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Big Al's Daily Angle: MLB and UEFA Champions League Previews and Odds - 09/20/2023

by Big Al Staff

Wednesday, Sep 20, 2023

The Wednesday sports card features MLB and UEFA Champions League action.Major League Baseball has 15 games on its schedule. The Atlanta Braves host the Philadelphia Phillies at 12:20 PM ET as a -142 money-line favorite, with the total set at 9.5 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). The Minnesota Twins travel to Cincinnati to play the Reds at 12:35 PM ET, with both teams priced at -110 with an over/under of 9. The Washington Nationals play at home against the Chicago White Sox at 1:05 PM ET as a -135 money-line favorite with a total of 9.The Texas Rangers are at home against the Boston Red Sox at 2:05 PM ET as a -142 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9. Two more MLB games throw out the first pitch at 2:10 PM ET. The Houston Astros play at home against the Baltimore Orioles as a -115 money-line favorite with a total of 9. The Cleveland Guardians are in Kansas City to play the Royals as a -148 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 9. The Seattle Mariners play in Oakland against the A’s at 3:37 PM ET as a -230 money-line road favorite with a total of 8. The San Francisco Giants visit Arizona to play the Diamondbacks at 3:40 PM ET as a -112 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 7.5. The San Diego Padres host the Colorado Rockies at 4:10 PM ET as a -270 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. Two MLB games start at 6:40 PM ET. The Miami Marlins play at home against the New York Mets on FS1 as a -122 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7. The Tampa Bay Rays are at home against the Los Angeles Angels as a -218 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The Toronto Blue Jays travel to New York to play the Yankees at 7:05 PM ET with both teams priced at -110 with an over/under of 7.5. The Chicago Cubs host the Pittsburgh Pirates at 7:40 PM ET as a -175 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The St. Louis Cardinals play at home against the Milwaukee Brewers at 7:45 PM ET as a -115 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Los Angeles Dodgers are at home against the Detroit Tigers at 10:10 PM ET as a -238 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5.  Matchday 1 in the UEFA Champions League concludes with eight group-stage matches. Two matches start at 12:45 PM ET. Galatasaray hosts Copenhagen as a -1 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5 (all soccer odds from BetMGM). Real Madrid plays at home against Union Berlin as a -1.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 3.Six matches conclude the UCL card at 3 PM ET. Bayern Munich is at home against Manchester United as a -1 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 3. Sevilla hosts Lens as a -1 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5. Arsenal plays at home against PSV Eindhoven as a -1.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 3. Napoli visits Sporting Braga as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with a total of 3. Inter Milan plays at Real Sociedad, with both teams listed as a pick ‘em with an over/under of 2.5. Benfica is at home against Salzburg as a -1.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 3. All eight Champions League matches are available on Paramount+. The CBS Sports Network’s “The Golazo Show” is an NFL Red Zone-inspired show that presents live updated highlights of all eight games.

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VW's Weekly Recap: Strong Start to Football Continues, 4-0 with NFL Dogs

by Vegas Writer

Tuesday, Sep 19, 2023

Time for the weekly recap, as I take a look at the incredible run on the gridiron and a heartbreaking loss I'm still steamed about.Since last Tuesday, I'm on a 6-7-1 roll in every sport and am down -$1,900. Complete transparency, right? It is what it is.That said, I went 6-4-1 in both college and pro football since last Tuesday, and even further, was 3-0-1 with Games of the Month in that span.I delivered my College Football Game of the Month on North Carolina against Minnesota on Saturday.On Sunday, I hit my AFC South Dog of the Month with the Colts beating Houston outright. Then there was the dreaded NFC West Game of the Month, and the field goal heard 'round the world.Trailing 30-20 with four seconds left, and no hope of winning the game, Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford spiked the ball at the San Francisco 20-yard line, and a 38-yard field goal later, the final margin landed on -7. Some 49ers bettors pushed, others lost. Conversely, early Rams bettors got the win, and those who took +7.5 on Sunday also got the cover.Baffling.Nevertheless, College Football continues to be impressive since Week 0, as I've nailed 13 of 19 releases for +$6,420 net profit. For the season (L30 days on the leaderboard), I'm ranked third in net profit ($4,240) and fourth with a 61.9% win percentage.Breaking down favorites and dogs, I've hit two of the three underdogs I've released and 10 of the 15 favorites I've offered.Sitting at 7-4-1 in the NFL, I'm a perfect 4-0 with underdogs - all four winning outright. I gave you the Lions over Kansas City on opening night, the Browns over Cincinnati on Sept. 10, the Jets over Buffalo on Sept. 11, and the Colts over Houston on Sept. 17.As for MLB action, a 0-3 week didn't help the profits I've built in football. Good news is, that losing streaks don't last and things are setting up nicely for a huge comeback this week - beginning with Tuesday's One-and-Only MLB Underdog of the Year.Nothing doing in the WNBA, yet. Just waiting for the semifinals to be quite honest. Although there may be a value number coming up depending on tonight's results.Looking ahead, we begin with the postseason getting underway Wednesday.Be sure to check back Wednesday for my College Football observations and Thursday for my NFL Power Rankings.Let's gear up for a big week of action.

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Wayne Root's Top 10 College Football Poll - Week 4

