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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, and NCAAB Previews and Odds - 11/22/2023

by Big Al Staff

Wednesday, Nov 22, 2023

The Wednesday sports card features NBA, NHL, and NCAAB action.The National Basketball Association has 14 games on its docket. Two NBA games tip off at 7:10 PM ET. The Charlotte Hornets host the Washington Wizards as a 4-point favorite, with the total set at 242 (all odds from DraftKings). The Denver Nuggets travel to Orlando to play the Magic as a 4-point road favorite with an over/under of 217.5.  Four more NBA games start at 7:40 PM ET. The Atlanta Hawks play at home against the Brooklyn Nets as a 4-point favorite with a total of 233.5. The Boston Celtics are at home against the Milwaukee Bucks on ESPN as a 5-point favorite with an over/under of 235.5. The Miami Heat play in Cleveland against the Cavaliers as a 2-point road favorite with a total of 213. The Indiana Pacers host the Toronto Raptors as a 3.5-point favorite with an over/under of 237.5. Five NBA games begin at 8:10 PM ET. The Houston Rockets play at home against the Memphis Grizzlies as a 5.5-point favorite with a total of 213. The Minnesota Timberwolves are at home against the Philadelphia 76ers as a 5.5-point favorite with an over/under of 219. The Sacramento Kings visit the New Orleans Pelicans as a 1.5-point road favorite with a total of 237. The Oklahoma City Thunder host the Chicago Bulls as a 7-point favorite with an over/under of 224. The Los Angeles Clippers play in San Antonio against the Spurs as an 8.5-point road favorite with a total of 231. Two more NBA games start at 10:10 PM ET. The Phoenix Suns are at home against the Golden State Warriors on ESPN as a 2-point favorite with an over/under of 233. The Utah Jazz are in Portland to play the Trail Blazers as a 3-point road favorite with a total of 226. The Los Angeles Clippers host the Dallas Mavericks at 10:40 PM ET as a 1.5-point favorite with an over/under of 236.The National Hockey League has 14 games on its slate. Seven games drop the puck at 7:07 PM ET. The Carolina Hurricanes host the Edmonton Oilers as a -142 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Columbus Blue Jackets play at home against the Chicago Blackhawks as a -148 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The New Jersey Devils visit Detroit to play the Red Wings as a -166 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Boston Bruins play in Florida against the Panthers on TNT as a -115 money-line road favorite with a total of 6. The New York Rangers are in Pittsburgh to play the Penguins as a -112 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Tampa Bay Lightning are at home against the Winnipeg Jets as a -118 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Washington Capitals host the Buffalo Sabres as a -130 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The New York Islanders play at home against the Philadelphia Flyers at 7:37 PM ET as a -148 money-line favorite with a total of 6. Two more NHL games begin at 9:07 PM ET. The Arizona Coyotes are at home against the St. Louis Blues as a -125 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6. The Calgary Flames travel to Nashville to play the Predators, with both teams priced at -112 with a total of 6. The Dallas Stars host the Vegas Golden Knights on TNT at 9:37 PM ET as a -135 money-line favorite with a total of 6. Three games conclude the NHL card at 10:07 PM ET. The Anaheim Ducks play at home against the Montreal Canadiens as a -125 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Colorado Avalanche are at home against the Vancouver Canucks as a -175 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Seattle Kraken host the San Jose Sharks as a -298 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The college basketball schedule has 15 games on national television. North Carolina faces Northern Iowa in the Battle 4 Atlantis at the Imperial Arena in Nassau, Bahamas,, on ESPN at noon ET as an 11.5-point favorite with a total of 149. Colorado State battles Boston College in the Hall of Fame Classic at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on the CBS Sports Network at 1:30 PM ET as a 6-point favorite with an over/under of 146.5. Tennessee plays Kansas in the Maui Invitational at the SimpliFi Arena at the Stan Sheriff Center in Honolulu, Hawaii, on ESPN at 2:30 PM ET. Creighton goes against Loyola-Chicago in the Hall of Fame Classic on the CBS Sports Network at 4 PM ET as an 18-point favorite with a total of 144.5. Two NCAAB games tip off at 5 PM ET. Purdue faces Marquette in the Maui Invitational on ESPN. Memphis plays Michigan in the Battle 4 Atlantis on ESPN2 as a 1.5-point favorite with an over/under of 156. Virginia battles West Virginia in the Fort Myers Tip-Off at the Suncoast Credit Union Arena in Fort Myers, Florida as a 10-point favorite with a total of 118.5. Baylor goes against Oregon State in the NIT Season Tip-Off in the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York on ESPN2 at 7 PM ET as a 16.5-point favorite with an over/under of 143. Arkansas plays Stanford in the Battle 4 Atlantis on ESPNU at 7:30 PM ET as a 7-point favorite with a total of 155. Wisconsin battles SMU in the Fort Myers Tip-Off on FS1 at 8:30 PM ET as a 6.5-point favorite with an over/under of 143. Two more NCAAB games begin at 9:30 PM ET. Florida faces Pittsburgh in the NIT Season Tip-Off on ESPN2 as a 3.5-point favorite with a total of 156.5. Syracuse plays Chaminade in the Maui Invitational on ESPNU. Bradley goes against UTEP in the SoCal Challenge at JSerra Pavilion in San Juan Capistrano, California, on the CBS Sports Network at 10:30 PM ET as a 4-point favorite with an over/under of 136.5. Gonzaga goes against UCLA in the Maui Invitational on ESPN2 at 11:59 PM ET as a 4.5-point favorite with a total of 139. Tulane plays California in the SoCal Challenge on the CBS Sports Network at 12:30 AM ET as a 5.5-point favorite with an over/under of 155.5.

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NCAA Football Top 10 Poll - Week 13

