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Big Al's Daily Angle: World Cup, MLB and WNBA Previews and Odds - 06/30/26

by Big Al Staff

Tuesday, Jun 30, 2026

The Tuesday sports card features World Cup, MLB, and WNBA action.The knockout stage of the 2026 Men’s World Cup continues on Fox with three matches in the round of 32. Norway plays the Ivory Coast at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, at 1:00 p.m. ET as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with the total set at 2.5 (all World Cup odds from BetOnline). France challenges Sweden at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, as a -1.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 3. Mexico takes on Ecuador at Estadio Banorte in Mexico City, Mexico, as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.Major League Baseball has 15 games scheduled. The Baltimore Orioles host the Chicago White Sox at 6:35 p.m. ET as a -155 money-line favorite with an over/under of 10.5. Two more MLB games throw out the first pitch at 6:40 p.m. ET. The Texas Rangers travel to Cleveland to play the Guardians as a -114 money-line road favorite with a total of 7.5. The Philadelphia Phillies play at home against the Pittsburgh Pirates as a -230 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The New York Yankees are at home to face the Detroit Tigers on TBS at 7:05 p.m. ET as a -137 money-line favorite with a total of 7.5. The Toronto Blue Jays host the New York Mets at 7:07 p.m. ET as a -131 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. The Boston Red Sox play at home against the Washington Nationals at 7:10 p.m. ET as a -143 money-line favorite with a total of 9.5.The Atlanta Braves are at home to battle the St. Louis Cardinals at 7:15 p.m. ET as a -163 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9.5. Two more MLB games start at 7:40 p.m. ET. The Tampa Bay Rays play in Kansas City against the Royals as a -122 money-line road favorite with a total of 10.5. The Milwaukee Brewers host the Cincinnati Reds as a -181 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Chicago Cubs play at home against the San Diego Padres at 8:05 p.m. ET as a -157 money-line favorite with a total of 11.5. The Minnesota Twins are on the road in Houston to play the Astros at 8:10 p.m. ET as a -118 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Miami Marlins visit the Colorado Rockies at 8:40 p.m. ET as a -156 money-line road favorite with a total of 11.5. Three games conclude the MLB card at 9:40 p.m. ET. The Arizona Diamondbacks are at home to play the San Francisco Giants on Peacock. The Seattle Mariners host the Los Angeles Angels as a -175 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7.5. The Los Angeles Dodgers play on the road against the Athletics as a -155 money-line favorite with a total of 10.5. The WNBA has one game on tap in the championship game of the Commissioner’s Cup. The New York Liberty play at home against the Las Vegas Aces on Amazon Prime Video at 7:00 p.m. ET as a 2.5-point favorite with an over/under of 175.5. 

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Jokers to the Left, Clowns to the Right: The Tunisian National Team Stuck in the Middle at the World Cup

