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Big Al's Daily Angle: NCAAF, NBA, NHL, NCAAB and EPL Previews and Odds - 12/06/2025

by Big Al Staff

Saturday, Dec 06, 2025

The Saturday sports card features NCAAF, NBA, NHL, NCAAB, and EPL action.The college football postseason continues with five conference championship games. Two NCAAF conference championship games kick off at noon ET. Texas Tech takes on BYU in the Big 12 championship game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on ABC. The Red Raiders are a 12.5-point favorite with the total set at 49.5 (all odds from DraftKings). Western Michigan faces Miami (OH) in the Mid-American Conference championship game at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan, on ESPN. The Broncos are a 1.5-point favorite with an over/under of 43.5. Georgia challenges Alabama in the SEC championship game at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, on ABC and ESPN at 4:00 p.m. ET. The Bulldogs are a 1.5-point favorite with a total of 48.5. Two games conclude the NCAAF card at 8:00 p.m. ET. Virginia battles Duke in the ACC championship game at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, on ABC. The Cavaliers are a 4-point favorite with an over/under of 57.5. Ohio State plays Indiana in the Big Ten championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana, on Fox. The Buckeyes are a 4-point favorite with a total of 47.5.The National Basketball Association has seven games on its docket. The Brooklyn Nets host the New Orleans Pelicans at 5:10 p.m. ET as a 2.5-point favorite with an over/under of 227.5. The Atlanta Hawks travel to Washington to take on the Wizards at 7:10 p.m. ET as a 9.5-point road favorite with a total of 236.5. Two more NBA games tip off at 7:40 p.m. ET.  The Cleveland Cavaliers play at home against the Golden State Warriors as a 7.5-point favorite with an over/under of 227.5. The Detroit Pistons are home to face the Milwaukee Bucks as a 12.5-point favorite with a total of 223.5. Two NBA games start at 8:10 p.m. ET. The Miami Heat host the Sacramento Kings as an 8.5-point favorite with an over/under of 239.5. The Minnesota Timberwolves play at home against the Los Angeles Clippers as a 10.5-point favorite with a total of 225.5. The Houston Rockets play in Dallas against the Mavericks at 8:40 p.m. ET as a 10.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 221.5. The National Hockey League has 12 games on its slate. The Colorado Avalanche are on the road against the New York Rangers at 12:37 p.m. ET as a -170 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Florida Panthers are at home against the Columbus Blue Jackets at 3:37 p.m. ET as a -162 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. Six NHL games drop the puck at 7:07 p.m. ET. The Ottawa Senators host the St. Louis Blues as a -155 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Tampa Bay Lightning plays at home against the New York Islanders as a -185 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Toronto Maple Leafs are home against the Montreal Canadiens as a -130 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Calgary Flames host the Utah Mammoth as a -115 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The New Jersey Devils are on the road against the Boston Bruins as a -130 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Carolina Hurricanes play at home against the Nashville Predators as a -238 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Los Angeles Kings are home against the Chicago Blackhawks at 9:07 p.m. ET as a -218 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. Three more games conclude the NHL card at 10:07 p.m. ET. The Detroit Red Wings visit Seattle to battle the Kraken as a -125 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Minnesota Wild play in Vancouver against the Canucks as a -135 money-line road favorite with a total of 5.5. The Edmonton Oilers host the Winnipeg Jets as a -205 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The NCAAB college basketball schedule tips off at noon ET with 115 games involving Division I opponents. Five NCAAB games are on major national television. Two NCAAB games tip off at noon ET. Duke is on the road against Michigan State on Fox as a 1.5-point favorite with a total of 142.5. Purdue plays at home against Iowa State on CBS as a 5.5-point favorite with an over/under of 152.5. Louisville challenges Indiana at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana, on CBS at 2:15 p.m. ET as a 4.5-point favorite with a total of 161.5. Baylor travels to Memphis on CBS at 4:30 p.m. ET as a 3.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 157.5. Tennessee faces Illinois at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee, on ESPN at 8:00 p.m. ET as a 1.5-point favorite with a total of 156.5. Matchweek 15 in the English Premier League begins with seven matches. Arsenal plays at Aston Villa on the USA Network at 7:30 a.m. ET as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Five more EPL matches start at 10:00 a.m. ET. Chelsea is on the road against Bournemouth on NBC as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5. Everton is at home against Nottingham Forest as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Manchester City hosts Sunderland as a -1.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 3.5. Newcastle United plays at home against Burnley as a -1.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Tottenham is at home against Brentford on the USA Network as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5. Liverpool visits Leeds United on NBC at 12:30 p.m. 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: NCAAF, NBA, NHL and NCAAB Previews and Odds - 12/05/2025

by Big Al Staff

Friday, Dec 05, 2025

The Friday sports card features NCAAF, NBA, NHL, and NCAAB action.The college football postseason kicks off with four conference championship games. Two NCAAF conference championship games start at 7:00 p.m. ET. Kennesaw State travels to Jacksonville State in the Conference USA championship game on the CBS Sports Network. The Owls are a 2.5-point road favorite with the total set at 60.5 (all odds from DraftKings). James Madison hosts Troy in the Sun Belt Conference championship game on ESPN. The Dukes are a 23.5-point favorite with an over/under of 46.5. Two NCAAF conference championship games begin at 8:00 p.m. ET. North Texas plays at Tulane in the American Athletic Conference championship game on ABC. The Mean Green are a 2.5-point road favorite with a total of 66.5. Boise State plays at home against UNLV in the Mountain West Conference championship game on Fox. The Broncos are a 4.5-point favorite with an over/under of 58.5. The National Basketball Association has 12 games on its docket. Two NBA games tip off at 7:10 p.m. ET. The Boston Celtics are home against the Los Angeles Lakers on Amazon Prime Video as a 6.5-point favorite with a total of 224.5. The Orlando Magic host the Miami Heat as a 5.5-point favorite with an over/under of 242.5. Five more NBA games start at 7:40 p.m. ET. The Cleveland Cavaliers play at home against the San Antonio Spurs as a 5.5-point favorite with a total of 238.5. The New York Knicks are home against the Utah Jazz as a 15.5-point favorite with an over/under of 240.5. The Toronto Raptors host the Charlotte Hornets as an 8.5-point favorite with a total of 231.5. The Detroit Pistons play at home against the Portland Trail Blazers as a 7.5-point favorite with an over/under of 236.5. The Denver Nuggets are on the road against the Atlanta Hawks as a 6.5-point road favorite with a total of 237.5.  Four NBA games begin at 8:10 p.m. ET. The Houston Rockets are home against the Phoenix Suns as an 11.5-point favorite with an over/under of 223.5. The Chicago Bulls host the Indiana Pacers as a 4.5-point favorite with a total of 238.5. The Philadelphia 76ers visit the Milwaukee Bucks as a 1.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 223.5. The Los Angeles Clippers play in Memphis against the Grizzlies as a 1.5-point road favorite with a total of 223.5. The Oklahoma City Thunder play at home against the Dallas Mavericks on Amazon Prime Video at 9:40 p.m. ET as a 14.5-point favorite with an over/under of 228.5.The National Hockey League has five games on its slate. Two NHL games drop the puck at 7:07 p.m. ET. The Winnipeg Jets are home against the Buffalo Sabres as a -135 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Vegas Golden Knights are on the road against the New Jersey Devils as a -130 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Dallas Stars host the San Jose Sharks at 8:07 p.m. ET as a -228 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Utah Mammoth travel to Vancouver to face the Canucks at 9:07 p.m. ET as a -130 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Washington Capitals play in Anaheim against the Ducks as a -142 road favorite with a total of 6.5.The NCAAB college basketball schedule tips off at 5:00 p.m. ET with 22 games involving Division I opponents. Gonzaga battles Kentucky on a neutral court at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee, on ESPN2 at 7:00 p.m. ET as a 5.5-point favorite with an over/under of 159.5. Xavier plays at home against Cincinnati on TNT as a 1.5-point favorite with a total of 145.5. 

