Follow us @bigal_com

Instagram Twitter

Articles

Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, MLB and UCL Previews and Odds - 05/16/23

by Big Al Staff

Tuesday, May 16, 2023

The Tuesday sports card features action in the NBA, MLB, and UCL.The National Basketball Association playoffs begin the conference finals with the Denver Nuggets hosting the Los Angeles Lakers on ESPN at 8:30 PM ET. The Nuggets beat the Phoenix Suns in six games in the Western Conference quarterfinals after a 125-100 win on the road as a 1.5-point favorite on Thursday. The Lakers dethroned the defending champion Golden State Warriors in six games with their 122-101 victory as a 3-point favorite on Friday. Denver is a 6-point favorite, with the total set at 222.5 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise).  And, for those teams that did not reach the Playoffs, the consolation prize which is the NBA Draft Lottery airs at 8:00 pm on ESPN.The Monday card in Major League Baseball has 12 games on its schedule. The Baltimore Orioles play at home against the Los Angeles Angels at 6:35 PM ET as a -135 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9.5. Two more MLB games throw out the first pitch at 6:40 PM ET. The Miami Marlins are at home against the Washington Nationals as a -145 money-line favorite with a total of 7.5. The Detroit Tigers host the Pittsburgh Pirates as a -120 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9. The Toronto Blue Jays play at home against the New York Yankees at 7:07 PM ET as a -190 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. Two more MLB games start at 7:10 PM ET. The Seattle Mariners travel to Boston to play the Red Sox as a -165 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 9.5. The New York Mets are at home against the Tampa Bay Rays as a -155 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The St. Louis Cardinals host the Milwaukee Brewers at 7:45 PM ET as a -180 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Atlanta Braves visit Texas to play the Rangers at 8:05 PM ET as a -120 money-line road favorite with a total of 10. Two more MLB games begin at 8:10 PM ET. The Houston Astros play at home against the Chicago Cubs as a -165 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7.5. The Cleveland Guardians are in Chicago to play the White Sox as a -125 money-line road favorite with a total of 8. The Colorado Rockies are at home against the Cincinnati Reds at 8:40 PM ET as a -130 money-line favorite with an over/under of 12. Two MLB games start at 9:40 PM ET. The San Diego Padres host the Kansas City Royals as a -210 money-line favorite with a total of 9. The Arizona Diamondbacks play in Oakland against the A’s as a -145 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 9. The Philadelphia Phillies travel to San Francisco to play the Giants at 9:45 PM ET as a -120 money-line road favorite with a total of 7.5. The Los Angeles Dodgers play at home against the Minnesota Twins at 10:10 PM ET as a -200 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7.5. The second leg of the semifinals of the UEFA Champions League begins on CBS at 3 PM ET. Inter Milan is at home against AC Milan after their 2-0 victory on the road in the first leg last Wednesday. Inter Milan is a -0.5 goal-line favorite at BetMGM with a total of 2.5. 

Read more

NBA Conference Finals & NBA Title Futures Prices/Analysis

by Kyle Hunter

Monday, May 15, 2023

We are all set with the Conference Finals matchups in the NBA. It is the Los Angeles Lakers against the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference. The Miami Heat will take on the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference. Current Prices (Market Average)Denver Nuggets to win Western Conference (-150)LA Lakers to win Western Conference (+130)Boston Celtics to win Eastern Conference (-550)Miami Heat to win Eastern Conference (+400)To Win The NBA Title PricesBoston Celtics (+110) Denver Nuggets (+240)LA Lakers (+325)Miami Heat (+1,500)Western Conference AnalysisThe Lakers barely made it into the playoffs. They then needed a big comeback and overtime win over the Minnesota Timberwolves in their play-in game to earn the 7th spot in the playoffs. Los Angeles is absolutely peaking at the right time. The trade deadline deals made by the front office were spectacular. De’Angelo Russell, Rui Hachimura, Jarrod Vanderbilt, and company have really helped with team depth and the defense has gotten even better than it was in the middle of the season. I’m of the opinion that the Lakers regular season record means absolutely nothing right now. The key to the series in my opinion is Anthony Davis. Can he be consistently great? He is a matchup nightmare for everyone, and his length on the defensive end completely changes games. Davis isn’t as consistent as some other stars, and he is vulnerable to injuries. The Lakers need him to be at his best consistently. The Nuggets have a chip on their shoulder believing that people don’t respect them despite them being the #1 seed for almost the entire season in the Western Conference. Nikola Jokic makes this offense hum on all cylinders with his tremendous play making and passing ability. Can the Nuggets do what the Warriors couldn’t and figure out this Lakers defense? The key for Denver is Jamal Murray being elite in this series.Eastern Conference Analysis The Boston Celtics got all they wanted and more from the Philadelphia 76ers. The Miami Heat frankly weren’t very good in the regular season, but they have a couple key things working in their advantage in this series. First, Erik Spoelstra gives them a clear coaching advantage in this matchup. Second, Jimmy Butler has consistently been on a completely different level in the playoffs compared to the regular season. On the other side, Boston is a much deeper team with far more scoring options than the Heat. Boston should win this series, but I do think the price is a little too steep at -550. Boston isn’t playing as well as they were last season, but I think they are still being priced the same way.My ThoughtsI bet the Lakers at +1,000 to win the NBA Title a few weeks ago. I think the Nuggets/Lakers series is a total coin flip. The Nuggets have a great home court advantage, but LeBron and company have a big postseason experience advantage. I think Denver -150 is too high of a price. On the surface, Miami +1,500 seems like a good price given that they are just two rounds away from winning the whole thing. Still, it is hard to imagine a team with as many glaring weaknesses as the Heat winning the title. Their lack of depth and consistent scoring threats are likely to make them fall short. Boston is even money or so many places to win the title. I can’t bet them at such a high price. The Celtics have the most talented roster left in the playoffs, but that alone isn’t always enough. 