by Wayne Root

Tuesday, Nov 21, 2023

It was a wild week 12 in college football.  College Football Playoff hopefuls like Georgia, Ohio State, Alabama, and Oregon took care of business. However, we saw several Playoff contenders seemingly have their backs against the wall in tough road matchups on Saturday with Washington going to the wire with Oregon State, Louisville doing the same with Miami, Texas having early trouble at Iowa State, and perhaps most shockingly with Michigan holding on against Maryland. Let’s check out the Top 10…..  1. Georgia Georgia has now demolished three top-20 ranked teams in a row, including two-score victories over top-10 teams. Georgia has now won 28 straight games under Kirby Smart. Much like they've done throughout the season, the Bulldogs punished a quality opponent for the third straight week, this time doing so on the road. Georgia knocked Tennessee out fairly easily after a poor defensive play to begin the game. After the Bulldogs gave up a touchdown on the opening drive, Georgia outscored Tennessee 38-3 over the rest of the game. Carson Beck has elevated his game, Brock Bowers is back and this Bulldogs’ defense is rounding into form. Georgia quarterback Carson Beck threw for 298 yards and three scores -- with only six incompletions in the Tennessee hostile environment. Beck and Georgia will go on the road once again this week, as the Bulldogs travel to Atlanta to play the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. Georgia should be favored to three-peat now. Georgia is the best team in the nation. 2. Michigan In Week 12, the Wolverines played a lot more like a program led by an inexperienced coach with a locker room that was looking ahead to Ohio State. It nearly cost Michigan its entire season. Michigan overcame a couple turnovers and not its best effort offensively to improve to 11-0 ahead of next week's showdown. The Wolverines will take on the Ohio State Buckeyes in a huge Big Ten regular season matchup before the Big Ten Championship. Michigan held off upset-minded Maryland without Jim Harbaugh. Michigan led by 13 points at halftime before the Terrapins pulled back in it within five points following Billy Edwards' third touchdown run with 16 seconds left in the third quarter. The winner of this game will take on Iowa with a chance to make the College Football Playoff. The loser won't win any championship this year. The Wolverines’ panic meter is high right now. 3. Ohio St The stage is now set for the best college football game this season. Ohio State might come into this one even more confident after seeing how McCarthy and the Wolverines’ offense has fared in the last two weeks. As for Ohio State, they rolled as a 30-point favorite with a dismantling of the Golden Gophers at Ohio Stadium. TreVeyon Henderson gashed the opposition for 146 yards and two touchdowns on just 15 carries, while Marvin Harrison Jr. added another score to his Big Ten-leading receiving totals. Kyle McCord threw two touchdown passes. Ohio State defeated Notre Dame but that won't be enough to help them get into the College Football Playoff with a loss to Michigan. The Buckeyes need this one just as much as Michigan does. One thing that seems evident, the 2023 Ohio State vs Michigan game likely won’t be nearly as high-scoring as previous matchups. The wins sets up this week's matchup of unbeatens with the winner of Ohio State-Michigan moving on to the conference championship game against Iowa. 4. Washington Another week, another close win for Washington. It wasn’t pretty, especially for the defense and the second-half offense, but the Washington Huskies kept their undefeated season intact on Saturday night. The Huskies stayed unbeaten with fourth-quarter magic defensively on the road. Washington shows up in the big games and squeaks by in the less-hyped matchups. Washington won't be playing any more less-hyped games this season. That's good news for the Huskies. Michael Penix Jr. wasn't at his best, but it was good enough for the Pac-12 leaders after he tossed a pair of touchdown passes. Washington picked off DJ Uiagalelei twice and managed to win despite Damien Martinez's 126-yard rushing performance on the opposite sideline. Washington is playing for its Playoff spot the next two weekends after locking in a Pac-12 title game berth. The Huskies have a playoff resume and with two more wins, they’ll be the No. 3 seed in the CFP Semifinal. 5. Florida State   Devastating. That’s the only way to describe the Jordan Travis injury for the Florida State Seminoles. FSU avoided a catastrophic upset, but did suffer an unfortunate situation in the first half of its win over North Alabama after quarterback Jordan Travis was carted off with an injury. Losing Travis will hurt. But if Florida State wants to make the College Football Playoff, they'll need to beat Florida and Louisville in their next two games. Do that, and they'll be in, even without Travis. Given how much he means to this Seminoles team, it's certainly deflating for the ACC frontrunners this late in the season with a College Football Playoff berth on the horizon with two more victories. FSU will move forward with Tate Rodemaker under center it appears. FSU trailed at one point, 13-0, before scoring the game's final 58 points in last week’s game.  6. Oregon The Oregon Ducks still find themselves needing a few dominoes to fall their way to earn a spot in the CFP Semifinal. However, the Ducks can likely push for a top-five spot next weekend with a victory in the Civil War over Oregon State and the loser of Michigan vs Ohio State dropping in the college football rankings. Bo Nix is continuing to do everything in his power to lead this season's Heisman voting entering rivalry week after a near-perfect performance on the road. Nix tossed three of his six touchdown passes in the first quarter as the Ducks built a 42-point lead at halftime en route to a blowout. Bo Nix is looking for that Heisman Award. After six passing touchdowns, the Ducks rolled past Arizona State. Oregon will play Oregon State next week with a chance to keep its playoff hopes alive with a win. Oregon might not necessarily have the best resume of the top teams, but an 11-1 record with a Heisman Trophy finalist should at least get them in the debate for a top-four spot. If Oregon finishes 12-1 with a conference title under its belt, the resume will be sparkling. 7. Alabama The Alabama Crimson Tide have just been a different football team since coming out of the locker room at halftime against Tennessee. In the last 14 quarters, the Crimson Tide have outscored opponents by a +125 point margin, demonstrating they are one of the best teams in college football. Alabama's win against Chattanooga will keep them at No. 7. Why, why, why do the get to not only play cupcake teams but they only play 8 conference games while others play nine? Meanwhile, Jalen Milroe tossed three touchdown passes, all coming in the first half, as the Crimson Tide handled Chattanooga prior to next week’s Iron Bowl against Auburn. Speaking of those rival Tigers, Hugh Freeze’s team dropped a home game against New Mexico State and will come into their biggest game of the campaign limping quite a bit. If Nick Saban's team wins out and beats an unbeaten Georgia in the SEC Championship Game, chances are high they're going to the playoff. The Oddsmakers set the line todays and opened up Georgia Bulldogs at - 4.5. 8. Texas There weren’t a ton of style points racked up by the Teas Longhorns on Saturday night, but they battled on the road to take out an Iowa State Cyclones team that has always given them problems. The Longhorns earned a 26-16 win over Iowa State. That'll do. After one of Iowa State's veteran offensive linemen took a shot the Longhorns this week, Texas took things personal on the road. Quinn Ewers has started looking more comfortable in his second game back and CJ Baxter stepped up, too. Ewers had two touchdown throws in the second half, including a 31-yarder to Gunnar Helm early in the fourth quarter that pushed the Longhorns' lead to 23-9. After Iowa State responded, the Longhorns went on a clock-eating six-minute drive to push ahead by 10 and put it away. 9. Louisville Behind three touchdown passes from Jack Plummer and a late stand defensively, Louisville clinched its first trip to the ACC Championship Game since joining the conference in 2014 with a win over the Hurricanes. The Louisville Cardinals are headed to the ACC Championship with just one loss this season. They'll have to prepare for a tough matchup against Kentucky first. Given their automatic placement in the ACC, even if the Cardinals lose to FSU in two weeksin the league finale, Louisville is likely heading to the Orange Bowl after a spectacular first season under coach Jeff Brohm. 10. Missouri   Missouri kicker Harrison Mevis nailed a chip-shot field goal with five seconds left to help the Tigers stave off the Gators. Florida thought it was in position to become bowl-eligible, but the Tigers converted a long fourth down on their final possession after Brady Cook found Luther Burden down the middle of the field. The Tigers escaped the Florida Gators with a game-winning field goal. It wasn't pretty, but wins are hard to come by in the SEC. Missouri found a way. Hats off to Missouri, a deep team that has proven it’s one of the 10 best college football teams in 2023. The victory keeps Missouri in line for a possible Cotton Bowl berth if the Tigers beat Arkansas next week.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NCAAF, NBA, NHL and NCAAB Previews and Odds - 11/21/2023

