Two of NFL’s Hottest Team Face Off + Insights, Stats and Trends for Todays Bowl Games

We also highlight three NBA players to watch today

In today’s newsletter…

1. Leading Off: Michigan got its man

2. Game of the Day: Two of NFL’s hottest teams have division title hopes

3. By the Numbers: Ravens and Packers will both be without starting QBs + all 8 bowl games

4. Scouting Report: Wemby gets NBA’s worst defense

5. Overtime: Injuries are hurting New England’s chances at AFC’s top seed

1. Leading Off

Hiring a 66-year-old coach isn’t a long-term solution for Michigan’s football program, but it was the smartest decision the athletic department could make in the situation the usually-proud program found itself. The Wolverines hired former Utah coach Kyle Whittingham, who earlier this month announced he was stepping down after 22 years at the school. Whittingham had planned on coaching his team against Nebraska in the Las Vegas Bowl on New Year’s Eve after his third 10-win season in the past five years, and pointedly said he wasn’t retiring and was interested in coaching again. But nobody thought that opportunity would come this fast.

Then Michigan imploded in the fallout of former coach Sherrone Moore’s firing and arrest and either couldn’t figure out exactly what it wanted or wasn’t able to make a hire. Administrators and boosters in Ann Arbor made no secret that they were interested in Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer, but he said he was staying at his current school. After the Crimson Tide earned a first round College Football Playoff upset, DeBoer wouldn’t have been available until January 2nd at the absolute earliest anyway, which is the day the transfer portal re-opens. That timeline became a nonstarter.

So eventually, the Wolverines decided a proven, steady caretaker was the right direction for a program in disarray. Michigan fans are fortunate their school might have lucked into what could end up being a perfect solution. Whittingham compiled a 177-88 record at Utah and built a no-drama program that always competed above expectations.

With tens of millions more dollars to spend annually than he’s used to and NFL-quality facilities, Whittingham, who took Utah to the 2022 and 2023 Rose Bowls, can not only win right away, he’ll also lay the foundation for the program for when he likely retires after his five year contract is up. To make this deal even better, Michigan should hire an offensive or defensive coordinator over the next couple of years to serve as a head-coach-in-waiting.

Michigan got its man, whether or not he’s who the school thought it would be when this process started.

— Abe Rakov

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2. Game of the Day

Two of NFL’s Hottest Teams Face Off Looking for Chance to Win Their Division in Final Week

The Texans are the NFL’s hottest team, winners of seven straight games. After an 0-3 (and 3-5) start, Houston could still win the AFC South, as its just one game back from Jacksonville with two to play. The Chargers still have a shot at the AFC West title as well, as they’ll be one game back with a win and play the division-leading Broncos next week. All that is to say that even though both teams have already qualified for the playoffs, this game still has huge implications. The Texans have the top scoring defense in the NFL, but the Chargers aren’t too far behind at just over 20 points per game.

Texans (10-5, 4-3 Away) vs. Chargers (11-4, 6-2 Home)
4:30 pm on NFL Network

The Odds

• Spread: HOU (+1.5, -105), LAC (-1.5, -115)

  • 51% of the money and the bets are with LAC

  • ATS | HOU (road): 3-4, LAC (home): 4-2-1

• Moneyline: HOU +108, LAC -126

• Total (39.5): Over -115, Under -105

  • HOU: 5-10, LAC 7-8

Head-to-Head

Players to Watch

• HOU QB C.J. Stroud | Pass Yards: 219.5 (219.0 - 187, 260, 203, 276, 79), Pass Attempts: 33.5 (31.0 - 35, 29, 31, 35, 10), Pass TD: 1.5 (1.3 - 1, 3, 1, 0, 0)

• HOU WR Nico Collins | Rec Yards: 63.5 (75.7 - 59, 85, 121, 98, 55), Receptions: 4.5 (4.9 - 4, 3, 4, 5, 3)

• LAC QB Justin Herbert | Pass Yards: 211.5 (232.7 - 300, 210, 139, 151, 81), Pass Attempts: 30.5 (32.0 - 29, 29, 26, 20, 18), Pass TD: 1.5 (1.7 - 2, 1, 1, 2, 0), Rush Yards: 23.5 (30.7 - 42, 0, 66, 8, 21)

• LAC RB Omarion Hampton | Rush Yards: 61.5 (64.5 - 85, 61, 56 … 44, 128), Carries: 14.5 (13.8 - 16, 15, 13 … 12, 12)

*Stats listed in parentheses are season average followed by past 5 games, most recent to least recent.

