Follow us @bigal_com

Instagram Twitter

Articles

It's Hard to Bet on the Dodgers

by Wayne Root

Friday, Mar 27, 2026

Los Angeles Dodgers (2025 Season Record: 93-69)I, Harvard Hollis Barnhart, was at opening day at the Coliseum in 1958 when the Dodgers lost to the Giants. Since then I root hard for the Dodgers and WAR all over the Yankees. I rarely bet on either. The Dodgers haven’t just won back-to-back World Series titles; they’ve been one of baseball’s most consistent winners for nearly two decades. Since 2006, they’ve had only one losing season and have captured the National League West in 12 of the past 13 years. The Dodgers’ ownership group clearly prioritizes winning, as evidenced by their massive $400 million payroll.I think the NY Yankees have minimalized their payroll. This is bad for baseball. It takes wagering on them nearly impossible. Of course, success on the field tends to translate into financial rewards, so it’s no surprise that has made the Dodgers the betting favorite at +220 odds. But at +220, the oddsmakers have made it unbeatable. There are too many variables that can get in the way. Injuries come to mind first. Their roster is stacked with talent, including 2025 All-Stars Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, and Will Smith, along with stars like Mookie Betts and Max Muncy. They also strengthened the lineup by signing top free agent masher Kyle Tucker to a four-year, $240 million deal. But the upgrades didn’t stop there. Los Angeles added All-Star closer Edwin Díaz in the offseason and already features one of the game’s top pitchers in Yoshinobu Yamamoto.The roster might be the strongest ever assembled but it’s not an automatic bet. In fact, it’s rarely worth betting on LA because of the juice involved. I’ll bet them on the road but even that’s tricky. The oddsmakers don’t want you to bet on them. Consider last year: 93 wins x $100 = 9,300 69 losses x $-150 =-9,660 and you booked a losing season. I feel like it’s a waste of time to bet LA. So I don’t. But many sports bettors do. And they lose most years. Shohei Ohtani is a generational talent who could be the greatest baseball player of all time. That statement borders on blasphemous when reflecting on the pantheon of superstars across the ages. But is he worth laying-230 on his average start?Ohtani captured his fourth MVP Award in the last five seasons, and reports are circulating that he is intent on locking up a Cy Young Award this season. But from a betting perspective, who wants to lay -200 to -260? You have to win three games for every -200 favorite you lose to get even. This roster is loaded, and the pitching may have even improved from last season. The world champions are expected to win over 100 MLB games and are gunning for a three-peat. The oddsmakers believe they have what it takes to get the job done, and only injury and apathy stand in their way.This is a team that also has a track record of success after winning the last two World Series titles. A potent lineup coupled with elite pitching anis a winning combination but without a betting system that’s fair is precisely what the Dodgers possess. And with all of that, I still can’t bet the Dodgers for the most part of the season. 

Read more

Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, NCAAB and MLB Previews and Odds - 03/27/26

