Follow us @bigal_com

Instagram Twitter

Articles

Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, EPL and MLB Previews and Odds - 04/23/2023

by Big Al Staff

Sunday, Apr 23, 2023

The Sunday sports card features action in the NBA, NHL, MLB, and EPL.The National Basketball Association playoffs continue with four games in the conference quarterfinals. The New York Knicks host the Cleveland Cavaliers on ABC at 1 PM ET. The Knicks own a 2-1 lead in the series after winning Game 3. New York is a 2.5-point favorite, with the total set at 206.5 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). The Golden State Warriors play at home against the Sacramento Kings on ABC at 3:30 PM ET. The Kings hold a 2-1 series lead despite losing Game 3. The Warriors are a 7.5-point favorite with an over/under of 237.5. The Boston Celtics travel to Atlanta to play the Hawks on TNT at 7 PM ET. The Celtics own a 2-1 lead in the series despite losing Game 3. Boston is a 6-point road favorite with a total of 232. The Denver Nuggets play in Minnesota against the Timberwolves on TNT at 9:30 PM ET. The Nuggets hold a 3-0 lead in the series. Denver is a 3.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 225. The National Hockey League playoffs continue with four games on its slate in the conference quarterfinals. The New York Islanders are at home against the Carolina Hurricanes on TNT at 1:08 PM ET. The Hurricanes have a 2-1 lead in the series after losing Game 3. The Islanders are a -125 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Boston Bruins visit Florida to play the Panthers on TNT at 3:30 PM ET. The Bruins hold a 2-1 lead in the series after winning Game 3. Boston is a -150 money line road favorite with an over/under of 6.The Minnesota Wild host the Dallas Stars on TBS at 6:38 PM ET. The Wild have a 2-1 lead in the series after winning Game 3. Minnesota is a -120 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Edmonton Oilers play in Los Angeles against the Kings on TBS at 9:38 PM ET. The Kings hold a 2-1 lead in the series after their Game 3 victory. The Oilers are a -155 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Sunday card in Major League Baseball has 15 games on its schedule. The Philadelphia Phillies play at home against the Colorado Rockies at 12:05 PM ET as a -285 money-line favorite with a total of 9. Four MLB games throw out the first pitch at 1:35 PM ET. The Cincinnati Reds are in Pittsburgh to play the Pirates, with both teams priced at -110 with an over/under of 8.5. The Toronto Blue Jays visit New York to play the Yankees as a -135 money-line road favorite with a total of 8.5. The Atlanta Braves are at home against the Houston Astros as a -135 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. The Baltimore Orioles host the Detroit Tigers as a -180 money-line favorite with a total of 8. Two MLB games start at 1:40 PM ET. The Tampa Bay Rays play at home against the Chicago White Sox as a -150 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7.5. The Miami Marlins are in Cleveland to play the Guardians, with both teams priced at -110 with a total of 7.5. Two MLB games begin at 2:10 PM ET. The Minnesota Twins are at home against the Washington Nationals as a -25 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Milwaukee Brewers host the Boston Red Sox as a -175 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The Los Angeles Dodgers travel to Chicago to play the Cubs at 2:20 PM ET as a -140 money-line road favorite. The Texas Rangers play at home against the Oakland A’s at 2:35 PM ET as a -320 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7. The Los Angeles Angles are at home against the Kansas City Royals at 4:07 PM ET as a -205 money-line favorite with a total of 9.5. Two MLB games start at 4:10 PM ET. The San Diego Padres visit Arizona to play the Diamondbacks as a -150 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 9. The St. Louis Cardinals play in Seattle against the Mariners, with both teams priced at -110 with a total of 8.5. Sunday Night Baseball on ESPN has the New York Mets in San Francisco playing the Giants. The Mets are a -120 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 9.Matchweek 32 in the English Premier League concludes with two matches at 9 AM ET. West Ham United plays at Bournemouth in a pick ‘em match with a total of 2.5. Newcastle United plays at home against Tottenham on the USA Network as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5.

Read more

Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, MLB and EPL Previews and Odds - 04/22/2023