by Hollywood Sports

Monday, Jun 29, 2026

The most challenging aspect in assessing the Tunisia-Japan match in their second group stage contest in the 2026 World Cup was the impact of the Tunisian national program sacking manager Sabri Lamouchi after an embarrassing loss to Sweden. It was the earliest firing of a head coach during the World Cup in the history of the event. To be fair, Lamouchi was not dealt a great hand — and the powers at be of this organization appear to be irrational hot heads. The Eagles of Carthage’s previous manager was Sami Trabelsi, who led them through the World Cup qualifying stage with a W9-D1-L0 record and zero goals conceded. But after a loss to Mali via penalty kicks in the Round of 16 of the 2025 AFCON, he was fired. Tunisia was playing with a man advantage after the 29th minute due to a red card that fueled the anger at Tribelsi. By the way, Tribelsi was originally hired by these folks after his stint as a beIN pundit during the 2023 AFCON (taking place in 2024, as the 2025 AFCON finished in early January this year), where he was a vocal critic of the Tunisian manager at the time. Hiring guys out of the TV booth is one of my biggest pet peeves, and it rarely works. Lamouchi had previously been the skipper for Cardiff City and Nottingham Forest, amongst many spots in England and the Middle East. He promised to bring a more progressive style with a vertical attack, which was probably exactly what his potential bosses wanted to hear after the Mali debacle in the AFCON. A 5-0 loss in their final friendly against Belgium on June 6th was the canary in the coal mine. Against Sweden in their opening match in the World Cup, the Eagles of Carthage controlled possession for 51% of that match — but they only generated 0.28 expected Goals (xG) from a mere six shots (only two on target and zero Big Chances of at least a 35% expected goal rate). The Swedes only generated 1.33 xG — but they were given four Big Chances, with Lamouchi lamenting that his squad committed “too many mistakes.” That opening match was considered a must-win for both teams, with the Netherlands and Japan remaining in the group. Tunisia was prepared to turn to their technical director, Mondher Kebaier, as their caretaker for the rest of this event, but they were able to convince Herve Renard to become their immediate manager with the expectation that a longer-term collaboration will be worked out after the match. Renard is a professional manager. The 57-year-old had most recently been the national manager for Saudi Arabia before getting sacked in April. He oversaw that team’s 2-1 upset victory against Argentina in their opening match in the 2022 World Cup. He previously was the manager for Morocco for the 2018 World Cup. My notes on him for that event consisted of descriptions like this: “intensity,” “fitness,” defensive solidity,” “great coach for international play.” He was considered a Svengali for hire in Africa at the time. But what could he do in five days? In other sports like football or basketball, it is expected that there will be some sort of short-term bounce in effort and intensity from the locker room after a head coach gets fired. But I don’t think lack of effort or intensity was this group’s problem against Sweden. They just got exposed. I was already worried about their group stage play, which did not include even one opponent ranked in the top 100 in the FIFA rankings — and four of those victories were narrow one-goal affairs. Tunisia had only won three matches in their seven World Cup appearances — and they had never reached the knockout stage. Lamouchi perhaps tried to buy himself time by choosing a younger roster. In hindsight, not selecting captain Ferjani Sassi was too clever by half, as this squad certainly could have used the 33-year-old’s experience and composure anchoring the midfield. Yassine Meriah and his 99 career caps with the national team was another surprising omission. With Renard likely to stay on after this tournament, I didn’t think the players would check out. But what he inherited in the middle of the World Cup was a young and mostly overmatched group. In their last three matches against Sweden, Belgium, and Austria (the last two were friendlies earlier in June), they had lost all three matches while conceding 11 goals and scoring just once. The change I expected Renard to immediately make is to abandon the three-man backline and go back to the defensive emphasis under Trabesi, which includes a four-man backline. The goal now was not to get humiliated — so the powers that be get out their checkbooks to present an official after this tournament.Tunisia got crushed by Japan by a 4-0 score. They then lost to the Netherlands by a 3-1 score. Their performance against the Dutch was admirable. But they lost all three of their matches at the World Cup while getting outscored by 10 goals. They were the only national team from Africa that qualified for the World Cup but did not qualify for the Knockout Stage. Do the Eagles of Carthage see better results if they simply stuck with Lamouchi in this tournament? Who knows — but his retaining a few more of the veterans available to him would have likely been extremely helpful? Would this national team have been better off by simply not firing Trabelsi after the disappointing result against Mali in the African Cup of Nations six months ago? Probably — but it is tough to feel too much sympathy for ankle biters angling for jobs from the perch of their TV pundit gig. The one thing that seems most certain is that the players on the Tunisian national team deserved better at every step of the way. Three managers in less than six months is a joke perpetuated by a bunch of clowns. Perhaps Renard will offer them a blessing in disguise as the next four-year World Cup cycle begins for them. Best of luck — Frank.

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Past as Prologue: Why the Arsenal-PSG Champions League Final Cashed the Under

by Hollywood Sports

Monday, Jun 29, 2026

The finals of the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League season featured a rematch of one of the semifinal matches last year. Arsenal reached the finals of the European championship with their 2-1 aggregate score victory against Atletico Madrid in the semifinals in early May. Paris Saint-Germain advanced to the finals of the Champions League knockout stage with their 6-5 aggregate victory against Bayern Munich in their semifinal matchup that concluded in early May. The match took place on a neutral pitch at Puskas Arena in Budapest, Hungary.The results in the semifinals of the Champions League last season were instructive regarding how this rematch would play out. After winning the first leg by a 1-0 score, Les Parisiens took a commanding 3-0 lead in the aggregate at the 72nd-minute mark of the second leg before the Gunners had to change tactics and get very aggressive, which helped them score one goal before losing the aggregate score by a 3-1 margin. After only four combined goals were scored in those 180 combined minutes, another lower-scoring contest between these two sides was expected. If Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was already expected to embrace conservative and defensive tactics against PSG, then he most certainly would employ that strategy, given his tactical concerns at right back in his defensive line. Jurrien Timber had been out since March with a serious groin injury. Backup right back Ben White was injured. Arteta recently tried moving jack-of-all-trades midfielder Declan Rice to right back in a match against West Ham United, but it did not work. That left Arteta with two less-than-ideal options at right back. The good news was that Timber has been training and is able to take the pitch in this critical match. But, shaking off the proverbial rust and questions regarding his endurance remain. His other option was Cristian Mosquera, who had been his starter down the stretch this season — but he was very inexperienced for a big stage like this. In practice, Arteta was going to have to use both players with the prospect of an additional 30 minutes of extra time being played if this match is still tied after 90 minutes of regulation time (plus stoppage time). Right back is the glaring weakness of this Gunners squad on the second-to-last day in May — and that was a frightening prospect against Les Parisiens, who enjoy a speedy and explosive offensive attack. Led by their front three of Ousmane Dembele, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and Desire Doue, PSG led all Champions League participants with 44 goals in the competition — and 23 of those goals came in their eight knockout stage matches. They had scored multiple goals in seven of their last eight matches in the Champions League. Dembele was the reigning Ballon d’Or winner after leading Les Bleus to Ligue 1 and the Champions League title last year. Kvaratskhelia might be even better after scoring 10 goals and adding six assists in the Champions League this season — those 16 goal involvements were the most in the competition. Doué is a rising superstar — just wait for when he teams with Kylian Mbappe for the French national team at the World Cup in two weeks. Arsenal’s bread-and-butter is to play rock-solid defense, limit mistakes, and execute at an elite level on set pieces. They only allowed six goals in their 14 matches in the Champions League — and their nine clean sheets were second most in the history of this competition to the 10 clean sheets registered by Real Madrid in the 2015-16 season. In their 38 matches in the English Premier League this season, the 27 goals they conceded were the fewest of all 20 sides. In their last seven matches across all competitions, they had only conceded twice, and they registered five clean sheets. But before their 2-1 win against Crystal Palace, with both managers using rotated starting lineups in a match that had no bearing, Arsenal played three straight matches where they won by 1-0 scores. They had scored no more than one goal in 11 of their last 13 matches. Arteta’s vision is to win this match by a 1-0 score — and a nil-nil draw after regulation time would be fine (when the books settle over/under wagers). Don’t underestimate PSG’s defensive prowess. Fullbacks Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes are two of the best defensive players in the world. Center back Willian Pacho was outstanding in limiting Bayern Munich to just one goal in the second leg of their semifinal match in Germany on May 6th. Some observers may have looked at PSG’s 5-4 win at home in the first leg against the Bavarians and concluded that manager Luis Enrique’s side was looking for shootouts. But that match was simply an exquisite display of offensive efficiency from both sides (and Bayern Munich emphasized their offensive tactics). In a match when the books installed the over/under at 3.5, there were only 3.06 combined expected Goals (xG) scored despite the nine combined actual goals. Subtly, Enrique had been preparing his team for a rock fight this month. They had not scored more than two goals in five straight matches across all competitions. In their last four matches across all competitions, they had surrendered only three goals — and they had registered two clean sheets. Arsenal is at their most dangerous when counter-attacking — and Enrique would be well aware of that and not have his side take too many risks. PSG would likely control ball possession in this match. Staying patient and being clinical is a good formula for success against a Gunners side that is not a dynamic goal-scoring squad.It was far from an ideal start for those of us holding (expensive) Under tickets when Kai Havertz scored the opening goal for Arsenal in the sixth minute of the match. On the other hand, the early lead may have cemented Arteta’s commitment to cautious and defensive tactics. But in the second half, Dembele was awarded a penalty kick, which he converted to even the score at 1-1. The match was scoreless the rest of the way, so the penalty kick shootout settled things. With Under tickets now cashing, PSG won the shootout by a 4-3 margin to become repeat winners of the UEFA Champions League. The deeper metrics validate the lower-scoring match. PSG controlled possession and took 21 shots, but only four of those shots were on target. They generated 1.72 expected Goals, which was certainly flirting with two goals in regulation time. But Arsenal’s conservative tactics resulted in just 0.5 expected Goals from a mere seven shots, with Havertz’s shot being the only one on target. Best of luck — Frank.

