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MLB 2022: AL East Division Preview

by Scott Rickenbach

Thursday, Mar 31, 2022

AL East Division Preview for MLB 2022Baltimore Orioles – The Orioles are projected by most to finish with a win total in the low-60s. Baltimore only won 52 games last season and will again be one of the worst teams in the majors. This team has been so focused on player development and the farm system that they continue to struggle to put together a competitive team. It is particularly tough because they play in such a strong division with each of the other 4 teams likely to have winning seasons this year! Boston Red Sox – Boston is projected to finish a little above .500 this season with a win total in the mid-80s. The Red Sox won 92 games last season but are stuck in a division that, outside of Baltimore, is filled with top competition. The concern for the Red Sox is with their bullpen but they are still a strong team in terms of their lineup and I will be looking for overs when the right pitching match-ups present themselves involving Boston and their opposition. New York Yankees – The Yankees are expected to challenge win this division and get to a win total in the low-90s but the Rays and Jays are likely to have something to say about that. One of the two could emerge as a challenger to the Yankees absolutely. What would be a weakness with the big bankroll Yankees? It just seems that health issues creep on key players for the Yankees almost always. I do like their bullpen and overall this is a stacked team once again so I will be looking for value line spots to back them but those will be few and far between because they are usually a popular choice in the betting markets.Tampa Bay Rays – The Rays should get into the upper-80s for a win total this season. Amazingly so often one of the lower payrolls in baseball but Tampa Bay still finds a way. They are so competitive. A small market team that is easy to like based on the competitive level they bring despite not having a lot of star power. The Rays won 100 games last season but the key arms of their 2021 rotation (Baz, Patino, McClanahan, Rasmussen) were guys without starting pitching experience at the MLB level and yet the Rays survived that. I am expecting a sophomore slump of sorts in that regard. This is still a strong team but they will ended up in the mid to upper 80s for win total rather than near the century mark. Toronto Blue Jays – The Blue Jays are expected to get into the low-90s for their win total this season. I like the fact that this team is so strong and continues to trend upwards and the young corps is growing up together in Toronto and it is building a solid clubhouse. That counts for sure and this team will challenge the Yankees for the top spot in the division. By the way, a quirky stat but certainly worth noting as this was over the course of the entire season last year: the Blue Jays were actually 2 games below .500 in night games but won 70% of day games last season on their way to a 91-win season. Keep an eye on that trend possibly continuing early on in 2022 as you look for spots to back or fade the Jays.

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A Look at the 2022 MLB National League Pennant Odds

by Oskeim Sports

Thursday, Mar 31, 2022

 Once again, it’s the Los Angeles Dodgers who stand out in the National League. It’s really no secret since the Boys in Blue have been favored to win not only the National League but also the World Series for the last several seasons.   Last year, the Dodgers were the favorite all the way up until Atlanta beat them 4-2 in the National League Championship series. The roster has changed slightly, but Los Angeles will still field a lineup full of All-Stars and a pitching staff full of Cy Young-caliber pitchers.  There are a number of teams that made some offseason moves to put themselves in position to challenge L.A. Can any of them overtake the Dodgers? Here’s a look at the 2022 MLB National League pennant race.  Favored Again  It’s like déjà vu all over again as Yogi Berra used to say. The Dodgers are the overall betting favorite to win the NL pennant at +240. L.A. is an overwhelming favorite despite losing a former NL Rookie of the Year and former World Series MVP. SS Corey Seager is now a Texas Ranger, but the Dodgers still have a lineup full of All-Star talent.   Mookie Betts, Cody Bellinger, Max Muncy, Justin Turner, Gavin Lux, Will Smith, and Trae Turner are all All-Star worthy. Then, the Dodgers went out and inked another former NL MVP and World Series champion Freddie Freeman. From top to bottom in the batting order, the Dodgers don’t have a weakness.  Then, there is the pitching. Even if Trevor Bauer and Clayton Kershaw (two Cy Young winners) do not return, the Dodgers still have Walker Buehler, Julio Urias, and Dustin May. It’s easy to see why the Dodgers are favored to win the NL pennant again.  Mets on the Move  The way oddsmakers see it, the New York Mets' offseason was enough to propel them into the role of top challenger to the Dodgers' NL supremacy. The Mets are given +500 odds to win the NL pennant after they acquired such players as P Max Scherzer and OF Starling Marte.   Scherzer wound up 15-4 last season with a WHIP of 0.86. Opposing hitters hit just .186 against Scherzer last season. He will pair with a healthy Jacob deGrom to form the best No. 1-No. 2 pitching combination in the majors. The Mets also have Taijuan Walker, Chris Bassitt, and Carlos Carrasco in their rotation.   The offense still has former NL Rookie of the Year Pete Alonso who hit 37 homers last season as well as Marte, SS Francisco Lindor, and DH Robinson Cano.  Contenders  You can’t count the defending champion Braves (+500) out of the mix. Despite losing Freeman, the Braves did sign slugger Matt Olson to replace him. Their lineup is pretty deep with Marcell Ozuna, Dansby Swanson, and Austin Riley. Plus, the Braves get a healthy Ronald Acuna Jr. back and the pitching rotation features Max Fried and Charlie Morton and Atlanta added closer Kenley Jansen.  The Padres were a contender last season until injuries ruined their chances. A healthy Fernando Tatis along with Eric Hosmer and Manny Machado gives the Padres plenty of power. The pitching rotation includes former Cy Young winner Blake Snell plus Yu Darvish and Joe Musgrove. If San Diego (+850) can stay healthy, they should contend for the NL pennant.  Watch Out  At +700, it’s hard to call Milwaukee a sleeper, but the Brewers get left out of the discussion when it comes time to talk NL pennant. The Brewers have exactly what it takes to win championships – pitching. Both Brandon Woodruff and Corbin Burnes finished in the top five in the NL Cy Young race. Burnes won the award after finishing with an NL-best 2.43 ERA. Woodruff’s was 2.56. With a former NL MVP in Christian Yelich as well as Kolten Wong and Hunter Renfroe, the Brewers are another strong candidate to battle for the NL pennant. 

