Articles

Another Reason to Bet the NFLX Preseason: Practice for Week 17 in the NFL Regular Season

by Team Del Genio

Saturday, Dec 31, 2022

It is conventional wisdom in many circles that betting on preseason NFL games is foolish. “It’s too unpredictable.” “It’s only backup players.” “The oddsmakers set the over/under numbers too low.” “Things get too wild in the fourth quarter.”Those are all valid observations. Yet the notion that games played in the regular season suddenly eliminate those questions is naive. Take Thursday night’s game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Tennessee Titans. Even in the first game in the second to last game of the season, the stakes involved in the game were nothing. Tennessee would win the AFC South with a victory the following week against Jacksonville since they would hold the tiebreaker if both teams ended the season with 8-9 records (they are both tied for first place in the AFC South with a 7-8 record at the beginning of week 17). Dallas’ chances of winning the NFC East over Philadelphia were very slim since all the Eagles need is a victory against New Orleans or the New York Giants in the next two weeks. The Cowboys had clinched the first wildcard spot in the NFC. Titans head coach Mike Vrabel flagged that he was not going to play his key starters, including running back Derrick Henry who was nursing a hip injury. Vrabel took things a step further on game day morning by announcing that his starting quarterback tonight would be Joshua Dobbs, who the team just signed off the Detroit practice squad on December 21st. If you bet on preseason games, then you were probably already familiar with Dobbs’ intriguing work with the Pittsburgh Steelers in previous exhibition seasons before moving on to a handful of other teams. The former Tennessee Volunteers quarterback completed 20 of 39 passes for 232 yards with a touchdown and an interception. He ran for another 12 yards on the ground. Even without being familiar with the Titans' offense, he seemed more equipped to make plays under center than Willis who came into the league a raw prospect after starting for a few seasons at Liberty. Yet even with the quarterback issues, the more pressing concern in the short run for the Titans was the state of the Titans' offensive line after center Ben Jones, right tackle Dillon Radunz, and right guard Nate Davis were all placed on the injured list. This unit was already been without starting left tackle Taylor Lewan for most of the season with a knee injury. With the oddsmakers installing Dallas as a nearly two-touchdown favorite on the road in that game, it was not a leap in logic to expect them to take an early lead. Yet that may have been exactly what the Cowboys starters were assuming which contributed to their lackadaisical start in that game. Dallas only scored 10 points in the first 29 minutes of that game, and they looked on track to possibly add to that lead with a final-minute score to take a 13-3 or even 17-3 lead. But an interception from Dan Prescott gave the ball back to Dobbs who got Tennessee into field goal position take go into halftime trailing by just four points, 10-6. The teams traded touchdowns in the third quarter with Dallas going into the fourth quarter with a 17-13 lead. The Cowboys pulled away with ten unanswered points in the fourth quarter to win the game, 27-13. The oddsmakers closed the game with Dallas laying 14 to 14.5 points with the final over/under number at 40 to 40.5. The final result was razor-thin for everyone. Yet that often is the experience for those us bettors "brave enough" to venture into preseason NFL wagering. Perhaps the lesson should be this: regular season or not, we are only betting against numbers given particular circumstances. Regular or preseason, we are betting against numbers. If we have found an edge versus the number the oddsmakers have installed, then taking advantage of that should be profitable.Good luck -- TDG

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Premier League Transfer Needs

