Expert Sports Picks and Analysis from Al McMordie

ASA's National Championship Value Plays

Monday, Feb 23, 2026

ASA’s VALUE PLAYS to win the NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP (as of February 24th)VANDERBILT at +8000 (FanDuel) There is definitely value with the Commodores at 80/1. They absolutely fit our Ken Pom line criteria as of now and quite comfortably. 21 of the last 23 NCAA Champions have finished in the top 20 in offensive efficiency and in the top 40 in defensive efficiency per Ken Pomeroy metrics. Vandy is currently 15th offensively and 20th defensively. The only other teams that are in the top 20 in both as of February 24th are Michigan, Duke, Arizona, Florida, Houston, and Iowa State. Those 6 teams sit in the top 7 in regards to best odds to win the National Championship and the worst number is Iowa State at 15/1. And Vanderbilt is 80/1? The Commodores are 21-6 on the season facing the 24th most difficult strength of schedule. Four of their six losses have come by 4 points or less. On offense they protect the ball ranking 12th in offensive turnover percentage, they sit top 60 in both 2 point and 3 point FG% and they make almost 78% of their FT’s. Their defense allows low quality 3 point attempts and defends the arc well ranking top 25 in 3-point FG% allowed. Their downside defensively is they foul a lot allowing opponents an average of 24 FT attempts per game which is outside the top 300. The fact that FanDuel has 19 teams with better odds than Vandy with the metrics they have is simply off base. All in all, this team will be a very dangerous 4 seed (maybe 5) that could make a deep run in the Big Dance and at 80-1 they are definitely worth a strong look. PURDUE at +2500 (FanDuel) The Boilers have had a bit of a disappointing season sitting tied for 3rd place in the Big 10 when they were the heavy favorites to win the league entering the season. This is still a veteran team (top 20 in D1 experience per KenPom) that has all the components to get to the Final 4. They are lethal offensively ranking 2nd in efficiency, 11th in eFG%, and top 20 in both 2 point and 3 point FG%. They rarely turn the ball over and are top 5 nationally in assist rate. Purdue has one of the best point guards in the country with Braden Smith (15 PPG and 9 assists per game) and with 4 starters averaging double figures scoring, this is just a tough team to defend. On the other end of the court they are very good as well ranking 25th in defensive efficiency. They do allow a lot of 3’s with 46% of opponent’s shots coming from beyond the arc (342nd nationally) so if they get matched up with a team that gets red hot from 3 that might not be ideal. The Boilermakers basically have the same team as they had last season (4 of 5 starters are back) and they were upended by just 2 points in the Sweet 16 by Houston who went onto the National Championship Game. Purdue has better efficiency numbers both offensively and defensively compared to last year’s team and they’ve shown they can get it done away from home with a 9-2 record (road & neutral). That includes wins @ Nebraska and @ Alabama, along with a neutral site win vs a very good Texas Tech team. They are currently projected as a 2-seed and barring a poor stretch, they should remain on that line as they will be favored in all 4 of their final regular season games.

