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2022 WNBA Season Preview: Part One

by Sean Murphy

Wednesday, Apr 27, 2022

While the NBA and NHL playoffs not to mention the early stages of the MLB season consume most bettors' attention, the 2022 WNBA season is a little over a week away from tipping off. We've found plenty of success exposing soft lines on the ladies hardwood over the years and expect more of the same this season.Here's part one of our look at what to expect from the league's 12 teams.Odds to win the WNBA title are courtesy BetOnline.Connecticut Sun (+350)The Sun proved to be the 'cream of the crop' during the regular season last year but couldn't keep it going in the playoffs. Most believe the Sun are rightly positioned as the preseason favorite to win the WNBA title this year. Health will of course play a key role and all indications are that all of Connecticut's key pieces are full-go entering the season, led by reigning league MVP Jonquel Jones. Courtney Williams is back after a brief stop-over in Atlanta to relieve some of the scoring burden from Jones. Jasmine Thomas recently reported to camp after returning from overseas league play in Turkey. You'd be hard-pressed to find a deeper team with no fewer than six players having been previously elected as league All-Stars. Chicago Sky (+425)The Sky are the reigning champs so it's not surprising that they're projected as a championship contender again this season. It may seem odd to talk about a 'window of opportunity' closing just months after a championship run but Chicago's roster isn't getting any younger, with a number of veterans looking to repeat last year's performance and perhaps ride off into the sunset. The addition of 2019 WNBA Finals MVP Emma Meeseman and Julie Allemand among others have the Sky optimistic that, to quote the Counting Crows, this year could (actually) be better than the last.Phoenix Mercury (+500)Brittney Griner's ongoing ordeal in Russia certainly hangs over the Mercury franchise. Phoenix did load up in the offseason, adding the likes of Tina Charles and Diamond DeShields - two proven performers that should fit right in. Diana Taurasi is back in the mix as well, perhaps for a final run at a title. It remains to be seen how it will all work with first-year head coach Vanessa Nygaard at the helm but there's no question the talent is there for the Mercury to finish near the top of the standings once again.Washington Mystics (+1400)The Mystics appear to fit the bill as a solid sleeper pick, provided Elena Delle Donne can stay healthy which is always a big question mark. Ariel Atkins and Myisha Hines-Allen are one of the more underrated one-two punches in the league in my opinion. Add in some savvy drafting with Shakira Austin poised to make an immediate impact (unfortunately their other draft choice Christyn Williams will miss the season after suffering an injury during the preseason) and Washington is capable of making some noise in an uneven Eastern Conference.New York Liberty (+2500)There are those that believe this might just be 'the year' for the Liberty but I think that's a little optimistic (and the oddsmakers seem to agree). Health concerns always seem to swirl around Sabrina Ionescu. If she can stay on the floor, there's reason to believe the Liberty could contend in the top half of the East. New head coach Sandy Brondello comes over from Phoenix to lead a talent-laden roster that also includes last year's Rookie of the Year Michaela Onyenwere. The addition of Stefanie Dolson from the reigning champion Sky gives New York some much-needed stability and production down low. Atlanta Dream (+6600)The Dream were in desperate need of a franchise reset and got just that in the offseason with changes across the board, both on and off the court. Nia Coffey, Kia Vaughn and Erica Wheeler have joined the down-trodden Dream through free agency and it always helps to have the number one overall pick in the draft, with the Dream opting to go with Rhyne Howard who should be able to help right away. Atlanta's prospects could hinge on how Aari McDonald develops after an up-and-down rookie campaign a year ago. While Atlanta is still likely a year or two away from contending for a playoff spot, there's no question the franchise is once again pointed in the right direction. Check back next week as we look at the WNBA's other six teams in part two of our season preview.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, MLB, and UEFA Champions League Previews and Odds - 04/27/2022

by Big Al Staff

Wednesday, Apr 27, 2022

The Wednesday sports card features NBA, NHL, MLB, and UEFA Champions League action.The National Basketball Association continues the conference quarterfinals with two games on TNT in the first round of the playoffs. Milwaukee hosts Chicago at 7:30 PM ET. The Bucks took a 3-1 lead in this series with their 119-95 victory on the road as a 4.5-favorite on Sunday. Milwaukee is a 12-point favorite, with the total set at 218.Golden State plays at home against Denver at 10 PM ET. The Nuggets won their first game in this series with a 126-121 upset victory as a 4.5-point underdog on Wednesday. Golden State has a 3-1 lead in the series and is a 9-point favorite with an over/under of 226.Five games are on the slate in the National Hockey League. The puck drops at 7:37 PM ET for two games. Winnipeg is at home against Philadelphia as a -185 money line favorite with a total of 6. The New York Rangers host Montreal as a -380 money line favorite with an over/under of 6. Two NHL games begin at 8:37 PM ET. Vegas visits Chicago as a -230 money line road favorite with a total of 6. Dallas plays at home against Arizona as a -500 money line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. Los Angeles is at Seattle at 10:07 PM ET as a -180 money line road favorite with a total of 6. The Wednesday card in Major League Baseball has 15 games on its schedule. The New York Mets travel to St. Louis at 1:15 PM ET as a -120 money line road favorite with an over/under of 7. The Chicago White Sox is at home against Kansas City at 2:10 PM ET as a -180 money line favorite with a total of 7.5. The Los Angeles Dodgers play at Arizona at 3:40 PM ET as a -195 money line road favorite with an over/under of 8.Milwaukee visits Pittsburgh at 6:35 PM ET as a -170 money line road favorite with a total of 7.5. Two more MLB games start at 6:40 PM ET. San Diego is at Cincinnati as a -180 money line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5. Tampa Bay hosts Seattle as a -130 money line favorite with a total of 7.5. Philadelphia plays at home against Colorado at 6:45 PM ET as a -220 money line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. Two MLB games begin at 7:05 PM ET. Miami is at Washington as a -150 money line road favorite with a total of 7.5. The New York Yankees are at home against Baltimore as a -250 money line favorite with an over/under of 8. Toronto hosts Boston at 7:07 PM ET as a -145 money line favorite with a total of 9. Atlanta plays at home against the Chicago Cubs at 7:20 PM ET as a -210 money line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. Minnesota is at home against Detroit at 7:40 PM ET as a -170 money line favorite with a total of 7. Houston travels to Texas at 8:05 PM ET as a -130 money line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Los Angeles Angels are at home against Cleveland at 9:38 PM ET as a -200 money line favorite with a total of 8. San Francisco hosts Oakland at 9:45 PM ET as a -145 money line favorite with an over/under of 7.5. The semifinals of the UEFA Champions League continue with one match on CBS at 3 PM ET. Liverpool plays at home against Villarreal as a -1.5 goal line favorite at PlayMGM with a total of 3.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, MLB and UEFA Champions League Previews and Odds - 04/26/2022