by Big Al Staff

Friday, Mar 27, 2026

The Friday sports card features NBA, NHL, NCAAB, and MLB action. The National Basketball League has 10 games on its docket. The Los Angeles Clippers travel to Indiana to play the Pacers at 7:10 p.m. ET as an 8.5-point road favorite with the total set at 237.5 (all odds from DraftKings). Two more NBA games tip off at 7:40 p.m. ET. The Boston Celtics host the Atlanta Hawks as a 4.5-point favorite with an over/under of 224.5. The Cleveland Guardians play at home against the Miami Heat as a 4.5-point favorite with a total of 242.5. Two more NBA games start at 8:10 p.m. ET. The Oklahoma City Thunder are home to play the Chicago Bulls as a 19.5-point favorite with an over/under of 236.5. The Houston Rockets play in Memphis against the Grizzlies as a 12.5-point road favorite with a total of 226.5. The Toronto Raptors host the New Orleans Pelicans at 8:40 p.m. ET as an 8.5-point favorite with an over/under of 228.5. The Denver Nuggets play at home against the Utah Jazz at 9:10 p.m. ET as a 17.5-point favorite with a total of 248.5. Two NBA games begin at 10:10 p.m. ET. The Golden State Warriors are home to take on the Washington Wizards as a 14.5-point favorite with an over/under of 233.5. The Portland Trail Blazers host the Dallas Mavericks as a 10.5-point favorite with a total of 238.5. The Los Angeles Lakers play at home against the Brooklyn Nets at 10:40 p.m. ET as a 16.5-point favorite with an over/under of 221.5. The National Hockey League has two games on its slate. Two NHL games drop the puck at 7:07 p.m. ET. The Buffalo Sabres are home against the Detroit Red Wings as a -155 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The New York Rangers host the Chicago Blackhawks as a -162 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5.The NCAAB college basketball schedule has the final four games of the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament. Duke battles St. John’s at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., on CBS at 7:10 p.m. ET as a 6.5-point favorite with a total of 145.5. Michigan faces Alabama at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, on TBS at 7:35 p.m. ET as an 8.5-point favorite with an over/under of 172.5. UConn takes on Michigan State in Washington, D.C., on CBS at 9:45 p.m. ET as a 1.5-point favorite with a total of 134.5. Iowa State challenges Tennessee in Chicago on TBS at 10:10 p.m. ET as a 3.5-point favorite with a total of 140.5. Major League Baseball has eight games scheduled. The New York Yankees are on the road in San Francisco against the Giants at 4:35 p.m. ET as a -126 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 7.5. The Toronto Blue Jays play at home against the Athletics at 7:07 p.m. ET as a -168 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The Miami Marlins are home against the Colorado Rockies at 7:10 p.m. ET as a -199 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7.5. The Atlanta Braves host the Kansas City Royals at 7:15 p.m. ET as a -143 money-line favorite with a total of 7.5. The Houston Astros play at home against the Los Angeles Angels on Apple TV as a -163 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The San Diego Padres are home to face the Detroit Tigers at 9:40 p.m. ET as a -126 money-line favorite with a total of 7.5. The Seattle Mariners host the Cleveland Guardians on Apple TV at 9:45 p.m. ET as a -171 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7. The Los Angeles Dodgers play at home against the Arizona Diamondbacks at 10:10 p.m. ET with a total of 8.5. 

Read more

UFC Fight Night Picks: (March 28th)

by AAA Sports

Thursday, Mar 26, 2026

The Main Event Last weekend's main event featured two undefeated featherweights in what finished in a majority decision win for Movsar Evloev. The UFC now heads to Seattle, WA for the final weekend of March. Former two time champion of the Middleweight Division, Israel Adesanya (24-5 - Nigeria) will take on surging contender Joe Pyfer (15-3 - United States Of America.) After losing three straight fights against top quality opponents, Adesanya took more than a year away from the octagon. This might be just what he needed to get back to the top of the division once again. 'The Last Stylebender' is as good of a striker that the UFC has ever seen and on his day, he can beat just about anyone. The American currently rides a three fight winning streak and will try to be the fourth consecutive man to knock out the Nigerian born fighter. Nine of Pyfer's 15 career wins have been by KO and he's going to look to make that ten here today. This will be the toughest opponent that he's ever faced. The total of this bout opened at 4.5 rounds, but now has fallen to 3.5, slightly favoring the OVER. Both fighters will be seeking a finish and we're unlikely to see much grappling in this encounter. The UNDER could definitely be in play. The Verdict -- This will more than likely be the fight that decides the remainder of Israel Adesanya's career with the UFC. He's already been to the top multiple times and even though he's on a losing streak, there's always a chance that he could return to his former self and start another winning streak to the top. We're not overlooking Pyfer though as the American could definitely knockout Izzy just like Imavov did. We expect action and we're going to say go with Israel Adesanya or the UNDER in this fight.  The Co Main EventIn what could turn out to be one of the best Women's fights of the whole year, former champion Alexa Grasso (16-5-1 - Mexico) takes on another rising superstar in Maycee Barber (15-2 - United States Of America.) We've had our eyes on this fight all month long and it could definitely turn into an all-time scrap when it's all said and done. Grasso is more of the grappler here, with a win by submission against current champ Valentina Shevchenko. But, the Mexican also has great striking and won't shy away from exchanges on the feet with the American. She's riding a two fight losing streak and would love to get back into the win column. With this fight being held in Seattle, Barber will definitely be the home favorite. Since losing to Grasso back in 2021, she's won seven fights in a row now and will be in prime position to challenge the champion with a win here today. In a three round fight, it's very difficult to see this fight going any other way than a decision. These two women are more than capable of finishing their opponents. But, if we combine their two records, only one of the seven losses that these women have suffered come by way of KO/Sub. The OVER 2.5 is heavily favored. The Verdict -- Obviously when looking at this fight from a total perpespective, you'd probably like the OVER. But, because there's not much value in playing on the total, we're going to pick the winner of this fight. Grasso is five years older and although Barber is fighting with revenge, we think that Grasso's experience against top level fighters throughout the years should give her a slight edge. It's also something to be said about having beaten someone before. Go with Grasso. 

