Expert Sports Picks and Analysis from Al McMordie

MLB 2022: AL West Division Preview

Wednesday, Apr 06, 2022

AL West Division Preview for MLB 2022Houston Astros – Look for the Astros to finish in the upper 80s to the low 90s for a win total this season and that should be good enough for the top spot in this division. Just a solid team through and through but one thing that makes it tough on them is everyone always gunning for them. But Houston still has all the right pieces in place and barring major injury issues should win this division. Los Angeles Angels – These team should be right around .500 but this team a little tough to gauge in my opinion with some question marks. Their starting rotation just is not that strong and always has injury concerns. Their lineup has some big bats of course but is too top-heavy. The bullpen is good with this team but can the team even get games to them? That is the big question and I will likely be looking to fade this team more than play on them. Oakland Athletics – This team has really fallen and should have a win total only getting into the lower 70s. Bassitt now with the Mets and Manaea now with the Padres so the A’s rotation is a mess now and their lineup and bullpen not strong enough to make up for that. A team that won mid-80s last season will struggle to avoid 90 losses this season. All the rumors of a move to Vegas have not helped this team either for sure. Just a mess in Oakland truly. Seattle Mariners – This team has improved as they showed last year and should get to mid-80s in wins this season. Really like this lineup and then especially have to like the addition of Robbie Ray to this rotation. Cy Young Winner at the top and then other solid young arms in the rotation and a potent lineup and a respectable bullpen. The 90 wins last season were not a fluke and the Mariners will again be a team to watch this season as they could challenge Astros for the top spot. Texas Rangers – This team will battle with Oakland in trying to avoid the basement in this division this season. At least they do look improved as the addition of Jon Gray to the rotation certainly helped too. Look for a 90-loss season rather than the 102-loss season suffered last year. Just still not enough in the lineup. Top-heavy lineup but also too many strikeouts usually and the pitching is decent with this team but not great and the lineup not strong enough to carry the team for sure.

MLB 2022: NL Central Division Preview

by Scott Rickenbach

Wednesday, Apr 06, 2022

NL Central Division Preview for MLB 2022Chicago Cubs – This team will struggle to get to .500 this season and is more likely to finish in the low to mid 70s for a win total. Chicago’s starting pitching allows too much contact and that can be a problem when half your games are at Wrigley Field which can certainly be very hitter-friendly at times. This team still has a chance to be competitive but lineup will be the key to the success of this team so watch for streaks with Chicago’s hitters. Cincinnati Reds – This team will struggle to get to .500 this season and is more likely to finish in the low to mid 70s for a win total. I know they had a winning record last season but some off-season attrition hurt this team and this club already had some clubhouse issues. Things are just a little disjointed in Cincinnati and this is a team I will be looking to fade more often than not. Milwaukee Brewers – This team should compete with the Cardinals for the top spot in the division. The key will be Christian Yelich though. This guy has to bounce back or the Brewers will struggle to get to their full potential. They have such solid pitching but need to get the sticks going to get to the next level. Pittsburgh Pirates – This could be the worst team in baseball this season and is likely to, at the very least, be the worst team in the National League. Pittsburgh has potential to again lose 100 games like they did last season. They have a decent lineup but only a few solid arms on the pitching staff and therein lies the problem with this team. They are pitching-thin and it catches up with this team as the season goes on. St Louis Cardinals – This team should challenge the Brewers for the top spot in the division. The Cardinals are such a solid organization. They don’t wow you with a lot of flash but just seemingly every season this team is right there when the dust settles. Once again, St Louis has a shot to challenge for the division title this season. Solid pitching, respectable lineup, and a swan song season for long-time Cardinal Albert Pujols as he re-signed with the team. It all adds up to what could be a magical season for St Louis and I do believe this team could prove to be a “play on” team quite often this year.

