Who’s hotNCAAF: Florida State is 6-0-1 against the number in its last seven bowl games.
NCAAF: Washington is 11-5-1 against the spread in its last 17 overall.
NBA: Denver is 29-11-1 against the spread in its last 41 meetings with Portland.
NHL: Philadelphia has won four of its last five games against Pittsburgh.
NCAAB: Vanderbilt is 8-2-2 against the spread in its last 12 road games.
Who’s notNCAAF: Notre Dame is 2-6 against the spread in its last eight bowl games.
NCAAF: The under is 4-16-1 in Baylor’s last 21 overall.
NBA: Chicago has dropped six straight against the number dating back to last season.
NHL: The New York Islanders have dropped seven of their last 10 overall and four straight home games.
NCAAB: Rutgers is 0-6 against the number this season and 0-8 ATS in its last eight home games.
Key stat16 – The Baylor Bears have punted the ball just 16 times during the five game winning streak that preceded Thursday’s date with Washington in the Alamo Bowl. During that span, the Bears are averaging 46.4 points and have scored 31 touchdowns. Baylor is set as a 9.5-point favorite and a whopping 76 percent of
Covers.com Consensus bettors are backing the Bears.
Injury that shouldn’t be overlookedFestus Ezeli, Vanderbilt Commodores – Vanderbilt’s starting center is questionable for Thursday’s game against Marquette as he deals with knee tendinitis. The 6-foot-11 center averaged 13 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.6 blocks last season but has played just two games this season due to injury and suspension issues. The Commodores opened as 8.5-point underdogs.
Game of the day Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. Florida State Seminoles (3.5, 46)
Notable quotable"It's not been two years or three years since we've been on the top, it's been 10. That's something we have to change." – Florida State Seminoles coach Jimbo Fisher.
Notes and tipsDallas Stars goaltender Kari Lehtonen will return to the ice for Thursday's game against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Coach Glen Gulutzan also announced that defensemen Sheldon Souray and Stephane Robidas will be sidelined for 10-14 days apiece. Souray is nursing a sprained ankle and Robidas sustained a setback in his recovery from a foot injury. As for Lehtonen, he'll be making his first start since being sidelined on Nov. 26 with a groin injury. Lehtonen was off to a sizzling start prior to getting hurt with a 13-4-1 record and 2.34 goals-against average.
San Francisco 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis went through a limited practice Wednesday and is expected to be available if needed for Sunday's game against the St. Louis Rams. Willis has been sidelined for the past three games since suffering a hamstring injury on Dec. 4 against the Rams. The 49ers (12-3) are battling the New Orleans Saints (12-3) for the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye in the playoffs. The leader of a defense that has allowed a league-low 202 points, Willis has registered at least 128 tackles in his first four seasons and had missed only one game in his career prior to this injury.