Follow us @bigal_com

Instagram Twitter

Articles

Home Dogs Don't Bark Loudly In NBA Post-Season!

by Al McMordie

Thursday, Apr 20, 2023

Generally speaking, I tend to stay away from home dogs in the NBA post-season.  This might surprise many of my long-term clients, as I love playing on certain NBA home dogs in the regular season.  And I love playing on certain home dogs in the post-seasons of other sports, like NCAAF, NFL, and NCAAB.  But, the facts don't lie:  home dogs have NOT done well over the long-term in the NBA post-season (but have been profitable in the post-seasons of the NFL, NCAAF and NCAAB).Let's take a look at the NBA numbers.Since 1990, NBA home dogs have gone 217-237-11 ATS (47.7%) in the NBA post-season.  In contrast, NBA home favorites have gone 1023-956-36 ATS (51.6%).And the home dogs have been poor across the board, in most technical situations:Off a win:  77-85-4 ATSOff a loss:  140-152-7 ATSOff back-to-back wins:  16-17-2 ATSOff back-to-back losses:  98-97-6 ATSOff an ATS win:  99-115-5 ATSOff an ATS loss:  97-111-4 ATSOff back-to-back ATS wins:  45-49-1 ATSOff back-to-back ATS losses:  56-55-3 ATSOff back-to-back SU/ATS wins:  15-15-1 ATSOff back-to-back SU/ATS losses:  53-51-3 ATSOff a double-digit win:  27-28-1 ATSOff a double-digit loss:  93-102-6 ATSCovered by 10+ last game:  42-54-2 ATSFailed by 10+ last game:  46-55-3 ATSLead in series:  24-28-2 ATSTrail in series:  158-161-7 ATSTied in series:  35-48-2 ATSIn elimination games:  74-84-5Good luck, as always...Al McMordie

Read more

MLB Around the Horn: April 20th

by Sean Murphy

Thursday, Apr 20, 2023

We're just three weeks into the MLB season and intriguing storylines are already emerging. Are the Rays for real? Are the Braves back? And are the A's really that bad? Those are just a few of the questions that come to mind as we approach the final week of April. Here's a look at several teams to keep an eye on as the diamond action begins to heat up.Sleepless in SeattleThe Mariners were a sleeper pick by many to not only win the American League West but perhaps contend for a World Series title in 2023. While it's still way too early to jump to any conclusions, there's no denying it's been a rough start for last year's upstart team. Seemingly built for the ballpark they play the majority of their games in, the Mariners offense has mysteriously struggled to find any sort of consistency in the early going. They enter Thursday's action ranked 24th in the majors in team batting average, 21st in hits and 19th in runs scored. In a flipped script, their pitching has actually been terrific. Seattle sits top-10 in team ERA and hits allowed and a respectable 14th in runs given up. Only six teams have recorded a better WHIP. The schedule won't get any easier over the next couple of weeks as the Mariners welcome St. Louis for a three-game set before hitting the road for a difficult two-stop, six-game trip that will see them face the Phillies and Mariners. Even in May, Seattle will open with a three-game set against the lowly A's but then have to face the Astros and Rangers in succession. Again, it's early and the M's are still just 4.5 games back of the first-place Rangers in the A.L. West. If their offense can wake up in the coming weeks, they should once again become a club we'll be looking to bet on rather than bet against. Guardians of the galaxyWe've made some money backing the Guardians, not to mention the 'over' in several of their recent games as I think their offense is being severely undervalued thanks to some poor metrics. Yes, Cleveland ranks a miserable 29th in baseball in home runs and in the bottom-third in run production. However, when the Guardians face a pitcher that puts batters on base on a regular basis, they can excel. That's because no team has been more aggressive on the basepaths and they have speed to burn with a Major League-leading 29 stolen bases to date. I think it's only a matter of time before the power numbers get better and when that happens, this offense has the potential to go off. Few teams put more pressure on opposing pitchers with runners on base and we certainly saw evidence of that in last weekend's series in Washington. Note that Cleveland's pitching staff has been rock solid, ranking in the top-half of the majors in ERA, WHIP and home runs allowed. I have the Guardians slated as a bet on team in the coming weeks, especially when you consider their next three series' will come against opponents with a combined 22-33 record this season. Snake-bittenThe N.L. West has been one of the more interesting divisions in baseball so far this season with the upstart Diamondbacks leading the way with an 11-8 record. You may remember from a previous article, I suggested locking in the D'Backs at a generous price to win the N.L. West prior to the start of the regular season, even if it was a longshot at best. While it's still early, there's no question the Snakes are proving they can hang with the big boys (ie. the Padres and Dodgers). In fact, both the Dodgers and Padres currently own losing records on the campaign. While that's unlikely to last, I don't think the Snakes are going away any time soon. Arizona enters Thursday's series-opener against San Diego ranking inside the top-10 in hits, batting average and slugging percentage, not to mention sixth in stolen bases. As expected, the D'Backs pitching staff has been a mixed-bag but there's reason for optimism given what we've seen from the likes of Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly at the front of the rotation. When you can trot out guys of that calibre two out of every five games you're going to be alright. Meet the MetsAs expected, the Mets find themselves near the top of the N.L. East heap as we head into the third week of the regular season. New York sits just two games back of the first-place Braves thanks to a 9-3 surge that culminated with a series with over the Dodgers in Los Angeles to start the week. Remember, it was just two weeks ago that the sky was falling in Queens after the Mets were swept (and outscored by a 26-6 margin) in a three-game series in Milwaukee. A six-game homestand seemingly vaulted them into their most recent road trip that saw them plate 37 runs in six games against Oakland and aforementioned Los Angeles. Keep in mind, New York is still waiting for prized offseason acquisition Justin Verlander to make his regular season debut after he was put on the shelf with a shoulder injury. He's getting closer to returning, scheduled to make a minor league rehab start a week from Friday. In the meantime, the Mets pitching staff ranks top-10 in baseball in runs and hits allowed helping to minimize the damage as they do sit a miserable 27th in home runs given up with 28. The offense has been as advertised for the most part, getting on base with some consistency but not hitting for a great deal of power, currently sitting 13th in the majors in runs scored. New York will close out its California road trip with a four-game set in San Francisco beginning on Thursday.

