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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, NCAAB and EPL Previews and Odds - 03/12/2022

by Big Al Staff

Saturday, Mar 12, 2022

The Saturday sports card features NBA, NHL, NCAAB, and EPL action.The National Basketball Association has seven games on its docket. Three games tip-off at 8:05 PM ET. Miami hosts Minnesota as a 6-point favorite with the total set at 224.5. Chicago is at home against Cleveland as a 3-point favorite with an over/under of 221. San Antonio plays at home against Indiana as a 5.5-point favorite with a total of 234.5. Milwaukee visits Golden State on ABC at 8:35 PM ET as a 1.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 232.5. Two more NBA games start at 9:05 PM ET. Denver hosts Toronto as a 5.5-point favorite with a total of 225. Utah is at home against Sacramento as a 10-point favorite with an over/under of 231.5. Washington travels to Portland at 10:05 PM ET as a 7-point road favorite with a total of 218.5.The National Hockey League has ten games on its slate. Nashville pla6. ys at home against St. Louis at 12:38 PM ET as a -125 money line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. Carolina is at home against Philadelphia on ABC as a -320 money line favorite with a total of 6. Five more NHL games drop the puck at 7:08 PM ET. Calgary is at home against Detroit as a -370 money line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. Boston plays at home against Arizona as a -380 money line favorite with a total of 6. Montreal hosts Seattle at -115 money line favorite with an over/under of 6. Chicago is at Ottawa in a pick ‘em contest with a total of 6. New Jersey plays at home against Anaheim as a -145 money line favorite with an over/under of 6. Dallas hosts the New York Rangers at 8:08 PM ET as a -130 money line favorite with a total of 5.5. Los Angeles visits San Jose at 9:38 PM ET as a -135 money line road favorite with an over/under of 5.5. Tampa Bay is at Edmonton at 10:08 PM ET as a -140 money line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The Saturday college basketball conference tournament card has 25 games on national television. Two games tip-off the card at 11 AM ET. Princeton plays Cornell on ESPNU as a 6-point favorite with an over/under of 153.5. Vermont faces Maryland-Baltimore County on ESPN2 as a 15.5-point favorite with a total of 142.5. Four more games begin at 1 PM ET. Arkansas battles Texas A&M on ESPN as a 6.5-point favorite with an over/under of 138.5. Iowa plays against Indiana on CBS as a 6-point favorite with a total of 144. Norfolk State goes against Coppin State on ESPN2 as a 7-point favorite. Saint Louis battles Davidson on the CBS Sports Network as a 3-point favorite with an over/under of 136.5. Yale plays Pennsylvania on ESPNU at 2 PM ET as a 3.5-point favorite with a total of 145.5. Houston goes against Tulane on ESPN2 at 3 PM ET as a 13.5-point favorite with an over/under of 134. Three more NCAA-B games tip-off at 3:30 PM ET. Kentucky faces Tennessee on ESPN as a 2-point favorite with a total of 139.5. Dayton battles Richmond on the CBS Sports Network as a 2.5-point favorite with an over/under of 132. Purdue plays Michigan State on CBS as a 6-point favorite with a total of 142.5. Saint Peter’s goes against Monmouth on ESPNU at 4 PM ET as a 2.5-point favorite with an over/under of 124.5. Memphis battles SMU on ESPN2 at 5 PM ET as a 3.5-point favorite with a total of 141.5. Three NCAA-B conference tournament games begin at 6 PM ET. Kansas plays Texas Tech on ESPN as a 1.5-point favorite with an over/under of 134.5. Texas Southern battles Alcorn State on ESPNU. San Diego State goes against Boise State on CBS. Kent State faces Akron on ESPN2 at 7:30 PM ET. Northern Colorado plays Montana State on ESPNU at 8 PM ET. Two NCAA-B games start at 8:30 PM ET. Duke plays Virginia Tech on ESPN at 8:30 PM ET as a 6-point favorite with a total of 138.5. UAB battles Louisiana Tech on the CBS Sports Network as a 3.5-point favorite with an over/under of 135.5. UCLA battles Arizona on Fox at 9 PM ET. Texas A&M Corpus Christi goes against Southeast Louisiana on ESPN2 at 9:30 PM ET as a 1-point favorite with a total of 149. Abilene Christian faces New Mexico State on ESPNU at 10 PM ET. Cal-State Fullerton plays Long Beach State on ESPN2 at 11:30 PM ET.Matchweek 29 of the English Premier League begins with three matches. Liverpool visits Brighton and Hove Albion on Peacock at 7:30 AM ET as a -1 goal line favorite at PlayMGM with an over/under of 3. Brentford hosts Burnley on the USA Network at 10 AM ET as a -0.5 goal line favorite with a total of 2. Manchester United plays at home against Tottenham on Peacock at 12:30 PM ET as a -0.5 goal line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. 

