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Who NOT to bet on to win the Tourney Title

by Vegas Writer

Wednesday, Mar 15, 2023

Time for your Buyer Beware speech, as the dance that's big gets underway in full on Thursday.While many are on the prowl to identify the right team to invest in, the one with the right odds, and that can make a run at the title, I'm alerting you to the higher seeded teams I see bowing out sooner than expected so you don't make any financial mistakes.PURDUE (No. 1 seed, East Region)Of the No. 1 seeds in this year's event, the Boilermakers appear to be the most vulnerable, and one I don't think makes it into the national semifinals, let alone the East final. Sure, they won the Big Ten tournament, but they also were on the right side of the bracket, facing Rutgers (who lost in the first round of the NIT), sub-.500 Ohio State (which played its fourth game in as many days) and a weary Penn State team that wouldn't have been able to compete had it been rested.The draw isn't as easy in this event, with the potential opponents in Memphis and Duke or Tennessee just to get to the East final, where the likes of Kentucky, Kansas State, Michigan State, USC, and Marquette reside on the other side of the bracket.After outscoring opponents by nearly 14 points per game after a 22-1 start to the season, the Boilers closed the season and conference tourney going 7-4 and outscoring teams by just 3.3 per contest. This team won't be able to weather the storm.BAYLOR (No. 3 seed, South Region)It's amazing the difference a few years can make. From the Bears' championship run in 2020-21, to now, the depth and defense is a drastic change. Sure, the offense has been flowing with one of the best backcourts in the nation, but the Bears can't defend. And that simply won't cut it in this region, even in the opening round against Santa Barbara.If the Bears get past the Gauchos, I think they're destined to face Creighton, which has improved dramatically in the second half of the season. Second-seeded Arizona is bound to get to the South semis, and if Baylor can claw its way to the East final, sorry, but I'm guessing Alabama will be waiting, and I think the Tide can win it all.Baylor was lucky to grab a 3-seed in my eyes, after losing four of its last six games, including its regular-season home finale to Iowa State by 15, and then again in the Big 12 tournament to the same Cyclones, by six. The Bears gave up 69.0 over their first 26 games. During that final 2-4 slide, they allowed 75.5 points per contest. The Bears go into hibernation sooner than later.VIRGINIA (No. 4 seed, South Region)Another team from the same region as Baylor, I don't see how the Cavaliers make it through a rugged gauntlet when I see how they've underperformed lately. Though they won four of seven since Feb. 22, it's the lackluster offense that is alarming.This is a team that was outscoring teams by a respectable 9.0 points per game during a 21-4 start but fell off noticeably with its offense losing roughly six points per game and the scoring differential shrinking to +2.6 in that seven-game span.The Cavs tend to make life hard on themselves on the offensive end of the floor, failing to work for the easy buckets, and relying too much on the long ball. That'll be trouble at some point, as this top-four seed loses before the regional final.GONZAGA (No. 3 seed, West Region)I don't trust Mark Few, point blank. He cannot coach when things aren't going well and he's scrambling for answers. There's always too much dependence on one guy, and this year it's Drew Timme. Sure, he's not a bad choice. But when the Bulldogs run up against a team that can isolate on him, Few isn't always open to expanding his options.This affects things at both ends of the court, as the Bulldogs aren't necessarily a good defensive team in transition. So in potential opponents like UCLA, Kansas or UConn, Iona, or even West Coast-rival Saint Mary's, they may find themselves bottled up.The Bulldogs have failed to crack the Top 100 with their adjusted defensive efficiency the past month, and it's creating mass imbalance for what should be a much better team than we've seen all season. Another early exit for Few and company.CONNECTICUT (No. 4 seed, West Region)The Huskies were a four-seed in the Big East Conference. Suddenly they're a four-seed in the dance? I'm not convinced, especially when I think the team with the most potential from that league is Marquette. Connecticut won just six of 11 in true road games. Okay, these are neutral-court games, and the Huskies won four of five on neutral courts. But this team fails in key categories that are big intangibles in this tournament.The Huskies rank 124th with just 18.9 free throw attempts per game - they don't draw enough fouls. They're tied for 270th in committing 18.1 fouls per contest - they foul too much. And I'd feel better if they forced more than 13.2 turnovers per game.Some may say Connecticut is in the easiest bracket, but I wouldn't be shocked in the least if Rick Pitino and his 13th-seeded Iona Gaels win this opening-round matchup.Good luck with your choices on future wagers, just don't make any one of these five.

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Thursday NCAA Tournament Location Edges

