Monday’s 6-pack:
— Oregon 83, Maryland 79- Ducks’ bench outscored Maryland’s, 26-12.
— Memphis 68, North Texas 64- Memphis shot 61.3% inside the arc.
— UConn 87, Providence 84- Friars led 39-27 at halftime.
— Murray State 66, Drake 59- Drake’s 2nd straight loss, after a 12-0 start.
— Iona 74, Siena 73- Iona had three guys score in double figures, all subs.
— FAU 78, East Carolina 76- Pirates were only 13-25 on foul line.
Quote of the Day
“He always (puts the team first), that’s why you love him. We’re lucky to have him. He’s under-appreciated throughout the media and the league. He’s one of one. He deserves that. You saw the stadium erupt. You saw the sideline erupt. You can tell how much people care about him and what that means for everybody around him.”
Bucs’ QB Baker Mayfield, talking about WR Mike Evans
Monday’s quiz
Which current college basketball coach, whose team is in the top 25 right now, was an actor in the 1994 movie,
Blue Chips?
Sunday’s quiz
Joe Kapp was quarterback for the Vikings,, the first time they played in a Super Bowl.
Saturday’s quiz
Oakland Raiders lost the second Super Bowl, 33-14 to Green Bay.
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Lions 31,
Vikings 9
Detroit gets the #1 seed in the NFC and a bye next week.
RB Gibbs had 28 touches for 170 yards, four TD’s.
Lions ran ball for 178 yards (5.7 yards/carry)
Detroit won 14 of its last 15 games (11-4 ATS).
Last five weeks, Lions scored 36.2 points/game.
Lions led this game 10-6 at halftime.
Minnesota had its nine-game win streak snapped.
Vikings allowed 31-30-31 points in their three losses.
Vikings were in red zone four times, kicked 2 FG’s on those drives.
Minnesota goes to LA to play the Rams in the playoffs next week.
Buccaneers 27,
Saints 19
Tampa Bay clinched the NFC South with a win here.
Tampa Bay ran ball 31 times for 179 yards (5.8 yards/carry).
Bucs are 6-1 since their bye, scoring 31.9 points/game.
Bucs host Washington in the playoffs next week.
WR Evans passed 1,000 receiving yards for the 11th year in a row.
Saints led this game 16-6 at halftime.
Saints in 1st half: 45 plays, 231 yards, 16 points
Saints in 2nd half: 22 plays, 46 yards, three points.
Tampa Bay was 10-16 on third down, Saints 3-13.
New Orleans lost its last four games, outscored 106-48.
Panthers 44,
Falcons 38 OT
QB Young threw for 251 yards, 3 TD’s, also ran for 2 TD’s.
Falcons forced OT, scoring a TD with 0:46 left in regulation.
Last six weeks, Carolina gave up 215.2 rushing yards/game.
Panthers were 7-2 ATS in their last nine games.
Over was 13-4 in Carolina games this year.
Falcons led this game 24-17 at halftime.
Atlanta lost despite gaining 537 yards (310 passing).
Falcons lost six of last eight games, after a 6-3 start.
WR London caught 10 passes for 187 yards.
Falcons were eliminated when Tampa Bay beat the Saints.
Broncos 38,
Chiefs 0
NFL made the Chiefs show up, couldn’t make them try hard.
Broncos outgained Kansas City, 479-98; Mahomes/others didn’t play.
Bengals were eliminated when Denver won this game.
Denver led this game 24-0 at halftime.
Chiefs were already the AFC’s #1 seed, have a bye next week.
Broncos’ win clinched their first playoff spot since 2015 season.
Broncos were 10-14 on third down, Chiefs 1-9.
Denver is 9-2 if they score more than 20 points, 1-5 if they score 20 or less.
Denver’s team total: over 12-4-1
Broncos visit Buffalo in the playoffs next week.
Texans 23,
Titans 14
Tennessee’s loss gets them the #1 pick in April’s draft.
Titans were 0-6 SU/1-5 ATS last six games, giving up 27.8 ppg
Tennessee was 1-13 ATS in its last fourteen games.
Titans went 1-7 SU/0-8 ATS at home this year.
Since 2018, Tennessee is 13-20 ATS as a home favorite.
RB Pierce had a 92-yard TD run in the second quarter.
Houston ran ball 29 times for 207 yards (7.1 yards/carry).
Texans led this game 16-3 at halftime.
Starting QB Stroud only played the first series of the game.
Houston hosts the Chargers in next week’s playoffs.
Patriots 23,
Bills 16
New England wins, slips from #1 to #4 in April’s draft.
After the game, Patriots fired coach Mayo, after only one season.
#3 QB Milton was 22-29/241 passing in his NFL debut.
New England’s win snapped a six-game losing streak.
Buffalo LB Miller earned a $1.5M bonus by getting his 6th sack this year.
QB Allen played one snap, to extend his consecutive starts streak.
Backup QB’s Trubisky/White were combined 18-32/129 passing.
Buffalo converted 6-15 on third down, only 1-4 on fourth down.
Bills’ only TD in second half came on a 16-yard drive.
Buffalo hosts Denver in the playoffs next week.
Colts 26,
Jaguars 23 OT
Jaguars forced OT with a 53-yard FG with 1:44 left to play.
Colts led this game 20-13 at halftime.
Jaguars were 1-12 when they allowed more than 16 points.
Jaguars were 5-3 ATS as a road underdog this season.