Read more

Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL and MLB Previews and Odds - 04/20/2023

by Big Al Staff

Thursday, Apr 20, 2023

The Thursday sports card features action in the NBA, NHL, and MLB.The National Basketball Association playoffs continue with three games in the conference quarterfinals. The Philadelphia 76ers visit Brooklyn to play the Nets on TNT at 7:30 PM ET. The 76ers took a 2-0 lead in this best-of-seven series with a 96-84 victory as a 10-point favorite on Monday. Philadelphia is a 5-point road favorite, with the total set at 209.5 (all odds from DraftKings). The Golden State Warriors host the Sacramento Kings on TNT at 10 PM ET. The Kings took a 2-0 lead in this best-of-seven series with a 114-106 upset victory as a 2-point underdog at home on Monday. The Warriors are a 5.5-point favorite with an over/under of 239. The Phoenix Suns play in Los Angeles against the Clippers on NBA TV at 10:30 PM ET. The Suns evened this series at 1-1 with a 129-108 victory at home as an 8.5-point favorite on Tuesday. Phoenix is a 2.5-point road favorite with a total of 227.The National Hockey League playoffs continue with four games on its slate in the conference quarterfinals. The Toronto Maple Leafs are at home against the Tampa Bay Lightning on ESPN at 7 PM ET. The Lighting took a 1-0 lead in this series with a 7-3 victory in Game 1 of this series. The Maple Leafs are a -170 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6. The New Jersey Devils host the New York Rangers on TBS at 7:30 PM ET. The Rangers have a 1-0 lead in this series after their 5-1 victory in the first game of this series. New Jersey is a -130 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Colorado Avalanche play at home against the Seattle Kraken on ESPN at 9:30 PM ET. The Kraken took a 1-0 lead in this series with their 3-1 victory in Game 1 on Tuesday. The Avalanche are a -215 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6. The Vegas Golden Knights are at home against the Winnipeg Jets on TBS at 10 PM ET. The Jets have a 1-0 lead in this series after their 5-1 victory on Tuesday. Vegas is a -155 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Thursday card in Major League Baseball has seven games on its schedule. The Boston Red Sox host the Minnesota Twins at 1:35 PM ET as a -120 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9. The New York Yankees play at home against the Los Angeles Angels at 4:05 PM ET as a -165 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The Pittsburgh Pirates are at home against the Cincinnati Reds at 6:35 PM ET as a -165 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9. The Philadelphia Phillies host the Colorado Rockies at 6:40 PM ET as a -225 money-line favorite with a total of 9.5. The Chicago Cubs play at home against the Los Angeles Dodgers at 7:40 PM ET as a -115 money-line favorite. The San Diego Padres travel to Arizona to play the Diamondbacks at 9:40 PM ET as a -140 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 9.5. The New York Mets are in San Francisco to play the Giants at 9:45 PM ET as a -135 money-line road fav write with a total of 8.5.

Read more

NFL Draft Wagers

by ASA, Inc.