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL and NCAAB Previews and Odds - 03/31/2022

by Big Al Staff

Thursday, Mar 31, 2022

The Thursday sports card features NBA, NHL, and NCAAB action.The National Basketball Association has five games on its docket. Philadelphia visits Detroit to tip off the card at 7:10 PM ET as a 10.5-point road favorite with a total of 222.5. Two games start at 7:40 PM ET. Atlanta is at home against Cleveland as a 5-point favorite with an over/under of 220.5. Brooklyn hosts Milwaukee in the opening game of a doubleheader on TNT at 7:40 PM ET. The Nets won their second game in their last three with their 130-123 victory against Detroit as a 14-point favorite on Tuesday. They raised their record to 40-36 with the win. The Bucks won their third game in their last four with a 118-116 win at Philadelphia in a pick ‘em contest on Tuesday. Milwaukee has a 47-28 record. Brooklyn is a 1-point favorite with a total of 238.Chicago plays at home against the Los Angeles Clippers at 8:10 PM ET as a 3.5-point favorite with an over/under of 223. Utah is at home against the Los Angeles Lakers in the nightcap on TNT at 10:10 PM ET. The Jazz lost their fifth straight game with a 121-115 loss in Los Angeles to the Clippers as a 1-point underdog on Tuesday. They have a 45-31 record. The Lakers lost their third straight game and seventh of their last nine in a 128-110 setback in Dallas to the Mavericks as a 12-point underdog on Thursday. Los Angeles’ record fell to 31-44. Utah is a 12.5-point favorite with a total of 225.Nine games are on the slate in the National Hockey League. Five games drop the puck at 7:07 PM ET. Boston hosts New Jersey as a -265 money line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. Toronto plays at home against Winnipeg as a -205 money line favorite with a total of 6. Florida is at home against Chicago as a -350 money line favorite with an over/under of 7. The New York Islanders are at home against Columbus as a -190 money line favorite with a total of 6. Carolina hosts Montreal as a -400 money line favorite with an over/under of 6. Minnesota plays at home against Pittsburgh at 8:07 PM ET as a -120 money line favorite with a total of 6. Two more NHL games start at 9:07 PM ET. Colorado is at home against San Jose as a -320 money line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. Calgary hosts Los Angeles as a -280 money line favorite with a total of 6. Dallas travels to Anaheim at 10:07 PM ET as a -170 money line road favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Thursday college basketball card has two games. Texas A&M plays Xavier on ESPN at 7 PM ET in the championship game of the National Invitational Tournament at Madison Square Garden in New York. The Aggies won their 11th game in their last 12 in a 72-56 victory against Washington State as a 1.5-point favorite in the NIT semifinals on Tuesday. They have a 27-12 record. The Musketeers won their fifth game in their last six with an 84-77 upset victory against St. Bonaventure as a 1.5-point underdog in their NIT semifinals contest on Tuesday. Xavier improved their record to 22-12. Texas A&M is a 4-point favorite with a total of 137.5. Coastal Carolina hosts Fresno State in the championship game of The Basketball Classic at 7 PM ET. The Chanticleers upset South Alabama on the road, 69-68, as a 1-point underdog in the semifinals of this tournament on Monday. Coastal Carolina has a 19-13 record. The Bulldogs won their third straight game to reach the finals with a 67-48 victory against Southern Utah as a 7-point favorite on Monday. They have a 24-13 record. Fresno State is a 3-point road favorite with an over/under of 126.5.

