In today’s newsletter…
1. Leading Off: Checking in on NCAA title favorites
2. Game of the Day: Undefeated No. 5 Nebraska is a double-digit underdog
3. Scouting Report: Two NBA players that need to step up offensively due to injuries
4. By the Numbers: Bettors think Knicks’ spread is too big
5. Overtime: Darnold could be first Super Bowl champion from stacked 2018 Draft class
1. Leading Off
After holding off No. 13 BYU’s second-half comeback effort in a three-point win, No. 1 Arizona remained undefeated and is still the favorite to win the national championship (+430 at FanDuel). No. 3 Michigan is right behind at +470 and is a double-digit home favorite tonight against unbeaten and No. 5 Nebraska.
No. 4 Duke made a statement yesterday in a 31-point win over No. 20 Louisville to improve to 8-0 in the ACC and +700 to cut down the nets. The Blue Devils are followed by Houston and Connecticut (+1400), Illinois and Iowa State (+1900), Purdue and Gonzaga (+2000), and defending champion Florida (+2500).
After a slow start, the No. 19 Gators have won 9 of 11 and are now the heavy favorites to win the SEC at -110 (Arkansas follows at +500).
— Abe Rakov
2. Game of the Day
Nebraska is 1 of 3 Undefeated Teams Left But is a Double-Digit Underdog at No. 3 Michigan
Yaxel Lendeborg | Junfu Han-Imagn Images
Nebraska is hoping to be the latest Big Ten school to make a run in a sport you wouldn’t expect, as the Cornhuskers are undefeated in basketball and ranked fifth in the country. But a trip to Ann Arbor against one of the title favorites is a big step up in competition. Nebraska has beaten two ranked conferences foes, at then-No. 13 Illinois by three and vs. then-No. 9 Michigan State by two, and is one of only three unbeaten teams left in men’s college basketball. The school’s leading scorer, Pryce Sandfort, has put in 22+ in four straight.
Michigan’s only loss of the season came at home against a game Wisconsin squad by three, but they haven’t played a top-15 team since embarrassing then-No. 12 Gonzaga by 40 in November. The Wolverines are 10th in scoring at 91.7 points per game and have six players that average at least nine points per night, with three adding about seven rebounds per game.
No. 5 Nebraska (20-0, 9-0 Big Ten) vs. No. 3 Michigan (18-1, 8-1 Big Ten)
7pm on Peacock
The Odds
Spread: NEB (+10.5, -115), MICH (-10.5, -105)
70% of the money and 78% of the bets are with NEB
ATS | NEB (road): 5-0, MICH (home): 6-4
Moneyline: NEB +400, MICH -630
Total (155.5): Over -110, Under -110
NEB: 6-15, MICH: 7-12
Head-to-Head
Nebraska | Michigan | |
|---|---|---|
Streak | W20 | W4 |
Last 10 | 10-0 | 9-1 |
vs. AP Top 25 | 2-0 | 3-0 |
Points/Game | 80.9 | 91.7 |
Opp Points/Game | 65.0 | 68.6 |
Rebounds/Game | 36.5 | 42.3 |
Opp Rebounds/Game | 34.4 | 32.8 |
Assists/Game | 18.6 | 19.2 |
Players to Watch
NEB Pryce Sandfort | Points: 16.5 (17.3 - 22, 23, 22, 28, 12)
NEB Rienk Mast | Points: 12.5 (14.6 - 8, 12, 9, 5, 13), 2+ Made Threes: -118 (1.8 - 0, 2, 1, 1, 1)
MICH Yaxel Lendeborg | Points: 13.5 (14.4 - 18, 15, 6, 14, 14), Reb: 7.5 (7.2 - 9, 7, 10, 7, 6)
MICH Morez Johnson Jr. | Points: 12.5 (13.7 - 12, 9, 9, 18, 18), Reb: 6.5 (6.9 - 7, 8, 2, 16, 4)
*Player stats are shown as: Today’s total (Season average - last 5 games from most recent to oldest)
3. Scouting Report
Two NBA Players That Should Step Up With Star Teammates Out or Hobbled
James Harden | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Suns F Dillon Brooks (vs. Nets)
With Devin Booker out again, more of the Suns’ offense will have to run through Brooks. He scored 26 points on Sunday with Booker sidelined, shooting 11-23 from the field — it was the most shots he’s taken in nearly two weeks. Brooks scored 27 with Booker in the lineup when these teams played last Monday, and was six for nine from three-point range. Brooklyn has lost 10 of 11 and has given up 120+ in five straight (all losses).
Points: 22.5 (20.4 - 26, 11, 6, 27, 5), Reb: 3.5 (3.5 - 5, 6, 5, 5, 6)
BKN - L5 (1-9) | Points Allowed: 115.1 (12th), Reb Allowed: 43.5 (13th), Ast Allowed: 27.7 (26th)
Clippers G James Harden (at Jazz)
Harden has been taking a back seat to Kawhi Leonard the past two games, but now Leonard is questionable with a bruised right knee. Whether or not Leonard plays, Harden should go back to playing a bigger role on offense today. He was sub-20 points in his past two games for different reasons: he only took eight shots in an easy win against Brooklyn on Sunday after shooting 6-21 against the Lakers on Thursday. Prior to that, Harden had scored 30+ in three of five. He netted just 20 when these teams played on New Year’s Day, but he only had 29 minutes of action and was 5-14 from the floor.