3. By the Numbers

Both Starting QBs Likely Out in Ravens vs. Packers Matchup + Odds and Trends for All 8 Bowl Games

NFL

• Ravens (7-8, 4-2 Away) vs. Packers (9-5-1, 5-2 Home)

  • BAL (+3.5, -110), GB (-3.5, -110): 75% of the money and 63% of the bets are with Green Bay

    • ATS | BAL (road): 3-3, GB (home): 4-3

  • Total (38.5) | BAL: 7-8 (23.9 ppg), GB: 8-7 (24.3 ppg)

CFB

• Pittsburgh (8-4) vs. East Carolina (8-4)

  • PIT (-10.5, -104), ECU (+10.5, -118): 74% of the money and 64% of the bets are with PIT

    • ATS | PIT: 8-4, ECU: 7-5

  • Total (52.5) | PIT: 8-4 (35.1 ppg), ECU: 6-6 (33.5 ppg)

• Penn State (6-6) vs. Clemson (7-5)

  • PSU (+2.5, -104), CLEM (-2.5, -118): 55% of the money and 53% of the bets are with PSU

    • ATS | PSU: 4-8, CLEM: 5-7

  • Total (47.5) | PSU: 9-3 (31.8 ppg), CLEM: 5-7 (28.7 ppg)

• UConn (9-3) vs. Army (6-6)

  • UCONN (+7.5, -110), ARMY (-7.5, -110): 56% of the money is with ARMY but 64% of the bets are with UCONN

    • ATS | UCONN: 7-5, ARMY: 6-6

  • Total (42.5) | UCONN: 8-4 (36.9 ppg), ARMY: 4-8 (22.4 ppg)

• No. 22 Georgia Tech (9-3) vs. No. 12 BYU (11-2)

  • GT (+3.5, -105), BYU (-3.5, -115): 64% of the money and 58% of the bets are with BYU

    • ATS | GT: 7-5, BYU: 9-4

  • Total (55.5) | GT: 8-4 (33.1 ppg), BYU: 6-7 (31.9 ppg)

• Miami (OH) (7-6) vs. Fresno State (8-4)

  • MU (+5.5, -104), FRES (-5.5, -118): 67% of the money and 59% of the bets are with FRES

    • ATS | MU: 8-5, FRES: 6-6

  • Total (41.5) | MU: 7-6 (25.2 ppg), FRES: 5-7 (26.4 ppg)

• No. 25 North Texas (11-2) vs. San Diego State (9-3)

  • NTX (-6.5, -110), SDST (+6.5, -110): 51% of the money and 68% of the bets are with NTX%

    • ATS | NTX: 10-3, SDST: 9-3

  • Total (53.5) | NTX: 9-4 (44.8 ppg), SDST: 3-9 (24.7 ppg)

• No. 19 Virginia (10-3) vs. Missouri (8-4)

  • UVA (+4.5, -114), MIZ (-4.5, -106): 60% of the money is with MIZ but 53% of the bets are with UVA

    • ATS | UVA: 8-5, MIZ: 7-5

  • Total (44.5) | UVA: 5-8 (32.2 ppg), MIZ: 6-6 (32.2 ppg)

• LSU (7-5) vs. No. 21 Houston (9-3)

  • LSU (+1.5, -115), HOU (-1.5, -105): The money is 50/50 but 50% of the bets are with HOU

    • ATS | LSU: 4-8, HOU: 8-4

  • Total (42.5) | LSU: 3-9 (21.8 ppg), HOU: 7-5 (28.3 ppg)

4. Scouting Report

Wembanyama Played Most Minutes Since Return From Injury Last Game, Faces NBA’s Worst Defense

• Spurs F Victor Wembanyama (vs. Jazz)

  • Points: 19.5 (23.4 - 19, 12, 14, 26, 15), Reb: 8.5 (11.8 - 11, 5, 12, 12, 8), Ast: 2.5 (3.6 - 2, 3, 2, 3, 4)

  • UTA - L4 (4-6 L10) | Points: 127.4 (30th), Reb: 44.8 (19th), Ast: 30.3 (30th)

  • Notes: Wembanyama is still averaging just over 22 minutes per game since returning from injury, but played the most in his return his last time out — 26 vs. the Thunder, scoring 19 points and adding 11 rebounds. In just 16 minutes of action against the Jazz in the preseason, Wembanyama scored 22 points on 6-10 shooting (9-10 from the line) with seven rebounds and three assists.