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June Starting Pitching NL Overachievers

by Nelly's Sports

Monday, Jun 29, 2026

As we reach the final days of the month of June, the sample sizes are now large enough to identify the starters whose impressive surface numbers are telling a very different story than the underlying data. These four National League pitchers have delivered results that are simply unlikely to hold as the second half approaches. Cristopher Sanchez – Philadelphia Phillies There is no question that Cristopher Sanchez is a legitimate ace. His 2025 campaign was one of the best in the National League and he has been brilliant again in stretches this season. None of that changes the reality that his current numbers have been significantly aided by sequencing fortune. His 1.54 ERA reflects a nearly 84 percent strand rate that simply will not hold, and the gap between his surface ERA and his 2.77 xERA creates a trade price today that significantly exceeds what his ERA will look like by August. His hard-hit rate of 42.9 percent and average exit velocity of 89.3 mph against suggests that hitters are making meaningful contact at a rate that his ERA has not yet reflected. Sanchez has the groundball profile and elite command to remain a top-of-rotation arm, and his underlying skills are genuine. But at his current surface ERA, betting him at inflated prices is making a transaction the data does not support. His ERA will likely move back toward his xERA before the season is over, and the gap between where he sits now and where he lands will be significant enough to matter. The correction may already be underway with 20 hits and 10 runs allowed in his last three starts after allowing just five runs combined in his prior eight outings.  Zack Wheeler – Philadelphia Phillies Zack Wheeler has been one of the best pitchers in the National League this season on the surface, and at 36 years old coming off thoracic outlet surgery, the performance has drawn enormous attention. The problem is the same one that accompanies every great-looking ERA: the supporting numbers tell a more complicated story. Wheeler carries a 2.03 ERA and a 2.95 xERA, and his strand rate is nearly 90 percent, and sustaining a LOB rate above 85 percent over a full season is nearly impossible. There is also the matter of defensive support. His current ERA-FIP differential is substantially explained by an elite infield defense and if you add back the nine runs his defense has saved him, his ERA climbs from 2.03 to 3.11. Wheeler is still a very good pitcher, and the underlying contact profile is not alarming. But the combination of an unsustainable strand rate and exceptional defensive fortune means his ERA is going to be at risk for correction and anyone laying significant juice on him based on the current number is buying at the peak.  Scott Drohan – Milwaukee Brewers Scott Drohan has been one of the more intriguing stories of the first half, finding his footing in Milwaukee's rotation after arriving from Boston via trade. The 27-year-old left-hander has flashed real swing-and-miss ability and legitimate upside, but the metrics beneath his impressive line demand scrutiny before treating him as a reliable commodity. His seven percent HR/FB rate spells regression coming and with a mid-3.12 ERA, higher numbers may be likely to come. The Brewers have done an excellent job managing his workload given that he is coming off a stretch where he logged barely 70 combined innings over two seasons, and that cautious deployment has kept him fresh, but it has also meant shorter outings that inflate his rate statistics. Drohan has the stuff to be a legitimate mid-rotation contributor for Milwaukee, but bettors treating his current line as a reflection of what he truly is could find the second half a rude correction.  Randy Vasquez – San Diego Padres Vasquez has been one of the more pleasant surprises in the NL this season on the surface, and the Padres have relied on him heavily in the middle of a rotation that has had its share of questions. The 27-year-old right-hander has shown real improvement in his walk rate in 2026, and that improvement is legitimate. Everything else surrounding his surface ERA deserves significant skepticism. This is a pitcher whose 2025 ERA finished more than a full run below both his 5.51 xFIP and 5.43 SIERA, propped up by a low BABIP and a 77.4 percent strand rate and his 4.6 percent K/BB percentage ranked third-lowest among all pitchers with at least 130 innings. Nothing in his profile suggested he had solved the underlying problem, and the 2026 contact quality data confirms that concern. His average exit velocity against sits at 91.4 mph with a hard-hit rate of 45.7 percent, a wOBA of .348, and an xwOBA of .385 and his barrel rate of 13 percent is among the worst marks of any NL starter. Those are the numbers of a pitcher getting consistently hammered, and the gap between his ERA and what the contact quality suggests is due to narrow in a hurry. His most-used pitch, the cutter, has historically been his most hittable offering, yielding a .447 slugging percentage in 2025 and there is little evidence that has changed structurally in 2026. Vasquez is a viable backend starter on a contending team, but any number he posts this season below 4.00 is living on borrowed time. Fade him accordingly, particularly in road starts and against lineups with the patience to work counts and punish premium contact.

