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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, MLB and EPL Previews and Odds - 04/25/2024

by Big Al Staff

Thursday, Apr 25, 2024

The Thursday sports card features NBA, NHL, MLB, and EPL action.The National Basketball Association continues the playoff season with three games. The Orlando Magic host the Cleveland Cavaliers on NBA TV at 7:10 p.m. ET. The Cavaliers took a 2-0 lead in this best-of-seven series after their 96-86 victory at home against the Magic as a 5.5-point favorite on Monday. Orlando is a 2-point favorite, with the total set at 198.5 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). The Philadelphia 76ers play at home against the New York Knicks on TNT and truTV at 7:40 p.m. ET. The Knicks have a 2-0 lead in this series after their 104-101 victory against the 76ers as a 5-point favorite on Monday. Philadelphia is a 4.5-point favorite with an over/under of 205.5. The Denver Nuggets travel to Los Angeles to play the Lakers on TNT and truTV at 10:10 p.m. ET. The Nuggets took a 2-0 series lead after their 101-99 victory at home against the Lakers as a 7-point favorite on Monday. Denver is a 1-point road favorite with a total of 215.The National Hockey League playoffs continue with two games. The Tampa Bay Lightning are at home against the Florida Panthers on TBS at 7:10 p.m. ET as a -115 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6. The Carolina Hurricanes play in New York to play the Islanders on ESPN2 as a -162 money-line road favorite with a total of 5.5. The Thursday card in Major League Baseball has 10 games on its schedule. The Milwaukee Brewers are in Pittsburgh to play the Pirates at 12:35 p.m. ET as a -125 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 7. Three more MLB games throw out the first pitch at 1:10 p.m. ET. The Minnesota Twins host the Chicago White Sox at 1:10 p.m. ET as a -250 money-line favorite with a total of 7.5. The Boston Red Sox visit Cleveland to play the Guardians. The Philadelphia Phillies play in Cincinnati against the Reds as a -162 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8. The Kansas City Royals play at home against the Toronto Blue Jays at 2:10 p.m. ET as a -120 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The Houston Astros play in Chicago against the Cubs at 2:20 p.m. ET as a -130 money-line road favorite. The Seattle Mariners are in Texas to play the Rangers at 2:35 p.m. ET as a -122 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 9. The San Diego Padres travel to Colorado to play the Rockies at 3:10 p.m. ET as a -155 money-line road favorite with a total of 10.5. The Los Angeles Dodgers play in Washington to play the Nationals at 4:05 p.m. ET as a -192 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The New York Yankees are at home against the Oakland A’s at 7:05 p.m. ET as a -258 money-line favorite with a total of 8.Matchweek 34 in the English Premier League concludes with one match at 3:00 p.m. ET. Manchester City is at Brighton and Hove Albion on the USA Network at 3 p.m. ET as a -1.5 goal-line road favorite with an over/under of 3.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, MLB and EPL Previews and Odds - 04/24/2024

by Big Al Staff

Wednesday, Apr 24, 2024

The Wednesday sports card features NBA, NHL, MLB, and EPL action.The National Basketball Association continues the playoff season with two games. The Boston Celtics host the Miami Heat on TNT and truTV at 7:10 p.m. ET as a 14.5-point favorite, with the total set at 202.5 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). The Oklahoma City Thunder play at home against the New Orleans Pelicans on TNT and truTV at 9:40 p.m. ET as a 7.5-point favorite with an over/under of 210.5. The National Hockey League playoffs continue with three games. The Toronto Maple Leafs are at home against the Boston Bruins on ESPN at 7:10 p.m. ET as a -112 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Dallas Stars host the Vegas Golden Knights on ESPN as a -170 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Edmonton Oilers play at home against the Los Angeles Kings on TBS at 10:10 p.m. ET as a -192 money-line favorite with a total of 6. The Wednesday card in Major League Baseball has 15 games on its schedule. The Arizona Diamondbacks travel to St. Louis to play the Cardinals at 1:15 p.m. ET as a -125 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8. The San Francisco Giants are at home against the New York Mets at 3:45 p.m. ET as a -135 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The Baltimore Orioles play in Los Angeles against the Angels at 4:07 p.m. ET as a -130 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 9. The Cleveland Guardians host the Boston Red Sox at 6:10 p.m. ET as a -135 money-line favorite. Two more MLB games throw out the first pitch at 6:40 p.m. ET. The Cincinnati Reds play at home against the Philadelphia Phillies as a -115 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The Milwaukee Brewers are in Pittsburgh to play the Pirates. The Los Angeles Dodgers visit Washington to play the Nationals at 6:45 p.m. ET as a -185 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 9.5. The Tampa Bay Rays are at home against the Detroit Tigers at 6:50 p.m. ET as a -115 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The New York Yankees host the Oakland A’s at 7:05 p.m. ET as a -218 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Atlanta Braves play at home against the Miami Marlins at 7:20 p.m. ET as a -230 money-line favorite with a total of 9. Three more MLB games throw out the first pitch at 7:40 p.m. ET. The Chicago Cubs are at home against the Houston Astros as a -115 money-line favorite. The Toronto Blue Jays play in Kansas City against the Royals as a -122 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 9. The Minnesota Twins host the Chicago White Sox as a -192 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Texas Rangers play at home against the Seattle Mariners at 8:05 p.m. ET as a -120 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9. The San Diego Padres are in Colorado to play the Rockies at 8:40 p.m. ET. Matchweek 34 in the English Premier League continues with four matches. Bournemouth is at Wolverhampton at 2:45 p.m. ET in a pick ‘em match with a total of 3. Three more EPL matches begin at 3:00 p.m. ET. Crystal Palace are at home against Newcastle United on the USA Network in a pick ‘em match with an over/under of 3. Liverpool visits Everton as a -1.5 goal-line road favorite with a total of 3. Manchester United hosts Sheffield United as a -1.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under 3.5. 

