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2021 NFL: AFC East Division Preview

by Sean Murphy

Tuesday, Aug 24, 2021

Is the winner of the AFC East already a foregone conclusion? Most certainly feel that way with the Buffalo Bills installed as significant favorites. Here's a quick look at what to expect from this top-heavy division in 2021.Odds to win (courtesy BetOnline)Buffalo Bills -180New England Patriots +280Miami Dolphins +360New York Jets +2410Buffalo BillsJosh Allen is back to lead one of the AFC's top contenders this season and there's little reason to expect much of a drop-off in production on either side of the football. The Bills are obviously loaded with talent but if there's a weakness it's in the backfield, where they've done little to improve a ground game that finished in the bottom-half of the league in rush yards in 2020 and features the likes of Devin Singletary, Zack Moss and Matt Breida. Buffalo does face a tough schedule out of the gate with three of its first five games coming against playoff teams from a year ago. Key matchups include a home date against the Steelers in Week 1 and a trip to Tampa to face Tom Brady and the Buccaneers on December 12th. The Bills will be featured in four primetime matchups this season with the possibility of more to be added as a result of TV schedule flexes. New England PatriotsCam Newton has been forced into Covid protocols at the time of writing, perhaps giving rookie Mac Jones a puncher's chance at stealing the starting job in Week 1. Jones has impressed in preseason play, as has the Patriots defense, which should be improved heading into 2021. If New England can get more consistency out of the quarterback position there's reason to believe it can give the Bills a challenge atop the AFC East. That's a big 'if' of course, especially with a subpar supporting cast at the skill positions on offense. Still, it's tough to count out a Bill Bellichick-coached team - especially coming off a down year. Miami DolphinsIt's Tua-Time in Miami as the second-year man will have the starting quarterback job all to himself with veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick out of the picture. The additions of wide receivers Will Fuller and Jaylen Waddle should pay immediate dividends for the Fins offense which was relatively punchless a year ago. Of course, injuries are always a concern when it comes to Fuller but all indications are that he will at least be healthy to start the season. Miami will face the consensus eighth-easiest strength of schedule. It won't take long for the Fins to see where they stand in the AFC East as they open the season with a trip to New England followed by a home game against Buffalo. New York JetsZach Wilson has arguably been the league's most impressive rookie quarterback during the preseason. He's likely to encounter plenty of growing pains once the curtain drops on the regular season, however, as he operates behind what is projected to be one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL and makes do with a receiving corps that lists Corey Davis atop the depth chart. They do have an opportunity to get off to a positive start with three straight games against non-playoff teams from a year ago to open the season. New York will venture across the pond to London for a date with the Falcons on October 10th.

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MLB Baseball: Cincinnati Reds vs Milwaukee Brewers Prediction, Odds and Preview - 08/24/2021