by Big Al Staff

Tuesday, Apr 26, 2022

The Tuesday sports card features NBA, NHL, MLB, and UEFA Champions League action.The National Basketball Association continues the conference quarterfinals with three games in the first round of the playoffs. Miami hosts Atlanta on NBA-TV at 7 PM ET. The Heat took a 3-1 lead in this series with their 110-86 victory against the Hawks as a 1-point road favorite on Sunday. Miami is a 7-point favorite with the total set at 217.5 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). Memphis plays at home against Minnesota in the opening game of a doubleheader on TNT at 7:30 PM ET. The Timberwolves evened this series at 2-2 with their 119-118 upset victory as a 2.5-point underdog on Sunday. Memphis is a 6-point favorite with an over/under of 232.5. Phoenix is at home against New Orleans in the nightcap on TNT at 10 PM ET. The Pelicans made this a 2-2 series with a 118-103 upset win at home as a 2-point underdog on Sunday. Phoenix is a 6.5-point favorite with a total of 215.5. Thirteen games are on the slate in the National Hockey League. Seven games drop the puck at 7:07 PM ET. Toronto hosts Detroit as a -450 money line favorite with an over/under of 7. Florida visits Boston as a -130 money line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. Ottawa plays at home against New Jersey as a -130 money line favorite with a total of 6.5. Tampa Bay is at home against Columbus as a -380 money line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The New York Rangers are at home against Carolina as a -130 money line favorite with a total of 5.5. Washington hosts the New York Islanders as a -175 money line favorite with an over/under of 6. Pittsburgh plays at home in the first game on ESPN as a -155 money line favorite with a total of 6.5. Two NHL games start at 8:07 PM ET. Calgary travels to Nashville as a -140 money line road favorite with an over/under of 6. Minnesota is at home against Arizona as a -600 money line favorite with a total of 6.5. Dallas hosts Vegas at 8:37 PM ET as a -120 money line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. Colorado plays at home against St. Louis in the second game on ESPN at 9:37 PM ET as a -175 money line favorite with a total of 6.5. Vancouver hosts Seattle at 10:07 PM ET as a -225 money line favorite with an over/under of 6. San Jose is at home against Anaheim at 10:37 PM ET as a -135 money line favorite with a total of 5.5.The Tuesday card in Major League Baseball has 15 games on its schedule. Milwaukee visits Pittsburgh at 6:35 PM ET as a -170 money line road favorite with an over/under of 7. Two more MLB games begin at 6:40 PM ET. San Diego plays at Cincinnati as a -170 money line road favorite with a total of 8. Seattle is at Tampa Bay. Philadelphia is at home against Colorado at 6:45 PM ET as a -165 money line favorite with an over/under of 8. Two MLB games start at 7:05 PM ET. Miami travels to Washington as a -135 money line road favorite with a total of 7.5. The New York Yankees are at home against Baltimore as a -280 money line favorite with an over/under of 8. Toronto hosts Boston at 7:07 PM ET as a -180 money line favorite with a total of 8. The Chicago White Sox play at home against Kansas City at 7:10 PM ET as a -145 money line favorite with an over/under of 9. Atlanta is at home against the Chicago Cubs at 7:20 PM ET as a -165 money line favorite with a total of 8. Minnesota hosts Detroit at 7:40 PM ET as a -140 money line favorite. The New York Mets play at St. Louis on TBS with both teams priced at -110 with an over/under of 7.5. Houston visits Texas at 8:05 PM ET as a -120 money line road favorite with a total of 9.5. The Los Angeles Angels are at home against Cleveland at 9:38 PM ET as a -155 money line favorite with an over/under of 8. The Los Angeles Dodgers play at Arizona at 9:40 PM ET as a -195 money line road favorite with a total of 9. San Francisco is at home against Oakland at 9:45 PM ET as a -265 money line favorite with an over/under of 6.5.The semifinals of the UEFA Champions League begin with one match on CBS at 3 PM ET. Manchester City hosts Real Madrid in the first leg as a -1 goal line favorite at PlayMGM with a total of 2.5.

