by Big Al Staff
Thursday, Jan 09, 2025The Thursday sports card features NCAAF, NBA, NHL, and NCAAB action.
The college football postseason continues with the first semifinal game of the college football playoffs on ESPN and ESPN2. Notre Dame challenges Penn State in the Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, at 7:30 p.m. ET. The Fighting Irish are on a 12-game winning streak after their 23-10 victory against Georgia as a 1-point favorite in the quarterfinals last Thursday. The Nittany Lions won for the sixth time in their last seven games in a 31-14 victory against Boise State as an 11.5-point favorite on New Year’s Eve last Tuesday. Notre Dame is a 1.5-point favorite with the total set at 45.5 (all odds from DraftKings).
The National Basketball Association has eight games on its docket. Three NBA games tip off at 7:10 p.m. ET. Three NBA games tip off at 7:10 p.m. ET. The Cleveland Cavaliers host the Toronto Raptors as a 15.5-point favorite with an over/under of 233.5. The Minnesota Timberwolves travel to Orlando to play the Magic as a 4.5-point road favorite with a total of 205.5. The Detroit Pistons play at home against the Golden State Warriors as a 3-point favorite with an over/under of 219.5.
The Houston Rockets play at Memphis against the Grizzlies at 8:10 p.m. ET as a 2.5-point road favorite with a total of 232. The Dallas Mavericks are home against the Portland Trail Blazers at 8:40 p.m. ET as a 7.5-point favorite with an over/under of 219.
Two NBA games start at 9:10 p.m. ET. The Miami Heat are in Utah to play the Jazz as a 5.5-point road favorite with a total of 222.5. The Phoenix Suns host the Atlanta Hawks as a 6.5-point favorite with an over/under of 238. The Los Angeles Lakers play at home against the Charlotte Hornets at 10:40 p.m. ET as an 8.5-point favorite with a total of 220.5.
The National Hockey League has ten games on its slate. Six NHL games from the puck at 7:07 p.m. ET. The Dallas Stars visit Philadelphia to play the Flyers as a -166 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Edmonton Oilers play in Pittsburgh against the Penguins as a -205 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The Tampa Bay Lightning are home against the Boston Bruins as a -166 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Ottawa Senators host the Buffalo Sabres as a -155 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Seattle Kraken are in Columbus to play the Blue Jackets as a -118 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The New Jersey Devils travel to New York to play the Rangers as a -180 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5.
The Carolina Hurricanes play at home against the Toronto Maple Leafs at 7:37 p.m. ET as a -170 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. Two more NHL games begin at 8:07 p.m. ET. The St. Louis Blues are home against the Anaheim Ducks as a -192 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Colorado Avalanche play in Minnesota against the Wild as a -130 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Vegas Golden Knights host the New York Islanders at 10:07 p.m. ET as a -180 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5.
The NCAAB college basketball schedule has 55 games between Division I opponents. Four NCAAB games are on major national television. Chattanooga plays at home against UNC-Greensboro on the CBS Sports Network at 5:00 p.m. ET as a 4-point favorite with an over/under of 143. Purdue is at Rutgers on FS1 at 6:00 p.m. ET as a 1.5-point road favorite with a total of 149.
William & Mary is home against Elon University on the CBS Sports Network at 7:00 p.m. ET as a 1.5-point favorite with an over/under of 153.5. Liberty travels to Sam Houston on the CBS Sports Network at 9:00 p.m. ET as a 3.5-point road favorite with a total of 143.5.
