KSR Today: A New Year's Eve NFL Sunday

The sports world rings in the New Year with college football bowl games. This year the calendar is a bit off. New Year’s Eve falls on a Sunday, giving the NFL dibs over college bowl games. We have a full slate today, setting the table for a January 1 that’s filled with CFB Playoff games.

With only two weeks of regular season action remaining, there are playoff implications in almost every week 17 game, highlighted by the Ravens-Dolphins battle for the AFC’s 1-seed. It’s a front-loaded slate with 10 games at noon. Have RedZone ready and enjoy the football before it’s all gone.

1 pm Games

Patriots (+14) at Bills, CBS
Falcons (+2.5) at Bears, CBS
Raiders (+3.5) at Bears, CBS
Rams (-6) at Giants, Fox
Cardinals (+11.5) at Eagles, Fox
Saints (+2.5) at Bucs, Fox
49ers (-14) at Commanders, Fox
Panthers (+4.5) at Jags, CBS
Titans (+3.5) at Texas, Fox
Dolphins (+3.5) at Ravens, CBS

Late Slate

Steelers (+4.5) at Seahawks, 4:05, Fox
Chargers (+3.5) at Broncos, 4:25, CBS
Bengals (+6.5) at Chiefs, 4:25, CBS
Packers (+1.5) at Vikings, 8:20, NBC

The Lions got Jobbed by the Refs

A pair of playoff teams battled down to the wire. Detroit appeared to be down and out, but the Lions clawed back into the game and went for the Dallas jugular with only a few ticks on the clock. After an Amon-Ra St. Brown touchdown, Detroit elected to go for two and the win. They got it, but were inexplicably flagged for an illegal formation. The refs got it wrong, giving the Cowboys a win on Jimmy Johnson Night. NFL Rigged?

Eligible receiver analysis pic.twitter.com/cr2mvHTTWs

— Benjamin Solak (@BenjaminSolak) December 31, 2023

Pregame Tyler Childers at KSBar

I’ll be completely honest, it’s hard to contain my envy for the folks who get to ring in 2024 with Tyler Childers. Before you go to Rupp Arena, join us at KSBar to get in the right mindset for what will be a magical finale for 2023.

Travis Perry Ends Holiday Tournament in Style

The future Kentucky Wildcat spent the week in Lexington and did what he does best — get buckets. Travis Perry scored 33 points in the WGM Holiday Classic to propel Lyon County to an 83-63 victory over previously unbeaten Lexington Catholic. Perry earned tournament MVP honors after picking up four wins, three over top 15 teams, in four days.

“Things like this help us when it comes time for tournament time,” Perry told KSR. “To win at Rupp, you’ve gotta win four games, four days. Just playing a lot of basketball. Being prepared from things like this really helps.”

A New Year’s Eve Edition of Sources Say

Before the ball drops, a new edition of Sources Say dropped. Jack Pilgrim and Shawn Smith are discussing the Kentucky win over Illinois State and summarizing non-conference play this afternoon. Watch all of the action unfold at noon on the KSR YouTube Channel.

A Top 10 College Basketball Upset

Florida Atlantic is following up a Final Four appearance with an uneven NCAA Tournament resume. Early in the non-conference slate the Owls lost to Bryant, but beat Texas A&M. They followed up a double overtime win over a top five Arizona team by traveling to Dunk City and taking an L. It wasn’t particularly close either. Florida Gulf Coast led during the entire second half, then held off a late run en route to a 72-68 victory. The win over seventh-ranked Florida Atlantic is the first regular season win over a Top 25 team in FGCU history.

Florida Atlantic? More like FRAUDa State, amirite?

Georgia Embarrassed Florida State

The Seminoles waved the white flag time and time again. After spending weeks whining about the Playoff Committee, Georgia handed those losers the punishment they deserved, a 60-point ass-whooping. The quitters who quit from A Coward’s Conference now own the record for the largest defeat in bowl history. It’s just what the program deserves for trying to quit their conference too.

More than 115 Years of New Year’s Eve in Times Square

There was a brief moment in time where New Year’s Eve parties were right up my alley. That fleeting moment has long passed. Now I will do what many do across the world and tune into the ball drop from Times Square. The AP explains the history of the event before a million people descend upon Times Square (that sounds miserable).

From 1907 to 2023, here’s a quick history of the New Year’s Eve ball drop in Times Square. pic.twitter.com/FaevUGe5R6

— The Associated Press (@AP) December 31, 2023