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College Basketball Betting Strategies and Insights

by Wayne Root

Thursday, Dec 04, 2025

How to Bet on College BasketballPlacing bets on college basketball may seem straightforward, but achieving consistent success involves several crucial steps. The first task is determining the best bet to make. At Wayne Root Sports, I conduct extensive research on teams and players, analyze statistics, preview games, and make predictions, so you can focus on your money management—your most vital tool for success.Focus on Select ConferencesConcentrating on a few conferences you know well can enhance your understanding of individual teams and their performance from game to game.Consider UnderdogsBetting on underdogs can be a strategic choice, as a single victory can be as rewarding as multiple wins on favorites. This approach is essential for effective bankroll management.College Basketball Futures BettingSimilar to other sports, college basketball futures allow bettors to wager on a variety of outcomes. You can bet on things like which team will win the national championship, individual award recipients, or if a specific team will qualify for the March tournament.Popular college basketball futures include:**National Champion:** Predict which team will win the national championship for the season.**Conference Winners:** Bet on the team you believe will win their conference.**Player of the Year:** Wager on who will be named Naismith Men's Player of the Year at season's end.**Win Totals:** Bet on whether a certain team will win more than a specific number of games in a season (e.g., over 25.5 wins for Wisconsin).**Tournament Qualification:** Bet on a team expected to secure a spot in March's college basketball tournament.Here are the top teams with the shortest odds to win the 2026 national title: As of mid-November - Purdue (+950)- Houston (+1000)- Kentucky (+1800)- Connecticut (+1300)- Duke (+1400)- Michigan (+1400)- St. John's (+1600)- BYU (+1700)- Florida (+1900)College Basketball Live BettingWhile most bettors place their wagers before games, many sports betting apps offer live betting options. This allows you to bet on a game while it is in progress. For instance, if the Michigan Wolverines start slow against the Indiana Hoosiers, a bettor might use an app to place a wager believing the Wolverines can still pull off a win, despite trailing.Live betting odds—like spread, money line, total points, "next team to score," and halftime markets—are continually updated throughout the game, giving bettors the chance to capitalize on changing circumstances.ConclusionLastly, the importance of effective money management cannot be overstated. Aim to maintain your money management strategy for at least two weeks to navigate both winning and losing streaks effectively.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NFL, NBA, NHL, NCAAB and EPL Previews and Odds - 12/04/2025

by Big Al Staff

Thursday, Dec 04, 2025

The Thursday sports card features NFL, NBA, NHL, NCAAB, and EPL action.Week 14 in the National Football League kicks off with one game. The Detroit Lions host the Dallas Cowboys on Amazon Prime Video at 8:15 p.m. ET. The Lions lost for the second time in their last three games after a 31-24 upset loss at home against Green Bay as a 3-point favorite last Thursday on Thanksgiving. The Cowboys are on a three-game winning streak after a 31-28 upset victory at home against Kansas City last Thursday as a 3.5-point underdog. Detroit is a 3-point favorite with the total set at 54.5 (all odds from DraftKings).The National Basketball Association has five games on its docket. Two NBA games tip off at 7:10 p.m. ET. The Boston Celtics travel to Washington to play the Wizards as a 7.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 230.5. The Philadelphia 76ers play at home against the Golden State Warriors as a 3.5-point favorite with a total of 222.5. Two NBA games start at 7:40 p.m. ET. The Utah Jazz play in Brooklyn against the Nets as a 3.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 231.5. The Toronto Raptors are home against the Los Angeles Lakers as a 1.5-point favorite with a total of 230.5. The Minnesota Timberwolves are on the road against the New Orleans Pelicans at 8:10 p.m. ET as a 10.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 235.5. The National Hockey League has 10 games on its slate. Six NHL games drop the puck at 7:07 p.m. ET. The Carolina Hurricanes host the Toronto Maple Leafs as a -205 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The St. Louis Blues visit Boston to take on the Bruins as a -142 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Colorado Avalanche play in New York against the Islanders as a -192 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The Ottawa Senators play at home against the New York Rangers as a -148 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Tampa Bay Lightning are home against the Pittsburgh Penguins as a -205 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Florida Panthers host the Nashville Predators as a -205 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Columbus Blue Jackets play at home against the Detroit Red Wings at 7:37 p.m. ET as a -126 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. Two more NHL games begin at 9:07 p.m. ET. The Edmonton Oilers are home against the Seattle Kraken as a -238 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Minnesota Wild are on the road against the Calgary Flames as a -122 money-line road favorite with a total of 5.5. The Los Angeles Kings host the Chicago Blackhawks at 10:07 p.m. ET as a -238 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The NCAAB college basketball schedule tips off at 4:00 p.m. ET with 11 games involving Division I opponents. There are no games on major national television.Matchweek 14 in the English Premier League concludes with one match. Manchester United plays at home against West Ham United on the USA Network at 3:00 p.m. ET as a -1.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 3.5.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, NCAAB and EPL Previews and Odds 12/03/2025

