NFL – National Football League – Week 17
Last Night
Detroit Lions 40, San Francisco 49ers 34
Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (26) scores a rushing touchdown past San Francisco 49ers cornerback Renardo Green (0) during the second half of an NFL football game Monday, Dec. 30, 2024, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)
Lions 40, Niners 34 – Lions beat the 49ers 40-34 in a tune-up for Week 18 division showdown
Jared Goff threw three touchdown passes and the Detroit Lions tuned up for their Week 18 division showdown against Minnesota by beating the San Francisco 49ers 40-34. Goff threw a go-ahead touchdown pass to Amon-Ra St. Brown in the final minute of the third quarter following the first of Kerby Joseph’s two second-half interceptions against Brock Purdy in a rematch of last season’s NFC title game won by San Francisco. That proved to be enough for the Lions to extend their franchise record for wins in a season as they beat the 49ers on the road for the first time since 1975. Lions Coach Dan Campbell said he considered resting some starters but decided it would be unfair to the backups who hadn’t prepared and the starters who still would have had to play. It all worked out, with the Lions getting the win and coming out healthy. Jahymr Gibbs put the game away with a 30-yard touchdown run with less than three minutes left following Purdy’s second interception, giving him 117 yards on the night.
NFL – Bears plan to have Caleb Williams start their season finale at Green Bay
The Chicago Bears plan to have Caleb Williams make one more start rather than hold their prized rookie quarterback out of the season finale at Green Bay. Interim coach Thomas Brown shot down the idea of having Williams sit out Sunday’s game at Lambeau Field, saying it’s not something he and management discussed. He said the team’s other healthy starters will play, too. The Bears are reeling with 10 straight losses. Williams has been sacked a franchise-record and NFL-leading 67 times. But the Bears believe the benefits of having him play against the Packers outweigh the potential injury risks.
NCAAFB – A year after playing in CFP semifinal, No. 11 Alabama and Michigan meet again
The stakes aren’t as high as they were when No. 11 Alabama and Michigan last met in the postseason, however the Crimson Tide and Wolverines say they’re excited about their New Years Eve matchup in the ReliaQuest Bowl. Tuesday’s game at Raymond James Stadium is a rematch of last year’s College Football Playoff semifinal won by eventual national champion Michigan at the Rose Bowl. And while some of the big names have changed — highlighted by the departures of Nick Saban and Jim Harbaugh — there’s still plenty of star power on the marquee.
NCAAFB – Riley Leonard’s passing game improvement key for Notre Dame in CFP
Riley Leonard’s improvement in the passing game will be a key part of seventh-seeded Notre Dame’s game plan against second-seeded Georgia in the College Football Playoffs. The Fighting Irish will play the Bulldogs on Wednesday in the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans. Leonard has a 106.2 quarterback rating over his last four games compared to a 70.7 QB rating over his first four games. Leonard said building chemistry, trust and confidence with his receivers has been essential to his rising success. Leonard says “I think my relationship with those guys off the field is kind of the thing I’m most proud about.”
NCAAFB – College Football – Bowl Season
Yesterday
(19) Missouri 27, Iowa 24 TransPerfect Music City Bowl, Nissan Stadium, Nashville, TN
Today
(11) Alabama vs. Michigan, 12:00 p.m. Reliaquest Bowl – Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL
**News/Talk/Sports 94.9 WSJM 11:00
College Football Playoffs
Today
(6) Penn State vs. (3) Boise State, 7:30 p.m. Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, State Farm Stadium, Glendale,AZ
New Year’s Day
(5) Texas vs. (4) Arizona State, 1:00 p.m. Chik-fil-A Peach Bowl, Mercedes Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA
(8) Ohio State vs. (1) Oregon, 5:00 p.m. Rose Bowl presented by Prudental, Rose Bowl, Pasadena, CA
(7) Notre Dame vs. (2) Georgia, 8:45 p.m. Allstate Sugar Bowl, Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, LA
**Sports Radio 96.1/Sunny 101.5 7:30
NHL – National Hockey League
Today
St. Louis Blues at Chicago Blackhawks, 5:00 p.m. NHL Winter Classic, Wrigley Field, Chicago
Pittsburgh Penguins at Detroit Red Wings, 8:00 p.m.
