Articles

World Series Game 3 Preview

by Ben Burns

Thursday, Oct 28, 2021

With the teams splitting the first two games at Houston, we're down to a "Best Of Five" World Series.  A pivotal Game 3 goes Friday, at Atlanta. It'll be the first time that two rookie starting pitchers oppose each other in the WS, since 2006. Let's take a closer look. THE STARTERSIan Anderson goes for the Braves. Having not reached enough innings last year, he's still technically a "rookie." However, he's already got plenty of postseason experience. In fact, this will already be his eighth career playoff start. He's 3-0 with a 1.47 ERA through the first seven, striking out 36 in 30 2/3 innings. This season, he was 9-5 with a 3.58 ERA.Luis Garcia doesn't have the playoff numbers that Anderson does. However in Game 6 of the ALCS, when Houston needed him most, he bounced back with an absolutely dominant performance. In fact, he took a no-hitter into the 6th inning. It was the second most number of "no-hit" innings by a rookie, in playoff history. (Wacha had a no-hitter for 7 1/3 innings in the 2013 NLDS.) He was 11-8 with a 3.48 ERA on the season. THE ODDSDespite the Braves "having home field advantage," the Game 3 line is essentially a "pick'em." Perhaps, that's because playing at home hasn't been much of an advantage, in recent Fall Classics. Houston's Game 2 win was the first (victory) by a home team since Game 3 of the 2018 World Series. The Braves were 42-38 at home this season. The Astros were 44-37 on the road. THE O/U LINEThe first two games have seen the final scores land right on, or near, the number. Game 1 saw eight runs scored. Game 2 saw the teams combine for nine. Fittingly, at most shops, the O/U line is 8.5 for Game 3. GAME 3 IS IMPORTANTLast year, the Dodgers and Rays were tied 1-1. The Dodgers took Game 3 and went on to become champions. That game marked the 17th time in 40 years that the World Series was tied after two games. Including the Dodgers last year, 13 of the 17 Game 3 winners went on to win the series. While there were a few recent teams that did lose Game 3 and went on to win, that's still better than 76% over a 40-year span. Recall that the Astros were tied 1-1 in the 2017 WS. They won Game 3 and went on to win in seven. 

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NFL, NCAAF, NBA and NHL Previews and Odds - 10/28/2021

by Big Al Staff

Thursday, Oct 28, 2021

The Thursday sports card features action in the NFL, NCAAF, NBA, and the NHL.Week 8 in the National Football League kicks off with Arizona hosting Green Bay on Fox and the NFL Network at 8:20 PM ET. The Cardinals remained unbeaten after their first seven games with their 31-5 victory against Houston as a 20.5-point favorite on Sunday. The Packers improved to 6-1 on the season with their 24-10 win against Washington as an 8.5-point favorite on Sunday. Arizona is a 6.5-point favorite with the total set at 50.5 (all odds from DraftKings).The college football season continues with two games between FBS opponents to begin of Week 9 at 7:30 PM ET. East Carolina plays at home against South Florida on ESPN. The Pirates lost their second in a row after a 31-24 loss in overtime at Houston as a 13.5-point underdog on Saturday. They have a 3-4 record this season. The Bulls ended a three-game losing streak with a 34-13 win against Temple as a 2-point favorite on Saturday. They improved their record to 2-5. East Carolina is a 10-point favorite with an over/under of 56. Coastal Carolina is at home against Troy on ESPN2. The Chanticleers lost for the first time in seven games this year with a 30-27 upset loss at Appalachian State as a 4.5-point favorite on Wednesday. The Trojans have won two in a row after their 31-28 victory at Texas State as a 7-point favorite on October 16th. They improved to 4-3 with the win. Coastal Carolina is a 17.5-point favorite, with the total at 51.5.Six games are on the docket in the National Basketball Association. Two games tip-off the card at 7:10 PM ET. Philadelphia hosts Detroit as a 10.5-point favorite. Atlanta visits Washington as a 1.5-point road favorite with a total of 222. Two more NBA games begin at 8:10 PM ET. Chicago plays at home against New York as a 2-point favorite with an over/under of 215. Utah travels to Houston as a 9-point road favorite with a total of 222.5. Dallas is at home against San Antonio at 8:40 PM ET as a 7-point favorite. Golden State hosts Memphis at 10:10 PM ET as a 5.5-point favorite with an over/under of 233. Nine games are on the slate in the National Hockey League. Three games drop the puck at 7:08 PM ET. Tampa Bay plays at home against Arizona as a -320 money line favorite with a total of 5.5. Pittsburgh is at home against Calgary as a -135 money line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. Carolina hosts Boston as a -135 money line favorite with a total of 6. Colorado visits St. Louis at 8:08 PM ET as a -125 money line road favorite with an over/under of 6. Two games start at 10:08 PM ET. Minnesota travels to Seattle as a -110 money line road favorite with a total of 5.5. Anaheim plays at home against Buffalo as a -135 money line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. Vancouver is at home against Philadelphia at 10:11 PM ET as a -115 money line favorite with a total of 6. Two games close out the card in the NHL at 10:41 PM ET. Winnipeg visits Los Angeles to play the Kings as a -115 money line road favorite with an over/under of 5.5. San Jose hosts Montreal as a -135 money line favorite with a total of 6. 