Points: 24.5 (25.6 - 19, 18, 24, 36, 31), Reb: 5.5 (4.9 - 6, 7, 5, 7, 2), Ast: 8.5 (8.1 - 8, 10, 6, 9, 10)
UTA - L2 (3-7) | Points Allowed: 127.8 (30th), Reb Allowed: 45.3 (23rd), Ast Allowed: 30.8 (30th)
No. 6 Jessica Pegula vs. No. 4 Amanda Anisimova
It’s an all-American quarterfinal at the Australian Open tonight, and neither woman has dropped a set so far Down Under. Pegula leads the all-time series 3-0 but the two didn’t play last year, which was by far Anisimova’s best season. Both 2024 matchups went three sets, and prior to that they hadn’t played since the 2020 U.S. Open. Anisimova, who made the last two major finals of the year in 2025, hasn’t played a seeded opponent so far in Australia in four easy wins. Pegula, who has never advanced past the quarterfinal at this tournament, is coming off a 6-3, 6-4 win over reigning champion and 9th-seeded fellow American Madison Keys.
Anisimova Tournament Results: Wang 7-6(4), 6-4; Stearns 6-1, 6-4; Siniakova 6-1, 6-4; Waltert 6-3, 6-2
Pegula Tournament Results: No. 9 Keys 6-3, 6-4; Selekmeteva 6-3, 6-2; Kessler 6-0, 6-2; Zakharova 6-2, 6-1
Potential Bets | Moneyline: Pegula +105, Anisimova -132; Game Handicap: Pegula (+1.5, -118), Anisimova (-1.5, -112); Total Games: 21.5 (Over -118, Under -112); Total Sets: 2.5 (Over +136, Under -186)
*Player stats are shown as: Today’s total (Season average - last 5 games from most recent to oldest)
4. By the Numbers
Where Bettors Have NBA and College Basketball Money + Australian Open Quarterfinal Matchups
John Calipari | Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images
NBA
Kings (12-35, 3-19 Away) vs. Knicks (27-18, 17-6 Home)
SAC (+13.5, -110), NYK (-13.5, -110): 54% of the money is with NYK but 60% of the bets are with SAC
ATS | SAC (road): 8-14, NYK (home): 15-8
Total (230.5) | SAC: 23-24 (111.0 ppg), NYK: 24-22 (117.8 ppg)
Pelicans (12-36, 5-17 Away) vs. Thunder (37-10, 20-4 Home)
NOP (+14.5, -110), OKC (-14.5, -110): The money is 50/50 but 51% of the bets are with NOP
ATS | NOP (road): 11-11, OKC (home): 12-12
Total (234.5) | NOP: 25-23 (114.8 ppg), OKC: 23-24 (120.8 ppg)
Pistons (33-11, 14-6 Away) vs. Nuggets (31-15, 12-8 Home)
DET (-6, -118), DEN (+6, -104): 54% of the money is with DET but 55% of the bets are with DEN
ATS | DET (road): 10-10, DEN (home): 10-10
Total (216.5) | DET: 18-26 (117.4 ppg), DEN: 27-19 (120.7 ppg)
Nets (12-32, 6-15 Away) vs. Suns (27-19, 14-6 Home)
BKN (+8.5, -110), PHX (-8.5, 110): 61% of the money and 61% of the bets are with PHX
ATS | BKN (road): 9-11-1, PHX (home): 15-5
Total (211.5) | BKN: 18-26 (107.9 ppg), PHX: 19-27 (114.2 ppg)
Clippers (21-24, 8-15 Away) vs. Jazz (15-31, 10-14 Home)
LAC (-8.5, -110), UTA (+8.5, -110): 53% of the money is with UTA but 52% of the bets are with LAC
ATS | LAC (road): 11-12, UTA (home): 15-9
Total (232.5) | LAC: 23-22 (112.6 ppg), UTA: 29-17 (119.0 ppg)
NCAAM
No. 15 Arkansas (15-5, 5-2 SEC) vs. Oklahoma (11-9, 1-6 SEC)
ARK (-2.5, -110), OU (+2.5, -110): 83% of the money and 84% of the bets are with ARK
ATS | ARK (road): 1-3, OU (home): 4-6
Total (166.5) | ARK: 11-9 (89.6 ppg), OU: 10-10 (83.7 ppg)
No. 12 Purdue (17-3, 7-2 Big Ten) vs. Indiana (13-7, 4-5 Big Ten)
PUR (-5.5, -102), IND (+5.5, -120): 89% of the money and 80% of the bets are with PUR
ATS | PUR (road): 3-2, IND (home): 6-6
Total (152.5) | PUR: 8-12 (84.0 ppg), IND: 9-11 (81.2 ppg)
Kentucky (14-6, 5-2 SEC) vs. No. 18 Vanderbilt (17-3, 4-3 SEC)
UK (+6.5, -110), VAN (-6.5, -110): 54% of the money and 58% of the bets are with UK
ATS | UK (road): 1-3, VAN (home): 5-5
Total (159.5) | UK: 9-11 (82.5 ppg), VAN: 10-10 (90.1 ppg)
Australian Open Tennis
No. 8 Ben Shelton vs. No. 2 Jannik Sinner
Head-to-Head (Sinner leads 8-1) | 2025 ATP Finals: 6-3, 7-6(3) Sinner; 2025 Masters 1000 Paris: 6-3, 6-3 Sinner; 2025 Wimbledon: 7-6, 6-4, 6-4 Sinner, 2025 Australian: 7-6, 6-2, 6-2 Sinner; 2024: Sinner 3-0 all in straight sets and one tiebreak in each; 2023 Masters 1000 Shanghai: 2-6, 6-3, 7-6(5) Shelton
