositions and two in their two games against Power Five competition.

The Green Wave did win nine games, but only four of them came against teams with winning records.

Their only quality win was a 35-0 shutdown of Navy, but the Midshipmen were missing their starting quarterback in that showdown.

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NBA Betting Top Games in Week 9, Predictions, Analysis and Picks – 2024 Season

NBA Betting Top Games in Week 9 | At the start of the 2024-25 NBA season, the Milwaukee Bucks, normally one of the top Eastern Conference contenders, looked lost.

After they put the clamps on the Oklahoma City Thunder (20-5) in the NBA Cup Final, though, they don’t look lost anymore.

With eight wins in their last ten games, the Bucks are now back in the winning column at 14-11.

The 97-81 win over the Thunder turned the clock back as Milwaukee brought the sort of physicality that the Eastern Conference used to be known for.

It also helped that the Thunder went just 5 of 32 from downtown, but a lot of those misses were due to defenders putting hands in the faces of shooters.

The Bucks have climbed to fifth in the East, still eight games behind the conference-leading Cleveland Cavaliers, but they’ve put the rest of the league on notice that they are ready to contend.

As we near the weekend, don’t miss our top sports betting picks from Thursday’s action in the Association.

 

NBA Betting Top Games in Week 9 | 2024/25 Season

 

Golden State Warriors (+4.5) at Memphis Grizzlies (O/U 236.5)

When: December 19, 8:00 pm ET

Memphis and the Warriors will face off at the FedEx Forum on Thursday night. Memphis is in second place in the Western Conference and has won eight of its last ten games, while the Warriors are 14-11 and dropped to seventh place. The Grizzlies, who lost to the Lakers, are still a strong team with Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. contributing over 20 points.

However, the team could not overcome a 30-20 deficit after the first quarter. Despite the loss, the team is happy with the play of Jackson, who is putting up 22 points per game and hitting a career-best 51.8% of his shots, making life easier for Morant by taking defensive pressure off him. Returning home should also help the Grizzlies, as they have won seven in a row in front of their home fans and have a 12-3 record overall in their own gym this season. They’ve matched their 18-9 straight-up record by going 18-9 against the spread and lead the league in scoring (122.1 points per game).

Three-pointers

The Warriors have lost eight of ten games, most recently to the Dallas Mavericks 143-133 at home. Despite 20 points from Draymond Green, Steph Curry, Jonathan Kuminga, and Andrew Wiggins, the Warriors struggled to catch up, despite an NBA record 48 three-pointers combined. The Mavericks had a 46-33 lead after the first quarter.

The Warriors have brought Dennis Schroder west from Brooklyn via trade, which should take pressure off Curry in the offense. Given that the Warriors rank just 13th in scoring (113.9 points per game), any boost to the offense will be welcome at this point. I don’t expect Schroder to make up the whole difference on his first night with the team, though.

NBA Top Pick: Grizzlies to win and cover.

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L.A. Clippers (+6.5) at Dallas Mavericks (O/U 227.5)

When: December 19, 8:30 pm ET

Both teams are scoring at a high rate right now – the Mavericks dropped 143 on the Warriors on Monday, and the Clippers just lit up the scoreboard against Utah with 144 points. James Harden had 41 against the Jazz as he continues to show that he can lead offenses. His ability to shoot, draw fouls, and distribute makes him a dangerous player against any defense.

The Clippers, with their strong rebounds and scoring depth, could challenge a Dallas frontcourt with the additions of Daniel Gafford, P.J. Washington, and Dereck Lively II. On defense, they face Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic, but have a strong defense for applying pressure and generating turnovers. Kawhi Leonard, though questionable, could be a valuable lockdown defender if he appears.

The Mavericks are glad to have Doncic back after an early injury, and he is a key factor in the 10 wins the Mavs have posted in their last 11 contests. He has tended to start hot early and get the Mavericks out to an early lead, giving way to Irving after the intermission.