Thursday, Apr 20, 2023

At the end of April we will get a little offseason fix of NFL content to gamble on. With unpredictable trades and each team having unique needs for 2023, the NFL Draft is one of the hardest things to foresee. By looking at just the odds alone, it tells us how this is the case. Bryce Young (-470) is a heavy favorite to go at the 1.1 spot and Will Anderson (-400) seems to be a lock for the first defensive player taken. Beyond that, the QB predictions have been all over the board, leading to huge uncertainty as to how the first five picks will shake out. Below are some popular props to look at during your draft parties for round 1. Total Number of QBs Drafted in Round 1Over 4.5 +106Under 4.5 -140Some of the latest Mock Drafts have predicted that the top four QBs will go in the first seven picks. If this is the case, it is hard to imagine that not one single team will feel the need to address the most important position on their roster the rest of the first. The Falcons at the 8 spot, Titans at 11, Commanders at 16, Bucs at 19, Vikings at 23, or even Saints at 29 are all in need to find their franchise QB. Tanner McKee from Stanford and Hendon Hooker from Tennessee are both solid options that teams may have first round grades on. Since the 2022 QB draft class was so shallow, teams with veteran QBs could be willing to take on a draft and develop prospect. Total Number of RBs Drafted in Round 1Over 1.5 +350Under 1.5 -550Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs are the two possible first rounders that will determine this prop. Running backs have had an increasingly limited shelf life in recent years, but their most effective seasons do come early. Bijan has cracked the top 10 in some mocks while Jahmyr’s film at Alabama showed a silky smooth runner and pass catcher who ran an easy 4.36 at the combine. In years past, both would have been highly sought after weapons, but in today's NFL we will see how much teams still value an elite RB.  With Gibbs 40 time, we think an elite team at the end of the first would love an explosive athlete to put them over the top.Total Number of DBs Drafted in Round 1Over 5.5 -114Under 5.5 -114Four DBs were taken in the first round in 2022, and it could swing either way this year. With so much talent at Wide Receiver in the NFL, teams are desperate for cover corners to slow them down. Devon Whitherspoon and Christian Gonzalez lead this loaded class followed by any mix of about 6 or 7 players that could be considered, depending on team preference. One DB sitting on this fringe is Kelee Ringo from Georgia. At 6’2/205, he ran a 4.36 at the combine and routinely guarded the best offensive players along the way to winning the National Title. If an early run on DBs starts, it would not be surprising to see six or seven corners gone after day 1. 

Read more

Betting NBA First Basket Prop This Postseason

by Oskeim Sports

Wednesday, Apr 19, 2023

With the NBA playoffs in full swing, it’s time to take a long look at how to benefit from the First Basket prop. It’s an interesting prop that requires an in-depth look at some of the trends. Let’s start at the top. This NBA season, Joel Embiid was unstoppable when it came to first possessions of a game. This season, Embiid made the most first team field goals in the NBA. In 48% of the games he started, the Philadelphia 76ers scored first. The MVP candidate earned 20 first-basket wins throughout the season, tying Jonas Valanciunas for the most first baskets. In 31% of games that he started, Embiid made the first basket of the game, compared to 25% for Valanciunas. Add in Embiid’s early possession usage rate (1.21) and it’s easy to see why he is a strong bet in the First Basket prop. Interestingly, Boston’s Jaylen Brown had the second-highest early possession usage (1.01), but he was not among the top players in the First Basket prop. Nikola Jokic and Nikola Vucevic tied with 16 first baskets and Toronto’s Pascal Siakam had 15. What’s even more interesting is that of the top-10 players in this category, most of them are centers. In fact, centers made the opening basket in 26 percent of all NBA games this season. Several of them are still playing in the playoffs. With a full season worth of data, it becomes a bit easier to predict which player will score first in a playoff game. For example, look at the Sixers. We know Embiid led the NBA in first baskets, but the trio of Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Tobias Harris combined to score 80 percent of Philadelphia’s first field goals. Take Game 2 of the Sixers series with the Brooklyn Nets. Embiid was the favorite to score first at +270. Maxey was listed at +700 and Harris at +950. Twenty-four seconds into Game 2, Embiid’s 28-foot jumper missed. Roughly a minute later, the Nets missed an easy shot, Embiid grabbed the rebound and he dished to Harris who made a layup. If you had put down $10 on Harris, you made $95. In betting the First Basket prop this playoff season, the 76ers, Memphis Grizzlies, Sacramento Kings, and Phoenix Suns have the highest concentration of first basket scorers among the most predictable teams. Brooklyn, Golden State, and Minnesota are among the least predictable. Be careful with some players like Miami’s Bam Adebayo. He has taken Miami’s first shot 24 times this season. Vucevic took the first shot 28 times this season. That was the most by any player. Embiid took the initial shot 27 times. Last year, Adebayo made the Heat’s first basket 34 percent of the time in the regular season. When Miami went to the playoffs last year, he made the first basket just 10 percent of the time. That’s a noticeable drop off. Also be on the lookout for a noticeable rise in first baskets. For example, Memphis’ Desmond Bane only hit 16 percent of the Grizzlies first baskets in 2021-22. In the playoffs last year, Bane hit 46 percent of the team’s initial scores. The key, of course, is finding value in the First Basket prop. In Game 2 of the Minnesota-Denver series, Jokic was the favorite to score first at +410. During the regular season, the two-time MVP scored Denver’s first basket 24 times. Of those 24, Jokic scored the first basket of the game 16 times. Denver’s Michael Porter Jr. scored the first basket in Game 1.

