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Big Al's Daily Angle: NCAAF, NBA, NHL, MLB and CFL Previews and Odds - 10/21/2022

by Big Al Staff

Friday, Oct 21, 2022

The Friday sports card features action in NCAAF, MLB, NBA, NHL, and the CFL.Week 8 in college football continues with two games. Tulsa plays at Temple on ESPN2 at 7:30 PM ET. The Golden Hurricane lost three in a row after their 53-21 upset loss at Navy as a 5-point favorite on October 8th. The Owls lost their second staight with a 70-13 loss at Central Florida as a 23.5-point favorite last Thursday. Tulsa is a 13-point favorite, with the total set at 52.5 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise).Western Kentucky plays at home against UAB on the CBS Sports Network at 8 PM ET. The Hilltoppers ended a two-game losing streak with a 35-17 victory at Middle Tennessee as a 7.5-point favorite last Saturday. The Blazers have won three of their last four games after a 34-20 victory against Charlotte as a 21.5-point favorite on Saturday. Western Kentucky is a 1.5-point spread with an over/under of 58.5.The League Championship Series in Major League Baseball continues with the San Diego Padres playing at Philadelphia against the Phillies on FS1 at 7:37 PM ET. The Padres evened this series at 1-1 with their 8-5 victory on Wednesday. Joe Musgrove takes the ball for the Padres to pitch against Ranger Suarez for the Phillies. Both teams are priced at -100 for Game 1, with the total set at 7.5. The National Basketball Association has 11 games on its docket. Three games tip off at 7 PM ET. The New Orleans Pelicans play at Charlotte against the Hornets as a 6-point road favorite with a total of 209.5. The Indiana Pacers host the San Antonio Spurs as a 3-point favorite with an over/under of .231. Four more games start at 7:30 PM ET. The Atlanta Hawks play at home against the Orlando Magic as an 8.5-point favorite with a total of 222. The Brooklyn Nets are at home against the Toronto Raptors as a 2.5-point favorite with an over/under of 226.5. The Boston Celtics travel to Miami to play the Heat on ESPN as a 2.5-point road favorite with a total of 219. The New York Knicks host the Detroit Pistons as a 6.5-point favorite with an over/under of 217.5.Two NBA games start at 8 PM ET. The Memphis Grizzlies visit Houston the Rockets as a 5.5-point road favorite with a total of 230.0. The Minnesota Timberwolves play at home against the Utah Jazz as an 8.5-point favorite with an over/under of 229. Two more NBA games begin at 10 PM ET. The Golden State Warriors are at home against the Denver Nuggets as a 6-point favorite with a total of 229.5. The Phoenix Suns play at Portland against the Trail Blazers as a 4-point road favorite with an over/under of 224.5. The National Hockey League has three games on its slate. The Tampa Bay Lightning visits Florida to play the Panthers at 7:30 PM ET with both teams priced at -110 with an over/under of 6.5. The Detroit Red Wings play in Chicago against the Blackhawks as a -125 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The Colorado Avalanche host the Seattle Kraken at 9 PM ET as a -275 money line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. Week 20 in the Canadian Football League begins with two games. The Hamilton Tiger-Cats play at home against the Ottawa Redblacks as a 5-point favorite with a total of 49.5. The British Columbia Lions travel to Edmonton to play the Elks as a 7-point road favorite with an over/under of 49.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NFL, NCAAF, MLB, NBA, NHL and EPL Previews and Odds - 10/20/2022