Read more

Vegas Writer's Daily Recap - May 15, 2023

by Vegas Writer

Monday, May 15, 2023

The Vegas Golden Knights continue to prove they are a true No. 1 seed, and they might be some of the very few who believe in the lore of Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers.They didn't even need seven games, as they took the series in six after Jonathan Marchessault scored a natural hat trick on Sunday, and Adin Hill stopped 38 of the 40 shots he faced.Now, the league's second-newest franchise Knights will either face their former coach (Peter DeBoer) or the league's newest franchise in the Western Conference Final.Game 7 between the Dallas Stars and Seattle Kraken go tonight, and it should be a fantastic finish.The Kraken crushed Dallas on Saturday, when Jordan Eberle scored twice, Eeli Tolvanen had a goal and two assists and veteran netminder Philipp Grubauer stopped 20 shots in the 6-3 win.With Vegas winning in Edmonton, road teams are now 41-31 in the postseason, while underdogs improved to 35-36 in the postseason with a $100 wager on the pups turning a profit of roughly $1300.The Over was 26-23-1 in the first round, and after Sunday's game went high, the run with Unders dropped to 23-19. The record for Overs in the NHL postseason is now 39-32-1.The overall tally for overtime games sits at 18 this postseason. Road teams are 13-5 in those games.In the NHL, I'm 91-78-2 for $16,350 net profit for the entire season, including a 15-10 postseason roll for $6,130. Tonight I have your Game 7 winner between Dallas and Seattle.Quick look inside the NBA, the Boston Celtics devoured the Philadelphia 76ers in their Game 7 matchup, as the curse of Doc Rivers in decisive games continued.Jayson Tatum scored 51 points - the most in a Game 7 history - to lead the Celtics to a 112-88 victory, which was bad news for me, as I had Philly contending. That didn't happen.Now, we have an NBA Final Four that looks like the 2020 bubble, when the Nuggets faced the Lakers and the Celtics met the Heat. Los Angeles went on to defeat Miami in the NBA Finals.I'll have both of your Game 1 winners available on Tuesday.On the MLB diamond on Sunday, only three of the 15 underdogs won. The most impressive pup might have been the Colorado Rockies (+140 DraftKings) in a marathon 4-0 shutout win over the Philadelphia Phillies. Colorado has now won nine of 13 and is hitting .278 and averaging 5.6 runs per game during the run.I went 1-1 on Sunday, including my Interleague Game of the Month on the Blue Jays getting it done. I'm now on a 73-54-2 roll for $15,330 net profit since April 17. Tonight I deliver an easy total in a huge division showdown. MLB DIVISION TOTAL OF THE MONTH is one of today's early starts, and I'm also throwing in TWO BONUS SIDE WINNERS for a 3-0 Sweep in baseball. MLB DIVISION TOTAL OF MONTH goes tonight. 