by Wayne Root

Tuesday, Sep 19, 2023

One thing is for certain, there’s no unanimous No. 1 team in college football right now. On any given Saturday, one of the best teams in college football can lose.  1. Georgia  One more poor performance by Georgia and they will be bounced down; win or lose. Georgia bounced back from an abysmal first half against South Carolina, rallying from an 11-point deficit at halftime (their biggest in three years) to win 24-14. Yes, Georgia is still undefeated and its national championship odds should still be high. However, it’s also evident this team isn’t nearly as good as it was the last two years. 2. Michigan Following the Week 3 victory, Michigan Wolverines coach Jim Harbaugh can return to the sideline. Based on how players reacted to the program, Harbaugh’s return will provide an additional shot in the arm for an undefeated team. The tune-up for Big Ten play was anything but for Michigan, which needed 17 points in the third quarter to pull away from the middling MAC team down to their third-string quarterback. 3. Texas A week after thumping Alabama, the Longhorns sleepwalked through most of the game, struggling to produce explosive plays, failing to convert on third down and committing ill-advised penalties. They needed 21 points in the fourth quarter to turn a 10-10 game against a Wyoming squad playing with a backup QB into a 31-10 “easy” win. Quinn Ewers (just 11 of 21 for 131 yards and three total touchdowns) never really had it, but a 44-yard score to Xavier Worthy, who turned a short throw that looked like nothing into a majestic, tight-roping run down the sidelines for a long touchdown, seemed to wake up Texas. The Bulldogs, Seminoles and Wolverines also allowed their opponents to keep the game close so the Longhorns are not punished this week.  4. Florida St Florida State was just 1 of 9 on third down and had just 340 total yards. The ‘Noles benefitted from a litany of self-inflicted mistakes by the Golden Eagles, who set a school-record 18 penalties for 131 yards, missed an extra-point and two-point conversion spoiling their upset opportunity. With a monster date with Clemson looming, the Seminoles survived an injury scare to quarterback Jordan Travis and a flat performance by the entire team, escaping Boston College with a 31-29 win in the Red Bandanna Game. We’re not high on Clemson, but a similar effort like this one from Florida State will result in a loss to Dabo Swinney. 5. USC After playing in Week 2, the Trojans were idle Saturday. They start Pac-12 play this week against Arizona State. They are a 33.5 favorite with a Heisman hopeful at quarterback. A bad Saturday for the Bulldogs and Seminoles opened the door for the USC Trojans to move up a few spots in the college football rankings. Caleb Williams and Lincoln Riley provide Southern Cal with all it need to have a shot at the CFB Playoff. 6. Penn St Old-school football fans have to love how the Penn State Nittany Lions are winning right now. The Nittany Lions took advantage of five turnovers (including four picks) to win at Illinois in Drew Allar’s first-career road start.Allar to settle in as the starter, but he will need to prove himself with the game on his shoulders at some point.Their defense, which also added three sacks, seven tackles for loss and four PBUs, really carried the day on an afternoon when the offense had very little rhythm.  7. Ohio St Behind a 35-point second-quarter explosion, Ohio State’s offense looked like an Ohio State offense for the first time of the 2023 season — rolling past Western Kentucky 63-10. Recently-named QB Kyle McCord had his first 300-yard passing game of his career, going 19 of 23 with three scores. Marvin Harrison Jr. once again proved why he’s one of the best players in college football and this Buckeyes’ offense is looking far more consistent. The drawback, for now, is our skepticism of Ryan Day and quarterback Kyle McCord in a big game.  8. Washington  Michael Penix Jr. is throwing fireballs so far this season, recording his third straight 400+ yard performance with a 473-yard, four-touchdown afternoon in Washington’s 41-7 splattering of the Michigan State Spartans. They had nine plays go for at least 30 yards and were up 35-zip at halftime, effectively running out the clock the last 30 minutes of the game.  Quarterback Michael Penix Jr. is writing his own lengthy Heisman Trophy candidacy script right now and added more highlights with 473 passing yards and four touchdowns. He's up to 1,332 yards, 12 touchdowns and just one pick for the year now. The Pac-12 is deep and strong this year, but it's possible Washington is the best of the bunch.  9. Oregon  In their final tuneup before Pac-12 play, the Ducks cooly dispatched Hawaii 55-10, jumping out to a 34-3 lead at halftime before emptying the bench. Bo Nix accounted for over 250 total yards and three scores, while Oregon rushed for 210 yards at a-that’ll-do 7.0 per carry. The stage is set for what will be one of the last must-see games in PAC-12 history. While the Oregon Ducks haven’t played their best football this season, this is an experienced roster with far more than than the Colorado Buffaloes have faced this year. They opened as a 21 point favorite.  10. Notre Dame The stage is set for the best college football game in 2023 to this point. Ohio State vs Notre Dame Saturday. The Irish were sloppy at times Saturday, not tackling particularly well and getting flagged eight times for 72 yards — one of which negated another 70-yard touchdown run by Estime. Notre Dame was down several starters defensively but it still held down a CMU offense. In the upcoming game with Ohio St, the quarterback advantage leads us to believe Notre Dame wins and eventually moves up even further in the college football rankings.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: MLB Previews and Odds - 09

by Big Al Staff

Tuesday, Sep 19, 2023

The Tuesday sports card features MLB action.Major League Baseball has 15 games on its schedule. Three MLB games throw out the first pitch at 6:40 PM ET. Miami hosts New York, with the Marlins tapping Braxton Garrett to pitch against the Mets’ Joey Lucchesi. The Marlins are a -166 money-line favorite, with the total set at 8 (all odds from DraftKings). Tampa Bay plays at home against Los Angeles, with Taj Bradley taking the ball for the Rays to face Patrick Sandoval of the Angeles. The Rays are a -218 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. The Minnesota Twins travel to Cincinnati to play the Reds, with the Twins turning to Kenta Maeda to pitch against the Reds’ Fernando Cruz. The Twins are a -142 money-line road favorite with a total of 9.5. Two MLB games start at 7:05 PM ET. Toronto plays in New York, with Yusei Kikuchi going to the mound for the Blue Jays to face Clarke Schmidt for the Yankees. The Blue Jays are a -115 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5. Washington is at home against Chicago, with the Nationals sending out Jackson Rutledge to pitch against the White Sox’s Jose Arena. The Nationals are a -115 money-line favorite with a total of 9.5. The Atlanta Braves host the Philadelphia Phillies on TBS at 7:20 PM ET. Spencer Strider takes the hill for the Braves to battle against Cristopher Sanchez for the Phillies. Atlanta is a -218 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9. Two MLB games begin at 7:40 PM ET. Pittsburgh is in Chicago, with the Pirates yet to name the starting pitcher who will pitch against the Cubs’ Javier Assad. Cleveland visits Kansas City, with Logan Allen taking the ball for the Guardians to pitch against Steven Cruz for the Royals. The Guardians are a -162 money-line road favorite with a total of 9.5. The Milwaukee Brewers play in St. Louis against the Cardinals, with the Brewers turning to Trevor McGill to duel against the Cardinals’ Drew Rom. Milwaukee is a -125 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 9. The Texas Rangers play at home against the Boston Red Sox at 8:05 PM ET. Nathan Eovaldi gets the start for the Rangers to face Tanner Houck for the Red Sox. Texas is a -155 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The Houston Astros are at home against the Baltimore Orioles at 8:10 PM ET. The Astros’ Hunter Brown takes the ball to pitch against the Orioles’ Kyle Gibson. Houston is a -142 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9. Three MLB games start at 9:40 PM ET. San Diego hosts Colorado, with the Padres tapping Blake Snell to battle against the Rockies’ Ryan Feltner. The Padres are a -252 money-line favorite with a total of 8. Seattle is in Oakland with Luis Castillo pitching for the Mariners against Paul Blackburn for the A’s. The Mariners are a -218 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 7.5. Arizona plays at home against San Francisco with the Diamondbacks sending out Zac Gallen to face a Giants starting pitcher yet to be named. The Diamondbacks are a -250 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The Detroit Tigers play in Los Angeles against the Dodgers at 10:10 PM ET. 

