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Turkey Day Primer for Three NFL Games

by Vegas Writer

Wednesday, Nov 23, 2022

BUFFALO (7-3) at DETROIT (4-6): Thursday’s matchup marks the third Thanksgiving Day meeting between the Bills and Lions, with Detroit winning each of the first two contests. Thursday marks the 11th regular-season meeting between the two franchises, with Buffalo holding a 6-4-1 series advantage. In their last meeting, Week 15 of the 2018 season, quarterback Josh Allen rushed for a touchdown and threw a go-ahead 42-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter of the Bills’ 14-13 victory.  Week 12 will mark Buffalo’s third appearance on Thanksgiving in the past four seasons. On November 28, 2019, the Bills defeated Dallas, 26-15, with two touchdowns (one passing, one rushing) from Allen. Last year on the holiday, Allen threw four touchdown passes in Buffalo’s 31-6 win at New Orleans.Buffalo will play its second straight game in Detroit after earning a 31-23 victory over Cleveland, as Allen threw his 21st touchdown pass of the season. Since entering the NFL in 2018, Allen has 159 career combined passing and rushing touchdowns (124 passing, 35 rushing), tied with Patrick Mahomes (159) for the third-most by a player in his first five seasons in NFL history.On defense, Buffalo linebacker Von Miller has six sacks in five road games this season and has 10.5 sacks in 12 career games on Thursday. Meanwhile, defensive tackle Ed Oliver had a career-high three tackles for loss last week and aims for his third in a row on Thanksgiving with at least half a sack and a pass defended. In Week 11, Detroit defeated the New York Giants, 31-18, for its third-consecutive win. Running back Jamaal Williams ran for three touchdowns and became the fourth player since 2000 with multiple rushing touchdowns in at least five of his team's first 10 games of a season.Last year on the holiday, quarterback Jared Goff completed 21 of 25 pass attempts (84%), the highest single-game completion percentage on Thanksgiving in NFL history. He has a passer rating of 100 or higher in three of his past four home starts and has two-or-more touchdown passes in eight of his past nine home games. Wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown led the team with seven receptions last week and has at least seven catches in six of his past seven home games.Defensively, rookie lineman Aidan Hutchinson registered an interception and fumble recovery and became the second player since 1982, when the individual sack became an official statistic, with at least five sacks (5.5) and two interceptions (two) in his first 10 career games. Rookie safety Kerby Joseph turned in his third interception of the season and is the only rookie with at least three interceptions (three) and two forced fumbles (two). NEW YORK GIANTS (7-3) at DALLAS (7-3): The Giants and Cowboys meet for the 121st time since 1960, with Dallas holding the all-time regular-season series advantage, 72-46-2, including wins in 10 of the past 11 meetings. The two clubs haven't met on Thanksgiving since 1992 when the Cowboys won 30-3. Thursday marks the second meeting this season between the NFC East rivals after Dallas defeated New York, 23-16, in Week 3 on Monday Night Football.Last week, Giants quarterback Daniel Jones passed for a season-high 341 yards and had two touchdowns (one passing, one rushing). He has a passer rating of 90 or higher in three of his past four road starts. Running back Saquon Barkley leads the NFC with 1,163 scrimmage yards this season and has three rushing touchdowns in four road games. He had 126 scrimmage yards (81 rushing, 45 receiving) and a rushing touchdown in the Week 3 meeting vs. Dallas and has at least 100 scrimmage yards in two of his three career games at Dallas.On the other side of the ball, defensive lineman Leonard Williams has at least five tackles in three of his past four on the road and has 3.5 sacks in his past three games against the Cowboys. Defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence turned in his sixth game of the season with at least five tackles, tied for the most such games among defensive linemen in 2022.Dallas had the biggest blowout win last week with a 40-3 defeat of the Minnesota Vikings. The Cowboys are the only NFC team to score at least 40 points twice this season. In five career starts on Thanksgiving, Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott has 1,393 yards passing and nine touchdowns (seven passing, two rushing) with a 98.4 rating. He has 21 touchdowns vs. just five interceptions for a 100.1 rating in 11 career starts against the Giants.Running back Tony Pollard continues to impress as he comes in after registering a career-high 189 scrimmage yards (109 receiving, 80 rushing) and two touchdown receptions in Week 11, becoming the fourth player since 1990 with at least 75 rushing yards, 100 receiving yards and two touchdown receptions in a single game. Last year on Thanksgiving, Pollard recorded a 100-yard kickoff return touchdown, the third-longest touchdown ever scored on the holiday.Running back Ezekiel Elliott was also active vs. Minnesota, recording his 14th-career game with two rushing touchdowns. He has 488 scrimmage yards (97.6 per game) and four rushing touchdowns in five career Thanksgiving games. Elliott has 10 touchdowns (nine rushing, one receiving) in 11 career games against the Giants and aims for his sixth in a row against New York with a touchdown.Dallas enters this week with the league’s top-ranked scoring defense, allowing just 16.7 points per game, and leads the NFL with 42 sacks this season. The Cowboys are the only team with four players each having at least five sacks in 2022: Micah Parsons (10), Dorance Armstrong (7), DeMarcus Lawrence (6), and Dante Fowler (5). Each of the four recorded at least one sack in Week 11.NEW ENGLAND (6-4) at MINNESOTA (8-2): New England leads the all-time series against Minnesota, 9-4, including wins in five consecutive matchups. The Patriots have scored at least 45 points in each of their past two Thanksgiving appearances (2010 and 2012) and are 3-1 on the holiday under coach Bill Belichick.New England defeated the New York Jets, 10-3, in Week 11 as rookie defensive back Marcus Jones turned in a game-winning 84-yard punt-return touchdown with five seconds left in the contest.Quarterback Mac Jones completed 23 of 27 pass attempts for a career-high 85.2 completion percentage last week, and has at least one touchdown pass in seven of his past eight road starts. Jones aims for his third straight without an interception. Running back Rhamondre Stevenson ranks tied for fifth among all running backs with a career-high 41 receptions this season and needs 73 scrimmage yards for his first-career 1,000-yard season.The Patriots are the only team in the league this season to allow three points or fewer multiple times. New England enters Week 12 allowing 16.9 points per game, the fewest among all AFC teams.Minnesota quarterback Kirk Cousins has 691 passing yards (345.5 per game) and five touchdowns against one interception for a 110.8 rating in two career Thanksgiving starts.Linebacker Za’Darius Smith has 22 sacks in 22 career primetime games while linebacker Danielle Hunter has 6.5 sacks in six career Thursday games. Cornerback Patrick Peterson ranks third in the NFL this season with 12 passes defended. Safety Harrison Smith has a pass defended in five of his past six games and aims for his third in a row with at least six tackles.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, NCAAB, and FIFA Men's World Cup Previews and Odds - 11/23/22

