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NFL Week 1: VW's Power Rankings

by Vegas Writer

Thursday, Sep 07, 2023

Football is back!And every week you'll be able to find my personal NFL Power Rankings, ranking the league from best to worst.I've scoured every media outlet, read most beat writers, and familiarized myself with every team after six weeks of practice and the few exhibition games we've seen.Where did it all leave me? Dazed and confused, of course.And if I thought the past several weeks were bad, wait, the league turns my rankings on its head and has me baffled every week.We have to start somewhere, and with the season getting underway Thursday, let's get to it:THE UPPER TIER1. Kansas City - Until I am proven otherwise, the reigning champs deserve the top spot in Week 1. The Chiefs addressed issues on the offensive line, they've bolstered the wide receivers' room and, in two words: Patrick Mahomes2. Philadelphia - The reigning runner-up Eagles made headlines with their draft selections, and figure to be better than last season. Everyone is excited to see Jalen Hurts, but I can't wait to see defensive lineman Jalen Carter.3. Cincinnati - I keep hearing chatter about Joe Burrow's extension and this being Tee Higgins' final year. But is anyone taking in consideration both those things in a positive light? Both will be at their best, proving their worth for obvious reasons.4. San Francisco - A healthy Brock Purdy will go a long way this season. The fact the 49ers felt comfortable in shipping Trey Lance to Dallas, not to mention them returning a stellar defensive unit now that Nick Bosa agreed to terms, tells me they're ready to overtake the NFC and return to the Super Bowl.5. Buffalo - The Bills will always get their respect because of Josh Allen, who has the offensive weapons to keep this team relevant. That said, I want to see Monday's game vs. the Jets and Aaron Rodgers, as it wouldn't shock me if I swapped these two next week.6. Dallas - It's now or never. If the Cowboys aren't in must-win mode this season, meaning "Super Bowl or Bust," owner Jerry Jones needs to be questioned. There is pressure on everyone to produce, and if Dak Prescott and Mike McCarthy can't deliver, it'll be time to move on.7. Baltimore - The only question I have with the Ravens is how long it'll take to move them up the ranks, since I fully expect Lamar Jackson to jell nicely with like Odell Beckham Jr. and Zay Flowers. If there's immediate chemistry, the rest of the AFC North will be contending to earn a wild-card berth.8. Miami - The Dolphins' season hinges on a healthy Tua Tagovailoa. If he plays the entire season, the Fins are a Top 10 team and will challenge for the AFC East title. We'll also need to see an immediate impact with Vic Fangio serving as defensive coordinator.9. N.Y. Jets - The team I had the biggest struggle with comes in ninth, as this is another team that I need to see in action, with chemistry the biggest question, before I turn in a firm verdict. Something tells me Rodgers will have things shaken up - in either a good way, or bad.10. Jacksonville - Remember when the Jaguars were the doormat of the league? Now they've crept into the Top 10, and they're a candidate to move up the rankings since they'll face the Colts and rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson in Week 1.11. L.A. Chargers - The only reason I'm giving the Bolts this much respect, this early on, is because they've finally bolstered their offensive line, which will help keep Justin Herbert upright. Since arriving in the NFL, Herbert ranks ninth in being sacked 101 times - one of nine quarterbacks who have been sacked at least 100 times.12. Detroit - An upset in Week 1 would catapult this team into the Top 10. Can the Lions pull off an upset of the Chiefs? Hey, anything is possible. And we're talking about one of the most anticipated teams in franchise history, all due respect to some talented teams that included Barry Sanders.13. Seattle - Were the Seahawks expected to make it to the postseason in 2022? Not by many. Yet there they were, creeping into the postseason thanks to Geno Smith's career revival. Coach Pete Carroll has a nice blend of experience and youthful exuberance making up a talented roster.14. Cleveland - Not the Browns sneaking in higher than the Steelers. But yes, I think this team has the potential to challenge for a playoff spot. If, and it's a big IF, quarterback Deshaun Watson can be better than we've ever seen from him. If not, disappointing quarterback play won't cut it and they may want to switch to Dorian Thompson-Robinson.15. Minnesota - If there is one team I think could see a drastic decline, it's the Vikings. Last year's 13-win season was a facade behind a rather easy schedule. This year's slate is much tougher, so this is another team the verdict remains out until I can see how competitive they are against tougher competition.16. Pittsburgh - I'm a big believer in Kenny Pickett, and with the right protection, I can see him and tight end Darnell Washington having immediate chemistry. Pickett showed poise last season, but with the blueprint out, any skittish moments can be calmed with Washington in his sights.THE LOWER TIER:17. N.Y. Giants - Two words: Darren Waller. Get him involved immediately.18. New Orleans - Is Derek Carr poised for a career year just to spite the Raiders?19. Green Bay - Jordan Love has been waiting for this moment. Will he make the most of it?20. New England - JuJu Smith-Schuster and Ezekiel Elliott are in Foxborough. Problem might be, so is Mac Jones.21. Denver - If Sean Payton can revive Russell Wilson, look out.22. Washington - The Commanders need to improve on the offensive line most of all.23. Atlanta - The Falcons did some good things in building their roster with stout offensive linemen and top defenders. Now if only Desmond Ridder proves critics wrong.24. Carolina - Bryce Young will either make or break this team.25. Chicago - It's a make-or-break season for Justin Fields. We need to see the kid who was highly regarded out of high school.26. Las Vegas - Poor Raiders fans, the last thing coach Josh McDaniels needed was media leaks that he's begun losing the locker room.27. Tennessee - The Titans ranked last in the league last season with their PFF pass-blocking grade (53.7) and allowed the fifth-most sacks in the league (33). That will be an issue.28. Tampa Bay - Baker Mayfield has thrown the most interceptions (64) in the NFL since 2018. Let's see how his tenure in Tampa starts out.29. L.A. Rams - Don't be surprised if Aaron Donald is shipped out at some point, to a contender that needs a defensive menace. The Rams aren't going anywhere they'll need him.30. Indianapolis - Let the Anthony Richardson era begin. May the growing pains be minimal.31. Houston - The good news is, the Texans aren't the worst team in the league anymore. That's it, there is no other news.32. Arizona - I actually feel bad for Kyler Murray. It'll be a long season in Glendale.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NFL and MLB Previews and Odds - 09/07/2023

