Expert Sports Picks and Analysis from Al McMordie

NHL Stats That Matter: 50 Games In

Wednesday, Jan 24, 2024

Now that we're nearly 50 games into the NHL season, it's time for me to check back in. The Edmonton Oilers are perhaps the biggest story. They've done nothing but win since my last article. After 20 games, the Oilers weren't even among the top 10 on the NHL Futures market. They're now favored to win the Stanley Cup! The Winnipeg Jets are another hot team which has become one of the favorites to hoist the Cup. I've got the updated future odds below, along with some other relevant stats. Top 10 Teams To Win The CupEdmonton Oilers +624Colorado Avalanche +832Boston Bruins +907Carolina Hurricanes +1066Florida Panthers +1097New York Rangers +1167Winnipeg Jets +1214Dallas Stars +1231 Vancouver +1286Vegas Golden Knights +1371Just as one should know how teams are doing in the standings, it's important to understand how they're faring at the betting window. Four of this season's most profitable teams are barely above .500. On the other side of the coin, some of the least profitable teams in the league have winning records. Below are the top 10 most and least profitable teams, entering play on January 24th. TOP 10 MOST PROFITABLE TEAMSVancouver: 32-15 +$1078 Detroit: 24-23 +$781 St. Louis: 23-22 +$714 Winnipeg 30-15 +$578 Arizona: 23-22 +$516 Philadelphia 25-23 +$386 Colorado: 30-17 +$342 NY Rangers 2918 +$306 Boston: 29-17 +$281 Florida: 28-18 +$239 TOP 10 LEAST PROFITABLE TEAMSSan Jose: 13-35 -$882 Toronto: 23-22 -$771 NY Islanders: 20-27 -$770 Minnesota: 21-26 -$756 Columbus: 14-32 -$686 Ottawa: 18-25 -$613 Calgary: 21-26 -$548 New Jersey: 24-21 -$531 Buffalo: 20-27 -$529Seattle: 19-27 -$497 KNOW YOUR PUCK-LINESome of the good teams are also really strong versus the puck-line. Others are not. Vancouver, for instance, is 28-13 against the puck-line. On the other hand, the Rangers are on the top 10 list for the most profitable teams vs. the money-line but they're only 17-24 against the puck-line. Dallas has a solid winning record but is only 15-25 against the puck-line. The Leafs and Devils have been especially bad. Their puck-line records are 10-29 and 11-27, respectively. Then you've got Columbus. The Blue Jackets are among the worst teams but they've got a profitable 25-16 record vs. the puck-line. O/U Trends After each team had played roughly 20 games, I mentioned that it had been an equal split when it came to totals, as there were 152 unders and 151 overs. As the teams approach the 50-game mark, it's still quite equal. There have been 310 games which finished under the total and 297 games which went over. That's 51% vs. 49%. No real edge either way. If you throw out OT games, its roughly a 53% to 47% split, in favor of the under. So, if you know your game is unlikely to go to Overtime, it has a slightly better chance of staying below the total. Nothing worth wagering on though.

Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL and NCAAB Previews and Odds - 01/24/2024

by Big Al Staff

Wednesday, Jan 24, 2024

The Wednesday sports card features NBA, NHL, and NCAAB action. The National Basketball Association has eight games on its docket. Two NBA games tip off at 7:10 p.m. ET. The Detroit Pistons host the Charlotte Hornets as a 3-point favorite, with the total set at 235. The Minnesota Timberwolves travel to Washington to play the Wizards as an 11.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 231. The Miami Heat play at home against the Memphis Grizzlies at 7:40 p.m. ET as a 9.5-point favorite with a total of 213.5. Two NBA games start at 8:10 p.m. ET. The Houston Rockets are at home against the Portland Trail Blazers as a 9.5-point favorite with an over/under of 221.5. The Milwaukee Bucks host the Cleveland Cavaliers as a 6.5-point favorite with a total of 236. The Phoenix Suns play at Dallas on ABC at 8:40 p.m. ET as a 1.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 240.5. The Oklahoma City Thunder are at San Antonio to play the Spurs on ESPN at 9:40 p.m. ET as a 7-point road favorite with a total of 241. Golden State plays at home against the Atlanta Hawks at 10:10 p.m. ET as a 7.5-point favorite with an over/under of 233. The National Hockey League has seven games on its slate. Two NHL games drop the puck at 7:07 p.m. ET. The Florida Panthers are at home against the Arizona Coyotes as a -218 money-line favorite with a total of 6. The Toronto Maple Leafs host the Winnipeg Jets as a -130 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6. The Boston Bruins play at home against the Carolina Panthers on TNT at 7:37 p.m. ET as a -135 money-line favorite with a total of 6. The Colorado Avalanche are at home against the Washington Capitals at 9:37 p.m. ET as a -245 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6. Two more NHL games begin at 10:07 p.m. ET. The Seattle Kraken host the Chicago Blackhawks on TNT as a -290 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Vancouver Canucks play at home against the St. Louis Blues as a -218 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6. The Los Angeles Kings are at home against the Buffalo Sabres at 10:37 p.m. ET as a -192 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The college basketball schedule has 11 games on national television. Seton Hall hosts Providence on FS1 at 6:30 p.m. ET as a 3.5-point favorite with an over/under of 137. Two more NCAAB games are on national television at 7 p.m. ET. Miami (FL) visits Notre Dame on ESPN2 as a 4-point road favorite with a total of 139.5. Bradley plays at home against Murray State on the CBS Sports Network as an 8.5-point favorite with an over/under of 140. Alabama is at home against Auburn on ESPN at 7:30 p.m. ET as a 3-point favorite with a total of 162. St. John’s hosts Villanova on FS1 at 8:30 p.m. ET on FS1 as a 4-point favorite with an over/under of 146. Three more NCAAB games are on national television at 9 p.m. ET. Marquette plays at DePaul on the CBS Sports Network as an 18-point road favorite with a total of 147.5. Iowa State plays at home against Kansas State on ESPN2 as a 7.5-point favorite with an over/under of 134.5. Mississippi is at home against Arkansas on ESPNU as a 5.5-point favorite with a total of 154.5. Nevada hosts Colorado State on FS1 at 10:30 p.m. ET as a 3-point favorite with an over/under of 144.5. Two more NCAAB games are on national television at 11 p.m. ET. New Mexico is at San Jose State on the CBS Sports Network as an 8.5-point road favorite with a total of 155.5. Colorado visits Washington on ESPNU as a 3-point road favorite with an over/under of 156.5.

Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, and NCAAB Previews and Odds - 01/23/2024

by Big Al Staff

Tuesday, Jan 23, 2024

The Tuesday sports card features NBA, NHL, and NCAAB action. The National Basketball Association has five games on its docket. The Denver Nuggets travel to Indiana to play the Pacers at 7:10 p.m. ET as a 3-point road favorite, with the total set at 243.5. The New York Knicks play at Brooklyn against the Nets on TNT at 7:30 p.m. ET as a 4-point road favorite with an over/under of 223. Two NBA games tip off at 8:10 p.m. ET. The New Orleans Pelicans host the Utah Jazz as a 6.5-point favorite with a total of 239.5. The Oklahoma City Thunder play at home against the Portland Trail Blazers as a 14-point favorite with an over/under of 235.5. The Los Angeles Clippers are at home against the Los Angeles Lakers at 10 p.m. ET as a 9-point favorite with a total of 229.5. The National Hockey League has nine games on its slate. Three NHL games drop the puck at 7:07 p.m. ET. The Dallas Stars are at Detroit to play the Red Wings as a -148 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Ottawa Senators visit the Montreal Canadiens as a -142 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The Philadelphia Flyers host the Tampa Bay Lightning as a -115 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The New York Islanders play at home against the Vegas Golden Knights at 7:37 p.m. ET as a -130 money-line favorite with a total of 6. The Minnesota Wild are at home against the Washington Capitals at 8:07 p.m. ET as a -162 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6. Two more NHL games start at 9:07 p.m. ET. The Calgary Flames host the St. Louis Blues as a -166 money-line favorite with a total of 6. The Edmonton Oilers play at home against the Columbus Blue Jackets as a -380 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7. The Buffalo Sabres play in Anaheim against the Ducks at 10:07 p.m. ET as a -162 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The New York Rangers are in San Jose to play the Sharks at 10:37 p.m. ET as a -355 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6. The college basketball schedule has 12 games on national television. Butler travels to Georgetown on FS1 at 6:30 p.m. ET as a 3.5-point road favorite with a total of 149.5. Five NCAAB games on national television tip off at 7 p.m. ET. Oklahoma is at home against Texas on ESPN as a 4.5-point favorite with an over/under of 143.5. Pittsburgh plays at Georgia Tech on ESPNU as a 3-point road favorite with an over/under of 145. Syracuse hosts Florida State on ESPN2 as a 3-point favorite with a total of 150. Nebraska plays at home against Ohio State on Peacock as a 3.5-point favorite with an over/under of 149.5. VCU is at home against Loyola-Chicago on FS1 at 8:30 p.m. ET as an 8.5-point favorite with a total of 149.5. Creighton hosts Xavier on FS1 as an 8.5-point favorite with an over/under of 149.5. Three more NCAAB games on national television start at 9 p.m. ET. Purdue plays at home against Michigan on Peacock as a 17.5-point favorite with a total of 152.5. TCU is at Oklahoma State on ESPN2 as a 4-point road favorite with an over/under of 144.5. San Diego State is at home against Wyoming on the CBS Sports Network as a 17-point favorite with a total of 143.5. Boise State travels to Fresno State on FS1 at 10:30 p.m. ET as a 6-point road favorite with an over/under of 136. UNLV hosts Air Force on the CBS Sports Network at 11 p.m. ET as a 12-point favorite with a total of 137.5.