Irving’s hot shooting, especially in the fourth quarter, has upset several opponents this season. The Clippers’ ability to play inside-out and find Lively and Gafford for easy baskets will test their perimeter pressure.

NBA Top Pick: Mavericks to win and cover.

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N.Y. Knicks (+2.5) at Minnesota Timberwolves (O/U 214.5)

When: December 19, 9:30 pm ET, TNT

The Knicks (16-10) sit in third place in the East and are enjoying the explosiveness that the offseason acquisition of Karl-Anthony Towns has brought to their offense. Scoring 116.4 points per game, the Knicks are getting another terrific season out of guard Jalen Brunson, and as a team the Knicks are making 39.4% of their shots from downtown. Adding Towns means that any defense has three solid scorers to stop – Brunson, Towns and OG Anunoby. The way that the Knicks were able to use ball distribution in an emphatic win over Denver showed up on the stat sheet where they tied a team record with 45 assists.

Minnesota (14-11) is clinging to eighth place in the West, but they have won three games in a row at home en route to an 8-4 record in front of their hometown fans, and they have an intrepid defense, permitting just 105.6 points per game. This will be a showdown between the Knicks’ high-octane approach to offense and the Timberwolves’ desire to slow the game down to a grinding pace.

With Anthony Edwards, Rudy Gobert, and Jaden McDaniels, this team has a strong inside-out trio that offers scoring, rebounding, and rim protection. Edwards scores 26. 2 points per game, while McDaniels makes crucial shots and aids in distribution. Their impressive depth includes Julius Randle and Mike Conley off the bench. Slowing the game’s pace could lead to a win.

NBA Top Pick: Knicks to cover.

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L.A. Lakers (+5.5) at Sacramento Kings (O/U 232.5)

When: December 19, 10:00 pm ET

The Sacramento Kings (13-14) face the Lakers (14-12) as both teams fight to stay in playoff contention in the Western Conference. The Kings lost to Denver by one point, and the Lakers have lost six of their last ten games. Anthony Davis is having a strong season, averaging 27. 8 points and 11. 2 rebounds per game.

His rim protection and frontcourt offensive presence are elite, as he showed on Monday against Memphis, when he dropped 40 on the Grizz. LeBron James is back from an extended period of personal leave, so his fresh legs should contribute going forward.

The Kings lost a nailbiter in their last time out and could have Kevin Huerter and Keegan Murray on the shelf due to injuries. Their contributions primarily come on defense off the bench, but the Lakers do well when they can exploit mismatches, so missing those two could be key. The Lakers beat the Kings in their last showdown.

NBA Top Pick: Lakers to cover.

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Live Betting on Champions League: Expert Tips for this 2024/25 Season

When it comes to pro soccer, you will not find the game played at any higher level than in the Live Betting on Champions League.

The best teams from all across Europe come together to fight for the storied trophy.

No continental competition offers a similar level of skill and talent, and the international following that the teams have is testament to the elite tier that European soccer occupies.

For sports betting enthusiasts, there are plenty of chances to wager on elite soccer in this tournament, whether you start in the league stage or wait until the knockout rounds.

As with any wagering, though, you need to take a close look at odds, rosters, form, and other important factors before you lock in your bets.

In the area of in-play betting, when you place wagers during the match itself, it is especially important to take care.

When live betting UEFA Champions League action, pay attention to our tips so that you can maximize your profits.

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Live Betting on Champions League UEFA: What You Need to Know

Live betting gives you the chance to follow the momentum of a game and wager as momentum shifts back and forth, instead of just sitting and waiting for your pre-game wagering to pay off (or not).

If you see that your pre-game wager is likely to turn out poorly, then you can hedge those losses with some in-game wagers.

There are also prop bets that you can place as far as individual statistics that will shift, as well as such props as Next Team to Score, Next Player to Be Booked, Next Corner Kick, and so on.

So, how can you turn your live betting UEFA Champions League action into profits? Here are some tips.