by Big Al Staff

Thursday, Sep 07, 2023

The Thursday sports card features NFL and MLB action. The 2023-24 NFL season begins with the NFL Kickoff Game on NBC and Peacock, with the Kansas City Chiefs hosting the Detroit Lions at 8:20 PM ET. The Chiefs won their second Super Bowl in the last four seasons with their 38-35 victory against the Philadelphia Eagles last February. The Lions come off a 9-8 season last year. Kansas City is a 4.5-point favorite, with the total set at 53 (all odds from DraftKings).Major League Baseball has six games on its schedule. Two MLB games throw out the first pitch at 6:40 PM ET. Seattle travels to Tampa Bay, with Luis Castillo getting the ball for the Mariners to pitch against Zack Littell for the Rays. The Mariners ended a three-game losing streak with their 8-4 victory on the road against the Reds on Wednesday. The Rays won for the third time in their last four games in a 3-1 win at home against Boston yesterday. Seattle is a -130 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 7.5. Los Angeles plays in Miami, with the Dodgers tapping Ryan Pepiot to face the Marlins’ Braxton Garrett. The Dodgers lost for the fifth time in their last six games in an 11-4 loss on the road in Miami yesterday. Miami has won six games in a row. Los Angeles is a -125 money-line road favorite with a total of 8.5. The New York Yankees are at home against the Detroit Tigers at 7:05 PM ET. The Yankees are on a five-game winning streak after their 4-3 victory at home against the Tigers last night. The Tigers have lost two games in a row. Carlos Rodon gets the ball for New York to battle against Eduardo Rodriguez for Detroit. The Yankees are a -166 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5.The Atlanta Braves host the St. Louis Cardinals at 7:20 PM ET. The Braves are on a three-game losing streak after an 11-6 loss at home to the Cardinals on Wednesday. The Cardinals have won five of their last seven games. Atlanta turns to Max Fried to take the mound to duel against St. Louis’ Adam Wainwright. The Braves are a -298 money-line favorite with a total of 10.5. The Chicago Cubs play at home against the Arizona Diamondbacks at 7:40 PM ET. The Cubs are on a four-game winning streak after their 8-2 victory against San Francisco yesterday. The Diamondbacks won for the second time in their last three games with their 12-5 victory at home against Colorado on Wednesday. Javier Assad gets tapped to pitch for Chicago to go against Ryne Nelson for Arizona. The Cubs are a -185 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Cleveland Guardians visit Los Angeles to play the Angels at 9:38 PM ET. The Guardians ended a three-game losing streak with a 2-1 win at home against Minnesota yesterday. The Angels are on a six-game losing streak after a 10-3 loss at home against Baltimore on Wednesday. Cleveland sends out Cal Quantrill to face a Los Angeles starting pitcher yet to be named.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: MLB Previews and Odds - 09/06/2023

by Big Al Staff

Wednesday, Sep 06, 2023

The Wednesday sports card features MLB action. Major League Baseball has 15 games on its schedule. The Milwaukee Brewers travel to Pittsburgh to play the Pirates at 12:35 PM ET. Freddy Peralta takes the ball for the Brewers to pitch against Colin Selby for the Pirates. Milwaukee is a -190 money-line road favorite at BetMGM, with the total set at 8.5. The Minnesota Twins play in Cleveland against the Guardians at 1:10 PM ET. The Twins tap Joe Ryan to face the Guardians' Gavin Williams. Minnesota is a -130 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5 (all other odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). The Chicago Cubs are at home against the San Francisco Giants at 2:20 PM ET. Jordan Wicks goes to the mound for the Cubs to face Alex Wood for the Giants. Chicago is a -155 money-line favorite at BetMGM with a total of 10.5. The Toronto Blue Jays travel to Oakland to play the A’s at 3:37 PM ET. The Blue Jays turn to Hyun Jin Ryu to duel against the A’s J.P. Sears. Toronto is a -170 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Arizona Diamondbacks host the Colorado Rockies at 3:40 PM ET. Zach Davies gets the start for the Diamondbacks to battle against Chris Flexen for the Rockies. Arizona is a -205 money-line favorite with a total of 9. The Philadelphia Phillies play in San Diego against the Padres at 4:10 PM ET. The Phillies turn to Zack Wheeler to pitch against the Padres’ Michael Wacha. Philadelphia is a -115 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8. Four MLB games throw out the first pitch at 6:40 PM ET. Los Angeles is in Miami, with Lance Lynn getting the ball for the Dodgers to face J.T. Chargois for the Marlins. The Dodgers are a -155 money-line road favorite with a total of 9. Tampa Bay plays at home against Boston, with Tyler Glasgow taking the hill for the Rays to pitch against Nick Pivetta for the Red Sox. The Rays are a -155 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7.5. Seattle visits Cincinnati with the Mariners sending out Logan Gilbert to battle against the Reds’ Lyon Richardson. The Mariners are a -162 money-line road favorite with a total of 10.5. Two MLB games start at 7:05 PM ET. New York is at home against Detroit, with Clarke Schmidt taking the ball for the Yankees to go against Matt Manning for the Yankees. The Yankees are a -166 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. New York plays in Washington, with the Mets tapping Jose Butto to face the Nationals’ Joan Adon. The Mets are a -130 money-line road favorite with a total of 10. The Atlanta Braves host the St. Louis Cardinals at 7:20 PM ET. Spencer Strider goes to the mound for the Braves to duel against the Cardinals Dakota Hudson. Atlanta is a -285 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9. The Kansas City Royals play at home against the Chicago White Sox at 7:40 PM ET. The Royals tap Jordan Lyles to face the White Sox's Touki Toussaint. Kansas City is a -120 money-line favorite with a total of 9.5. The Texas Rangers are at home against the Houston Astros at 8:05 PM ET. Max Scherzer takes the mound for the Rangers to battle against Justin Verlander for the Astros. Texas is a -118 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Baltimore Orioles travel to Los Angeles to play the Angels at 9:38 PM ET. The Orioles send out Kyle Gibson to face the Angels' Patrick Sandoval. Baltimore is a -130 money-line road favorite with a total of 8.5.