by Big Al Staff

Saturday, Apr 22, 2023

The Saturday sports card features action in the NBA, NHL, MLB, and EPL.The National Basketball Association playoffs continue with four games in the conference quarterfinals. The Philadelphia 76ers travel to Brooklyn to play the Nets on TNT at 1 PM ET. The 76ers hold a 3-0 lead in the series. Philadelphia is a 2-point road favorite, with the total set at 208.5 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). The Phoenix Suns play in Los Angeles against the Clippers on TNT at 3:30 PM ET. The Suns have a 2-1 lead in the series. Phoenix is a 7.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 226.The Milwaukee Bucks visit Miami to play the Heat on ESPN at 7:30 PM ET. This series is tied at 1-1. The Bucks are a 5-point road favorite with a total of 220.5. The Los Angeles Lakers host the Memphis Grizzlies on ESPN at 10 PM ET. It is a tied series at 1-1. The Lakers are a 4-point favorite with an over/under of 220.5. The National Hockey League playoffs continue with four games on its slate in the conference quarterfinals. The Vegas Golden Knights are in Winnipeg to play the Jets on TBS at 4:08 PM ET. It is a tied series at 1-1.  Both teams are priced as a -110 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Toronto Maple Leafs travel to Tampa Bay to play the Lightning on TBS at 7:08 PM ET. It is a tied series at 1-1. The Maple Leafs are a -120 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The New York Rangers play at home against the New Jersey Devils on ABC at 8:08 PM ET. The Rangers hold a 2-0 lead in the series. New York is a -140 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Colorado Avalanche visit Seattle to play the Kraken on TBS at 10:08 PM ET. It is a tied series at 1-1. The Avalanche are a -155 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6. The Friday card in Major League Baseball has 16 games on its schedule. The New York Yankees host the Toronto Blue Jays at 1:05 PM ET as a -165 money-line favorite with a total of 7.5. The Minnesota Twins play at home against the Washington Nationals at 2:10 PM ET as a -285 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7. The Los Angeles Dodgers play in Chicago against the Cubs at 2:20 PM ET as a -135 money-line road favorite. The Philadelphia Phillies are at home against the Colorado Rockies at 3:05 PM ET as a -180 money-line favorite with a total of 9.5. The Miami Marlins are in Cleveland to play the Guardians in the opening game of their doubleheader at 3:10 PM ET. Two MLB games throw out the first pitch in a doubleheader on Fox at 4:05 PM ET. The Tampa Bay Rays host the Chicago White Sox as a -190 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7. The San Francisco Giants play at home against the New York Mets as a -125 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The Guardians play the Marlins in the second game of their doubleheader at 6:10 PM ET as a -140 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7. The Pittsburgh Pirates are at home against the Cincinnati Reds at 6:35 PM ET as a -150 money-line favorite with a total of 9. Two MLB games start at 7:05 PM ET. The Baltimore Orioles host the Detroit Tigers on FS1 as a -180 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Texas Rangers play at home against the Oakland A’s as a -230 money-line favorite with a total of 9. The Milwaukee Brewers are at home against the Boston Red Sox at 7:10 PM ET as a -135 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Houston Astros play in Atlanta against the Braves at 7:20 PM ET with both teams priced at -110 and the total set at 8.5. The San Diego Padres travel to Arizona to play the Diamondbacks at 8:10 PM ET as a -145 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 9.5. The Los Angeles Angels host the Kansas City Royals at 9:07 PM ET as a -180 money-line favorite with a total of 9.5. The Seattle Mariners play at home against the St. Louis Cardinals at 9:40 PM ET as a -155 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.Matchweek 32 in the English Premier League continues with five matches. Fulham is at home against Leeds United on the USA Network at 7:30 AM ET in a pick ‘em match with a total of 2.5 (all soccer odds from BetMGM). Four more EPL matches begin at 10 AM ET. Aston Villa visits Brentford in a pick ‘em match with an over/under of 2.5. Crystal Palace host Everton as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 2. Leicester City plays at home against Wolverhampton in a pick ‘em match with an over/under of 2.5. Liverpool is at home against Nottingham Forest as a -2 goal-line favorite with a total of 3.5.

