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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA and NHL Previews and Odds - 03/30/2022

by Big Al Staff

Wednesday, Mar 30, 2022

The Wednesday sports card features NBA and NHL action.The National Basketball Association has 11 games on its docket. Three games tip-off the card at 7:10 PM ET. Dallas visits Cleveland as a 4-point road favorite with the total set at 214 (all odds from DraftKings). Denver plays at Indiana as a 9.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 231.5. Washington is at home against Orlando as a 3.5-point favorite with a total of 221. Three more games start at 7:40 PM ET. Charlotte plays at New York as a 2-point road favorite with an over/under of 225. Toronto hosts Minnesota as a 3-point favorite with a total of 229.Boston plays at home against Miami in the opening game of a doubleheader on TNT at 7:40 PM ET. The Celtics had their six-game winning streak end in a 115-112 loss at Toronto as an 8.5-point underdog on Monday. Their record fell to 47-29. The Heat ended their four-game losing streak with their 123-100 victory against Sacramento as a 13.5-point favorite on Monday. They raised their record to 48-28 with the win. Boston is a 4-point favorite with an over/under of 214.5. Two NBA games begin at 8:10 PM ET. Sacramento plays at Houston as a 2.5-point road favorite with a total of 233. Atlanta travels to Oklahoma City as a 12-point road favorite with an over/under of 229. Memphis is at San Antonio at 8:40 PM ET as a 6-point road favorite with a total of 233. Two more games conclude the NBA card at 10:10 PM ET. New Orleans plays at Portland as a 13-point road favorite with an over/under of 229. Phoenix travels to Golden State for the nightcap on TNT at 10:10 PM ET. The Suns are on an eight-game winning streak with their 114-104 win against Philadelphia as a 4-point favorite on Sunday. They improved their record to 61-14. The Warriors have lost three straight and six of seven after their 123-95 setback at Memphis as an 11-point underdog on Monday. Golden State’s record fell to 48-28 with the loss. Phoenix is a 6-point road favorite with a total of 225. Six games are on the slate in the National Hockey League. The puck drops at 7:07 PM ET, with Winnipeg playing at Buffalo as a -160 money line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The New York Rangers visit Detroit in the first game of a doubleheader on TNT at 7:37 PM ET. The Rangers won their fourth game in their last five with a 5-4 victory against Buffalo on Sunday. The Red Wings are on a three-game losing streak after an 11-2 loss at Pittsburgh on Sunday. New York is a -180 money line road favorite with a total of 5.5.Edmonton hosts Los Angeles at 9:37 PM ET as a -200 money line favorite with an over/under of 6. Three more games conclude the NHL card at 10:07 PM ET. Vancouver plays at home against St. Louis as a -115 money line favorite with a total of 6. San Jose is at Arizona as a -160 money line road favorite with an over/under of 6. Vegas visits Seattle in the second game on TNT at 10:07 PM ET. The Golden Knights won their fourth game in their last six with a 5-4 victory against Chicago on Saturday. The Kraken won their fourth game in their last six with their 6-1 win in Los Angeles on Monday. Vegas is a -170 money line road favorite with a total of 6.

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NIT Tournament Championship Games 1991-2021

by Al McMordie

Wednesday, Mar 30, 2022

The #1-seeded Texas A&M Aggies and #2-seeded Xavier Musketeers have reached the NIT Tournament Championship game, in Madison Square Garden.Let's take a look at how the NIT Tournament's title games have gone since 1991 -- from a point spread perspective.Favorites:  15-15 ATSUnderdogs:  15-15 ATSTeams priced from -1 to -2.5 points (8-9 ATS)Teams priced from -3 to -4.5 points (6-6 ATS)Teams priced from -5 to -6.5 points (1-0 ATS)Teams off ATS win (vs. foes not off ATS win):  4-3 ATSTeams off double-digit win (vs. foes not off double-digit win):  9-8 ATSTeams that covered the spread in their previous game by 10+ points (vs. foes that did not):  10-3 ATSTeams off an upset win (vs. foes not off an upset win):  9-7 ATSTeams playing with revenge:  1-4 ATS (1-3 Underdog; 0-1 Favorite; 0-2 Conference; 1-2 Non-Conference)Teams with a better W/L percentage:  16-14 ATSTeams seeded better than their opponent:  8-4 ATS#1 seeds (vs. teams not seeded #1):  2-3 ATS#2 seeds (vs. teams not seeded #2): 3-2 ATS#3 seeds (vs. teams not seeded #3): 3-2 ATS#4 seeds (vs. teams not seeded #4): 4-2 ATS#5 seeds (vs. teams not seeded #5): 0-1 ATS#6 seeds (vs. teams not seeded #6): 0-2 ATS(The NIT tournaments from 1991 through 2005 were not seeded.)Good luck, as always...Al McMordie