by Big Al Staff

Thursday, Oct 20, 2022

The Thursday sports card features action in the NFL, NCAAF, MLB, NBA, NHL, and the EPL.Week 7 in the National Football League kicks off with the Arizona Cardinals hosting the New Orleans Saints on Amazon Prime at 8:15 PM ET. The Cardinals have lost two in a row after their 19-9 upset loss at Seattle as a 2.5-point road favorite on Sunday. The Saints lost at home to Cincinnati, 30-26, as a 3-point underdog on Sunday. Arizona is a 2.5-point favorite with the total set at 44 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). Week 8 in college football continues with two games that start at 7:30 PM ET. South Alabama plays at home against Troy on ESPNU. The Jaguars are on a three-game winning streak after their 41-34 win against Louisiana-Monroe as a 17-point favorite last Saturday. The Trojans are on a four-game winning streak after a 17-14 victory against Texas State as a 16.5-point favorite on Saturday. South Alabama is a 3-point favorite with an over/under of 46.5. Georgia Tech is at home against Virginia on ESPN. The Yellow Jackets pulled off their second-straight upset win with a 23-20 victory in overtime against Duke as a 3.5-point underdog on October 8th. The Cavaliers are on a three-game losing streak after a 34-17 loss to Louisville as a 1.5-point underdog on October 8th. Georgia Tech is a 3-point favorite with a total of 47. The League Championship Series in Major League Baseball continues with the Houston Astros hosting the New York Yankees on TBS at 7:37 PM ET. The Astros took a 1-0 lead in this best-of-seven series with a 4-2 victory yesterday. Framber Valdez takes the mound for Houston tonight to pitch against Luis Severino for the Yankees. The Astros are a -155 money line favorite with an over/under of 7. The National Basketball Association has two games on its docket, with a doubleheader on TNT. The Philadelphia 76ers play at home against the Milwaukee Bucks at 7:30 PM ET as a 4-point favorite with a total of 225. The Los Angeles Clippers are the technical road team playing in the Staples Center against the Los Angeles Lakers at 10 PM ET as a 5.5-point favorite with an over/under of 223.5. The National Hockey League has 12 games on its slate. Seven games drop the puck at 7 PM ET. The Boston Celtics are at home against the Anaheim Ducks as a -215 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Montreal Canadiens host the Arizona Coyotes as a -165 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Toronto Maple Leafs play at home against the Dallas Stars as a -165 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Pittsburgh Penguins are at home against the Los Angeles Kings as a -185 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Nashville Predators travel to Columbus to play the Blue Jackets as a -130 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The New York Rangers host the San Jose Sharks as a -250 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Ottawa Senators play at home against the Washington Capitals as a -115 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The New York Islanders are at home against the New Jersey Devils at 7:30 PM ET as a -135 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6. The Minnesota Wild host the Vancouver Canucks at 8 PM ET as a -175 money line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Edmonton Oilers play at home against the Carolina Hurricanes at 9 PM ET as a -120 money line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Calgary Flames are at home against the Buffalo Sabres at 9:30 PM ET as a -275 money line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Vegas Golden Knights host the Winnipeg Jets at 10 PM ET as a —170 money line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. Matchweek 12 in the English Premier League concludes with two matches. Aston Villa travels to Fulham on the USA Network at 2:30 PM ET in a pick ‘em match with a total of 2.5. Leicester City plays at home against Leeds United at 3:15 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: NCAAF, MLB, NBA, NHL and EPL Previews and Odds - 10/19/2022

by Big Al Staff

Wednesday, Oct 19, 2022

The Wednesday sports card features action in NCAAF, MLB, NBA, NHL, and the EPL.Week 8 in college football kicks off with Appalachian State hosting Georgia State on ESPN2 at 7:30 PM ET. The Mountaineers lost for the second time in their last three games with their 36-24 upset loss at Texas State as a 19-point road favorite on October 8th. The Panthers are on a two-game winning streak after a 41-33 victory at home against Georgia Southern as a 2.5-point favorite on October 8th. Appalachian State is a 9.5-point favorite, with the total set at 59 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise).The League Championship Series continues in Major League Baseball with two games. The San Diego Padres play at home against the Philadelphia Phillies on Fox and FS1 at 4:35 PM ET. The Phillies won the opening game of this best-of-seven series with their 2-0 victory on Tuesday. Blake Snell gets the start for the Padres against Aaron Nola for Philadelphia. San Diego is a -125 money line favorite with an over/under of 7.The Houston Astros are at home against the New York Yankees on TBS at 7:37 PM ET. The Astros advanced to the ALCS with their 1-0 win in 18 innings at Seattle on Saturday to complete a three-game sweep. The Yankees beat Cleveland, 3-2, yesterday to win that ALDS in five games. Houston taps Justin Verlander to pitch against New York’s Jameson Taillon. The Astros are a -180 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The National Basketball Association has 12 games on its docket. Two games tip off at 7 PM ET. The Detroit Pistons host the Orlando Magic as a 3.5-point favorite with an over/under of 217. The Washington Wizards visit Indiana to play the Pacers as a 2-point road favorite with a total of 228. Five more NBA games start at 7:30 PM ET. The Atlanta Hawks play at home against the Houston Rockets as a 10-point favorite with an over/under of 233. The Brooklyn Nets are at home against the New Orleans Pelicans as a 3-point favorite with a total of 230.5. The Miami Heat host the Chicago Bulls as a 6.5-point favorite with an over/under of 216.5. The Toronto Raptors play at home against the Cleveland Cavaliers as a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 214.5. The Memphis Grizzlies are at home against the New York Knicks on ESPN as a 5.5-point favorite with an over/under of 226. Two NBA games begin at 8 PM ET. The Minnesota Timberwolves host the Oklahoma City Thunder as a 10.5-point favorite with a total of 227. The Charlotte Hornets travel to San Antonio to play the Spurs as a 1.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 226. The Denver Nuggets play at Utah against the Jazz as a 1.5-point road favorite with a total of 226. Two more NBA games start at 10 PM ET. The Phoenix Suns are at home against the Dallas Mavericks on ESPN as a 4.5-point favorite with an over/under of 216.5. The Sacramento Kings host the Portland Trail Blazers as a 2-point favorite with a total of 226.5. The National Hockey League has three games on its slate. The Florida Panthers play at home against the Philadelphia Flyers on TNT at 7:30 PM  ET as a -305 money line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Colorado Avalanche are at home against the Winnipeg Jets at 8 PM ET as a -205 money line favorite with a total of 6.5. The St. Louis Blues visit Seattle to play the Kraken on TNT at 10 PM ET as a -150 money line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. Matchweek 12 in the English Premier League continues with five matches. Four matches begin at 2:30 PM ET. Southampton travels to Bournemouth in a pick ‘em match with a total of 2.5 (all soccer odds from BetMGM). Chelsea plays at Brentford on the USA Network as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Liverpool hosts West Ham United as a -1.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 3. Newcastle United plays at home against Everton as a -1 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5. Tottenham is at Manchester United at 3:15 PM ET in a pick ‘em contest with a total of 2.5.  