Read more

Betting Trends in the NBA Playoffs

by Oskeim Sports

Friday, Apr 21, 2023

There have been a few early surprises in the playoffs. Giannis Antetokounmpo played just 11 minutes before leaving Game 1 of the Bucks playoff series against Miami, and the Heat won the series opener against Milwaukee. While some other series, including Boston-Atlanta and Philly-Brooklyn, are proceeding as expected, the Lakers looked strong in defeating Memphis in Game 1. The Grizzlies gave it right back in Game 2. If you plan on betting on the NBA playoffs this season, it might be beneficial to be aware of some intriguing trends. Let’s start with the favorites to win it all. Favorite in the Futures Market  The NBA championship is currently expected to be won by the Boston Celtics. Boston currently is given +275 odds. The Bucks are next on the board at +335.  Over the previous 47 NBA seasons, 24 teams entered the postseason as favorites and won the NBA title. Golden State was the most recent NBA favorite to enter the postseason and go on to win the championship. In fact, the Warriors did it three times in 2015, 2017, and 2018. Nine more favorites participated in the championship game out of those 47 NBA seasons. That means 33 of 47 favorites to win the NBA title at least played in the NBA Finals. It's interesting to note that the team picked to win it all in each of the previous three seasons (2020 Clippers, 2021 Nets, 2022 Suns) has not made the NBA Finals. Be Wary of Underdogs The Sacramento Kings had their best season in a long time. The result was the team's first appearance in the playoffs since the 2005–06 campaign. With a 48-34 record, the Kings secured the third seed. The odds for Sacramento to win the NBA championship are currently +2200. Sacramento will become the 30th team seeded in the top-3 given odds of +2000 or higher since the NBA increased the playoff field to 16 teams in 1984. None of the previous 29 teams  reached the NBA Finals. Before bowing out of the playoffs, 10 of those 29 teams advanced to the conference finals. The 2020 Denver Nuggets were the most recent team to do this.  In 2018, Portland was a top-3 seed and was given +5800 odds to win the NBA championship. The Trail Blazers were eliminated in the first round. Speaking of Underdogs Bettors should avoid supporting the trendy underdog too. Underdogs that have at least 66 percent of the tickets since 2005 are only 29-43-1 ATS. These dogs are 6–12 ATS as of 2015. There is a way you might be able to take advantage of NBA playoff underdogs. When there is a short home underdog, you should take a look at the total. Oddsmakers are expecting a close game and, usually, these games live up to the expectations. In 247 such NBA playoff games, the Under is 145-101-1, which represents a winning percentage of 59 percent.  Speaking of Unders In the playoffs, Unders appear to be a more common wager. The pace of play is typically slower than during the regular season as teams value every possession. Unders finished 58-35 last postseason. That’s a 62.4 winning percentage. Unders have exceeded .500 in four of the last five playoff seasons. Smart bettors can go a little further and advance their Under betting. Since 2005, the Under is 548-525-20 (51.1%). The Under is 235-192-2 with a winning percentage of 55% in Games 5 through 7 of a playoff series. Games 6 and 7 are where the real value can be found.  Since 2005, the Under is 121-86 (58.5%). The Under has prevailed in those games by an average of 2.7 points. Defense Only three NBA teams have won the championship in the previous 40 years without having a top-10 defense (in terms of points allowed). The Golden State Warriors from 2018 were the most recent. The Lakers in 2001 and the Houston Rockets in 1995 were the other two. Of the top 10 defensive teams in the league this season,  seven are playing in the postseason.

Read more

Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, MLB and EPL Previews and Odds - 04/21/2023

by Big Al Staff

Friday, Apr 21, 2023

The Friday sports card features action in the NBA, NHL, MLB, and EPL.The National Basketball Association playoffs continue with three games in the conference quarterfinals. The Boston Celtics travel to Atlanta to play the Hawks on ESPN at 7 PM ET. The Celtics hold a 2-0 lead in the series. Boston is a 5-point road favorite, with the total set at 228 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). The New York Knicks host the Cleveland Cavaliers on ABC-TV at 8:30 PM ET. This series is tied at 1-1. The Knicks are a 2-point favorite with an over/under of 211.5. The Denver Nuggets visit Minnesota to play the Timberwolves on ESPN at 8:30 PM ET. The Nuggets have a 2-0 lead in the series. Denver is a 2.5-point road favorite with a total of 223.The National Hockey League playoffs continue with four games on its slate in the conference quarterfinals. The Carolina Hurricanes play in New York against the Islanders on TBS at 7 PM ET. The Hurricanes hold a 2-0 lead in the series. Both teams are priced at -110 with an over/under of 5.5. The Boston Bruins are in Florida to play the Panthers on TNT at 7:30 PM ET. This series is tied at 1-1. The Bruins are a -155 money-line road favorite with a total of 6. The Dallas Stars travel to Minnesota to play the Wild on TBS at 9:30 PM ET. This series is even at 1-1. The Starts are a -115 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Edmonton Oilers play in Los Angeles against the Kings on TNT at 10 PM ET. Its an even series at 1-1. The Oilers are a -150 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The Friday card in Major League Baseball has 15 games on its schedule. The Los Angeles Dodgers play in Chicago against the Cubs at 2:20 PM ET as a -165 money-line road favorite. The Pittsburgh Pirates play at home against the Cincinnati Reds at 6:35 PM ET as a -140 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Tampa Bay Rays are at home against the Chicago White Sox at 6:40 PM ET as a -165 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The MLB games throw out the first pitch at 7:05 PM ET. The Philadelphia Phillies host the Colorado Rockies as a -280 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Baltimore Orioles play at home against the Detroit Tigers as a -175 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The New York Yankees are at home against the Toronto Blue Jays on Apple TV+ as a -135 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9. The Cleveland Guardians play at home against the Miami Marlins at 7:10 PM ET as a -140 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The Atlanta Braves are at home against the Houston Astros on Apple TV+ at 7:20 PM ET as a -125 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5.The Texas Rangers host the Oakland A’s at 8:05 PM ET as a -200 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. Two MLB games start at 8:10 PM ET. The Minnesota Twins play at home against the Washington Nationals as a -210 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. The Milwaukee Brewers are at home against the Boston Red Sox as a -175 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The Los Angeles Angels host the Kansas City Royals at 9:38 PM ET as a -280 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The San Diego Padres visit Arizona to play the Diamondbacks at 9:40 PM ET as a -115 money-line road favorite with a total of 9. The Seattle Mariners play at home against the St. Louis Cardinals at 10:10 PM ET as a -135 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. The New York Mets are in San Francisco to play the Giants at 10:15 PM ET, with both teams priced at -110 with a total of 8.5. Matchweek 32 in the English Premier League begins with one match. Arsenal is at home against Southampton on the USA Network at 3 PM ET as a -2 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 3.