MLB 2022: AL Central Division Preview

by Scott Rickenbach

Wednesday, Apr 06, 2022

AL Central Division Preview for MLB 2022Chicago White Sox – The White Sox projected to win about 90 games this season and once again this season that is hard to argue with. Playing in a division with a bunch of other teams unlikely to have anything better than a .500 season certainly helps their chances too. This team is stacked with a loaded lineup, solid pitching rotation, and strong bullpen. The team to beat for sure and so you can try and perhaps look for value in taking them when they are priced reasonably. Cleveland Guardians – Projected to reach a win total in the mid-70s this season and this is a team that had 8 consecutive winning seasons before falling two games below .500 last year. Lineup is decent but not spectacular. The starting pitching still strong but they lost their pitching coach and that can hurt teams quite often so keep an eye on that. Detroit Tigers – This team is improving and should play .500 ball this season. Solid lineup and good arms in the rotation and this team continues to make progress. The Tigers went 8-19 in April but then 69-66 the rest of the way so just keep in mind; this is not the Tigers team of old. That said, there could be some value on this team early as many bettors have a fresh memory of all the bad Detroit teams in recent seasons. Take advantage as they Tigers likely to offer some early season value in spots. Kansas City Royals – This team will battle with the Guardians to stay out of the cellar in the division as they are also likely to reach a win total in the mid-70s this season. Young arms in rotation just have not quite delivered as KC would have liked so far. But they have a respectable bullpen and the Royals also have a respectable lineup. The problem is that nothing really jumps off the page at you with any one area of this team. They will battle and have some hot streaks during the season but ultimately finish close to 90 losses again most likely. Minnesota Twins – This team should play .500 ball this season but they really disappointed last year. This could be an “over” team in terms of daily wagering as their starting rotation has a lot of question marks and their bullpen – beyond their closer – just is not very well put together. Minnesota has a respectable lineup and they will need it because they are going to have to outscore teams to win most games.

Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, and UEFA Champions League Previews and Odds - 04/06/2022

by Big Al Staff

Wednesday, Apr 06, 2022

The Wednesday sports card features NBA, NHL, and UEFA UCL action.The NBA has six games on the docket. Dallas visits Detroit at 7:10 PM ET as a 9-point road favorite with the total set at 220 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). Brooklyn plays at New York in the opening game of a doubleheader on ESPN at 7:40 PM ET. The Nets have lost three of four after their 122-115 upset loss at Atlanta as a 3-point favorite on Saturday. Their record dropped to 40-38 with the loss. The Knicks have won five of their last seven games after a 118-99 win at Orlando as a 5.5-point road favorite on Sunday. New York improved to 35-44. Brooklyn is a 5-point road favorite with an over/under of 232.Two NBA games tip-off at 8:10 PM ET. Atlanta plays at home against Washington as a 10.5-point favorite with a total of 230.5. Boston travels to Chicago as a 6-point road favorite with an over/under of 224. Utah hosts Oklahoma City at 9:10 PM ET as a 17.5-point favorite with a total of 224.5. Phoenix plays at Los Angeles against the Clippers in the nightcap on ESPN at 10:10 PM ET. The Suns have lost two in a row with their 117-96 upset loss as a 14-point favorite at Oklahoma City as a 14-point favorite on Sunday. They fell to 62-16 with the loss. The Clippers have won three of four with their 119-100 win against New Orleans as a 2-point favorite on Sunday. Los Angeles improved to 39-40 with the win. Phoenix is a 3-point road favorite with an over/under of 230.Five games are on the slate in the National Hockey League. Two games drop the puck at 7:35 PM ET. Winnipeg hosts Detroit as a -280 money line favorite with a total of 6. Tampa Bay travels to Washington in the opening game of a doubleheader on TNT at 7:35 PM ET. The Lightning have lost two in a row with their 6-2 loss to Toronto on Monday. The Capitals have lost two in a row with their 5-1 loss to Minnesota on Sunday. Tampa Bay is a -140 money line road favorite with an over/under of 6. St. Louis plays at home against Seattle at 8:05 PM ET as a -240 money line favorite with a total of 6. Two games conclude the NHL card at 10:05 PM ET. Vegas is at home against Vancouver as a -165 money line favorite with an over/under of 6. Calgary visits Anaheim in the second game on TNT at 10:05 PM ET. The Flames ended a three-game losing streak with their 3-2 win in Los Angeles against the Kings on Monday. The Ducks have lost 12 of their last 13 games after their 6-1 loss to Edmonton on Sunday. Calgary is a -270 money line road favorite with a total of 6. The quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League continue with the final two first leg matches at 3 PM ET. Chelsea hosts Real Madrid on CBS as a -0.5 goal line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Bayern Munich visits Villarreal on Paramount+ and fuboTV as a -1 goal line road favorite with a total of 3.

NFL Draft Preview - Quarterbacks

by ASA, Inc.