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NBA: Western Conference Preview

by Will Rogers

Tuesday, Oct 18, 2022

Southeast DivisionYou’ve got three playoff teams and two non-contending teams here. I’m not exactly certain who will win the Southwest, or if that team even finishes top four in the Western Conference. In the mix are: Memphis (49.5 wins), Dallas (48.5 wins) and New Orleans (44.5 wins). My gut says the Mavs finish first among the three as the Grizzlies definitely won’t match last season’s 56 wins, but the key is do you think they will regress by seven or more games? With several teams in the West now better than they were in 2021-22 and the Grizz losing a few pieces, the chance for heavy regression is there. I think I’m talking myself into the Mavs, who lost Jalen Brunson but should get a MVP caliber season out of Luka Doncic. The Pelicans started horribly last year, but then were basically a .500 team the rest of the way. How much will Zion Williamson play though after sitting out all of last season? Whereas the books are calling for 6.5-win regression from Memphis, they are also calling for 8.5 game improvement from NO. That’s kind of a lot, even if you think Williamson ends up playing in a majority of the games. San Antonio has been a playoff mainstay for two decades, but this season they are a lock for the lottery and (they hope) a top three pick. Both the Spurs and Houston are projected for only 23.5 wins, tied with two other teams in the West + Indiana for fewest in the entire league. No value on playing either win total for me. Northwest DivisionThe Northwest is similar to the Southeast in that you have two teams competing for the top, one clearly in the middle and two clearly at the bottom. At the top, you’re talking Denver and Minnesota. I think the Nuggets finish first and they should be a top four seed in the West pretty easily. Under Michael Malone, the Nuggets have dominated sub-.500 opposition the last two years, going 54-16! Such domination goes a long way towards a successful regular season. Interestingly, Denver and Minnesota were the two top Over teams (in terms of totals) in the league last year. The Timberwolves added Rudy Gobert to a team that more than doubled its win total. Not sure they can crack the top six in the West and I give the Nuggets a clear edge at winning this division.Portland lost both Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum to injuries last season and they were absolutely atrocious down the stretch as a result (lost last 11 games). Can they get back to 42 wins, which is where they were two years ago? Probably not. But the win total is set at 39.5. If they hit that number, then they are probably in the play-in round. The Blazers were dead last in the league ATS last season at 32-50. Oklahoma City continues to rebuild and Utah, a top three team in the West each of the last two seasons, is set to join them in that process. I like Shai-Gilgeous Alexander, but the Thunder lost a game by 70 points last season. Utah lost Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert, thus no team is expected to fall harder. I can actually see both OKC and the Jazz exceeding their win totals, but not by much.Pacific DivisionThis star-studded division is absolutely loaded with three teams projected for 51+ wins, one of them the reigning NBA Champs (Golden State), another the team that finished with the best regular season record last season (Phoenix) and the third being the favorite to win the 2023 NBA Finals (Clippers).Golden State’s win total (53.5) seems high considering they don’t have a lot to prove coming off another championship season. Plus, you just had Draymond Green beat up Jordan Poole. Not optimal! Phoenix (52.5 wins) is a lock to regress this season. But that’s built into the win total. I’d say no value there.With Kawhi Leonard returning, the Clippers are now favored to win the NBA Title. I certainly won’t be betting them to accomplish that feat, at least at this juncture, but finishing with the best regular season record is a distinct possibility. Go Over on 51.5 wins.Oh yeah, what about the Lakers? They win 70% of the time when LeBron James and Anthony Davis both suit up. Problem is, that didn’t happen very often last season. They are projected for 44.5 wins this season. If you think James and Davis can stay healthy, bet the Over as Lakers will then finish in the top six and that’s certainly going to require at least 45 wins. Poor Sacramento. They are doomed to last place and have a projected 33.5 wins. With the Seattle Mariners making the MLB playoffs this year, the Kings now have the distinction of longest postseason drought in all four major sports. Does making the play-in round count as snapping it? I’ll allow you to make an official ruling, but the Kings should battle the Blazers for the final play-in spot and I’d go Over on this win total. 