by Big Al Staff

Wednesday, Nov 23, 2022

The Wednesday sports card features action in the NBA, NHL, NCAAB, and the FIFA Men’s World Cup.The National Basketball Association has 12 games on its docket. Three games tip-off at 7:10 PM ET. The Charlotte Hornets host the Philadelphia 76ers as a 4-point favorite with the total set at 214 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). The Cleveland Cavaliers play at home against the Portland Trail Blazers as an 8.5-point favorite with an over/under of 217. The Minnesota Timberwolves are at Indiana against the Pacers as a 1-point road favorite with a total of 235.5. Four more NBA games start at 7:40 PM ET. The Atlanta Hawks host the Sacramento Kings as a 5.5-point favorite with an over/under of 239. The Boston Celtics play at home against the Dallas Mavericks on ESPN as a 4-point favorite with a total of 218.5. The Miami Heat are at home against the Washington Wizards as a 1.5-point favorite with an over/under of 211.5. The Toronto Raptors host the Brooklyn Nets as a 2-point favorite with a total of 221.5. Three NBA games begin at 8:10 PM ET. The Milwaukee Bucks play at home against the Chicago Bulls as a 7-point favorite with an over/under of 219.5. The Denver Nuggets visit the Oklahoma City Thunder as a 2-point road favorite with a total of 229. The New Orleans Pelicans are at San Antonio as a 7-point road favorite with an over/under of 232.5. The Utah Jazz are at home against the Detroit Pistons at 9:10 PM ET as an 11-point favorite with a total of 229. The Golden State Warriors host the Los Angeles Clippers on ESPN at 10:10 PM ET as a 9-point favorite with an over/under of 222.5. The National Hockey League has 15 games on its slate. The puck drops in eight games at 7:05 PM ET. The Minnesota Wild play at home against the Winnipeg Jets as a -115 money line favorite with a total of 6. The Carolina Hurricanes are at home against the Arizona Coyotes as a -365 money line favorite with an over/under of 6. The Florida Panthers host the Boston Celtics as a -115 money line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Pittsburgh Penguins play at home against the Calgary Flames as a -120 money line favorite with an over/under of -120 moment line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Columbus Blue Jackets are at home against the Montreal Canadiens as a -115 money line favorite with a total of 6.5. The St. Louis Blues travel to Buffalo against the Sabres as a -175 money line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The New Jersey Devils host the Toronto Maple Leafs as a -135 money line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Nashville Predators play at Detroit against the Red Wings with both teams priced at -110 with an over/under of 6. Two NHL games start at 7:35 PM ET. The Washington Capitals are at home against the Philadelphia Flyers on TNT as a -215 money line favorite with a total of 6. The New York Islanders play at home against the Edmonton Oilers as a -120 money line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Dallas Stars host the Chicago Blackhawks at 8:35 PM ET as a -315 money line favorite with a total of 6. Four more games conclude the NHL card at 10:05 PM ET. The New York Rangers are at Anaheim against the Ducks as a -165 money line road favorite with an over/under of 6. The Vegas Golden Knights play at home against the Ottawa Senators on TNT as a -230 money line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Seattle Kraken host the San Jose Sharks as a -175 money line favorite with an over/under of 6. The Colorado Avalanche play at home against the Vancouver Canuucks against the Canucks as a -200 money line favorite with a total of 6.5. The college basketball card features 18 games on national television. Georgetown hosts American on FS2 at 11:30 AM ET as a 14-point favorite with an over/under of 138. North Carolina State faces Kansas on ESPN at noon ET in the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament at Imperial Arena in Nassau, Bahamas. Two more NCAAB games tip off at 2:30 PM ET. Texas Tech battles Ohio State on ESPN in the Maui Invitational at the Lahaina Civic Center in Maui, Hawaii. Dayton goes against Wisconsin on ESPN2 in the Battle 4 Atlantis as a 1.5-point favorite with a total of 123. Two NCAAB games begin at 5 PM ET. Creighton plays Arizona on ESPN in the Maui Invitational. USC battles BYU on ESPN2 in the Battle 4 Atlantis as a 1.5-point favorite with an over/under of 142. Two more NCAAB games start at 6 PM ET. Bradley goes against Liberty on the CBS Sports Network in the Cancun Challenge at the Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya in Cancun, Mexico. Marquette battles Georgia Tech on FS1 in the Fort Myers Tip-Off at the Suncoast Credit Union Arena in Fort Myers, Florida as a 5.5-point favorite with a total of 141.5. Two NCAAB games begin at 7 PM ET. Providence hosts Merrimack on FS2 as a 20.5-point favorite at Caesars with an over/under of 133.5. Tennessee plays Butler on ESPN2 in the Battle 4 Atlantis as a 7-point favorite with a total of 136. Louisville battles Cincinnati on ESPNU at 7:30 PM ET in the Maui Invitational. Two more NCAAB games start at 8:30 PM ET. Auburn goes against Northwestern on the CBS Sports Network in the Cancun Challenge. Mississippi State faces Utah on FS1 in the Fort Myers Tip-Off as a 5.5-point favorite with an over/under of 126. Washington plays Fresno State on ESPNU at 9:30 PM ET in the Wooden Legacy at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California as a 3-point favorite with a total of 127. Arkansas plays San Diego State on ESPN2 at 10:30 PM ET in the Maui Invitational. Minnesota battles UNLV on the CBS Sports Network at 10:30 PM ET in the SoCal Challenge at the JSerra Pavilion in San Juan Capistrano, California. Saint Mary’s faces Vanderbilt on ESPN2 at midnight ET in the Wooden Legacy as an 8.5-point favorite with an over/under of 126. Cal-Baptist battles Southern Illinois on the CBS Sports Network at 1 AM ET in the SoCal Challenge. The FIFA Men’s World Cup continues with four matches in the group stage. Croatia goes against Morocco on FS1 at 5 AM ET as a -0.5 goal line favorite with a total of 2 (all soccer odds from BetMGM). Germany battles Japan on FS1 at 8 AM ET as a -1 goal line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Spain faces Costa Rica on Fox at 11 AM ET as a -2 goal line favorite with a total of 3. Belgium plays Canada on Fox at 2 PM ET as a -1 goal line favorite with an over/under of 2.5.

