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Big Al's Daily Angle: NFL, NBA, EPL, NHL, and NCAAB Previews and Odds - 01/23/2022

by Big Al Staff

Sunday, Jan 23, 2022

The Sunday sports card features NFL, NBA, NHL, NCAAB, and EPL action.The divisional round of the playoffs in the National Football League concludes with two games. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers host the Los Angeles Rams on NBC at 3 PM ET as a 2.5-point favorite with the total set at 48 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). Kansas City is at home against Buffalo on CBS at 6:30 PM ET as a 1.5-point favorite with an over/under of 54. Eleven games are on the docket in the National Basketball Association. New York hosts the Los Angeles Clippers at 1:10 PM ET as a 4-point favorite with a total of 206.5. Washington is at home against Boston at 3:40 PM ET as a 1-point favorite with an over/under of 217.5. Three more games tip-off at 6:10 PM ET. Chicago plays at Orlando as a 3.5-point road favorite with a total of 215.5. Miami is at home against the Los Angeles Lakers as a 4-point favorite with an over/under of 216.5. Toronto hosts Portland as a 7.5-point favorite with a total of 214.5. Two NBA games start at 7:10 PM ET. Charlotte plays at home against Atlanta as a 3-point favorite with an over/under of 236. Philadelphia visits San Antonio as a 1.5-point road favorite with a total of 222.5. Dallas is at home against Memphis at 7:40 PM ET as a 3.5-point favorite. Two more games begin at 8:10 PM ET. Minnesota plays at home against Brooklyn as a 2-point favorite with an over/under of 238. Denver hosts Detroit as an 11.5-point favorite with a total of 216.5. Golden State is at home against Utah at 8:40 PM ET as a 3.5-point favorite.The National Hockey League has five games on its slate. Pittsburgh plays at home against Winnipeg at 1:08 PM ET as a -190 money line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. Columbus hosts Ottawa at 6:08 PM ET as a -155 money line favorite with a total of 6. Los Angeles travels to New Jersey at 7:08 PM ET as a -130 money line road favorite with an over/under of 5.5. Florida is at Seattle at 9:08 PM ET as a -230 money line road favorite with a total of 6.5. St. Louis plays at Vancouver at 10:08 PM ET as a -155 money line road favorite with an over/under of 5.5.Six games are on national television in college basketball. Providence hosts Butler on FS1 at Noon ET as a 9-point favorite with a total of 127. Xavier visits Marquette on FS1 as a 1.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 146. Saint Louis is at home against Massachusetts on the NBC Sports Network at 2:30 PM ET as a 9-point favorite with a total of 153.5. Memphis plays at Tulsa on ESPN at 3 PM ET as a 5-point road favorite with an over/under of 143.5. Indiana hosts Michigan on CBS at 3:30 PM ET as a 3.5-point favorite with a total of 133.5. Oregon is at home against Washington on FS1 at 10 PM ET as an 11.5-point favorite with an over/under of 142.5. Matchweek 23 in the English Premier League continues with four matches. Three games start at 9 AM ET. Arsenal is at home against Burnley on the USA Network as a -1.5 goal line favorite with a total of 2.5 (all soccer odds from PlayMGM). Liverpool visits Crystal Palace on Peacock as a -1 goal line road favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Brighton and Hove Albion travels to Leicester City on Peacock in a pick ‘em match with a total of 2.5. Chelsea hosts Tottenham on Peacock at 11:30 AM ET as a -0.5 goal line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. 

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, NFL, EPL and NCAAB Previews and Odds - 01/22/2022