by Big Al Staff

Tuesday, Nov 21, 2023

The Tuesday sports card features NCAAF, NBA, NHL, and NCAAB action.The 13th week in college football begins with two games on national television between FBS opponents. Bowling Green travels to Western Michigan on ESNU at 7 PM ET as a 2-point road favorite, with the total set at 52. Buffalo hosts Eastern Michigan on ESPN2 at 7:30 PM ET as a 6.5-point favorite with an over/under of 35. The National Basketball Association continues its In-Season Tournament with five games on the Tournament Night docket. The Orlando Magic play at home against the Orlando Magic at 7:10 PM ET as a 1-point favorite with a total of 216. Two more NBA games tip off at 7:40 PM ET. The Atlanta Hawks are at home against the Indiana Pacers as a 3.5-point favorite with an over/under of 251. The Philadelphia 76ers host the Cleveland Cavaliers on TNT as a 7.5-point favorite with a total of 220.5. The Phoenix Suns play at home against the Portland Trail Blazers at 9:10 PM ET as a 13-point favorite with an over/under of 225. The Los Angeles Lakers are at home against the Utah Jazz on TNT at 10:10 PM ET as an 8-point favorite with a total of 236. The National Hockey League has 14 games on its slate. Seven games drop the puck at 7:07 PM ET. The Carolina Hurricanes host the Edmonton Oilers as a -135 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Columbus Blue Jackets play at home against the Chicago Blackhawks as a -142 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The New Jersey Devils visit Detroit to play the Red Wings as a -135 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 7. The Boston Bruins play in Florida against the Panthers on TNT as a -115 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The Tampa Bay Lightning are at home against the Winnipeg Jets as a -125 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Washington Capitals host the Buffalo Sabres as a -125 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The New York Islanders play at home against the Philadelphia Flyers at 7:37 PM ET as a -166 money-line favorite with a total of 6. Two more NHL games begin at 9:07 PM ET. The Arizona Coyotes are at home against the St. Louis Blues as a -120 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Calgary Flames travel to Nashville to play the Predators with both teams priced at -110 with a total of 6. The Dallas Stars host the Vegas Golden Knights on TNT at 9:37 PM ET as a -125 money-line favorite with a total of 6. Three games conclude the NHL card at 10:07 PM ET. The Anaheim Ducks play at home against the Montreal Canadiens as a -142 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Colorado Avalanche are at home against the Vancouver Canucks as a -166 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Seattle Kraken host the San Jose Sharks as a -270 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The college basketball schedule has six games on national television. Gonzaga battles Syracuse in the Maui Invitational at the SimpliFi Arena at the Stan Sheriff Center in Honolulu, Hawaii, on ESPN2 at 2:30 PM ET as a 12.5-point favorite with a total of 160. UCLA faces Chaminade in the Maui Invitational on ESPN2 at 5 PM ET. James Madison goes against Southern Illinois in the Cancun Challenge at the Hard Rock Hotel Riviera in Cancun, Mexico, on the CBS Sports Network at 6 PM ET as a 5-point favorite with an over/under of 145.5. Purdue plays Tennessee in the Maui Invitational on ESPN at 8 PM ET as a 2-point favorite with a total of 134.5. Fresno State faces New Mexico State in the Cancun Challenge on the CBS Sports Network as a 4.5-point favorite with an over/under of 139.5. Kansas goes against Marquette in the Maui Invitational on ESPN at 10:30 PM ET as a 3-point favorite with a total of 155. 

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Around The Horn

by AAA Sports

Monday, Nov 20, 2023

Searching for some stability in Any Given Sunday league? Look no further than the AFC North. Maybe.The Baltimore/Cleveland/Pittsburgh/Cincinnati Combine was clearly the best division in the NFL heading into the holidays. Through Week 11 the four teams had a combined 26-14 record SU. Against out-of-division competition, they are 17-7-1 ATS. No other division comes close to either mark. But with two Pro Bowl QBs (Joe Burrow and DeShaun Watson) done for the year, the North may start to head south.A brief look:BALTIMORE – The Ravens created some separation with their Week 11 victory over Cincinnati, and seem to have more balance than anyone with a Top 10 offense and a Top 3 defense. Week 12 – at Los Angeles Chargers.CLEVELAND – The Browns have quietly assembled the best defense in the league, allowing only 243 yards a game. Can they hang on and make the playoffs after DeShaun Watson’s season-ending shoulder injury? Week 12 – at DenverPITTSBURGH – The Steelers somehow keep hanging in despite being outscored over the season by nearly 30 points. Next five games are against teams .500 or below. WEEK 11 – at CincinnatiCINCINNATI – Like Watson, Joe Burrow is cooked for the rest of the season, and with that any Super Bowl hopes are also gone. It’s all about evaluation and draft position from here on in. WEEK 12 – Pittsburgh.CAN TRAVIS KELCE BEAT THE ODDS?The way she goes through boyfriends, the anecdotal chances of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce still being America’s sweethearts when the next Super Bowl kicks off wouldn’t seem to be all that great. The betting odds say otherwise, however. BetOnline says it’s -140 that the lovebirds will still be at it through the middle of next February, and you can get +100 if you think he’ll be cast aside by then (because in reality no one dumps Swift).Kelce is the replacement for British actor Joe Alwyn, who was the replacement for actor Tom Hiddleston, who was the replacement for Scottish singer Calvin Harris, who was the replacement for singer/actor Harry Styles, who was the replacement for – guess it doesn’t matter. Those who keep count say that Swift has had 16 (somewhat) significant others since 2008.NETS HAVE BEEN A BARGAINThrough the first month of the NBA season, everything about the Brooklyn Nets screamed average. The Nets were 6-6 – 3-3- at home and 3-3 on the road. They were 5-5 in the Eastern Conference. All of which put them on a pace to barely make the play-in tournament in April. But as mundane as Brooklyn has been, the Nets have gotten the attention of bettors with a 9-2-1 record ATS. The Nets opened the season with five straight covers, pushed in a loss at home to Boston, then covered four of the next five. Philadelphia, Orlando and Oklahoma City all covered nine of their first 12.BRAVES EARLY SERIES FAVORITE FOR 2024The Braves couldn’t get it done in the post-season, but going 104-58 in regular season play and bringing back the entire gang in 2024 makes Atlanta the betting favorite (+750) to win the Series next season. The Dodgers are close behind at +800, with WS champion Texas the favorite to come out of the American League (also +800). If you have cash to burn or want to buy someone a gag Christmas present, you can get tickets on either Colorado or Oakland at +20000.LINING UP IN FOXBOROWith the loss to the Colts in Germany, the Patriots have now been beyond godawful on two continents this season, leading to increased speculation that GOAT coach Bill Belichick will not be around for OTAs next spring. If not Belichick, then who? The abysmal offense and regression of QB Mac Jones basically eliminates OC Bill O’Brien, and any on-staff hiring spec would start with LB coach and Bob Kraft favorite Jerod Mayo. Former Pats LB coach Mike Vrabel could be had if Tennessee doesn’t get it together, and Jim Harbaugh could be available if Michigan wants to dump him and help get the NCAA off its back.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NFL, NBA, NHL and NCAAB Previews and Odds - 11/20/2023