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NFL Week 8 Breakdown

by Will Rogers

Wednesday, Oct 27, 2021

BEST GAME – Green Bay at Arizona (-3.5)Green Bay 6-1 SU, 6-1 ATSArizona 7-0 SU, 6-1 ATSThe Packers and Aaron Rodgers haven’t exactly kissed and made up, but their marriage of accommodation appears to be holding firm through the first half of the schedule. Rodgers’s three TD passes and 274 yards through the air offset getting sacked three times by Washington on Sunday, and the Pack are putting some air between themselves and the rest of the NFC North. A lot of credit has to go to a more-than decent defense which held the WFT to three points on four second-half red zone trips. This, despite missing four starters. Whether GB can hold it together twice in five days will be interesting when the Packers hit the road Thursday night against the undefeated and dominant Cardinals. Arizona had the next-beat thing to a bye this past Sunday, with Houston in town, and will have a huge prep edge against Green Bay. This game also has the highest total (53.5) on the board, due no doubt to the Cardinals’ potent offense (7th in the NFL) going against what has to be a rubber-legged GB defense that may or may be near full strength.WORST GAME – Philadelphia at Detroit (+3)Philadelphia 2-5 SU, 3-4 ATSDetroit 0-7 SU, 4-3 ATSWith a 17-game schedule and an extra playoff team in the mix, five losses in seven games may not be the death sentence that it once was. But the Eagles have to right the ship, and fast, after an embarrassing and error-laden loss at Las Vegas. Simply put, Philly couldn’t move the ball until the fourth quarter when it didn’t matter. When your QB (Jalen Hurts) is also your leading rusher, there are problems. But the winless Lions don’t want to hear about anyone’s else’s issues, and it’s no consolation that Detroit has come close several times and actually has a better record ATS than 19 other teams in the NFL.BIGGEST SPREAD – Los Angeles Rams at Houston (+14.5)Los Angeles 6-1 SU, 4-3 ATSHouston 1-6 SU, 3-4 ATSTime for the Rams to make hay while the sun shines, because after this (Lions and Texans back to back) schedule respite, they have division leaders Tennessee, Green Bay and Arizona in three of the next four weeks. Yikes. So it’s imperative that LA – which had problems at home against the Lions and couldn’t put the game away until late – stays focused. All Houston is focused on, meantime, is whether or not Deshaun Watson will be traded. Houston’s defense is not the worst in the league, but the offense just can’t move the ball, leading books to make the Texans a huge home dog in this one.SMALLEST SPREAD – Dallas at Minnesota (+1.5)Dallas 5-1 SU, 6-0 ATS, 5-1 O/UMinnesota 3-3 SU, 3-3 ATS, 3-3 O/UAfter a long, dark period, things finally seem to be breaking right for the Boys. A bye week followed Dallas’s strenuous overtime victory over the Patriots in Foxboro, gave everyone time to heal before what should be a tight game in Minnesota. The Vikings have been a so-so team, losing close games to powerhouses Arizona and Cincinnati, and are only two possessions from being 5-1 instead of .500. But as Bill Parcells said, “You are what your record says you are,” so the Vikes really need this one badly if they are to make it a race in the NFC North. If things go south in the North this weekend, Minnesota could be three losses down to the Packers.SMALLEST TOTAL – San Francisco at Chicago (39.5)San Francisco 2-4 SU, 3-3 ATS, 3-3 O/UChicago 3-4 SU, 3-4 ATS, 1-6 O/UThis is the only game in the NFL so far this season with a total under 40, according to teamrankings.com, and it befits two teams whose offenses are struggling mightily and two quarterbacks who are having trouble getting their teams into the end zone. There are constant questions about SF’s Jimmy Garoppolo, and they are louder still today after what his coach said was his worst game of the season in a loss to Indianapolis. It’s doubtful that Justin Fields sympathizes much after turning the ball over five times (three INTs, two lost fumbles) and his Bears putting up only three points in a loss to Tampa Bay.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: MLB, NBA and NHL Previews and Odds - 10/27/2021

by Big Al Staff

Wednesday, Oct 27, 2021

The Wednesday sports card features action in MLB, NBA, and the NHL.Game 2 in the World Series in Major League Baseball begins at 8:09 PM ET on Fox, with Houston hosting Atlanta. The Braves took Game 1 with a 6-2 victory on Tuesday. Atlanta pitches Max Fried against the Astros’ Jose Urquidy. Houston is a -115 money line favorite, with the total set at 8.5 (all odds from DraftKings).Ten games are on the docket in the National Basketball Association. The card tips off at 7:10 PM ET with Charlotte visiting Orlando as a 6-point road favorite with a total f 217. Four games start at 7:40 PM ET. Boston hosts Washington as a 4.5-point favorite with an over/under of 225.5. Brooklyn plays at home against Miami as a 4.5-point favorite with a total of 218. Indiana travels to Toronto as a 1.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 218.Atlanta plays at New Orleans in the first game of an ESPN doubleheader at 7:40 PM ET. The Hawks have won two of their first three games after a 122-104 victory against Detroit as an 11.5-point favorite on Monday. The Pelicans ended a three-game losing streak with their 107-98 upset victory at Minnesota as a 5.5-point underdog on Monday. Atlanta is a 6-point road favorite with a total of 220.Two games tip-off at 8:10 PM ET. Milwaukee plays at home against Minnesota as a 7.5-point favorite. The Los Angeles Lakers visit Oklahoma City. Two games begin at 10:10 PM ET. Phoenix is at home against Sacramento as an 8-point favorite with an over/under of 226. Portland hosts Memphis on ESPN at 10:10 PM ET. The Trail Blazers have lost two of their first three games after their 116-86 loss at Los Angeles against the Clippers on Monday. The Grizzlies won their first two games of the season before losing at Los Angeles against the Lakers, 121-118, as a 5-point underdog on Sunday. Portland is a 2-point favorite with a total of 234.The Los Angeles Clippers are at home against Cleveland at 10:40 PM ET. The Clippers are an 8-point favorite with an over/under of 217.Five games are on the National Hockey League slate. Two games drop the puck at 7:08 PM ET. Florida is at home against Boston as a -130 money line favorite with a total of 6. Washington plays at home against Detroit as a -205 money line favorite with an over/under of 6. Toronto visits Chicago at 7:38 PM ET as a -170 money line road favorite with a total of 6. Dallas is at home against Vegas at 8:38 PM ET as a -115 money line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. Edmonton hosts Philadelphia on TNT at 10:08 PM ET. The Oilers have won their first five games this season after a 5-3 victory at Vancouver on Friday. Philadelphia has split their opening four-game homestand that concluded with a 4-2 loss to Florida on Saturday. Edmonton is a -165 money line favorite with a total of 6.5. 