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Big Al's Daily Angle: MLB, NBA, NHL and EPL Previews and Odds - 10/18/22

by Big Al Staff

Tuesday, Oct 18, 2022

The Tuesday sports card features action in MLB, NBA, NHL, and the EPL.Major League Baseball has 15 games on its schedule. The Divisional Series in the American League concludes with the New York Yankees hosting the Cleveland Guardians on TBS at 4:07 PM ET in Game 5 of their best-of-five series in a makeup of last night’s game that got postponed because of weather. The Yankees forced this Game 5 with their 4-2 victory in Cleveland on Sunday. Nestor Cortes, Jr. takes the ball for New York to pitch against Aaron Civale for the Guardians. The Yankees are a -165 money line favorite, with the total set at 7 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise).The National League Championship Series begins with the San Diego Padres hosting the Philadelphia Phillies on FS1 at 8:03 PM ET. The Padres reached the NLCS after their 5-3 victory at home against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday to clinch that series in four games. The Phillies advanced to the NLCS with an 8-3 win at home against Atlanta on Saturday to end that series in four games. San Diego taps Yu Darvish to pitch against Philadelphia’s Zack Wheeler. The Padres are a -125 money line favorite with an over/under of 6.5.The National Basketball Association season tips off with two games on TNT. The Boston Celtics are at home against the Philadelphia 76ers at 7:30 PM ET as a 2-point favorite with a total of 216. The Golden State Warriors host the Los Angeles Lakers at 10 PM ET as a 6-point favorite with an over/under of 225.The National Hockey League has eight games on its slate. Four games drop the puck at 7 PM ET. The New Jersey Devils play at home against the Anaheim Ducks as a -185 money line favorite with a total of 6. The Ottawa Senators are at home against the Boston Bruins as a -120 money line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Columbus Blue Jackets host the Vancouver Canucks as a -120 money line favorite with a total of 6. The Tampa Bay Lightning play at home against the Philadelphia Flyers on ESPN as a -275 money line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The New York Islanders are at home against the San Jose Sharks at 7:30 PM ET as a -205 money line favorite with a total of 5.5. Two more NHL games start at 9 PM ET. The Edmonton Oilers host the Buffalo Sabres as a -265 money line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Calgary Flames play at home against the Vegas Golden Knights as a -115 money line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Nashville Predators are at home against the Los Angeles Kings on ESPN at 9:30 PM ET as a -150 money line favorite with an over/under of 6. Matchweek 12 in the English Premier League begins with two matches. Brighton and Hove Albion hosts Nottingham Forest on the USA Network at 2:30 PM ET as a -1.5 goal line favorite with a total of 2.5 (all soccer odds from BetMGM). Crystal Palace plays at home against Wolverhampton at 3:15 PM ET as a -0.5 goal line favorite with an over/under of 2.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NFL, MLB and NHL Previews and Odds - 10/17/2022

by Big Al Staff

Monday, Oct 17, 2022

The Monday sports card features action in the NFL , MLB, and the NHL.The sixth week in the National Football League concludes with one game for Monday Night Football. The Los Angeles Chargers host the Denver Broncos on ESPN at 8:15 PM ET. The Chargers are on a two-game winning streak after their 30-28 win at Cleveland as a 1-point favorite last Sunday. They have raised their record to 3-2. The Broncos have lost two in a row after getting upset at home in overtime, 12-9, against Indianapolis for Thursday Night Football on October 6th. Their record has dropped to 2-3 on the year. Los Angeles is a 4.5-point favorite, with the total set at 45.5 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise).The Divisional Series in Major League Baseball continues with the New York Yankees hosting the Cleveland Guardians on TBS at 7:07 PM ET in Game 5 of their best-of-five series. The Yankees forced this Game 5 with their 4-2 victory in Cleveland last night. Jameson Taillon takes the ball for New York to pitch against Aaron Civale for the Guardians. The Yankees are a -150 money line favorite with an over/under of 7.5.The National Hockey League has 14 games on its slate. Six games drop the puck at 7 PM ET. Washington plays at home against Vancouver as a -135 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6. The Capitals ended a two-game losing streak with a 3-1 win against Montreal on Saturday. The Canucks have lost two in a row after a 3-2 loss at Philadelphia on Saturday. The New York Rangers are at home against Anaheim as a -215 money-line favorite with a total of 6. The Rangers beat Winnipeg, 3-2, on Saturday. The Ducks are winless in their first two games after a 6-3 loss at Boston on Saturday. Los Angeles travels to Detroit as a -120 money line road favorite with an over/under of 6. The Kings ended a two-game losing streak with a 7-6 victory against Minnesota on Saturday. Toronto plays at home against Arizona as a -435 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Maple Leafs have won their first two games with their 3-2 victory against Ottawa on Saturday. The Coyotes have lost their first two games after a 6-3 loss at Boston on Saturday. Florida travels to Boston as a -135 money line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Panthers have won their opening two games after a 4-3 win at Buffalo on Saturday. The Bruins have won their first two games after beating Arizona. Pittsburgh plays at Montreal as a -255 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The Penguins have won their opening two games with their 6-2 win against Tampa Bay on Saturday. The Canadiens are winless in their first two games after their loss at Washington on Saturday.The Colorado Avalanche list Minnesota to play the Wild at 8 PM ET. The Avalanche come off a 5-3 loss at Calgary on Thursday. The Wild are winless after their first two games with their loss against Los Angeles on Saturday. Colorado is a -120 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Dallas Stars host the Winnipeg Jets at 8:30 PM ET. The Stars have won their opening two games after a 5-1 win against Nashville on Saturday. The Jets won their opening game with their win against the Rangers on Saturday. Dallas is a -140 money line favorite with a total of 6. The Carolina Hurricanes play at Seattle against the Kraken at 10 PM ET. The Hurricanes have won their first two games of the new season after a 2-1 win at San Jose on Friday. The Kraken comes off a 5-2 loss to Vegas on Saturday. Carolina is a -165 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.

