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Big Al's Daily Angle: NFL, NBA, NHL, EPL and NCAAB Previews and Odds - 12/15/2025

by Big Al Staff

Monday, Dec 15, 2025

The Monday sports card features NFL, NBA, NHL, NCAAB, and EPL action. Week 15 in the NFL concludes with one game. The Pittsburgh Steelers host the Miami Dolphins on ESPN and the ESPN2 Manningcast at 8:15 p.m. ET. The Steelers ended a two-game losing streak with a 27-22 upset win at Baltimore as a 6-point underdog last Sunday. The Dolphins have won four games in a row after their 34-10 victory on the road in New York against the Jets as a 2.5-point favorite on Sunday. Pittsburgh is a 3-point favorite with the total set at 42.5 (all odds from DraftKings). The National Basketball Association has five games on its docket. The Boston Celtics play at home against the Detroit Pistons on Peacock at 7:10 p.m. ET. The Celtics had won five games in a row before a 116-101 upset loss at home against Milwaukee as a 9.5-point favorite on Thursday. The Pistons have won three games in a row after their 142-115 victory at home against Atlanta as a 7-point favorite on Friday. Boston is a 1.5-point favorite with an over/under of 230.5. The Miami Heat are home against the Toronto Raptors at 7:40 p.m. ET as a 5.5-point favorite with a total of 230.5. The Dallas Mavericks travel to Utah to play the Jazz at 9:10 p.m. ET as a 2.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 236.5. The Denver Nuggets host the Houston Rockets on Peacock at 9:40 p.m. ET. The Nuggets have won four games in a row after their 136-105 victory at Sacramento as a 10.5-point favorite on Thursday. The Rockets won for the third time in their previous four games after their 115-113 victory at home against the Los Angeles Clippers as a 9-point favorite on Thursday. Denver is a 1.5-point favorite with a total of 233.5. The Los Angeles Clippers play at home against the Memphis Grizzlies at 10:40 p.m. ET as a 3.5-point favorite with an over/under of 227.5. The National Hockey League has five games on its slate. Two NHL games drop the puck at 7:07 p.m. ET. The Tampa Bay Lightning are home against the Florida Panthers as a -142 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The New York Rangers host the Anaheim Ducks as a -130 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Winnipeg Jets play at home against the Ottawa Senators at 7:37 p.m. ET as a -130 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. Two more games conclude the NHL card at 8:07 p.m. ET. The Dallas Stars are home against the Los Angeles Kings as a -142 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The St. Louis Blues host the Nashville Predators as a -125 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The NCAAB college basketball schedule tips off at 1:00 p.m. ET with 14 games involving Division I opponents. No games are on major national television. Matchweek 15 in the English Premier League concludes with one match. Manchester United plays at home against Bournemouth on the USA Network at 3:00 p.m. ET as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 3.5.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NFL, NBA, NHL, NCAAB and EPL Previews and Odds - 12/14/2025

by Big Al Staff

Sunday, Dec 14, 2025

The Sunday sports card features NFL, NBA, NHL, NCAAB, and EPL action. Week 15 in the NFL continues with 14 games. Eight NFL games kick off at 1:00 p.m. ET. The Chicago Bears host the Cleveland Browns as a 7.5-point favorite with the total set at 38.5 (all odds from DraftKings). The Baltimore Ravens travel to Cincinnati to play the Bengals as a 3-point road favorite with an over/under of 51.5. The Kansas City Chiefs play at home against the Los Angeles Chargers as a 6-point favorite with a total of 41.5. The New York Giants are home against the Washington Commanders as a 2.5-point favorite with an over/under of 46.5. The Philadelphia Eagles host the Las Vegas Raiders as a 12.5-point favorite with a total of 38.5. The Jacksonville Jaguars play at home against the New York Jets as a 13.5-point favorite with an over/under of 41.5. The Houston Texans are home against the Arizona Cardinals as a 10.5-point favorite with a total of 42.5. The Buffalo Bills play in New England against the Patriots as a 1.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 48.5. Five NFL games start at 4:25 p.m. ET. The Los Angeles Rams host the Detroit Lions as a 6.5-point favorite with a total of 54.5. The Carolina Panthers are on the road against the New Orleans Saints as a 2.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 40.5. The San Francisco 49ers play at home against the Tennessee Titans as an 11.5-point favorite with a total of 44.5. The Green Bay Packers visit the Denver Broncos as a 1.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 42.5. The Seattle Seahawks are home against the Indianapolis Colts as a 13.5-point favorite with a total of 41.5. Sunday Night Football on NBC has the Dallas Cowboys at home against the Minnesota Vikings at 8:20 p.m. ET. The Cowboys are a 5.5-point favorite with an over/under of 47.5.The National Basketball Association has eight games on its docket. The Indiana Pacers host the Washington Wizards at 3:10 p.m. ET as an 8.5-point favorite with a total of 233.5. The Cleveland Cavaliers play at home against the Charlotte Hornets at 3:40 p.m. ET as a 10.5-point favorite with an over/under of 233.5. Two NBA games tip off at 6:10 p.m. ET. The Atlanta Hawks are home against the Philadelphia 76ers as a 4.5-point favorite with a total of 227.5. The Milwaukee Bucks play at Brooklyn against the Nets as a 2.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 219.5. Two NBA games begin at 7:10 p.m. ET. The Chicago Bulls are home against the New Orleans Pelicans as a 5.5-point favorite with a total of 243.5. The Minnesota Timberwolves host the Sacramento Kings as an 11.5-point favorite with an over/under of 229.5. The Los Angeles Lakers are on the road against the Phoenix Suns at 8:10 p.m. ET as a 3.5-point road favorite with a total of 229.5. The Golden State Warriors travel to Portland to take on the Trail Blazers at 9:10 p.m. ET as a 4.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 234.5. The National Hockey League has six games on its slate. The New Jersey Devils play at home against the Vancouver Canucks at 12:37 p.m. ET as a -155 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Utah Mammoth plays in Pittsburgh against the Penguins at 3:07 p.m. ET. The Carolina Hurricanes are home against the Philadelphia Flyers at 5:07 p.m. ET as a -230 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Minnesota Wild host the Boston Bruins at 6:07 p.m. ET as a -148 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Edmonton Oilers are on the road against the Montreal Canadiens at 7:07 p.m. ET as a -125 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Buffalo Sabres visit the Seattle Kraken at 8:07 p.m. ET as a -120 money-line road favorite with a total of 5.5. Matchweek 15 in the English Premier League continues with five matches. Four matches begin at 9:00 a.m. ET. Manchester City plays on the road against Crystal Palace on NBC as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Nottingham Forest plays at home against Tottenham as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5. Newcastle United travels to Sunderland on the USA Network as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Aston Villa plays at West Ham United as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with a total of 2.5. Brentford is home against Leeds United on the USA Network at 11:30 a.m. ET as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5.  