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The Final Four is Finally Here!

by Larry Ness

Wednesday, Mar 30, 2022

Favorites were 36-15 SU (.706) but 24-27 ATS (37.1%), or -5.7 net games (one contest closed at pick), heading into last weekend's Sweet 16 and Elite 8 games. Baylor was the only No. 1 seed to not advance to the Sweet 16 but come Sunday night, the lone No. 1 seed advancing to the Final 4 was Kansas. The tourney's overall No. 1 seed (and the AP's No. 1 team in its final regular season poll) was Gonzaga but the Bulldogs lost 74-68 to Arkansas (a No. 4 seed). Once again, Mark Few's team will head home without an NCAA title. The "big news' of the Sweet 16 was St Peter's beating Purdue (a No. 3 seed) 67-64 on Friday, to become the first 15th seed to reach the Elite 8. Kansas ( No. 1 seed in the Midwest) beat Providence 66-61 and No. 10 Miami-Florida beat No. 11 Iowa St 70-56. Favorites would go 3-4 SU (Texas Tech-Duke closed at pick) and 2-5 ATS. Favorites were 3-1 SU & ATS in the Elite 8 games, although note that the higher seeds went 4-0 SU and ATS. No. 5 Houston was a small favorite over No. 2 Villanova but it's hard to win when a team makes ONE of 20 three-point attempts as the Cougars did last Saturday. Also on Saturday, No. 2 Duke beat No. Arkansas 78-69. On Sunday, the two double digit seeds (No. 15 St Peter's and No. 10 Miami) were outclassed and outplayed by North Carolina and Kansas, respectively. Heading to the Final 4, favorites have gone 42-20 (.677) and 29-33 (46.8%) or -7.3 net gamesKansas may be the only No. 1 seed to make 2022's Final Four but it is full of college basketball Blue Bloods. Two No. 2 seeds (Duke and Villanova) plus No. 8 North Carolina join Kansas in New Orleans. For the record, Kansas was ranked No. 3 in the AP's preseason poll, Villanova No. 4, Duke No. 9 and North Carolina No. 19. Kansas ranks No. 1 all-time with 2,328 wins, North Carolina checks in at No. 3 with 2,294 wins, Duke at No. 4 with 2,214 wins and Villanova at No. 19 with 1,817 wins.North Carolina is the lowest seed at No. 8 but is in its 21st Final 4, the most of any school in history. Duke is playing in its 17th Final 4 (tied for 3rd most) and Kansas in its 16th (5th-most). FYI...The last time Duke, Kansas and North Carolina all made the Final Four was 1991, when Duke shocked the 'unbeatable' UNLV Runnin' Rebels then beat Kansas (coached by Roy Williams) for Coach K's first title. North Carolina owns SIX national championships, Duke owns five (ALL under Coach K) plus Kansas and Villanova each own three.The Villanova-Kansas game will play "second-fiddle" to UNC-Duke, as that rivalry is over 100 years old but the schools have never gone head-to-head in the NCAA tournament until now. It comes in Mike Krzyzewski's final season (you can't make this up!). Meanwhile, Coach K's "opposite number" will be UNC's Hubert Davis. He is the first first-year head coach to make the Final Four since Bill Guthridge, who also did so with UNC after taking over for Dean Smith in 1998 (can't make that up, either). However, don't sell the Villanova-Kansas game short, as Kansas opened the season at No. 3 in the AP's preseason poll and Villanova at No. 4. Bill Self's Kansas team is the lone No. 1 seed left and while Villanova head coach Jay Wright can't match Coach K's resume (five national championships and an appearance in the Final 4 in each of the last FIVE decades), Wright is looking to win a national championship for the THIRD time in the last seven years ('Nova won in 2016 and 2018).At DraftKings, Duke (+155) is the title favorite, followed by Kansas (+185), Villanova (+450) and UNC (+500). In Saturday's games, Kansas is favored by 4 1/2-points over Villanova, with a total of 133, while Duke is favored by four points over North Carolina, with a total of 131.Good luck...Larry