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La Liga and Serie A: Latest Look

by Power Sports

Monday, Apr 25, 2022

I already hit the EPL and Bundesliga. Now it’s time to check in on La Liga and Serie A. At the top, one race is all but decided while the other is very much up in the air. Relegation battles in both leagues have also gotten quite interesting. La Liga Whereas Bayern Munich has already clinched a 10th straight Bundesliga title, it is not yet official that Real Madrid will be champions of La Liga this season. But that will happen as Los Blancos currently enjoy a 15-point cushion over Barcelona and Sevilla with just five matches to go. Therefore, Real Madrid can now concentrate on the Champions League where they’ll be facing off with Manchester City in the semifinals, starting Tuesday.Speaking of Barcelona, they have lost three consecutive home matches for the first time in their history. The club clearly misses Pedri, but should still finish top four. Though it would be a small consolation, this could be the second year in a row Barca finishes 1st in La Liga in expected points (xPts) despite not actually winning the league.While Real Madrid’s 35th title is all but assured at this point, the race for the remaining three Champions League spots has gotten quite interesting. I already hit on slumping Barcelona. You’ve also got Sevilla and last year’s champions, Atletico Madrid, currently in position to make next year’s Champions League. Personally, I think Sevilla is NOT as strong as its record indicates, though only four losses is huge and will probably ensure they stay in the top four. It should be noted they are only eighth in xPts. I’d also be surprised to see Atletico drop out of the top four, even though they have just one win in their last five competitions and have failed to score in four of them. Waiting in the wings, four points out of the top four, is Real Betis, who already has clinched a Europa League spot for next year by virtue of winning Saturday’s Copa del Rey Final over Valencia. If Betis finishes in the top five, then you’ll see another Europa League spot open up to the sixth place finisher in La Liga. That race likely comes down to Real Sociedad (who is better than their +1 goal differential indicates) and Villarreal (who is still playing in the Champions League).The Champions League figures to be the focus of Villarreal right now, but it is unlikely they will win it. It would be a shame if this side is somehow locked out of European football next season. They are tied for third in GD in La Liga. Seventh place will likely gain entry into the Europa Conference League, but the Yellow Submarine must be wary of Athletic Bilbao, who is a solid side and only four points behind them. There’s a big gap between the top eight and everyone else in La Liga. Mid-table sides assured of safety (from relegation) for next season would include: Osasuna, Valencia, Rayo Vallecano, Celta Viga, Espanyol and Elche. I *think* Getafe might be okay as well, though compared to the aforementioned sides, they could really use one more win.Therefore, you’re likely looking at five sides in the relegation battle. Levante (despite being 9th in xPts!) and Alaves are probably cooked. The third spot has gotten very interesting with Mallorca, Cadiz and Granada all separated by only two points. Mallorca has the worst GD of the three, but as I’ve previously said, Cadiz and Granada were both bottom three in xPts last season. Granada is currently last in xPts this season.Serie AWhile title races in the Bundesliga and La Liga are wrapped up, here in Serie A it’s just like the Premier League - a very tight two-team battle at the top. AC Milan’s last gasp victory over Lazio on Sunday put them back ahead of Inter by two points. Had Sando Tonali not scored in the second minute of stoppage time, then the two Milan sides would be entering this week tied atop the summit. Inter has the better GD (+45 vs. +30) and is also ahead on xPts. Thus I still would not be shocked if they captured their second straight Scudetto. Also note that Inter just drilled AC Milan 3-0 to advance in the Coppa Italia. Napoli looked to be a title challenger for much of this season, but now looks destined for third place after earning just a single point from their last three matches. Blowing a two-goal lead to Empoli on Sunday was just horrific. The similarity with La Liga is that I don’t see the top four changing here in Italy. Juventus, still with a five-point cushion, should stay in the top four and note they are onto the final of the Coppa Italia where they’ll face Inter. (Note Juve’s cushion could get even larger as they’ve still got a fixture Monday that was not complete at the time of this writing). Assuming both Inter and Juve finish top four, that means an extra European spot opens up here in Serie A. That should be a fascinating race with Roma, Fiorentina, Lazio and Atalanta all grasping. I would bank on Roma and Atalanta finishing as the top two of that quartet. Lazio has drastically overachieved this season when it comes to goal scoring. In fact, no side in all of Europe has exceeded its xG (expected goal) total more! (I’ve brought this up previously). I could see Fiorentina being the one left out of European football next season.The gap between the top eight and everyone else isn’t quite as stark here as it is in La Liga as you’ve got solid mid-table sides like Hellas Verona, Sassuolo and a side that has been very kind to me in recent weeks, Torino.After that, it is a big drop, though Udinese, Bologna, Empoli and Spezia have all probably done enough to remain in the top flight next season. The relegation battle is interesting as all of a sudden, Salernitana, who has been in last place basically all season, has won three straight to move within three points of safety. They still have the worst GD (-42) and are tied with Genoa (-29), who won for just the third time all season on Sunday (1-0 over Cagliari), at 25 points. Now stuck in last place is Venezia with 22 points. Cagliari (28 points) and Sampdoria (30 points) both have work to do, but I still predict the bottom three will remain unchanged by season’s end. 

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, MLB and EPL Previews and Odds - 04/25/2022