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MLB Around the Horn: April 23rd

by Sean Murphy

Tuesday, Apr 23, 2024

We're almost a month into the MLB season so it's a good time to take stock of what we've seen so far and what to expect moving forward. Here's a look at some news and notes from around the diamond entering the final week of April.Snake-bittenThe Diamondbacks have gotten off to a slow start following their improbable run to the World Series last October. Arizona checks in 11-13 through 24 games with their longest winning streak lasting only two games (they've accomplished that on three occasions). It's hard to pin the Snakes struggles on their offense as they've averaged 5.6 runs per game while recording a respectable .730 OPS. It's been another story for Arizona's pitching staff and the bullpen in particular. Note that Arizona relievers have combined to record a 4.18 ERA and 1.37 WHIP with only four saves converted and six blown. The D'Backs have five games remaining on their current 10-game road trip, following their current stop in St. Louis with a three-game Interleague series in Seattle. Rocky startIt's setting up as another long season in Denver as the Rockies are off to a miserable 5-18 start. Things have gone from bad to worse over the last week as Colorado has dropped six of its last seven games, averaging a putrid 1.7 runs per contest over that stretch. That's just the tip of the iceberg as the Rockies pitching staff has been as bad as advertised, allowing opposing hitters to record a .368 OBP and an .813 OPS. Through 23 games, the Rockies bullpen has converted just one save. They've only blown a pair of save opportunities but that's only because the majority of their games haven't been close. If it weren't for the fact that they play in one of the nicer ballparks in baseball you have to wonder whether fans would still be willing to pay to watch this long-term losing franchise.Boston StrongNot much was expected from the Red Sox this season but so far, so good as they're off to a 13-10 start including six wins in their last nine games. A bullpen that was thought to be one of the weakest in baseball has been a strong point with Boston relievers combining to post a 3.76 ERA and 1.28 WHIP. In fact, the pitching staff as a whole has limited opposing hitters to a .222 batting average and .610 OPS. A three-game series in Cleveland is up next before a six-game Interleague homestand against the Cubs and Giants. Philly fanaticsWe've seen this story play out before with the Phillies proving to be regular season warriors, checking in 15-8 through their first 23 games. The question will always be whether they can thrive in the postseason but that's a story for another day. For now, Philadelphia is red hot, riding a seven-game winning streak into the second game of a four-game set in Cincinnati (it won the opener 7-0). Of note, the Phillies are now 138-107 (+11.4 net games) in their last 245 night games and 67-48 (+12.3 net games) in their last 115 contests against left-handed starting pitchers. They'll face a southpaw in Reds starter Andrew Abbott on Tuesday. 

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, MLB and EPL Previews and Odds - 04/23/2024