by Nelly's Sports

Wednesday, Mar 15, 2023

  Thursday NCAA Tournament Location Edges It can be difficult to keep track of all the different venues this week but there are a few noteworthy advantages in the early rounds of the NCAA Tournament. Here is a look at a few pairings with a clear location and/or timing edge that may not be fully reflected in the marketplace for Thursday's Round of 64 games.  (12) Charleston vs. (5) San Diego State 3:10 PM ET in Orlando, Florida It is a six hour drive south from Charleston to Orlando while San Diego State must fly across the country for their opening pairing as the leader of a Mountain West Conference that went winless in the NCAA Tournament last season. This game is also a relatively early start time in which San Diego State hasn’t often faced this season while the pod in Orlando will feature a ACC and SEC powers that will likely offer temporary support to the Cougars. (1) Alabama vs. (16) Texas A&M Corpus Christi 2:45 PM ET in Birmingham, Alabama As the #1 overall seed in the field the Crimson Tide warrant a favorable path and they will play just 57 miles away in their home state for the opener. Texas A&M Corpus Christi won narrowly in Dayton Tuesday night before making the trip to the Magic City as the Tide should have a clear edge as they have earned.  (9) Auburn vs. (8) Iowa 6:50 PM ET in Birmingham, Alabama Both SEC schools from the state of Alabama will be in Birmingham, though in separate sessions. Tide fans won’t be supporting Auburn but the Tigers should have good representation playing just over two hours away from campus compared to a much longer trip for a well-traveling Iowa fanbase. Should Auburn win they would have a somewhat unprecedented location edge vs. the Midwest #1 seed Houston in the Round of 32.  (1) Kansas vs. (16) Howard 2:00 PM ET in Des Moines, Iowa The Jayhawks landed a #1 seed but were sent to the West region which will feature Sweet 16 and Elite 8 games in Las Vegas, instead of a path through Kansas City in the Midwest for the defending national champions. Kansas does have a geographic edge in the first two rounds however as Des Moines is only 230 miles from Lawrence as the Jayhawks will be well supported as usual. Illinois as a potential Round of 32 foe is nearby as well, however. (10) Utah State vs. (7) Missouri 1:40 PM ET in Sacramento, California Sacramento is not close to Logan as you must travel across the very large width of Nevada and then some, but considering how many west coast teams were shipped to the east coast in the bracket, this is a preferable landing spot for the Aggies, with likely only Denver as a preferable option. The edge is offset with the early time slot however as the first game to tip in this pod.  (2) Arizona vs. (15) Princeton 4:10 PM ET in Sacramento, California This is the best of the options available for Arizona with no early round venues in Southern California or greater Phoenix this season. While Sacramento isn’t close to Tucson, the benefit will be with Princeton forced to make a lengthy trip west, particularly with the Tigers being one of the 10 teams still playing on Selection Sunday for a tough turnaround for a Thursday daytime game.  (10) Boise State vs. (7) Northwestern 7:35 PM ET in Sacramento, California Northwestern should get some support in Sacramento for its rare NCAA Tournament appearance, but this is an ideal landing spot given the options for #10 seed Boise State. While still over 500 miles away, this will be a venue with west coast powers present and a night time start should also be preferable for the Broncos. (2) UCLA vs. (15) UNC Asheville 10:05 PM ET in Sacramento, California Despite UCLA losing to Arizona in the Pac-12 final, they snag the late game in Sacramento, getting to play in the home state for the Bruins, though nearly 400 miles up state. Asheville is more than 2,500 miles away from Sacramento and this game will tip after 10 PM in North Carolina, and possibly even later if a closely matched Northwestern/Boise State game goes long. 

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, NCAAB, EPL and UEFA Champions League Previews and Odds - 03/15/2023

by Big Al Staff

Wednesday, Mar 15, 2023

The Wednesday sports card features action in the NBA, NHL, NCAAB, EPL, and the UEFA Champions League.The National Basketball Association has seven games on its docket. Two NBA games tip off at 7:40 PM ET. The Philadelphia 76ers visit Cleveland to play the Cavaliers on ESPN as a 2-point road favorite (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). The Miami Heat host the Memphis Grizzlies as a 3.5-point favorite, with the total set at 220. Three NBA games start at 8:10 PM ET. The Sacramento Kings play in Chicago against the Bulls as a 1-point road favorite with an over/under of 239. The Los Angeles Lakers are in Houston to play the Rockets as a 1.5-point road favorite. The Boston Celtics travel to Minnesota to play the Timberwolves as a 4.5-point road favorite with a total of 234. The Dallas Mavericks play in San Antonio against the Spurs at 8:40 PM ET as a 5.5-point road favorite. The Los Angeles Clippers are at home against the Golden State Warriors on ESPN at 10:10 PM ET as a 2.5-point favorite with an over/under of 234. The National Hockey League has four games on its slate. Two NHL games drop the puck at 7:07 PM ET. The Washington Capitals play at home against the Buffalo Sabres as a -120 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Toronto Maple Leafs host the Colorado Avalanche on TNT as a -145 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Minnesota Wild play in St. Louis against the Blues on TNT at 9:37 PM ET as a -150 money-line road favorite with a total of 6. The New York Islanders visit Anaheim to play the Ducks at 10:07 PM ET as a -180 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The college basketball schedule has five tournament games on national television. Texas Southern plays at Fairleigh Dickinson on truTV at 6:50 PM ET in a First Four game in the NCAA tournament at the University of Dayton Arena in Dayton, Ohio. The Tigers are a 2-point favorite with a total of 147. Florida is at home against Central Florida on ESPN2 at 7 PM ET in the first round of the NIT as a 2.5-point favorite with an over/under of 143.5. Cincinnati plays at home against Virginia Tech on ESPN2 in the first round of the NIT as a 5.5-point favorite with a total of 152. Arizona State battles Nevada on truTV at 9:10 PM ET in a First Four game in the NCAA tournament at the University of Dayton Arena in Dayton, Ohio. The Sun Devils are a 2-point favorite with an over/under of 134. Oregon hosts UC-Irvine on ESPN2 at 11 PM ET in the first round of the NIT as a 7-point favorite with a total of 146.5.Matchweek 27 in the English Premier League concludes with two matches at 3:30 PM ET. Brighton and Hove Albion plays at home against Crystal Palace as a -1 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5 (all soccer odds from BetMGM). Brentford travels to Southampton on the USA Network in a pick ‘em matchup with a total of 2.5. The knockout stage of the UEFA Champions League continues with the final two second-leg matches in the Round of 16 at 4 PM ET. Liverpool plays at Real Madrid in a pick ‘em match with an over/under of 3. Napoli is at home against Eintracht Frankfurt as a -1 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5.