Sinner Tournament Results: No. 22 Darderi 6-1, 6-3, 7-6(2); Spizzirri 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4; Duckworth 6-1, 6-4, 6-2; Gaston 6-2, 6-1 (ret)
Shelton Tournament Results: No. 12 Ruud 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4; No. 30 Vacherot 6-4, 6-4, 7-6(5); Sweeny 6-3, 6-2, 6-2; Humbert 6-3, 7-6(2), 7-6(5)
Potential Bets | Moneyline: Shelton +890, Sinner -1700; Shelton to Win 1+ Set: Yes -104, No -128; Game Handicap: Shelton (+6.5, -128), Sinner (-6.5, -106); Total Games: 34.5 (Over -110, Under -120); Total Sets: 3.5 (Over +108, Under -142)
No. 5 Lorenzo Musetti vs. No. 4 Novak Djokovic
Head-to-Head (Djokovic leads 9-1) | 2025 Athens: 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 Djokovic; 2025 Miami: 6-2, 6-2, Djokovic; 2024: Djokovic 4-0, 3 in straight sets, 1 in 5 sets; 2023 Monte-Carlo: 4-6, 7-5, 6-4 Musetti
Djokovic Tournament Results: No. 16 Mensik (walk-over); van de Zandschulp 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(4); Maestrelli 6-3, 6-2, 6-2; P. Martinez 6-3, 6-2, 6-2
Musetti Tournament Results: No. 9 Fritz 6-2, 7-5, 6-4; Machac 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 5-7, 6-2; Sonego 6-3, 6-3, 6-4, Collingnon 4-6, 7-6(3), 7-5, 3-2 (ret)
Potential Bets | Moneyline: Musetti +240, Djokovic -300; Musetti to Win 1+ Set: Yes -240, No +178; Game Handicap: Musetti (+4.5, -106), Djokovic (-4.5, -126); Total Games: 37.5 (Over -118, Under -112); Total Sets: 3.5 (Over -158, Under +118)
5. Overtime
In the News
Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold was picked third in the 2018 NFL Draft, behind No. 1 Baker Mayfield but ahead of fellow quarterbacks Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson. Now Darnold has a chance to become the first signal-caller in the draft class to win a Super Bowl despite being the least decorated. “He just shut a lot of people up,” Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said.
CBS Sports ranked the teams that lost in the NFL playoffs that have the best shot of playing in the Super Bowl next year. Surprise postseason participant Carolina is last on the list, while the Rams are No. 1 — quarterback Matthew Stafford’s decision on next season dependent.
Yahoo Sports’ Vincent Goodwill has a feature out about the impact Kobe Bryant still has on today’s NBA stars. “Tatum initially connected with Bryant following the Lakers legend's ESPN breakdown of Tatum’s game during his rookie year in the 2018 Eastern Conference finals. Tatum … later received an encouraging text from Bryant, saying if Tatum wanted to work out with him in the summer, Bryant’s door was open,” Goodwill wrote in a piece that also features Giannis Antetokounmpo and Anthony Edwards.
Spain, Portugal and Morocco are co-hosting the 2030 World Cup, and the head of Spain’s soccer federation said Spain will host the final. But he either got way ahead of the official announcement schedule or is trying to put pressure on FIFA, because the decision wasn’t expected until 2028 and the world’s soccer body didn’t respond.
What to Watch (times ET)
7pm: No. 5 Nebraska vs. No. 3 Michigan [MCBB] on Peacock
8pm: Bucks vs. 76ers on NBC
9pm: Kentucky vs. No. 18 Vanderbilt [MCBB] on ESPN (or Australian Open on ESPN2)
10pm: Clippers vs. Jazz on NBC (or USWNT vs. Chile [Women’s International Friendly soccer] on TBS)
11pm: New Mexico vs. UNLV [MCBB] on CBSSN
Sportspage content is intended to be used for entertainment purposes only and is not betting advice. Content is reserved for readers of 21+ years of age. If you or someone you know has gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be used by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537).
Read our full disclaimer.