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NCAAF, NHL, NCAAB and EPL Previews and Odds - 12/13/2025

by Big Al Staff

Saturday, Dec 13, 2025

The Saturday sports card features NCAAF, NBA, NHL, NCAAB, and EPL action.There are two games in NCAAF college football between FBS opponents. The regular season of the college football season concludes with one game. Navy plays Army West Point at MT&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland, on CBS at 3:00 p.m. ET as a 6-point favorite with the total set at 38.5 (all odds from DraftKings).The college football bowl season kicks off with one game. Washington takes on Boise State in the LA Bowl at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, on ABC at 8:00 p.m. ET as a 10-point favorite with an over/under of 52.5. The National Basketball Association has its two games in the NBA Cup on a neutral court at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Amazon Prime Video. The New York Knicks battle the Orlando Magic at 5:40 p.m. ET as a 5.5-point favorite with a total of 223.5. Oklahoma City challenges the San Antonio Spurs at 9:10 p.m. ET as a 9.5-point favorite with an over/under of 225.5. The National Hockey League has 13 games on its slate. The New Jersey Devils host Anaheim at 12:37 p.m. ET as a -125 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Minnesota Wild play at home against the Ottawa Senators at 2:07 p.m. ET as a -118 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Pittsburgh Penguins are home against the San Jose Sharks at 3:07 p.m. ET as a -162 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Tampa Bay Lightning travels to New York to play the Islanders at 3:37 p.m. ET as a -130 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 5.5. Five NHL games drop the puck at 7:07 p.m. ET. The Vegas Golden Knights play in Columbus against the Blue Jackets as a -148 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The Edmonton Oilers are on the road against the Toronto Maple Leafs as a -115 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Washington Capitals visit Winnipeg to take on the Jets as a -125 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The New York Rangers host the Montreal Canadiens as a -142 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Carolina Hurricanes play in Philadelphia against the Flyers as a -162 money-line road favorite with a total of 5.5. Two NHL games start at 8:07 p.m. ET. The Detroit Red Wings are on the road against the Chicago Blackhawks as a -192 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Dallas Stars play at home against the Florida Panthers as a -148 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Colorado Avalanche are home against the Nashville Predators at 9:07 p.m. ET as a -355 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Los Angeles Kings host the Calgary Flames at 10:07 p.m. ET as a -185 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The NCAAB college basketball schedule tips off at noon ET with 102 games involving Division I opponents. Twelve games are on major national television. Texas Tech takes on Arkansas at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas, on ESPN2 at noon ET as a 1.5-point favorite with an over/under of 154.5. Oklahoma plays Oklahoma State at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, on Fox at 1:00 p.m. ET as a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 166.5. Butler plays at home against Providence on TNT at 2:00 p.m. ET as a 4.5-point favorite with an over/under of 168.5. Florida faces George Washington at the Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida, on ESPN2 at 2:30 p.m. ET as a 15.5-point favorite with a total of 167.5. Creighton is home against Kansas State on Fox at 3:00 p.m. ET as a 4.5-point favorite with an over/under of 157.5. Louisville hosts Memphis on ESPN at 3:30 p.m. ET as a 15.5-point favorite with a total of 161.5. North Carolina State plays at home against Kansas on ESPN at 5:30 p.m. ET as a 2.5-point favorite with an over/under of 151.5. Santa Clara takes on Arizona State at Lee’s Family Forum in Henderson, Nevada, on TNT at 7:00 p.m. ET as a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 157.5. Kentucky is at home against Indiana on ESPN at 7:30 p.m. ET as a 3.5-point favorite with an over/under of 157.5. Michigan travels to Maryland on Fox at 8:00 p.m. ET as a 19.5-point road favorite with a total of 154.5. Arizona battles Alabama at Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Alabama, on ESPN at 9:30 p.m. ET as a 1.5-point favorite with an over/under of 178.5. Gonzaga challenges UCLA at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington, on ESPN at 11:30 p.m. ET as a 10.5-point favorite with a total of 148.5. Matchweek 16 in the English Premier League begins with seven matches. Two EPL matches begin at 10:00 a.m. ET. Chelsea hosts Everton on the USA Network as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Liverpool plays at home against Brighton and Hove Albion on NBC as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 3.5. Fulham plays at Burnley on NBC at 12:30 p.m. ET as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Arsenal is home against Wolverhampton on the USA Network at 3:00 p.m. ET as a 2.5-goal-line favorite with a total of 3.5. 