by Big Al Staff

Monday, Apr 25, 2022

The Monday sports card features NBA, NHL, MLB, and EPL action.The National Basketball Association continues the conference quarterfinals with three games in the first round of the playoffs. Boston travels to Brooklyn in the opening game of a doubleheader on TNT at 7 PM ET. The Celtics took a 3-0 lead in this series with a 109-103 upset victory as a 4-point underdog on Saturday. The Nets are a 1-point favorite with the total set at 220 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). Philadelphia hosts Toronto on NBA-TV at 8 PM ET. The Raptors avoided elimination in Game 4 with a 110-102 upset victory as a 2.5-point underdog on Saturday. Philadelphia can close out the series tonight as an 8-point favorite with an over/under of 211.5. Dallas plays at home against Utah in the nightcap on TNT at 9:30 PM ET. The Jazz evened this series at 2-2 with a 100-99 victory as a 5.5-point favorite on Saturday. The Mavericks are a 3-point favorite with a total of 213.One game is on the slate in the National Hockey League. Chicago is at home against Philadelphia at 8:07 PM ET as a -135 money line favorite with an over/under of 6.5.The Monday card in Major League Baseball has seven games on its schedule. Milwaukee hosts San Francisco at 6:10 PM ET. The Brewers pitch Corbin Burnes against the Giants’ Sam Long. Milwaukee is a -190 money line favorite with a total of 7. Philadelphia play at home against Colorado at 6:45 PM ET. The Phillies send Kyle Gibson to the mound to face the Rockies’ Kyle Freeland. Philadelphia is a -190 money line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. Toronto is at home against Boston at 7:07 PM ET. Jose Berrios is the starting pitcher for the Blue Jays. He battles Nathan Eovaldi of the Red Sox. Toronto is a -130 money line favorite with a total of 8. The New York Mets visit St. Louis at 7:45 PM ET. The Mets pitch Max Scherzer against the Cardinals’ Miles Mikolas. New York is a -165 money line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. Houston travels to Texas at 8:05 PM ET. Framber Valdez is the starting pitcher for the Astros. He faces Dane Dunning of the Rangers. Houston is a -140 money line road favorite with a total of 8. The Los Angeles Angels host Cleveland at 9:38 PM ET. The Angels send out Michael Lorenzen to battle the Indians’ Shane Bieber. Los Angeles is a -120 money line favorite with an over/under of 8. The Los Angeles Dodgers play at Arizona at 9:40 PM ET. Walker Buehler starts for the Dodgers. Merrill Kelly counters for the Diamondbacks. Los Angeles is a -195 money line favorite with a total of 8.5.Matchweek 34 in the English Premier League continues with one match on the USA Network at 3 PM ET. Crystal Palace hosts Leeds United as a -0.5 goal line favorite at PlayMGM with a total of 2.5. 

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EPL and Bundesliga: Latest Look

by Power Sports

Sunday, Apr 24, 2022

It’s time for our monthly check-in on Europe’s “Big 4” soccer leagues. We’re down the home stretch as the season ends in May!This updates focuses on the EPL and Bundesliga. A look at La Liga and Serie A will come later this week.  Premier League With anywhere from 4-6 matches remaining (depending on the club) there’s the possibility of as many as NINE Premier League sides playing European football next season.So the race at the top has gotten quite interesting, Manchester City is still just one point ahead of Liverpool after the weekend. But it is the Reds that have the better goal differential and also hold a recent 3-2 victory (in the FA Cup) over the Citizens. (The teams also just played to a 2-2 draw in league play). The Reds are as hot as any side in Europe right now, winning 12 straight at Anfield and 14 of their last 15 overall. So it would not be a surprise to see them finish first. Both Liverpool and Man City are still alive in the Champions League where they’ll be favored to meet in the Final. Liverpool has already captured the Carabao Cup this season and could make it a quadruple by claiming hardware in the FA Cup (face Chelsea in the Final), Premier League and Champions League. Meanwhile, Man City could still make it a double (EPL, Champions League), which is obviously impressive.Despite a recent slump, Chelsea has been the presumed third place finisher for a while now. A last gasp 1-0 win at West Ham on Sunday was absolutely huge. It would be a shock if Chelsea didn’t finish top four and book its place in next season’s Champions League. But Wednesday’s loss to Arsenal was the third fixture this month that Thomas Tuchel’s side has conceded 3+ goals! It’s probably going to be Tottenham or Arsenal rounding out the top four. Two weeks ago, the former was the favorite to finish fourth, but is now two points back after picking up just one point from the last two fixtures. Meanwhile, Arsenal has recorded huge wins over Chelsea and Manchester United. Tottenham has the better YTD goal differential, however Arsenal is ahead on xPts (expected points). There was no “new manager bounce” for floundering Manchester United on Saturday and the Red Devils now face a six-point deficit to finish top four. They have just one win in their last six competitions and it came at the expense of last place Norwich City. It looks like the Europa League for them next season. West Ham, currently in seventh, is still involved in this season’s Europa League where they are into the semis and will face Eintracht Frankfurt of the Bundesliga. That competition is probably now the Hammers’ main concern. If they don’t win it, which would qualify them for next season’s Champions League, then the Europa Conference League is still in play by finishing seventh.Wolverhampton will be rooting for West Ham to win the Europa League as it would allow for the Wolves to “steal” the Premier League’s Europa Conference League spot. Leicester City is the ninth and final EPL side still with European hopes for next season. They are currently in the semis of the Europa Conference League, the winner of which gains automatic entry into next season’s Europa League. Got all that?Mid-table sides are a dicey proposition down the home stretch as they know they can’t reach the European places, but are also well clear of the relegation zone. So motivation may be an issue for many of them. But one to keep an eye on right now is Brentford, who is unbeaten in its last four matches and beat both Chelsea and West Ham. The Bees are actually sixth in the league right now in xPts (expected points), ahead of both Man U and West Ham. Newcastle United is also playing inspired football. Crystal Palace deserves to be higher in the table.As I’ve been saying for some time now, Norwich City and Watford certainly seem like they will be condemned to relegation. Both were newly promoted for the 2021/22 season, so it’s “one and done” for them. But the interesting thing at the bottom of the EPL table is who will be the third relegated side. Everton, who has been part of the top flight since 1951, now occupies that dreaded spot. Burnley passed them with this weekend’s win over Wolverhampton. The Toffees’ remaining set of fixtures is not an easy run and they desperately need Watford to beat Burnley next week. Leeds United, with the third worst GD in the EPL, is also still in the relegation mix.  BundesligaBayern Munich has secured a historic 10th consecutive Bundesliga title after defeating second place Borussia Dortmund 3-1 at the Allianz Arena on Saturday.There’s been much hand-wringing over the current state of the German top flight as there just doesn’t seem to be any real consistent challengers to Bayern and the league could be on the verge of a mass exodus of talent.Case in point, Dortmund will almost certainly finish second this year, but is probably saying goodbye to Erling Haaland at the end of the season. So there’s no reason to believe that BVB is capable of making any noise in next season’s Champions League.RB Leipzig, who got off to a slow start in 2021/22, is probably the Bundesliga’s second best side. They are still in competition for two pieces of hardware: the Europa League and DFB Pokal. Between those two competitions and a likely top four finish domestically, expect Leipzig to again qualify for the UCL. The worst that can happen to them is not winning any hardware and a fifth place finish. But even that would mean the Europa League next season.The side Leipzig faces in the Final of the DFB Pokal will be Freiburg, who is currently in fifth, two points behind Leipzig. There’s a chance they both end up in the Champions League next season, if Leipzig wins the Europa League and Freiburg finishes top four. There’s a very good chance the Bundesliga’s Europa League and Europa League Conference spots will go to either FC Union Berlin, Koln or Hoffenheim. One will be “the odd team out.” Of those three, FCUB is the best side (in my opinion).Fans of Bayer Leverkusen are probably wondering why I’ve neglected to mention their side so far. I apologize for that! Leverkusen has been top three all season, but after settling for a draw over the weekend, their lead over Leipzig stayed at one point and Freiburg is now only three points back. It’s no lock Leverkusen makes it to the Champions League next season. It’s Champions League or bust for ninth place Eintracht Frankfurt at this point. Frankfurt is currently in the semis and must win that competition to have any shot at European football next season. It could be an all-Bundesliga Final vs. Leipzig!Looking at the middle of the table, Mainz, Gladbach, Wolfsburg, Bochum and Augsburg all seem to be safe from the threat of relegation.On Sunday, Hertha Berlin (who has the 2nd worst GD in the league) picked up a huge win over Stuttgart to move four points clear of the relegation playoff, which calls for the 16th place finisher to face the winner of the promotion playoff from the Bundesliga 2 in a winner take all scenario. That’s Stuttgart right now and they are only two points ahead of Arminia Bielefeld. As a reminder, the bottom two are automatically relegated and as has been obvious since the first month of the campaign, Greuther Furth is finishing last. Something I’d mentioned in a previous article is that Bielefeld is actually lower than Greuther Furth on xPts. 