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College Football Observations from Week 1

by Vegas Writer

Tuesday, Sep 05, 2023

Welcome to a new football season ladies and gentlemen, and a brand new content format from yours truly, as I unveil the weekly plan to bring you informative articles leading up to a new week of action.Starting next Tuesday there will be a weekly recap, giving you the digs on the plays I released the previous week - both winners and losers - with a brief discussion on some of the games that may have shocked me or some that provided no surprise at all. I won't go over every game, but more so the water-cooler conversational contests that deserve a follow-up.On Wednesdays, you'll get the same type of article you're seeing today, beneath this introduction to my new content schedule, with College Football Observations. Things that stood out to me the week prior - some betting-related, others not-so-related - but let's be real, everything is betting-related this time of year. Thursday we'll talk NFL, as you'll get my league rankings based on the previous week's observations, while I may add a few betting tidbits that might assist you with the upcoming week.Those are the articles you can count on, but don't be surprised if I throw something in here and there.For now, here are my College Football Observations after Weeks 0 and 1:PRIMETIME BUFFS - As if this wasn't everyone's observation, right? Colorado scored six touchdowns in its season opener at TCU, resulting in a 45-42 upset as a 21-point underdog. Make note with this reinvigorated offense, the Buffaloes didn't score their sixth touchdown until the fifth game of the season last year.Quarterback Shedeur Sanders, son of coach Deion, threw for 510 yards in the Buffs' season opener, and make note Colorado didn't reach 500 yards passing on the season until the second quarter of its fourth game last year.Also impressive for the Buffs was Travis Hunter who was in for more than 110 snaps, playing on both sides of the ball. He finished with 11 receptions, 119 yards receiving, one interception and three tackles.The Buffaloes, who are favored (-3) in their home opener against Nebraska, haven't been a favorite since Week of the 2021 season, when the laid -6 to Arizona and won, 34-0.HEISMAN REPEAT - Two games into the season for USC's Caleb Williams, and I'm ready to hand him the Heisman Trophy for a second straight year. At the Pac-12 Media Day, he vowed to come into this season with a chip on his shoulder, after the way 2022 turned out. He and the Trojans were destined to make the College Football Playoff, but a hamstring injury in the conference championship led to a loss to Utah.The revenge season is underway.After throwing for 278 yards and four touchdowns in a Week 0 win over San Jose State, the reigning Heisman winner fired more touchdown passes (five) than he did incompletions (four) during the first half of the Trojans' 66-14 demolition over Nevada. He finished the game by torching the Wolf Pack for 18-of-24 passing and 319 yards to go along with his five TD tosses.FLORIDA STATE DUDES - There's something to be said about having bonafide college football players, or having some downright dudes. If you know, you know. And what we saw during a dominating 45-24 win over LSU is Florida State chock full of talent that is laced with "them dudes" every roster should have.Rewarded for their outstanding performances, Florida State quarterback Jordan Travis, wide receiver Keon Coleman and offensive lineman Bless Harris were named ACC Players of the Week.Travis completed 23 of 31 passes for 342 yards and a career-high four touchdowns, including three to Coleman. Travis added a touchdown and 38 rushing yards on the ground to become the only quarterback in the country over the last 10 seasons with four passing and one rushing touchdown against a Top 5 team in the regular season. Thus far, he's the only quarterback with that stat line against an FBS opponent this season.Coleman caught nine passes for 122 yards and three touchdowns, the most for a Seminole in his FSU debut, and the most for any Nole since the 2017 Independence Bowl. What was most impressive, and what reverberated with immediacy, was when Coleman slipped a tackle on his first catch and darted 40 yards for a touchdown to give the Noles a 7-0 lead. He tacked on a 21-yard touchdown to tie the game in the second quarter, and extended Florida State's lead with a 7-yard score in the fourth quarter.Harris was impressive in his return from a season-ending injury against Duquesne in the 2022 season opener by playing 55 snaps off the bench. Harris was PFF's highest-graded offensive lineman for the Noles as FSU extended its streak of 35 points to seven games, the longest active streak in the country. Impressively, the Noles did not allow a sack against the Tigers for the second consecutive season.The Seminoles, who are -29.5 in this week's home opener vs. Southern Miss, are on a 4-0 ATS roll when laying 18 or more to FBS foes since Week 8 of the 2021 season.TOOTHLESS TIGERS - One of my best plays this past week came Monday night, when I loved Duke plus the big number against Clemson. Something tells me the Tigers have a long road ahead, after seeing their stagnant offense.The Tigers, who get quite the reprieve this week against Charleston Southern, fell 16 places from No. 9 to No. 25 after their 28-7 loss to the Blue Devils.I don't want to take anything away from Duke's defense, because it did stand tall against the Tigers when they pushed inside the 10-yard-line - as far as the 1 on two of those occasions - and held them scoreless.It was Clemson's first game under new offensive coordinator Garrett Riley, after coach Dabo Swinney fired close friend and former OC Brandon Streeter back in January after just one season. Riley was hired away from TCU, where he served in the same capacity through the Horned Frogs' embarrassing 65-7 loss to Georgia in the National Championship.It was a questionable move considering the Tigers improved from 5.2 yards per play, 26.3 points per game and 2.0 points per drive in 2021 to 5.6, 33.2 and 2.5, respectively, in 2022.Again, it's not to take away from an experienced Duke team that brought back a wealth of its starters, but could be alarming when the Tigers have a guy like Will Shipley in the backfield.HOPSCOTCH - Remember the days of drawing a hopscotch court on the playground? Big pieces of chalk to create the court, and you had to make your way through the lined course without stepping on a line.Sort of feels the same way when maneuvering your way through college football's hopscotch course of favorites - ahem, chalk - without stepping out of bounds with any of the lines.First of all, AP Top 25 results through Week 1 find teams 24-3 SU and 17-10 ATS, with the following breakdown:Week 0: 2-0 SU, 1-1 ATSWeek 1: 22-3 SU, 16-9 ATS (one game involved two Top 25 teams)As for point-spread breakdowns, every week I'll update you with regular board games (no FCS or added), broken down into different point-spread ranges.Through Week 1, favorites are 26-26 with the following breakdown:1-3 1/2 ............ 3-34-7 1/2 ........... 4-58-10 1/2 ......... 2-311-14 1/2 ........ 4-415-19 1/2 ........ 2-320 and up ... 11-8