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Winning Your NCAA Tournament Bracket Contest

by Oskeim Sports

Tuesday, Mar 14, 2023

It all starts tonight. The first of four play-in games is set for tonight in Dayton, Ohio. That will kick off the action in the 2022-23 NCAA tournament. The 68-team field was announced on Sunday and, like any sports fan, you rushed to fill out your March Madness bracket. Whether it’s an office pool, an online pool, or some other form of bracket challenge, picking enough correct games to win can be difficult. To help in your quest to wind up in the money, here are a few tips. You may want to go back and make some changes before all the action starts. Work Backwards Take your bracket, go to the Final Four, and start working backwards. Here’s why. You will be tempted to pick a number of potential upsets in Round 1. There will most likely be several upsets on Thursday and Friday. Since the NCAA expanded the tournament field back in 1985, there has been an average of a dozen upsets throughout the entire tournament. It’s important to clarify that an upset is a game that is won by a team seeded at least two spots below its opponent. A No. 9 beating a No. 8 is not an upset. However, a No. 7 beating a No. 10 is. Over the course of the past 36 tournaments, there have only been 15 instances where a seed lower than No. 6 has made the Final Four. North Carolina made it last year as a No. 8 seed. The lowest seed to ever win a national championship was No. 8. That was Villanova back in 1985. Connecticut won as a No. 7 seed in 2014. In the past seven tournaments since UConn’s win, six No. 1 seeds and one No. 2 seed have won national titles. The point here is that more often than not the top four seeds in a region are more likely to make it to the Final Four than the other twelve. So, start with the Final Four and work backwards. Picking Upsets One of the best parts of the NCAA tournament is all of the upsets. The problem is that we don’t know which ones are going to happen. That means you must pick wisely in your bracket. Only once has a No. 1 seed lost in the first round. There have only been ten No. 2 seeds to ever lose in Round 1. A No. 2 seed has lost in each of the past two tournaments – Ohio State in 2021 and Kentucky last year. Most upsets occur in the first round. If an average of 12 upsets happens every tournament, approximately six of those will come in Round 1. The highest number of upsets comes from the No. 7-No. 10 first-round game. Since 1985, there have been 58 No. 10 seeds that have won their first-round game. Last year, Miami beat USC 68-66. Florida, Iowa, and Minnesota all won their first-round games in the 2019 tournament as No. 10 seeds. Typically, No. 10 seeds are either Power conference teams that are good but got beaten up in a tough league or they are one of the best teams in a mid-major conference. VCU (2016), Wichita State (2017), and Butler (2018) are all great examples of mid-major No. 10 seeds that won a first-round tournament game. Going Deeper in the Tourney As you move deeper into the tournament, the number of upsets will decrease by round. You should figure on half of the number of upsets from the previous round. If you pick six in the first round, you will pick no more than three in Round 2. As you move on to the second round, it is worth remembering that the No. 6 seed has beaten the No. 3 seed 29 times since 1985. The No. 7 seed has 26 wins over the No. 2 seed in Round 2. History says that at least one No. 2 and one No. 3 will lose in the second round. Your job is to do the research and pick the right one to get bounced. In the 2019 tournament, all the second and third seeds won their second-round games.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NCAAB, NBA, NHL, and UEFA Champions League Previews and Odds - 03/14/2023