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, and NCAAB Previews and Odds - 12/12/2025

by Big Al Staff

Friday, Dec 12, 2025

The Friday sports card features NBA, NHL, and NCAAB action.The National Basketball Association has seven games on its docket. Four NBA games tip off at 7:10 p.m. ET. The Philadelphia 76ers host the Indiana Pacers as a 6.5-point favorite with the total set at 230.5 (all odds from DraftKings). The Chicago Bulls travel to  Charlotte to play the Hornets as a 2.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 234.5. The Detroit Pistons play at home against the Atlanta Hawks as a 7.5-point favorite with a total of 233.5. The Cleveland Cavaliers play in Washington against the Wizards as a 14.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 242.5. The Memphis Grizzlies are home against the Utah Jazz at 8:10 p.m. ET as a 6.5-point favorite with a total of 239.5. The Dallas Mavericks host the Brooklyn Nets at 8:40 p.m. ET as a 7.5-point favorite with an over/under of 222.5. The Golden State Warriors play at home against the Minnesota Timberwolves at 10:10 p.m. ET as a 3.5-point favorite with a total of 228.5. The National Hockey League has two games on its slate. The St. Louis Blues are home against the Chicago Blackhawks at 8:07  p.m. ET as a -142 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Utah Mammoth host the Seattle Kraken at 9:07 p.m. ET as a -185 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The NCAAB college basketball schedule tips off at 6:00 p.m. ET with 13 games involving Division I opponents. Two games are on major national television. Xavier plays at home against Missouri State on truTV at 7:00 p.m. ET. The Musketeers are on a four-game winning streak after their 79-74 victory in a pick ‘em match-up last Friday. They started the season on a 7-3 march. The Bears lost for the second time in their last three games in a 98-74 loss at Tulsa as an 8-point underdog on Saturday. Their record dropped to 4-4 with the loss. Xavier is an 18.5-point favorite with an over/under of 148.5. Connecticut is home against Texas on Fox at 8:00 p.m. ET. The Huskies are on a five-game winning streak after their 77-73 victory against Florida as a 4-point favorite in the Jimmy V. Classic at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday. They have a 9-1 record so far this season. The Longhorns won for the third time in their previous four games in a 95-69 victory against Southern University as a 22.5-point favorite on Monday. That win improved their record to 7-3. UConn is a 15.5-point favorite with a total of 145.5. 

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NFL, NBA, NHL and NCAAB Previews and Odds - 12/11/2025

by Big Al Staff

Thursday, Dec 11, 2025

The Thursday sports card features NFL, NBA, NHL, and NCAAB action.Week 15 in the National Football League kicks off with one game. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers host the Atlanta Falcons on Amazon Prime Video at 8:15 p.m. ET. The Buccaneers lost for the fourth time in their previous five games after a 24-20 upset loss at home against New Orleans as a 7.5-point favorite last Sunday. The Falcons lost for the seventh time in their last eight games in a 37-9 loss at home against Seattle as a 6.5-point favorite on Sunday. Tampa Bay is a 4.5-point favorite with a total of 44.5 (all odds from DraftKings). The National Basketball Association has four games on its docket. Three NBA games tip off at 8:10 p.m. ET. The Portland Trail Blazers travel to New Orleans to play the Pelicans as a 4.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 238.5. The Boston Celtics play on the road against the Milwaukee Bucks as an 8.5-point road favorite with a total of 222.5. The Houston Rockets play at home against the Los Angeles Clippers as an 8.5-point favorite with an over/under of 219.5. The Denver Nuggets are on the road against the Sacramento Kings at 10:10 p.m. ET as a 9.5-point road favorite with a total of 238.5.The National Hockey League has 13 games on its slate. Seven NHL games drop the puck at 7:07 p.m. ET. The Carolina Hurricanes visit Washington to face the Capitals as a -115 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Tampa Bay Lightning plays on the road against the New Jersey Devils as a -130 money-line road favorite with a total of 5.5. The Ottawa Senators are on the road to take on the Columbus Blue Jackets as a -115 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The New York Islanders are home against the Anaheim Ducks as a -130 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Pittsburgh Penguins host the Montreal Canadiens as a -122 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Toronto Maple Leafs play at home against the San Jose Sharks as a -205 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Vegas Golden Knights travel to Philadelphia to challenge the Flyers on ESPN as a -148 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 5.5. There NHL games start at 8:07 p.m. ET as a -155 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Dallas Stars play in Minnesota against the Wild as a -135 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Nashville Predators are home against the St. Louis Blues as a -115 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Edmonton Oilers host the Detroit Red Wings at 9:07 p.m. ET as a -205 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Colorado Avalanche plays at home against the Florida Panthers on ESPN at 9:37 p.m. ET as a -245 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Buffalo Sabres are on the road against the Vancouver Canucks at 10:07 p.m. ET as a -120 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The NCAAB college basketball schedule tips off at 4:00 p.m. ET with 13 games involving Division I opponents. One game is on major national television. Iowa State is at home against Iowa on FS1 at 8:00 p.m. ET as a 12.5-point favorite with a total of 143.5. 