by Big Al Staff

Saturday, Jan 22, 2022

The Saturday sports card features NFL, NBA, NHL, NCAAB, and EPL action.The divisional round of the playoffs in the National Football League kicks off with two games. The Tennessee Titans host the Cincinnati Bengals on CBS at 4:30 PM ET as a 3.5-point favorite with the total set at 47.5 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). The Green Bay Packers plays at home against the San Francisco 49ers on Fox at 8:15 PM ET as a 5.5-point favorite with an over/under of 47.Three games are on the docket in the National Basketball Association. Milwaukee is at home against Sacramento at 7:10 PM ET as a 10-point favorite with a total of 229.5. Cleveland hosts Oklahoma City at 8:10 PM ET as a 12-point favorite with an over/under of 209.5. Phoenix plays at home against Indiana at 9:10 PM ET as a 12-point favorite with a total of 217.5.The National Hockey League has 11 games on its slate. Philadelphia travels to Buffalo at 1:08 PM ET as a -120 money line road favorite with an over/under of 6. Boston plays at home against Winnipeg at 3:08 PM ET as a -165 money line favorite with a total of 6. Five more games drop the puck at 7:08 PM ET. The New York Rangers are at home against Arizona as a -285 money line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. Carolina visits New Jersey as a -210 money line road favorite with a total of 6. Washington hosts Ottawa as a -200 money line favorite with an over/under of 6. Toronto plays at New York against the Islanders as a -165 money line road favorite with a total of 5.5. Colorado is at home against Montreal as a -450 money line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. Nashville hosts Detroit at 8:38 PM ET as a -190 money line favorite with a total of 6.5. Minnesota plays at home against Chicago at 9:08 PM ET as a -185 money line favorite of 5.5. Calgary visits Edmonton at 10:08 PM ET with both teams priced as a -110 money line favorite with a total of 6. Tampa Bay is at San Jose at 10:38 PM ET as a -205 money line road favorite with an over/under of 6. The Saturday college basketball card has 23 games on national television. Four games tip-off the card at Noon ET. Duke hosts Syracuse on ESPN as an 11.5-point favorite with a total of 154. Villanova travels to Georgetown on Fox as a 14-point road favorite with an over/under of 139.5. Texas Tech plays at home against West Virginia as a 9-point favorite with a total of 128.5. Seton Hall is at Saint John’s on FS1 as a 2-point road favorite with an over/under of 156.5. Rhode Island is at home against George Washington on the USA Network at 12:30 PM ET as a 15.5-point favorite with a total of 133. Auburn hosts Kentucky on CBS at 1 PM ET as a 3.5-point favorite with an over/under of 149. Navy is at home against Army on the CBS Sports Network at 1:30 PM ET as an 8.5-point favorite with a total of 133.5. Three more NCAAB games on national television start at 2 PM ET. Central Florida plays at home against Tulane on ESPNU as a 7.5-point favorite with an over/under of 140.5. Miami (FL) hosts Florida State on ESPN as a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 146.5. Colorado State visits Air Force on FS1 as a 10.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 130. VCU plays at home against Saint Joseph’s on the USA Network at 2:30 PM as an 11-point favorite with a total of 135. Loyola-Chicago is at home against Missouri State on the CBS Sports Network as a 6.5-point favorite with an over/under of 138.5. Three NCAAB games on national television begin at 4 PM ET. Iowa State hosts TCU on ESPN2 as a 6.5-point favorite with a total of 127.5. Mississippi State plays at home against Mississippi on ESPNU as a 12-point favorite with an over/under of 134. Louisville is at home against Notre Dame on ESPN as a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 137. Creighton hosts DePaul on the CBS Sports Network at 5:30 PM ET as an 8-point favorite with an over/under of 142.5. Three more games start at 6 PM ET. Northern Iowa is at home against Drake on ESPNU at 6 PM ET as a 2-point favorite with a total of 141.5. Tennessee plays at home against LSU on ESPN as a 5.5-point favorite with an over/under of 131.5. Houston is at home against East Carolina on ESPN2 as a 19.5-point favorite with a total of 142. Wyoming hosts New Mexico on the CBS Sports Network at 7:30 PM ET as a 10.5-point favorite with an over/under of 149. San Diego State plays at home against Boise State on the CBS Sports Network at 9:30 PM ET as a 4-point favorite with a total of 121. Saint Mary’s travels to Loyola-Marymount on ESPNU at 10 PM ET as a 7-point road favorite with an over/under of 127. Stanford is at home against Arizona State on FS1 at 11 PM ET as a 5.5-point favorite with a total of 132. Matchweek 23 in the English Premier League continues with five matches. Aston Villa visits Everton on the USA Network at 7:30 PM ET in a pick ‘em match with an over/under of 2.5 (all soccer odds from PlayMGM). Three more games start at 10 AM ET. Wolverhampton plays at Brentford on Peacock in a pick ‘em match with a total of 2. Leeds United hosts Newcastle United on the  USA Network as a -0.5 goal line favorite with an over/under of 3. Manchester United plays at home against West Ham United on Peacock as a -0.5 goal line favorite with a total of 2.5. Manchester City travels to Southampton on NBC at 12:30 PM ET as a -1.5 goal line favorite with an over/under of 3.5.

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NBA Weekend Shootaround: January 22-23