Tuesday, Apr 05, 2022

For the first time in years we are heading into a NFL Draft and quarterbacks are taking a back seat to the rest of the field. The combination of a weak quarterback class mixed with the lack of need for some teams makes this a rare occasion where only two quarterbacks may be taken in the first round. There is, and always will be, teams that are just a quarterback away from making a serious run at a championship. With the league as competitive as it has ever been, teams got as aggressive as we have ever seen. The Broncos, Browns, and Colts all went out and mortgaged their futures in order to get the one piece that they think will boost them to a championship. The biggest take away is that the AFC is absolutely loaded now. Besides the Steelers, Jags, Jets, and Texans, anyone else in the AFC has a chance to win the conference. This QB shuffle has left some other teams in total rebuild mode, but unfortunately, the QB talent is just not deep from the draft. Kenny Pickett and Malik Willis are the only two that are definitely on the first round radar. There is speculation of teams trading up for them but what team could really utilize them to win now? QB needs:Pick 2. Lions Pick 3. Texans Pick 6. Panthers Pick 8. FalconsPick 9. Seahawks Pick 20. Steelers The Lions and Texans have glaring needs besides QB and are looking at the long term picture. Neither Pickett (+750 to go in the top 5) nor Willis (+250 to go in the top 5) are worthy to go this high with so many other skillful players waiting. However with the Lions and Texans inside the top 5, these 2 might be worth a look at plus money. Carolina has pick #6 which could absolutely be a QB. Matt Rhule has an argument for a first round QB in order to try and save his (possible) last season as the Panthers head coach. Kenny Pickett seems the most NFL ready and the Panthers just might be desperate to find the next chapter after playing QB roulette the past three seasons. Pickett is currently +125 to go in the top 10 which is also worth a look if Carolina is looking for a ready now QB. We still do not see Carolina as a playoff prospect with a new QB. Willis is still the favorite to be the first QB drafted (-200) but Pickett has some extra value at +175 and we feel it’s a toss up between those 2 signal callers. After that is drops all the way to +1500 for Ole Miss QB Matt Corral who is coming off a late season knee injury and UNC’s Sam Howell. As far as teams making a move up to grab a QB, the Seahawks and Steelers both fall into that category. Pete Carroll is not getting any younger and has no appetite for a full rebuild. The same goes for Mike Tomlin. If Pickett or Willis fall to them, both teams may be able to snag a wild card berth. Each team has loaded talent on offense allowing for a rookie QB to succeed right away. That is a best case scenario for 2022 with many teams already plotting to take C.J Stroud and Bryce Young for the 2023 draft class.

Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, and UEFA Champions League Previews and Odds - 04/05/2022

by Big Al Staff

Tuesday, Apr 05, 2022

The Tuesday sports card features NBA, NHL, and UEFA Champions League action.The NBA has 12 games on the docket. Two games tip-off at 7:05 PM ET. Philadelphia plays at Indiana as a 12-point road favorite with a total of 232. Cleveland visits Orlando as an 8.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 214.5. Three more games start at 7:35 PM ET. Brooklyn plays at home against Houston as a 17.5-point favorite with a total of 242.5. Miami is at home against Charlotte as a 5.5-point favorite with an over/under of 224.5. Toronto hosts Atlanta as a 4-point favorite with a total of 226.5.Three more NBA games begin at 8:05 PM ET. Minnesota is at home against Washington as an 11.5-point favorite with an over/under of 234. Oklahoma City plays at home against Portland as a 3.5-point favorite with a total of 223.5. Milwaukee visits Chicago on ESPN. The Bucks saw their record fall to 48-30 with their second-straight loss in a 118-112 upset loss at Dallas as a 6.5-point favorite on Sunday. The Bulls had their two-game losing streak end in a 127-109 loss to Miami as a 2-point underdog on Saturday. Chicago has a 45-33 record. Milwaukee is a 4.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 228.5. Two games in the NBA tip-off at 9:05 PM ET. Denver hosts San Antonio as a 7-point favorite with a total of 234.5. Utah plays at home against Memphis as a 5-point favorite with an over/under of 221. New Orleans travels to Sacramento at 10:05 PM ET as an 8.5-point road favorite with a total of 226. The Los Angeles Lakers play at Phoenix at 10:35 PM ET.Ten games are on the slate in the National Hockey League. The puck drops at 7:07 PM ET for six games. Carolina visits Buffalo as a -250 money line road favorite with a total of 6. Ottawa plays at Montreal as a -115 money line road favorite with an over/under of 6. Florida hosts Toronto as a -165 money line favorite with a total of 7. The New York Rangers play at New Jersey as a -155 money line road favorite with an over/under of 6. Philadelphia is at home against Columbus as a -125 money line favorite with a total of 6.5. Pittsburgh plays at home as a -120 money line favorite with a total of 6.5. Buffalo visits Detroit at 7:37 PM ET as a -190 money line road favorite with an over/under of 6. Minnesota plays at Nashville at 8:07 PM ET as a -125 money line road favorite with a total of 6. Dallas hosts the New York Islanders at 8:37 PM ET as a -135 money line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. Edmonton travels to San Jose at 10:37 PM ET as a -175 money line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League begin with two first leg matches at 3 PM ET. Manchester City hosts Atletico Madrid on CBS as a -1.5 goal line favorite with an over/under of 2.5.Liverpool plays at Benfica on Paramount+ and fuboTV as a -1.5 goal line road favorite with a total of 2.5.