by Big Al Staff

Monday, Nov 20, 2023

The Monday sports card features NFL, NBA, NHL, and NCAAB action.Week 11 in the NFL concludes with one game for Monday Night Football. The Kansas City Chiefs host the Philadelphia Eagles on ABC, ESPN, and the ESPN2 Manningcast at 8:15 PM ET. The Chiefs are a 2.5-point favorite, with the total set at 45 (all odds from DraftKings).The National Basketball Association has eight games on its docket. Three NBA games tip off at 7:10 PM ET. The Boston Celtics travel to Charlotte to play the Hornets as a 9.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 232. The Denver Nuggets play in Detroit against the Pistons as an 8.5-point road favorite, with a total of 220. The Milwaukee Bucks are in Washington to play the Wizards as a 9-point road favorite with an over/under of 244.5. Four NBA games start at 8:10 PM ET. The Miami Heat visit Chicago to play the Bulls as a 1.5-point road favorite with a total of 211. The Minnesota Timberwolves play at home against the New York Knicks as a 3-point favorite with an over/under of 213.5. The Sacramento Kings are in New Orleans to play the Pelicans as a 1-point road favorite with a total of 237. The Los Angeles Clippers play in San Antonio against the Spurs as an 8.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 230.5. The Golden State Warriors are at home against the Houston Rockets at 10:10 PM ET as a 7.5-point favorite with a total of 221. The National Hockey League has seven games on its slate. Two NHL games drop the puck at 7:07 PM ET. The Florida Panthers host the Edmonton Oilers as a -115 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7. The Boston Bruins play in Tampa Bay against the Lightning as a -135 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. Two more NHL games begin at 8:07 PM ET. The Dallas Stars are at home against the New York Rangers as a -135 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6. The Colorado Avalanche are in Nashville to play the Predators as a -170 money-line road favorite with a total of 6. The Los Angeles Kings play in Arizona against the Coyotes at 9:07 PM ET as a -155 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. Two more games complete the NHL card at 10:07 PM ET. The Seattle Kraken host the Calgary Flames as a -120 money-line favorite with a total of 6. The Vancouver Canucks play at home against the San Jose Sharks as a -395 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The college basketball schedule has 16 games on national television. Tennessee battles Syracuse in the Maui Invitational at the SimpliFi Arena at the Stan Sheriff Center in Honolulu, Hawaii, on ESPN2 at 2:30 PM ET as a 14-point favorite with a total of 146. Indiana plays Louisville in the Empire Classic at Madison Square Garden in New York City on ESPNU at 4:30 PM ET as a 7-point favorite with an over/under of 146. Purdue faces Gonzaga in the Maui Invitational on ESPN2 at 5 PM ET as a 5-point favorite with a total of 155.5. Florida State goes against UNLV in the Sunshine Slam at the Ocean Center in Daytona Beach, Florida on the CBS Sports Network at 5:30 PM ET as a 3.5-point favorite with an over/under of 149.5. Virginia plays Wisconsin in the Fort Myers Tip-Off at the Suncoast Credit Union Arena in Fort Myers, Florida on FS1 at 6 PM ET as a 3-point favorite with a total of 126.5. Connecticut faces Texas in the Empire Classic on ESPNU at 7 PM ET as a 5.5-point favorite with an over/under of 143.5. Colorado battles Richmond in the Sunshine Slam on the CBS Sports Network at 8 PM ET as a 10-point favorite with a total of 144. SMU goes against West Virginia in the Fort Myers Tip-Off on FS1 at 8:30 PM ET as a 2.5-point favorite with an over/under of 143.5. Kansas faces Chaminade in the Maui Invitational on ESPNU at 9 PM ET. Bradley battles Tulane in the SoCal Challenge at JSerra Pavilion in San Juan Capistrano, California, on the CBS Sports Network at 10:30 PM ET as a 1.5-point favorite with a total of 146. Marquette goes against UCLA in the Maui Invitational on ESPN2 at 11:30 PM ET as a 6-point favorite with an over/under of 138.5. UTEP plays California in the SoCal Challenge on the CBS Sports Network at 1 AM ET as a 2-point favorite with a total of 143. 

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NFL, NBA, NHL, NCAAB and CFL Previews and Odds - 11/19/2023

by Big Al Staff

Sunday, Nov 19, 2023

The Sunday sports card features NFL, NBA, NHL, NCAAB, and CFL action.Week 11 in the NFL continues with 12 games. Eight NFL games kick off at 1 PM ET. The Houston Texans host the Arizona Cardinals as a 6-point favorite, with the total set at 48 (all odds from DraftKings). The Jacksonville Jaguars play at home against the Tennessee Titans as a 6.5-point favorite with an over/under of 39.5. The Cleveland Browns are at home against the Pittsburgh Steelers as a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 33. The Miami Dolphins host the Las Vegas Raiders as a 13.5-point favorite with an over/under of 46. The Los Angeles Chargers travel to Green Bay to play the Packers as a 3-point road favorite with a total of 44. The Dallas Cowboys travel to Carolina to play the Panthers as a 10.5-point road favorite, with an over/under of 42.5. The Washington Commanders play at home against the New York Giants as an 8.5-point favorite with a total of 38.5. The Detroit Lions are at home against the Chicago Bears as an 8-point favorite with an over/under of 49. The San Francisco 49ers host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at 4:05 PM ET as a 12-point favorite with a total of 41.5. Two more NFL games start at 4:25 PM ET. The Los Angeles Rams play at home against the Seattle Seahawks as a 2-point favorite with an over/under of 46.5. The Buffalo Bills are at home against the New York Jets as a 7-point favorite with a total of 39. Sunday Night Football on NBC has the Denver Broncos hosting the Minnesota Vikings at 8:20 PM ET. The Broncos are a 3-point favorite with an over/under of 41. The National Basketball Association has nine games on its docket. The Philadelphia 76ers visit Brooklyn to play the Nets at 3:10 PM ET as a 3.5-point road favorite with a total of 223.5. The Toronto Raptors play at home against the Detroit Pistons at 4:10 PM ET as a 6.5-point favorite with an over/under of 217.5. The Indiana Pacers are at home against the Orlando Magic at 5:10 PM ET as a 4.5-point favorite with a total of 232.5. The Denver Nuggets play in Cleveland against the Cavaliers at 6:10 PM ET as a 2.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 216.5. The Dallas Mavericks host the Sacramento Kings at 7:40 PM ET as a 1-point favorite with a total of 245.5. Two more NBA games tip off at 8:10 PM ET. The Boston Celtics are in Memphis to play the Grizzlies. The Phoenix Suns travel to Utah to play the Jazz as a 4.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 237.5. The Oklahoma City Thunder play in Portland against the Trail Blazers at 9:10 PM ET as a 7.5-point road favorite, with a total of 226. The Los Angeles Lakers are at home against the Houston Rockets at 9:40 PM ET as a 5.5-point favorite with an over/under of 218.5. The National Hockey League has five games on its slate. The Toronto Maple Leafs battle the Minnesota Wild in the NHL Global Series at the Avicii Arena in Stockholm, Sweden, at 8:07 AM ET as a -162 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Philadelphia Flyers host the Columbus Blue Jackets at 5:37 PM ET as a -148 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Vegas Golden Knights are in Pittsburgh to play the Penguins at 6:07 PM ET as a -120 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Buffalo Sabres travel to Chicago to play the Blackhawks at 7:07 PM ET as a -180 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The Anaheim Ducks play at home against the St. Louis Blues at 8:07 PM ET as a -120 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The college basketball schedule has 16 games on national television. Furman faces Wyoming in the Myrtle Beach Invitational at the HTC Arena in Conway, South Carolina, on ESPN2 at 10:30 AM ET as a 6-point favorite with a total of 153.5. Providence plays Georgia in the Baha Mar Hoops Bahamas Championship at the Baha Mar Convention Center in Nassau, Bahamas, on the CBS Sports Network at noon ET as a 5-point favorite with a total of 139.5. Two more NCAA-B games tip off at 1 PM ET. Connecticut goes against Indiana in the Empire Classic at Madison Square Garden in New York City on ESPN at 1 PM ET as a 1-point favorite with an over/under of 144.5. Mississippi State battles Northwestern at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut, on ESPN2 as a 4.5-point favorite with a total of 130. Miami (FL) faces Kansas State in the Baha Mar Hoops Bahamas Championship on the CBS Sports Network at 2:30 PM ET as a 3-point favorite with an over/under of 157. LSU battles Wake Forest in the Charleston Classic at TD Arena in Charleston, South Carolina, on ESPN2 at 3 PM ET as a 1.5-point favorite with a total of 150. Two more NCAAB games tip-off at 3:30 PM ET. Texas goes against Louisville in the Empire Classic on ESPN as a 17.5-point favorite with an over/under of 144.5. Washington State plays Rhode Island at the Mohegan Sun Arena on ESPNU as a 5.5-point favorite with a total of 142.5. Two more college basketball games begin at 4:30 PM ET. San Francisco battles DePaul in the Arizona Tip-Off at the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona, on the CBS Sports Network as an 8-point favorite with a total of 143. Georgetown plays American University in the Georgetown MTE at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., on FS2 as a 9-point favorite with an over/under of 144.5. Two more NCAAB games start at 5:30 PM ET. Liberty goes against Vermont in the Myrtle Beach Invitational on ESPN2 as a 5-point favorite with a total of 133.5. Utah battles St. John’s in the Charleston Classic on ESPN as a 4.5-point favorite with an over/under of 151.5. Grand Canyon faces South Carolina in the Arizona Tip-Off on the CBS Sports Network at 7 PM ET as a 6-point favorite with a total of 143.5. Wichita State plays against Saint Louis in the Myrtle Beach Invitational on ESPN2 at 8 PM ET as a 4.5-point favorite with an over/under of 151. Houston battles Dayton in the Charleston Classic on ESPN at 8:30 PM ET as a 12.5-point favorite with a total of 131.5. Washington faces San Diego State in the Continental Tire Main Event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on ESPN2 as a 6-point favorite with an over/under of 146.The Canadian Football League postseason concludes with the Grey Cup played on a neutral field at Tim Horton’s Field in Hamilton, Ontario at 6 PM ET. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers play the Montreal Alouettes as a 7.5-point favorite with a total of 47.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NCAAF, NBA, NHL and NCAAB Previews and Odds - 11/18/2023