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Final Four Facts

by Will Rogers

Wednesday, Mar 30, 2022

Final Four Facts Villanova vs. Kansas - Villanova is 4-0 ATS in the tournament. Kansas is 2-2 ATS. Villanova has not trailed at halftime in any game. Kansas, the lone 1-seed left, trailed at the half against Miami in the Elite 8, before putting the clamps down in the second half. In three of their four games thus far, the Jayhawks have allowed less than 20 points in one half. The Under is 3-1 for them. Same for ‘Nova with the Under cashing each of the last three. All four tourney opponents have shot worse than 35.7% against KU. Nova has held its last two opponents to 34.4% and 29.8% from the field. At the same time, the Wildcats have shot 37.3% and 28.8% in those same two games. Houston made just 1 of 20 three-point tries against ‘Nova in the Elite 8! Villanova’s own three-point shooting percentage has decreased every game in the tournament, going from 46.4% to 34.8% to 30.0% to 23.8%. Kansas’ last two opponents combined to go 7 of 44 on 3PA.  The Wildcats aren’t just the best free throw shooting team in the country, they are one of the best FT shooting teams in the history of college basketball. Kansas shoots just 72% from the charity stripe. Villanova is 8-3 ATS in neutral site games this season. Kansas is 7-5 ATS. The Under is 9-2 in those same 11 neutral site games for ‘Nova. But the Over is 5-1 this year for KU following a game where they gave up fewer than 60 points. They allowed 50 vs. Miami.The highest seeded team Kansas beat was Providence (#4). The highest seeded team beaten by Villanova was Houston (#5). Jay Wright has fared very well in NCAA Tournament games during his time at Villanova, covering 21 of the last 27. Kansas is 7-20 ATS the previous 27 times they’ve been off a straight-up win by 20 or more points. The initial line move went Kansas’ way. The total is also up half a point.Head to head, Villanova has covered the last five meetings. That goes back to 2013. The last time the teams played was December 2019. Two of the five games were in the NCAA Tournament. North Carolina vs. Duke - UNC is 4-0 ATS in the tournament and going back to the last couple weeks of the regular season, they are on a 10-1 SU run in their previous 11 games, also going 9-2 against the spread. Duke has covered its last three games after a last second layup by Cal State Fullerton handed the Blue Devils a 1.5 point ATS loss in Round 1. After North Carolina’s first two tournament games both went Over (they scored 90+ both times), the Under has hit in each of the last two. They’ve gone from averaging 94 PPG the first two (including OT vs. Baylor) to 71 PPG the last two. Duke has scored at least 78 in all four of its games with the Over sitting at 2-1-1. The Over is 8-1-1 in their last 10 games. Duke is shooting well over 50% for the NCAA Tournament, but UNC has held three opponents to 35.6% or worse. After facing a 9-seed, 1-seed and 4-seed in the first three rounds, the Tar Heels were a bit lucky to get a 15-seed in the Elite 8. Duke’s journey began by facing a 15-seed. Since then, they’ve gone up against a 7, 3 and 4 seed. Both teams were eliminated by Virginia Tech in the ACC Tournament. The only other loss for Duke, over their last 15 games, came to North Carolina, in Coach K’s home finale. The final score of that game was 94-81. That was after Duke won the first meeting, 87-67, in Chapel Hill. The last six times these long-time rivals have met, the Over has hit. This O/U line is right in the same neighborhood as those last six. The Tar Heels are 8-2 ATS in the last 10 meetings, but just 5-5 straight up and Duke has come out ahead on the scoreboard in five of the last seven. The Over is 46-18 the last 64 times Duke has taken on a team that has a winning record. The Over has hit six straight times for North Carolina in that very situation.Obviously, Unders dominated in the Sweet 16 and Elite 8, going 10-1–1.  See you Saturday!

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA and NHL Previews and Odds - 03/30/2022

by Big Al Staff

Wednesday, Mar 30, 2022

The Wednesday sports card features NBA and NHL action.The National Basketball Association has 11 games on its docket. Three games tip-off the card at 7:10 PM ET. Dallas visits Cleveland as a 4-point road favorite with the total set at 214 (all odds from DraftKings). Denver plays at Indiana as a 9.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 231.5. Washington is at home against Orlando as a 3.5-point favorite with a total of 221. Three more games start at 7:40 PM ET. Charlotte plays at New York as a 2-point road favorite with an over/under of 225. Toronto hosts Minnesota as a 3-point favorite with a total of 229.Boston plays at home against Miami in the opening game of a doubleheader on TNT at 7:40 PM ET. The Celtics had their six-game winning streak end in a 115-112 loss at Toronto as an 8.5-point underdog on Monday. Their record fell to 47-29. The Heat ended their four-game losing streak with their 123-100 victory against Sacramento as a 13.5-point favorite on Monday. They raised their record to 48-28 with the win. Boston is a 4-point favorite with an over/under of 214.5. Two NBA games begin at 8:10 PM ET. Sacramento plays at Houston as a 2.5-point road favorite with a total of 233. Atlanta travels to Oklahoma City as a 12-point road favorite with an over/under of 229. Memphis is at San Antonio at 8:40 PM ET as a 6-point road favorite with a total of 233. Two more games conclude the NBA card at 10:10 PM ET. New Orleans plays at Portland as a 13-point road favorite with an over/under of 229. Phoenix travels to Golden State for the nightcap on TNT at 10:10 PM ET. The Suns are on an eight-game winning streak with their 114-104 win against Philadelphia as a 4-point favorite on Sunday. They improved their record to 61-14. The Warriors have lost three straight and six of seven after their 123-95 setback at Memphis as an 11-point underdog on Monday. Golden State’s record fell to 48-28 with the loss. Phoenix is a 6-point road favorite with a total of 225. Six games are on the slate in the National Hockey League. The puck drops at 7:07 PM ET, with Winnipeg playing at Buffalo as a -160 money line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The New York Rangers visit Detroit in the first game of a doubleheader on TNT at 7:37 PM ET. The Rangers won their fourth game in their last five with a 5-4 victory against Buffalo on Sunday. The Red Wings are on a three-game losing streak after an 11-2 loss at Pittsburgh on Sunday. New York is a -180 money line road favorite with a total of 5.5.Edmonton hosts Los Angeles at 9:37 PM ET as a -200 money line favorite with an over/under of 6. Three more games conclude the NHL card at 10:07 PM ET. Vancouver plays at home against St. Louis as a -115 money line favorite with a total of 6. San Jose is at Arizona as a -160 money line road favorite with an over/under of 6. Vegas visits Seattle in the second game on TNT at 10:07 PM ET. The Golden Knights won their fourth game in their last six with a 5-4 victory against Chicago on Saturday. The Kraken won their fourth game in their last six with their 6-1 win in Los Angeles on Monday. Vegas is a -170 money line road favorite with a total of 6.