Read more

Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, NCAAB and MLB Previews and Odds - 03/26/26

by Big Al Staff

Thursday, Mar 26, 2026

The Thursday sports card features NBA, NHL, NCAAB, and MLB action. The National Basketball League has three games on its docket that all tip off at 7:10 p.m. ET. The Charlotte Hornets host the New York Knicks as a 1.5-point favorite with the total set at 223.5 (all odds from DraftKings). The Detroit Pistons host the New Orleans Pelicans as a 5.5-point favorite with an over/under of 225.5. The Orlando Magic plays at home against the Sacramento Kings as a 15.5-point favorite with a total of 229.5. The National Hockey League has 13 games on its slate. Six NHL games drop the puck at 7:07 p.m. ET. The Tampa Bay Lightning are home to play the Seattle Kraken as a -290 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Philadelphia Flyers host the Chicago Blackhawks as a -170 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Dallas Stars travel to New York to face the Islanders as a -122 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Montreal Canadiens play at home against the Columbus Blue Jackets as a -118 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Ottawa Senators are home to take on the Pittsburgh Penguins as a -155 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Minnesota Wild play in Florida against the Panthers on ESPN as a -135 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. Three NHL games start at 8:07 p.m. ET. The Colorado Avalanche are on the road to face the Winnipeg Jets as a -185 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The St. Louis Blues host the San Jose Sharks as a -142 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Nashville Predators play at home against the New Jersey Devils as a -115 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. Two NHL games begin at 9:07 p.m. ET. The Anaheim Ducks visit the Calgary Flames as a -142 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The Utah Mammoth are home to challenge the Washington Capitals as a -155 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Vegas Golden Knights host the Edmonton Oilers on ESPN at 9:37 p.m. ET as a -135 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Los Angeles Kings play in Vancouver against the Canucks at 10:07 p.m. ET as a -175 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The NCAAB college basketball schedule has the first four games of the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament. Purdue plays Texas at the SAP Center in San Jose, California, on CBS at 7:10 p.m. ET as a 7.5-point favorite with a total of 147.5. Nebraska faces Iowa in the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas, on TBS at 7:30 p.m. ET as a 1.5-point favorite with an over/under of 131.5. Arizona challenges Arkansas in San Jose on CBS at 9:45 p.m. ET as a 7.5-point favorite with a total of 165.5. Houston takes on Illinois in Houston on TBS at 10:05 p.m. ET as a 2.5-point favorite with an over/under of 140.5. After the season in Major League Baseball debuted last night, the opening day of the MLB regular season has 11 games on its schedule. The New York Mets play at home against the Pittsburgh Pirates on NBC/Peacock at 1:15 p.m. ET as a -118 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Milwaukee Brewers are home to battle the Chicago White Sox at 2:10 p.m. ET as a -186 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. The Chicago Cubs host the Washington Nationals at 2:20 p.m. ET as a -232 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The Baltimore Orioles play at home against the Minnesota Twins at 3:05 p.m. ET as a -143 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. Five MLB games throw out the first pitch at 4:10 p.m. ET.  The Houston Astros are home to face the Los Angeles Angels as a -181 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The Boston Red Sox are on the road to play the Cincinnati Reds as a -156 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8. The Detroit Tigers travel to San Diego to battle the Padres as a -131 money-line road favorite with a total of 7. The Philadelphia Phillies host the Texas Rangers as a -163 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. The Tampa Bay Rays play in St. Louis against the Cardinals as a -126 money-line road favorite with a total of 7.5. The Los Angeles Dodgers play at home against the Arizona Diamondbacks on NBC/Peacock at 8:30 p.m. ET as a -259 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9. The Seattle Mariners are home to challenge the Cleveland Guardians at 10:10 p.m. ET as a -193 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. 

Read more

Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, NCAAB and MLB Previews and Odds - 03/25/26