by Big Al Staff

Saturday, Nov 18, 2023

The Saturday sports card features NCAAF, NBA, NHL, and NCAAB action.The 12th week in college football concludes with 56 games between FBS opponents. Seven NCAAF games kick off on national television at noon ET. SMU travels to Memphis on ESPN2 as an 8.5-point road favorite, with the total set at 64. Miami (FL) hosts Louisville on ABC as a 1-point favorite with an over/under of 46.5. Michigan travels to Maryland on Fox as a 19-point road favorite with a total of 49.5. Oklahoma plays at BYU on ESPN as a 24.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 56.5. Navy is at home against East Carolina on ESPN News as a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 30.5. Penn State plays at home against Rutgers on FS1 as a 20-point favorite with an over/under of 40.5. Coastal Carolina is at Army on the CBS Sports Network as a 3-point road favorite with a total of 41.5. Duke visits Virginia on The CW at 3 PM ET as a 3-point road favorite with an over/under of 46. Seven NCAAF games are on national television at 3:30 PM ET. Notre Dame is at home against Wake Forest on NBC as a 24.5-point favorite with a total of 46.5. Troy hosts Louisiana-Lafayette on the NFL Network as a 16.5-point favorite with an over/under of 47.5. Clemson plays at home against North Carolina on ESPN as a 7.5-point favorite with a total of 59.      Air Force is at home against UNLV on the CBS Sports Network as a 3-point favorite with an over/under of 46.5. USC hosts UCLA on ABC as a 5-point favorite with a total of 63.5. Iowa plays at home against Illinois on FS1 as a 3-point favorite with an over/under of 32.5. Georgia travels to Tennessee on CBS as a 10-point road favorite with a total of 58.5. Two NCAAF games start at 4 PM ET. Oregon is at Arizona State on Fox as a 24.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 54. Oklahoma State plays at Houston on ESPN2 as a 6-point road favorite with a total of 58.5. Texas Tech is at home against Central Florida on FS2 as a 2.5-point favorite with an over/under of 59.5. Two NCAAF games are on national television at 7 PM ET. Kansas State visits Kansas on FS1 as a 10-point road favorite with a total of 57.5. Boise State plays at Utah State on the CBS Sports Network as a 4-point road favorite with an over/under of 64.5. Four more NCAAF games begin at 7:30 PM ET. Wisconsin hosts Nebraska on NBC as a 6-point favorite with a total of 37. Missouri plays at home against Florida on ESPN as an 11-point favorite with an over/under of 57. Arkansas is at home against FIU as a 29-point favorite with a total of 50. Oregon State hosts Washington on ABC as a 1.5-point favorite with an over/under of 62.5. Two nationally televised NCAAF games start at 8 PM ET. LSU plays at home against Georgia State on ESPN2 as a 32-point favorite with a total of 74. Texas plays at Iowa State as a 7.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 46. Two more games conclude the NCAAF card at 10:30 PM ET. Fresno State plays at home against New Mexico on FS1 as a 23-point favorite with a total of 59. San Jose State is at home against San Diego State on the CBS Sports Network as a 14.5-point favorite with a total of 48.5. The National Basketball Association has six games on its docket. The New York Knicks are in Charlotte to play the Hornets at 6:10 PM ET as a 6.5-point road favorite. The Minnesota Timberwolves visit New Orleans to play the Pelicans at 7:10 PM ET as a 5-point road favorite. Three more NBA games tip off at 8:10 PM ET. The Miami Heat play in Chicago against the Bulls as a 3-point road favorite. The Milwaukee Bucks host the Dallas Mavericks as a 2.5-point favorite. The Memphis Grizzlies are in San Antonio to play the Spurs as a 3.5-point road favorite. The Oklahoma City Thunder travel to Golden State to play the Warriors at 8:40 PM ET as a 3-point road favorite. The National Hockey League has 13 games on its slate. The Minnesota Wild battle against the Ottawa Senators in the NHL Global Series at the Avicii Arena in Stockholm, Sweden, at 11:07 AM ET as a -115 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Vegas Golden Knights play in Philadelphia against the Flyers at 1:07 PM ET as a -170 money-line road favorite with a total of 6. The Nashville Predators play at home against the Chicago Blackhawks at 2:07 PM ET as a -198 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6. The Edmonton Oilers are in Tampa Bay to play the Lightning at 4:07 PM ET as a -118 money-line road favorite with a total of 7. Five NHL games drop the puck at 7:07 PM ET. The Calgary Flames are at home against the New York Islanders as a -148 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6. The Winnipeg Jets host the Arizona Coyotes as a -185 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Boston Bruins play at home against the Montreal Canadiens as a -278 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6. The Carolina Hurricanes are at home against the Pittsburgh Penguins as a -166 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The New York Rangers travel to New Jersey with both teams priced as a -110 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Washington Capitals host the Columbus Blue Jackets at 7:37 PM ET as a -166 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Dallas Stars play at home against the Columbus Blue Jackets at 8:07 PM ET as a -130 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6. The Vancouver Canucks are at home against the Seattle Kraken at 10:07 PM ET as a -155 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Los Angeles Kings host the St. Louis Blues at 10:37 PM ET as a -192 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The college basketball schedule has three games on national television. Minnesota plays at home against South Carolina Upstate on Peacock at 2 PM ET as an 11-point favorite with a total of 144. Nebraska is at Oregon State on Peacock at 4 PM ET as an 8.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 135.5. Creighton hosts Texas Southern on FS21 at 8:30 PM ET as a 28-point favorite with a total of 142.5. 