NHL Power Rankings: Canucks Keep Winning

by Vegas Writer

Monday, Jan 22, 2024

We are closing in on the All-Star break in the NHL, and time is coming to start figuring out which teams are the best of the best. Others are just plummeting far down the chain with no sign of life on the horizon. We’re past the halfway mark of the season and contenders are starting to take form, and some teams are starting to play good hockey at the right time. Much like last year, the second half should provide a ton of intrigue. On this latest edition of NHL power rankings, I'm going to dive a little bit deeper into what teams are starting to separate themselves from the pack and who we should expect to be teams to watch in the second half. To do this, we're going to start with just 10 who are playing like true contenders: 5-minute major 1) Vancouver Canucks (31-11-4) They just keep winning. It’s still uncertain how that will translate come playoff time, but J.T. Miller, Elias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes remain spectacular. Brock Boeser (27 goals) has restored himself to his old form. There’s a lot left to prove, but the Canucks are fun to watch. 2) Edmonton Oilers (26-15-1) Reports of the Oilers’ demise have been greatly exaggerated. Edmonton has now reeled off 13 wins in a row and are suddenly back in the fold for a top spot in the Western Conference. There’s still some work to do, like passing the Canucks or even the Vegas Golden Knights. But they are a wagon. As long as Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are healthy, and if this depth can continue to produce, they’re as dangerous a threat as anyone. 3) Boston Bruins (28-8-9) Remember when losing Patrice Bergeron was supposed to be a problem? The Bruins haven’t skipped a beat. David Pastrnak is making a strong Hart Trophy case with 66 points in 45 games, and Brad Marchand is still scoring goals as a toned-down captain. Boston is going to be tough so long as Jeremy Swayman and Linus Ullmark stay 4) Winnipeg Jets (30-10-4) I almost feel horrible for not giving the Jets enough credit, but it’s just the way of the world right now. Think of it this way: Three of the top four teams in this are from Canada. If that’s not a sign the times are changing, I don’t know what is. But think of the Jets in this capacity: Their leading scorer is Mark Scheifele with 41 points. They played the month-and–a-half without Kyle Connor but still managed to storm their way to the top of the Central. This is a balanced team with scoring up and down the lineup, and Connor Hellebuyck is once again an elite goalie. The Jets continue to be a surprise, but it won’t be long now for them to be where everyone expects. 5) Vegas Golden Knights (27-14-5) Don’t look now, but the defending Stanley Cup champs are back. Even if half of their roster has been called up from AHL Henderson, the Golden Knights are starting to find their game. Vegas has won three straight despite eight players on IR, including Jack Eichel, William Karlsson and Shea Theodore. They’ve found ways to win even when things haven’t gone right; especially with the latest win a 3-2 come-from-behind victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins. Brendan Brisson, the team’s top prospect, scored his first NHL goal in the win. Vegas is nowhere near to repeat-worthy material, but just like last year, if good health fortunes arise in the playoffs, who wants to face this team? 2-minute minor 6) Florida Panthers (27-14-4) The defending Eastern Conference champions aren’t getting talked about enough with what they’ve been able to do. Sam Reinhart might be the most off-the-board Hart Trophy contender who’s not getting love. His 57 points (33 goals) are a firm second in the Atlantic. So long as Sergei Bobrovsky doesn’t fall off a cliff, things are in good shape. 7) Dallas Stars (27-13-6) Dallas is still expected to compete in a tough Central. And I think they have the pedigree to make it happen. The key is the health of Jake Oettinger. If Pete DeBoer doesn’t run him into the ground, he’s bound to get it going at some point. 8) Colorado Avalanche (30-14-3) I’m still not sure what to think of Colorado. They still have Nathan MacKinnon, which makes them dangerous at all times. But the goaltending concerns me, and Alexandar Georgiev is nowhere near ready to be placed in the elite category. 9) New York Rangers (29-15-2) The Rangers have a strong attention to detail and it’s what’s made them more successful this year. And they’ll be a contender to watch out for. But the goaltending hasn’t been up to snuff, and Igor Shesterkin can only do so much. They’re going to need more out of Jonathan Quick going forward to spell Shesterkin. Power play (surprise team) 10) Philadelphia Flyers (25-16-6) How are they good? Why are they good? What about them makes them good? I still can’t figure out that exactly for the Flyers, but Travis Konecny is their leading scorer at just 40 points at 45 games. They’re getting goals from Owen Tippett (18), Joel Farabee (15) and Cam Atkinson (11). The biggest surprise? Sam Ersson. The 24-year-old from Sweden has taken claim of the No. 1 goalie spot in Philadelphia over Carter Hart. With Connor Bedard out, there might be an opening for him to be at the center of the Calder Trophy discussion. John Tortorella has this group playing ahead of schedule, which makes them an enticing pick at the moment.