by Amedeus Mastrangelo

Saturday, Dec 31, 2022

The winter transfer window is finally here and there are many potential moves that could change the rest of the season for some of these clubs in England. The winter transfer window will not see some of the bigger moves but this is a great time for title contenders to reload their squads or for teams lower in the table to try to make a turn around with some new acquisitions. Coming off the heels of a World Cup as well, there was a lot of talent being showcased on the world stage and it is time to see what possible moves could be made for some of the biggest clubs in England looking to chase down titles or just stay competitive.  Club Needs Arsenal: Arsenal is coming into this transfer window sitting atop the Premier League table a few points clear of the 2nd place team and they have been having a very good season. Arsenal spent a lot of money in the summer transfer window to make themselves competitive for a top 4 spot this year and so far it has worked out very well for them with the year they are having. They have had a dominant defense all year and a very strong midfield with a lot of depth, but their biggest need in their squad is on the attacking side. They spent some big money for Gabriel Jesus in the summer but he picked up a serious injury in the World Cup and they now need a replacement for him, most likely some players who can score goals and add some more threat to their attack. Arsenal has been linked with Mykhaylo Mudryk from Shakhtar Donetsk and Joao Felix from Atletico Madrid as possible forward signings, they are a lot closer to signing Mudryk than Felix but picking up either player would really help their attack until Jesus can come back healthy again. They have also been looking to sign Cedric Soares from Fulham to give their great defense an even bigger boost. As long as Arsenal can sign a goalscorer or even a solid forward to help their attack, they will be in good shape in the 2nd half of the season as they look to hold down their number 1 spot.  Manchester City: Man City is coming into this transfer window as the 2nd place team in the Premier League and their squad is already riddled with talent while also being very deep. Despite all of the talent they have at every position, they find themselves in a bit of trouble here as this team is built to win titles but they trail by a few points in the table behind the league leaders. They have already made their big move in the summer with the signing of Erling Haaland and there is not much else they can do to improve this squad but they will still be looking for younger talent to grow in this transfer window. They have been linked with the 19 year old Maximo Perrone from Velez Sarsfield just to add to their depth. They have also been linked with Jude Bellingham from Dortmund and Kylian Mbappe from PSG, but they will likely lose out on Bellingham to another team while Mbappe is very unlikely to make a move until the summer transfer window. It does not look like Man City will be making any big splashes in this transfer window but their squad is already good enough to make a big run in both Premier League and Champions League. Newcastle: Newcastle is coming into this transfer window as the 3rd place team in the Premier League and they have been a big surprise this year as they have been playing very well and are one of the better teams. They did spend a lot of money in the summer to bring in some good players and they are not done spending just yet. They have a lot of very good players with a strong and deep midfield but they also have one of the best defenses in the league as well as they have not been allowing many goals this year. They have been scoring goals as well but their biggest need comes at the forward positions as they could use some more depth there as well as a true striker to really anchor this attack. They have been linked with James Madison from Leicester City, Christian Pulisic from Chelsea, and Memphis Depay from Barcelona as they continue to look at any available forwards to try and provide their attack with a true goalscorer and some better attacking players. It is unlikely that they will land any of these players but they have been in talks with countless forwards and they will likely make a signing to boost their attack. If they can find a forward that fits in with their attack well, then this could be a very dangerous team with that good defense and they will be a top 4 threat all year. Manchester United: Man Utd is coming into this transfer window sitting in 4th place in the Premier League in what is a very tight race for those top 4 spots. Man Utd is in a difficult position right now as they are in the middle of a club sale so until a deal gets done they are strapped for cash and will be looking more to the summer transfer window, but if a deal can get done before January ends then they could end up making some big splashes in this window. If they do make some moves, they will need to sign some forwards to help their attack as they lack a true striker on their team. They have a very deep midfield with a lot of talent as well and they also have a solid starting group of defensemen, but it would not hurt to add some defensive depth as well as defense has been an issue for them in the past, struggling to keep the ball out of their net. They have been linked with Joao Felix from Atletico Madrid and Rafael Leao from AC Milan to boost their attack and either would be a good addition but they will still need some more goal scoring abilities if they want to be a top 4 threat in the 2nd half of the season. They have also had some of their key players approached by other teams like Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford but until the sale of this club goes through, they are in a bit of a deadlock this transfer window and can only hope to keep things together long enough to finish top 4 and keep their current pace until the summer when they will have more money to spend. Tottenham: Tottenham is coming into this transfer window sitting in 5th place in the Premier League but they have been slipping over the last few weeks and they are trending downwards with the way they have been playing. Scoring has not been an issue for them this year as they have a very good group of attacking players and a very deep midfield with a lot of talent, but their issue this year has been on defense. They have been allowing a lot of goals in their matches all year, especially when playing away from home, and this is becoming a big issue that is seeing them slip down the table. If they are to make some moves in this window and try to stay in the top 4 this year, they are going to need to make some serious moves on defense and bring in a player to stabilize their poor defensive line. They have not been strongly linked with many defensive players though other than Sofyan Amrabat from Fiorentina but they are unlikely to sign him and will likely make very little moves in this window. They have also been linked with some goalkeepers which would help out as Hugo Lloris has not been having a good year. Jordan Pickford from Everton and Yann Sommer from Monchengladbach are the 2 keepers they have been in talks with but even if they bring in one of those players in, they will still need to patch their defense which has not been very good. Tottenham needs to make some defensive moves in this window or they are going to be in some real trouble this year and they will be at risk of falling further down in the table. Liverpool: Liverpool is coming into this transfer window sitting in 6th place in the Premier League and they have fallen a lot since last year with the players they lost in the summer. They have already made their 1st big splash of this transfer window though by bringing in Cody Gakpo from PSV Eindhoven to strengthen their weaker left side on the attack. They have been trying to fill the hole that Sadio Mane left in the summer and this move might just be what they need, but they still need to strengthen some other areas as well. Their defense has not been great this year and they could use some more depth on that defensive line to help stabilize it. They are also lacking a bit in midfield talent as well, they have a lot of great forwards with a lot of talent but they need to give their midfield a boost with playmakers who can control the pace of play and get the ball to their goal scorers. They have been linked with some quality midfielders such as Moises Caicedo from Brighton, Sofyan Amrabat from Fiorentina, and Enzo Fernandez from Benfica. If they manage to sign any of these players then that would be a massive boost to their midfield and might just be what they need to make a run in the 2nd half of the season getting back into the top 4 and even title contention. They have already signed Gakpo though and they do not have a lot of money to spend so it will be tough for them to bring in any of these players but if they do that might just feel the need for this team. Chelsea: Chelsea is coming into this transfer window sitting in 9th place in the Premier League and of all the major clubs in the league, they have been having the worst season as they are in real trouble. They lost a lot of talent in the summer and failed to replace it but they also went through a club sale recently and now the new owner is starting to target players and spend money in this transfer window to try and turn things around for this 2nd half of the season. Defense has been their strength over the last few years and even though they lost some defensive talent in the summer, they still have a lot of talent and depth on both defense and in their midfield. It has been their attack that has been a real issue as they struggle to score goals in their games and what they really need here is to bring in some quality forwards to boost their attack and some players that can score goals as well. They have been linked with players like Enzo Fernandez from Benfica, Declan Rice from West Ham, Moises Caicedo from Brighton, Benoit Badiashile from Monaco, Andrey Santos from Vasco da Gama, and N’Golo Kante from Barcelona. Chelsea is clearly targeting any high value player they can get no matter the position in an attempt to flood this team with talent and make something happen in the 2nd half of the season. Their season will depend on who they can get in this transfer window but it would not be shocking to see them spend a lot of money in this window with their new owner. 

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Big Ten Conference Schedule Paths