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NFL Top 10 Poll - Week 11

by Wayne Root

Friday, Nov 17, 2023

With a third of the season remaining, all we’ve learned is that “on any given Sunday” it still applies.  1. Philadelphia (8-1) The Eagles are at the top of the NFL power rankings because they only have one loss and quality wins against the Dolphins and Cowboys. Analytically speaking, other teams are more well-rounded. But Philadelphia knows how to win when things are ugly. Philadelphia has lost the Super Bowl, World Series, and Taylor Swift in the last year. That's a tough scene, but the Birds are in a good position to redeem the City of Brotherly Love if they can stay healthy. The defense has weak points. Their offense does not. The offensive line is dominant. Jalen Hurts is playing incredibly well, and they possess an endless reserve of weapons. 2. San Francisco (6-3) That is certainly one way to get back on track. The 49ers absolutely dominated the Jaguars Sunday. That’s more like it. Brock Purdy did not turn the ball over, the enhanced front seven generated consistent pressure, and the 49ers demolished what was a 6-2 Jagaurs squad on the road. They looked like a completely different team with Trent Williams and Deebo Samuel back on the field with each other. The 49ers' defense looked like their defense again in a throttling of the red-hot Jaguars. Put the word out that the 49ers are back. 3. Kansas City (7-2)  The Kansas City Chiefs don’t feel as dominant in 2023 as we’re used to seeing, but they’re incredibly well-rounded. They’re having a down year offensively. They rank fifth in EPA, and their per-play rate is much lower than usual. It will be a Super Bowl rematch and battle of current No. 1 seeds when the Eagles travel to Kansas City on Monday night. While that game might be more important to Philly given their schedule after it, the Chiefs offense has something to prove given their lackluster start, and Kansas City cannot afford to give up any ground in the top-heavy AFC. The Ravens, Bengals, and Jaguars all lost in Week 10. Even on the bye, Patrick Mahomes can't stop winning. But their defense also ranks fifth in EPA. Steve Spagnuolo has a unit that got going immediately in 2023, rather than their usual slow start before becoming a top-half defense. 4. Baltimore (7-3) A tipped interception from Lamar Jackson and a strip sack that bounced right back into the Browns’ hands were two huge plays late that completely changed the direction of this game. However, this does give the Ravens two losses inside the division, which is not good, considering how tight the AFC North race is at the moment. The Ravens have lost seven games with Lamar Jackson as their starter in the last two seasons. Per current win probability, they had at least a 75 percent chance to win in each of those games. That can't continue to be a trend in Charm City. This team is still one of the best in the league, but they need to find a fix for their -17 fourth-quarter scoring margin. 5. Miami (6-3)  The Miami Dolphins have arguably the most dangerous offense in the NFL, and their defense has looked completely different in the two games that Jalen Ramsey has played in. If they can get Jaelan Phillips back healthy for the home stretch, this team could really run away and hide with the AFC East. The Dolphins are plus +109 in their six wins against teams below .500. They are minus-49 in their three losses that came against above-500 teams. 'Fins are electric, but they need to show they can beat the cream of the crop to be taken seriously as a title contender. The Dolphins have another run of games against lower-tier teams over the next five weeks before finishing with the Cowboys, Ravens, and Bills. We will likely have the same questions about this team until those final three games. 6. Detroit (7-2) Dan Campbell and the Lions might have single-handedly ended Brandon Staley's run with the Chargers. Congratulations are in order for the Lions. They decided that defense would be optional against the Chargers, but they got away with it. Jared Goff was great, and the Lions’ rushing attack had a field day against the Chargers. At least, Detroit's 41-point, 533-yard performance should be the final nail in his LA coffin. Given what the Eagles have next up on the schedule, the Lions have a realistic path to the No. 1 seed. The Motor City Kitties are for real and are live to get the top seed in the NFC. 7. Dallas (6-3) Dak Prescott made a horrible decision late in the first quarter when he was fooled by the Giants showing blitz and dropping into coverage instead. Outside of that one decision, Prescott and his pass seasoned catchers were flawless. Dallas has beaten the Giants (twice), the Jets, the Patriots, the Rams, and the Chargers. They have two more easy games before they get the Seahawks, Eagles, Bills, Dolphins, and Lions five weeks in a row. That run will tell the story of Dallas’ season. The Cowboys have lost to the Eagles, 49ers, and Cardinals. Not a sterling resume for a team that fancies itself a Super Bowl contender. It won’t be a shock to anyone if the coach puts a nail into the coffin with bad decisions and calling the plays.  8. Cincinnati (5-4) The Cincinnati Bengals had a few missed opportunities late. But while usually losing to the Texans would be seen as a black eye on the calendar, that Houston team is different. A loss to a red-hot C.J. Stroud won't shakeFrodo  my faith in the Bengals. This is the third straight season they've started 5-4. I expect a similar finish as the last two. Now they get the Ravens on a short week. The margin for error is just so small for this team in the loaded AFC. A loss here finishes them and the Bengals know how to lose in Primetime night games.  9. Jacksonville (6-3) One game does not make or break a season. However, what looked like an easy stroll to the AFC South title looks a bit uncomfortable now with how Houston has played since their surprising loss to the Panthers. The Jaguars were embarrassed at home by the 49ers, losing 34-3 and getting nothing done on offense. The passing game has disappointed this season, and Trevor Lawrence ranks 27th among 33 eligible quarterbacks. Trevor Lawrence has more turnovers than touchdowns this season. The Jags need the "generational talent" to start playing like it if they want to reach their ceiling. 10. Cleveland (6-3) Deshaun Watson went 14-for-14 for 139 yards and a touchdown in the second half of the Browns' comeback win over the Ravens. It's the best he has looked in a Browns uniform. Cleveland’s defense allowed 6.1 yards per play, but they played relatively well outside of a few big plays. The Browns’ offense commanded the ball, outgained the Ravens, and moved the chains more often. And against an impressive Ravens defense, the Browns converted 8 of 16 third downs.The Browns have proven they can win games with lackluster quarterback play, but they face a tough road the rest of the way. I need to see more of that before I can elevate Cleveland from "Frisky Team With A Good Defense" to the "Legitimate Contender" category. It's a positive development, though. 

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NCAAF, NBA, NHL and NCAAB Previews and Odds - 11/17/2023

