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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, NCAAB and EPL Previews and Odds - 01/31/2024

by Big Al Staff

Wednesday, Jan 31, 2024

The Wednesday sports card features NBA, NHL, NCAAB, and EPL action. The National Basketball Association has ten games on its docket. Three NBA games tip off at 7:10 p.m. ET. The Chicago Bulls travel to Charlotte to play the Hornets as a 2.5-point road favorite, with the total set at 218.5 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). The Cleveland Cavaliers host the Detroit Pistons as a 12-point favorite with an over/under of 228.5. The Los Angeles Clippers play in Washington against the Wizards as a 12.5-point road favorite with a total of 237.5. The Miami Heat are home against the Sacramento Kings at 7:40 p.m. ET as a 1-point favorite with an over/under of 229.5.Four NBA games tip off at 8:10 p.m. ET. The New Orleans Pelicans are in Houston against the Rockets as a 2.5-point road favorite with a total of 231. The Minnesota Timberwolves play at home against the Dallas Mavericks as a 13.5-point favorite with an over/under of 224.5. The Orlando Magic visit San Antonio to play the Spurs as a 5-point road favorite, with a total of 228. The Oklahoma City Thunder host the Denver Nuggets as a 1-point favorite with an over/under of 229. The Phoenix Suns play in Brooklyn to play the Nets on ABC at 8:40 p.m. ET as a 3.5-point road favorite with a total of 233. The Milwaukee Bucks are in Portland to play the Trail Blazers on ESPN at 10:10 p.m. ET  as a 9.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 236.5.The National Hockey League has three games on its slate. The Detroit Red Wings play at home against the Ottawa Senators at 7:07 p.m. ET as a -122 money-line favorite with a total of 7. The Los Angeles Kings travel to Nashville to play the Predators on TNT at 7:37 p.m. ET as a -118 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6. The Anaheim Ducks are at home against the San Jose Sharks at 10:37 p.m. ET as a -180 money-line favorite with a total of 6.The college basketball schedule has ten games on national television. Xavier hosts St. John’s on FS1 at 6:30 p.m. ET as a 1-point favorite with an over/under of 156. Two more NCAAB games tip off on national television at 7 p.m. ET. Virginia plays at home against Notre Dame on ESPN2 as a 13-point favorite with a total of 115.5. Tulsa hosts Wichita State on ESPNU as a 1.5-point favorite with an over/under of 152. Two NCAAB games on national television begin at 8 p.m. ET. Kentucky plays at home against Florida on ESPN as a 5.5-point favorite with a total of 171. Bradley is at home against Northern Iowa as a 7-point favorite with an over/under of 138. Connecticut hosts Providence on FS1 at 8:30 p.m. ET as an 11-point favorite, with a total of 139.5. Two nationally-televisions NCAAB games start at 9 p.m. ET. Auburn plays at home against Vanderbilt on ESPN2 as an 18.5-point favorite with an over/under of 143. North Texas is at home against UAB on ESPNU as a 7-point favorite with a total of 133. New Mexico hosts Boise State on FS1 at 10:30 p.m. ET as a 10.5-point favorite with an over/under of 151. Saint Mary’s plays at home against Santa Clara on ESPNU at 11 p.m. ET as a 14-point favorite with a total of 136.Matchweek 22 in the English Premier League continues with three matches. Two EPL matches begin at 2:30 p.m. ET. Manchester City is at home against Burnley as a -2.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 3.5. Tottenham hosts Brentford on the USA Network as a -1 goal-line favorite with a total of 3. Liverpool plays at home against Chelsea as a 1-point favorite with an over/under of 3.5.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, NCAAB and EPL Previews and Odds - 01/30/2024

by Big Al Staff

Tuesday, Jan 30, 2024

The Tuesday sports card features NBA, NHL, NCAAB, and EPL action. The National Basketball Association has five games on its docket. The Boston Celtics are at home against the Indiana Pacers on TNT at 7:30 p.m. ET as a 5.5-point favorite with a total of 241.5. Two more NBA games tip off at 7:40 p.m. ET. The Atlanta Hawks host the Los Angeles Lakers as a 4.5-point favorite, with the total set at 246 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). The New York Knicks play at home against the Utah Jazz as a 4-point favorite with an over/under of 233.5. The Chicago Bulls host the Toronto Raptors at 8:10 p.m. ET as a 6-point favorite with an over/under of 225.5. The Golden State Warriors play at home against the Philadelphia 76ers on TNT at 10 p.m. ET as a 4.5-point favorite with a total of 235.5. The National Hockey League has two games on its slate. The St. Louis Blues are at home against the Columbus Blue Jackets at 8:07 p.m. ET as a -170 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Seattle Kraken travel to San Jose to play the Sharks at 10:37 p.m. ET as a -218 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.The college basketball schedule has 11 games on national television. Five NCAAB games tip off at 7 p.m. ET. North Carolina plays at Georgia Tech on ESPN as a 9-point road favorite with an over/under of 152.5. Villanova hosts Marquette on FS1 as a 1.5-point favorite, with a total of 143. TCU plays at home against Texas Tech on ESPN2 as a 4.5-point favorite with an over/under of 149. St. Bonaventure is at home against VCU on the CBS Sports Network as a 4-point favorite with a total of 137. Five NCAAB games begin at 9 p.m. ET. Kansas hosts Oklahoma State on ESPN as a 16-point favorite with an over/under of 145.5. Colorado State plays at home against San Diego State on the CBS Sports Network as a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 141.5. North Carolina State is at home against Miami (FL) on ESPN2 as a 4-point favorite with an over/under of 154. Michigan State hosts Michigan on Peacock as a 12-point favorite, with a total of 145.5. Seton Hall visits DePaul on FS1 as a 10-point road favorite with an over/under of 139.5. Gonzaga plays at home against Loyola-Marymount on ESPN at 11 p.m. ET as a 16-point favorite with a total of 152.5. Matchweek 22 in the English Premier League starts with five matches. Arsenal plays at Nottingham Forest at 2:30 p.m. ET as a -1.5 goal-line road favorite with an over/under of 3 (all soccer odds from BetMGM). Two more EPL matches begin at 2:4 p.m. ET. Everton is at Fulham in a pick ‘em match with a total of 2.5. Brighton and Hove Albion travel to Luton Town as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with an over/under of 3. Crystal Palace is at home against Sheffield United as a -1 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5. Aston Villa is at home against Newcastle United on the USA Network at 3:15 p.m. ET as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 3.