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June Starting Pitching AL Overachievers

by Nelly's Sports

Monday, Jun 29, 2026

As we reach the final days of the month of June, the sample sizes are now large enough to identify the starters whose impressive surface numbers are telling a very different story than the underlying data. These four American League pitchers have delivered results that are simply unlikely to hold as the second half approaches and should be on your radar to fade in some upcoming opportunities.  Davis Martin – Chicago White Sox The feel-good story of the 2026 season may have already started to unravel. Davis Martin entered June as a great story for the surprising White Sox, carrying a 2.00 ERA into his June starts, ranking sixth best in the majors among qualified starters, while his 2.31 FIP sat fourth best, a rare case where the peripheral numbers seemed to validate the surface results. The right-hander deserves real credit for an overhauled pitch mix and an arsenal that keeps hitters genuinely off balance, but June has started showing the cracks. Martin’s numbers took a big hit after he allowed nine runs against the Yankees in mod-June and while he has bounced back in his last two starts vs. struggling AL Central foes, he has allowed four or more runs in three of his last six starts. Martin is a legitimate mid-rotation starter who has made real improvements, but the Cy Young–caliber version of him that dominated May was built on a schedule that included very few starts against winning teams, and the gap between his home and road splits is severe at this point in the season.  Patrick Corbin – Toronto Blue Jays It seems like a distant memory now, but Corbin was pitching well enough in April and early May to earn a rotation spot on an injury-ravaged Toronto team that desperately needed warm bodies. At one point this season, he carried a 3.78 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and a nearly 3:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio. The problem is that Corbin is 36 years old and has been running on fumes and good fortune for most of his career since his nine-figure Washington contract. His June has been a disaster so far with an 8.69 ERA across five starts, unable to make it past five innings in any of those outings. His average exit velocity against sits at 89.1 mph with a hard-hit rate of 43.3% and a wOBA allowed of .358, contact quality numbers that suggest hitters will have success against him. Toronto has been in perpetual emergency mode all season long, and Corbin has been a serviceable placeholder, but his days as a playable arm in this rotation are likely numbered.  Zebby Matthews – Minnesota Twins Zebby Matthews has generated a buzz since his call-up and his surface numbers in his short stint at the big-league level look impressive. After his first three starts he carried a 2.37 ERA and 0.84 WHIP with an 8.1 K/9, the kind of line that gets a rookie noticed in a hurry. The problem is the supporting data tells a more cautious story. His FIP already sits at 4.94, suggesting the results have been prettier than the underlying performance warrants. That gap is consistent with a track record that has followed Matthews throughout his professional career. In his previous big-league exposure last season, he maintained above average strikeout and walk rates, yet still struggled to a 5.56 ERA with a 1.49 WHIP, with a .357 BABIP doing significant damage to his numbers. The current sample also comes with important context: Matthews had posted a 4.72 ERA and 1.52 WHIP over seven AAA starts to begin the 2026 season before his call-up, suggesting his MLB debut results are more likely a reflection of a small hot sample than a genuine breakout. His average exit velocity allowed of 89.5 mph and hard-hit rate of 39.1% point to contact quality that will catch up with him as lineups get a second and third look at his stuff. Matthews has legitimate upside down the road but treat his current numbers with significant skepticism and he should be a fade consideration in any meaningful matchup against a quality offense. Cal Quantrill – Texas Rangers Quantrill has bounced around organizations in recent years for good reason as his skill set is extremely narrow and his margin for error is essentially zero. After signing a minor league deal with Texas in January and getting stretched out in Triple-A, the Rangers selected his contract in April to address bullpen depth needs, and he has since worked his way into the rotation. The right-hander is a pitch-to-contact sinker/cutter operator who has never been a strikeout threat. His career 6.7 K/9 is one of the lower marks among active starters, and a pitcher with that profile lives and dies entirely by the quality of contact he generates and the sequencing luck that follows. Any run of success from Quantrill is almost always accompanied by an absurdly low BABIP, and history shows it never lasts. His previous stops in Colorado and Miami confirmed what the numbers long suggested, without elite location and a favorable defensive alignment behind him, Quantrill gets hit hard and often. Consider him fade material in any meaningful betting context for the remainder of the season if he continues to keep a rotation spot. 