5 CBB Sleeper Teams -- Conference Tourney Cinderellas

by AAA Sports

Monday, Feb 23, 2026

As the first Conference Tournament begins on March 3rd, we are now less than 10 days away from letting the madness begin. It's been a regular season filled of surprises as we've just seen the #1 and #2 team go down this past weekend. With limited games left on the schedule, the AAA team has put together a list of teams to watch out for in their respective conference.1 ) Norfolk State Spartans (14-14 record ~ Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference)Before the season began, we thought that Norfolk State could end up at the top of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. In the power-conferences, winning the conference regular season title means quite a bit. But, in a conference like the MEAC, it doesn't really mean much other than a banner and some bragging rights. What really matters is the conference tournament. The Spartans have been playing much better lately, winning four games in a row. They get the luxury of playing in their home city of Norfolk, Virginia in the conference tournament. Considering that the rest of the MEAC isn't too strong other than Howard, the Spartans could definitely end up in the Big Dance when it's all said in done. 2 ) Florida Gulf Coast Eagles (14-15 record ~ Atlantic Sun)The Atlantic Sun Conference doesn't get talked about enough. With a third of the conference owning a winning record this year, there's definitely going to be some competitive games in the Conference Tourney in March. Florida Gulf Coast might be on the outside of those top four at the moment. But, the Eagles are red hot off four straight wins. They shoot the ball really effectively and don't take too many bad shots. That's key in a tournament down the stretch of games as some teams panic when it matters most. Austin Peay is most likely going to be the #1 choice of many people to come out of this tournament, but an upset could be brewing here in the ASUN and we're liking the way the Eagles are playing. 3 ) Kennesaw State Owls (16-11 record ~ Conference USA)The first team with a winning record on this list. Kennesaw State is getting a bit overlooked at the moment in our opinion. With nine teams seperated by just three games in the CUSA conference standings, there's a lot of question about who's going to challenge Liberty for a spot in March Madness. With how the committee is, it's unlikely to select any teams from the conference that isn't a conference tournament winner, even Liberty (23-4.) Kind of disappointing, but just how things go. Kennesaw State has some tournament experience, being there in 2022-23 as a #14 and just barely losing to the #3 Xavier. With maybe the Owls best roster since that year, we've seen stranger things happen. The Flames don't look at their best at the moment and the seasons end is near. 4 ) South Alabama Jaguars (20-9 record ~ Sun Belt)How bout 'dem Jaguars. South Alabama sits in fourth in the Sun Belt Conference right now because of conference records being the seeding factor. But, the Jaguars have the best overall record in the SBC and are the only team with less than 10 losses. It's been terrific on the road and great in home games as well. We know that this is a list of sleeper teams. But, with three teams above the Jags in the standings, this definitely could be talked about as a sleeper pick in not only the conference tournament, but the Big Dance too if they are to make it. South Alabama is no joke this season -- the ability not to turn the ball over and get easy buckets in the paint is a treat to watch. 5 ) Cal State Northridge Matadors (18-10 record ~ Big West)The last team on our list goes to Cal State Northridge. The Big West has had great teams over the last few years, including UC San Diego last season. UC Irvine & Hawaii are other teams that have been really good this year and could make it through. But, just take a look at the Matadors for a second. They are on a seven game winning streak and like to play really, really fast. A different style of game to the rest of the conference, the Matadors could definitely end up being too fast for a lot of these teams to disrupt some of their opponents. If they remain hot, look out in thwe Big West.

UFC Fight Night Picks: (Feb 28th)

by AAA Sports

Monday, Feb 23, 2026

The Main Event After an upset in last weekend's main event of Sean 'Tarzan' Strickland / Anthony 'Fluffy' Hernandez, the UFC heads down to Mexico for a huge Fight Night in Mexico City. This time, we're going to get to see former two-time Flyweight champion Brandon Moreno (23-9-2 | Mexico) take on the UK's rising star, Lone'er Kavanaugh (9-1-0 | England.) Moreno is favored to win in the -230 to -250 range. Back in 2021, Moreno won his first belt in the Flyweight Division. His tetralogy (four fights) with Deiveson Figueiredo was what this sport needed in the smaller weight classes as all three fights were terrific to watch. Even though it's been a couple of wins and a couple of losses since those days, 'The Assassin Baby' remains one of the top contenders in this division. Before his latest fight, Lone'er Kavanaugh was perhaps the next big thing in this weight class. He still might be just that. But, he definitely did not look like a future champion on August 23rd in 2025 when he got finished by Charles Johnson. Kavanaugh still has a great chance at being successful though with a 9-1 record and this fight could get him back into the conversation. The total is set at 4.5 rounds, favoring the OVER slightly. Both fighters just lost via the knockout, so the UNDER could definitely be in play if someone's to get touched up early. The Verdict -- One loss isn't going to make or break your career in the UFC, especially as a young 26 year old 'prospect.' Even two losses isn't the end of the world as many fighters suffer a ton of losses before reaching their ultimate peak. But, with a chance like this against a former two-time champ, Kavanaugh needs to lock in. Some would say Moreno is fast his prime. But, with this fight in Mexico and having watch Kavanaugh's last fight, we cannot take the younger fighter here. Go with Moreno. The Co Main EventNot getting as much respect as he used to, Marlon 'Chito' Vera (23-11-1 | Ecuador) takes on David 'Doctor' Martinez (13-1-0 | Mexico) in the Co-Main Event at UFC Fight Night. Basically just like the main event, the Mexican is favored to win in the -250 to -300 range. Marlon Vera was a top fighter in the Bantamweight Division for many years. He has some fantastic wins over Sean O'Malley, Frankie Edgar, Rob Font, Dominick Cruz, and Pedro Munhoz. But, off three losses in a row, the Ecuadorian is getting the 'past his prime' treatment. The home crowd will definitely be behind the man that they call 'Doctor' this weekend. Martinez is on a nine fight win streak and could break into a spot with a bunch of the top guys in the division with a win. Comparable to Kavanaugh, Martinez is in his mid-20's and is looking for a first signature win to boost his career status. The OVER is heavily favored in this Co-Main bout on Saturday as both guys tend to like going the distance. In his 35 fight career, Marlon Vera has never been finished. That's telling us something -- with Vera as the pretty big underdog. The Verdict -- Unlike the Main Event, the 'rising' star is favored in this one. Martinez is probably going to be the more active fighter, being the younger of the two. But, don't count out Marlon Vera who's been near the top Bantamweight Division for the majority of his career. Vera isn't even that old considering some of the other fighters in the UFC who attempt at UFC gold. I think the best choice is the OVER, even despite the poor odds. But, if you're looking for an underdog, this could be it. Marlon Vera could definitely score the upset.

