Core of Bowl Season Kicks Off + Trends and Stats for All 9 NBA Games

We also look at how the NFL playoff picture changed after the Christmas games

In today’s newsletter…

1. Leading Off: Leaders for the NFL season awards with 2 weeks to go

2. Game of the Day: Streaking Bulls face healthier-than-normal 76ers

3. By the Numbers: Three bowl games on today’s slate

4. Scouting Report: Booker has been on fire for Suns since return from short injury absence

5. Overtime: Where the NFL playoff picture stands after the three-game Christmas slate

1. Leading Off

Quarterback Matthew Stafford is having his best season since he led the Rams to a Super Bowl win in 2022 in his first season in Los Angeles. He’s one touchdown pass away from matching the 41 he had that year and has just five interceptions — he threw 17 in that campaign. Coming into Week 16, he led the NFL with 4,179 yards and has been sacked just 19 times.

The Rams are 11-4 and have locked up a playoff spot, and while Stafford isn’t guaranteed the MVP yet, he’s clearly the frontrunner to win the award for the first time in his career. FanDuel gives him -400 odds, with Patriots second-year quarterback Drake Maye next at +340. Last year’s winner, Bills quarterback Josh Allen, follows at +3000. So at least from the sportsbook’s perspective, it’s a two-man race at most.

Here are where the league’s other major Associated Press awards currently stand, with Coach of the Year the most competitive at this point of the season and Defensive Player of the Year the most locked up:

• Coach of the Year: Patriots Mike Vrabel (+165), 49ers Kyle Shanahan (+220), Seahawks Mike Macdonald (+440), Bears Ben Johnson (+550), Jaguars Liam Coen (+750)

• Offensive Player of the Year: SEA WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba (-210), LAR WR Puka Nacua (+220), SF RB Christian McCaffrey (+1100)

• Defensive Player of the Year: CLE DE Myles Garrett (-20000), HOU DE Will Anderson Jr. (+7500)

• Offensive Rookie of the Year: CAR WR Tetairoa McMillan (-425), NO QB Tyler Shough (+500), TB WR Emeka Egbuka (+950)

• Defensive Rookie of the Year: CLE LB Carson Schwesinger (-700), SEA S Nick Emmanwori (+700), ATL LB James Pearce Jr. (+750)

— Abe Rakov

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2. Game of the Day

Bulls Have Won 5 Straight Behind White’s Scoring Run, 76ers Are Relatively Healthy

The Bulls have won five straight, and guard Coby White has scored 20+ in five of six games. Chicago has climbed to 10th in the East during its mini-run, while Philadelphia’s 6-3 stretch has the team up to fifth. Tyrese Maxey, Paul George and Joel Embiid don’t have injury designations for the 76ers, so of course their other two starters, rookie VJ Edgecombe (illness) and Kelly Oubre Jr. (knee), are both day-to-day. Chicago is one of the worst defensive teams in the league, but can score with just about anyone.

76ers (16-12, 7-4 Away) vs. Bulls (14-15, 7-6 Home)
7:30pm on Prime Video

The Odds

• Spread: PHI (+1.5, -114), CHI (-1.5, -106)

  • 74% of the money and 58% of the bets are with PHI

  • ATS | PHI (road): 9-2, CHI (home): 7-6

• Moneyline: PHI +100, CHI -118

• Total (239.5): Over -110, Under -110

  • PHI: 13-15, CHI 14-15

Head-to-Head

Players to Watch

• PHI G Tyrese Maxey | Points: 31.0 - 13, 38, 30, 28, 12, Reb: 4.5 - 3, 2, 2, 7, 4, Ast: 6.9 - 2, 4, 9, 9, 4

• PHI C Joel Embiid | Points: 21.0 - 27, 22, 39, 16, 12, Reb: 6.6 - 6, 14, 9, 7, 6, Ast: 2.9 - 4, 1, 3, 2, 3

• CHI G Josh Giddey | Points: 20.0 - 19, 19, 17, 23, 11, Reb: 9.3 - 11, 9, 6, 11, 7, Ast: 9.1 - 15, 12, 7, 11, 5