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Play Ball!

by Ben Burns

Friday, Mar 11, 2022

I'm sure you heard the good news. It's Go Time! It really didn't look promising. However, the two sides came together and figured things out. Only hours before the agreement was reached, I remember thinking: "I'd be happy just to have a shortened season start by June 1st. That's better than nothing ..." Instead, a full 162-game season will start much sooner. Here are some of the details.When Is The First Pitch?They're moving fast. By the time you're reading this, spring training may have already begun. The games begin Sunday, March 13. That will allow the regular season to begin on April 7th. After all the fuss, that's only one week later than was originally planned. In a way, it's not bad at all. College hoops will wrap up on the 4th. Then, only a couple of days before Opening Day. What's Different?In order to make up the missed week, the teams will play three extra games at the end of the regular season. The other missed games will be made up by playing double-headers. Those will be of the 9-inning variety, too. Gone are the 7-inning DH's. Speaking of "DH's," another difference this year is that the National League will now be using designated hitters. Also , there will no longer be a runner on second base to begin extra innings. Additionally, the playoff format has changed; 12 teams will now make it, instead of 10. Top Free AgentsThere are some pretty big names out there and they're likely to start finding new homes quite quickly. Remember, teams and players haven't been able to talk. Carlos Correa tops the list. Needless to say, he'll be getting a huge deal. Coming off a strong 2021, Carlos Rodón is likely the top free agent starting pitcher. Naturally, the Yankees are reported to be in the mix for both. Some other notable names include: Story, Soler, Schwarber, Jansen, Freeman, Castellanos, Kikuchi and Bryant. Seiya Suzuki, a 27-year old power hitter from Japan, is another name you're likely to hear. Who's Expected To Be Good?The Dodgers are favored to win the World Series. Other contenders include the Astros, Yankees, Mets, White Sox, Blue Jays and Braves. To say that I was relieved by the news would be an understatement. Baseball is one of my very favorite sports to watch and handicap. Not just because I'm coming off back-to-back really strong baseball campaigns either. March Madness will have the bulk of my attention over the next few weeks but I'll also be keeping a close eye on spring training. While I don't plan to attend any games this year, I'll still be digesting as much info as possible. Bring on Opening Day!

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NBA Stock Rising and Falling

by Sean Murphy

Friday, Mar 11, 2022

As we approach the final month of the NBA regular season it's a good time to take stock of teams that are on the rise and those on their way down in this week's edition of NBA Stock Rising and Falling.Stock risingMinnesota TimberwolvesDon't look now but the T'Wolves have won six straight games both SU and ATS, scoring 124 or more points in all six of those contests. Sure, they've benefited from a favorable schedule recently but it doesn't get that much tougher until March 19th, when the Wolves begin a stretch that will see them face the Mavericks (twice), Suns, Celtics, Raptors and Nuggets in succession. For now, Minnesota will aim to keep rolling with a trip that includes stops in Orlando, Miami and San Antonio before a home date with the reeling Lakers. While I wasn't necessarily a buyer earlier in the season, I do think Minnesota can continue to make some noise down the stretch, provided it can get a little healthier. One thing's for sure, the T'Wolves are unlikely to fit the bill as a 'public darling' anytime soon and that's a good thing for their backers.New York KnicksProving just how quickly things can improve, the Knicks find themselves in the 'stock rising' category after previously residing at the complete opposite end of the spectrum. It took a while, but it seems like the Knicks have finally figured out that it's their defense that needs to fuel their offense. They enter Friday's matchup with the Grizzlies in Memphis after holding seven straight opponents to fewer than 89 field goal attempts, limiting four of those opponents to 83 or less. You would have to go back eight games to find the last time New York allowed an opponent to knock down 40 or more field goals. After wrapping up their long road trip with stops in Memphis and Brooklyn, the Knicks will return home for a four-game homestand beginning next Wednesday against Portland. Stock fallingNew Orleans PelicansAfter a brief surge, the Pelicans have gone back in the tank with consecutive losses against Denver, Memphis and Orlando. Worst of all, they'll be without Brandon Ingram, who had been making big strides forward this season, for multiple weeks due to injury. The depth simply isn't there for New Orleans to withstand such a blow. It does get its next three games at home but it's still a difficult stretch considering it will have played eight games in 14 nights by the time the homestand wraps up. Riding what I would consider an unsustainable streak of 11 consecutive games scoring more than 100 points, I will be looking for opportunities to play the 'under' in upcoming Pelicans games, noting that they have been doing a good job of limiting opponents scoring opportunities in recent weeks. Sacramento KingsSitting 20 games under .500 in 13th-place in the Western Conference, the Kings have nothing but pride and contracts to play for down the stretch. They head into Saturday's game in Utah riding a three-game losing streak, having won just twice going back to Valentine's Day. Even their once-explosive offense has gone cold lately, scoring 95, 115, 113, 115 and 100 points over their last five games. Frustrations boiled over earlier this week with pre-trade deadline acquisition Domantas Sabonis striking an official and earning a one-game suspension. While Sacramento will get four of its next five games at home it's not as if that has meant much this season as it has won just 15 times in 35 games as host. Picking favorable spots to back the Kings is a real chore these days and I don't see that changing in the final month of the season. 