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Big Al's Daily Angle: MLB Previews and Odds - 09/05/2023

by Big Al Staff

Tuesday, Sep 05, 2023

The Tuesday sports card features MLB action. Major League Baseball has 15 games on its schedule. The Cleveland Guardians host the Minnesota Twins at 6:10 PM ET. Tanner Bibee gets the ball for the Guardians to pitch against Sonny Gray for the Twins. Both teams are priced at -110, with the total set at 8  (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). The Milwaukee Brewers travel to Pittsburgh to play the Pirates at 6:35 PM ET. The Brewers send out Corbin Burnes to face a Pirates starting pitcher yet to be named. Caesars lists the over/under at 10. Three MLB games throw out the first pitch at 6:40 PM ET. Los Angeles plays at Miami, with Clayton Kershaw going out to the mound for the Dodgers to go against Jesus Luzardo for the Marlins. The Dodgers are a -155 money-line road favorite with a total of 7.5. Seattle visits Cincinnati, with the Mariners turning to Bryce Miller to battle against the Reds’ Connor Phillips. The Mariners are a -155 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 10. Tampa Bay plays at home against Boston, with Zach Eflin being tapped by the Rays to go against Sutter Crawford for the Red Sox. The Rays are a -162 money-line favorite with a total of 8.The MLB games start at 7:05 PM ET. New York is at home against Detroit, with the Yankees sending out Gerrit Cole to duel against the Tigers’ Alex Faldo. The Yankees are a -230 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. New York plays in Washington, with Jose Quintana getting the start for the Mets against Patrick Corbin for the Nationals. The Mets are a -142 money-line road favorite with a total of 9. The St. Louis Cardinals are in Atlanta to play the Braves at 7:20 PM ET. The Cardinals turn to Miles Mikolas to face a Braves starting pitcher yet to be determined. Two MLB games begin at 7:40 PM ET. Chicago hosts San Francisco on TBS, with the Cubs sending out Kyle Hendricks to pitch against the Giants’ Ryan Walker. The Cubs are a -148 money-line favorite, with Caesars listing the over/under at 9. Kansas City plays at home against Chicago, with Brady Singer taking the ball for the Royals to go against the Dylan Cease for the White Sox. The Royals are a -118 money-line favorite with a total of 9.5. The Houston Astros travel to Texas to play the Rangers at 8:05 PM ET. The Astros tap Framber Valdez to battle against the Rangers’ Nathan Eovaldi. Houston is a -115 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Baltimore Orioles play in Los Angeles against the Angels at 9:38 PM ET. Dean Kremer goes to the mound for the Orioles to face Reid Detmers for the Angels. Baltimore is a -162 money-line road favorite with a total of 9. Three more games complete the MLB card at 9:40 PM ET. Arizona is at home against Colorado, with the Diamondbacks turning to Brandon Pfaadt to duel against the Rockies’ Kyle Freeland. The Diamondbacks are a -205 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9. Toronto visits Oakland with Chris Bassitt taking the mound for the Blue Jays to face Ken Waldichuk for the A’s. The Blue Jays are a -185 money-line road favorite with a total of 8.5. Philadelphia plays in San Diego, with the Phillies sending out Michael Lorenzen to go against the Padres’ Pedro Avila. The Phillies are a -115 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 9.

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NFL Rookie of the Year Predictions

by ASA, Inc.

