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Heading Into The All-Star Break (West Conf)

by Larry Ness

Monday, Feb 07, 2022

The NBA's All Star Weekend is set for Feb 18-20 in Cleveland. Teams will play on Thursday, Feb 17 but the schedule won't resume until Thursday, Feb 24 (that's a SIX-day break!). I posted an NBA article last Monday (Jan 21), concentrating on Eastern Conference teams and will now complete the process by checking in on the Western Conference. However, let me take a quick peek at the East, first. It's been a logjam at the top of the East all season and last Monday morning, the top six teams were separated by only 2 1/2-games. There is only one significant change this Monday, as the Nets have 'imploded' with EIGHT straight losses. How 'bout that KD, Kyrie and Harden trio? I hope none of you have a 'future' on the Nets to win the NBA title. The standings (as of the morning of Feb 7) look like this. Miami is 34-20, Chicago 33-20, Milwaukee 34-21, Cleveland 33-21 and Philadelphia 32-21. That's one through five separated by just 1 1/2-games. The No. 6 seed (last guaranteed playoff spot) now belongs to Toronto, which is 28-23, four games back of the top-seed. The Nets have fallen to 29-24 and now own just the No. 7 seed. Hello 'play-in' round!Over in the West, there is a very different 'picture.' 42-10 Phoenix owns the NBA's best record and is the West's No. 1 seed but unlike in the East, where just four games separate seeds one through six, 13 1/2-games separate the top-seeded Suns from the 6th-seeded Nuggets (29-24). While just 8 1/2-games separate Miami (No. 1 seed) from the East's No. 10 seed (25-29 Atlanta), a whopping 21 1/2-games separate the Suns from the 10th-seed Pelicans (21-32) in the West. Phoenix ended a 10-season playoff drought last year by going 51-21 (one win shy of Utah's NBA-leading 52 wins) and made it all the way to the Finals. The Suns took the first two games at home but then saw the Bucks win FOUR in a row, to win the team's second-ever NBA title. The first came way back in the 1970-71 season, led by Lew Alcindor (now Kareem) and the Big O. As for the Suns, it was the team's third appearance in the Finals, losing previously back in 1976 to the Celtics (if you don't remember Gar Heard, you are too young!) and in 1993, when MVP Sir Charles and Co. lost to MJ and the Bulls.The Suns opened the current season just 1-3 but then ripped off 18 consecutive wins! Another 1-3 'drought' followed, but the Suns are currently on a 15-2 run, giving them a 42-10 (.808) record. The Warriors opened the season 18-2 but then were hit with injuries and COVID during a 26-game stretch in which the team went just 14-12. However, the Warriors open the new week on an EIGHT-game winning streak, giving them the NBA's second-best record at 40-13 (.755), but are still 2 1/2-games back of the Suns. The Memphis Grizzlies were just 9-10 around Thanksgiving but have put together a 28-8 run (including 11 consecutive wins between Dec 26 and Jan 13), to move past the Utah Jazz for the West's No. 3 seed (37-18). The Jazz won an NBA-best 52 games last season and 'hung' right with Phoenix and Golden St early on, opening the season 28-10. However, Utah would lose 11 of 13 games from Jan 7-30, before winning its last two. At 32-21, the Jazz have fallen 10 1/2-games behind the Suns, eight back of the Warriors and also four back of the Grizzlies.The Jazz may also need to 'look over their shoulders,' as the Dallas Mavericks have won 15 of 20 to reach 31-23, just 1 1/2-games behind Utah. The 29-24 Nuggets own the No. 6 seed in the West. The 7-10 seeds ('play-in' round) look like this. The T-wolves are 28-25, followed by Staples Center co-tenants, the Clippers (27-28) and Lakers (26-28). Just moving into the No. 10 seed is New Orleans at 21-32. The 21-33 Blazers have lost five straight (10 of last 32), to fall behind the Pelicans by a half-game. It's almost a certainty that the No. 10 seed in the West will enter the 'play in' round with a sub-.500 record but with two wins, could become the West's No. 8 seed.I'll close with some ATS and over/under numbers to 'chew on!' Memphis owns the best ATS record at 36-19 (65.6%) but look at which team is No. 2. It's the 17-35 Thunder, who have gone 32-18-2 ATS (64.0%). Note the 42-10 Suns are 29-23 ATS (55.8%) and the 40-13 Warriors are 29-21-3 ATS (58.0%). Cleveland is the only other team above 60% ATS, at 32-20-2 (61.5%). Looking at playing an 'under,' you may want to consider Dallas (66.0% of its games have stayed under) or Cleveland (63% of its games have stayed under). The best 'over' team is Milwaukee, which is 32-21 (60.4%) in favor of the over.Good luck...Larry