by Big Al Staff

Wednesday, Dec 03, 2025

The Wednesday sports card features NBA, NHL, NCAAB, and EPL action.The National Basketball Association has nine games on its docket. Three NBA games tip off at 7:10 p.m. ET. The Orlando Magic host the San Antonio Spurs as a 7.5-point favorite with the total set at 233.5 (all odds from DraftKings). The Cleveland Cavaliers play at home against the Portland Trail Blazers as a 10.5-point favorite with an over/under of 238.5. The Denver Nuggets travel to Indiana to play the Pacers as a 7.5-point road favorite with a total of 236.5. Two NBA games start at 7:40 p.m. ET. The New York Knicks are home against the Charlotte Hornets as a 9.5-point favorite with an over/under of 236.5. The Atlanta Hawks host the Los Angeles Clippers as a 3.5-point favorite with a total of 228.5. Three NBA games begin at 8:10 p.m. ET. The Detroit Pistons play in Milwaukee against the Bucks as a 3.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 232.5. The Chicago Bulls play at home against the Brooklyn Nets as an 8.5-point favorite with a total of 237.5. The Houston Rockets are home against the Sacramento Kings as a 15.5-point favorite with an over/under of 230.5. The Miami Heat are on the road against the Dallas Mavericks as a 4.5-point road favorite with a total of 240.5. The National Hockey League has five games on its slate. The New Jersey Devils host the Dallas Stars at 7:07 p.m. ET as a -115 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. Two more NHL games drop the puck at 7:37 p.m. ET. The Winnipeg Jets visit Montreal with both teams priced as -110 money-line favorites with a total of 6.5. The Philadelphia Flyers play at home against the Buffalo Sabres on TNT as a -125 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. Two games conclude the NHL card at 10:07 p.m. ET. The Washington Capitals play in San Jose against the Sharks as a -148 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The Anaheim Ducks are home against the Utah Mammoth on TNT as a -112 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The NCAAB college basketball schedule tips off at 12:00 p.m. ET with 78 games involving Division I opponents. There are four games on major national television in the ACC-SEC Challenge. Louisville is on the road against Arkansas on ESPN at 7:00 p.m. ET as a 2.5-point road favorite with a total of 165.5. Alabama hosts Clemson on ESPNU at 7:15 p.m. ET as an 11.5-point favorite with an over/under of 166.5.  Two NCAA-B games on major national television start at 9:15 p.m. ET. Texas plays at home against Virginia on ESPNU as a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 150.5. Auburn is at home against North Carolina State on ESPN as a 6.5-point favorite with an over/under of 165.5. Matchweek 14 in the English Premier League continues with six matches. Four EPL matches begin at 2:30 p.m. ET. Arsenal hosts Brentford on the USA Network as a -1.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5. Brighton and Hove Albion plays at home against Aston Villa as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Crystal Place travels to Burnley as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with a total of 2.5. Nottingham Forest plays at Wolverhampton as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Two more matches conclude the EPL card at 3:15 p.m. ET. Chelsea is on the road at Leeds United as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5. Liverpool is home to take on Sunderland as a -1.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. 

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, NCAAB and EPL Previews and Odds - 12/02/2025

by Big Al Staff

Tuesday, Dec 02, 2025

The Tuesday sports card features NBA, NHL, NCAAB, and EPL action.The National Basketball Association has six games on its docket. The Philadelphia 76ers host the Washington Wizards at 7:10 p.m. ET as a 13.5-point favorite with the total set at 234.5 (all odds from DraftKings). The Toronto Raptors play at home against the Portland Trail Blazers at 7:40 p.m. ET as a 4.5-point favorite with an over/under of 235.5. Three NBA games tip off at 8:10 p.m. ET. The Minnesota Timberwolves travel to New Orleans to face the Pelicans as a 9.5-point road favorite with a total of 235.5. The San Antonio Spurs are home against the Memphis Grizzlies as a 5.5-point favorite with an over/under of 231.5. The Boston Celtics host the New York Knicks on NBC as a 1.5-point favorite with a total of 230.5. The Oklahoma City Thunder play at Golden State against the Warriors on NBC at 11:10 p.m. ET as an 11.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 221.5. The National Hockey League has 10 games on its slate. Four NHL games drop the puck at 7:07 p.m. ET. The Tampa Bay Lightning are on the road against the New York Islanders as a -142 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The Detroit Red Wings play at home against the Boston Bruins as a -198 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Ottawa Senators visit the Montreal Canadiens as a -112 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The Dallas Stars play in New York against the Rangers as a -130 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Florida Panthers are home against the Toronto Maple Leafs at 7:37 p.m. ET as a -166 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Nashville Predators host the Calgary Flames at 8:07 p.m. ET as a -120 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. Two more NHL games start at 9:07 p.m. ET. The Colorado Avalanche play at home against the Vancouver Canucks as a -325 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Edmonton Oilers are home to take on the Minnesota Wild as a -162 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Vegas Golden Knights host the Chicago Blackhawks at 10:07 p.m. ET as a -290 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Los Angeles Kings play at home against the Washington Capitals at 10:37 p.m. ET as a -125 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The NCAAB college basketball schedule tips off at 11:00 a.m. ET with 58 games involving Division I opponents. There are four games on major national television. Tennessee is on the road against Syracuse in the ACC/SEC Challenge on ESPN2 at 7:00 p.m. ET as a 6.5-point road favorite with a total of 146.5. Duke is home against Florida in the ACC/SEC Challenge on ESPN at 7:30 p.m. ET as a 7.5-point favorite with an over/under of 157.5. Connecticut travels to Kansas on ESPN2 at 9:00 p.m. ET as a 1.5-point road favorite with a total of 141.5. Kentucky hosts North Carolina in the ACC/SEC Challenge on ESPN at 9:30 p.m. ET as a 5.5-point favorite with an over/under of 161.5. Matchweek 14 in the English Premier League begins with three matches. Two EPL matches begin at 2:30 p.m. ET. Bournemouth plays at home against Everton as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5. Manchester City plays at Fulham on the USA Network as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Newcastle United is at home against Tottenham at 3:15 p.m. ET as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5. 