by Al McMordie

Monday, Aug 23, 2021

MLB Baseball:  Cincinnati Reds vs Milwaukee Brewers Prediction, Odds and Preview - 08/24/2021 Game Time:  8:10 pm ET, Tuesday, August 24, 2021Venue:  American Family Field, Milwaukee, WIWhere to Watch:  Bally Sports Wisconsin; Bally Sports Ohio Opening MLB Odds at USA Sportsbooks DraftKings:  Moneyline odds:  Brewers -175, Reds +155; Over/Under:  9 runsBetMGM:  Moneyline odds:  Brewers -170, Reds +150; Over/Under:  9 runsPointsBet:  Moneyline odds:  Brewers -175, Reds +155; Over/Under:  9 runs Season Record Brewers:  76-49, 1st NL CentralReds:  69-57, 2nd NL CentralWill Rogers is 8-3 his last 11 releases, and is featuring his College Football Game of the Month in Saturday NCAA action.  It's available right now at the Shop Picks page, where you can find all of the Best Bets from our champion sports handicappers. Cincinnati Reds vs Milwaukee Brewers Preview and Analysis Recent FormBrewers:  7-3 last 10Reds:  7-3 last 10With just six weeks left in the Major League Baseball regular season, there's not much time left for Cincinnati to make up its 7.5-game deficit to the first-place Milwaukee Brewers.  So, this 3-game series is critical for the Reds' hope of winning the National League Central division.  Both of these division rivals enter Tuesday's game on win streaks.  Milwaukee won the last two games of its series vs. Washington, and has won each of its last four series overall (10-3 last 13 games).  Meanwhile, the Reds just completed a 4-game sweep of the cellar-dwelling Miami Marlins, with a 3-1 victory on Sunday.  For the Brewers, former NL MVP Christian Yelich is starting to finally come alive.  He led Milwaukee to a 9-6 comeback win on Saturday, as he launched two home runs, including a grand slam in the bottom of the eighth inning.  Then, on Sunday, he went 2-for-5 with an RBI to raise his batting average to .247.  The Reds' Tyler Naquin continued his hot hitting on Sunday with two solo homers in Cincy's 3-1 win, and Naquin's hit streak has reached 12 games.  But more importantly, with San Diego's 7-4 loss on Sunday to Philadelphia, the Reds are now 1 game up on the Padres for the second NL wild card.  In this series opener, the Brewers will hand the ball to RHP Corbin Burnes (a leading Cy Young Award candidate), while the Reds will start lefty Tyler Mahle.  Burnes last saw game action a full week ago, when he took a no-hitter into the 6th inning against the St. Louis Cardinals last Tuesday.  Milwaukee won that game, 2-0, and Burnes allowed just 2 hits and 2 walks in 6 innings, and raised his record to 8-4, while lowering his ERA to 2.13.   In Mahle's last start -- a 7-1 home loss to the Chicago Cubs last Wednesday -- the Reds mustered just six hits, while Mahle surrendered five runs and eight hits in five innings.  Still, Mahle has had a nice season, with a 10-4 record, and a 3.78 ERA, in 25 starts.One of the big keys to this matchup will be the fact that Burnes has had six days off between starts.  And Burnes' teams are 13-6 in his career (+5 games on the moneyline) when he's worked with an extra day or two of rest.  Additionally, in his last start vs. Cincinnati -- on July 18 at Great American Ball Park -- Burnes threw 8 1/3 scoreless innings in an 8-0 blanking of the Reds.  He had 12 strikeouts while allowing just 5 hits and 1 walk, but came up two outs short in his bid for his first complete game (but the Brewers’ bullpen finished off the job).  Offensive Analysis The Cincinnati Reds have a strong offense, and rank 2nd in the National League (and 4th in Major League Baseball) in runs scored, with 637.  They also rank 4th in the Majors in both home runs (176) and RBI (613), and 5th in both batting avg. (.252) and slugging pct. (.435).  In contrast, Milwaukee’s offensive lineup is middle-of-the pack, as it is 11th in the Majors in both runs scored (584) and home runs (156), but is near the bottom (#26) in batting average, as it's hitting just .234.  And its roster ranks 18th in slugging pct. (.401). Defensive Analysis The Brewers' strength is its pitching rotation, as it is #3 in MLB with a 3.37 ERA, #2 in batting avg. against (.217), and #5 in WHIP (1.19).  Milwaukee's also allowed just 120 homers this season, which is tied for 2nd in baseball.  Cincinnati's pitching staff ranks 18th in ERA (4.40), 16th in batting avg. against (.242), and 22nd in WHIP (1.37).  It also has given up 160 home runs, which ranks 22nd in MLB. Reds vs Brewers Prediction With Milwaukee a dominant 274-145 its last 419 as a home favorite of -150 (or more), we'll take the Brewers behind Burnes on Tuesday.  Milwaukee 6 Cincinnati 2. Don't miss our champion handicappers' Free MLB Picks and Premium Selections every day here at Bigal.com.  Just click on Shop Picks for our Best Bets, or click on Shop Subscriptions to join for a week or a month.  And if you enjoyed this Brewers/Reds preview, be sure to bookmark Bigal.com for our daily Game Previews and Predictions. MLB Betting Trends Milwaukee Brewers are 48-26 (+12.1 games on the moneyline) off a winMilwaukee Brewers are 274-145 (+24.2 games on the moneyline) as a home favorite of -150 (or more)Cincinnati Reds are 53-44 (+18.1 games on the moneyline) vs. NL starters with a WHIP of 1.25 (or better)Cincinnati Reds are 20-15 (+11.9 games on the moneyline) on the road vs. winning teams Key Injuries Milwaukee Brewers:  Tyrone Taylor (CF), 10-day IL (oblique); Freddy Peralta (P), 10-day IL (shoulder)Cincinnati Reds:  Jesse Winker (LF), 10-day IL (ribs)Players to Watch Milwaukee Brewers:  Christian Yelich broke out of a power slump when he homered twice on Saturday in Milwaukee's 9-6 win over Washington.  It was the first time Yelich circled the bases in 69 plate appearances, and it was also his first multi-homer game since August 17, 2019.  The former NL MVP had 6 RBI, and added a stolen base in his best offensive game of the season.  He followed up Saturday's breakthrough performance with a 2-for-5 game on Sunday, so he is definitely Milwaukee's player to watch.Cincinnati Reds:  Vladimir Gutierrez continued his torrid pitching run with a 7-inning, 1-run outing vs. Miami, on Sunday.  He struck out 8 Marlins, and has allowed just 8 earned runs over his last six games, covering 38 2/3 IP (1.86 ERA).  He's struck out 36, and walked just 10 in this span.Notable Quotes Cincinnati Reds catcher, Tyler Stephenson:  "If we can go up there and sweep them, it's going to make things real interesting."Milwaukee Brewers pitcher, Adrian Houser on Yelich:  "It's a really good sight to see.  Hopefully, it keeps trending up and we get some 2018, 2019 Yellie here down the stretch." Starting Lineups Milwaukee BrewersK. Wong, 2BW. Adames, SSC. Yelich, LFA. Garcia, RFE. Escobar, 1BL. Urias, 3BL. Cain, CFM. Pina, CC. Burnes, PCincinnati RedsT. Naquin, LFT. Stephenson, CN. Castellanos, RFJ. Votto, 1BK. Farmer, SSM. Moustakas, 3BJ. Barrero, 2BS. Akiyama, CFT. Mahle, P Statistical Leaders Milwaukee BrewersBatting Average:  Willy Adames (.293)Hits:  Avisail Garcia (105)Home Runs:  Avisail Garcia (24)RBI:  Avisail Garcia (73)Stolen Bases:  Kolten Wong (9)Wins:  Brent Suter (12)Saves:  Josh Hader (26)ERA:  Corbin Burnes (2.13)Cincinnati RedsBatting Average:  Nick Castellanos (.319)Hits:  Jesse Winker (129)Home Runs:  Joey Votto (28)RBI:  Joey Votto (81)Stolen Bases:  Jonathan India (8)Wins:  Tyler Mahle (10)Saves:  Heath Hembree (8)ERA:  Wade Miley (2.88)Managers:Milwaukee Brewers:  Craig Counsell (7th season)Cincinnati Reds:  David Bell (3rd season) Weather ForecastMostly cloudy, warm and humid with a chance of rain and thunderstorms.  Wind SSE 5 mph, with gusts up to 10 mph.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NFL, MLB and EPL Previews and Odds - 08/23/2021