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

by Big Al Staff

Monday, Apr 04, 2022

The Monday sports card features NHL, NCAAB, and EPL action.Four games are on the slate in the National Hockey League. Boston visits Columbus at 7:05 PM ET. The Bruins won their sixth game in their last seven with a 5-2 victory against the Blue Jackets on Saturday. Columbus has lost six games in a row with that setback. Boston is a -255 money line road favorite with a total of 6.5 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise).Tampa Bay hosts Toronto at 7:35 PM ET. The Lightning had their four-game winning streak end in a 5-4 loss to Montreal on Saturday. The Maple Leafs are on a four-game winning streak after a 6-3 victory at Philadelphia on Saturday. Tampa Bay is a -135 money line favorite with an over/under of 6.5.St. Louis plays at home against Arizona at 8:05 PM ET. The Blues won their third game in their last four with a 6-4 win at Calgary on Saturday. The Coyotes lost their seventh game in their last eight with a 5-0 loss to Anaheim on Friday. St. Louis is a -380 money line favorite with a total of 6.Calgary travels to Los Angeles at 10:35 PM ET. The Flames lost their third game in a row with their 6-4 loss to St. Louis on Saturday. The Kings are on a two-game winning streak after a 3-2 victory at Winnipeg. Calgary is a -175 money line road favorite with an over/under of 6.The Monday college basketball card concludes the season with Kansas playing North Carolina in the National Championship game at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. The Jayhawks won their tenth straight game with their 81-65 victory against Villanova as a 4-point favorite in the Final Four on Saturday. Kansas shot 54% from the field while making 13 of their 24 shots from 3-point land. They held the Wildcats to 39% shooting. David McCormack led the team with 25 points. The Tar Heels have won 11 of their last 12 games after beating Duke, 81-77, as a 4.5-point underdog in the Final Four on Saturday. They shot 42% but made 10 of their 26 shots from 3-point range. They held the Blue Devils to 42% shooting and a 5 of 22 mark from 3-point land. Caleb Love led North Carolina with 28 points.Kansas is a 4-point favorite with the total set at 152. Tip-off time is set for 9:20 PM ET on TBS.Matchweek 31 in the English Premier League continues with Arsenal playing at Crystal Palace on the USA Network at 3 PM ET. The Gunners have won six of their last seven games across all competitions with their 1-0 victory at Aston Villa in English Premier League action on March 19th. They are in a tie for fourth place with Tottenham with 54 in the EPL table with two matches in hand. The Eagles have three of their last four matches with a 4-0 victory against Everton in the FA Cup on March 20th. Crystal Palace is in 12th place in the EPL with 34 points. Arsenal is a -0.5 goal line favorite with an over/under of 2.5.

Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL and EPL Previews and Odds - 04/03/2022