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Big Al's Daily Angle: MLB, NHL and NBA Previews and Odds - 10/26/2021

by Big Al Staff

Tuesday, Oct 26, 2021

The Tuesday sports card features action in MLB, NBA, and the NHL.The World Series in Major League Baseball begins at 8:09 PM ET, with the Houston Astros hosting the Atlanta Braves on Fox. Houston has won three straight games with their 5-0 victory against Boston on Friday. The Astros rallied from a 2-1 deficit in the ALCS to defeat the Red Sox in six games. Manager Dusty Baker turns to Framber Valdez tonight as his starting pitcher. The left-hander posted an 11-6 record in the regular season with a 3.14 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP in 22 starts. He has a 1-0 record in this postseason with a 4.20 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP. Atlanta advanced to the World Series with a 4-2 victory at home against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday. The Braves won the NLCS in six games. Manager Brian Snitker counters with Charlie Morton as his starting pitcher. The right-hander had a 14-6 record with a 3.34 ERA and a 1.04 WHIP in 33 regular season starts. Morton has an 0-1 record in the playoffs this year with a 3.77 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP in 14 1/3 innings. Houston is a -145 money line favorite with the total set at 8 (all odds from DraftKings).Five games are on the docket in the National Basketball Association. New York plays at home against Philadelphia on TNT at 7:40 PM ET. After winning their first two games of the season, the Knicks come off their first loss in a 111-104 setback at home to Orlando as a 12-point favorite on Sunday. The 76ers have won two of their first three games of the season after their 115-103 win at Oklahoma City as a 10-point favorite on Sunday. New York is a 2-point favorite with an over/under of 217.Golden State travels to Oklahoma City at 8:10 PM ET as a 9.5-point road favorite with a total of 223.5. Two games tip-off at 8:40 PM ET. Dallas plays at home against Houston as a 10.5-point favorite with an over/under of 221.5. The Los Angeles Lakers visit Sacramento as a 4.5-point road favorite with a total of 220.5. The nightcap for the doubleheader on TNT has Utah playing at home against Denver at 10:10 PM ET. The Jazz have won their first two games after a 110-101 victory at Sacramento as a 10-point favorite on Friday. The Nuggets had won their first two games of the season before losing at home last night to Cleveland, 99-87, as a 9.5-point favorite. Utah is a 7-point favorite with an over/under of 219.5.Seven games are on the slate in the National Hockey League. Two games drop the puck at 7:08 PM ET. New Jersey is at home against Calgary as a -120 money line favorite with a total of 6. Tampa Bay travels to Pittsburgh as a -125 money line road favorite with an over/under of 5.5. Colorado hosts Vegas on ESPN at 8:08 PM ET. The Avalanche ended a three-game losing streak with a 4-3 victory at Tampa Bay on Saturday. The Golden Knights have lost four in a row after their 2-0 loss at home to the New York Islanders on Sunday night. Colorado is a -185 money line favorite with an over/under of 6. Nashville plays at home against San Jose at 8:38 PM ET as a -135 money line favorite with a total of 5.5. Three games conclude the NHL card at 10:08 PM ET. Minnesota visits Vancouver as a -125 money line road favorite with an over/under of 6. Winnipeg plays at Anaheim as a -130 money line road favorite with a total of 5.5. Seattle is at home against Montreal as a -130 money line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. 

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Ness Notes: Fall Classic No. 117