Monday, Sep 04, 2023

Offensive Rookie of the Year - Anthony Richardson (+800)Standing 6’4 and weighing 245 lbs, the 4th overall pick is comparable to Cam Newton and may have an even stronger arm than the latter. At Florida, Richardson struggled with accuracy and decision making, yet NFL scouts were willing to overlook those aspects and bet on arm talent. Josh Allen was once in those same shoes. Richardson is in a better team situation than the other QBs taken ahead of him with the Colts sporting more weapons than the fully rebuilding Panthers and Texans. Indianapolis also has the third easiest schedule. Jonathan Taylor continues his feud with the Indy front office, which puts more pressure on the rookie QB to carry the offensive load. Fortunately, dual threat QBs have done very well in years past (Jackson, Hurts, Fields) and Richardson has a solid WR1 in Michael Pittman to rely on. Bijan Robinson (+250) is favored to win this award, however, running back is the most injury prone skill position. Jaxson Smith-Njigba (+2000) underwent wrist surgery and will possibly miss the first few weeks, seeming to open the door further for Richardson.  Defensive Rookie of the Year - Will Anderson (+500)Being the highest picked defensive player in the draft put hefty expectations on 21 year old Will Anderson. At 6’4 243, he ran a 4.6 40 yard dash, justifying such draft capital on a physical specimen. Make no mistake, Houston will be awful, likely having one of the worst defenses in the NFL no matter how well Anderson plays. With it being hard for average fans to name more than a few defensive starters, Will Anderson will be the lone bright spot for the Texans and benefit from ample opportunity to accumulate a nice rookie statline. He averaged nearly a sack a game while at Alabama, even while having multiple other pro players on the roster. The race for DROY is very wide open entering the year, with multiple DBs looking to follow Sauce Gardners rookie winning performance. Other defensive lineman could win the award as well but Anderson has the most solidified workload of any Rookie and being such a notable pick gives him a headstart on the rest of the field even before the season has begun. 

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NCAAF, MLB and CFL Previews and Odds - 09/04/2023

by Big Al Staff

Monday, Sep 04, 2023

The Monday sports card features NCAAF, MLB, and CFL action. Week 1 in college football concludes with one game. Clemson travels to Duke on ESPN at 8 PM ET as a 13-point road favorite, with the total set at 55.5 (all odds from DraftKings). Major League Baseball has 11 games on its schedule. The Kansas City Royals host the Chicago White Sox at 2:10 PM ET. Cole Ragans goes to the mound for the Royals to pitch against Jesse Scholtens for the White Sox. Kansas City is a -155 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9. The Chicago Cubs play at home against the San Francisco Giants at 2:20 PM ET. The Cubs turn to Justin Steele to face the Giants’ Logan Webb. Chicago is a -142 money-line favorite. The Texas Rangers are at home against the Houston Astros at 4:05 PM ET. Andrew Heaney gets the ball for the Rangers to battle against J.P. France for the Astros. Texas is a -112 money-line favorite with a total of 9.5. The Toronto Blue Jays play on the road in Oakland against the A’s at 4:07 PM ET. The Blue Jays tap Jose Berrios to go against the A’s Ken Waldichuk. Toronto is a -198 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5. Three MLB games throw out the first pitch at 4:10 PM ET. Arizona hosts Colorado, with Merrill Kelly taking the mound to battle against Paul Lambert for the Rockies. The Diamondbacks are a -250 money-line favorite with a total of 9. Tampa Bay plays at home against Boston, with the Rays sending out Aaron Civale to pitch against the Red Sox’s Brayan Bello. The Rays are a -142 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. Seattle travels to Cincinnati with Bryan Woo pitching for the Mariners against a starting pitcher yet to be named for the Reds. The Minnesota Twins play in Cleveland against the Guardians at 6:10 PM ET. The Twins turn to Pablo Lopez to dues against Lucas Giolito for the Guardians. Minnesota is a -130 money-line road favorite with a total of 8.5. The Milwaukee Brewers are in Pittsburgh against the Pirates at 6:35 PM ET. Corbin Burnes takes the mound for the Brewers to face a Pirates starting pitcher yet to be named. The Philadelphia Phillies are in San Diego to play the Padres at 6:40 PM ET. The Phillies send out Taijuan Walker to duel against the Padres’ Rich Hill. Philadelphia is a -112 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 9. The Baltimore Orioles travel to Los Angeles to play the Angels on FS1 at 9:38 PM ET. Grayson Rodriguez gets the ball for the Orioles to face Kenny Rosenberg for the Angels. Baltimore is a -180 money-line road favorite with a total of 9. Week 13 in the Canadian Football League concludes with two games on the CBS Sports Network. The Toronto Argonauts play in Hamilton against the Tiger-Cats at 3:30 PM ET. The Argonauts are a 7.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 50. The Calgary Stampeders are at home against the Edmonton Elks at 7 PM ET. The Stampeders are a 4-point favorite with a total of 46.5.