Using Advanced MLB Stats to Bet Smarter this Season

by Sean Murphy

Monday, Feb 23, 2026

Betting on Major League Baseball isn’t just about ERA, batting average, or win-loss records anymore. Modern MLB stats—often called “advanced analytics”—can give you a serious edge if you use them correctly. The good news? You don’t need to be a math expert. Here’s a simple guide on which stats matter most and how to apply them when betting on the upcoming MLB season.1. Focus on xERA and FIP (not just ERA) Traditional ERA tells you how many earned runs a pitcher allowed. But it doesn’t tell you how lucky or unlucky he’s been. Two better tools: FIP (Fielding Independent Pitching) – Measures what a pitcher controls: strikeouts, walks, hit batters, and home runs. xERA (Expected ERA) – Estimates what a pitcher’s ERA should be based on quality of contact. How to use it: If a pitcher has: ERA: 2.50 FIP: 4.10 That’s a red flag. He may be overperforming and due for regression. That can create value fading him in his next few starts.On the flip side, if a pitcher has: ERA: 4.50 xERA: 3.40 He may be undervalued by the market — a good buy-low opportunity.2. Look at hard hit % and barrel % Not all hits are equal. Hard Hit % – How often a hitter makes strong contact. Barrel % – Measures ideal launch angle + exit velocity (often leads to home runs). Why it matters: If a hitter’s batting average is low but his Hard Hit % is high, he might be getting unlucky. That can mean: Value in player props (total bases, HR props) Team total overs if multiple hitters show strong contact trends For pitchers, high Barrel % allowed = danger for overs.3. Pay attention to strikeout & walk Rates K% (strikeout rate) and BB% (walk rate) are extremely predictive.For pitchers: High K% = more control over outcomes High BB% = potential blow-up innings For hitters: High strikeout teams struggle against elite strikeout pitchers Patient teams (high walk rate) drive pitch counts up Betting angle: If a high-strikeout pitcher faces a high-strikeout lineup, that’s often a strong matchup. This can impact: First 5 innings bets Strikeout props Unders 4. Use wOBA instead of batting average wOBA (Weighted On-Base Average) values hits properly. A home run counts more than a single. Walks matter. Extra-base hits matter more.Batting average treats all hits equally. wOBA doesn’t. How to apply: When evaluating: Lefty vs righty splits Team offense vs specific pitcher types Bullpen performance Look at wOBA allowed (for pitchers) and wOBA vs handedness (for hitters).5. Don’t ignore bullpen metrics Many games are decided after the starter leaves. Instead of saves or ERA, check: Bullpen FIP Strikeout rate Walk rate Recent usage (fatigue) Even casual baseball bettors know that a weak bullpen behind a strong starter can ruin full-game bets in a hurry. 6. Watch for regression signals Regression is your friend in MLB betting. Signs a team or pitcher may regress: Extremely high or low BABIP Unsustainably high HR/FB rate Big gap between ERA and xERA/FIP Sportsbooks often price teams based on surface stats. If you can identify regression early, you can beat those numbers before the market adjusts. 7. Use stats to support — not replace — context Advanced stats are powerful, but they’re only part of the puzzle. Still consider: Travel spots Lineup changes Weather (wind matters in baseball) Umpire tendencies Ballpark factors The best bets happen when advanced stats and situational context align. Simple strategy for the 2026 season If you want a straight-forward, repeatable approach this season:Start with pitching matchup. Compare ERA vs FIP/xERA. Check strikeout and walk rates. Review Hard Hit % trends. Evaluate bullpen reliability. Then check price and market movement. You don’t need 25 different metrics to be successful. Just 4–6 well-implemented ones can give you an edge over bettors relying on traditional stats. Baseball is a long season. The sharper you are with underlying metrics, the more consistent (and hopefully profitable) your results will be.

Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NCAAB, and EPL Previews and Odds - 02/23/2026

by Big Al Staff

Monday, Feb 23, 2026

The Monday sports card features NBA, NCAAB, and EPL action. The National Hockey League returns from its Winter Olympics hiatus on February 25th. The National Basketball League has three games on its docket. The Detroit Pistons host the San Antonio Spurs on Peacock at 7:10 p.m. ET. The Pistons have won five games in a row after a 126-110 victory at Chicago as a 10.5-point favorite on Saturday. The Spurs are on an eight-game winning streak after a 139-122 victory at their temporary home site in Austin, Texas, as an 18.5-point favorite two days ago. Detroit is a 1.5-point favorite with the total set at 228.5 (all odds from DraftKings). The Memphis Grizzlies play at home against the Sacramento Kings at 8:10 p.m. ET as a 5.5-point favorite with an over/under of 233.5. The Houston Rockets are home against the Utah Jazz on Peacock at 9:40 p.m. ET. The Rockets have lost two of their previous three games after a 108-106 loss in New York against the Knicks as a 3.5-point underdog on Saturday. The Jazz have lost two games in a row after a 123-114 loss at Memphis as a 2.5-point underdog on Friday. Houston is a 15.5-point favorite with a total of 223.5. The NCAAB college basketball schedule tips off at 7:00 p.m. ET with nine games involving Division I opponents. Three NCAAB games tip off at 7:00 p.m. ET. Louisville travels to North Carolina on ESPN. The Cardinals won for the sixth time in their previous seven games after an 87-70 victory against Georgia Tech as a 23.5-point favorite on Saturday. The Tar Heels won for the second time in their previous three games with a 77-64 victory at Syracuse on Saturday. Louisville is a 2.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 163.5. Texas A&M Corpus Christi plays at Southeast Louisiana as a 2.5-point road favorite with a total of 131.5. Lamar hosts Nicholls State on the CBS Sports Network as a 4.5-point favorite with an over/under of 146.5. Four NCAAB games start at 7:30 p.m. ET. McNeese plays at home against UT-Rio Grande Valley as an 11.5-point favorite with a total of 144.5. Northwestern State is home to face Incarnate Word as a 2.5-point favorite with an over/under of 140.5. East Texas A&M hosts Houston Christian as a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 136.5. Stephen F. Austin plays at home against New Orleans as a 13.5-point favorite with an over/under of 149.5. Grambling State is home to take on Mississippi Valley State at 8:00 p.m. ET as a 16.5-point favorite with a total of 135.5. Houston is on the road to challenge Kansas on ESPN at 9:00 p.m. ET. The Cougars have lost two games in a row after a 73-66 upset loss at home against Arizona as a 6.5-point favorite two days ago. The Jayhawks lost for the second time in their previous three games with an 84-68 upset loss against Cincinnati as an 8.5-point favorite on Saturday. Houston is a 1.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 137.5.Matchweek 27 in the English Premier League concludes with one match. Manchester United visits Everton on the USA Network at 3:00 p.m. ET as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with a total of 2.5.

