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NHL North Division Preview for 2021

by Scott Rickenbach

Tuesday, Jan 12, 2021

NHL North Division Preview for 2021Finally hockey is back as we are heading into the New Year and we will have the NHL season underway by mid-January in this unusually scheduled 2021 hockey season that has been impacted by the pandemic. The impact of the pandemic has also resulted in some divisional shuffling for this season. Below I give a quick hitter report on each of the seven teams in the North Division:North:Calgary – Look for Jacob Markstrom to thrive in Calgary. The change of scenery will be great for the goaltender and he continues to show signs he is on the verge of being able to put a team on his back. Overall this is a quality Flames team that should end up in the post-season once again this year. With Giordano and Tkachuk leading by example, this team also has some solid leadership in the lockerroom. Factor in top talent like Gaudreau and Monahan and this is a team that could make some noise if Markstrom comes through between the pipes. Edmonton – The Oilers are another high-quality team that should be playoff bound. Amazingly, even with McDavid and Draisaitl as well as Nugent-Hopkins, this is a team that has missed the playoffs far too often. However, they appear to finally be turning the corner and the Oilers do get a boost with the signing of Tyson Barrie too. I also like the fact that Edmonton was the best team in the league on the power play and 2nd best on the penalty kill last season. Special teams go a long way toward success in this league including in the post-season. Montreal – This team was similar to Chicago last season. By that I mean they were very fortunate to get a shot to make it into the playoffs with the revised format and they took advantage. However, this was not and still is not a true playoff team. The Canadiens are simply a middling team that is trending a bit downward as Drouin underachieved after coming here from Tampa Bay and he was close to Domi who now got sent to Columbus because of not getting along with head coach Claude Julien who is not returning from heart surgery during the post-season. This once-proud franchise hasn’t won a playoff series since 2015 and this year they are unlikely to even have the opportunity as they don’t make the playoffs given the tough North Division they’re in. Ottawa – This is the one team that will keep Montreal out of the basement. Ottawa is in a rebuild mode as they have had 3 straight tough seasons now. The Senators also lost a number of contributors in the off-season. Long-range this team will be better off as a result of the changes made but short-term it will challenge this team’s compete level. A lot of youth on this team plus new personnel to work into the roster. That said, we’ll likely see some improvement with this hockey club as it gets a chance to jell as the season goes on but there will still be some early season struggles and, overall, this team is unlikely to get out of the basement in this division. Toronto – This could finally be the year for the Maple Leafs. The divisional re-alignment for this season only really helps Toronto as they get away from the Lightning and Bruins and I expect the Leafs to take advantage and earn the top spot in this division. That is not to say it will be easy but it does position them well to then make a playoff run too. So much top tier talent plus then they added the veteran presence of Joe Thornton and they will be hungry right along with him as he goes for the Cup at the age of 41. The Maple Leafs certainly can score well with big guns like Matthews and Marner and Tavares. They also can get solid goaltending from Frederik Andersen but will this team get enough defense. They need all the skaters to step up in that department not just the blue line guys. That said, this is a team to keep an eye on for plenty of “overs” too depending on how much “buy in” is seen in terms of team defense. Vancouver – Braden Holtby in goal backed up Thatcher Demko after shining in the post-season and a ton of talent up front where guys like Miller, Pettersson, Horvat, and Boeser lead the way. This is a talented team and they added Nate Schmidt from Vegas to pair with Quinn Hughes on the blue line. It will very likely be between the Canucks and Maple Leafs for the top spot in this division. This team has a great power play and if they can be a little stronger on the penalty kill and their 5 on 5 play at both ends this a team that is absolutely on the cusp and on its way up. Their point totals the last 3 seasons went from 73 to 81 to 93. Another solid season on tap for the Canucks as they have responded well to coach Travis Green. Winnipeg – It was just a couple seasons ago that the Jets were one of the top teams in the NHL. Then they have regressed some each of the past two seasons and the regression is likely to continue this season. Too many issues, too many question marks, problems with chemistry, and a blue line in a state of flux. That latter issue is of particular concern because goalie Connor Hellebuyck is off a fantastic campaign but has had trouble going to back to back with strong seasons. If the D in front of him struggles or he falters some this season, it could be a long campaign for the Jets. The whole Patrik Laine situation took a lot out of this team and guys like Blake Wheeler and Mark Scheifele are simply being asked to do too much. The result is this team will have to battle hard just to make the post-season this year.