by Larry Ness

Tuesday, Oct 26, 2021

The 2021 World Series is the 117th edition of Major League Baseball's championship series. It features the National League champion Atlanta Braves and the American League champion Houston Astros. The series begins on October 26, with a potential seventh game scheduled for November 3. It's come "a long way, baby!" The very first World Series was played in 1903, when Honus Wagner and the Pittsburgh Pirates met Cy Young and the Boston Americans. The first game of that series was played on Oct 1 at the Huntington Avenue Ball Field in Boston where Northeastern University now stands, almost one month earlier than this year's "Fall Classic" will play its Game 1. Pittsburgh won the first game 7-3 but Boston won the best-of-nine series, 5-3, with Young winning Games 5 and 7. A note to Boston fans; the team changed its name to the Red Sox in 1908. There was no Fall Classic in 1904 due to bitterness between the AL and NL but it returned by 1905 and has been played every year since except for 1994 (player strike). Now there's a thought. MLB played the World Series all through World War II but the ONLY two times it was NOT played (1904 and 1994) was due to 'battles' between owners vs owners or owners vs players. The more things change, the more they stay the same.The LA Dodgers, the defending champs with MLB's highest payroll (about $260 million) and the NY Yankees (2nd-largest payroll of about $203 million) are NOT here. The Braves began the 2021 season having won three straight NL East titles and in 2020, led the Dodgers 3-1 in the NLCS, only to lose the next three games. As for the Astros, they had won 101, 103 and 107 games from 2017-19 but then went just 29-31 in 2020. However, under an expanded postseason, the Astros 'snuck in' and then made it all the way to Game 7 of the ALCS, before falling to the Rays. The Astros rebounded to win the AL West with a 95-67 record in 2021 and have now made the World Series for the THIRD time in the last five seasons (note: Houston has made five straight appearances in the ALCS!). Picking Atlanta to meet Houston before the season started would not have been far-fetched but it was a highly unlikely scenario at the trade deadline back on July 30. Atlanta's superstar outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. had been lost for the season with a torn AC in mid-July and the Braves didn't have a winning record until their 111th game of 2021 (56-55) and that represents the deepest into a season any World Series team has gone before getting above .500. Atlanta finished with 88 wins, which was the fewest of the 10 playoff teams in 2021. Yes, the Braves didn't have a winning record until Aug 6 but since then (including the playoffs), they've gone 40-21.Of course, the Astros storyline is obvious. Can a villain atone for its previous sins? It will probably take a long time before the Astros are viewed as anything but the sport's outlaws but the Astros can pride themselves on improving the team's recent resume. I note above that the Astros made their FIFTH straight appearance in the championship series and I'll add here that they are just the THIRD franchise to do that. Again, Houston now plays in the World Series for the THIRD time in five seasons. With a second championship in this run, this time without an asterisk, Houston will cement an impressive legacy. I noted that the Braves had to play without Acuna since the All Star break but Atlanta also was without Mike Soroka (13-4, 2.68 ERA in 2019), who hasn't pitched since early 2020 because of Achilles surgery. Houston can feel Atlanta's pain, as the Astros made it back to the World Series despite ace Justin Verlander missing the season while recovering from Tommy John surgery. You may have heard of Justin, or at least his wife! Houston earned its way into the World Series thanks to an offense that has scored 67 runs in 10 playoff games, with SIX of its seven wins coming by at least five runs. Forty-five of those 67 runs have come with two outs, a testament to a lineup that had the lowest strikeout rate in the majors in the regular season.There's also a pretty good storyline working for BOTH managers. The 72-year-old Dusty Baker was hired by Houston prior to the 2020 season to bring stability to a team rocked by its cheating scandal. As noted above, despite a 29-31 record in the abbreviated regular season, Baker managed his team to Game 7 of the ALCS. Now, he is back in the World Series for the first time since his 2002 Giants lost to the Angels in seven games. It's the longest span between World Series appearances since Bucky Harris was the player-manager for the Washington Senators in 1925 and then the manager for the Yankees in 1947. Baker is 12th in regular-season wins but all 11 managers ahead of him have all won a World Series and all except Bruce Bochy are in the Hall of Fame. Baker's managerial career has been filled with heartbreaking losses, mostly notably his Game 6 defeats with the Giants in that 2002 World Series and the Cubs in the 2003 NLCS (can you say Steve Bartman?). Is this finally Dusty's year?The 66-year-old Atlanta manager Brian Snitker is a 'baseball-lifer." He has been a member of the Braves organization since 1977. As a player, he reached Triple-A for two games. He began managing in the minors in 1982 and had been a loyal organization member for 40 years when the Braves first named him interim manager in 2016. They kept him in the job after he went just 72-90 in his first full season in 2017 but he has since managed the club to FOUR straight NL East titles. An interesting aside is that Snitker's son Troy, is an assistant hitting coach for the Astros. Snitker is well aware that all Braves fans are tied to Atlanta's impressive yet unfulfilling past. From 1991 to 2005, the Braves were one of the most successful teams in baseball, winning an unprecedented 14 consecutive division titles (omitting the strike-shortened 1994 season in which there were no official division champions). That team produced one of the greatest pitching rotations in the history of baseball. Most notably, this rotation consisted of pitchers Greg Maddux, John Smoltz, and Tom Glavine. Pitcher Steve Avery also was a significant contributor to the rotation during the period of 1991–1993. The Braves won the National League West division from 1991 to 1993, and after divisional realignment, the National League East division from 1995 to 2005 (omitting the 1994 strike season). However, the Braves advanced to the World Series just FIVE times in that span (1991, 1992, 1995, 1996, and 1999), winning just ONE title (in 1995 against the Cleveland Indians).Ironically, the Braves again own a distinct advantage in this series when it comes to starting pitching, as Morton (Game 1 starter), Max Fried (Game 2 starter) and Ian Anderson (Game 3 starter) are all in good form. In contrast, Lance McCullers Jr. is likely to miss the World Series after not pitching since leaving Game 4 of the ALDS with forearm discomfort. That leaves Houston with Framber Valdez in Game 1, Luis Garcia in Game 2 and Jose Urquidy. in Game 3.  Then again, heading into the World Series, relievers have thrown 54% of postseason innings. For the Astros, it's been 57%, and for the Braves, 49%. Houston is the slight favorite to win both the series (William Hill has the odds at Houston -145) and Game 1 (William Hill has Houston -130).Will the Series extend into November? That's the fun part, not knowing. Enjoy, one way or the other.Good luck...Larry 