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How To Find Value in NHL Betting Odds

by Oskeim Sports

Tuesday, Nov 22, 2022

Betting on NHL games may not be as popular as betting on the NFL or NBA, but bettors can find plenty of great opportunities if they simply know where to look. Finding value in NHL betting odds requires some prior knowledge. Hockey betting may seem difficult or even boring at times. There are many one-goal games in the NHL every year. Because of scoring, betting on NHL games is primarily a moneyline thing. Still, betting on hockey can provide the smarter bettor with numerous value bets all season long. How can the average bettor start finding value in NHL betting odds? There are many different types of hockey bets. The search for value begins with knowing where to look.Analyze the Schedule NHL teams play a long, grueling 82-game schedule. There are a number of times throughout a given season when a team will play on back-to-back nights. There are stretches where teams play three games in four nights. These instances have an impact on games. Oftentimes, NHL coaches go deeper into their lineups and play a fourth line much more than usual when playing on the second night of a back-to-back. That helps star players get more rest, but it also keeps those talented scorers off the ice. Another factor is motivation. It pays for hockey bettors to find instances where a team might be looking ahead. They may play a weak team one night and a powerhouse the next. Teams may often overlook the weaker opponent and focus on the powerhouse. That can lead to great betting opportunities. Rest is a huge factor in the NHL. A team coming off no rest is at a disadvantage when playing a team that is rested. Looking for these opportunities in the schedule can help bettors find value in NHL betting odds. Strong Road Teams Home teams have some advantages in NHL games. The biggest is “last change” which allows a home coach to make substitutions last following all whistles to stop play. Home coaches can always get the matchup they want. That doesn’t always translate into wins, but it helps. Playing at home is already factored into a game’s odds. One of the things NHL bettors can do is look at how well a home team plays in its own arena against a team that has a strong road record. Veteran teams often navigate the pressures of playing on the road better than younger teams. This is something smart NHL bettors will look at before placing a bet. The Goalies & NHL Betting Odds Like pitchers in baseball, there might be no more important matchup in an NHL game than the two opposing goalies. Always check to see who is starting at goalie before placing an NHL bet. Starting goalies will be rested every once in a while and bettors may find value in betting against a backup. There are also occasions when betting on a backup makes sense. Some backups do have outstanding records. Whatever the situation, it pays to know who is in goal and who is not. Watch for Streaks Look for NHL teams with big winning and losing streaks. They always seem to happen. The New Jersey Devils are in the midst of a 13-game winning streak right now. The Mario Lemieux-era Pittsburgh Penguins are the only NHL team with two 15-game-plus winning streaks. Backing teams that are hot can pay off. It can also pay off on the other end to find teams that can’t find ways to win. Take the 2016-17 Philadelphia Flyers as an example. Early in the season, the Flyers enjoyed a 10-game winning streak. They outscored their opponents by 14 goals. Riding the streak paid off for some bettors. Right after that streak, the Flyers then went on a run of 16 games in which they recorded just one win. Streaks work both ways. Smart NHL bettors would be wise to consider them before placing wagers.