by Sean Murphy

Friday, Jan 21, 2022

While the NFL Playoffs take center stage this weekend, the superior betting opportunities might lie on the NBA hardwood. Here's a look at several key spots to keep an eye on before the lines are released.SaturdayThunder at CavaliersWhile the Thunder will be playing their second game in as many nights following Friday's matchup with the Hornets in Charlotte, the Cavs are home and cool after suffering a disappointing loss against the undermanned Bulls in Chicago on Wednesday. I could only look to back the Cavs in this spot as they've proven to be an excellent bet all season long and should be poised to bounce back against an Oklahoma City squad that entered last night's action having gone 6-16 SU on the road, outscored by an average margin of 9.8 points. Pacers at SunsIndiana is in a clear letdown spot on Saturday as it looks to follow up consecutive upset wins over the Lakers and Warriors. The Pacers might just be in the wrong place at the wrong time in the desert as the Suns are absolutely rolling right now. Phoenix is coming off a hard-fought win in Dallas on Thursday, wrapping up a perfect 5-0 road trip that included an 18-point victory over these same Pacers in Indiana. Indiana can likely afford to catch its breath on Saturday before a winnable game to close its road trip in New Orleans on Monday. SundayClippers at KnicksThe Knicks will undoubtedly be in a foul mood following consecutive home losses against the Timberwolves and Pelicans - two games they needed if they wanted to be taken seriously as a potential playoff team in the East. They'll get a third opportunity to pick up a win over a Western Conference foe on Sunday and they'll be catching the Clippers in an early start game with this one tipping off at 1 pm et. The Clippers have been as inconsistent as any team in the league, entering Friday's game in Philadelphia sporting a 9-10 ATS mark on the road this season. Defense has been optional for the Knicks lately and that's key as the Clips have posted two of their three highest-scoring results of the season over their last three contests.Jazz at WarriorsTo say that the Jazz have been playing their worst basketball of the season would be an understatement. They entered Friday's home game against the lowly Pistons losers of six of their last seven games both SU and ATS. Lucky for them, the Warriors have struggled lately as well, seemingly having a tough time finding their footing since the return of Klay Thompson, going 3-4 SU over their last seven games. The Jazz have undoubtedly had this game circled since suffering a seven-point home loss against the Warriors back on New Year's Day. I'll be looking for a potentially inflated number to back the suddenly out of favor Jazz in this spot.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, NCAAB and EPL Previews and Odds - 01/21/2022

by Big Al Staff

Friday, Jan 21, 2022

The Friday sports card features NBA, NHL, NCAAB, and EPL action.Eleven games are on the docket in the National Basketball Association. Three games tip-off the card at 7:10 PM ET. Charlotte hosts Oklahoma City as a 9.5-point favorite, with the total set at 221. The Los Angeles Lakers play at Orlando as a 5.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 221. Philadelphia is at home against the Los Angeles Clippers as an 8-point favorite with a total of 212. Two more games begin at 7:40 PM ET. Atlanta plays at home against Miami as a 1-point favorite with an over/under of 217.5. Boston hosts Portland as a 7.5-point favorite with a total of 214. Milwaukee is at home against Chicago on ESPN at 8:10 PM ET as an 8.5-point favorite with an over/under of 216.5. Washington plays at home against Toronto at 8:10 PM ET as a 1.5-point favorite with a total of 216.5. Brooklyn travels to San Antonio at 8:40 PM ET as a 2.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 234.5. Two more NBA games start at 9:10 PM ET. Utah hosts Detroit as a 13-point favorite with a total of 217.5. Denver is at home against Memphis as a 4-point favorite with an over/under of 220. Golden State plays at home against Houston at 10:10 PM ET as a 12-point favorite with a total of 229.The National Hockey League has eight games on its slate. Two games drop the puck at 7:08 PM ET. Carolina is at home against the New York Rangers as a -155 money line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. Pittsburgh visits Columbus as a -180 money line road favorite with a total of 6. Two more games begin at 7:38 PM ET. Dallas plays at Detroit as a -120 money line road favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The New York Islanders are at home against Arizona as a -265 money line favorite with a total of 5.5. Minnesota travels to Chicago at 8:38 PM ET as a -145 money line road favorite with an over/under of 5.5. Three more NHL games conclude the card at 10:08 PM ET. Florida plays at Vancouver as a -150 money line road favorite with a total of 6.5. Tampa Bay is at Anaheim as a -225 money line road favorite with an over/under of 6. St. Louis travels to Seattle as a -175 money line road favorite with a total of 5.5. Six games are on national television in college basketball. Ohio hosts Toledo on the CBS Sports Network at 6 PM ET as a 4.5-point favorite with an over/under of 145.5. Two NCAAB games start at 7 PM ET. Illinois visits Maryland on FS1 as a 7.5-point road favorite with a total of 141. St. Bonaventure is at Duquesne on ESPN2 as a 5-point road favorite with an over/under of 136. Buffalo plays at home against Kent State on the CBS Sports Network as a 7.5-point favorite with a total of 145. Wisconsin is at home against Michigan State on FS1 at 9 PM ET as a 4.5-point favorite with an over/under of 139. Nevada hosts Fresno State on FS1 at 11 PM ET as a 1-point favorite with a total of 135.5. Matchweek 23 of the English Premier League begins at 3 PM ET with one match. Watford plays at home against Norwich City on the USA Network as a -0.5 goal line favorite with an over/under of 2.5.

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Is This the Most Loaded NFL Divisional Round Ever?

by ASA, Inc.