by Big Al Staff

Monday, Aug 23, 2021

The Monday sports card features action in the NFL preseason, MLB, and the EPL. The second week of the NFL preseason concludes with the New Orleans Saints hosting the Jacksonville Jaguars on ESPN at 8 PM ET. The Saints come off a 17-14 loss at Baltimore as a 2.5-point underdog in their first preseason game on August 14th. Jacksonville got upset at home against Cleveland, 23-13, as a 1.5-point favorite last Saturday. New Orleans is a 4-point favorite, with the total set at 39.5 (all odds from DraftKings). Seven games are on the MLB slate. Boston plays at home against Texas at 1:10 PM ET to make up for their rainout on Sunday. Nathan Eovaldi pitches for the Red Sox against Kolby Allard of the Rangers. Boston is a -350 money line favorite with an over/under of 10. Pittsburgh plays at home against Arizona at 7:05 PM ET. The Pirates ended their two-game winning streak with a 3-0 loss at St. Louis on Sunday. The Diamondbacks had lost two in a row before their 8-4 victory at Colorado yesterday. Pittsburgh pitches Will Crowe against Arizona’s Humberto Mejia. The Pirates are a -115 money line favorite with a total of 8.5. The Chicago White Sox plays at Toronto at 7:07 PM ET. The White Sox have lost three of four after a 9-0 loss at Tampa Bay yesterday. The Blue Jays have lost four of five after a 5-3 loss in 11 innings against Detroit on Sunday. Lance Lynn pitches for Chicago against Alek Manoah for Toronto. The White Sox are a -115 money line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5. Atlanta is at home against the New York Yankees at 7:20 PM ET. The Braves have won nine in a row with their 3-1 win at Baltimore yesterday. The Yankees have won nine in a row before their game with the Minnesota Twins was postponed on Sunday. Atlanta pitches Huascar Ynoa against New York’s Jordan Montgomery. The Braves are a -130 money line favorite with a total of 9. The Chicago Cubs host Colorado at 8:05 PM ET. The Cubs have lost three in a row and 15 of their last 16 after a 9-1 loss to Kansas City yesterday. The Rockies had won six in a row before their loss to the Diamondbacks yesterday. Kyle Hendricks pitches for Chicago against Antonio Senzatela of the Rockies. The Cubs are a -130 money line favorite. Houston is at home against Kansas City at 8:10 PM ET. The Astros have lost five of their last eight games after a 6-3 loss to Seattle yesterday. The Royals have six of seven after their win on the road against the Cubs yesterday. Houston pitches Zack Greinke against Kansas City’s Daniel Lynch. The Astros are a -235 money line favorite with an over/under of 9. Oakland plays at home against Seattle at 9:40 PM ET. The A’s have lost six of their last eight after a 2-1 loss to San Francisco yesterday. The Mariners have won four of six with their win on the road against the Mariners on Sunday. Seattle pitches Paul Blackburn against the Mariners' Marco Gonzales. The Mariners are a -125 money line favorite with a total of 8.5.The second week of the English Premier League concludes with Leicester City visiting West Ham United on the NBC Sports Network at 3 PM ET. The Foxes defeated Wolverhampton, 1-0, last Saturday. The Hammers won on the road at Newcastle United, 4-2, on Sunday. This game is a pick ‘em with an over/under of 2.75. 

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Big Al's Daily Angle: MLB, WNBA, EPL and NFL Previews and Odds - 08/22/2021

by Big Al Staff

Sunday, Aug 22, 2021

The Sunday sports card features action in the NFL preseason, MLB, WNBA, and the EPL. The second week of the NFL preseason continues with two games on the NFL Network. The Cleveland Browns host the New York Giants at 1 PM ET. The Browns upset Jacksonville on the road, 23-13, as a 1.5-point underdog last Saturday. The Giants lost in the Meadowlands to the New York Jets, 12-7, as a 2-point underdog last Saturday. Cleveland is a 4.5-point favorite with the total set at 35 (all odds from DraftKings). The San Francisco 49ers visit the Los Angeles Chargers at 7:30 PM ET. The 49ers were upset at home against Kansas City as a 2.5-point favorite last Saturday. The Chargers beat the Los Angeles Rams, 13-6, at SoFi Stadium as a 3.5-point favorite last Saturday. San Francisco is a 5.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 34. Fourteen games are on the MLB docket. The final game of the Twins/Yankees series has already been postponed because of Hurricane Henri. The card begins at 1:05 PM ET with Atlanta playing at Baltimore as a -155 money line road favorite with a total of 10. Toronto plays at home against Detroit at 1:07 PM ET as a -235 money line favorite with an over/under of 10. Three games begin at 1:10 PM ET. Boston hosts Texas as a -305 money line favorite with a total of 9.5. Tampa Bay plays at home against the Chicago White Sox on TBS as a -125 money line favorite with an over/under of 9. Cincinnati is at home against Miami as a -140 money line favorite with a total of 9. Two games start at 2:10 PM ET. Houston plays at home against Seattle as a -180 money line favorite with an over/under of 9. Milwaukee hosts Washington as a -220 money line favorite with a total of 9. St. Louis is at home against Pittsburgh at 2:15 PM ET as a -210 money line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. Kansas City plays in Chicago against the Cubs at 2:20 PM ET with both teams -110 money line favorites. Colorado plays at home at 3:10 PM ET as a -180 money line favorite with an over/under of 11.5. San Diego hosts Philadelphia at 3:40 PM ET as a -180 money line favorite with a total of 11.5. San Francisco is at Oakland at 4:07 PM ET, with both teams priced as a -110 money line favorite with the total at 8. The Los Angeles Dodgers are at home against the New York Mets as a -200 money line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. Cleveland plays at home against the Los Angeles Angeles on ESPN and ESPN2 at 7:10 PM ET. Two games are on the WNBA slate. Los Angeles plays at New York at 2 PM ET. Seattle visits Washington on ESPN at 3 PM ET. Week 2 in the English Premier League continues with three matches. Manchester United plays at Southampton on Peacock at 9 AM ET as a -1 goal line favorite with a total of 2.75. Tottenham travels to Wolverhampton on the NBC Sports Network at 9 AM ET as a -0.25 goal line favorite with an over/under of 2.75. Chelsea visits Arsenal on the NBC Sports Network at 11:30 AM ET.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NFL, CFL, WNBA and EPL Previews and Odds - 08/21/2021