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Mountain West Conference Title Contenders

by Nelly's Sports

Monday, Jan 29, 2024

The Mountain West had a breakthrough season last year, putting four teams in the NCAA Tournament. Three of those teams lost their first games in the bracket to add to a miserable recent history for the league in the postseason but San Diego State made it all the way to the title game as a #5 seed to put credibility on the league. The Mountain West wound up rated better than the ACC and AAC last season and this season it appears to have the potential to be a multi-bid league again with a deep group of quality teams, currently featuring seven teams that rank as top 100 squads. The conference season is rather young with most teams having played only seven games, here is a look at the top contenders in the Mountain West for the 2023-24 season:  UTAH STATE: Utah State is the leader in the conference with a 6-1 start, but they lost by 13 at New Mexico and needed overtime for the win over Boise State. Danny Sprinkle is in his first season leading the program after taking Montana State to the NCAA Tournament the past two seasons and so far, he has held up the high standard Ryan Odom has left the past two seasons with the Aggies winning 26 games last season. This year’s team played a tougher non-conference schedule than it looks as while there are no top 50 wins, the Aggies consistently played decent quality teams and only played two games outside the top 250. Both meetings with San Diego State are still to come on the schedule as it is hard to see the Aggies maintaining the top position in the standings, so far facing the 8th most difficult path among the 11 teams. Utah State will only play Nevada once and has defeated UNLV in the only meeting this season in the unbalanced MWC draw.   NEW MEXICO: With five straight wins including a few convincing results, New Mexico is making noise as possibly the team to beat in the conference. The two early January losses came to middle-of-the-pack squads however and with the ultra-fast pace of play, cold shooting spells can happen. New Mexico is also surprisingly poor free throw shooting team. The current five-game winning streak includes notable wins over San Diego State, Utah State, and Nevada, but all three of those big wins were at home. New Mexico is just 2-2 S/U in conference road games, losing to Colorado State and UNLV. The two teams that New Mexico plays just once in the conference path are San Jose State and Fresno State, possibly the worst two teams in the conference, as if Richard Pitino’s squad delivers the title, they will do so through one of the most difficult paths in the league. In the early season numbers, the Lobos have the #2 offense and the #2 defense but the season’s final four road games will all be difficult tests as it won’t be a shock if this groups slips from contention by the end of the season.  SAN DIEGO STATE: After making it to the Final Four and the national title game last season, San Diego State has a tough act to follow. Brian Dutcher’s team has four losses already including two road losses in conference play and the Aztecs are yet to defeat any of the top contenders in the current MWC standings. San Diego State should be set for another NCAA Tournament bid however doing great work in a difficult non-conference campaign that including three wins vs. Pac-12 teams plus wins over Saint Mary’s and Gonzaga. The Aztecs could fall short of the league title this season as they will face six of the next seven games vs. the top tier of the conference and the overall draw will be one of the toughest as they face Air Force and Wyoming just once each while doubling up on all the top teams.   BOISE STATE: Boise State’s inclusion in the NCAA Tournament last season was a bit controversial and the Broncos saw an early exit in a 7-10 game vs. Northwestern after finishing in a tie for second place in the MWC standings. This year’s team has lost six games already, but all have been top 100 results. A concern for the Broncos is that both losses in a 5-2 MWC start have come at home. Boise State does have quality league wins already defeating Colorado State, Nevada, and San Diego State, and the Broncos picked up four top 100 non-conference wins as the overall strength of schedule rates strongly for Boise State. The Broncos don’t have the most favorable draw as they have just a single match with Wyoming and lost the lone meeting with UNLV already. The next three road games are at New Mexico, at Colorado State, and at Utah State, as Boise State is more likely to slip to near .500 in league play than to climb to the top in the next two weeks. This is a squad that could climb back into contention late in the season, however. Boise State’s defense has been MWC Championship caliber this season, but this has been one of the worst shooting teams so far in conference play.   WYOMING: With a ranking in the 180s, Wyoming is out of place on this list but with recent home wins over Nevada and Colorado State, the Cowboys are 4-3 and in fifth place in the current standings. Wyoming does not have a road win this season and lost three non-conference games outside the nation’s top 200 as this is not a NCAA Tournament team without a MWC Tournament title. Wyoming has looked like a team that can make some noise as an upset threat in the conference season however, particularly at home. In early February Wyoming hosts New Mexico and Utah State and with only one meeting with San Diego State already out of the way, plus only one game with Boise State this season, Wyoming may finish with a stronger conference record than the overall ratings would predict.   COLORADO STATE: Starting 9-0 and then 12-1 put Colorado State on the map as a serious MWC contender, particularly with an impressive November run that included consecutive wins over Boston College, Creighton, Colorado, and Washington. The Rams also beat New Mexico at home to open league play but have since stumbled with losses in four of the past six games to slip to 3-4 in the standings. One of the losses came at Wyoming while this squad also barely beat Air Force and UNLV in recent home games. The Rams host San Diego State this week and still have both meetings with the Aztecs remaining. The offense has good overall numbers, but the shooting percentages have fallen considerably since conference play started. Colorado State has one of the worst schedules in the conference as they play Fresno State and San Jose State just once each and will face a gauntlet of tough games in late February as a once firm position in the NCAA Tournament field may get tested down the stretch for the Rams.   NEVADA: With losses in four of the past five games Nevada’s season is slipping away as the Wolf Pack were once 15-1. Nevada didn’t play a great non-conference schedule but did pick up meaningful wins over Washington, TCU, and Georgia Tech. The conference path so far has been difficult but a break in the schedule is only having to play Utah State once this season. The past three losses have all been road games as a home heavy stretch of games in early February could get the Wolf Pack back on the map in the conference race, though Sunday’s 89-55 loss to New Mexico was not encouraging. Nevada lost by 25 in a First Four game last season as if Steve Alford’s team winds up on the bubble again they may not get the benefit of the doubt.   UNLV: UNLV isn’t on pace to match last season’s solid 19-13 season sitting at just 10-9 but the Rebels have drawn the most difficult MWC path at this point in the season and have held their own. The Rebels have wins over New Mexico and Boise State and losses to Utah State and Colorado State came by slim margins. UNLV had a stunning home loss in late January to Air Force by 32 points, simply one of the more bizarre results of the season with UNLV a double-digit favorite in that game. UNLV’s conference path includes facing Utah State and Boise State just once each, with a split in those difficult games already out of the way. UNLV will face the lesser teams in the conference in six of the next nine games as this is a squad that is likely to wind up with a winning conference record and shouldn’t be ruled out as a sleeper to climb into contention. The offensive numbers are appealing for the Rebels with a low turnover rate and strong inside scoring results with an experienced roster for Kevin Kruger. UNLV beat Creighton in December for a prominent non-conference win, but the program has a lot of work to do to boost its postseason resume already having three losses outside the nation’s top 100.  