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, NCAAB and UCL Previews and Odds 12/10/2025

by Big Al Staff

Wednesday, Dec 10, 2025

The Wednesday sports card features NBA, NHL, NCAAB, and UCL action. The National Basketball Association concludes the quarterfinals of the NBA Cup with two games broadcast on Prime Video on its docket. The Oklahoma City Thunder host the Phoenix Suns at 7:40 p.m. ET. The Thunder are on a 15-game winning streak after a 131-101 victory at Utah as an 11.5-point favorite on Sunday. The Suns won for the second time in their last three games with a 108-105 upset victory as an 8.5-point underdog on Monday. Oklahoma City is a 14.5-point favorite with the total set at 225.5 (all odds from DraftKings). The Los Angeles Lakers play at home against the San Antonio Spurs at 10:10 p.m. ET. The Lakers won for the ninth time in their last 11 games in a 112-108 win at Philadelphia as a 2.5-point favorite on Sunday. The Spurs won for the third time in their last four games with a 135-132 victory at New Orleans as a 9-point favorite on Monday. Los Angeles is a 5.5-point favorite with an over/under of 237.5. The National Hockey League has four games on its slate. The New York Rangers travel to Chicago to play the Blackhawks on TNT at 7:37 p.m. ET as a -142 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The Detroit Red Wings play in Calgary against the Flames at 8:37 p.m. ET, with both teams priced as -110 money-line favorites with an over/under of 6.5.The Florida Panthers are on the road to take on the Utah Mammoth at 9:07 p.m. ET as a -115 money-line road favorite with a total of 5.5. The Los Angeles Kings visit Seattle to face the Kraken on TNT at 10:07 p.m. ET as a -148 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The NCAAB college basketball schedule tips off at noon p.m. ET with 38 games involving Division I opponents. Two NCAAB games are on ESPNU in the Hall of Fame Classic at the Mass Mutual Center in Springfield, Missouri. Yale battles Albany at 4:30 p.m. ET as a 17.5-point favorite with a total of 149.5. Boston College challenges Massachusetts at 7:00 p.m. ET as a 2.5-point favorite with an over/under of 141.5. Matchday 6 in the UEFA Champions League concludes with nine league phase matches. Two UCL matches begin at 12:45 p.m. ET. Villarreal is at home against FC Copenhagen as a -1.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 3.5. Qarabag hosts Ajax as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Seven matches conclude the UCL card at 3:00 p.m. ET. Borussia Dortmund plays at home against Bobo Glimt as a -1.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 3.5. Newcastle United plays at Bayer Leverkusen on the CBS Sports Network as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Benfica is home against Napoli as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5. Juventus hosts Pafos FC as a -2.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 3.5. Arsenal is on the road against Club Brugge as a -1.5 goal-line road favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Paris Saint-Germain travels to Athletic Bilbao as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with a total of 2.5. Manchester City plays at Real Madrid as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with an over/under of 3.5. All nine Champions League matches are available on Paramount+. 

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ASA's NFL News & Notes

by ASA, Inc.