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, and NCAAB Previews and Odds - 03/11/2022

by Big Al Staff

Friday, Mar 11, 2022

The Friday sports card features NBA, NHL, and NCAAB action.The National Basketball Association has ten games on its docket. Minnesota visits Orlando at 7:10 PM ET as a 6.5-point road favorite with the total set at 232.5 (all odds from DraftKings). Two more games tip-off at 7:40 PM ET. Atlanta plays at home against the Los Angeles Clippers as a 6-point favorite with an over/under of 228.5. Boston is at home against Detroit as a 13.5-point favorite with a total of 216. Three NBA games start at 8:10 PM ET. Miami hosts Cleveland as a 5.5-point favorite with an over/under of 210. Dallas travels to Houston as an 11-point road favorite with a total of 225. Memphis is at home against New York as a 9.5-point favorite with an over/under of 230. Charlotte plays at New Orleans as a 1.5-point road favorite with a total of 229. Utah visits San Antonio at 8:40 PM ET as a 7.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 229.5. Phoenix is at home against Toronto as a 6-point favorite with an over/under of 221. The Los Angeles Lakers host Washington at 10:40 PM ET as a 4.5-point favorite with a total of 228.The National Hockey League has four games on its slate. Two games drop the puck at 7:08 PM ET. Pittsburgh plays at home against Vegas as a -140 money line favorite with an over/under of 6. Minnesota visits Columbus as a -210 money line road favorite with a total of 6. The New York Islanders are at home against Winnipeg at 7:38 PM ET as a -120 money line favorite with an over/under of 6. Vancouver is at home against Washington at 10:08 PM ET as a -110 money line favorite with a total of 6.The Friday college basketball conference tournament card includes 26 games on national television. Two televised games tip-off at noon ET. Auburn plays Texas A&M on ESPN as an 8.5-point favorite with an over/under of 139.5. Davidson goes against Fordham on the USA Network as an 11-point favorite with a total of 130.5. Louisiana Tech goes against North Texas on the CBS Sports Network at 12:30 PM ET. Houston faces Cincinnati on ESPN2 at 1 PM ET as a 12-point favorite with a total of 133.5. Two television NCAAB games begin at 2:30 PM ET. Arkansas battles LSU on ESPN as a 2-point favorite with an over/under of 139. Saint Louis plays against St. Bonaventure on the USA Network as a 2-point favorite with a total of 139. Two more NCAAB games tip-off at 3 PM ET. UAB faces Middle Tennessee State on the CBS Sports Network. Tulane goes against Temple on ESPN2 as a 1-point favorite with an over/under of 135.5. Toledo plays Akron on the CBS Sports Network at 5 PM ET as a 5.5-point favorite with a total of 138.5. At 6 PM ET, two more college basketball games are on national television. Rider faces Monmouth on ESPNews. Dayton goes against Massachusetts on the USA Network as a 9.5-point favorite with an over/under of 144.5. Providence plays Creighton on FS1 at 6:30 PM ET as a 3-point favorite with a total of 132.5. Three more televised games begin at 7 PM ET. Kansas battles TCU on ESPN2 as a 7.5-point favorite with an over/under of 140. Duke faces Miami (Florida) on ESPN as a 9-point favorite with a total of 150. SMU goes against Tulsa on ESPNU as a 7.5-point favorite with an over/under of 139. Ohio battles Kent State on the CBS Sports Network at 7:30 PM ET. Two televised NCAAB games start at 8:30 PM ET. Richmond plays VCU on the USA Network. Quinnipiac faces Saint Peter’s on ESPNews. Two more televised college basketball games tip-off at 9 PM ET. Central Florida plays Memphis on ESPNU. Connecticut goes against Villanova on FS1. Three more NCAAB games begin at 9:30 PM ET. Oklahoma battles Texas Tech on ESPN2. Virginia Tech goes against North Carolina on ESPN. Boise State plays Wyoming on the CBS Sports Network as a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 129. Three televised NCAAB games conclude the card at 11:30 PM ET. USC faces UCLA on FS1. Hawaii plays Cal-State Fullerton on ESPNU. San Diego State goes against Colorado State on the CBS Sports Network. 

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, NCAAB and EPL Previews and Odds - 03/10/2022