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World Cup Futures Look: Group F

by Nelly's Sports

Tuesday, Nov 22, 2022

World Cup Futures Look: GROUP F The 2022 World Cup kicks off Sunday, Nov. 20 in Qatar with 32 teams in eight groups with daily matches round-robin group play through Dec. 2. Group F starts play Wednesday, November 22 and features Belgium, Canada, Croatia, and Morocco.   Written by Nelly’s Sportsline contributor Forrest Allen ODDS TO QUALIFY FROM GROUP F (TOP 2 TEAMS ADVANCE)  Belgium -450 Canada +300 Croatia -175 Morocco +200 If your politics, patriotism, or purse does not suit an underdog like Iran to advance to the knockout round, allow me to suggest a “chalkier” pick that does not carry the downside risk of tournament favorite such as Argentina or England at -1200 and -2000, respectively. Croatia, the darlings of the last World Cup who came oh so close to hoisting the trophy, are back to prove that 2018 was no fluke. After dropping their initial match to Slovenia, Croatia went undefeated in its next 9 fixtures with 7 wins on their way to winning its group filled with respectable competition to qualify for this year’s World Cup. Similarly, Croatia won its group in the UEFA Nations League highlighted by two wins over Denmark, a team ranked 10th in the world, and taking four points from France, winners of the most recent World Cup and one of the favorites to win in Qatar. The team’s only loss in the group stage was to Austria, which it later avenged with a 3-1 win.  On offense, Croatia features a balanced attack which prevents the defense from focusing on a single player. Luka Modrić will likely be the centerpiece of Croatia’s attack. A bonified international superstar for Real Madrid, the midfielder can do it all, leading the team in goals and second on the team in assists in aforementioned international competitions. His experience and successes are similar to those often cited as the best in the world; champion multiple times over in La Liga, SuperCopa de Espana, Champions League, and UEFA Super Cup. While certainly not as decorated, but every bit as capable will be fellow midfielders Ivan Perisci of Tottenham Hotspur and Mateo Kovacic of Chelsea. Perisic has been masterful at creating opportunities for Harry Kane and Heung-Min Son as evidenced by his 7 assists in the EPL, good for 7th in the league. Named Player of the Year for a Chelsea club that finished 4th in the EPL for the 2019-20 season, Kovacic or “The Professor”, is a master technician who can advance the ball up the pitch to create chances for his teammates. Defensively, Croatia is stout as evidenced by a +17 goal differential and 4 goals allowed in the 10 matches of World Cup Qualifying. Primary goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic’s 0.27 post shot expected goals minus goals against (PSxG-GA) puts him in the 98th percentile of goalkeepers.  For the 1 percent of readers who know what that means, hopefully you’re impressed and feel as though your money was well spent. For the 99 percent of people who have no idea what I just said, I’ll put it more plainly. This metric attempts to convey a goalkeeper’s ability to stop shots that would be expected to be goals. Positive numbers suggest an ability to do exactly that, while a negative number indicates a keeper is allowing goals others keep out of the back of the net.  If you’re still lost, Livakovic saves over 78% of the shots on target, which is better than 94% of other goalkeepers.   In front of Livakovic, two plucky center backs have enabled, arguably, the best trio of midfielders in the world to remain on the attack. The Athletic calls Josko Gvardiol “one of the best young defenders in the world” and “admired by a number of clubs across Europe.”  Josip Suatlo is a teammate of Livakovic on Dinamo Zagreb, the winner of the Croatian HNL, Croatia’s top league.  He excels in all of the areas you would hope a defender would, tackles, interceptions, and blocks, ranking in the 84th, 94th, and 96th percentiles respectively.  Selection: Croatia -175 Forrest Allen has a Masters of Science in Business Analytics from NYU specializing in the development of machine learning models for sports application. 

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NFL Week 12 AFC Top 5 Teams

by Wayne Root

Tuesday, Nov 22, 2022

For this week of Power Ratings, I have separated the NFC and AFC team into their own conference heading forward.  1. Kansas City Chiefs Patrick Mahomes does it again. Then again, everyone expected that when he got the football trailing by four with less than 120 seconds left in the game. Fittingly, Mahomes didn’t even need all that time to win it. The Chiefs are the best NFL team right now and they’re the Super Bowl favorite because Mahomes is like no player we’ve ever seen. He’s 14-0 lifetime on the road in the AFC West and has destroyed what many thought would have a competitive race this season.   2. Buffalo Bills  Sunday represents a nice step forward for the Buffalo Bills, but it’s becoming increasingly apparent just how many key absences are hurting the defense. When Tre’Davious White, Tremaine Edmonds and Greg Rousseau return, the Bills are the best team in the NFL. They have a few more issues than 80” of snow. Allen has been throwing interceptions while in the red zone and his overall accuracy is like it was at Wyoming or in year one. It’s everywhere.  3. Miami Dolphins The AFC East is shaping out to a possible 3 way race. Who would have thought. The Miami Dolphins boast the offense to challenge the Chiefs and Bills. Tua Tagovailoa is executing this offense perfectly and there is far too much speed and explosiveness for opponents to match. But if Patrick Mahomes or Josh Allen gets the football, no one would trust Miami’s defense to record a stop right now. That’s what they need to sort out. A defense to match their offense.  4. Baltimore Ravens  Surviving is all that ultimately matters for the Baltimore Ravens, but there are red flags coming out of this matchup. They are one dimensional in their offense and Carolina’s defense had some relative ease in containing things. Another thing to keep in mind, the top of the NFL is very fluid right now but the Ravens’ schedule (@ JAX, vs DEN, @ PIT, @ CLE, vs ATL) sets this team up well for a confidence-building run before January. They have an easy path going forward to the playoffs.   5. Tennessee Titans  Everything the Tennessee Titans are doing right now is impressive, especially considering where this team was viewed following an 0-2 start. At the same time, all of it feels so eerily similar to what happened in previous seasons. Look at the Titans’ playoff history, and the current team then determine if you really trust them to avoid the same postseason heartbreak. They may have the best coach for this run for the playoffs. And Derik Henry is a beast. All that’s needed is for him to finish the season in beast mode fashion. 