Tuesday, Dec 09, 2025

ASA NFL NEWS & NOTES  WASHINGTON COMMANDERS – Washington was shut out last week losing 31-0 @ Minnesota.  QB Jayden Daniels came back after missing 3 games due to an injury.  He left this game after injuring his elbow in the 3rd quarter.  That’s the 3rd consecutive game in which Daniels was the starter but unable to finish the game due to an injury.  The Commanders have now lost 8 straight games with 5 of those setbacks coming by at least 3 TD’s.  While the offense hasn’t been great, the defense has allowed at least 27 points in 6 of their last 7 games.  They now rank dead last in YPP (6.4) and 28th in scoring D allowing 27 PPG.  This week they are on the road again as a 2.5 point dog (as of Monday) @ NY Giants.  Keep in mind, NFL teams coming off a shutout loss have cashed the following game at a 72% clip over the last 10 years and they are a perfect 4-0 ATS this year.  Ironically, the Vikings were in that spot last weekend vs Washington having lost @ Seattle 26-0 the previous week.    INDIANAPOLIS COLTS – What a bad luck stretch for the Colts.  After trading 2 first round picks to get lock down CB Sauce Gardner from the Jets, he goes out with a calf injury and his potential return is unknown.  On top of that, they lose starting QB Daniel Jones for the season to a torn achilles.  This team was heading down the wrong path before those injuries happened.  They have lost 3 of their last 4 games outright when tabbed as a favorite.  The offense, which led the NFL averaging 34 PPG through October, has now been held to 20 points or less in 4 of their last 5 games.  They still rank 6th in total offense putting up 368 YPG but over the last 3 games they’ve only averaged 273 YPG which ranks 26th in the NFL during that stretch.  The Jones injury is obviously huge, but to make matters worse, the Colts back up QB and former starter Anthony Richardson is also on IR.  On top of that, their 3rd stringer, rookie Riley Leonard, injured his knee last week and may not play.  That leaves veteran Brett Rypien (7 seasons and 950 career yards passing) who is currently in their practice squad or possibly retired QB Philip Rivers who they had come in for a workout this week.  Indy is a massive 12.5 point dog @ Seattle this week and if this game was played a month ago we’d be looking at the Seahawks as a 3 or 4 point favorite.  That’s how far the Colts have fallen in a short period of time.      KANSAS CITY CHIEFS – After their 20-10 home loss vs Houston on Sunday, KC has been eliminated from AFC West contention and their playoff chances have dipped to just 15%.  That ends a 9 year run winning the AFC West which was the 2nd longest streak in NFL history only behind New England who won the AFC East for 11 straight season (from 2009 – 2019).  The crazy thing is, Kansas City’s numbers this year are better than last year when they went to the Super Bowl.  Listen to this stat…The Chiefs have a 6-7 record and their point differential is +63.  Last year they were 15-2 with a point differential of +59!  They also have better YPG and YPP this season.  Close games results have been the difference.  This year they have a 1-6 record in one score games and last year they were 12-0 in that situation.  HOUSTON TEXANS – What a turnaround by the Texans.  They looked dead in the water after starting the season 0-3 and winning only 3 of their first 8 games.  Their odds to make the playoffs after their first 8 games was less than 10%.  They have since won 5 straight games to move their record to 8-5 and their playoff odds are now above 80%.  Their 5 game run hasn’t been easy with 4 of those wins coming vs the Bills, Chiefs, Jags, and Colts (prior to QB Jones injury).  They are 1 game behind Jacksonville in the AFC South and the Texans close out the season with 3 of 4 at home and a fairly easy slate (Arizona, Las Vegas, and now injured Indy at home along with a game @ LA Chargers).  Houston now ranks 6th in the NFL DVOA metric (behind only Seattle, LA Rams, Detroit, Indianapolis and Green Bay) and they have the 2nd best defense according to DVOA.  That defense has allowed 19 points or less in 6 of their last 7 games.  NEW ORLEANS SAINTS – Don’t look now but the Saints are playing really well over the last month.  They only have 3 wins on the season but 2 of those have come in the last 4 games and they are 3-1 ATS their last 4.  Their 2 wins over the last month both came on the road vs NFC South rivals Carolina and Tampa Bay who both currently have winning records.  Their rookie QB Tyler Shough had a shaky first 2 starts but over his last 4 he’s completed 69% of his passes and he threw for at least 239 yards in 3 of those games.  On Sunday he became just the 2nd rookie QB in Saints history to win at least 2 games (Archie Manning was the other).  The defense has been under appreciated all season.  They rank 12th in total defense, 10th in YPP allowed, and 6th in 3rd down percentage defense.  The Saints have the 3rd easiest schedule to close out the season facing the Panthers, Jets, Titans and Falcons.    MIAMI DOLPHINS – Miami is another team whose season was heading downhill fast and they turned it around.  They lost 6 of their first 7 games with their only win during that stretch coming vs the Jets and head coach Mike McDaniel was one of the betting favorites to get canned before the season came to an end.  They have since won 5 of their last 6 games with their only loss during that stretch coming @ Baltimore in a game they lost the turnover battle 3-0.  In their 5 wins since October 26th the defense has allowed an average of 12.5 PPG on just 293 YPG.  What an improvement from a defense that allowed 30+ points in each of their first 3 games of the season with their opponents scoring points on 17 of their 26 offensive possessions.  They’re pretty much out of the playoff discussion but could be dangerous down the stretch.  CHICAGO BEARS – The Bears are 9-4 and while they are much improved this season, they are overvalued.  Despite their record, Chicago has a negative point differential which is almost impossible to pull off with a 9-4 record.  They are 6-2 in one score games which helps.  The Bears have also been outgained on the year by an average of -0.6 YPP as they average 5.7 YPP on offense and allow 6.3 YPP defensively.  So how have they done it?  Turnovers.  They lead the NFL in turnover margin by a wide margin at +17 and the Texans are next best at +12.  Their 27 takeaways are 5 more than any other team in the NFL.  The Bears have won just 1 game where they were even or minus in turnover margin (vs Pittsburgh).  In their 9 wins, Chicago has a turnover differential of +20 so more than 2 per game.  In a few of their wins, they were +3 or more and the games still went to the wire.  They were +3 turnovers vs Las Vegas and won 25-24.  They were +3 vs Washington and won 25-24.  They were +4 vs Cincinnati and won 47-42.  Barely beating some bad teams with a huge turnover advantage isn’t ideal.  Can they continue to dominate the turnover stat?  If so, they’ll win games, if not, they probably won’t.  Tough schedule down the stretch as well facing the Packers, 49ers, and Lions still to close out the season. 

