Follow us @bigal_com

Instagram Twitter

Articles

MLB 2023: AL West Division Preview

by Scott Rickenbach

Monday, Feb 27, 2023

AL West Division Preview for MLB 2023Houston Astros – Of course the big news here is Justin Verlander is now with the Mets. However, Houston still has plenty of talent remaining from the club that won the World Series over the Phillies last fall. But my key question would be who will step up as a true #1 in the rotation. Again, this team should be one of the best in the league but truly the only way to go is down after they did win it all last season. Los Angeles Angels – When I look at the projected Angels lineup I am impressed by what I see. However, this team always struggles to stay healthy. It just seems like they are snakebit in the health department. They have some solid starting pitching but I do not trust this bullpen at all. That looks like a weak area. So the more I look at this team, except for when Ohtani and Sandoval are on the mound, this could be a team that has a lot of overs this season. That is based on a healthy lineup and an unimpressive bullpen.Oakland Athletics – Another rough season likely for the Athletics. When one looks at this pitching rotation it is just had to have faith. They added some new arms but just not key guys to rely upon really. Everyone would have to have really surprising seasons for this rotation to be something to talk about. As for the defense that should be a strength with this team and they are strong behind the plate. But this lineup looks weak again and particularly the bottom half. Just do not know where much offense will come from with this team. Seattle Mariners – Finally the Mariners got back to the playoffs last season. I like the fact they are not sitting still now either. Seattle added some players like Hernandez, Wong and Pollock in the off-season. As long as last year’s rookie sensation Julio Rodriguez does not have a sophomore slump, this team will again be a threat for post-season action! Texas Rangers – Have to be excited about this team. Is not just the addition of deGrom either as it is a truly revamped starting rotation. I like the Rangers chances of being able to surprise some teams with a consistent parade of solid starting pitching to the mound each series. As is the norm with the guys the Rangers have in the rotation, staying generally healthy overall will be a key. The concern for Texas the way I see it is that they are really going to need some guys to step up in the lineup. They just do not have a lot of big bats in the current projected lineup. These team likely going to have to rely on pitching. 

Read more

2023 Horizon League Tournament Preview

by Nelly's Sports

Monday, Feb 27, 2023

Horizon League Tournament Preview The Horizon League has undergone plenty of changes in recent years and this year features 11 teams in an adjustable bracket with the top five teams already placed in the quarterfinals. Those games will take place Thursday, March 2 in home venues for the stronger seeds, with the 6-11 seeds facing off Tuesday night on campus venues before being reseeded into the final eight. The semifinals and final will be in Indianapolis March 6-7.   Last season Wright State won the Horizon League tournament as a #4 seed and the #1 seed has won the conference tournament title just once in the past seven seasons. Three #4 seeds and three #2 seeds have taken the title in that span.  The Horizon League can claim past NCAA Tournament success as former member Butler was the national runner-up in both the 2010 and 2011 NCAA Tournaments. Cleveland State and Milwaukee also turned in NCAA Tournament wins in the 2000s as technically five Horizon League teams have made the Sweet 16 since 2003.  The Horizon League has not reached the Round of 32 of the NCAA Tournament since Butler’s Final Four run in 2011 but last season Wright State won in a 16/16 First Four pairing before losing to Arizona in the Round of 64. This year the Horizon League will likely be looking at a #16 seed and the possibility of a First Four appearance again unless the #1 seed Youngstown State captures the title as they would likely be at least a #15 seed in most scenarios.   While the Horizon League lacks probable NCAA Tournament sleepers, it is a conference with a few high-profile players. Detroit’s Antoine Davis is the #2 scoring player in Division I men’s basketball history averaging nearly 25 points per game over 111 contests as he heads towards his final game(s). Dayton transfer Dwayne Cohill had a terrific season leading top seed Youngstown State while Marques Warrick (Northern Kentucky) and Jarred Godfrey (Purdue Fort Wayne) also were top performers as there are several standout guards in the conference.  #1 seed Youngstown State grades as the top team in the conference and is the only top 150 caliber team nationally in this group. The Penguins went only 15-5 in conference play however as the occasional upset defeat occurred. The offense posted 82.2 points per game in league play, but the defense has been vulnerable for this veteran team and an upset loss to continue to recent challenges for the #1 seeds in this conference tournament is possible.  Three teams wound up 14-6 in Horizon play and Milwaukee takes the #2 seed via tiebreaker though most power ratings don’t have Milwaukee in the top five in this conference. After a disappointing season last year with minimal contributions from lottery pick Patrick Baldwin, Milwaukee with a coaching change to Bart Lundy, doubled its win count this season. Milwaukee looks overseeded by the season composite numbers but they went 5-1 vs. the other top three teams in the conference with an up-tempo pace and good numbers beyond the arc on both sides of the ball.  Cleveland State winds up as the #3 seed after losing the season finale with Milwaukee. The Vikings have won five of the final six including home wins over Youngstown State, Wright State, and Northern Kentucky. Cleveland State has arguably the most balanced team in the conference as the only team in the top three of the offensive and defensive rankings in the league. Northern Kentucky is the #4 seed and the top defensive team in the conference. The Norse lost by one-point in the conference championship game last season, and this is a group that allowed just 62.3 points per game with a deliberate pace of play. Northern Kentucky is one of the top teams in the nation at creating turnovers and is an offense that lives and dies by the 3-point shot. Northern Kentucky has one of the better non-conference wins out of the Horizon beating Cincinnati in November and the Norse did win the home meeting with Youngstown State in December in a double-overtime game.  Oakland is just 13-18 overall this season but climbed to 11-9 in Horizon play to earn the #5 seed and a ticket to the quarterfinals though they will play at Northern Kentucky in that game. Oakland hosted Northern Kentucky in the season finale and lost by nine but did win 64-63 in January on the road in that pairing. Oakland took on an incredibly difficult non-conference schedule filled with power five foes which could pay dividends in a tournament setting.  While playing an extra game is a clear disadvantage, the Horizon League has IUPUI and Green Bay at the bottom of the standings and those are two of the worst teams in the nation this season. That means Wright State and Robert Morris should have favorable paths to advance to the quarterfinals while Detroit and Purdue Fort Wayne will face off in a difficult 8-9 draw to make their long term chances in this tournament dramatically more difficult.  #6 Robert Morris looks like the team with the most potential to make a sleeper run. They will face #3 seed Cleveland State if they win over IUPUI to start the tournament and while they lost both meetings in the regular season, they were both close games. Robert Morris is 7-4 in the past 11 games and beat Youngstown State by 19 last week, while for the conference season owns better average scoring differential than #2 seed Milwaukee. The Colonels were the #2 defensive team in the conference making a big jump this season after two tough seasons since making the move to the Horizon for the 2020-21 season. 