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Big West Conference Title Contenders

by Nelly's Sports

Monday, Jan 29, 2024

The Big West is reaching the halfway point of the 2023-24 conference season with every team having completed at least nine of 20 conference games. UC Irvine and UC Santa Barbara both finished 15-5 last season and there is a tie in the standings this season as well with UC Irvine and UC San Diego both starting 8-1 in league play. UC Davis, UC Santa Barbara, and Long Beach State are the only other teams with winning records so far in league play. Here is a look at the five top contenders in the Big West conference race:  UC IRVINE: UC Irvine won the first head-to-head pairing with UC San Diego in Mid-January 76-65, rallying from an early deficit but the Anteaters will have to play at UC San Diego in late February. So far Russell Turner’s squad has played one of the weakest schedules in the conference so far to contribute to the great defensive numbers. UC Irvine has only played one of the top five teams in the current standings on the road and the result was the team’s only conference loss, falling at UC Davis. Close wins have been the norm as UC Irvin, who has not won a Big West game by more than 11 points. The offense has had turnover issues and is a mediocre shooting team as the door could open in the conference race with UC Irvine facing road games in three of the next four, including a tough game at UC Santa Barbara next week.   UC SAN DIEGO: This only the fourth season as a Division I program for UC San Diego, and this was a 10-20 team last season that went 5-13 in Big West play. Eric Olen’s squad has shown dramatic improvement, fighting through a four-game losing streak in non-conference play to turn things around with a great 8-1 start in Big West play. UC San Diego has only lost at home once all season and that was by one-point to San Diego State as the Tritons will be a threat to keep winning at home with UC Santa Barbara, UC Irvine, and UC Davis all still yet to visit La Jolla. UC San Diego has a very low turnover rate and strong shooting numbers all over the floor as currently the top offensive team in the Big West by a wide margin, even while playing a more difficult schedule than the other top contenders in the standings so far as the Tritons should have some staying power in this race.   UC DAVIS: UC Davis sits just behind the top two teams at 7-2. UC Davis did hand UC Irvine its only defeat, but it has been a series split as UC Davis lost in overtime at UC Irvine. The loss to UC San Diego was not competitive with a stunning 92-59 home loss last weekend to immediately erase the big win over UC Irvine. UC Davis has three conference wins by 20 or more points, and this has been a good defensive team, forcing turnovers at a high rate and featuring the best 3-point defense in Big West play allowing just below 29 percent shooting beyond the arc. UC Davis will be on the road in three of the next four including a trip to Santa Barbara and a trip to Hawaii as the Aggies may not remain a top threat in the Big West race. Six of nine games so far in the conference path have been home games so far for UC Davis, who will also close the season playing four of the final five on the road.   UC SANTA BARBARA: UC Santa Barbara may be lurking as a sleeper in the race after starting 0-3 in its bid to follow-up last season’s great 15-5 Big West campaign. The Gauchos have turned things around winning five of the past six including a win hosting Long Beach State and last week’s win at Hawaii by double-digits. This is the #1 effective field goal rate team in the conference and has appealing numbers in many areas with a major exception in turnovers, as UC Santa Barbara ranks last in turnover rate in the Big West on both sides of the ball. That is a bit of an oddity as Joe Pasternack’s offense had the lowest turnover rate in the conference last season and four of this year’s starters were on that team. UC Santa Barbara has not played a difficult conference schedule so far as they are yet to play either meeting with UC Irvine while going 0-2 vs. UC Davis and UC San Diego with the second meetings coming up in February. Three of the next four conference games are at home for the Gauchos as it will be a big first 10 days of February to determine if UC Santa Barbara will again be a threat in the conference race.   LONG BEACH STATE: Of the top five teams in the conference standings, Long Beach State has faced the toughest schedule with five of nine league games on the road including some of the more difficult tests. The Beach are 0-3 vs. the top three teams in the standings as this hasn’t looked like a group that can rise to the top of the pack. Long Beach State as usual took on a difficult non-conference schedule and did pick up notable wins over Michigan and USC as this group may have a higher ceiling than the current trajectory suggests. Long Beach State is always a difficult matchup as one of the fastest tempo teams in the nation and Dan Monson has delivered 11 winning seasons in Big West play since taking over in the 2007-08 season. If the outside shooting numbers pick up, Long Beach State has a chance to climb back into the race, particularly with a favorable February schedule that will feature only two of the next eight games against the top five in the standings.  