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Don’t overreact when the momentum shifts

One thing that soccer and ice hockey have in common is that one team can completely dominate offensive possession and still end up losing.

Kicking a round ball that’s already moving when you strike it can lead to shots going high and wide, and when a goalkeeper plays out of his mind, it might seem like nothing can get by him and into the net.

Frustration can arise when a team with the ball for over half of the game and more shots generates more shots, only for the other team to score through turnover and counterattack, causing the team to lose 1-0.

That’s the worst time to abandon your betting strategy for the other team because, even with the difficulties that are part of offense in soccer, the law of averages is with you.

 

Remember to keep your eye on the bigger picture

If one team has applied pressure for 20 or 30 minutes but failed to score, they might be having a tough day finishing in front of the net.

Sometimes those days persist for the whole 90 minutes, but more often than not, at some point the dam breaks and the team with the offensive possession is rewarded by goals in the net.

Is there a particular player, especially an attacker or midfielder, who has played an unusually significant role in advancing play?

As the match wears on, the other side should make some tactical decisions designed to slow that player down.

 

The Halftimes

This is another point where momentum can shift significantly. One team can dominate play in the first half, only to come out flat after the intermission.

The other team might look like they are getting run off the pitch, only to come out with the right adjustments and get things going in a better direction.

There are some managers who have more of a reputation for making the right adjustments at halftime than others, and that’s something you’ll want to research ahead of each fixture.

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What is each manager trying to do in the match?

The most common answer to this is “win,” unless you’re in the final match of the league stage and one team has secured a top-eight spot in the knockout round, while the other is above the 24th-place line, potentially sending you to the knockout playoffs or relegating you from European club competition.

However, winning can take different paths, depending on the team and the situation. If one team needs a win to move on while the other team has its position secure, then you’re likely to see a better effort from the desperate team – that’s just human nature.

 

As the match goes on, manager approaches can change

Getting out to an early lead can lead some managers to play more carefully as they simply want to hold that lead instead of taking the risks that are involved with tacking on more goals.

Teams can employ various strategies, such as deploying multiple attackers to create pressure, or relying on defense stacking and playing with only one attacker, hoping for a goal through steals and counters.

All of these questions can impact the degree of risk a team is willing to take on, and as a match wears on, those questions can end up yielding different answers.

Substitutions, formation changes, passing trends, and monitoring pressure trends are helpful clues in sports, as they help identify where, when, and how far teams will apply pressure.

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Watch out for individual players

How are different players doing as the match wears on? What kind of energy levels and execution outcomes are they showing?

Early indicators can show that a player is set to have an outstanding game – or that they are ready to head to the bench at halftime.

 

Watch the goalkeeper

Has he made several stand-on-his-head plays already? Then he might be ready to post an amazing clean sheet. Has one of the strikers already whiffed on some finishing chances?

Then this might not be his day to get a goal. Is there one midfielder getting all sorts of fouls called? He might well be the next player booked, then.

Clearly, the early minutes of a game are not always an accurate predictor of what will happen down the stretch, but you can often get signs of how at least the first half will proceed based on the early moments.

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Don’t let emotion govern your betting

Unless you’re just betting for fun, don’t let your emotions get in the way of solid decision-making.

If you’re a huge fan of Sporting CP, don’t put down huge amounts of money that you expect to yield profits for them to take the likes of Bayern Munich to the cleaners in 3-0 fashion.

It’s just not going to happen in Champions League play. There’s a lot of quality with Sporting CP, but that sort of mammoth upset just isn’t likely enough to justify a huge bet.

If you get mad about the way a game is starting, don’t just throw down money on the other side because you’re upset.

Instead, think about the trends, do the research, take a deep breath, and then consider if you want to commit more funds to this game.

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Live Betting on Champions League: Remember to do the research

Just like with any sporting event, with Champions League showdowns, you will get to see injury reports, recent form updates, and prior results.

You’ll get to see how the team did in domestic league play the prior weekend, you’ll see which players are on the shelf, and you’ll see how well the team is doing on both offense and defense. Put that information to good use.