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Ness Notes: Tuesday, Jan 12

by Larry Ness

Tuesday, Jan 12, 2021

This column will be available Monday through Friday (posted no later than 1:00 ET), EXCLUSIVELY at BigAl.com. I like to call it my daily 'random thoughts' on the sports betting world, although I'll pass along that my therapist refers to it as "thoughtful commentary."CFB: LSU's 2019 national champions (15-0) were called "a team for the ages" and many (most?) college football experts declared Joe Burrow's LSU squad "the greatest offense of all time." However, just one year later, the 2020 Alabama Crimson Tide stated "their case" for that title with a 52-24 romp over Ohio State Monday night at Hard Rock Stadium. Nick Saban won a record SEVENTH title, saying "Move over Bear Bryant," who won six. SIX of Saban's national championships have come during his 14 seasons at Alabama (all six in the last 12 years), with his first title coming at LSU back in 2013. I want a day to reflect and Wednesday Notes will feature my Alabama/LSU comparison.CBB: The AP's latest poll was released Monday afternoon and for the EIGHTH consecutive week, it's Gonzaga (now 12-0) at No. 1 and Baylor (11-0) at No. 2. The Bulldogs got all but one of the 64 first-place votes, with one holdout ranking the Bears at No. 1. Maybe that voter is looking at Baylor's 9-2 ATS mark, compared to Gonzaga's 6-5-1 one? The only change in the top-10 was Michigan (10-0) moving up to No. 7 (from No. 10). 8-1 Villanova hasn't played since Dec 23 but remained No. 3, 10-1 Texas stayed at No. 4 and 11-2 Iowa remained at No. 5. 9-1 Clemson made a big jump, moving up SEVEN spots to No. 12, while 8-1 Louisville went from unranked to No. 16.  9-3 Ohio St is back in at No. 21 after a one-week absence and 6-1 UConn moved into the top-25 (at No. 25) for the first time since the 2016-17 season. Falling out were No. 15 Rutgers (on a three-game slide), No. 23 Michigan St and No. 25 Florida St.Playing as a ranked team for the first time in four seasons, UConn survived in Chicago with a 60-53 win over DePaul. The Huskies played a second straight game without James Bouknight (No. 2 scorer in the Big East at 20.3 PPG), UConn held DePaul scoreless over the final 4:27 of the game in a closing 8-0 run. Looking ahead to Tuesday's action, the Big Ten has seven teams in the AP's latest poll, including THREE in the top-10. TWO of those teams play each other tonight, as No. 7 Michigan (10-0) hosts No. 9 Wisconsin (10-2) in Ann Arbor. The only other top-25 matchup is No. 19 Duke (5-2) at No. 20 Va Tech (9-2). Michigan is favored by 3 1/2-points and Duke is favored by 1 1/2-points. Higher ranked teams are 24-10 (.706) SU but just 19-15 (55.9%) ATS in meetings between ranked opponents Y-T-D. Two other top-10 teams are in action, as 10-2 Kansas (No. 6) is at 8-3 Oklahoma St (Jayhawks are favored by 12 points) and 9-1 Tennessee (No. 10) is at 4-5 Vandy (Vols are favored by 12 1/2-points).NBA: The 2020-21 season tipped off back on Dec 22, so we are three weeks in. Some COVID issues have arisen lately and as I've said since sports returned back on July 23, "fingers crossed." The 76ers opened 7-1 but have lost THREE in a row. Philly is now 7-4 and tied with Milwaukee, a half-game behind East leader Boston (7-3). As noted last week, the Bucks own the NBA's best point-differential at plus-11.8, so there is every indication that the Bucks will win the East for a third straight season. The defending champion Lakers own the NBA's best overall record at 8-3 and at plus-8.3 PPG, rank second to Milwaukee in point differential. Just behind the Lakers are the 7-4 Clippers and Suns. It's all still VERY early but the 2-8 Raptors have shown few signs of looking anywhere close to the team that won the NBA title two seasons ago and had the NBA's second-best regular season record during last year's regular season. Toronto's just 3-7 ATS, tied for worst with the 5-5 Nuggets, who are also 3-7 ATS. Who has the NBA's best ATS record? Naturally, it's the 4-7 Chicago Bulls at 8-3 ATS!Good luck...Larry