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NFL Week 12 NFC Top 5 Teams

by Wayne Root

Tuesday, Nov 22, 2022

For this week of Power Ratings, I have separated the NFC and AFC team into their own conference heading forward.  1. San Francisco 49ers The San Francisco 49ers are shaping up to be a dangerous playoff team in the NFC. Both the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles struggle to stop the run and they do have some issues against opponents who can get home without blitzing. These happen to be two of the things San Francisco is best at. Of course, that is if Jimmy Garoppolo can avoid mistakes in critical situations. The way they looked and played last night against Arizona in Mexico City looks like the best team on both sides of the ball.  2. Philadelphia Eagles  Jalen Hurts saved the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, just days after he might have done it if not for some gaffes by teammates and the officials. As Hurts ascends into the conversation of elite NFL quarterbacks, he and the Eagles’ defense are carrying this club to the top of the NFC. The last two weeks have given other teams in the NFC lots of confidence after seeing the Eagles performances.  3. Dallas Cowboys  If the Dallas Cowboys took their previous matchup against Green Bay lightly, it was quickly made apparent they wouldn’t make the same mistake in Minnesota. Dallas overwhelmed the Vikings on both sides of the ball, delivering one of the best NFL performances in 2022. There are still a few questions that prevent the Cowboys from being viewed as the best team in the NFL, but they are in the running. Winning like that keeps GM and Owner Jerry Jones from making comments and the players play and the coaches coach.  4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers  There’s a feeling of optimism coming out of the bye week for Tampa Bay. Tom Brady and Byron Leftwich had the time they needed to make adjustments for the second half and we’ve seen more than enough to believe in this defense. Considering the NFC South is a cakewalk and Tom Brady is divorced, Tampa Bay can coast into a playoff spot. It wouldn’t surprise me if Brady doesn’t get that chip on his shoulder and another ring on his finger now that he’s in 100%.  5. Minnesota Vikings  Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water and when fans started thinking about the Minnesota Vikings as a Super Bowl contender, the team delivers one of its worst performances in years. Everything that could go wrong did on Sunday. But was the game an anomaly or a Dallas team that exposed them? The fact is, the Vikings might literally burn the tape from this game. Unfortunately, things won’t get any easier as the Patriots’ pass rush is a nightmare matchup for Minnesota on a short week and consecutive losses would spell trouble in the NFC.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NCAAF, NBA, NHL, NCAAB and FIFA Men's World Cup Previews and Odds - 11/22/2022

by Big Al Staff

Tuesday, Nov 22, 2022

The Tuesday sports card features action in NCAAF, NBA, NHL, NCAAB, and the FIFA Men’s World Cup.Week 13 in the college football regular season begins with two games at 7 PM ET. Miami (OH) hosts Ball State as a 2.5-point favorite with the total set at 44. Ohio plays at home against Bowling Green on ESPNU as a 6.5-point favorite with an over/under of 55. The National Basketball Association has five games on its docket. The Brooklyn Nets visit the Philadelphia 76ers on TNT at 7:40 PM ET as a 7-point road favorite. The Memphis Grizzlies are at home against the Sacramento Kings at 8:10 PM ET as a 1-point favorite. The Denver Nuggets host the Detroit Pistons at 9:10 PM ET as a 6.5-point favorite. The Phoenix Suns play at home against the Los Angeles Lakers on TNT at 10:10 PM ET.The National Hockey League has two games on its slate. The Montreal Canadiens are at home against the Buffalo Sabres at 7:05 PM ET as a -115 money line favorite with a total of 6.5. The New York Rangers play in Los Angeles against the Kings at 10:35 PM ET as a -115 money line road favorite with an over/under of 6. The college basketball card features ten games on national television. Northern Iowa plays Grand Canyon on the CBS Sports Network at 11:30 AM in the Hall of Fame Classic at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri. San Francisco battles Wichita State on the CBS Sports Network at 2 PM ET in the Hall of Fame Classic. Texas Tech faces Louisville on ESPN2 at 2:30 PM ET in the Maui Invitational at the Lahaina Civic Center in Maui, Hawaii. Ohio State goes against Cincinnati on ESPN2 at 5 PM ET in the Maui Invitational. Auburn plays Bradley on the CBS Sports Network at 6 PM ET as a 13-point favorite with a total of 140.5 in the Cancun Challenge at the Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya in Cancun, Mexico. Syracuse battles St. John’s on ESPN2 at 7 PM ET in the 2K Empire Classic at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Creighton goes against Arkansas on ESPN at 8 PM ET in the Maui Invitational. Northwestern faces off against Liberty as a 4-point favorite with an over/under of 130.5 on the CBS Sports Network at 8:30 PM ET in the Cancun Challenge. Richmond plays Temple on ESPN2 at 9:30 PM ET in the 2K Empire Classic. San Diego State battles Arizona on ESPN at 10:30 PM ET in the Maui Invitational. The FIFA Men’s World Cup continues with four matches in the group stage. Argentina goes against Saudi Arabia on FS1 at 5 AM ET as a -2 goal line favorite with a total of 3. Denmark plays Tunisia on FS1 at 8 AM ET as a -1 goal line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Mexico battles Poland on Fox at 11 AM ET in a pick ‘em match with a total of 2. France  faces Australia on Fox at 2 PM ET as a -1.5 goal line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. 