by Big Al Staff

Saturday, Aug 21, 2021

The Saturday sports card features action in the NFL preseason, MLB, CFL, WNBA, and the EPL. The second week of the NFL preseason continues with ten games. Chicago hosts Buffalo on the NFL Network at 1 PM ET. The Bears are a 4.5-point favorite, with the total set at 38 (all odds from DraftKings). The New York Jets visit Green Bay on the NFL Network at 4:25 PM ET. The Jets are 2.5-point road favorites with an over/under of 31. Two games begin at 7 PM ET. Baltimore travels to Carolina as a 3.5-point road favorite with a total of 35.5. Miami plays at home against Atlanta as a 5-point favorite with an over/under of 36. Two games start at 7:30 PM ET. Pittsburgh hosts Detroit on the NFL Network as a 6-point favorite with a total of 36.5. Tampa Bay is at home against Tennessee as a 1-point favorite with an over/under of 35.5. Two games begin at 8 PM ET. Minnesota plays at home against Indianapolis as a 1.5-point favorite with a total of 37. Dallas hosts Houston as a 3.5-point favorite with an over/under of 36.5. Two games conclude the NFL preseason card at 10 PM ET. Denver visits Seattle as a 5-point road favorite with a total of 37.5. Las Vegas travels to Los Angeles to play the Rams on the NFL Network as a 6.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 35.Fifteen games are on the MLB docket. Nine games take place in the afternoon. The New York Yankees are at home against Minnesota on FS1 at 1:05 PM ET. The Yankees are a -225 money line favorite with a total of 9. Tampa Bay hosts the Chicago White Sox at 1:10 PM ET as a -130 money line favorite with an over/under of 9. The Chicago Cubs are at home against Kansas City at 2:20 PM ET as a -115 money line favorite. Toronto is at home against Detroit at 3:07 PM ET as a -265 money line favored with a total of 9.5. Two games begin at 4:05 PM ET. The Los Angeles Dodgers are at home against the New York Mets on FS1 as a -280 money line favorite with an over/under of 9. Milwaukee hosts Washington as a -220 money line favorite with a total of 9. San Francisco is at Oakland at 4:07 PM ET as a -125 money line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5. Two games start at 4:10 PM ET. Cleveland plays at home against the Los Angeles Angels as a -135 money line favorite with a total of 9. Houston is at home against Seattle as a -155 money line favorite with an over/under of 9. Miami plays at Cincinnati at 6:40 PM ET. Atlanta visits Baltimore at 7:05 PM ET as a -210 money line road favorite with a total of 10.5. Boston hosts Texas at 7:10 PM ET as a -335 money line favorite with an over/under of 9.5. St. Louis is at home against Pittsburgh at 7:15 PM ET as a -195 money line favorite with a total of 9. Colorado plays at home against Arizona at 8:10 PM ET as a -160 money line favorite with an over/under of 11.5. San Diego hosts Philadelphia at 8:40 PM ET as a -180 money line favorite with a total of 8. The third week in the Canadian Football League concludes with two games. Winnipeg travels to Toronto on ESPN2 at 4 PM ET. The Blue Bombers are a 3-point road favorite with an over/under of 46. Saskatchewan plays at home on ESPN+ at 7 PM ET. The Roughriders are a 10.5-point favorite with a total of 46.5. Two games are on the WNBA slate. Phoenix visits Atlanta on ESPN2 at noon. Minnesota plays at Chicago at 8 PM ET. The second week of the English Premier League season kicks off with six matches. Liverpool hosts Burnley at 7:30 PM ET on Peacock as a -2 goal line favorite with an over/under of 3. Four games start at 10 AM ET. Aston Villa plays at home against Newcastle United on the NBC Sports Network as a -0.5 goal line favorite with a total of 2.75. Brentford visits Crystal Palace in a pick ‘em match with an over/under of 2.25. Leeds United is at home against Everton as a -0.25 goal line favorite with a total of 2.75. Manchester City hosts Norwich City on the USA Network as a -2.5 goal line favorite with an over/under of 3.5. Brighton and Hove Albion plays at home against Watford on NBC at 12:30 PM ET as a -0.75 goal line favorite with a total of 2.25. 

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Big Al's Daily Angle: MLB, CFL, WNBA and NFL Previews and Odds - 08/20/2021

by Big Al Staff

Friday, Aug 20, 2021

The Friday sports card features action in the NFL preseason, MLB, the CFL, and the WNBA. The second full week of the NFL preseason continues with two games. Kansas City visits Arizona on ESPN at 8 PM ET. The Chiefs upset the 49ers in San Francisco, 19-16, as a 2.5-point underdog last Saturday. The Cardinals beat Dallas, 19-16, as a 1.5-point favorite on Friday. Kansas City is a 3-point road favorite with the total set at 41 (all odds from DraftKings). Washington plays at home against Cincinnati on the NFL Network at 8 PM ET. The Football Team lost at New England, 22-13, as a 2-point underdog last Thursday. Washington is a 5-point favorite with an over/under of 35. Fifteen games are on the MLB slate. Kansas City visits the Chicago Cubs at 2:20 PM ET. The Royals are a -115 money line road favorite. Two games start at 7:05 PM ET. The New York Yankees host Minnesota as a -225 money line favorite with a total of 10.5. Atlanta visits Baltimore as a -250 money line road favorite with an over/under of 10. Toronto plays at home against Detroit at 7:07 PM ET. The Blue Jays are a -260 money line favorite with a total of 9. Four games begin at 7:10 PM ET. Boston is at home against Texas as a -335 money line favorite with an over/under of 9. Cincinnati hosts Miami as a -195 money line favorite with a total of 9. Cleveland plays at home against the Los Angeles Angels as a -120 money line favorite with an over/under of 10. The Chicago White Sox travel to Tampa Bay as a -120 money line road favorite with a total of 9. Two games start at 8:10 PM ET. Houston plays at home against Seattle as a -195 money line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. Milwaukee hosts Washington as a -210 money line favorite with a total of 9.5. St. Louis is at home against Pittsburgh at 8:15 PM ET. The Cardinals are a -195 money line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. Colorado plays at home against Arizona at 8:40 PM ET. The Rockies are a -180 money line favorite with a total of 11.5. San Francisco travels to Oakland at 9:40 PM ET. The Giants are a -120 money line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5. Two games conclude the card at 10:10 PM ET. The Los Angeles Dodgers are at home against the New York Mets as a -255 money line favorite with a total of 8.5. San Diego hosts Philadelphia as a -195 money line favorite with an over/under of 9.Week 3 of the Canadian Football League continues with Montreal playing at Calgary on ESPN+ at 9:30 PM ET. The Alouettes upset Edmonton on the road, 30-13, as a 5-point underdog on Saturday. The Stampeders got beat at home against British Columbia as a 7-point favorite last Thursday. Montreal is a 6-point road favorite with a total of 45. Two games are on the WNBA schedule. Seattle plays at New York at 7 PM ET. Indiana travels to Dallas on the CBS Sports Network at 8 PM ET.