• CHI G Coby White | Points: 21.4 - 24, 21, 13, 25, 20, Reb: 3.2 - 0, 2, 6, 5, 5, Ast: 5.1 - 4, 5, 9, 3, 5

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

3. By the Numbers

Big Ten’s 9th Team is Slight Favorite vs. Mountain West Regular Season Co-Champs

CFB

• Central Michigan (7-5) vs. Northwestern (6-6)

  • CMU (+10.5, -110), NU (-10.5, -110): 60% of the money and 59% of the bets are with NU

    • ATS | CMU: 8-4, NU: 6-4-2

  • Total (43.5) | CMU: 7-5 (23.8 ppg), NU: 5-7 (22.5 ppg)

• New Mexico (9-3) vs. Minnesota (7-5)

  • UNM (+1.5, -108), MINN (-1.5, -112): 60% of the money and 69% of the bets are with MINN

    • ATS | UNM: 7-5, MINN: 4-7-1

  • Total (43.5) | UNM: 5-7 (27.9 ppg), MINN: 6-6 (23.3 ppg)

• Florida International (7-5) vs. UTSA (6-6)

  • FIU (+5.5, -105), UTSA (-5.5, -115): 51% of the bets are with FIU but 51% of the money is with UTSA

    • ATS | FIU: 8-4, UTSA: 6-6

  • Total (60.5) | FIU: 6-6 (29.3 ppg), UTSA: 9-3 (33.8 ppg)

NBA

• Heat (15-15, 5-10 Away) vs. Hawks (15-16, 5-9 Home)

  • MIA (+4, -110) vs. ATL (-4, -110): 52% of the money and 57% of the bets are with MIA

    • ATS | MIA (road): 8-7, ATL (home): 4-10

  • Total (245.5) | MIA: 14-16 (119.2 ppg), ATL: 18-13 (118.8 ppg)

• Hornets (10-20, 3-12 Away) vs. Magic (17-13, 10-4 Home)

  • CHA (+6.5, -110) vs. ORL (-6.5, -110): 70% of the money and 56% of the bets are with ORL

    • ATS | CHA (road): 7-8, ORL (home): 6-8

  • Total (230.5) | CHA: 11-19 (115.4 ppg), ORL: 16-14 (117.2 ppg)

• Celtics (18-11, 8-6 Away) vs. Pacers (6-24, 5-11 Home)

  • BOS (-8.5, -110) vs. IND (+8.5, -110): 73% of the money and 53% of the bets are with BOS

    • ATS | BOS (road): 8-6, IND (home): 9-7

  • Total (221.5) | BOS: 13-16 (116.0 ppg), IND: 11-19 (109.2 ppg)

• Bucks (12-18, 4-10 Away) vs, Grizzlies (14-16, 6-8 Home)

  • MIL (+5, -110) vs. MEM (-5, -110): 85% of the money is with MEM but 56% of the bets are with MIL

    • ATS | MIL (road): 6-8, MEM (home): 6-8

  • Total (226.5) | MIL: 12-18 (113.0 ppg), MEM: 11-19 (115.0 ppg)

• Clippers (8-21, 3-13 Away) vs, Trail Blazers (12-18, 5-8 Home)

  • LAC (-1.5, -112) vs. POR (+1.5, -108): 76% of the money and 57% of the bets are with LAC

    • ATS | LAC (road): 7-9, POR (home): 7-6

  • Total (225.5) | LAC: 15-14 (111.2 ppg), POR: 18-12 (117.1 ppg)

4. Scouting Report

Three of NBA’s Best Scorers Going Up Against Some of League’s Worst Defenses Tonight

• Pistons G Cade Cunningham (at Jazz)

  • Points: 27.5 (26.4 - 23, 14, 22, 29, 32), Reb: 6.5 (6.4 - 7, 6, 10, 10, 4), Ast: 10.5 (9.4 - 14, 9, 10, 9, 10)

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

  • Notes: Cunningham has scored under his season average in three straight games, but went for 31 points in his last matchup against Utah, a 114-103 win on November 5th. He was 13-28 from the floor and added 10 assists along with three rebounds.