Read more

Home Dogs Don't Bark Loudly In NBA Post-Season!

by Al McMordie

Thursday, Apr 20, 2023

Generally speaking, I tend to stay away from home dogs in the NBA post-season.  This might surprise many of my long-term clients, as I love playing on certain NBA home dogs in the regular season.  And I love playing on certain home dogs in the post-seasons of other sports, like NCAAF, NFL, and NCAAB.  But, the facts don't lie:  home dogs have NOT done well over the long-term in the NBA post-season (but have been profitable in the post-seasons of the NFL, NCAAF and NCAAB).Let's take a look at the NBA numbers.Since 1990, NBA home dogs have gone 217-237-11 ATS (47.7%) in the NBA post-season.  In contrast, NBA home favorites have gone 1023-956-36 ATS (51.6%).And the home dogs have been poor across the board, in most technical situations:Off a win:  77-85-4 ATSOff a loss:  140-152-7 ATSOff back-to-back wins:  16-17-2 ATSOff back-to-back losses:  98-97-6 ATSOff an ATS win:  99-115-5 ATSOff an ATS loss:  97-111-4 ATSOff back-to-back ATS wins:  45-49-1 ATSOff back-to-back ATS losses:  56-55-3 ATSOff back-to-back SU/ATS wins:  15-15-1 ATSOff back-to-back SU/ATS losses:  53-51-3 ATSOff a double-digit win:  27-28-1 ATSOff a double-digit loss:  93-102-6 ATSCovered by 10+ last game:  42-54-2 ATSFailed by 10+ last game:  46-55-3 ATSLead in series:  24-28-2 ATSTrail in series:  158-161-7 ATSTied in series:  35-48-2 ATSIn elimination games:  74-84-5Good luck, as always...Al McMordie

Read more

MLB Around the Horn: April 20th

by Sean Murphy

Thursday, Apr 20, 2023

We're just three weeks into the MLB season and intriguing storylines are already emerging. Are the Rays for real? Are the Braves back? And are the A's really that bad? Those are just a few of the questions that come to mind as we approach the final week of April. Here's a look at several teams to keep an eye on as the diamond action begins to heat up.Sleepless in SeattleThe Mariners were a sleeper pick by many to not only win the American League West but perhaps contend for a World Series title in 2023. While it's still way too early to jump to any conclusions, there's no denying it's been a rough start for last year's upstart team. Seemingly built for the ballpark they play the majority of their games in, the Mariners offense has mysteriously struggled to find any sort of consistency in the early going. They enter Thursday's action ranked 24th in the majors in team batting average, 21st in hits and 19th in runs scored. In a flipped script, their pitching has actually been terrific. Seattle sits top-10 in team ERA and hits allowed and a respectable 14th in runs given up. Only six teams have recorded a better WHIP. The schedule won't get any easier over the next couple of weeks as the Mariners welcome St. Louis for a three-game set before hitting the road for a difficult two-stop, six-game trip that will see them face the Phillies and Mariners. Even in May, Seattle will open with a three-game set against the lowly A's but then have to face the Astros and Rangers in succession. Again, it's early and the M's are still just 4.5 games back of the first-place Rangers in the A.L. West. If their offense can wake up in the coming weeks, they should once again become a club we'll be looking to bet on rather than bet against. Guardians of the galaxyWe've made some money backing the Guardians, not to mention the 'over' in several of their recent games as I think their offense is being severely undervalued thanks to some poor metrics. Yes, Cleveland ranks a miserable 29th in baseball in home runs and in the bottom-third in run production. However, when the Guardians face a pitcher that puts batters on base on a regular basis, they can excel. That's because no team has been more aggressive on the basepaths and they have speed to burn with a Major League-leading 29 stolen bases to date. I think it's only a matter of time before the power numbers get better and when that happens, this offense has the potential to go off. Few teams put more pressure on opposing pitchers with runners on base and we certainly saw evidence of that in last weekend's series in Washington. Note that Cleveland's pitching staff has been rock solid, ranking in the top-half of the majors in ERA, WHIP and home runs allowed. I have the Guardians slated as a bet on team in the coming weeks, especially when you consider their next three series' will come against opponents with a combined 22-33 record this season. Snake-bittenThe N.L. West has been one of the more interesting divisions in baseball so far this season with the upstart Diamondbacks leading the way with an 11-8 record. You may remember from a previous article, I suggested locking in the D'Backs at a generous price to win the N.L. West prior to the start of the regular season, even if it was a longshot at best. While it's still early, there's no question the Snakes are proving they can hang with the big boys (ie. the Padres and Dodgers). In fact, both the Dodgers and Padres currently own losing records on the campaign. While that's unlikely to last, I don't think the Snakes are going away any time soon. Arizona enters Thursday's series-opener against San Diego ranking inside the top-10 in hits, batting average and slugging percentage, not to mention sixth in stolen bases. As expected, the D'Backs pitching staff has been a mixed-bag but there's reason for optimism given what we've seen from the likes of Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly at the front of the rotation. When you can trot out guys of that calibre two out of every five games you're going to be alright. Meet the MetsAs expected, the Mets find themselves near the top of the N.L. East heap as we head into the third week of the regular season. New York sits just two games back of the first-place Braves thanks to a 9-3 surge that culminated with a series with over the Dodgers in Los Angeles to start the week. Remember, it was just two weeks ago that the sky was falling in Queens after the Mets were swept (and outscored by a 26-6 margin) in a three-game series in Milwaukee. A six-game homestand seemingly vaulted them into their most recent road trip that saw them plate 37 runs in six games against Oakland and aforementioned Los Angeles. Keep in mind, New York is still waiting for prized offseason acquisition Justin Verlander to make his regular season debut after he was put on the shelf with a shoulder injury. He's getting closer to returning, scheduled to make a minor league rehab start a week from Friday. In the meantime, the Mets pitching staff ranks top-10 in baseball in runs and hits allowed helping to minimize the damage as they do sit a miserable 27th in home runs given up with 28. The offense has been as advertised for the most part, getting on base with some consistency but not hitting for a great deal of power, currently sitting 13th in the majors in runs scored. New York will close out its California road trip with a four-game set in San Francisco beginning on Thursday.

