NEW YORK — Hello, old friends.
After two weeks away, I’m back to provide some picks for Dec. 25, Christmas Day. The sports world does look a little different since my last post, but hopefully, we’ll still be able to find some winners today to make up for the amount spent on the holiday season. We’ve got NBA, NFL and college sports available after a dark day of betting yesterday, so let’s get to it. Here are my top picks for Christmas Day’s action.
PACKERS -7, -110
Green Bay has been a cover machine this season, going 11-3 and 6-0 ATS at Lambeau Field. And that’s before you get into the COVID mess that is the Browns’ roster right now, as Cleveland is coming off having to play with 3/4 of its starters inactive and having to play on Monday night against Las Vegas. The Browns are running out of time to reach the playoffs and still don’t have a healthy team, while the Packers have their sights set firmly on home-field throughout the playoffs. Green Bay should cover at home again.
GEORGIA STATE -5.5, -110
This line has moved a little higher than I would have liked, but I still want to ride with the Panthers. Georgia State covered in six of its final seven games, only failing to hit its number against Arkansas State when it was giving 16 points. Ball State played in a fairly weak MAC this season and hasn’t beaten a team with a winning record since October. The Cardinals have only beaten a middling Buffalo and a terrible Akron squad over the past two months, and the Panthers are a big step up in competition. I like Georgia State to win in the Cramton Bowl.
HAWKS-KNICKS U211.5, -110
The Hawks and Knicks were already inclined to play defensive battles when they got together, and that’s before you throw in that Trae Young is on the sidelines because of COVID protocols. Without him, Atlanta has struggled to crack 100 points, which means New York is going to have to do the scoring to hit this number. I don’t see it happening.
COLTS +2.5, -110
This looks like a Christmas gift that Indianapolis is getting points against a suddenly collapsing Arizona, even if it is in the desert. I’ve said all along that if Oklahoma or anyone else came calling for Kliff Kingsbury, the Cardinals should have offered to pack his bags for him and let some other team take him, because he’s not that good of a coach. So far, I’ve seen nothing to prove me wrong and a lot to back my theory, and now the Cards’ middling run defense has to face Jonathan Taylor. I absolutely want Indy here.
WARRIORS-SUNS U217.5, -110
Don’t look for a big explosion to finish off the holiday from Golden State and Phoenix. Like Atlanta and New York, these teams know how to stop each other and will showcase their defenses in this one. The under is 10-1 in the teams’ past 11 matchups, so I’m riding this trend to finish the day and head into the final week of 2021.