NHL Off the Post: January 22nd

by Sean Murphy

Monday, Jan 22, 2024

The NHL All-Star break is quickly approaching with the game's best set to square off on February 3rd in Toronto. Here's a quick look at some news and notes from around the league just past the halfway point of the regular season.Broadway BluesThe Rangers appeared headed for a disastrous 0-3 start to their western road swing before rallying from a 2-0 deficit to secure a 5-2 victory in Anaheim on Sunday. Still, it's been a rough ride for New York lately as it has dropped six of nine games since January 6th. The Blueshirts will wrap up their road trip with a stop in San Jose on Tuesday as they try to gain some positive momentum before returning home where they'll play five of their next seven games. While the Rangers still occupy top spot in the Metropolitan Division they're just five points clear of the third-place Hurricanes. Saint Patrick's DayIslanders general manager Lou Lamoriello made a big splash by firing head coach Lane Lambert and hiring Hall-of-Fame goaltender Patrick Roy on Saturday. The move paid immediate dividends as the Isles rallied for a 3-2 overtime victory against the Stars on Sunday. A shake-up was certainly needed as New York entered Sunday's action on the outside looking in as far as the Eastern Conference playoff hunt goes. With six of their next eight games coming on home ice the Isles are well-positioned to go on a run. It remains to be seen whether Roy's aggressive coaching style, which eventually wore out its welcome in Colorado, will lead to long-term success on Long Island but it will be fascinating to watch. Striking oilNot only are the Oilers riding their longest winning streak in franchise history, at 13 straight victories it marks the longest winning streak for any Canadian team in NHL history. While Edmonton is known for its offensive prowess it has been its defensive play that has fuelled its recent success. The Oilers have held 11 straight opponents to two goals or less. Next up is a three-game homestand that will include matchups against two of the league's worst teams in the Blackhawks and Blue Jackets. The schedule only toughens up when they hit the road for three games (including stops in Las Vegas and Los Angeles) following the All-Star break. Wily CoyotesFew expected much from the perennially-rebuilding Coyotes this season but as we approach February they sit just four points out of a Wild Card spot in the Western Conference, with two games in hand. Arizona isn't a threat to pace the league in any offensive categories. The Coyotes leading scorer is Clayton Keller with just 41 points in 44 games. With that being said, they boast a balanced attack and have been rock solid defensively, giving up only six goals in regulation time in their last four contests. Arizona will play five of its next seven games on the road, wrapping around the All-Star break. First up will be a home date with the Penguins on Monday. The Coyotes haven't defeated Pittsburgh since February of 2017 - an 11-game slide in the series.

Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, NCAAB, and EPL Previews and Odds - 01/22/2024

by Big Al Staff

Monday, Jan 22, 2024

The Monday sports card features NBA, NHL, NCAAB, and EPL action. The National Basketball Association has eight games on its docket. Three NBA games tip off at 7:10 p.m. ET. The Philadelphia 76ers host the San Antonio Spurs as a 13.5-point favorite, with the total set at 237. The Milwaukee Bucks play in Detroit against the Pistons as a 12-point road favorite with an over/under of 247.5. The Orlando Magic are at home against the Cleveland Cavaliers as a 1-point favorite with a total of 215.5. The Toronto Raptors host the Memphis Grizzlies at 7:40 p.m. ET as a 7-point favorite with an over/under of 227. The Minnesota Timberwolves play at home against the Charlotte Hornets at 8:10 p.m. ET as a 15-point favorite with a total of 223. The Boston Celtics travel to Dallas to play the Mavericks at 8:40 p.m. ET as a 3-point road favorite with an over/under of 239.5. The Phoenix Suns are at home against the Chicago Bulls at 9:10 p.m. ET as a 5.5-point favorite with a total of 229. The Sacramento Kings host the Atlanta Hawks at 10:10 p.m. ET as an 8.5-point favorite with an over/under of 237.5. The National Hockey League has six games on its slate. Two NHL games drop the puck at 7:07 p.m. ET. The Boston Bruins play at home against the Winnipeg Jets as a -130 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The New Jersey Devils are at home against the Vegas Golden Knights as a -122 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6. The Florida Panthers play in Nashville against the Predators at 8:07 p.m. ET as a -118 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The Pittsburgh Penguins visit the Arizona Coyotes at 9:07 p.m. ET as a -148 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6. The Vancouver Canucks host the Chicago Blackhawks at 10:07 p.m. ET as a -440 money-line favorite with a total of 6. The Los Angeles Kings play at home against the San Jose Sharks at 10:37 p.m. ET as a -360 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6. The college basketball schedule has six games on national television. Three NCAAB games on national television tip off at 7 p.m. ET. North Carolina is at home against Wake Forest on ESPN as a 7.5-point favorite with a total of 155.5. Colgate hosts Lehigh on the CBS Sports Network as a 12.5-point favorite with an over/under of 144. McNeese State plays at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on ESPNU as a 3.5-point road favorite with a total of 142. Three NCAAB games on national television begin at 9 p.m. ET. Kansas is at home against Cincinnati on ESPN as a 9-point favorite with an over/under of 146. Hofstra is at Stony Brook on the CBS Sports Network as a 4-point road favorite with a total of 142.5. Jackson State plays at home against Texas Southern on ESPNU as a 5-point favorite with an over/under of 140.5. Matchweek 21 in the English Premier League concludes with one match. Brighton and Hove Albion is at home against Wolverhampton on the USA Network at 2:45 p.m. ET as a -1 goal-line favorite at BetMGM with a total of 3.