Thursday, Jan 20, 2022

There have been lots of great teams in the past years, but the final eight teams left in 2022 make a case for the best remaining eight in NFL history. NFL player talent has progressed over the year as it rightly should with all the advances in health, fitness, and knowledge. Along with that, coaching creativity and the need to innovate more than ever has propelled the game to new levels. The NFL has created a product that dominates TV ratings and this weekend we will be locked in on the NFL as it should be the best football that we have ever seen.  There is immense talent on each of the teams left standing in the playoff race and it starts at the quarterback position. Brady, Rodgers, Mahomes, Allen, and Stafford all seem to be playing at or close to the best football of their careers. Burrow, Tannehill, and Jimmy G are not on the elite level quite yet, but are also playing better than they have ever before. Pairing these QBs with the elite weapons that each team has is a good formula for lots of points on Saturday and Sunday. The best talent ever leads to the best teams ever. There can be a legitimate case that any of the eight teams left could win the Super Bowl. Unlike other sports (NBA and MLB) the NFL’s structure has really fostered some of the best competition both in the regular season and playoffs. There are no off weeks for NFL teams, no rest days for superstars, and no meaningless games in the middle of the season. This competitive fight for seeding all year leads to massive matchups for the quarterfinals of the NFL bracket. Every team left deserves to be here, and the spreads for this weekend show that. Each game is projected to be within one possession, so buckle up for the best football ever.  Speaking of the plethora of talented QB’s in this Divisional round, here is a prop bet we are looking at this weekend… Under 245.5 San Francisco - Jimmy Garoppolo passing yards -115 The 49ers average 244.2 passing yards per game on the season and their game plan here is to run the football. San Francisco is 5th in the league in rushing attempts per game at 29.8 and the Packers rush D gives up 4.7-yards per carry which ranks 31st in the NFL. Last week the 49ers ran it 38 times against the Cowboys and passed for 170-total yards. In the frigid conditions in Green Bay, with a bad thumb and shoulder we don’t see the Niners offense pinning their hopes on Jimmy G and the passing attack. Not to mention, the Packers strength defensively is versus the pass, ranking 9th in passing yards allowed per game at 219.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NCAAB and NHL Previews and Odds - 01/20/2022

by Big Al Staff

Thursday, Jan 20, 2022

The Thursday sports card features NBA, NHL, and NCAAB action.Three games are on the docket in the National Basketball Association. Two games tip-off the card at 7:40 PM ET. New York plays at home against New Orleans as a 2.5-point favorite, with the total set at 211 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). Phoenix visits Dallas in the opening game of a doubleheader on TNT as a 2-point road favorite with an over/under of 213. Golden State hosts Indiana in the nightcap on TNT as an 11-point favorite with a total of 216.The National Hockey League has nine games on its slate. Four games drop the puck at 7:08 PM ET. Boston plays at home against Washington as a -150 money line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. Dallas travels to Buffalo as a -175 money line road favorite with a total of 5.5. Philadelphia is at home against Columbus as a -125 money line favorite with an over/under of 6. Pittsburgh hosts Ottawa as a -280 money line favorite with a total of 6. Nashville hosts Winnipeg at 8:08 PM ET as a -135 money line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. Florida plays at Edmonton at 9:08 PM ET as a -150 money line road favorite with a total of 6.5. Colorado visits Los Angeles on ESPN at 9:38 PM ET as a -190 money line road favorite with an over/under of 6. Two more games conclude the NHL card at 10:08 PM ET. Seattle is at home against San Jose as a -115 money line favorite with a total of 5.5. Vegas hosts Montreal as a -360 money line favorite with an over/under of 6. Twelve games are on national television in college basketball. Providence plays at home against Georgetown on FS1 at 5 PM ET as an 11.5-point favorite with a total of 145. Five more games begin at 7 PM ET. Purdue is at Indiana on FS1 as a 3.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 144. Belmont travels to Morehead State on ESPN News as a 5.5-point road favorite with a total of 141. Western Kentucky plays at Florida Atlantic on the CBS Sports Network as a 1.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 144. North Texas hosts Charlotte on ESPNU as an 11.5-point favorite with a total of 126.5. Memphis is at home against SMU on ESPN2 as a 6-point favorite with an over/under of 152.5. Three NCAAB televised games start at 9 PM ET. Connecticut visits Butler on FS1 as an 8-point road favorite with a total of 127. Cincinnati is at home against Tulsa on ESPNU as an 8-point favorite with an over/under of 133.5. Saint Mary’s plays at home against Santa Clara on the CBS Sports Network as an 8.5-point favorite with a total of 138.5. Three more televised games complete the NCAAB card at 11 PM ET. Arizona travels to Stanford on ESPNU as a 9-point road favorite with an over/under of 151. UCLA is at Utah on FS1 as a 9.5-point road favorite with a total of 144. Gonzaga plays at home against San Francisco on the CBS Sports Network as a 16-point favorite at William Hill with an over/under of 160.5.