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World Cup Futures Bets at Knockout Stage

by Sean Murphy

Monday, Jun 29, 2026

With the knockout stage at World Cup 2026 underway, the outright market has taken shape. The favorites have separated themselves, but there are still a couple of prices that stand out. France deserves to be at the top of the board, while Portugal offers enough value to warrant a shot at a much bigger number. Here's a quick look at two futures bets I'm making at this stage of the tournament.France to win (+300) France is the deserved favorite and it's easy to see why. They've looked composed throughout the tournament and have the type of balance that's so important once every match becomes win-or-go-home. There aren't many holes in this squad and they're just as comfortable grinding out a tight match as they are opening things up offensively. Just as importantly, this is a team that's been through these moments before. They know what it takes to make a deep World Cup run and that experience becomes more valuable with each passing round. While other teams still have questions to answer, France has consistently shown they can handle the pressure that comes with being one of the tournament favorites. The path won't be easy, but that's the case for everyone left in the field. France has enough quality throughout the lineup to deal with injuries, make adjustments and beat elite competition. At +300, you're not getting a bargain, but you're still getting a fair price on the team I believe has the best chance to lift the trophy. Portugal to win (+1100) Portugal is the team I think offers the best value among the remaining contenders. They may not get the same attention as France, Argentina, Spain or Brazil, but they're more than capable of beating any of those teams in a single elimination tournament. What I like most about Portugal is that they don't rely on one player to carry them - at least not with Cristiano Ronaldo in the twilight of his career, but still producing. They have quality all over the pitch, they're dangerous going forward and they're disciplined enough defensively to stay in matches even when they're not at their best. That's exactly the type of profile I look for when betting an outright winner. At +1100, you're getting a number that reflects some uncertainty, but I think it's a little too generous. Portugal has the experience to handle the knockout stage and enough attacking talent to create chances against anyone. If they get through the next round, those odds are likely to shrink considerably, making this a good time to buy in.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: World Cup and MLB Previews and Odds - 06/29/26

by Big Al Staff

Monday, Jun 29, 2026

The Monday sports card features World Cup and MLB action.The knockout stage of the 2026 Men’s World Cup continues on Fox with three matches in the round of 32. Brazil plays Japan at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, at 1:00 p.m. ET as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with the total set at 2.5 (all World Cup odds from consensus lines). Germany takes on Paraguay at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, at 4:30 p.m. ET as a -1.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. The Netherlands battle Morocco at Estadio BBVA in Guadalupe, Mexico, at 9:00 p.m. ET as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5. Major League Baseball has 13 games scheduled. The Baltimore Orioles host the Chicago White Sox at 6:35 p.m. ET. The Orioles send Shane Baz to the mound to pitch against the White Sox’s Sean Burke. Baltimore is a -136 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9 (all MLB odds from DraftKings). The Philadelphia Phillies play at home against the Pittsburgh Pirates at 6:40 p.m. ET. Aaron Nola gets the ball for the Phillies to take on Braxton Ashcraft for the Pirates. Philadelphia is a -114 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5.  The New York Yankees are at home to challenge the Detroit Tigers at 7:05 p.m. ET. The Yankees turn to Ryan Weathers to duel against the Tigers’ Casey Mize. New York is a -148 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7.5. The Toronto Blue Jays host the New York Mets at 7:07 p.m. ET. Trey Yesavage takes the hill for the Blue Jays to face Sean Manaea for the Mets. Toronto is a -131 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. Two MLB games throw out the first pitch at 7:10 p.m. ET. Cleveland plays at home against Texas on ESPN with the Guardians tapping Parker Messick to challenge the Rangers’ Tyler Alexander. The Guardians are a -149 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7.5. Boston is at home against Washington with Ranger Suarez getting the ball for the Red Sox to pitch against Miles Mikolas for the Nationals. The Red Sox are a -186 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The Milwaukee Brewers host the Cincinnati Reds at 7:40 p.m. ET.  The Brewers tap Robert Gasser to take the starting pitcher assignment to face the Reds’ Nick Lodolo. Milwaukee is a -157 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Chicago Cubs play at home against the San Diego Padres at 8:05 p.m. ET. Shota Imanaga takes the mound for the Cubs to duel against a starting pitcher yet to be named by the Padres. Chicago is a -156 money-line favorite with a total of 12. The Houston Astros are at home to battle the Minnesota Twins at 8:10 p.m. ET. The Astros turn to Peter Lambert to face the Twins’ Zebby Matthews. Houston is a -136 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9. The Miami Marlins travel to Colorado to play the Rockies at 8:40 p.m. ET. Sandy Alcantara grabs the ball for the Marlins to pitch against a starting pitcher yet to be determined for the Rockies. Miami is a -131 money-line road favorite with a total of 11. Three games conclude the MLB card at 9:40 p.m. ET. Arizona hosts San Francisco with the Diamondbacks tapping Eduardo Rodriguez to challenge the Giants’ Tyler Mahle. The Diamondbacks are a -136 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. Seattle plays at home against Los Angeles with George Kirby taking the hill for the Mariners to face Ryan Johnson for the Angels. The Mariners are a -224 money-line favorite with a total of 8. Los Angeles plays on the road against the Athletics on Peacock with the Dodgers sending out Eric Lauer to pitch against Gage Jump. The Dodgers are a -123 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 10.5. 