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Close Games Continue to Highlight NFL Campaign

by Vegas Writer

Monday, Nov 21, 2022

More and more we're seeing one-score games this season, as it happened once again on Sunday.Ten of the first 13 games completed in Week 11 (excluding Monday's contest) were within one score (eight points) in the fourth quarter.There have been a total of 126 games within one score (eight points) in the fourth quarter this season - the most such games through the first 11 weeks in NFL history.There have been 71 games decided by a touchdown (six points) or less, tied with 2016 (71) for the most such games through the first 11 weeks all-time.It's an interesting observation as we head into one of the most popular weeks in an NFL season, as Thanksgiving approaches.There are 11 games on the Week 12 card that carry a point spread of 7 or less. Add in the Saints-49ers gme, and there are 12 games at 8 or less.There have been 35 games in which a team has overcome a deficit of at least 10 points to win or tie this season, the most such games through the first 11 weeks of a season all-time.There have been 38 games this season decided by a game-winning score in the final two minutes of regulation or in overtime, trailing only 2015 (39) and 2003 (39) for the most such games through the first 11 weeks of a season all-time.In terms of the point spread, there have been 142 games where the point spread fell between -1 and -8, and the underdog is 75-62-5 (via StatHead) in those games.

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NHL Off the Post: November 21st

by Sean Murphy

Monday, Nov 21, 2022

As we approach the end of November, it's time for another instalment of our semi-regular look around the NHL at news and notes to assist your daily handicapping. Here are four teams to keep an eye on in the coming week.Swamp monstersThe New Jersey Devils continue to turn heads, reeling off 12 straight victories entering Monday's home date with the Oilers. Perhaps the most impressive thing about their current winning streak is the fact that seven of those 12 victories came on the road. In fact, the Devils lone road setback to date this season came way back in their season-opener in Philadelphia. New Jersey should take comfort in the fact that it won't have to travel outside of the eastern time zone again until January 13th, when it opens a western road swing in Anaheim. Cleared for take-offFew expected the Winnipeg Jets to make much noise in the Central Division this season as they were seemingly left in no man's land roster-wise and being led by a new head coach in Rick Bowness. Here we are approaching December and the Jets have matched the defending Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche step-for-step, sitting tied for second-place in the Central with 21 points through 16 games. After Monday's non-conference clash with Carolina, four of Winnipeg's next five games will come against division opponents, including a showdown with the first-place Stars in Dallas.Cure for the BluesFans of the St. Louis Blues were left scratching their heads after their team dropped eight straight games from October 24th to November 8th. Since then, we've seen a sharp turn-around, however, with the Blues delivering six consecutive wins while scoring 27 goals in the process. The play of goaltender Jordan Binnington has been key to their reversal as he checks in sporting a .943 save percentage over his last four games. St. Louis' schedule won't toughen up again until late this week (its next two games come against the Ducks and Sabres) when it heads to Florida for a two-game set with the Lightning and Panthers. Feeling the heatYou have to wonder whether Calgary Flames head coach was on the hot seat after the team lost seven consecutive games from October 29th to November 10th. However, three wins in four games have the Flames back on track, including a big 5-4 win in Jonathan Huberdeau's return to Florida this past Saturday. A tough week lies ahead with four games in six nights, beginning with a stop in Philadelphia to face the Flyers on Monday. It's interesting to note that Calgary won't face another team from its own conference until December 5th, when it hosts Arizona. 

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NFL, NBA, NCAAB, NHL, and FIFA Men's World Cup Previews and Odds - 11/21/2022