by Big Al Staff

Thursday, Mar 10, 2022

The Thursday sports card features NBA, NHL, NCAAB, and EPL action.The National Basketball Association has two games on its docket with a doubleheader on TNT. Philadelphia hosts Brooklyn at 7:40 PM ET as a 4.5-point favorite (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). Golden State travels to Denver at 10:10 PM ET as a 2.5-point road favorite. The National Hockey League has 13 games on its slate. The puck drops at 7:08 PM ET in eight games. Boston plays at home against Chicago as a -275 money line favorite with the total set at 5.5. Vegas visits Buffalo as a -230 money line road favorite with an over/under of 6. Toronto is at home against Arizona as a -400 money line favorite with a total of 6.5. Ottawa hosts Seattle as a -130 money line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. Minnesota plays at Detroit as a -190 money line road favorite with a total of 6.5. Florida is at home against Philadelphia as a -370 money line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. Winnipeg travels to New Jersey as a -120 money line road favorite with a total of 6.5. Colorado is at Carolina as a -115 money line road favorite with an over/under of 6. The New York Islanders host Columbus at 7:38 PM ET as a -160 money line favorite with a total of 5.5. Two more NHL games start at 8:08 PM ET. St. Louis plays at home against the New York Rangers as a -200 money line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. Nashville is at home against Anaheim as a -200 money line favorite with a total of 5.5. Tampa Bay visits Calgary at 9:08 PM ET as a -120 money line road favorite with an over/under of 6. Los Angeles hosts San Jose at 10:38 PM ET as a -230 money line favorite with a total of 5.5.The Thursday college basketball conference tournament card has 24 games on national television. Three televised games tip-off the card at noon ET. Duke plays Syracuse on ESPN as a 14-point favorite with an over/under of 150. Providence goes against Butler on FS1 as a 7.5-point favorite with a total of 128. George Mason battles Fordham on the USA Network as a 5-point favorite with an over/under of 130. Texas faces TCU on ESPN2 at 12:30 PM ET as a 5.5-point favorite with a total of 125.5. Cincinnati plays East Carolina on ESPNU at 1 PM ET as a 5.5-point favorite with an over/under of 136.5. Three televised NCAAB games begin at 2:30 PM ET. Miami (Florida) plays Boston College on ESPN2 as a 7.5-point favorite with a total of 139. St. Louis goes against LaSalle on the USA Network as an 11.5-point favorite with an over/under of 140.5. Marquette battles Creighton on FS1 as a 3-point favorite with a total of 142.5. Three more NCAAB games tip-off at 3 PM ET. Wichita State plays Tulsa as a 6-point favorite with an over/under of 133. Kansas battles West Virginia on ESPN as a 9-point favorite with a total of 148. Boise State faces Nevada on the CBS Sports Network as a 5.5-point favorite with an over/under of 138.5. UNLV goes against Wyoming on the CBS Sports Network at 5:30 PM ET as a 1-point favorite with a total of 136. Massachusetts plays George Washington on the USA Network at 6 PM ET as a 2.5-point favorite with an over/under of 147.5. Four televised NCAAB games start at 7 PM ET. Notre Dame faces Virginia Tech on ESPN2 as a 1-point favorite with a total of 130.5. Baylor battles Oklahoma on ESPN as an 8.5-point favorite with an over/under of 135.5. Central Florida goes against South Florida on ESPNU as a 9-point favorite with a total of 127. Villanova plays St. John’s on FS1 as a 5.5-point favorite with an over/under of 149. Richmond faces Rhode Island on the USA Network at 8:30 PM ET as a 4-point favorite with a total of 134. Colorado State battles Utah State on the CBS Sports Network at 9 PM ET as a 1.5-point favorite with an over/under of 138.5. Three televised NCAAB games begin at 9:30 PM ET. Texas Tech goes against Iowa State on ESPN2 as a 7.5-point favorite with a total of 125.5. North Carolina plays Virginia on ESPN as a 3.5-point favorite with an over/under of 133.5. Seton Hall goes against Connecticut on FS1. Two more televised NCAAB games tip-off at 11:30 PM ET. San Diego State faces Fresno State on the CBS Sports Network as a 4.5-point favorite with a total of 113. Washington battles USC on FS1.Matchweek 28 in the English Premier League concludes with four matches on Peacock. Three matches start at 2:30 PM ET. Chelsea visits Norwich City as a -1.5 goal line road favorite with a total of 3 (all soccer odds from PlayMGM). Southampton hosts Newcastle United as a -0.5 goal line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Wolverhampton plays at home against Watford as a -0.5 goal line favorite with a total of 2. Aston Villa travels to Leeds United in a pick ‘em matchup with an over/under of 3.

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Preview: UFC Vegas 50

by Ben Burns

Wednesday, Mar 09, 2022

After Covington beat up on Masvidal at the T-Mobile Arena last weekend, the MMA spotlight shifts to UFC Apex this Saturday. Same city. Different venue. While UFC Vegas 50 may not have the star power that last week's card did, there are still some interesting and potentially exciting fights. Here are a couple to keep an eye on. Thiago Santos (22-9) vs. Magomed Ankalaev (16-1)This may be the featured fight of the night but its unlikely to be the most competitive. Santos is off a win last time out. However, he's in over his head here. The odds reflect that. Ankalaev opened as roughly a 4:1 favorite and the line has climbed even higher. He's now laying in the -550 range. Santos has taken on some of the best in the business, as he fought the likes of Jon Jones and Glover Teixeira. So, he's not going to be intimidated. Still, he's 38 years old and he'll be taking on a determined and more well-rounded 29-year old. Santos hasn't been the same fighter since the Jones loss. While I wouldn't suggest laying the high price, expect the younger fighter to take this one. Khalil Rountree (9-5) vs. Karl Roberson (9-4)The odds suggest that this light heavyweight battle will be considerably closer than the main event. Rountree opened as a small favorite. However, Roberson is currently priced in the -125 to -135 range. In addition to the similar records, these guys have quite a few things in common. They're each southpaws. They're both 6-foot-1 and 185 pounds, each with a 74-inch reach. They're both American and they're very close in age. Roberson is 31, Rountree is 32. Both fighters have power. Roberson is a former pro kick-boxer. Rountree, who got into MMA later in his life, trained in kick-boxing in Thailand. Rountree had this to say: "I feel good. This camp has been tough. I purposely came into this camp and pushed myself as hard as I possibly could so I can get the result that I am looking for. And I'm happy with the growth that I've made from the last camp. Just ready to put it all together now." With all the similarities and with both fighters in need of a victory, this one could be interesting. Another KO?Last week, I successfully backed Spivak against Hardy. He was a little expensive but I was quite confident that Hardy was outclassed. Here's an excerpt of what I said, prior to that fight: "Hardy is in over his head. Again. He's lost b2b fights and this is not a good matchup for him. These two were supposed to fight at UFC 270. At the time, Hardy was orginally scheduled to face Olenyk. However, Olenyk backed out and it was then supposed to be Spivak vs. Hardy. That probably wouldn't have gone well for Hardy but at least Spivak would have been fighting with less prep time. Hardy remains an elite athlete and he's got bigtime power. He's not a good wrestler though and he's far from elite when exchanging strikes. Consider one of their common opponents in Tuivasa. Hardy hurt Tuivasa a bit early on but then got KO'd. Spivak, on the other hand, took Tuivasa down six times before choking him out with an arm triangle. I see Spivak getting Hardy off his feet and winning by either ground and pound or submission." Spivak came through for me, making short work of Hardy. This week, I've got my eyes on another fight which may not last long ... 

