by Wherever you are spending the holiday, I wish you good weather.
around the NFL, freezing temperaturessnow and wind, and in some cases a combination of the three, are expected to affect the playoff race and Round 2 of the fantasy playoffs.
No such concern for the five-game NBA roster on Christmas Day.
So grab a coat and some hot cocoa and lock those lineups and bets for the weekend.
In today’s Winners Club you will find:
NFL Week 16 Game Series
What’s at stake in the league this weekend? A lot.
The Bills could clinch the AFC East, the Bengals could secure a playoff dock, the Ravens could lock up a playoff spot (in the most complicated way), the Chargers could end the playoff drought, the Eagles could clinch the #1 spot. NFC and Giants can get their tickets back after the season.
Albert Breer and Conor Orr revealed exactly what should happen for each script in their weekly preview.
The Saints-Browns over/under (31.5) are one of the lowest we’ve seen in nearly a decade, with an even lower-than-expected temperature for kickoff in Cleveland. The Eagles-Cowboys are game of the week and backup quarterback Gardner Minshew is set to head to Philadelphia to replace Jalen Hurts. Tyler Huntley will start once again for the Ravens, and third-series quarterback Trace McSorley isn’t the only substitute to take the field this week as the bright lights are on. Sunday Night Football For the Cardinals who host the Buccaneers.
Considering that three of the six teams playing were eliminated from playoff contention (Cardinals, Rams, Broncos), the Christmas Day roster probably fell short of schedulers’ expectations.
Join SI Sportsbook’s $10,000 Perfect 10 Week 16 challenge for FREE. To enter, simply choose 10 games against the form. And find out which team my colleagues are on this week; I support the Broncos.
If you prefer prop betting markets, Jen Piacenti has you covered with five predictions.
Saturday
13:00 ET (GIS): Bills (-8.5) vs. bears | Total: 40.5
13:00 ET (GIS): saints etc. browns (-2.5) | Total: 31.5
13:00 ET (GIS): Texans etc. titans (-3.5) | Total: 36
13:00 ET (Fox): sea hawks etc. chefs (-12.5) | Total: 48.5
13:00 ET (Fox): giants etc. Vikings (-6.5) | Total: 48.5
13:00 ET (GIS): bengals (-4.5) vs. patriots | Total: 41.5
13:00 ET (Fox): Lions (-2.5) vs. panthers | Total: 43.5
13:00 ET (Fox): Hawks etc. ravens (-7.5) | Total: 36.5
16:05 Eastern Time (GIS): commanders etc. 49’s (-7.5) | Total: 38
16:25 (Fox): eagles etc. cowboys (-4.5) | Total: 47
20:15 ET (NFL Network): Raiders etc. steelworkers (-2.5) | Total: 38.5
Ed Zurga/AP
Sunday
13:00 ET (Fox): wrappers etc. dolphins (-3.5) | Total: 49.5
16:30 Eastern Time (GIS): broncos (-2.5) vs. coaches | Total: 36.5
20:20 ET (NBC): pirates (-6.5) vs. cardinals | Total: 40.5
Monday
20:15 ET (ESPN): chargers (-4.5) vs. foals | Total: 45.5
NBA Christmas Day Spread
After a day off for Christmas Eve, there are games during Christmas Day featuring many of the league’s best teams and players.
Steph Curry injury takes away some of the machinations of the Grizzlies-Warriors playoff rematch, but it’s still sure to be a good match between the two teams without any loss of love. There’s another postseason rematch in Boston between the Bucks and the Celtics, pitting the best teams in the East against each other.
The 76ers-Knicks game is a must watch, given New York’s latest streak and Joel Embiid’s weeks of goal tears. Back-to-back MVP Nikola Jokić’s Nuggets host the Suns that could have been without Devin Booker. And with the biggest spread of the day, there are still plenty of reasons to align with LeBron James and Luka Dončić on the court in the Lakers-Mavericks competition.
Read on to get a betting breakdown and picks for all five matches.
12:00 ET (ABC, ESPN): 76ers (-1.5) vs. knicks | Total: 218.5
PHI-NYK Betting Preview and Selections
14:30 ET (ABC, ESPN): Lakers etc. mavericks (-7.5) | Total: 225.5
LAL-DAL Betting Preview and Selections
5pm ET (ABC, ESPN): Dollar etc. Celtics (-4.5) | Total: 224.5
MIL-BOS Betting Preview and Selections
Michael McLoone/USA TODAY Sports
20:00 ET (ABC, ESPN): brown bears (-4.5) vs. Warriors | Total: 228.5
MEM-GS Bet Preview and Selections
10:30 PM (ABC, ESPN): suns etc. ingots (-3.5) | Total: 230.5
PHX-DEN Bet Preview and Selections
Round 1 is over and you’re one step closer to championship, trophy and bragging rights. Do not be indifferent and be sure to follow the weather in the cities where your fantasy stars play and adjust accordingly.
Consult the interactive tools below to bring out the best possible series this week.
Start, Sit ‘Em: QB | RB | CR | TE | K and D/ST
Positional Player Ranking
Defense and Position Matching Information
Statistical Projections
Injury Report
Joe Nicholson/USA TODAY Sports
In Other News
Alabama Signs the #1 Recruitment Class: With 27 verbal commitments, the Crimson Tide has another top-notch class after the first day of the early signing period. Alabama, Texas, Miami, and LSU are completing the top five classes. See who made the top 25.
Reviewing College Basketball Preseason Selections: About two months into the men’s basketball season, Kevin Sweeney rethinks some of what he’s seen so far. But there are a few estimates that it doubled.
NFL Coaching Cycle Preview: Two NFL teams fired their coaches in 2022 (Colts and Panthers), but several more coaching gaps could open depending on how the season unfolds. Find out what surprises might come up and which coaching candidates are considered top choices.
Thanks for reading Winners Club and enjoy your vacation! I hope it ends with a winning performance by your fantasy football team(s).
I’ll talk to you again on Tuesday. stay warm!