by Big Al Staff

Monday, Nov 21, 2022

The Monday sports card features action in the NFL, NBA, NHL, NCAAB, and the FIFA Men’s World Cup.Week 11 in the National Football League concludes with one game for Monday Night Football. The San Francisco 49ers play the Arizona Cardinals on a neutral field at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, Mexico, on ESPN at 8:15 PM ET. The 49ers are an 8-point favorite, with the total set at 43 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise).The National Basketball Association has eight games on its docket. Two games tip-off at 7:10 PM ET. The Cleveland Cavaliers host the Atlanta Hawks as a 2.5-point favorite. The Indiana Pacers play at home against the Orlando Magic as a 7-point favorite. Six more NBA games start at 8:10 PM ET. The Boston Celtics visit Chicago to play the Bulls as a 6-point road favorite. The Milwaukee Bucks are at home against the Portland Trail Blazers as an 8.5-point favorite. The Miami Heat play at Minnesota against the Timberwolves. The Golden State Warriors play in New Orleans against the Pelicans. The Oklahoma City Thunder host the New York Knicks as a 2.5-point favorite. The Utah Jazz travel to Los Angeles to play the Clippers at 10:40 PM ET. The National Hockey League has ten games on its slate. Three games drop the puck at 7:05 PM ET. The Tampa Bay Lightning play at home against the Boston Celtics as a -115 money line favorite with an over/under of 6. The Calgary Flames are at Philadelphia to play the Flyers as a -200 money line road favorite with a total of 6. The New Jersey Devils host the Edmonton Oilers as a -150 money line favorite with an over/under of 7. Two more NHL games begin at 7:35 PM ET. The Carolina Hurricanes play at Winnipeg against the Jets as a -140 money line road favorite with a total of 6. The Toronto Maple Leafs are at home against the New York Islanders as a -180 money line favorite with an over/under of 6.Two NHL games start at 8:05 PM ET. The St. Louis Blues play at home against the Anaheim Ducks as a -215 money line favorite with a total of 6. The Nashville Predators host the Arizona Coyotes as a -240 money line favorite with an over/under of 6. The Colorado Avalanche visit Dallas to play the Stars at 8:35 PM ET, with both teams priced at -110 with a total of 6. Two more games conclude the NHL card at 10:35 PM ET. The Ottawa Senators play at San Jose against the Sharks with both teams priced at -110 with an over/under of 6. The Vegas Golden Knights are at Vancouver against the Canucks as a -140 money line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The college basketball schedule has 14 games on national television. Northern Iowa battles San Francisco on the CBS Sports Network at 12:30 PM ET in the Hall of Fame Classic at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri. Texas Tech plays Creighton on ESPN2 at 2:30 PM ET in the Maui Invitational at the Lahaina Civic Center in Maui, Hawaii. Wichita State faces Grand Canyon on the CBS Sports Network at 3:30 PM ET in the Hall of Fame Classic. Louisville goes against Arkansas on ESPN2 at 5 PM ET in the Maui Invitational. Two NCAAB games on national television tip-off at 6 PM ET. UAB plays South Florida on the CBS Sports Network in the Sunshine Slam at the Ocean Center in Daytona Beach, Florida. Georgia Tech battles Utah on FS1 in the Fort Myers Tip-Off at the Suncoast Credit Union Arena in Fort Myers, Florida. Syracuse goes against Richmond on ESPN2 at 7 PM ET in the 2K Empire Classic at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Two more nationally-televised NCAAB games start at 8:30 PM ET. Mississippi State faces Marquette on FS1 in the Fort Myers Tip-Off. Georgia battles Saint Joseph’s on the CBS Sports Network in the Sunshine Slam. Ohio State plays San Diego State on ESPN2 at the Maui Invitational. St. John’s goes against Temple on ESPNU at 9:30 PM ET in the 2K Empire Classic. Cal-Baptist faces Minnesota on the CBS Sports Network at 10:30 PM ET in the JSerra Pavilion in San Juan Capistrano, California in the SoCal Challenge. Cincinnati battles Arizona on ESPN2 at 11:30 PM ET in the Maui Invitational. Southern Illinois plays UNLV on the CBS Sports Network at 1 AM ET in the SoCal Challenge. The FIFA World Cup continues with three matches in the group stage. England plays Iran on FS1 at 8 AM ET in the Khalifa International Stadium as a -1.5 goal line favorite with a total of 2 (all soccer odds from BetMGM). The Netherlands battle Senegal on Fox at 11 AM ET in the Al Thumama Stadium as a -1 goal line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. The United States Men’s National Team faces Wales on FS1 at 2 PM ET in the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in a pick ‘em match with a total of 2.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NFL, NBA, NHL, CFL and FIFA World Cup Previews and Odds - 11/20/2022

by Big Al Staff

Sunday, Nov 20, 2022

The Sunday sports card features action in the NFL, NBA, NHL, NCAAB, CFL, and the FIFA World Cup.Week 11 in the National Football League continues with 12 games. Eight games kick off at 1 PM ET. The New Orleans Saints host the Los Angeles Rams as a 2.5-point favorite, with the total set at 39 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). The New England Patriots play at home against the New York Jets as a 3.5-point favorite with an over/under of 38.5. The Atlanta Falcons are at home against the Chicago Bears as a 3-point favorite with a total of 49. The Baltimore Ravens host the Carolina Panthers as a 13-point favorite with an over/under of 41.5. The Washington Commanders visit Houston to play the Texans as a 3-point road favorite with a total of 41. The Buffalo Bills play at Ford Field in Detroit (due to the snowstorm in Buffalo) against the Cleveland Browns as an 8-point favorite with an over/under of 50. The Philadelphia Eagles are at Indianapolis against the Colts as a 7-point road favorite with a total of 45.5. The New York Giants play at home against the Detroit Lions as a 3-point favorite with an over/under of 44.5. The Denver Broncos are at home against the Las Vegas Raiders at 4:05 PM ET as a 3-point favorite with a total of 41. Two more NFL games start at 4:25 PM ET. The Cincinnati Bengals travel to Pittsburgh to play the Steelers as a 3.5-point road favorite with a total of 40. The Dallas Cowboys play at Minnesota against the Vikings as a 1.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 48.5. Sunday Night Football on NBC has the Kansas City Chiefs in Los Angeles against the Chargers at 8:20 PM ET. The Chiefs are a 5.5-point road favorite with a total of 52. The National Basketball Association has eight games on its docket. The Phoenix Suns host the New York Knicks at 3:40 PM ET as a 6-point favorite with an over/under of 226. Two NBA games tip off at 6:10 PM ET. The Washington Wizards play at home against the Charlotte Hornets as a 6-point favorite with a total of 221. The Sacramento Kings are at home against the Detroit Pistons as a 9-point favorite with an over/under of 233. Three NBA games begin at 7:10 PM ET. The Brooklyn Nets host the Memphis Grizzlies as a 7.5-point favorite with a total of 221.5. The Miami Heat visit Cleveland to play the Cavaliers. The Golden State Warriors play at Houston Rockets as a 9.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 232.5. The Oklahoma City Thunder host the Denver Nuggets at 7:40 PM ET as a 9.5-point favorite. The San Antonio Spurs are in Los Angeles against the Lakers at 9:40 PM ET. The National Hockey League has two games on its slate. The Florida Panthers travel to Columbus to play the Blue Jackets at 6:05 PM ET as a -205 money line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The Pittsburgh Penguins play in Chicago against the Blackhawks at 7:05 PM ET as a -190 money line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The college basketball schedule has 17 games on national television. Five of these games are on ESPN. Miami (FL) plays Maryland at 1 PM ET in the finals of the Hall of Fame Tip-Off at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. Virginia battles Illinois at 3 PM ET in the finals of the Continental Tire Main Event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas as a 1-point favorite with a total of 135. Baylor plays UCLA in the consolation match of the Continental Tire Main Event at 5:30 PM ET as a 3-point favorite with an over/under of 152. Gonzaga hosts Kentucky at 7:30 PM ET as a 3.5-point favorite with a total of 156. Houston plays at Oregon at 9:30 PM ET as a 7.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 133.The Canadian Football League plays their championship Grey Cup for the 109th time with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers playing the Toronto Argonauts on a neutral field at Mosaic Stadium in Regina, Saskatchewan on ESPN2 at 6 PM ET. The Blue Bombers won the West Division Final with a 28-20 victory against British Columbia as a 4-point favorite last Sunday. The Argonauts beat Montreal last Sunday, 34-27, as a 4-point favorite in the East Division Final. Winnipeg is a 5.5-point favorite with a total of 47.5. The FIFA World Cup begins with one match. Qatar hosts Ecuador at Bayt Stadium on FS1 at 11 AM ET. Ecuador is a -0.5 goal line favorite with an over/under of 2.