by Big Al Staff

Monday, Apr 04, 2022

The Sunday sports card features NBA, NHL, and EPL action.The National Basketball Association has 12 games on its docket. Two games tip-off the card at 1:10 PM ET. Boston hosts Washington as a 13-point favorite with the total set at 222 (all odds from DraftKings). Milwaukee plays at home against Dallas in the first game of a doubleheader on ABC. The Bucks’ two-game winning streak ended on Friday with a 153-119 upset loss to the Los Angeles Clippers as a 3.5-point favorite. Their record dropped to 48-29. The Mavericks were on a three-game winning streak before a 135-103 upset loss at Washington as a 7.5-point favorite on Friday. Dallas’ record is 48-30. Milwaukee is a 6.5-point favorite with an over/under of 227.Denver visits Los Angeles to play the Lakers in the second game on ABC at 3:40 PM ET. The Nuggets had their three-game winning streak end in a 136-130 upset loss to Minnesota as a 3-point favorite on Friday. Their record fell to 46-32. The Lakers are on a five-game losing streak after their 114-111 upset loss to New Orleans as a 1.5-point favorite on Friday. Los Angeles has a 31-46 record. Denver is a 6-point road favorite with a total of 230.5. Indiana plays Detroit at 5:10 PM ET as a 3.5-point favorite with an over/under of 232.5. Two more NBA games start at 6:10 PM ET. Philadelphia travels to Cleveland as a 4-point road favorite with a total of 224. New York is at Orlando as a 4.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 216. Four games in the NBA begin at 7:10 PM ET. Phoenix plays at Oklahoma City as a 14-point road favorite with a total of 221.5. San Antonio plays at home against Portland as a 14.5-point favorite with a total of 231. Toronto hosts Miami as a 5.5-point favorite with an over/under of 213. Minnesota visits Houston as a 13.5-point road favorite with a total of 244. Golden State plays at Sacramento at 9:10 PM ET as a 5-point road favorite with an over/under of 221.5. The Los Angeles Clippers are at home against New Orleans at 9:40 PM ET as a 2-point favorite with a total of 222.5.Nine games are on the slate in the National Hockey League. The puck drops at 1:05 PM ET for two games. Florida travels to Buffalo as a -235 money line favorite with an over/under of 7. Ottawa hosts Detroit as a -150 money line favorite with a total of 6.5. The New York Islanders play at New Jersey on TNT at 4:05 PM ET. The Islanders won their third straight game with their 3-0 victory on the road against the New York Rangers on Friday. The Devils have lost two straight after a 7-6 loss at home to Florida yesterday. The New York Islanders are a -135 money line road favorite with an over/under of 6. Four more games in the NHL start at 7:05 PM ET. Washington plays at home against Minnesota as a -140 money line favorite with a total of 6. Vancouver is at home against Vegas with both teams priced at -110 with an over/under of 6. The New York Rangers host Philadelphia as a -330 money line favorite with a total of 6. Chicago plays at home against Arizona as a -220 money line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. Edmonton visits Anaheim at 8:05 PM ET as a -215 money line favorite with a total of 6.5. Dallas plays at Seattle at 9:05 PM ET as a -155 money line road favorite with an over/under of 6. Matchweek 31 in the English Premier League continues with two matches on the USA Network. West Ham United hosts Everton at 9 AM ET. Tottenham plays at home against Newcastle United at 11:30 AM ET.

American League - Over/Under Preview

by AAA Sports

Sunday, Apr 03, 2022

A look at Over/Under win totals for each American League team (last year’s record in parentheses):AMERICAN LEAGUE EASTBALTIMORE (52-110) 2022 O/U – 62.5The endless rebuild continues in Baltimore, where the Orioles hope to improve a woeful pitching staff (5.84 ERA) by moving back the fences at Camden Yards.BOSTON (92-70)2022 O/U – 85.5The starting rotation is Scotch-taped together after losing ace Chris Sale to injury for the first part of the season. But the Red Sox always hit, and the lineup got a boost with the signing of free agent second baseman Trevor Story. Expect lots of 8-7 games.NEW YORK (92-70)2022 O/U – 91.5The Yankees were a streaky team last season as the lineup ran hot and cold, partly because of the lack of left-handed bats in the lineup. Hopefully Josh Donaldson, acquired from the Twins, helps provide some balance. Gerrit Cole (16-8 last year) leads a decent rotation.TAMPA BAY (100-62)2022 O/U – 89.5Two-time Cy Young winner Corey Kluber joins a starting staff that was already solid, fronting for a lineup that scored the second-most runs in the majors in 2021. Rays have won more games than any team in the A.L. over the past three seasons.TORONTO (91-72)2022 O/U – 92.5Losing Cy Young winner Robbie Ray and second baseman Marcus Semien was tough to swallow, but the Jays still have talent on hand. Expect lots of runs from a solid lineup led by Vladimir Guerrero Jr., whose 48 homers last season tied for the ML lead.AMERICAN LEAGUE CENTRALCHICAGO (93-69)2022 O/U – 91.5Two straight playoff appearances – and two straight first-round losses. The White Sox are hoping for more this season, behind a deep rotation that has no real ace and an excellent lineup led by Tim Anderson and Jose Abreau.CLEVELAND (80-82)2022 O/U – 76.5Low payroll and low expectations for the Guardians. Veteran manager Terry Francona will have his work cut out with this group. Injuries kept No. 1 Shane Bieber to 16 starts last season, and if he can’t stay on the field more this season, it won’t be pretty.DETROIT (77-85)2022 O/U – 77.5Five straight losing seasons were apparently enough for management, which bumped up the payroll and brought on starter Eduardo Rodriguez and several others. Tigers are hoping Miguel Cabrera can still drive in runs at age 39.KANSAS CITY (74-88)2022 O/U – 74.5Look who’s back! Zack Greinke, who won the Cy in KC in 2009. He’ll head a young staff that showed some promise last season. All eyes will be on shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., considered the top prospect in the majors.MINNESOTA (73-89)2022 O/U – 81.5The offense should not be a problem, especially with the arrival of premier shortstop Carlos Correia. The problem is the pitching staff, which will throw to former Yankee catcher Gary Sanchez. None of the projected starting staff had an ERA under 4 last season.AMERICAN LEAGUE WESTHOUSTON (95-67)2022 O/U – 91.5Correia is gone, but plenty of talent remains from last season’s World Series losers. Justin Verlander returns from Tommy John surgery, and if he’s 80 percent of what he was, the staff will be among the best. Scoring runs won’t be a problem.OAKLAND (86-76)2022 O/U – 70.5At least the A’s are consistent. Develop players, then trade them away before you have to pay them. The post-lockout exodus (Olsen, Chapman, Bassitt) was almost immediate. A move to Las Vegas seems inevitable; only the details remain.LOS ANGELES (77-85)2022 O/U – 83.5If, if, if the Angeles stay somewhat healthy (looking at you, Mike Trout and Tony Rendon), then they’ll have a puncher’s chance at ending their 7-year playoff drought. Noah Syndergaard should bolster the starting staff and Michael Lorenzen should boost the bullpen.SEATTLE (90-72)2022 O/U – 83.5Has it really been 20 years since the Mariners made the playoffs? Yikes. That streak is in serious danger this season as Seattle progresses. Cy Young winner Robbie Ray leads the staff, and if the offense is even a little above average, the Mariners could surprise.TEXAS (60-102)2022 O/U – 74.5The Rangers are another team trying to spend their way out of the dumpster. The middle of the infield will feature Corey Seager and second baseman Marcus Semien. None of the projected starters – including free agent Jon Gray – had a winning record last year.

