The New England Patriots have not gained a playoff sport for the reason that 2018 season, after they defeated the Los Angeles Rams in Tremendous Bowl LIII. On the way in which to the championship, they knocked off the Los Angeles Chargers, who additionally have not recorded a playoff victory since that postseason as they beat the Baltimore Ravens 23-17 within the Wild Card spherical.
One staff will finish its drought Sunday because the Patriots host the Chargers at 8:15 p.m. ET in a playoff matchup at Gillette Stadium. No. 2 seed New England (14-3) enters the playoffs with a three-game successful streak however suffered all three of its losses this marketing campaign at house. The No. 7 seed Chargers (11-6) ended the common season with back-to-back defeats however gained two of their remaining three street contests.
After two straight 4-13 seasons, the Patriots turned issues round rapidly of their first 12 months with some acquainted faces operating the present. Head coach Mike Vrabel, who gained three Tremendous Bowls as a linebacker with the staff, and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, who returned to the function he had throughout two earlier stints with the group, have been introduced in to assist in the event of quarterback Drake Maye, who’s an NFL MVP contender as he was fourth within the league in passing yards (4,394) and third in landing passes (31).
The Chargers are hoping that is the 12 months Justin Herbert will get over the hump and posts his first playoff victory. The sixth total choose within the 2020 NFL Draft, Herbert is 0-2 within the postseason as Los Angeles was edged 31-30 by the Jacksonville Jaguars within the wild card spherical in 2022 and trounced 32-12 by the Houston Texans on the identical stage final 12 months.
Eight video games are on Sunday night’s NBA schedule, together with a matchup between the San Antonio Spurs (27-11) and Minnesota Timberwolves (25-14) at 7 p.m. ET on the Goal Heart in Minneapolis. The Spurs wish to avenge a 125-112 loss at Minnesota on Nov. 30.
The NHL has 4 video games on its night slate, considered one of which has the Vegas Golden Knights (20-11-12) visiting the SAP Heart to face off towards the San Jose Sharks (23-18-3) at 8 p.m. ET. Each groups enter with a three-game successful streak, however the Golden Knights have gained every of their final 10 conferences – together with all three this season.
One in every of three faculty basketball video games going down Sunday night is a Huge 12 Convention showdown between Cincinnati (8-7) and No. 25 UCF (12-2) at 5 p.m. ET at Addition Monetary Enviornment in Orlando. The Knights are hoping to bounce again from an 87-76 setback towards Oklahoma State on Tuesday that ended their 11-game successful streak.
The Patriots are 3.5-point favorites towards the Chargers within the newest consensus NFL odds. The Timberwolves are 2.5-point favorites versus the Spurs, the Golden Knights are -155 favorites on the cash line towards the Sharks and UCF is a 3.5-point favourite versus Cincinnati.
Beneath is a snapshot of what to look at and wager for Sunday, Jan. 11. All occasions Japanese
NFL greatest bets, the place to look at
Chargers at Patriots
Time: 8:15 p.m. | Location: Foxborough, Mass. | TV: NBC | Stream: Fubo (Strive at no cost)
SportsLine picks — Mannequin: Patriots -3.5 (-111) | Skilled: Hunter Henry Below 44.5 receiving yards (-112, Alex Selesnick)
The Patriots recorded 12 of their 14 victories this season by 4 or extra factors, together with every of the final seven. Every of the Chargers’ final 5 losses have been by a minimum of 4 factors, they usually ended the marketing campaign with a 19-3 setback at Denver. The SportsLine Projection Mannequin does not see something completely different occurring of their Wild Card matchup because the Patriots cowl the unfold in 53% of its simulations. Nonetheless, SportsLine props skilled Alex Selesnick (+1287.5 on his final 100 NFL participant prop picks) believes Los Angeles’ protection will do a very good job containing New England’s Hunter Henry because it has surrendered the fourth-fewest yards to opposing tight ends this season.
Extra NFL greatest bets
NBA greatest bets, the place to look at
Spurs at Timberwolves
Time: 7 p.m. | Location: Minneapolis | TV: NBA League Cross | Stream: Fubo (Strive at no cost)
SportsLine picks — Mannequin: Below 235.5 (-112) | Skilled: Keldon Johnson Over 11.5 factors (-133, Larry Hartstein)
Each groups rank within the high 10 within the NBA offensively, however additionally they are among the many high 13 golf equipment defensively. The Spurs are seventh with a mean of 112.8 factors allowed, whereas the Timberwolves are giving up 115.1 factors per sport to rank thirteenth. The SportsLine Projection Mannequin believes San Antonio and Minnesota will proceed to defend properly as its simulations say the Below hits properly over 61% of the time. SportsLine skilled Larry Hartstein thinks Spurs ahead Keldon Johnson will contribute offensively because the 26-year-old has averaged 15.8 factors over his first 5 outings this month and scored 22 towards the Timberwolves of their first assembly this season.
NHL greatest bets, the place to look at
Golden Knights at Sharks
Time: 8 p.m. | Location: San Jose | TV: NHL Community | Stream: Fubo (Strive at no cost)
SportsLine choose — Mannequin: Sharks +128
The Golden Knights are using a four-game level streak (3-0-1), however they’re dealing with a red-hot Sharks staff. Since being embarrassed 7-2 at Vegas on Dec. 23, San Jose has gained six of its final seven contests – together with three of 4 at house. Despite the fact that the Sharks have not crushed the Golden Knights since posting a 4-3 extra time victory late within the 2022-23 season, the SportsLine Projection Mannequin feels the drought will finish because the Sharks win in 58% of simulations.
CBB greatest bets, the place to look at
Cincinnati at UCF
Time: 5 p.m. | Location: Orlando | TV: ESPN2 | Stream: Fubo (Strive at no cost)
SportsLine picks — Mannequin: UCF -3.5 (-111) | Skilled: UCF -164 (Matt Severance)
The Bearcats have misplaced 5 of their final seven video games, together with the final two, though two of their final three setbacks have been by fewer than 4 factors. Nonetheless, every of the Knights’ 12 victories this season have been by 4 or extra factors. The SportsLine Projection Mannequin does not suppose the streak will cease on Sunday as its simulations have the Knights protecting the unfold 66% of the time. SportsLine skilled Matt Severance (8-3, +588.5 on his final 11 faculty basketball picks) believes UCF will emerge victorious because it has gained eight straight at house whereas Cincinnati is 0-5 away from its personal courtroom.