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Fatigue Factor: How To Handle 2 Games In 2 Days

by Will Rogers

Monday, Jan 29, 2024

The long and busy NBA season provides numerous situations where one team is playing its second game in as many days. Knowing how to handle these back-to-back spots can be the key to a profitable season. All else being equal, a rested team will generally outperform a team playing with no rest. It's not as easy as just blindly betting on the rested team though. We need to look at a lot of other factors. Sometimes the best value comes from actually playing on the team with no rest. Knowing the answers to the following questions is a good place to start. Was the first leg of the back-to-back a win or a loss? Different teams react differently. Was the first leg of the back-to-back an "emotional" game against a division rival? Or, was it a less significant game against a non-conference opponent? Did the starters log heavy minutes in a close (Overtime?) game? Or, were they able to check out of the game early, due to it being a blowout? It's also important to recognize that not all teams react the same way to playing with no rest. Some teams are terrible in that situation while others actually seem to thrive.We can take things deeper. Some teams are fine if playing back-to-back home games OR, if playing a home game followed by an away game. But, they may struggle when playing 2 road games in 2 days. Lastly, remember to also look at totals. Some teams don't have many tendencies toward winning or losing when playing back-to-back games. However, they may tend to play high or low-scoring games.  For example, the Wizards are 7-1 to the under when playing with no rest. Memphis is 6-1 to the under. On the other hand, OKC and Milwaukee have both gone over 6 of 7 times.  Here's a list of how the teams have been doing, when playing the second of back-to-back games. (Stats are up to January 29th.) RECORDS WITH NO REST ATLANTA SU: 2-6  ATS: 1-7   O/U: 4-3-1BOSTON SU: 6-2. ATS: 5-3  O/U: 4-4BROOKLYN SU: 2-4  ATS: 2-3=1  O/U: 4-2CHARLOTTE SU: 1-6  ATS: 4-3.  O/U: 4-3CHICAGO SU: 3-5   ATS: 3-5   O/U: 4-4CLEVELAND SU: 2-4   ATS: 3-3  O/U: 4-2DALLAS SU: 4-4  ATS: 4-4  O/U: 5-3DENVER SU: 6-3. ATS: 3-6.  O/U: 5-4DETROIT SU: 2-6. ATS: 4-4. O/U: 5-3GOLDEN STATE SU: 5-3  ATS: 5-3. O/U: 6-2HOUSTON SU: 2-7  ATS: 5-4. O/U: 5-4INDIANA SU: 2-7  ATS: 2-7  O/U: 4-5LA CLIPPERS SU: 4-3   ATS: 4-3. O/U: 4-3LA LAKERS SU: 2-5. ATS: 1-5-1. O/U: 4-3MEMPHIS SU: 1-6  ATS: 3-4 O/U: 1-6MIAMI SU: 2-4  ATS: 1-4-1   O/U: 3-3MILWAUKEE SU: 6-1   ATS: 4-3   O/U: 6-1MINNESOTA SU: 3-2.  ATS: 2-3. O/U: 4-1NEW ORLEANS SU: 3-4. ATS: 4-3. O/U: 5-2NEW YORK SU: 4-5. ATS: 3-6. O/U: 4-5OKLAHOMA CITY SU: 5-2  ATS: 5-2. O/U: 6-1ORLANDO SU: 2-7  ATS:  4-5. O/U: 4-4-1PHILADELPHIA SU: 4-4  ATS: 4-4. O/U: 3-5PHOENIX SU: 5-2  ATS: 3-4. O/U: 5-2PORTLAND SU: 5-3  ATS:  6-2  O/U: 2-6SACRAMENTO SU: 2-4. ATS: 1-5. O/U: 2-4SAN ANTONIO SU: 2-5. ATS: 3-4. O/U: 5-2 TORONTO SU: 2-6  ATS: 3-5  O/U: 5-3UTAH SU: 4-4. ATS: 4-4  O/U: 5-2-1WASHINGTON SU: 0-8. ATS: 4-4  O/U: 1-7

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Around The Horn In The NBA

by AAA Sports

Monday, Jan 29, 2024

No one is really sure who said it first, but it’s often traced back to former Eagles/Broncos safety Brian Dawkins, who didn’t miss a lot of games in his career: “The best ability is availability.”NBA players and their enabler bosses spat on that statement in recent years, forcing the league to make it painful for teams to rest stars. The league’s new policies regarding post-season awards have gone a long way toward eliminating load management, and it just might give one of its brightest lights a chance at winning a second consecutive MVP trophy.Joel Embiid has played in 33 of Philadelphia’s 44 games heading into Monday night’s action at Portland, and one of those games was a 70-point (plus 18 rebounds) monster that helped change the betting odds. Beating even Wilt Chamberlain’s team scoring record (the Stilt’s best was 68) moved Embiid into the MVP favorite spot at +200.But  . . . there is the small matter of qualifying. Injuries and rest have caused Embiid to miss 11 games – or 25 percent of Philadelphia’s games this season. At that same rate, he would miss another nine or 10 of the remaining 38 games, which would make him ineligible for the MVP Iron.And don’t forget this. Embiid is a very large man and lugs a lot of weight up and down the court more than a hundred times every game. If the Sixers are going to make a deep playoff run, Embiid will have to play big-time minutes in April and May, times when he has run out of gas in the past. So do the Sixers put him on the court enough to keep him in the MVP hunt, or do they take a page out of Kawhi Leonard’s book and keep him locked and loaded for games in April, May, and maybe June?And now that the word is out, will the MVP voters factor in games played when they cast their votes? It’s interesting to note that Embiid’s major competition for the award (Denver stud Nikola Jokic +210), has played in all 46 of his team’s games this season.The Rookie of the Year will be either San Antonio big man Victor Wembanyama or Oklahoma City forward Chet Holmgren, with Wembanyama having the edge in most books despite the Spurs’ journey into the lottery and the Thunder’s rise to the top of the Western Conference. One outlier book, though (MGM), actually gives a slight edge to Holmgren.The Celtics remain the consensus favorite to win the NBA title, with most books having them at around +300. But lots of eyes have been opened by the Celtics’ losses to Denver and the Clippers. Boston was 20-0 at home before the Nuggets edged them by a bucket, and then last Saturday the Clippers came into Boston and dropped the hammer on the Celts (the final margin was 19 but the lead was 36 before Boston’s key players were pulled).File this one under the category of what always happens to a fool and his money. Just before Christmas, Draft Kings offered +100,000 odds that the Detroit Pistons, then buried in a 25-game losing streak, would not win a game for the rest of the season. Someone actually took a $40 flyer on that offer. Detroit lost three more games before the bettor had to tear up the ticket when the Pistons eked out a two-point victory – their third of the year – over Toronto. The Pistons are now 6-40 (.150 winning percentage, and would have to go 2-34 (.058 winning percentage) the rest of the way to break the mark for the worst record in NBA history – 9-73, set by the 1972-73 Philadelphia 76ers.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, and NCAAB Previews and Odds - 01/29/2024