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL and NCAAB Previews and Odds - 02/07/2022

by Big Al Staff

Monday, Feb 07, 2022

The Monday sports card features NBA, NHL, and NCAAB action.Five games are on the docket in the National Basketball Association. Two games tip-off at 7:10 PM ET. Charlotte plays at home against Toronto as a 1-point favorite with the total set at 226. Miami visits Washington as a 4.5-point road favorite (all odds from DraftKings). Two more games start at 8:10 PM ET. The Suns are at Chicago as a 5.5-point road favorite. Golden State plays at Oklahoma City as an 11.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 213.5. Utah hosts New York at 9:10 PM ET as a 7-point favorite with a total of 214.The National Hockey League returns the All-Star break with two games beginning at 7:05 PM ET. Ottawa plays at home against New Jersey as a -135 money line favorite with an over/under of 6. Toronto is at home against Carolina as a -135 money line favorite with a total of 6.Six games are on national television with the college basketball card. Hofstra hosts UNC-Wilmington on the CBS Sports Network at 5 PM ET. The Pride ended a two-game losing streak with an 85-78 victory against James Madison as a 7.5-point favorite on Saturday. They improved to 14-9 with the win. The Seahawks won their 13th game in their last 14 in a 92-70 victory at William & Mary as a 5.5-point favorite on Saturday. UNC-Wilmington raised their record to 16-6. Hofstra is a 7.5-point favorite with an over/under of 145. Duke plays at home against Virginia on ESPN at 7 PM ET. The Blue Devils won their fifth straight game with their 87-67 victory at North Carolina as a 3.5-point favorite on Saturday. They have a 19-3 record. The Cavaliers are on a two-game winning streak with their 71-58 victory against Miami (FL) as a 4-point favorite on Saturday. Virginia improved to 14-9 with the win. Duke is a 12-point favorite with a total of 128.5. Furman travels to East Tennessee State on ESPNU at 7 PM ET. The Paladins had their five-game winning streak end in a 58-56 upset loss to UNC-Greensboro as a 10.5-point favorite on Saturday. Their record dropped to 17-8 with the setback. The Buccaneers are on a five-game losing streak after a 62-60 loss at Wofford as an 8-point underdog on Saturday. Their record fell to 12-13 with the defeat. Furman is a 5.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 145. Arizona visits Arizona State on FS1 at 9 PM ET. The Wildcats won their eighth game in their last nine with a 72-63 victory against USC as a 10.5-point favorite on Saturday. They raised their record to 19-2 with the win. The Sun Devils ended a four-game losing streak with an 87-84 upset win against UCLA as a 10-point underdog on Saturday. Arizona State has a 7-13 record. Arizona is a 13-point road favorite with a total of 144. Kansas plays at Texas on ESPN at 9 PM ET. The Jayhawks won their seventh game in their last eight with their 83-49 victory against Baylor as a 1-point favorite on Saturday. They have a 19-3 record. The Longhorns won their fourth game in their last five with a 63-41 win against Iowa State as an 8.5-point favorite on Saturday. Texas’ improved their record to 17-6. Kansas is a 1-point road favorite with an over/under of 135.5. Alabama A&M plays at Grambling State on ESPNU at 9 PM ET. The Bulldogs come off a 73-64 loss at Southern University as an 11.5-point underdog on Saturday. Alabama A&M’s record dropped to 5-15. The Tigers had their five-game winning streak end in an 80-72 upset loss to Alabama State as a 4.5-point favorite on Saturday.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA and NCAAB Previews and Odds - 02/06/2022

by Big Al Staff

Sunday, Feb 06, 2022

The Sunday sports card features NBA and NCAAB action.Eight games are on the docket in the National Basketball Association. Three games tip-off the card at 3:40 PM ET. Philadelphia visits Chicago as a 1-point road favorite (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). Minnesota plays at home against Detroit as an 11-point favorite. Denver is at home against Brooklyn as a 4.5-point favorite. Three more NBA games start at 6:10 PM ET. Cleveland hosts Indiana as a 5.5-point favorite. Boston travels to Orlando as a 7.5-point road favorite. Dallas plays at home against Atlanta on ESPN at 6:10 PM ET. The Mavericks ended a two-game losing streak with a 107-98 victory against Philadelphia as a 1.5-point favorite on Friday. They improved their record to 30-23 with the win. The Hawks lost their second game in their last three in a 125-114 loss at Toronto as a 3-point underdog on Friday. Atlanta’s record fell to 25-27 with the setback. Dallas is a 2.5-point favorite. New Orleans is on the road at Houston at 7:10 PM ET as a 4-point road favorite with BetRivers listing the total at 231. Milwaukee plays at Los Angeles against the Clippers at 9:10 PM ET as a 5-point road favorite. The college basketball card has seven games on national television. Providence travels to Georgetown on FS1 at noon ET. The Friars won their sixth-straight game with their 86-82 upset victory at St. John’s as a 2.5-point underdog on Tuesday. The win raised their record to 19-2. The Hoyas lost their tenth straight game in a 90-77 loss to St. John’s as a 4.5-point underdog on Thursday. Providence is a 6.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 146. Ohio State hosts Maryland on CBS at 1 PM ET. The Buckeyes’ three-game winning streak ended after an 81-78 loss at Purdue as a 9-point underdog on Sunday. Their record dropped to 13-5 with the defeat. The Terrapins lost their second straight with their 65-63 loss to Michigan State as a 3.5-point underdog on Tuesday. Maryland has an 11-11 record. Ohio State is a 9-point favorite with a total of 138.Loyola-Chicago is Missouri State on ESPN2 at 2 PM ET. The Ramblers won their third game in their last four with a 78-64 victory against Illinois State as a 14.5-point favorite on Wednesday. They raised their record to 17-4 with the win. The Tigers won their sixth game in their last seven with their 69-54 victory at Southern Illinois as a 2-point favorite on Wednesday. Missouri State improved its record to 17-7. Loyola-Chicago is a 1.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 136.5. San Diego State plays at home against Nevada on the CBS Sports Network at 4 PM ET. The Aztecs lost their second game in their last three in their 58-57 loss at Colorado State as a 3.5-point underdog on Friday. Their record fell to 12-6 with the setback. Nevada lost their fourth straight game with their 73-56 loss at Fresno State as a 9-point underdog. The Wolf Pack have a 9-11 record. San Diego State is a 12.5-point favorite at PlayMGM with a total of 129.5. Stanford hosts Washington on ESPNU at 4 PM ET. The Cardinal lost their second game in their last three with their 66-60 loss to Washington State as a 3-point underdog on Thursday. Their record is 13-8 after the defeat. The Huskies won their sixth game in their last seven with their 84-61 upset win at California as a 2-point underdog on Thursday. Washington raised their record to 12-8. Stanford is a 4.5-point favorite with an over/under of 136. Houston travels to Cincinnati on ESPN2 at 6 PM ET. The Cougars are on an 11-game winning streak after their 73-62 win against Tulane as a 17.5-point favorite on Wednesday. They now have a 19-2 record. The Bearcats won their fourth game in their last five after their 60-59 victory at East Carolina as a 6-point favorite on Sunday. Cincinnati improved to 15-6 with the triumph. Houston is a 6-point road favorite with a total of 132.5. Fresno State plays at home to Wyoming on FS1 at 7 PM ET. The Bulldogs won their third game in their last four with their 73-56 victory against Nevada as a 9-point favorite on Friday. They have an 18-6 record. The Cowboys won their ninth game in their last ten with their 72-65 win against Boise State as a 1-point favorite on Thursday. Wyoming raised their record to 18-3 with the victory. Fresno State is a 3.5-point favorite with an over/under of 129.