Read more

Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, MLB and UEFA Champions League Previews and Odds - 04/19/2023

by Big Al Staff

Wednesday, Apr 19, 2023

The Wednesday sports card features action in the NBA, NHL, MLB, and UEFA Champions League.The National Basketball Association playoffs continue with three games in the conference quarterfinals. The Los Angeles Lakers travel to Memphis to play the Grizzlies on TNT at 7:30 PM ET as a 1-point road favorite, with the total set at 226.5 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). The Milwaukee Bucks host the Miami Heat on NBA TV at 9 PM ET as a 6-point favorite with an over/under of 219. The Denver Nuggets play at home against the Minnesota Timberwolves on TNT at 10 PM ET as an 8-point favorite with a total of 223.5. The National Hockey League playoffs continue with four games on its slate in the conference quarterfinals. The Carolina Hurricanes are at home against the New York Islanders on ESPN2 at 7:08 PM ET as a -175 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Boston Bruins host the Florida Panthers on ESPN at 7:38 PM ET as a -245 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Dallas Stars play at home against the Minnesota Wild on ESPN2 at 9:38 PM ET as a -150 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Edmonton Oilers are at home against the Los Angeles Kings on ESPN at 10:08 PM ET as a -215 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Wednesday card in Major League Baseball has 15 games on its schedule. The Tampa Bay Rays visit the Cincinnati Reds at 12:35 PM ET as a -225 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 9.5. Two more MLB games throw out the first pitch at 1:10 PM ET. The Cleveland Guardians play in Detroit against the Tigers as a -140 money-line road favorite with a total of 8.5. The Chicago Cubs are in Miami to play the Marlins with both teams priced at -110 with an over/under of 8.5. The St. Louis Cardinals host the Arizona Diamondbacks at 1:15 PM ET as a -180 money-line favorite with a total of 10. Two MLB games start at 2:10 PM ET. The Texas Rangers play in Kansas City against the Royals, with both teams priced at -110 with an over/under of 9. The Pittsburgh Pirates travel to Chicago to play the White Sox as a -115 money-line road favorite with a total of 8.5. Two more MLB games begin at 3:10 PM ET. The New York Mets are in Los Angeles to play the Dodgers as a -130 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Pittsburgh Pirates visit Colorado to play the Rockies as a -125 money-line road favorite with a total of 11.5. The Chicago Cubs play in Oakland against the A’s at 3:37 PM ET as a -175 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8. Two MLB games throw out the first pitch at 4:10 PM ET. The Seattle Mariners host the Milwaukee Brewers as a -130 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The Atlanta Braves play in San Diego against the Padres as a -120 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 9.Two MLB games start at 7:05 PM ET. The Baltimore Orioles are in Washington to play the Nationals. The New York Yankees are at home against the Los Angeles Angels as a -135 money-line favorite with a total of 9. The Minnesota Twins play in Boston against the Red Sox at 7:10 PM ET as a -135 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 9. The Houston Astros host the Toronto Blue Jays at 8:10 PM ET as a -115 money-line favorite with a total of 9. The knockout stage of the UEFA Champions League concludes with two second-leg matches in the quarterfinals at 3 PM ET. Manchester City plays at Bayern Munich on CBS in a pick ‘em match with an over/under of 3 (all soccer odds from BetMGM). Inter Milan plays at home against Benfica as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5.

Read more

Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, MLB and UEFA Champions League Previews and Odds - 04/18/2023

