The Gridiron Spotlight

Nevada is favored by 1.5 points versus Maryland in the Humanitarian Bowl on Tuesday afternoon (4:30pm ET kickoff). The Wolf Pack (7-5 straight-up, 5-6 against-the-spread) have won three of their last four games, and played tough against Boise State (losing 41-34). The Terrapins (7-5 SU, 5-6 ATS), in turn, have lost three of their last four, including 28-21 to Boston College last time out.

Western Michigan then takes on Rice in the Texas Bowl at 8:00pm ET, with the Owls listed as 2.5-point favorites. Rice has won six straight games to sit at 9-3 SU and 8-4 ATS, and they put up at least 35 points in each of those wins. The Broncos (9-3 SU, 5-6 ATS) fell 45-22 to ranked Boise State in their last contest.

Oregon will then take on Oklahoma State at 8:00pm ET in the Holiday Bowl, which matches up two ranked teams (the Ducks are No. 15, the Cowboys are No. 13). Oklahoma State (9-3 SU, 8-3 ATS) is listed as a 3-point favorite in this contest, but they were pounded 61-41 by Oklahoma last time out to finish off their tough schedule. Oregon (9-3 SU, 6-6 ATS) beat up on Oregon State 65-38 in their last game, and they enter this bowl matchup riding a three-game win streak.

Other Notable Events

The Blackhawks and Red Wings will get a tune-up game for Thursday’s Winter Classic when they meet on the (indoor) ice on Tuesday night in Detroit. Chicago improved to 20-6-7 on the season with a 4-1 win over Minnesota on Sunday, and they’re trying to chase down Detroit in the Central Division standings. The Red Wings sit at 23-7-5 after suffering a 4-3 overtime loss to Colorado Saturday night.

The NHL offers up seven more games on Tuesday night, including a clash between Eastern powers Boston and Pittsburgh in the Steel City. As well, it’s Washington at Buffalo, Montreal at Tampa Bay, Atlanta at Toronto, New Jersey at St. Louis, Ottawa at Edmonton, and then finally Philadelphia visiting Vancouver.

The Rest of the Schedule

In the NBA, the Celtics are back in action on Tuesday night with a road game in Portland. Boston put an emphatic end to a two-game losing streak on Sunday, bouncing the Kings 108-63 in Sacramento. The Trail Blazers also cruised to a victory in their last outing, getting 32 points from Brandon Roy in a 102-89 home win versus Toronto. Rounding out the NBA‘s slate for Tuesday: Atlanta at Indiana, New York at Charlotte, Cleveland at Miami, Washington at New Orleans, Phoenix at Memphis, Minnesota at Dallas, and Milwaukee at San Antonio, while the Kings will look to shake off that Sunday rout when they host the L.A. Clippers.

Finally, college hoops sees several ranked teams in action on Tuesday, including No. 4 Oklahoma vs. Arkansas and No. 6 Wake Forest vs. Radford. As well, it’s No. 9 Purdue vs. Illinois, No. 13 Syracuse vs. Seton Hall, No. 20 Clemson vs. South Carolina, and Missouri, who just fell out of the Top 25, taking on Centenary.

News from the Wire

The NFL playoffs get underway this weekend, but the home teams aren’t getting much love from the oddsmakers early in the week as all four road teams are currently pegged as the favorites. On Saturday it’s Atlanta (-2) at Arizona and Indianapolis (-1) at San Diego, while Sunday has Baltimore (-3) at Miami and Philadelphia (-3) at Minnesota . . . Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (concussion) is expected to rest this week but be back in time for next weekend…Bills coach Dick Jauron will have his employment status determined New Year’s Eve day…Bill Cowher will not interview for the NY Jets head coaching job….Wolpole High School football coach and former New England Patriots Daniel Villa will be arraigned today on rape charges…

A Peek at the Future

There are five bowl games on the schedule for Wednesday, including Houston (-3.5) vs. Air Force in the Armed Forces Bowl. As well, it’s Oregon State (-2.5) vs. Pittsburgh in the Sun Bowl, Boston College (-3.5) vs. Vanderbilt in the Music City Bowl, Minnesota vs. Kansas (-9) in the Insight Bowl, and LSU vs. Georgia Tech (-4) in the Chick-fil-A Bowl . . . there are a pair of NBA matinees on Wednesday (Orlando/Chicago, New Jersey/Detroit), while the league will close out 2008 with Philly against the Clippers in a 9:30pm ET tipoff at Los Angeles’ Staples Center.