2026 Olympic Games in Review:

by William Burns

Sunday, Feb 22, 2026

Over the past few weeks, thousands of athletes from around the world have been competing for a chance to win gold at the 2026 Olympic Games in Milano/Cortina, Italy. It's brought fan support in from 93 countries who all took part in this world-wide event. Having come to an end on Sunday, there's definitely some people going home happy and others in pure sadness. 9 Records Broken Over the course of the 16 days in Milan, there were a total of nine records broken, which is unbelievable. Home phenom, Italian's Francesca Lollobrigida dominated Woman's Speed Skating taking home a pair of gold medals as well as an Olympic Record in the Women's 3000m. Femke Kok & Juuta Leerdam were the Dutch's top performers, winning in the 500m & 1000m and both breaking records along the way. All nine of these new olympic records set at these games were set on the ice tracks, with seven coming in speed skating & two coming in short track speed skating. The Most Dominant Winter Athlete Ever? Prior to these Olympic Games, the Norwegian sensation was already a legend, having won five gold medals across both the 2018 and 2022 olympics. Johannes Høsflot Klæbo also came in with 116 World Cup wins & as a 15-time world champion. This time around, he was searching for the ultimate goal. A perfect 6/6. Kicking things off early on in these games, he managed to take home his first gold. Across two weeks, Klæbo didn't just win all four of his individual events, he managed to win both of the relay events as well, taking home the most gold medals an athlete has ever taken home at a single Olympic Games. Simply remarkable. Klæbo was undoubtedly a huge part in Norway's success in winning the entire medal count as well in 2026. USA edges Canada in hockey finals. Last year's Four Nations Faceoff gave us a little taste of international hockey greatness and to conclude the Olympics in 2026, the two powerhouses collided again in the finals. USA came out hot, scoring in the opening six minutes of the game on an excellent play by Matt Boldy of the Minnesota Wild. Then, things started to turn. Canada was a bit unfortunate with a couple of missed calls throughout this game. But, with some of the chances that they were creating, it shouldn't have even mattered. With a pair missed "empty nets" in the 3rd period, it was only a question of when those misses would come back to cost the entire nation of Canada. As the game headed into OT, the tension was definitely building, perhaps even more than at the start of the game. In 3-on-3, one lucky break can change the entire course of the game. In the end, Jack Hughes ended the game, leading USA to its third hockey gold medal ever, and first since the 1980's. Canada outshot the USA 42-28 in the game. Connor Hellebuyck stood on his head and got my respect. With the USA winning the Woman's Hockey as well in OT, the American's completed the clean hockey sweep. Now, fans will have to wait four more years to see these teams compete for gold at an Olympic Games again.

Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NCAAB and EPL Previews and Odds - 02/22/26

by Big Al Staff

Sunday, Feb 22, 2026

The Sunday sports card features NBA, NCAAB, and EPL action. The National Hockey League is on hiatus until February 25th due to the Winter Olympics. The National Basketball League has 11 games on its docket. The Cleveland Cavaliers travel to Oklahoma City to play the Thunder at 1:10 p.m. ET as a 2.5-point road favorite with the total set at 225.5 (all odds from DraftKings). Three NBA games tip off at 3:40 p.m. ET. The Toronto Raptors play in Milwaukee against the Bucks as a 3.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 222.5. The Atlanta Hawks host the Brooklyn Nets as an 8.5-point favorite with a total of 229.5. The Denver Nuggets are on the road to play the Golden State Warriors on ABC as a 4.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 229.5. The Dallas Mavericks visit Indiana to take on the Pacers at 5:10 p.m. ET as a 1.5-point road favorite with a total of 232.5. The Charlotte Hornets play in Washington against the Wizards at 6:10 p.m. ET as an 11.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 226.5. The Boston Celtics are on the road in Los Angeles to challenge the Lakers on NBC for Sunday Night Basketball at 6:40 p.m. ET as a 1.5-point road favorite with a total of 227.5. The Minnesota Timberwolves play at home against the Philadelphia 76ers at 7:10 p.m. ET as an 8.5-point favorite with an over/under of 236.5. Two NBA games start at 8:10 p.m. ET. The Portland Trail Blazers travel to Phoenix to play the Suns as a 3.5-point road favorite with a total of 222.5. The New York Knicks play in Chicago against the Bulls as a 10.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 232.5. The Los Angeles Clippers are home against the Orlando Magic at 9:10 p.m. ET as a 4.5-point favorite with a total of 215.5.The NCAAB college basketball schedule tips off at noon ET with 21 games involving Division I opponents. There are eight NCAAB games on major national television. Two of these nationally-televised NCAAB games tip off at noon. Memphis hosts UAB on ESPN as a 4.5-point favorite with an over/under of 151.5. Boston University is on the road at Lehigh on the CBS Sports Network as a 1.5-point road favorite with a total of 145.5. Michigan State plays at home against Ohio State on CBS at 1:00 p.m. ET as a 10.5-point favorite with an over/under of 147.5. Two NCAAB games on major national television begin at 2:00 p.m. ET. Wright State is at home against Robert Morris on ESPNU as a 4.5-point favorite with a total of 146.5. Towson visits Drexel on the CBS Sports Network at 1:00 p.m. ET as a 10.5-point favorite with an over/under of 132.5. Four NCAAB games on major national television start at 4:00 p.m. ET. North Texas hosts Florida Atlantic on ESPNU as a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 140.5. Wisconsin plays at home against Iowa on FS1 as a 2.5-point favorite with an over/under of 147.5. Tulsa is at home against UTSA on ESPN News as a 22.5-point favorite with a total of 158.5. Matchweek 27 in the English Premier League continues with four matches. Three EPL matches begin at 9:00 a.m. ET. Crystal Palace hosts Wolverhampton as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Liverpool plays at Nottingham Forest as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with a total of 2.5. Fulham is on the road at Sunderland on the USA Network as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Arsenal travels to Tottenham on the USA Network at 11:30 a.m. ET as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with a total of 2.5.