by Big Al Staff

Tuesday, Mar 14, 2023

The Tuesday sports card features action in the NBA, NHL, NCAAB, and the UEFA Champions League.The National Basketball Association has eight games on its docket. Two NBA games tip off at 7:10 PM ET. The Cleveland Cavaliers travel to Charlotte to play the Hornets as a 7.5-point road favorite, with the total set at 221.5 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). The Washington Wizards host the Detroit Pistons as an 11-point favorite with an over/under of 223.5. The Toronto Raptors play at home against the Denver Nuggets at 7:40 PM ET as a 1-point favorite with a total of 229. Three NBA games start at 8:10 PM ET. The New Orleans Pelicans are at home against the Los Angeles Lakers as a 1.5-point favorite. The Oklahoma City Thunder host the Brooklyn Nets as a 2-point favorite. The Orlando Magic play in San Antonio against the Spurs as a 5.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 234. Two more games complete the NBA card at 10:10 PM ET. The Milwaukee Bucks are in Phoenix to play the Suns. The New York Knicks play at Portland against the Trail Blazers as a 1-point road favorite. The National Hockey League has 12 games on its slate. Five NHL games drop the puck at 7:07 PM ET. The Carolina Hurricanes host the Winnipeg Jets as a -200 money-line favorite with a total of 6. The Pittsburgh Penguins play at home against the Montreal Canadiens as a -340 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The New Jersey Devils are at home against the Tampa Bay Lightning as a -130 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Vegas Golden Knights travel to Philadelphia as a -175 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6. The New York Rangers host the Washington Capitals on ESPN as a -170 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Nashville Predators play at home against the Detroit Red Wings at 8:07 PM ET as a -155 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6. The Boston Bruins play in Chicago against the Blackhawks at 8:37 PM ET as a -425 money-line road favorite with a total of 6. The Edmonton Oilers are at home against the Ottawa Senators at 9:07 PM ET as a -215 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7. Two NHL games begin at 10:07 PM ET. The Calgary Flames are in Arizona to play the Coyotes as a -225 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The Dallas Stars play in Vancouver against the Canucks as a -140 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6. Two more games complete the NHL card at 10:37 PM ET. The San Jose Sharks host the Columbus Bluejackets as a -140 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Los Angeles Kings play at home against the New York Islanders as a -135 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The college basketball schedule has nine tournament games on national television. Texas A&M Corpus Christi plays Southeast Missouri State on truTV at 6:40 pm et in a First Four game in the NCAA tournament at the University of Dayton Arena in Dayton, Ohio. The Islanders are a 3.5-point favorite with a total of 156. Two more NCAAB games on national television tip-off at 7 PM ET. Rutgers is at home against Hofstra on ESPNU in the first round of the NIT as a 7.5-point favorite with an over/under of 136. Michigan hosts Toledo on ESPN2 in the first round of the NIT as a 6-point favorite with a total of 162.5. Two NCAAB games on national television start at 9 PM ET. Liberty plays at home against Villanova on ESPN2 in the first round of the NIT as a 3.5-point favorite with an over/under of 137. Vanderbilt is at home against Yale on ESPNU in the first round of the NIT as a 3.5-point favorite with a total of 147. Mississippi State battles Pittsburgh on truTV at 9:10 PM ET in a First Four game in the NCAA tournament in Dayton. The Bulldogs are a 2.5-point favorite with an over/under of 132.5. Two NCAAB games on national television begin at 11 PM ET. Washington State hosts Eastern Washington on ESPNU in the first round of the NIT as a 10.5-point favorite with a total of 151.5. Colorado plays at home against Seton Hall on ESPN2 in the first round of the NIT as a 4.5-point favorite with an over/under of 137.5. The knockout stage of the UEFA Champions League continues with two second-leg matches in the Round of 16 at 4 PM ET. Manchester City is at home against RB Leipzig on CBS as a -1.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 3 (all soccer odds from BetMGM). Inter Milan travels to FC Porto in a pick ‘em match with an over/under of 2.5. 

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NCAA Tourney Potential Long Shots

by ASA, Inc.

Monday, Mar 13, 2023

Upset season is here, and inevitably the Cinderella teams will catch all of the love busting brackets and allowing unknown mid-major players to burst onto the national scene. Though those teams are thrilling to watch, they rarely make it all the way to the Final 4, Loyola-Chicago being the last mid-major in the past eight years. Low seeded teams that do extend their upset streaks to the Final 4 actually come from high major schools significantly more. UNC in 2022 (8 seed), UCLA in 2021 (11), South Carolina in 2017 (7), and Syracuse in 2016 (10) show the success these low seeds can have. Here are a few that have true potential this March. Arkansas Razorbacks (odds to win the National Championship +7500 @ Fan Duel) - The SEC is loaded with guard talent and the Razorbacks have three that average over 12.8ppg or better. Two of those talented guards, Smith Jr & Black, are potential NBA lottery picks.  With an elite backcourt, they draw Illinois in round one and then will have to pull off the upset by taking down No. 1 seed Kansas if they wish to make it past the first weekend. The Razors defense is elite ranking 16th in adjusted efficiency and their offense has improved since Smith Jr returned from injury averaging 77 PPG in his 7 games since returning.  There is so much parody in college basketball this season that Arkansas is more than capable of playing spoiler to lots of people's brackets early on. Texas A&M Aggies (odds to win the National Championship +4500 @ Fan Duel) - Once again, we value guards who can fill it up. Wade Taylor and Tyrece Radford do just that and have been battle tested through the SEC gauntlet. Those two combined to average 30 PPG while both shooting 80% plus from the FT line.  The Aggies are solid on both ends of the court ranking in the top 40 in both adjusted offensive and defensive efficiency.  They also get to the charity stripe more than any other team in the Big Dance with 26% of their points coming at the FT line.  And they make them when they get there, hitting 76% as a team.  If they can get by Penn State, who just played 4 games in 4 days at the Big 10 tourney, that sets up an epic battle with former in state rival Texas in the round of 32. Memphis Tigers (odds to win the National Championship +10000 @ Fan Duel) - Fresh off of an American Conference tournament victory over No. 1 seed Houston, this is a no brainer. Kendric Davis is phenomenal and will be one of the best players in the NCAA field. The Tigers are top 40 in both adjusted offensive and defensive efficiency and they are a veteran team with 5 seniors in the starting line up and 8 in their regular rotation.  They have a 26-8 record but it could be better with all 8 losses coming by 8 points or less and 5 of those setbacks coming by 3 points or fewer.  If they can get by a solid FAU team in the opener, they’ve got a decent shot at upsetting Purdue in our opinion.  The Boilers struggle with pressure and Memphis turns teams over at almost a 21% rate.  This is definitely a team that can make it to the second weekend. 