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NFL, NBA and NHL Previews and Odds - 10/25/2021

by Big Al Staff

Monday, Oct 25, 2021

The Monday sports card features action in the NFL, NBA, and NHL.Week 7 of the National Football League concludes with New Orleans visiting Seattle on ESPN at 8:15 PM ET. The Saints come off their bye week after defeating Washington on the road, 33-22, as a 2.5-point road favorite on October 10th. Jameis Winston completed 15 of 30 passes for 279 yards with four touchdown passes and one interception in the victory. New Orleans is 3-2 on the season with victories against Green Bay, New England, and the Football Team. They have lost to Carolina and the New York Giants. Quarterback Taysom Hill and defensive end Payton Turner have been declared out for the game.The Seahawks have lost four of their last five games after a 23-20 loss at Pittsburgh as a 5.5-point underdog last Sunday. Seattle has victories on the road against Indianapolis and San Francisco. Geno Smith completed 23 of 32 passes for 209 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions in the loss in place of an injured Russell Wilson. Running back Rashaad Penny has been upgraded to probable for tonight's game. The Seahawks have losses to Tennessee, Minnesota, the Los Angeles Rams, and the Steelers last week. New Orleans is a 4-point road favorite with the total set at 41.5 (all odds from DraftKings).Nine games are on the docket in the National Basketball Association. Two games tip-off at 7:10 PM ET. Boston visits Charlotte as a 1-point road favorite at BetRivers. Milwaukee travels to Indiana as a 3-point road favorite with an over/under of 229. Four games start at 7:40 PM ET. Atlanta plays at home against Detroit as a 10.5-point favorite with a total of 213. Brooklyn is at home against Washington as an 8.5-point favorite at BetRivers. Miami hosts Orlando as a 14-point favorite at BetRivers. Chicago visits Toronto as a 3-point road favorite with an over/under of 212. Minnesota is at home against New Orleans at 8:10 PM ET as a 5.5-point favorite with a total of 225.5. Denver hosts Cleveland at 9:10 PM ET as a 10.5-point favorite at BetRivers. The Los Angeles Clippers are at home against Portland at 10:40 PM ET as a 3-point favorite with an over/under of 234.5.Seven games are on the National Hockey League slate. Six games have the puck drop at 7:08 PM ET. Tampa Bay visits Buffalo as a -210 money line road favorite with a total of 6. Washington plays at Ottawa as a -165 money line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. Florida is at home against Arizona as a -360 money line favorite with a total of 6. The New York Rangers are at home against Calgary as a -135 money line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. Carolina is at home against Toronto as a -115 money line favorite with a total of 6.5. Dallas visits Columbus as a -125 money line road favorite with an over/under of 5.5. St. Louis hosts the Los Angeles Kings as a -175 money line favorite with a total of 5.5.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NFL, NHL, and EPL Previews and Odds - 10/24/2021

by Big Al Staff

Sunday, Oct 24, 2021

The Sunday sports card features action in the NFL, NBA, NHL, and the EPL.Eleven games continue in Week 7 of the National Football League. Six games kick off at 1 PM ET. New England hosts the New York Jets as a 7-point favorite with the total set at 42.5 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). Baltimore plays at home against Cincinnati as a 6.5-point favorite with an over/under of 45.5. Atlanta visits Miami as a 2-point road favorite with a total of 47.5. Kansas City travels to Tennessee as a 4.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 57.5. Green Bay plays at home against Washington as an 8.5-point favorite with a total of 47.5. Carolina travels to New York to play the Giants as a 3-point road favorite with an over/under of 42.5. Four games kickoff in the second-afternoon window. Two games start at 4:05 PM ET. The Los Angeles Rams are at home against Detroit as a 16-point favorite with a total of 50.5. Las Vegas is at home against Philadelphia as a 2.5-point favorite with an over/under of 49. Two more games begin at 4:25 PM ET. Tampa Bay hosts Chicago as a 13-point favorite with a total of 47. Arizona plays at home against Houston as an 18-point favorite with an over/under of 47.5. San Francisco is at home against Indianapolis for Sunday Night Football on NBC-TV at 8:20 PM ET. The 49ers are a 4-point favorite with a total of 43. Six games are on the docket in the National Basketball Association.  Brooklyn plays at home against Charlotte at 4:10 PM ET as an 8.5-point favorite with an over/under of 231.5. Three games tip-off at 7:10 PM ET. New York is at home against Orlando as a 12-point favorite with a total of 214.5. Boston visits Houston as a 5-point road favorite with an over/under of 225.5. Philadelphia travels to Oklahoma City as an 8.5-point road favorite at BetRivers. Golden State plays at Sacramento at 9:10 PM ET as a 3.5-point road favorite with a total of 231. The Los Angeles Lakers are at home against Memphis at 9:40 PM ET as a 6.5-point favorite with an over/under of 221.Four games are on the National Hockey League slate. Boston is home against San Jose at 1:08 PM ET as a -180 money line favorite with a total of 6. Minnesota hosts Nashville at 6:08 PM ET as a -160 money line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. Chicago plays at home against Detroit at 7:08 PM ET as a -150 money line favorite with a total of 6. Vegas is at home against the New York Islanders at 10:08 PM ET as a -135 money line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. Matchweek 9 of the English Premier League concludes with three matches. Two matches start at 9 AM ET. Tottenham travels to West Ham United on the NBC Sports Network in a pick ‘em match with a total of 2.5. Leicester City visits Brentford on Peacock in a pick ‘em match with a total of 2.5. Liverpool plays at Manchester United on the NBC Sports Network at 11:30 AM ET in a pick ‘em match with an over/under of 3. 