by Nelly's Sports

Saturday, Dec 31, 2022

The Big Ten has not won a national title since Michigan State in 2000 even as the conference has ascended in recent years to at or near the top of the conference ratings. Purdue is the current #1 team in the polls with an undefeated start while the rest of the conference pecking order is a little unclear this early in the season. Indiana and Wisconsin have had good starts while Ohio State, Rutgers, and Maryland grade as possible threats. Michigan, Michigan State, Iowa, and Illinois are also big basketball brands that could make a run even while off to marginal starts to the season.  The Big Ten has 14 teams playing a 20-game conference schedule as there are some big disparities in the draws. Here is a quick look at who may benefit from a favorable Big Ten path to finish higher in the standings than they might otherwise as this deep conference could be a threat to again put a big group of teams in the NCAA Tournament after placing nine in the field last season but getting no one past the Sweet 16 for a second consecutive disappointing March Madness run for the conference. Purdue is 13-0 and the #1 team in the nation. While most advanced ratings don’t place Purdue as the #1 team in the nation, the Boilers are clearly the top rated team in the conference right now with a decent gap to #2. Purdue has non-conference wins over Duke and Gonzaga, plus wins over Marquette and West Virginia as the Boilermakers are the team to beat. The 2-0 Big Ten start came vs. the two likely worst teams in the Big Ten but measuring the various Big Ten schedules has to start with who has to play Purdue twice, as that will be a major disadvantage. Favoring Purdue is that after already beating Minnesota and Nebraska in Big Ten games in December, the Boilermakers get to play those teams again in January. The other five teams which Purdue plays twice are: Ohio State, Penn State, Michigan State, Maryland, and Indiana. That is a rather formidable quintet and teams like Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, and Rutgers could climb in the Big Ten race thanks to only playing the Boilermakers once. Michigan, Northwestern, and Wisconsin are the teams that will play Purdue at home in the only meeting.  Minnesota is a borderline top 200 team nationally right now, as the only Big Ten team outside the top 100. Playing Minnesota twice will be a significant advantage in the Big Ten schedule. The Gophers have already started 0-2 with double-digit losses to Purdue and Michigan, teams that both will play Minnesota again. The other five teams facing Minnesota twice this season are: Wisconsin, Rutgers, Maryland, Illinois, and Nebraska.  Nebraska appears to be the second worst team in the Big Ten, even with a notable win over Iowa in late December. As previously mentioned, Purdue and Minnesota will play Nebraska twice. The other five teams that get to play Nebraska twice in this year’s Big Ten schedule are: Michigan State, Maryland, Penn State, Illinois, and Iowa will also play Nebraska again at the end the season.  Given that the teams currently in the 2-12 positions are minimally separated with a range from #14 Ohio State to #66 Michigan in the current KenPom rankings the schedule disparities vs. Purdue, Minnesota, and Nebraska should be meaningful. The Boilermakers do have a decent draw to maintain the top spot but keep an eye on Wisconsin, Maryland, and Rutgers to have a chance to climb to the top of the standings as well with some breaks in the uneven Big Ten scheduling. Illinois is already 0-2 in Big Ten play but non-conference wins over Texas and UCLA are present as the Illini may be worth a long shot look to climb upward in the coming weeks with favorable current pricing in Big Ten futures and one of the better overall paths in the Big Ten.        

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SEC Conference Schedule Paths

by Nelly's Sports

Saturday, Dec 31, 2022

The SEC made a lot of noise in the regular season last year, proving it is more than just a football conference. Six teams ultimately made the NCAA Tournament from the SEC but only Arkansas made the Elite Eight as the SEC has not had a Final Four team since Auburn made it in 2019. The 2022 tournament from the SEC perspective will be remembered for the Round of 64 exit from Kentucky as a #2 seed as one of the tournament favorites.  Conference play opened in the SEC this week with the SEC holding six spots in the AP top 25 including top 10 placements for Tennessee, Alabama, and Arkansas. In a league with 14 teams but only 18 conference games there are unbalanced paths in the SEC scheduling. Five teams appear to have elite potential this season in the SEC, here is a breakdown of which teams have a benefitted most from the draw in the 2022-23 SEC Basketball season. TENNESSEE: The Volunteers appear to have the most favorable path of the SEC contenders. They will face six games vs. the top four other contenders but four of those games are at home. Tennessee is also the only team among the five top teams that will get to play South Carolina twice with the Gamecocks gradings as the worst team in the SEC by a significant margin at this point. Tennessee will also play Missouri and Florida just once each as Tennessee is a threat to back up last season’s SEC Tournament title with a regular season title.  AUBURN: The Tigers went 15-3 to win the SEC regular season title last season, earning a #2 seed in the NCAA Tournament but getting bounced by Miami in the Round of 32. Auburn did not lose a home game last season and will get four of the six toughest games this season at home, doubling up with Tennessee and Alabama but playing lone meetings with Arkansas and Kentucky at home for a favorable path. Auburn won its SEC opener vs. Florida and the Tigers won’t play the Gators again while playing Missouri and Mississippi State just once each. Auburn will play Georgia twice but has just one meeting with Vanderbilt and South Carolina on the other end of the conference ratings.  KENTUCKY: The Wildcats losing to Missouri to open the SEC season will make winning the regular season title more difficult. Kentucky has just one SEC regular season title in the past five seasons despite being the most prominent team in the conference. This year’s path features a pair of games with both Tennessee and Arkansas while playing Alabama on the road and hosting Auburn. Kentucky will have to play Florida twice in the SEC schedule and gets South Carolina just once. Kentucky does double up with four games with Georgia and Vanderbilt for a reasonable draw even with the early 0-1 start.  ALABAMA: The Tide closed last season with four straight losses as the big non-conference wins early in the season wound up being the season highlight. Alabama was only 9-9 in SEC play last season and this year’s path will have some difficulty. Alabama plays Auburn and Arkansas twice each while the only meeting with Tennessee will be on the road. Alabama beat Mississippi State on the road in the conference opener for a nice result and will play Florida and Missouri just once each this season. Alabama also only plays South Carolina and Georgia once each however and several of the toughest games are line up in back-to-back situations.  ARKANSAS: The last team standing from the SEC last March was Arkansas, but the Razorbacks have the most difficult conference draw this season. Four of the six games against the other four top five teams are on the road with Arkansas playing its only meetings with Tennessee and Auburn on the road. Arkansas lost its opener with LSU and will play the Tigers again while also having to play surging Missouri twice this season. Arkansas will only have single meetings with Georgia, Vanderbilt, and South Carolina as the Razorbacks have the most difficult conference path of the current projected contenders.  SLEEPER: Missouri doesn’t rate as a top threat and the 11-1 non-conference schedule featured a favorable draw with a blowout loss in the toughest game hosting Kansas. Missouri did get some attention with mid-December wins over UCF and Illinois before stunning Kentucky in the SEC opener however as this team can’t be ignored. Missouri has two meetings with Arkansas this season but won’t have to play Kentucky again while has just one meeting each with Tennessee, Auburn, and Alabama as it is a relatively favorable draw for Missouri to stay in the mix despite the modest expectations ahead of the season. 

