Big Al

Big Al's Daily Angle: NCAAF, NBA, NHL, and NCAAB Previews and Odds - 12/17/2024

by Big Al Staff

Tuesday, Dec 17, 2024
The Tuesday sports card features NCAAF, NBA, NHL, and NCAAB action. 

The college football bowl season continues with one game. Memphis battles West Virginia in the Frisco Bowl at the Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas, on ESPN at 9:00 p.m. ET. The Tigers won for the seventh time in their last eight games in a 34-24 upset win at Tulane as a 12.5-point underdog on November 28th. The Mountaineers lost for the second time in their last three games in a 52-15 loss at Texas Tech as a 2.5-point underdog on November 30th. Memphis is a 5-point favorite with the total set at 58.5 (all odds from DraftKings). 

The National Basketball Association has one game on its docket. The Oklahoma City Thunder challenges the Milwaukee Bucks at the T-Mobile Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, in the finals of the NBA Cup on ESPN at 8:30 p.m. ET. The Thunder won for the ninth time in their last ten games in a 111-96 victory against Houston as a 5.5-point favorite in their semifinal clash last Saturday. The Bucks won their 10th game in their last 12 games with a 110-102 victory against Atlanta as a 3.5-point favorite in their semifinal contest on Saturday. Oklahoma City is a 5-point favorite with an over/under of 216.5. 

The National Hockey League has ten games on its slate. Three NHL games drop the puck at 7:07 p.m. ET. The Buffalo Sabres travel to Montreal to play the Canadiens as a -130 money-line road favorite with a total of 6. The Los Angeles Kings play in Pittsburgh against the Penguins as a -142 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6. The Tampa Bay Lightning host the Columbus Blue Jackets as a -258 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Carolina Hurricanes are home against the New York Islanders at 7:37 p.m. ET as a -225 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. 

Two NHL games start at 8:07 p.m. ET. The Nashville Predators host the New York Rangers as a -115 money-line favorite with a total of 6. The New Jersey Devils are in St. Louis to play the Blues as a -170 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Washington Capitals visit Chicago to play the Blackhawks at 8:37 p.m. ET as a -175 money-line road favorite with a total of 6. 

The Boston Bruins play in Calgary against the Flames at 9:07 p.m. ET as a -130 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Ottawa Senators are in Seattle to play the Kraken at 10:07 p.m. ET as a -1115 money-line road favorite with a total of 5.5. The Winnipeg Jets travel to San Jose to play the Sharks at 10:37 p.m. ET as a -238 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6. 

The college basketball schedule has 41 games between Division I opponents. Two of these games are on major national television at 7:00 p.m. ET. Florida faces North Carolina on a neutral court at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, on ESPN as a 4-point favorite with a total of 166.5. Michigan State plays at home against Oakland University on ESPN2 as a 16-point favorite with an over/under of 135.