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NCAA Tuesday Night Basketball: Michigan/Wisconsin Preview

by Big Al Staff

Tuesday, Jan 12, 2021

A college basketball doubleheader on ESPN tips off at 7 PM ET in a battle between two Big Ten teams nationally ranked in the top-ten.Michigan is one of the surprises of the college basketball season. They join Gonzaga and Baylor as the only programs from major conferences that have yet to lose this season. The Wolverines raised their record to 10-0 last Wednesday with an 82-57 victory at home against Minnesota as an 8-point favorite. They begin the week ranked seventh in the nation in the Associated Press poll.Head coach Juwan Howard had three starters return from the team that finished 19-12 last season. Isaiah Livers averaged 12.9 points-per-game while shooting 40.9% from 3-point range. Franz Wagner was on the Big Ten All-Freshman team with an 11.6 points-per-game average. Eli Brooks added 10.6 points-per-game in his sophomore season. Howard brought-in two impact transfer players in seniors Mike Smith from Columbia and Chaundee Brown from Wake Forest. Yet it has been freshman Hunter Dickinson who has been the difference-maker for this team. The four-star recruit is scoring 18.0 points-per-game while adding 8.1 rebounds-per-game.Michigan ranks sixth in adjusted offensive efficiency at kenpom while also ranking 20th in adjusted defensive efficiency. Howard’s team shoots the ball well and while playing strong fundamental defense. The Wolverines are seventh in the nation with an effective field goal percentage of 59.0%. Their opponent’s effective field goal percentage of 43.8% is 13th best in the country. Yet Michigan will face their stiffest test this season against the Badgers. The Wolverines' highest-profile victory was against the Golden Gophers last week. Their best non-conference opponent was Central Florida. They have played eight of their ten games at home. Howard’s team started fast last season as well in his first year as a head coach. Michigan rose to rank fourth in the nation after a 7-0 start with victories against Creighton, North Carolina, and Gonzaga before they went 12-12 the rest of the way. Yet before presuming a similar slide is destined for this year’s team, remember that Livers suffered an injury that kept him out of ten games in the second half of the season. Wisconsin has won their last two games and seven of their last eight after outlasted Indiana in double-overtime on Thursday by an 80-73 score as a 9-point favorite. The Badgers are 10-2 and rank ninth in the nation by the AP.Head coach Greg Gard has one of the most experienced teams in the nation. Five seniors who scored at least 8.7 points-per-game on the team that shared the Big Ten title with Michigan State and Maryland are back. This core is all averaging at least 9.8 points-per-game this season, with D’Mitrik Rice leading the way with a 14.8 points-per-game scoring average along with 3.3 rebounds-per-game and 3.7 assists-per-game.Wisconsin ranks tenth in adjusted offensive efficiency at kenpom while also ranking seventh in adjusted defensive efficiency. The Badgers are making 41.4% of their 3-point shots, fourth-best in the nation. Gard’s group is also 12th in the country by holding their opponents to 41.9% shooting inside the arc. They have high-profile victories against Louisville, Michigan State, and the Minnesota team that the Wolverines just beat. Wisconsin’s two losses were at Marquette and home to Maryland. BookMaker lists Michigan as a 3.5-point favorite with the total set at 134.

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The Browns Actually Won A Playoff Game

by Will Rogers

Tuesday, Jan 12, 2021

Week 1 of Year 1 of expanded NFL playoffs is in the books, and old-timers who hate change are on the defensive a bit this week. Indianapolis and Chicago, who in any other season would have had the month of January off, became the first 7-seeds in league history to “earn” a playoff berth – and neither completely embarrassed itself.The AFC Colts went into their game against 2-seed Buffalo as solid 7-point dogs, and came within one possession of taking out the Bills. If this was Philip Rivers’s last game in the NFL, he left with his head high (309 yards passing, two TDs) and can tell his grandkids that in his 256th and final game as a pro he at least covered the spread (final 27-24).In the NFC, the 7-seed Bears were a little less tidy. Chicago failed to reach the end zone, was never in the game and failed to cover an 11-point line in losing 21-9 to No. 2 seed New Orleans. Little was expected from Chicago, and little was given.The Big Story, though, took place in Cleveland where the Browns appear to have awoken from a decades-long nap and actually outplayed and out-toughed the Steelers. Outside of the AFC East, where until this year the Patriots have crushed everyone for the last 20 years, no one has owned a team like the Steelers have owned the Browns.All that, though, was tossed out the car window in the first period as the 5.5-point underdog Browns bended, folded and mutilated a tired and depressed Steelers team that only a few months ago was talking about an undefeated season. COVID-ravaged Cleveland led 28-0 before the Steelers coaches even got their virus masks on, and from there it was just filler.Cleveland, seeded 6th, now heads into the Divisional Round against top-seeded Kansas City, and bettors who believe the Browns’ surge has legs can get 10 points in just about any book they want. KC backers can scour books and buy the Chiefs at -9.5, but there has been very little line movement since this went on the board last Sunday night. Bargain-hunters may have to wait until later in the week before they see any line alterations.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: EPL, NBA, and NCAA Basketball Preview