Big Al's Daily Angle: NFL, NBA, NHL, NCAAB and EPL Previews and Odds - 01/21/2024

by Big Al Staff

Sunday, Jan 21, 2024

The Sunday sports card features NFL, NBA, NHL, NCAAB, and EPL action.The National Football League continues the postseason with the final two games in the divisional playoff round. The Detroit Lions host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on NBC at 3 p.m. ET as a 5.5-point favorite, with the total set at 49.5 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). The Buffalo Bills play at home against the Kansas City Chiefs on CBS at 6:30 p.m. ET as a 2.5-point favorite with an over/under of 45.5. The National Basketball Association has eight games on its docket. The Los Angeles Clippers are at home against the Brooklyn Nets at 3:40 p.m. ET as an 11-point favorite with a total of 226.5. Two more NBA games tip off at 6:10 p.m. ET. The Miami Heat travel to Orlando to play the Magic as a 1-point road favorite with an over/under of 215.5. The Denver Nuggets play at Washington against the Wizards as a 13.5-point road favorite with a total of 238.5. The Boston Celtics are in Houston to play the Rockets at 7:10 p.m. ET as a 10.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 228. The Phoenix Suns host the Indiana Pacers at 8:10 p.m. ET as a 5.5-point favorite with a total of 248. The Los Angeles Lakers play at home against the Portland Trail Blazers at 10:10 p.m. ET as a 10.5-point favorite with an over/under of 226. The National Hockey League has six games on its slate. The Philadelphia Flyers are at home against the Ottawa Senators at 1:07 p.m. ET as a -135 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Carolina Hurricanes host the Minnesota Wild at 5:07 p.m. ET as a -192 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5.The Tampa Bay Lightning visit Detroit to play the Red Wings at 7:07 p.m. ET as a -120 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The Dallas Stars are at home against the New York Islanders at 7:37 p.m. ET as a -118 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6. The New York Rangers play in Anaheim against the Ducks at 8:37 p.m. ET as a -225 money-line road favorite with a total of 6. The Toronto Maple Leafs are in Seattle to play the Kraken at 9:07 p.m. ET as a -125 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The college basketball schedule has five games on national television. Michigan State travels to Maryland on CBS at noon ET as a 1-point road favorite with a total of 134.5. Memphis plays at Tulane on ESPN2 at 1 p.m. ET as a 3-point road favorite with an over/under of 169.5. Two NBAAB games tip off at 3 p.m. ET. Utah hosts Oregon on ESPN as a 5.5-point favorite with a total of 151. Chattanooga is at East Tennessee State on ESPN2 as a 2-point road favorite with an over/under of 144. Indiana State visits Murray State on ESPN2 at 5 p.m. ET as a 5.5-point road favorite with a total of 155.5. Matchweek 21 in the English Premier League continues with two matches. West Ham United plays at Sheffield United on the USA Network at 9 a.m. ET as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with an over/under of 2.5 (all soccer odds from BetMGM). Liverpool is at Bournemouth on the USA Network at 11:30 a.m. ET as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with a total of 3.

Big Al's Daily Angle: NFL, NBA, NHL, NCAAB, and EPL Previews and Odds - 01/20/2024