Champions League matches do feature some routs, but most of your matches feature a pair of quality teams, making research a vital resource.

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Thursday Night Football Picks: Broncos at Chargers Predictions, Lines, Odds & Pick

Thursday Night Football Picks for Week 16: The Los Angeles Chargers became the latest victim of the whirling dervishes known as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

After losing four games in a row (by just a combined 24 points), the Bucs have reeled off four wins in a row.

The Chargers, despite their first three losses against unimpressive opponents like the Giants, Carolina, and Las Vegas, are now considering themselves playoff contenders, as Tampa Bay’s 40-17 road win signals the start of their stretch run.

The Chargers (8-6) now have just a few days to regroup before the arrival of another AFC West team with eyes on a wild-card playoff slot – the 9-5 Denver Broncos.

Both teams have identical 2-2 division records, but the Chargers won the earlier meeting in Denver, so a win here would give the Chargers the head-to-head tiebreaker on the season.

The Broncos also come in on a four-game winning streak (Atlanta, Las Vegas, Cleveland, and Indianapolis), but three of those four wins have come at home.

While rookie quarterback Bo Nix has jumped up the learning curve in a hurry this year, the Chargers have Justin Herbert, who became the third-youngest player in NFL history to surpass 20,000 career passing yards.

Can the Chargers recover on defense enough to get to ten wins and move a game ahead of the Broncos in terms of divisional record? Don’t miss our online betting prediction.

 

Thursday Night Football Picks: Broncos at Chargers – Week 16 NFL 2024/25 Season

NFL Spreads and Totals: Los Angeles -3 / O/U 42
Moneylines: Denver +124 / Los Angeles -152
When: Thursday, December 19, 2024, 8:15 pm ET
Where: SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, CA
TV: Prime Video
Radio: Westwood One
Live Stream: Prime Video

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Thursday Night Football Picks, Final Score and Prediction for Broncos at Chargers

 

Denver Injuries

For the Broncos, cornerback Pat Surtain II (ankle) was a full practice participant and is expected to play Thursday. The Broncos who did not practice included defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers, defensive tackle D.J. Jones (finger), tailback Jaleel McLaughlin (quad), and cornerback Riley Moss (knee).

 

Los Angeles Injuries

For the Chargers, Justin Herbert (ankle) was limited in practice Monday but is expected to play. Linebacker Denzel Perryman (groin) and cornerback Kristian Fulton (knee) were also limited and are listed as questionable. The Chargers who did not practice included defensive lineman Otito Ogbonnia (pelvis), defensive back Elijah Molden (knee), wide receiver Quentin Johnston (ankle), tight end Will Dissly (shoulder), and cornerback Cam Hart (concussion).

The Chargers have already beaten Denver once this season, and this is a team that knows how to come out and take charge of a game from the beginning. When they have had reversals after halftime, those have come against teams with a more consistent offense in terms of ball security. Denver has a young quarterback and lacks an established top tailback, and the Chargers should be able to leverage that into three-and-outs and turnovers.

I predict a final score of Los Angeles 23, Denver 16.

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Betting Denver Broncos

The Broncos stopped a Colts team that was chasing them for a wild-card slot while Miami and the Chargers, two of their wild-card competitors, faltered in their games. Three touchdowns in the fourth quarter turned a tight game into a laugher. Marvin Mims Jr took a punt 60 yards to the house, and linebacker Nik Bonitto added a defensive touchdown just over a minute later, and now Denver has the sixth seed in the AFC, if they can hold onto it.

 

Offensive

However, their offense was not a major part of the victory. Bo Nix went 20 of 33, but he only threw for 130 yards. Part of this had to do with swirling winds, and part of this had to do with relying on checkdowns. He also threw a pick in the first quarter and then threw two more after halftime, but the Colts could not turn those turnovers into points. The running game was nonexistent for much of the game, with the tailbacks combining for just eight attempts and 15 yards in the first half. Midway through the third quarter, the Bronco running backs had just ten carries combined. That’s a lot of pressure to put on the shoulders of Nix, who, we should remember, is still a rookie.