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Premier League 2021 Season Week 1 Recap

by Scott Rickenbach

Thursday, Aug 19, 2021

English Premier League 2021 Season Week 1 Recap Quick Hitters Not a single draw in Week 1 of the season. This was very surprising to me as, out of 10 matches, not a single one ended with a splitting of the spoils. I personally prefer waging on totals and on teams to win rather than betting on the draw. However, for those of you that do like to make that wager you could be in luck this week. I would say the due factor is something to consider as it pertains to seeing some draws in Week 2 of the season! Arsenal’s loss to Brentford in Week 1 was definitely a shocker. Yet, is it not Arsenal that just seems to be one of the hardest clubs in the league to get a handle on recently. They sometimes rise up and play great against top competition and then other times they turn in a disappointing performance against a club they are supposed to beat. Brentford is solid for sure but still they just came up to the Premier League and then Arsenal not only did not win, they did not earn a share of the spoils and, in fact, lost the match by a 2-goal margin and allowed Brentford to deliver the clean sheet as Arsenal was shut out.  Chelsea dominated Crystal Palace 3-0 in Week 1 and one must be careful to evaluate Chelsea only on full season results in the table for last season. The fact is Chelsea was a different club once they made the managerial change and this is going to be a big season for them in my opinion. Quite a few goals scored in Week 1 as there were 34 total in the 10 matches. An average of nearly 3.5 goals per match is well ahead of say a typical 2.5 average. However, the key was some great performances from Manchester United, West Ham, the aforementioned Chelsea, and Liverpool to name a few. When strong clubs are matched up against each other, the goal-scoring can quickly drop depending on the strategies employed by the involved managers. That said, the goal-scoring mentioned above could drop some in Week 2 and take a look at the Manchester City – Tottenham match-up as a good example of what could transpire in bigger matches this week. The Spurs got the 1-0 upset win.  In summary, it is important to pay attention to what happens in Week 1 of a season but equally, if not more, important to not over-react to it. Keep this in mind as we head into Week 2 and beyond and as you are evaluating the clubs and the patterns as the season progresses. 

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NFL, MLB, CFL and WNBA Previews and Odds - 08/19/2021

by Big Al Staff

Thursday, Aug 19, 2021

The Thursday sports card features action in the NFL preseason, MLB, the CFL, and the WNBA. The second full week of the NFL preseason kicks off with New England playing at Philadelphia on the NFL Network at 7:30 PM ET. The Patriots defeated Washington at home by a 22-13 score as a 2-point favorite last Thursday. The Eagles were upset, 24-16, at home against Pittsburgh as a 1-point favorite last Thursday. New England is a -1 point road favorite with an over/under of 38 (all odds from DraftKings).Ten games are on the MLB docket. Six games begin in the afternoon. Two games start the card at 1:10 PM ET. The Los Angeles Angels conclude their three-game series at Detroit. The Angels pitch Jose Quintana against the Tigers' Matt Manning. Los Angeles is a -120 money line road favorite with the total set at 9.5. Tampa Bay plays at home against Baltimore in the final game of their four-game series. Shane McClanahan pitches for the Rays against the Orioles Jorge Lopez. Tampa Bay is a -335 money line favorite with an over/under of 9.Seattle plays at Texas at 2:05 PM ET in Game 3 of their three-game series. The Mariners pitch Chris Flexen against the Rangers Spencer Howard. Seattle is a -170 money line road favorite with a total of 8.5. Two games begin at 2:10 PM ET. The Chicago White Sox host Oakland in the fourth game of their four-game series. Dylan Cease pitches for the White Sox against James Kaprielian of the A’s. Chicago is a -165 money line favorite with an over/under of 9. Houston completes their four-game series at Kansas City. The Astros pitch Luis Garcia against the Royals Mike Minor. Houston is a -190 money line road favorite with a total of 9. Philadelphia is at Arizona at 3:40 PM ET in the final game of their three-game series. Zack Wheeler pitches for the Phillies against Madison Bumgarner of the Diamondbacks. Philadelphia is a -200 money line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The New York Yankees host Minnesota at 7:05 PM ET in the opening game of their four-game series. The Yankees pitch Jameson Taillon against the Twins John Gant. New York is a -275 money line favorite with a total of 10.5. Cincinnati plays at home against Miami at 7:10 PM ET in Game 1 of their four-game series. Luis Castillo pitches for the Reds against Zach Thompson of the Marlins. Cincinnati is a -240 money line favorite with an over/under of 7.5. Milwaukee concludes their three-game series at St. Louis at 7:45 PM ET. The Brewers pitch Brandon Woodruff against the Cardinals Jon Lester. Milwaukee is a -220 money line road favorite with a total of 8. The Los Angeles Dodgers are at home against the New York Mets at 10:10 PM ET in the opener of their four-game series. Walker Buehler pitches for the Dodgers against the Mets Taijuan Walker. Los Angeles is a -240 money line favorite with an over/under of 8.The third week of the Canadian Football League begins at 10 PM ET, with British Columbia hosting Edmonton on ESPN2. The Lions earned their first victory of the season with their 15-9 upset win at Calgary as a 7-point underdog last Thursday. The Elks remain winless after the first two weeks of the season after a 30-13 upset loss to Montreal as a 5-point favorite on Saturday. British Columbia is a 3.5-point favorite with a total of 47.Three games are on the WNBA docket. Minnesota visits Connecticut at 7 PM ET. Washington travels to Phoenix at 10 PM ET. Atlanta plays at Los Angeles at 10:30 PM ET.

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2021-22 NBA: Western Conference Season Win Totals