by Big Al Staff

Monday, Jan 29, 2024

The Monday sports card features NBA, NHL, and NCAAB action. The National Basketball Association has 12 games on its docket. Two NBA games tip off at 7:10 p.m. ET. The New York Knicks travel to Charlotte to play the Hornets as a 7.5-point road favorite, with the total set at 223.5 (all odds from DraftKings). The Los Angeles Clippers play in Cleveland against the Cavaliers as a 2.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 225.5. Three NBA games start at 7:40 p.m. ET. The Boston Celtics host the New Orleans Pelicans as an 8-point favorite with a total of 232.5. The Utah Jazz are in Brooklyn to play the Nets in a pick ‘em matchup with an over/under of 233.5. The Miami Heat play at home against the Phoenix Suns as a 4-point favorite with a total of 229.5. Four NBA games begin at 8:10 p.m. ET. The Los Angeles Lakers visit Houston to play the Rockets as a 1-point road favorite with an over/under of 227. The Sacramento Kings play in Memphis against the Grizzlies as an 8-point road favorite with a total of 225.5. The Oklahoma City Thunder are at home against the Minnesota Timberwolves as a 2.5-point favorite with an over/under of 224.5. The San Antonio Spurs host the Washington Capitals as a 4-point favorite with a total of 240.5. The Dallas Mavericks host the Orlando Magic at 8:40 p.m. ET as a 5.5-point favorite with an over/under of 228.5. The Denver Nuggets play at home against the Milwaukee Bucks at 9:10 p.m. ET as a 4-point favorite with a total of 239.5. The Philadelphia 76ers are in Portland to play against the Trail Blazers at 10:10 p.m. ET as a 9-point road favorite with an over/under of 224.5.The National Hockey League has one game on its slate. The Ottawa Senators are at home against the Nashville Predators at 7:07 p.m. ET as a -112 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5.The college basketball schedule has four games on national television. Two games on national television begin at 7 p.m. ET. Duke visits Virginia Tech on ESPN. The Blue Devils come off a 72-71 victory against Clemson last Monday. The Hokies are on a three-game winning streak after their 91-67 victory against Georgia Tech on Saturday. Duke is a 3.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 146.Boston University plays at Holy Cross on the CBS Sports Network. The Terriers ended a three-game losing streak with a 62-48 victory at  Lafayette on Saturday. The Crusaders lost their second game in a row with their 78-72 loss to Lehigh on Saturday. Boston University is a 4-point road favorite with a total of 135.5.Two more NCAAB games are on national television at 9 p.m. ET. Houston is at Texas on ESPN. The Cougars are on a four-game winning streak after their 74-52 victory against Kansas State as a 15-point favorite on Saturday. The Longhorns had won two games in a row before their 84-73 loss at BYU as a 7.5-point underdog on Saturday. Houston is a 5-point road favorite with an over/under of 129.Bethune Cookman hosts Alcorn State on ESPN2. The Wildcats won for the third time in their last four games in an 82-74 upset victory against Jackson State as a 3.5-point underdog on Saturday. The Braves are on a two-game winning streak after their 76-67 victory at Florida A&M as a 2.5-point favorite on Saturday. Bethune Cookman is a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 152.5.

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NBA System of the Week

by Al McMordie

Sunday, Jan 28, 2024

Scoring is way up in the NBA compared to past seasons.  Indiana leads the league with a 124.9 scoring average, with MIlwaukee close behind at 124.5. Likewise, there are more blowouts than usual, as the NBA is on pace to set a record for games with 30-point (or greater) margins of victory (the current record is 79).One of the things I like to do as a handicapper is fade certain teams off high-scoring wins.  Let's take a look at an NBA system which does just that.What we want to do is play against any NBA road team which is coming off a blowout win by more than 15 points, if it scored at least 135 in that victory, and was not getting 10+ points in its current game.These teams have combined to go 91-125-3 ATS since 1990 (42.1%).Tomorrow night, we have a play from this angle, as the Milwaukee Bucks will be in Denver to play the Nuggets.  And the Bucks won their previous game at home, 141-117, vs. the New Orleans Pelicans, on Saturday.And although there's nothing wrong with a 58% ATS system, we will have even more ammunition to play on the Nuggets on Monday.  Consider that the Bucks are a brutal 1-22 ATS their last 23 as underdogs of more than 1 points, when they've owned a W/L percentage of .650 (or higher).  Look for Nikola Jokic & Co. to take care of business on Monday.Good luck, as always...Al McMordie.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NFL, NBA, NHL and NCAAB Previews and Odds - 01/28/2024