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NBA: Eastern Conference Preview

by Will Rogers

Monday, Oct 17, 2022

Atlantic DivisionThe Atlantic is the only one of the Eastern Conference’s three divisions where all five teams have a legit shot at making the playoffs. It’s also a division with three of the East’s four teams that are projected to win at least 50 games. Those would be: Boston, Brooklyn and Philadelphia. While Boston (coaching change) and Brooklyn (Durant drama) had their fair share of offseason turmoil, Philly did not and I think the 76ers are worth a shot at +300 to win the Atlantic. I would certainly play them Over their win total of 51.5. After not being in the Top 10 in either offensive or defensive efficiency last season, the Sixers should be Top 10 in both categories now as you’ve got Joel Embiid, James Harden and Tyrese Maxey plus better perimeter defense. Meanwhile, I wouldn’t play the win total for either Boston (53.5) or Brooklyn (50.5), though both certainly have the potential to still be top four teams in the East. At the very worst, Toronto and New York should both make the play-in round. The Raptors are projected for 46.5 wins, sixth most in the Conference, and they have gone Over their projected win total each of the last 11 seasons with one exception - the year they had to play home games in Tampa. The Knicks dropped from fourth place in 2020-21 to out of the playoffs last season, so there should be a natural “bounce back” from them as they were still top 10 in defensive efficiency for Tom Thibodeau in 2021-22. I’m a little surprised that the oddsmakers don’t think they’ll win at least two more games compared to last year and would consider playing Over on 38.5 for them. They added Jalen Brunson and really didn’t lose anyone of note. Central DivisionThere seems to be a clear pecking order with the top three in the Central and it goes 1. Milwaukee 2. Cleveland 3. Chicago. The Bucks (51.5) are the only team in the East outside the Atlantic with a win projection north of 50.0. They seem like a lock to win the division and be a top three seed come playoff time. They won 51 games and were the three seed last year. Cleveland has become a trendy team thanks to the addition of PG Donovan Mitchell. No one saw the Cavaliers coming last year as they rose from the depths of the league to play-in team, posting a rare winning record without LeBron James. It would be a big disappointment for them not to finish in the top six this year, but I fear they could be “too trendy” though and would look to go Under on 47.5. Chicago’s ceiling is probably no higher than the play-in round as Lonzo Ball’s knee is a major issue and DeMar DeRozan probably won’t be as clutch as he was a season ago. The Bulls also won 46 games despite a negative scoring differential, so regression was already likely. That’s clearly factored into the projected win total of 41.5.Detroit and Indiana are both bad. With the Pistons, there was at least some optimism before everyone saw how bad they looked offensively in the preseason. They have a projected win total of 29.5. Asking for them to win six more games than last year might be asking too much. Then you have the Pacers and asking anything from them seems like asking for too much. Now 23.5 wins is a really low bar, but the temptation to tank for Victor Wembanyama is there, so stay away.Southeast DivisionMiami and Atlanta will clearly battle for first place in the division. Washington might make the play-in round. Orlando and Charlotte are both non-contenders. That’s the lay of the land here.Miami (48.5) is projected to win three more games than Atlanta (45.5), but I kind of like the value on the Hawks to win the division, thanks to the addition of Dejounte Murray to what was the most efficient offense in the East last season. I know the Hawks had to play their way into the playoffs while the Heat were the East’s top seed. But Eric Spoelstra is going to have to turn in another strong coaching effort with PJ Tucker gone and no viable replacement for him on the roster. The Wizards were a bad team to bet on last year (32-47-3 ATS) and only Portland was worse. It always seems like the Wiz are bad at the defensive end. COVID-related issues derailed them with a terrible December, but that won’t be an issue now. Betting them Over 35.5 wins means all you’re asking is one more win than last year. If Bradley Beal and Kristaps Porzingis both stay healthy (big if), they should be able to do that, right? The problem is the Wizards probably aren’t going to win as many close games. Their 12 wins by three points or less last year were the most in the league. Charlotte has been in the play-in round each of the last two seasons, but is a good candidate to fall off and I’d look to go Under 36.5 wins on them with the Miles Bridges situation still hanging over their head. Orlando’s biggest hope is to finish ahead of Charlotte. Only Indiana is projected for fewer wins among Eastern Conference teams. Of the three projected below 30 wins, I think the Magic would be the best bet to go Over. Rookie Paolo Banchero will have to carry them offensively. 

