AFC East Rivalry, Top-10 College Hoops, and Key Conference Showdowns Highlight Thursday's Sports Action

The sporting landscape on Thursday, November 13, is headlined by an AFC East clash featuring the New York Jets and the surging New England Patriots, alongside a marquee college basketball matchup between No. 2 Purdue and No. 8 Alabama. The slate also includes a three-game NBA schedule, a full complement of college basketball contests, and a critical Sun Belt football game.

All times listed are Eastern.

NFL Focus: Jets at Patriots

Related News :

NBA’s Early Season Unveils Surprising Trends: Wembanyama’s Dominance, Reaves’ All-Star Bid, and Shifting Power Dynamics.
Today’s top games to watch, best bets, odds: Eagles at Packers, NBA, college basketball and more
NBA Power Rankings: Early Season Shifts See Lakers, Rockets Climb as Blazers and Bulls Emerge as Surprises
NBA Tuesday: Celtics-76ers, Warriors-Thunder Spotlight Six-Game Slate, Betting Model Projects +700 Parlay Opportunity
College Football Playoff Race Intensifies: BYU-Texas Tech Highlights Crucial Week 11 Slate Amidst NBA and NHL Action

Game Details: 8:15 p.m. | Foxborough, Mass. | Prime Video | Stream: Fubo (Try for free)

The New York Jets, often a subject of derision, enter Thursday Night Football with an unexpected two-game winning streak. These recent victories, against a Joe Burrow-less Cincinnati Bengals and a struggling Cleveland Browns team with a combined 5-13 record, represent a significant morale boost for a franchise that started its season with seven consecutive losses, many occurring in dramatic fashion. Despite the context of their opponents, any victory is a welcome development for Gang Green.

However, the Jets’ modest streak faces a formidable challenge against the New England Patriots, a team enjoying a much more dominant run. New England (8-2) co-owns the NFL’s best record alongside the Denver Broncos and Indianapolis Colts and has won seven consecutive games. The Patriots are installed as significant 12.5-point favorites for this AFC East encounter.

New York’s recent 27-20 victory over Cleveland was remarkable for its offensive inefficiency, as the team managed only 42 passing yards—the third-fewest in a franchise win. The Jets compensated with a dominant special teams performance, returning both a kickoff and a punt for touchdowns. This reliance on non-offensive scoring underscores their persistent struggles on that side of the ball, where they rank 28th in the league with an average of 285.6 total yards per game. SportsLine analysts note the Jets have recorded fewer than 55 passing yards in three games this season, a statistic that bodes poorly against a robust New England defense.

Conversely, the Patriots arrive in Week 11 following a 28-23 victory against the NFC South-leading Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Their offensive production was highlighted by three touchdowns of at least 50 yards from rookies, including two from running back TreVeyon Henderson and one from wide receiver Kyle Williams. This multi-faceted attack, coupled with a stingy defense, presents a significant hurdle for the Jets. New England’s defense ranks fourth in the league in yards per rush allowed, a statistic that, combined with the Jets’ passing difficulties, suggests a challenging evening for New York’s offense.

Betting Insights: SportsLine’s projection model favors the Over 43.5 for total points in this contest, assigning a "B" grade with a 74% probability of the teams combining for 44 points or more. Expert R.J. White, however, recommends the Patriots at -10.5, emphasizing New England’s defensive strength against the Jets’ offensive woes. White states, "The Patriots rank fourth in yards per rush allowed, and they don’t have to worry about getting beat by the pass in this game."

NBA Action: Raptors at Cavaliers

Game Details: 7 p.m. | Cleveland | NBA TV | Stream: Fubo (Try for free)

An intriguing Eastern Conference matchup features two in-form teams as the Cleveland Cavaliers host the Toronto Raptors at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Both the Cavaliers (8-4) and Raptors (6-5) have won five of their last six games, indicating strong recent momentum.

The Cavaliers are set to welcome back key players Donovan Mitchell and forward Evan Mobley, who were rested during Wednesday night’s victory due to load management protocols. The status of All-Star guard Darius Garland, who is nursing a toe injury, remains questionable ahead of tip-off. Their return is expected to significantly bolster Cleveland’s lineup.

The Toronto Raptors, meanwhile, have established themselves as one of the league’s better defensive units, particularly in limiting opposing three-point shooting. They currently allow opponents to convert just 33% from beyond the arc, which ranks as the fourth-best defensive mark in the NBA. This defensive strength will be a critical factor against a Cavaliers team that relies heavily on its perimeter scoring.