Read more

NBA Conference Championship Breakdown

by AAA Sports

Monday, May 15, 2023

No offense to the good folks in Miami and Denver, but at the NBA offices at 645 Fifth Ave. in New York City, the suits are quietly pulling for a ratings-bonanza Boston Celtics-Los Angeles Lakers Finals – the winner of which would take, for at least 12 months, the lead in most championships won. They each have 17 pelts, although Celtics fans dispute the five Laker titles when the team dwelled in Minneapolis and append a huge asterisk to the 2020 Bubble title.The Heat and Nuggets will each attempt to throw monkey wrenches into the league Dream Matchup, and Boston-LA is hardly a foregone conclusion. The Heat generally make life miserable for the Celtics, especially in party-central Miami, and the Nuggets were the best team in the Western Conference and a full 10 games better than strong-finishing LA.That said, to the entrants:EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALSMiami HeatTo win ECF (+400)To win title (+1400)The Heat are heavy dogs against Boston, but they don’t go into this series unarmed. Bam Adebayo always seems to play well against the Celtics, Jimmy Butler has that familiar playoff fanaticism about him, Erik Spoelstra could coach circles around Joe Mazzulla, and Miami doesn’t seem to miss injured Tyler Herro in the least. That said, the Heat caught huge breaks when the Bucks spit the bit and the Knicks turned into pumpkins. Is it possible that the East’s 8 seed can catch lightning in a bottle for a third straight series?BOSTON CELTICSTo win ECF (-550)To win title (+100)Like the blind drunk driver who somehow makes it home in one piece, the inconsistent Celtics (five losses in the first two series) are where they wanted to be when the playoffs started. Jayson Tatum has shaken off his horrendous post-All-Star Game shooting slump, the rotation has been tightened and Robert Williams’s return to the starting lineup has jump-started the defense which has been so-so all year. The Celtics have trimmed the rotation to seven but can go deeper if needed. They need Jaylen Brown to stay hot, Tatum to play like Tatum and the D be good if not great. If that happens, Boston will be heading to the Finals for the second straight season.WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALSLos Angeles LakersTo win WCF (+130)To win title (+330)No one talks anymore about trading LeBron James and/or Anthony Davis and then blowing things up and starting from scratch. The LAL are a very live dog against the Nuggets. After their glacial 2-10 start to the season, everything has seemed to go right for LA. They got used to new coach Darvin Ham, mid-season moves paid immediate dividends and they got a huge lift from the unheralded Austin Reeves. Throw it all in the pot, and it enabled the Lakers to somehow emerge from the Play-In and then take down favored defending champion Golden State in the second round. Somehow, some way they can sniff their 18th banner.Denver NuggetsTo win WCF (-145)To win title (+230)The franchise has been to the playoffs 25 times since entering the league in the 1970s, and every playoff series has ended in a loss. But they have huge advantages as they try to win their first-ever championship. For one, they have the best big (and many feel the best player, period) in Nikola Jokic. They are also nearly invincible at home – 6-0 in the playoffs and 34-7 in the regular season. And if there was any doubt that Denver is ready this time after so many playoff disappointments, look at their series domination of the star-filled Suns in the WC semifinals.

Read more

Big Al's Daily Angle: MLB, NHL and EPL Previews and Odds - 05/15/2023

by Big Al Staff

Monday, May 15, 2023

The Monday sports card features action in the NHL, MLB, and EPL.The National Hockey League playoffs continue with the Dallas Stars playing at home against the Seattle Kraken in the conference semifinals on ESPN at 7:10 PM ET. The Kraken forced a Game 7 with their 6-3 victory on Saturday. Dallas is a -190 money-line favorite, with the total set at 6. The Monday card in Major League Baseball has 12 games on its schedule. The New York Mets visit the Washington Nationals at 4:05 PM ET as a -155 money-line road favorite with a total of 9.5. The Mets pitch David Peterson against the Nationals' Patrick Corbin. The Los Angeles Angels travel to Baltimore to play the Orioles at 6:35 PM ET as a -130 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 7.5. The Angels send out Shohei Ohtani to battle against the Orioles' Grayson Rodrguez. The Toronto Blue Jays are at home against the New York Yankees at 7:07 PM ET. Alex Manoah pitches for Toronto against a starting pitcher yet to be named for the Yankees. The Seattle Mariners visit Boston to play the Red Sox at 7:10 PM ET as a -120 money-line road favorite with a total of 9.5. The Mariners send out George Kirby to pitch against the Red Sox's Tanner Houck. The Milwaukee Brewers play at St. Louis Cardinals at 7:45 PM ET, with both teams priced at -110 with an over/under of 8. The Brewers pitch Freddy Peralta to battle against the Cardinals' Jack Flaherty. The Atlanta Braves are in Texas to play the Rangers. The Braves pitch Charlie Morton to pitch against the Rangers' pitcher yet to be named. The Houston Astros host the Chicago Cubs at 8:10 PM ET as a -180 money-line favorite with a total of 7.5. Framber Valdes takes the hill for the Astros against Jameson Taillon for the Cubs. The Cincinnati Reds are in Colorado to play the Rockies at 8:40 PM ET as a -125 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 11.5. The Reds tap Hunter Greene to pitch against the Rockies' Conner Seabold. Two games throw out the first pitch at 9:40 PM ET. The San Diego Padres play at home against the Kansas City Royals as a -205 money-line favorite with a total of 9. Michael Wacha pitches for the Padres against Brad Keller for the Royals. The Arizona Diamondbacks are in Oakland to play the A’s as a -200 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 9. The Diamondbacks pitch Merrill Kelly against Drew Rucinski for the A's. The San Francisco Giants are at home against the Philadelphia Phillies at 9:45 PM ET as a -115 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The Giants tap Alex Wood to battle against Bailey Falter for the Phillies. The Los Angeles Dodgers host the Minnesota Twins at 10:10 PM ET as a -120 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. Noah Syndergaard pitches for the Dodgers against Pablo Lopez for the Twins. Matchweek 36 in the English Premier League continues with one match. Liverpool travels to Leicester City n the USA Network at 3 PM ET. The Reds have won six matches in a row after their 1-0 victory against Brentford on May 6th. The Red Foxes are winless in their last three matches after a 5-3 loss at Fulham last Monday. Liverpool is a -1 goal-line road favorite with a total of 3.