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NIT Tournament Championship Games 1991-2021

by Al McMordie

Wednesday, Mar 30, 2022

The #1-seeded Texas A&M Aggies and #2-seeded Xavier Musketeers have reached the NIT Tournament Championship game, in Madison Square Garden.Let's take a look at how the NIT Tournament's title games have gone since 1991 -- from a point spread perspective.Favorites:  15-15 ATSUnderdogs:  15-15 ATSTeams priced from -1 to -2.5 points (8-9 ATS)Teams priced from -3 to -4.5 points (6-6 ATS)Teams priced from -5 to -6.5 points (1-0 ATS)Teams off ATS win (vs. foes not off ATS win):  4-3 ATSTeams off double-digit win (vs. foes not off double-digit win):  9-8 ATSTeams that covered the spread in their previous game by 10+ points (vs. foes that did not):  10-3 ATSTeams off an upset win (vs. foes not off an upset win):  9-7 ATSTeams playing with revenge:  1-4 ATS (1-3 Underdog; 0-1 Favorite; 0-2 Conference; 1-2 Non-Conference)Teams with a better W/L percentage:  16-14 ATSTeams seeded better than their opponent:  8-4 ATS#1 seeds (vs. teams not seeded #1):  2-3 ATS#2 seeds (vs. teams not seeded #2): 3-2 ATS#3 seeds (vs. teams not seeded #3): 3-2 ATS#4 seeds (vs. teams not seeded #4): 4-2 ATS#5 seeds (vs. teams not seeded #5): 0-1 ATS#6 seeds (vs. teams not seeded #6): 0-2 ATS(The NIT tournaments from 1991 through 2005 were not seeded.)Good luck, as always...Al McMordie

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NBA: Assessing The Playoff Picture

