Finest Sports activities Betting Picks At the moment: School Soccer Bowl Video games, NBA, NHL Predictions for December 27 | Deadspin.com

As soon as upon a time, Southern California thought it was a good suggestion to steal away then-Oklahoma coach Lincoln Riley with a reported 10-year, $110 million greenback contract. Season 3 of the Riley period ends on Friday night time, and a Trojans’ loss to Texas A&M could be this system’s third shedding marketing campaign in seven seasons.

Stephen Curry bought drained out throughout that Christmas Day smorgasbord towards LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers. He’ll sit out when the struggling Golden State Warriors go to the Los Angeles Clippers.

The Detroit Crimson Wings entrance workplace ought to put on Ebenezer Scrooge garb for Friday’s sport towards the Toronto Maple Leafs after coach Derek Lalonde was fired the day after Christmas. It’s just like the franchise could not look forward to the clock to tick its solution to the twenty sixth.

We are going to examine that Las Vegas Bowl matchup listed above in addition to the Curry-less Warriors and the on-ice Scrooges.

USC TROJANS VS. TEXAS A&M AGGIES

The Trojans are 6-6 and taking part in within the Las Vegas Bowl, one thing Clay Helton might’ve repeatedly finished at 20 p.c of Riley’s wage. Riley was speculated to ship nationwide championships, however USC has misplaced 11 of its final 19 video games. That’s flat-out stealing the college’s money.

It is exhausting to determine how motivated the Trojans might be to keep away from a shedding season with some good gamers having exited by way of the switch portal. New quarterback Jayden Maiava certainly needs to point out that the 360-yard outing within the season-ending loss to Notre Dame was no fluke.

The Aggies anticipated a special postseason vacation spot after a 7-1 begin however then dropped three of their 4 video games to fall out of School Soccer Playoff rivalry. The killer was a 43-41 four-overtime loss to Auburn.

Texas A&M modified quarterbacks to Marcel Reed, and the freshman could make issues occur. The Aggies beat two groups that have been ranked within the High 10 and went 2-2 towards such foes, whereas USC misplaced each its High 10 video games.

Texas A&M -4 unfold, -108 (DraftKings)

GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS AT LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS

Not having Curry when you could have dropped 5 of your earlier six video games is not ultimate. It does remind us he’s 36, not 26. He additionally had a few latest poor outings—10 factors on 2-of-13 taking pictures towards the Indiana Pacers on Monday and two factors on 0-of-7 taking pictures towards the Memphis Grizzlies on Dec. 19.

So maybe resting Curry on the entrance finish of a back-to-back that concludes Saturday towards the Phoenix Suns is an efficient name as a result of the latter sport is at residence. Golden State begins a six-game homestand towards the Suns, and the membership is eyeing the stretch as an opportunity to regain stable footing.

The Clippers have gained three of their previous 4 video games, together with a stable 114-110 highway victory over the Grizzlies on Monday. Who wants Kawhi Leonard (knee) when Norman Powell can provide you 29, 29, 28 and 29 factors throughout a four-game span? Powell is averaging a career-best 24.1 factors and flattening a career-high 47.3 p.c from 3-point vary.

Ivica Zubac averaged 17.5 rebounds in two wins over the Warriors this season and has notched six straight double-doubles. But Powell’s consistency and stable 3-point stroke are extra interesting.

Norman Powell to attain 25-plus factors, -115 (DraftKings)

TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS VS. DETROIT RED WINGS

Todd McLellan takes over as Detroit’s new coach with the membership hovering because the second-worst workforce within the Japanese Convention with 30 factors. The Crimson Wings dropped three straight video games earlier than the vacation break, and the workforce was booed off the ice following Monday’s 4-0 loss to the St. Louis Blues.

I suppose Lalonde can take solace in the truth that possession did not ship him packing on Christmas Eve. McLellan is 2 victories shy of 600, however the Crimson Wings aren’t a workforce that might be a straightforward repair.

Detroit defeated the Maple Leafs 4-2 on Dec. 14 to even the season collection, so Toronto ought to have further motivation. The Maple Leafs have additionally misplaced two straight video games, getting outscored 11-5 within the course of.

John Tavares scored each objectives in Monday’s 5-2 residence loss to the Winnipeg Jets. Toronto stays with out star Auston Matthews, so we see McLellan getting the win in his Detroit debut.

Crimson Wings moneyline, +124 (DraftKings)