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NFL, MLB and EPL Previews and Odds - 10/16/2022

by Big Al Staff

Sunday, Oct 16, 2022

The Sunday sports card features action in the NFL, MLB, and the EPL.The sixth week in the National Football League continues with 12 games. Eight games kick off at 1 PM ET. The Cincinnati Bengals travel to New Orleans to play the Saints as a 3-point road favorite, with the total set at 42.5 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise. The Indianapolis Colts host the Jacksonville Jaguars as a 1.5-point favorite with an over/under of 41. The Baltimore Ravens play in New York against the Giants as a 5.5-point road favorite with a total of 46. The San Francisco 49ers visit Atlanta to play the Falcons as a 4.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 45. The Green Bay Packers are at home against the New York Jets as a 7.5-point favorite with a total of 45.5. The Cleveland Browns play at home against the New England Patriots as a 2.5-point favorite with an over/under of 43.5. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are at Pittsburgh against the Steelers as a 10-point road favorite with a total of 46. The Minnesota Vikings travel to Miami to play the Dolphins as a 3-point road favorite with an over/under of 45.5. Two NFL games start at 4:05 PM ET. The Arizona Cardinals visit Seattle to play the Seahawks as a 2.5-point road favorite with a total of 50.5. The Los Angeles Rams host the Carolina Panthers as a 9.5-point favorite with an over/under of 41.5. The Buffalo Bills play at Kansas City to play the Chiefs at 4:25 PM ET as a 3-point road favorite with a total of 54. Sunday Night Football on NBC at 8:20 PM ET features the Philadelphia Eagles hosting the Dallas Cowboys. The Eagles come off a 20-17 win at Arizona as a 5.5-point favorite last Sunday. The Cowboys upset the Rams in Los Angeles, 22-10, as a 5.5-point underdog. Philadelphia is a 6.5-point favorite with an over/under of 42. The Divisional Series in Major League Baseball continues with the New York Yankees playing at Cleveland against the Guardians in Game 4 of their best-of-five series. The Guardians took a 2-1 lead in the series with their 6-5 comeback victory on Saturday. Cal Quantrill takes the mound for Cleveland tonight against Gerrit Cole for the Yankees. New York is a -165 money line road favorite with a total of 6.5. Matchweek 11 in the English Premier League concludes with five matches. Four games begin at 9 AM ET. Chelsea travels to Aston Villa as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with a total of 2.5. Arsenal plays at Leeds United as a -1 goal-line road favorite with an over/under of 3. Manchester United is at home against Newcastle United on the USA Network as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 3. West Ham United visits Southampton as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Manchester City plays at Liverpool on the USA Network at 11:30 AM ET as a -0.5 goal line road favorite with a total of 3.5. 

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NCAAF, MLB, NHL, CFL and EPL Previews and Odds - 10/15/2022