by Big Al Staff

Tuesday, Apr 23, 2024

The Tuesday sports card features NBA, NHL, MLB, and EPL action.The National Basketball Association continues the playoff season with three games. The Minnesota Timberwolves host the Phoenix Suns on TNT and truTV at 7:40 p.m. ET as a 3-point favorite, with the total set at 211.5 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). The Milwaukee Bucks play at home against the Indiana Pacers on NBA TV at 8:40 p.m. ET as a 1-point favorite with an over/under of 220.5. The Dallas Mavericks travel to Los Angeles to play the Clippers on TNT and truTV at 10:10 p.m. ET as a 2.5-point road favorite with a total of 215.5. The National Hockey League playoffs continue with four games. The New York Rangers are at home against the Washington Capitals on ESPN at 7:10 p.m. ET as a -278 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Florida Panthers host the Tampa Bay Lightning on ESPN2 as a -185 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Colorado Avalanche play in Winnipeg against the Jets on ESPN at 9:40 p.m. ET as a -112 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6. The Vancouver Canucks play at home against the Nashville Predators on ESPN2 at 10:00 p.m. ET as a -162 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Tuesday card in Major League Baseball has 15 games on its schedule. The Boston Red Sox are in Cleveland against the Guardians at 6:10 p.m. ET as a -115 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5. Two more MLB games throw out the first pitch at 6:40 p.m. ET. The Philadelphia Phillies visit Cincinnati to play the Reds as a -130 money-line road favorite with a total of 8.5. The Pittsburgh Pirates are at home against the Milwaukee Brewers as a -112 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. The Los Angeles Dodgers play in Washington against the Nationals at 6:45 p.m. ET as a -205 money-line road favorite with a total of 10. The Tampa Bay Lightning host the Detroit Tigers at 6:50 p.m. ET as a -166 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. The New York Yankees play at home against the Oakland A’s at 7:05 p.m. ET as a -218 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The Atlanta Braves are at home against the Miami Marlins at 7:20 p.m. ET as a -250 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9. Three more MLB games start at 7:40 p.m. ET. The Houston Astros are in Chicago to play the Cubs on TBS at 7:40 p.m. ET as a -115 money-line road favorite with a total of 10 (at BetMGM). The Toronto Blue Jays travel to Kansas City to play the Royals as a -125 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8. The Minnesota Twins host the Chicago White Sox as a -258 money-line favorite with a total of 7.5. The St. Louis Cardinals play at home against the Arizona Diamondbacks at 7:45 p.m. ET. The Seattle Mariners play in Texas against the Rangers at 8:05 p.m. ET as a -115 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 9. The San Diego Padres are in Colorado to play the Rockies at 8:40 p.m. ET as a -166 money-line road favorite with a total of 10.5. The Baltimore Orioles visit Los Angeles to play the Angels at 9:38 p.m. ET as a -148 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The San Francisco Giants play at home against the New York Mets at 9:45 p.m. ET as a -155 money-line favorite with a total of 7.5.Matchweek 34 in the English Premier League continues with one match. Arsenal is at home against Chelsea on the USA Network at 3:00 p.m. ET as a -1 goal-line favorite at BetMGM with an over/under of 3.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL and MLB Previews and Odds - 04/22/2024

by Big Al Staff

Monday, Apr 22, 2024

The Monday sports card features NBA, NHL, and MLB action.The National Basketball Association continues the 2024 playoff season with three games. The Cleveland Cavaliers host the Orlando Magic on NBA-TV at 7:10 p.m. ET. The Cavaliers took a 1-0 lead in this best-of-seven series with their 97-83 victory as a 5.5-point favorite on Saturday. Cleveland is a 5.5-point favorite, with the total set at 202.5 (all odds from DraftKings). The New York Knicks play at home against the Philadelphia 76ers on TNT and truTV at 7:40 p.m. ET. The Knicks won the opening game of this best-of-seven series with a 111-104 win against the 76ers as a 4.5-point favorite on Saturday. New York is a 5.5-point favorite with an over/under 209. The Denver Nuggets are at home against the Los Angeles Lakers on TNT and truTV at 10:10 p.m. ET. The Nuggets claimed Game 1 of this best-of-seven series with their 114-103 victory as a 7-point favorite on Saturday. Denver is a 7.5-point favorite with a total of 223. The National Hockey League playoffs continue with four games. The Boston Bruins host the Toronto Maple Leafs on ESPN at 7:10 p.m. as a -135 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Carolina Hurricanes play at home against the New York Islanders on ESPN2 as a -250 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Dallas Stars are at home against the Vegas Golden Knights on ESPN as a -130 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Edmonton Oilers host the Los Angeles Kings on ESPN2 at 10:10 p.m. ET as a -170 money-line favorite with a total of 6. The Monday card in Major League Baseball has 11 games on its schedule. The New York Yankees play at home against the Oakland A’s at 1:05 p.m. ET as a -238 money-line favorite with an over/under. Two MLB games throw out the first pitch at 6:40 p.m. ET. The Pittsburgh Pirates are at home against the Milwaukee Brewers as a -130 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The Philadelphia Phillies travel to Cincinnati to play the Reds as a -122 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Detroit Tigers play in Tampa Bay against the Rays at 6:50 p.m. ET as a -112 money-line road favorite with a total of 7. The Atlanta Braves host the Miami Marlins at 7:20 p.m. ET as a -238 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9. Two more MLB games start at 7:40 p.m. ET. The Toronto Blue Jays are in Kansas City against the Royals, with both teams priced at -110 with a total of 8.5. The Minnesota Twins host the Chicago White Sox on FS1 as a -180 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Arizona Diamondbacks visit St. Louis to play the Cardinals at 7:45 p.m. ET as a -112 money-line road favorite with a total of 8.5. The San Diego Padres play in Colorado against the Rockies at 8:40 p.m. ET as a -185 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 10.5. The Los Angeles Angels play at home against the Baltimore Orioles at 9:38 p.m. ET as a -120 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The New York Mets are in San Francisco to play the Giants at 9:45 p.m. ET.