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NFL, NBA, NHL, and NCAAB Previews and Odds - 12/01/2025

by Big Al Staff

Monday, Dec 01, 2025

The Monday sports card features NFL, NBA, NHL, and NCAAB action. Week 13 in the NFL concludes with one game. The New England Patriots host the New York Giants on ESPN and the Manningcast on ESPN2 at 8:15 p.m. ET. The Patriots have won nine games in a row after their 26-20 victory at Cincinnati as a 7.5-point favorite last Sunday. The Giants have lost six games in a row after a 34-27 loss in overtime at Detroit as a 14-point underdog on Sunday. New England is a 7.5-point favorite with the total set at 46.5. The National Basketball Association has nine games on its docket. Three NBA games tip off at 7:10 p.m. ET. The Cleveland Cavaliers travel to Indiana to play the Pacers as a 5.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 233.5. The Milwaukee Bucks play at Washington against the Wizards as a 10.5-point road favorite with a total of 234.5. The Detroit Pistons play at home against the Atlanta Hawks as a 9.5-point favorite with an over/under of 232.5. Three NBA games start at 7:40 p.m. ET. The Orlando Magic are home against the Chicago Bulls on Peacock as an 8.5-point favorite with an over/under of 240.5. The Charlotte Hornets are on the road against the Brooklyn Nets as a 4.5-point favorite with a total of 225.5. The Miami Heat host the Los Angeles Clippers as a 6.5-point favorite with an over/under of 235.5. Two NBA games begin at 9:10 p.m. ET. The Denver Nuggets play at home against the Dallas Mavericks as a 10.5-point favorite with a total of 233.5. The Houston Rockets visit the Utah Jazz as a 12.5-point favorite with an over/under of 233.5. The Los Angeles Lakers are home against the Phoenix Suns on Peacock at 10:10 p.m. ET as a 6.5-point favorite with a total of 234.5. The National Hockey League has five games on its slate. Two NHL games drop the puck at 7:07 p.m. ET. The Philadelphia Flyers host the Pittsburgh Penguins as a -142 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The New Jersey Devils play at home against the Columbus Blue Jackets as a -155 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Buffalo Sabres are home against the Winnipeg Jets at 7:37 p.m. ET as a -115 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The St. Louis Blues host the Anaheim Ducks at 8:07 p.m. ET as a -162 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Utah Mammoth play at San Jose against the Sharks at 10:07 p.m. ET as a -162 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The NCAAB college basketball schedule tips off at 12:00 p.m. ET with 19 games involving Division I opponents. There are two games on major national television. Villanova plays at home against Temple on FS1 at 6:30 p.m. ET as a 14.5-point favorite with a total of 149.5. Xavier is at home against Saint Francis on truTV at 7:00 p.m. ET. as a 27.5-point favorite with an over/under of 151.5. 

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Trolling Quarterbacks: The Laziest Form of Sports Commentary

