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College Football Championship Week: The Games That Matter Most

Here we are at Conference Championship Week in college football. The season flew by as it always seems to. Many teams are done for the season, while quite a few others are just waiting to see where they will play in a bowl game.Michigan and Georgia are clearly going to be in the College Football Playoff even if they lose this weekend. That’s not to say they won’t try, but it isn’t a must win spot for them. Many believe TCU would be in even if they lose, but they need to at least be competitive. USC is in a must win spot. Let’s take a brief look at a few of the contests this weekend. Pac 12 Title Game Friday at 8 pm Eastern- Utah vs. USC (USC -3, 67) It isn’t even on Saturday, but this is really the biggest game of the weekend for several teams. USC needs a win here. Some think Ohio State would be in the CFP if USC loses and others think Alabama could even jump into the top four. Utah edged out USC in the first meeting in Salt Lake City 43-42. USC did average 8.1 yards per play in that loss. Utah’s Cam Rising has been good overall, but he has had a few games where he cost his team a win (Florida and Oregon this year specifically).  Big 12 Title Game Saturday at 12 pm Eastern- Kansas State vs. TCU (TCU -2.5, 61.5) Remember Kansas State led TCU 28-10 in the second quarter in their regular season meeting at TCU on October 22nd. Adrian Martinez was hurt in that game and then Will Howard came in and dominated for quite a while. Howard then got hurt and Kansas State was forced to play a freshman third stringer for a while. TCU has been fantastic this year, but I think this is a really hard test for them. Kansas State’s Chris Klieman is 44-20 ATS all time and 30-15-1 at Kansas State. SEC Title Game Saturday at 4 pm Eastern- LSU vs. Georgia (Georgia -17.5, 50.5) LSU had a chance to be in the playoff as well, but they blew that chance with their loss to Texas A&M on the road last weekend. Brian Kelly’s team is in an odd spot here. They of course would like to win the SEC, but they have to be highly disappointed given just a week ago they had higher aspirations. Georgia would like to get the #1 seed in the playoffs with a good performance here.Big Ten Title Game Saturday at 8 pm Eastern- Purdue vs. Michigan (Michigan -16, 51.5) Jim Harbaugh and his Michigan Wolverines went to Columbus and impressively handled the Buckeyes in the second half last weekend. The Wolverines have at least a chance of getting the top seed with a big performance here. The Big Ten West was a clustered mess and Purdue ended up being the opponent here. This could definitely be called a let down spot for Michigan given the massive game from a week ago. Purdue isn’t nearly on Michigan’s level though. A very tough game to pick a side in my opinion. 

Big Al's Daily Angle: NFL, NBA, MLB, NCAAB, NHL and FIFA Men's World Cup Previews and Odds - 11/28/2022

The Monday sports card features action in the NFL, NBA, NHL, NCAAB, and the FIFA Men’s World Cup.Week 12 in the National Football League concludes with one game for Monday Night Football. The Indianapolis Colts host the Pittsburgh Steelers on ESPN at 8:15 PM ET as a 2.5-point favorite, with the total set at 39.5.The National Basketball Association has ten games on its docket. Two games tip off at 7:10 PM ET. The Atlanta Hawks play at Philadelphia against the 76ers as a 1-point road favorite with an over/under of 221. The Minnesota Timberwolves visit Washington to play the Wizards as a 1-point road favorite with a total of 228.5. Three more games begin at 7:40 PM ET. The Boston Celtics are at home against the Charlotte Hornets as a 10-point favorite with an over/under of 219.5. The Brooklyn Nets host the Orlando Magic as a 10.5-point favorite with a total of 223.5. The Toronto Raptors play at home against the Cleveland Cavaliers as a 1-point favorite with an over/under of 213. The New Orleans Pelicans are at home against the Oklahoma City Thunder at 8:10 PM ET as a 1.5-point favorite with a total of 231. Two more games start at 9:10 PM ET. The Denver Nuggets host the Houston Rockets as an 11.5-point favorite with an over/under of 233. The Utah Jazz plays at home against the Chicago Bulls as a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 234. The Sacramento Kings are at home against the Phoenix Suns at 10:10 PM ET in a pick ‘em game with an over/under of 231. The Los Angeles Lakers host the Indiana Pacers at 10:40 PM ET as a 4-point favorite with a total of 234. The National Hockey League has six games on its slate. Four games drop the puck at 7:05 PM ET. The Tampa Bay Lightning travel to Buffalo to play the Sabres as a -145 money line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Toronto Maple Leafs play at Detroit against the Red Wings as a -170 money line road favorite with a total of 6. The Vegas Golden Knights are at Columbus against the Blue Jackets as a -280 money line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The New Jersey Devils play in New York against the Rangers in a pick ‘em game with a total of 6.The Dallas Stars are at St. Louis to play the Blues at 8:05 PM ET as a -130 money line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Edmonton Oilers host the Florida Panthers at 9:35 PM ET as a -115 money line favorite with a total of 7. The college basketball card features two games on national television. Virginia Tech plays Minnesota on ESPN2 at 7 PM ET as a 12.5-point favorite with an over/under of 127. Northwestern is at home against Pittsburgh on ESPN2 at 9 PM ET as a 7-point favorite with a total of 128.5.The FIFA Men’s World Cup continues with four matches in the group stage. Serbia battles Cameroon on FS1 at 5 AM ET as a -0.5 goal line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Ghana plays South Korea at 8 AM ET on FS1 in a pick ‘em match with a total of 2. Brazil faces Switzerland on Fox at 11 AM ET as a -1.5 goal line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Portugal goes against Uruguay on Fox at 2 PM ET as a -0.5 goal line favorite with a total of 2.5.