by Big Al Staff

Saturday, Oct 15, 2022

The Saturday sports card features action in NCAAF, MLB, NHL, CFL, and the EPL.Week 7 in the regular season of the college football season concludes with 46 games between FBS opponents. Five games on national television kick off at noon ET. Oklahoma hosts Kansas on ESPN2 as a 9-point favorite with the total set at 64. Coastal Carolina plays at home against Old Dominion on ESPNU as an 11-point favorite with an over/under of 57.5. Texas is at home against Iowa State on ABC as a 15.5-point favorite with a total of 48.5. Mississippi hosts Auburn on ESPN as a 16-point favorite with an over/under of 55.5. Michigan plays at home against Penn State on Fox as a 7-point favorite with a total of 49.5. Five nationally-televised college football games start at 3:30 PM ET. BYU is at home against Arkansas on ESPN as a 1-point favorite with an over/under of 66.5. Ohio visits Western Michigan on the CBS Sports Network in a pick ‘em contest with a total of 60. Alabama travels to Tennessee on CBS as a 9-point road favorite with an over/under of 66.5. TCU hosts Oklahoma State on ABC as a 4-point favorite with a total of 68.5. Maryland plays at Indiana on ESPN2 as an 11-point road favorite with an over/under of 62.5. Two more nationally-televised NCAAF games begin at 4 PM ET. Wisconsin is at Michigan State on Fox as a 7-point road favorite with a total of 49.5. Tulane visits South Florida on ESPNU as a 12-point road favorite with an over/under of 54.5. Two nationally-televised NCAAF games start at 7 PM ET. Florida hosts LSU on ESPN as a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 50.5. South Alabama plays at home against Louisiana-Monroe on the CBS Sports Network as a 17-point favorite with an over/under of 51. Three more nationally-televised NCAAF games start at 7:30 PM ET. Clemson travels to Florida State on ABC as a 4.5-point road favorite with a total of 51. Notre Dame hosts Stanford on NBC as a 16.5-point favorite with an over/under of 53. East Carolina is at home against Memphis on ESPNU as a 5.5-point favorite with a total of 60.5. Utah plays at home against USC on Fox at 8 PM ET as a 3.5-point favorite with an over/under of 65. Air Force is at UNLV on the CBS Sports Network at 10:30 PM ET as a 10-point road favorite with a total of 50. San Jose State plays at Fresno State on FS2 at 10:45 PM ET as an 8-point road favorite with an over/under of 47. The Divisional Series in Major League Baseball continues with four games. The Atlanta Braves visit Philadelphia to play the Phillies on FS1 at 2:07 PM ET. The Phillies took a 2-1 lead in this best-of-five series with their 9-1 win on Friday. Charlie Morton takes the ball for the Braves against Noah Syndergaard for Philadelphia. Atlanta is a -130 money line favorite with a total of 9. The Houston Astros play at Seattle against the Mariners on TBS at 4:07 PM ET. The Astros took a 2-0 lead in this series with their 4-2 victory at home on Thursday. Houston taps Lance McCullers, Jr. to pitch against the Mariners’ George Kirby. Both teams are priced at -110 with an over/under of 7.The New York Yankees travel to Cleveland to play the Guardians at 7:37 PM ET. The Guardians evened this series at 1-1 with a 4-2 win in ten innings yesterday in New York. Luis Severino takes the mound for the Yankees against Triston McKenzie for Cleveland. New York is a -115 money line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The Los Angeles Dodgers play at San Diego against the Padres on FS1 at 9:37 PM ET. The Padres took a 2-1 lead in this series with their 2-1 victory at home on Friday. The Dodgers turn to Tyler Anderson to pitch against the Padres’ Joe Musgrove. The National Hockey League has 14 games on its slate. The Florida Panthers play at Buffalo against the Sabres at 1 PM ET as a -190 money line road favorite with an over/under of 7. The Vancouver Canucks travel to Philadelphia to play the Flyers at 4 PM ET as a -135 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. Five more NHL games drop the puck at 7 PM ET. The Boston Bruins host the Arizona Coyotes as a -325 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The New Jersey Devils are at home against the Detroit Red Wings as a -165 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Washington Capitals play at home against the Montreal Canadiens as a -260 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5.  The Toronto Maple Leafs are at home against the Ottawa Senators as a -195 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Pittsburgh Penguins host the Tampa Bay Rays as a -135 money line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The New York Islanders play at home against the Anaheim Ducks at 7:30 PM ET as a -180 money line favorite with a total of 5.5. Three more NHL games begin at 8 PM ET. The St. Louis Blues are at home against the Columbus Blue Jackets as a -215 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Minnesota Wild host the Los Angeles Kings as a -155 money-line favorite with a total of 6. The Dallas Stars play at home against the Nashville Predators as a -125 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6. Three NHL games close out the card at 10 PM ET. The Vegas Golden Knights play at Seattle against the Kraken as a -135 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The Edmonton Oilers play at home against the Calgary Flames as a -130 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The San Jose Sharks are at home against the Chicago Blackhawks as a -165 money-line favorite with a total of 6. Week 19 in the Canadian Football League concludes with two games. The Toronto Argonauts visit Edmonton to play the Elks at 7 PM ET as a 5.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 50.5. The British Columbia Lions play at home against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at 10 PM ET as a 3.5-point favorite with a total of 49.5. Matchweek 11 in the English Premier League begins with four matches. Leicester City hosts Crystal Palace on the USA Network at 7:30 AM ET as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Two more EPL matches begin at 10 AM ET. Fulham is at home against Bournemouth as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5. Wolverhampton plays at home against Nottingham Forest as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Tottenham hosts Everton on NBC at 12:30 PM ET as a -1 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5.

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NFL Sunday Player Props

by ASA, Inc.

Friday, Oct 14, 2022

Josh Allen Over 2.5 Pass TDs (+165)This matchup between the Chiefs and Bills is the most anticipated of the week, and maybe the year so far. Holding the highest point total of the weekend (o/u54), both teams have been cruising on offense, scoring a combined 68 points in their week 5 games. Allen has had plenty of success against the KC defense, torching them for 329 yards and 4 TDs last postseason. The Chiefs currently rank 24th in passing yards allowed per game. With so many points expected by oddsmakers, Allen is in line for plenty of opportunities to throw 3 or more TDs. Matt Ryan Over .5 INTs (-120)Jacksonville and Indy played once already in week 2, where the Jags annihilated the Colts 24-0, picking off Ryan 3 times. The Jags seem to be kryptonite for the Colts dating back to the end of the regular season last year. Ryan is fresh off a 2 INT game against Denver, and has thrown at least one pick in 4 of his 5 starts so far this season. Jonathan Taylor is banged up and questionable for Sunday, putting more offensive load on Ryan, which has not been a recipe for success so far. David Njoku Over 38.5 Rec Yards (-120)Njoku has been heating up the past three weeks averaging over 6 catches and 83 yards per game, becoming Jacoby Brissett’s clear #2 option behind Amari Cooper. Cleveland trusts Njoku in the run and the pass game, playing him on 90% of the team's offensive snaps which is the most of any skill position player besides Brissett. Even if Bill Belichick can put the clamps on the Browns athletic tight end, half of his recent production should be enough to get him over the hump on his yardage total. 