by Big Al Staff

Saturday, Jan 20, 2024

The Saturday sports card features NFL, NBA, NHL, NCAAB, and EPL action.The National Football League continues the postseason with the first two games in the divisional playoff round. The Baltimore Ravens host the Houston Texans on ABC and ESPN at 4:30 PM ET as a 9.5-point favorite, with the total set at 43.5 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). The San Francisco 49ers play at home against the Green Bay Packers on Fox at 8:15 PM ET as a 9.5-point favorite with an over/under of 50.5. The National Basketball Association has eight games on its docket. The Milwaukee Bucks travel to Detroit to play the Pistons at 3:10 PM ET as a 13-point road favorite with a total of 242. Two NBA games tip off at 7:10 PM ET. The Philadelphia 76ers play in Charlotte against the Hornets as a 10-point road favorite with an over/under of 231.5. The Washington Wizards are at home against the San Antonio Spurs as a 2-point favorite with a total of 241.5. Two more NBA games start at 7:40 PM ET. The Cleveland Cavaliers are in Atlanta to play the Hawks as a 1.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 233. The New York Knicks play at home against the Toronto Raptors as a 7-point favorite with a total of 228. Three more games conclude the NBA card at 8:10 PM ET. The Chicago Bulls host the Memphis Grizzlies as a 7.5-point favorite at BetMGM with an over/under of 215.5. The Houston Rockets are at home against the Utah Jazz as a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 234. The Minnesota Timberwolves play at home against the Oklahoma City Thunder as a 2.5-point favorite with an over/under of 228.5.The National Hockey League has 12 games on its slate. The Tampa Bay Lightning visit the Buffalo Sabres at 12:37 PM ET as a -120 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The Colorado Avalanche play on the road against the Philadelphia Flyers at 1:07 PM ET as a -122 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6. Two more NHL games drop the puck at 3:07 PM ET. The Nashville Predators are in Arizona to play the Coyotes as a -130 money-line road favorite with a total of 6. The Winnipeg Jets travel to Ottawa to play the Senators as a -142 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. Three NHL games begin at 7:07 PM ET. The Vancouver Canucks host the Toronto Maple Leafs as a -130 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Boston Bruins play at home against the Montreal Canadiens as a -298 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6. The Dallas Stars are in New Jersey to play the Devils as a -125 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The St. Louis Blues are at home against the Washington Capitals at 8:07 PM ET as a -118 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6. Three NHL games start at 10:07 PM ET. The Anaheim Ducks travel to San Jose to play the Sharks as a -125 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The Vegas Golden Knights host the Pittsburgh Penguins as a -155 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6. The Edmonton Oilers play in Calgary against the Flames as a -155 money-line road favorite with a total of 7. The Los Angeles Kings play at home against the New York Rangers at 10:37 PM ET as a -115 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.The college basketball schedule has seven games on major national television. Three NCAAB games on major national television tip-off at noon ET. Texas is at home against Baylor on ESPN as a 3.5-point favorite with a total of 146.5. St. John’s hosts Marquette on Fox as a 1-point favorite with an over/under of 155.5. Syracuse plays at home against Miami (FL) on ESPN2 as a 1-point favorite with a total of 158.5. Boise State is at home against San Diego State on ESPN at 1 PM ET as a 1-point favorite with an over/under of 136.5. Two NCAAB games begin at 2 PM ET. Tennessee hosts Alabama on ESPN2 as a 4.5-point favorite with a total of 157. Arizona State plays at home against USC on Fox as a 2-point favorite with an over/under of 146.5. Arizona is at home against UCLA on ESPN2 at 4 PM ET as a 16.5-point favorite with a total of 143.5. Texas Tech hosts BYU on ESPN2 at 6 PM ET as a 1.5-point favorite with an over/under of 147.Matchweek 21 in the English Premier League continues with two matches. Arsenal plays at home against Crystal Palace on the USA Network at 7:30 AM ET as a -1.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5. Brentford is at home against Nottingham Forest on NBC at 12:30 PM ET as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5.

Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL and NCAAB Previews and Odds - 01/19/2024

by Big Al Staff

Friday, Jan 19, 2024

The Friday sports card features NBA, NHL, and NCAAB action.The National Basketball Association has seven games on its docket. Two NBA games tip off at 7:10 PM ET. The Charlotte Hornets host the San Antonio Spurs as a 4.5-point favorite, with the total set at 237.5 (all odds from DraftKings). The Philadelphia 76ers travel to Orlando to play the Magic as a 5-point road favorite with an over/under of 223. The Boston Celtics play at home against the Denver Nuggets on ESPN at 7:40 PM ET. The Celtics are on a three-game winning streak after their 117-98 victory against San Antonio as a 15-point favorite on Wednesday. The Nuggets were on a two-game winning streak before their 126-121 loss at Philadelphia as a 1.5-point underdog on Tuesday. Boson is a 5.5-point favorite with a total of 233.5.Two NBA games start at 8:10 PM ET. The Miami Heat are at home against the Atlanta Hawks as a 6-point favorite with an over/under of 228. The New Orleans Pelicans host the Phoenix Suns as a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 237. The Indiana Pacers play in Portland against the Trail Blazers at 10:10 PM ET as a 5-point road favorite with an over/under of 237.5. The Los Angeles Lakers are at home against the Brooklyn Nets at 10:40 PM ET. The Lakers are on a two-game winning streak after their 127-110 victory against Dallas as a 4-point favorite on Wednesday. The Nets are on a four-game losing streak after a 105-103 upset loss at Portland as a 7-point favorite on Wednesday. Los Angeles is a 6.5-point favorite with a total of 226.5. ESPN will broadcast this game after its originally planned broadcast of the Dallas Mavericks on the road against the Golden State Warriors got canceled. The National Hockey League has four games on its slate. Three NHL games drop the puck at 7:07 PM ET. The Carolina Hurricanes play at home against the Detroit Red Wings as a -205 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The New Jersey Devils visit the Columbus Blue Jackets as a -166 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The Florida Panthers host the Minnesota Wild as a -192 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6. The New York Islanders play in Chicago against the Blackhawks at 8:37 PM ET as a -245 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.The college basketball schedule has seven games on national television. Fairleigh Dickinson is at Stonehill on the CBS Sports Network at 5 PM ET as a 2-point road favorite with an over/under of 152. Xavier plays at home against Georgetown on FS1 at 6:30 PM ET as a 13-point favorite with a total of 149.5. Three NCAAB games on national television tip-off at 7 PM ET. Virginia Commonwealth is at home against Saint Louis on ESPN2 as an 8.5-point favorite with an over/under of 147.5. Toledo travels to Central Michigan on the CBS Sports Network as a 7.5-point favorite, with a total of 148. Akron plays at Kent State on ESPNU as a 1-point road favorite with an over/under of 142.5. Wisconsin hosts Indiana on FS1 at 8:30 PM ET as a 10.5-point favorite with a total of 142.5. Colorado State plays at home against UNLV on FS1 as a 7.5-point favorite with an over/under of 145.