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World Cup Futures Look: Group B

by Nelly's Sports

Saturday, Nov 19, 2022

World Cup Futures Look: GROUP B The 2022 World Cup kicks off Sunday, Nov. 20 in Qatar with 32 teams in eight groups with daily matches round-robin group play through Dec. 2. Group B will be a group of great interest to a Western audience featuring England, USA, Wales, and Iran.  Written by Nelly’s Sportsline contributor Forrest Allen ODDS TO QUALIFY FROM GROUP B (TOP 2 TEAMS ADVANCE)  England -1000 Iran +450 USA +100 Wales +150  If you’re willing to hold your nose and take two showers to make some money, Iran advancing to the group stage is the ultimate contrarian play. For you to profit, they’ll do it against teams and players most familiar to US fans. It begins with England and all the players we’ve grown to love at 7AM on Saturdays. Next is a Welsh team whose highest profile player starred in the MLS final, and concludes against the US national team.  It won’t be a pretty start for our anti-heroes (there’s a Taylor Swift reference here I just can’t bring myself to make much to my daughter’s chagrin) as England, one of the favorites to win the tournament. They will likely have their way with Iran in what will likely be an easy trip through the group stage.  It is the next two games is where it gets interesting. My model gives Iran a 74% chance to win or draw against the US and Wales. Wales will be led by MLS-Final hero Gareth Bale. However, an MLS hero, an international hero does not make. Besides, this team selected exactly 0 players from Wrexham; perhaps a smart tactical decision, but a poor marketing one. Super Paul Mullin and Phil Parkinson’s “enthusiasm” would certainly attract some extra eyeballs, but I digress.  While there is certainly excitement around the United States team led by Captain America, Christian Pulisic, there are real questions about whether he can shoulder the load for one of the youngest, least experienced teams in the tournament. With all the hoopla surrounding Pulisic’s record-breaking transfer to Chelsea, the results have been disappointing to the point he’s been relegated to a part time player for a team currently outside the top 6. If Pulisic maintains the same form he’s had since his arrival in Chelsea, taking all 3 points from this match wouldn’t be a surprising result.   Now that we’ve covered everything not about the team in the headline, let’s actually turn our attention to the team in question; Iran. They got to Qatar by going 14-3-1 in the World Cup Qualifying round and finishing first in their group. These results were built on an exceptionally strong defense producing clean sheets in 80% of these games. Perhaps equally impressive was the 49 goals the team scored in those 18 matches. The offense is led by Sardar Azmoun who netted 10 of those goals in only 14 games. More familiar to fans of the Champions League will be Medhi Taremi who plays for perennial Champions League participant, Porto, and leads the team in both goals and assists.   The combination of a rock-solid defense and capable strikers have resulted in Iran being ranked as a top 20 team in the world rankings. Carlos Queiroz manages this team and is a known commodity for both his players and fans. He brings a wealth of experience coaching at the highest levels of international soccer including stints as the head man with Real Madrid, an assistant with legendary Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, and Team Melli, the country's nickname for their team, in the previous two World Cups. In looking back at how Queiroz’s Iranian teams played, I’d expect the opposition to possess the ball the overwhelming majority of the time and in favor of staying very compact and prioritizing goal prevention. In the 2018 World Cup, Iran never possessed the ball more than 34% of the time and looked very comfortable doing so. This approach should facilitate quick strikes on the counterattack with Azmoun and Taremi.  Forrest Allen has a Masters of Science in Business Analytics from NYU specializing in the development of machine learning models for sports application. 

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