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NHL Off the Post: December 31st

by Sean Murphy

Saturday, Dec 31, 2022

As we get ready to ring in the New Year, Sean takes a quick look around the NHL at some news and notes that you can use in your daily handicapping.Consistency countsThe Boston Bruins head into 2023 staking claim as the best team in the NHL and they've done it with alarming consistency this season. As we flip the calendar page over to 2023 we'll note that the B's have yet to lose consecutive games this season. They avoided that fate again earlier this week as they followed up a 3-2 loss in Ottawa with a 3-1 victory over the Devils the next night in Newark. Of note, Boston will play on back-to-back nights on three different occasions in January. Up next is the Winter Classic showdown with Pittsburgh at Fenway Park on Monday.Crown themThe Los Angeles Kings have proven to be one of the more underrated teams in the league so far this season and they'll have a chance to head into January winners of seven of their last eight games with a winnable home game against the Flyers on tap on New Year's Eve. With seven of their next eight games coming at home, where they've gone 11-7 so far this season, the Kings have plenty of room to run as they look to ascend the Pacific Division rankings in January.Oil rushIn less than surprising news, the Edmonton Oilers have been one of the best 'over' bets in the league this season and certainly of late as they've seen seven of their last eight and 16 of their last 20 games sail 'over' the total. That's despite the fact that they've been held to three goals or less in five of their last seven contests. If Friday's seven-goal outburst in Seattle (without Leon Draisaitl) is any indication, this might only be the beginning and it's surely only a matter of time before we see a return to those '7's that were popping up in Oiler games earlier in the season. Shooting StarsThe Dallas Stars haven't dropped consecutive games since December 4th and 6th, going on an 8-3 tear over their last 11 contests. While they've been finding the back of the net on a regular basis, I've been more impressed by their defensive play, allowing two goals or less in eight of their last 10 games and giving up an average of just 2.8 goals per game on the season. Not surprisingly, the 'under' has gone 7-2-1 in Dallas last 10 games overall. Next up is a home game against the reeling Sharks on New Year's Eve before the Stars hit the road for a quick two-game jaunt to California (to face the Kings and Ducks). Fanning the FlamesWhile it's still too early to declare a winner in the Tkachuk-Huberdeau blockbuster trade from the Summer, the case can be made that both the Panthers and Flames have been worse off since that deal. While Calgary has won four of its last six games, it still owns a less than impressive 17-13-7 record on the season and you would have to go back five games to find the last time the Flames scored more than three goals. After hosting Vancouver on New Year's Eve Calgary will play six of its next seven games on the road. Perhaps that's not a bad thing as the Flames have managed to win four of their last five away from home. 

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NCAAF, NBA, NHL, NCAAB and EPL Previews and Odds - 12/31/2022

by Big Al Staff

Saturday, Dec 31, 2022

The Saturday sports card features action in NCAAF, NBA, NHL, NCAAB, and the EPL.The college football bowl season continues with four games. Two games kick off a noon ET. Iowa plays Kentucky on ABC in the Music City Bowl at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee. The Hawkeyes had their four-game winning streak end in a 24-17 upset loss to Nebraska as an 11-point underdog on November 25th. The Wildcats ended a two-game losing streak with their 26-13 victory against Louisville as a 3.5-point favorite on November 26th. Iowa is a 2.5-point favorite with the total set at 31 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). Alabama battles Kansas State on ESPN in the Sugar Bowl at the Caesars  Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Crimson Tide are on a three-game winning streak after a 49-27 victory against Auburn on November 26th. The Wildcats won their fourth straight game in a 31-28 victory in overtime against TCU in the Big 12 championship game on December 3rd. Alabama is a 7-point favorite with an over/under of 56. Michigan faces TCU on ESPN at 4 PM ET in the first college football semifinals playoff game in the Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. The Wolverines continued their unbeaten season by beating Purdue, 43-22, as a 16-point favorite in the Big Ten championship game. The Horned Frogs lost their first game of the season in their loss to Kansas State in the Big 12 championship game. Michigan is a 7.5-point favorite with a total of 58.Georgia goes against Ohio State in the second college football semifinals playoff game in the Peach Bowl at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The Bulldogs continued their perfect season with a 50-30 victory against LSU as a 17-point favorite in the SEC championship game on December 3rd. The Buckeyes lost their first game of the year in a 45-23 upset loss to Michigan as a 9-point favorite on November 26th. Georgia is a 6-point favorite with an over/under of 62.5. The National Basketball Association has nine games on its docket. The Los Angeles Clippers visit Indiana to play the Indiana Pacers at 3:10 PM ET as a 3.5-point road favorite with a total of 230.5. Four more NBA games tip off at 7:10 PM ET. The Brooklyn Nets play at Charlotte against the Hornets as a 7.5-point road favorite. The Cleveland Cavaliers are at Chicago against the Bulls as a 4-point road favorite with an over/under of 224.5. The New York Knicks travel to Houston to play the Rockets as a 5.5-point road favorite. The Dallas Mavericks play at San Antonio against the Spurs as a 7-point road favorite. Three NBA games start at 8:10 PM ET. The Memphis Grizzlies host the New Orleans Pelicans as a 5.5-point favorite with a total of 232.5. The Minnesota Timberwolves play the Detroit Pistons as a 7.5-point favorite with an over/under of 231.5. The Philadelphia 76ers are at Oklahoma City to play the Thunder as a 4.5-point road favorite with a total of 231. The Utah Jazz play at home against the Miami Heat at 9:10 PM ET as a 3.5-point favorite at BetMGM. The National Hockey League has 12 games on its slate. Two games drop the puck at 1:07 PM ET. The Boston Bruins are at home against the Buffalo Sabres as a -250 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Columbus Bluejackets host the Chicago Blackhawks as a -135 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Vegas Golden Knights play at home against the Nashville Predators at 3:07 PM ET as a -165 money line favorite with an over/under of 6. Two more NHL games begin at 4:07 PM ET. The Los Angeles Kings are at home against the Philadelphia Flyers as a -215 money-line favorite with a total of 6. The Washington Capitals host the Montreal Canadiens as a -275 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6. The Tampa Bay Lightning play at home against the Arizona Coyotes at 5:07 PM ET as a -350 money line favorite with a total of 6. The Minnesota Wild visit St. Louis to play the Blues at 6:07 PM ET as a -130 money line road favorite with an over/under of 6. Two more NHL games start at 7:07 PM ET.  The Toronto Maple Leafs play at Colorado against the Avalanche as a -125 money line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The Detroit Red Wings are at home against the Ottawa Senators as a -120 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Dallas Stars host the San Jose Sharks at 8:07 PM ET as a -225 money line favorite with a total of 6. Two more games conclude the NHL card at 10:07 PM ET. The Calgary Flames play at home against the Vancouver Canucks as a -205 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Edmonton Oilers are at home against the Winnipeg Jets as a -140 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The college basketball schedule has six games on major national television. Two games tip off the televised NCAAB card at noon ET. UConn travels to Xavier on Fox as a 2.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 151. Kentucky hosts Louisville on CBS as a 23.5-point favorite with a total of 137.5. Duke plays at home against Florida State on ESPN2 as a 17.5-point favorite with an over/under of 143.5. Two televised NCAAB games start at 2 PM ET. Kansas is at home against Oklahoma State on CBS as a 10-point favorite with a total of 139. Arizona visits Arizona State on Fox at 2 PM ET as a 6-point road favorite with an over/under of 155. San Diego State plays at UNLV on CBS at 4 PM ET as a 3.5-point road favorite with a total of 139.5. Matchweek 18 in the English Premier League begins with six matches.  Manchester United is at Wolverhampton on the USA Network at 7:30 AM ET as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Four more EPL matches begin at 10 AM ET. Crystal Palace plays at Bournemouth in a pick ‘em match with a total of 2.5. Fulham hosts Southampton as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Manchester City is at home against Everton as a -2.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 3.5. Newcastle United plays at home against Leeds United on the USA Network as a -1 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 3. Arsenal is at Brighton and Hove Albion on NBC at 12:30 PM ET as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with a total of 2.5.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NCAAF, NBA, NHL, NCAAB and EPL Previews and Odds - 12/30/2022