 

Domes in favor?

Playing in domes has worked well for the Broncos so far this season. They’ve played in two domes (against Las Vegas and New Orleans), winning the two games by a combined 62-29. They have won four in a row and six of eight. The outcome of this game is crucial because the winner would likely meet Pittsburgh in the wild-card round, while the loser is likely to be heading to Buffalo. While the Broncos’ offense struggled for much of the game against the Colts, the defense was elite. Ball security must be a priority for the Broncos, though, as Nix will not be able to win a game throwing three picks against this team.

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Betting Los Angeles Chargers

The Chargers’ defense was exposed last week for the first time. Coming into the Tampa Bay game, Los Angeles had the top scoring defense in the NFL. Then Tampa Bay came in and dropped 40 points, doing whatever they wanted through the air and on the ground. Baker Mayfield threw for 288 yards and four scores. Wide receiver Mike Evans caught nine balls for 159 yards and two scores. Tailback Bucky Irving only needed 15 carries to tally 117 yards. The last time the Chargers gave up 40 or more points was Week 15 of the 2023 campaign.

 

Offensive

On offense, things weren’t much better. It’s true that quarterback Justin Herbert came in less than 100% thanks to a left ankle sprain. Against Tampa Bay, he held onto the ball longer than he should have, and so he missed some wide-open receivers and took sacks that he normally would not take. He threw a pick in the third quarter that ended a run of 357 pass attempts without an interception, the fifth-longest such streak in league history. While it’s likely that a lot of this was a one-game blip due to Herbert’s difficulty dealing with the ankle injury, the Chargers were shut out after halftime for the third time this season, which ties them for a dubious league lead. That’s the sort of trend that the Broncos could leverage into a win.

 

The Advice

As bad as the Buccaneers game got, there was a point when the Chargers actually led, 17-10, before the Bucs ran off 30 unanswered points to finish the game. The Chargers had the ball with a chance to build a 24-10 lead. However, they made some mistakes on offense and had to punt, giving the Buccaneers a chance to drive down and kick a field goal just before the intermission. After that, the Chargers could not move the ball. If you like Los Angeles in this game, then you see them using their ferocious pass rush to force Nix into mistakes and taking advantage of his turnovers.

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Real Madrid vs Pachuca Odds & Prediction for the FIFA Intercontinental Cup 2024

FIFA expanded the Club World Cup to 32 teams, mirroring the World Cup format. The Intercontinental Cup (Real Madrid vs Pachuca) was created to allow top clubs from each continent to compete for a trophy.

Thanks to Real Madrid’s UEFA Champions League last year, they automatically got a spot in the final.

They will take on Pachuca from Liga MX, as the Mexican side made it through each step in the bracket to get the chance at Los Blancos in Qatar.

Real Madrid also won the UEFA Super Cup, taking down Atalanta from Serie A, so now they have a chance to get two trophies in the 2024-25 season.

Madrid need to shore up the defense after a disappointing 3-3 draw at Rayo Vallecano in La Liga play, but they will get Kylian Mbappé and Eduardo Camavinga back for this match.

Los Blancos have four defenders still on the shelf, though, as David Alaba, Eder Militao, Dani Carvajal, and Ferland Mendy will all miss the match with knee injuries.

Pachuca got through Botafogo, the champs of the Copa Libertadores, in the quarterfinals, and used penalties to get by Al Ahly in the semifinals.

Their top player is striker Salomon Rondon, who has played in the English Premier League in the past.

If you plan on including this matchup in your Club World Cup betting, read on to get our prediction.