by Hollywood Sports

Sunday, Nov 30, 2025

November was a booming month for the cottage industry in the Sports Hot Take Industrial Complex to write the career obituaries for Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy. It was fascinating to watch these folks, amidst the central storyline this season of the resurrection of the retread quarterback (Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold, Daniel Jones, and, heck, even Jacoby Brissett), that some were so quick to close the book on a 22-year-old first-year starter after five games. As they did with Baker and Darnold and Jones … and Troy Aikman and Josh Allen and a slew of others who do not meet their precious standards. Some folks wrapped themselves into a pretzel to conclude that the wide receiver drops that have reared its ugly head with the Vikings this year were exclusively the fault of McCarthy. I appreciate the argument that when a quarterback’s timing is off, it throws off the rhythm of the receivers. But no one is making the argument that Michigan wide receiver Roman Wilson is better than both Vikings’ wide receivers, Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. An unintentional byproduct of the Hate J.J. Brigade has been unearthed since he entered the NFL draft: just how little college football the supposed NFL experts actually watch. It is clear the JJ Haters never watched a Michigan game … or have no recollection of McCarthy playing in games against Ohio State and Alabama. No time for that, because the Hot Takes have to be served up with the four jokes to one point of substance ratio. Long before JJ McCarthy, I had found the Shit on Bad Quarterbacks genre the laziest of endeavors. It is so easy to make fun of bad quarterback play. Psychologically, it takes on the same form as bullying, not because it impacts the target in question, but because it is simply a manifestation of mob rule. It is taking the safest position in the world (because no one wants to defend Mark Sanchez after the butt fumble) while feigning some sort of superiority over this professional athlete. It’s pathetic. And there is no accountability. The guy who wrote the Buffalo Bills preview for the Football Outsiders declared Josh Allen an official flop going into his third season. Like, that dude should be banished for being so effing wrong. But he will keep Steven A. Smithing because the Hot Take Industry must be fed.Thankfully, successful sports handicapping does not require Hot Take artistry. I can give JJ McCarthy five years — as Sam Darnold got. Maybe he can get as many second chances as Steve Sarkisian. As if these Hot Takers never had a bad day at the office ….I was high on McCarthy entering the season — and I will be just fine if he turns out to be a lemon. I get stuff wrong all the time. And he has to play better to avoid getting pushed into the Josh Rosen career death knell. But I am not making it up that he completed 240 of his 331 passes (72.3%) in his senior year. And the Hate JJ Brigade can’t have it both ways that the Wolverine players on that team were overrated (Colin Cowherd) AND McCarthy is so wild that his receivers are too befuddled to catch his balls.  Something else is going on in Minnesota. The vibes are all wrong. I have really liked Kevin O’Connell in the past. I am puzzled by the play-calling. He is coaching McCarthy as if he expects monster performances. That tells me either he has not lost any faith or that he is failing to adapt to put his QB in a position to succeed. McCarthy had zero rushing attempts in one of his November starts before suffering his concussion. He needs a designed run in his first ten snaps. I don’t know why they are throwing fade routes to 5’11 Jordan Addison when he is being covered by a 6’4 cornerback (that was the second interception in the game against Chicago). I will plant my flag on this: the best measurement of the potential of a young talent is from their highs rather than their lows. O’Connell’s job is to discover what was different for McCarthy in his game-winning drive against Chicago (and his final drive against them in the rematch) and begin replicating that. The dude didn’t win a National Championship by handing the ball off, despite what you may have heard Kirk Herbstreit utter between his swooning over the latest Megyn Kelly interview. He engineered the last-minute game-tying drive in the semis against Alabama (Nick Saban’s Alabama). Gil Brandt preached that young quarterbacks cannot be accurately assessed before 20 starts. That may be a naive expectation in the modern game. But take a look at what they were saying about Drake May at this time last year. Or take a look at Bryce Young's development this month — I thought he was officially buried in October of 2024? Yet he just led Carolina to an upset win at home against the supposed best team in the league, the Los Angeles Rams (BTW Bryce, where was anything of that last week in the pathetic loss at San Francisco? OK, baby steps …), and implicitly projecting superiority. There is plenty of blame to spread around. But after Max Brosmer completed 19 of 30 passes for 126 yards with four interceptions, including a pick-six, it is clear the problem is not exclusively McCarthy’s. It is ironic that some critics are pointing fingers at Minnesota for having two first-year starting quarterbacks throw pick-sixes in their first career start this season. In other news today, Matthew Stafford threw a pick-six in what was a game-deciding play given the score in their upset loss to the Panthers. I’m so old, I remember the fact that Stafford threw four pick-sixes in the 2021-22 season when he led the Los Angeles Rams to winning the Super Bowl. That little nugget failed to get mentioned in the finger-pointing Hot Takes this evening after Brosmer’s game.Earlier this month, I listened to Kevin O’Connell discuss his process on McCarthy. He’s asking for a change in his mechanics. I find that a bit fascinating, because while they are both ex-quarterbacks, Jim Harbaugh, McCarthy’s head coach at Michigan when they won a national championship, was more accomplished as a player and as a coach. And I like O’Connell. Maybe he’s right! Maybe he is asking him to make changes at 22 that you don’t ask of a 20-year-old, when Harbaugh was his mentor? But if McCarthy is spending 3/4ths of the game trying to mediate a change in fundamentals as he learns defenses, that explains both his loss of accuracy and his sudden improvement in the fourth quarter when he is put in two-minute mode, and there is less “thinking.” McCarthy was good under center at Michigan — a skill that many have already concluded he is simply lacking at the next level. I don’t know why he is not more under center as he did with the Wolverines to set up play-action passes. O’Connell deserves more scrutiny for how he has handled this. I concede that injuries on the offensive line have not helped the situation at all — and because there are not enough skilled offensive linemen in the world to stock 32 NFL teams, the margins are thin. But that is a better excuse for McCarthy than it is for O’Connell. From my vantage point, O’Connell adapted his play-calling when Carson Wentz briefly took over when McCarthy got injured after taking too many sacks in his first two starts. I have not seen much of that with McCarthy. Earlier this month, I did not see many O’Connell taking any shortcuts with his play-calling. I appreciate the zeal to coach talent up — and if the expectation is that they are smart enough to make the breakthrough, then why can’t they make the jump this season? Jayden Daniels did it last year by reaching the NFC championship game. But for O’Connell, it would have probably been to devolve to the B+ offense in early November to make it look better. Where are the short passing routes? He’s either stupid, stubborn, or he thinks force-feeding the Calculus curriculum now may trigger the breakthrough just in time for the playoffs this year. Because he thinks they can win now? But then suddenly, his offense took a 180-degree turn where it was run the ball, run the ball, and then rely on McCarthy on third-and-long. Well, if McCarthy’s “fundamentals” and comfort operating in the pocket were so lacking, then why did O’Connell opt to pull him after one successful drive in his preseason games? Those answers don’t’ jive.  Admittedly, McCarthy has looked completely out of place at times. He seemed nervous in his first two starts, which were both in front of nationally-televised audiences in primetime. At this point, giving him more snaps in preseason games seems an undeniable mistake by his head coach. Once we accept that, then the mistakes in his stewardship are part of the problem.I will not be surprised if we later hear the ole Aaron Rodgers “I was playing through injury” excuse when it comes to McCarthy. The Vikings need to upgrade their offensive line. The culture may be rattled in O’Connell’s locker room. But what we know is this: Harbaugh stewarded McCarthy to lead Michigan to a national championship. Plan A in both showdown games against Ohio State was to win the game with McCarthy’s arm — and both those games can be watched on YouTube for those who had been relying on Colin Cowherd’s boozy recollection of those games as the gospel. We have seen McCarthy operate at a high level in clutch time this season. At a certain point, it is the job of the coaches to identify why a player is having success and replicate those conditions. O’Connell is failing in this regard. After losing one game at Michigan and allegedly just three times in his entire football career before getting drafted by the Vikings, McCarthy is facing true adversity for the first time in his career. Yes, he has thrown pick-sixes before (twice, in fact, in the college football semifinals against TCU) and handled that short-term adversity. But this is the first time he has endured the day-to-day, steady criticism that he is a failure. And it is no guarantee that he can recover from that beatdown — despite the plethora of examples suggesting otherwise before they reach their 20-game threshold for Brandt’s measuring stick. In the meantime, the Hot Take Sports Industry continues operating like the frat boy dude hitting on everything while wearing the “Big Johnson” t-shirt: keep throwing out the vibe, because one of these Hot Takes is due to finally turn out to be right. Best of luck — Frank.

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College Football 2025-26 Preview, Part 6 -- 136 Questions and Thoughts for 136 FBS Teams