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NBA Draft Wrap Up -- Winners and Losers

by AAA Sports

Sunday, Jun 28, 2026

The NBA Draft happened this past Tuesday and Wednesday. We are going to pick some of the winners and losers of the draft.  Winners.  1. Oklahoma City Thunder(Aday Mara (#12), Bennett Stirtz (#16) and Otega Oweh (#41))Straight up, OKC went out and got the guy who should be able to stop Victor Wembanayama. After winning the NBA Championship in 2024-25, the Thunder fell short this past postseason. With some contracts expiring and other guys wanting to move on, Bennett Stirtz and Otega Oweh are both terrific selections. Iowa's Bennett Stirtz could have been considered a reach to some. But, this was a great situational pick in our opinions. 2. San Antonio Spurs(Jayden Quaintance (#20), Tarris Reed Jr. (#26), Ja'Kobi Gillespie (#42) and Maliq Brown (#44))One again on this list, the Spurs continue to do damage in the NBA Draft. Jayden Quaintance played just four games last season for Kentucky. Before that, he was a superstar in the making at ASU. If he stays healthy, look out. Tarris Reed might be on the 'older' end when it comes to finding talent as well. But, with Stephon Castle turning out the way he did and the rest of the players from UCONN mini dynasty, there's little to no reason why Reed won't be great. He had 27 rebounds in a NCAA Tournament game this year!3. Memphis Grizzlies(Cameron Boozer (#3) Karim Lopez (#21) and Richie Saunders (#32))Memphis pretty much knew it was going to end up with Cameron Boozer the way the oddsmakers were expecting. But, considering that the top three players were all neck and neck all season long, this is a great pick for the Grizzlies. Boozer won the 2026 Men's Player of the Year award this season. We are also very high on both Karim Lopez and Richie Saunders. Saunders can shoot the lights out of the ball and Lopez could develop into a superstar if the Grizzlies develop him correctly with his versatility and frame.  Losers.  1. Phoenix Suns(Koa Peat (#30))Phoenix could've gone in any direction really. But, the Suns went out and selected the man that's fell down almost everyone's draft board during the lead up to the draft. Peat began the college season really well. But, he wasn't anything special towards the end and he didn't perform all that well in the combine events. Peat has an undersized frame and his shot selection isn't always the greatest. Phoenix likes to play small-ball. But, this is a dangerous selection in the first round when there were so many great players still availabale. 2. New Orleans Pelicans(Jaron Pierre Jr. (#58)) Interestingly, Jaron Pierre Jr. had a really strong season at SMU averaging 17.6 points a game. But, at the end of the draft, it's hard to pick someone that's going to help the franchise. We aren't going to label this a bad pick before he sees any game time. But, we aren't anticipating Pierre Jr to crack the squad and selecting just one guy in the late second round most likely isn't going to chance a franchise. The Pelicans did get Melvin Council Jr. after the draft which could turn out to be a strong summer signing. But, weak draft. 3. Portland Trail Blazers(No Selections)Portland didn't have a great draft last year and have made the 'Losers' list again. With no picks in the entire NBA Draft, it's hard to give the Blazers a good grade at all. This draft class was loaded from top to bottom and Portland ended up with nothing. Even after the draft, it didn't make any immediate signings. AAA's Early Pick To Win 2027 NBA Finals - Oklahoma City Thunder. 

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Big Al's Daily Angle: World Cup, MLB, WNBA and CFL Previews and Odds - 06/28/26