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Has the Golden State Warriors Dynasty Come to an End?

by William Burns

Sunday, Apr 21, 2024

After losing to the Sacramento Kings last Tuesday, people from around the world chimed in on their thoughts about Golden State. Their disappointing results last year had many people believing that it was the end. Now, after experiencing another let down so early, is it safe to say that we’ve seen the end of the dominance of the Warriors? As a fan of the game, it’s always fun to watch the best teams go at it in the biggest situations. Golden State has been the “best of the best” for many years in a row now and it’s sad to see them go. Having said that, are they really done just yet? Well, Klay Thompson’s contract expires this offseason. Meaning that it’s time for the front office to make some decisions. His horrible performance in the Play-In game might be something that they use to help make that decision. Prior to that game, Klay had actually been playing very well. But, they’ll need to figure things out, that’s for sure. Golden State will also have to decide on other changes that could possibly improve the team's abilities. Draymond Green is somebody to talk about. Jonathan Kuminga/Andrew Wiggins/Moses Moody/Dario Saric will also need to be figured out. Maybe even another move for Chris Paul is in the cards for this offseason. There’s just one thing that is set in stone, to my knowledge. Stephen Curry will continue to be a Warrior until the end of his career. In fact, Curry might happen to be a part of the discussions in some of these difficult decisions. Obviously he’s played his entire career with the likes of Klay Thompson and Draymond Green. If they can somehow keep the trio together for next season, I bet that they will. As much as everyone believes that they need a change, let’s not forget that all three of these guys are more than likely to be hall-of-famers when it’s all said and done. Having said that, it’s also likely that at least one of Klay/Draymond has to move on. If played correctly, the Warriors could very well trade away - EXAMPLE - somebody like Andrew Wiggins and get a decent amount in return. There’s no question that he struggled this season, from what he did last year at least. So, the question is still this. Will they continue to disappoint? Or will they snap out of it and make yet another run at glory? Everyone has their own opinions on this and I believe that a lot of people think that it’s over. But, as long as Steph Curry is still in that jersey, I find it hard to believe that the Warriors won’t be a threat, yet alone title contenders once again in the near future. 2024-25 Prediction: If the Warriors keep their trio together, I expect them to get back into the playoffs. They should be competitive (if they all stay healthy) against any team and could very well win a couple of series'. Having said that, if they are to rebuild, it could be another long season for Golden State fans.

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Five Tips for Betting on Major League Baseball

by Wayne Root

Sunday, Apr 21, 2024

Handicapping MLB can be extremely profitable. It’s basically, pick the winner. There’s no point spread per se and finding underdogs gives the smart handicappers extra profits. What could be better than that?Streaky Teams and PitchersAs a baseball handicapper there is nothing that annoys me more than streaky pitchers. They can look for a long time like they can’t possible lose, and then before you know it – and for seemingly no reason – they can forget how to pitch for several games in a row. I place more emphasis on streaky teams than pitching unless I have a bad pitcher starting and his team is on an 1-7 streak. It can be tough to figure out when a good period is going to start or end, and you can lose some serious cash trying to pick when that turn might come. You don’t want to avoid streaky pitchers entirely, of course, because when they are losing or winning several in a row you can really pay off. Ignoring Matchups and Special Circumstances One would have to be extremely lazy to ignore any matchup information and special circumstances that surround the current game. Not only do I look at home/away information, I consider righty vs lefty pitching and night vs daytime games. A pitcher’s effectiveness is determined to a large extent by the baseball team he is pitching against. Casual MLB bettors will address this in a very basic way – by assuming that a pitcher will struggle more against a very good hitting team than against a weak bunch of bats, for example. You need to go further than that, though. Sometimes the best pitcher could struggle against the weakest of teams if the team features a lot of lefties and he loses effectiveness against lefties, or if they are contact hitters and he is better against power hitters. A fly ball pitcher could do better playing in a big ballpark than a small one. In your baseball handicapping, you’ll need to look well beyond surface matchups to identify situations that actually significantly impact what is likely to happen. Does Location Matter?Home vs Away Games etc.The schedule might not be an issue because of who he is playing against, but because of where he is playing. Some pitchers are unhittable at home but terrible on the road, or vice versa. This can especially be an issue if the home field is a particularly generous park for pitchers. I looked at a pitcher today that had a huge difference in their dichotomy.  He has a 1.69 era at home but a 5.63 era on the road. His overall era is 3.76 so depending on where he’s pitching I can put a proper value on the game. Before you get too excited or frustrated about a streak, then, spend time looking at where he has been pitching lately, and compare his road and home key stats. Handicapping Pitchers ERA ERA is one of those statistics that gets a whole lot of coverage. It’s easy to understand and easy to calculate so the media relies on it heavily, and the public looks at it as a stronger indicator than it really is. There are several problems with ERA that make it a less meaningful stat for handicappers, though. The biggest problem is that there are a wide range of factors that are totally beyond a pitchers control that can have an affect on the pitcher’s ERA. A guy will likely have a better ERA over a short period if he faces particularly weak teams than if he had faced particularly tough teams, so he is at the whim of the schedule maker. This can particularly be a problem early in the season when the sample size is small. A pitcher can also be penalized by playing in front of a weak defense. In short, ERA is not a strong indicator of the actual performance of the pitcher, and better stats should be sought out by bettors who want to win.Zeroing in on K/BBStrikeouts are sexy…but not the only stat I look at first. I’m more interested in the strikeouts to walks ratio. If they show 65K’s but also 46 bb’s, then I will take a pass as the walks are more of a consideration than the strikeouts. Everyone loves a power pitcher who can blow the ball past guys, and a game full of big strikeouts is always going to get coverage. By themselves, though, strikeouts aren’t particularly meaningful for handicappers. A strikeout is useful for a pitcher, but more strikeouts don’t necessarily indicate a better pitcher. In so cases a pitcher is sacrificing other aspects of his game in order to get more strikeouts. Instead of allowing themselves to be seduced by strikeouts smart bettors know that it’s more important to look at Ks in ways that indicate how effective a pitcher really is – like K:BB ratio for example.Good Luck and Remember:Let me pinch hit for you for more information, more stats, trends and angles with proper research and analysis resulting in more winners. Baseball is a GAME OF MORE!