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NBA: Assessing The Playoff Picture

by Will Rogers

Tuesday, Mar 29, 2022

NBA: Assessing the Playoff PictureEastern Conference Last month, I told you that Boston would move up the standings and they have. The Celtics are 11-2 in March and both losses came by only three points each. They have the best point differential in the conference and #1 in the entire league in defensive efficiency. It will be interesting to see where Boston finishes, because I think a lot of people will be betting them to come out of the East. Statistically, they are the best team.It’s a four-team race for first with the Celtics, Heat, 76ers and Bucks all separated by just one game in the standings. There’s never been a race that close involving so many teams. The Celtics did just lose their defensive anchor, Robert Williams III, to a knee injury and he’s out for the rest of the regular season, if not longer.Boston has as many 20-plus point wins since January 23rd (12) as any other team from the East has all season! I expect the current top four teams to be the conference semifinalists come playoff time.Chicago and Cleveland, the league’s two biggest surprise teams in the first half of the season, have fallen. At the same time, Toronto has risen, already passing Cleveland and pulling into a fifth place tie with Chicago. Looking at some key numbers, the Bulls fall short of the Raptors and even the Cavaliers. As for which of these three teams end up out of the top six (and in the play-in round), I point to Chicago (although the list of injuries in Cleveland is growing). In addition to telling you Boston would rise last month, I did mention Chicago would falter.Brooklyn, Charlotte and Atlanta will get the other play-in spots. Brooklyn is obviously the most dangerous from that group as Kyrie Irving is now eligible to play home games. The Nets are a league-worst 8-27-1 ATS in home games, but are the one team that could go from the play-in round and make a deep run in the playoffs. Atlanta has been playing better of late (7-3 L10) and is capable of winning two play-in games, if necessary. Western ConferencePhoenix has already clinched home court advantage. What has been most surprising is the Grizzlies, now 18-2 this year when Ja Morant DOESN’T play, solidifying themselves as the second best team in the West. They’ve clinched a playoff berth and with a five game lead over third place Golden State, Memphis should be the #2 seed. After that is where it gets interesting. The Warriors have lost three in a row and are without Steph Curry. They have a 1.5 game lead over Dallas, who just overtook Utah for fourth place. The Jazz have lost four in a row, going cold at the worst possible time. The Mavs and Warriors are two of the league’s very best defensive teams. The Under is 26-11-1 in Dallas home games. The Mavs have also won 18 of their last 22 home games, huge because right now they would be in line to have home court advantage over the Jazz in the first round. Those teams played four times in the regular season and the home team was 4-0. You also can’t rule out Denver, who is sixth and sitting just a half game back of the Jazz. The Nuggets already have a franchise record 23 road wins this season. Minnesota is worthy of moving up into the top six, but faces a two-game deficit with only six to play. The Timberwolves have a better point differential than either the Mavs or Nuggets. They also have the second best net rating in the league since the All-Star Break. At the very worst, the T’wolves should win their first play-in game to qualify for the playoffs. The Clippers, even with five straight losses and no Paul George or Kawhi Leonard, seem to be safe for the play-in round. But I could see them losing twice and not making the final eight.The Pelicans, Lakers and Spurs will compete for the final two play-in spots. With LeBron James’ ankle bothering him, the Lakers are in major trouble. I like the Spurs to jump either the Pelicans or Lakers for a play-in spot. It’s crazy that one of these three teams, or the Clippers, will be the 8-seed. Whoever it winds up being will be “mince meat” for the Suns in the first round. 

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL and NCAAB Previews and Odds - 03/29/2022

