Big Al's Daily Angle: NCAA Football, EPL and MLB Preview

by Big Al Staff

Friday, Oct 23, 2020
The Friday sports card features the third game of the MLB World Series along with three games in college football and an afternoon game in the English Premier League.

Tampa Bay evened the World Series at a game apiece on Wednesday with their 6-4 victory over Los Angeles. After an off-day on Thursday, the Rays give the ball to Charlie Morton, who was 2-2 in nine regular-season starts with a 4.74 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP. The veteran right-hander is 3-0 in the playoffs this year with a 0.57 ERA and a 0.96 WHIP spanning 15 2/3 innings. The Dodgers will counter with Walker Buehler, who was 1-0 with a 3.44 ERA and a 0.95 WHIP in eight regular-season starts. The right-hander has a 1-0 record with a 1.89 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP in his 19 innings in this postseason.

Los Angeles is a -148 moneyline favorite for Game 3, with the total set at 7.5 (all odds from BetOnline). Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, hosts the World Series with Tampa Bay designated home team for Games 3, 4, and 5. Fox has the broadcast with the first pitch scheduled for 8:08 PM ET.

The Friday night college football game on ESPN features the Tulsa Hurricanes traveling to South Florida to take on the Bulls. Tulsa evened their record at 1-1 back on October 3rd with their 34-26 upset win at Central Florida as a 20.5-point underdog. South Florida has lost four games in a row after they lost at Temple last Saturday by a 39-37 score as a 14-point underdog. The Golden Hurricanes are an 11-point road favorite with an over/under of 50. The ESPN broadcast starts at 7:30 PM ET.

Louisiana-Lafayette travels to UAB for a game that will be on the CBS Sports Network at 8 PM ET. The Ragin’ Cajuns are 3-1 after they lost their first game of the season last Wednesday in their 30-27 upset loss at home to Coastal Carolina as a 9-point favorite. The Blazers are 4-1 after they defeated Western Kentucky on Saturday by a 37-14 score as a 10.5-point favorite. Louisiana is a 3-point road favorite with a total of 50.

The Big Ten kicks off their 2020 season with Illinois traveling to Madison to face Wisconsin. The Illini return 14 starters from the team last year that finished 6-7 after losing to California in the Redbox Bowl by a 35-20 score. The Badgers have 15 starters back from their 10-4 team that lost to Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship, before losing to Oregon in the Rose Bowl by a 28-27 score. 

Wisconsin will have revenge on their mind for this opener after blowing 20-7 and 23-14 leads to the Illini in a 24-23 upset loss at Illinois last year on October 19th. The Badgers are a 19.5-point favorite with an over/under of 51. The Big Ten Network has the game starting at 8 PM ET.

The English Premier League begins their sixth game week with Leeds United traveling play at Aston Villa. The match starts at 3 PM ET on the NBC Peacock app.

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

© 2024 Al McMordie's BigAl.com. All Rights Reserved.