MLB Futures Wager: Toronto Blue Jays to Win the 2022 World Series

by Al McMordie

Sunday, Apr 03, 2022

The baseball gods must have been looking down from above, as management and labor settled their dispute surprisingly fast, and the season only suffered a minor delay. So, Opening Day is this week, and it's time for our annual MLB Futures prediction (which can't be any worse than last season's 22-1 pick on the Minnesota Twins).Notwithstanding last year's stumble, faithful followers know that my futures predictions are among the best (if not THE BEST) in the business. Let's review some highlights just in the past few years. In 2021, both my NBA (Milwaukee Bucks @ 13-2 odds) and College Basketball (Baylor @ 12-1 odds) futures bets paid off handsomely. And, since we had no tournament in College Basketball in 2020, that was the 2nd straight NCAA Basketball season I hit my futures ticket, as I also had Virginia (at 22-1 odds) in the 2018-19 preseason (Virginia was my favorite Futures Wager of All-Time)! Also in 2019, I cashed a major longshot in Baseball on the Washington Nationals (at 18-1 odds), and followed that World Series winner up in 2020 with the Los Angeles Dodgers (at 4-1 odds). Among my other recent preseason winners were the Houston Astros in 2017 (at 10-1 odds), Tampa Bay Lightning in 2020 (at 7-1 odds), San Antonio Spurs (2014, 14-1 odds; 1999, 11-2 odds), Golden State Warriors (2017, -125 odds; 2018, -160 odds), and Green Bay Packers (2011, 10-1 odds).This MLB season, we'll head north-of-the-border for our selection on Toronto at 9-1 odds. Last season, the Blue Jays had one of the most talented rosters in their history. It was a roster that included a Cy Young Award Winner and a young slugger who almost won the Triple Crown. And yet, the 2021 Blue Jays failed to make the post-season despite winning 91 games. They return this season with a team that is arguably even better -- one which is capable of the first 100-win season in franchise history. That Cy Young starter -- Robbie Ray -- has moved on to Seattle, but an equally talented arm has come in to replace him, in Kevin Gausman. The youngsters who drive much of the offense, namely Vlad Guerrero Jr, and Bo Bichette, are about to enter their prime. And the Jays upgraded the hot corner with the acquisition of Matt Chapman. Finally, their bullpen -- provided key pitchers don't suffer injuries -- shouldn't be an Achilles' heel this season. It's true that the AL East division is loaded. But the Yankees did not significantly improve an aging roster and are looking at a rotation which consists of Gerrit Cole, Luis Severino, and then some combination of Jameson Taillon, Jordan Montgomery, and Nestor Cortes. And the Red Sox didn't add any significant arms either. Indeed, that team just received bad news regarding ace Chris Sale and his ailing ribs. Of course, the Rays are always a threat, but it's hard to say exactly what their lineup or rotation will look like this spring -- let alone who will be left come August. So that leaves the Jays as strong favorites in the East and a likely club to go deep into the post-season in October. Take Toronto to win the 2022 World Series. They're currently +900 at DraftKings. As always, good luck...Al McMordie.