Read more

Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL and MLB Previews and Odds - 04/20/2023

by Big Al Staff

Thursday, Apr 20, 2023

The Thursday sports card features action in the NBA, NHL, and MLB.The National Basketball Association playoffs continue with three games in the conference quarterfinals. The Philadelphia 76ers visit Brooklyn to play the Nets on TNT at 7:30 PM ET. The 76ers took a 2-0 lead in this best-of-seven series with a 96-84 victory as a 10-point favorite on Monday. Philadelphia is a 5-point road favorite, with the total set at 209.5 (all odds from DraftKings). The Golden State Warriors host the Sacramento Kings on TNT at 10 PM ET. The Kings took a 2-0 lead in this best-of-seven series with a 114-106 upset victory as a 2-point underdog at home on Monday. The Warriors are a 5.5-point favorite with an over/under of 239. The Phoenix Suns play in Los Angeles against the Clippers on NBA TV at 10:30 PM ET. The Suns evened this series at 1-1 with a 129-108 victory at home as an 8.5-point favorite on Tuesday. Phoenix is a 2.5-point road favorite with a total of 227.The National Hockey League playoffs continue with four games on its slate in the conference quarterfinals. The Toronto Maple Leafs are at home against the Tampa Bay Lightning on ESPN at 7 PM ET. The Lighting took a 1-0 lead in this series with a 7-3 victory in Game 1 of this series. The Maple Leafs are a -170 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6. The New Jersey Devils host the New York Rangers on TBS at 7:30 PM ET. The Rangers have a 1-0 lead in this series after their 5-1 victory in the first game of this series. New Jersey is a -130 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Colorado Avalanche play at home against the Seattle Kraken on ESPN at 9:30 PM ET. The Kraken took a 1-0 lead in this series with their 3-1 victory in Game 1 on Tuesday. The Avalanche are a -215 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6. The Vegas Golden Knights are at home against the Winnipeg Jets on TBS at 10 PM ET. The Jets have a 1-0 lead in this series after their 5-1 victory on Tuesday. Vegas is a -155 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Thursday card in Major League Baseball has seven games on its schedule. The Boston Red Sox host the Minnesota Twins at 1:35 PM ET as a -120 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9. The New York Yankees play at home against the Los Angeles Angels at 4:05 PM ET as a -165 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The Pittsburgh Pirates are at home against the Cincinnati Reds at 6:35 PM ET as a -165 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9. The Philadelphia Phillies host the Colorado Rockies at 6:40 PM ET as a -225 money-line favorite with a total of 9.5. The Chicago Cubs play at home against the Los Angeles Dodgers at 7:40 PM ET as a -115 money-line favorite. The San Diego Padres travel to Arizona to play the Diamondbacks at 9:40 PM ET as a -140 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 9.5. The New York Mets are in San Francisco to play the Giants at 9:45 PM ET as a -135 money-line road fav write with a total of 8.5.

Read more

NFL Draft Wagers

by ASA, Inc.