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The Curious Case Of The Cavaliers

by AAA Sports

Wednesday, Jan 19, 2022

They say you never go broke betting the chalk in the NBA playoffs, where one superstar player can carry a team to a title and few teams without a star ever get far enough to test that theory.Entering Stage left are your Cleveland Cavaliers, who have been left for dead twice by LeBron James yet somehow have re-tooled and gotten fat enough with talent to raise eyebrows in this most bizarre of seasons. The Cavs are suddenly in the mix in a stacked Eastern Conference.Cleveland’s success has taken both oddsmakers and the betting public by surprise. Nine over .500 straight up at 27-18, the Cavs were a league-best 29-14-2 against the spread heading into Wednesday’s game at Chicago.What in the name of Ben Poquette is going on at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse?The Cavaliers, who are enjoying perhaps their best non-LeBron season since the Mark Price-Brad Daugherty-Larry Nance crew advanced to the conference finals in 1992-93, quietly have built a solid team that plays hard every night, doesn’t generally mail in road games, and should scare the bejesus out of any playoff opponent.Eyebrows were raised on opening night when the Cavs started a double-big lineup of Jarrett Allen and rookie Evan Mobley. Double-bigs don’t usually work in an NBA which places a high premium on switchability and forwards being able to extend defensively past the 3-point line, and the 6-foot-11 Mobley didn’t quite fit that bill. But Mobley right from the get-go (17 points, 3 blocks and 5 assists on opening night) put that thought to rest, and now he’s a heavy favorite (-150) to win the Rookie of the Year Award.The Cavaliers were able to kick things into gear early on, with 10 covers in 11 games in an October-November span that kept them near the top of the East. With skittish oddsmakers still not convinced that the Cavs were for real, bettors were able to climb on a runaway train with 14 straight covers. They’ve come back to Earth a bit since then, but it was one hell of a run for the true believers along Lake Erie.There were plenty of doubters heading into this season. No one knew if the Cavs would be able to replace the scoring provided by PG Collin Sexton, but the Cavs have more than covered up a so-so (20th in the league) offense with the league’s second-best (102 ppg allowed) defense powered by Mobley and Allen.With Sexton out of the season with a knee injury suffered in early November, the backcourt focus has been on emerging star Darius Garland, who may not be a true PG but has emerged as the team’s best ball-handler while still scoring 20 a game. Garland dropped 22 and 12 on Kyrie Irving in Cleveland’s coming-out-party victory over Brooklyn earlier this week.And don’t forget about Kevin Love, whose contract the Cavs have been dreaming about dumping ever since James high-tailed it to the Lakers a few seasons back. Love remains part of the furniture in Cleveland, seems to have moved past his bizarre behavior of last year and actually is in the 6th Man Award conversation. For the first time in a long time the Cavaliers actually need Love, and he seems to want to stick around to see how far this season goes.Exactly how deep into the spring the Cavs will go is anyone’s guess. Cleveland’s +5.1 ppg mark is the best in the East, and if that continues and the Cavs aren’t ravaged by injuries, they’ll have a decent shot at home advantage in the first round of the playoffs. As far as winning a title, the oddsmakers haven’t budged much. They still like six other teams (including struggling Atlanta and Boston) better, and the Cavs are a distant +8000 to win it all.The team, meanwhile, continues to put one foot in front of the other. The pre-All Star Game schedule includes nine games against opponents with sub.-500 records – a chance to solidify its position among the elite in the East and perhaps for bettors to fatten their bankrolls before re-evaluating during the stretch run of one of the most enjoyable seasons in franchise history.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NCAAB, NBA and NHL Previews and Odds - 01/19/2022