by Big Al Staff

Tuesday, Apr 18, 2023

The Tuesday sports card features action in the NBA, NHL, MLB, and UEFA Champions League.The National Basketball Association playoffs continue with three games in the conference quarterfinals. The Boston Celtics host the Atlanta Hawks on NBA TV at 7 PM ET as a 10.5-point favorite, with the total set at 229.5. The Cleveland Cavaliers play at home against the New York Knicks on TNT at 7:30 PM ET as a 5.5-point favorite with an over/under of 213.5. The Phoenix Suns are at home against the Los Angeles Clippers on TNT as a 7.5-point favorite with a total of 226. The National Hockey League playoffs continue with four games on its slate in the conference quarterfinals. The New Jersey Devils host the New York Rangers on TBS at 7:08 PM ET as a -130 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6. The Toronto Maple Leafs play at home against the Tampa Bay Lightning on ESPN at 7:38 PM ET as a -155 money-line favorite with a total of 6. The Vegas Golden Knights are at home against the Winnipeg Jets on ESPN2 at 9:38 PM ET as a -150 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Colorado Avalanche host the Seattle Kraken on ESPN at 10:08 PM ET as a -195 money-line favorite with a total of 6. The Monday card in Major League Baseball has 17 games on its schedule. The Cleveland Guardians travel to Detroit to play the Tigers at 1:10 PM ET in the opening game of their doubleheader as a -115 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 9. Two more MLB games throw out the first pitch at 4:10 PM ET. The Guardians play the second game of their doubleheader against the Tigers, with both teams priced at -110 with a total of 8. The Philadelphia Phillies are in Chicago to play the White Sox in the opening game of their doubleheader as a -130 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 7.5. Two MLB games start at 6:40 PM ET. The Tampa Bay Rays visit Cincinnati to play the Reds as a -115 money-line road favorite with a total of 9. The San Francisco Giants play in Miami against the Marlins as a -120 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8. Three more MLB games begin at 7:05 PM ET. The Baltimore Orioles are in Washington to play the Nationals as a -145 money-line road favorite with a total of 9. The New York Yankees host the Los Angeles Angels as a -135 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9. Two MLB games throw out the first pitch at 7:10 PM ET. The Minnesota Twins travel to Boston to play the Red Sox as a -115 money-line road favorite with a total of 9. The Chicago White Sox play at home against the Philadelphia Phillies as a -115 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Texas Rangers are in Kansas City to play the Royals at 7:40 PM ET as a -125 money-line road favorite with a total of 8.5. The St. Louis Cardinals are at home against the Arizona Diamondbacks at 7:45 PM ET as a -170 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. The Toronto Blue Jays visit Houston to play the Astros at 8:10 PM ET, with both teams priced at -110 with a total of 9. The Pittsburgh Pirates play in Colorado against the Rockies at 8:40 PM ET as a -120 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 12.5. Three MLB games start at 9:40 PM ET. The Atlanta Braves are in San Diego to play the Padres as a -140 money-line road favorite with a total of 7.5. The Chicago Cubs play in Oakland against the A’s as a -175 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 7.5. The Seattle Mariners host the Milwaukee Brewers as a -165 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The Los Angeles Dodgers play at home against the New York Mets at 10:10 PM ET as a -165 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.The knockout stage of the UEFA Champions League continues with two final-leg matches in the quarterfinals at 3 PM ET. Chelsea is at home against Real Madrid on CBS in a pick ‘em match with a total of 2.5 (all soccer odds from BetMGM). Napoli hosts AC Milan as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5.

Read more

A Little Q&A To Get You Ready For The NHL Playoffs

by Vegas Writer

Monday, Apr 17, 2023

There are always questions before the playoffs begin, and as one of the winningest NHL handicappers this season, I wanted to answer any and all questions you may have.Thus, here is a Q&A with the Vegas Writer before the NHL Playoffs begin:Q: Is "home ice" an advantage in a seven-game series?VW: Don't get caught up in the home team/higher seed in hockey. Spanning the last 10 postseasons, the lower seed has stunned the higher-ranked seed in 45.3% of all seven-game series, including a 41.3% showing in the opening round. The biggest upsets have been in the conference final, where 13 of the past 20 series (65.0%) have been won by the lower seed.Q: How likely is it we'll see a wild-card team advance past the opening round?VW: Over seven postseasons with wild-card teams in the current format, wild-card entries are 10-18 in the opening round of the postseason. In 2018-19, we saw all four wild-card teams advance past the opening round. Two wild-card teams have won two or more rounds in a single postseason, with the Predators advancing to the Stanley Cup Final in 2017. The Hurricanes made it to the Eastern Conference Final in 2019.Q: How has the regular-season head-to-head series factored into postseason meetings?VW: Well, spanning the past 10 seasons, a team that won the season series vs. an opponent has a 71-51 series record when facing the same opponent in the ensuing Stanley Cup Playoffs.Q: The Bruins set an NHL record with 65 wins, making them one of four teams in league history to reach the 60-win plateau in a single season. Did any of the other three win the Stanley Cup?VW: The 1976-77 Montreal Canadiens (60-8-12) went 12-2 in the postseason en route to winning the Stanley Cup. The 1995-96 Detroit Red Wings (62-13-7) lost to eventual Stanley Cup champion Colorado. And, the 2018-19 Tampa Bay Lightning (62-16-4) fell in the opening round to Columbus.Q: Has the Presidents’ Trophy jinx become an annual plague for the team that finishes first in the overall League standings?VW: My favorite postseason trend, as the team that finished No. 1 in the overall NHL standings has gone on to win the Stanley Cup only 35% of the time (19 of 54), dating back to the first season of expansion (1967-68). Most recently, it has only happened four times since 1999-2000: Avalanche in 2001, Red Wings in 2002 & 2008, and the Blackhawks in 2013. The Bruins are hoping to become the first Presidents’ Trophy winner to advance to a Conference Finals in eight years, last done by the Rangers in 2014-15.Q: With Connor McDavid scoring 150 points this season, what are the chances he leads Edmonton to a Stanley Cup title?VW: Slim to none. Of the five previous skaters in NHL history to register 150+ points, Wayne Gretzky is the only player to accomplish the feat and win the Stanley Cup the same year. Gretzky did it on three occasions: in 1983-84, 1984-85, and 1986-87.