Read more

Vegas Writer's Daily Recap - May 14, 2023

by Vegas Writer

Sunday, May 14, 2023

I've gotten a real kick out of hockey fans who are stunned at the Seattle Kraken and the run they've enjoyed.Fact is, when you have a red-hot goaltender who is a veteran, you can go a long way in the postseason.Thus, Game 7 awaits.We may or may not know who will be in one half of the Western Conference Final after Sunday's lone game, with the Vegas Golden Knights visiting the Edmonton Oilers.Thanks to the Kraken crushing the Dallas Stars on Saturday, we'll find out who emerges from that series on Monday in Game 7 - the second straight decisive seventh for the second-year franchise.Jordan Eberle scored twice, Eeli Tolvanen had a goal and two assists, and the Kraken beat the Stars 6-3 on Saturday night. Veteran netminder Philipp Grubauer stopped 20 shots for the win.Gru beat his former team, the Colorado Avalanche, in seven games in the opening round, with Game 7 played in Denver. Now he has a chance to send the Kraken into the West Final against the Golden Knights or Oilers.With Seattle winning at home, road teams are now 40-31 in the postseason, while underdogs improved to 34-36 in the postseason with a $100 wager on the pups turning a profit of roughly $1100.The Over was 26-23-1 in the first round, and after Saturday's game went high, the Under is now on a 23-18 run. The record for Overs in the NHL postseason is now 38-32-1.The overall tally for overtime games sits at 18 this postseason. Road teams are 13-5 in those games.Quick look inside the NBA... There were no games Saturday, as we have one final conference semi to finish, as Game 7 between the Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics is today. The Sixers have covered six of seven on the road, and nine of 12 overall. Conversely, Boston has covered nine of 13 at home and 11 of 16 overall.Overall in this series, as we lead up to Game 7, the Celtics are on an 8-3 ATS run.Yesterday I hit my XFL Playoff Game of the Year on the Arlington Renegades winning the championship OUTRIGHT with my biggest play for the day. For Sunday, it's time for Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals, and I love this game between the Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics. I've hit 25 of my last 38 NBA Side releases, and roll into Sunday on an overall run of 38-22-2 in the postseason for $13,700 NET$. One game, one play to focus on: my NBA SIDE WINNER # 26 of 39.On the MLB diamond on Saturday, four of the 14 underdogs won. One game was suspended. The most impressive pup might have been the New York Yankees (+125 DraftKings) in a marathon 9-8 win over the Tampa Bay Rays.I'm now 72-53-2 for $15,430 since April 17, including my Interleague Dog of the Month on May 2, when I delivered the Diamondbacks over the Rangers. Today, I've got my MLB INTERLEAGUE GAME OF THE MONTH.

Read more

Big Al's Daily Angle: MLB, NHL, NBA and EPL Previews and Odds - 05/14/2023

by Big Al Staff

Sunday, May 14, 2023

The Sunday sports card features action in the NBA, NHL, MLB, and EPL.The National Basketball Association playoffs conclude the conference semifinals with the Boston Celtics hosting the Philadelphia 76ers on ABC at 3:30 PM ET. The Celtics forced a seventh game in this series with their 95-86 victory as a 2.5-point road favorite on Thursday. Boston is a 6.5-point favorite, with the total set at 201 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). The National Hockey League playoffs continue with the Edmonton Oilers playing at home against the Vegas Golden Knights in the conference semifinals on ESPN at 7:10 PM ET. The Golden Knights took a 3-2 series with their 4-3 win at home on Friday. The Oilers are a -195 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5.The Sunday card in Major League Baseball has 16 games on its schedule. The Los Angeles Angels travel to Cleveland to play the Guardians on Peacock at 11:35 AM ET, with both teams priced at -110 with a total of 8. The New York Mets play in Washington against the Nationals on Peacock at 12:35 PM ET to continue their suspended game on Saturday due to rain. Two MLB games throw out the first pitch at 1:35 PM ET. The Tampa Bay Rays are in New York to play the Yankees as a -125 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 9. The Baltimore Orioles are at home against the Pittsburgh Pirates as a -130 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The Atlanta Braves play in Toronto against the Blue Jays at 1:37 PM ET, with both teams priced at -110 with an over/under of 9.5. Two MLB games start at 1:40 PM ET. The Seattle Mariners visit Detroit to play the Tigers as a -175 money-line road favorite with a total of 8.5. The Miami Marlins host the Cincinnati Reds as a -165 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. Three more MLB games begin at 2:10 PM ET. The Minnesota Twins play at home against the Chicago Cubs as a -115 money-line favorite with a total of 7.5. The Milwaukee Brewers are at home against the Kansas City Royals as a -165 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9.5. The Houston Astros are in Chicago to play the White Sox as a -135 money-line road favorite with a total of 8. The Philadelphia Phillies play in Colorado against the Rockies at 3:10 PM ET as a -165 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 11. The Texas Rangers travel to Oakland to play the A’s at 4:07 PM ET as a -140 money-line road favorite with a total of 9.5. Two more MLB games throw out the first pitch at 4:10 PM ET. The Los Angeles Dodgers host the San Diego Padres as a -125 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9. The San Francisco Giants are in Arizona to play the Diamondbacks as a -145 money-line road favorite with a total of 9. The New York Mets play in Washington against the Nationals at 4:35 PM ET as a -205 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 9.Sunday Night Baseball on ESPN features the St. Louis Cardinals visiting Boston to play the Red Sox at 7:10 PM ET. The Cardinals are a -120 money-line road favorite with a total of 10.5. Matchweek 36 in the English Premier League continues with three matches. Two games begin at 9 AM ET. Brentford plays at home against West Ham United as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Manchester City plays at Everton on the USA Network as a -1.5 goal-line road favorite with an over/under of 3. Arsenal is at home against Brighton and Hove Albion on the USA Network at 11:30 AM ET as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 3.