by Big Al Staff

Sunday, Jan 28, 2024

The Sunday sports card features NFL, NBA, NHL, and NCAAB action. The National Football League continues the postseason with its two conference championship games. The Baltimore Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs on CBS at 3 p.m. ET in the AFC Championship Game. The Ravens won for the seventh time in their last eight games with their 34-10 victory against Houston as a 10-point favorite last Saturday. The Chiefs are on a four-game winning streak after their 27-24 upset victory at Buffalo as a 2.5-point favorite last Sunday. Baltimore is a 4.5-point favorite, with the total set at 44.5 (all odds from DraftKings). The San Francisco 49ers play at home against the Detroit Lions on Fox at 6:30 p.m. ET in the NFC Championship Game. The 49ers won for the second time in their last three games in a 24-21 victory against Green Bay as a 10.5-point favorite on Saturday. The Lions won for the fifth time in their last six games with a 31-23 victory at home against Tampa Bay as a 6-point favorite on Sunday. San Francisco is a 7-point favorite with an over/under of 51.5.  The National Basketball Association has five games on its docket. The Oklahoma City Thunder travel to Detroit to play the Pistons at 2:10 p.m. ET as a 13-point road favorite with a total of 240. The Indiana Pacers are at home against the Memphis Grizzlies at 3:40 p.m. ET as a 9-point favorite with an over/under of 233.5. Two NBA games tip off at 6:10 p.m. ET. The Atlanta Hawks host the Toronto Raptors as a 6-point favorite with a total of 237. The Phoenix Suns play in Orlando against the Magic as a 1.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 228.5. The Chicago Bulls are in Portland against the Trail Blazers at 9:10 p.m. ET as a 6.5-point road favorite with a total of 216.5. The National Hockey League has two games on its slate. The Los Angeles Kings visit St. Louis to play the Blues at 2:07 p.m. ET as a -155 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Seattle Kraken play at home against the Columbus Blue Jackets at 9:07 p.m. ET as a -218 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The college basketball schedule has seven games on national television. Connecticut is at home against Xavier on FS1 at noon ET as an 11-point favorite with an over/under of 149. Two more NCAAB games on national television tip off at 1 p.m. ET. Purdue plays at Rutgers on Fox as a 10-point road favorite with a total of 140. Florida Atlantic hosts North Texas on ESPN2 as a 9.5-point favorite with an over/under of 133. SMU is at Wichita State on ESPN2 at 3 p.m. ET as a 5-point road favorite with a total of 146.5. Two more NCAAB games on national television start at 5 p.m. ET. Memphis travels to UAB on ESPN as a 4-point road favorite with an over/under of 159. East Carolina plays at home against Temple on ESPN2 as a 6.5-point favorite with a total of 137.5. New Mexico is at home against Nevada on FS1 at 10 p.m. ET as an 8-point favorite with an over/under of 153.5. 

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL and NCAAB Previews and Odds - 01/27/2024

by Big Al Staff

Saturday, Jan 27, 2024

The Saturday sports card features NBA, NHL, and NCAAB action. The National Basketball Association has ten games on its docket. The Detroit Pistons host the Washington Wizards at 12:10 p.m. ET as a 2.5-point favorite, with the total set at 243.5 (all odds from DraftKings). The New York Knicks play at home against the Miami Heat on ABC at 3:10 p.m. ET as a 5-point favorite with an over/under of 217. The Denver Nuggets are at home against the Philadelphia 76ers on ABC at 5:40 p.m. ET as a 4.5-point favorite with a total of 229.5. The Brooklyn Nets host the Houston Rockets at 6:10 p.m. ET as a 5-point favorite with an over/under of 218.5. Two NBA games tip off at 7:10 p.m. ET. The Boston Celtics play at home against the Los Angeles Clippers as a 7-point favorite with a total of 234.5. The Utah Jazz travel to Charlotte to play the Hornets as a 10-point road favorite with an over/under of 237. The Milwaukee Bucks are at home against the New Orleans Pelicans as a 5-point favorite with a total of 241. Two NBA games start at 8:40 p.m. ET. The Minnesota Timberwolves play in San Antonio against the Spurs as a 10.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 228. The Golden State Warriors host the Los Angeles Lakers on ABC as a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 239.5. The Sacramento Kings are in Dallas to play the Mavericks at 9:10 p.m. ET as a 2-point road favorite with an over/under of 242. The National Hockey League has 14 games on its slate. The Boston Bruins visit the Philadelphia Flyers at 12:37 p.m. ET as a -162 money-line road favorite with a total of 6. The Dallas Stars play at home against the Washington Capitals at 2:07 p.m. ET as a -238 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6. Two more NHL games drop the puck at 4:07 p.m. ET. The Buffalo Sabres play in San Jose against the Sharks as a -192 money-line road favorite with a total of 6. The Edmonton Oilers are at home against the Nashville Predators as a -205 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. Five NHL games begin at 7:07 p.m. ET. The Winnipeg Jets host the Toronto Maple Leafs as a -130 money-line favorite with a total of 6. The Carolina Hurricanes play at home against the Arizona Coyotes as a -250 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6. The New York Rangers are in Ottawa to play the Senators as a -125 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The Pittsburgh Penguins are at home against the Montreal Canadiens as a -238 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Tampa Bay Lightning host the New Jersey Devils as a -155 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Florida Panthers travel to New York to play the Islanders at 7:37 p.m. ET as a -135 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6. The Detroit Red Wings play at home against the Vegas Golden Knights at 8:07 p.m. ET as a -130 money-line favorite with a total of 6. The Minnesota Wild are at home against the Anaheim Ducks at 9:07 p.m. ET as a -205 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.Two more games conclude the NHL card at 10:07 p.m. ET. The Vancouver Canucks host the Columbus Blue Jackets as a -298 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Calgary Flames play at home against the Chicago Blackhawks as a -298 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.The college basketball schedule has 14 games on major national television. Two NCAAB games on major national television tip-off at noon ET. Houston is at home against Kansas State on ESPN as a 15-point favorite with a total of 128.5. Florida hosts Georgia on ESPN2 as a 7.5-point favorite with an over/under of 166.5. Providence plays at home against Georgetown on Fox at 12:30 p.m. ET as an 11.5-point favorite with a total of 142. Iowa State is at home against Kansas on CBS at 1:30 p.m. ET as a 5-point favorite with an over/under of 150.5. BYU hosts Texas on ESPN2 at 2 p.m. ET as a 7-point favorite with a total of 150.5. Illinois plays at home against Indiana on Fox at 3 p.m. ET as a 14-point favorite with an over/under of 154.5. Two more NCAAB games on major national television start at 4 p.m. ET. Duke is at home against Clemson on ESPN as a 7.5-point favorite with a total of 150.5. Baylor hosts TCU on ESPN2 as a 4.5-point favorite with an over/under of 151. Arizona plays at Oregon on Fox at 5:30 p.m. ET as a 3.5-point road favorite with a total of 158. Two more NCAAB games on major national television start at 6 p.m. ET. Kentucky is at Arkansas on ESPN as a 6.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 164. Appalachian State plays at home against James Madison on ESPN2 as a 1.5-point favorite with a total of 145.5. Two NCAAB games on major national television start at 8 p.m. ET. USC is at home against UCLA on ESPN2 as a 2.5-point favorite with an over/under of 136. Alabama hosts LSU on ESPN as a 13-point favorite, with a total of 161. Utah is at Washington on ESPN2 at 10 p.m. ET as a 1-point road favorite with an over/under of 157.5.