by Big Al Staff

Friday, Nov 17, 2023

The Friday sports card features NCAAF, NBA, NHL, and NCAAB action.The 12th week in college football continues with two games on national television between FBS opponents. UTSA hosts South Florida on ESPN2 at 9 PM ET as a 16-point favorite, with the total set at 67 (all odds from DraftKings). Washington State plays at home against Colorado on FS1 at 10:30 PM ET as a 4-point favorite with an over/under of 62.5. The National Basketball Association continues its In-Season Tournament with 11 games on the Tournament Night docket. Two NBA games tip off at 7:10 PM ET. The Milwaukee Bucks travel to Charlotte to play the Hornets as an 8-point road favorite with a total of 234.5. The New York Knicks play in Washington against the Wizards as a 6.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 227.5. Three NBA games start at 7:40 PM ET. The Philadelphia 76ers are in Atlanta to play the Hawks as a 1-point road favorite with a total of 235.5. The Cleveland Cavaliers are at home against the Detroit Pistons as an 8.5-point favorite with an over/under of 221.5. The Boston Celtics visit Toronto to play the Raptors as a 6.5-point road favorite. The Sacramento Kings play in San Antonio against the Spurs on ESPN as a 6.5-point road favorite with a total of 236.5. Two NBA games begin at 8:10 PM ET. The Chicago Bulls host the Orlando Magic as a 1-point favorite with an over/under of 216.5. The Denver Nuggets are in New Orleans to play the Pelicans as a 4-point road favorite with a total of 224.5. Two more NBA games start at 10:10 PM ET. The Phoenix Suns travel to Utah to play the Jazz on ESPN as a 5-point road favorite with an over/under of 236.5. The Los Angeles Lakers play in Portland against the Trail Blazers as a 7.5-point road favorite with a total of 222.5. The Los Angeles Clippers play at home against the Houston Rockets at 10:40 PM ET as a 5.5-point favorite with an over/under of 217.5. The National Hockey League has three games on its slate. The Toronto Maple Leafs battle the Detroit Red Wings in the NHL Global Series at the Avicii Arena in Stockholm, Sweden, at 2:07 PM ET. The Maple Leafs are a -170 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Winnipeg Jets are at home against the Buffalo Sabres at 8:07 PM ET as a -180 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Florida Panthers are in Anaheim against the Ducks at 10:07 PM ET as a -166 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5.The college basketball schedule has 17 games on national television. LSU faces North Texas in the Charleston Classic at TD Arena in Charleston, South Carolina on ESPNU at 11:30 AM ET as a 1.5-point favorite with an over/under of 130.5. Saint Louis battles Vermont in the Myrtle Beach Invitational at the HTC Arena in Conway, South Carolina, on ESPN2 at 12 PM ET in a pick ‘em match up with a total of 144. Dayton goes against St. John’s in the Charleston Classic at ESPN2 at 2 PM ET in a pick ‘em match with an over/under of 140.5. Charleston battles Wyoming in the Myrtle Beach Invitational on ESPNU as a 5-point favorite with a total of 151. Miami (FL) plays Georgia in the Baha Mar Hoops Bahamas Championship at the Baha Mar Convention Center in Nassau, Bahamas, on the CBS Sports Network at 3:30 PM ET. The Hurricanes are a 7-point favorite with an over/under of 155. Houston faces Utah in the Charleston Classic on ESPN2 at 4:30 PM ET as a 7.5-point favorite with a total of 137.5. Oklahoma State battles Notre Dame in the Legends Classic at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York on ESPNU at 7:30 PM ET as a 7.5-point favorite with an over/under of 137.5. Providence goes against Kansas State in the Baha Mar Hoops Bahamas Championship on the CBS Sports Network on the CBS Sports Network at 6 PM ET as a 1-point favorite with a total of 146.5. Michigan State hosts Butler on FS1 at 6:30 PM ET as an 8.5-point favorite with an over/under of 138.5. Three more NCAAB games tip off at 7 PM ET. Penn State plays at home against Morehead State on Peacock as a 12.5-point favorite with a total of 138. St. Bonaventure goes against Auburn in the Legends Classic as a 10-point favorite with an over/under of 145. Wake Forest battles Towson State in the Charleston Classic on ESPNU as a 6-point favorite with a total of 141.Villanova hosts Maryland on FS1 at 8:30 PM ET as a 6-point favorite with an over/under of 1335. Two more nationally televised games in NCAAB begin at 9 PM ET. Grand Canyon faces San Francisco in the Arizona Tip-Off at the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona on the CBS Sports Network as a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 144. Liberty plays Wichita State in the Myrtle Beach Invitational on ESPNU as a 2.5-point favorite.  South Carolina battles DePaul in the Arizona Tip-Off on the CBS Sports Network at 11:30 PM ET as a 5-point favorite with an over/under of 142. Xavier goes against Washington in the Continental Tire Main Event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada at midnight  ET as a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 155.5.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NFL, NCAAF, NBA, NHL and NCAAB Previews and Odds - 11/16/2023

by Big Al Staff

Thursday, Nov 16, 2023

The Thursday sports card features NFL, NCAAF, NBA, NHL, and NCAAB action.Week 11 of the NFL regular season kicks off with the Baltimore Ravens hosting the Cincinnati Bengals on Amazon Prime at 8:15 PM ET. The Ravens were on a four-game winning streak before their 33-31 upset loss against Cleveland as a 6-point favorite last Sunday. The Bengals were on a four-game winning streak before their 30-27 upset loss at home against Houston on Sunday. Baltimore is a 3.5-point favorite, with the total set at 46 (all odds from DraftKings). The 12th week in college football continues with one game on national television between FBS opponents at 7 PM ET. Pittsburgh plays at home against Boston College on ESPN. The Panthers have lost four games in a row after their 28-13 upset loss by a 28-13 score  to Syracuse last Saturday. The Eagles won five games in a row before their 48-22 loss to Virginia Tech as a 3-point underdog on Saturday. Pittsburgh is a 3-point favorite with an over/under of 46. The National Basketball Association has two games on its docket. The Miami Heat are at home against the Brooklyn Nets at 7:40 PM ET as a 4-point favorite with a total of 217.5. The Oklahoma Thunder travel to Golden State at 10:10 PM ET as a 3-point road favorite with an over/under of 226.5. The National Hockey League has nine games on its slate. The Ottawa Senators battle the Detroit Red Wings in the NHL Global Series at the Avicii Arena in Stockholm, Sweden, at 2:07 PM ET. The Senators are a -120 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. Three NHL games drop the puck at 7:07 PM ET. The Arizona Coyotes play in Columbus against the Blue Jackets as a -118 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Vegas Golden Knights are in Montreal against the Canadiens as a -198 money-line road favorite with a total of 6. The Pittsburgh Penguins host the New Jersey Devils as a -148 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Tampa Bay Lightning visit Chicago to play the Blackhawks at 8:07 PM ET as a -185 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The Calgary Flames play at home against the Vancouver Canucks at 9:07 PM ET as a -118 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Seattle Kraken are at home against the New York Islanders at 10:07 PM ET as a -115 money-line favorite with a total of 6. Two more games conclude the NHL card at 10:37 PM ET. The Los Angeles Kings host the Florida Panthers as a -130 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The St. Louis Blues play in San Jose against the Sharks as a -185 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The college basketball schedule has seven games on national television. Charleston faces Vermont in the Myrtle Beach Invitational at the HTC Arena in Conway, South Carolina, on ESPNU at 11:30 AM ET. The Cougars are a 2-point favorite with an over/under of 145.5. St. John’s battles North Texas in the Charleston Classic at TD Arena in Charleston, South Carolina on ESPNU at 1:30 PM ET as a 3-point favorite with a total of 137.Saint Louis goes against Wyoming in the Myrtle Beach Invitational on ESPN2 at 2 PM ET as a 3.5-point favorite with an over/under of 149.5. Dayton plays LSU in the Myrtle Beach Invitational on ESPN2 at 4 PM ET as a 1-point favorite with a total of 133.5. Houston battles Towson in the Charleston Classic on ESPN2 at 6:30 PM ET as a 21.5-point favorite with an over/under of 128. Two more college basketball games on national television begin at 9 PM ET. Auburn faces Notre Dame in the Legends Classic at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, on ESPN2 at 9 PM ET. The Tigers are a 14-point favorite with a total of 145. Utah battles Wake Forest in the Charleston Classic on ESPNU as a 4.5-point favorite with an over/under of 150.5.  

