Elite College Football Showdown: Georgia and Ole Miss Headline Thursday’s Premier Sports Slate, Joined by NBA, NHL, and College Hoops Action.

A significant shift in the collegiate football landscape has set the stage for a compelling College Football Playoff quarterfinal, as defending champion Ohio State’s unexpected exit following a loss to Miami on Wednesday has opened the path for a new national title contender. This development positions the Georgia Bulldogs, two-time champions in 2021 and 2022, to potentially reclaim their dominant position at the pinnacle of college football.

The No. 3 seed Georgia Bulldogs (12-1), beneficiaries of a first-round bye in the expanded 2025 College Football Playoff tournament, are poised to commence their championship pursuit in the Sugar Bowl. They will face the No. 6 seed Ole Miss Rebels (12-1) in a highly anticipated quarterfinal matchup scheduled for 8 p.m. ET on Thursday, January 1, at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. This contest marks a pivotal moment for both SEC programs as they vie for a coveted spot in the CFP semifinals.

Georgia enters the Sugar Bowl with considerable rest, having been idle since their emphatic 28-7 victory over Alabama in the SEC Championship on December 6. That win extended the Bulldogs’ impressive winning streak to nine games, showcasing their resilience and strategic prowess. Notably, their solitary loss this season came against the same Ole Miss Rebels on October 18, a game where Georgia staged a remarkable comeback from a nine-point fourth-quarter deficit to secure a 43-35 victory. That earlier encounter provides a compelling narrative for this rematch, highlighting both teams’ offensive capabilities and Georgia’s capacity for late-game heroics. Head coach Kirby Smart’s Bulldogs, known for their suffocating defense and methodical offense, have utilized the extended break to fine-tune their strategy, aiming to replicate their past championship successes.

The Ole Miss Rebels, under the guidance of head coach Lane Kiffin, arrive in New Orleans riding a six-game winning streak, having decisively defeated the No. 11 seed Tulane Green Wave 41-10 on December 20 in the CFP first round. Quarterback Trinidad Chambliss played a pivotal role in that victory, contributing one touchdown pass and two rushing touchdowns, demonstrating his dual-threat capability. Their only loss of the season remains the aforementioned regular-season clash with Georgia, a result they will undoubtedly seek to avenge. The Rebels’ high-octane offense, currently ranked 10th nationally with an average of 37.5 points per game, has consistently produced, scoring at least 30 points in each of their last seven outings. This offensive firepower, combined with their recent playoff victory, suggests Ole Miss is well-prepared to challenge Georgia’s formidable defense.

Related News :

• Ohtani and Judge Secure Coveted MVP Honors as NFL Playoff Races Tighten and College Football’s Elite Face Pivotal Showdowns
• Clippers Initiate Abrupt Departure of Chris Paul Amidst Tumultuous Season
• NBA Rivals Clash, Top-Ranked College Hoops Headline November 25th Sports Slate
• NBA’s Opening Month Reveals Early Season Shocks and Stellar Performances Across the League
• FanDuel Offers $150 Bonus Bets for Wednesday’s NBA and MACtion Slate, Featuring Key Matchups and Expert Picks

In terms of betting lines, Georgia is listed as a 6.5-point favorite against Ole Miss in the latest consensus college football odds. The previous regular-season encounter between these SEC rivals saw a combined total of 78 points, significantly surpassing most projected totals. Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton accounted for four touchdown passes in that game, three of which were hauled in by tight end Lawson Luckie, while Ole Miss’s Chambliss contributed three scores, two on the ground. Despite Georgia’s stout defense, which ranks eighth nationally in points allowed (15.9 per game), the SportsLine Projection Model anticipates another high-scoring affair, with the "Over 55.5" hitting in 51% of its simulations. Conversely, expert Eric Cohen leans towards the "Under 56.5," citing the recent strong performances of Georgia’s defense.

NBA Action: Celtics Seek Road Victory Against Struggling Kings

Thursday’s NBA schedule features five matchups, highlighted by an inter-conference clash between the Boston Celtics (20-12) and the Sacramento Kings (8-25) at 10 p.m. ET from the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento. The Celtics, currently on a five-game road trip, have demonstrated solid form, improving to 2-1 on the journey with a 129-119 triumph over the Utah Jazz on Tuesday. Boston has won 10 of their last 13 contests, and five of six since a brief mid-December slump that saw them lose to the Milwaukee Bucks and Detroit Pistons. Four of those five recent victories have been by double-digit margins, underscoring their current dominance.

In stark contrast, the Sacramento Kings are enduring a difficult stretch, entering Thursday’s game on the heels of consecutive blowout losses in Los Angeles. They suffered a 24-point defeat (125-101) to the Lakers on Sunday, followed by a substantial 41-point loss (131-90) to the Clippers two nights later. These results reflect a challenging period for the Kings, who sit near the bottom of the Western Conference standings.