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA and NHL Previews - 03/13/2023

by Big Al Staff

Monday, Mar 13, 2023

The Monday sports card features action in the NBA and NHL.The National Basketball Association has six games on its docket. The Indiana Pacers visit Detroit to play the Pistons at 7:10 PM ET. The Pacers are on a two-game winning streak after a 121-115 victory as a 3.5-point favorite on Saturday. Detroit has lost 11 games in a row. Indiana is a 3.5-point road favorite (all odds from DraftKings). Three NBA games tip off at 7:40 PM ET. The Atlanta Hawks host the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Hawks’ two-game winning streak ended with a 134-125 loss to Boston as a 5-point underdog on Saturday. The Timberwolves lost their second-straight game in a 124-123 upset loss to Brooklyn as a 4.5-point favorite on Friday. Atlanta is a 5-point favorite with the total set at 241.5.The Memphis Grizzlies play in Dallas against the Mavericks. The Grizzlies are on a two-game winning streak after a 112-108 victory against Dallas as a 4.5-point favorite on Saturday. The Mavericks have lost two games in a row. Memphis is a 1.5-point road favorite. The Miami Heat are at home against the Utah Jazz. The Heat have lost two of three after a 126-114 upset loss as a 2.5-point favorite on Saturday. The Jazz have won two games in a row after a 119-111 win at Charlotte yesterday. Miami is a 7-point favorite. Miami is a 7-point favorite. The Boston Celtics travel to Houston to play the Rockets at 8:10 PM ET. The Celtics have won two games in a row after their 134-125 victory as a 5-point favorite on Saturday. The Rockets have lost three in a row with their 119-111 loss to Chicago as a 7.5-point underdog on Saturday. Boston is a 13-point favorite with an over/under of 230. Two NBA games begin at 10:10 PM ET. The Golden State Warriors are at home against the Phoenix Suns. The Warriors ended a three-game losing streak with their 125-116 loss to Milwaukee on Saturday. The Suns were on a four-game winning streak before a 126-119 win against Sacramento as a 4-point favorite on Saturday. Golden State is a 4.5-point favorite with a total of 239. The Milwaukee Bucks play in Sacramento against the Kings. The Bucks had won three in a row before their loss at Golden State on Saturday. The Kings have won eight of their last nine games with their 128-119 win against Phoenix as a 4-point underdog on Saturday. Milwaukee is a 1.5-point road favorite. The National Hockey League has three games on its slate. Two games drop the puck at 7:37 PM ET. The Toronto Maple Leafs play at home against the Buffalo Sabres. The Maple Leafs won their second-straight game with their 7-4 win against Edmonton on Saturday. The Sabres have lost four in a row after a 2-1 loss to the New York Rangers on Saturday. Toronto is a -250 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7.The Colorado Avalanche plays in Montreal against the Canadiens. The Avalanche won for the second time in their last three games after a 3-2 victory against Arizona on Friday. The Canadiens are on a six-game losing streak after a 3-1 loss to New Jersey on Friday. Colorado is a -255 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5.The Dallas Stars visit Seattle to play the Kraken at 10:07 PM ET. The Stars won their sixth game in their last seven with a 4-3 victory against Seattle on Saturday. The Kraken have lost two games in a row. Dallas is a -125 money line favorite with an over/under of 6.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, NCAAB and EPL Previews and Odds - 03/12/2023

by Big Al Staff

Sunday, Mar 12, 2023

The Sunday sports card features action in the NBA, NHL, NCAAB, and EPL.The National Basketball Association has six games on its docket. The Denver Nuggets host the Brooklyn Nets at 3:40 PM ET as an 8.5-point favorite, with the total set at 232 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). The Cleveland Cavaliers travel to Charlotte to play the Hornets at 5:10 PM ET as a 7.5-point favorite. The Philadelphia 76ers play at home against the Washington Wizards at 6:10 PM ET as an 8-point favorite. Two NBA games tip off at 7:10 PM ET. The New Orleans Pelicans are at home against the Portland Trailblazers as a 2.5-point favorite. The Oklahoma City Thunder visit San Antonio to play the Spurs as a 3-point road favorite. The Los Angeles Lakers host the New York Knicks on ESPN at 9:10 PM ET as a 1.5-point favorite. The National Hockey League has eight games on its slate. The Boston Bruins play in Detroit against the Red Wings on TNT at 1:37 PM ET as a -255 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6. The Pittsburgh Penguins are at home against the  New York Rangers on TNT at 4:07 PM ET as a -125 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. Three NHL games drop the puck at 7:07 PM ET. The Vegas Golden Knights travel to St. Louis to play the Blues as a -155 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Carolina Hurricanes play in New Jersey against the Devils with both teams priced at -110 with a total of 6. The Tampa Bay Lighting are at home against the Winnipeg Jets as a -195 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6. The Calgary Flames host the Ottawa Senators at 9:07 PM ET as a -180 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. Two more games complete the NHL card at 9:37 PM ET. The college basketball schedule has five conference tournament champions games on national television. Yale plays Princeton on ESPN2 at noon ET in the Ivy League tournament as a 3.5-point favorite with a total of 140. Two NCAAB games begin at 1 PM ET. Alabama battles Texas A&M on ESPN in the SEC tournament as a 4.5-point favorite with an over/under of 144.5. VCU faces Dayton on CBS in the Atlantic 10 tournament as a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 124.5. Houston goes against Memphis on ESPN at 3:15 PM ET in the American Athletic Conference as a 5.5-point favorite with an over/under of 135. Purdue plays Penn State on CBS at 3:30 PM ET in the Big Ten tournament as a 6-point favorite with a total of 135.5.Matchweek 27 in the English Premier League continues with four matches. Three matches start at 10 AM ET. Arsenal visits Fulham as a -1 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Manchester United hosts Southampton as a -1.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 3. West Ham United plays at home against Aston Villa on the USA Network as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Newcastle United is at home against Wolverhampton on the USA Network at 12:30 PM ET as a -1 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, EPL and NCAAB Previews and Odds - 03/11/2023