NFL Divisional Round Player Props

by ASA, Inc.

Thursday, Jan 18, 2024

Lamar Jackson Over 51.5 Rush Yards (-115)Lamar will get his first playoff action since January of 2021 on Saturday afternoon against the Texans. In his first four playoff appearances, Jackson is averaging 92 rushing yards per game. He has improved as a passer since his early career, but reliance on his rushing skills will always show up in big games. In a win or go home scenario, the safety of sliding becomes secondary and Lamar will rely on his legs as often as the Ravens need to keep drives alive. Considering Jackson’s gambreaking speed, one play could be all it takes to hit his rushing yards prop. Jordan Love Over 1.5 Pass TDs (-120)Love is as hot as any QB currently, and has thrown for 2+ TDs in nine of the last ten games. Green Bay’s offensive line is playing lights out, completely dominating Dallas last week in the run game (Aaron Jones 118 rush yards) as well as pass protection (0 sacks). San Francisco will be a whole new test on Saturday night, however, Dallas was a statistically better defense during the regular season in terms of yards allowed per game. If the Packers can hold strong at the line of scrimmage, Love has almost limitless young weapons to spread the ball to. Baker Mayfield Over 1.5 Pass TDs (+105)Baker has found a perfect home in Tampa, clearly loving his veteran studs in Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, throwing 2+ TDs in nine of his last twelve games. The Lions defense ranks second best in rushing yards allowed while sixth last in passing yards per game. The Buccaneers already struggle to run the ball normally, so facing such a weak pass defense will play right into Tampa’s hands. In perfect conditions in Detroit's dome, Baker will have every opportunity to put the team on his right shoulder and carry the afterthought Bucs to the NFC Championship. Josh Allen over 43.5 Rush Yards (-115)Similar to Lamar Jackson, Allen will throw all safety to the wind and look to run as often as needed to finally beat the Chiefs on Sunday night. At 6'5 240, Allen is a load and can pick up first downs at will using his legs, just use his 52 yard touchdown run against Pittsburgh last week for reference. In nine playoff games, Allen is averaging 55 yards rushing per game, showing the significant increase from his regular season career average of 38 ypg. Kansas City ranked fourth in passing yards allowed during the regular season so expect a run heavy game plan from the Bills, including plenty of designed runs for the likely hurdling (at least once) Josh Allen.

College Basketball January Update- Four Teams To Buy Low On

by Kyle Hunter

Thursday, Jan 18, 2024

I recently took a look at four teams you might want to sell high on based on multiple factors. Now, I want to take a look at four college basketball teams you might want to buy low on in the coming weeks and months. Missouri Tigers (4-13 ATS) Missouri is a miserable 4-13 ATS so far this year. I don’t think Missouri is a good team by any means, but the Tigers are likely a bit undervalued in the market at this point. Missouri has played a pretty difficult schedule thus far. The Tigers have also had terrible “free throw defense” with opponents shooting a whopping 76.9% from the free throw line against them. That should regress to the mean in time. Missouri does struggle on the glass, so I would be careful about backing them against great rebounding teams. In general though, teams with this bad of an ATS record in the middle of the season have been good teams to back since the market is so low on them. Detroit Titans (5-14 ATS) This is a team I’m buying VERY LOW on. Detroit is a ridiculous 0-19 on the season. There are obvious buy signs on this team right now though. First, Detroit just got back their star Jayden Stone. They have easily covered both spreads against N Kentucky and Robert Morris (2 OT loss) with Stone back in the lineup. He’s their best player by a huge margin, and he’ll make a big difference for the team. Also, Detroit has been very unlucky this season. Shot Quality ranks them as the single unluckiest team in the country (362 teams). They are a bad team, but I think they’ll be pretty good ATS moving forward. Pacific Tigers (3-14 ATS) Another really ugly one- by now you are probably understanding the theme here. These are not easy teams to bet, but these types of teams often have value at this point. Pacific has been on the road for three straight games, but they have quite a few home games coming up in the near future. Pacific took a very good San Francisco team to overtime at home in their last home contest. The Tigers beat Cal on the road earlier this year. This team returned a lot of the same guys they had last year, and last season this was an excellent offense. I expect their very low shooting percentages to improve as the season goes along. UMKC Roos (5-11 ATS) UMKC is one of those rare teams in the Summit League that tries to win lower scoring games by slowing things down and winning with defense. They have committed far too many fouls so far this season. UMKC is an excellent rebounding team and that gives them a nice matchup advantage over several of the teams in the Summit. They blew out both Oral Roberts and Portland State at home. Those are two solid teams. The upside is there for UMKC, but they need to be a little more consistent. The marketplace is very low on them now.

Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL and NCAAB Previews and Odds - 01/18/2024

by Big Al Staff

Thursday, Jan 18, 2024

The Thursday sports card features NBA, NHL, and NCAA action.The National Basketball Association has five games on its docket. The Chicago Bulls travel to Toronto to play the Raptors at 7:30 PM ET on TNT as a 1.5-point road favorite, with the total set at 224.5. The New York Knicks host the Washington Wizards at 7:40 PM ET as an 11-point favorite with an over/under of 237. The Oklahoma City Thunder play in Utah against the Jazz at 9:10 PM ET as a 3-point road favorite with a total of 246.5. The Minnesota Timberwolves play at home against the Memphis Grizzlies on TNT at 10 PM ET as an 11-point favorite with an over/under of 218. The Sacramento Kings are at home against the Indiana Pacers at 10:10 PM ET as a 7.5-point favorite with a total of 246.The National Hockey League has 11 games on its slate. Six NHL games drop the puck at 7:07 PM ET. The Buffalo Sabres host the Chicago Blackhawks as a -285 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6. The Boston Bruins play at home against the Colorado Avalanche as a -142 money-line favorite with a total of 6. The Ottawa Senators are at home against the Montreal Canadiens as a -185 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Dallas Stars are in Philadelphia to play the Flyers as a -135 money-line road favorite with a total of 6. The Tampa Bay Lightning host the Minnesota Wild as a -142 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Washington Capitals play at home against the St. Louis Blues as a -115 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. Two NHL games start at 9:07 PM ET. The Toronto Maple Leafs visit Calgary to play the Flames as a -130 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Edmonton Oilers are at home against the Seattle Kraken as a -218 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. Three games complete the NHL card at 10:07 PM ET. The Los Angeles Kings host the Nashville Predators as a -155 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6. The Vancouver Canucks play at home against the Arizona Coyotes as a -205 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The New York Rangers play in Vegas against the Golden Knights as a -125 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.The college basketball schedule has ten games on national television. Michigan State is at home against Minnesota on FS1 at 6:30 PM ET as an 11-point favorite with a total of 142.5. Four NCAAB games tip off at 7 PM ET. Memphis hosts South Florida on ESPN as a 12-point favorite with an over/under of 157. Florida Atlantic plays at home against Wichita State on ESPN2 as a 15-point favorite with a total of 152.5. Winthrop is at home against UNC-Asheville on ESPNU as a 3.5-point favorite with an over/under of 147. Drexel hosts Monmouth on the CBS Sports Network as a 9-point favorite with a total of 135. Illinois is at Michigan on FS1 at 8:30 PM ET as a 2.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 153. Two more NCAAB games begin at 9 PM ET. Utah plays at home against Oregon State on ESPN2 as a 15-point favorite with a total of 144. UTEP is at home against Middle Tennessee on the CBS Sports Network as a 5.5-point favorite with an over/under of 127. Colorado hosts Oregon on FS1 at 10:30 PM ET as a 6-point favorite with a total of 148.5. San Francisco plays at home against Loyola-Marymount on the CBS Sports Network at 11 PM ET as a 10.5-point favorite with an over/under of 139.5.

« ‹ 1 129 131 374 › »

Articles

NHL Stats That Matter: 50 Games In

Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL and NCAAB Previews and Odds - 01/24/2024

Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, and NCAAB Previews and Odds - 01/23/2024

NHL Power Rankings: Canucks Keep Winning

NHL Off the Post: January 22nd

Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, NCAAB, and EPL Previews and Odds - 01/22/2024

Big Al's Daily Angle: NFL, NBA, NHL, NCAAB and EPL Previews and Odds - 01/21/2024

Big Al's Daily Angle: NFL, NBA, NHL, NCAAB, and EPL Previews and Odds - 01/20/2024

Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL and NCAAB Previews and Odds - 01/19/2024

NFL Divisional Round Player Props

College Basketball January Update- Four Teams To Buy Low On

Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL and NCAAB Previews and Odds - 01/18/2024

Home

Links

Picks

Big Al's Sports Picks Info