by Big Al Staff

Tuesday, Jan 12, 2021

The Tuesday sports card features action in the NBA and college basketball and the beginning of Matchweek 18 in the English Premier League.Six games are on the NBA docket. The card tips off at 7:05 PM ET with Philadelphia hosting Miami as an 8-point favorite with the total a total of 210 (all odds from BetOnline). Utah visits Cleveland as a 12-point favorite with an over/under of 206 at 7:35 PM ET. Denver visits Brooklyn at 7:35 PM ET with the Nets a 1-point favorite with the total at 230.5. At 8:05 PM ET, San Antonio travels to Oklahoma City as a 2.5-point road favorite with the total set at 216.5. Houston hosts the Los Angeles Lakers at 8:05 PM ET with the Lakers laying 4.5-points as the road favorite and the total at 225.5. Golden State plays at home against Indiana at 10:35 PM ET as a 3-point favorite with an over/under of 228. None of the games are on national television. The scheduled game between Boston and Chicago got postponed due to COVID issues.The college basketball card begins at 2 PM ET in the Mid-American Conference. Buffalo visits Western Michigan as a road favorite with an over/under of 144.5.Wisconsin travels to Ann Arbor to play Michigan in a battle of top-ten ranked Big Ten teams at 7 PM ET on ESPN. The Badgers have won two straight games and seven of their last eight after defeating Indiana at home, 80-73, last Thursday as a 9-point favorite. The victory raised Wisconsin’s record to 10-2. They rank ninth in the Associated Press poll. Michigan ranks seventh in that pool with their undefeated 10-0 record. They last played on Wednesday when they defeated Minnesota by an 87-57 score as an 8-point favorite. The Wolverines are laying 3.5-points as the favorite with a total of 134.Tennessee visits Vanderbilt at 7 PM ET on ESPN2. The Volunteers have won two in a row after defeating Texas A&M on the road, 68-54, as a 10-point favorite on Saturday. Tennessee ranks tenth by the AP, with that win elevating their record to 9-1. The Commodores have lost three in a row for a 4-5 record.  They lost at home to Mississippi State by an 84-81 score as a 2.5-point underdog on Saturday. The Volunteers are a 12-point road favorite with an over/under of 138.St. John’s hosts Butler on FS1 at 7 PM ET. The Red Storm have lost two straight games and five of their last six after losing at Creighton on Saturday by a 97-79 score as an 11-point underdog. Mike Anderson’s group is 6-6. The Bulldogs have dropped three of their last four to see their record drop to 3-6 after losing at home to UConn on Saturday, 72-60, as a 1.5-point underdog. St. John’s is a 2-point favorite with the total at 144.Marquette plays at home against Providence on FS1 at 9 PM ET. The Golden Eagles are 4-5 after losing four of their last five games after their 65-54 loss to UConn last Tuesday as a 1-point underdog. The Friars fell to 7-5 after losing their second straight game on Sunday in a 74-73 loss at Xavier as a 4-point underdog. Marquette is a 3-point favorite with an over/under of 139.Kentucky hosts Alabama on ESPN at 9 PM ET. The Wildcats have won three games in a row after they upset Florida on the road in Gainesville on Saturday, 76-58, as a 5.5-point underdog. John Calipari’s team is now 4-6 this season. The Crimson Tide raised their record to 9-3 with their fifth straight victory on Saturday in a 94-90 win at Auburn as a 4.5-point favorite. Kentucky is a 2.5-point favorite with the total at 147.5.The English Premier League begins Matchweek 18 with three matches. Newcastle United visits Sheffield United at 1 PM ET in a pick ‘em matchup with an over/under of 2. Manchester United plays on the road at Burnley at 3:15 PM ET as a -1.25 goal line road favorite with a total of 2.75. The NBC Sports Network has the broadcast. Wolverhampton hosts Everton at 3:15 PM ET in a pick ‘em match with an over/under of 2.25.