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, NCAAB and UEFA Champions League Previews and Odds - 03/09/2022

by Big Al Staff

Wednesday, Mar 09, 2022

The Wednesday sports card features NBA, NHL, NCAAB, and UEFA Champions League action.The National Basketball Association has 12 games on its docket. Two games tip-off at 7:10 PM ET. Boston travels to Charlotte as a 7-point road favorite with the total set at 226.5 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). Chicago plays at Detroit as a 6.5-point road favorite. Miami hosts Phoenix in the opening game of a doubleheader on ESPN at 7:40 PM ET as a 7.5-point favorite. Four more NBA games begin at 8:40 PM ET. Milwaukee plays at home against Atlanta as a 5.5-point favorite with an over/under of 237. The Los Angeles Lakers play at Houston as a 3.5-point road favorite. Minnesota is at home against Oklahoma City as a 14-point favorite. New Orleans hosts Orlando as a 7.5-point favorite with a total of 7.5. Two NBA games start at 8:40 PM ET. Dallas is at home against New York as a 7.5-point favorite. Toronto travels to San Antonio as a 1-point road favorite. Two more NBA games tip-off at 10:10 PM  ET. Denver plays at Sacramento as a 4.5-point road favorite. Utah hosts Portland in the nightcap on ESPN as an 18-point favorite. The Los Angeles Clippers are at home against Washington at 10:40 PM ET as a 4.5-point favorite with a total of 220.The National Hockey League has two games on its slate. Edmonton is home against Washington in the first game of a doubleheader on TNT at 8:08 PM ET. The Oilers are a -125 money line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. Vancouver plays at home against Montreal in the second game on TNT at 10:38 PM ET as a -210 money line favorite with a total of 6.The Wednesday college basketball card includes nine conference tournament games on national television. Florida State plays Syracuse on ESPN at noon ETas a 1.5-point favorite with an over/under of 146.5. Boston College plays Wake Forest on ESPN at 2:30 PM ET. Xavier goes against Butler on FS1 as a 5.5-point favorite with a total of 131. Three more NCAAB games start at 7 PM ET. Clemson faces Virginia Tech on ESPN2. Kansas State plays West Virginia on ESPNU as a 1.5-point favorite with an over/under of 138.5. St. John’s faces DePaul on FS1 as a 5-point favorite with a total of 153.5. Colgate hosts Navy at 7:30 PM ET on the CBS Sports Network in the championship game of the Patriot League tournament as a 6.5-point favorite with an over/under of 129. Louisville plays Virginia on ESPN2 at 9:30 PM ET. Seton Hall battles Georgetown on FS1 as a 10-point favorite with a total of 143.5. The second leg of the round of 16 matches in the UEFA Champions League continues with two matches at 3 PM ET. Real Madrid hosts Paris Saint-Germain on CBS after losing the first leg in Paris by a 1-0 score. PlayMGM lists this match as a pick ‘em with an over/under of 3. Manchester City plays at home against Sporting Lisbon on Paramount+ and fuboTV after winning 5-0 in the first leg. Man City is a -2.5 goal line favorite with a total of 3.5 at PlayMGM.

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Big 10 Tournament Preview

by ASA, Inc.