Read more

2023 Missouri Valley Conference Tournament Preview

by Nelly's Sports

Monday, Feb 27, 2023

Missouri Valley Conference Tournament Preview Arch Madness is set and while a few high-profile programs have left the Missouri Valley in recent years, this tournament has provided plenty of exciting games over the years. This tournament traditionally sets the tone for March Madness as one of the earliest conference tournaments to complete.  The Missouri Valley has had multiple NCAA Tournament teams in five of the past 10 NCAA Tournaments and had a Sweet 16 team two years ago with Loyola-Chicago, who also made the Final Four as a #11 seed in 2018. Loyola-Chicago won the past two MVC Championships, both against Drake, but the program departed for the Atlantic 10 this season.  Loyola-Chicago was the #4 seed last season and in the past four seasons the tournament champion has been a #4 seed or worse three times. In the past four MVC Championships there is only one appearance each from a #1, #2, and #3 seed as this has been a chaotic tournament in recent years following a 12-year run from 2007 to 2018 in which no team seeded outside the top four ever made the MVC final and the #1 and #2 seeds took 10 of 12 titles.  In a tight race Bradley has emerged as the regular season champions this season and the #1 seed, taking a 10-game winning streak into the postseason including beating Drake for the outright conference title on Sunday in the regular season finale. Bradley last made the NCAA Tournament in 2019, emerging with a MVC title as the #5 seed. The Braves also won the MVC Tournament in 2020 as the #4 seed but the NCAA Tournament was cancelled.  There won’t be room for an at-large bid out of the MVC this season with Bradley or Drake likely topping out on the #12 seed line should either team take the automatic bid. Drake is 13-2 in the past 15 games though did wind up with three overtime wins in league play. Drake beat Bradley 86-61 at home in January before losing the rematch in Peoria last weekend.  Southern Illinois closed the season on a 5-4 run to fall to 14-6 and the #3 seed, going 0-2 vs. Bradley late in the season. The Salukis are the most experienced team in the conference. In its first season in the MVC, Belmont also reached 14-6 for the #4 spot, going 2-0 vs. Bradley in the regular season. The top four seeds receive byes to the quarterfinals, but it is a fixed bracket with no reseeding if there are upsets. Unlike some of other tournaments this week, this tournament spans only four days as the victor will need to win three or four games in as many days.  #5 seed Indiana State rates as the second best offensive team in the MVC and the up-tempo Sycamores have the nation’s best 2-point field goal percentage at over 59 percent. Indiana State lost its final two games of the regular season to halt a seven-game winning streak and played the weakest schedule in the MVC however, drawing Bradley only once for a big advantage.  Missouri State was a mild disappointment to fall to 12-8 and the #6 seed as most preseason projections had this group pegged as a top four team. The Bears went 2-0 vs. Drake and had late season wins over Belmont and Indiana State as this is a team that could make a run. A slow tempo team with solid defensive numbers, this squad has sleeper potential though very poor free throw shooting is concern.  There is a meaningful drop off from the top six in the bracket to the bottom six, though #7 Murray State has wins over Texas A&M and Bradley in an uneven first season in the conference. Ultimately this is a season where the #1 and #2 seeds should be at an advantage as the quarterfinal draws for Southern Illinois and Belmont should be much more difficult barring an upset. 