by Big Al Staff

Sunday, Jun 28, 2026

The Sunday sports card features World Cup, MLB, WNBA, and CFL action.The knockout stage of the 2026 Men’s World Cup begins with one match in the round of 32 on Fox at 3:00 p.m. ET. Canada plays South Africa at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, as a -0.5 goal-line favorite according to the consensus line, with the total set at 2.5 (all other odds from DraftKings). Major League Baseball has 15 games scheduled. Two MLB games throw out the first pitch at 1:35 p.m. ET. The Pittsburgh Pirates host the Cincinnati Reds as a -136 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9. The Baltimore Orioles play at home against the Washington Nationals as a -199 money-line favorite with a total of 9. The Toronto Blue Jays are at home to take on the Texas Rangers at 1:37 p.m. ET as a -131 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. Four MLB games start at 1:40 p.m. ET. The Cleveland Guardians host the Seattle Mariners as a -114 money-line favorite with a total of 7.5. The Philadelphia Phillies travel to New York to battle the Mets as a -149 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8. The Tampa Bay Rays play at home against the Arizona Diamondbacks as a -193 money-line favorite with a total of 7.5. The Houston Astros play in Detroit against the Tigers on Peacock as a -131 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8. Three MLB games begin at 2:10 p.m. ET. The Chicago White Sox are at home to face the Kansas City Royals as a -143 money-line favorite with a total of 9. The Minnesota Twins host the Colorado Rockies as a -156 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9. The Milwaukee Brewers play at home against the Chicago Cubs as a -219 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The St. Louis Cardinals are at home to challenge the Miami Marlins at 2:15 p.m. ET as a -131 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9.5. The Athletics are on the road in Los Angeles to play the Angels on Peacock at 3:15 p.m. ET as a -120 money-line road favorite with a total of 9.5. The Atlanta Braves visit San Francisco to face the Giants at 4:05 p.m. ET as a -162 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 7.5. The Los Angeles Dodgers play in San Diego against the Padres at 4:10 p.m. ET as a -149 money-line road favorite with a total of 8. Sunday Night Baseball on NBC/Peacock features the Boston Red Sox hosting the New York Yankees at 7:20 p.m. ET. The Red Sox are a -122 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.The WNBA has four games on tap. The Minnesota Lynx are on the road in Dallas to face the Wings on CBS at 2:00 p.m. ET as a 4.5-point road favorite with a total of 177.5. The Washington Mystics play at home against the Portland Fire at 3:00 p.m. ET as a 6.5-point favorite with an over/under of 166.5. The Las Vegas Aces are on the road in Chicago to take on the Sky on CBS at 4:00 p.m. ET as a 7.5-point road favorite with a total of 178.5. The Golden State Valkyries are at home to challenge the New York Liberty on ESPN at 7:00 p.m. ET as a 1.5-point favorite with an over/under of 163.5. Week 4 in the Canadian Football League concludes with one game. The Montreal Alouettes host the Ottawa Redblacks on the CBS Sports Network at 7:00 p.m. ET as an 8.5-point favorite with a total of 55.5. 

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Big Al's Daily Angle: World Cup, MLB, WNBA and CFL Previews and Odds - 06/27/26

by Big Al Staff

Saturday, Jun 27, 2026

The Saturday sports card features World Cup, MLB, WNBA, and CFL action.The group stage of the 2026 Men’s World Cup concludes with six matches. Two matches start at 5:00 p.m. ET. Croatia plays Ghana at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on FS1 as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with the total set at 2.5 (all odds from DraftKings). England faces Panama at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Fox as a -2.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 3.5. Two World Cup matches begin at 7:30 p.m. ET. Congo PR takes on Uzbekistan at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, on FS1 as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5. Portugal challenges Colombia at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, on Fox as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Two matches conclude the World Cup card at 10:00 p.m. ET. Argentina battles Jordan at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, as a -2.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 3.5. Austria plays Algeria at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, on FS1 as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 1.5. Major League Baseball has 15 games scheduled. Two MLB games throw out the first pitch at 1:10 p.m. ET. The New York Yankees travel to Boston to play the Red Sox on ABC as a -126 money-line road favorite with a total of 8.5. The Detroit Tigers host the Houston Astros as a -131 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Toronto Blue Jays play at home against the Texas Rangers at 3:07 p.m. ET as a -173 money-line favorite with a total of 7.5. Three MLB games throw out the first pitch at 4:05 p.m. ET. The Cincinnati Reds play in Pittsburgh against the Pirates as a -118 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8. The New York Mets are home to take on the Philadelphia Phillies as a -143 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The Chicago White Sox host the Kansas City Royals as a -143 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. The Tampa Bay Rays play at home against the Arizona Diamondbacks at 6:10 p.m. ET as a -163 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The Baltimore Orioles are at home to battle the Washington Nationals on Peacock at 7:05 p.m. ET as a -123 money-line favorite with a total of 9. Three more MLB games begin at 7:10 p.m. ET. The Milwaukee Brewers host the Chicago Cubs as a -163 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. The Seattle Mariners are on the road against the Cleveland Guardians as a -149 money-line road favorite with a total of 8. The Minnesota Twins host the Colorado Rockies as a -144 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9. The St. Louis Cardinals play at home against the Miami Marlins at 7:15 p.m. ET as a -143 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The Los Angeles Dodgers visit the San Diego Padres at 8:40 p.m. ET as a -198 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8. The San Francisco Giants are home to face the Atlanta Braves at 9:05 p.m. ET as a -131 money-line favorite with a total of 7.5. The Los Angeles Angels host the Athletics at 9:38 p.m. ET as a -117 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The WNBA has three games on tap. The Toronto Tempo plays at home against the Phoenix Mercury on CBS at 2:00 p.m. ET as a 4.5-point favorite with a total of 177.5. The Indiana Fever are home to face the Los Angeles Sparks at 8:00 p.m. ET as a 6.5-point favorite with an over/under of 178.5. The Atlanta Dream play in Seattle against the Storm at 9:00 p.m. ET as an 8.5-point road favorite with a total of 166.5. Week 4 in the Canadian Football League continues with one game. The British Columbia Lions host the Calgary Stampeders on the CBS Sports Network at 7:00 p.m. ET as a 1.5-point favorite with an over/under of 56.5. 

