Host Jonathan Coachman is joined by Mike McClure, Tom Fornelli, Larry Hartstein and Justin Perri on the Early Edge podcast, powered by SportsLine. Get highlighted plays for the NFL, college football bowl games and college basketball for Wednesday, Dec. 29, and you can stream the show live every morning on the SportsLine YouTube page.
Larry jumps right in on the Lions vs. Seahawks matchup on Sunday at 4:25 p.m ET, noting that Detroit has been a great team for bettors. The Lions are 10-5 against the spread this season, with only Dallas (12-3) and Green Bay (11-4) posting better marks. He is surprised that the line in a full touchdown in favor of a Seattle team that is surrounded by questions.
Tom emphasizes that with COVID outbreaks affecting the college football bowl games right up to kickoff, it's critical for bettors to have as much current information as possible. Coaching changes, player opt-outs and COVID all play a role. Fornelli says reports have up to 30 scholarship player out for Oregon in tonight's Alamo Bowl against Oklahoma (9:15 p.m. ET). "These are things that you need to be on top of," Fornelli says, "because A, it'll keep you from making a stupid bet ... and B, it might help you win some money by knowing something that maybe the market's not playing close attention to."
Coach gives the SportsLine Play of the Day, and it's Oklahoma -6.5 against Oregon in the Alamo Bowl. As Tom noted, the Ducks are going to be lucky to field a competitive team, so the Sooners should have little trouble covering tonight.
Mike jumps on the Cheez-It Bowl (5:45 p.m. ET), going with Clemson -0.5 for the first half (-110) against Iowa State. "You question the motivation on both sides. Both teams really under-performed (this season)," McClure says. He adds that the focus has been on Clemson, but the Cyclones had high expectations too. And now they are without star running back Breece Hall, who opted out to prepare for the NFL Draft. "This is a huge, huge deal," McClure says, adding that Hall accounted for the most points in college football and can't be replaced.
Fornelli is going with Maryland -3.5 against Virginia Tech in the Pinstripe Bowl (2:15 p.m. ET). Tom rattles off the stunning list of players who will be missing for the Hokies. They include QB Braxton Burmeister and his backup, top WRs Tre Turner and Tayvion Robinson, and key defenders Amare Barno and Jermaine Waller. "There is no reason in the WORLD you should be betting on the Hokies," he says.
In college basketball, Perri is taking Seton Hall +1 against Providence, though the line flipped right before the show. Either way, Justin likes the Pirates to win, so he thinks you're safe shopping for the +1, taking Seton Hall on the money line or playing it at -1.
The Maestro anchors the show with more college basketball, laying the 2.5 points on Alabama against Tennessee. The Crimson Tide have struggled, but Larry says there is a reason they are still favored. "This is a team that beat Gonzaga, that beat Houston, that beat Drake," Hartstein says of Alabama. "They have the talent to step up their game."
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