Playoff Showdown in Norman, NBA Powerhouses Clash, and Top Bets Headline December 19 Sports Slate

Speculation surrounding the coaching future of Kalen DeBoer, currently at the helm of the Alabama Crimson Tide football program, has surfaced following reports indicating interest from Michigan to replace Sherrone Moore. DeBoer, however, has publicly denied any interest in other positions, stating his commitment to remain Alabama’s coach for the upcoming year. This statement aims to quell rumors, though historically, similar declarations by coaches have not always precluded subsequent departures.

Against this backdrop, the No. 9 Alabama Crimson Tide (10-3) are scheduled to face the No. 8 Oklahoma Sooners (10-2) on Friday night in a first-round College Football Playoff game. The high-stakes contest will be held in Norman, Oklahoma, with the victor earning a spot in the Rose Bowl for a quarterfinal matchup against the No. 1-seeded Indiana Hoosiers. The losing team will conclude its season.

This upcoming game marks a significant rematch from November 15, when the Sooners secured a narrow 23-21 victory over Alabama in Tuscaloosa. In that earlier encounter, Alabama notably outgained Oklahoma in total yardage, accumulating 406 yards compared to the Sooners’ 212. Despite holding a 95% win expectancy during the game, the Crimson Tide were undone by three critical turnovers, which Oklahoma converted into 17 points. For the upcoming playoff clash, Oklahoma enters as a slight 1.5-point favorite.

The Alabama offense experienced significant struggles in their SEC Championship Game loss to Georgia, recording a net of -3 rushing yards and generating a total of just 209 yards in a 28-7 defeat. A potential boost for the Crimson Tide could be the expected return of running back Jam Miller, who was sidelined during the Georgia game. Conversely, questions persist regarding the sustained effectiveness of Oklahoma’s offense, which ranks 88th nationally in total offense with an average of 353.7 yards per game and 76th in scoring offense at 26.4 points per game. Analyst Bruce Marshall highlighted that while Brent Venables’ defense was pivotal in the first game, securing a 3-0 turnover advantage, the Sooners’ offensive rhythm has been inconsistent since quarterback John Mateer sustained a wrist injury in September. The SportsLine Projection Model, which simulates college football games 10,000 times, gives Alabama a 51.0% chance to cover the 1.5-point spread, assigning a C grade to the Alabama +1.5 bet.

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The college football playoff opener serves as a marquee event on Friday, but the broader sports landscape also features five NBA matchups and a comprehensive slate of college basketball games. All listed times are Eastern.

College Football Best Bets, Where to Watch

No. 9 Alabama at No. 8 Oklahoma

Time: 8 p.m. ET
Location: Norman, Okla.
TV: ABC/ESPN
Stream: Fubo (Try for free)
SportsLine Picks: Model: Alabama +1.5 | Expert: Alabama +1.5 (Bruce Marshall)

NBA Best Bets, Where to Watch

The NBA calendar for December 19 includes several intriguing matchups.

Philadelphia 76ers at New York Knicks

Time: 7 p.m. ET
Location: New York City
TV: Prime Video
Stream: Fubo (Try for free)
SportsLine Picks: Model: Knicks -3.5 | Expert: 76ers +5 (Matt Severance)

The New York Knicks, recently crowned NBA Cup champions, extended their winning streak to seven games on Thursday night with a 114-113 victory over the Indiana Pacers, sealed by Jalen Brunson’s go-ahead 3-pointer with 4.4 seconds remaining. This win followed their decisive triumph against the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Cup title game in Las Vegas. The Knicks’ busy schedule sees them playing their third game in four nights and the second half of a back-to-back on Friday. In contrast, the Philadelphia 76ers have been afforded rest since Sunday. Analyst Matt Severance suggested that the Knicks might be "physically and mentally gassed from an incredibly hectic week." However, the SportsLine Projection Model projects New York with a 67.0% chance to cover the -3.5 spread, assigning a B grade to the Knicks -3.5 bet.

Oklahoma City Thunder at Minnesota Timberwolves

Time: 9:30 p.m. ET
Location: Minneapolis
TV: Prime Video
Stream: Fubo (Try for free)
SportsLine Picks: Model: Thunder -7.5

The reigning NBA champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder, demonstrated a strong bounce-back performance after their surprising loss to the Spurs in the NBA Cup semifinals. They secured a dominant 122-101 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday night in Oklahoma City. This win further improved the Thunder’s defensive rating to 103.0 points per 100 possessions. To contextualize this defensive prowess, the statistical difference between Oklahoma City’s defensive rating and that of the second-best defensive team, the Detroit Pistons (110.9), is greater than the difference between the Pistons and the 25th-best defensive team, the Brooklyn Nets (117.6). Despite the Thunder also playing the second half of a back-to-back, the SportsLine Projection Model indicates that Oklahoma City has a 52.0% chance to cover the -7.5 spread, with a C grade assigned to the Thunder -7.5 bet.

College Basketball Best Bets, Where to Watch

Villanova vs. Wisconsin

Time: 8 p.m. ET
Location: Milwaukee (Fiserv Forum)
TV: FOX
Stream: Fubo (Try for free)
SportsLine Picks: Model: Wildcats +3.5

The Wisconsin Badgers (7-5) are set to face the Villanova Wildcats at Fiserv Forum, aiming to rebound from a defensively lackluster performance. In their recent 90-60 blowout loss to Nebraska, Wisconsin allowed the Cornhuskers to shoot 54.1% from the field and 36.7% from beyond the 3-point arc. According to Kenpom analytics, the Badgers currently rank 49th nationally in defensive rating, at 100.6 points per 100 possessions. On Friday, they will contend with a Villanova team that ranks 23rd in the nation in offensive rating, averaging 120.0. The SportsLine Projection Model suggests the Wildcats have a 68.0% chance to cover the +3.5 spread, giving a B grade to the Villanova +3.5 bet.

Looking Ahead: Saturday’s Key College Football Matchup

Miami at Texas A&M

Time: Noon Saturday
Location: College Station, Texas (Kyle Field)
TV: ABC/ESPN
Stream: Fubo (Try for free)
SportsLine Picks: Model: Texas A&M -3.5 | Expert: Miami +3.5 (Matt Severance)

A berth in the CFP quarterfinals and the opportunity to face Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl will be at stake when the No. 11 Texas A&M Aggies (11-1) host the No. 10 Miami Hurricanes (10-2) at Kyle Field. Quarterback play is anticipated to be a decisive factor in this contest. Aggies quarterback Marcel Reed has thrown 10 interceptions this season, with six of those occurring over his last five games. Hurricanes quarterback Carson Beck has also recorded 10 interceptions this year. Notably, the Texas A&M defense has registered only three interceptions throughout the entire season. Analyst Matt Severance expressed confidence in Miami’s talent, stating, "I honestly believe Miami is one of the top-five most talented teams in the country if [coach] Mario Cristobal would just get out of his own way sometimes." In contrast, the SportsLine Projection Model predicts the Aggies have a 59.0% chance to cover the -3.5 spread, assigning a strong A grade to the A&M -3.5 bet.

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