Read more

Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, MLB and EPL Previews and Odds - 04/17/2023

by Big Al Staff

Monday, Apr 17, 2023

The Monday sports card features action in the NBA, NHL, MLB, and EPL.The National Basketball Association playoffs continue with two games on TNT in the conference quarterfinals. The Philadelphia 76ers host the Brooklyn Nets at 7:30 PM ET as a 10-point favorite, with the total set at 214. The Golden State Warriors travel to Sacramento to play the Kings as a 1-point road favorite with an over/under of 240.The National Hockey League playoffs begin with four games on its slate. The Carolina Hurricanes play at home against the New York Islanders on ESPN2 at 7:08 PM ET as a -165 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Boston Bruins are at home against the Florida Panthers on ESPN at 7:38 PM ET as a -225 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6. The Dallas Stars host the Minnesota Wild on ESPN2 at 9:38 PM ET as a -140 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Edmonton Oilers play at home against the Los Angeles Kings on ESPN at 10:08 PM ET as a -195 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Monday card in Major League Baseball has 13 games on its schedule. The Los Angeles Angeles visit Boston to play the Red Sox at 11:10 AM ET as a -165 money-line road favorite with a total of 8.5. Three more MLB games throw out the first pitch at 6:40 PM ET. The Cleveland Guardians play in Detroit against the Tigers as a -140 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 9. The Tampa Bay Rays are in Cincinnati to play the Reds as a -140 money-line road favorite with a total of 9. The Miami Marlins are at home against the San Francisco Giants as a -130 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7.5. The Philadelphia Phillies travel to Chicago to play the White Sox at 7:10 PM ET as a -125 money-line road favorite with a total of 7.5. The Texas Rangers play in Kansas City against the Royals at 7:40 PM ET as a -205 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 7.5. The St. Louis Cardinals host the Arizona Diamondbacks as a -165 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. Two MLB games start at 8:10 PM ET. The Toronto Blue Jays play in Houston against the Astros as a -125 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8. The Colorado Rockies play at home against the Pittsburgh Pirates as a -140 money-line favorite with a total of 11.5. Three MLB games begin at 9:40 PM ET. The Atlanta Braves travel to San Diego to play the Padres as a -155 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Milwaukee Brewers play in Seattle against the Mariners as a -145 money-line road favorite with a total of 8. The Chicago Cubs are in Oakland to play the A’s as a -140 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Los Angeles Dodgers are at home against the New York Mets at 10:10 PM ET as a -165 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. Matchweek 31 in the English Premier League concludes with one match on the USA Network. Liverpool visits Leeds United at 3 PM ET as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite at BetMGM with an over/under of 3.

Read more

Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, MLB and EPL Previews and Odds - 04/16/2023