by Hollywood Sports

Sunday, Nov 30, 2025

For the 15th straight summer, I invested time researching each FBS college football team to serve as the foundation for my college football handicapping in the fall and winter. What initially began as basic note-taking on some fundamental details for each team has become an arduous and detailed process for each team that derives from reading and studying multiple sources. Each FBS team now takes about 45 minutes to an hour of preparation time. To help document this work while crystallizing my thoughts for each team, I am providing a summary of each team highlighted by a critical question that will go a long way in their success or failure.BOWLING GREEN: After a three-year run where the Falcons went only 7-22, head coach Scot Loeffler followed a 7-6 campaign two years ago with another 7-6 season that culminated in a 38-31 loss against Arkansas State in the 68 Ventures Bowl. They also played both Penn State and Texas A&M tough in seven and six-point losses early in the season. Loeffler clearly got himself off the hot seat he had been on for a few seasons — but he threw the program for a loop when he bolted in February to take the quarterback coaching job for the Philadelphia Eagles. The Bowling Green administration responded by hiring Ohio State (and Tennessee Titans) legend Eddie George as their next head coach after four years as the head coach at Tennessee State. The former Heisman Trophy winner could get a headway into recruiting in-state. Last year’s team lost 32 seniors, but Loeffler had already brought in 15 transfer players before George added another 10 to fortify the roster. GEORGIA SOUTHERN: The Eagles enjoyed their best season in three years under head coach Clay Helton, finishing 8-5 after a 31-26 loss to Sam Houston in the New Orleans Bowl. They finished 6-2 in the Sun Belt Conference, although they did get outgained by -21 Yards-Per-Game against conference foes. Five starters return on each side of the ball. For the first time in his tenure at Georgia Southern, Helton sees his starting quarterback return. Junior J.C.French passed for 2831 yards with 17 touchdown passes, but he needs to cut down on his turnovers after throwing four interceptions in the bowl game. Helton brought in eight players in the transfer portal to help the defense. The Eagles surrendered 428.6 total YPG, ranking 115th in the nation — but their SP+ ranking of 91st in the FBS using the metrics by ESPN’s Bill Connelly was their best mark since 2020. On paper, this is Helton’s best roster since taking over this program. KENT STATE: It is simply the most difficult situation in the entire FBS. The Golden Flashes went 0-12 last year, getting outscored by -30 Points-Per-Game and getting outgained by -283 Yards-Per-Game. They only generated 233.3 YPG, which resulted in 13.9 PPG. They surrendered 516.0 YPG, which resulted in 44.1 PPG. All four of those marks were the second-worst in the FBS. They averaged -145 fewer YPG than their opponents’ season defensive average. They gave up +156 more YPG than their opponents’ season offensive average. Both those numbers were the worst in the nation. It is hard to recruit here — and any players that develop are likely to enter the transfer portal. The program lacks funding, with the primary purpose seeming to be to take paychecks to fund the other elements of the athletic department. And then to compound matters, third-year head coach Kenni Burns was fired in mid-April due to a loan scandal involving his taking money from a booster. On the bright side, it probably could not have gotten worse than a coaching change in the early days of spring practice. Offensive coordinator Mark Carney was elevated to be the interim head coach. It would seem that only masochists would want to touch this team at betting windows. But playing in the Mid-American Conference, the margins are not overwhelming to begin outperforming point spread expectations. After junior quarterback Devin Kargman entered the transfer portal after spring practice, former Fordham quarterback C.J. Montes changed his mind to leave the program in the portal. The former New Mexico recruit was a finalist for the Walter Payton award in 2023 when he threw for 3000 yards and 26 touchdowns before being slowed by injuries last year. He could give the offense a spark it has not had in years. MASSACHUSETTS: The Minutemen have not won more than four games since joining the FBS in 2012. After a 2-10 campaign last year, the administration cut ties with head coach Don Brown after three years running the program. Massachusetts continued their defensive focus by hiring Joe Harasymiak as their next head coach after serving as the defensive coordinator at Rutgers for the last three years. He also had a successful run as the head coach at the University of Maine. He leads the Minutemen back to the Mid-American Conference where they went 7-25 from 2012 through 2015 before they went independent. Harasymiak brought in 34 transfers including 12 from Power Four conferences. OREGON: The Ducks went undefeated in Big Ten play last season and were one of the four teams to earn a bye in the College Football Playoff. But they got trounced by Ohio State by a 41-21 score in the quarterfinals. On the one hand, it is a testament to fourth-year head coach Dan Lanning that his football team’s only losses in the last two seasons were either to the eventual national champion or a team that reached the championship game (two losses to Washington two seasons ago). But on the other hand, his game management in big moments has been questionable in my mind — and, yo, is this dude wound up tight. He has done a great job of assembling an uber-talented roster. He is recruiting as well as anyone in the country — and he has made Oregon a premier landing spot for high-level transfers without losing players of his own. Yet my concern with him is similar to the one I have about Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell. When there are so many good players, the head coach’s job becomes putting the players in the best position to succeed. It’s not the time to start splitting face cards just because the dealer shows a six. Another concern is that maintaining a culture is not automatic. Only six starters are back from last year’s team. Many of the new starters this season are new to the program after transferring in. Chemistry and team cohesion will have to be nurtured because many of these players have not been in this environment. However, that is not the case for redshirt sophomore quarterback Dante Moore, who transferred in from UCLA two years ago and redshirted last year while watching Dillon Gabriel operate. He is a former five-star recruit who had five starts for the Bruins in 2023. But his production was not always steady that year — and there is a reason why he left. TROY: Expectations were not high for the Trojans after head coach Jon Sumrall bolted for Tulane, and the program got gutted in the transfer portal. After losing seven of their first eight games, first-year head coach Gerad Parker led his team to winning three of their final four games. Unfortunately, quarterback Matthew Caldwell, running back Damien Taylor, and wide receiver Devonte Ross all entered the transfer portal and got poached by Texas, Ole Miss, and Penn State, respectively. Parker is using the transfer portal to help restock the roster, although the focus remains on a patient rebuild of this program that relies on player development. He brought in the top-ranked recruiting class in the Sun Belt Conference. Will “Goose” Crowder was the starting quarterback to begin the season before suffering an elbow season-ending upper body injury in the fourth game. He was completing 69.4% of his passes with five touchdown passes and no interceptions at the time. If he can regain that form this season, the Trojans may return to a bowl game. UL-LAFAYETTE: After two straight 6-7 campaigns in the first two seasons with Louisiana-Lafayette, head coach Michael Desmormeax led the Ragin’ Cajuns to a 10-1 start before injuries to senior quarterbacks Ben Woolridge and then Chander Fields forced him to turn to his third-string QB in their final two games. They lost those games by a combined 65-6 score after their 35-3 loss to TCU in the New Mexico Bowl. Only seven starters are back from that 10-3 squad, but Desmormeaux did not lean heavily on the transfer portal as he only brought in seven new players from other teams. He is counting on his recruiting and the coaching staff’s player development to fill most of the gaps. That is probably the most sustainable long-term strategy — but Desmormeaux should not count on a +10 net turnover margin once again this season. Best of luck — Frank.

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The Writing Was on the Wall that Ohio State Would Finally End the Streak Against the Team Up North