Read more

Don't Follow the Money in XFL and USFL Games!

by Al McMordie

Saturday, May 13, 2023

The XFL Championship game was played Saturday night.  I released the Arlington Renegades +6 as my XFL Football Game of the Year 12 days ago, on May 1, following the conclusion of the semi-final games.  At kickoff, the Renegades were a 9.5-point underdog at Circa Sportsbook on the closing line.  Three hours before the game, I received an email from a client.  He wrote, "all the money is on DC.  Doesn't make me feel confident in (your Game of the Year) pick now."  Even though the steam was on the other side, I wasn't concerned.  I've been handicapping sports since 1978, and tracking point spread movement along the way.  One of the many things I've learned in my 45 years of handicapping is that you cannot simply "follow the money" if you want to be a successful bettor.  I don't even pay attention to the money moves when I analyze the games.  Indeed, most of the time (like here, with my XFL play), I'm releasing my picks at the start of the football week, or early in the morning with basketball, before the money has even come in on a side.Anyway, as I mentioned, I do track point spread movement -- even though it never even comes into play when I make my selections.  And one of the things I have been aware of is that the money has been HORRIBLE in these XFL and USFL football leagues.  On podcasts, I have often called these minor football leagues the "Overreaction Leagues."  What I mean by that is bettors and oddsmakers -- most likely due to the short histories of these leagues -- completely overreact to small samples of data.  I've hit 64% in the XFL/USFL the last two years by often taking advantage of what I've considered to be overreactions.So, when the line on Arlington moved from +6 to +9.5, my confidence wasn't daunted, given how bad the money has been this year in the USFL and XFL games.  Of course, I would have rather had +9.5 than +6.  But it didn't matter, as Arlington blew out DC from the get-go, and won outright, 35-26, for an easy XFL Game of the Year Winner.  Let's take a look at this year's XFL and USFL games to see just how bad the money has been (games that didn't move at least a half-point at Circa Sportsbook aren't listed).  All results are based on the closing line at Circa.XFL Football LeagueWeek 1Renegades (Open -2, Close -3.5), LoseRoughnecks (Open PK, Close -3), WinSea Dragons (Open +1, Close -3), LoseWeek 2Sea Dragons (Open +2, Close -4.5), LoseVipers (Open +1, Close -4), LoseBrahmas (Open -1, Close-4), WinRoughnecks (Open -3, Close -4.5), WinWeek 3Sea Dragons (Open PK, Close -4), TieRenegades (Open -6, Close -8), LoseRoughnecks (Open -4, Close -5), WinWeek 4Sea Dragons (Open -3, Close -5.5), WinRoughnecks (Open -9, Close -9.5), WinVipers (Open +7, Close +5.5), LoseBattlehawks (Open -2, Close -4), WinWeek 5Roughnecks (Open -3, Close -6.5), LoseBattlehawks (Open +3, Close +2), LoseGuardians (Open +9, Close +7), WinBrahmas (Open +2, Close +1), LoseWeek 6Sea Dragons (Open -6, Close -8.5), LoseVipers (Open +4, Close +2), LoseBrahmas (Open +5, Close +4), WinRoughnecks (Open +3, Close +2), LoseWeek 7Sea Dragons (Open -4, Close -5), WinGuardians (Open +12, Close +9), WinRoughnecks (Open -3, Close -4), LoseWeek 8Battlehawks (Open -4, Close -5), LoseGuardians (Open +2, Close -2), LoseRoughnecks (Open -4, Close -6.5), LoseSea Dragons (Open +2, Close -1.5), LoseWeek 9Roughnecks (Open -6, Close -6.5), LoseBrahmas (Open -1, Close -2), TieDefenders (Open -8, Close -10), LoseBattlehawks (Open -2, Close -3.5), LoseWeek 10Battlehawks (Open -7, Close -9), WinDefenders (Open -3, Close -4.5), LoseRoughnecks (Open +3, Close PK), WinSea Dragons (Open -6, Close -11.5), WinPlayoffs - SemifinalsRoughnecks (Open -6, Close -8), LoseSea Dragons (Open +6, Close PK), LosePlayoffs - ChampionshipDefenders (Open -6, Close -9.5), LoseThis season, in the XFL Football league, the sides that drew the money went 14-24-2 ATS.USFL Football LeagueWeek 1Stars (Open -2, Close -3.5), WinBreakers (Open -3, Close -7), TieWeek 2Breakers (Open -4, Close -7.5), LoseShowboats (Open +9, Close +5.5), LoseGenerals (Open -2, Close -7), WinStars (Open -3, Close -4), LoseWeek 3Stallions (Open -5, Close -8), LoseGamblers (Open +2, Close -8), LoseStars (Open -4, Close -7), LosePanthers (Open -3, Close -6), LoseWeek 4Gamblers (Open +3, Close +2), WinGenerals (Open +4, Close +2), LoseStallions (Open -6, Close -10), LoseWeek 5Maulers (Open +4, Close +3), WinGamblers (Open +6, Close +5.5), WinGenerals (Open -5, Close -7), LoseBreakers (Open -7, Close -7.5), LoseWeek 6Maulers (Open PK, Close -3), LoseStallions (Open -3, Close -5), WinBreakers (Open -6, Close -8), LoseGenerals (Open +3, Close -5.5), LoseWeek 7Stallions (Open -1, Close -4), TieMaulers (Open +4, Close -3), LoseGamblers (Open -3, Close -4), LoseGenerals (Open -4, Close -7.5), LoseWeek 8Maulers (Open +3, Close +1.5), WinStallions (Open -6, Close -7.5), LoseGenerals (Open +2, Close -3), Lose Breakers (Open -2, Close -3), WinWeek 9Maulers (Open +4, Close -2), WinShowboats (Open -1, Close -2), LoseGamblers (Open +5, Close +4.5), LoseGenerals (Open +4, Close -2.5), WinWeek 10Maulers (Open +4, Close +3.5), WinShowboats (Open +5, Close +4), LoseStars (Open +3.5, Close -1), LosePlayoffs - SemifinalsMaulers (Open +1, Close -3.5), WinBreakers (Open +4, Close +3.5), LosePlayoffs - ChampionshipStallions (Open -7, Close -9.5), Win[Editor's Note:  This article was originally written May 13, but has been updated throughout the USFL season following the initial publication.]In the USFL Football league, the sides that drew the money went 13-24-2 ATS.What we can see from this is that if you followed the money, you would have gone 27-48-4 ATS combined in XFL and USFL Football games this season.The bottom line is that if one wants to succeed at sports handicapping, it's best to have a sound methodology, and to stay true to it, while ignoring things like what others are betting on.  I couldn't care less where the money has gone, or what the public is betting on.  I don't go with or against either of those things; I just march to the beat of my own drum.Good luck, as always...Al McMordie 