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NHL, MLB, NBA, and EPL Previews and Odds - 04/24/2022

by Big Al Staff

Sunday, Apr 24, 2022

The Sunday sports card features NBA, NHL, MLB, and EPL action.The National Basketball Association continues the conference quarterfinals with four games in the first round of the playoffs. Milwaukee visits Chicago in the opening game of a doubleheader on ABC at 1 PM ET. The Bucks took a 2-1 lead in this best-of-seven series with a 111-81 victory in Chicago as a 2.5-point road favorite on Friday. Milwaukee is a 4.5-point road favorite with a total of 219 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise).Golden State plays at Denver in the second game on ABC at 3:30 PM ET. The Warriors have a 3-0 lead in this series after their 118-113 victory as a 3-point road favorite on Thursday. Golden State is a 4-point road favorite with an over/under of 225. Miami is at Atlanta in the first game of an evening doubleheader on TNT at 7 PM ET. The Hawks won their first game of this series with a 111-110 upset victory as a 2-point home underdog on Friday. Miami still has a 2-1 lead in this season and is a 1.5-point road favorite with a total of 221. Phoenix travels to New Orleans in the nightcap on TNT at 9:30 PM ET. The Suns took a 2-1 lead in this series with a 114-111 victory against the Pelicans as a 2-point road favorite on Friday. Phoenix is a 2.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 215.5. Eleven games are on the slate in the National Hockey League. The puck drops at 1:07 PM ET in three games. Edmonton is at Columbus as a -255 money line road favorite with a total of 6.5. New Jersey hosts Detroit as a -165 money line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. Carolina visits New York to play the Islanders as a -160 money line road favorite with a total of 5.5. Pittsburgh plays at Philadelphia on TNT at 4:07 PM ET as a -265 money line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. Four NHL games start at 7:07 PM ET. Washington plays at home against Toronto as a -120 money line favorite with a total of 7. Colorado travels to Winnipeg as a -210 money line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. Florida is at home against Tampa Bay as a -135 money line favorite with a total of 6.5. Boston plays at Montreal as a -300 money line road favorite with an over/under of 6.  Minnesota visits Nashville at 8:07 PM ET as a -120 money line road favorite with a total of 6.5. St. Louis is at Anaheim at 8:37 PM ET as a -265 money line road favorite with an over/under of 6. Vegas plays at home against San Jose at 10:07 PM ET as a -340 money line favorite with a total of 6.5.The Sunday card in Major League Baseball has 15 games on its schedule. Two games begin at 1:10 PM ET. Detract hosts Colorado as a -135 money line favorite. Tampa Bay plays at home against Boston as a -170 money line favorite with an over/under of 7.5. Three more MLB games throw the first pitch at 1:35 PM ET. Atlanta is at home against Miami as a -135 money line favorite with a total of 8.5. The New York Yankees are at home against Cleveland as a -210 money line favorite with an over/under of 7.5. San Francisco plays at Washington. St. Louis is at Cincinnati at 1:40 PM ET as a -155 money line road favorite with a total of 8.5. Two MLB games start at 2:10 PM ET. The Chicago White Sox travel to Minnesota. Houston hosts Toronto as a -135 money line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Chicago Cubs are at home against Pittsburgh at 2:20 PM ET as a -165 money line favorite. Two MLB games begin at 4:07 PM ET. The Los Angeles Angels play at home against Baltimore as a -190 money line favorite with a total of 9. Texas visits Oakland as a -120 money line road favorite with an over/under of 8. Three more MLB games throw out the first pitch at 4:10 PM ET. The New York Mets play at Arizona as a -165 money line road favorite with a total of 8.5. The Los Angeles Dodgers are at San Diego as a -145 money line road favorite with an over/under of 7. Seattle is at home against Kansas City as a -180 money line favorite with a total of 7.5. Sunday Night Baseball on ESPN has Philadelphia playing at home against Milwaukee at 7:08 PM ET. The Phillies are a -155 money line favorite with an over/under of 8. Matchweek 34 in the English Premier League continues with four matches. Three games start at 9 AM ET. Brighton and Hove Albion host Southampton on Peacock as a -0.5 goal line favorite with a total of 2.5. Wolverhampton travels to Burnley on Peacock in a pick ‘em match with an over/under of 2.5. Chelsea plays at home against West Ham United on the USA Network as a -1 goal line favorite with a total of 2. Liverpool is at home against Everton on the USA Network at 11:30 AM ET as a 2-goal line favorite with an over/under of 3.5.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, MLB and EPL Previews and Odds - 04/23/2022