by Big Al Staff

Tuesday, Mar 29, 2022

The Tuesday sports card features NBA, NHL, and NCAAB action.The National Basketball Association has five games on its docket. Two games tip-off the card at 7:10 PM ET. Philadelphia hosts Milwaukee as a 2-point favorite, with the total set at 222.5 (all odds from DraftKings). Chicago visits Washington as a 3-point road favorite with an over/under of 222.5. Two more games start at 7:40 PM ET. Brooklyn is at home against Detroit as a 13-point favorite with a total of 229.5. The Tuesday doubleheader on TNT opens with Dallas playing at home against the Los Angeles Lakers at 7:40 PM ET. The Mavericks won their third game in their last four with their 114-100 upset victory against Utah as a 1-point underdog on Sunday. They raised their record to 46-29 with the win. The Lakers are on a two-game losing streak with six losses in their last eight games after their 116-108 loss in New Orleans to the Pelicans as a 3.5-point underdog on Sunday. Los Angeles has a 31-43 record. Dallas is an 11.5-point favorite with an over/under of 218. Utah travels to Los Angeles to play the Clippers in the nightcap on TNT at 10:10 PM ET. The Clippers are on a five-game losing streak after their 122-97 loss against Philadelphia as a 5-point underdog on Friday. They have a 36-39 record. The Jazz lost their fourth straight game after a 114-100 upset loss at Dallas on Sunday. Their record fell to 45-30 with the setback. Los Angeles is a 1-point favorite with a total of 216. Nine games are on the slate in the National Hockey League. Five games drop the puck at 7:07 PM ET. Boston hosts Toronto as a -130 money line favorite with an over/under of 6. Tampa Bay plays at home against Carolina as a -140 money line favorite with a total of 5.5. Florida is at home against Montreal as a -425 money line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. Pittsburgh hosts the New York Rangers as a -165 money line favorite with a total of 6. The New York Islanders are at Columbus as a -140 money line road favorite with an over/under of 6. Two NHL games begin at 8:07 PM ET. Nashville plays at home against Ottawa as a -230 money line favorite with a total of 6. Minnesota is at home against Philadelphia as a -275 money line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. Calgary hosts Colorado at 9:07 PM ET as a -115 money line favorite with a total of 6.5. Dallas visits Anaheim at 10:07 PM ET as a -165 money line road favorite with an over/under of 5.5.The Tuesday college basketball card has the two semifinals games in the National Invitational Tournament at Madison Square Garden in New York City. St. Bonaventure plays Xavier on ESPN at 7 PM ET. The Bonnies reached the semifinals with their 52-51 upset victory at Virginia as a 2.5-point underdog last Tuesday. They improved their record to 23-9. The Musketeers advanced to the semifinals with a 75-73 win against Vanderbilt as a 2.5-point favorite as a 2.5-point favorite last Tuesday. Xavier has a 21-13 record. St. Bonaventure is a 1.5-point favorite with a total of 140. Texas A&M faces Washington State on ESPN2 at 9:30 PM ET. The Aggies come off a 67-52 victory against Wake Forest in the quarterfinals of the NIT as a 2.5-point favorite on Wednesday. They raised their record to 26-12. The Cougars upset BYU on the road, 77-58, as a 2.5-point underdog in the quarterfinals on Wednesday. Washington State has a 22-14 record. Texas A&M is a 1.5-point favorite with an over/under of 133.5. 

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A Look at the 2022 MLB American League Pennant Odds 

by Oskeim Sports

Monday, Mar 28, 2022

 The MLB’s offseason featured a lockout over a new collective bargaining agreement giving fans a scare. The players and the league did finally agree to a new CBA meaning the 2022 MLB season is a go. Opening Day is set for April 7 and all 162 games will be played this season. The regular season will end on October 5.  The new CBA did include some changes, one of which involves the postseason. Each league will add one more wild card to the postseason mix for a total of 12 teams in the MLB playoffs. Which of those teams has the best shot at capturing the American League pennant? Here’s a look at how the AL pennant race may play out.   Houston, We Have No Problem The Astros have played for the last five straight AL pennants. With relatively few roster changes, Houston is the overall favorite to repeat as AL champion and represent the league in the World Series again. Remember, a year ago the Astros beat Boston in six games to win the American League but fell to Atlanta 4-2 in the World Series.  Houston has both the pitching and the hitting of a championship team. That is why they are the AL favorite at +450 to win it again. Last year, the Astros led the majors in runs per game and they could easily do that again in 2022. They have a former AL MVP in Jose Altuve who hit .277 with 31 homers and 83 RBIs last season. They have a favorite in this year’s MVP race in Yordan Alvarez. All Alvarez did last season with hit .277 with 33 home runs and 104 RBIs. Alex Bregman is back and healthy and Kyle Tucker is back after hitting .294 with 30 homers. Even after losing Carlos Correa to the Twins in free agency, there is not a weak spot in the Astros batting order.  Houston has three excellent young pitchers in Framber Valdez (11-6), Jose Urquidy (8-3), and Christian Javier who went 4-1 in nine starts last year. The Astros will also get two-time Cy Young winner Justin Verlander back after he missed all of last season with an injury.   The Contender There is a reason why Toronto is given the exact same odds - +450 – as the Astros to win the AL pennant. The Blue Jays went 91-71 last season but didn’t make the postseason. They wound up fourth in a very competitive AL East. With one of the best young lineups in baseball, the Blue Jays have what it takes to win the AL this year.  Vladimir Guerrero Jr. led the majors with 48 home runs last season. He also hit .311 and had 111 RBIs. Bo Bichette hit .298 with 29 dingers and 102 RBIs. Four more Blue Jays – Teoscar Hernandez, Lourdes Gurriel Jr., George Springer, and Randal Grichuk – each hit at least 22 home runs. Grichuk was recently traded, but the other three return. Hernandez hit .296 and had 116 RBIs.  The Blue Jays upgraded the pitching staff too. They signed Kevin Gausman away from San Diego in the offseason and recently acquired Yusei Kikuchi. They will join Jose Berrios, Alek Manoah, and Hyun Jin Ryu to form a competent starting lineup.   Others in the Mix The White Sox won the AL Central and are given +500 odds to win the AL pennant this year. The Yankees still have Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton along with P Gerrit Cole. They are listed at +475. The more interesting candidates are Tampa Bay and the Los Angeles Angels. Remember, it was the Rays that won 100 games and the AL East last year. They return AL Rookie of the Year Randy Arozarena and SS prospect Wander Franco. The Rays are given +750 odds to win the AL pennant.  The Angels are an interesting longshot pick. They return AL MVP Shohei Ohtani and a healthy Mike Trout, who owns three AL MVPs of his own. The Angels did upgrade the pitching staff with the addition of Noah Syndergaard. L.A. is currently listed at +1600 to win the AL. 