by Big Al Staff

Friday, Dec 30, 2022

The Friday sports card features action in NCAAF, NBA, NHL, NCAAB, and the EPL.The college football bowl season continues with five games. North Carolina State plays Maryland on ESPN at noon ET in the Duke Mayo’s Bowl at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Wolfpack are a 1-point favorite, with the total set at 46.5 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). UCLA battles Pittsburgh on CBS at 2 PM ET in the Sun Bowl at the Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas. The Bruins are a 7.5-point favorite with an over/under of 54. Notre Dame faces South Carolina on ESPN at 3:30 PM ET in the Gator Bowl at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville, Florida. The Fighting Irish are a 3-point favorite with a total of 50.5. Ohio plays Wyoming at 4:30 PM ET in the Arizona Bowl at Arizona Stadium in Tucson, Arizona. The Bobcats are a 2.5-point favorite with an over/under of 42. Tennessee goes against Clemson on ESPN at 8 PM ET in the Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. The Tigers are a 6-point favorite with a total of 63. The National Basketball Association has nine games on its docket. The Washington Wizards travel to Orlando to play the Magic at 7:10 PM ET. Two more NBA games tip off at 7:40 PM ET. The Atlanta Hawks host the Los Angeles Lakers as a 7-point favorite. The Toronto Raptors play at home against the Phoenix Suns as a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 225. Two more NBA games start at 8:10 PM ET. The Chicago Bulls are at home against the Detroit Pistons as a 7.5-point favorite with an over/under of 229.5. The Milwaukee Bucks host the Minnesota Timberwolves as a 5.5-point favorite with a total of 229.5. The New Orleans Pelicans play at home against the Philadelphia 76ers at 8:40 PM ET as a 2-point favorite with an over/under of 226.5. The Denver Nuggets are at home against the Miami Heat at 9:10 PM ET as a 4.5-point favorite with a total of 223.5. Two more games conclude the NBA card at 10:10 PM ET. The Portland Trail Blazers play at Golden State as a 2.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 231. The Sacramento Kings host the Utah Jazz as a 3-point favorite with a total of 240. The National Hockey League has four games on its slate. The Nashville Predators visit Anaheim to play the Ducks at 5:07 PM ET as a -155 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6. The Pittsburgh Penguins play at home against the New Jersey Devils at 7:07 PM ET as a -125 money line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Carolina Hurricanes are at home against the Florida Panthers at 7:37 PM ET as a -180 money line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Edmonton Oilers travel to Seattle to play the Kraken at 10:07 PM ET, with both teams priced at -110 with a total of 6.5. The college basketball schedule has one game on national television. USC plays at Washington on ESPN2 at 10 PM ET as a 1-point road favorite with an over/under of 141.5. Matchweek 18 in the English Premier League begins with two matches. West Ham United hosts Brentford on the USA Network at 2:45 PM ET as a -0.5 goal-line favorite at BetMGM with a total of 2.5. Liverpool plays at home against Leicester City at 3 PM ET as a -1.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 3.5. 

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NHL Betting - The GIFT That Keeps on Giving