 

Soccer Preview: Real Madrid vs Pachuca Prediction FIFA Intercontinental Cup Final

When: Wednesday, December 18, 2024, 12:00 pm ET
Where: Lusail Stadium, Lusail, Qatar
TV: beIN Sports
Radio: No National Broadcast
Live Stream: Fubo

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Final Score and Prediction: Real Madrid vs Pachuca FIFA Intercontinental Cup 2024

Madrid has the potential to win this match with their talented lineup, including Mbappe on the bench. However, Vinicius Jr’s La Liga suspension and his last action in 2024 make him a crucial player to leave everything out for the team.

Pachuca has nothing to lose, but they only have a puncher’s chance in Qatar. The Pachuca defense has been elite since the team arrived in Qatar, an amazing turnaround from their porous performances in Liga MX Apertura.

Real Madrid’s weekend La Liga action was unimpressive, but their team has proven to win on the biggest stages, including dealing with Cinderella teams and turning the clock to midnight. Their backline was not impressive in their road draw.

I predict a final score of Real Madrid 3, Pachuca 1.

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Real Madrid Betting Analysis

Since losing, 2-1, to Atlético Madrid, Los Blancos have put together a three-match unbeaten streak. In the draw at Rayo Vallecano, they got goals from Federico Valverde, Jude Bellingham and Rodrygo, but they still could not get the win.

That gave them their sixth tie or loss in La Liga, and now they are in third place in the table, just behind Barcelona and Atlético. Kylian Mbappé has failed to live up to the hype so far, struggling to meld into the star-studded roster at the Santiago Bernabéu.

Champions League winners, aided by the tournament’s structure, secured a significant victory over Borussia Dortmund, thanks to goals from Vinicius Jr and Dani Carvajal.

 

Here is Real Madrid’s expected XI

Thibaut Courtois (GK), Lucas Vázquez, Aurélien Tchouameni, Antonio Rüdiger, Fran Garcia (D), Luka Modrić, Federico Valverde, Arda Güler (M), Jude Bellingham, Rodrygo Goes, and Vinícius Júnior (F).

Lucas Vázquez should be at right back, with Tchouameni and Rüdiger in the middle. Garcia will hold down the left side, with Mendy still on the shelf.

While Mbappé is available, the fact that Pachuca is such an underdog will likely mean that he remains on the bench and will only come on in case of emergency.

Real Madrid included five Castilla players in their travel squad: Raul Asencio, goalkeeper Fran Gonzalez, attacker Victor Munoz, middle defender Lorenzo Aguado, and left back Youssef Enriquez.

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Pachuca Betting Analysis

Los Tuzos, have already spent more than a week in the Middle East, working through matches on consecutive days to get to Los Blancos.

Stadium 974 in Doha was the site of the Tuzos’ quarterfinal win over Botofogo, as goals from Oussama Idrissi, Nelson Deossa and Salomon Rondon, all in the second half, led to the 3-0 win. They followed that up on Saturday with a win over Al Ahly, the African champions.

It came down to goalkeeper Carlos Moreno getting a save on Khaled Abdelfattah’s attempt in penalties, and then Pachuca made the final. Before those two wins, though, Tuzos had finished Liga MX Apertura with a skid, winning just once in eight matches and settling for 16th place in the 18-team league.

This is the first time that Real Madrid and Pachuca have ever met, although they will see each other again soon as they are together in Group H of next year’s Club World Cup, along with RB Salzburg and Al-Hilal.

Pachuca has had Andres Micolta back from a thigh injury in Qatar, and he has been a major part of his side’s advancement to the final. The major injury for Tuzos is midfielder Israel Luna, who blew out an ACL in April.

 

Here is Pachuca’s expected XI

Carlos Moreno (GK), Luis Rodriguez, Gustavo Cabral, Andres Micolta, Bryan Gonzalez (D), Elias Avalos, Pedro Pedraza (M), Arturo Gonzalez, Erick Gutierrez, Ousamma Idrissi (F), Salomon Rondon (A). Rondon has already led Tuzos on a terrific run, as the win over Botafogo was a surprising upset.