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NCAAF, MLB, NBA, NHL, CFL and EPL Previews and Odds - 10/23/2021

by Big Al Staff

Saturday, Oct 23, 2021

The Saturday sports card features action in NCAAF, MLB, NBA, NHL, CFL, and the EPL.Week 8 in the college football season concludes with 44 games between FBS opponents. Thirteen games begin the NCAAF card from noon ET to 3 PM ET. Seven games kick off on national television at noon ET. Michigan hosts Northwestern on Fox as a 23.5-point favorite with the total set at 51 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). Oklahoma travels to Kansas on ESPN as a 38.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 66.5. Cincinnati is at Navy on ESPN2 as a 28.5-point road favorite with a total of 48.5. Penn State is at home against Illinois on ABC as a 24-point favorite with an over/under of 45.5. Kansas State visits Texas Tech on FS1 as a 1-point road favorite with a total of 60.5. Wake Forest plays at Army on the CBS Sports Network as a 3-point road favorite with an over/under of 52.5. Central Michigan plays at home against Northern Illinois on ESPNU as a 5-point favorite with a total of 56.5. Sixteen more games between FBS opponents start between 3:30 PM ET and 4 PM ET. Seven games are on national television at 3:30 PM ET. Mississippi hosts LSU on CBS as a 7.5-point favorite with an over/under of 76. UCLA plays at home against Oregon on ABC as a 1-point favorite with a total of 60.5. Iowa State is at home against Oklahoma State on Fox as a 7-point favorite with an over/under of 47. Pittsburgh hosts Clemson on ESPN as a 3.5-point favorite with a total of 47.5. Minnesota plays at home against Maryland on ESPN2 as a 4-point favorite with an over/under of 53.5. BYU visits Washington State on FS1 as a 4.5-point road favorite with a total of 56.5. Western Michigan travels to Toledo on the CBS Sports Network as a 1.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 55. Houston is at home against East Carolina on ESPNU at 4 PM ET as a 13.5-point favorite with a total of 57.Fifteen games conclude the NCAAF card from 7 PM to midnight ET. Three games are on national television at 7 PM ET. Alabama hosts Tennessee on ESPN as a 2.5-point favorite with an over/under of 68. Air Force plays at home against San Diego State on the CBS Sports Network as a 3-point favorite with a total of 38. Fresno State is at home against Nevada on FS2 as a 3.5-point favorite with an over/under of 65. The four remaining games on national television start at 7:30 PM ET. Ohio State visits Indiana on ABC as a 21-point road favorite with a total of 58.5. Notre Dame plays at home against USC on NBC as a 7-point favorite with an over/under of 59. North Carolina State travels to Miami (FL) on ESPN2 as a 3.5-point road favorite with a total of 52.5. TCU is at home against West Virginia on ESPNU as a 4.5-point favorite with an over/under of 56.5. The playoffs in Major League Baseball continue with Game 6 in the NLCS. Los Angeles plays at Atlanta on TBS with the first pitch at 5:08 PM ET. The Dodgers have scratched Max Scherzer as their starting pitcher with no replacement yet named. The Braves will pitch Ian Anderson. Los Angeles is a -170 money line road favorite with a total of 8.Eight games are on the National Basketball Association docket. Atlanta visits Cleveland at 6:10 PM ET as a 7-point road favorite. Miami plays at Indiana at 7:10 PM ET as a 4-point road favorite with an over/under of 223.5. Dallas travels Toronto at 7:40 PM ET as a 3.5-point road favorite with a total of 215. Two games top off at 8:10 PM ET. Chicago is at home against Detroit as a 9-point favorite with an over/under of 214.5. Minnesota plays at home against New Orleans as a 6.5-point favorite with a total of 228.Milwaukee visits San Antonio at 8:40 PM ET as a 7-point road favorite. Portland hosts Phoenix at 10:10 PM ET as a 2-point favorite with an over/under of 231.5. The Los Angeles Clippers are at home against Memphis at 10:40 PM ET as a 3.5-point favorite with a total of 226.5. Thirteen games are on the National Hockey League slate. Two games drop the puck at 1:08 PM ET. The New York Rangers visit Ottawa as a -150 money line road favorite with an over/under of 6. Washington plays at home against Calgary as a -165 money line favorite with a total of 6.5. Minnesota is at home against Anaheim at 6 PM ET as a -270 money line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. Seven games in the NHL begin at 7:08 PM ET. Winnipeg plays at home against Nashville as a -120 money line favorite with a total of 6. Montreal is at home against Detroit as a -155 money line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. Tampa Bay hosts Colorado as a -115 money line favorite with a total of 6. New Jersey is at home against Buffalo as a -160 money line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. Florida visits Philadelphia as a -135 money line road favorite with a total of 6.5. Toronto travels to Pittsburgh as a -130 money line road favorite with an over/under of 6. Carolina plays at Columbus as a -155 money line road favorite with a total of 5.5. St. Louis is at home against Los Angeles at 8:08 PM ET as a -170 money line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The New York Islanders visit Arizona at 9:08 PM ET as a -195 money line road favorite with a total of 5.5. Seattle plays at home against Vancouver at 10:08 PM ET as a -125 money line favorite with an over/under of 6. Week 12 in the Canadian Football League finishes with three games on ESPN+. Hamilton plays at home against Ottawa as a 14.5-point favorite with a total of 45. Winnipeg is at home against British Columbia at 7 PM ET as an 11-point favorite with an over/under of 42.5. Calgary hosts Saskatchewan at 9:45 PM ET as a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 44.5. Matchweek 9 in the English Premier League continues with six matches. Chelsea plays at home against Norwich City on the NBC Sports Network at 7:30 AM ET as a -2 goal line favorite with an over/under of 3. Four matches start at 10 AM ET. Wolverhampton travels to Leeds United on the NBC Sports Network in a pick ‘em match with a total of 2.5. Southampton hosts Burnley on Peacock as a -0.5 goal line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Crystal Palace is at home against Newcastle United on Peacock as a -0.5 goal line favorite with a total of 2.5. Everton plays at home against Watford as a -1 goal line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Manchester City visits Brighton and Hove Albion on NBC at 12:30 PM ET as a -1 goal line road favorite with a total of 2.5. 