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NHL Western Conference Market Watch 2022: To the Finish Line!

by Scott Rickenbach

Saturday, Feb 05, 2022

NHL Western Conference Market Watch 2022: To the Finish Line!Here I look at some teams at the All-Star break which are the hockey clubs I expect to see some value going with (or against) the remainder of the regular season. As you can see below this is not a look at all teams. This is a look at teams which I feel will offer betting value after the All-Star break. This listing is comprised of teams that have, in my opinion, underachieved thus far or overachieved thus far. This is what leads to solid value coming right out of the break and you can look for some value in the right situational spots involving these teams:STARS – Dallas is absolutely in striking distance of making a push for a playoff spot and they have been solid at home this season but had struggled away from home. Now, having won 4 straight road games entering the All-Star break, the Stars confidence away form home is growing. Value UPJETS – Winnipeg has a strong goalie in Connor Hellebuyck and he has been known for long streaks of excellence between the pipes. The Jets still have some dangerous highly skilled forwards too and that means this is a team that can get hot plus protects the cage quite well. They had a rough stretch right before the All-Star break but 10 of those 12 games were on the road. Now off the radar of most people, this Winnipeg team better than they have shown. Value UPDUCKS – Anaheim currently sits 3rd in the Pacific Division standings but the two teams just behind them have played 6 less games! The Ducks will have both Calgary and Edmonton gaining ground on them as they make up the extra games they have missed Look for Anaheim to start to wilt under the pressure as they also don’t have the firepower offensively that the Flames and Oilers have. Value DOWNCANUCKS – Not only has Vancouver been a different team since they made the coaching change to Bruce Boudreau, the Canucks also have played 27 road games compared to just 19 home games so far this season. That means Vancouver has 22 home games versus only 14 road games left on the schedule. Couple that with the way this team had been playing after the coaching change and you have a Canucks team that will be playing with a lot of confidence as they bounce back from a difficult stretch just before the All-Star break. Value UPFLAMES – Calgary looked very strong and was skating very well heading into the break. Also, these teams has some highly skilled forwards but also are so impressive in that they are allowing only 2.5 goals per game thanks to getting rock solid goaltending from Jacob Markstrom on many nights! The Flames also solid on special teams particularly the penalty kill. Last but not least Calgary will have a home-heavy schedule the rest of the way after 27 of first 42 games were away from home! Value UP

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NHL Eastern Conference Market Watch 2022: To the Finish Line!