Read more

Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL and NCAAB Previews and Odds - 02/27/2023

by Big Al Staff

Monday, Feb 27, 2023

The Monday sports card features action in the NBA, NHL, and NCAAB. The National Basketball Association has four games on its docket. Two NBA games tip off at 7:10 PM ET. The Charlotte Hornets host the Detroit Pistons as a 6.5-point favorite, with the total set at 237 (all odds from DraftKings). The Philadelphia 76ers play at home against the Miami Heat as a 6-point favorite with an over/under of 216. The Boston Celtics travel to New York to play the Knicks at 7:40 PM ET as a 2.5-point road favorite with a total of 223. The New Orleans Pelicans are at home against the Orlando Magic at 8:10 PM ET as a 4-point favorite with an over/under of 225.5.The National Hockey League has five games on its slate. The Ottawa Senators host the Detroit Red Wings at 7:07 PM ET as a -135 money line favorite with a total of 6.5. Two more NHL games drop the puck at 8:37 PM ET. The Boston Bruins visit Edmonton to play the Oilers as a -140 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Dallas Stars play at home against the Vancouver Canucks as a -280 money-line favorite with a total of 6. The Colorado Avalanche are at home against the Vegas Golden Knights at 9:07 PM ET as a -140 money line favorite with an over/under of 6. The Anaheim Ducks host the Chicago Blackhawks at 10:07 PM ET as a -135 money line favorite with a total of 6. The college basketball schedule has four games on national television. North Carolina goes on the road to play Florida State on ESPN at 7 PM ET. The Tar Heels have won two games in a row after their 71-63 victory against Virginia as a 4-point favorite on Saturday. The victory against the Cavaliers raised their record to 18-11. The Seminoles ended a four-game losing streak with an 85-84 upset victory at Miami (FL) as a 13-point underdog on Saturday. They now have a 9-20 record. North Carolina is a 7-point road favorite with an over/under of 151.5. Three more NCAA-B games on national television start at 9 PM ET. Baylor travels to Oklahoma State on ESPN. The Bears ended a two-game losing streak with an 81-72 victory against Texas on Saturday. They improved their record to 21-8 with the win. The Cowboys have lost four games in a row after a 73-68 upset loss to Kansas State as a 3-point favorite on Saturday. Oklahoma State's record fell to 16-13 with that defeat. Baylor is a 1.5-pooint road favorite with a total of 142.5. Iowa State plays at home against West Virginia on ESPN2. The Cyclones have lost three straight games after a 61-50 upset loss to Oklahoma as a 7.5-point favorite on Saturday. Their record dropped to 17-11 with the loss. The Mountaineers lost for the fourth time in their last five games in a 76-74 loss at Kansas as a 9.5-point underdog yesterday. West Virginia has a 16-13 record. Iowa State is a 4-point favortie with an over/under of 134.5. Nevada is at Wyoming on the CBS Sports Network. The Wolf Pack won for the sixth time in their last seven games with a 60-56 victory at Fresno State as a 3-point favortie on Saturday to raise their record to 22-7. The Cowboys lost for the sixth time in their last seven games in an 84-71 loss at Colorado State as a 7-point underdog. Wyoming has an 8-20 record. Nevada is a 5.5-point road favorite with a total of 138. 

Read more

Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, NCAAB and EPL Previews and Odds - 02/26/2023

by Big Al Staff

Sunday, Feb 26, 2023

The Sunday sports card features action in the NBA, NHL, NCAAB, and EPL. The National Basketball Association has nine games on its docket. The Milwaukee Bucks host the Phoenix Suns on ABC at 1:10 PM ET as a 4-point favorite (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). The Atlanta Hawks play at home against the Brooklyn Nets at 3:10 PM ET as a 5.5-point favorite, with the total set at 229.5. Two more NBA games tip off at 3:40 PM ET. The Chicago Bulls are at home against the Washington Wizards as a 4-point favorite with an over/under of 226. The Dallas Mavericks host the Los Angeles Lakers on ABC as a 4.5-point favorite with a total of 237.5. The Cleveland Cavaliers play at home against the Toronto Raptors at 6:10 PM ET as a 6.5-point favorite. The Sacramento Kings visit Oklahoma City to play the Thunder at 7:10 PM ET as a 3-point road favorite. The Golden State Warriors are at home against the Minnesota Timberwolves at 7:40 PM ET as a 2.5-point favorite. The Portland Trail Blazers host the Houston Rockets at 9:10 PM ET as a 10-point favorite. The Los Angeles Clippers visit Denver to play the Nuggets on ESPN at 10:10 PM ET. The National Hockey League has seven games on its slate. The Buffalo Sabres play at home against the Washington Capitals at 1:07 PM ET as a -125 money line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Minnesota Wild are at home against the Columbus Bluejackets at 2:07 PM ET as a -285 money line favorite with a total of 6. The Winnipeg Jets host the New York Islanders at 3:37 PM ET as a -140 money line favorite with an over/under of 6. The New York Rangers play at home against the Los Angeles Kings at 5:07 PM ET as a -145 money line favorite with a total of 6.The Tampa Bay Lightning travels to Pittsburgh to play the Penguins at 6:07 PM ET as a -125 money line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. Two more NHL games drop the puck at 7:07 PM ET. The Toronto Maple Leafs play at Seattle against the Kraken as a -145 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The Nashville Predators are in Arizona to play the Coyotes as a -170 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.The college basketball schedule has 12 games on national television. Two NCAAB games tip off at noon ET. Illinois plays at Ohio State on CBS as a 4.5-point road favorite with a total of 145. St. Bonaventure is at home against Saint Joseph’s on the USA Network as a 3-point favorite with an over/under of 139.5. Two more NCAAB games on national television start at 12:30 PM ET. Providence travels to Georgetown on Fox as a 7.5-point road favorite with a total of 149. Belmont plays at Northern Iowa on the CBS Sports Network as a 2.5-point road favorite with a total of 149. Three NCAAB games on national television begin at 2 PM ET. Memphis hosts Cincinnati on ESPN2 as a 5-point favorite with an over/under of 152.5. Michigan plays at home against Wisconsin on CBS as a 5-point favorite with a total of 129. Duquesne is at home against Davidson on the USA Network as a 5.5-point favorite with an over/under of 142.5. Tulane hosts Wichita State on ESPNU at 3 PM ET as a 6-point favorite with a total of 149.5. UCLA visits Colorado on CBS at 4 PM ET as a 6.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 134. Central Florida plays at Tulsa on ESPNU at 5 PM ET as a 13-point road favorite with a total of 140. Stanford plays at home against Washington State on FS1 at 6 PM ET as a 6-point favorite with an over/under of 140.5. Stephen F. Austin is at home against Cal-Baptist on ESPNU at 7 PM ET as a 4.5-point favorite with a total of 138. Matchweek 25 of the English Premier League continues with one match at 8:30 AM ET. Chelsea plays at Tottenham on the USA Network in a pick ‘em matchup at BetMGM with an over/under of 2.5.