by Team Del Genio

Sunday, Nov 30, 2025

The Michigan Wolverines had beaten Ohio State in four straight seasons, with three of those games being upset victories. After their 13-10 win on the road in Columbus despite being a 19.5-point underdog, it was easy to understand why bettors would want to back what is a better Wolverines team this season back in the Big House. Michigan’s offense last year ranked 129th in the nation by averaging only 286 yards per game. Now they have the number one freshman recruit in the country under center with freshman Bryce Underwood, and there is life again on offense. Yet the problem this year’s Wolverines face in this year’s showdown with the Buckeyes is simply too many injuries to critical players. Alabama transfer running back Justice Haynes remains out, and he is one of the most explosive backs in the country. Sophomore Jordan Marshall has been good in his absence as the lead back, yet he is questionable with an injury that kept him out last week. In his absence, freshman running back Bryson Kuzdzal ran the ball 20 times for 100 yards with three touchdowns last week in a 45-20 victory on the road at Maryland. Yet in this rivalry game, ball security and blocking on passing downs are skills that will make the difference. The offense will also be without starting left tackle Evan Link. On defense, the hope was that veteran senior free safety Rod Moore would offer the unit leadership after suffering a season-ending injury last year. But he had not played since their loss to USC and has been declared out for this game. Both Haynes and Moore were named captains at the beginning of the season. Linebacker Ernest Hausmann was questionable, and his loss would be devastating since he is the team’s second-leading tackler and third-best generator of pressure on the quarterback. Tight end Max Bredeson was also questionable with an injury, and although he does not get many touches, the senior lines up all over the field and personifies the toughness and does the little things that head coach Sherrone Moore wants for this team. The Wolverines have great young talent with three redshirt freshmen now starting on the offensive line, along with a future superstar freshman wide receiver, Andrew Marsh, who has already become Underwood’s favorite target. But they were probably a year away from competing against the best teams in the nation, especially the ones that have been obsessed for 365 days to rectify their upset loss to them last season. Michigan’s best win was on the road at Nebraska or at home against Washington. Those results are not college football playoff worthy. The Wolverines had covered the point spread in just three of their previous eleven games at home after winning their previous game. They had covered the point spread in just seven of their previous nineteen games at home at Michigan Stadium. They had covered the point spread in four of their previous eleven games at home when the oddsmakers installed the over/under from 42.5 to 49.Head coach Ryan Day probably realized he was too conservative in his game management in the Buckeyes’ three-point loss at the Shoe last year. He was coaching not to lose, and they lost. After his team picked up the pieces to convincingly win the national championship, he probably learned his lesson. We expected Ohio State to play very aggressively in this game to take advantage of their talent advantage. As last year demonstrated, the Buckeyes can lose this game and still go win a natty. Sophomore wide receiver Jeremiah Smith did not play last week, and wide receiver Carnell Tate is questionable with an injury. Smith was expected to play, and there looks to be a good chance that Tate will join him on the field. This looks like a team that has been circling the wagons to rest, heal, and prepare for this game. Ohio State had not lost since getting beaten by the Wolverines last year. They came off a 42-9 victory against Rutgers last week, and they have covered the point spread in eighteen of their previous twenty-five gams after winning their previous game by 17 or more points. They had covered the point spread in nineteen of their previous twenty-six games after holding their previous opponent to 14 points or less. The biggest question for this team beginning the season was how much production they could count on from their quarterback. Now coming into “The Game,” freshman Julian Sayin has 27 touchdown passes and just two interceptions. He entered “The Game” leading the nation in on-target passing rate and is turning the ball over in just 2.3% of his dropbacks when under pass rush pressure. It is fair to say he has been everything that the Ohio State fans could have hoped for before the season started. The Buckeyes had covered the point spread in twenty-six of their previous thirty-seven games when the oddsmakers installed them as the favorite, and they had covered the point spread in five of their previous six games when the oddsmakers installed them as the favorite of 3.5 to 10 points. They have covered the point spread in eight of their previous twelve games on the road when playing a winning team. Almost everything went right for the Wolverines early on in the game. They scored a field goal on their opening drive with Jordan Marshall running the ball well despite his injury. Sayin then threw an interception on his first drive, which set Michigan up for a second field goal. Moore was managing the game to keep his team close before entering the fourth quarter. Yet the Buckeyes caught a huge break when Smith bobbled a would-be touchdown pass, stepped out of bounds before retaining possession, yet the referees did not overrule the touchdown ruling on the field. The Buckeyes then scored a crucial touchdown at the end of the first half to make the score 17-9, with them then receiving the ball first in the second half. They controlled the line of scrimmage on offense and defense and eventually had their offense on the field for over 40 minutes. In the end, Ohio State advanced to the Big Ten championship game with a 27-9 victory against the dreaded Team Up North , and Team Del Genio comfortably won our NCAA-F Big Ten Game of the Year. Good luck - Team Del Genio.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NFL, NBA, NHL, EPL and NCAAB Previews and Odds - 11/30/2025

by Big Al Staff

Sunday, Nov 30, 2025

The Sunday sports card features NFL, NBA, NHL, NCAAB, and EPL action. Week 13 in the NFL continues with 11 games. Seven NFL games kick off at 1:00 p.m. ET. The Indianapolis Colts host the Houston Texans as a 3.5-point favorite with the total set at 44.5 (all odds from DraftKings). The Atlanta Falcons travel to New York to play the Jets as a 3-point road favorite with an over/under of 38.5. The Los Angeles Rams play in Carolina against the Panthers as a 10.5-point road favorite with a total of 44.5. The Jacksonville Jaguars are on the road to face the Tennessee Titans as a 6-point road favorite with an over/under of 41.5. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers play at home against the Arizona Cardinals as a 3.5-point favorite with a total of 44.5. The Miami Dolphins are home against the New Orleans Saints as a 5.5-point favorite with an over/under of 42.5. The San Francisco 49ers visit Cleveland to take on the Browns as a 5.5-point road favorite with a total of 36.5.Three NFL games start in the late afternoon window. The Seattle Seahawks host the Minnesota Vikings at 4:05 p.m. ET as an 11.5-point favorite with an over/under of 41.5. Two more NFL games start at 4:25 p.m. ET. The Buffalo Bills play in Pittsburgh against the Steelers as a 3-point road favorite with a total of 40.5. The Los Angeles Chargers play at home against the Las Vegas Raiders as a 9.5-point favorite with an over/under of 40.5. The Denver Broncos are on the road against the Washington Commanders on NBC at 8:20 PM ET for Sunday Night Football. The Broncos are a 7-point road favorite with a total of 43.5.The National Basketball Association has eight games on its docket. The Houston Rockets travel to Utah to play the Jazz at 3:10 p.m. ET as a 12.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 235.5. Four more NBA games tip off at 6:10 p.m. ET. The Philadelphia 76ers are home against the Atlanta Hawks as a 1.5-point favorite with a total of 234.5. The Oklahoma City Thunder play on the road against the Portland Trail Blazers as a 12.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 230.5. The New York Knicks host the Toronto Raptors as a 7.5-point favorite with a total of 232.5. The Cleveland Cavaliers play at home against the Boston Celtics as a 7.5-point favorite with an over/under of 230.5. The Minnesota Timberwolves are home against the San Antonio Spurs at 7:10 p.m. ET as a 3.5-point favorite with a total of 231.5. The Memphis Grizzlies are on the road against the Sacramento Kings at 9:10 p.m. ET as a 2.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 231.5. The Los Angeles Lakers host the New Orleans Pelicans at 9:40 p.m. ET as a 14.5-point favorite with a total of 234.5. The National Hockey League has four games on its slate. The Washington Capitals visit New York to take on the Islanders at 1:07 p.m. ET as a -125 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Anaheim Ducks play in Chicago against the Blackhawks at 3:37 p.m. ET as a -125 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The Carolina Hurricanes play at home against the Calgary Flames at 5:07 p.m. ET as a -250 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Dallas Stars are home against the Ottawa Senators at 6:07 p.m. ET as a -148 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The NCAAB college basketball schedule has 33 games involving Division I opponents. Two NCAAB games are on major national television. Florida Atlantic hosts St. Bonaventure on ESPN2 at 3:30 p.m. ET as a 4.5-point favorite with an over/under of 145.5. UC-Irvine is on the road against San Jose State on NBC at 5:00 p.m. ET as a 1.5-point road favorite with a total of 134.5. Matchweek 13 in the English Premier League concludes with five matches. Crystal Palace plays at home against Manchester United on the USA Network at 7:00 a.m. ET as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Three more EPL matches start at 9:05 a.m. ET. Aston Villa is at home against Wolverhampton on the USA Network as a -1.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5. Brighton and Hove Albion travels to Nottingham Forest as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Liverpool plays at West Ham United at 9:05 p.m. ET as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 3.5. Arsenal is on the road at Chelsea on the USA Network at 11:30 a.m. 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: NCAAF, NBA, NHL, NCAAB and EPL Previews and Odds - 11/29/2025