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Time To Get A Move On

by Tom Stryker

Friday, Oct 22, 2021

With the college football season at the halfway point or just past, there are a number of teams still stuck in limbo.  Time becomes a commodity for these squads still trying to get over the hump.  And, as we inch closer to November, the window for success starts to close and that means a number of programs need to make a move. When doing my research for the upcoming college card, I decided to take a look at those schools that found themselves in a must win situation.  It was my opinion that teams playing their seventh game of the season fit that criteria if they owned a 3-3 SU record.  At that specific stage, the last thing any program wants to do is drop to 3-4 SU with a loss especially when a victory pushes them to 4-3 SU and on a much better path. Thankfully, 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 sets that have performed very well.  Here is a game seven system that has been money.  Take a look: Since 1980, PLAY ON any game seven high-priced favorite of -12 or more provided they hold a 3-3 SU record provided their opponent carries a team won/loss percentage of .500 or less. 41-Year ATS Record = 73-44-3 ATS for 62.3 percent  This Week’s Play = MISSISSIPPI STATE  Off last Saturday’s embarrassing 49-9 home loss to the Crimson Tide, the Bulldogs find themselves with a 3-3 SU mark on the season and staring at home game against a ranked UK team on deck.  Head coach Mike Leach’s kids don’t want to go into that battle against the Wildcats with a 3-4 SU record and they will do whatever it takes to beat up on a Commodores bunch that busts in with a 2-5 SU mark and off last week’s heart-breaking road loss to the Gamecocks. There are a couple of parameters than can be added to this general system that really makes it pop.  If both teams enter this contest without confidence off straight up losses, this situation tightens up to a rewarding 29-12 ATS.  As stated, Mississippi State takes the field off their 40-point home loss to Alabama and Vanderbilt arrives off its one-point road loss at South Carolina which means the Bulldogs fit this tightener perfectly. MSU is looking to get a move on.  Good luck with the Bulldogs on Saturday.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NCAAF, MLB, NBA, NHL, CFL and EPL Previews and Odds - 10/22/2021

by Big Al Staff

Friday, Oct 22, 2021

The Friday sports card features action in NCAAF, MLB, NBA, NHL, CFL, and the EPL.Week 8 in the college football season continues with four games. Middle Tennessee visits Connecticut on the CBS Sports Network at 6 PM ET. The Blue Raiders have lost four of their last five games after their 41-13 loss at Liberty as a 20-point underdog on October 9th. The Huskies ended their six-game losing streak by winning their first game of the season with a 21-16 upset win against Yale as a 3.5-point underdog last Saturday. Middle Tennessee is a 15.5-point road favorite, with the total set at 55.5 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). Memphis travels to Central Florida on ESPN2 at 7 PM ET. The Tigers ended their three-game losing streak with a 35-17 victory against Navy as an 11-point favorite last Thursday. The Knights lost their third game in their last four after a 56-21 loss at Cincinnati as a 21.5-point underdog last Saturday. Memphis is a 2.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 63.5. Colorado State plays at Utah State on the CBS Sports Network at 9:30 PM ET. The Rams have won three of their last four games with their 36-7 win at New Mexico as a 12.5-point favorite on Saturday. The Aggies ended a two-game losing streak with their 28-24 win at UNLV as a 7.5-point favorite on Saturday. Colorado State is a 3-point road favorite with a total of 59.Washington is at Arizona on ESPN2 at 10:30 PM ET. The Huskies have lost two in a row after a 24-17 upset loss as a 1.5-point favorite against UCLA on Saturday. The Wildcats is winless in their first six games after getting shutout, 34-0, at Colorado last week. Washington is a 17.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 46.5.The playoffs in Major League Baseball continue with Game 6 in the ALCS, with Houston playing at home against Boston on FS1 with the first pitch at 8:08 PM ET. The Astros took a 3-2 lead in this series with their 9-1 win at Fenway Park on Wednesday. Luis Garcia pitches for Houston against Nathan Eovaldi for the Red Sox. Houston is a -120 money line favorite with a total of 8.5. Ten games are on the National Basketball Association docket. Three games tip-off at 7:10 PM ET. Charlotte travels to Cleveland as a 2.5-point road favorite. New York visits Orlando as a 7-point road favorite with an over/under of 212. Washington hosts Indiana as a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 228.5. Two games begin at 7:40 PM ET. Boston plays at home against Toronto as a 6.5-point favorite with an over/under of 219. Brooklyn is at Philadelphia on ESPN as a 1-point road favorite with a total of 230. Two more games start at 8:10 PM ET. Chicago hosts New Orleans as a 7-point favorite with an over/under of 223. Houston plays at home against Oklahoma City as a 2-point favorite with a total of 223. Denver is at home against San Antonio at 9:10 PM ET as a 7.5-point favorite with an over/under of 219. Two games conclude the card at 10:10 PM ET. Utah visits Sacramento as a 6-point road favorite with a total of 225. The Los Angeles Lakers play at home against Phoenix on ESPN as a 1-point favorite with an over/under of 222. Four games are on the National Hockey League slate. Toronto is at home against San Jose at 6:11 PM ET as a -235 money line favorite with a total of 6. Boston travels to Buffalo at 7:08 PM ET as a -195 money line road favorite with an over/under of 5.5. Dallas plays at home against the Los Angeles Kings at 8:38 PM ET as a -150 money line favorite with a total of 5.5. Vegas hosts Edmonton at 10:08 PM ET as a -135 money line favorite with a total of 6.Week 12 in the Canadian Football League begins with Montreal playing at home against Toronto on ESPN+ at 7:30 PM ET. The Alouettes have won three in a row with their 27-16 victory at Ottawa as a 4.5-point favorite on Saturday. The Argonauts have won three in a row with their 24-23 upset win at Hamilton as a 5-point underdog on October 11th. Montreal is a 1-point favorite with an over/under of 49.Matchweek 9 in the English Premier League begins on Friday with one match. Arsenal hosts Aston Villa on the NBC Sports Network at 3 PM ET as a 0.5-goal line favorite with a total of 2.5.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NFL, NCAAF, NHL, NBA and MLB Previews and Odds - 10/21/2021