For betting enthusiasts, the Boston Celtics are positioned as 9.5-point favorites against Sacramento. The SportsLine Projection Model indicates a strong likelihood of Boston covering the spread, doing so in 70% of its simulations, suggesting that while Sacramento may not face another monumental rout, a comfortable Celtics victory is probable. Meanwhile, SportsLine props expert PropBetGuy, who holds a 26-9 record (+1536) on his last 35 NBA player prop picks, recommends taking the "Over 21.5 points + rebounds" for Kings rookie center Maxime Raynaud. Raynaud has exceeded this combined total in seven of his eight games as a starter, indicating his significant impact on the stat sheet despite the team’s struggles.

NHL Spotlight: Lightning Aim to Extend Streak and Avenge Loss Against Kings

The NHL’s Thursday slate includes six games, with a compelling matchup featuring the Tampa Bay Lightning (23-13-3) visiting the Los Angeles Kings (16-13-9) at 7 p.m. ET at Crypto.com Arena. The Lightning arrive in Los Angeles on an impressive five-game winning streak, a resurgence that followed a brief three-game slide where two losses were decided by a single goal. Tampa Bay will also be seeking retribution, as their current winning streak began after a 2-1 home loss to these same Kings on December 18. This desire for revenge, coupled with their strong recent form, adds an extra layer of intensity to the contest.

The Los Angeles Kings, meanwhile, have struggled on home ice this season, posting a 5-8-4 record at Crypto.com Arena. Their overall form has also dipped, with seven losses in their last nine contests (2-5-2), though one of those victories was a narrow one-goal triumph. This inconsistent performance sets up a challenging encounter against a red-hot Lightning squad.

The betting market sees Los Angeles as -122 favorites on the money line, which implies the Lightning are +1.5 (-242) on the puck line. Despite this, the SportsLine Projection Model expresses surprise at the spread, with its simulations indicating that Tampa Bay covers the +1.5 line in 80% of scenarios. However, SportsLine expert Matt Severance, boasting a 10-3 record (+660.5) on his last 13 NHL money line picks, sides with the Kings (-130). Severance’s rationale hinges on two key factors: Tampa Bay playing on the second night of a back-to-back, and the anticipated return of Kings goaltender Darcy Kuemper from a 2.5-week absence due to an upper-body injury, which could significantly bolster Los Angeles’s defensive efforts.

College Hoops: Missouri Valley Conference Rivalry Heats Up as Bradley Visits Belmont

Nearly two dozen college basketball games are scheduled for Thursday evening, highlighted by a significant Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) showdown between the Bradley Braves (10-4, 3-0 MVC) and the Belmont Bruins (12-2, 2-1 MVC) at 7 p.m. ET at the Curb Event Center Arena in Nashville. This early-season conference battle carries considerable weight for both teams’ MVC title aspirations.

The Bradley Braves enter Nashville in formidable form, having extended their winning streak to seven games with a 76-68 victory over Evansville on Monday. Their undefeated record in conference play underscores their strong start to the season and their potential to contend for the MVC championship. Conversely, the Belmont Bruins saw their four-game winning streak snapped on Monday with a narrow 81-80 overtime loss to Indiana State. Despite the setback, Belmont has demonstrated strong performances throughout the season and will be eager to defend their home court and solidify their conference standing.

Belmont is favored by 4.5 points against Bradley. When considering the total points, the Braves and their opponents have only surpassed the projected total for this matchup once in their last seven games, a contest that required three overtimes to do so. In contrast, six of the Bruins’ last eight games have seen the combined score reach at least 159 points, indicating a higher-scoring tendency for Belmont’s matchups. The SportsLine Projection Model forecasts a high-scoring affair, with the "Over 153.5" hitting in more than 62% of its simulations. However, SportsLine expert Larry Hartstein, who boasts a 7-2-1 record (+480) on his last 10 against-the-spread picks involving Belmont, recommends taking Bradley +5.5 (-110). Hartstein’s analysis highlights Belmont’s struggles as home favorites this season, where they hold an 0-5 ATS record, and the historical context that Belmont has never defeated Bradley by more than three points in their all-time series.

💬 Tinggalkan Komentar dengan Facebook

Author Profile

Anshari Taslim

Latest entries

• NBAJanuary 2, 2026Elite College Football Showdown: Georgia and Ole Miss Headline Thursday’s Premier Sports Slate, Joined by NBA, NHL, and College Hoops Action.
• NBAJanuary 1, 2026DraftKings Unveils $200 Bonus Bet Offer for High-Stakes College Football and NBA Showdowns
• NBAJanuary 1, 2026San Antonio Spurs’ Cornerstone Victor Wembanyama Sustains Hyperextended Knee, Early Tests Indicate No Major Structural Damage.
• NBADecember 31, 2025Warriors vs. Hornets prediction, odds, time, spread: 2025 NBA Wednesday picks from proven model