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NFL Draft Prop Wagers

by ASA, Inc.

Sunday, Apr 21, 2024

NFL DRAFT PROPS TOTAL QB’s TAKEN IN THE FIRST ROUND – Over 4.5 (-250) @ DraftKings High juice on this one but we’re willing to lay it.  With QB obviously being the most important position on the field, we always get teams that reach a bit at that position early.  We actually have 6 QB’s graded as potential Round 1 selections and we expect at least 5 to come off the board if not all 6.  Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, Jayden Daniels, JJ McCarthy, Michael Penix and Bo Nix are all strong possibilities.  There is a decent chance that the first 3 or even 4 players taken in this draft will be QB’s which gets us very close with the majority of the first round still remaining.  We’ve identified at least 7 teams that need QB’s – Chicago, Washington, New England, NY Giants, Minnesota, Las Vegas, and Denver.  Those 7 teams currently have 9 first round picks with Chicago and Minnesota each having 2.  This isn’t a deep QB class with the 6 we stated being head and shoulders above the rest and not getting a QB early could cost a number of teams with few options in the 2nd or 3rd rounds.  That leads us to believe it’s very possible all 6 are drafted in round 1.    LSU’s MALIK NABERS FIRST WR TAKEN +470 @ FanDuel We’re hearing a number of GM’s actually like Nabers better than Marvin Harrison Jr who is slated by most to get ahead of him.  Nabers (and Harrison) both opted out of the NFL Combine but took part in their pro days on campus.  Nabers ran a 4.35 forty yard dash (elite speed), had a 42 inch vertical jump, and has great size at 6’0 and 200 pounds.  He is right at the top of the WR list in regards to measurables.  He led the nation at 3.51 yards per route run and had the 2nd most explosive catches (15+ yards) in college football last year.  On deeper routes, Nabers led the FBS in 20+ yard plays and 30+ yard plays last season.  He’s a better YAC guy (yards after catch) than Harrison and is more of a gamebreaker at the WR position.  Comparing him to former LSU WR’s, a few GM’s said Nabers is a cross between Odell Beckham Jr and Justin Jefferson.  While Harrison is the heavy favorite to be the first WR taken, all it takes is one GM to value Nabers higher and at +470 it’s worth a look.  GEORGIA TE BROCK BOWERS UNDER 12.5 DRAFT POSITION -200 @ DraftKings We expect Bowers to be taken in the top 12 picks in this draft and will sprinkle a little on him being a top 10 pick at +120 as well.  There are a number of teams in the top 12 that are targeting a TE in this draft and while they could hold off for someone down the line, Bowers is EASILY the best at that position and a potential game changer.  He led UGA in receiving yards in all 3 of his season despite a number of high level WR’s also playing for the Bulldogs.  Bowers has a rare speed (4.5 forty yard dash) and athleticism (40 inch vertical jump) at the TE position and is a big play threat anytime he touches the ball.  He was often the best offensive player on the field facing a very tough SEC schedule.  In his 3 years he played in 5 college football playoff games and 2 SEC championship games and played at a high level in the most important games.  In those 7 championship/playoff level games, Bowers caught 41 passes for 580 yards and 5 TD’s.  We project Bowers to have a Travis Kelce / George Kittle type impact on whoever drafts him.  Easily a top 10 talent and a number of GM’s have him as a top 5 overall player in this draft.  Too good to pass on in the top 12 so we’ll grab the Under 12.5 for Bowers draft position.          