by Big Al Staff

Wednesday, Jan 19, 2022

The Wednesday sports card features NBA, NHL, and CBB action.Eleven games are on the docket in the National Basketball Association. Three games tip-off the card at 7:10 PM ET. Charlotte hosts Detroit as a 9.5-point favorite (all odds from DraftKings). Philadelphia visits Orlando as a -7.5 point road favorite. Washington is at home against Houston as a 6.5-point favorite. Three more games begin at 7:40 PM ET. Boston plays at home against San Antonio as an 8.5-point favorite. Brooklyn travels to Indiana as a 6.5-point road favorite. Golden State is at Dallas as in the opening game of an ESPN doubleheader at 7:40 PM ET. The Warriors won their fifth game in their last six with a 115-108 victory against Miami as a 10.5-point favorite on Monday. They improved their record to 29-7. The Mavericks won their fourth game in their last five with their 103-89 victory against Denver as a 3-point favorite on Monday. Golden State is a 5-point road favorite.Two more NBA games start at 8:10 PM ET. Milwaukee plays at home against Toronto as a 9-point favorite. Minnesota hosts Oklahoma City as an 8-point favorite. Three games conclude the card at 10:10 PM ET. Portland is at home against Miami as a 1-point favorite. Atlanta visits Sacramento in a pick ‘em contest. Utah travels to Denver at 10:10 PM ET in the second game of the doubleheader on ESPN. The Jazz won their seventh game in their last eight with their 115-104 win at New Orleans as a 10-point favorite on Monday. The Nuggets had their three-game winning streak end with their 103-89 loss at Dallas on Monday. The National Hockey League has two games on its slate. Toronto plays at home against Edmonton at 7:08 as a -210 money line favorite with the total set at 6.5. Pittsburgh hosts St. Louis at 7:38 PM ET as a -130 money line favorite with an over/under of 6. The New York Islanders/Vancouver game got postponed due to a COVID outbreak.Nine games are on national television in college basketball. St. John’s is at home on FS1 at 6:30 PM ET as a 5-point favorite with a total of 152.5. Four games tip-off at 7 PM ET. Florida plays at home against Alabama on ESPN2 as a 1.5-point favorite with an over/under of 149. Louisville is at home against Pittsburgh on ESPNU as a 12.5-point favorite with a total of 127.5. Dayton hosts VCU on the CBS Sports Network as a 2-point favorite with an over/under of 125. UNC-Greensboro is at home against Furman on ESPN News as a 3.5-point favorite with a total of 128.5. Villanova plays at home against Creighton on FS1 at 8:30 PM ET as a 10.5-point favorite with a total of 133. Three more games begin at 9 PM ET. Iowa State hosts Texas Tech on ESPNU as a 2.5-point favorite with an over/under of 127. North Carolina is at Notre Dame on ESPN2 as a 2.5-point road favorite with a total of 147. Missouri State visits Bradley on the CBS Sports Network as a 1-point road favorite with an over/under of 138.

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NFL Super Bowl LVI Futures Update 

by Oskeim Sports

Tuesday, Jan 18, 2022

   With the Rams' victory over the Cardinals on Monday night, the NFL’s Divisional Round of the playoffs is all set. Six teams have been eliminated and eight remain to battle for the Super Bowl LVI title. One team remains the overall favorite on the betting board. Is there a team in the field that could sneak in and pull off the upset? Here’s an update of the Super Bowl LVI futures market.   Packers Remain Favorite Green Bay opened the season at +900 to win this season’s Super Bowl. They were the favorite entering the playoffs at +350 and remain atop the list heading into the divisional round. QB Aaron Rodgers is having another MVP-worthy season guiding Green Bay to six wins in their final eight games.  The Packers will have the No. 1 seed and home-field advantage all the way to the NFC championship game. Home field advantage matters as at least one top seed has made it all the way to the Super Bowl in seven of the past eight seasons.    Top Contenders The Buffalo Bills are on the board at +500 and for good reason. Buffalo completely manhandled the New England Patriots in their wild-card game last week. The Bills scored touchdowns on their first seven drives of the game. That was a first in NFL playoff history.  The Bills' defense contained the Patriots and rookie QB Mac Jones and didn’t allow a touchdown until the second half with Buffalo in command. The Bills defense is the best in the NFL and QB Josh Allen threw five touchdowns in the 47-17 win over the Patriots.  Buffalo will have its hands full with Kansas City in this week’s divisional playoff game. The two teams met last year in the AFC championship. They also played earlier this season at Arrowhead Stadium, site of this week’s game. Buffalo won 38-20 back when the Chiefs were struggling.  Kansas City turned its season around and won 10 of its last 11 games. Since Week 8, the Chiefs' defense has been one of the best in the league. Patrick Mahomes threw five touchdown passes in roughly 12 minutes in the Chiefs win over Pittsburgh in last week’s wild-card game. That’s why the Chiefs are listed at +400 ahead of Buffalo.    The Surprise With Green Bay, Kansas City, Buffalo, and defending Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay (+500) all at the top of the board, one team is getting overlooked. The Tennessee Titans are the No. 1 seed in the AFC. They are generating absolutely zero buzz, but they should be.  The Titans are listed at +900 behind even San Francisco (+850) which upset Dallas last week to advance. Tennessee gets All-Pro RB Derrick Henry back in the lineup after he missed a good portion of the regular season with a foot injury. Henry was leading the NFL in rushing – which he did in the previous two seasons – at the time of his injury.  Tennessee was still able to finish fifth in the NFL in rushing averaging 141.1 yards per game. The Titans also had the second-best run defense allowing just 84.6 yards per game on the ground. They finished sixth in scoring defense holding teams to 20.8 points per game.   The Titans went 7-2 at home this year and will have home-field advantage throughout the postseason. Tennessee opened the season given +2500 odds to win this year’s Super Bowl. 