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Europa League Futures (2023/24 Season)

by Amedeus Mastrangelo

Monday, Sep 18, 2023

The Europa League Qualifiers have concluded and now the group stage is set for Europa League to start on September 21. Keep in mind that this will not be the final pool of teams in the competition as there will be a dropdown from Champions League after the group stage. Last season, Sevilla won Europa League but their campaign started in Champions League and it is likely that one of those stronger teams that drop down will win it this year. Now it is time to see if any of these teams in Europa League now can hold their own to the finals even with the teams from Champions League joining.To Win Outright Liverpool +350: Liverpool is coming into this season as the favorite to win this tournament according to the books. Liverpool was not great in the Premier League last season as they finished in 5th place and they had major troubles with the flow of their attack as well as their defense. They never really found a proper replacement for Sadio Mane until signing Alexis Mac Allister in this transfer window and he has added some much needed stability to this attack. They have also added a lot of attacking players that can score goals and now they have a lot of depth with their attack and midfield. Their defense is still an issue since they have not improved it but they will have such a strong attack that they will be able to overpower most teams in this competition. Liverpool is going to be a much better team this year and they are the only team in this competition right now that can take on any team that drops down since they have Champions League quality this year. Liverpool does have some value here as they have the best chance of winning this tournament, but there might be more value on them later in the competition when Champions League teams drop down. Either way, the value is with Liverpool as they are the best team in this competition right now. Brighton & Hove Albion +1400: Brighton is coming into this season as the next team listed to win this tournament according to the books. Brighton was a very good team last season in the Premier League as they surprised a lot with how well they played. They have also been playing well to start this EPL season and they still have a lot of their talent from last year, but they did lose their 2 biggest pieces in the midfield as Mac Allister and Caicedo are no longer there. Brighton may have a good team this season but they do not have a lot of depth now and it is going to take a toll on them as they were not a team last season that was playing in European competition. They will wear down as the season goes on from the lack of depth and they will not stand a chance once teams from Champions League start dropping down. Brighton is not a Europa League contender this season. Villarreal +1600: Villarreal is coming into this season as the next team listed to win this tournament according to the books. Villarreal was not great in La Liga last season as they have been much better in previous years, but they did make some splashes in the transfer window to improve their attack. They picked up Sorloth who has added a much more potent element to this attack this season and Spanish teams have a very good history of going far in these European competitions. Villarreal is not the strongest team in this competition but they do have a lot of talent on their side as well as a much better team than last year. They are going to be a force in this tournament and with the right path they have the potential to make a very deep run. Villarreal does have some value as a dark horse to win this tournament at this price. Roma +1600: Roma is coming into this season as the next team on the list to win this tournament according to the books. Roma went to the finals of Europa League last season and ended up losing to Sevilla. They were very good in this tournament with their solid defense but their attack has struggled to score goals in big matches and they have also lost some of their talent in the transfer window. They are also off to an awful start in Serie A and they struggled last season in the domestic league as well. Roma has a lot of problems with their attack and even their defense has taken a hit this season. They are going to be focused on winning this competition after coming so close last year, but they also had a chance to be a top 4 team in Italy which they blew and Serie A is going to have to be a focus for them as well which will wear them down late in the year as they do not have a lot of depth. Roma is not a Europa League contender this season. Real Betis +1600: Real Betis is coming into this season as the next team listed to win this tournament according to the books. Real Betis was not as good as they should have been last year but their season was also plagued by injuries to key players. They still have all of that talent on their team this year but now everyone is healthy and playing again. Real Betis has played well in their few La Liga matches to start the season and they are going to be a much better team this year between that solid defense and stronger attack now. La Liga is also a very tough league to get into the top 4 as those spots are usually dominated by the same teams every year so this competition will definitely be a focus for Real Betis and Spanish teams have a very good history in these European competitions. Real Betis has a lot of talent on their team and the ability to make a deep run. They are a dark horse to win this tournament. West Ham +2000: West Ham is coming into this season as the next team listed to win this tournament according to the books. West Ham was awful in the Premier League last season as they were battling relegation late in the season at one point but they have a lot of talent on their team and should have never been in that position. They got into this tournament by winning Europa Conference League which they absolutely dominated every team they played against but after their performance in their domestic league last year, they are going to be focused on being better in Premier League matches this season so they do not find themselves in that position again. They also lost a key player in Declan Rice so they do have a bit of a weaker team this year and they are going to be facing much stronger competition than what they saw in Conference League last year. West Ham is not a Europa League contender this year. RecommendationsEuropa League is a very tricky competition to bet on at the start due to all the later drop downs by Champions League teams in the tournament. There are still a few teams that can make a very deep run in this tournament though and there is a lot of value on some of these teams who can test the stronger teams coming down from Champions League later in the competition. The team with the most value as of right now is Liverpool at +350 as they do have the strongest team in the competition right now and they also have Champions League talent with the moves they made in the transfer window so they can definitely hold their own against some of these Champions League teams dropping down. Considering how well Spanish teams have done in this competition, both Villarreal and Real Betis have some value to win at +1600 as dark horses with a slight lean to Real Betis as well since they do have more talent. So Liverpool at +350 is the team with the most value but Real Betis at +1600 is also a good dark horse.