NBA System of the Week - 02/22/26

by Al McMordie

Sunday, Feb 22, 2026

A lot of my better NBA systems take teams that are playing poorly, or go against teams that are playing well. But not always. For our NBA System of the Week, we're going to review an angle that focuses on teams playing great.Our team involved today is the Milwaukee Bucks. Milwaukee has been up-and-down this season, and is 24-30 SU and 25-29 ATS. It had a bad stretch last month when it went 1-8 SU/ATS from January 11 thru February 1. But since then, Milwaukee has been on a roll, and is 6-1 SU/ATS its last seven games, even though it was an underdog in all seven games. And over its last three, it won by big margins, all on the road:February 11: Milwaukee +10.5 at Orlando (116-108)February 12: Milwaukee +13.5 at Oklahoma City (110-93)February 20: Milwaukee +4.5 at New Orleans (139-118)What is noteworthy is that Milwaukee covered the point spread in those three games by 18.5, 30.5, and 25.5 points. And that leads us to our NBA System of the Week. What we want to do is play on any team which covered the spread 16 (or more) points in each of its three previous games, provided it was not on the road in its current game. And with Milwaukee back home this afternoon, and installed as a 3.5-point home underdog vs. the Toronto Raptors, our criteria are satisfied. Since 1990, this system has rolled to a 28-12-1 record, including 11-1 ATS over the last five seasons.Consider playing on the Bucks on this Sunday afternoon.Good luck, as always...Al McMordie

Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NCAAB and EPL Previews and Odds - 02/21/2026

by Big Al Staff

Saturday, Feb 21, 2026

The Saturday sports card features NBA, NCAAB, and EPL action. The National Hockey League is on hiatus until February 22nd due to the Winter Olympics. The National Basketball League has six games on its docket. The Phoenix Suns host the Orlando Magic at 5:10 p.m. ET as a 2.5-point favorite with the total set at 219.5 (all odds from DraftKings). The Philadelphia 76ers travel to New Orleans to play the Pelicans at 7:10 p.m. ET as a 3.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 229.5. Three NBA games tip off at 8:10 p.m. ET. The San Antonio Spurs are the home team against the Sacramento Kings in this game played at the Moody Center in Austin, Texas, as a 17.5-point favorite with a total of 227.5. The Detroit Pistons play in Chicago against the Bulls as a 10.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 230.5. The Miami Heat are home against the Memphis Grizzlies as an 8.5-point favorite with a total of 237.5. The New York Knicks host the Houston Rockets on ABC at 8:40 p.m. ET as a 3.5-point favorite with an over/under of 216.5. The NCAAB college basketball schedule tips off at noon ET with 148 games involving Division I opponents. There are 11 NCAAB games on major national television. Two of these nationally-televised NCAAB games tip off at noon. Florida is on the road against Mississippi as a 13.5-point road favorite with a total of 150.5. St. John’s plays at home against Creighton on Fox as a 12.5-point favorite with an over/under of 154.5. Two NCAAB games on major national television start at 1:00 p.m. ET. Kansas is home against Cincinnati on CBS as a 10.5-point favorite with a total of 138.5. North Carolina visits Syracuse on ABC as a 1.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 154.5. Vanderbilt is home against Tennessee on ESPN as a 3.5-point favorite with a total of 150.5. Texas Tech hosts Kansas State on Fox at 2:30 p.m. ET as a 14.5-point favorite with an over/under of 158.5. Houston plays at home against Arizona on ABC at 3:00 p.m. ET as a 4.5-point favorite with a total of 141.5. Arkansas is at home against Missouri on ESPN at 4:00 p.m. ET as a 10.5-point favorite with an over/under of 160.5. Michigan takes on Duke on a neutral court at Capital One Arena in Washington D.C. as a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 150.5. Illinois plays at UCLA on Fox at 8:00 p.m. ET as a 6.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 146.5. Auburn is home against Kentucky on ESPN at 8:30 p.m. ET as a 3.5-point favorite with a total of 157.5. Iowa State is on the road against BYU on ESPN at 10:30 p.m. ET as a 3.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 156.5. Matchweek 27 in the English Premier League begins with five matches. Three EPL matches begin at 10:00 a.m. ET. Aston Villa hosts Leeds United as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5. Brentford plays at home against Brighton and Hove Albion as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Chelsea is home against Burnley as a -1.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 3.5. Bournemouth travels to West Ham United at 12:30 p.m. ET as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Manchester City hosts Newcastle United at 3:00 p.m. ET as a -1.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 3.5.