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NFL Divisional Round: Current Line Movement

by Sean Murphy

Tuesday, Jan 18, 2022

The NFL's Divisional Round matchups are set with a mouth-watering four-game slate on tap this weekend. Here's a look at where to anticipate line movement in each contest.Bengals vs. Titans - Saturday 4:30 pm etThe Titans opened as rather standard three-point home favorites but we've seen the majority of books move off that number to -3.5. The total opened at 47 and has held steady at that number. The money is likely to continue to flow in support of the Titans as the Bengals defensive injury picture clarifies over the course of the week. Cincinnati lost Trey Hendrickson, Mike Daniels and Larry Ogunjobi to injuries in last Saturday's win over the Raiders. Only Ogunjobi has been ruled out for Saturday's game, so far anyway. I'm not convinced that confirmation of Hendrickson or Daniels' playing status will shift the line here, in fact I'm quite confident saying that it won't. I don't anticipate much more movement in the pointspread or total here barring any unforeseen circumstances over the course of the week.49ers at Packers - Saturday 8:15 pm et This line is on the move, shifting from the opener of Packers -4.5 (at a handful of books) all the way to -6. We'll likely see the number bounce between -5.5 and -6 all week long leading up to kickoff. The moneyline might be more interesting to watch. The Niners opened as a +200 underdog at most books with that number climbing to +216 to +218 before dropping back down to +210 as of Tuesday morning. If you like the Niners straight-up I believe you might want to lock in sooner rather than later as I would anticipate some underdog money flowing in on the moneyline leading up to Saturday's kickoff. Keep in mind, the Niners have been a somewhat popular Super Bowl sleeper pick ever since they rallied from a 17-0 deficit to defeat the Rams and clinch their playoff spot in Week 18. The total has held firm at 47.5 and I'm anticipating it bumping up to 48 before long as bettors look to support these two explosive offenses. Rams vs. Buccaneers - Sunday 3 pm etThe Bucs opened as low as -1.5 favorites but have since shifted all the way to -3 at the majority of books. There are injury concerns on the Bucs offensive line with Tristan Wirfs and Ryan Jensen questionable to play on Sunday. If you like the Rams I would suggest grabbing the +3 now as I anticipate this spread settling at -2.5 by the end of the week. The total has been on the move as well, going from the opener of 47.5 up as high as 48.5 at some books. Don't count on that number going much higher as we hear all week about the ferocious Rams pass rush potentially eating up the Bucs banged-up offensive line, not to mention all of the key contributors Tampa is missing at the skill positions. Expect the total to settle around 48 points.Bills vs. Chiefs - Sunday 6:30 pm etThe betting marketplace seems to be treating this game as the definition of a toss-up with the Chiefs bouncing around at -2/-2.5. The Bills will undoubtedly be a popular moneyline bet on Sunday as bettors look to get a plus-money return rather than grab less than a field goal on the pointspread. We've seen Buffalo go from around +120 down to +115 on the moneyline so far. No surprise if that number settles closer to +110. This game features the highest posted total of the playoffs to date, currently sitting at 55 points, up from the opener. Given the way the last two matchups between these two AFC rivals have played out with the winner easily eclipsing the 30-point mark, I wouldn't be shocked if this total climbs as high as 56.5 points before likely settling back at 55.5. If you like the 'over', you probably won't want to wait until Sunday to lock in your wager, when more 'over' money will undoubtedly roll in. 

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, EPL and NCAAB Previews and Odds - 01/18/2022