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Champions League Futures (2023/24 Season)

by Amedeus Mastrangelo

Monday, Sep 18, 2023

The Champions League qualifiers have concluded and the groups have been set with the 1st round of the group stage kicking off on September 19. Last season Manchester City finally won the Champions League Title that has eluded them for so many years and they come into this season as the favorite to win it all, but this year it will be a lot more competitive with a lot of good teams in the competition. Now it is time to see who has the best chance at making a deep run and taking home the title this season.To Win Outright Manchester City +200: Man City is coming into this group stage as the favorites to win the whole tournament after winning the Champions League Title last season along with the Premier League and FA Cup. They are by far the best team in Europe but they did lose some of their depth in the transfer window and this is the competition where those losses will show as we get deeper in. Losing Mahrez and Gundoğan were both big losses to their depth and they did not really bring in any strong replacements as they still have a lot of talent. They have already been struggling in some of their matches to start the season as well and right now they are a weaker team than they were just a few months ago. Man City still has a very good team but considering their losses in the transfer window as well as some of the other teams in the competition, the value is not with them to win the UCL Title in B2B years. Bayern Munich +550: Bayern is coming into this group stage as the next best team to win the Champions League Title according to the books. Bayern made some big moves last year that did not pan out well for them as they lost striker Robert Lewandowski and replaced him with an injury prone Sadio Mane who was not a proper replacement for Lewandowski. Now they have made a splash again in the summer transfer window by inking Harry Kane to a 4 year deal and he is a true replacement for the striker they lost a year ago. Bayern even struggled to win the Bundesliga Title last season but they have come out on fire this year with their new striker and now they have the tools to make a deep run in this tournament. Bayern has always had a problem on defense in recent years but their new coach Tuchel is a great defensive mind and they have the talent on defense to be good, they just need Tuchel to whip their defense into shape like he did with Chelsea years ago. Their defense will improve under Tuchel as the season goes on and now they have a more potent attack with a good flow to it unlike what they have had in previous years. Bayern is going to be a real threat in this competition and there is a lot of value at this price for them to win the whole competition. Real Madrid +800: Real Madrid is coming into this season as the next team listed to win this tournament according to the books. Real Madrid was the Champions League champion as well as the La Liga champion just 2 years ago but last year was a very bad season by their standards as they came close in both of those competitions but came up short in the end. They have also retooled this season in the transfer window by saying goodbye to long time striker Karim Benzema and bringing in some fresh young talent to go along with their very experienced midfield. They still have most of their talent from last year but now they have added young superstar Jude Bellingham to inject some more youth into that attack while also replacing Benzema's presence with another veteran striker in Joselu. They have added a lot of depth and youth to keep up with the condensed schedule and they have a very dangerous team that will be focused on winning Champions League this year after coming up short last season. There is a lot of value with Real Madrid to win at this price. Arsenal +1000: Arsenal is coming into this season as the next team listed to win the tournament according to the books. Arsenal was very good last season as they led the Premier League for most of the year but when things came down to the final few weeks of the season, they cracked under the pressure blowing their chance at the Premier League Title while also fizzling out of Europa League. They have added some talent this season with Declan Rice joining the team and he is sure to help out that spotty defense, but they are still lacking the depth they need to make a deep run in this tournament. Arsenal does have a better team this season but they have shown on the big stage that they cannot beat the big names in the Premier League and eventually they will run into a team here that will knock them out. Arsenal is not a Champions League contender this year. Barcelona +1400: Barcelona is coming into this season as the next team listed to win this tournament according to the books. Barcelona made a lot of moves in the transfer window last season to improve their team and they brought in some big names like Robert Lewandowski as their new striker, but they also lost a lot of the talent they brought in since they overspent and were not able to pay all their players. They put themselves in a position where they could not do much in this summer transfer window. Barcelona absolutely dominated La Liga last year as they won the title and it was not even close, but they also fizzled out in the group stage of Champions League which was a big embarrassment. Their team is not that different from last year though and even though they dominate La Liga, La Liga is not Champions League. They will be more focused on winning UCL this year but they still do not have the talent or the depth and even if they make it out of the group stage this time, they will still fizzle out in the knockouts. Barcelona is not a Champions League contender this year. Paris Saint-Germain +1600: PSG is coming into this season as the next team listed to win this tournament according to the books. PSG won the Ligue 1 Title last year but they disappointed in Champions League once again. Now they have a very different team with no Messi and now Mbappe has been reunited with his French National teammate Ousmane Dembele. They also picked up the Portuguese wonderkid Gonçalo Ramos who was very impressive at the World Cup. They started off slow in Ligue 1 this season but now they have been gaining steam as their pieces start to click. This new look PSG team has the talent and the depth to make a deep run in this competition. There are better teams in the competition than PSG but with the right path they have the potential to be a very dangerous team and this new look PSG is definitely not a team to sleep on. PSG is not the best option but they do have some value as a dark horse to win this competition. Manchester United +2000: Man Utd is coming into this season as the next team listed to win this competition according to the books. Man Utd had a much improved season in the Premier League last year but they still only finished in 3rd place and were unable to keep up with some of the better teams in the league. They have made some moves in the transfer window to improve even more this year and they do have a great team as their starters are very good, but their bench is not great and they lack the depth they need to make a deep run in this tournament late in the year. They have also been awful to start the season as they are clearly in disarray and until they start to put everything together playing in better form, there are a lot of teams who could knock them out of this tournament. Man Utd is not a Champions League contender this year. Newcastle +2500: Newcastle is coming into this game as the next team listed to win this tournament according to the books. Newcastle had a very good season in the Premier League last year as their new influx of cash has instantly made them competitive, finishing last season in 4th place. They have a lot of good quality players in the midfield as well as on defense but their attack can be very streaky at times. They also have some solid starters but they lack a lot of bench depth which they will need as they finished last season in 4th but played in no European competitions. Now they have an extra competition to focus on as well as extra matches to play and it will wear down on this team as the season goes on. Newcastle is not a Champions League contender this year. Napoli +2500: Napoli is coming into this season as the next team listed to win this tournament according to the books. Napoli had a very good year last season as they won the Serie A Title for the 1st time in over 30 years and they dominated the league as the title race was not even close. They were also very good in Champions League as they made a deep run into the quarter finals before getting eliminated by AC Milan. Napoli did not do much in the transfer window as they were more focused on keeping their talent and once again they have a very good team this year. They are also going to be more focused on Champions League this season since they already won the league last year and they showed they have the team to go deep. Napoli has a lot of value here to win this tournament as a dark horse. Inter Milan +2500: Inter Milan is coming into this season as the next team listed to win this tournament according to the books. Inter Milan was very good in Serie A last season but they fell short of the title. They also made it all the way to the finals of Champions League which they lost in a close game against Man City. They have a very good defense that can carry them far but they also lost a lot of talent in the transfer window and have a much different team this year. They do not have as much depth now so juggling both competitions will be hard for them late in the year, especially since they are going to be focused on winning the Serie A Title after letting it get out of hand last year. Inter Milan may have made it to the finals last year but they are not going back this season as they are not a Champions League contender this year. Atletico Madrid +2500: Atletico Madrid is coming into this season as the next team listed to win this tournament according to the books. Atletico Madrid is off to a good start this season in La Liga and they have been dominant since the end of last season when they switched their focus from defense to a more attacking mindset. They have a lot of talent on their team and they have a good attack that can score goals now, but recently their defense has been the issue. They still have a very good defense but they usually allow goals in their matches now which will get them into trouble when they play a much stronger team. Atletico has not had a lot of success in Champions League in recent years either and they are not going to be much of a threat here compared to some of the other teams in the tournament. Atletico Madrid is not a Champions League contender this year. AC Milan +3300: AC Milan is coming into this season as the next team listed to win this tournament according to the books. AC Milan is a team that lost some talent in the summer transfer window with the departure of key players like Sandro Tonali as well as Brahim Diaz. They did make some moves to replace those players as they brought in Pulisic who has fit in well with AC Milan coming out guns blazing this season. AC Milan seems more focused than ever after going deep into Champions League last year but losing in the semi finals to rival Inter Milan. They are going to be focused on another deep run this year and with the team they have put together this year, they look like one of the more dangerous teams in Italy by far. AC Milan has a lot of value in them to make a deep run and win this tournament this season.RecommendationsIt is going to be a very competitive Champions League season with many teams looking like they have a real shot at winning. With the odds as they are right now, Bayern Munich at +550 and Real Madrid at +800 are the best options for an outright winner with a slight lean to Real Madrid since there is more value considering their recent success in the competition. As for dark horses, PSG at +1600, Napoli at +2500, and AC Milan at +3300 have the most value to be surprises this year with a slight lean to Napoli considering how they went to the quarter finals last year and won the Serie A Title so Champions League will be more of a focus for them this season.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NFL, MLB, and EPL Previews and Odds - 09/18/2023