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, and NCAAB Previews and Odds - 03/28/2022

by Big Al Staff

Monday, Mar 28, 2022

The Monday sports card features NBA, NHL, and NCAAB action.The National Basketball Association has nine games on its docket. Three games tip-off at 7:10 PM ET. Denver travels to Charlotte as a 3.5-point road favorite with a total of 231.5. Cleveland hosts Orlando as a 10-point favorite with an over/under of 215. Atlanta plays at Indiana as a 7-point road favorite with a total of 235. Two more NBA games start at 7:40 PM ET. Miami is at home against Sacramento as a 13.5-point favorite with an over/under of 219. Chicago plays at New York as a 4.5-point road favorite with a total of 223.5. Two NBA games start at 8:10 PM ET. San Antonio visits Houston as a 6.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 236. Memphis hosts Golden State as a 10.5-point favorite with a total of 223.5. Oklahoma City plays at Portland at 10:10 PM ET as a 2.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 221.5. Five games are on the slate in the National Hockey League. Carolina visits Washington at 7:05 PM ET as a -135 money line road favorite with a total of 6. St. Louis is at home against Vancouver at 7:35 PM ET as a -135 money line favorite with an over/under of 6. Chicago plays at home against Buffalo at 8:35 PM ET as a -155 money line favorite with a total of 6. Edmonton hosts Arizona at 9:35 PM ET as a -400 money line favorite with a total of 6.5. Los Angeles is at home against Seattle at 10:35 PM ET as a -245 money line favorite with an over/under of 6.The Monday college basketball card features the two semifinal games in the Basketball Classic postseason tournament. South Alabama hosts Coastal Carolina at 8 PM ET. The Jaguars won their third game in their last four with their 83-79 victory against South Carolina Upstate as a 9-point favorite last Monday. They improved their record to 21-11 with the win. Their opening-round victory in this tournament was against Southeastern Louisiana. The Chanticleers won their fifth game in their last six with their 84-68 victory against the Florida Gulf Coast as a 2.5-point favorite on Monday. Coastal Carolina has an 18-13 record after beating Maryland-Eastern Shore in the first round of this tournament. South Alabama is a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 137.5.Fresno State plays at home against Southern Utah at 10 PM ET. The Bulldogs have won three of their last four games with their 80-71 victory against Youngstown State as a 12.5-point favorite on Wednesday. They raised their record to 23-13 with the win after beating Youngstown State in the opening round of this tournament. The Thunderbirds won their fifth game in their last six with a 77-66 win against Portland as a 3-point favorite on Saturday. Southern Utah has a 23-11 record with their victories against Kent State and UTEP in the Basketball Classic tournament. Fresno State is a 7.5-point favorite with an over/under of 136.5. 