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NHL West Division Preview for 2021

by Scott Rickenbach

Monday, Jan 11, 2021

NHL West Division Preview for 2021Finally hockey is back as we are heading into the New Year and we will have the NHL season underway by mid-January in this unusually scheduled 2021 hockey season that has been impacted by the pandemic. The impact of the pandemic has also resulted in some divisional shuffling for this season. Below I give a quick hitter report on each of the eight teams in the West Division:West:Anaheim – The Ducks have continued to trend downward the past two seasons and they now enter the 3rd season of a rebuild. Unfortunately for Anaheim fans, the 3rd year is unlikely to be the charm. This team struggles to score goals, allows too many goals, is weak on the power play, and nearly just as bad on the penalty kill. I know they got Shattenkirk to try and shore up the power plays and Grant to try and stabilize the penalty kill but the Ducks just have too many holes and didn’t do enough in the off-season.Arizona – This team has been better the past two seasons then they had been in recent years. However, the Coyotes lost quite a few pieces from last season’s team. Players like Hall, Soderberg, Hinostroza, Grabner, and Richardson are now gone but also a key change at the top could make this season a little shaky for Arizona. The Coyotes have a new GM as Armstrong replaces Chayka. The Coyotes are still solid in goal with Keumper and Raanta but will they score enough to be successful? I look for a drop-off for Arizona this season. Colorado – Had they not suffered a number of key injuries this team likely would have won the Stanley Cup last season. Now, bolstered by even more additions to an already stacked roster, this club has to be the odds on favorite to win it all this season. The Avalanche added Brandon Saad and Devon Toews and this was after adding Kadri and Burakovsky the prior off-season. In other words, Colorado just keeps getting stronger and stronger and this is particularly true in 5 of 5 hockey. With some tweaks to special teams and with healthy netminders, the sky is the limit for the Avs. Los Angeles – The Kings have really dropped off the past two seasons and I expect them to remain near the bottom of the league this season as well. Los Angeles is in rebuild mode and the good news is that the future looks bright with a lot of prospects plus draft picks piled up. However, after unloading aging vets this is a team that clearly is looking at next season and beyond and this will be another year for LA as a result. Los Angeles did have a winning record at home last season but was awful on the road. Keep that in mind as you cap their games this season. Will that trend continue in a covid-impacted season?Minnesota – After taking a dip two seasons ago the Wild were on their way back up last season but now appear ready to drop off again. In the long run it will be better for Minnesota but in the short-term they have lost too much. Gone are guys like Mikko Koivu, goalie Devan Dubnyk, Eric Staal, and Ryan Danato among others. It is a long list of departures for this team. Maybe Cam Talbot will be the answer for this team in goal but will they score enough after losing some key contributors that is the question? Defensively the Wild are considered solid but the key will be how Talbot does in a new uniform. St Louis – The Blues will again be one of the best teams in the league. But will the departure of Alex Pietrangelo hurt the leadership of the team. Who will step up? Will Kyle Clifford help insure the Blues don’t see a drop off in toughness and physicality. Of course the signing of Torey Krug, formerly with the Bruins, is huge for St Louis and this team does indeed look like they just shuffled the deck a bit but should be just as strong. Annually one of the top teams in the NHL this season looks like more of the same but, keep in mind, Jordan Binnington no longer has Jake Allen behind him in goal. Of course that could go one of two ways so keep an eye on how things go on defense and in goal for the Blues early this season. Odds are this team will be firing on all cylinders come playoff time as long as Binnington keeps up his end of the deal! He is dealing with some contract pressure too since his bridge contract expires after this season. San Jose – This team fell off drastically last season and another tough campaign is likely on the way this season. They have a fractured dressing room per se as the culture of this team is simply off. Maybe too many big personalities in the locker room and now veteran Joe Thornton is gone and with the Maple Leafs. This club was great on the penalty kill last season but everything else was, and still is, a concern. Now will Martin Jones step up his game in goal with Devan Dubnyk now arriving from Minnesota. Good goaltending can help a club get hot but I feel there are still too many holes with the Sharks. Vegas – This is going to be an interesting season for the Golden Knights. Certainly they are still a high quality team and should be one of the best in the NHL again. But enter Alex Pietrangelo and exit guys like Stastny, Schmidt, Engelland, Cousins and the list goes on. There was just a certain chemistry among these guys that it will be interesting to see how quickly the new club acclimates. Keep in mind there was a lot of drama too about goalie Marc-Andre Fleury after Robin Lehner came on board. But all in all this is a well-coached team under Peter DeBoer and the kind of team that, if it grows more cohesive as a unit as the season goes on, will be the kind of team no one wants to face in the post-season. 

