Big Al's Daily Angle: EPL and NFL Preview

by Big Al Staff

Sunday, Nov 08, 2020
The Sunday sports card features the continuation of Week 9 of the National Football League, along with four matches in the English Premier League.

The NFL has 12 games scheduled for Sunday. Eight games begin the card at 1 PM ET. The primary game on CBS has Baltimore traveling to face the Indianapolis Colts. The Ravens are a 1-point road favorite with the total set at 47.5 (all odds from BetOnline). The national game on Fox has Kansas City hosting the Chicago Bears. The Chiefs are a 10-point favorite with an over/under of 52. 

Another three games take place in the second window of afternoon games. At 4:05 PM ET, Las Vegas travels to Los Angeles to play the Chargers with this game a pick ‘em with a total of 52.5. At 4:25 PM ET, Arizona hosts the Miami Dolphins with the Cardinals a 6-point favorite with the over/under at 49. The national game on CBS at 4:25 PM ET features the Dallas Cowboys hosting the Pittsburgh Steelers. Pittsburgh is a 15-point road favorite against the Cowboys tapping Garrett Gilbert as their starting quarterback with the total set at 44.

First place in the NFC South will be on the line for Sunday Night Football in a showdown between the New Orleans Saints and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

These two teams met in the opening week of the season. New Orleans won by a 34-23 score as a 4-point favorite (with the total at 48) in what was the first game for Tom Brady in a Tampa Bay uniform. The 43-year old had some difficulties playing in a new offense that day as he completed 23 of 36 passes with two interceptions. Brady has only thrown two interceptions since that game in leading the Buccaneers to a 6-2 record. His 63.9% completion percentage against the Saints defense was the third lowest in his eight games this season.

New Orleans raised their record to a 5-2 mark last week with their overtime 26-23 win in Chicago. That game left the Saints dealing with some nagging injuries with quarterback Drew Brees slowed with a shoulder and running back Alvin Kamara suffering from a foot issue. Both of those players are now off the injured list as of Friday, yet head coach Sean Payton was coy about their availability for this game. Wide receiver Michael Thomas remains questionable with an ankle injury, but he may make his return to the field for this game, given the high stakes.

The Saints only rushed for 82 yards in their win against the Bucs. That was their lowest rushing output of the season. New Orleans is averaging 119.3 rushing yards-per-game this season while topping the 90 yards threshold six times. Tamara has 431 yards on 87 carries, with Latavius Murray adding another 282 yards on 71 carries. Yet the Buccaneers lead the league by allowing only 70.4 rushing yards-per-game. Tampa Bay has held three of its opponents under 50 rushing yards this year.

This high-profile matchup features the two all-time NFL leaders in passing touchdowns with Brady’s 561 career touchdown passes just ahead of the 560 TD Brees has thrown in his career. BetOnline lists the Saints as a 4.5-point favorite with the total set at 50.5. NBC has the broadcast with the kickoff at 8:20 PM ET.

Four matches take place in the English Premier League. At 7 AM ET, Tottenham travels to West Bromwich with the Hotspurs' a -1 goal line road favorite with an over/under of 2.75. The NBC Sports Network broadcasts that match as well as Leicester City hosting Wolverhampton at 9 AM ET. The Foxes are a -0.25 goal line home favorite with a total of 2.25. At 11:30 AM ET, Liverpool travels to Manchester City in a showdown between the past two EPL champions. Man City is a -0.5 favorite with the over/under set at 3.25 with the match broadcast on the NBC Peacock app. The final match of the day at 2:15 PM ET has Aston Villa visiting Arsenal. The Gunners are a -0.75 goal line favorite with the total set at 2.75 with this match also on the Peacock app.

All photographic images used for editorial content have been licensed from the Associated Press.

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