by Will Rogers

Wednesday, Aug 18, 2021

Looking at the Over / Under totals for this coming (82-game) NBA season and what has to go right for each team to hit the Over number:DALLAS MAVERICKS (48.5) – We know what megastar Luka Doncic brings to the table, but any chance Over bettors have here lies in him getting along with pouting center Kristaps Porzingis. Will Porzingis get enough touches to feel like he’s a real part of the offense, or will Doncic do his thing and force the big guy to search for table scraps?DENVER NUGGETS (46.5) – The number would be higher were it not for the fact that Jamal Murray (ACL) won’t be ready for the start of the season. Can Denver rely on another MVP-type season from Nikola Jokic? A full season of Aaron Gordon will help, and big things are expected from Michael Porter Jr. after his breakout season in 2020-21.GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS (48.5) – Back-to-back severe injuries to Klay Thompson sent the Warriors to the lottery two straight times, and now GS is in no-man’s land – desperate to take advantage of every year they can from Stephen Curry but wanting to play youngsters like James Wiseman. Quite a balancing act. Thompson needs to be Thompson for the Dubs to get near 50 wins and be a factor again in the West.HOUSTON ROCKETS (27.5) – Twenty-eight wins for a team in the infancy stages of a complete rebuild seems a heavy lift, but the Rockets have some talent, they play hard and they have added dynamo rookie Jalen Green to the mix. Green has to figure things out early, and other youngsters have to emerge for Houston to sniff the Play-In tournament.LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS (45.5) – Even when he’s healthy, you never know when Kawhi Leonard is going to, you know, play. Now that he’s hurt, the Clips don’t expect him on the court at all this season. And Paul George just doesn’t have the chops to carry this team on his back. So look for a step backward. Whether that’s a fall-off-the-cliff situation or a low-lottery spot is anyone’s guess.LOS ANGELES LAKERS (53.5) – Lots of veterans, lots of load management, lots of depth. The Lakers add Russell Westbrook and banana boat buddy Carmelo Anthony to the rotation, but it once again all hinges on LeBron James holding off Father Time and Anthony Davis staying relatively healthy. A mid-50s win total seems reachable.MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES (41.5) – Patient through the rebuild, Grizz fans figure that this will be a turn-the-corner season. Ja Morant should get better, and Memphis is crossing its fingers that talented big Jaren Jackson Jr. will be relatively healthy all year. The key players are all young, but new vets Steven Adams and Rajon Rondo will help settle things down when the waters get choppy.MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES (34.5) – Over players might want to take a long look at the Wolves, who recently added Patrick Beverly to make sure the other players don’t fall asleep during games. Anthony Edwards is a star in the making, and Karl-Anthony Towns has not shown himself to be a flight risk (yet, anyway). So there’s hope in the Land of 10,000 Lakes.NEW ORLEANS PELICANS (38.5) – All the franchise’s eggs are in the Zion Williamson basket, and if the Pelicans don’t crush the 38.5 number and get to the playoffs, he may be making trade demands that set back the organization. Again. With Lonzo Ball gone, second-year Kira Lewis should start at PG, though much of the offense will again run through Williamson. Still, this a team is on edge waiting for Zion to decide if he wants to be there long-term.OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER (23.5) – Let’s see. There’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. And not much else. OKC always seem to play everyone tough, but it’s a talent league – and there’s not much here besides a boatload of first-round draft choices. But that’s for later on, and right now the Thunder will be hard-pressed to win three games a month.PHOENIX SUNS (51.5) – The Suns managed to stay relatively healthy while other teams took turns losing key players to injury. Can the good fortune continue? Will the defending conference champions  downsize Chris Paul’s minutes (he turns 37 next May) to keep him fresh for the playoffs? Load management could keep them short of the 52-30 Over players would need to cash.PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS (44.5) – Portland’s business model never seems to change: Get to the playoffs and hope Damian Lillard goes nuts for a month or two, and see what happens. That’s pretty much the plan again, unless management breaks up the Lillard-McCollum backcourt that has started together since 2015. As in New Orleans, there is intense pressure to win.SACRAMENTO KINGS (35.5) – Guard heavy and starving for wings, the Kings could be making a move or two between now and training camp. Buddy Hield is a prime trade candidate. They love newcomer Davion Mitchell, and to see him energizing a defense that last season was one of the worst in NBA history.SAN ANTONIO SPURS (28.5) – Having such a low O/U number seems weird for the Spurs, but they’ve been out of the playoffs for two seasons now, and heading into the season without an obvious All-Star to build around. Maybe Gregg Popovich should have pocketed the Olympic gold and called it quits. This season won’t be easy for him.UTAH JAZZ (51.5) – The Jazz laid it all on the line last season (52-20) but didn’t have another gear for the playoffs. Books see a moderate regression this season, with the same number of wins but over an 82-game slog. Can the Jazz even come close to winning 86 percent of their home games, as they did last season?

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Big Al's Daily Angle: MLB and WNBA Previews and Odds - 08/18/2021

by Big Al Staff

Wednesday, Aug 18, 2021

The Wednesday sports card features action in MLB and the WNBA. Fifteen games are on the MLB docket. Five games begin in the afternoon. Cincinnati hosts the Chicago Cubs at 12:35 PM ET in the final game of their three-game series. The Reds pitch Tyler Mahle against the Cubs Adrian Sampson. Cincinnati is a -310 money line favorite with the total set at 9.5 (all odds from DraftKings). Minnesota plays at home against Cleveland at 1:10 PM ET in the third game of their three-game series. Lewis Thorpe pitches for the Twins against Zach Plesac of the Indians. Minnesota is a -130 money line favorite with an over/under of 9. San Diego is at Colorado at 3:10 PM ET to conclude their three-game series. The Padres pitch the recently acquired Jake Arrieta against the Rockies Austin Gomber. Both teams are -110 money line favorites with a total of 14. San Francisco hosts the New York Mets at 3:45 PM ET in the final game of their three-game series. Anthony DeSclafani pitches for the Giants against the Mets Tylor Megill. San Francisco is a -145 money line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. Toronto concludes their two-game series at Washington at 4:05 PM ET. The Blue Jays pitch Jose Berrios against the Nationals Josiah Gray. Toronto is a -180 money line road favorite with a total of 9. The New York Yankees play at home against Boston on ESPN at 7:05 PM ET in the third game of their three-game series. Andrew Heaney pitches for the Yankees against Nick Pivetta of the Red Sox. New York is a -115 money line favorite with an over/under of 10.5. Three games start at 7:10 PM ET. The Los Angeles Angels play at Detroit at 7:10 PM ET in the second game of their three-game series. The Angels pitch Shohei Ohtani against the Tigers Tarik Skubal. Los Angeles is a -140 money line road favorite with a total of 8.5. Atlanta is at Miami to conclude their three-game series. Charlie Morton pitches for the Braves against Jesus Luzardo of the Marlins. Atlanta is a -200 money line road favorite with an over/under of 7.5. Tampa Bay hosts Baltimore in Game 3 of their four-game series. The Rays pitch Louis Head as an opener against the Orioles Spenser Watkins. Tampa Bay is a -335 money line favorite with a total of 9. Milwaukee is at St. Louis at 7:45 PM ET in the second game of their three-game series. Freddy Peralta pitches for the Brewers against Jack Flaherty of the Cardinals. Milwaukee is a -120 money line road favorite with an over/under of 7. Seattle plays at Texas at 8:05 PM ET in Game 2 of their three-game series. The Mariners pitch Marco Gonzales against the Rangers Mike Foltynewicz. Seattle is a -170 money line road favorite with a total of 9. Two games begin at 8:10 PM ET. The Chicago White Sox are at home against Oakland in the third game of their four-game series. Lance Lynn pitches for the White Sox against Cole Irvin of the A’s. Chicago is a -190 money line favorite with an over/under of 9. Houston plays at Kansas City in the third game of their four-game series. The Astros pitch Zach Greinke against the Royals Brad Singer. Houston is a -170 money line road favorite with a total of 9.5. Philadelphia is at Arizona at 9:40 PM ET in Game 2 of their three-game series. Ranger Suarez pitches for the Phillies against Humber Castellanos of the Diamondbacks. Philadelphia is a -125 money line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Los Angeles Dodgers play at home against Pittsburgh at 10:10 PM ET to finish their three-game series. The Pirates pitch J.T. Brubaker against a starting pitcher yet to be determined for the Dodgers. Los Angeles is a -300 money line favorite with a total of 8.5. One game is on the WNBA slate. Seattle visits New York on the CBS Sports Network at 7 PM ET.  

