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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, NCAAB and MLB Previews and Odds - 03/28/2025

The Friday sports card features NBA, NHL, NCAAB, and MLB action. The National Basketball Association has seven games on its docket. The Cleveland Cavaliers travel to Detroit to face the Pistons at 7:10 p.m. ET as a 6.5-point road favorite with the total set at 230.5 (all odds from DraftKings). Two more NBA games tip off at 7:40 p.m. ET. The Toronto Raptors host the Charlotte Hornets as a 6-point favorite with an over/under of 217.5. The Los Angeles Clippers play in Brooklyn to take on the Nets as a 13-point road favorite with a total of 214.5. Three NBA games start at 8:10 p.m. ET. The Golden State Warriors visit New Orleans to play the Pelicans as a 13-point road favorite with an over/under of 223.5. The New York Knicks play in Milwaukee against the Bucks as a 1-point road favorite with a total of 220.5. The Minnesota Timberwolves play at home against the Phoenix Suns as a 7-point favorite with an over/under of 227. The Denver Nuggets are home against the Utah Jazz as a 17.5-point favorite with a total of 238.5. The National Hockey League has six games on its slate. Three NHL games drop the puck at 7:07 p.m. ET. The Florida Panthers host the Utah Hockey Club as a -258 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Columbus Blue Jackets play at home against the Vancouver Canucks as a -118 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Carolina Hurricanes are home against the Montreal Canadiens as a -298 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Winnipeg Jets host the New Jersey Devils at 8:07 p.m. ET as a -175 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Vegas Golden Knights play in Chicago against the Blackhawks at 8:40 p.m.  ET as a -305 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The New York Rangers are in Anaheim to face the Ducks as a -162 money-line road favorite with a total of 5.5. The NCAAB college basketball schedule has four games between Division I opponents in the final four games of the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament. Michigan State battles Mississippi at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, on CBS at 7:09 p.m. ET as a 3.5-point favorite with an over/under of 143.5. Tennessee faces Kentucky at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana, on TBS at 7:39 p.m. ET as a 4.5-point favorite with a total of 144.5. Auburn plays at home against Michigan at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, on CBS at 9:39 p.m. ET as an 8.5-point underdog with an over/under of 153.5. Houston challenges Purdue at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana, on TBS at 10:09 p.m. ET as an 8.5-point favorite with a total of 131.5. Major League Baseball has nine games on its schedule. The Tampa Bay Rays play at home against the Colorado Rockies at 4:10 p.m. ET as a -205 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. The Toronto Blue Jays are home against the Baltimore Orioles at 7:07 p.m. ET as a -130 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The Pittsburgh Pirates travel to Miami to go against the Miami Marlins at 7:10 p.m. ET as a -142 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 7.5.The Boston Red Sox play in Texas to play the Rangers at 8:05 p.m. ET as a -125 money-line road favorite with a total of 8.5. The Houston Astros host the New York Mets at 8:10 p.m. ET as a -142 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. Three MLB games start at 9:40 p.m. ET. The Arizona Diamondbacks play at home against the Chicago Cubs as a -135 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The Seattle Mariners are home against the Oakland A’s as a -155 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7. The San Diego Padres host the Atlanta Padres as a -130 money-line favorite with a total of 7.5. The Los Angeles Dodgers play at home against the Detroit Tigers as a -205 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7.5.

NBA System of the Week

Sports handicappers have many tools in their toolbox that they use to get an edge on the bookmakers.  When I handicap the NBA, I like to look at things like margin of victory, points scored, home/road statistics, won/loss percentages, and so forth.  Another thing I will often look at is the series history between the two teams, with a particular focus on which team won the previous meeting, and by how many points.Tonight, we have a nice situation in the NBA.  The Los Angeles Lakers will be in Chicago to face the Bulls, who just walloped L.A. at Staples Center five days ago, 146-115.  And what made that loss even more remarkable was that the Lakers were favored by 10.5 points, yet lost by 31.I consulted my trusty NBA Database (which was written up in ESPN Magazine on December 13, 2010), and researched how teams do when playing with revenge from such a big defeat earlier in the season.  And here's what I found.  Teams playing with revenge from a same-season loss by 30 or more points do quite well provided two other factors were present.  First, our revenge-minded team need to be the favorite.  And, second, our opponent needed to be off a SU/ATS win.  In that situation, our revengers have gone 73-46-1 ATS since 1990.Let's look deeper at our Chicago Bulls/Los Angeles Lakers match-up tonight.  The Lakers played last night, so there's always a chance they might rest players.  However, currently, both Luka Doncic and LeBron James are expected to suit up, and L.A. is a 4-point favorite at Circa Sportsbook.  That's good, since our revenger does need to be the favorite.  Next, we need the Bulls to be off a SU/ATS win.  And, indeed, they are, as they defeated Denver, 129-119, in their previous game.NBA System of the Week:  Play on a favorite with revenge from a loss earlier in the season by 30 or more points, if its opponent is off a SU/ATS win. Tonight's play:  Los Angeles Lakers -4Good luck, as always,Al McMordie

Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, NCAAB and MLB Previews and Odds - 03/27/2025

 The Thursday sports card features NBA, NHL, NCAAB, and MLB action. The National Basketball Association has eight games on its docket. Three NBA games tip off at 7:10 p.m. ET. The Indiana Pacers travel to Washington to play the Wizards as an 11-point road favorite with the total set at 235.5 (all odds from DraftKings). The Orlando Magic host the Dallas Mavericks as a 6-point favorite with an over/under of 219. The Cleveland Cavaliers play at home against the San Antonio Spurs as a 13.5-point favorite with a total of 239. The Miami Heat are home against the Atlanta Hawks at 7:40 p.m. ET as a 1.5-point favorite with an over/under of 227. Two NBA games start at 8:10 p.m. ET. The Los Angeles Lakers play in Chicago against the Bulls as a 3.5-point road favorite with a total of 239. The Oklahoma City Thunder host the Memphis Grizzlies as a 10-point favorite with an over/under of 238. The Houston Rockets are in Utah to play the Jazz at 9:10 p.m. ET as a 12.5-point road favorite with a total of 228. The Sacramento Kings play at home against the Portland Trail Blazers as a 5.5-point favorite with an over/under of 225.5.The National Hockey League has ten games on its slate. Four NHL games drop the puck at 7:07 p.m. ET. The Buffalo Sabres are home against the Pittsburgh Penguins as a -135 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Montreal Canadiens visit Philadelphia to play the Flyers as a -120 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Tampa Bay Lightning host the Utah Hockey Club as a -198 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Ottawa Senators play in Detroit against the Red Wings as a -130 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 5.5.The Washington Capitals are in Minnesota to play the Wild at 7:37 p.m. ET as a -162 money-line road favorite with a total of 5.5. The St. Louis Blues travel to Nashville to face the Predators at 8:07 p.m. ET as a -135 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Dallas Stars play in Calgary against the Flames at 9:07 p.m. ET as a -148 money-line road favorite with a total of 5.5. Two NHL games begin at 10:07 p.m. ET. The Colorado Avalanche play at home against the Los Angeles Kings on ESPN as a -155 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Edmonton Oilers are in Seattle to play the Kraken with both teams priced as a -110 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Toronto Maple Leafs visit San Jose to play the Sharks at 10:37 p.m. ET as a -278 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 5.5.The NCAAB college basketball schedule has four games between Division I opponents in the opening games of the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament. Alabama battles BYU on CBS at 7:09 p.m. ET at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, as a 5.5-point favorite with a total of 175.5. Florida takes on Maryland on TBS at 7:39 p.m. ET at the Chase Center in San Francisco, California, as a 6.5-point favorite with an over/under of 156.5. Duke plays against Arizona on CBS at 9:39 p.m. ET at the Prudential  Center in Newark as a 9.5-point favorite with a total of 153.5. Texas Tech challenges Arkansas on TBS at 10:09 p.m. ET at the Chase Center in San Francisco as a 5.5-point favorite with an over/under of 148.5. Opening Day in Major League Baseball has 14 games on its schedule. The New York Yankees are home against the Milwaukee Brewers on ESPN at 3:05 p.m. ET as a -155 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The Baltimore Orioles play in Toronto to take on the Blue Jays at 3:07 p.m. ET as a -112 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5. Two more MLB games throw out the first pitch at 4:05 p.m. ET. The Boston Red Sox are in Texas to play the Rangers as a -115 money-line road favorite with a total of 7.5. The Philadelphia Phillies travel to Washington to play the Nationals as a -170 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 7. Six MLB games begin at 4:10 p.m. ET. The Los Angeles Angels play in Chicago against the White Sox as a -155 money-line road favorite with a total of 8. The Houston Astros host the New York Mets as a -130 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. The Kansas City Royals play at home against the Cleveland Guardians as a -130 money-line favorite with a total of 7.5. The Atlanta Braves are in San Diego to go against the Padres as a -130 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 7. The Pittsburgh Penguins travel to Miami to take on the Marlins as a -155 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The San Francisco Giants play in Cincinnati to challenge the Reds with both teams priced at -110 with an over/under of 8. The Minnesota Twins are in St. Louis to battle the Cardinals at 4:15 p.m. ET as a -118 money-line road favorite with a total of 7.5.The Los Angeles Dodgers are home against the Detroit Tigers on ESPN at 7:10 p.m. ET as a -184 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7. Two games conclude the MLB card at 10:10 p.m. ET. The Seattle Mariners host the Oakland A’s as a -175 money-line favorite with a total of 7. The Arizona Diamondbacks play at home against the Chicago Cubs as a -130 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. 

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