by Big Al Staff

Sunday, Apr 16, 2023

The Sunday sports card features action in the NBA, MLB, and EPL.The National Basketball Association playoffs continue with four games in the conference quarterfinals. The Memphis Grizzlies host the Los Angeles Lakers on ABC at 3 PM ET as a 3.5-point favorite, with the total set at 227.5 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). The Milwaukee Bucks play at home against the Miami Heat on TNT at 5:30 PM ET as a 9-point favorite with an over/under of 218.5. The Phoenix Suns are at home against the Los Angeles Clippers on TNT at 8 PM ET as a 7.5-point favorite with a total of 225.5. The Denver Nuggets host the Minnesota Timberwolves on TNT at 10:30 PM ET as a 7.5-point favorite with an over/under of 226. The Sunday card in Major League Baseball has 15 games on its schedule. The San Francisco Giants travel to Detroit to play the Tigers at 1:10 PM ET as a -145 money-line road favorite with a total of 8.5. Three more MLB games throw out the first pitch at 1:35 PM ET. The Cleveland Guardians play in Washington against the Nationals as a -230 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Boston Red Sox play at home against the Los Angeles Angels as a -115 money-line favorite with a total of 9.5. The New York Yankees are at home against the Minnesota Twins as a -155 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7. The Tampa Bay Rays are in Toronto to play the Blue Jays at 1:37 PM ET as a -120 money-line road favorite with a total of 8.5. Two MLB games start at 1:40 PM ET. The Philadelphia Phillies visit Cincinnati to play the Reds as a -190 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 9. The Miami Marlins host the Arizona Diamondbacks as a -125 money-line favorite with a total of 7. Two more MLB games begin at 2:10 PM ET. The Atlanta Braves play in Kansas City against the Royals as a -165 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 9. The Chicago White Sox play at home against the Baltimore Orioles as a -145 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The St. Louis Cardinals are at home against the Pittsburgh Pirates at 2:15 PM ET as a -175 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5.The New York Mets travel to Oakland to play the Mets at 4:07 PM ET as a -165 money-line road favorite with a total of 8.5. Three more MLB games start at 4:10 PM ET. The Los Angeles Dodgers host the Chicago Cubs as a -230 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Seattle Mariners play at home against the Colorado Rockies as a -280 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The San Diego Padres are at home against the Milwaukee Brewers as a -175 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7.5. Sunday Night Baseball on ESPN has the Houston Astros play at home against the Texas Rangers at 7:10 PM ET. The Astros are a -195 money-line favorite with a total of 7.5.Matchweek 31 in the English Premier League continues with two matches. Arsenal visits West Ham United on the USA Network at 9 AM ET as a -1 goal-line road favorite with an over/under of 2.5 (all soccer odds from BetMGM). Manchester United plays at Nottingham Forest on the USA Network at 11:30 AM ET as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with a total of 2.5.

Read more

NBA Playoff First Round Round-Up!

by AAA Sports

Saturday, Apr 15, 2023

EASTERN CONFERENCEMilwaukee (1) vs. Miami (8)Series odds – Bucks -1200, Heat +750Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton missed a combined total of 83 games (more than a full season) this year, but the Bucks still finished with the best record in the league. They’re Jonesing for another run to the Finals after losing in seven (without Middleton) to Boston a year ago. There doesn’t appear to be much the Heat – who will be playing with tired legs – can do about it. If this goes even six, it will be a surprise.Boston (2) vs. Atlanta (7)Series odds – Celtics -1200; Hawks +750Lots of mixed signals coming out of Boston, where the Celtics dominated the league pre-All Star Game, lost interest in March and then finished strong after falling out of first in the East. Boston’s dip (and a shooting slump) cost Jayson Tatum a legit shot at the MVP, and there are rumblings that rookie HC Joe Mazzulla might be over his head. On paper this translates to Boston in four or five, but if the 3s don’t drop – and they often don’t in the playoffs – Trae Young & Co. could make things uncomfortable. PS -- Don’t think Boston is not delighted at not having to face Miami.Philadelphia (3) vs. Brooklyn (6)Series odds – 76ers -1000; Nets +660If the Nets nail down this series, they’ll have the same number of playoff series wins as the ill-fated Irving-Durant Nets had. Ouch. The Sixers should be able to take care of business, but if Brooklyn carries this one to six or seven, it could wear down expected MVP Joel Embiid for a probable EC semifinal battle against Boston. So keep an eye on his minutes. At some point doesn’t James Harden have to be on a team that makes a long playoff run in order to validate his HoF credentials?Cleveland (4) vs. New York (5)Series odds – Cavaliers -205; Knicks +172All the attention will be focused on the backcourts with Donovan Mitchell and Jalen Brunson center stage, but the series could hinge on the health of Julius Randle’s tender injured ankle. If he’s a 100 percent go, he’ll be a PITA cover even for the Cavs’ talented front line of Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. For all their size, the Cavs are just so-so defensively. Still, Mitchell is the Big Dog in a series which could go to a seventh game in Cleveland.WESTERN CONFERENCEDenver (1) vs. Minnesota (8)Series odds – Nuggets -500, Timberwolves +385Nuggets coach Mike Malone and back-to-back MVP Nicola Jokic both have a lot at stake in the playoffs and need a deep playoff run to cement their legacies. But Denver (5-5 to finish the season) is hardly roaring into the post-season, and doesn’t figure to have to spend too much first-round energy against a Timberwolves team badly in need of a psychiatrist. The Towns-Gobert Double Big Experiment has shown mixed results at best, and T-Wolves coach Chris Finch more than has his hands full keeping these guys focused for an entire series.Memphis (2) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (7)Series odds – Grizzlies -142, Lakers +120Seems like just yesterday LA was ready to turn the page on the Great AD-LBJ Experiment, fire management and start from scratch. But somehow the Lakers (16-7 since the All-Star break) are healthy again and appear ready to let the air out of the Grizzlies’ tires. The absence of Steven Adams (knee) is a killer for Memphis, which appears to have put Ja Morant’s issues at least temporarily in the rear view mirror. Totals players take note: Both of these teams play fast.Sacramento (3) vs. Golden State (6)Series odds – Kings +225; Warriors -275The longest playoff drought in NBA history (17 years) has finally ended, but the Kings’ reward is a thankless Northern California matchup with the surging Warriors. The defending champs have escaped from whatever funk they were in earlier in the season, and the only issue they have is melding Andrew Wiggins back in the lineup after missing extended time taking care of a sick family member. Taking down the defending champs will be a tall order for the Kings, especially as play slows in the playoffs. Did you know that Sacramento’s Domantas Sabonis led the league in rebounding (12.3)?Phoenix (4) vs. Los Angeles Clippers (5)Series odds – Suns -500; Clippers +385Depth is less of an issue in the playoffs, and the Suns with their top-heavy talent (Durant, Booker, Paul, Ayton) are fine with that. On paper they have a huge edge over the Clippers, who don’t seem to have an idea when Paul George (injured knee) will return – if at all. That makes it Kawhi Leonard against the Suns’ Murderers Row. Phoenix is as good as anyone in the West right now, and everything seems to line up for a long playoff run after disappointments the last two seasons.