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Key Divisional Matchups To Watch

by Jazz Ray

Tuesday, Dec 09, 2025

With no dominant team in the NFC and the AFC turned upside down by the Chiefs’ epic fall and the Bills’ inconsistency, here’s a look at the key games down the stretch as division opponents go up against each other in Weeks 15 through 18.NFC NORTH – Green Bay at Chicago (Week 16)Green Bay could have a chance to take complete control of the division and grab a home game in the playoffs. The Packers, who own a one-touchdown Week 14 victory over the Bears, are 2.5-point favorites in this one even though Chicago (8-4-1 ATS) has been a much better cover team than Green Bay (5-7-1). That Week 14 Game pushed when GB intercepted a pass in the end zone in the final minute of the game.NFC EAST – Dallas at New York Giants (Week 18)Philadelphia pretty much owned the division until Dallas put together a three-game win streak in November, but the Cowboys’ Week 14 loss to Detroit was a killer, and this game could be moot if the Cowboys don’t get their act together. If Dallas can get through Weeks 15-17 and still show a pulse, they’ll be heavy favorites against a Giants team that figures to be fighting it out with Tennessee and Las Vegas for the overall No. 1 draft pick. Early numbers have the Cowboys as slight (-1.5) favorites, though that number will move depending on how meaningful the game is.NFC SOUTH – Tampa Bay vs Carolina (Weeks 16 and 18)NFL rules mandate that SOMEONE has to finish first in the NFC South, and the schedule-maker has conveniently pitted these two 7-6 teams against each other in two of the last three weeks of the season. That makes it almost certain that the Week 18 game will be significant, as the loser will most likely miss the playoffs. Oddsmakers like the Buccaneers in both games – by 3.5 this week in Carolina and by 7 in the rematch.  Both teams have been outscored by their opponents in what has been a down season for the division.NFC WEST – Los Angeles Rams at Seattle (Week 16)The Rams, Seahawks, and 49ers are playing musical chairs in the NFC West. All three figure to make the playoffs, but this game featuring two (at this point) 10-3 teams will give the winner a huge leg up. A loss would be tough to swallow for the Seahawks, who finish up at Carolina (Week 17) and at San Francisco (Week 18) while the Rams figure to feast on also-rans Atlanta and Arizona. Seattle is a slight (+1.5) home underdog in this one.AFC NORTH – Baltimore at Pittsburgh (Week 18)One of these mediocre teams will make the playoffs and get a home game, with the other looking toward the draft, and this game will likely determine which is which. Pittsburgh QB Aaron Rodgers has been crankier than usual lately, saying, “Maybe now you guys [media] will shut the hell up” (about Mike Tomlin’s future with the team). Whether the Ravens make this Week 18 game relevant depends on the health of QB Lamar Jackson, who has been dealing with multiple lower-body injuries. Baltimore is an early 4.5-point favorite in this one.AFC EAST – Buffalo at New England (Week 15)A win here for the Patriots (+1) ends the division race, ends chances of Josh Allen repeating as MVP, and all but assures that Mike Vrabel will have a Coach of the Year trophy to put on his mantle. NE launched its hostile takeover of the division with a stunning 23-20 victory in Buffalo when the Bills had 3 turnovers and were penalized 11 times. The Patriots are battling it out with Denver for the No. 1 conference seed and the playoff bye that comes with it. Bills are 1-point favorites in this one.AFC SOUTH – Houston at Indianapolis (Week 18)Daniel Jones’s season-ending injury has turned Indy’s season upside down, and the Colts (losers of three straight and facing a Seattle-San Francisco-Jacksonville gauntlet in Weeks 15-17) need to somehow stay alive to make this one meaningful on their end. Houston is roaring into the final month of the season and has five straight wins. Shame that the Texans and Jaguars have already played twice (they split) this season. It would make for a Week 18 division winner-take-all game.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, NCAAB and UCL Previews and Odds - 12/09/2025