by Scott Rickenbach

Saturday, Feb 05, 2022

NHL Eastern Conference Market Watch 2022: To the Finish Line!Here I look at some teams at the All-Star break which are the hockey clubs I expect to see some value going with (or against) the remainder of the regular season. As you can see below this is not a look at all teams. This is a look at teams which I feel will offer betting value after the All-Star break. This listing is comprised of teams that have, in my opinion, underachieved thus far or overachieved thus far. This is what leads to solid value coming right out of the break and you can look for some value in the right situational spots involving these teams:CAPITALS – This team currently in a playoff spot and they are a solid club. However, their goaltending has been of particular concern as the season has gone on and this could ultimately lead to a fade for Washington as the season continues. Value DOWNBLUE JACKETS – This team has only been a “middling” club so far this season but, in my opinion, that is an overachievement for Columbus. This is not a very good hockey club and they give up too many goals. I will be looking for spots to fade them in the 2nd half of the season.  Value DOWNISLANDERS – New York has more games (covid postponements) to make up than any other team in the league. The Islanders will have a chance to pick up big points in the standings. They have one of the best coaches in the game. They have a goalie in Ilya Sorokin that is currently red hot and capable of carrying this team.  Value UPFLYERS – Philadelphia has fallen way down. This team falls strongly into the category of “much better than their record shows” and will be a team you’ll want to keep an eye for value through the remainder of the season. Philly will often be under-valued but they are getting healthier again and they are a talented team. Value UPBRUINS – Similar to Washington, a very solid hockey club but with goaltending question marks. Rask came back but struggled. Ullmark has never really been “the guy” and could struggle in that role for Boston. Swayman was given a shot in the crease as wellS. Bruins just do not have a situation that is settled at goalie and that is a concern. Value DOWNSENATORS – Ottawa started the season 4-15-1. The Senators have since gone 10-7-3 so most people see a team among the worst in the league but the Sens are more competitive than most realize. Keep an eye on this steam to surprise some teams in the 2nd half of the season. They do struggle to score consistently but have been solid recently in keeping the puck out of their own net too. Value UP

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NCAAB and EPL Previews and Odds - 02/05/2022

by Big Al Staff

Saturday, Feb 05, 2022

The Saturday sports card features NBA, NCAAB, and EPL action.Six games are on the docket in the National Basketball Association. Memphis visits Orlando at 5:10 PM ET as a 7-point road favorite at BetRivers, with the total set at 222. Two games tip-off at 7:10 PM ET. Miami plays at Charlotte as a 3.5-point road favorite (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise) with an over/under of 225 at BetRivers. Phoenix is at Washington as a 7-point road favorite with BetRivers listing the total at 222. The Los Angeles Lakers host New York on ABC at 8:40 PM ET as a 1.5-point favorite. Two more games conclude the NBA card at 10:10 PM ET. Sacramento plays at home against Oklahoma City as a 6.5-point favorite at BetRivers. Milwaukee travels to Portland with BetRivers listing them as an 8.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 227.5. The college basketball card has 27 games on national television. Five of those games tip-off at noon ET. Villanova hosts Connecticut on Fox as a 5.5-point favorite with a total of 129.5. Indiana plays at home against Illinois on ESPN as a 1-point favorite with an over/under of 137.5. St. John’s travels to Butler on FS1 as a 2.5-point road favorite with a total of 140. Oklahoma State is at home against Oklahoma on ESPN2 as a 2.5-point favorite with an over/under of 132. Chattanooga hosts Mercer on ESPNU as an 11-point favorite with a total of 136. Tennessee plays at South Carolina on CBS at 1 PM ET as a 7.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 138.Five more televised NCAA-B games begin at 2 PM ET. Texas Tech visits West Virginia on ESPN as a 5-point road favorite with a total of 130.5. Xavier is at home against DePaul on FS1 as a 13.5-point favorite with an over/under of 141.5. Syracuse plays at home against Louisville on ESPN2 as a 7.5-point favorite with a total of 146.5. Wofford hosts East Tennessee State on the CBS Sports Network as a 9.5-point favorite with an over/under of 144. Saint Louis is at home against Dayton on ESPNU as a 4-point favorite with a total of 132.5. Purdue plays at home against Michigan on Fox at 2:30 PM ET as a 9-point favorite with an over/under of 146. At 4 PM ET, four more NCAA-B games on national television tip-off. Kansas hosts Baylor on ESPN as a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 147.5. Michigan State travels to Rutgers on FS1 as a 2-point road favorite with an over/under of 131.5. UNC-Wilmington plays at William & Mary on the CBS Sports Network as a 5.5-point road favorite with a total of 137.5. Texas A&M is at home against Missouri on ESPN2 as a 9.5-point favorite with an over/under of 132. Arizona hosts USC on Fox at 5 PM ET as a 10.5-point favorite with a total of 148.5.  Five NCAA-B televised games start at 6 PM ET. Duke travels to North Carolina on ESPN as a 3-point road favorite with an over/under of 151. Wichita State is at home against SMU on ESPN2 as a 2-point favorite with a total of 137. Colorado plays at home against Oregon State on FS1 as a 9-point favorite with an over/under of 137. Drake hosts Northern Iowa as a 4-point favorite with a total of 142. Utah State is at home against UNLV as an 8.5-point favorite with an over/under of 138.5. Four more college basketball games on national television begin at 8 PM ET. TCU plays at home against Kansas State as a 4.5-point favorite with a total of 131. Memphis is at home against Central Florida as a 6-point favorite with an over/under of 144. Kentucky visits Alabama on ESPN as a 1-point road favorite with a total of 157. New Mexico is on the road at Air Force on the CBS Sports Network as a 1-point road favorite with an over/under of 135.5. Oregon travels to Utah on FS1 at 8:30 PM ET as a 3.5-point road favorite with a total of 140.The televised NCAA-B card concludes with four games. Gonzaga plays at BYU on ESPN as a 12-point road favorite with an over/under of 157.5. UCLA is at Arizona State on ESPN2 as an 11.5-point favorite as an 11.5-point road favorite with a total of 132.5. Cal-State Fullerton hosts Cal-State Bakersfield on ESPNU as a 7-point favorite with an over/under of 130. Saint Mary’s plays at home against Loyola-Marymount on the CBS Sports Network as a 16-point favorite with a total of 129.5. The English Premier League concludes their long match week 23 with Burnley hosting Watford on Peacock at 1 PM ET. The Hornets are a -0.5 goal line favorite with an over/under of 2.5.  