by Big Al Staff

Monday, Sep 18, 2023

The Monday sports card features NFL, MLB, and EPL action.Week 2 in the NFL continues with two games. The New Orleans Saints travel to Carolina to play the Panthers on ESPN and ESPN2 at 7:15 PM ET. The Saints opened their season with a 16-15 victory at home against Tennessee as a 3-point favorite last Sunday. The Panthers lost their opener in a 24-10 setback at Atlanta as a 3.5-point underdog on Sunday. New Orleans is a 3-point road favorite, with the total set at 39.5 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). The Cleveland Browns travel to Pittsburgh to play the Steelers on ABC at 8:15 PM ET. The Browns come off a 24-3 victory against Cincinnati as a 1-point favorite last Sunday. The Steelers lost their opener in a 30-7 loss to San Francisco as a 1-point underdog on Sunday. Cleveland is a 2-point road favorite with an over/under of 38. Major League Baseball has 11 games on its schedule. The Cleveland Guardians play in Kansas City against the Royals at 2:10 PM ET as a -118 money-line road favorite with a total of 9. Two MLB games throw out the first pitch at 6:40 PM ET. The Miami Marlins host the New York Mets as a -162 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Minnesota Twins are in Cincinnati to play the Reds on FS1. The Twins won for the third time in their last four games with a 4-0 victory on the road against the Chicago White Six on Sunday. The Reds were on a two-game winning streak before their 8-4 loss in New York to the Mets yesterday. Minnesota is a -142 money-line road favorite with a total of 9.5. The Chicago White Sox visit Washington to play the Nationals at 7:05 PM ET as a -122 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 9. The Atlanta Braves host the Philadelphia Phillies at 7:20 PM ET as a -120 money-line favorite with a total of 9. The Milwaukee Brewers play at St. Louis against the Cardinals at 7:45 PM ET as a -170 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 9. The Texas Rangers are at home against the Boston Red Sox at 8:05 PM ET as a -162 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The Houston Astros play at home against the Baltimore Orioles at 8:10 PM ET as a -162 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. Two MLB games start at 9:40 PM ET. The San Diego Padres host the Colorado Rockies as a -250 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The Seattle Mariners play in Oakland against the A’s as a -170 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 7.5. The Los Angeles Dodgers are at home against the Detroit Tigers as a -185 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. Matchweek 5 in the English Premier League concludes with one match on the USA Network. Nottingham Forest plays at home against Burnley at 2:45 PM ET as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NFL, MLB, and EPL Preview and Odds - 09/17/2023

by Big Al Staff

Sunday, Sep 17, 2023

The Sunday sports card features NFL, MLB, and EPL action.Week 2 in the NFL continues with 13 games. Eight NFL games kick off at 1 PM ET. The Atlanta Falcons host the Green Bay Packers as a 2-point favorite, with the total set at 40 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). The Buffalo Bills play at home against the Las Vegas Raiders as a 9-point favorite with an over/under of 47. The Cincinnati Bengals are at home against the Baltimore Ravens as a 3-point favorite with a total of 46. The Detroit Lions host the Seattle Seahawks as a 4.5-point favorite with an over/under of 47.5. The Houston Texans play at home against the Indianapolis Colts as a 1-point favorite with a total of 39.5. The Kansas City Chiefs travel to Jacksonville to play the Jaguars as a 3.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 51. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are at home against the Chicago Bears as a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 41. The Los Angeles Chargers play in Tennessee against the Titans as a 2.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 45.5. Two NFL games start at 4:05 PM ET. The New York Giants are in Arizona against the Cardinals as a 4-point road favorite with a total of 39.5. The San Francisco 49ers visit Los Angeles to play the Rams as a 7.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 45.5. Two more NFL games begin at 4:25 PM ET. The Dallas Cowboys host the New York Jets as a 9-point favorite with a total of 38.5. The Denver Broncos play at home against the Washington Commanders as a 3.5-point favorite with an over/under of 38.5.Sunday Night Football on NBC features the Miami Dolphins playing in New England against the Patriots at 8:20 PM ET. The Dolphins are a 2.5-point road favorite with a total of 46.5. Major League Baseball has 15 games on its schedule. Two MLB games throw out the first pitch at 1:35 PM ET. The Baltimore Orioles are at home against the Tampa Bay Rays as a -125 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The New York Yankees are in Pittsburgh to play the Pirates. The Toronto Blue Jays host the Boston Red Sox at 1:37 PM ET as a -148 money-line favorite with a total of 8. Three MLB games start at 1:40 PM ET. The New York Mets play at home against the Cincinnati Reds as a -135 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Cleveland Guardians are at home against the Texas Rangers. The Atlanta Braves travel to Miami to play the Marlins as a -142 money-line road favorite with a total of 8.5. Three MLB games begin at 2:10 PM ET. The Milwaukee Brewers host the Washington Nationals as a -270 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. The Houston Astros play in Kansas City against the Royals as a -250 money-line road favorite with a total of 9.5. The Minnesota Twins are in Chicago against the White Sox as a -162 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Philadelphia Phillies visit St. Louis to play the Cardinals at 2:15 PM ET as a -135 money-line road favorite with a total of 9. The San Francisco Giants play in Colorado against the Rockies at 3:10 PM ET as a -170 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 12. Two more MLB games start at 4:07 PM ET. The Detroit Tigers are in Los Angeles against the Angels. The San Diego Padres travel to Oakland to play the A’s as a -162 money-line road favorite with a total of 9. The Los Angeles Dodgers play in Seattle against the Mariners at 4:10 PM ET. Sunday Night Baseball on ESPN has the Chicago Cubs playing in Arizona at 7:10 PM ET. The Cubs are a -115 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 9.Matchweek 5 in the English Premier League continues with two matches on the USA Network. Chelsea is at Bournemouth at 9 AM ET as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with a total of 3 (all soccer odds from DraftKings). Arsenal plays at Everton at 11:30 AM ET as a -1 goal-line road favorite with an over/under of 3.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NCAAF, MLB, CFL and EPL Previews and Odds - 09/16/2023