Despite being 35, he has shown potential in Mexico after a successful season. After stints with West Brom, Newcastle, and Everton, he has returned to scoring with Pachuca after winning an Argentinian first-division title with River Plate in 2022-23.

With Venezuela, he tallied an equalizer in World Cup qualifying against defending champion Argentina. He has posted 26 goals since coming to Pachuca in January. He led all scorers in the Liga MX Clausura campaign, as well as in the CONCACAF Champions Cup.

He was named player of the match in Pachuca’s 3-0 victory over Columbus Crew, securing their first FIFA club competition berth. They also won the Derby of the Americas and Challenger Cup. Can he lead more upsets?

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Salute to Veterans Bowl & Celebration Bowl: Should you include them in your Bowls betting?

Should you include them in your Bowls Betting? If you choose to, you’ll want to read our preview first.

When we think about college football bowl season today, we’re used to having teams most of us haven’t heard much about playing on ESPN at odd times from the middle of December all the way to Christmas Day.

Not counting the College Football Playoff first-round games, there are a total of 41 bowl games this year. That’s a big increase from, say, 1974, when there were only 11.

If you weren’t ranked and/or in a major conference, you weren’t going to a bowl game. The Big Ten only allowed one team to go to a bowl game back then, when they sent their champion to the Rose Bowl and kept everyone else at home.

Now we have 82 FBS teams (out of 134) playing, in addition to two FCS HBCU programs. Starting on December 14, bowl season gets underway – so let’s look at the first two games on the slate.

 

Bowls Betting Odds & Picks for Salute to Veterans Bowl & Celebration Bowl

 

Salute to Veterans Bowl: South Alabama Jaguars (-8.5) vs Western Michigan Broncos (O/U 57.5)

When: Saturday, December 14, 12:00 pm ET, ABC
Where: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
Bowls Betting Prediction: Jaguars to win and cover

South Alabama Jaguars

Did you know that South Alabama is the best 6-6 team among the Group of Five conferences? If they hadn’t finished 1-4 in one-score games, they would have been contenders in the Sun Belt Conference. They face a Western Michigan team that started their MAC slate with four wins, but then fell apart down the stretch.

This line has dropped by two points since it opened at South Alabama -10.5. The Jaguars (6-6, 5-3 Sun Belt) dropped their last game of the regular season to Texas State, 45-38, and finished fourth in the Sun Belt West. The major reason for this line shift, though, is that Jaguars quarterback Gio Lopez is questionable for the game.

Without Lopez (or with a limited Lopez), the South Alabama offense may be less productive in Atlanta. Their offense was their calling card, scoring 34.8 points per game. They allow 25.3 points per game, so they have to find the end zone four times if they plan to win. Their defense gives up 253.3 yards through the air, which ranks 117th among FBS programs, so they will have to find a way to limit the chunk plays on defense.

Lopez’s numbers were impressive, so if he can go, the Jaguars should benefit. He threw for 2,559 yards with an 18:5 TD:INT ratio. He only took 14 sacks in 12 games. The top rusher was Fluff Bothwell (832 yards, 13 TD), and the top receiver was Jamal Pritchett (1,127 yards, 9 TD). Blayne Myrick led the defense with 92 tackles, and Courtney McBride had the most sacks, with five. Jaden Voisin had five interceptions to pace the secondary.

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Western Michigan Broncos

(6-6, 5-3 MAC) finished their regular season with a win, stopping Eastern Michigan, 26-18, to end a three-game skid. As a result, the Broncos finished fifth in the MAC.

The transfer portal has pulled five players off the Broncos’ bowl game roster, including a pair of defensive backs. Even with those defensive backs on the field, though, the Broncos weren’t that strong at stopping the opposition. They permitted 31.4 points and 404.3 yards per game, ranking 109th and 101st, respectively, among FBS programs. They did score 29.4 points (55th) and pick up 374.4 yards (82nd) per game, but if they don’t score, things get hard in a hurry.