National League - Over/Under Preview

by AAA Sports

Sunday, Apr 03, 2022

A look at Over/Under win totals for each National League team (last year’s record in parentheses):NATIONAL LEAGUE EASTATLANTA (88-73)2022 O/U – 90.5Matt Olson replaces fixture Freddie Freeman at first base, bit otherwise the Braves will run out the same squad that last season produced their first World Series title since 1995. Slugger Ronald Acuna played only half a season in 2021 due to injury, and he will miss maybe a month of this year. Starting pitching could be the only real problem.MIAMI (67-95)2022 O/U – 76.5The rebuild is ongoing, and the Marlins could make a run at .500. The offense was awful last season, but got a boost when Miami acquired corner outfielders Jorge Soler and Avisail Garcia – they combined for 56 home runs last season.NEW YORK (77-85)2022 O/U – 90.5Anything less than a World Series appearance will disappoint Mets fans, who saw their team add Max Scherzer and All-Star Chris Bassitt to a rotation headed by Jacob deGrom. One concern – the Mets are old, and old teams tend to accumulate a lot of injuries.PHILADELPHIA (82-80)2022 O/U – 85.5Bryce Harper won the NL MVP last season, but it was nowhere near enough for the Phillies. So they added two more bats – Nick Castellano and Kyle Schwarber – to juice the lineup. Decent health could help the Phillies make the playoffs for the first time since the 2011 team led by Roy Halladay and Ryan Howard.WASHINGTON (65-97)2022 O/U – 71.5Anything close to .500 would be a dream season for the 2019 champs, who are starting from scratch after selling off most of their top players last season. Signing face of the franchise Juan Soto is a top priority. Ace Steven Strasburg is still recovering from his second straight season-ending injury.NATIONAL LEAGUE CENTRALCHICAGO (71-91)2022 O/U – 75.5Lots of question marks at Wrigley this time around. A mid-season salary dump (Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo) led to a predictable late-season dive, but opened the door for youngsters. The top of the rotation isn’t bad – Kyle Kendicks (14-7) and newcomer Marcus Stroman.CINCINNATI (83-79)2022 O/U – 74.5The Reds can score, but can they score enough to compensate for a pitching staff that is dependent on some rookies and already dealing with injuries? NL MVP Jonathan India and veteran Joey Votto anchor a solid lineup. Oddsmakers see a significant dip after last year’s +.500 season.MILWAUKEE (95-67)2022 O/U – 88.5Have to like the chances of any team with three All-Stars – Corbin Burnes, Brandon Woodruff and Freddy Peralta – in the rotation and the game’s best closer in Josh Hader. The offense went flat in the playoff loss to the Braves, but they should at minimum get to the post-season for the fifth straight year.PITTSBURGH (61-101)2022 O/U – 65.5Fans may be tired of rebuilds, but that’s life in Pittsburgh. At least the Bucs can sell the future without lying as the minor league system is littered with talent. That won’t help right now, though. One interesting newcomer is Seiya Suzuki, who hit 38 homers in Japan last season.ST. LOUIS (90-72)2022 O/U – 84.5No one is really sure why manager Mike Schildt was canned, but new field boss Oliver Marmol has a veteran team to lead. Even Card legend Albert Pujols is back for a final good-bye (as DH). Injuries in the rotation could cause some problems early, so scoring runs will be a priority.NATIONAL LEAGUE WESTARIZONA (52-110)2022 O/U – 66.5Watching the bottom line often gets you to the bottom of the division in MLB, and that’s where the Diamondbacks find themselves. They’ve added no one of significance to a team that had the fewest (tied with Baltimore) wins in the MLB a year ago. Should be interesting to see if Madison Bumgarner has anything left.COLORADO (74-87)2022 O/U – 68.5The Rockies seem cemented into fourth place in the West, and hope against hope that newcomer Kris Bryant will jolt the team toward a playoff berth. Losing Trevor Story to the Red Sox was a tough body blow. Pitching is always an issue in Colorado, and they also lost starter Jon Gray. Crossing fingers.LOS ANGELES (106-56)2022 O/U – 97.5More coal to Newcastle, as the 106-win Dodgers bulked up the lineup by buying slugger Freddie Freeman. Are there any holes on this team? Maybe not. Walker Buehler (16-4) is now the ace, but Clayton Kershaw can still get batters out, so losing Max Scherzer won’t be the end of the world.SAN DIEGO (79-83)2022 O/U – 88.5SAN FRANCISCO (107-55)2022 O/U – 85.5Injuries late last season ended the Padres’ post-season hopes, and already NL home run champ Fernando Tatis is hurt (wrist) and will miss a few months. At least the rotation looks healthy right now, with Yu Darvish and Blake Snell carrying a lot of the load.SAN FRANCISCO (107-55)2022 O/U – 85.5The Giants just refuse to go away as a contender. They won’t win 107 again, but a playoff spot is within reach. All eyes will be on top prospect Joey Bart as he replaces Buster Posey behind the plate. Offense could be a problem if long-time vets Brandon Crawford and Brandon Belt start to show their age.