Thursday, Apr 20, 2023

At the end of April we will get a little offseason fix of NFL content to gamble on. With unpredictable trades and each team having unique needs for 2023, the NFL Draft is one of the hardest things to foresee. By looking at just the odds alone, it tells us how this is the case. Bryce Young (-470) is a heavy favorite to go at the 1.1 spot and Will Anderson (-400) seems to be a lock for the first defensive player taken. Beyond that, the QB predictions have been all over the board, leading to huge uncertainty as to how the first five picks will shake out. Below are some popular props to look at during your draft parties for round 1. Total Number of QBs Drafted in Round 1Over 4.5 +106Under 4.5 -140Some of the latest Mock Drafts have predicted that the top four QBs will go in the first seven picks. If this is the case, it is hard to imagine that not one single team will feel the need to address the most important position on their roster the rest of the first. The Falcons at the 8 spot, Titans at 11, Commanders at 16, Bucs at 19, Vikings at 23, or even Saints at 29 are all in need to find their franchise QB. Tanner McKee from Stanford and Hendon Hooker from Tennessee are both solid options that teams may have first round grades on. Since the 2022 QB draft class was so shallow, teams with veteran QBs could be willing to take on a draft and develop prospect. Total Number of RBs Drafted in Round 1Over 1.5 +350Under 1.5 -550Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs are the two possible first rounders that will determine this prop. Running backs have had an increasingly limited shelf life in recent years, but their most effective seasons do come early. Bijan has cracked the top 10 in some mocks while Jahmyr’s film at Alabama showed a silky smooth runner and pass catcher who ran an easy 4.36 at the combine. In years past, both would have been highly sought after weapons, but in today's NFL we will see how much teams still value an elite RB.  With Gibbs 40 time, we think an elite team at the end of the first would love an explosive athlete to put them over the top.Total Number of DBs Drafted in Round 1Over 5.5 -114Under 5.5 -114Four DBs were taken in the first round in 2022, and it could swing either way this year. With so much talent at Wide Receiver in the NFL, teams are desperate for cover corners to slow them down. Devon Whitherspoon and Christian Gonzalez lead this loaded class followed by any mix of about 6 or 7 players that could be considered, depending on team preference. One DB sitting on this fringe is Kelee Ringo from Georgia. At 6’2/205, he ran a 4.36 at the combine and routinely guarded the best offensive players along the way to winning the National Title. If an early run on DBs starts, it would not be surprising to see six or seven corners gone after day 1. 

Read more

Betting NBA First Basket Prop This Postseason

by Oskeim Sports

Wednesday, Apr 19, 2023

With the NBA playoffs in full swing, it’s time to take a long look at how to benefit from the First Basket prop. It’s an interesting prop that requires an in-depth look at some of the trends. Let’s start at the top. This NBA season, Joel Embiid was unstoppable when it came to first possessions of a game. This season, Embiid made the most first team field goals in the NBA. In 48% of the games he started, the Philadelphia 76ers scored first. The MVP candidate earned 20 first-basket wins throughout the season, tying Jonas Valanciunas for the most first baskets. In 31% of games that he started, Embiid made the first basket of the game, compared to 25% for Valanciunas. Add in Embiid’s early possession usage rate (1.21) and it’s easy to see why he is a strong bet in the First Basket prop. Interestingly, Boston’s Jaylen Brown had the second-highest early possession usage (1.01), but he was not among the top players in the First Basket prop. Nikola Jokic and Nikola Vucevic tied with 16 first baskets and Toronto’s Pascal Siakam had 15. What’s even more interesting is that of the top-10 players in this category, most of them are centers. In fact, centers made the opening basket in 26 percent of all NBA games this season. Several of them are still playing in the playoffs. With a full season worth of data, it becomes a bit easier to predict which player will score first in a playoff game. For example, look at the Sixers. We know Embiid led the NBA in first baskets, but the trio of Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Tobias Harris combined to score 80 percent of Philadelphia’s first field goals. Take Game 2 of the Sixers series with the Brooklyn Nets. Embiid was the favorite to score first at +270. Maxey was listed at +700 and Harris at +950. Twenty-four seconds into Game 2, Embiid’s 28-foot jumper missed. Roughly a minute later, the Nets missed an easy shot, Embiid grabbed the rebound and he dished to Harris who made a layup. If you had put down $10 on Harris, you made $95. In betting the First Basket prop this playoff season, the 76ers, Memphis Grizzlies, Sacramento Kings, and Phoenix Suns have the highest concentration of first basket scorers among the most predictable teams. Brooklyn, Golden State, and Minnesota are among the least predictable. Be careful with some players like Miami’s Bam Adebayo. He has taken Miami’s first shot 24 times this season. Vucevic took the first shot 28 times this season. That was the most by any player. Embiid took the initial shot 27 times. Last year, Adebayo made the Heat’s first basket 34 percent of the time in the regular season. When Miami went to the playoffs last year, he made the first basket just 10 percent of the time. That’s a noticeable drop off. Also be on the lookout for a noticeable rise in first baskets. For example, Memphis’ Desmond Bane only hit 16 percent of the Grizzlies first baskets in 2021-22. In the playoffs last year, Bane hit 46 percent of the team’s initial scores. The key, of course, is finding value in the First Basket prop. In Game 2 of the Minnesota-Denver series, Jokic was the favorite to score first at +410. During the regular season, the two-time MVP scored Denver’s first basket 24 times. Of those 24, Jokic scored the first basket of the game 16 times. Denver’s Michael Porter Jr. scored the first basket in Game 1.