Read more

Get Your Spikes Out and Head Into The Dugout

by Vegas Writer

Sunday, Feb 26, 2023

The boys of summer have made it to training cap, and I couldn't be any more excited for the baseball season?From a betting standpoint, always remember it's rare you can invest in a season-long season, go 50-50 - or slightly worse for that matter - and make money. With value underdogs going daily, and age-old, fool-proof systems that produce said plus prices, I’m always excited for the six-month grind.The baseball season can be a long one, so I always suggest putting aside a bankroll for the entire campaign, and settling in with a long-term package for what can be a roller coaster ride. There isn't much in the way of a break other than the days in July for the All-Star Break. The season gets underway next month, and ends more than a month into the NFL season - and two months into College Football - with the World Series. And believe me, when late August rolls around, it becomes a battle between your mind and determination to make money.Whether you're a recreational bettor or serious investor, there is no time to think with no days off if you're going to invest in baseball.So you're prepared, my routine begins the afternoon before once the pitching matchup is listed. I immediately start making lines, and then compare to the overnights that start to trickle in. Remember that there is value in every single game, it’s a matter of finding it and applying it accordingly. Whether it's first-five sides or totals, or full-game sides and totals.And this is one of those sports certain trends are important to look at, others should be ignored. The aforementioned systems that are classic can apply to specific trends you have no choice by to apply. As the campaign approaches, I will explain further, especially in my analysis.Remember, winning and losing streaks, how a pitcher does against certain teams, and how teams do on the road across different time zones all should have something to do with your success. Weather can be a factor. Whether it’s still cold in Chicago and New York, blistering hot in Phoenix, or sticky humid in certain cities.The biggest thing to remember, if you want to win money in baseball, is you have to stick to your handicapping morals, and that takes discipline. There will be times you're asked to take a $2 underdog, and the consistency in following patterns you started betting in late March will always play in your favor with the law of averages working out. It doesn't matter the price or the dynamics of a game or pitching matchup. You follow your system, you follow your discipline, you follow your trend, you stick to your process.Proper money management begins with investing a percentage of the bankroll you start with, and increasing your wagers as your bankroll increases. That is important. You cannot go bust two months into the season because you overextended yourself while you're still growing a season-long bankroll.If you start with a $5,000 bankroll and bet one percent of it, you’re moving $50 per game. As the bankroll increases or decreases, so will your one-percent, per-game investment. You don’t change because you like a specific game more than the other. Those types of investments should come from an outside source of income - not your season-long investment.Get your spikes out and head into the dugout. It’s almost time to make money with the most profitable sport, and as we get closer, I'll spotlight sleepers and future wagers.

Read more

Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, NCAAB and EPL Previews and Odds - 02/25/2023