Jaguars are 7-2 ATS in last nine AFC South road games.
RB Taylor ran ball 34 times for 177 yards and a TD.
39-year old QB Flacco is now 115-92 as an NFL starter.
Colts in first half: 38 plays, 274 yards, 20 points.
Colts in second half: 33 plays, 133 yards, 3 points.
Colts said that GM Ballard/coach Steichen will be back in 2025.
Famous birthdays, January 6th:
Harold Jackson, 79
Howie Long, 65
Sean Landeta, 63
Norm Charlton, 62
Charles Haley, 61
Tim McDonald, 60
Gilbert Arenas, 43
Ndamukong Suh, 38
Kevin Gausman, 34
Jameis Winston, 31
Commanders 23,
Cowboys 19
Backup QB Mariota was 15-18/161 passing, playing the 2nd half.
Commanders in 2nd half: 30 plays, 215 yards, 20 points.
Mariota threw a 5-yard TD pass to McLaurin with 0:05 left for the win.
Washington won last five games, 30.2 points/game.
Commanders visit Tampa Bay in the playoffs next week.
Cowboys lost despite outgaining Washington, 378-269.
Dallas led this game 6-3 at halftime.
#3 QB Lance was 20-34/244 passing in his 5th NFL start (2-3).
Dallas was 2-7 SU/ATS at home this season.
Cowboys were 2-10 when they allowed more than 20 points.
Eagles 20,
Giants 13
#3 QB McKee was 27-41/269 passing (2 TDs) in his first NFL start
Philly led this game 10-0 at halftime.
Philly is 14-3 SU in its last 17 games against the Giants.
Eagles are 12-1 SU/9-4 ATS in their last thirteen games.
Eagles host Green Bay in the playoffs next week.
Giants wound up losing 11 of their last 12 games.
Giants were 0-6 SU/1-5 ATS in NFC East games this year.
Last 12 games, Giants were outscored 165-67 in first half.
This year, Giants were 2-5 ATS as a road underdog.
Under was 11-6 in their games this season.
Bears 24,
Packers 22
Bears kicked a 51-yard FG at the gun to post an upset win.
Win snapped Chicago’s 10-game losing skid.
Bears opened the scoring with a 94-yard punt return in 1st quarter.
Chicago snapped an 0-11 SU/2-9 skid in games at Lambeau Field.
Bears scored 24+ points in their wins (0-11 score less than 24)
Green Bay QB Love hurt his hand/elbow (check status)
Packers ran ball 33 times for 183 yards (5.5 yards/carry)
Packers are 2-3 in their last five games, after a 9-3 start.
Backup QB Willis was 10-13/136 passing, in relief of Love.
Packers visit Philadelphia next week, in the playoffs,
Seahawks 30,
Rams 25
This was first game in NFL history with three made FG’s of 55+ yards.
Backup QB Garoppolo was 27-41/334 passing in his first ’24 start.
Rams outgained Seattle 403-336.
Rams have home playoff game vs Minnesota next week.
13 of the Rams’ 17 games were decided by 8 or fewer points.
QB Smith earned a $2M bonus when Seattle won its 10th game TY.
Seahawks drove 70 yards, scored game-winning TD with 3:19 left.
Seattle was 6-11 on third down, Rams 5-14.
Seahawks were 6-0 SU/4-2 ATS in their last six road games.
Seattle allowed 26+ points in losses, 21 or less in wins.
Jets 32,
Dolphins 20
QB Rodgers was 23-36/274 passing, with four TD’s.
WR Adams caught six passes for 88 yards and a TD.
Jets led this game 15-6 at halftime.
Jets in second half: 30 plays, 179 yards, 17 points.
Jets were 5-4 TY when they scored 21+ points.
Denver’s easy win eliminated Miami from playoff race.
Miami was 1-8 when it gives up 20+ points, 7-1 if they allowed 19 or less.
Dolphins converted 3-3 on 4th down, but only 3-12 on 3rd down.
Miami is 10-13 ATS in last 23 games with spread of 3 or less points.
Backup QB Huntley is 5-10 as an NFL starter, 2-3 this year.
Chargers 34,
Raiders 20
Chargers sweep the Raiders for first time since 2018.
Chargers are 6-1 ATS this season as road favorites.
LA is 8-0 scoring 24+ points, 3-6 scoring 23 or fewer points.
Bolts won their last three games, scoring 34-40-34 points.
Chargers visit Houston in the playoffs next week.
Raiders were 2-9 on third down, Chargers 7-14.
Bolts outgained Las Vegas, 473-264.
Chargers averaged 9.1 yards/pass attempt.
Chargers led this game 17-10 at halftime.
Raiders were 2-6 SU/3-5 ATS at home this season.
Cardinals 47,
49ers 24
Arizona led this game 20-17 at halftime.
Cardinals in 2nd half: 29 plays, 229 yards, 27 points.
QB Murray was 25-35/242 passing, with four TD’s.
Arizona was 7-2 scoring 24+ points, 1-7 scoring less than 24.
Cardinals swept San Francisco for 6th time in ten years.
49ers lost seven of last eight games, were 1-8 ATS since their bye.
49ers were 1-10 when they score less than 30 points.
Last seven weeks, 49ers were minus-13 in turnovers.
49ers were 2-6 SU/1-7 ATS on road this year.
Backup QB Dobbs was 29-43/326 passing (2 TD’s/2 INTs)