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Big Al's Daily Angle: World Cup, MLB, WNBA and CFL Previews and Odds - 06/26/26

by Big Al Staff

Friday, Jun 26, 2026

The Friday sports card features World Cup, MLB, WNBA, and CFL action.The group stage of the 2026 Men’s World Cup continues with six matches. Two matches start at 3:00 p.m. ET. Senegal plays Iraq at BMO Field in Toronto, Canada, on FS1 as a -1.5 goal-line favorite with the total set at 3.5 (all odds from DraftKings). France takes on Norway at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on Fox as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 3.5. Two World Cup matches begin at 8:00 p.m. ET. Spain challenges Uruguay at Estadio Akron in Guadalajara, Mexico, on Fox as a -1.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5. Cape Verde faces Saudi Arabia at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Two matches conclude the World Cup card at 11:00 p.m. ET. Egypt battles Iran at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington, on FS1 as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 1.5. Belgium plays New Zealand at BC Place in Vancouver, Canada, on Fox as a -2.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 3.5. Major League Baseball has 15 games scheduled. Two MLB games throw out the first pitch at 6:40 p.m. ET. The Pittsburgh Pirates host the Cincinnati Reds as a -219 money-line favorite with a total of 7.5. The Detroit Tigers play at home against the Houston Astros as a -122 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. The Baltimore Orioles are at home to take on the Washington Nationals at 7:05 p.m. ET as a -143 money-line favorite with a total of 9. The Texas Rangers travel to Toronto to play the Blue Jays at 7:07 p.m. ET as a -114 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5. Four MLB games start at 7:10 p.m. ET. The Cleveland Guardians host the Seattle Mariners as a -114 money-line favorite with a total of 7.5. The New York Yankees play in Boston against the Red Sox as a -118 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Philadelphia Phillies are on the road in New York to battle the Mets on Peacock as a -163 money-line road favorite with a total of 8. The Tampa Bay Rays play at home against the Arizona Diamondbacks as a -143 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Chicago White Sox are home to challenge the Kansas City Royals at 7:40 p.m. ET. The Milwaukee Brewers host the Colorado Rockies on Apple TV+ at 7:45 p.m. ET as a -271 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7.5. The Minnesota Twins play at home against the Colorado Rockies at 8:10 p.m. ET as a -167 money-line favorite with a total of 9. The St. Louis Cardinals are at home to face the Miami Marlins at 8:15 p.m. ET as a -118 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. The Athletics visit Los Angeles to play the Angels at 9:38 p.m. ET as a -122 money-line road favorite with a total of 8.5. The Los Angeles Dodgers play in San Diego against the Padres on Apple TV+ at 9:45 p.m. ET as a -157 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 7.5. The Atlanta Braves are on the road in San Francisco to battle the Giants at 10:15 p.m. ET. The WNBA has three games on tap. Two games tip off at 7:30 p.m. ET. The Chicago Sky host the Portland Fire as a 4.5-point favorite with an over/under of 172.5. The Washington Mystics travel to Connecticut to take on the Sun as a 4.5-point road favorite with a total of 163.5. The Atlanta Dream play in Golden State against the Valkyries at 10:00 p.m. ET as a 1.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 163.5.  Week 4 in the Canadian Football League continues with one game. The Saskatchewan Roughriders play at home against the Toronto Argonauts on the CBS Sports Network at 9:00 p.m. ET as a 3.5-point favorite with a total of 57.5. 

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College Football Betting- 4 Top Offseason Exercises

by Kyle Hunter

Thursday, Jun 25, 2026

The college football season will be here in two months. It won’t be long! Here are four things I think every bettor should do early in the offseason. Handicap the coaching changes- I don’t think there is a sport where the head coach is more important than college football. You have to have a good leader and someone who is great at getting the best assistants to help them in the wild west that is college football today. Every single year we see big turnarounds and teams that drop off hard. There’s nothing more important than evaluating the coaching staff. Look for tempo changes- If you are betting totals in college football like I love to do, then looking for tempo changes should be high on your list of things to do in the offseason. Here we are looking for offensive coordinators that have a completely different scheme and game plan than the OC did the previous season. Nearly everyone says they want to play fast, but who will really be committed to that faster pace? Maybe a team is looking to hide their weakness on defense so they are going to run the football and use up the clock. Looking for clues on these tempo and scheme changes is crucial. Transfer Portal- I’ll admit the transfer portal is overwhelming, but there is no choice but to try to navigate through the madness that is the portal. Even the coaches who didn’t really want to be heavily involved in the portal now realize they have no choice. Which teams were able to fill their biggest needs? Which teams look thin because of too many guys from the same position area left? The depth of the roster is important to consider. Look for Potential Matchup Advantages/Disadvantages- This is where you’ll handicap individual teams to see who they matchup well against which teams could be difficult matchups for them. For example, you might find a team who is great at running the football, but if they are forced to throw against an elite defensive front they are going to struggle badly. You also might find a service academy type defense where they can battle in the trenches, but they are likely to struggle when teams open it up and throw it around on them. Highlight certain matchups as potential bet on or against spots.

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