Quarterback Hayden Wolff threw for 2,214 yards and 17 touchdowns with seven interceptions, taking 21 sacks in 12 games. His top receiver was Kenneth Womack (456 yards, 1 TD), while Jaden Nixon led all rushers with 874 yards and a dozen scores. Blake Bosma had 403 receiving yards and six touchdown catches, but he has already left via the transfer portal. The top tackler was linebacker Donald Willis, with 99, and Corey Walker led the team in sacks with 5 ½. Tate Hallock picked off four passes.

Even with Lopez out or limited, the fact that the Jaguars run for 194.3 yards per game, good for 27th among FBS schools, means that Western Michigan will have a hard time getting their defense off the field. The Broncos’ rushing defense ranked just 111th in the nation, giving up 186.3 yards per game. Expect both teams to put up plenty of points, but South Alabama should end up dominating the game’s rhythm.

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Celebration Bowl: South Carolina State Bulldogs (+2.5) vs Jackson State Tigers (O/U 53.5)

When: Saturday, December 14, 9:00 pm ET, ESPN
Where: Cramton Bowl, Montgomery, Alabama
Bowls Betting Prediction: Bulldogs to cover

This is the bowl game featuring FCS teams, and both of these programs started poorly, getting out of the gate to a combined 3-4 start. Their records finished at a combined 20-4. Jackson State lost at Grambling in Week 4, 41-20, but since then they have reeled off nine wins in a row by an average of 40-16. They routed Southern by 28 to win the SWAC title. South Carolina State has an eight-game winning streak, with an average result of 42-18, since they fell to Georgia Southern in Week 3.

 

Jackson State Tigers

(11-2, 9-0 SWAC) ranked fifth among FCS teams in scoring offense behind quarterback Jacobian Morgan, who threw for 2,003 yards and 19 touchdowns with seven interceptions, completing 63% of his passes. He also ran for 297 yards and six touchdowns. However, he was injured in the SWAC Championship against Southern and is doubtful for Saturday’s game. Backup Zy Mcdonald is also on the shelf, so third-stringer Cam’Ron McCoy is next in line.

He has completed 18 of 38 passes on the year for 310 yards and four touchdowns with an interception. He’s also run for 163 yards and a pair of touchdowns. The team’s top receiver is Joanes Fortilien (584 yards, 9 TD), although Isiah Spencer (537 yards, 4 TD) and Ja’Naylon Durpee (325 yards, 5 TD) have also contributed. Tailback Irv Mulligan leads the team on the ground with 1,168 yards and 11 scores. Travis Terrell Jr is the other tailback in the tandem, with 459 yards and four touchdowns. On defense, Joshua Nobles is the playmaker, with nine sacks and two forced fumbles; he is third on the team in tackles. Robert McDaniels has three interceptions, two forced fumbles, and 3 ½ sacks.

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South Carolina State Bulldogs

(9-2, 5-0 MEAC) has prospered behind quarterback Eric Phoenix, who has thrown for 2,469 yards and 20 touchdowns with seven interceptions. He has also run for 244 yards and a pair of touchdowns. However, he was injured for the MEAC finale against Morgan State and is doubtful for Saturday. Backup Ryan Stubblefield has thrown for 454 yards and five scores; on the ground, he has four touchdowns.

The top receiver is Caden High, with 892 yards and seven touchdowns. Justin Smith-Brown has 725 receiving yards and four touchdowns. On the ground, Kazarius Adams (499 yards, 5 TD) and Deondra Duehart (469 yards, 7 TD) have basically split the duties equally. On defense, Ashaad Hall has 11 sacks, three forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery. Jayden Broughton has seven sacks, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. Jarson Washington has ten passes defensed and two pick-sixes. Diego Addison has three interceptions, and he took one of them to the house for a score.

In a game with two backup quarterbacks, rushing defense will be a priority as both teams look to force the other to throw the ball from second- and third-and-long situations. South Carolina State’s defense is better than Jackson State’s, and I have them not only covering but getting the upset.

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