by Big Al Staff

Saturday, Feb 25, 2023

The Saturday sports card features action in the NBA, NHL, NCAAB, and EPL. The National Basketball Association has seven games on its docket. The Toronto Raptors visit Detroit to play the Pistons at 12:10 PM ET as a 7-point road favorite (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). Two NBA games tip off at 7:10 PM ET. The Miami Heat play in Charlotte against the Hornets as a 4.5-point road favorite. The Orlando Magic host the Indiana Pacers as a 3-point favorite, with the total set at 231. The New York Knicks play at home against the New Orleans Pelicans at 7:40 PM ET as a 3-point favorite with an over/under of 225.5. The Memphis Grizzlies are at home against the Denver Nuggets at 8:10 PM ET as a 2-point favorite with a total of 234.5. The Boston Celtics travel to Philadelphia to play the 76ers on ABC at 8:40 PM ET as a 1.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 227. The Utah Jazz host the San Antonio Spurs as a 10-point favorite with a total of 242. The National Hockey League has 11 games on its slate. The Edmonton Oilers visit the Columbus Bluejackets as a -245 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 7. The New York Rangers play at Washington against the Capitals at 1:07 PM ET on ABC as a -135 money line road favorite with a total of 6. The Pittsburgh Penguins are in St. Louis to play the Blues on ABC at 3:37 PM ET as a -155 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. Four NHL games drop the puck at 7:07 PM ET. The Boston Bruins play at Vancouver against the Canucks as a -260 money line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The Carolina Hurricanes host the Anaheim Ducks as a -425 money line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Ottawa Senators are in Montreal to play the Canadiens as a -170 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The New Jersey Devils play at home against the Philadelphia Flyers as a -295 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6. The Tampa Bay Lightning travels to Detroit to play the Red Wings at 8:07 PM ET as a -150 money line road favorite with a total of 6.5. Three games conclude the NHL card at 10:07 PM ET. The Vegas Golden Knights are at home against the Dallas Stars as a -120 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6. The Columbus Bluejackets host the Calgary Flames as a -135 money-line favorite with a total of 6. The San Jose Sharks play at home against the Chicago Blackhawks as a -190 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The college basketball schedule has 19 games on major national television. Four NCAAB games on major national television tip-off at noon ET. UConn travels to St. John’s on CBS as a 7.5-point road favorite with a total of 152. Creighton plays at Villanova on Fox as a 2.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 135. Texas Tech is at home against TCU on ESPN2 as a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 144.5. Iowa hosts Michigan State on ESPN as a 5.5-point favorite with an over/under of 145.Three NCAAB games on major national television start at 2 PM ET. Alabama plays at home against Arkansas on ESPN2 as an 8-point favorite with a total of 152. Arizona is at home against Arizona State on CBS as an 11.5-point favorite with an over/under of 153. Baylor hosts Texas on ESPN as a 3.5-point favorite with a total of 148.5. Three NCAAB games on major national television begin at 4 PM ET. Kansas plays at home against West Virginia on ESPN as a 10-point favorite with an over/under of 150.5. Miami (FL) is at home against Florida State on ESPN2 as a 13-point favorite with a total of 154.5. Kentucky hosts Auburn on CBS as a 4-point favorite with an over/under of 141.5. Two more NCAAB games on major national television tip off at 6 PM ET. North Carolina plays at home against Virginia on ESPN as a 3-point favorite with a total of 130. Vanderbilt is at home against Florida on ESPN2 as a 3.5-point favorite with an over/under of 147.5. Two NCAAB games on national television tip-off at 7 PM ET. Purdue hosts Indiana on Fox as a 7.5-point favorite with a total of 138.5. Marquette plays at home against DePaul on FS1 as a 15-point favorite with an over/under of 152. Two more NCAAB games on national television start at 8 PM ET. Houston visits East Carolina on ESPN2 as a 20-point road favorite with a total of 135.5. Duke is at home against Virginia Tech on ESPN as a 7-point favorite with an over/under of 142. Two more NCAAB games on national television begin at 10 PM ET. Gonzaga hosts Saint Mary’s on ESPN as a 5-point favorite with a total of 140.5. Hawaii plays at home against UC-Irvine on ESPN2 as a 2-point favorite with an over/under of 132.5. Matchweek 25 in the English Premier League continues with six games. Four EPL matches start at 10 AM ET. Aston Villa travels to Everton in a pick ‘em match with a total of 2. Leeds United is at home against Southampton on the USA Network as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Arsenal plays at Leicester City as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with a total of 2.5. West Ham United hosts Nottingham Forest as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Manchester City is at Bournemouth on the USA Network at 12:30 PM ET as a -1.5 goal-line road favorite with a total of 3. Liverpool travels to Crystal Palace at 2:45 PM ET as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with an over/under of 2.5.

Read more

Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, NCAAB and EPL Previews and Odds - 02/24/2023

by Big Al Staff

Friday, Feb 24, 2023

The Friday sports card features action in the NBA, NHL, NCAAB, and EPL. The National Basketball Association has eight games on its docket. The Washington Wizards host the New York Knicks at 7:10 PM ET as a 1-point favorite (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). Two more NBA games tip off at 7:40 PM ET. The Atlanta Hawks play at home against the Cleveland Cavaliers as a 1-point favorite, with the total set at 225.5. The Milwaukee Bucks are at home against the Miami Heat on ESPN as a 1.5-point favorite. Two NBA games start at 8:10 PM ET. The Minnesota Timberwolves host the Charlotte Hornets as an 8-point favorite. The Chicago Bulls play at home against the Brooklyn Nets as a 1.5-point favorite. Two NBA games begin at 10:10 PM ET. The Golden State Warriors are at home against the Houston Rockets as a 9.5-point favorite. The Phoenix Suns host the Oklahoma City Thunder on ESPN as an 8-point favorite with an over/under of 232.5. The Los Angeles Clippers play at home against the Sacramento Kings at 10:40 PM ET as a 6.5-point favorite with a total of 231.5. The National Hockey League has six games on its slate. Four games drop the puck at 7:07 PM ET. The Florida Panthers are at home against the Buffalo Sabres as a -180 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7. The Toronto Maple Leafs host the Minnesota Wild as a -200 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Philadelphia Flyers play at home against the Montreal Canadiens as a -145 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Carolina Hurricanes are at home against the Ottawa Senators as a -250 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The New York Islanders host the Los Angeles Kings at 7:37 PM ET as a -125 money line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Colorado Avalanche visit Winnipeg to play the Jets at 8:07 PM ET, with both teams priced at -110 with a total of 5.5. The college basketball schedule has eight games on national television. Three NCAAB games on national television tip-off at 7 PM ET. Xavier plays at Seton Hall on FS1 as a 1.5-point road favorite with a total of 141. Rider is at home against Siena on ESPNU as a 3-point favorite with an over/under of 135.5. VCU hosts Richmond pop ESPN2 as a 9-point favorite with a total of 133.5. Two NCAAB games start at 9 PM ET. Colorado State plays at home against Wyoming on FS1 as a 7-point favorite with an over/under of 139. Louisiana-Lafayette is at home against South Alabama on ESPN2 as a 4.5-point favorite with an over/under of 143.5. UNLV hosts Air Force at 9:30 PM ET as a 9.5-point favorite with a total of 140. Nevada travels to Fresno State on FS1 at 11 PM ET as a 2.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 129.5. Matchweek 25 in the English Premier League with one match at 3 PM ET. Wolverhampton plays at Fulham on the USA Network in a pick ‘em matchup at BetMGM with a total of 2.5. 