• Suns G Devin Booker (at Pelicans)

  • Points: 26.5 (25.4 - 21, 38, 25, 27), Reb: 3.5 (4.1 - 2, 1, 2, 6), Ast: 7.5 (6.6 - 11, 5, 2, 7)

  • NO - L1 (5-5 L10) | Points: 122.8 (27th), Reb: 45.4 (00), Ast: 29.2 (28th)

  • Notes: Booker has showed no signs of rust in two games against both the Lakers and Warriors after missing three and a half with an injury. He scored just 19 points in a matchup against New Orleans in November, but that was mainly because it was a Phoenix blowout (121-98). Booker was 8-13 from the floor and added three assists, but didn’t record a rebound.

• Raptors F Brandon Ingram (at Wizards)

  • Points: 24.5 (21.7 - 12, 19, 24, 29, 28), Reb: 6.5 (5.8 - 6, 5, 4, 8, 5), Ast: 4.5 (3.8 - 2, 3, 7, 3, 5)

  • WAS - L2 (3-7 L10) | Points: 126.1 (29th), Reb: 49.4 (30th), Ast: 29.6 (29th)

  • Notes: Ingram has had two below-average offensive games, but the Wizards can cure a slump. He scored 24 points in a 140-110 Raptors win when these two played last month, with half of those points coming at the free throw line. Ingram added eight rebounds and six assists in that matchup.

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

5. Overtime

In the News

• The three Christmas Day games helped clear up the NFL playoff picture a bit, as Detroit is now eliminated from the postseason after its 23-10 loss to Minnesota. The Vikings victory also assured the Packers of a playoff berth. The Broncos 20-13 win over the Chiefs didn’t solve anything, but means the Patriots are playing catch-up in the race for the No. 1 seed in the AFC this weekend and the Chargers can’t afford to lose to the Texans if they also want a chance to catch the Broncos.

• Penn State arguably ran the worst head coaching search this year but ended up with the guy that both college and NFL teams have coveted for years in former Iowa State coach Matt Campbell. ESPN has a deep-dive on the 58-day embarrassment-turned-victory for Nittany Lions athletic director Pat Kraft, who said, “If I don't hire the right person, my career is over. So it’s very serious to me. … If I don't find the right person, in two years, they will fire my ass and I don't get another AD job. How could you f- up Penn State?’”

• A decade ago Missouri was home to two NFL teams, but in a few years the state will have zero. While the Chiefs’ move 30 miles away across the border to Kansas isn’t quite as dramatic as the Rams’ relocation to Los Angeles, the feelings are similar for Missourians on the other side of the state. Things could get worse for the Show-Me State, as the Royals, who currently play in the same complex as the Chiefs, are considering fleeing for Kansas as well after voters didn’t approve a sales tax extension that would have paid for stadium renovations.

• A 2023 second-round NBA Draft pick who played professionally in Europe is headed to college and is reportedly immediately eligible to play for his new school. James Nnaji, a 21-year-old who had a professional contract in Europe (most recently in Turkey) was drafted 31st by the Pistons before going abroad. Nnaji was also on the Knicks Summer League team in 2025. After none of that panned out, he decided to enroll at Baylor and can now play right away.

• Spain’s Aitana Bonmatí is the top women’s soccer player in the world, according to ESPN’s new rankings. Bonmatí also held the position in last year’s top-50. The best player from the United States: Emily Fox, the 27-year-old who plays for Arsenal. Read the full list to learn about all seven Americans on the list.

What to Watch (times ET)

• 12:30pm: Wrexham vs. Sheffield United on Paramount+

• 1pm: Central Michigan vs. Northwestern [GameAbove Sports Bowl] on ESPN

• 3pm: Manchester United vs. Newcastle on USA

• 4:30pm: New Mexico vs. Minnesota [Rate Bowl] on ESPN

• 7:30pm: 76ers vs. Bulls on Prime Video

• 8pm: Florida International vs. UTSA [First Responder Bowl] on ESPN

• 10pm: Clippers vs. Trail Blazers on Prime Video