Read more

NBA 1st Round Match-Ups and Series Predictions

by Al McMordie

Saturday, Apr 15, 2023

The NBA's 1st Round of the Playoffs tips off today, so let's take a look at the match-ups and the pertinent stats.#3 Philadelphia 76ers vs. #6 Brooklyn NetsGame 1:  Saturday, April 15, 1:00 pmLine:  Philadelphia -8.5, O/U 213.5Series Odds:  76ers -1120; Nets +715Season Series:  Philadelphia 4-0Season Over/Under Results:  Over 3-1#2 Boston Celtics vs. #7 Atlanta HawksGame 1:  Saturday, April 15, 3:30 pmLine:  Boston -10, O/U 231.5Series Odds:  Celtics -1250; Hawks +820Season Series:  Boston 3-0Season Over/Under Results:  Over 2-1#4 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. #5 New York KnicksGame 1:  Saturday, April 15, 6:00 pmLine:  Cleveland -5.5, O/U 216.5Series Odds:  Cavaliers -195; Knicks +180Season Series:  New York 3-1Season Over/Under Results:  O/U split, 2-2#3 Sacramento Kings vs. #6 Golden State WarriorsGame 1:  Saturday, April 15, 8:30 pmLine:  Sacramento -1, O/U 237.5Series Odds:  Warriors -265; Kings +225Season Series:  Golden State 3-1Season Over/Under Results:  O/U split, 2-2#2 Memphis Grizzlies vs. #7 Los Angeles LakersGame 1:  Sunday, April 16, 3:00 pmLine:  Memphis -3.5, O/U 227Series Odds:  Grizzlies -145; Lakers +125Season Series:  Los Angeles 2-1Season Over/Under Results:  Under 3-0#1 Milwaukee Bucks vs. #8 Miami HeatGame 1:  Sunday, April 16, 5:30 pmLine:  Milwaukee -9, O/U 218.5Series Odds:  Bucks -905; Heat +645Season Series:  Teams split, 2-2Season Over/Under Results:  O/U split, 2-2#4 Phoenix Suns vs. #5 Los Angeles ClippersGame 1:  Sunday, April 16, 8:00 pmLine:  Phoenix -7, O/U 225.5Series Odds:  Suns -510; Clippers +405Season Series:  Teams split, 2-2Season Over/Under Results:  O/U split, 2-2#1 Denver Nuggets vs. #8 Minnesota TimberwolvesGame 1:  Sunday, April 16, 10:30 pmLine:  Denver -7.5, O/U 224.5Series Odds:  Nuggets -540; Timberwolves +425Season Series:  Teams split, 2-2Season Over/Under Results:  Over 3-1Based on my research, an important predictor of NBA Playoff series success is (not surprisingly) regular season series results.  As you can see above, there were two series sweeps this season:  Boston defeated Atlanta in all three games (including two in Atlanta), while Philadelphia was 4-0 vs. Brooklyn.  I would favor taking the Celtics and 76ers to win their respective series.  Admittedly, one has to lay a huge price on each of those series, but sometimes, one should go after the low-hanging fruit.  An alternate strategy might be to lay 1.5 (or 2.5) games with a series prop bet.  That way, one could get a better return on the wager, but one would lose if his team won the series 4 games to 3 (or 4 games to 2 if laying 2.5 games).Good luck, as always...Al McMordie

Read more

Follow us @bigal_com

Instagram Twitter

Links

Big Al's Sports Picks Info

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

© 2025 Al McMordie's BigAl.com. All Rights Reserved.