by Big Al Staff

Saturday, Apr 23, 2022

The Saturday sports card features NBA, NHL, MLB, and EPL action.The National Basketball Association continues the conference quarterfinals with four games in the first round of the playoffs. Philadelphia visits Toronto in the opening game of a doubleheader on TNT at 2 PM ET. The 76ers took a 3-0 lead in this series with their 104-101 victory as a 2-point road favorite on Wednesday. Philadelphia is a 3-point road favorite with the total set at 213.5 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). Utah hosts Dallas in the second game on TNT at 4:30 PM ET. The Mavericks have a 2-1 lead in this series after their 126-118 victory as an 8.5-point underdog on Thursday. The Jazz are a 5.5-point favorite with an over/under of 212.5. Brooklyn plays at home against Boston in the first game of a doubleheader on ESPN at 7:30 PM ET. The Celtics took a 2-0 lead in this series with their 114-107 victory as a 3.5-point favorite on Wednesday. The Nets are a 3-point favorite with a total of 223.Memphis travels to Minnesota in the nightcap on ESPN at 10 PM ET. The Grizzlies have a 2-1 lead in this series after a 104-95 victory as a 2-point road favorite on Thursday. Memphis is a 3-point road favorite with an over/under of 232.5.Twelve games are on the slate in the National Hockey League. Three games drop the puck at 12:07 PM ET. The New York Islanders play at Buffalo as a -150 money line road favorite with a total of 5.5. Pittsburgh is at Detroit as a -300 money line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. Carolina visits New Jersey as a -230 money line road favorite with a total of 6.5. Boston plays at home against the New York Rangers on ABC at 3:07 PM ET as a -135 money line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. Three NHL games start at 7:07 PM ET. Ottawa is at home against Montreal as a -160 money line favorite with a total of 6. Tampa Bay hosts Nashville as a -170 money line favorite with an over/under of 6. Florida plays at home against as a -155 money line favorite with a total of 7. Two NHL games begin at 8:07 PM ET. Dallas is at home against Seattle as a -275 money line favorite with an over/under of 6. San Jose plays at home against Chicago as a -150 money line favorite with a total of 6.5. Two NHL games drop the puck at 10:07 PM ET. Calgary hosts Vancouver as a -210 money line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. St. Louis is at Arizona as a -370 money line favorite with a total of 6.5. Los Angeles is at home against Anaheim at 10:37 PM ET as a -260 money line favorite with an over/under of 6. The Saturday card in Major League Baseball has 16 games on its schedule. Two games throw the first pitch at 1:05 PM ET. San Francisco is at Washington as a -160 money line road favorite. The New York Yankees are at home against Cleveland as a -210 money line favorite with a total of 8.5. Detroit plays at home against Colorado in the opening game of their doubleheader at 1:10 PM ET as a -145 money line favorite at PlayMGM with an over/under of 7.5. The Chicago Cubs host Pittsburgh at 2:20 PM ET as a -180 money line favorite.Two MLB games begin at 4:05 PM ET. Philadelphia plays at home against Milwaukee as a -155 money line favorite with a total of 8. Minnesota is at home against the Chicago White Sox on FS1 as a -125 money line favorite with an over/under of 9. Oakland hosts Texas at 4:07 PM ET as a -130 money line favored with a total of 7.5. Two more MLB games start at 4:10 PM ET. Toronto plays at Houston as a -120 money line road favorite with an over/under of 8. St. Louis travels to Cincinnati as a -115 money line favorite with a total of 8.5. Tampa Bay is at home against Boston at 6:10 PM ET as a -110 money line favorite at William Hill with an over/under of 8. Colorado plays at Detroit in the second game of their doubleheader at 6:40 PM ET. Atlanta plays at home against Miami at 7:20 PM ET as a -160 money line favorite with a total of 8. The New York Mets visit Arizona at 8:10 PM ET as a -125 money line road favorite at William Hill with an over/under of 9. The Los Angeles Dodgers play at San Diego at 8:40 PM ET as a -115 money line road favorite with a total of 8. The Los Angeles Angeles host Baltimore at 9:07 PM ET as a -250 money line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. Seattle is at home against Kansas City at 9:10 PM ET as a -150 money line favorite with a total of 7.5. Matchweek 34 in the English Premier League begins with five matches. Arsenal hosts Manchester United on the USA Network at 7:30 AM ET as a -0.5 goal line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Three more matches start at 10 AM ET. Aston Villa plays at Leicester City on CNBC in a pick ‘em match with a total of 2.5. Manchester City is at home against Watford on the USA Network as a -2.5 goal line favorite with an over/under of 3.5. Newcastle United visits Norwich City on Peacock as a -0.5 goal line road favorite with a total of 2.5. Tottenham travels to Brentford on NBC at 12:30 PM ET as a -0.5 goal line road favorite with an over/under of 2.5.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL and MLB Previews and Odds - 04/22/2022