by Will Rogers

Tuesday, Mar 29, 2022

NBA: Assessing the Playoff PictureEastern Conference Last month, I told you that Boston would move up the standings and they have. The Celtics are 11-2 in March and both losses came by only three points each. They have the best point differential in the conference and #1 in the entire league in defensive efficiency. It will be interesting to see where Boston finishes, because I think a lot of people will be betting them to come out of the East. Statistically, they are the best team.It’s a four-team race for first with the Celtics, Heat, 76ers and Bucks all separated by just one game in the standings. There’s never been a race that close involving so many teams. The Celtics did just lose their defensive anchor, Robert Williams III, to a knee injury and he’s out for the rest of the regular season, if not longer.Boston has as many 20-plus point wins since January 23rd (12) as any other team from the East has all season! I expect the current top four teams to be the conference semifinalists come playoff time.Chicago and Cleveland, the league’s two biggest surprise teams in the first half of the season, have fallen. At the same time, Toronto has risen, already passing Cleveland and pulling into a fifth place tie with Chicago. Looking at some key numbers, the Bulls fall short of the Raptors and even the Cavaliers. As for which of these three teams end up out of the top six (and in the play-in round), I point to Chicago (although the list of injuries in Cleveland is growing). In addition to telling you Boston would rise last month, I did mention Chicago would falter.Brooklyn, Charlotte and Atlanta will get the other play-in spots. Brooklyn is obviously the most dangerous from that group as Kyrie Irving is now eligible to play home games. The Nets are a league-worst 8-27-1 ATS in home games, but are the one team that could go from the play-in round and make a deep run in the playoffs. Atlanta has been playing better of late (7-3 L10) and is capable of winning two play-in games, if necessary. Western ConferencePhoenix has already clinched home court advantage. What has been most surprising is the Grizzlies, now 18-2 this year when Ja Morant DOESN’T play, solidifying themselves as the second best team in the West. They’ve clinched a playoff berth and with a five game lead over third place Golden State, Memphis should be the #2 seed. After that is where it gets interesting. The Warriors have lost three in a row and are without Steph Curry. They have a 1.5 game lead over Dallas, who just overtook Utah for fourth place. The Jazz have lost four in a row, going cold at the worst possible time. The Mavs and Warriors are two of the league’s very best defensive teams. The Under is 26-11-1 in Dallas home games. The Mavs have also won 18 of their last 22 home games, huge because right now they would be in line to have home court advantage over the Jazz in the first round. Those teams played four times in the regular season and the home team was 4-0. You also can’t rule out Denver, who is sixth and sitting just a half game back of the Jazz. The Nuggets already have a franchise record 23 road wins this season. Minnesota is worthy of moving up into the top six, but faces a two-game deficit with only six to play. The Timberwolves have a better point differential than either the Mavs or Nuggets. They also have the second best net rating in the league since the All-Star Break. At the very worst, the T’wolves should win their first play-in game to qualify for the playoffs. The Clippers, even with five straight losses and no Paul George or Kawhi Leonard, seem to be safe for the play-in round. But I could see them losing twice and not making the final eight.The Pelicans, Lakers and Spurs will compete for the final two play-in spots. With LeBron James’ ankle bothering him, the Lakers are in major trouble. I like the Spurs to jump either the Pelicans or Lakers for a play-in spot. It’s crazy that one of these three teams, or the Clippers, will be the 8-seed. Whoever it winds up being will be “mince meat” for the Suns in the first round. 

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL and NCAAB Previews and Odds - 03/29/2022

by Big Al Staff

Tuesday, Mar 29, 2022

The Tuesday sports card features NBA, NHL, and NCAAB action.The National Basketball Association has five games on its docket. Two games tip-off the card at 7:10 PM ET. Philadelphia hosts Milwaukee as a 2-point favorite, with the total set at 222.5 (all odds from DraftKings). Chicago visits Washington as a 3-point road favorite with an over/under of 222.5. Two more games start at 7:40 PM ET. Brooklyn is at home against Detroit as a 13-point favorite with a total of 229.5. The Tuesday doubleheader on TNT opens with Dallas playing at home against the Los Angeles Lakers at 7:40 PM ET. The Mavericks won their third game in their last four with their 114-100 upset victory against Utah as a 1-point underdog on Sunday. They raised their record to 46-29 with the win. The Lakers are on a two-game losing streak with six losses in their last eight games after their 116-108 loss in New Orleans to the Pelicans as a 3.5-point underdog on Sunday. Los Angeles has a 31-43 record. Dallas is an 11.5-point favorite with an over/under of 218. Utah travels to Los Angeles to play the Clippers in the nightcap on TNT at 10:10 PM ET. The Clippers are on a five-game losing streak after their 122-97 loss against Philadelphia as a 5-point underdog on Friday. They have a 36-39 record. The Jazz lost their fourth straight game after a 114-100 upset loss at Dallas on Sunday. Their record fell to 45-30 with the setback. Los Angeles is a 1-point favorite with a total of 216. Nine games are on the slate in the National Hockey League. Five games drop the puck at 7:07 PM ET. Boston hosts Toronto as a -130 money line favorite with an over/under of 6. Tampa Bay plays at home against Carolina as a -140 money line favorite with a total of 5.5. Florida is at home against Montreal as a -425 money line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. Pittsburgh hosts the New York Rangers as a -165 money line favorite with a total of 6. The New York Islanders are at Columbus as a -140 money line road favorite with an over/under of 6. Two NHL games begin at 8:07 PM ET. Nashville plays at home against Ottawa as a -230 money line favorite with a total of 6. Minnesota is at home against Philadelphia as a -275 money line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. Calgary hosts Colorado at 9:07 PM ET as a -115 money line favorite with a total of 6.5. Dallas visits Anaheim at 10:07 PM ET as a -165 money line road favorite with an over/under of 5.5.The Tuesday college basketball card has the two semifinals games in the National Invitational Tournament at Madison Square Garden in New York City. St. Bonaventure plays Xavier on ESPN at 7 PM ET. The Bonnies reached the semifinals with their 52-51 upset victory at Virginia as a 2.5-point underdog last Tuesday. They improved their record to 23-9. The Musketeers advanced to the semifinals with a 75-73 win against Vanderbilt as a 2.5-point favorite as a 2.5-point favorite last Tuesday. Xavier has a 21-13 record. St. Bonaventure is a 1.5-point favorite with a total of 140. Texas A&M faces Washington State on ESPN2 at 9:30 PM ET. The Aggies come off a 67-52 victory against Wake Forest in the quarterfinals of the NIT as a 2.5-point favorite on Wednesday. They raised their record to 26-12. The Cougars upset BYU on the road, 77-58, as a 2.5-point underdog in the quarterfinals on Wednesday. Washington State has a 22-14 record. Texas A&M is a 1.5-point favorite with an over/under of 133.5. 