Tuesday, Mar 08, 2022

With selection Sunday less than a week away, the Big 10 looks to have six teams locked up to join the field of 68. With so many good teams, it is sure to be a bloodbath for the Big 10 tournament championship.  BIG 10 Tournament Championship Odds: Purdue: +220 Illinois: +370Iowa: +400Wisconsin: +750Ohio State: +1000Michigan: +1200Rutgers: +1300Michigan State: +2500Indiana: +2500 Besides the top teams, Rutgers, Michigan, and Indiana are all on the bubble and need to have strong showings in the BIG 10 tourney in order to sneak in. Rutgers earned the double bye so they get a probable matchup with Iowa on Friday. Back in January, Rutgers won their only matchup with the Hawkeyes 48-46. This entire game was at a crawling pace that saw both teams shoot a combined 29% from the floor and went 56.5 points under the total (150.5). If Rutgers can just win one game in the conference tournament, they have to feel great about their chances to get into the NCAA field. Michigan and Indiana matchup as the 8 and 9 seed on Thursday in what could be an NCAA elimination game. The winner may determine who gets one of the last “at large” bids to the big dance.   With Wisconsin’s loss to Nebraska on Sunday, it allows a possible rematch of some recent games. Wisconsin could play Purdue in the semifinals and Illinois could play Iowa.  The Badgers just beat the Boilermakers for the 2nd time this season, so it does seem that Wisconsin is being undervalued by oddsmakers. Purdue has dominant big men in Edey and Williams, but lacks a true guard threat besides Jaden Ivey. Guard play wins championships and Ivey cannot do it alone. The Badgers have been snubbed by the analytics experts all season long because they have had a number of close games and won the vast majority of those games. Despite winning the Big 10 Title (tied with Illinois) they are rated as the 5th or 6th best team in the conference when it comes to the analytics people.  That’s why they have solid +750 odds to win the Big 10 tourney.  Solid value in our opinion if Johnny Davis plays which it sounds like he will.    Iowa has been blazing down the stretch and took Illinois to the wire a few days ago. Unfortunately +400 doesn’t return as much value.  Neither does +370 for the Illini.  Ohio State nearly won the tourney as a five seed last year, so look for E.J. Liddell and Malaki Branham at +1000 as a better option.  They've beaten both first place teams this season (Wisconsin & Illinois) and the Buckeyes have as good a chance as any at a seemingly unpredictable time of year.  We’d have to say OSU at +1000 is the best value in the field.   

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, NCAAB and UEFA Champions League Previews and Odds - 03/08/2022

by Big Al Staff

Tuesday, Mar 08, 2022

The Tuesday sports card features NBA, NHL, NCAAB, and UEFA Champions League action.The National Basketball Association has six games on its docket. Three games tip-off at 7:10 PM ET. Brooklyn travels to Charlotte as a 3.5-point road favorite with the total set at 241.5. Cleveland plays at Indiana as a 4.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 222.5. Philadelphia is at Orlando as a 7.5-point road favorite with a total of 224. Memphis hosts New Orleans in the opening game of a doubleheader on TNT at 7:40 PM ET as a 5.5-point favorite with an over/under of 231.5. Milwaukee visits Oklahoma City at 8:10 PM ET as a 14.5-point road favorite with a total of 231. Golden State hosts the Los Angeles Clippers in the nightcap on TNT as a 6.5-point favorite with an over/under of 220.5. The National Hockey League has 11 games on its slate. The puck drops at 7:08 PM ET for three games. Colorado travels to New Jersey as a -210 money line road favorite with a total of 6. Vegas plays at Philadelphia as a -175 money line road favorite with an over/under of 6. Florida is at Pittsburgh as a -115 money line road favorite with a total of 6.5. Two more games start at 7:38 PM ET. Toronto plays at home against Seattle as a -250 money line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. Detroit is at home against Arizona as a -165 money line favorite with a total of 6. Four more NHL games begin at 8:08 PM ET. St. Louis hosts Ottawa as a -300 money line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. Nashville plays at home against Dallas as a -135 money line favorite with a total of 5.5. Minnesota is at home against the New York Rangers as a -145 money line favorite with an over/under of 6. Tampa Bay plays at Winnipeg as a -165 money line road favorite with a total of 6. Chicago is at home against Anaheim at 8:38 PM ET as a -120 money line favorite with an over/under of 6. Calgary hosts Washington at 9:08 PM ET as a -140 money line favorite with a total of 6. The Tuesday basketball card has six games on national television. Jacksonville hosts Bellarmine on ESPN2 at 5 PM ET in the championship game of the Atlantic Sun conference tournament as a 2.5-point favorite with an over/under of 123. Three more NCAAB games begin at 7 PM ET. Bryant hosts Wagner in the championship game of the Northeast Conference tournament on ESPN2 as a 4-point favorite with a total of 149.5. Delaware plays UNC Wilmington on the CBS Sports Network in the championship game of the Colonial Athletic Association tournament at the Entertainment & Sports Arena in Washington DC on the CBS Sports Network. Wright State goes against Northern Kentucky on ESPN in the championship game of the Horizon League tournament at the Indiana Farmers Coliseum in Indianapolis. Two more televised games tip-off at 9 PM ET. North Dakota State plays South Dakota State on ESPN2 in the championship game of the Summit League tournament at Denny Sanford Premier Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Saint Mary's faces Gonzaga in the finals of the West Coast Conference tournament at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas. The second leg of the round of 16 matches in the UEFA Champions League begins on Tuesday with two matches at 3 PM ET. Liverpool hosts Inter Milan on CBS after winning 2-0 in the first leg of this knockout stage contest. The Reds are a -1 goal line favorite at PlayMGM with an over/under of 3. Bayern Munich plays at home against RB Salzburg on Paramount+ and fuboTV after settling for a 1-1 draw in the first leg of this knockout stage contest. The Bavarians are a -2 goal line favorite at PlayMGM with a total of 3.5.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, NCAAB and EPL Previews and Odds - 03/07/2022