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NFL Futures Wager: Los Angeles Chargers to Win the 2023 Super Bowl

by Al McMordie

Sunday, Sep 03, 2023

The 2023 NFL Season kicks off this Thursday, and there will be a lot of contenders for the Super Bowl trophy this season.  In the AFC, the Chiefs, Bills, Bengals, Ravens, Jets, Chargers, Jaguars and Dolphins all have an excellent shot to make the playoffs, and contend for the title.  The list is shorter in the NFC, but the Eagles, 49ers, Cowboys and even the Lions merit serious consideration.  All 12 of these teams have odds shorter than 30-1, with the Chiefs (+600), Eagles (+750) and Bills (+900) rating as the clubs with the best percentage chance.This season, I'm going to take a team with considerably longer odds.  And that's the Los Angeles Chargers, at 25-1 odds (currently available at DraftKings, PointsBet and BetRivers).  When we last saw Brandon Staley's men, they collapsed in the Wild Card round against Trevor Lawrence & the Jaguars.  The Chargers were staked to a 27-0 lead, then improbably lost, 31-30, when they managed just 3 points after intermission, and gave up 11 points in the final 5:25, including a 36-yard game-deciding field goal as time expired.  Many called for coach Staley's head after that defeat, but Dean Spanos retained his coach.  In the Draft, the Chargers addressed a major need when they selected WR Quentin Johnson from TCU.  The 6'4" rookie (with an 82" wingspan) has impressed in camp with his ability to make explosive plays downfield.  Last season, the Chargers were injury-ravaged, to say the least.  WR Keenan Allen missed 7 games with a lingering hamstring issue; LB Joey Bosa was injured in Week 3, and suited up just five times.  Mike Williams played 11 full games, but missed the Playoff game vs. Jacksonville.  Even QB Justin Herbert suffered fractured rib cartilege in Week 2, and also tore his labrum in his left shoulder (which was surgically repaired after the season).  He did play through his injuries, though, and finished 2nd in yardage (4739) and 3rd in completion percentage (68.2%).  Notwithstanding a lot of bad injury luck, the Chargers still had a good season, and made the Playoffs.  I expect them to take major strides this season, in Herbert's 4th season as a pro.A primary reason I like the Chargers this season is that they brought in Kellen Moore to be offensive coordinator.  In his 4-year tenure (2019-2022) as the OC for the Dallas Cowboys, his offense ranked among the Top 4 in the NFL in productivity.  With Austin Ekeler in the backfield, Herbert under center, and a trio of wide receivers, Moore has all the talent he needs to make this offense hum.  The Chargers defense is also solid, and will get a boost if ex-Pro Bowler JC Jackson returns to his 2021 form.  Jackson was another of the injured Chargers last season, and definitely underwhelmed in his limited action on the field.  He's targeting a September return, and hopes are high he plays like he did in New England.As I stated above, this season is as wide-open as I can remember.  And because it's so wide-open, I prefer to take a longer shot, rather than a team like, say, Buffalo with shorter odds.  It's not that I think Los Angeles is a better team than Buffalo.  But at 25-1 odds, I like its value more.  And in the past, I've hit some big futures tickets (Virginia at 22-1 odds to win the NCAA Basketball title; the Washington Nationals at 18-1 odds to win the World Series).  Take the Chargers to win the 2023 Super Bowl.  Good luck, as always...Al McMordie.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NCAAF, MLB, CFL and EPL Previews and Odds - 09/03/2023

by Big Al Staff

Sunday, Sep 03, 2023

The Sunday sports card features NCAAF, MLB, CFL, and EPL action. Week 1 in college football continues with three games between FBS opponents. Rutgers hosts Northwestern on CBS at 12 PM ET as a 6-point favorite, with the total set at 39.5 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). Oregon State travels to San Jose State on CBS at 3:30 PM ET as a 16.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 54.5. Louisiana State battles Florida State at the Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida on ABC as a 2-point favorite with a total of 56.5. Major League Baseball has 15 games on its schedule. The Chicago Cubs travel to Cincinnati to play the Reds at 12:10 PM ET as a -125 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 9.5. The Philadelphia Phillies play in Milwaukee against the Braves at 1:05 PM ET as a -115 money-line road favorite with a total of 9. The Miami Marlins are in Washington to play the Nationals at 1:35 PM ET as a -175 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 9. The Seattle Mariners visit New York to play the Mets at 1:40 PM ET as a -155 money-line road favorite with a total of 8.5. Two MLB games throw out the first pitch at 2:10 PM ET. The Boston Red Sox play at Kansas City against the Royals. The Detroit Tigers are in Chicago to face the White Sox as a -148 money-line road favorite with a total of 8.5. The Pittsburgh Pirates play in St. Louis against the Cardinals at 2:15 PM ET. The Texas Rangers play at home against the Minnesota Twins at 2:35 PM ET as a -135 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Toronto Blue Jays visit Colorado to play the Rockies at 3:10 PM ET as a -238 money-line road favorite with a total of 12. The Los Angeles Angels play in Oakland against the A’s at 4:07 PM ET as a -162 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8. Four more games start at 4:10 PM ET. The Arizona Diamondbacks are at home against the Baltimore Orioles as a -142 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The Tampa Bay Rays play in Cleveland against the Guardians. The Atlanta Braves play in Los Angeles against the Dodgers, with both teams priced at -110 with an over/under of 9.5. The San Diego Padres host the San Francisco Giants as a -148 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The Houston Astros play at home against the New York Yankees on ESPN for Sunday Night Baseball at 7:10 PM ET as a -162 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9. Week 13 in the Canadian Football League begins with one game. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers visit the Saskatchewan Roughriders on the CBS Sports Network at 7 PM ET as a 7.5-point road favorite with a total of 47.5. Matchweek 4 in the English Premier League concludes with three matches. Two matches begin at 9 AM ET. Crystal Palace hosts Wolverhampton as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Liverpool is a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 3.5. Arsenal plays at home against Manchester United on NBC at 12:30 PM ET as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 3.

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NFL MVP Predictions

by ASA, Inc.