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NHL Futures at the All-Star Break

by Sean Murphy

Friday, Feb 04, 2022

The NHL All-Star break is upon us. It was previously expected to be a much longer break with NHL players slated to head to Beijing for the Olympic Winter Games but hopes of that best-on-best tournament were dashed by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. The break is an ideal time to take stock of the NHL Stanley Cup futures odds. Here are three teams outside the upper-echelon (top five favorites) to consider. Odds listed are courtesy of DraftKings.Calgary Flames (+3000)This might be my favorite Stanley Cup futures play of the bunch right now. The Flames had a number of earlier postponements that leave them with at least four games in hand on the rest of the teams they're currently looking up at in the Pacific Division (Calgary sits in fourth place). They're only three points behind both the Kings and Ducks and will certainly want to make up that ground in an effort to avoid a potential first round playoff date with the Golden Knights. While injuries and Covid-related absences have certainly played a role, Vegas hasn't been nearly as consistent as in past years', perhaps leaving the door open for one of the other Pacific Division playoff teams to ultimately advance out of the division stage of the postseason. My bet is on Calgary to be that team as it boasts plenty of offensive firepower, a capable defense corps, not to mention one of the most underrated goaltenders in the NHL in Jakob Markstrom. Expect the Flames to be 'buyers' leading up to the trade deadline. A couple of savvy moves could further improve their chances of making a deep playoff run. BONUS TIP: Bet the Flames to win the Pacific Division at +200.Minnesota Wild (+1700)If you're backing the Wild, you're likely making the assumption that they'll also be active on the trade market leading up to the deadline next month. There are some holes to fill but when Minnesota is at the top of its game, it ranks among the best in the entire league. The biggest problem for the Wild is that they find themselves in the same division as the mighty Colorado Avalanche - the favorite to hoist Lord Stanley's Cup. We did see the Wild go on the road and take the Avs to a shootout on Martin Luther King Day. It's also not outside the realm of possibility that we see Minnesota overtake Colorado for top spot in the division, currently sitting nine points back, but with three games in hand. The biggest question mark on the entire Wild roster might be whether or not the goaltending tandem of Cam Talbot and Kaapo Kahkonen is capable of shouldering the load. Kahkonen has actually been the more consistent goalie lately, although Talbot did show signs of turning the corner prior to the break, returning from an extended absence to allow just three goals on 72 shots in three appearances - all Wild victories. BONUS TIP: Bet the Wild to win the Central Division at +200.Carolina Hurricanes (+1300)Carolina has been on the cusp of greatness for a number of years but has never been able to get over the hump. The Canes are right there as a top contender in the Eastern Conference again this season, currently pacing the Metropolitan Division (they're actually tied with the Rangers but own the tie-breaker on wins and have five games in hand). The beauty of residing in the Metropolitan is that you avoid a potential matchup with the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Lightning until the Conference Final. While the Lightning, Panthers, Leafs and Bruins battle it out in what is likely to be two grueling playoff rounds, the Canes will likely be contending with two-of-three of the Rangers, Penguins and Capitals - all opponents that Carolina can handle in my opinion. Few teams can match the Canes depth up front or on the blue line - we've seen that depth shine through as they had a number of key contributors out of the lineup for extended periods due to Covid protocols earlier this season. The addition of Frederik Andersen in goal could prove to be the biggest difference-maker come playoff time but he'll need to prove he can get it done in the postseason after a number of disappointing previous results with the seemingly cursed Maple Leafs.BONUS TIP: Bet the Hurricanes to win the Eastern Conference at +650.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA and NCAAB Previews and Odds - 02/04/2022