Read more

Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, MLB and UEFA Champions League Previews and Odds - 04/19/2023

by Big Al Staff

Wednesday, Apr 19, 2023

The Wednesday sports card features action in the NBA, NHL, MLB, and UEFA Champions League.The National Basketball Association playoffs continue with three games in the conference quarterfinals. The Los Angeles Lakers travel to Memphis to play the Grizzlies on TNT at 7:30 PM ET as a 1-point road favorite, with the total set at 226.5 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). The Milwaukee Bucks host the Miami Heat on NBA TV at 9 PM ET as a 6-point favorite with an over/under of 219. The Denver Nuggets play at home against the Minnesota Timberwolves on TNT at 10 PM ET as an 8-point favorite with a total of 223.5. The National Hockey League playoffs continue with four games on its slate in the conference quarterfinals. The Carolina Hurricanes are at home against the New York Islanders on ESPN2 at 7:08 PM ET as a -175 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Boston Bruins host the Florida Panthers on ESPN at 7:38 PM ET as a -245 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Dallas Stars play at home against the Minnesota Wild on ESPN2 at 9:38 PM ET as a -150 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Edmonton Oilers are at home against the Los Angeles Kings on ESPN at 10:08 PM ET as a -215 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Wednesday card in Major League Baseball has 15 games on its schedule. The Tampa Bay Rays visit the Cincinnati Reds at 12:35 PM ET as a -225 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 9.5. Two more MLB games throw out the first pitch at 1:10 PM ET. The Cleveland Guardians play in Detroit against the Tigers as a -140 money-line road favorite with a total of 8.5. The Chicago Cubs are in Miami to play the Marlins with both teams priced at -110 with an over/under of 8.5. The St. Louis Cardinals host the Arizona Diamondbacks at 1:15 PM ET as a -180 money-line favorite with a total of 10. Two MLB games start at 2:10 PM ET. The Texas Rangers play in Kansas City against the Royals, with both teams priced at -110 with an over/under of 9. The Pittsburgh Pirates travel to Chicago to play the White Sox as a -115 money-line road favorite with a total of 8.5. Two more MLB games begin at 3:10 PM ET. The New York Mets are in Los Angeles to play the Dodgers as a -130 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Pittsburgh Pirates visit Colorado to play the Rockies as a -125 money-line road favorite with a total of 11.5. The Chicago Cubs play in Oakland against the A’s at 3:37 PM ET as a -175 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8. Two MLB games throw out the first pitch at 4:10 PM ET. The Seattle Mariners host the Milwaukee Brewers as a -130 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The Atlanta Braves play in San Diego against the Padres as a -120 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 9.Two MLB games start at 7:05 PM ET. The Baltimore Orioles are in Washington to play the Nationals. The New York Yankees are at home against the Los Angeles Angels as a -135 money-line favorite with a total of 9. The Minnesota Twins play in Boston against the Red Sox at 7:10 PM ET as a -135 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 9. The Houston Astros host the Toronto Blue Jays at 8:10 PM ET as a -115 money-line favorite with a total of 9. The knockout stage of the UEFA Champions League concludes with two second-leg matches in the quarterfinals at 3 PM ET. Manchester City plays at Bayern Munich on CBS in a pick ‘em match with an over/under of 3 (all soccer odds from BetMGM). Inter Milan plays at home against Benfica as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5.

Read more

Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, MLB and UEFA Champions League Previews and Odds - 04/18/2023