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, MLB and EPL Previews and Odds - 04/21/2024

by Big Al Staff

Sunday, Apr 21, 2024

The Sunday sports card features NBA, NHL, MLB, and EPL action.The National Basketball Association continues the 2024 playoff season with four games. The Boston Celtics host the Miami Heat on ABC at 1:10 p.m. ET as a 14-point favorite, with the total set at 209 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). The Dallas Mavericks travel to Los Angeles to play the Clippers on ABC at 3:40 p.m. ET as a 2.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 223.The Indiana Pacers play in Milwaukee against the Bucks on TNT and truTV at 7:10 p.m. ET as a 1-point road favorite with a total of 231.5. The Oklahoma City Thunder play at home against the New Orleans Pelicans on TNT and truTV at 9:40 p.m. ET as an 8.5-point favorite with an over/under of 214.5. The National Hockey League playoffs continue with four games. The Florida Panthers are at home against the Tampa Bay Lightning on ESPN at 12:40 p.m. ET as a -170 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The New York Rangers host the Washington Capitals on ESPN at 3:10 p.m. ET as a -238 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Winnipeg Jets play at home against the Colorado Avalanche on ESPN2 at 7:10 p.m. ET as a -115 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Vancouver Canucks are at home against the Nashville Predators on ESPN at 10:10 p.m. ET as a -148 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Sunday card in Major League Baseball has 16 games on its schedule. Four MLB games throw out the first pitch at 1:35 p.m. ET. The Houston Astros are in Washington to play the Nationals as a -192 money-line road favorite with a total of 9. The Pittsburgh Pirates host the Boston Red Sox. The Philadelphia Phillies play at home against the Chicago White Sox as a -298 money-line favorite with an over/under 7.5. The New York Yankees are at home against the Tampa Bay Rays as a -135 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. Two more MLB games start at 1:40 p.m. ET. The Chicago White Sox host the Oakland A’s as a -192 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7.5. The Cincinnati Reds play at home against the Los Angeles Angels as a -135 money-line favorite with a total of 9.5. Two MLB games begin at 2:10 p.m. ET. The Kansas City Royals are at home against the Baltimore Orioles as a -125 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9. The Minnesota Twins host the Detroit Tigers as a -112 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The St. Louis Cardinals play at home against the Milwaukee Brewers at 2:15 p.m. ET as a -166 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. The Chicago Cubs are at home against the Miami Marlins at 2:20 p.m. ET as a -130 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The Seattle Mariners visit Colorado to play the Rockies in the opening game of their doubleheader at 3:10 p.m. ET as a -192 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 10.5. The San Francisco Giants host the Arizona Diamondbacks at 4:05 p.m. ET as a -115 money-line favorite with a total of 7.5. Two more MLB games start at 4:10 p.m. ET. The San Diego Padres play at home against the Toronto Blue Jays as a -130 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. The Los Angeles Dodgers are at home against the New York Mets as a -238 money-line favorite with a total of 9. Sunday Night Baseball on ESPN has the Atlanta Braves hosting the Texas Rangers at 7:10 p.m. ET. The Braves are a -162 money-line favorite with an over/under of 10. The Mariners play on the road against the Rockies in the second game of their doubleheader at 8:10 p.m. ET as a -150 money-line road favorite at BetMGM with a total of 11.Matchweek 34 in the English Premier League continues with four matches. Everton plays at home against Nottingham Forest on the USA Network at 8:30 a.m. ET is a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Two more matches start at 10:00 a.m. ET. Aston Villa is at home against Bournemouth as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 3.5. Crystal Palace hosts West Ham United as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Liverpool travels to Fulham on the USA Network as a -1 goal-line road favorite with an over/under of 3.5.