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National League MVP Odds and Arguments

by Nelly's Sports

Tuesday, Aug 17, 2021

National League MVP Odds and Arguments  The return of Fernando Tatis has caused his MVP odds to jump from around -110 early in August to -300 currently. He is the overwhelming favorite, but the current price shift has greatly increased the plus-money figures on everyone else to create a window of opportunity for those looking for a sizable score. In-and-out of the lineup much of the season, Tatis has a great risk to miss more time down the stretch to leave the door open in this vote, while the Padres now also look like they will be in danger of missing the playoffs. Here are the top candidates in the MVP race including a few that may be worth considering for a long shot wager in case Tatis falls back out of the lineup.  Fernando Tatis, San Diego, -300 Tatis remains the clear favorite in the NL MVP race as the NL home run leader. He has missed 31 games however and while he returned with two home runs last Sunday after sitting for two weeks, his shoulder issue is a lingering concern that could open the door for another candidate in the final seven weeks of the regular season. Tatis isn’t even a qualified hitter right and he is playing for a 3rd place team that may be losing its grip on a playoff position that was assumed most of the season. Those are things that could matter to some of the older block of BBWAA voters who may already begrudge Tatis for the flair he plays with. Priced at around -300 it is his award to lose but there a few candidates that could warrant a look, banking on Tatis missing time and the Padres continuing to slide in the coming weeks.  Bryce Harper, Philadelphia, +475 A past MVP and one of the most recognized players in the game Harper is fourth in the NL in wRC+ thanks to his high walk rate. His rather pedestrian home run and RBI counts will need to grow substantially in September and most importantly his candidacy will hinge entirely on the narrative that he carries the Phillies to the NL East title. While Atlanta leads the division currently and has looked like the much better team overall, the race is close and a rise to the top fueled by Harper is still in the realm of possibility. Unlike the other candidates on this list Harper won’t face a threat of losing votes to his teammates as he has been the clear top performer on the Phillies.  Max Muncy, Los Angeles, +900 Perhaps the best candidate to catch Tatis in home runs is Muncy who has 26 but also has the potential for a big closing run to reach close to 40 home runs as he often has been a streaky performer. Muncy also is a threat to hit conventional benchmarks of 100 runs and/or 100 RBI to bolster his case. His WAR is also currently the highest in the NL among qualified candidates. He doesn’t play a premium defensive position however and he has plenty of competition within his own locker room as emerging as the clear choice among several standouts for the Dodgers will be a challenge.  Trea Turner, Washington/Los Angeles, +1700 The best value on the board might be Turner, who like Muncy will face the challenge of splitting votes with his teammates. Turner also has not hit quite as well since joining the Dodgers as his season line over 96 games in Washington puts him on this list. Turner has been a valuable defender at an important position, and he has a chance to win a batting title while also a possibly a NL stolen base title with Starling Marte now in the AL. A 30/30 performance is not out of the question for Turner but the problem in that argument is that Tatis has a chance to do that as well. It would take quite a finish but hitting leadoff in a highly productive Los Angeles lineup will afford Turner an opportunity to compile great statistics down the stretch.  Freddie Freeman, Atlanta, +1700 The case for Freeman to take a second straight MVP crown does not currently have much traction but a big final month that clinches an NL East title for Atlanta in the absence of the early season MVP frontrunner Ronald Acuna does offer a compelling argument that could resonate with voters. In contrast to Tatis and Harper, Freeman is beloved by the press and his numbers are not too far off what will be the required pace. A subpar defensive performance is hurting his WAR while he also offers little on the basepaths. If he can match the September that he delivered in 2020, hitting .375 with 32 RBI in the final month, it is not an impossible outcome.  Nick Castellanos, Cincinnati, +5000 Joey Votto, Cincinnati, +5000 These Reds stars have matching odds as both continue to push Cincinnati closer to a playoff spot that seemed highly improbable just a few weeks ago. Jesse Winker is not much further down the list as well as Cincinnati has received great production from the lineup. Castellanos is a serious threat to win the NL batting title while Votto is charging in the home run leaderboard. Both have high strikeout counts with not enough walks to support their case, but both are still in the NL’s top seven in wRC+, while top 10 OPS performers, though neither is close enough on the WAR leaderboard for serious candidacy. If one stands head-and-shoulder over the other to carry the Reds past the Padres for the second NL wild card spot there is a chance, but it is not overly realistic as the pricing suggests.  Manny Machado, San Diego, +6000 While much of this article centers on the possibility of the Padres losing Tatis and crashing out of the playoffs, what if they lose Tatis and still finish strong? That scenario would boost Manny Machado’s case and he has rather quietly produced a great season line in the shadow of his teammate. He could reach the 100 run and 100 RBI benchmarks, and a big final month could get him to 30 home runs and close to a .300 batting average. Climbing into the top 10 for WAR and wRC+ would not take a herculean performance down the stretch and Machado has one of the stronger defensive ratings on this list at a valuable position. Winning the comparison case with his teammate will however require Tatis effectively shutting down for the rest of the season.  Juan Soto, Washington, +7000 Given that Washington has faded out of playoff contention Soto’s case will need to overcome a significant hurdle, but he has taken the most walks in all off baseball even in just 107 games and he could hit over .300 with 30 home runs while getting close to 100 runs and RBI for an MVP caliber traditional line. He is certainly one of the best players in baseball even if he is not a serious threat in this discussion barring significant setbacks for most of the other players on this list. Giancarlo Stanton won the 2017 NL MVP and Harper unanimously won the 2015 NL MVP on non-playoff teams as the playoffs may not be as much of a requirement as it is presumed. In 2017 Stanton only received 10 first place votes in a year where six different players received 1st place votes, a scenario that is possible this year.  Brandon Crawford, San Francisco, +7000 15th in the NL in wRC+ and 5th in WAR, Crawford’s case might be better than this pricing represents. The Giants after all have baseball’s best record and Crawford is a good story as a veteran having a career season. He is only two home runs away from a career high and has a chance to reach 100 RBI for the first time in his career. Crawford could also make a charge to the batting title currently only sitting about a dozen points back. His excellent defensive rating at a premium position adds to the intrigue of his candidacy but Crawford has missed 21 games to keep his counting statistics a notch below where they likely need to be. San Francisco has been the surprise story of the season and voters will be looking for someone to reward as he has a chance to garner some votes, though 1st place votes do not currently seem likely.  Justin Turner, Los Angeles, +9000 Turner’s season line could wind up looking somewhat like the lines of his two teammates on this list with a big final month. He hit .394 in September 2020 before the Dodgers went on to win the World Series and for his career, September has been his best hitting month in terms of batting average. Missing significant time in August has bumped his case down on this list but if he surpasses his teammates in the coming weeks as the Dodgers pass up the Giants for the top spot in the NL, the argument would be clear. Turner is a long shot, but the gap in his odds compared to Muncy and Trea Turner should perhaps not be quite so large as he is the face of the team in Clayton Kershaw’s absence. 