by Big Al Staff

Thursday, Oct 21, 2021

The Thursday sports card features action in the NFL, NCAAF, MLB, NBA, and NHL.The seventh week in the National Football League regular season kicks off with Cleveland hosting Denver on Fox and the NFL Network at 8:20 PM ET. The Browns have lost two in a row after their 37-14 upset loss to Arizona as a 3-point favorite on Sunday. The Broncos have lost three straight games with their 34-24 upset loss as a 5-point favorite at home to Las Vegas on Sunday. Cleveland is a 2.5-point favorite, with the total set at 41 (all odds from DraftKings).Week 8 in the college football season continues with four games. Three begin at 7:30 PM ET. SMU plays at home against Tulane on ESPN. The Mustangs come off a 31-24 victory at Navy as a 13.5-point favorite on October 9th. The Green Wave have lost four in a row after their 40-22 loss to Houston on October 7th. SMU is a 14-point favorite with an over/under of 70.5.Louisiana-Lafayette visits Arkansas State on ESPNU. The Ragin’ Cajuns have won five in a row with their 41-13 upset victory against Appalachian State last Tuesday. The Red Wolves have dropped five in a row after their 52-20 loss at home to Coastal Carolina as a 20-point underdog two Thursdays ago. Louisiana-Lafayette is an 18-point road favorite with a total of 69.6. Florida Atlantic travels to Charlotte on the CBS Sports Network in the first game of their doubleheader. The Owls have lost two of three after their 31-14 loss at UAB as a 3.5-point underdog on October 9th. The 49ers won their second game in their last three after their 45-33 victory at FIU as a 3.5-point favorite on October 8th.  FAU is a 7-point road favorite with an over/under of 57.San Jose State plays at UNLV on the CBS Sports Network at 11 PM ET. The Spartans lost their second in a row after their 19-13 loss in overtime against San Diego State as a 9-point underdog last Friday. The Rebels are still winless after six games after their 28-24 loss to Utah State as a 7.5-point underdog on Saturday. San Jose State is a 4-point road favorite with a total of 45. The playoffs in Major League Baseball continue with Game 5 of the National League Championship Series. Los Angeles plays at home against Atlanta on TBS at 8:08 PM ET. The Braves took a 3-1 lead in this best-of-seven series with their 9-2 victory on Wednesday. Three games are on the docket in the National Basketball Association. Atlanta hosts Dallas on TNT at 7:40 PM ET. The Hawks are a 2.5-point favorite with an over/under of 225.5. Milwaukee visits Miami at 8:10 PM ET. The Bucks are a 2-point road favorite with a total of 224.5. Golden State is at home against the Los Angeles Clippers on TNT at 10 PM ET. The Warriors are a 3-point favorite with an over/under of 225.5. Ten games on the National Hockey League slate. Five games drop the puck at 7:08 PM ET. Carolina plays at Montreal as a -120 money line road favorite with a total of 5.5. San Jose visits Ottawa as a -140  money line road favorite with an over/under of 6. Florida is at home against Colorado as a -120 money line favorite with a total of 6.5. Washington travels to New Jersey as a -130 money line road favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The New York Islanders are at Columbus as a -130 money line road favorite with a total of 5.5. Calgary travels to Detroit at 7:30 PM ET as a -140 money line road favorite with an over/under of 5.5. Two games start at 8:08 PM ET. Nashville is at home against the New York Rangers as a -115 money line favorite with a total of 5.5. Winnipeg hosts Anaheim at 8:38 PM ET as a -200 money line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. Chicago is at home against Vancouver at 8:30 PM ET as a -135 money line favorite with a total of 6.5. Edmonton visits Arizona at 10:08 PM ET as a -185 money line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5.

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