NBA Cup Bets to Watch + Early Insights on NFL Thanksgiving Bets

Joe Burrow should be back in action for the Bengals on Thursday

In today’s newsletter…

1. Leading Off: Minnesota’s McCarthy decision could haunt the franchise

2. Top 10: Our NFL power rankings after 12 weeks

3. Game of the Day: Magic, 76ers look to stay undefeated in NBA Cup

4. By the Numbers: NFL Thanksgiving road teams are combined 3-11 ATS

5. Overtime: Burrow should be back under center on Thursday

1. Leading Off

Quarterback J.J. McCarthy is in concussion protocol after experiencing symptoms after Minnesota’s 23-6 loss to the Packers that all-but ended the team’s postseason chances. McCarthy had a rough game, even by his standards this year, throwing for just 87 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions. He was sacked five times and Minnesota is now 4-7.

After being drafted by the Vikings with the 10th overall pick in 2024, McCarthy started his first preseason as the backup to Sam Darnold before tearing the meniscus in his right knee and missing his whole rookie season in recovery. Darnold led Minnesota to a 14-3 record, the franchise’s most wins since 1998, in a career year (4,319 passing yards, 35 touchdowns, 12 interceptions, 102.5 rating). Minnesota rewarded that success by letting Darnold walk away in free agency and handed the team over to McCarthy.

It hasn’t gone well, at least for the Vikings. The former National Champion at Michigan has played in just six games for Minnesota, due to an ankle sprain that kept him out for five weeks, and is 86-159 (54.1%) for 929 yards with six touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He’s been sacked 20 times and has a 57.9 rating. After going 27-1 in two seasons in Ann Arbor, McCarthy is 2-4 this year.

On the other hand, Darnold has continued to thrive in his first season with the Seahawks. His completion percentage is even higher than his career-best mark last year (69.5% to 66.2%), and he’s thrown for 2,785 yards with 19 touchdowns and has a 106.2 rating.

Minnesota’s decision to go with McCarthy was franchise-altering at a minimum. The jury is still out if it will haunt the team for years to come.

— Abe Rakov

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2. Top 10

Rams Stay on Top of our NFL Power Rankings, Eagles Don’t Drop (Yet) Despite Meltdown in Dallas

The NFL has been more unpredictable than usual this season, so rosters and expectations are still factoring into our top-10 more than they probably should be at this point of the year.

1. Rams: LA is on a mission, led by a 37-year-old quarterback putting up MVP numbers (Matthew Stafford: 2,800+ yards, 30 TD, 2 INT, 113.7 rating). They have the NFL’s best point differential by 15.

2. Eagles: The defending champs blew a 21-0 lead to the very average Cowboys, their second head-scratching loss of the season. Saquon Barkley’s 10 carries for 22 yards was worrisome, but Philadelphia wins when focused.

3. Broncos: Denver gives up under 18 points a game, which is making up for a bit of a sophomore slump from quarterback Bo Nix.

4. Patriots: New England gains the 8th-most yards and gives up the 8th-fewest yards per game. After the Giants this week they play the Bills and Ravens back-to-back. We’ll know if this spot is deserved after that.

5. Colts: They flat-out melted down against the Chiefs, blowing a 20-9 lead with about nine minutes left. Was it a blip or a sign of things to come against quality competition?

6. Packers: Jordan Love passed for just 139 yards on Sunday, but that’s all Green Bay needed because of its championship-caliber defense.

7. Bills: Buffalo is a mess, and the reining MVP Josh Allen showed some frustration in the latest loss to the Texans — this season could fall apart.

8. Lions: They have some of the league’s best talent, but the results haven’t quite been there yet. Detroit can prove it belongs in the Super Bowl conversation with a win over Green Bay on Thanksgiving.

9. Seahawks: Seattle doesn’t have many good wins, but they can only play their schedule. The Seahawks’ +107 point differential (3rd) is hard to overlook and keeps them ahead of their division-mate 49ers for now.

10. Chiefs: A top-10 spot might not be deserved yet, but we’re banking on Kansas City’s comeback against Indianapolis sparking a team that has muddled through the season.

3. Game of the Day

76ers Could Have All 3 Stars on Court Together for 1st Time This Season

The NBA Cup is back today and there are only three games on the docket. The Magic are 2-0 in the group and can set up a winner-takes-all matchup with the Pistons with a victory tonight — but Paolo Banchero is out. The 76ers have lost both of their NBA Cup games and don’t have a realistic path to advance, but at least stars Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid and Paul George might finally play at the same time.

Magic (10-8, 3-5 Away) vs. 76ers (9-7, 5-4 Home)
8pm on NBC

The Odds

• Spread: Magic (-2, -110), 76ers (+2, -110)

  • 55% of the money is with Orlando but 52% of the bets are with Philadelphia

  • ATS — ORL (road): 4-4, PHI (home): 5-4

• Moneyline: Magic -132, 76ers +112

• Total (228.5): Over -110, Under -110

  • ORL: 11-7, PHI: 9-7

Head-to-Head

Players to Watch

• Magic F Franz Wagner

  • Points (24.5): Over -110, Under -120 (15, 37, 20)

  • Rebounds (6.5): Over -146, Under +110 (8, 6, 6)

  • Assists (4.5): Over +108, Under -144 (5, 7, 3)

• Magic G Desmond Bane

  • Points (20.5): Over -130, Under -102 (18, 27, 15)

  • Rebounds (5.5): Over +128, Under -172 (4, 3, 7)

  • Assists (4.5): Over -114, Under -114 (5, 5, 5)