by Big Al Staff

Tuesday, Apr 18, 2023

The Tuesday sports card features action in the NBA, NHL, MLB, and UEFA Champions League.The National Basketball Association playoffs continue with three games in the conference quarterfinals. The Boston Celtics host the Atlanta Hawks on NBA TV at 7 PM ET as a 10.5-point favorite, with the total set at 229.5. The Cleveland Cavaliers play at home against the New York Knicks on TNT at 7:30 PM ET as a 5.5-point favorite with an over/under of 213.5. The Phoenix Suns are at home against the Los Angeles Clippers on TNT as a 7.5-point favorite with a total of 226. The National Hockey League playoffs continue with four games on its slate in the conference quarterfinals. The New Jersey Devils host the New York Rangers on TBS at 7:08 PM ET as a -130 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6. The Toronto Maple Leafs play at home against the Tampa Bay Lightning on ESPN at 7:38 PM ET as a -155 money-line favorite with a total of 6. The Vegas Golden Knights are at home against the Winnipeg Jets on ESPN2 at 9:38 PM ET as a -150 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Colorado Avalanche host the Seattle Kraken on ESPN at 10:08 PM ET as a -195 money-line favorite with a total of 6. The Monday card in Major League Baseball has 17 games on its schedule. The Cleveland Guardians travel to Detroit to play the Tigers at 1:10 PM ET in the opening game of their doubleheader as a -115 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 9. Two more MLB games throw out the first pitch at 4:10 PM ET. The Guardians play the second game of their doubleheader against the Tigers, with both teams priced at -110 with a total of 8. The Philadelphia Phillies are in Chicago to play the White Sox in the opening game of their doubleheader as a -130 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 7.5. Two MLB games start at 6:40 PM ET. The Tampa Bay Rays visit Cincinnati to play the Reds as a -115 money-line road favorite with a total of 9. The San Francisco Giants play in Miami against the Marlins as a -120 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8. Three more MLB games begin at 7:05 PM ET. The Baltimore Orioles are in Washington to play the Nationals as a -145 money-line road favorite with a total of 9. The New York Yankees host the Los Angeles Angels as a -135 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9. Two MLB games throw out the first pitch at 7:10 PM ET. The Minnesota Twins travel to Boston to play the Red Sox as a -115 money-line road favorite with a total of 9. The Chicago White Sox play at home against the Philadelphia Phillies as a -115 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Texas Rangers are in Kansas City to play the Royals at 7:40 PM ET as a -125 money-line road favorite with a total of 8.5. The St. Louis Cardinals are at home against the Arizona Diamondbacks at 7:45 PM ET as a -170 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. The Toronto Blue Jays visit Houston to play the Astros at 8:10 PM ET, with both teams priced at -110 with a total of 9. The Pittsburgh Pirates play in Colorado against the Rockies at 8:40 PM ET as a -120 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 12.5. Three MLB games start at 9:40 PM ET. The Atlanta Braves are in San Diego to play the Padres as a -140 money-line road favorite with a total of 7.5. The Chicago Cubs play in Oakland against the A’s as a -175 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 7.5. The Seattle Mariners host the Milwaukee Brewers as a -165 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The Los Angeles Dodgers play at home against the New York Mets at 10:10 PM ET as a -165 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.The knockout stage of the UEFA Champions League continues with two final-leg matches in the quarterfinals at 3 PM ET. Chelsea is at home against Real Madrid on CBS in a pick ‘em match with a total of 2.5 (all soccer odds from BetMGM). Napoli hosts AC Milan as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5.

Read more

A Little Q&A To Get You Ready For The NHL Playoffs

by Vegas Writer

Monday, Apr 17, 2023

There are always questions before the playoffs begin, and as one of the winningest NHL handicappers this season, I wanted to answer any and all questions you may have.Thus, here is a Q&A with the Vegas Writer before the NHL Playoffs begin:Q: Is "home ice" an advantage in a seven-game series?VW: Don't get caught up in the home team/higher seed in hockey. Spanning the last 10 postseasons, the lower seed has stunned the higher-ranked seed in 45.3% of all seven-game series, including a 41.3% showing in the opening round. The biggest upsets have been in the conference final, where 13 of the past 20 series (65.0%) have been won by the lower seed.Q: How likely is it we'll see a wild-card team advance past the opening round?VW: Over seven postseasons with wild-card teams in the current format, wild-card entries are 10-18 in the opening round of the postseason. In 2018-19, we saw all four wild-card teams advance past the opening round. Two wild-card teams have won two or more rounds in a single postseason, with the Predators advancing to the Stanley Cup Final in 2017. The Hurricanes made it to the Eastern Conference Final in 2019.Q: How has the regular-season head-to-head series factored into postseason meetings?VW: Well, spanning the past 10 seasons, a team that won the season series vs. an opponent has a 71-51 series record when facing the same opponent in the ensuing Stanley Cup Playoffs.Q: The Bruins set an NHL record with 65 wins, making them one of four teams in league history to reach the 60-win plateau in a single season. Did any of the other three win the Stanley Cup?VW: The 1976-77 Montreal Canadiens (60-8-12) went 12-2 in the postseason en route to winning the Stanley Cup. The 1995-96 Detroit Red Wings (62-13-7) lost to eventual Stanley Cup champion Colorado. And, the 2018-19 Tampa Bay Lightning (62-16-4) fell in the opening round to Columbus.Q: Has the Presidents’ Trophy jinx become an annual plague for the team that finishes first in the overall League standings?VW: My favorite postseason trend, as the team that finished No. 1 in the overall NHL standings has gone on to win the Stanley Cup only 35% of the time (19 of 54), dating back to the first season of expansion (1967-68). Most recently, it has only happened four times since 1999-2000: Avalanche in 2001, Red Wings in 2002 & 2008, and the Blackhawks in 2013. The Bruins are hoping to become the first Presidents’ Trophy winner to advance to a Conference Finals in eight years, last done by the Rangers in 2014-15.Q: With Connor McDavid scoring 150 points this season, what are the chances he leads Edmonton to a Stanley Cup title?VW: Slim to none. Of the five previous skaters in NHL history to register 150+ points, Wayne Gretzky is the only player to accomplish the feat and win the Stanley Cup the same year. Gretzky did it on three occasions: in 1983-84, 1984-85, and 1986-87.

Read more
« ‹ 1 165 167 359 › »

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.