by Big Al Staff

Monday, Mar 07, 2022

The Monday sports card features NBA, NHL, NCAAB, and EPL action.The National Basketball Association has eight games on its docket. Two games tip-off the card at 7:05 PM ET. Atlanta visits Detroit as a 7.5-point road favorite with the total set at 227.5. Philadelphia plays at home against Chicago as a 6.5-point favorite with an over/under of 230. Miami is at home against Houston as a 16-point favorite with a total of 225.5. Minnesota hosts Portland at 8:05 PM ET as a 15.5-point favorite with an over/under of 235.5.Two more NBA games begin at 8:35 PM ET. Dallas plays at home against Utah as a 1.5-point favorite with a total of 217.5. San Antonio is at home against the Los Angeles Lakers as a 2.5-point favorite with an over/under of 232.5. Denver hosts Golden State at 9:05 PM ET as a 9.5-point favorite with a total of 223.5. Sacramento plays at home against New York as a 3.5-point favorite with an over/under of 229.5. The National Hockey League has five games on its slate. The puck drops at 7:08 PM ET for three games. Boston is at home against Los Angeles as a -190 money line favorite with a total of 5.5. Florida visits Buffalo as a -280 money line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. Toronto plays at Columbus as a -240 money line road favorite with a total of 7. Colorado travels to New York to play the Islanders at 7:38 PM ET as a -210 money line road favorite with an over/under of 5.5. Calgary plays at home against Edmonton as a -190 money line favorite with a total of 6.5.The college basketball card has ten games in conference tournament action. The Colonial Athletic Association semifinals take place at the Entertainment & Sports Arena in Washington DC on the CBS Sports Network. Delaware plays Towson State at 6 PM ET. The College of Charleston goes against UNC-Wilmington at 8:30 PM ET. The Summit League semifinals are on ESPN+ at the Denny Sanford Premier Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. South Dakota battles South Dakota State at 7 PM ET. Oral Roberts faces North Dakota State at 9:30 PM ET. The championship game of the Southern Conference tournament takes place at the Harrah’s Cherokee Center in Asheville, North Carolina. Furman battles UT-Chattanooga on ESPN at 7 PM ET. The Sun Belt tournament champion gets decided at the Pensacola Bay Center in Pensacola, Florida. Louisiana-Lafayette plays Georgia State on ESPN2 at 7 PM ET. The Horizon League tournament semifinals tip-off at 7 PM ET at the Indiana Farmers Coliseum in Indianapolis. Cleveland State playing Wright State on ESPNU as a 1-point favorite with an over/under of 147. Northern Kentucky plays IUPU-Fort Wayne on ESPN2 as a 2-point road favorite with a total of 136. The West Coast Conference tournament semifinals begin at 9 PM ET at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas. Gonzaga goes against San Francisco on ESPN as a 12-point favorite with an over/under of 153.5. Saint Mary’s plays Santa Clara on ESPN2 as a 5-point favorite with a total of 139. Matchweek 28 in the English Premier League continues with Tottenham hosting Everton on the USA Network as a -1 goal line favorite at PlayMGM with an over/under of 2.5.

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NBA Awards Odds Update

by AAA Sports

Monday, Mar 07, 2022

Homestretch in the Association, and as time runs short here’s a look at the who, what, when, where and why for the leading contenders for individual awards. Odds are current.MVPJoel Embiid -115Nikola Jokic +300Giannis Antetokounmpo +550Embiid seemed giddy after his Sixers sent out non-participant Ben Simmons and role players for James Harden, and indeed Harden’s arrival in Philadelphia may have come too late in the game to disrupt the narrative that Embiid is going to win it after carrying the team on his back in a much-stronger Eastern Conference.  What could deny Embiid the trophy is a 76er slump over the final few weeks – and the schedule appears daunting – that could drop them two or three spots in the cramped East and created doubts in the minds of the voters. Jokic’s odds seem a little skewed considering Denver has slipped to 6th in the West, chances of a repeat MVP sliding along with the team. Antetokounmpo’s brilliance could produce a third MVP, were it not for the fact that Embiid’s relatively good health and Philly’s sustained strong play in the absence of Simmons has kept the spotlight on the Philly center. Ja Morant and DeMar DeRozen could break into the top 3, but Boston’s Jayson Tatum is surging too late after mediocre play for the first two-thirds of the season.MOST IMPROVEDJa Morant  -1100Miles Bridges +900Darius Garland +1500Morant might be in the MVP discussion were it not for the fact that his Grizzlies played well even when he was out injured, but he’s had the MIP Award locked up since the holidays. As Larry Bird said at the All-Star Game 3-point contest way back when, “Which of you guys is playing for second place?” Morant’s numbers are up across the board (his scoring average jumped more than 8 points over last year), and more importantly Memphis is getting long hard looks from pundits who think that the young Grizzlies can win a few playoff rounds in a diminished Western Conference.  Bridges has been a solid contributor in his first year as a starter for Charlotte and Garland has thrived in Cleveland with Collin Sexton out, but this hardware will belong to Morant.ROOKIE OF THE YEAREvan Mobley -650Scottie Barnes +500Cade Cunningham +600Hard to see Mobley NOT becoming the third Cavalier to win the Rookie of the Year trophy (after LeBron James and Kyrie Irving). The big man can do a lot of things that today’s big men are asked to do, and he’s had a huge impact on the team’s success. Mobley had 20 points, 17 rebounds, 3 blocks and 4 assists this past weekend as the Cavs ended a 6-losses-in-7-games skid by beating Toronto. If Cleveland has a half-decent finish to the season and stays clear of the Play-In tournament, Mobley should have more than enough solid play in the bank to hold off Barnes. Cunningham is the future in Detroit, and he has the Pistons finishing strong, but the No. 1 overall draft pick was hurt early and struggled mid-season. If the team improves and he stays healthy, he will be a MIP candidate in 2022-23.SIXTH MAN OF THE YEARTyler Herro -2500Kelly Oubre +2500Kevin Love +2500Herro put this one to bed early on, being a 20-ppg scorer off the bench (and sometimes starter; he averages 33 minutes) and a key cog in Miami’s system of interchangeable parts. It doesn’t hurt that the Heat control the East and barring a bad run should have home-court advantage for the first three playoff rounds. Oubre (Hornets) and Love (Cavaliers) are long shots at best.DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEARRudy Gobert -150Giannis Antetokounmpo +425Jaren Jackson Jr. +900Yes, the Jazz have slipped and yes there’s probably something to the talk about discord in Salt Lake City. But the chalk right now is Gobert, and strange things would have to happen down the stretch for Gobert not to win this award for the fourth time. East big men Bam Adebayo (Miami) and Robert Williams (Boston) are laying the groundwork for runs at this award when Gobert starts to run out of gas.COACH OF THE YEARMonty Williams -300J.B. Bickerstaff +375Taylor Jenkins +650Williams clinched this award when Phoenix took complete control of the West with an 8-game winning streak in February, and the Suns can spend the rest of the year getting its Chris Paul / Devin Booker backcourt healthy for the post-season. Another Finals trip is definitely possible for Williams. Bickerstaff will get some love from the voters, for sure, but the Cavs’ struggles of late will cost him at the ballot box. Likewise with Memphis’s Jenkins. Boston’s Ime Udoka (+5000) is out the running, but the Celtics are scorching hot and talk of him being on thin ice is now off the table.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, EPL and NCAAB Previews and Odds - 03/06/2022