by Big Al Staff

Saturday, Nov 29, 2025

The Saturday sports card features NCAAF, NBA, NHL, NCAAB, and EPL action.Week 14 in NCAAF college football concludes with 51 games between FBS opponents. Four NCAAF games on major national television kick off at noon ET. Baylor hosts Houston on TNT as a 2.5-point favorite with the total set at 57.5 (all odds from DraftKings). Ohio State travels to Michigan on Fox as a 10-point road favorite with an over/under of 43.5. Miami (FL) plays on the road against Pittsburgh on ABC as a 7-point road favorite with a total of 49.5. Texas Tech is on the road to face West Virginia on ESPN as a 23.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 52.5. BYU plays at home against Central Florida on ESPN2 at 1:00 p.m. ET as a 17.5-point favorite with a total of 47.5. Four NCAAF games start on major national television networks at 3:30 p.m. ET. Oklahoma is home to face LSU on ABC as a 10.5-point favorite with an over/under of 36.5. TCU hosts Cincinnati on Fox as a 3-point favorite with a total of 57.5. Oregon visits Washington on CBS as a 7-point road favorite with an over/under of 51.5. Tennessee plays at home against Vanderbilt on ESPN as a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 66.5. Florida is home to challenge Florida State on ESPN2 as a 1.5-point favorite with an over/under of 49.5. Virginia hosts Virginia Tech on ESPN at 7:00 p.m. ET as an 8.5-point favorite with a total of 52.5. Three more NCAAF games on major national television begin at 7:30 p.m. ET. Illinois plays at home against Northwestern on Fox as a 7-point favorite with an over/under of 48.5. Alabama plays at Auburn on ABC as a 5.5-point road favorite with a total of 46.5. USC is home to take on UCLA on NBC as a 21.5-point favorite with a total of 58.5. SMU is on the road to play California on ESPN2 at 8:00 p.m. ET as a 13.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 53.5. Notre Dame travels to Stanford on ESPN at 10:30 p.m. ET as a 31.5-point road favorite with a total of 49.5. The National Basketball Association has eight games on its docket. The Minnesota Timberwolves host the Boston Celtics at 5:10 p.m. ET as a 6.5-point favorite with an over/under of 227.5. The Toronto Raptors play at Charlotte against the Hornets at 6:10 p.m. ET as a 7.5-point road favorite with a total of 232.5. The Chicago Bulls are on the road against the Indiana Pacers at 7:40 p.m. ET as a 4.5-point favorite with an over/under of 243.5. Two more NBA games tip off at 8:10 p.m. ET. The Miami Heat play at home against the Detroit Pistons as a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 236.5. The Milwaukee Bucks are home against the Brooklyn Nets as a 10.5-point favorite with an over/under of 224.5. The Golden State Warriors host the New Orleans Pelicans at 8:40 p.m. ET as a 7.5-point favorite with a total of 223.5. The Denver Nuggets visit the Phoenix Suns at 9:10 p.m. ET as a 5.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 233.5. The Los Angeles Clippers play at home against the Dallas Mavericks at 10:10 p.m. ET as a 6.5-point favorite with a total of 219.5. The National Hockey League has 11 games on its slate. The New York Rangers are home to battle the Tampa Bay Lightning at 2:07 p.m. ET as a -120 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Colorado Avalanche host the Montreal Canadiens at 3:07 p.m. ET as a -258 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Edmonton Oilers play on the road against the Seattle Kraken at 4:07 p.m. ET as a -155 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 5.5. Four NHL games drop the puck at 7:07 p.m. ET. The New Jersey Devils play at home against the Philadelphia Flyers as a -155 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Winnipeg Jets are on the road against the Nashville Predators as a -125 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Toronto Maple Leafs travel to Pittsburgh to face the Penguins as a -122 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The Detroit Red Wings play in Boston against the Bruins as a -142 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 5.5. Two NHL games begin at 8:07 p.m. ET. The St. Louis Blues are home to play the Utah Mammoth as a -115 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Minnesota Wild host the Buffalo Sabres as a -155 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. Two more games conclude the NHL card at 10:07 p.m. ET. The Los Angeles Kings play at home against the Vancouver Canucks as a -180 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Vegas Golden Knights are home to battle the San Jose Sharks as a -345 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The NCAAB college basketball schedule has 65 games involving Division I opponents. One game is on major national television. Penn State hosts Sacred Heart on Peacock at 6:00 p.m. ET as a 15.5-point favorite with a total of 161.5. Matchweek 13 in the English Premier League begins with five matches. Three EPL matches start at 10:00 a.m. ET. Brentford plays at home against Burnley on the USA Network as a -1.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Manchester City is home to face Leeds United as a -1.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 3.5. Bournemouth is on the road against Sunderland as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Newcastle United visit Everton on the USA Network at 12:30 p.m. ET as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with a total of 2.5. Tottenham hosts Fulham on the USA Network at 3:00 p.m. ET as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5.  

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