by Big Al Staff

Saturday, Mar 11, 2023

The Saturday sports card features action in the NBA, NHL, NCAAB, and EPL.The National Basketball Association has ten games on its docket. The Los Angeles Clippers host the New York Knicks at 4:10 PM ET as a 5.5-point favorite (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). Three more NBA games tip off at 7:10 PM ET. The Utah Jazz travel to Charlotte against the Hornets as a 3-point road favorite. The Indiana Pacers play in Detroit against the Pistons as a 5.5-point road favorite. The Miami Heat are in Orlando against the Magic as a 2.5-point favorite. The Boston Celtics visit Atlanta to play the Hawks at 7:40 PM ET as a 4.5-point road favorite. Two NBA games start at 8:10 PM ET. The Chicago Bulls are in Houston to play the Rockets as a 7-point road favorite. The Memphis Grizzlies host the Dallas Mavericks as a 5.5-point favorite. Two more NBA games begin at 8:40 PM ET. The New Orleans Pelicans play at home against the Oklahoma City Thunder as a 3.5-point favorite. The Milwaukee Bucks are in Golden State to play the Warriors on ABC as a 1.5-point road favorite at BetMGM. The Phoenix Suns are at home against the Sacramento Kings at 9:10 PM ET as a 3.5-point favorite. The National Hockey League has 15 games on its slate. The Detroit Red Wings travel to Boston to play the Bruins on ABC at 1:07 PM ET as a -330 money line favorite with the total set at 6.5. The Pittsburgh Penguins host the Philadelphia Flyers on ABC at 3:37 PM ET as a -260 money line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The New York Rangers play in Buffalo against the Sabres at 5:07 PM ET as a -145 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The Colorado Avalanche are at home against the Arizona Coyotes at 6:07 PM ET as a -410 money line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. Six NHL games drop the puck at 7:07 PM ET. The Tampa Bay Lightning hosts the Chicago Blackhawks as a -500 money line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Toronto Maple Leafs play at home against the Edmonton Oilers as a -130 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7. The New Jersey Devils visit Montreal to play the Canadiens as a -255 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The St. Louis Blues are in Columbus to play the Bluejackets as a -115 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Carolina Hurricanes are at home against the Vegas Golden Knights as a -190 money-line favorite with a total of 6. The Florida Panthers host the Winnipeg Jets as a -130 money line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The New York Islanders play at home against the Washington Capitals at 7:37 PM ET as a -140 money line favorite with a total of 5.5. Two NHL games start at 10:07 PM ET. The Dallas Stars travel to Seattle to play the Kraken as a -125 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6. The Ottawa Senators are in Vancouver to play the Canucks as a -125 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. Two more games complete the NHL card at 10:37 PM ET. The Minnesota Wild play in San Jose against the Sharks as a -180 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6. The Los Angeles Kings are at home against the Nashville Predators as a -150 money-line favorite with a total of 6.The college basketball schedule has 16 conference tournament games on major national television. Vermont hosts UMass-Lowell on ESPN2 at 11 AM ET in the championship game of the America East conference tournament as a 5-point favorite with an over/under of 140.5. Three more NCAAB games on major national television tip-off at 1 PM ET. Alabama plays Missouri on ESPN at 1 PM ET in the semifinals of the SEC tournament as a 9-point favorite with a total of 158.5. Purdue battles Ohio State on CBS in the semifinals of the Big Ten tournament as a 7-point favorite with an over/under of 134.5. Norfolk State faces Howard on ESPN2 in the finals of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference as a 2-point favorite with a total of 146.5. Two NCAAB games on major national television start at 3 PM ET. Houston goes against Cincinnati on ESPN2 in the semifinals of the American Athletic Conference as a 10-point favorite with an over/under of 137. Texas A&M plays Vanderbilt on ESPN in the semifinals of the SEC tournament as a 5.5-point favorite with a total of 140.5. Indiana battles Penn State on CBS in the second semifinal game in the Big Ten tournament as a 3-point favorite with an over/under of 140. Memphis faces Tulane on ESPN2 at 5:30 PM ET in the championship game of the American Athletic Conference tournament as a 6-point favorite with a total of 161.5. San Diego State goes against Utah State on CBS at 6 PM ET in the finals of the Mountain West Conference tournament as a 2-point favorite with an over/under of 142.5. Marquette plays Xavier on Fox at 6:30 PM ET in the Big East tournament championship game as a 1.5-point favorite with a total of 154.5. Kent State battles Toledo on ESPN2 at 7:30 PM ET in the finals of the Mid-American Conference tournament in a pick ‘em game with an over/under of 150.5. Duke takes on Virginia on ESPN at 8:30 PM ET in the championship of the ACC tournament as a 2-point favorite with a total of 123. UC-Santa Barbara plays CS-Fullerton on ESPN2 at 9:30 PM ET in the finals of the Big West tournament as a 2.5-point favorite with an over/under of 130. UCLA battles Arizona on ESPN at 10:30 PM ET in the Pac-12 championship game as a 1-point favorite with a total of 149. Grand Canyon goes against Southern Utah at 11:30 PM ET on ESPN2 in the finals of the WAC tournament in a pick ‘em contest with an over/under of 151.5. Matchweek 27 in the English Premier League features six matches. Liverpool visits Bournemouth on the USA Network at 7:30 AM ET as a -1.5 goal-line road favorite with a total of 3. Four more EPL matches start at 10 AM ET. Brentford plays at Everton in a pick ‘em match with an over/under of 2. Brighton and Hove Albion travel to Leeds United as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with a total of 2.5. Chelsea is at Leicester City on the USA Network as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Tottenham hosts Nottingham Forest as a -1.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5. Manchester City plays at Crystal Palace as a -1.5 goal-line road favorite with a total of 2.5. 