Read more

The Rest of the NBA Regular Season Offers Profit

by Wayne Root

Friday, Feb 24, 2023

The most excitement in the next few weeks will be NBA teams juggling for the playoffs and particular seedlings. Pay attention to teams that made recent moves and those that didn’t.  With just over 20-ish games to go before the 2022-23 regular season comes to an end, there's plenty to keep an eye on with so much activity at the trade deadline and some extremely close playoff races. A ton of talent has hit the buyout market following the trade deadline, with names like Reggie Jackson, John Wall, Patrick Beverley, Terrence Ross, Danny Green and others all becoming free agents. Russell Westbrook will join the LA Clippers. I’m certainly not a Westbrick fan. Why did the Clippers even trade Utah for him? And then there’s Kevin Love. While his almost nine years in Cleveland ended poorly, there's a tremendous opportunity for Love to thrive now in Miami. He should really make an impact with his rebounding as he remains one of the best glass-cleaners the league has ever seen. Now almost an exclusive three-point shooter on offense, Love is making 35.4 percent of his threes this season despite playing through a hairline fracture in his right thumb. As for the Lakers, LeBron James said the next 20 or so games are the most important of his career. Thanks to a brilliant performance by Rob Pelinka leading up to the trade deadline, this is the best Lakers roster since the one that spent three months at Disney World. Still below-.500 at 27-32 and sitting at 13th in the West, time is running out to make a late playoff push, however. We’re excited to see if he can back up his statement and will look for opportunities to bet them. Los Angeles is just two games out of the play-in tournament, needing to leapfrog both the Portland Trail Blazers and Utah Jazz and at least one of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Golden State Warriors, Minnesota Timberwolves and New Orleans Pelicans. They open up today playing Golden State. With so much help now surrounding James and Anthony Davis, both superstars can save some energy for the play-in tournament, one where they'd be one of the most talented teams to ever take part. The Lakers will make the play-in tournament, win and eventually reach the playoffs. Portland’s Damian Lillard is forced to watch as those competing for the same eight playoff spots in the West get better. The Phoenix Suns with Kevin Durant. The Dallas Mavericks with Kyrie Irving (LOL). The Los Angeles Lakers with D'Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley,  mJarred Vanderbilt, Mo Bamba and Rui Hachimura. For 11 years and under the eye of multiple general managers, this Blazers roster simply hasn't been good enough to win a title. So many other teams are better built to win now, while franchises like the Oklahoma City Thunder, Utah Jazz, Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs may soon pass Portland up with their collection of young talent, future draft picks or both. As for the Detroit Pistons, they made a big trade but they’re not going anywhere anyway. With the Warriors in championship-or-bust mode with knee surgery limiting James Wiseman to just 60 total games in his first three seasons, the 21-year-old simply needed more time on the court to avoid a bust label. The Detroit Pistons, dead last in the East at 15-44 overall, will provide James Wiseman with the opportunity that he needs. A strong debut in Detroit (11 points and five rebounds on 5-of-9 shooting in 24 minutes) is just the beginning of his career revival. The court time already represented Wiseman's second-highest of the season, time that should only go up as he gets more comfortable in Dwane Casey's system. Wiseman has always tantalized us with his size (7'0", 240 pounds) and skill set. He's got elite defensive potential with an ability to protect the rim. They can upset other team’s playoff dreams.  While the NY Knicks didn't land a superstar at the trade deadline, swapping Cam Reddish and a protected first-round pick for Josh Hart was a smart move, one that's already paying dividends. Besides being a friend and former college teammate of starting point guard Jalen Brunson, Hart is an ideal player to plug into a playoff rotation with everything he brings to the table. Beyond being one of the best rebounding wings in the NBA, Hart is a talented scorer from all three levels and a capable playmaker. While the Knicks may not catch the Cleveland Cavaliers for the fourth seed (currently 4.5 games behind), New York should overtake the Brooklyn Nets to settle at No. 5 overall. I feel sorry for Luka and his playoff hopes for the Dallas Mavericks. The Mavericks added one of the most talented players in the NBA next to Luka Dončić and actually get worse. The Mavs have given up 133 and 124 points in the two losses, showing that the team desperately misses Dorian Finney-Smith. They needed defense desperately. Dallas sits just two games above .500 at 31-29 overall, hanging on to the sixth seed by a half game over the New Orleans Pelicans. (The Pelicans are going anywhere without Zion). No one can fault the Mavs for gambling on a talent like Irving, but their lack of moves to put the right pieces around him and Dončić will ultimately be the team's downfall. The Denver Nuggets have opened up a five-game lead on the No. 2 seed Memphis Grizzlies, with the top star, Jokić leading the way. He’ll continue to lead his team in his attempt to win the NBA MVP award. With that being said, no one should be ruling out Joel Embiid's or Giannis Antetokounmpo's chances just yet as they also will work hard to better their team and seed.  The next five weeks should be fun. Be sure to pay attention to seeding changes. The one game play in will also have the bottom feeders getting involved without so much “tanking”. Good Luck as we head towards the playoffs. The playoff’s picture is considerably much clearer to our staff and myself. 