2022 NCAA Basketball Tournament: A Point Spread Review

by Al McMordie

Saturday, Apr 02, 2022

The 2022 NCAA Basketball Tournament has certainly had a lot of surprises along the way. But it wasn't as crazy as the 2021 Tourney, when there were a record-setting 16 wins by teams seeded 10 or worse (not including the "First Four" play-in round). This tournament "only" had 13 wins by teams seeded 10 or worse. But it did also have the historic journey of #15-seed Saint Peter's, which became the first team seeded 13 (or higher) to reach the Elite Eight round. The 2021 event also had the most upsets (14) by a team seeded at least 5 spots worse than its opponent, but this tournament fell just shy of that mark with 12 such upsets. But, like last year, when the final matched-up #1 seeds Baylor and Gonzaga, the cream eventually rose to the top this season, and we have three teams in the Final Four seeded #1 or #2. Only #8 North Carolina is truly a dark horse.Let's take a look at first four rounds of this tournament, from a point spread perspective. We'll not include the First Four games in this analysis.The most striking fact is that underdogs have done very well, as they've gone 33-26 ATS (with one game a PK). Here is a breakdown by seeds:#1 seeds: 9-3 SU, 3-9 ATS#2 seeds: 9-2 SU, 8-3 ATS#3 seeds: 6-4 SU, 4-6 ATS#4 seeds: 8-4 SU, 5-7 ATS#5 seeds: 4-4 SU, 4-4 ATS#6 seeds: 1-4 SU, 1-4 ATS#7 seeds: 3-4 SU, 3-4 ATS#8 seeds: 4-3 SU, 4-3 ATS#9 seeds: 3-4 SU, 6-1 ATS#10 seeds: 3-4 SU, 3-4 ATS#11 seeds: 5-4 SU, 6-3 ATS#12 seeds: 2-4 SU, 3-3 ATS#13 seeds: 0-4 SU, 3-1 ATS#14 seeds: 0-4 SU, 1-3 ATS#15 seeds: 3-4 SU, 4-3 ATS#16 seeds: 0-4 SU, 2-2 ATSAnd here is a breakdown of point spread ranges:Underdogs of +3.5 or less: 9-11 ATSUnderdogs +4 to +7.5: 10-6 ATSUnderdogs +8 to +11.5: 7-2 ATSUnderdogs of +12 or more: 7-7 ATSLike last season, the games have tended to go under the total, as the unders are 34-26 through the first four rounds (35-29 if you include the "First Four games).Let's take a look at some other point spread situations:Teams that won their conference tournament (against foes that didn't win their conference tournament): 15-16 ATSTeams off a straight-up loss (against foes not off a loss): 8-9 ATSTeams off back-to-back losses (against foes not off back-to-back losses): 3-2 ATSTeams off ATS loss (against foes not off an ATS loss): 13-17 ATSTeams off back-to-back-ATS losses (against foes not off back-to-back ATS losses): 12-12 ATSTeams off back-to-back ATS wins (against foes not off back-to-back ATS wins): 19-13 ATSTeams off 3 SU/ATS wins (against foes not off 3 SU/ATS wins): 13-9 ATSTeams off an upset win (against foes not off an upset win): 11-10 ATSTeams off an upset loss (against foes not off an upset loss): 6-8 ATSTeams off a double-digit win (against foes not off a double-digit win): 13-10 ATSTeams playing with revenge: 3-1 ATSGood luck, as always...Al McMordie

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