Read more

Vegas Writer's Daily Recap - May 13, 2023

by Vegas Writer

Saturday, May 13, 2023

Two home teams nobody expected to win got it done in impressive fashion last night.And with that, the seventh-seeded Los Angeles Lakers are moving on to the Western Conference Finals in the NBA Playoffs, and the top-seeded Vegas Golden Knights lead their Western Conference semifinal with the Edmonton Oilers, 3-2.Then there's the South Beach storyline. Man, I can only imagine the parties taking place in Miami.The Heat knocked off the New York Knicks and advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals. At the same time, the Florida Panthers went into Toronto and finished off the Maple Leafs with a 3-2 overtime win to advance to the Eastern Conference Final.Impressive all-around night, with some incredible storylines in days to come.With Florida winning in Toronto, and Edmonton losing in Vegas, road teams are now 40-30 in the postseason. And, underdogs are now 33-36 in the postseason, with a $100 wager on the pups turning a profit of roughly $1000.The Over was 26-23-1 in the first round, and after Friday's totals split, the Under is now on a 23-17 run. The record for Overs in the NHL postseason is now 37-32-1.The overall tally for overtime games sits at 18 this postseason after Florida's victory came in an extra frame. Road teams are 13-5 in those games.Quick look inside the NBA, Important to note, there are no games today, as we have one final conference semi to finish, as Game 7 between the Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics is tomorrow. The Sixers have covered six of seven on the road, and nine of 12 overall. Conversely, Boston has covered nine of 13 at home and 11 of 16 overall.Overall in this series, as we lead up to Game 7, the Celtics are on an 8-3 ATS run.On the MLB diamond last night, five of the 13 underdogs won. Two games were at pick'em prices. The most impressive pup might have been the Chicago Cubs (+140 at DraftKings), as they went into Minneapolis and beat the Twins, 6-2.I went 3-1 on Friday, including my Division Game of the Month on the Mets getting it done over Washington. I'm now on a 70-51-2 run with $15,580 NET$ since April 17. For Saturday, I have one MLB winner waiting for you, and it's the best value I see. It just happens to be a total. I'm on a 20-11 run with ALL SPORTS TOTALS, and tonight I make it 21 of 32 with my MLB INTERLEAGUE TOTAL OF THE MONTH.