by Big Al Staff

Tuesday, Jan 18, 2022

The Tuesday sports card features NBA, NHL, NCAAB, and EPL action.Two games are on the docket in the National Basketball Association. Minnesota visits New York at 7:40 PM ET as a 1-point road favorite at BetRivers. Golden State plays at home against Detroit at 10:10 PM ET as a 14.5-point favorite at BetRivers.The National Hockey League has eight games on its slate. The puck drops for four games at 7:08 PM ET. Boston hosts Carolina as a -130 money line favorite with the total set at 5.5 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). Ottawa is at home against Buffalo as a -140 money line favorite with an over/under of 6. The New York Islanders visit Philadelphia as a -125 money line road favorite with a total of 5.5. Washington plays at home against Winnipeg as a -135 money line favorite with an over/under of 6. Nashville is at home against Vancouver at 8:08 PM ET as a -180 money line favorite with a total of 5.5. Dallas hosts Montreal as a -265 money line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. Florida travels to Calgary at 9:08 PM ET as a -125 money line road favorite with a total of 6.5. Tampa Bay plays at Los Angeles at 10:38 PM ET as a -170 money line road favorite with an over/under of 5.5. Three games got postponed because of COVID: Detroit/Philadelphia; Columbus/New York Islanders; Chicago/Edmonton.Ten games are on national television in college basketball. Baylor is at West Virginia on ESPN2 at 5 PM ET. Five games begin at 7 PM ET. Kansas travels to Oklahoma on ESPN as a 3.5-point road favorite with a total of 144. Connecticut plays at home against Butler on FS1 as a 13-point favorite with an over/under of 126.5. VCU hosts Davidson on the CBS Sports Network as a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 131.5. Mississippi is at home against Missouri on ESPNU as a 9.5-point favorite with an over/under of 133.5. Michigan plays at home against Maryland on ESPN2 as a 6-point favorite with a total of 137.Three more NCAAB games start at 9 PM ET. Duke travels to Florida State on ESPN as a 4.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 145. Texas Tech plays at home against Iowa State on ESPNU as an 8-point favorite with a total of 126.5. Boise State is at home against the Air Force on the CBS Sports Network as an 18-point favorite with an over/under of 120. Fresno State hosts Utah State on the CBS Sports Network at 11 PM ET as a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 131.5. Matchweek 22 in the English Premier League continues with Chelsea visiting Brighton and Hove Albion on the USA Network at 3 PM ET. The Blues had their three-game winning streak across all competitions in a 1-0 loss at Manchester City on Saturday in the English Premier League. The Seagulls had won their last two matches across all competitions before their 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace on Friday in the EPL. Chelsea is a -0.5 goal line road favorite with a total of 2.5. The Watford/Burnley match got postponed because of COVID.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NFL, NCAAB, and NHL Previews and Odds - 01/17/2022

by Big Al Staff

Monday, Jan 17, 2022

The Monday Martin Luther King holiday sports card features NFL, NBA, NHL, and NCAAB action.The NFL Super Wild Card Weekend concludes with the Los Angeles Rams hosting the Arizona Cardinals on ABC, ESPN, and ESPN2 at 8:15 PM ET. The Rams are a 3.5-point favorite, with the total set at 49.Twelve games are on the docket in the National Basketball Association. Boston plays at home against New Orleans at 12:40 PM ET as a 5.5-point favorite with an over/under of 216.5. New York is at home against Charlotte at 1:10 PM ET as a 1.5-point favorite with a total of 217. Philadelphia visits Washington at 2:10 PM ET as a 2.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 214. Cleveland hosts Brooklyn at 3:10 PM ET as a 2.5-point favorite with an over/under of 220. Two NBA tip-off at 3:40 PM ET. Memphis plays at home against Chicago in the opening game of a doubleheader on TNT as a 6-point favorite with a total of 224.5. The Los Angeles Clippers are at home against Indiana as a 1-point favorite with an over/under of 210. Milwaukee travels to Atlanta for the second game on TNT at 6:10 PM ET as a 3.5-point road favorite with a total of 231. Portland is at Orlando at 7:10 PM ET as a 1-point road favorite with an over/under of 215. Miami hosts Toronto at 7:40 PM ET as a 3.5-point favorite with a total of 209. Two more NBA games begin at 8:40 PM ET. Dallas is at home against Oklahoma City as a 10-point favorite with an over/under of 207.5. Phoenix visits San Antonio as a 4.5-point road favorite with a total of 224.5. Utah plays at Los Angeles against the Lakers at 10:40 PM ET as a 4-point road favorite with an over/under of 231.5. The National Hockey League has nine games on its slate. Detroit travels to Buffalo at 1:08 PM ET as a -130 money line road favorite with a total of 5.5. Colorado is home against Minnesota at 3:08 PM ET as a -215 money line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. Two more NHL games drop the puck at 4:08 PM ET. Montreal plays at Arizona, with both teams priced at -110 and a total of 5.5. Los Angeles visits San Jose as a -115 money line road favorite with an over/under of 5.5. Chicago is at Seattle at 5:08 PM ET with both teams priced at -110 and a total of 5.5. The New York Islanders host Philadelphia at 7:38 PM ET as a -175 money line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. St. Louis is at home against Nashville at 8:08 PM ET as a -130 money line favorite with a total of 5.5. Vegas plays at home against Pittsburgh at 10:08 PM ET as a -115 money line favorite with an over/under of 6. The New Jersey/Toronto game got postponed because of a COVID outbreak. Six games are on national television in college basketball. Illinois hosts Purdue on Fox at noon ET as a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 149. George Mason visits George Washington on the CBS Sports Network at 2 PM ET as a 6-point road favorite with an over/under of 134.5. Notre Dame plays at Howard on Fox at 2:30 PM ET. Saint Joseph’s is at home against LaSalle on the CBS Sports Network at 4 PM ET as a 7-point favorite with a total of 146. Northeastern plays at home against Delaware on the CBS Sports Network at 7 PM ET as a 1-point favorite with an over/under of 140. UNLV travels to San Jose State on the CBS Sports Network at 9 PM ET as a 6.5-point road favorite with a total of 141. 

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