NHL – Bedard takes center stage when the Blackhawks face the Blues in the Winter Classic
Connor Bedard practiced with the Chicago Blackhawks right in the middle of Wrigley Field. He skated with his parents and his sister. He called the whole thing “one of the coolest experiences of my life so far.” Bedard and the Blackhawks take on the St. Louis Blues in the 16th edition of the Winter Classic on Tuesday. It’s the second go-round for Wrigley after the home of baseball’s Chicago Cubs also hosted the game in 2009, and it’s the first rematch in the history of the event. Bedard is playing in his first showcase game since he was selected by Chicago with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 draft.
NBA – National Basketball Association
Last Night
Chicago Bulls 115, Charlotte Hornets 108 – OT
Bulls 115, Hornets 108 – OT – Coby White, Torrey Craig lead the Bulls past the Hornets in overtime, 115-108
Coby White narrowly missed his first career triple-double, finishing with 23 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists, and Torrey Craig scored 18 points after halftime and the Chicago Bulls held on to beat the Charlotte Hornets 115-108 in overtime. Nikola Vucevic added 16 points and 13 rebounds for the Bulls. Miles Bridges had 31 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists for the Hornets, who’ve lost 16 of 17. Trailing by 3 in regulation, Bridges missed a corner 3 to tie it and Vucevic was fouled. But the Bulls center missed both free throws. Bridges then connected on a leaning 3-pointer with 2 seconds left, sending the game into overtime. But, Chicago scored the first eight points in overtime to pull away.
Tonight
Milwaukee at Indiana, 3:00 p.m.
New Year’s Day
Orlando at Detroit, 7:00 p.m.
Chicago at Washington, 7:00 p.m.
NCAAMBB – Men’s College Basketball
Yesterday
(18) Michigan State 80, Western Michigan 62
Central Michigan 85, Cleary University 39
MSU 80, WMU 62 – Akins scores 18 points, Cooper has career-high 13 as No. 18 Michigan St beats WMU 80-62
Jaden Akins scored 11 of his 18 points in the first half, helping No. 18 Michigan State build a double-digit lead to set up an 80-62 win over Western Michigan on Monday. The Spartans have won six in a row and nine of 10. The Broncos were competitive in stretches of the game before falling behind by double digits midway through the second half. Michigan State’s Carson Cooper scored a career-high 13 points. Western Michigan’s Chansey Willis scored 12 points and Max Burton had 10 points.
Today
Notre Dame at Georgia Tech, 2:30 p.m. Sports Radio 96.1 WSBT 2:00
NCAAMBB – Jet carrying Gonzaga’s men’s team ordered to stop to avoid collision at LAX
The Federal Aviation Administration has launched an investigation after a private jet carrying the Gonzaga University men’s basketball team nearly crossed a runway as another flight was taking off at Los Angeles International Airport. The plane operated by Key Lime Air was ordered by air traffic controllers to stop as a Delta aircraft took off Friday. No one was injured. Gonzaga was in Los Angeles for its game against UCLA on Saturday. Key Lime Air did not respond to a request for comment Monday. Los Angeles World Airports referred a media inquiry to the FAA, and a Delta spokesperson said there were no problems for its aircraft.
NCAAWBB – Women’s College Basketball
New Year’s Day
Western Michigan at Eastern Michigan, 1:00 p.m.
Purdue at (21) Michigan State, 2:00 p.m.
Central Michigan at Buffalo, 2:00 p.m.
(24) Michigan at (1) UCLA, 5:00 p.m.