• Magic G Jalen Suggs

  • Points (17.5): Over -104, Under -128 (26, 23, 13)

  • Rebounds (4.5): Over +122, Under -162 (3, 3, 5)

• 76ers G Tyrese Maxey (Probable)

  • Points (31.5): Over -102, Under -130 (27, 54, 24)

  • Made 3s (3.5): Over -128, Under -104 (5, 6, 5)

  • Assists (7.5): Over -118, Under -112 (6, 9, 9)

• 76ers C Joel Embiid (Questionable)

  • Points (17.5): Over +104, Under -138 (29, 20, 20)

  • Rebounds (5.5): Over -138, Under +104 (6, 6, 6)

  • Assists (2.5): Over -146, Under +110 (4, 2, 3)

• 76ers F Paul George (Probable)

  • Points (15.5): Over -104, Under -128 (10, 21, 9)

  • Rebounds (4.5): Over -120, Under -110 (2, 5, 7)

*Stats listed are past 3 games, most recent to least recent

4. By the Numbers

Thanksgiving NFL Road Teams Have a Combined 3-11 Record ATS This Season

NBA

• Hawks (-10.5, -112) vs. Wizards (+10.5, -108): 69% of the money and 54% of the bets are with Atlanta

  • ATS — ATL (road): 7-4, WAS (home): 0-6

• Clippers (+5.5, -108) vs. Lakers (-5.5, -112): 71% of the money and 68% of the bets are with the Lakers

  • ATS — LAC: 5-12, LAL: 11-5

MCBB

• Syracuse (+4.5, -114) vs. Kansas (-4.5, -106): 86% of the money and 80% of the bets are with Kansas — SU: 3-1, KU: 3-3

• No. 14 St. John’s (-4.5, -110) vs. Baylor (+4.5, -110): 77% of the money and 77% of the bets are with St. Johns — STJ: 3-1, BAY: 2-2

• Kansas State (+8.5, -102) vs. No. 25 Indiana (-8.5, -120): 60% of the money and 63% of the bets are with Indiana — KSU: 3-3, IU: 3-2

• Iowa (-3.5, -102) vs. Ole Miss (+3.5, -120): 61% of the money and 63% of the bets are with Ole Miss — UI: 4-1, MISS: 1-4

• No. 18 UCLA (-8.5, -106) vs. California (+8.5, -114): 70% of the money and 56% of the bets are with UCLA — UCLA: 2-4, CAL: 4-2

NFL

• Packers (+2.5, -105) vs. Lions (-2.5, -115): 66% of the money and 72% of the bets are with Detroit

  • ATS — Packers (road): 1-4, Lions (home): 3-2

  • Total (49.5) — GB: 5-6, DET: 6-5

• Chiefs (-3, -115) vs. Cowboys (+3, -105): 54% of the money is with Dallas but the bets are 50/50

  • ATS — Chiefs (road) 1-3, Cowboys (home): 3-2

  • Total (51.5) — KC: 3-8, DAL: 6-5

• Bengals (+7, -105) vs. Ravens (-7, -115): 52% of the money is with Baltimore but 55% of the bets are with Cincinnati

  • ATS — Bengals (road): 1-4, Ravens (home): 2-4

  • Total (51.5) — CIN: 7-4, BAL: 5-6

5. Overtime

In the News 

• ESPN’s David Newton’s feature on Panthers’ general manager Dan Morgan’s transition from linebacker to low-level scout to NFL executive is worth a read. Morgan is one of two former players currently serving as a GM, along with San Francisco’s John Lynch.

• Bengals coach Zac Taylor said he believes quarterback Joe Burrow will be back under center for the team’s Thanksgiving matchup against the Ravens. Burrow hasn’t played since a turf toe injury forced him out of the second game of the season — Cincinnati started 2-0 and is now 3-8.

• On the other end of the quarterback injury spectrum, the Commanders’ Jayden Daniels is set to return to practice but is unlikely to play against the Broncos on Sunday night. The quarterback hasn’t been cleared for contact, and with Washington at 3-8 the team will likely be risk-averse with its franchise player.

• A month after hiring Browns executive Paul DePodesta back into baseball, the Rockies decided to stick with interim manager Warren Schaeffer for the permanent role. Schaefer took over for Bud Black in May and went 36-86 in relief of Colorado’s winningest manager. Before moving to the NFL for almost 10 years, DePodesta was in the front office of the Athletics (assistant GM), Dodgers (GM), Padres (special assistant) and Mets (VP).

• Star ESPN anchor and host Elle Duncan is reportedly headed to Netflix, according to The Athletic's Andrew Marchand, to “become the new face” of the streamer’s sports coverage. Marchand reports that Duncan will likely be able to appear on other networks, but her role at ESPN will likely need to change.

Quotable

“The No. 1 job of a quarterback is to win. So, excited to get that first win under his belt. And the next thing is improvement, and that's what young players do. Certainly, young quarterbacks do.” — Browns coach Kevin Stefanski after announcing that rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders will get his second straight start even though fellow first-year signal caller Dillon Gabriel cleared concussion protocol.

What to Watch (times ET)

• 3pm: Chelsea vs. Barcelona [Champions League] on Paramount+

• 6pm: No. 17 Tennessee vs. No. 3 Houston [MCBB] on TNT

• 8pm: Magic vs. 76ers on NBC

• 8:30pm: No. 7 Michigan vs. No. 21 Auburn [MCBB] on TNT

• 10pm: No. 18 UCLA vs. California [MCBB] on ESPN

• 11pm: Clippers vs. Lakers on NBC