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL and NCAAB Previews and Odds - 03/27/2022

by Big Al Staff

Sunday, Mar 27, 2022

The Sunday sports card features NBA, NHL, and NCAAB action.The National Basketball Association has seven games on its docket. New York plays at Detroit as a 4.5-point road favorite with a total of 219 (all odds from DraftKings). Three games tip-off at 6:10 PM ET. Boston hosts Minnesota as a 6-point favorite with an over/under of 228. Golden State visits Washington as a 7.5-point road favorite with a total of 221.5. Two NBA games begin at 7:10 PM ET. New Jersey hosts the Los Angeles Lakers as a 3-point favorite with an over/under of 229.5. Brooklyn is a 7-point favorite with a total of 238. Dallas is at home against Utah as a 2.5-point favorite with an over/under of 220.The National Hockey League has eight games on its slate. Tampa Bay plays in New York against the Islanders on TNT at 2:07 PM ET. The Lightning have lost three in a row with their 3-2 loss to Boston Thursday. The Islanders are on a two-game winning streak after their 5-2 win against Detroit on Thursday. Tampa Bay is a -160 money line road favorite with a total of 5.5. Two games drop the puck at 5:07 PM ET. The New York Rangers are at home against Buffalo as a -275 money line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. Pittsburgh hosts Detroit as a -295 money line favorite with a total of 6.5. Two NHL games begin at 6:07 PM ET. Nashville plays at home against Philadelphia as a -265 money line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. Colorado visits Minnesota as a -135 money line road favorite with a total of 6.5. Three games conclude the NHL card at 7:07 PM ET. Winnipeg plays at home against Arizona as a -270 money line favorite with an over/under of 6. Toronto is a -115 money line favorite with a total of 7. New Jersey plays Montreal as a -155 money line favorite with an over/under of 6. The Sunday college basketball card has two games on CBS to conclude the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament. Kansas plays Miami (Florida) at 2:20 PM ET at the United Center in Chicago. The Jayhawks are on an eight-game winning streak after their 66-61 victory against Providence as a 7-point favorite on Friday. They raised their record to 31-6 with the win. The Hurricanes won their sixth game in their last seven with their 70-56 win against Iowa State as a 3.5-point favorite on Friday. Miami has a 26-10 record. Kansas is a 6-point favorite with a total of 147.5.North Carolina faces Saint Peter’s at 5:05 PM ET at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. The Tar Heels won their ninth game in their last ten with their 73-66 upset victory against UCLA as a 2.5-point underdog on Friday. Their record is 27-9. The Peacocks orchestrated their third straight upset victory in this tournament with their 67-64 win against Purdue as a 13-point underdog on Friday. Saint Peter’s has a 22-11 record. North Carolina is an 8-point favorite with an over/under of 137.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL and NCAAB Previews and Odds - 03/26/2022

by Big Al Staff

Saturday, Mar 26, 2022

The Saturday sports card features NBA, NHL, and NCAAB action.The National Basketball Association has eight games on its docket. New Orleans hosts San Antonio at 5:10 PM ET as a 5-point favorite with the total set at 232.5 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). Orlando plays at home against Sacramento at 7:10 PM ET as a 3-point favorite with an over/under of 224. Toronto is at home against Indiana at 7:40 PM ET as a 9-point favorite with a total of 227. Three NBA games tip-off at 8:10 PM ET. Cleveland plays at home against Chicago in a pick ‘em contest with an over/under of 219. Miami hosts Brooklyn as a 1-point favorite with a total of 226.5. Memphis is at home against Milwaukee as a 1-point favorite at BetRivers. Denver hosts Oklahoma City at 9:10 PM ET as a 13.5-point favorite with a total of 225.5. Houston visits Portland at 10:10 PM ET as a 3.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 232.5. The National Hockey League has 12 games on its slate. The puck drops at 12:37 PM ET. Boston is at home against the New York Islanders as a -185 money line favorite with a total of 5.5. Tampa Bay travels to Detroit as a -270 money line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. Vegas plays at home against Chicago on ABC as a -185 money line favorite with a total of 6. Four NHL games begin at 7:07 PM ET. Toronto visits Montreal as a -270 money line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. Florida plays at Ottawa as a -295 money line road favorite with a total of 6.5. Dallas hosts Vancouver as a -145 money line favorite with an over/under of 6. Washington is at home against New Jersey as a -195 money line favorite a total of 6. Two NHL games start at 8:07 PM ET. Minnesota plays at home against Columbus as a -255 money line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. Carolina travels to St. Louis as a -125 money line road favorite with a total of 6. Calgary hosts Edmonton at 10:07 PM ET as a -170 money line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. Two more games conclude the NHL at 10:37 PM ET. Los Angeles plays at home against Seattle as a -245 money line favorite with a total of 6. San Jose is at home against Anaheim as a -150 money line favorite with an over/under of 6. The Saturday college basketball card has two games on TBS in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament. Houston plays Villanova at 6:09 PM ET at the AT&T Center in San Antonio. The Cougars are on a six-game winning streak after their 72-60 upset victory against Arizona as a 1.5-point underdog on Thursday. They improved their record to 32-5 with the win. The Wildcats have won eight in a row with their 63-55 win against Michigan as a 4.5-point favorite as a 4.5-point favorite on Thursday. Villanova has a 29-7 record. Houston is a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 128.Duke faces Arkansas at 8:49 PM ET at the Chase Center in San Francisco. The Blue Devils won their fifth game in their last six with a 78-73 victory against Texas Tech in a pick ‘em on Thursday. They raised their record to 31-6 with the win. The Razorbacks won their fourth game in their last five with a 74-68 upset win against Gonzaga as a 9.5-point underdog on Thursday. Arkansas has a 28-8 record. Duke is a 3.5-point favorite with an over/under of 146.5.