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A Look at the 2022 MLB American League Pennant Odds 

by Oskeim Sports

Monday, Mar 28, 2022

 The MLB’s offseason featured a lockout over a new collective bargaining agreement giving fans a scare. The players and the league did finally agree to a new CBA meaning the 2022 MLB season is a go. Opening Day is set for April 7 and all 162 games will be played this season. The regular season will end on October 5.  The new CBA did include some changes, one of which involves the postseason. Each league will add one more wild card to the postseason mix for a total of 12 teams in the MLB playoffs. Which of those teams has the best shot at capturing the American League pennant? Here’s a look at how the AL pennant race may play out.   Houston, We Have No Problem The Astros have played for the last five straight AL pennants. With relatively few roster changes, Houston is the overall favorite to repeat as AL champion and represent the league in the World Series again. Remember, a year ago the Astros beat Boston in six games to win the American League but fell to Atlanta 4-2 in the World Series.  Houston has both the pitching and the hitting of a championship team. That is why they are the AL favorite at +450 to win it again. Last year, the Astros led the majors in runs per game and they could easily do that again in 2022. They have a former AL MVP in Jose Altuve who hit .277 with 31 homers and 83 RBIs last season. They have a favorite in this year’s MVP race in Yordan Alvarez. All Alvarez did last season with hit .277 with 33 home runs and 104 RBIs. Alex Bregman is back and healthy and Kyle Tucker is back after hitting .294 with 30 homers. Even after losing Carlos Correa to the Twins in free agency, there is not a weak spot in the Astros batting order.  Houston has three excellent young pitchers in Framber Valdez (11-6), Jose Urquidy (8-3), and Christian Javier who went 4-1 in nine starts last year. The Astros will also get two-time Cy Young winner Justin Verlander back after he missed all of last season with an injury.   The Contender There is a reason why Toronto is given the exact same odds - +450 – as the Astros to win the AL pennant. The Blue Jays went 91-71 last season but didn’t make the postseason. They wound up fourth in a very competitive AL East. With one of the best young lineups in baseball, the Blue Jays have what it takes to win the AL this year.  Vladimir Guerrero Jr. led the majors with 48 home runs last season. He also hit .311 and had 111 RBIs. Bo Bichette hit .298 with 29 dingers and 102 RBIs. Four more Blue Jays – Teoscar Hernandez, Lourdes Gurriel Jr., George Springer, and Randal Grichuk – each hit at least 22 home runs. Grichuk was recently traded, but the other three return. Hernandez hit .296 and had 116 RBIs.  The Blue Jays upgraded the pitching staff too. They signed Kevin Gausman away from San Diego in the offseason and recently acquired Yusei Kikuchi. They will join Jose Berrios, Alek Manoah, and Hyun Jin Ryu to form a competent starting lineup.   Others in the Mix The White Sox won the AL Central and are given +500 odds to win the AL pennant this year. The Yankees still have Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton along with P Gerrit Cole. They are listed at +475. The more interesting candidates are Tampa Bay and the Los Angeles Angels. Remember, it was the Rays that won 100 games and the AL East last year. They return AL Rookie of the Year Randy Arozarena and SS prospect Wander Franco. The Rays are given +750 odds to win the AL pennant.  The Angels are an interesting longshot pick. They return AL MVP Shohei Ohtani and a healthy Mike Trout, who owns three AL MVPs of his own. The Angels did upgrade the pitching staff with the addition of Noah Syndergaard. L.A. is currently listed at +1600 to win the AL. 