Read more

American League Contenders: Additions and Updates, Part 2

by Will Rogers

Thursday, Feb 23, 2023

The AL East is over-represented with play-off contenders, including many of the same ol’ same ol’ faces. You can count the Red Sox out this year. You can count the Yankees in, as usual. The Yankees’ rotation lost Taillon and now Montes to injury, but with that huge addition of lefty Rodon, the starting rotation with Cole, Cortes, Severino, and German or Schmidt looks formidable. There has been a mass exodus of relief pitchers this year including Green, Castro and Chapman, but the Yankee’s seemingly endless supply of quality bullpen arms and with the risky addition of Kahnle, should form a solid relief corps. They could use some left-handed relief. On offense, The big signings, or re-signings, were Judge and Rizzo, otherwise it was stand pat so far. Many of the Yankees stars are of the aging and injury-prone variety, eg. Stanton, essentially a part-timer, LeMahieu, and Donaldson. Volpe and Peraza are potential fine additions in the middle infield. They lost Matt Carpenter, who showed well last year. Bader was a fine pickup in center field but left field is a question mark unless Hicks shapes up. All eyes will be on Judge but a regression is almost certain. The pitching may have to carry the Yankees this year. The one change that wasn’t made was firing Aaron Boone. Big mistake. Staying in the AL East, the Rays are the perennial small market success story and always seem to be a contender. The 2022 Rays suffered a massive power outage, much of it due to injury, struggling down the stretch and making a premature exit from the playoffs. Their biggest addition this year is in starting pitching. The Rays pushed out a ton of cash (for them) to sign Zack Eflin. He is no ace, but I have learned not to question the Rays’ strategy when it comes to pitching. They lost Kluber and Yarbrough, but the Rays’ starting rotation surrounding ace McLanahan could rival the Yankees’, especially if Glasnow returns to form. They extended Springs, have break-out contender Rasmussen, Chirinos, an exciting prospect in Bradley, plus Luis Patiño and Fleming, for formidable depth. They also extended Fairbanks, a terrific reliever, and will likely have another deep pen with a ton of young talent in waiting. Offense and outfield defense could be a different story. There have been no major additions but they have lost a defensive stalwart in Kiermaier, and a dependable first baseman in Choi. The Rays will look for power from a healthier infield with rebound seasons from Lowe and Wander Franco especially, and another fine year from Diaz. There doesn’t appear to be enough offensive pop from the outfield other than Arozarena, and the Rays haven’t added any to date. The Rays farm system is a prolific producer of young talent, so the team bears watching during spring training. There is also that tenth man in Kevin Cash, the best manager in the AL East. Moving to the AL Central, there is to date one true contender in the Guardians, a “surprise” playoff performer in 2022, looking to return this season. The Guardians had plenty of pitching, with phenomenal success in last year’s playoffs and are well positioned again this year. Facing and losing to the Yankees, it was clear that the Guardians needed the additions of some bigger boppers. Enter Josh Bell at first, and Zunino at catcher. Bell has mile-high potential as a slugger. Zunino is a bit of a gamble, but one with some pop in his bat. These two will protect 3rd baseman Ramirez, a potential MVP.   The Guardians are very very young. Josh Naylor is considered a vet and he is only 25. He could be completely recovered and will likely move back into the outfield. Cleveland has at least a couple of young phenoms in the line-up. Kwan is off a tremendous season, and Giminez is rated as high as top three among all MLB 2nd basemen. Another Naylor, Bo, is waiting in the wings as the Guardians’ future catcher. Any contender needs a high-end rotation and Cleveland’s does not disappoint. Bieber is the ace, followed or possibly surpassed by McKenzie, who had some remarkable stretches last year. Quantrill, Civale and Plesac round out the rotation, but there are others in the mix. The pen was excellent last year behind Clase, but there are many solid arms in that bullpen. The Guardians played with poise and character for such a young team. Chalk that up to their manager Terry (Tito) Francona, the absolute best in the business. Does anyone else get more out of players? I am bullish on the Guardians this year. They are the superbly managed class of the AL Central.  In the third section, we’ll look at the AL West, and possibly one more contender.