by Big Al Staff

Wednesday, Mar 25, 2026

The Wednesday sports card features NBA, NHL, NCAAB, and MLB action. The National Basketball League has 12 games on its docket. Three NBA games tip off at 7:10 p.m. ET. The Los Angeles Lakers travel to Indiana to play the Pacers as a 10.5-point road favorite with the total set at 239.5 (all odds from DraftKings). The Philadelphia 76ers host the Chicago Bulls as a 6.5-point favorite with an over/under of 237.5. The Detroit Pistons play at home against the Atlanta Hawks on ESPN as a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 226.5. Two NBA games start at 7:40 p.m. ET. The Oklahoma City Thunder play in Boston against the Celtics as a 2.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 217.5. The Cleveland Cavaliers are at home to face the Miami Heat as a 3.5-point favorite with a total of 241.5. The San Antonio Spurs are on the road to take on the Memphis Grizzlies at 8:10 p.m. ET as a 16.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 234.5. The Utah Jazz host the Washington Wizards at 9:10 p.m. ET as a 4.5-point favorite with a total of 240.5. The Houston Rockets visit Minnesota to challenge the Timberwolves on ESPN at 9:40 p.m. ET as a 1.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 223.5. Three NBA games begin at 10:10 p.m. ET. The Golden State Warriors play at home against the Brooklyn Nets as an 11.5-point favorite with a total of 215.5. The Portland Trail Blazers are home to battle the Milwaukee Bucks as a 12.5-point favorite with an over/under of 226.5. The Denver Nuggets host the Dallas Mavericks as a 14.5-point favorite with a total of 245.5. The Los Angeles Clippers play at home against the Toronto Raptors at 10:40 p.m. ET as a 4.5-point favorite with an over/under of 225.5. The National Hockey League has two games on its slate that both drop the puck at 7:37 p.m. ET. The Buffalo Sabres are home to play the Boston Bruins as a -205 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The New York Rangers play in Toronto against the Maple Leafs on TNT as a -115 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 225.5. The NCAAB college basketball schedule has the final two games in the NIT quarterfinals on ESPN2. Dayton is home to take on Illinois State at 7:00 p.m. ET. The Flyers won for the 10th time in their previous 12 games with an 80-61 victory at UNC-Wilmington as a 3.5-point favorite on Saturday in the second round of the NIT. The Redbirds won for the fourth time in their previous five games in a 78-75 upset victory at Wake Forest as an 8.5-point underdog on Sunday. Dayton is a 7.5-point favorite with a total of 139.5. Auburn hosts Nevada at 9:00 p.m. ET. The Tigers won for the third time in their previous four games with a 91-85 victory at home against Seattle as a 14.5-point favorite in the second round of the NIT on Sunday. The Wolf Pack won for the fourth time in their previous five games in a 73-63 win at home against Liberty as a 7.5-point favorite on Saturday. Auburn is a 9.5-point favorite with an over/under of 154.5. The opening night of the Major League Baseball regular season has one game on its schedule. The New York Yankees are on the road in San Francisco to take on the Giants on Netflix at 8:05 p.m. ET. Max Fried gets the ball for the Yankees to pitch against Logan Webb for the Giants. New York is a -123 money-line road favorite with a total of 7. 

Read more

Ranking the Big Dance's Final 16 Teams, Part 2 (Teams #9 to #16)

by Vegas Writer

Tuesday, Mar 24, 2026

From 68 to 16, that's quick, and we have just two weeks left in the college basketball season.I decided to throw the remaining 16 teams from the dance into a blender and rank what teams we have left.Here is Part 2 with a quick glance into the regional semifinals:9. Michigan St. - This seems low for the Spartans, but that tells me how good this field has been. Nevertheless, Tom Izzo has his team fine-tuned with its defensive nature, and could be a thorn for anyone as long as it's still around. The Spartans have allowed 68.0 points per game after two rounds, and with time to make adjustments, could send UConn packing.10. St. John's - Speaking of being too low, how good is St. John's? This team has been consistent since being blown out by UConn on Feb. 25, reeling off eight straight wins by an average of 14.2 points per game. During that stretch, the Red Storm are holding teams to a .412 shooting clip, including a stingy .260 from 3-point range.11. Arkansas - This completes the trifecta of legendary coaches in the 9 through 11 slots, as John Calipari has the Razorbacks poised for a run after scoring an average of 95.5 points per game with wins over Hawaii and High Point. The Razorbacks have won seven straight on the hardwood, but they've failed to cover three of their last five. The last time they caught anything close to this big a number, they were +9.5 at Florida and lost by 34.12. Nebraska - Anything from this point forward should be considered a bonus for the Cornhuskers, who recorded their first win in the dance, ever, which I found shocking. Then they made it two straight with a win over Vanderbilt in what was probably the best game thus far. Next up is a familiar foe in Big 10-rival Iowa. The teams split the regular season series, and Iowa has won and covered four of the last five meetings.13. Alabama - The Crimson Tide are proving they'll do just fine without Aden Holloway, and certainly letting the world know there is no distraction. Alabama's offense has scored 90 points in each of its first two games of the event, while winning by an average margin of 22.5 points after dispatching Hofstra and Texas Tech. The Tide have covered five of their last seven overall.14. Tennessee - The Volunteers are in the regional semifinals for the fourth consecutive season, as coach Rick Barnes continues to thrive with stellar defensive teams that do just enough on the offensive end to churn out wins. Next up is a banged-up Iowa State squad that might be vulnerable against a physical Vols squad that will apply pressure early and often.15. Iowa - The betting market didn't appreciate the books making Nebraska a favorite, as the line moved two points toward Iowa. Understandably, since anything is possible for the Hawkeyes when star guard Bennett Stirtz is on the floor, as we saw when they became the first No. 9 seed to defeat a No. 1 since Florida State took down Xavier eight years ago. As mentioned, the Hawkeyes will meet a familiar foe in Nebraska.16. Texas - Here is your Cinderella, as the Longhorns are the only double-digit seed left in the tournament. I'm skeptical about this team though, as I don't know how the Longhorns will slow Purdue's offense. Of course, I can imagine Texas coach Sean Miller would love nothing more than to lead the 'Horns into the regional final where he potentially could face his former team, Arizona.