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2022 MLB Futures - Player Awards

by Sean Murphy

Friday, Mar 25, 2022

With baseball's Opening Day just under two weeks away it's a good time to take a look at some futures worth grabbing a piece of before the stats start counting for real in April. Here are two American League player award futures that I've personally locked in already (odds courtesy DraftKings).A.L. MVPBo Bichette, Toronto Blue Jays, +2000Of course, Bichette was overshadowed by another MVP candidate on his own team last year with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. turning in a phenomenal sophomore campaign. However, Bichette's stellar season shouldn't be ignored. He came within one home run and five stolen bases of a 30-30 season. Perhaps most impressively of all, he appeared in 159 of 162 games for the Blue Jays. That's the sort of durability we're looking for in an MVP candidate. Noting that Bichette had posted .571 and .512 slugging percentages in more limited action in 2019 and 2020, respectively, I'm expecting a step forward in that department this year after he recorded a .484 SLG% last season. In general, I believe Bichette is in line to improve on his extra-base power, which would obviously go a long way toward building on the 29 home runs and 102 runs batted in he delivered in 2021. The Blue Jays as a whole figure to be improved offensively with the additions of Matt Chapman (who is in line for a bounce-back season at the dish) and Ramel Tapia (a recent trade acquisition from the Rockies) and that obviously improves Bichette's run-scoring and producing potential as well.A.L. Rookie of the YearJulio Rodriguez, Seattle Mariners, +750I've been high on Rodriguez for years' now, even if he has yet to make his big league debut. It's only a matter of time before he cracks a spot on the Mariners roster - quite possibly in time for Opening Day given how he's been performing in Spring Training action. In High-A and Double-A ball last season, J-Rod hit .347 with 13 home runs and 47 RBI in 74 games. He also added 21 steals. He's shown remarkable improvement in his two years in the minors and all indications are that he's ready for the jump to the majors in 2022, likely sooner rather than later. There are obviously a number of budding young stars in the American League with Bobby Witt Jr. of the Royals leading the list (he's the favorite to win Rookie of the Year). I'm not sure if anyone has as much potential upside as Rodriguez though. He's already 4-for-11 at the dish this Spring, with a home run, four RBI and a stolen base. That's just the tip of the iceberg and I believe we're being offered incredible value before the hype train really gets rolling in April and May. 

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL and NCAAB Previews and Odds - 03/25/2022

by Big Al Staff

Friday, Mar 25, 2022

The Friday sports card features NBA, NHL, and NCAAB action.The National Basketball Association has seven games on its docket. Two games tip-off the card at 7:10 PM ET. Utah visits Charlotte as a 3-point road favorite with the total set at 232.5. Detroit plays at home against Washington as a 2.5-point favorite with an over/under of 218. Atlanta is at home against Golden State as a 2-point favorite with a total of 220.5. Two NBA games begin at 8:10 PM ET. Miami hosts New York as a 5-point favorite. Dallas plays at Minnesota in a pick ‘em contest with an over/under of 228. Houston travels to Portland as a 3.5-point road favorite with a total of 235.5. Philadelphia is at Los Angeles against the Clippers at 10:40 PM ET as a 5.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 225.5. The National Hockey League has five games on its slate. Two games drop the puck at 7:07 PM ET. Washington travels to Buffalo as a -215 money line road favorite with an over/under of 6. Pittsburgh plays in New York against the Rangers as a -120 money line road favorite with a total of 5.5. Winnipeg is at home against Columbus at 8:08 PM ET as a -210 money line favorite with an over/under of 6. Two games conclude the NHL card at 9:07 PM ET. Colorado hosts Philadelphia as a -425 money line favorite with a total of 6.5. Calgary plays at home against Arizona as a -425 money line favorite with an over/under of 6.5.The Friday college basketball card has four games on national television to complete the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament. Purdue plays Saint Peter’s on CBS at 7:09 PM ET at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. The Boilermakers won their fifth game in their last six with an 81-71 victory against Texas as a 3-point favorite on Sunday. They raised their record to 29-7 with the win. The Peacocks won their ninth straight game with their 70-60 upset victory against Murray State as an 8-point underdog on Saturday. Saint Peter’s has a 21-11 record. Purdue is a 12.5-point favorite with a total of 135.Kansas battles Providence on TBS at 7:29 PM ET at the United Center in Chicago. The Jayhawks won their seventh straight game with their 79-72 win against Creighton as a 12.5-point favorite on Saturday. They have a 30-6 record on the year. The Friars won their sixth game in their last eight with a 79-51 victory against Richmond as a 3.5-point favorite on Saturday. Providence improved their record to 27-5. Kansas is a 7.5-point favorite with an over/under of 141.5.UCLA faces North Carolina on CBS at 9:39 PM ET at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. The Bruins won their seventh game in their last nine with a 72-56 victory as a 3-point favorite on Saturday. They have a 27-7 record. The Tar Heels won their eighth game in their last nine with a 93-86 upset win against Baylor as a 5-point underdog on Saturday. North Carolina improved to 26-9. UCLA is a 2-point favorite with a total of 141.5. Miami (Florida) faces Iowa State on TBS at 9:59 PM ET at the United Center in Chicago. The Hurricanes won their fifth game in their last six with their 79-61 upset win against Auburn as a 6.5-point underdog on Sunday. Their record has improved to 25-10. The Cyclones won their second straight game with a 54-49 upset win against Wisconsin as a 4-point underdog on Sunday. Iowa State has a 22-12 record. Miami (Florida) is a 2.5-point favorite with an over/under of 133. 