by Big Al Staff

Friday, Feb 04, 2022

The Thursday sports card features NBA and NCAAB action.Nine games are on the docket in the National Basketball Association. Three games tip-off the card at 7:10 PM ET. Charlotte hosts Cleveland as a 4.5-point favorite (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). Boston visits Detroit as a 7.5-point road favorite. Chicago plays at Indiana as a 2-point road favorite. Toronto is at home against Atlanta at 7:40 PM ET as a 1.5-point favorite. San Antonio plays at home against Houston at 8:40 PM ET as a 3-point favorite. Two NBA games start at 9:10 PM ET. Utah hosts Brooklyn as a 5.5-point favorite. Denver is at home against New Orleans as a 5.5-point favorite. Two more NBA games conclude the card at 10:10 PM ET. Portland plays at home against Oklahoma City as a 7.5-point favorite, with BetRivers setting the total at 214.Dallas is at home against Philadelphia on ESPN at 10:10 PM ET. The Mavericks are on a two-game losing streak after their 120-114 upset loss to Oklahoma City as a 12-point favorite on Wednesday. The Mavericks’ record fell to 29-23 with the loss. The 76ers had their five-game winning streak end with their 106-103 upset loss to Washington as a 10.5-point favorite on Wednesday. Philadelphia has a 31-20 record after the setback. Dallas is a 1-point favorite. Eight games are on national television in college basketball. Yale hosts Dartmouth on ESPNU at 5 PM ET. The Bulldogs won their second-straight game with their 80-74 upset win at Princeton as a 3.5-point underdog on Saturday. They improved their record to 10-9 with the win. The Big Green ended their three-game losing streak with their 76-63 victory at Columbia as a 5.5-point favorite on Saturday. Their record raised to 5-12 with the triumph. Yale is an 8-point favorite with an over/under of 136.5. Richmond is at home against St. Bonaventure on ESPN2 at 6 PM ET. The Spiders won their fourth game in their last five with their 74-57 victory at Duquesne as a 7-point favorite on Tuesday. They improved to 14-8 with the win. The Bonnies lost their second game in their last three with an 81-76 upset loss to Davidson as a 2.5-point favorite on Tuesday. St. Bonaventure’s record fell to 12-6 with the defeat. Richmond is a 3-point favorite with a total of 140.5. Akron plays at home against Miami (OH) on the CBS Sports Network at 6:30 PM ET. The Zips’ four-game winning streak ended with an 84-76 loss at Toledo as a 7.5-point underdog on Friday. Their record fell to 12-6 with the defeat. The RedHawks have lost three in a row after their 78-65 loss to Kent State as a 1.5-point underdog on Tuesday. Miami (OH) has a 9-11 record. Akron is a 7-point favorite with an over/under of 136.5. Seton Hall hosts Creighton on FS1 at 7 PM ET in a battle of Big East teams with identical 13-7 records. The Pirates ended their two-game losing streak with a 70-63 win at Georgetown as a 7-point favorite on Tuesday. The Bluejays ended their two-game losing streak with their upset win at 59-55 at UConn as a 10-point underdog on Tuesday. Seton Hall is a 6.5-point favorite with a total of 137. Saint Peter’s is at home against Quinnipiac on ESPNU at 7 PM ET. The Peacocks had their two-game winning streak end with an 85-77 loss at Iona as a 10-point underdog on Sunday. Their record dropped to 9-8 with the setback. The Bobcats lost their second game in their last three games with an 85-76 loss at Siena as a 2-point underdog on Sunday. Their record fell to 11-8 with the defeat. Saint Peter’s is a 6.5-point favorite with an over/under of 136.5. Toledo travels to Ball State on ESPN at 9 PM ET. The Rockets are on a nine-game winning streak with their 89-66 victory at Eastern Michigan as a 10-point favorite on Tuesday. Their record improved to 18-4 with the win. The Cardinals had their three-game winning streak end with an 87-63 loss at Ohio as a 12.5-point underdog on Tuesday. Ball State’s record dropped to 10-11 with the defeat. Toledo is a 7.5-point road favorite with a total of 154.5. Colorado State plays at home against San Diego State on FS1 at 9 PM ET. The Rams dropped their second-straight game with an 84-78 upset loss as a 1.5-point favorite on Monday. Their record fell to 16-3 with the losses. The Aztecs won their second game in their last three with their 72-47 victory against New Mexico as a 15-point favorite on Monday. They improved their record to 12-5 with the win. Colorado State is a 3.5-point favorite with an over/under of 131.5. Fresno State hosts Nevada on FS1 at 11 PM ET. The Bulldogs won their second game in their last three with a 73-43 victory at San Jose State as an 11.5-point favorite on Tuesday. They improved their record to 17-6 with the win. The Wolf Pack are on a three-game losing streak after a 69-58 loss at UNLV as a 1.5-point underdog on Tuesday. Nevada’s record is now 9-10. Fresno State is a 9-point favorite with a total of 131.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA and NCAAB Previews and Odds - 02/03/2022