by Big Al Staff

Friday, Apr 22, 2022

The Friday sports card features NBA, NHL, and MLB action.The National Basketball Association continues the conference quarterfinals with three games in the first round of the playoffs. Miami visits Atlanta in the opening game of a doubleheader on ESPN at 7 PM ET. The Heat took a 2-0 lead in this best-of-seven series with a 115-105 victory at home as an 8-point favorite on Tuesday. Miami is a 1-point road favorite with the total set at 221.5 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). Milwaukee plays at Chicago on ABC at 8:30 PM ET. The Bulls evened this series at 1-1 with a 114-110 upset victory on the road in Game 2 as a 10-point underdog on Wednesday. The Bucks are a 2.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 222.5. Phoenix visits New Orleans in the nightcap on ESPN at 9:30 PM ET. The Pelicans tied this series at 1-1 with their 125-114 upset victory on the road as a 9.5-point underdog on Tuesday. The Suns are a 1.5-point road favorite with a total of 216.5. Four games are on the slate in the National Hockey League. Columbus hosts Ottawa at 7:07 PM ET as a -115 money line favorite with an over/under of 6. Minnesota plays at home against Seattle at 8:07 PM ET as a -300 money line favorite with a total of 6. Colorado travels to Edmonton at 9:07 PM ET as a -125 money line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. Washington is at Arizona at 10:37 PM ET as a -425 money line road favorite with a total of 6.5.The Friday card in Major League Baseball has 15 games on the schedule. The Chicago Cubs are at home against Pittsburgh at 2:20 PM ET as a -160 money line favorite. St. Louis plays at Cincinnati at 6:40 PM ET as  a-125 money line road favorite with an over/under of 9. Three MLB games start at 7:05 PM ET. Washington is at home against San Francisco. The New York Yankees play at home against Cleveland as a -180 money line favorite at William Hill with a total of 8.5. Philadelphia is at home against Milwaukee as a -125 money line favorite with an over/under of 8. Two MLB games begin at 7:10 PM ET. Tampa Bay hosts Boston as a -135 money line favorite with a total of 8. Detroit plays at home against Colorado as a -145 money line favorite with an over/under of 8. Atlanta is at home against Miami at 7:20 PM ET as a -145 money line favorite with a total of 8.5. Two MLB games throw out the first pitch at 8:10 PM ET. Houston hosts Toronto as a -165 money line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Chicago White Sox visit Minnesota with both teams priced at -110 with an over/under of 8.5. The Los Angeles Angels are at home against Baltimore at 9:38 PM ET as a -180 money line favorite with a total of 8.5. The MLB card concludes with four games at 9:40 PM ET. Texas travels to Oakland as a -125 money line road favorite with an over/under of 8. The New York Mets are at Arizona as a -130 money line road favorite with a total of 8.5. The Los Angeles Dodgers play at San Diego as a -165 money line road favorite with an over/under of 8. Seattle hosts Kansas City as a -140 money line favorite with a total of 7.5.

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Final NHL Regular Season Report

by Ben Burns

Thursday, Apr 21, 2022

The basketball postseason is off to an exciting start. Next up are the NHL playoffs. They're set to begin on May 2nd. With the regular season winding down, it's a good time to get caught up on what's been happening.  Who's In?In the basketball playoffs, the top seeds generally fare pretty well. That's not always the case in hockey; upsets are more regular. That said, a strong regular season is still a pretty good indicator of a good team. This year's (current) top 10 regular season teams include: Florida, Colorado, Toronto, Carolina, NY (Rangers), Calgary, Minnesota, St. Louis, Tampa and Boston. All 10 of those teams have clinched a spot. So have Pittsburgh and Washington. The Edmonton Oilers should be the next team to qualify. The Avs and Panthers will be favored and there's a good chance that at least one of them will be in the Finals. However, any of the teams mentioned is capable of catching fire and going on a run. On The Bubble I mentioned that the Oilers would likely be the next to qualify. After them, things become less clear. Nashville and Dallas and LA should make it. Vegas and Vancouver are in trouble. We'll know more soon. Race For Last? Getting last place doesn't guarantee first pick in the Draft. But it helps. It appears that it'll be a battle between Arizona and Montreal. Other less than honorable mentions include: Seattle, Philadelphia, Chicago, New Jersey and Ottawa. Stat LeadersEdmonton's Connor McDavid leads the league in points. He's got 113. Huberdeau, of the Panthers, is right on his heels with 111. Gaudreau, Draisaitl and Matthews round out the top five. The other four get more assists but Matthews has the most goals (58) in the NHL. Don't Be Afraid Of The Puck-Line At this time of the year, many of the favorites start to become very expensive. As most don't like to regularly lay between -200 and -600, that makes the puck-line a more attractive option. Personally, I always find myself utilizing the puck-line more than normal in the second half of the season. I've gone 12-5 with such plays since mid-February, 14-6 if factoring in complimentary selections. I had a closer look and I played at -1.5 goals seven of those 20 times. So, more often than not, I was taking goals instead of laying them. Either way, my point is that just because one team may be a big favorite, it doesn't mean that we can't be involved in the game. I'll check in again once the first round matchups have been set. Until then, enjoy the games and good luck with your plays. 