Saturday, Sep 02, 2023

Justin Herbert (+1000) Lots of experts picked Herbert to break out last season after he threw for 38 touchdowns and 15 interceptions in 2021. Unfortunately, injuries to the WR room along with a stale offensive game plan centered around short passes, limited the Chargers young star. Austin Ekeler vulturing numerous redzone touchdowns played a huge part in why Herbert’s stats took a negative turn last year as well. GM Tom Telesco addressed some needs this offseason that will put their QB back into the MVP conversation for 2023. The hiring of Kellen Moore will open up Los Angeles’ deep passing game allowing Herbert to showcase his superhuman arm talent, and first round WR talent Quentin Johnston adds some much needed depth to a stacked but fragile WR room. Despite a disappointing 2022, Herbert still finished 2nd in passing yards with over 4700. If some positive touchdown regression returns to the Chargers QB, he will be in line for almost 5k yards with near 40 touchdowns, which is right in the ballpark of Patrick Mahomes MVP stats from last year (5250/41/12). Soon, Herbert will take the next step to a truly elite QB, similar to how Burrow and Allen have the past few years.  Trevor Lawrence (+1600)As a former number one overall pick in 2021, Lawrence has not lived up to expectations, yet he is not fully to blame, being on a lackluster Jaguars team the last two seasons. Finally, Jacksonville seems to be a stable organization, and even got Lawrence a shiny new weapon in Calvin Ridley. Coming off a solid year throwing over 4k yards, 25 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions, Lawrence is in a great spot to solidify himself as a top 10 QB. Passing volume is due to increase with the addition of Ridley and there is no question the former number one pick has the arm talent to compete with the elite QBs in the NFL. A realistic statline is 4800 yards, 35 touchdowns and under 10 interceptions. Jacksonville has the 10th easiest strength of schedule and is favored to win the AFC South, maybe the worst division in football. A great team record along with stellar individual stats are what's needed to win an MVP. Despite being a long shot, Lawrence has an opportunity to harness both this season and compete with the likes of the heavier MVP favorites. 

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NCAAF, MLB, CFL and EPL Previews and Odds - 09/02/2023

by Big Al Staff

Saturday, Sep 02, 2023

The Saturday sports card features NCAAF, MLB, CFL, and EPL action. Week 1 in college football continues with 32 games between FBS opponents. Seven nationally televised NCAAF games kick off at noon ET. SMU hosts Louisiana Tech on ESPNU as a 20.5-point favorite, with the total set at 66 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). Tennessee battles Virginia at Nissan Stadium in Nashville on ABC as a 28-point favorite with an over/under of 56. Oklahoma plays Arkansas State on ESPN as a 36-point favorite with a total of 58. Iowa is at home against Utah State on FS1 as a 23.5-point favorite with an over/under of 43.5. Liberty hosts Bowling Green on the CBS Sports Network as a 9-point favorite with a total of 49.5. Michigan plays at home against East Carolina on Peacock as a 36.5-point favorite with an over/under of 52. TCU is at home against Colorado on Fox as a 20.5-point favorite with a total of 63. Six college football games are on national television starting at 3:30 PM ET. Auburn hosts Massachusetts on ESPN as a 35-point favorite with an over/under of 51.5. Wisconsin plays at home against Buffalo on FS1 as a 28-point favorite with a total of 53.5. Western Kentucky is at home against South Florida on the CBS Sports Network as a 13-point favorite with an over/under of 70. Washington hosts Boise State on ABC as a 14-point favorite with a total of 58.5. Texas plays at home against Rice on Fox as a 35.5-point favorite with an over/under of 59. Ohio State travels to Indiana on CBS as a 30.5-point road favorite with a total of 59. California is at North Texas on ESPNU at 4 PM ET as a 6.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 54. Four nationally televised college football games begin at 7 PM ET. Washington State visits Colorado State on the CBS Sports Network as a 10-point road favorite with a total of 54.5. UTSA plays at Houston on FS1 as a 1.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 60. Texas A&M hosts New Mexico on ESPN as a 38-point favorite with a total of 49. Army is at UL-Monroe on the NFL Network as a 9-point road favorite with an over/under of 47. Three more NCAA-F games are on national television at 7:30 PM ET. Texas Tech plays at Wyoming on CBS as a 14-point road favorite with a total of 50.5. Penn State is at home against West Virginia on NBC as a 20.5-point favorite with an over/under of 49. South Carolina plays at home against North Carolina on ABC as a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 63.5. Tulane hosts South Alabama on ESPNU at 8 PM ET as a 6.5-point favorite with an over/under of 52. UCLA plays at home against Coastal Carolina on ESPN at 10:30 PM ET as a 15.5-point favorite with a total of 66.5. Major League Baseball has 15 games on its schedule. The Miami Marlins travel to Washington to play the Nationals at 4:05 PM ET. The Los Angeles Angels play in Oakland against the A’s at 4:07 PM ET as a -130 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Tampa Bay Rays are in Cleveland against the Guardians at 6:10 PM ET as a -118 money-line road favorite with a total of 8.5. The Chicago Cubs visit Cincinnati to play the Reds at 6:40 PM ET as a -118 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 10. Four MLB games throw out the first pitch at 7:10 PM ET. The Boston Red Sox play in Kansas City against the Royals as a -225 money-line road favorite with a total of 10. The Seattle Mariners are in New York to play the Mets as a -125 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8. The Chicago White Sox are at home against the Detroit Tigers as a -118 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The Houston Astros host the New York Yankees as a -180 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9. Three MLB games start at 7:15 PM ET. The St. Louis Cardinals play at home against the Pittsburgh Pirates as a -185 money-line favorite with a total of 9. Two games are featured on Fox in regional television coverage. The Texas Rangers are at home against the Minnesota Twins as a -192 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9. The Philadelphia Phillies visit Milwaukee to play the Brewers as a -130 money-line road favorite with a total of 9. Two MLB games begin at 8:10 PM ET. The Toronto Blue Jays play in Colorado against the Rockies as a -185 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 12. The Baltimore Orioles are in Arizona to play the Diamondbacks as a -142 money-line road favorite with a total of 9. The San Diego Padres host the San Francisco Giants at 8:40 PM ET as a -180 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. The Atlanta Braves travel to Los Angeles to play the Dodgers at 9:10 PM ET.Week 13 in the Canadian Football League begins with one game. The British Columbia Lions play in Montreal against the Alouettes at 7 PM ET as a 3.5-point road favorite with a total of 47.5. Matchweek 4 in the English Premier League continues with six matches. Everton plays at Sheffield United on the USA Network at 7:30 AM ET in a pick ‘em match with an over/under of 2 (all soccer odds from DraftKings). Four more EPL matches start at 10 AM ET. Brentford plays at home against Bournemouth as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5. Tottenham is at Burnley as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with an over/under of 3. Chelsea is at home against Nottingham Forest on the USA Network as a -1.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 3. Manchester City hosts Fulham as a -2 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 3.5. Newcastle United plays at Brighton and Hove Albion on NBC at 12:30 PM ET in a pick ‘em match with a total of 3. 