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL and NCAAB Previews and Odds - 03/10/2023

by Big Al Staff

Friday, Mar 10, 2023

The Friday sports card features action in the NBA, NHL, and NCAAB.The National Basketball Association has six games on its docket. Two NBA games tip off at 7:10 PM ET. The Philadelphia 76ers host the Portland Trail Blazers as an 8.5-point favorite, with the total set at 229 (all odds from DraftKings). The Atlanta Hawks visit Washington to play the Wizards as a 1-point road favorite with an over/under of 238.5. Three NBA games start at 8:10 PM ET. The Cleveland Cavaliers play in Miami against the Heat as a 1.5-point road favorite with a total of 213.5. The Minnesota Timberwolves are at home against the Brooklyn Nets as a 5-point favorite. The Denver Nuggets travel to San Antonio to play the Spurs as a 12-point road favorite with an over/under of 234.5. The Toronto Raptors play in Los Angeles against the Lakers in a pick ‘em game with a total of 224.5. The National Hockey League has two games on its slate. The Florida Panthers host the Chicago Blackhawks at 7:07 PM ET as a -410 money line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Calgary Flames play at home against the Anaheim Ducks at 9:07 PM ET as a -350 money line favorite with a total of 6. The college basketball schedule has conference tournament games on major national television. Two nationally-televised NCAAB games tip off at 1 PM ET. Houston plays East Carolina on ESPN2 in the quarterfinals of the American Athletic Conference tournament as a 22-point favorite with an over/under of 134. Alabama battles Mississippi State on ESPN in the quarterfinals of the SEC tournament as a 7-point favorite with a total of 136.5. Tennessee goes against Missouri on ESPN at 3 PM ET in another quarterfinals contest in the SEC tournament as a 6-point favorite with an over/under of 141.5. UConn goes against Marquette on FS1 at 6:30 PM ET in the semifinals of the Big East tournament as a 3.5-point favorite with a total of 147.5. Two more NCAAB games on major national television start at 7 PM ET. Duke battles Miami (FL) on ESPN2 in a semifinals game in the ACC tournament as a 3-point favorite with an over/under of 140.5. Kansas plays Iowa State on ESPN in a semifinal clash in the Big 12 tournament as a 4.5-point favorite with a total of 130. Creighton faces Xavier on FS1 at 9 PM ET in the second semifinal game in the Big East tournament as a 3.5-point favorite with an over/under of 155.5. Two more NCAAB games on major national television start at 9:30 PM ET. Texas goes against TCU on ESPN in the second Big 12 tournament semifinals game as a 3-point favorite with a total of 148. Virginia plays Clemson on ESPN2 in the second semifinal game in the ACC tournament as a 3.5-point favorite with an over/under of 128. It is then Arizona versus Arizona State on ESPN at 11:30 PM ET in a Pac-12 tournament semifinals showdown as a 7-point favorite with a total of 155.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, NCAAB and EPL Previews and Odds - 03/09/2023