Read more

Sweet 16 Stats/Trends Since 2005

by Kyle Hunter

Tuesday, Mar 24, 2026

We’ve reached the Sweet 16! I would say the Round of 64 lacked the drama we like to see in the NCAA Tournament, but the Round of 32 was fantastic. There are some great matchups set for this week.Let’s take a look at some Sweet 16 Stats/TrendsNumbers Since 2005ATS NumbersSweet 16 Underdogs are 84-70 ATS. Sweet 16 underdogs who have covered 50% or less of their games for the season as a whole are 29-17-2 ATS. That is a 21.8% ROI.Defensive underdogs have the best ATS records in this period. Teams who have relied on high shooting numbers have not fared as well.John Calipari is 11-2 ATS in his last 13 Sweet 16 appearancesTom Izzo is 4-6 ATS in his last 10 Sweet 16 gamesMatt Painter is 3-5 ATS in his last 8 Sweet 16 contests.The SEC conference is 27-14-2 ATS in their last 43 Sweet 16 games.Favorites who average 15.5 assists or less per game are only 34-51 ATS in their last 85 Sweet 16 games.Totals Numbers Sweet 16 Games are 89-69 to the under since 2005. Sweet 16 totals of 141.5 or higher are 43-30 the under. Sweet 16 totals of 151 or higher are actually 15-10 to the over.Tom Izzo coached teams have seen the under go 8-2 in the Sweet 16 RoundKelvin Sampson’s teams are 5-1 to the under in the Sweet 16.Rick Barnes coached teams are 4-2 to the over in the Sweet 16.Nate Oats teams are 3-1 to the over in the Sweet 16The under is 38-20 in the Sweet 16 when the spread is -6 or higher. The under is 27-12 in the Sweet 16 when the game spread is -7.5 or higher.My thoughts- the underdog and under correlation makes sense. I believe at least part of the reason for the under being valuable during this round is we are once again seeing a new venue. Many of these are very large venues with difficult shooting backdrops too. The Elite 8 unders have not done nearly as well as Sweet 16 unders.Enjoy the Sweet 16! 

Read more

3 Tips For MLB Early Season Betting

by Kyle Hunter

Tuesday, Mar 24, 2026

Baseball season is here. Let's take a look at 3 tips for betting the MLB early in the year.  Pay Attention To The WeatherThere isn’t a time in the season where the weather matters more than early in the season, especially in some of the cooler areas. Everyone knows to pay attention to the weather at Wrigley. Most people don’t check the weather enough in places like Boston, Cleveland, Detroit, and Minnesota. There are going to be games in the early portion of the season where it is cooler and the winds are blowing in 20 mph or more. Those are great opportunities to look for full game unders or even bet on some player prop unders for that particular game. It can be really tough for the ball to carry much at all in these situations.  Underdogs In First Couple WeeksIn the long run, underdogs on the moneyline in Major League Baseball have had the best return on investment in the early season. Opening day favorites have covered at a high rate, but between game two of the season and game ten or so of the season, it has been a great period for the underdogs. Why would the underdogs have value at this time? Everyone thinks they have a chance for a good season at the start of the year. Hope springs eternal as some would say during this period. That is the single biggest reason underdogs are valuable early in the season. Secondarily, there are enough changes on team rosters that it is difficult for the oddsmakers to set a fair value on some of the worst teams from the previous year.  Be Cautious About VolumeYou can’t lock in an amazing season in the first couple weeks, but you can ruin a season in the first couple weeks. I’ve seen too many bettors go all out with huge volume early in baseball, only to get discouraged and/or ruin their bankroll before you get to the middle of April. Baseball season is the ultimate long grind. I recommend going with a more cautious approach early on and then raising your volume after there are more data points to evaluate teams with a few weeks into the season. After there are a decent amount of data points, you can then look for regression based signs and try to get ahead of the betting market. Baseball season is a long grind, and going into the season with the right mindset is important. 