by Big Al Staff

Tuesday, Dec 09, 2025

The Tuesday sports card features NBA, NHL, NCAAB, and UCL action. The National Basketball Association tips off the quarterfinals of the NBA Cup with two games broadcast on Prime Video on its docket. The Miami Heat travel to Orlando to play the Magic at 6:10 p.m. ET as a 1.5-point road favorite with the total set at 234.5. The New York Knicks play in Toronto against the Raptors at 8:40 p.m. ET as a 4.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 225.5.The National Hockey League has ten games on its slate. Five NHL games drop the puck at 7:07 p.m. ET. The Pittsburgh Penguins host the Anaheim Ducks as a -122 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Philadelphia Flyers play at home against the San Jose Sharks as a -175 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Vegas Golden Knights are on the road to take on the New York Islanders on TNT as a -142 money-line road favorite with a total of 5.5. The Ottawa Senators are at home to battle the New Jersey Devils as a -135 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Montreal Canadiens host the Tampa Bay Lightning as a -125 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Carolina Hurricanes play at home against the Columbus Blue Jackets at 7:37 p.m. ET as a -225 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. Two more NHL games start at 8:07 p.m. ET. The St. Louis Blues are home against the Boston Bruins as a -148 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Dallas Stars visit Winnipeg to challenge the Jets as a -135 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5.The Edmonton Oilers host the Buffalo Sabres at 9:07 p.m. ET as a -218 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Colorado Avalanche play in Nashville against the Predators on TNT as a -225 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The NCAAB college basketball schedule tips off at 1:00 p.m. ET with 35 games involving Division I opponents. Five NCAAB games are on major national television. Two of the NCAAB games tip off at 6:30 p.m. ET. BYU plays Clemson on ESPN in the first game of the Jimmy V. Classic at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York, as a 7.5-point favorite with a total of 150.5. Michigan plays at home against Villanova on FS1 as a 15.5-point favorite with an over/under of 149.5.Indiana is home against Penn State on FS1 at 8:30 p.m. ET as a 4.5-point favorite with a total of 153.5. Two more NCAAB games on major national television begin at 9:00 p.m. ET. Connecticut takes on Florida on ESPN in the second game of the Jimmy V. Classic as a 4.5-point favorite with an over/under of 146.5. USC is on the road to face SanDiego on ESPN2 as a 16.5-point road favorite with a total of 161.5. Matchday 6 in the UEFA Champions League begins with nine league phase matches. Olympiacos travels to Kairat Almaty at 10:30 a.m. ET as a -1.5 goal-line road favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Bayern Munich is at home to challenge Sporting Lisbon as a -1.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 3.5. Seven matches conclude the UCL card at 3:00 p.m. ET. Inter Milan hosts Liverpool as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Barcelona plays at home against Eintracht Frankfurt as a -2.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 4.5. Chelsea plays at Atalanta as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Tottenham is home against Slavia Praha as a -1.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5. Atletico Madrid is on the road to play PSV Eindhoven on the CBS Sports Network as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with an over/under of 3.5. Monaco hosts Galatasaray as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 3.5. Marseille visits Saint Gilloise as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with an over/under of 2.5. All nine Champions League matches are available on Paramount+. 

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NBA System of the Week

by Al McMordie

Tuesday, Dec 09, 2025

The NBA Cup in-season tournament started in 2023, with the Los Angeles Lakers and Milwaukee Bucks winning the first two years.  This season, eight teams have reached the knockout stage.  The match-ups over the next two days are:Tuesday, December 9Miami Heat at Orlando MagicNew York Knicks at Toronto RaptorsWednesday, December 10Phoenix Suns at Oklahoma City ThunderSan Antonio Spurs at Los Angeles LakersWhen one looks at the (admittedly, sparse) data from the first two tournaments, one thing stands out:  the UNDER has been a solid play, going 11-3.And this makes a lot of sense.  Indeed, when one looks at ANY elimination game (for at least one of the two teams) -- whether in the In-Season Tournament, the Play-In games, or the actual post-season, the UNDERS have been profitable, going 437-375-14 (54.4%).  But when BOTH TEAMS are facing elimination, then the UNDERS do markedly better, and have gone 91-67-3 (57.5%).Our NBA System of the Week is to Play on the UNDER in any tournament game where BOTH teams will be eliminated with a SU loss.  There are four plays in this next round of the NBA Cup:Miami/Orlando Under 235New York/Toronto Under 226Phoenix/Oklahoma City Under 224.5San Antonio/Los Angeles Under 234.5Good luck, as always...Al McMordie

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NFL MVP = Drake Maye?!