Read more

Big Al's Daily Angle: NHL, MLB and EPL Previews and Odds - 05/13/2023

by Big Al Staff

Saturday, May 13, 2023

The Saturday sports card features action in the NHL, MLB, and EPL.The National Hockey League playoffs continue with one game in the conference semifinals on ESPN. The Dallas Stars travel to Seattle to play the Kraken at 7:10 PM ET. The Stars took a 3-2 lead in the series with a 3-2 victory at home on Thursday. Dallas is a -150 money-line road favorite, with the total set at 6. The Saturday card in Major League Baseball has 15 games on its schedule. The Tampa Bay Rays play in New York against the Yankees at 1:05 PM ET as a -130 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5. Two MLB games throw out the first pitch at 10:10 PM ET. The Miami Marlins host the Cincinnati Reds as a -200 money-line favorite with a total of 7. The Seattle Mariners are in Detroit against the Tigers as a -180 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Minnesota Twins play at home against the Chicago Cubs at 2:10 PM ET as a -165 money-line favorite with a total of 7.5. The Toronto Blue Jays are at home against the Atlanta Braves at 3:07 PM ET as a -125 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9.5. The New York Mets visit Washington to play the Nationals at 4:05 PM ET as a -145 money-line road favorite with a total of 9.5. The Texas Rangers play in Oakland against the A’s at 4:07 PM ET as a -155 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 9. The Boston Red Sox host the St. Louis Cardinals at 4:10 PM ET as a -130 money-line favorite with a total of 10. The Los Angeles Angels are in Cleveland to play the Guardians at 6:10 PM ET as a -115 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Baltimore Orioles play at home against the Pittsburgh Pirates at 7:05 PM ET as a -170 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The Milwaukee Brewers are at home against the Kansas City Royals at 7:10 PM ET as a -165 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9. Two MLB games are featured on Fox at 7:15 PM ET. The Los Angeles Dodgers host the San Diego Padres as a -150 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The Chicago White Sox play at home against the Houston Astros as a -125 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9. Two more games complete the MLB card at 8:10 PM ET. The Arizona Diamondbacks are at home against the San Francisco Giants as a -165 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The Philadelphia Phillies travel to Colorado to play the Rockies as a -150 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 11.5. Matchweek 36 in the English Premier League begins with six matches. Newcastle United plays at Leeds United on the USA Network at 7:30 AM ET as a -1 goal-line road favorite with a total of 3 (all soccer odds from BetMGM). Five EPL matches begin at 10 AM ET. Aston Villa hosts Tottenham as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Chelsea plays at home against Nottingham Forest on the USA Network as a -1 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5. Crystal Palace is at home against Bournemouth as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Manchester United hosts Wolverhampton as a -1.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 3. Fulham is at Southampton in a pick ‘em match with an over/under of 2.5.