Read more

Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, and NCAAB Previews and Odds -03/24/26

by Big Al Staff

Tuesday, Mar 24, 2026

The Tuesday sports card features NBA, NHL, and NCAAB action. The National Basketball League has four games on its docket. The Charlotte Hornets host the Sacramento Kings at 7:10 p.m. ET as a 16.5-point favorite with the total set at 229.5 (all odds from DraftKings). The New York Knicks play at home against the New Orleans Pelicans at 7:40 p.m. ET as a 9.5-point favorite with an over/under of 231.5. The Cleveland Cavaliers are home to play the Orlando Magic on NBC at 8:10 p.m. ET as a 9.5-point favorite with a total of 229.5. The Denver Nuggets travel to Phoenix to play the Suns on NBC at 11:10 p.m. ET as a 5.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 234.5. The National Hockey League has 15 games on its slate. Seven NHL games drop the puck at 7:07 p.m. ET. The New York Islanders host the Chicago Blackhawks as a -185 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Columbus Blue Jackets play in Philadelphia against the Flyers as a -135 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Carolina Hurricanes are on the road against the Montreal Canadiens as a -135 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The Florida Panthers play at home against the Seattle Kraken as a -135 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Detroit Red Wings are home against the Ottawa Senators as a -130 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Boston Bruins host the Toronto Maple Leafs as a -192 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Colorado Avalanche visit Pittsburgh to play the Penguins as a -162 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The Tampa Bay Lightning play at home against the Minnesota Wild on TNT at 7:37 p.m. ET as a -170 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. Four more NHL games start at 8:07 p.m. ET. The Nashville Predators are home to take on the San Jose Sharks as a -148 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Vegas Golden Knights play in Winnipeg against the Jets as a -130 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Dallas Stars host the New Jersey Devils as a -175 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Washington Capitals are on the road to face the St. Louis Blues as a -115 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 5.5  The Los Angeles Kings travel to Calgary to challenge the Flames at 9:07 p.m. ET as a -148 money-line road favorite with a total of 5.5. The Utah Mammoth play at home against the Edmonton Oilers at 9:37 p.m. ET as a -135 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Anaheim Ducks play in Vancouver against the Canucks at 10:07 p.m. ET as a -180 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The NCAAB college basketball schedule has the first two games in the NIT quarterfinals on ESPN2. Tulsa is home to battle Wichita State at 7:00 p.m. ET as a 3.5-point favorite with an over/under of 152.5. New Mexico hosts Saint Joseph’s at 9:00 p.m. ET as a 10.5-point favorite with a total of 152.5. 

Read more

Ranking the Big Dance's Final 16 Teams, Part 1 (Teams #1 to #8)