by Big Al Staff

Saturday, Sep 16, 2023

The Saturday sports card features NCAAF, MLB, CFL, and EPL action.The third week in NCAAF college football continues with 50 games between FBS opponents. Six NCAAF games between FBS opponents kick off national television at noon ET. Penn State travels to Illinois on Fox as a 14-point road favorite, with the total set at 48. LSU plays at Mississippi State on ESPN as a 9.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 54. Florida State is at Boston College on ABC as a 24.5-point road favorite with a total of 46.5. Wake Forest visits Old Dominion on ESPN2 as a 14-point road favorite with an over/under of 61. Iowa State plays at Ohio on ESPNU as a 2.5-point road favorite with a total of 42.5. Liberty is at Buffalo on the CBS Sports Network as a 3-point road favorite with an over/under of 54.5. Notre Dame hosts Central Michigan on Peacock at 2:30 PM ET as a 34.5-point favorite with a total of 51. Six NCAAF games on national television start at 3:30 PM ET. Alabama travels to South Florida on ABC as a 33-point road favorite with an over/under of 61.5. Connecticut plays at home against Florida International on the CBS Sports Network as a 7-point favorite with a total of 41.5. Oregon State is at home against San Diego State on FS1 as a 24.5-point favorite with an over/under of 48.5. Oklahoma plays at Tulsa on ESPN2 as a 28-point road favorite with a total of 58.5. Georgia is at home against South Carolina on CBS as a 26.5-point favorite with an over/under of 54.5. North Carolina hosts Minnesota on ESPN as a 7-point favorite with a total of 51. Ohio State plays at home against Western Kentucky on Fox as a 30-point favorite with an over/under of 65.5. Washington is at Michigan State on Peacock as a 16.5-point road favorite with a total of 56. Four nationally televised NCAAF games begin at 7 PM ET. Tennessee travels to Florida on ESPN as a 5.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 56. Troy is at home against James Madison on the NFL Network as a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 46.5. Nebraska hosts Northern Illinois on FS1 as a 13-point favorite with an over/under of 42. Vanderbilt plays at UNLV on the CBS Sports Network as a 4.5-point road favorite with a total of 58. Three more NCAAF games on national television start at 7:30 PM ET. West Virginia is at home against Pittsburgh on ABC as a 2.5-point favorite with an over/under of 47.5. Syracuse is at Purdue on NBC as a 2.5-point road favorite with a total of 57. Kentucky hosts Akron on ESPNU as a 26-point favorite with an over/under of 48.5. TCU visits Houston on Fox at 8 PM ET as a 7-point road favorite with a total of 64. Colorado plays at home against Colorado State on ESPN as a 24-point favorite with an over/under of 62.5. Two more nationally-television NCAAF games begin at 10:30 PM ET. Fresno State plays at Arizona State on FS1 as a 3-point road favorite with an over/under of 49. Kansas is at Nevada on the CBS Sports Network as a 28-point road favorite with a total of 58.5. Major League Baseball has 16 games on its schedule. The San Francisco Giants travel to Colorado to play the Rockies in the opening game of their doubleheader at 2:10 PM ET. The Toronto Blue Jays are at home against the Boston Red Sox at 3:07 PM ET as a -130 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The San Diego Padres play in Oakland against the A’s at 4:07 PM ET as a -148 money-line road favorite with a total of 8.5. The Atlanta Braves are in Miami to play the Marlins at 4:10 PM ET as a -142 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 9. The Cleveland Guardians host the Texas Rangers at 6:10 PM ET as a -120 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The New York Yankees visit Pittsburgh to play the Pirates at 6:35 PM ET. The Tampa Bay Rays play in Baltimore against the Orioles at 7:05 PM ET as a -122 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 7.5. Four MLB games throw out the first pitch at 7:10 PM ET. The Houston Astros are in Kansas City to play the Royals as a -148 money-in road favorite with a total of 9. The Cincinnati Reds travel to New York to play the Mets as a -115 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Minnesota Twins play in Chicago against the White Sox as a -218 money-line road favorite with a total of 8.5. The Milwaukee Brewers play at home against the Washington Nationals as a -270 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. The Philadelphia Phillies are in St. Louis to play the Cardinals at 7:15 PM ET as a -118 money-line road favorite with a total of 9. Two MLB games begin at 8:10 PM ET. The Chicago Cubs visit the Arizona Diamondbacks as a -118 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 9. The Giants are on the road against the Rockies in the second game of their doubleheader. The Detroit Tigers play in Los Angeles against the Angels at 9:07 PM ET as a -115 money-line road favorite with a total of 8. The Los Angeles Angels are in Seattle to play the Rangers at 9:40 PM ET as a -148 money-line road favor with an over/under of 8.Week 15 in the Canadian Football League concludes with two games. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers visit Hamilton to play the Tiger-Cats at 4 PM ET as a 6.5-point road favorite with a total of 48. The British Columbia Lions are at home against the Ottawa Redblacks at 7 PM ET as a 9.5-point favorite with an over/under of 47.Matchweek 5 in the English Premier League begins with seven matches. Liverpool travels to Wolverhampton on the USA Network at 7:30 AM ET as a -1.5 goal-line road favorite with a total of 3. Five EPL matches begin at 10 AM ET. Aston Villa hosts Crystal Palace as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Fulham plays at home against Luton Town as a -1 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5. Manchester United plays at home against Brighton and Hove Albion as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 3.5. Tottenham is at home against Sheffield United as a -1.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 3.5. Manchester City visits West Ham United on the USA Network as a -1 goal-line road favorite with an over/under of 3. Newcastle United hosts Brentford on NBC at 12:30 PM ET as a -1 goal-line favorite with a total of 3.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NCAAF, MLB and CFL Previews and Odds - 09/15/2023