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The Championship Games 2024: Chiefs vs Ravens and Lions vs 49ers.

by Wayne Root

Friday, Jan 26, 2024

As the NFL playoffs move toward their ultimate destination — the 58th playing of the Super Bowl contest — the remaining four participants are bracing for upcoming action on Sunday, Jan. 28. Just because we've reached the conference championships doesn't mean these contenders are devoid of lingering concerns. Here are the biggest questions facing each of the four teams still in the mix for the Super Bowl: After a thrilling weekend of football, the Conference Championship games are set in the NFL playoffs. On the NFC side the San Francisco 49ers, after surviving an upset threat from the Green Bay Packers, will play host to the Detroit Lions. In the AFC, the Baltimore Ravens will host an AFC Championship Game for the first time in franchise history. Standing in their way of Super Bowl 58 are the Kansas City Chiefs. Here’s the full schedule for the NFC Championship and AFC Championship. I don’t know whether the Ravens, 49ers, Lions, and Chiefs were the four best teams in the NFL this season, but they were certainly four of the league’s most interesting teams to follow, for a variety of reasons. Kansas City dared to ask how many roster holes could be covered up by an elite quarterback. The 49ers are starting Mr. Irrelevant at the most important position in sports while spending on positions that don’t matter (or so we’ve been told). The Ravens have dominated the league with two coordinators who were coaching college kids 24 months ago. And the Lions rode an offense whose most recognizable player is Jared Goff to a stage they haven’t seen in over 30 years. Here’s what we know.  AFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME There’s something off about the Kansas City Chiefs. But as we saw in the Wild Card round, Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes have shown they can immediately snap out of their funk. There was never a real threat to the AFC West division winners since 2016. Kansas City still needs to learn which receivers they can rely on before returning to being one of the best teams in the NFL, but with Rashee Rice’s emergence, they might have enough ammo on hand.There's no denying Kansas City has flipped a switch down the stretch. Patrick Mahomes has settled in while leaning almost exclusively on the trio of Travis Kelce, Isiah Pacheco and emergent rookie Rashee Rice. For the third time in four years, the Chiefs ended the Bills' Super Bowl hopes in the playoffs. For the sixth time in six years, Kansas City is back in the AFC Championship game. Since taking over as the Chiefs' starter in 2018, quarterback Patrick Mahomes has still never ended a season without a divisional round win. The Baltimore Ravens are a different breed when it comes to defense, at least compared to the Bills and Dolphins. No team's surrendered fewer points this year, and stalwarts like Roquan Smith swarm to the ball. Baltimore overcame a bit of a rocky start to beat rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud and the Houston Texans, 34-10. Ravens quarterback and likely NFL MVP Lamar Jackson finished with 152 passing yards, two passing touchdowns, 100 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns. Jackson obviously has the legs to avoid trouble, but he'll likely need more than a few electric scrambles to outlast Mahomes and Co. Tight end Mark Andrews' anticipated return should also help as Todd Monken's attack looks to apply pressure to K.C. out of the gate. Another reason a hot start is imperative for Baltimore: Not so dissimilar to the 49ers, this is a team well-positioned to maintain a lead. Jackson is part of an always-strong rushing group that's capable of burning clock and controlling the ball, and the Roquan Smith-led defense has the firepower and flexibility to chip in on the other side. What if Rice is blanketed on the perimeter? Are Kelce and Pacheco, who thrive more as grind-it-out chain-movers than field-stretchers, capable of carrying the day? It's possible. But for much of 2023, remember, Mahomes' chief issue was simply finding a reliable outlet when he needed one. The Ravens could inflame that. Baltimore cruised to a 34-10 win over the Texans, but only after an uneven first half that saw Houston hang around while sending the blitz on MVP favorite Lamar Jackson. There may not be as much grace afforded by the Chiefs' defense, which is arguably the toughest of the Patrick Mahomes era. K.C. has more sacks than every team except Baltimore, and its pressure rate -- 27.8% -- ranks second in the NFL, with Chris Jones and George Karlaftis leading the way in the trenches. This is definitely a matchup the NFL loves.  NFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME It took a fourth-quarter comeback against the NFC's bottom seed, but the 49ers are on the doorstep of the Super Bowl for a second season in a row. Running back Christian McCaffrey gashed the Packers' defense for 98 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries (5.8 yards per carry). It's worth noting San Francisco may be without standout receiver Deebo Samuel, who left the divisional round game early with a shoulder injury. Will Samuel be at full speed? Can Purdy build off a calmer finish to his otherwise erratic outing? And will Shanahan stop bending conservative in key spots? We all know this contender has the all-star talent to win it all, but time and again, they've suggested they're built to play from ahead, not the other way around. Prodding at San Francisco for barely escaping a Packers comeback feels a bit like nitpicking; this is still a 13-5 team (including playoffs) with enviable infrastructure, including a coach in Kyle Shanahan who's now been to four NFC title games in five years. But anyone with eyes could see that young quarterback Brock Purdy was more finnicky than usual against Green Bay. Whether it was due primarily to the rainy conditions, the absence of a healthy Deebo Samuel or pressure from the Jordan Love-led Pack isn't entirely relevant. Because whatever you think of the Lions, Detroit is destined to make the NFC title clash a fight. Can it be a Cinderella run for a team that won 12 regular season games? Detroit is the biggest feel-good team of these playoffs after a 31-23 divisional round win over Tampa Bay. Lions quarterback Jared Goff out-dueled Buccaneers signal-caller Baker Mayfield in an exciting clash between the two former No. 1 picks. At this point, few actually doubt Goff's ability to play top-level ball in the cozy confines of Ford Field. But away from home, the QB's been significantly less comfortable and/or effective. The same can be said of his production -- or lack thereof -- when pressured; his nine interceptions against pressure rank second worst among all QBs this year. But they've still got a tenacious defense headlined by opportunistic vets like Fred Warner, heightening the stakes. Now, the 49ers haven't been nearly as dominant as expected up front and off the edge, failing to sack Jordan Love even once in the wild-card round. And with center Frank Ragnow banged up at the heart of Detroit's line, all eyes will be on Goff's pocket and his composure within it. Will it be the solid favorite in the oddsmakers eyes or the solid favorite in the eyes of the public? We shall see. 