Betting Insights: The SportsLine projection model indicates a 55.2% chance for the teams to combine for 238 points or fewer, assigning a "B" grade to Under 238.5 (-105). Expert Stephen Oh specifically targets Donovan Mitchell’s individual performance, recommending the Under 3.5 total 3-point field goals at +110. Oh’s rationale is based on Toronto’s robust perimeter defense, stating, "I don’t see Mitchell forcing a lot of threes tonight."

College Basketball Showcase: No. 2 Purdue at No. 8 Alabama

Game Details: 7 p.m. | Tuscaloosa, Ala. | ESPN2 | Stream: Fubo (Try for free)

An early-season top-10 showdown will electrify Coleman Coliseum as the No. 2 Purdue Boilermakers travel to face the No. 8 Alabama Crimson Tide. Both programs harbor national championship aspirations, making this a pivotal non-conference contest.

The Alabama Crimson Tide (2-0) enter the game on the heels of an impressive 103-96 upset victory over No. 5 St. John’s at Madison Square Garden. Guard Labaron Philon was a standout performer for the Tide, leading the team with 25 points on an efficient 10-of-17 shooting. Alabama’s high-octane offense and recent triumph against a ranked opponent suggest they are well-prepared for this elite matchup.

The Purdue Boilermakers (2-0) have had a longer layoff, with six days since their last outing, an 87-77 win over Oakland that was described as "rather dull." However, Purdue is set to receive a significant boost with the expected return of preseason All-America forward Trey Kaufman-Renn. Kaufman-Renn has been sidelined with a hip pointer and sore back, and his presence is anticipated to provide a substantial lift to the Boilermakers’ frontcourt depth and scoring ability.

Betting Insights: The SportsLine Projection Model favors the home team, giving Alabama a 61% chance to cover the -2.5 spread. The model assigns a "B" grade to Crimson Tide -2.5, indicating a strong statistical leaning towards an Alabama victory by at least three points.

College Football Battle: Troy at Old Dominion

Game Details: 7:30 p.m. | Norfolk, Va. | ESPN | Stream: Fubo (Try for free)

A crucial Sun Belt Conference matchup with significant title implications is on tap as the Old Dominion Monarchs host the Troy Trojans at S.B. Ballard Stadium. Both teams are fighting to remain relevant in their respective divisional title races.

The Old Dominion Monarchs (6-3 overall, 3-2 in Sun Belt play) currently sit in third place in the East division. To have any realistic chance of reaching the conference championship game, they must secure a victory in this home fixture and hope for other results to go their way.

The Troy Trojans (6-3 overall, 4-1 in Sun Belt play) hold a stronger position, occupying second place in the West division, just one game behind Southern Miss. Their regular season culminates with a critical showdown against Southern Miss on November 29, making every game leading up to it essential. For Thursday’s game, the Trojans are expected to see the return of starting quarterback Goose Crowder, who has been out since September 13 due to a shoulder injury. His return could significantly bolster Troy’s offensive capabilities.

Betting Insights: The SportsLine Projection Model leans towards the visiting Trojans, stating that Troy covers the +10.5 spread 59% of the time. The model assigns a "B" grade to Trojans +10.5, suggesting that Troy is likely to keep the game within a ten-point margin, if not pull off an upset.

Looking Ahead: College Football – Minnesota at No. 8 Oregon (Friday)

Game Details: 9 p.m. Friday | Eugene, Ore. | FOX | Stream: Fubo (Try for free)

Friday night features a potential "trap game" for the No. 8 Oregon Ducks as they welcome the Minnesota Golden Gophers to Autzen Stadium. The Ducks (8-1 overall, 5-1 in the Big Ten) are coming off a narrow 18-16 victory at Iowa, secured by Atticus Sappington’s 39-yard field goal with just three seconds remaining.

Oregon’s schedule remains challenging beyond Friday, with critical upcoming games against No. 17 USC and a rivalry clash at Washington. The Ducks’ potent offense, averaging 38.7 points per game, is tied for ninth in the country, but they will need to maintain focus against a Minnesota team capable of causing an upset if overlooked.

Betting Insights: The SportsLine Projection Model identifies the Over 44.5 as a strong play for this contest. The model indicates a 68% chance for the teams to combine for 45 points or more and assigns a rare "A" grade to Over 44.5 (-108), suggesting a high-scoring affair is anticipated.