by Big Al Staff

Friday, Sep 15, 2023

The Friday sports card features NCAAF, MLB, and CFL action.The third week in NCAAF college football continues with three games between FBS opponents. Two NCAAF games kick off at 7 PM ET. UTSA hosts Army on ESPN. The Roadrunners evened their record at 1-1 with a 20-13 victory against Texas State as a 14-point favorite last Saturday. The Black Knights have a 1-1 record after their 57-0 victory against Delaware State as a 38.5-point favorite on Saturday. UTSA is an 8.5-point favorite with a total of 44.5 (all odds from DraftKings). Maryland plays at home against Virginia on FS1. The Terrapins have won their first two games of the season after a 38-20 victory against Charlotte as a 24.5-point favorite last Saturday. The Cavaliers are winless in their first two games this season after a 36-35 loss to James Madison as a 6.5-point underdog on Saturday. Maryland is a -14.5-point favorite with an over/under of 47. Air Force is at home against Utah State on the CBS Sports Network at 8 PM ET. The Falcons improved to 2-0 this year with their 13-3 victory against Sam Houston State as a 13.5-point favorite last Saturday. The Aggies evened their record at 1-1 with a 78-28 victory against Idaho State as a 23.5-point favorite on Saturday. Air Force is a 9.5-point favorite with a total of 46.5. Major League Baseball has 15 games on its schedule. New York Yankees travel to Pittsburgh to play the Pirates at 6:35 PM ET as a -170 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8. The Atlanta Braves play in Miami against the Marlins at 6:40 PM ET as a -198 money-line road favorite with a total of 9. The Tampa Bay Rays are in Baltimore to play the Orioles on Apple TV+ as a -125 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Toronto Blue Jays host the Boston Red Sox at 7:07 PM ET as a -130 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. Two MLB games throw out the first pitch at 7:10 PM ET. The New York Reds play at home against the Cincinnati Reds, with both teams priced at -110 with an over/under of 7.5. The Texas Rangers visit Cleveland to play the Guardians as a -115 money-line road favorite with a total of 8.5. The Minnesota Twins play in Chicago against the White Sox at 7:40 PM ET as a -180 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 9. Two MLB games start at 8:10 PM ET. The Houston Astros are in Kansas City to play the Royals as a -192 money-line road favorite with a total of 9.5. The Milwaukee Brewers are at home against the Washington Nationals as a -192 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Philadelphia Phillies travel to St. Louis at 8:15 PM ET as a -135 money-line road favorite with a total of 8.5. The San Francisco Giants play in Colorado against the Rockies at 8:40 PM ET as a -218 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 11. The Detroit Tigers are in Los Angeles to play the Angels at 9:38 PM ET, with both teams priced at -110 with a total of 7.5. Two more MLB games begin at 9:40 PM ET. The Chicago Cubs play in Arizona against the Diamondbacks as a -142 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The San Diego Padres visit Oakland to play the A’s as a -205 money-line road favorite with a total of 8.5. The Los Angeles Dodgers are in Seattle to play the Mariners at 10:10 PM ET as a -115 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 7.5. Week 15 in the Canadian Football League begins with two games. The Toronto Argonauts play in Montreal against the Alouettes at 7 PM ET as a 6.5-point road favorite with a total of 53. The Saskatchewan Roughriders are at home against the Edmonton Elks at 9:30 PM ET as a 3-point favorite with an over/under of 46.5. 

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Game 3 College Conference Jitters

by Tom Stryker

Thursday, Sep 14, 2023

It’s no secret.  Division games in pro sports and conference battles in college athletics just mean a little more.  When team goals are set at the beginning of a season, they always include winning the division or conference crown.  It’s truly a top priority. When I started researching games that kicked off early in the season at game four or less, I began by looking at how well a team did in their first conference matchup.  In my opinion, making a statement in your first conference game carried a great deal of weight and importance.   It built momentum and set the tone for the rest of the way out.   I’ll admit, I did find technical success with that concept in mind.  However, it wasn’t until I started bringing college teams into their conference opener off a couple of non-conference wars before financial sparks started to fly.   As you know, with the help of my college football database, the same one that was featured in the December 13th, 2010, issue of the ESPN Insider magazine, I’ve been able to isolate and profit from a number of early season technical situations that have performed very well.  My “Game Three College Conference Jitters” system is one that has made my clients and I a great deal of profit over the years.  Take a look at this beauty. Since 1980, PLAY AGAINST any conference host in game three of the season provided they won their last battle by nine points or more and tackled a pair of non-conference foes in their previous two contests.  43 Year ATS Record = 103-65-3 ATS for 61.3 percent  This Week’s Play = NAVY, UTAH STATE, SOUTH CAROLINA & TENNESSEE After competing against a couple of non-conference foes and now fighting in their own backyard off a solid win, the emotion of this first conference test proves to be too much for our host.  There are a couple of parameters that can be added to this system that really makes it pop.   If our “play against” home team is priced as a favorite or an underdog of +7.5 or less and is tackling an opponent that arrives with steam off a blowout victory of nine points or more, this situation crumbles to a woeful 20-51-1 ATS.  With those two parameters live and our host locked into a revenge mode, this angle falls to a shocking 2-26-1 ATS.  Air Force and Florida are the two teams that fit this negative wagering situation. Good luck with the Aggies (Utah State) on Friday and the Volunteers (Tennessee) on Saturday!