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Will the Bills/Chiefs Game be an Offensive Showcase?

by Vegas Writer

Friday, Oct 14, 2022

As the Kansas City Chiefs are set to host the Buffalo Bills - a matchup of 4-1 teams and a rematch of last season’s divisional playoff clash - we have the top two scoring offenses in the league.Kansas City is averaging 31.8 points per game while Buffalo is averaging 30.4.But does that mean the offensive fireworks are bound to flare? The Bills come into Week 6 tied for the top-scoring defense in the league, allowing just 12.2 points allowed per game.Sure, this is the fifth time Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes will face one another as opposing starting quarterbacks, including the postseason. And yes, Kansas City has won four of the first five meetings, during which Allen has totaled 12 touchdowns (11 passing, one rushing) and a 105.1 passer rating, while Mahomes has recorded 11 touchdowns (10 passing, one rushing) and a 108.1 passer rating.But we've seen other defensive units slow the Chiefs, and again, the Bills have the personnel to do the same.Kansas City's best chance to win this game is to step up defensively, not by getting into a shootout when Buffalo's stop unit thrives on the big play.Remember that Buffalo has stayed under in four of its last five, and Kansas City rolls in on a 6-2 under run in Week 6 of the season.Be wary when playing the side and total in this one, as there's more to seeing two explosive offenses.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NCAAF, MLB, NHL, CFL and EPL Previews and Odds - 10/14/2022

by Big Al Staff

Friday, Oct 14, 2022

The Friday sports card features action in the NCAAF, MLB, NHL, CFL, and EPL.Week 7 in the college football regular season continues with two games between FBS opponents. SMU hosts Navy on ESPN at 7:30 PM ET. The Mustangs have lost three in a row after their 41-19 loss at Central Florida as a 3-point underdog on October 5th. The Midshipmen won their second game in their last three games with a 53-21 upset win versus Tulsa as a 5-point underdog last Saturday. SMU is a 12.5-point favorite, with the total set at 57 (all odds set by DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). UTSA visits Florida International on the CBS Sports Network at 8 PM ET. The Roadrunners are on a three-game winning streak after a 31-28 victory as a 6.5-point favorite last Saturday. The Panthers have lost three in four after a 33-13 loss to Connecticut as a 5.5-point underdog last Saturday. UTSA is a 33.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 63. The Divisional Series in Major League Baseball continues with three games. The New York Yankees play at home against the Cleveland Guardians on TBS at 1:07 PM ET. The Yankees have a 1-0 lead in this best-of-five series after their 4-1 victory on Tuesday. Their previously scheduled Game 2 got postponed because of rain on Thursday. New York taps Nestor Cortes, Jr. to pitch against the Guardians’ Shane Bieber. The Yankees are a -140 money line favorite with a total of 6. The Philadelphia Phillies host the Atlanta Braves at 4:37 PM ET. The Braves evened this best-of-five series at 1-1 with their 3-0 win in Game 2 on Wednesday. The Phillies turn to Aaron Nola to pitch against a starting pitcher yet to be named for the Braves. Philadelphia is a -125 money line favorite with an over/under of 7. The Los Angeles Dodgers play at San Diego against the Padres on FS1 at 8:37 PM ET. Tony Gonsolin pitches for the Dodgers against Blake Snell for the Padres. Los Angeles is a -125 money line favorite with an over/under of 7.5. The National Hockey League has four games on its slate. Two games drop the puck at 7 PM ET. The Tampa Bay Lightning travel to Columbus to play the Bluejackets as a -180 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The Detroit Red Wings are at home against the Montreal Canadiens as a -165 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Winnipeg Jets host the New York Rangers at 8 PM ET as a -115 money line favorite with a total of 6. The Carolina Hurricanes visit the San Jose Sharks at 10:30 PM ET as a -200 money line road favorite with an over/under of 6. Week 19 in the Canadian Football League kicks off with two games. The Montreal Alouettes travel to Ottawa to play the Redblacks as a 3.5-point road favorite with a total of 47.5. The Calgary Stampeders host the Hamilton Tiger-Cats at 9:45 PM ET as a 7.5-point favorite with an over/under of 48.5. Matchweek 11 in the English Premier League begins with one match. Brighton and Hove Albion travel to Brentford on the USA Network at 3 PM ET as a -0.5 goal line road favorite with a total of 2.5.

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