by Big Al Staff

Sunday, Mar 06, 2022

The Sunday sports card features NBA, NHL, NCAAB, and EPL action.The National Basketball Association has eight games on its docket. Boston hosts Brooklyn in the opening game of a doubleheader on ABC at 1:10 PM ET as a 3.5-point favorite (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). Milwaukee plays at home against Phoenix in the second ABC game at 3:40 PM ET as a 7-point favorite. Washington is at home against Indiana as a 2.5-point favorite. Two NBA games tip-off at 7:10 PM ET. Memphis visits Houston as an 11-point road favorite. Utah is at Oklahoma City as a 12.5-point road favorite. Toronto plays at Cleveland in the opening game of an evening doubleheader ESPN at 7:40 PM ET as a 4-point road favorite. Denver hosts New Orleans at 8:10 PM ET as a 3-point favorite. The Los Angeles Clippers are at home against New York in the nightcap on ESPN at 10:10 PM ET as a 4-point favorite. The National Hockey League has eight games on its slate. The puck drops for two games at 1:08 PM ET. Los Angeles plays at Buffalo as a -170 money line road favorite with the total set at 6. St. Louis visits New Jersey as a -155 money line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. Minnesota plays at home against Dallas on TNT at 4:08 PM ET as a -150 money line favorite with a total of 6.5. Three NHL games begin at 7:08 PM ET. Winnipeg is at home against the New York Rangers as a -125 money line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. Carolina hosts Seattle as a -320 money line favorite with a total of 6. Tampa Bay travels to Chicago as a -230 money line road favorite with an over/under of 6. Vegas plays at home against Ottawa as a -350 money line favorite with a total of 5.5. Anaheim is at home against San Jose as a -160 money line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Sunday college basketball card includes 11 games on national television. Two games start at noon ET. Houston plays at Memphis on CBS as a 2-point road favorite with a total of 138.5. Winthrop plays Longwood on ESPN2 in the championship game of the Big South conference tournament. Ohio State hosts Michigan on Fox at 12:30 PM ET as a 4-point favorite with an over/under of 144. Three more televised NCAAB games tip-off at 2 PM ET. Central Florida visits Tulsa on ESPNU as a 2-point road favorite with a total of 139. Loyola-Chicago plays Drake on CBS in the championship game of the Missouri Valley conference tournament. Lehigh goes against Colgate on the CBS Sports Network in the first semifinals game in the Patriot League conference tournament. Two televised NCAAB games start at 4 PM ET. Watford plays Chattanooga on ESPNU in the semifinals of the Southern Conference tournament. Navy battles Boston University on the CBS Sports Network in the semifinals of the Patriot League conference tournament as a 2.5-point favorite with an over/under of 127. Michigan State hosts Maryland on CBS at 4:30 PM ET as a 6-point favorite with a total of 142.5. Samford goes against Forman on ESPN in the second semifinals matchup in the Southern Conference tournament on ESPNU. Illinois plays at home against Iowa on FS1 at 7:30 PM ET as a 3.5-point favorite with an over/under of 153.5. Matchweek 28 in the English Premier League continues with two matches. Arsenal travels to Watford on the USA Network at 9 AM ET as a -1 goal line road favorite at PlayMGM with a total of 2.5. Manchester City is at home against Manchester United on the USA Network at 11:30 AM ET as a 1.5-goal line favorite at PlayMGM with an over/under of 3.

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