by Oskeim Sports

Thursday, Dec 29, 2022

Wouldn’t it be great if you could make a hockey wager and enjoy the gift of success each and every time? NHL betting does offer a GIFT but, like any other bet, it does not guarantee a victory every time. You might want to look into the GIFT as a part of a comprehensive hockey betting strategy. The GIFT, or Goals in First Ten, is a popular wagering option at many reputable sportsbooks. Bettors place bets on whether a goal will be scored in the first ten minutes of play. The goal can be scored by either team. Some sportsbooks also provide the NGFT, or No Goal First Ten, which is the opposite side of the GIFT wager. An NGFT wager is simply a bet that neither team will score in the opening ten minutes of a game. It’s a bet that is similar to MLB’s NRFI (No Runs First Inning) wager. Price of GIFT In roughly 58 percent of all games last NHL season, a goal was scored in the opening ten minutes. For the GIFT wager, that would translate to a price of -138. Of course, you need to add the juice and make adjustments for the combined offensive and defensive abilities of the two teams. Typically, the game total and GIFT odds are calculated together. It makes sense that the likelihood of a goal being scored in the first ten minutes of a game would rise if more goals are anticipated to be scored. Here are two examples from last season. Edmonton Oilers vs. Florida Panthers Total: 7 GIFT: -210 Both Edmonton and Florida were highly skilled offensive teams. The Panthers led the NHL in goals per game and the Oilers had the top two players in points for the season. The total in this game was set a little higher at 7. As a result, the odds on a goal in the first ten minutes are higher at -210. Again, more goals are anticipated making it more likely for one to be scored in the game’s first ten minutes. Vegas Golden Knights vs. New York Islanders Total: 5.5 GIFT: -130 The Islanders and Knights were two of the better defensive teams in the NHL last season. In terms of goals against per game, both teams were among the top-5 in the league. The total being set at 5.5 is a result of that. A goal within the first ten minutes is less likely because fewer goals are anticipated. The GIFT odds correspond at -130. The GIFT Rules The GIFT is typically counted from 0:00 to 9:59 of the first period at most sportsbooks. A bet is considered a loss if a goal is scored at precisely the 10:00 mark of the first period. The GIFT bet can be found in various places at different sportsbooks. Some will list the GIFT in the “Periods” section. Other sportsbooks will list the GIFT wager under a different heading, such as Popular Bets. In some books, you can even place a wager on a goal within the first five minutes (GIFF).Betting the GIFT The average number of goals scored by a team in an NHL game is 3.16. The average for the entire previous season was 3.14. Thus, an NHL game will typically feature 6.3 goals. Scores haven’t been this high in a very long time. The last time teams averaged 3.14 goals per game was in 1995–96. In just 17% of NHL games from last season, the first period featured no goals. The league average for the last 15 NHL seasons is 19%. Thus, first-period goals were scored in 81% of NHL games. GIFT odds have been adjusted in response to the increased scoring over the previous two seasons. The top teams in terms of GIFT bets so far in 2022–23 are Vancouver (23–8), Calgary (24–9), Buffalo (23–9), and Ottawa (23–9). At least 71% of the time, a goal was scored by each team in the opening ten minutes of a game. It’s interesting to note that in every Vancouver away game, the GIFT bet was a winner.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NFL, NCAAF, NBA, NHL and NCAAB Previews and Odds - 12/29/2022

by Big Al Staff

Thursday, Dec 29, 2022

The Thursday sports card features action in the NFL, NCAAF, NBA, NHL, and NCAAB.Week 17 in the National Football League kicks off with one game. The Dallas Cowboys travel to Tennessee to play the Titans on Amazon Prime at 8:15 PM ET. The Cowboys won for the fifth time in their last six games with a 40-34 victory against Philadelphia as a 4-point favorite on Saturday. The Titans lost their fifth straight game in a 19-14 upset loss to Houston as a 3-point favorite last Saturday. Dallas is a 12.5-point road favorite, with the total set at 39.5 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise).  The college football bowl season continues with three games on ESPN. Minnesota plays Syracuse at 2 PM ET in the Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium in New York City. The Golden Gophers won for the fourth time in their last five games with a 23-16 upset victory as a 3-point underdog on November 26th. The Orange ended a five-game losing streak with a 32-23 victory at Boston College as a 10.5-point favorite on November 26th. Minnesota is an 11-point favorite with an over/under of 44. Florida State battles Oklahoma at 5:30 PM ET in the Cheez-It Bowl at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida. The Seminoles are on a five-game winning streak after a 45-38 victory as a 9.5-point favorite on November 25th. The Sooners lost for the third time in their last four games in a 51-48 upset loss in overtime at Texas Tech as a 1.5-point favorite on November 26th. Florida State is a 9.5-point favorite with a total of 65. Texas faces Washington at 9 PM ET at the Alamo Bowl in San Antonio, Texas. The Longhorns won for the third time in their last four games with a 38-27 victory against Baylor as a 10-point favorite on November 25th. The Huskies have won six straight games after a 51-33 victory at Washington State as a 2.5-point favorite on November 26th. Texas is a 3-point favorite with an over/under of 67.5. The National Basketball Association has six games on its docket. Two games tip off at 7:10 PM ET. The Charlotte Hornets host the Oklahoma City Thunder as a 1-point favorite. The Cleveland Cavaliers travel to Indiana to play the Pacers as a 5.5-point road favorite with a total of 224.  Two NBA games start at 7:40 PM ET. The Boston Celtics play at home against the Los Angeles Clippers as a 5.5-point favorite with an over/under of 227. The Memphis Grizzlies are at Toronto against the Raptors as a 2-point road favorite. The New York Knicks visit San Antonio to play the Spurs at 8:10 PM ET as a 5-point road favorite. The Dallas Mavericks are at home against the Houston Texans at 8:40 PM ET as an 11.5-point favorite with a total of 222. The National Hockey League has 11 games on its slate. The puck drops at 7:07 PM ET for four games. The Buffalo Sabres host the Detroit Red Wings as a -145 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Florida Panthers play at home against the Montreal Canadiens as a -285 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Tampa Bay Lightning is at home against the New York Rangers as a -140 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6. The Washington Capitals host the Ottawa Senators as a -170 money-line favorite with a total of 6. The New York Islanders play at home against the Columbus Blue Jackets at 7:37 PM ET as a -240 money line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. Three more NHL games begin at 8:07 PM ET. The St. Louis Blues are at home against the Chicago Blackhawks as a -260 money-line favorite with a total of 6. The Minnesota Wild host the Dallas Stars as a -120 money line favorite with an over/under of 6. The Winnipeg Jets play at home against the Vancouver Canucks as a -155 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. Two NHL games start at 9:07 PM ET. The Colorado Avalanche are at home against the Los Angeles Kings as a -145 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Toronto Maple Leafs travel to Arizona to play the Coyotes as a -295 money-line road favorite with a total of 6. The San Jose Sharks host the Philadelphia Flyers at 10:37 PM ET as a -165 money line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The college basketball schedule has nine games on national television. Butler plays at home against Providence on FS1 at 6:30 PM ET as a 1.5-point favorite with a total of 141.5. Two more NCAAB games tip-off at 7 PM ET. Maryland is at home against Maryland-Baltimore County on ESPNU as a 17-point favorite at Caesars with an over/under of 146. Hofstra plays at Delaware on the CBS Sports Network as a 1-point road favorite with a total of 146. DePaul hosts Georgetown on FS2 at 8 PM ET as a 4-point favorite with an over/under of 153.5. Illinois plays at home against Bethune-Cookman on FS1 at 8:30 PM ET as a 30-point favorite at Caesars with a total of 143.5. Three NCAAB games start at 9 PM ET. Cincinnati is at home against Tulane on ESPN2 as a 4.5-point favorite with an over/under of 152. Drake hosts Valparaiso on the CBS Sports Network as a 16.5-point favorite with a total of 140. UC Santa Barbara plays at Cal-State Fullerton on ESPNU as a 5-point road favorite with an over/under of 128. Stanford is at home against Colorado on ESPNU as a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 140. 