by Big Al Staff

Thursday, Mar 09, 2023

The Thursday sports card features action in the NBA, NHL, NCAAB, and the EPLThe National Basketball Association has six games on its docket. Three NBA games tip off at 7:10 PM ET. The Charlotte Hornets travel to Detroit to play the Pistons as a 3-point road favorite (all odds from DraftKings). The Indiana Pacers play at home against the Houston Rockets as a 9.5-point favorite with an over/under of 235.5. The Orlando Magic host the Utah Jazz as a 3-point favorite with a total of 232. The Golden State Warriors play in Memphis against the Grizzlies on TNT at 7:30 PM ET as a 2-point road favorite with an over/under of 235.5. The Milwaukee Bucks are at home against the Brooklyn Nets as a 13-point favorite. The Sacramento Kings play at home against the New York Knicks on TNT at 10:10 PM ET as a 4-point favorite. The National Hockey League has 11 games on its slate. Six games drop the puck at 7:07 PM ET. The Pittsburgh Penguins host the New York Islanders as a -140 money-line favorite with a total of 6. The New York Rangers play in Montreal against the Canadiens as a -260 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The New Jersey Devils are in Washington to play the Capitals as a -145 money-line road favorite with a total of 6. The Carolina Hurricanes play at home against the Philadelphia Flyers as a -350 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6. The Tampa Bay Lightning are at home against the Vegas Golden Knights as a -170 money line favorite with a total of 6. The Dallas Stars visit Buffalo to play the Sabres as a -150 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Boston Bruins host the Edmonton Oilers at 7:37 PM ET as a -170 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The St. Louis Blues play at home against the San Jose Sharks at 8:07 PM ET as a -140 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. Two more NHL games start at 9:07 PM ET. The Colorado Avalanche are at home against the Los Angeles Kings as a -170 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Nashville Predators play in Arizona against the Coyotes as a -165 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6. The Seattle Kraken host the Ottawa Senators as a -140 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The college basketball schedule has 11 conference tournament games on major national television. Two NCAAB games on major national television tip-off at noon ET. Marquette plays St. John’s on FS1 in the Big East tournament as a 6.5-point favorite with an over/under of 161.5. Miami (FL) battles Wake Forest on ESPN2 in the ACC tournament as a 6-point favorite with a total of 157.5. Baylor goes against Iowa State on ESPN in the Big 12 tournament as a 4.5-point favorite with an over/under of 134. UConn faces off against Providence on FS1 on FS1 in the Big East tournament as a 7-point favorite with a total of 143.5. Duke plays Pittsburgh on ESPN2 in the ACC tournament as a 6-point favorite with an over/under of 141. Kansas battles West Virginia on ESPN as a 3-point favorite with a total of 149.5. Three NCAAB games on major national television begin at 7 PM ET. Texas goes against Oklahoma State on ESPN2 as a 6-point favorite with an over/under of 142. Virginia faces North Carolina on ESPN as a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 129.5. Xavier plays DePaul on FS1 as a 12.5-point favorite with an over/under of 152.5. Two NCAAB games on major national television start at 9:30 PM ET. TCU battles Kansas State on ESPN2 as a 2-point favorite with a total of 146.5. North Carolina State goes against Clemson on ESPN as a 3-point favorite with an over/under of 149. Arizona State plays USC on ESPN at 11:30 PM ET. 

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, NCAAB and EPL Previews and Odds - 03/08/2023

by Big Al Staff

Wednesday, Mar 08, 2023

The Wednesday sports card features action in the NBA, NHL, NCAAB, and the EPLThe National Basketball Association has seven games on its docket. The Atlanta Hawks travel to Washington to play the Wizards at 7:10 PM ET as a 3.5-point road favorite (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). Three more NBA games tip-off at 7:40 PM ET. The Boston Celtics host the Portland Trail Blazers as a 9.5-point favorite. The Cleveland Cavaliers play in Miami against the Heat as a 2.5-point road favorite, with the total set at 212.5. The Dallas Mavericks are in New Orleans to play the Pelicans on ESPN as a 2-point road favorite. Two NBA games start at 9:10 PM ET. The Denver Nuggets host the Chicago Bulls as an 8-point favorite with an over/under of 229. The Phoenix Suns are at home against the Oklahoma City Thunder as a 12.5-point favorite with a total of 234. The Los Angeles Clippers play at home against the Toronto Raptors on ESPN at 10:10 PM ET as a 3.5-point favorite with an over/under of 229. The National Hockey League has three games on its slate. Two NHL games drop the puck at 7:37 PM ET. The Winnipeg Jets host the Minnesota Wild as a -125 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Detroit Red Wings play at home against the Chicago Blackhawks on TNT as a -240 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6. The Vancouver Canucks are at home against the Anaheim Ducks on TNT at 10:10 PM ET as a -215 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The college basketball schedule has nine conference tournament games on major national television. Wake Forest plays Syracuse on ESPN at noon ET in the ACC tournament as a 2.5-point favorite with an over/under of 153.5. Pittsburgh battles Georgia Tech on ESPN at 2:30 PM ET in the ACC tournament as a 7-point favorite with a total of 143.5. St. John’s goes against Butler on FS1 at 3 PM ET in the Big East tournament as a 6.5-point favorite with an over/under of 144. Texas A&M Corpus Christi plays Northwestern State on ESPN2 at 5 PM ET in the Southland Conference tournament as a 2-point favorite with a total of 147.5. Seton Hall battles DePaul on FS1 at 5:30 PM ET in the Big East tournament as a 5.5-point favorite with an over/under of 138. North Carolina faces Boston College on ESPN2 at 7 PM ET in the ACC tournament as a 10-point favorite with a total of 138.5. Villanova goes against Georgetown on FS1 at 8 PM ET in the Big East tournament as a 12-point favorite with an over/under of 142. North Carolina State plays Virginia Tech on ESPN2 at 9:30 PM ET in the ACC tournament as a 3-point favorite with a total of 150. Northern Arizona plays Montana State in the Big Sky tournament on ESPN2 at 11:30 PM ET. The knockout stage of the UEFA Champions League concludes with two second-leg matches in the Round of 16 at 3 PM ET. Bayern Munich hosts Paris Saint-Germain on CBS as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 3.5 (all soccer odds from DraftKings). Tottenham plays at home against AC Milan as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5.

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