It’s not only the Division I-A schools gaining face time on ESPN, on January 7th the NCAA Division I-AA Tournament game is performed at Pizza Hut Park in Fricso, TX. In a struggle of the 2 top small colleges in the nation, the North Dakota State Bison take on the Sam Houston Bearkats. Both the Bearkats and the North Dakota State Bison have steamrolled their opposition all season long and both are furthermore arriving into play with similar styles on offense. As the defenses are going to get a workout, expect a lot of running and a lot of 1st downs by each squad. The sportsbook is having a hard time with this one as the line currently stands at North Dakota State (-1) with the over-under set at 46.

Birmingham, AL plays sponsor to the Compass Bowl on January seventh with the Panthers competing with the Mustangs. The Panthers come in following the 1-year Todd Graham experiment at head coach. Graham resigned his post on December 14th to take the head coaching job at Arizona State. Defensive Coordinator Keith Patterson will wear the headset for the Panthers in this clash of titans. SMU comes into play with the specter of the “Death Penalty” handed down in the 1980’s still being debated today. Former Nfl and Hawaii coach June Jones is already in his 4th year on the sidelines of SMU. The gambling line has this established at Pittsburgh (-3) with the over-under of 47 points.

The Steelers are matched up vs the Denver broncos in the nfl Playoffs. The Steelers concluded as a wild card with an outstanding record of 12-4 in the AFC North division, while the Denver broncos concluded up with an 8-8 record narrowly claiming victors of the AFC West. The Steelers will be going to Denver to face off vs them at Sports Authority Field at Mile High.

It all boils down to this as the #1 rated Tigers take on the #2 rated Alabama Crimson Tide in the BCS National Championship Game at the Superdome in New Orleans, LA on January 9th. Alabama head coach Nick Saban is no stranger to this match, winning the national championship in 2009 and additionally winning it with LSU as a head coach in 2003. LSU head coach Les Miles is additionally no stranger at this time as he’s won the national championship in 2007. Two fantastic squads and head coaches coming together on a collision course in what will certainly be a great game. The odds makers now have this at Alabama (-1) with the over-under set at 40 points.

Perhaps the Detroit Lions just are unlucky in terms of scheduling. 1st, they finish their regular season versus their division rival Green Bay Packers, who also boast the league’s greatest record. Then they follow that up by getting the New orleans saints in the 1st round of the playoffs.

After finishing with the best record in the league a year ago, and getting terminated in the first round by the Packers, the Falcons trust that slipping into the playoffs undetected in 2012 will allow them greater results. Atlanta ended 10-6 this season, earning them a first round wild-card contest with the NFC East winning New york giants (9-7).

The Bengals will be facing off against the Texans in the nfl playoffs. The Bengals will travel to Reliant Stadium in Houston for the game. Cincinnati ended their season with a record of 9-7 and arrived at the playoffs this season as a wild card in the AFC North division. After coming out ahead as the top squad in the AFC South this season, Houston ended with a record of 10-6.

The unsightly specter of the Lockout had loomed large over the NBA landscape until earlier this month. With both the competitors and the owners ultimately arriving at a contract, the NBA has successfully tipped off in earnest over Christmas weekend. The NBA welcoming committee goes to the Verizon Center in Washington D.C. when the Boston Celtics (1-3) face the Washington Wizards (0-3). Both squads come into play with shaky records and a slow beginning to the season. The sports book seems to have the nod on the greater squad as the line now stands – Boston (-7) 184 ½ .