• Mavericks F Cooper Flagg (vs. Kings)

  • Points: 23.5 (19.4 - 27, 33, 16, 24, 23), Reb: 6.5 (6.4 - 6, 9, 6, 4, 19), Ast: 4.5 (3.8 - 5, 9, 6, 3, 4)

  • SAC - L1 (2-8 L10) | Points: 122.5 (26th), Reb: 46.6 (26th), Ast: 28.6 (26th)

  • Notes: Flagg has gone over his season average in points in six of his past seven games. He’s averaged 24.4 points, 6.2 rebounds and 4.5 assists in December. This is Flagg’s first career matchup against Sacramento, which has given up 124 and 136 points in its past two games.

• Knicks G Jalen Brunson (@ Hawks)

  • Points: 29.5 (29.3 - 34, 47, 22, 25, 25), Reb: 3.5 (3.3 - 1, 3, 6, 7, 4), Ast: 7.5 (6.5 - 4, 8, 9, 7, 8)

  • ATL - L4 (2-8 L10) | Points: 119.6 (24th), Reb: 45.5 (24th), Ast: 27.9 (24th)

  • Notes: Brunson has scored a combined 81 points in his past two games and now gets one of the worst defensive teams in the league. He hasn’t faced the Hawks this season, but last year scored 36, 34, 14 and 21 against Atlanta (from latest game to earliest).

*Stats listed in parentheses are season average followed by past 5 games, most recent to least recent.

5. Overtime

In the News

• The Patriots will be missing five starters when they face the Jets on Sunday, but rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson might not be one of them. New England is still competing for the top seed in the AFC, but injuries are piling up. Fortunately for the Patriots, the Jets only have two wins in the past two months so it might not matter. “Everybody deals with it. This is not something that’s new to the National Football League,” Patriots coach Mike Vrabel said.

• The Lakers are dealing with a new injury, as Austin Reaves will be out for at least four weeks with a calf strain. Reaves averages 26.6 points, 5.2 rebounds and 6.3 assists for Los Angeles, while shooting 50.7% from the field. While the Lakers have lost three in a row, they currently sit fourth in the Western Conference at 19-10.

• Chief tight end Travis Kelce isn’t ready to say if he’s retiring or not after Kansas City’s last game of the season at home. “Honestly, I’ve just been focused on trying to win football games, man,” Kelce said. “I’ll make that decision with my family, friends and the Chiefs organization when the time comes.” The 36-year-old has said he’ll make his decision with enough time to give his team the opportunity to sign a player to fill his void if he leaves, like his brother did when he retired from the Eagles.

• The University of Texas’s top rusher for the past two seasons is a free agent, as running back Quintrevion Wisner plans to enter the the transfer portal when it re-opens on January 2nd. Wisner wasn’t as productive this past season as he was in 2024, when he rushed for over 1,000 yards, but still averaged over 4.5 yards per carry for the Longhorns.

• The Athletics might still be playing in a minor league stadium, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t spending money. The club agreed to a franchise-record deal with 24-year-old outfielder Tyler Soderstrom that will keep him with the team until at least 2033. The contract extension is worth a minimum of $86 million, but with an extra year and escalators, it could get to $131 million. The Athletics are scheduled to be playing in a new stadium in Las Vegas in the 2028 season.

What to Watch (times ET)

• 11am: Penn State vs. Clemson [Pinstripe Bowl] on ABC

• 12:30pm: Chelsea vs. Aston Villa on NBC

• 3:30pm: No. 22 Georgia Tech vs. No. 12 BYU [Pop-Tarts Bowl] on ABC

• 4:30pm: Texans vs. Chargers on NFL Network

• 5pm: Mavericks vs. Kings on NBA TV

• 7:30pm: No. 19 Virginia vs. Missouri [Gator Bowl] on ABC

• 8pm: Ravens vs. Packers on Peacock

• 9:15pm: LSU vs. No. 21 Houston [Texas Bowl] on ESPN