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Are The Boston Celtics For Real?

by AAA Sports

Thursday, Mar 24, 2022

Just what in the name of Sam Adams is happening in Boston these days?Left for dead and getting booed off their home court on a semi-regular basis through the first 50 games of the season, out of nowhere the Celtics have somehow cobbled together one of the greatest turnarounds in NBA regular-season history. Boston was a .500 team last season and .500 again through 50 games this year before going on the mother of all tears – winning 21 of 24, including a 28-point beatdown of a good Jazz team on Wednesday in a game that wasn’t anywhere near as close as the final score indicated.The early part of Boston’s current streak drew little attention as NBA eyes were focused on James Harden shooting his way off another team, Ben Simmons refusing to play at all and the Lakers being either hurt or pissed at the world (sometimes both). But as the Celtics have surged past team after team in the East, the outside world is paying attention.Boston opened the year at +4000 to win it all, a number that has melted to +1000 in some books. FWIW, Stephen A. Smith is starting to blow Boston’s horn as the team to beat, and the number-crunching basketball folks at 538.com have been saying for nearly a month that the Larry O’Brien Trophy will be heading to Beantown come June.So what gives?Offensively the Celtics have ridden the coattails of forwards Jayson Tatum (who has been a 30-ppg machine of late) and Jaylen Brown. But the real work is done on the defensive end. Boston has the NBA’s best defense, and the gap between the Celtics and No. 2 is gaping. Marcus Smart is a dog on the perimeter, and finally-healthy big Robert Williams is fast enough to guard the 3-point line and recover to defend the rim when Boston is caught in transition. The Celtics haven’t had a shot-blocker like Williams since Bill Russell.[It’s interesting to note here that the best defensive players on the best defensive team aren’t getting much love from oddsmakers in the Defensive Player of the Year discussion. Robert Wiliams (+1100) is fourth, behind heavy favorite Bam Adebayo (+115), Rudy Gobert and Giannis Antetokounmpo. Smart (+4000) is a distant eighth.]The rest of the rotation, which was tightened after mid-season trades sent rotation players Dennis Schroder and Josh Richardson out of town, includes rejuvenated veteran big Al Horford, emerging 3-point shooters Grant Williams and Payton Pritchard; and glue guard Derrick White, who came over from San Antonio at the trade deadline.For the first few months of the season rookie coach Ime Udoka (a Gregg Popovich disciple) must have wondered why he took he took the job. Tatum and Brown had continued the My Turn / Your Turn ISO play that Celtics fans had witnessed nightly since the Celtics lost to the Heat in the bubble in the Eastern Conference finals. That style of play led to a 61-61 record over the next year-plus – until everything came together in late January.Ripping through the soft underbelly of the schedule and playing against weak teams and teams dealing with Covid player absences, Boston ran off nine straight wins and then continued white hot post-All-Star break. The dismantling of the Jazz was Boston’s fifth straight, and came on the heels of a 4-0 road trip that included wins over Golden State (yes, the one in which Steph Curry got hurt) and Denver. The Celtics won those four games by an average of nearly 20 ppg.Boston’s surge, combined with periodic inconsistent play by Miami, Philadelphia, Milwaukee, Chicago and Cleveland, moved the Celtics to within shouting distance (1.5 games) of first place in the East – a stunning 180 for a fan base which only a few months before had been talking about trading one, or both, of the J’s and embarking on a complete rebuild.Can Boston continue its Sherman-like march to the sea, get out of the East and possibly get that elusive championship banner No. 18, its first since the Garnett-Pierce-Allen title team of 2008? Oddsmakers still like Brooklyn to at least get to the Finals, and the Bucks, 76ers and Heat are all listed higher than the Celtics (+550) in the conference.At a minimum, though, Boston has shot its way into the conversation. And as any talking head this side of Charles Barkley will tell you, offense can come and go but defense and effort are more permanent and can take you far. Last year the Celtics were doused in five by the Nets in the first round after winning the 7-8 Play-In Game. But that was long ago, and in a galaxy far away.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL and NCAAB Previews and Odds - 03/24/2022