by Big Al Staff

Thursday, Feb 03, 2022

The Thursday sports card features NBA and NCAAB action.Six games are on the docket in the National Basketball Association. The card tips off at 7:10 PM ET, with Minnesota playing at Detroit as a 6.5-point road favorite with the total set at 225 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). Two more games begin at 7:40 PM ET. Toronto hosts Chicago as a 3-point favorite with an over/under of 224.5. Phoenix travels to Atlanta for the first game of a doubleheader on TNT at 7:40 PM ET. The Suns are on an eleven game winning streak after their 121-111 win against Brooklyn as a 6-point favorite on Tuesday. Their 41-9 record is the best in the NBA. The Hawks had their seven-game winning streak end in a 106-100 upset loss to Toronto as a 1-point favorite on Monday. Atlanta’s record fell to 24-26 with the setback. Phoenix is a 5-point road favorite with a total of 223. Miami plays at San Antonio at 8:40 PM ET as a 3.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 219.5. Two more NBA conclude the card at 10:10 PM ET. Golden State is at home against Sacramento as a 13-point favorite with a total of 221. The Los Angeles Clippers are the technical home team at Crypto.com Arena when they play the Los Angeles Lakers in the nightcap on TNT at 10:10 PM ET. The Clippers lost their second game in their last three games after their 122-116 loss at Indiana as a 1-point underdog on Monday. Their record fell to 26-26 with the defeat. The Lakers are on a three-game losing streak after a 129-121 loss at Atlanta as a 7.5-point underdog on Sunday. Their record dropped to 24-27 with the setback. The Clippers are a 2.5-point favorite with an over/under of 218. Thirteen games are on national television in college basketball. Two of these games start at 6 PM ET. St. John’s visits Georgetown on FS1 at 6 PM ET as a 5-point road favorite with a total of 157.5. Delaware is at home against Drexel on the CBS Sports Network as a 4.5-point favorite with an over/under of 145.5. Two more NCAA-B games on national television tip-off at 7 PM ET. Winthrop plays at home against North Carolina A&T on ESPNU as a 9-point favorite at William Hill as a total of 148. Northeastern hosts James Madison on the CBS Sports Network as a 1-point favorite with an over/under of 143.5. Three NCAA-B games on national television start at 8 PM ET. Arizona plays at home against UCLA on ESPN as a 6.5-point favorite with a total of 148.5. Ohio State is at home against Iowa on FS1 as a 5-point favorite with an over/under to 153. Old Dominion hosts Marshall on the CBS Sports Network as a 4.5-point favorite with a total of 144. Two more NCAA-B games start at 9 PM ET. Gonzaga visits San Diego on ESPN2 as a 21.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 150.5. Utah is at home against Oregon State on ESPNU as a 6.5-point favorite with a total of 141. At 10 PM ET, two more NCAA-B games tip-off on national television. BYU plays at home against San Francisco on the CBS Sports Network as a 1.5-point favorite with an over/under of 141. Oregon is at Colorado on FS1 as a 2-point road favorite with a total of 138.5. Two games on national television conclude the NCAA-B card at 11 PM ET. USC travels to Arizona State on ESPN2 as a 6-point road favorite with an over/under of 132. UC-Riverside hosts Hawaii on ESPNU as a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 127.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, and NCAAB Previews and Odds - 02/02/2022

by Big Al Staff

Wednesday, Feb 02, 2022

The Wednesday sports card features NBA, NHL, and NCAAB action.Nine games are on the docket in the National Basketball Association. Two games tip-off the card at 7:10 PM ET. Indiana hosts Orlando as a 5-point favorite with the total set at 219.5 (all odds from DraftKings). Philadelphia plays at home against Washington. Two more NBA games begin at 7:40 PM ET. Boston is at home against Charlotte as a 4.5-point favorite. Memphis visits New York in the opening game of a doubleheader on ESPN at 7:40 PM ET. The Grizzlies’ three-game winning streak ended with a 122-119 upset loss at Philadelphia as a 3.5-point favorite on Monday. Their record dropped to 35-18 with the setback. The Knicks ended their three-game losing streak with their 116-96 victory against Sacramento as a 6.5-point favorite on Monday. New York raised their record to 24-27 with the win. Memphis is a 3-point road favorite with an over/under 217.Cleveland travels to Houston at 8:10 PM ET as a 2.5-point road favorite. Dallas is at home against Oklahoma City at 8:40 PM ET as an 11.5-point favorite. Two more NBA games start at 10:10 PM ET. Brooklyn plays at Sacramento as a 4-point road favorite. Utah hosts Denver in the nightcap on ESPN at 10:10 PM ET. The Jazz lost their fifth game in a row with a 126-106 loss at Minnesota as a 2.5-point underdog on Sunday. Their record fell to 30-21 with the loss. The Nuggets won their fifth straight game with a 136-100 upset win at Milwaukee as a 6.5-point underdog on Sunday. They improved their record to 28-21 with the victory. Utah is a 2-point favorite. The National Hockey League has five games on its slate. Two games drop the puck at 7:08 PM ET. The New York Islanders are at home against Seattle as a -160 money line favorite with a total of 5.5. Washington plays at home against Edmonton on TNT as a -140 money line favorite with an over/under of 6. Los Angeles visits Detroit at 7:38 PM ET as a -140 money line road favorite with a total of 5.5. Two more NHL games conclude the card at 9:38 PM ET. Calgary is at Arizona as a -285 money line road favorite with an over/under of 6. Minnesota plays at Chicago on TNT as a -155 money line road favorite with a total of 6. Seven games are on national television in college basketball. Three of these games tip-off at 7 PM ET. Xavier hosts Butler on the CBS Sports Network as an 11.5-point favorite with an over/under of 130.5. Wake Forest is at home against Pittsburgh on ESPN2 as a 13-point favorite with a total of 133.5. Arkansas plays at Georgia on ESPNU as a 10-point road favorite with an over/under of 152.5. Three more televised NCAAB games begin at 9 PM ET. North Carolina State is at home against Syracuse on ESPN2 as a 1.5-point favorite with a total of 151.5. Kansas State plays at home against Oklahoma State on ESPNU as a 2-point favorite with a total of 129.5. VCU hosts Dayton on the CBS Sports Network as a 4-point favorite with an over/under of 120. Villanova plays at Marquette on FS1 at 10 PM ET as a 4.5-point road favorite with a total of 133.5. 