by Vegas Writer

Tuesday, Mar 24, 2026

From 68 to 16, that's quick, and we have just two weeks left in the college basketball season.I decided to throw the remaining 16 teams from the dance into a blender and rank what teams we have left.A quick glance into the regional semifinals:1. Arizona - The Wildcats rank 10th in the dance with 85.0 points per game, a hair short of the 86.1 ppg. average they had for the season. The stat that is glaring for me is on the defensive end of the floor, where the 'Cats were allowing 68.4 ppg. this season, but after two games have given up 62.0 ppg.2. Michigan - The Wolverines have been the most productive team offensively after two rounds, averaging 98.0 ppg. The problem I see with this team is its scoring defense, having allowed an average of 76.0 ppg., which is up from a season average of 69.6 ppg. It's significant because the Wolverines played No. 16 seed Howard and No. 9 Saint Louis.3. Duke - With only 16 teams left, the Blue Devils don't fall in the top 16 in field-goal percentage, having shot .472 from the floor through two games. It's certainly something to think about now that teams will have opponents scouted, considering Duke ranked 26th out of 362 teams with a .489 shooting clip all season.4. Houston - No real surprise here, as the Cougars come out of opening weekend with the No. 1 scoring defense through two games, having allowed only 52.0 ppg. They've done a good job of stifling opponents to a .315 shooting clip. And while it's known for its defense, Houston has been excellent at the other end of the court, averaging 83.0 ppg. - tied for 13th in the field.5. Purdue - The Boilers will bring a six-game win streak into Thursday's game against Texas, and it's been an impressive showing at the defensive end during that streak that has my eyes on the preseason No. 1 team. Purdue has also covered four of its last five games.6. Illinois - The Illini bring their high-flying act into the second weekend after scoring 90.5 ppg. through two games. People seem to forget about the Illini out of the Big 10 with Michigan and Purdue stealing the headlines, but Illinois can be dangerous if it catches fire long range. The Illini have drained 24 treys through two games, an average of 12.0 per game, which is tied for seventh most in the event.7. UConn - If the Huskies make it to the regional final, it'll be because of their defense, which ranks tied for ninth in the tourney after allowing an average of 64.0 ppg. It's a tad lower than UConn allowed all season (65.1), which was 11th nationally. The Huskies have won seven of their last nine, but have struggled to stay consistent at the window, covering just three of their last eight.8. Iowa State - This might be the most dangerous dark horse from this point. The Cyclones have been playing top-tier basketball against top-tier competition since November, when they were in Las Vegas for the Players Era tournament. Now they head into the regional semifinals having the third-highest scoring average in the tournament with 95.0 ppg. That's 12.5 points more than they averaged all season (82.5). And keep in mind, they come into this one having covered six straight games since March 7.

Read more

Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA and NHL Previews and Odds - 03/23/26

by Big Al Staff

Monday, Mar 23, 2026

The Monday sports card features NBA and NHL action. The National Basketball League has 10 games on its docket. Four NBA games tip off at 7:10 p.m. ET. The San Antonio Spurs travel to Miami to play the Heat on Peacock. The Spurs won for the 10th time in their previous 11 games with a 134-119 victory at Indiana on Saturday. The Heat are on a four-game losing streak after a 123-122 loss at Houston on Saturday. San Antonio is a 5.5-point road favorite with the total set at 239.5 (all odds from DraftKings). The Los Angeles Lakers play in Detroit against the Pistons. The Lakers are on a nine-game winning streak after a 105-105 victory at Orlando on Saturday. The Pistons won for the sixth time in their previous seven games in a 115-101 win against Golden State on Friday. Los Angeles is a 2.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 227.5. The Orlando Magic host the Indiana Pacers. The Magic are on a four-game losing streak after their loss to the Lakers two days ago. The Pacers have lost 16 games in a row after their loss against the Spurs on Saturday. Orlando is a 13.5-point favorite with a total of 234.5. The Oklahoma City Thunder are on the road against the Philadelphia 76ers. The Thunder are on an 11-game winning streak after a 132-111 victory at Washington on Saturday. The 76ers won for the fourth time in their last five games after a 126-116 win at Utah two days ago. Oklahoma City is a 15.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 220.5. The Atlanta Hawks play at home against the Memphis Grizzlies at 7:40 p.m. ET. The Hawks won for the 12th time in their last 13 games in a 126-110 victory at home against Golden State on Saturday. The Grizzlies lost for the 10th time in their last 11 games in a 124-101 loss at Charlotte two days ago. Atlanta is a 13.5-point favorite with a total of 239.5. The Houston Rockets visit the Chicago Bulls at 8:10 p.m. ET. The Rockets are on a two-game winning streak after their win against the Heat on Saturday. The Bulls lost for the fourth time in their previous five games in a 115-110 loss at home against Cleveland on Friday. Houston is a 7.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 229.5. The Toronto Raptors play in Utah against the Jazz at 9:10 p.m. ET. The Raptors are on a two-game losing streak after a 120-82 loss at Phoenix on Sunday. The Jazz lost for the fifth time in their last six games after their loss to the 76ers on Sunday. Toronto is a 12.5-point road favorite with a total of 230.5. The Golden State Warriors are on the road against the Dallas Mavericks on Peacock at 9:40 p.m. ET. The Warriors are on a three-game losing streak after their loss at Atlanta on Saturday. The Mavericks are on a three-game losing streak after their 138-131 loss at home to the Los Angeles Clippers two days ago. Golden State is a 2.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 231.5. The Portland Trail Blazers are home to face the Brooklyn Nets at 10:10 p.m. ET. The Trail Blazers’ three-game winning streak ended in a 128-112 loss at Denver on Sunday. The Nets have lost seven games in a row after a 126-122 loss at Sacramento yesterday. Portland is a 14.5-point favorite with a total of 218.5. The Los Angeles Clippers host the Milwaukee Bucks at 10:40 p.m. ET. The Clippers ended a four-game losing streak with their win at Dallas on Saturday. The Bucks stopped their two-game losing streak in a 108-105 win at Phoenix on Saturday. Los Angeles is a 13.5-point favorite with an over/under of 223.5. The National Hockey League has one game on its slate. The Ottawa Senators travel to New York to take on the Rangers at 7:37 p.m. ET. The Senators won for the fourth time in their previous five games after their 5-2 victory against Toronto on Saturday. The Rangers have lost four games in a row after a 3-2 loss in a shootout against Winnipeg on Sunday. Ottawa is a -192 money-line road favorite with a total of 5.5. 

