Daily Sports Roundup
Thursday, January 7
Today in the Daily Sports Roundup: The Penguins battle the Flyers, the Knicks take on the Bobcats, and Texas and Alabama meet for the title at the Rose Bowl.
Colliding on the gridiron . . .
The college football season comes to a close with the BCS Championship Game between No. 2 Texas (13-0 SU, 5-7-1 ATS) and No. 1 Alabama (13-0 SU, 8-5 ATS) at the Rose Bowl on Thursday night. The Longhorns made it to the title game with a slim 13-12 win over Nebraska in the Big 12 championship game last time out, while the Tide pounded Florida 32-13 in the SEC championship game to get their shot at the national title. Oddsmakers have Alabama pegged as the 4-point favorite for Thursday night's matchup, with the total for the game set at 46.
Tipping off on the hardwood . . .
The lone NBA game on the schedule for Thursday has Charlotte at New York. The Knicks improved to 14-20 (17-17 ATS) on the season with back-to-back wins over the Hawks and Pacers in their last two games. Wilson Chandler poured in 23 points for New York in their 132-89 home thumping of Indiana on Sunday, while David Lee was good for 22 points and 16 rebounds. The Bobcats fell 98-94 to the Knicks on December 20, but they're 2-1 vs. New York so far on the season.
As well, there are no ranked teams in action around college basketball on Thursday night, leaving the top matchup as Michigan (7-6 SU, 3-6 ATS) at Penn State (8-6 SU, 5-6-1 ATS). The Wolverines got past Ohio State 73-64 in their last game, with DeShawn Sims pouring in 28 points. The Nittany Lions are coming off a 63-46 loss to Wisconsin Sunday, with Talor Battle scoring 15 points on the day.
Taking a trip around the rink . . .
Finally, the NHL offers up Thursday's busiest slate, with 10 games on the ice including Philadelphia at rival Pittsburgh. The Flyers and Penguins last met in back-to-back games on December 15 and 17, with Pittsburgh winning the first contest 6-1 at home and the second 3-2 in a shootout on the road. Sidney Crosby scored once in regulation time and once in the shootout in that last win, while Chris Kunitz picked up a pair of assists. Kunitz, though, won't be in action Thursday as he's out four to six weeks as he recovers from abdominal surgery.
Also on the NHL's schedule for Thursday: Chicago at Boston, Ottawa at Washington, the Rangers at Atlanta, Florida at Montreal, Carolina at Nashville, Columbus at Edmonton, St. Louis at Anaheim, Phoenix at Vancouver, and Detroit at Los Angeles. The Kings improved to 25-15-3 on the season with a 6-2 win in San Jose on Monday night, their third consecutive victory. Anze Kopitar scored his 17 goal of the year in that game, and Jonathan Quick made 45 saves.
Today's Wagering Tips
Thursday, January 7
Bowl history
The BCS national championship game goes down on Thursday and knowing both teams bowl histories can serve as a great handicapping tool.
First of all, the Longhorns and Crimson Tide have met in five previous bowls games. Texas is unbeaten against Alabama with a 4-0-1 record. The largest margin of victory came in the 1947 Sugar Bowl when the Horns defeated Bama 27-7. The other four games were decided by four points or less.
Overall, Texas owns a 25-21-2 bowl record. The Longhorns have won six of their last seven bowl appearances, going 3-4 ATS during that span.
Alabama boasts a better bowl record at 31-22-3, but has gone 3-5 straight up and ATS in its last eight appearances. The three bowl wins all covered the number while the five losses failed to cash.
X-Man down
Xavier will be minus a starting guard when it plays the La Salle Explorers on Thursday.
Mark Lyons will miss this game and the next after injuring his left knee in a double-overtime loss to Wake Forest last Sunday.
Since Lyons stepped into the starting rotation five games ago, he’s averaged 10.2 ppg and 3.4 rpg. The 6-1, 195-pound freshman leads the team with 19 steals.
The 8-5 Musketeers haven’t won a road game this season and are giving 5.5 points to La Salle with a total of 144.5. The Explorers have covered in five of the last seven games in this series.
No shootout in NYC
After Washington’s Gilbert Arenas was suspended indefinitely, Knicks president Donnie Walsh reiterated to his team that guns were illegal in the state of New York.
"Guns can really escalate a situation between two guys," Walsh said after practice. "My objection to guys this age with guns is that if you've got one and another guy has one, now it's not a fistfight to settle your differences. Now, instead of that, it's a shootout."
There likely won’t be a shootout on the court Thursday as the Bobcats and Knicks have played to the under in five of their last seven meetings.
The average total during that span was 193.7 ppg and one of those contests went into overtime.
Charlotte is averaging 97.6 ppg over its last eight with five of those games going under the posted total while New York has flown under in 10 of its last 14.
These two squads met on Dec. 20 and Dec. 15 this season and both games went under the total of 196. Oddsmakers have increased the number by one point and installed a total of 197 for Thursday’s matchup.
International problem
Isiah Thomas might have to get it done without one of his star players on Thursday when the Panthers host Louisiana-Monroe.
Florida International could again be without starting guard Phil Gary who missed the team’s last game on Saturday and is listed as questionable heading into this matchup. Gary is averaging 9.3 ppg and 3.1 apg this season and leads the team in steals with 28.
Antoine Watson replaced Gary in FIU’s loss versus New Orleans, contributing 11 points on 5 of 14 shooting with six assists.
The Panthers have lost three straight and are 4-13 on the season. Florida International is 0-3 all-time against the Warhawks and has never covered a spread.
FIU has been installed as 1-point favorites for Thursday’s game with a total of 148.
Notable Quotable
"I wasn't aware of that, but to me we should be favorites. I mean in the whole [playoffs]. I think we have the best defense; I know we do. I think we have the best rushing attack. If I had a choice to coach any team in this tournament, I would choose this one."
-- Jets head coach Rex Ryan when asked about his team’s underdog status heading into the game against Cincinnati.