by Big Al Staff

Thursday, Mar 24, 2022

The Thursday sports card features NBA, NHL, and NCAAB action.The National Basketball Association has five games on its docket. Toronto hosts Cleveland at 7:40 PM ET as a 3.5-point favorite with a total of 214.5 (all odds from DraftKings). Three games tip-off at 8:10 PM ET. Milwaukee plays at home against Washington as a 12-point favorite with an over/under of 233. Chicago travels to New Orleans as a 1-point road favorite with a total of 228.5. Memphis is at home against Indiana as a 12-point favorite with an over/under of 235.5. Denver hosts Phoenix at 9:10 PM ET as a 3-point favorite with a total of 231. The National Hockey League has ten games on its slate. The puck drops for three games at 7:07 PM ET. Boston plays at home against Tampa Bay in a game where both teams are priced as a -110 money line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. Florida visits Montreal as a -260 money line road favorite with a total of 6.5. Carolina is at home against Dallas on ESPN as a -185 money line favorite with an over/under of 6. The New York Islanders are at home against Detroit at 7:37 PM ET as a -215 money line favorite with a total of 5.5. Three NHL games begin at 8:07 PM ET. Winnipeg hosts Ottawa as a -285 money line favorite with an over/under of 6. St. Louis plays at home against Philadelphia as a -275 money line favorite with a total of 6. Minnesota is at home against Vancouver as a -225 money line favorite with an over/under of 6. Edmonton hosts San Jose at 9:07 PM ET as a -255 money line favorite with a total of 6. Two more games conclude the NHL card at 10:07 PM ET. Vegas plays at home against Nashville as a -115 money line favorite with an over/under of 6. The Los Angeles Lakers are a -190 money line favorite with a total of 6. The Thursday college basketball card has four games on national television for the sweet 16 in the NCAA tournament. Gonzaga plays Arkansas on CBS at 7:09 PM ET at the Chase Center in San Francisco. The Bulldogs won their fourth straight game with their 82-78 victory against Memphis as a 10-point favorite on Saturday. They raised their record to 28-3 with the win. The Razorbacks won their third game in their last four with their 53-48 win against New Mexico State as a 6.5-point favorite on Saturday. Arkansas has a 27-8 record. Gonzaga is a 9.5-point favorite with an over/under of 155. Villanova faces Michigan on TBS at 7:29 PM ET at the AT&T Center in San Antonio. The Wildcats are on a seven-game winning streak with their 71-61 victory against Ohio State as a 5-point favorite on Sunday. They improved to 28-7 with the win. The Wolverines won their third game in their last four with a 76-68 upset victory against Tennessee as a 7-point underdog on Saturday. Michigan now has a 19-14 record. Villanova is a 5-point favorite with a total of 135.5. Texas Tech battles Duke on CBS at 9:39 PM ET at the Chase Center in San Francisco. The Red Raiders won their fourth game in their last five with their 59-53 victory against Notre Dame as an 8-point favorite on Sunday. They have a 27-9 record. The Blue Devils won their fourth game in their last five with an 85-76 win against Michigan State as a 6.5-point favorite on Sunday. Duke improved to 30-6 with the win. Texas Tech is a 1-point favorite with an over/under of 137.Arizona goes up against Houston on TBS at 9:59 PM ET at the AT&T Center in San Antonio. The Wildcats are on an eight-game winning streak after their 85-80 win in overtime against TCU on Sunday. They improved to 33-3 with the win. The Cougars are on a five-game winning streak after their 68-53 victory against Illinois as a 3.5-point favorite on Sunday. Houston has a 31-5 record. Arizona is a 1.5-point favorite with a total of 145.5.

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