Read more

Time to keep an eye on the XFL

by Vegas Writer

Thursday, Feb 23, 2023

Now that the eight-team XFL has a week under its belt, it's time to start making a move on the weekly betting lines.The way I see it, this is a league that will be fueled by which the teams that can control possessions, the teams that can execute the speciality extra points, and those coaches who show aggressiveness with the 4th-and-15 onside kicks. Also keep in mind that travel shouldn't play too much into what you're thinking. The teams are centralized out of Arlington, Texas, and then fly to the cities they're playing in weekly. It'll take a few weeks to determine true homefield advantages for these teams.Truth is, there was no surprise Arlington was one of the favorites to win the league, considering the league is based there.I think after the first week, one overreaction from bettors will be that the teams are pretty evenly matches with three of the four games finishing as one-score games that could've very easily gone the opposite direction with different winners.Orlando was the only team to serve a beatdown, stomping Houston, 33-12.Favorites closed Week 1 with marks of 3-1 SU and 2-2 ATS, and the average margin of victory was 7.5 points. Toss out Houston's 19-point demolition, and the average margin of victory was 3.0 points per game.I can't say whether the edge goes to the underdogs or favorites just yet, but I do like the idea of investigating every Over until the books get a better handle on the defensive units.Overs went 3-1 in Week 1, and it's the defensive units that are going to have adjust weekly to those aggressive coaches with tricks up their sleeves. After Week 1, we've seen balanced offenses that can control the clock, but that can strike quick, too.There was an average of 40.0 points per game in Week 1, with the posted totals averaging 36.125 per game.and this week only one game hits the 40-point matk, the Sunday night game between Arlington and Houston. That's two Texas teams with little to no travel, again, with the teams based out of Arlington all week.Week 2 should be a bit more interesting, and I get things underway with my XFL NORTH DIVISION GAME OF THE MONTH, as St. Louis visits Seattle. I have a free winner on the total, but my big play from the North is Thursday's side winner.

Read more

Big Al's Daily Angle: NHL, NBA and NCAAB Previews and Odds - 02/23/2023

by Big Al Staff

Thursday, Feb 23, 2023

The Thursday sports card features action in the NBA, NHL, and NCAAB. The National Basketball Association returns from its All-Star Game break with nine games on its docket. Three NBA games tip off at 7:10 PM ET. The Cleveland Cavaliers host the Denver Nuggets as a 2.5-point favorite, with the total set at 223 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). The Boston Celtics visit Indiana to play the Pacers as an 8-point road favorite with an over/under of 233. The Orlando Magic plays at home against the Detroit Pistons as a 6.5-point favorite with a total of 226.5. Two NBA games start at 7:40 PM ET. The Philadelphia 76ers are at home against Memphis Grizzlies on TNT as a 3.5-point favorite with an over/under of 229.5. The Toronto Raptors host the New Orleans Pelicans as a 5.5-point favorite with a total of 225.5. The Dallas Mavericks play at home against the San Antonio Spurs at 8:40 PM ET as a 13.5-point favorite with an over/under of 234.5. The Utah Jazz are at home against the Oklahoma City Thunder at 9:10 PM ET as a 2-point favorite with a total of 238.5. Two more games complete the NBA card at 10:10 PM ET. The Los Angeles Lakers host the Golden State Warriors on TNT as a 5.5-point favorite with an over/under of 238. The Sacramento Kings play at home against the Portland Trail Blazers as a 5.5-point favorite with a total of 239.5. The National Hockey League has ten games on its slate. Six NHL games drop the puck at 7:07 PM ET. The Washington Capitals are at home against the Anaheim Ducks as a -255 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6. The Tampa Bay Lightning host the Buffalo Sabres as a -225 money line favorite with a total of 7. The Edmonton Oilers travel to Pittsburgh to play the Penguins as a -115 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 7. The New Jersey Devils play at home against the Los Angeles Kings as a -140 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Minnesota Wild are in Columbus to play the Bluejackets as a -180 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6. The New York Rangers play at Detroit against the Red Wings as a -165 money-line road favorite with a total of 6. The St. Louis Blues are at home against the Vancouver Canucks at 8:07 PM ET as a -120 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7. The Vegas Golden Knights host the Calgary Flames on ESPN at 9:07 PM ET as a -150 money line favorite with a total of 6. The Boston Bruins visit Seattle to play the Kraken at 10:07 PM ET as a -175 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6. The Nashville Predators play at San Jose against the Sharks at 10:37 PM ET as a -140 money line road favorite with a total of 6. The college basketball schedule has 11 games on national television. Ohio State plays at home against Penn State on FS1 at 6:30 PM ET as a 2-point favorite with an over/under of 142.5. Three more NCAA-B games on national television begin at 7 PM ET. Memphis is at Wichita State on ESPN2 as a 3-point road favorite with a total of 146.5. Gardner-Webb hosts Longwood on ESPNU as a 2-point favorite at Caesars with an over/under of 129. Charleston plays at home against Towson on the CBS Sports Network as an 8-point favorite with a total of 150. Rutgers is at home against Michigan on FS1 at 8:30 PM ET as a 6-point favorite with an over/under of 133.5. Three more NCAAB games on national television tip-off at 9 PM ET. Western Kentucky hosts Louisiana Tech on the CBS Sports Network as a 4.5-point favorite with a total of 144. Colorado plays at home against USC on ESPN2 as a 2-point favorite with an over/under of 141. UT-Martin is at home against Tennessee State on ESPNU as a 4-point favorite with a total of 158.5. Three NCAAB games on national television start at 11 PM ET. UCLA travels to Utah on FS1 as a 7-point road favorite with an over/under of 131.5. Gonzaga hosts San Diego on ESPN2 as a 23-point favorite with a total of 164.5. San Francisco plays at home against Portland on the CBS Sports Network as an 8-point favorite with an over/under of 153.

Read more
« ‹ 1 188 190 373 › »

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.

© 2026 Al McMordie's BigAl.com. All Rights Reserved.