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The Three NFL Coach of the Year Bets to Make Now

by Oskeim Sports

Friday, Sep 01, 2023

With Week 1 of the NFL just seven days away, it’s time to take a look at the NFL Coach of the Year bets to make right now. The current NFL COTY is New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll. He took a 4-13 Giants team, led them to a 9-7-1 record, and earned a berth in the NFC playoffs as a wild card. Which NFL coach is poised to do the same in 2023? There are a few, but in betting the NFL COTY, there is a certain profile that fits the bill. Understanding that profile leads us to three candidates to bet on before Week 1 of the 2023 season starts.  Wins Are KeyIf you look at the past ten NFL COTYs, all but one - that was Daboll last year - had double-digit wins. The NFL Coach of the Year is going to have a high winning percentage. Over the past decade, the COTY has won an average of 12.1 games. It’s actually closer to 13 if we base it on the 17-game schedule that the league now plays. Daboll had nine wins last year, but the nine guys before him all won at least 11.  Seven of the ten also won a division title. Five even received a first-round playoff bye. The bottom line is that winning is king when it comes to the NFL COTY. Making ProgressIt’s the reason why they were hired in the first place. They need to make improvements and each of the last 10 COTYs outperformed their team’s previous season. Most of them did so significantly. The average COTY team improved from 6.9 wins to 12.1 wins the following season, winning 5.2 games more on average. Most of the COTY teams had preseason win totals between 7.5 and 9.5. Most of these teams, who were thought to be .500 teams at best, went on to exceed expectations.  Exceeding ExpectationsSpeaking of exceeding expectations, our most recent COTYs didn’t just make progress, they performed well beyond what any of the so-called experts had anticipated. These surprise teams tend to garner more votes when it comes time for the COTY voting. Six of the last ten COTYs won at least 4.5 games more than predicted according to Vegas win total lines. The projected win total for the last 10 COTY winners was 8.8. All 10 won at least two more games than their projected win total. Ideal NFL COTY CandidateBreaking it down then, the perfect NFL COTY candidate is one who wins a ton of games. Preferably, the coach wins more than the previous season. Typically, the COTY is going to come from a team that had a losing record the previous season. He’ll likely need 10-plus wins and preferably a playoff spot.  Keep in mind that the award typically does not go to the favorite. The last eight NFL COTYs all started the season at +1800 or higher. Six of the previous 12 winners were first-year head coaches and five of the last seven were offensive guys. Your 2023 NFL COTY Candidates to Bet Now  Mike McDaniel (Dolphins) +2000: McDaniel enters his second season off a pretty strong debut. The Dolphins won nine games. He’s an offensive guy who will have a healthy Tua Tagovailoa at quarterback and plenty of weapons on offense. He also hired veteran defensive coordinator Vic Fangio to shore up the defense.  Miami has a win total of 9.5. McDaniel will need double-digit wins and a playoff berth. Both are doable with the Dolphins schedule. And, McDaniel is nowhere near the favorite here.  Arthur Smith (Falcons) +1400: Smith will play in what is likely the weakest division in football. He’s another offensive-minded guy who has developed quarterbacks like Ryan Tannehill and Desmond Ridder last season. Carolina is young and inexperienced. Tampa Bay doesn’t have Tom Brady and the Saints are in the midst of a rebuild. The Falcons are talented - Kyle Pitts and Drake London - on offense and they made some moves in the offseason on defense. He’s not a first-year candidate, but he fits the other criteria and he’s priced at +1400.  DeMeco Ryans (Texans) +2500: Here’s the guy who is worth at least a small bet. Ryans is a first-year head coach. He’ll have the benefit of playing six games in the weakest division in the AFC (the South). The Colts have a new head coach too and the Titans will struggle with a weak offensive line. Jacksonville is solid on offense but weak defensively. Houston will surprise some people with a fairly well-rounded and deep roster. They benefit from having the schedule of one of the weakest teams in the league last year. The Texans won just three games last year. If Ryans can do what Daboll did a year ago, this bet makes for a nice payout.

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