Read more

Big Al's Daily Angle: NHL, NBA and MLB Previews and Odds - 05/12/2023

by Big Al Staff

Friday, May 12, 2023

The Friday sports cxard features action in the NBA, NHL, and MLB.The National Basketball Association playoffs continue with two playoff games in the conference semifinals on ESPN. The Miami Heat host the New York Knicks in the sixth game of their Eastern Conference series at 7:30 PM ET. The Knicks kept this series alive with a 112-103 victory at home as a 3.5-point favorite on Wednesday. The Heat hold a 3-2 lead in this series. Miami is a 5.5-point favorite, with the total set at 208.5 (all odds from DraftKings). The Los Angeles Lakers play at home against the Golden State Warriors in the sixth game of their Western Conference series at 10 PM ET. The Warriors kept their postseason alive with a 121-106 win at home as a 7.5-point favorite on Wednesday. The Lakers are a 7.5-point favorite with an over/under of 221. The National Hockey League playoffs continue with two games in the conference semifinals on TNT. The Toronto Maple Leafs are at home against the Florida Panthers at 7:10 PM ET in the fifth game of their Eastern Conference semifinals series. The Maple Leafs avoided a sweep in this series by beating the Panthers on the road, 2-1, on Wednesday. Florida holds a 3-1 series lead. Toronto is a -170 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Edmonton Oilers travel to Vegas to play the Golden Knights at 10:10 PM ET in the fifth game of their Western Conference semifinals series. The Oilers evened this series at 2-2 with their 4-1 win at home against the Golden Knights on Wednesday. Edmonton is a -130 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 7.The Friday card in Major League Baseball has 15 games on its schedule. Two MLB games throw out the first pitch at 6:40 PM ET. The Miami Marlins host the Cincinnati Reds as a -145 money-line favorite with a total of 7.5. The Seattle Mariners play at Detroit against the Tigers as a -125 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5. Three more MLB games throw out the first pitch at 7:05 PM ET. The New York Mets visit Washington to play the Nationals as a -135 money-line road favorite with a total of 9. The Baltimore Orioles play at home against the Pittsburgh Pirates as a -155 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Tampa Bay Rays are in New York to play the Yankees. The Atlanta Braves play in Toronto against the Blue Jays at 7:07 PM ET as a -155 money-line road favorite with a total of 8.5. Two MLB games start at 7:10 PM ET. The Cleveland Guardians are at home against the Los Angeles Angels as a -130 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Boston Red Sox host the St. Louis Cardinals as a -120 money-line favorite with a total of 10. Three MLB games begin at 8:10 PM ET. The Houston Astros visit Chicago to play the White Sox as a -150 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Minnesota Twins play at home against the Chicago Cubs on Apple TV+ as a -155 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The Milwaukee Brewers are at home against the Kansas City Royals on Apple TV+ as a -230 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Philadelphia Phillies are in Colorado Rockies at 8:40 PM ET as a -150 money-line road favorite with a total of 11.5. Two MLB games begin at 9:40 PM ET. The San Francisco Giants play in Arizona against the Diamondbacks as a -115 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 9.5. The Texas Rangers are in Oakland against the A’s as a -190 money-line road favorite with a total of 8.5. The Los Angeles Dodgers host the San Diego Padres at 10:10 PM ET as a -145 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9.

Read more

Vegas Writer's Daily Recap - May 12, 2023

by Vegas Writer

Friday, May 12, 2023

Due to limited time for Friday, I have an abbreviated recap today.The NBA Playoffs saw both road teams win last night, with the Boston Celtics staying alive in the Eastern Conference semifinals, and the Denver Nuggets moving on to the Western Conference Finals.Conversely, the NHL Playoffs saw both home teams win, as the Carolina Hurricanes move on to the Eastern Conference Finals (a play I delivered with my NHL SIDE WINNER # 19 OF 31), and the Dallas Stars taking a 3-2 lead over the Seattle Kraken.Road teams dropped to 39-29 in the postseason. And, underdogs are now 31-36 in the postseason, with a $100 wager on the pups turning a profit of roughly $700.The Over was 26-23-1 in the first round, and after Thursday's totals split, the under is now on a 22-16 run. The record for Overs in the NHL postseason is now 36-31-1.The overall tally for overtime games sits at 17 this postseason after Carolina's victory came in an extra frame. Road teams are 12-5 in those games.I'm on a 19-12 run with my NHL sides. I'm also on a 68-48-2 run for $14,500 since April 17, including a 14-10 run in the postseason for$4,950 net profit. Since Day 1, I'm 90-78-2 for $15,350 NET$ in hockey. Do not miss my NHL SECOND ROUND DOG OF THE YEAR which happens to be my NHL SIDE WINNER # 20 OF 32.Quick look inside the NBA...While the West's No. 1 seed Denver awaits the winner of the Lakers-Warriors series, the Celtics forced a Game 7 back at home on Sunday.Important to note, the Sixers have covered six of seven on the road, and nine of 12 overall. Conversely, Boston has covered nine of 13 at home and 11 of 16 overall.Overall in this series as we lead up to Game 7, the Celtics are on an 8-3 ATS run.Tonight in the NBA I have ONE SIDE and ONE TOTAL, and have them bundled for you in one package. I'm on a 68-48-2 run for $14,500 since April 17, including a 37-21-2 roll in the NBA for $13,800 in the same span. Tonight I go 2-0 with my NBA PLAYOFF DOUBLE DIP.On the MLB diamond, there was an abbreviated card, and three of the five underdogs won. The sixth game was a pick'em. The most impressive pup was the Cincinnati Reds (+165 at DraftKings), as they beat the New York Mets 5-0. Keep an eye on the Reds for value numbers, as they're hitting a respectable .264 during a 9-6 stretch, and are averaging 4.6 runs per game in that span.Part of tonight's action includes a solid MLB DIVISION GAME OF THE MONTH, as I love the N.L. East showdown between the Nationals and Mets. Remember, I'm on a 68-48-2 run for $14,500 since April 17, including a 37-21-2 roll in the NBA for $13,800 in the same span. Tonight I cash my MLB DIVISION GAME OF THE MONTH.

Read more
« ‹ 1 161 163 359 › »

Follow us @bigal_com

Instagram Twitter

Links

Big Al's Sports Picks Info

All photographic images used for editorial content have been licensed from the Associated Press.

© 2025 Al McMordie's BigAl.com. All Rights Reserved.