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The Late Season Surging Los Angeles Chargers Defense

by Team Del Genio

Wednesday, Dec 28, 2022

The Los Angeles Chargers are playing their best defense in the two seasons under head coach Brandon Staley, just in time for the playoffs next month. The improved play may be due to the players-only meetings instigated that started earlier in December. When noticing that the defense was allowing opposing rushers to average 5.44 yards per carry, veteran linebacker Kyle Van Noy called a players-only meeting on the Thursday before their game with the Las Vegas Raiders. The results were not immediate. The Chargers lost that game, 27-20, with Josh Jacobs running the ball 26 times for 144 yards. Yet the players decided to make the players-only meeting a weekly event three days before game day (usually Thursday after practice, with the players-only meeting taking place on Friday last week due to the Monday night kickoff). Before that Monday night game in Indianapolis against the Colts, the numbers were indicating that the Chargers’ defense had begun to turn things around. They had allowed only 31 points in their two previous games with those opponents averaging only 251.5 total yards per game. They are still giving up 4.76 yards per carry, a modest improvement, yet their last two opponents have averaged only 109.5 rushing yards per game. The results against the pass have been much better as they have held their last two opponents to 141 passing yards per game. The defense has been hit hard by injuries, yet they are starting to get healthy again. Safety Derwin James played on Monday for the first time since week 13 (only briefly before being kicked out of the game for an illegal hit). The Chargers got back cornerback Bryce Callahan and defensive lineman Sebastian Joseph-Day as well after all three players took part in practice and had their names removed from the injured list last week. That bodes well for them in the days ahead. Los Angeles may have then played their best defensive game of the season in a 20-3  victory against the Colts on Monday. The Chargers held Indianapolis to just the one field goal and only ten first downs. Indianapolis managed to gain only 173 total yards of offense. Nick Foles was making his first start of the season for the Colts, and the former Super Bowl-winning quarterback completed 17 of 29 passes but for only 143 yards. Los Angeles picked off three of his passes. The Chargers held Indianapolis to only 69 rushing yards from their 14 carries. While that 4.93 yards per carry average for the Colts is not great from an efficiency standpoint, holding Indianapolis to below 70 rushing yards continues their recent ability to get their defense off the field. The Colts were on offense for just 26:06 minutes in the game. Los Angeles has now held their last three opponents to just 11.3 points per game and 225.3 yards per game. These opponents averaged only 4.7 yards per play. Their opponents are still averaging 4.8 yards per carry in the running game, yet they are only running the ball 20 times per game and getting 96 yards per game from their rushing attack. Perhaps most importantly, despite having their defense on the field for 29:45 minutes per game this season, the Chargers have lowered that number by almost three minutes per game by being on the field for only 25:53 minutes per game in these most recent three games. Whether it is because of the schemes of Staley and his defensive coaching staff or the increased accountability of the players on defense, the Chargers' defense is finally starting to meet the expectations from when they hired Staley away from the Rams when he was their defensive coordinator. With a healthy Derwin James running the defense (and Joey Bosa expected to get healthy and back on the field soon) and Justin Herbert lurking on offense, it is this Los Angeles team this season that has the makings of a potential deep run in the playoffs.Good luck - TDG.

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A Case for Ohio State to Win the National Championship

by Oskeim Sports

Wednesday, Dec 28, 2022

As a result of Utah's resounding 47-24 victory over the then-No. 4-ranked USC Trojans in the Pac-12 championship game, Ohio State took the fourth and final spot in the College Football Playoff. The Buckeyes could win it all. Ohio State head coach Ryan Day wasted little time in letting the college football world know what to expect from his team. There are those that will scrutinize Day and the Buckeyes for backing into the playoff. Remember, the Buckeyes were demoralized by rival Michigan in the final regular-season game.  Still, the Buckeyes can win it all. Here are five reasons why. C.J. Stroud The Buckeyes quarterback was a Heisman Trophy finalist for the second consecutive season. He was the Big Ten’s Offensive Player of the Year as well as the Quarterback of the Year. Stroud could declare for the NFL draft after the CFP, which would give him even more reason to lead one of the nation’s best offenses. Ohio State totaled 492.7 yards of offense per game, which was eighth in the nation. The Buckeyes scored 44.5 points per game, which was good for second behind Tennessee. Stroud threw for 3,340 yards and 37 touchdowns. He took the Michigan loss personally and would love to make up for not getting his team a Big Ten championship. Improved RB Health Ohio State's running game suffered as a result of nagging injuries to both Miyan Williams and TreVeyon Henderson. Henderson did not play in the Michigan game. Williams attempted to play but was clearly limited. With the extended break leading up to the semifinal on December 31, both players will have had ample time to recover and be as close to 100% as possible. Their presence would add yet another element to this already effective offense because both ball carriers have demonstrated their ability to make a difference. Forgotten Special Teams The Buckeyes have two excellent specialists in kicker Noah Ruggles and punter Jesse Mirco, two positions that are frequently overlooked by teams. Ruggles has made 69-of-70 extra point attempts and 15-of-17 field goal attempts, with a long of 47 yards. Micro has made 44 punts in all, averaging nearly 45 yards each, with a long of 77 yards. In a high-profile game where field position could be crucial, Day has two players who will perform admirably if needed in a playoff game. Run Defense Many might laugh after the Buckeyes got torched for 252 rushing yards by Michigan, but the Buckeyes are actually one of the better run defenses in the nation. Ohio State has a top-25 run defense that allows 120 yards per game and has allowed a total of 10 rushing touchdowns in 12 games. In spite of having some personnel issues, the Buckeyes are only allowing 3.4 yards per carry. LB Tommy Eichenberg has persevered despite having two broken hands leading the team with 112 tackles. Similar to the running backs, the defense should have time to recover and work out any kinks in their assignments and communication during the break before the semifinal. The Motivation Factor No playoff team lacks motivation, but it's unlikely that the other teams are subject to the same level of scorn and mockery as the Buckeyes. They are viewed as being unworthy of the invitation to the CFP. Both Day and defensive coordinator Jim Knowles have something to prove. Ohio State’s players will take advantage of the hostility being directed at them by the doubters. What’s interesting is the Buckeyes are a 7-point underdog in their semifinal against No. 1 seed Georgia. Ohio State is listed at +350 to win it all. TCU has the longest odds at +1600.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NCAAF, NBA, NHL, NCAAB and EPL Previews and Odds - 12/28/2022

