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  • Jan 1st | 🍾 Ready, Set, Bet: Key Matchups for New Year’s Day Showdown 🎆

Jan 1st | 🍾 Ready, Set, Bet: Key Matchups for New Year’s Day Showdown 🎆

Kick Off 2025 with Today's Hot Betting Tips and Predictions

January 01, 2025

Sports Corner Daily’s đź‘€ Results from 12/31/2024

Sports Corner Daily split the day yesterday, going 2-2 in our selections. In a fun day of college football, Louisville snuck out a win over Washington 35-34. Louisville looked great in the first three quarters of the game and entered the fourth quarter up 35-21 but let Washington rattle off 13 unanswered points. Washington decided to go for a 2 point conversion instead of playing for overtime and fortunately for us and our Louisville pick, that 2 point conversion failed and Louisville got a nice win and finished the season with a 9-4 record. 

Next up was another entertaining game in the Citrus Bowl between South Carolina and Illinois, with Illinois taking the win 21-17. South Carolina had a couple good chances early to put some points on the board and help our over pick but missed a field goal, and then were stopped on 4th down on consecutive drives. At half time Illinois led 7-3, making our over 49.5 pick an uphill climb. The second half saw a lot more scoring, with South Carolina having a chance with 4 minutes left in the 4th quarter to take a 24-21 lead but unfortunately were again stopped on 4th down again to give the ball back to Illinois, South Carolina never got the ball again. Illinois finished the season with an impressive 10-3 record.

In the college football playoffs last night, Penn State did what a lot of people expected and convincingly beat Boise State 31-14. Penn State jumped out to an early 14-0 lead and held on to that lead the rest of the game. Boise State QB Maddux Madsen had some nice throws, throwing for 304 yards, but also threw 3 interceptions that really hurt Boise State. Penn State moves on and gets to relax and watch the games today as they await the winner of the Georgia vs Norte Dame game. 

Looking forward to today, the spotlight is on the 2 college football playoff games and one bet on the ice. Lets start the New Year off with some wins!

❌ NCAAF - SC Gamecocks vs. Illinois- Over 49.5 - Lost

âś… NCAAF - Louisville to win - Win

❌ NCAAF - Penn St. vs. Boise St. - Over 53.5 - Lost

âś… NHL - Colorado to win -Win

Today's LIVE Bets: 

NCAAF: Texas Longhorns @ Arizona State - 1:00pm ET

Texas -12.5

Analysis:

The upcoming matchup presents considerable difficulties for the Sun Devils. In contrast to Clemson, which has an efficient passing game that was able to move the ball against Texas, Arizona State relies heavily on its running game to generate offense. Unfortunately for them, Texas possesses an impressive defense that restricts opponents to an average of just 104.2 rushing yards per game, placing them 10th in the nation.

Furthermore, the defenses that Arizona State has faced throughout the season average a ranking of 76.6, whereas Texas’s defense is ranked significantly higher at No. 3. This stark contrast highlights the immense challenge the Sun Devils will encounter against a top-tier defensive unit. Additionally, the absence of their top receiver, Jordyn Tyson, who is sidelined for the remainder of the season, further complicates their offensive strategy. Without a reliable passing option, Arizona State may struggle to diversify its attack, making it easier for Texas to focus on stopping the run. The public is on Texas to cover this one holding 66% of the bets for the Longhorns to cover.

NCAAF: Ohio State Buckeyes @ Oregon Ducks - 5:00pm ET

Ohio State - 2.5

Analysis:

It’s noteworthy that the Buckeyes are favored to win on the road in this rematch, despite their previous loss to Oregon, which ended in a close score of 32-31. In that game, Ohio State faced challenges such as eight penalties and two key turnovers, and they ultimately ran out of time during a drive that could have secured a victory. Looking ahead, Ohio State is expected to carry momentum from what may have been their most solid performance of the season—a dominant first-round victory over Tennessee—into the upcoming matchup, positioning themselves for advancement to the College Football Playoff semifinals.

This shift in dynamics showcases the Buckeyes' growth and their ability to learn from past mistakes, as they aim to rectify their earlier loss. With a more disciplined approach and a strong showing behind them, Ohio State is poised to tackle the challenges presented by this rematch more effectively. The public bets are coming in on the Ducks to cover with 61% of the bets. As we know.. The public isn't always right.

NHL: NJ Devils @ LA Kings - 6:00pm ET

LA to win

Analysis:

Tonight's game between the New Jersey Devils and the LA Kings has the potential to be dynamic, with expectations leaning toward an advantage for the Kings. Since New Jersey is playing its second game in a back-to-back series, Jake Allen is likely to be the starting goaltender for the Devils. Allen has been struggling lately, consistently allowing at least three goals in his last four outings.

Given this trend, we anticipate that the Kings' offense will be able to exploit Allen's defensive vulnerabilities, positioning them well for success at home. As a result, the Kings are expected to perform strongly, while the Devils will need to find a way to tighten their defense and mitigate the impact of their goalie’s struggles. Overall, the matchup looks promising for LA, with expectations for them to take command of the game. The public also favors the Kings on this one as 66% of the bets are on LA to win.

As always - Bet Smart, Bet Safe, Follow your strategy and let's win together!

Good luck,

The Sports Corner Daily Team

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