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NBA Round 1 Preview

by AAA Sports

Saturday, Apr 20, 2024

EASTERN CONFERENCEMiami vs. BostonSeries odds – Celtics -8000, Heat +2000Here we go again. Miami’s dominance over the Bulls, especially minus injured Jimmy Butler, certainly gives the Celtics something to think about. This iteration of the Tatum/Brown Celtics won 64 games but still has to shake its rep as playoff underachievers, especially after losing to the Heat in the EC finals a year ago. The Heat’s zone defense confused the Celtics last year, but Kristaps Porzingis may be able to neutralize that with his inside/outside game.Milwaukee vs. IndianapolisSeries odds – Pacers -122, Bucks +100Will the Bucks be toes up by the time Giannis Antetokounmpo returns from that nasty calf strain? Basically, Milwaukee’s chances depend on whether the answer to that question is yes or no. With trigger man Tyrese Halliburton (he led the league is assists) running the show, Indy will push the pace as much as possible to wear out Damien Lillard and Milwaukee’s porous perimeter defense.Orlando vs. ClevelandSeries odds – Cavaliers -195 Magic +165Cleveland tested the karma gods by its less-than-intense effort in the season finale – a loss which gave them a matchup with Orlando instead of the Pacers in Round 1. We’ll see how the NBA gods respond. The Magic have plenty of bulletin board material after that snub, and one thing if for sure – Orlando will muck it up and toss an elbow here or there. The teams split four games this season, but so many players were out and injured that there’s not much to be gleaned from that.Philadelphia vs. New YorkSeries odds – 76ers -110, Knicks -110Joel Embiid looked more than decent in the Play In win over Miami, but he tends to fade late in series. A blowout either way early in the series would give Philly a chance to keep his minutes down, but oddsmakers seem to think this is a coin flip matchup that could go seven. With Julius Randle out, Philly figures to bang relentlessly on Jalen Brunson – even as the Knicks use the same strategy against Embiid. Both will have to pick themselves off the floor quite a bit.WESTERN CONFERENCENew Orleans vs. Oklahoma CitySeries odds – Thunder -650, Pelicans +440Playing with pace becomes a lot more difficult when the regular season ends and playoffs begin, but OKC will give it a go. The Thunder will have had a week off when they take on the Pelicans, closing out the season with a 5-game winning streak as they probably would have preferred to take advantage of young legs. Without its jackhammer, Zion Williamson, for the series (he’s out two more weeks), the Pels will have to adjust on the fly.Los Angeles Lakers vs. DenverSeries odds – Nuggets -420, Lakers +310Here we go again. LA’s improbable playoff run ended in Denver’s WC finals sweep last season, and oddsmakers figure something similar will happen again. The Lakers are the biggest WC underdogs but have flipped on the light switch since the All-Star Game. Nicola Jokic is waiting for official word on another MVP award, and LeBron James gets at least another four games to add to his legacy. Is any big in the league playing better than Anthony Davis right now? Phoenix vs. MinnesotaSeries odds – Suns -140, Timberwolves +114Injuries robbed us from seeing exactly how good the Suns could be, with stars Devin Booker, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal playing the equivalent of only 18 full games together. But Phoenix did finish strong, avoided the Play In and defeated Minnesota twice in the last 10 games. The T-Wolves get after it on defense with an enormous front line of Karl-Anthony Towns, Rudy Gobert and Jaden McDaniels -- along with MVP candidate Anthony Edwards.       Dallas vs. Los Angeles ClippersSeries odds – Mavericks -118, Clippers -104Another 4/5 series with a razor thin margin. Dallas is a slight favorite in this one, befitting its white-hot finish to the season. Things could go off the rails any time with Kyrie Irving, but this year he has been both on the court and effective. And speaking of actually playing, Kawhi Leonard appeared in 68 games this year, more than in any season since 2016-17 with San Antonio. The Clips would love a long playoff run to juice their move to their own arena next season.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, MLB and EPL Previews and Odds - 04/20/2024