by Big Al Staff

Wednesday, Dec 28, 2022

The Wednesday sports card features action in NCAAF, NBA, NHL, NCAAB, and the EPL.The college football bowl season continues with four games. Duke plays Central Florida on ESPN at 2 PM ET in the Military Bowl at the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Maryland. The Blue Devils have won four of their last five games after their 34-31 upset victory against Wake Forest as a 3-point underdog on November 26th. The Knights lost for the second time in their last three games in a 45-28 loss at Tulane as a 3.5-point underdog in the American Athletic Conference championship game on December 3rd. Duke is a 3.5-point favorite, with the total set at 62 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). Arkansas battles Kansas on ESPN at 5:30 PM ET in the Liberty Bowl at the Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in Memphis, Tennessee. The Razorbacks have lost three of their last four games after a 29-27 upset loss at Missouri as a 3-point favorite on November 25th. The Jayhawks have lost three games in a row after a 47-46 loss at Kansas State as an 11.5-point underdog on November 26th. Arkansas is a 3-point favorite with an over/under of 69. Oregon goes against North Carolina on Fox at 8 PM ET in the Holiday Bowl at Petco Park in San Diego. The Ducks have lost two of their last three games with a 38-34 loss at Oregon State as a 1-point underdog on November 26th. The Tar Heels are on a three-game losing streak after getting beat by Clemson, 39-10, in the ACC championship game as a 7-point underdog on December 3rd. Oregon is a 13-point favorite with a total of 75. Mississippi faces Texas Tech on ESPN at 9 PM ET in the Texas Bowl at NRG Stadium in Houston. The Rebels are on a three-game losing streak after losing to Mississippi State, 24-22, as a 2.5-point favorite on November 24th. The Red Raiders are on a three-game winning streak after their 51-48 upset victory in overtime against Oklahoma as a 1.5-point underdog on November 26th. Mississippi is a 3.5-point favorite with an over/under of 71. The National Basketball Association has eight games on its docket. Two NBA games tip off at 7:10 PM ET. The Orlando Magic visit Detroit to play the Pistons as a 1.5-point road favorite with a total of 229. The Phoenix Suns play at Washington against the Wizards as a 1-point road favorite. Two more NBA games start at 7:40 PM ET. The Brooklyn Nets are in Atlanta against the Hawks as a 5.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 238.5. The Miami Heat host the Los Angeles Lakers as a 7-point favorite.Two NBA games begin at 8:10 PM ET. The Milwaukee Bucks travel to Chicago to play the Bulls as a 4.5-point road favorite with a total of 231.5. The New Orleans Pelicans play at home against the Minnesota Timberwolves as a 6.5-point favorite with an over/under of 233. Two games complete the NBA card at 10:10 PM ET. The Utah Jazz are at Golden State as a 3-point road favorite. The Denver Nuggets play at Sacramento against the Kings as a 2-point road favorite. The National Hockey League has five games on its slate. The Tampa Bay Lightning are at home against the Montreal Canadiens at 7:07 PM ET as a -345 money line favorite with a total of 6. Two more NHL games drop the puck at 7:37 PM ET. The Pittsburgh Penguins host the Detroit Red Wings on TNT as a -195 money line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Boston Bruins visit New Jersey to play the Devils, with both teams priced at -110 with a total of 6.5. Two games complete the NHL card at 10:07 PM ET. The Calgary Flames play at Seattle against the Kraken, with both teams priced at -110 with an over/under of 6. The Vegas Golden Knights are at Anaheim against the Ducks on TNT as a -180 money-line road favorite with a total of 6. The college basketball schedule has ten games on national television. UNC-Wilmington travels to Monmouth on the CBS Sports Network at 5 PM ET as an 11.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 134.5. UConn plays at home against Villanova on FS1 at 6:30 PM ET as a 12.5-point favorite with a total of 137. Three more NCAAB games tip off at 7 PM ET. Auburn is at home against Florida on ESPN2 as a 5-point favorite with an over/under of 141. Davidson plays at Fordham on the CBS Sports Network as a 1-point road favorite with an over/under of 142. Samford is at home against Mercer on ESPNU as a 1.5-point favorite with a total of 141.5. Three NCAAB games start at 9 PM ET. Arkansas is at LSU on ESPN2 as a 5-point road favorite with an over/under of 143.5. Xavier visits St. John’s on FS1 as a 1.5-point road favorite with a total of 160.5. New Mexico hosts Colorado State on the CBS Sports Network as a 6.5-point favorite with an over/under of 150. Two more games conclude the NCAAB card at 11 PM ET. Fresno State plays at home against Wyoming as a 1-point favorite with a total of 127. San Diego State is at home against Air Force on FS1 as an 18-point favorite with an over/under of 129. Matchweek 17 in the English Premier League concludes with one match on the USA Network at 3 PM ET. Manchester City plays at Leeds United as a -1.5 goal-line road favorite at BetMGM with a total of 3.5. 

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