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, and NCAAB Previews and Odds - 03/28/2022

by Big Al Staff

Monday, Mar 28, 2022

The Monday sports card features NBA, NHL, and NCAAB action.The National Basketball Association has nine games on its docket. Three games tip-off at 7:10 PM ET. Denver travels to Charlotte as a 3.5-point road favorite with a total of 231.5. Cleveland hosts Orlando as a 10-point favorite with an over/under of 215. Atlanta plays at Indiana as a 7-point road favorite with a total of 235. Two more NBA games start at 7:40 PM ET. Miami is at home against Sacramento as a 13.5-point favorite with an over/under of 219. Chicago plays at New York as a 4.5-point road favorite with a total of 223.5. Two NBA games start at 8:10 PM ET. San Antonio visits Houston as a 6.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 236. Memphis hosts Golden State as a 10.5-point favorite with a total of 223.5. Oklahoma City plays at Portland at 10:10 PM ET as a 2.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 221.5. Five games are on the slate in the National Hockey League. Carolina visits Washington at 7:05 PM ET as a -135 money line road favorite with a total of 6. St. Louis is at home against Vancouver at 7:35 PM ET as a -135 money line favorite with an over/under of 6. Chicago plays at home against Buffalo at 8:35 PM ET as a -155 money line favorite with a total of 6. Edmonton hosts Arizona at 9:35 PM ET as a -400 money line favorite with a total of 6.5. Los Angeles is at home against Seattle at 10:35 PM ET as a -245 money line favorite with an over/under of 6.The Monday college basketball card features the two semifinal games in the Basketball Classic postseason tournament. South Alabama hosts Coastal Carolina at 8 PM ET. The Jaguars won their third game in their last four with their 83-79 victory against South Carolina Upstate as a 9-point favorite last Monday. They improved their record to 21-11 with the win. Their opening-round victory in this tournament was against Southeastern Louisiana. The Chanticleers won their fifth game in their last six with their 84-68 victory against the Florida Gulf Coast as a 2.5-point favorite on Monday. Coastal Carolina has an 18-13 record after beating Maryland-Eastern Shore in the first round of this tournament. South Alabama is a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 137.5.Fresno State plays at home against Southern Utah at 10 PM ET. The Bulldogs have won three of their last four games with their 80-71 victory against Youngstown State as a 12.5-point favorite on Wednesday. They raised their record to 23-13 with the win after beating Youngstown State in the opening round of this tournament. The Thunderbirds won their fifth game in their last six with a 77-66 win against Portland as a 3-point favorite on Saturday. Southern Utah has a 23-11 record with their victories against Kent State and UTEP in the Basketball Classic tournament. Fresno State is a 7.5-point favorite with an over/under of 136.5. 

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL and NCAAB Previews and Odds - 03/27/2022

by Big Al Staff

Sunday, Mar 27, 2022

The Sunday sports card features NBA, NHL, and NCAAB action.The National Basketball Association has seven games on its docket. New York plays at Detroit as a 4.5-point road favorite with a total of 219 (all odds from DraftKings). Three games tip-off at 6:10 PM ET. Boston hosts Minnesota as a 6-point favorite with an over/under of 228. Golden State visits Washington as a 7.5-point road favorite with a total of 221.5. Two NBA games begin at 7:10 PM ET. New Jersey hosts the Los Angeles Lakers as a 3-point favorite with an over/under of 229.5. Brooklyn is a 7-point favorite with a total of 238. Dallas is at home against Utah as a 2.5-point favorite with an over/under of 220.The National Hockey League has eight games on its slate. Tampa Bay plays in New York against the Islanders on TNT at 2:07 PM ET. The Lightning have lost three in a row with their 3-2 loss to Boston Thursday. The Islanders are on a two-game winning streak after their 5-2 win against Detroit on Thursday. Tampa Bay is a -160 money line road favorite with a total of 5.5. Two games drop the puck at 5:07 PM ET. The New York Rangers are at home against Buffalo as a -275 money line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. Pittsburgh hosts Detroit as a -295 money line favorite with a total of 6.5. Two NHL games begin at 6:07 PM ET. Nashville plays at home against Philadelphia as a -265 money line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. Colorado visits Minnesota as a -135 money line road favorite with a total of 6.5. Three games conclude the NHL card at 7:07 PM ET. Winnipeg plays at home against Arizona as a -270 money line favorite with an over/under of 6. Toronto is a -115 money line favorite with a total of 7. New Jersey plays Montreal as a -155 money line favorite with an over/under of 6. The Sunday college basketball card has two games on CBS to conclude the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament. Kansas plays Miami (Florida) at 2:20 PM ET at the United Center in Chicago. The Jayhawks are on an eight-game winning streak after their 66-61 victory against Providence as a 7-point favorite on Friday. They raised their record to 31-6 with the win. The Hurricanes won their sixth game in their last seven with their 70-56 win against Iowa State as a 3.5-point favorite on Friday. Miami has a 26-10 record. Kansas is a 6-point favorite with a total of 147.5.North Carolina faces Saint Peter’s at 5:05 PM ET at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. The Tar Heels won their ninth game in their last ten with their 73-66 upset victory against UCLA as a 2.5-point underdog on Friday. Their record is 27-9. The Peacocks orchestrated their third straight upset victory in this tournament with their 67-64 win against Purdue as a 13-point underdog on Friday. Saint Peter’s has a 22-11 record. North Carolina is an 8-point favorite with an over/under of 137.

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