Read more

Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, NCAAB and EPL Previews and Odds - 03/22/26

by Big Al Staff

Sunday, Mar 22, 2026

The Saturday sports card features NBA, NHL, NCAAB, and EPL action. The National Basketball League has 10 games on its docket. The Denver Nuggets host the Portland Trail Blazers at 5:10 p.m. ET as an 8.5-point favorite with the total set at 241.5 (all odds from DraftKings). The Sacramento Kings play at home against the Brooklyn Nets at 6:10 p.m. ET as a 4.5-point favorite with an over/under of 218.5. The New York Knicks are home to play the Washington Wizards at 7:40 p.m. ET as a 19.5-point favorite with a total of 227.5. The Boston Celtics host the Minnesota Timberwolves for Sunday Night Basketball on NBC at 8:10 p.m. ET as a 9.5-point favorite with an over/under of 219.5. The Toronto Raptors travel to Phoenix to play the Suns at 9:10 p.m. ET as a 1.5-point road favorite with a total of 220.5. The National Hockey League has nine games on its slate. The New York Rangers play at home against the Winnipeg Jets at 12:07 p.m. ET as a -130 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Colorado Avalanche play in Washington against the Capitals at 12:37 p.m. ET as a -155 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. Two more NHL games drop the puck at 3:07 p.m. ET. The Nashville Predators are on the road in Chicago to take on the Blackhawks, with both teams priced as -110 money-line favorites with an over/under of 5.5. The Carolina Panthers visit Pittsburgh to face the Penguins as a -148 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. Two NHL games start at 7:07 p.m. ET. The Dallas Stars are home to challenge the Vegas Golden Knights as a -148 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Columbus Blue Jackets play in New York against the Islanders as a -115 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. Two NHL games begin at 8:07 p.m. ET. The Anaheim Ducks host the  Buffalo Sabres as a -125 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Tampa Bay Lightning are on the road to battle the Calgary Flames as a -180 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The Utah Mammoth play at home against the Los Angeles Kings at 9:07  p.m. ET as a -175 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The NCAAB college basketball schedule has 14 games on its schedule, with eight games in the second round of the NCAA tournament and six games in the second round of the NIT. All eight games in the NCAA tournament are on major national television. Purdue battles Miami (FL) at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Missouri, on CBS at 12:10 p.m. ET as a 7.5-point favorite with a total of 147.5. Iowa State plays Kentucky in St. Louis on CBS at 2:45 p.m. ET as a 5.5-point favorite with an over/under of 145.5. St. John’s faces Kansas at the Viejas Arena in San Diego, California, on CBS at 5:15 p.m. ET as a 3.5-point road favorite with a total of 144.5. Tennessee takes on Virginia at the Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on TNT at 6:10 p.m. ET as a 1.5-point favorite with an over/under of 137.5. Florida challenges Iowa at the Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, Florida, on TBS as a 10.5-point favorite with a total of 145.5. Arizona goes against Utah State in San Diego on truTV at 7:50 p.m. ET as an 11.5-point favorite with an over/under of 154.5. UConn plays UCLA in Philadelphia on TNT at 8:45 p.m. ET as a 4.5-point favorite with a total of 136.5. Texas Tech faces Alabama in Tampa on TBS at 9:45 p.m. ET as a 1.5-point favorite with an over/under of 165.5. Matchweek 31 in the English Premier League concludes with three matches. Newcastle United hosts Sunderland on the USA Network at 8:00 a.m. ET as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5. Two more EPL matches start at 10:15 a.m. ET. Aston Villa plays at home against West Ham United as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Tottenham is at home to play Nottingham Forest on the USA Network as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5. 

Read more
« ‹ 1 13 15 390 › »

Follow us @bigal_com

Instagram Twitter

Links

Big Al's Sports Picks Info

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

© 2026 Al McMordie's BigAl.com. All Rights Reserved.