by Big Al Staff

Saturday, Apr 20, 2024

The Saturday sports card features NBA, NHL, MLB, and EPL action.The National Basketball Association tips off the 2024 playoff season with four games. The Cleveland Cavaliers host the Orlando Magic on ESPN at 1:10 p.m. ET as a 4.5-point favorite, with the total set at 207.5 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). The Minnesota Timberwolves play at home against the Phoenix Suns on ESPN at 3:40 p.m. ET as a 1.5-point favorite with an over/under of 214. The New York Knicks are at home against the Philadelphia 76ers on ESPN at 6:10 p.m. ET as a 3-point favorite with a total of 209. The Denver Nuggets host the Los Angeles Lakers on ABC at 8:40 p.m. ET as a 7-point favorite with an over/under of 224. The National Hockey League playoffs begin with two games on TBS and truTV on its slate. The Carolina Hurricanes play at home against the New York Islanders at 5:10 p.m. ET as a -230 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Boston Bruins are at home against the Toronto Maple Leafs at 8:10 p.m. ET as a -125 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5.The Saturday card in Major League Baseball has 16 games on its schedule. The New York Yankees host the Tampa Bay Rays at 1:05 p.m. ET as a -135 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The Minnesota Twins play at home against the Detroit Tigers at 2:10 p.m. ET as a -135 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. The St. Louis Cardinals are at home against the Milwaukee Brewers at 2:15 p.m. ET as a -130 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The Chicago Cubs host the Miami Marlins in the opening game of their doubleheader at 2:20 p.m. ET as a -162 money-line favorite. Four MLB games throw out the first pitch at 4:05 p.m. ET. The Los Angeles Dodgers play at home against the New York Mets on FS1 as a -185 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9. The Arizona Diamondbacks travel to San Francisco to play the Giants as a -122 money-line road favorite with a total of 8. The Houston Astros play in Washington against the Nationals as a -180 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 9. The Pittsburgh Pirates are at home against the Boston Red Sox as a -118 money-line favorite with a total of 8. Two more MLB games start at 6:05 p.m. ET. The Philadelphia Phillies host the Chicago White Sox as a -290 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. The Cleveland Guardians play at home against the Oakland A’s as a -162 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The Cincinnati Reds are at home against the Los Angeles Angels at 6:40 p.m. ET as a -130 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9.5. The Baltimore Orioles are in Kansas City to play the Royals at 7:10 p.m. ET as a -135 money-line road favorite with a total of 7.5. The Atlanta Braves host the Texas Rangers at 7:20 p.m. ET as a -155 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9.5. The Cubs play at home against the Marlins in the second game of their doubleheader at 7:40 p.m. ET as a -205 money-line favorite. The Seattle Mariners visit Colorado to play the Rockies at 8:10 p.m. ET as a -185 money-line road favorite with a total of 10. The San Diego Padres are at home against Toronto Blue Jays at 8:40 p.m. ET as a -115 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5.Matchweek 34 in the English Premier League begins with three matches. Two matches begin at 10:00 a.m. ET. Brentford plays at Luton Town on the USA Network as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with a total of 3 (all soccer odds from BetMGM). Sheffield United hosts Burnley in a pick ‘em match with an over/under of 3. Arsenal is at Wolverhampton on the USA Network at 2:30 p.m. ET as a -1.5 goal-line road favorite with a total of 3.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA and MLB Previews and Odds - 04/19/2024

by Big Al Staff

Friday, Apr 19, 2024

The Friday sports card features NBA and MLB action.The National Basketball Association concludes its Play-In Tournament with two games. The Miami Heat host the Chicago Bulls on ESPN at 7:10 p.m. ET. The Heat had won two games in a row before losing at Philadelphia, 105-104, as a 5.5-point underdog in the Play-In Tournament on Wednesday. The Bulls won for the third time in their last four games with their 131-116 victory against Atlanta as a 3-point favorite in their Play-In Tournament game on Wednesday. The winner of this game claims the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs and plays in Boston in the opening game of their seven-game series on Sunday. Miami is a 1.5-point favorite with a total of 205 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise).The Sacramento Kings travel to New Orleans to play the Pelicans on TNT and truTV at 9:40 p.m. ET. The Kings were on a three-game losing streak before their 118-94 upset victory at home against Golden State as a 3-point underdog in their Play-In Tournament game on Tuesday. The Pelicans are on a two-game losing streak after a 110-106 upset loss at home against the Los Angeles Lakers as a 1-point favorite in the Play-In Tournament on Tuesday. The winner takes the Western Conference eighth seed in the playoffs and plays in Minnesota in Game 1 of a seven-game series on Sunday. Sacramento is a 1.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 210.The Friday card in Major League Baseball has 15 games on its schedule. The Chicago Cubs play at home against the Miami Marlins at 2:20 p.m. ET as a -166 money-line favorite with a total of 10.5. Three more MLB games throw out the first pitch at 6:40 p.m. ET. The Los Angeles Angels play in Cincinnati against the Reds. The Pittsburgh Pirates are at home against the Boston Red Sox. The Philadelphia Phillies host the Chicago White Sox. The Houston Astros are in Washington to play the Nationals at 6:45 p.m. ET as a -170 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The New York Yankees play at home against the Tampa Bay Rays at 7:05 p.m. ET as a -136 money-line favorite BetOnline with a total of 9. The Cleveland Guardians are at home against the Oakland A’s at 7:10 p.m. ET as a -175 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The Atlanta Braves host the Texas Rangers at 7:20 p.m. ET as a -218 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9.5. The Baltimore Orioles visit Kansas City to play the Royals at 7:40 p.m. ET as a -142 money-line road favorite with a total of 9.5. The Minnesota Twins play at home against the Detroit Tigers at 8:10 p.m. ET as a -148 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7.5. The Milwaukee Brewers play in St. Louis against the Cardinals at 8:15 p.m. ET as a -130 money-line road favorite with a total of 7.5. The Seattle Mariners are in Colorado to play the Rockies at 8:40 p.m. ET as a -130 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 11. The San Diego Padres are at home against the Toronto Blue Jays at 9:40 p.m. ET as a -122 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The Los Angeles Dodgers host the New York Mets at 10:10 p.m. ET as a -198 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The San Francisco Giants play at home against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Apple TV+ at 10:15 p.m. ET as a -130 money-line favorite with a total of 8. 

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