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NCAA Football Top 10 Poll - Week 12

by Wayne Root

Wednesday, Nov 15, 2023

We’re down to five undefeated teams. As conference play ramps up and teams beat up on each other, the Selection Committee will be booed and chastised trying to figure out their Top Four teams.  1. Georgia (10-0) Back in pole position after taking down Ole Miss, the defending champs are now the No. 1 team in college football in all major rankings. Georgia continues to look dominant. Someone still has to prove that they can beat the Bulldogs. Brock Bowers came back and looked pretty decent. It was the Bulldogs’ second-straight victory over a top-25 opponent after beating No. 12 Missouri a week ago. The defending back-to-back champions have an opportunity to make it three in a row this week at Tennessee.  2. Michigan (10-0) That was an absolute rugged slugfest of a win over Penn State. Michigan prevailed without Jim Harbaugh, but the game was pretty remarkable when you dig into it. Whether or not Jim Harbaugh is on the sideline, the Wolverines are the apparent favorites to make it a three-peat in the Big Ten title race. Michigan went on the road and took down No. 10 Penn State, 24-15, on Saturday. The Wolverines ran all over the Nittany Lions and only attempted one pass the entire second half. 3. Ohio St (10-0) Is Kyle McCord good enough of a quarterback to win a national championship? The Buckeyes' defense is good enough. I believe they're good enough at the skill positions. College football's second-best scoring defense came through in a big win against Michigan State. Marvin Harrison Jr. continues to be the hottest receiver in the country, catching seven passes for 149 yards and two touchdowns while scoring once on the ground as well. Since Week 6, the junior’s 727 receiving yards and nine receiving touchdowns lead all players in college football. He’ll have an opportunity to further pad his stats this week against a Minnesota team that’s coming off back-to-back losses to Illinois and Purdue.  4. Washington (10-0) So, Washington is No. 4. It's obvious what you love about Washington. You love its quarterback, passing game and head coach. Michael Penix Jr. would be your Heisman Trophy winner as of today. If Washington remains undefeated, he'll win the Heisman. The win against ranked Utah and that tough defense was enough for the BCS computers to bump the Huskies up a spot. Washington was able to outlast No. 18 Utah 35-28 on Saturday. Despite having the 11th-highest run rate in the country (60.2%), the Utes only ran the ball on 43.8% of their plays against the Huskies.  5. Florida St (10-0) I'm a big fan of Florida State, but of these teams, they have been the least consistent. It wasn’t always pretty, but Florida State survived a 27-20 scare from Miami (FL) this past weekend. Down a spot and out of the top four of these rankings after two close wins, but the Seminoles have already booked a spot in the ACC title bout. I love Florida State quarterback Jordan Travis. He has the luxury of throwing to Keon Coleman, who is outrageous as a talent. Their defense is good. 6. Alabama (9-1) Would it shock me if Alabama won the national championship this season? Clinched the SEC West by smashing Kentucky and suddenly the Tide is back in the playoff chase in November.Alabama demolished Kentucky 49-21 off a masterclass from Jalen Milroe. The redshirt sophomore accounted for six total touchdowns against the Wildcats – three passing and three rushing. His 90.5 grade on the season is tied with Caleb Williams for eighth among all quarterbacks in the country.Here inlays the problem with the SEC. They only play 8 conference games while the other conferences play nine. Thus; another cupcake opponent towards the end of the season. He has an opportunity to put up more monster numbers against Chattanooga this week, an FCS school. 7. Oregon (9-1) Bo Nix outdueled Caleb Williams in a game that very well could’ve been between last year’s Heisman Trophy winner and this year’s. Nix earned an 85.6 passing grade in the 36-27 win as he threw for 412 yards, four touchdowns and a pair of big-time throws. Beating the Trojans isn't that hard right now, but the Ducks can change the narrative if they make the Pac-12 title game. I'm picking the Ducks to win the Pac-12 and play in the College Football Playoff. Bo Nix is the most experienced quarterback in the history of college football. Oregon's fast on the outside, and its coaching staff is aggressive. I wish that it could stop with all of these ridiculous two-point conversions.  8. Texas (9-1) There's a lot to like about Texas, particularly with Quinn Ewers back. He played really well and the Longhorns were running away with Saturday's game, but what concerns me about them is that they always seem to have these stretches within games where they allow teams to come back on them. While the Longhorns got their starting quarterback back, they suffered a devastating loss on offense as well. Star running back Jonathon Brooks tore his ACL in the victory and will miss the rest of the season. Even though Texas returned Quinn Ewers, it still endured a near-upset from TCU this past weekend, winning 29-26. The win against Alabama is huge in the committee's view and at one loss the Longhorns have a path to the playoff if they win the Big 12. 9. Missouri (8-2) After a tough loss on the road, Mizzou stumbled out of the gate at home with Tennessee jumping out to a 7-3 lead. It seemed to provide a wake-up call for the Tigers, who went on a stellar run that put this game out of reach by the third quarter. Missouri remains on track for its first season with double-digit wins since 2014. After cpoming up short against Georgia a week ago, Missouri responded in a major way with a 36-7 win over No. 13 Tennessee. Now second in the SEC East after inching up the rankings following a statement win against Tennessee. If Missouri is able to win its final two games, it could be playing in its first New Year’s Six bowl since 2013. 10. Louisville (9-1) The Louisville Cardinals sit at 9-1 following their 31-24 win over Virginia this past weekend. Jeff Brohm's team has the top-ranked defense in the ACC, holding opponents to just 17.1 points per game, while putting up 32.7 points and 439 yards per contest on the offensive side of the ball. The Cardinals are inching closer to the ACC Championship Game but games at Miami and against Kentucky are not sure things. Louisville can’t have another letdown performance if it wants to continue its dream season as it must travel on the road to face Miami, a game in which the Cardinals are only favored by 1.5 points.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NCAAF, NBA, NHL and NCAAB Previews and Odds - 11/15/2023

by Big Al Staff

Wednesday, Nov 15, 2023

The Wednesday sports card features NCAAF, NBA, NHL, and NCAAB action.The 12th week in college football continues with two games on national television between FBS opponents at 7 PM ET. Ohio hosts Central Michigan on ESPNU. The Bobcats won for the second time in their last three games with a 20-10 victory at Buffalo as a 9-point favorite last Tuesday. The Chippewas lost for the second time in their last three games in a 38-28 loss at Western Michigan as a 3-point underdog on Tuesday. Ohio is an 11-point favorite, with the total set at 47 (all odds from DraftKings). Miami (OH) plays at home against Buffalo on ESPN2. The RedHawks won for the eighth time in their last nine games with their 19-0 victory at home against Akron as a 17-point favorite on Wednesday. The Bulls lost for the third time in their last four games in a 20-10 loss to Ohio as a 9-point underdog on Tuesday. Miami (OH) is an 8.5-point favorite with an over/under of 39.5. The National Basketball Association has eight games on its docket. The Dallas Mavericks travel to Washington to play the Wizards at 7:10 PM ET as a 5.5-point road favorite with a total of 243. Three more NBA games tip off at 7:40 PM ET. The Atlanta Hawks are at home against the New York Knicks as a 1-point favorite with an over/under of 230. The Boston Celtics play in Philadelphia against the 76ers on ESPN as a 3-point road favorite with a total of 223.5. The Milwaukee Bucks are in Toronto to play the Raptors as a 4.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 226.5. The Chicago Bulls host the Orlando Magic at 8:10 PM ET as a 2-point favorite with a total of 216. The Phoenix Suns play at home against the Minnesota Timberwolves at 9:10 PM ET as a 5.5-point favorite with an over/under 227. Two more games conclude the NBA card at 10:10 PM ET. The Sacramento Kings visit Los Angeles to play the Lakers on ESPN as a 1-point road favorite with a total of 233. The Cleveland Cavaliers play in Portland against the Trail Blazers as a 9.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 221.5. The National Hockey League has four games on its slate. The Carolina Hurricanes are at home against the Philadelphia Flyers on TNT at 7:37 PM ET as a -258 money-line favorite with a total of 6. The Edmonton Oilers host the Seattle Kraken at 8:37 PM ET as a -185 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Colorado Avalanche play at home against the Anaheim Ducks at 9:07 PM ET as a -298 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Vancouver Canucks are at home against the New York Islanders on TNT at 10:07 PM ET as a -155 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6. The college basketball schedule has two games on FS1. Seton Hall hosts Albany at 6:30 PM ET as a 20.5-point favorite with a total of 143.5. Rutgers plays at home against Georgetown at 8:30 PM ET as an 8.5-point favorite with an over/under of 136.5. 

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