Big Al's Daily Angle: NFL, NBA, NHL, NCAAB and FIFA World Cup Previews and Odds - 11/27/2022

The Sunday sports card features action in the NFL, NBA, NHL, NCAAB, and the FIFA World Cup.Week 12 in the National Football League continues with 12 games. Seven games kick off at 1 PM ET. The Denver Broncos travel to Carolina to play the Panthers as a 1-point road favorite, with the total set at 36 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). The Tampa Bay Buccaneers play at Cleveland against the Browns as a 3.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 42. The Baltimore Ravens are at Jacksonville against the Jaguars as a 3.5-point road favorite with a total of 43. The Miami Dolphins host the Houston Texans as a 14-point favorite with an over/under of 47. The New York Jets play at home against the Chicago Bears as a 7-point favorite with a total of 38. The Cincinnati Bengals are at Tennessee against the Titans as a 1-point road favorite with an over/under of 43. The Washington Commanders host the Atlanta Falcons as a 3.5-point favorite with a total of 40.5. Two NFL games start at 4:05 PM ET. The Los Angeles Chargers visit Arizona to play the Cardinals as a 3-point road favorite with an over/under of 48.5. The Seattle Seahawks are at home against the Las Vegas Raiders as a 4-point favorite with a total of 47.5. Two more NFL games begin at 4:25 PM ET. The Kansas City Chiefs play at home against the Los Angeles Rams as a 15.5-point favorite with an over/under of 41.5. The San Francisco 49ers host the New Orleans Saints as a 9-point favorite with a total of 43. Sunday Night Football features the Philadelphia Eagles playing at home against the Green Bay Packers on NBC at 8:20 PM ET. The Eagles are a 6.5-point favorite with an over/under of 46. The National Basketball Association has nine games on its docket. The Brooklyn Nets are at home against the Portland Trail Blazers as a 7-point favorite with a total of 221. The Golden State Warriors visit Minnesota to play the Timberwolves at 3:40 PM ET as a 1.5-point road favorite with a total of 234. The Indiana Pacers play in Los Angeles against the Clippers at 4:10 PM ET as a 1-point road favorite with an over/under of 223. The Atlanta Hawks host the Miami Heat at 5:10 PM ET as a 5-point favorite with a total of 222.5. Four NBA games tip off at 6:10 PM ET. The Boston Celtics play at home against the Washington Wizards as a 7-point favorite with an over/under of 224. The Cleveland Cavaliers travel to Detroit to play the Pistons as a 7-point road favorite with a total of 222. The Memphis Grizzlies play in New York against the Knicks as a 4-point road favorite with an over/under of 231.5. The Orlando Magic are at home against the Philadelphia 76ers as a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 214.5. The Milwaukee Bucks host the Dallas Mavericks at 8:10 PM ET as a 6-point favorite with an over/under of 214.5. The National Hockey League has five games on its slate. The Minnesota Wild play at home against the Arizona Coyotes at 2:05 PM ET as a -275 money line favorite with a total of 6. The Winnipeg Jets are at Chicago against the Blackhawks at 7:05 PM ET as a -165 money line road favorite with an over/under of 6. Two more NHL games drop the puck at 8:05 PM ET. The Seattle Kraken visit Anaheim to play the Ducks as a -170 money line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The Vancouver Canucks play at San Jose to play the Sharks as a -115 money line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Los Angeles Kings are at home against the Ottawa Senators at 10:35 PM ET as a -155 money line favorite with a total of 6.5. The college basketball card features 14 games on national television. Memphis plays Stanford one ESPNU at 11 AM ET in the ESPN Events Invitational at the State Farm Field House in Kissimmee, Florida as a 6-point favorite with an over/under of 137. Oklahoma battles Mississippi on ESPN at 1:30 PM ET in the ESPN Events Invitational as a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 126. Villanova faces Oregon on ESPN2 at 3 PM ET at the Phil Knight Legacy tournament at the Chiles Center in Portland, Oregon as a 2.5-point favorite with an over/under of 136. Two more NCAAB games tip-off at 3:30 PM ET. Alabama plays North Carolina on ESPN in the Phil Knight Legacy at Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Portland, Oregon. Duke goes against Purdue on ABC in the Phil Knight Legacy at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon as a 2-point favorite with a total of 135.5. Two NCAAB games start at 5 PM ET. Seton Hall battles Siena on ESPN2 in the ESPN Events Invitational as a 14.5-point favorite with an over/under of 136.5. Miami (FL) travels to Central Florida on ESPNU as a 1-point road favorite with a total of 131. Michigan State goes against Portland on ESPN at 5:30 PM ET in the Phil Knight Legacy at the Chiles Center as a 6.5-point favorite with an over/under of 145.5. Two more NCAAB games begin at 7:30 PM ET. Nebraska plays Florida State on ESPNU in the ESPN Events Invitational as a 1.5-point favorite with a total of 140. Gonzaga battles Xavier on ESPN in the Phil Knight Legacy as a 7-point favorite with an over/under of 160.5. West Virginia faces Florida on ESPNU at 8:30 PM ET in the Phil Knight Legacy at the Chiles Center as a 1.5-point favorite with a total of 147.5. UConn goes against Iowa State on ESPN at 10 PM ET in the Phil Knight Legacy at the Moda Center as a 6-point favorite with an over/under of 135. Oregon State plays Portland State on ESPNU at 11 PM ET in the Phil Knight Legacy at the Chiles Center as a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 143. The FIFA Men’s World Cup continues with four matches in the group stage on FS1. Japan faces Costa Rica at 5 AM ET as a -1 goal line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Belgium goes against Morocco at 8 AM ET as a -0.5 goal line favorite with a total of 2.5. Croatia battles Canada at 11 AM ET as a -0.5 goal line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Germany plays Spain at 2 PM ET in a pick ‘em match with a total of 2.5. 

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