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Big Al's Daily Angle: WNBA and MLB Odds and Previews - 08/17/2021

by Big Al Staff

Tuesday, Aug 17, 2021

The Tuesday sports card features action in MLB and the WNBA. Sixteen games are on the MLB docket. Boston plays at New York against the Yankees at 1:05 PM ET in the opening game of their seven-inning doubleheader. The Red Sox pitch Tanner Houck against the Yankees’ Luis Gil. Boston is a -145 money line road favorite with the total set at 7 (all odds from DraftKings).Two games begin at 7:05 PM ET. Toronto travels to Washington for a two-game series. Alek Manoah pitches for the Blue Jays against Erick Fedde of the Nationals. Toronto is a -200 money line road favorite with an over/under of 9.5. The Red Sox play at New York against the Yankees in the second game of their doubleheader. Boston pitches Nathan Eovaldi against the Yankees Jordan Montgomery. Four games begin at 7:10 PM ET. Atlanta continues their three-game series at Miami. Huscuar Ynoa pitches for the Braves against Sandy Alcantara of the Marlins. Atlanta is a -135 money line road favorite with a total of 7.5. Tampa Bay hosts Baltimore in the second game of their four-game series. The Rays pitch Drew Rasmussen against the Orioles John Means. Tampa Bay is a -195 money line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. Detroit plays at home against the Los Angeles Angels in the opening game of their three-game series. Casey Mize pitches for the Tigers against the Angels Dylan Bundy. Detroit is a -125 money line favorite with a total of 9.5. Cincinnati is at home against the Chicago Cubs in Game 2 of their three-game series. The Reds pitch Vladimir Gutierrez against the Cubs Kyle Hendricks. Cincinnati is a -160 money line favorite with an over/under of 9.5. Milwaukee visits St. Louis at 7:45 PM ET in the opener of their three-game series. Corbin Burnes pitches for the Brewers against Adam Wainwright of the Cardinals. Milwaukee is a -160 money line road favorite with a total of 7. Seattle travels to Texas at 8:05 PM ET for Game 1 of their three-series. The Mariners pitch Tyler Anderson against the Rangers Spencer Howard. Seattle is a -160 money line road favorite with an over/under of 9. Three games start at 8:10 PM ET. Oakland plays at Chicago against the White Sox in the second game of their four-game series. Chris Bassitt pitches for the A’s against Reynaldo Lopez of the White Sox. Oakland is a -120 money line road favorite with a total of 8.5. Houston plays at Kansas City in Game 2 of their four-game series. The Astros pitch Framber Valdez against the Royals' Daniel Lynch. Houston is a -200 money line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5. Minnesota is at home against Cleveland in the second game of their three-game series. Bailey Ober pitches for the Twins against Eli Morgan of the Indians. Cleveland is a -145 money line favorite with a total of 9.5.Colorado is at home against San Diego at 8:40 PM ET in the second game of their three-game series. The Rockies pitch German Marquez against a Padres starting pitcher yet to be named. Colorado is a -130 money line favorite with an over/under of 11. Philadelphia visits Arizona at 9:40 PM ET in the opener of their three-game series. Kyle Gibson pitches for the Phillies against a starting pitcher yet to be named for the Diamondbacks. Philadelphia is a -120 money line road favorite with a total of 9. San Francisco is at home against the New York Mets at 9:45 PM ET in the second game of their three-game series. The Giants pitch Logan Webb against the Mets Marcus Stroman. San Francisco is a -155 money line favorite with an over/under of 8. The Los Angeles Dodgers host Pittsburgh at 10:10 PM ET in the second game of their three-game series. David Price pitches for the Dodgers against the Pirates Wil Crowe. Los Angeles is a -320 money line favorite with a total of 9.Five games are on the WNBA slate. Minnesota plays at Connecticut at 7 PM ET. Dallas visits Chicago on the CBS Sports Network at 8 PM ET. Two games tip-off at 10 PM ET. Washington travels to Las Vegas in the second game on the CBS Sports Network. Indiana is at Phoenix. Atlanta plays at Los Angeles at 10:30 PM ET. 

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