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NFL Week 2: VW's Power Rankings

by Vegas Writer

Thursday, Sep 14, 2023

So, I've got questions before getting to this week's NFL Power Rankings.Like which team that won, and wasn't supposed to, surprised you the most.Did the Lions make a statement? Are the Browns ready to make a run at the AFC North? Are Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers poised to contend in the NFC North? Are the Raiders seriously better on defense? And the Rams, I mean, are we ready to give them a serious look?And which of these teams that lost have a long climb back, or are simply going to need a tweak or two?The Bengals and Bills are supposed to be two of the top three teams in the AFC, but lost. The Vikings won 13 games last season and lost their season opener. Sean Payton's debut in Denver was as ho-hum as it gets. The Chargers lose at home because their defense fails, again. The Seahawks didn't just lose to the Rams in Seattle, there were humiliated. And finally, the Giants. They're the one team I think is better than the 40-point thumping it suffered at the hands of Dallas.Let's get started with this week's rankings.THE UPPER TIER1. Philadelphia - After going into Foxborough last week, its win couples with Kansas City's loss and deserves a jump in the rankings. But beware, the Eagles were outgained 382-251 and that can be a problem moving forward against better defensive units. (Last week 2)2. Kansas City - The defending champs struggled on third down (5 of 14, 36%) and couldn't establish their rushing game against Detroit's frontline. It doesn't get any easier on the road this week against another young, scrappy team in Jacksonville. (Last week 1)3. San Francisco - Last week I specifically said, "A healthy Brock Purdy will go a long way this season." It appears that elbow is just fine, as he completed 19 of 29 for 220 yards and threw two TDs. And if defense truly does win championships, the 'Niners are a legit contender.. (Last week 4)4. Dallas - Are the Cowboys as good as their 40-0 win over the Giants, and is New York as bad as it looked? Those were two burning questions after Sunday night's game. The answer is Yes, and No. Dallas made a statement in all three facets of its game. (Last week 6)5. Cincinnati - A drop two spots for the Bengals, as they barely looked competitive in Cleveland. A total of - gasp! - six first downs. The Bengals were 2 of 15 (13%) on third down, and they gained a mere 142 yards, an average of 2.6 yards per play. Hosting Baltimore will tell us a lot this week. (Last week 3)6. Baltimore - And if the Ravens win in Cincinnati, they'll move into the Top 5. Though the Ravens were outgained by Houston last week (268-265), it was a 3-for-5 showing in the Red Zone compared to Houston going 0 for 2 that made the difference. (Last week 7)7. Miami - The Dolphins jump a spot after going into Inglewood and outlasting the Chargers. The pressure of matching offensive wits, on the road, in a season opener is what stands out to me. Tua Tagovailoa looked plenty ready for the season with a 466-yard passing performance. (Last week 8)8. Buffalo - Quarterback Josh Allen not only looked inefficient with three interceptions and a lost fumble, but the Bills defense let a backup quarterback beat them on Monday night. Four snaps in Aaron Rodgers is lost for the season, and Zach Wilson plays the hero. Problematic. (Last week 5)9. N.Y. Jets - Last week I revealed this was the team I had the biggest struggle with, as I needed to see it in action. Chemistry was the biggest question. Even with the win over Buffalo, I'm keeping the Jets at No. 9 now that Rodgers is gone. Can the troops rally around Wilson? (Last week 9)10. Jacksonville - Another team that won, and remains where it was. The Jaguars probably deserve a promotion, but even a 10-point win on the road won't convince me just yet. The Jags were just 3 of 12 (25%) on third down and there was a bit of fumblitis that needs to be addressed. (Last week 10)11. Detroit - Last week I said an upset in Week 1 would catapult this team into the Top 10. Unfortunately, the Lions move up just one spot as it would be hard for me to leapfrog them and push a couple of winning teams down. A dominating win over Seattle will do the trick (Last week 12)12. L.A. Chargers - The Bolts drop after losing at home to the Dolphins. The Chargers could be walking into a trap this week, as I think they'd be a much bigger favorite at home against the Titans, but are only -3 in Tennessee. Don't be surprised if the Titans win outright. (Last week 11)13. Cleveland - Welcome back Deshaun Watson! Not a bad showing in the season opener, completing 16 of 29 for 154 yards and one TD. He did throw one pick, but I'm going to forgive that, all things considered. Instead, let's talk about a defense that held Joe Burrow to 82 yards passing. (Last week 14)14. Green Bay - Last week I said, "Jordan Love has been waiting for this moment. Will he make the most of it?" We got our answer in the form of 15 of 27 passing for 245 yards and three touchdowns. The Packers might have been one of the more pleasant surprises. (Last week 19)15. Seattle - This is a big drop for me, but I'm reserving their spot in the lower tier one more week. They head to Detroit this week, and I have to wonder if this is a trap for the Lions. Given how both teams performed last week, I want to know why the number is so low. Stay tuned. (Last week 13)16. Minnesota - I told you there was one team I could see facing a drastic decline, and it would be the Vikings, as their 13-win season was a facade behind a rather easy schedule last year. Their home loss to the Buccaneers might be the writing on the wall. (Last week 15)THE LOWER TIER: 17. New Orleans - Almost out of the weeds and into the upper tier. A win in Carolina is needed on Monday. (Last week 18)18. Pittsburgh - The Steelers also need a big answer at home on Monday, against Cleveland. (Last week 16)19. N.Y. Giants - The Giants lost 40-0 at home. Now they're laying points on the road. (Last week 17)20. New England - The Pats stay put in the same place, with credit for time served after losing to new-No. 1 Philadelphia. (Last week 20)21. Washington - A nice start to the season for the new owners. (Last week 22)22. Atlanta - The Falcons did what they were supposed to do in beating Carolina. Now they host an apparently good Packers team. (Last week 23)23. Las Vegas - Big test in Buffalo this week. Will the Raiders justify moving up three spots? (Last week 26)24. Denver - Down two after the Broncos' offense sputters their first game under Sean Payton. (Last week 21)25. Tampa Bay - A three-spot jump for the Buccaneers after they go into Minneapolis and win. (Last week 28)26. Carolina - Not a great start for rookie Bryce Young, who threw two picks in his debut. (Last week 24)27. L.A. Rams - An incredible performance in Seattle garners a two-spot jump. This week's home opener against San Francisco will be interesting. (Last week 29)28. Chicago - The Bears' defense was torched. Now they travel to Tampa. Ouch. (Last week 25)29. Tennessee - The Titans welcome the Chargers to town, and will either take advantage of a letdown spot, or drop to 0-2. (Last week 27)30. Indianapolis - The Colts let their season opener slip away. Anthony Richardson had more good spots than bad. (Last week 30)31. Houston - The good news is, the Texans still aren't the worst team in the league anymore. Bad news is they're still the second-worst. (Last week 31)32. Arizona - Will the Cardinals be able to move out of the bottom slot after facing the Giants? (Last week 32)

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