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, and NCAAB Previews and Odds - 01/26/2024

by Big Al Staff

Friday, Jan 26, 2024

The Friday sports card features NBA, NHL, and NCAAB action. The National Basketball Association has eight games on its docket. Three NBA games tip off at 7:10 p.m. ET. The Dallas Mavericks travel to Atlanta to play the Hawks as a 2-point road favorite, with the total set at 243.5 (all odds from DraftKings). The Houston Rockets play in Charlotte against the Hornets as a 5-point road favorite with an over/under of 224.5. The Phoenix Suns are in Indiana to play the Pacers as a 4.5-point road favorite with a total of 243. The Los Angeles Clippers visit Toronto to play the Raptors at 7:40 p.m. ET as a 7.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 233.5. Three NBA games start at 8:10 p.m. ET. The Orlando Magic play in Memphis against the Grizzlies as a 5-point road favorite with a total of 213. The Milwaukee Bucks host the Cleveland Cavaliers as a 5.5-point favorite with an over/under of 237. The New Orleans Pelicans play at home against the Oklahoma City Thunder as a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 240.5. The San Antonio Spurs are at home against the Portland Trail Blazers as a 2.5-point favorite with an over/under of 231.5. The National Hockey League has four games on its slate. Two NHL games drop the puck at 7:07 p.m. ET. The Florida Panthers are in Pittsburgh to play the Penguins as a -122 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The New York Rangers host the Vegas Golden Knights on ESPN at 7:07 p.m. ET. The Rangers lost for the third time in their last four games in a 3-2 loss at San Jose on Tuesday. The Golden Knights won for the fourth time in their last five games in a 3-2 victory against the New York Islanders on Tuesday. New York is a -155 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.The Colorado Avalanche play at home against the Los Angeles Kings at 9:07 p.m. ET as a -142 money-line favorite with a total of 6. The Seattle Kraken are at home against the St. Louis Blues at 10:07 p.m. ET as a -148 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6. The college basketball schedule has five games on national television. Kent State hosts Ohio on the CBS Sports Network at 6:30 p.m. ET. The Golden Flashes won for the second time in their last three games in a 90-84 upset victory at Bowling Green as a 1.5-point underdog on Tuesday. The Bobcats had won two games in a row before their 67-58 loss at Akron as an 8-point underdog on Tuesday. Kent State is a 3-point favorite with a total of 149. Niagara plays at home against Marist on ESPNU at 7 p.m. ET. The Purple Eagles lost for the seventh time in their last eight games in a 70-59 loss at Saint Peter’s as a 5.5-point underdog on Sunday. The Red Foxes are on a nine-game losing streak after their 82-75 loss to Fairfield as an 8-point underdog on Sunday. Niagara is a 2.5-point favorite with an over/under of 133.Wisconsin is at home against Michigan State on FS1 at 8 p.m. ET. The Badgers won for the eighth time in their last nine games with a 61-59 victory at Minnesota as a 3.5-point favorite on Tuesday. The Spartans are on a three-game winning streak after a 61-59 upset win at Maryland as a 1-point underdog on Sunday. Wisconsin is a 3-point favorite with a total of 137. St. Bonaventure hosts Saint Joseph’s on ESPN2 at 8:30 p.m. ET. The Bonnies lost for the fourth time in their last five games in a 54-50 loss at Duquesne as a 1-point underdog on Tuesday. The Hawks are on a three-game winning streak after their 78-77 upset victory against Massachusetts as a 3-point underdog on Tuesday. St. Bonaventure is a 2.5-point favorite with an over/under of 144.California plays at home against Stanford on FS1 at 10 p.m. ET. The Golden Bears ended a two-game losing streak with an 81-75 upset victory against Washington State as a 1.5-point underdog on Saturday. The Cardinal won for the third time in their last four games in a 90-80 victory against Washington as a 3-point favorite on Saturday. California is a 2-point favorite with a total of 150.

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