ASA's NBA Eastern Conference Winner

by ASA, Inc.

Friday, Feb 20, 2026

Cleveland Cavaliers (+350) to win the Eastern ConferenceCleveland made the biggest splash of any team before the trade deadline, acquiring James Harden from the Clippers in early February. The trade has sparked the Cavs offense who is averaging 130ppg over the first three games that the 11-time All Star has played. Donovan Mitchell is having another All-NBA caliber season and the addition of Harden makes the duo the highest scoring guarding combination in the NBA in terms of ppg. Additionally, backcourt mates Sam Merrill and Jaylon Tyson bring some serious sharpshooting, both top three in three point percentage at a staging 47% on high volumes. Rounding out the frontcourt, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen bring rim protecting length, elite rebounding, and more offense, averaging a combined 32ppg between them. As a cherry on top, Max Strus may be able to make a return before the playoffs after missing all season due to a foot surgery. He averaged 12ppg in the 2025 playoffs. Winners of eleven of the last twelve games, Cleveland sits securely as the four seed while being less than two games behind the Celtics and Knicks for the number two spot in the East. Even more enticing, the Cavs have one of the five easiest strengths of schedules remaining. On the contrary, Boston and New York will have a very difficult road, both encountering a top ten schedule in terms of strength. According to odds makers it is a four team race for who comes out of the East. Boston is +340, Cleveland +350, Detroit +360, and New York is +410. With a race this wide open, the East is ripe for the taking and we think the Cavs have what it takes to make an NBA Finals appearance.

Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA and NCÅAB Previews and Odds - 02/20/2026

by Big Al Staff

Friday, Feb 20, 2026

The Friday sports card features NBA and NCAAB action. The National Hockey League is on hiatus until February 22nd due to the Winter Olympics. The National Basketball League has 10 games on its docket. Three NBA games tip off at 7:10 p.m. ET. The Memphis Grizzlies host the Utah Jazz as a 2.5-point favorite with the total set at 237.5 (all odds from DraftKings). The Cleveland Cavaliers travel to Charlotte to play the Hornets as a 5.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 233.5. The Indiana Pacers play in Washington against the Wizards as a 1.5-point road favorite with a total of 231.5. Two NBA games start at 7:40 p.m. ET. The Miami Heat are on the road against the Atlanta Hawks as a 3.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 242.5. The Minnesota Timberwolves play at home against the Dallas Mavericks on ESPN. The Timberwolves went into the All-Star break on a two-game winning streak after a 133-109 victory against Portland as a 7.5-point favorite on February 11th. The Mavericks return from the break on a nine-game losing streak after a 124-104 loss in Los Angeles against the Lakers as a 6.5-point underdog on February 12th. Minnesota is a 12.5-point favorite with a total of 236.5. Two NBA games begin at 8:10 p.m. ET. The New Orleans Pelicans are home against the Milwaukee Bucks as a 3.5-point favorite with an over/under of 221.5. The Oklahoma City Thunder host the Brooklyn Nets as a 16.5-point favorite with a total of 211.5. Two games conclude the NBA card at 10:10 p.m. ET. The Denver Nuggets visit Portland to face the Trail Blazers as a 2.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 239.5. The Los Angeles Lakers play at home against the Los Angeles Clippers on ESPN. The Lakers ended a two-game losing streak with their victory against the Mavericks before the break. The Clippers won for the fourth time in their last five games after a 115-114 upset victory at home as a 4.5-point underdog last night. The Lakers are a 6.5-point favorite with a total of 223.5. The NCAAB college basketball schedule tips off at 6:00 p.m. ET with 13 games involving Division I opponents. There are five NCAAB games on major national television. Akron plays at Ball State on the CBS Sports Network at 6:30 p.m. ET as a 14.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 140.5. St. Louis is at home against VCU on ESPN2 at 7:00 p.m. ET as an 8.5-point favorite with a total of 165.5. Two NCAAB games on major national television start at 8:00 p.m. ET. Merrimack hosts Siena on ESPNU as a 3.5-point favorite with an over/under of 133.5. Purdue plays at home against Indiana on Fox. The Boilermakers had won four games in a row before their 91-86 loss at home against Michigan as a 2.5-point underdog on Tuesday. The Hoosiers had won two games in a row before a 71-51 loss at Illinois as an 8.5-point underdog on Sunday. Purdue is an 11.5-point favorite with a total of 148.5. Miami (OH) is at home against Bowling Green on the CBS Sports Network at 8:30 p.m. ET as a 7.5-point favorite with an over/under of 153.5.

Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA and NCAAB Previews and Odds - 02/19/2026

by Big Al Staff

Thursday, Feb 19, 2026

The Thursday sports card features NBA and NCAAB action. The National Hockey League is on hiatus until February 22nd due to the Winter Olympics. The National Basketball League returns from its All-Star break with 10 games on its docket. Four NBA games tip off at 7:10 p.m. ET. The Cleveland Cavaliers host the Brooklyn Nets as a 16.5-point favorite with the total set at 230.5 (all odds from DraftKings). The Philadelphia 76ers play at home against the Atlanta Hawks as a 1.5-point favorite with an over/under of 235.5. The Houston Rockets travel to Charlotte to play the Hornets as a 4.5-point road favorite with a total of 216.5. The Indiana Pacers play in Washington against the Wizards as a 3.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 232.5. The New York Knicks are at home against the Detroit Pistons on Amazon Prime Video at 7:40 p.m. ET. The Knicks won for the second time in their last three games in a 138-89 win at Philadelphia as a 2.5-point favorite last Wednesday. The Pistons have won three games in a row after their 113-95 upset victory at Toronto as a 1.5-point underdog last Wednesday. New York is a 4.5-point favorite with a total of 223.5. The Toronto Raptors are on the road against the Chicago Bulls at 8:10 p.m. ET as a 5.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 233.5. The San Antonio Spurs host the Phoenix Suns at 8:40 p.m. ET as a 7.5-point favorite with a total of 227.5. Two NBA games start at 10:10 p.m. ET. The Boston Celtics visit Golden State to face the Warriors on Amazon Prime Video. The Celtics won for the sixth time in their last seven games in a 124-105 victory at home against Chicago as a 14.5-point favorite last Wednesday. The Warriors lost for the second time in their last three games in a 126-113 loss against San Antonio as a 6.5-point underdog on Wednesday. Boston is a 4.5-point road-favorite with an over/under of 213.5. The Orlando Magic play on the road against the Sacramento Kings as an 8.5-point road favorite with a total of 223.5. The Denver Nuggets are on the road against the Los Angeles Clippers at 10:40 p.m. ET as a 4.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 225.5. The NCAAB college basketball schedule tips off at 6:00 p.m. ET with 53 games involving Division I opponents. There are six NCAAB games on major national television. Liberty plays at home against Florida International on the CBS Sports Network as a 10.5-point favorite with a total of 151.5. Two more NCAAB games on major national television begin at 7:00 p.m. ET. South Florida is at home against Memphis on ESPN2 as an 8.5-point favorite with an over/under of 158.5. High Point hosts UNC-Asheville on ESPNU as a 13.5-point favorite with a total of 151.5. Hofstra hosts Hampton on the CBS Sports Network at 8:00 p.m. ET as an 11.5-point favorite with an over/under of 135.5. North Texas plays at home against Tulane on ESPN2 at 9:00 p.m. ET as a 6.5-point favorite with a total of 136.5. Portland State is at home against Idaho on ESPNU at 10:00 p.m. ET as a 3.5-point favorite with an over/under of 142.5.

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