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, MLB and EPL Previews and Odds - 04/21/2022

by Big Al Staff

Thursday, Apr 21, 2022

The Thursday sports card features NBA, NHL, MLB, and EPL action.The National Basketball Association continues the conference quarterfinals with three games in the first round of the playoffs. Memphis visits Minnesota in the opening game of a doubleheader on TNT at 7:30 PM ET. The Grizzlies evened this best-of-seven series at 1-1 with their 124-96 victory as a 6.5-point favorite on Tuesday. Memphis is a 1.5-point road favorite with the total set at 236.5 (all odds from DraftKings). Utah hosts Dallas on NBA-TV at 9 PM ET. The Mavericks made this a 1-1 series with their 110-104 victory against the Jazz as a 5-point underdog on Monday. Utah is a 6.5-point favorite with an over/under of 210.5.Golden State travels to Denver in the nightcap on TNT at 10 PM ET. The Warriors took a 2-0 lead in this series with their 126-106 victory over the Nuggets as a 7-point favorite on Monday. Golden State is a 2-point road favorite with a total of 224. Eleven games are on the slate in the National Hockey League. Five games drop the puck at 7:07 PM ET. Montreal hosts Philadelphia as a -140 money line favorite with an over/under of 6. Florida is at home against Detroit as a -600 money line favorite with a total of 7. New Jersey plays at home against Buffalo as a -130 money line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. Pittsburgh hosts Boston as a -125 money line favorite with a total of 6. Carolina is at home against Winnipeg as a -265 money line favorite with an over/under 6.5. The New York Rangers play on the road against the New York Islanders at 7:37 PM ET as a -135 money line road favorite with a total of 5.5. Two more NHL games start at 8:07 PM ET. Tampa Bay is at home against Toronto on ESPN as a -115 money line favorite with an over/under of 7. Minnesota hosts Vancouver as a -180 money line favorite with a total of 6. Calgary plays at home against Dallas at 9:07 PM ET as a -195 money line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. Two games conclude the NHL card at 10:37 PM ET. Los Angeles is at home against Chicago as a -225 money line favorite with a total of 6.5. St. Louis visits San Jose as a -205 money line road favorite with an over/under of 6. The Thursday card in Major League Baseball has ten games on its schedule. Three games throw out the first pitch at 1:10 PM ET. The New York Mets are at home against San Francisco as a -140 money line favorite with a total of 7.5. The Chicago White Sox travels to Cleveland as a -140 money line road favorite with an over/under of 8. The New York Yankees play at Detroit as a -155 money line road favorite with a total of 8. Toronto visits Boston at 1:35 PM ET as a -120 money line road favorite with an over/under of 9. Minnesota is at Kansas City at 2:10 PM ET as a -120 money line road favorite with a total of 8. Oakland plays at home against Baltimore at 3:37 PM ET as a -125 money line favorite with an over/under of 7.5. Washington hosts Arizona at 4:05 PM ET as a -130 money line favorite with a total of 8.5. Miami plays at home against St. Louis at 6:40 PM ET as a -125 money line favorite with an over/under of 7.5. The Chicago Cubs host Pittsburgh at 7:40 PM ET as a -130 money line favorite with a total of 8.5. Seattle is at home against Texas at 9:40 PM ET as a -140 money line favorite with an over/under of 8.Matchweek 33 in the English Premier League concludes with one match on the USA Network at 2:45 PM ET. Southampton plays at Burnley in a pick ‘em match with a total of 2.5. 

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Early Look at NFL Win Totals

by ASA, Inc.

Wednesday, Apr 20, 2022

This offseason has been one of the most eventful of all time. Lots of notable players will be sporting new team colors, while we still have plenty of guys not yet committed to teams for 2022. With all the movement of personnel that will still happen in the coming months, there are a few teams we feel to be over or undervalued as it stands currently.  Chiefs - Under 11 WinsKansas City seems to have gotten worse while the rest of their division has gotten significantly better. The AFC West added an unprecedented amount of talent this offseason. The Raiders brought in the best receiver in football (Davante Adams), and added Chandler Jones to combo with Maxx Crosby. The Broncos got Russell Wilson to go along with an already stacked defense. Lastly, the Chargers now have Kahlil Mack next to Joey Bosa. Each of these three teams has an elite pass rush and a slew of offensive firepower to score at will. The Chiefs had 12 wins last season while going 5-1 in their division. They now will play a first place schedule and the AFC West will be a gauntlet. What hurts even more is the loss of Tyreek Hill. For the first time in his career, Mahomes will be without two elite weapons. He now only has a 32 year old Kelce who has plenty of tread on the tires. They do not have a true number one wide receiver and Mahomes' historical contact is starting to limit the roster talent. Patriots - Over 8.5 Wins Mac Jones compiled 10 wins in his rookie campaign while leaning on a run-heavy approach. Another year of development mixed with a few additional weapons will allow Mac to handle more of the offensive burden. We expect New England to have a top 10 defense again, just as they have had for the majority of the last two decades under Bill Belichick. The Patriots have ranked 7th or higher in total points allowed in each of the last 6 seasons. Whether it is the talent or the coaching, Belichick’s track record speaks for itself. If the Pats can split their two matchups with the Bills like last season, they will be a good bet to finish over .500.Panthers - Under 6 WinsMatt Rhule is already on thin ice entering the year and the pressure to succeed is only going to be detrimental at the first signs of struggle. Carolina has zero answers in their own quarterback room and none of the potential first round QBs would be stepping into a good situation.  An injury prone Christian McCaffrey is eating up cap space and only adds to the lack of identity this team has as a whole. The only saving grace is playing the Falcons and Saints for four games in 2022.  There is a chance they make a run at Cleveland QB Mayfield but that doesn't change much in our mind.  QB is a huge question mark either way, and If the Panthers do not take a first round QB next weekend, then it will be a telltale sign that they may be looking at C.J. Stroud or Bryce Young in 2023. In that case, it would be meaningless to even try to surpass the six win mark.

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