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL and NCAAB Previews and Odds - 02/01/2022

by Big Al Staff

Tuesday, Feb 01, 2022

The Tuesday sports card features NBA, NHL, and NCAAB action.Seven games are on the docket in the National Basketball Association. Detroit plays at home against New Orleans at 7:10 PM ET at a 1.5-point favorite (all odds from DraftKings). Two more games begin at 7:40 PM ET. Toronto is at home against Miami as a 2-point favorite. Milwaukee hosts Washington at TNT as an 11.5-point favorite. Two games start at 8:10 PM ET. Chicago plays at home against Orlando as a 10.5-point favorite. Minnesota is at home against Denver as a 2.5-point favorite. Golden State visits San Antonio at 8:40 PM ET as a 3-point road favorite. Phoenix hosts Brooklyn in the nightcap on TNT at 10:10 PM ET as a 7-point favorite. The National Hockey League has 11 games on its slate. The puck drops at 7:08 PM ET for six games. Boston hosts Seattle as a -255 money line favorite with a total set at 6. Tampa Bay plays at home against San Jose as a -300 money line favorite with an over/under of 6. Toronto visits New Jersey as a -200 money line road favorite with a total of 6.5. Florida plays in New York against the Rangers as a -145 money line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. Winnipeg travels to Philadelphia as a -150 money line favorite with a total of 6. Pittsburgh hosts Washington as a -155 money line favorite with a total of 6. Two NHL games start at 7:38 PM ET. The New York Islanders are at home against Ottawa as a -265 money line favorite with an over/under of 6, Nashville plays at home against Vancouver as a -205 money line favorite with a total of 6. Calgary visits Dallas at 8:38 PM ET as a -125 money line road favorite with an over/under of 5.5. Colorado plays at home against Arizona at 9:08 PM ET as a -575 money line favorite with a total of 6.5. Vegas hosts Buffalo at 10:08 PM ET as a -400 money line favorite with an over/under of 6. Eleven games are on national television in college basketball. Connecticut plays at home against Creighton on FS1 as a 10-point favorite with a total of 134.5. Four more games begin at 7 PM ET. Kansas visits Iowa State on ESPN as a 4.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 139. Michigan State plays at Maryland on ESPN2 as a 4.5-point road favorite. St. Bonaventure is at home against Davidson as a 3-point favorite with a total of 138.5. Mississippi State hosts South Carolina on ESPN as an 8-point favorite with an over/under of 139.5. Seton Hall travels to Georgetown on FSI at 8:30 PM ET as a 7-point road favorite with a total of 152.5. Three more games on national television start at 9 PM ET. Auburn hosts Alabama as a 7-point favorite with a total of 135.5. Wichita State is at home against Tulsa on ESPNU as a 7.5-point favorite with an over/under of 135.5. Texas Tech hosts Texas on ESPN2 as a 5.5-point favorite with a total of 123.Two NCAAB games conclude the college basketball card. UNLV is at home against Nevada on FS1 at 10:30 PM ET. Fresno State visits San Jose City as an 11.5-point road favorite an 11.5-point road favorite with a total of 127.5.

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The Los Angeles Clippers Scoring (and Over) Surge (without Leonard and George)

by Team Del Genio

Monday, Jan 31, 2022

Despite (or because of) playing without the injured Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, the Los Angeles Clippers are playing higher-scoring games lately. Going into the last day of January, their last five games had seen 219. 2 combined points scored, with the Clippers averaging 111.6 points per game. That scoring average is almost six points above their 105.9 ppg average this season. The Clippers continue to play undermanned without Paul George and Kawhi Leonard, yet head coach Tyronn Lue is getting a surprising contribution from Amir Coffey. He is averaging 17.4 points per game, 4.8 rebounds per game, and 2.4 assists per game in his last five games. Los Angeles lost the Pacers in Indiana on Monday, 122-116, but don’t blame the offensive effort of the Clippers. They made 45 of their 96 shots from the field for a 47% field goal percentage. Coffey led the way with 27 points on 9 of 14 shooting including him making five of his nine shots from the 3-point line. The former Minnesota Golden Gopher added four assists and five rebounds. Leonard has been out since the playoffs last spring with his knee injury. There is some talk that he could return for a potential playoff run. George is dealing with an elbow injury that has kept him out since December 22nd. While both players offer critical scoring for the Clippers, their absence on the defensive end of the court has probably had a bigger impact on this team.This continued offensive proficiency for the Los Angeles Clippers without George and Leonard is resulting in more overs.  Defensive lapses are an area of emphasis to monitor after the Pacers made 53% of their shots, including 13 of 29 (48%) of their shots from the 3-point line. Los Angeles has played five of their last seven games over the number when playing their third game in five days on the road. The Clippers did not cover the 1-point they were laying as a road favorite on Monday, and they have still played six of the last eight games over the number after a point spread win. Los Angeles entered the game coming off a 115-90 upset victory against Charlotte getting 6.5-points from the oddsmakers on Sunday. The Clippers have played five of their last six games over the number after an upset win on the road as an underdog. They have played five of their last six games over the total after playing at least three in a row on the road. Their eight-game road trip ended with their 6-point loss at Indiana on Monday, but more road games are quickly on the horizon for this team. After a two-game homestand this week against the Los Angeles Lakers and the Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles will embark on a three-day road swing in the southwest against Memphis before two straight games against the Mavericks in Dallas. With George and Leonard not expected to return anytime soon, perhaps these impending road games will offer profitable betting opportunities with the over. Good luck - TDG.

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