by Jazz Ray

Monday, Dec 08, 2025

Barring a major injury or a complete flop in the final month of the season, Drake Maye is going to be the NFL’s MVP. His rise from 180-1 underdog to favorite today (in the -125/-135 range) has been as stunning as the Patriots’ rise to the top of the AFC.A few months ago, as the teams were breaking camp, the Patriots knew they had their QB1 of the future but didn’t know if they could keep him healthy enough even to make it through the season. New England was coming off back-to-back 4-win seasons, had a new coach, new offensive line (with two rookies protecting Maye’s blind side), and a new defense built around free agents and other teams’ castoffs. Not exactly fertilizer for success, be it individual or team.If there was MVP talk, it was centered in Buffalo, where the Bills and defending MVP Josh Allen looked at the rest of the AFC and chuckled; in Kansas City, where a spot in the Super Bowl behind Patrick Mahomes was starting to feel like a birthright; and in Baltimore, where two-time MVP winner Lamar Jackson was the betting favorite at +600.In Foxboro, meanwhile, the talk was all about just getting better. It was clear that previous coach Jerod Mayo was in way over his head. The straw that broke the camel’s back was a meaningless Week 18 victory over the Bills, which moved the Pats from No. 1 in the draft down to No. 3. But that mishap (with reserve Joe Milton, not Maye, at QB) led to NE drafting left tackle Will Campbell. Along with LG Jared Wilson, they have kept Maye upright and allowed him to put up MVP-like numbers.Through 13 games, Maye has completed 71.3 percent of his passes, with 23 touchdown passes against only six interceptions. And all that has been done against the headwinds of a mediocre running attack and the Patriots having more than their fair share of problems once they get to the red zone. Maye has been able to counter-balance the ineffective run game by being able to escape pressure. He’s the team’s third-leading rusher with nearly four yards a carry. Not exactly Lamar Jackson production, but good enough.The most important numbers, of course, are 11-2 – which is the Patriots’ record heading into their Week 15 rematch against the Bills. If Maye and New England can get the job done at home, they will have officially flipped the AFC East on its head and signaled a changing of the guard from last year’s MVP (Buffalo’s Josh Allen) to Maye. Beating the Bills last October was a clear signal that it was not going to be business as usual in the AFC this season, and doing it again would complete the coronation and force Buffalo to hustle just to get to the playoffs. It would be NE’s 11th straight victory, and the comparisons of Maye to Tom You-know-Who would grow even louder.If there are any Maye skeptics, they huddle now around the yeah-but fact that Maye has done all this while playing against one weak opponent after another. New England’s current win streak, due in no small part to the team’s putrid record last season, has been built on the backs of victories over the likes of weak sisters New Orleans, Cincinnati, Atlanta, the Giants, and AFC also-rans Dolphins and Jets. Fair enough, but the schedule-makers will get their revenge next season when they figure to play some division winners.For now, it looks like the Patriots are set with Maye as their quarterback for the next decade or more, and (again, barring injury) he figures to be the MVP favorite when the 2026 season kicks off.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NFL, NBA, NHL, NCAAB and EPL Previews and Odds - 12/08/2025

by Big Al Staff

Monday, Dec 08, 2025

The Monday sports card features NFL, NBA, NHL, NCAAB, and EPL action. Week 14 in the NFL concludes with one game. The Philadelphia Eagles travel to Los Angeles to play the Chargers on ABC and ESPN at 8:15 p.m. ET. The Eagles have lost two games in a row after their 24-15 upset loss at home against Chicago as a 7.5-point favorite on Thanksgiving last week. The Chargers won for the fourth time in their previous five games after a 31-14 victory against Las Vegas as a 10-point favorite last Sunday. Philadelphia is a 1.5-point road favorite with the total set at 41.5 (all odds from DraftKings). The National Basketball Association has three games on its docket. The Indiana Pacers host the Sacramento Kings at 7:10 p.m. ET as a 3.5-point favorite with an over/under of 233.5. The Minnesota Timberwolves play at home against the Phoenix Suns on Peacock at 7:40 p.m. ET as a 9.5-point favorite with a total of 226.5. The San Antonio Spurs play in New Orleans against the Pelicans at 8:10 p.m. ET as a 9.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 236.5. The National Hockey League has five games on its slate. The Tampa Bay Lightning are on the road against the Toronto Maple Leafs at 7:37 p.m. ET with both teams priced as -110 money-line favorites with a total of 6.5. Two more NHL games drop the puck at 9:07 p.m. ET. The Utah Mammoth are home to take on the Los Angeles Kings as a -118 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Buffalo Sabres visit Calgary to face the Flames with both teams priced as -110 money-line favorites with a total of 6.5.Two games conclude the NHL card at 10:07 p.m. ET. The Detroit Red Wings play in Vancouver against the Canucks as a -125 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Minnesota Wild are on the road to battle the Seattle Kraken as a -130 money-line road favorite with a total of 5.5. The NCAAB college basketball schedule tips off at 12:00 p.m. ET with seven games involving Division I opponents. Six NCAAB games involved Division I opponents playing each other. Pennsylvania hosts Lafayette at 6:00 p.m. ET as a 7.5-point favorite with an over/under of 151.5. Charleston Southern plays at home against South Carolina State at 7:00 p.m. ET as a 10.5-point favorite with a total of 152.5. Four NCAAB games featuring Division I battles tip off at 8:00 p.m. ET. Southern Mississippi is home against Grambling State as a 7.5-point favorite with an over/under of 140.5. Texas hosts Southern as a 22.5-point favorite with a total of 156.5. Kansas State plays at home against Mississippi Valley State as a 34.5-point favorite with an over/under of 155.5. Incarnate Word travels on the road to play New Orleans as a 1.5-point road favorite with a total of 148.5. Matchweek 14 in the English Premier League concludes with one match. Manchester United plays at Wolverhampton on the USA Network at 3:00 p.m. ET as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with an over/under of 2.5.

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