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Ness Notes: Monday, Jan 11

by Larry Ness

Monday, Jan 11, 2021

This column will be available Monday through Friday (posted no later than 1:00 ET), EXCLUSIVELY at BigAl.com. I like to call it my daily 'random thoughts' on the sports betting world, although I'll pass along that my therapist refers to it as "thoughtful commentary."CBB Update (Fri-Sun). There were just TWO games between ranked opponents the last three days, as No. 4 Texas won 72-70 at No. 14 West Va on Saturday and No. 5 Iowa won 86-71 at home over No. 16 Minnesota on Sunday. The Longhorns trailed for most of the game and didn't retake the lead until the final seconds. Texas would score the final SEVEN points of the game, avenging last year's 38-point loss at West Virginia. Luka Garza, the nation's leading scorer at 27.6 PPG, scored 33 points in helping Iowa beat Minnesota, avenging a 102-95 overtime loss to the Gophers on Christmas Day. Higher ranked team are now 24-10 (.706) SU but just 19-15 (55.9%) ATS in meetings between ranked opponents Y-T-D. There were 14 games featuring ranked teams and unranked opponents and the ranked teams went 11-3 (.786) SU but a more modest 8-6 (57.1%) ATS. No. 1 Gonzaga and No. 2 Baylor won handily but despite scoring 116 points, Gonzaga failed to covered as a 32 1/2-point favorite. Gonzaga is 12-0 but just 6-5-1 ATS, while 11-0 Baylor is a money-making 9-2 (81.8%) ATS. There are no ranked teams in action on Monday and later this afternoon the AP will release its latest poll. Recap in Tuesday's Notes. Also on Tuesday, I'll check in on the NBA, three weeks into its 2020-21 season.It's 7-0 Ohio State vs 12-0 Alabama in the CFP Championship Game Monday night at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens (8:00 ET on ESPN). The Buckeyes advanced with a DOMINATING 49-28 win over Clemson on Jan 1 in the semifinals. Ohio St QB Justin Fields threw for 385 yards and six TDs, while RB Trey Sermon ran 31 times for 193 yards, as the Buckeyes avenged last season's 29-23 semi final loss to the Tigers. The Clemson defense had NO answer for Fields and the Ohio St offense, as the Buckeyes reeled off 28 unanswered points to take a 35-14 halftime lead. Mac Jones threw four TD passes, three to WR DeVonta Smith, plus RB Harris 'hurdled' his way to 125 rushing yards, as top-ranked Alabama rolled to a 31-14 victory over fourth-ranked Notre Dame to reach the CFP title game for the FIFTH time in the system's seven seasons (won in 2015 and 2017). Alabama scored on its first THREE possessions and seemed to get 'bored' after taking a 28-7 lead in the third quarter (won 31-14).Justin Fields has some VERY sore ribs (broken?) but there's VERY little doubt he will be under center for this game. He's completed 73.4% for 1,906 yards (remember, just seven games) with 21 TDs and six INTs. WRs Wilson (40 catches / 16.8 YPC/ 5 TDs) and Olave (42 catches / 15.7 YPC / 7 TDs) are terrific, while TE Ruckert has just 12 catches but FIVE have resulted in TDs. RB Sermon enters off running for 331 yards in the Big Ten championship game vs Northwestern and following with 193 yards against Clemson.Mac Jones completes 77.0% of his passes for 4,036 yards with 36 TDs and just four INTs, giving him a nation's best QB rating of 203.0. DeVonta Smith (105 catches / 15.6 YPC / 20 TDs) is considered the best WR in the nation and Nick Saban announced that WR Jaylen Waddle (25 catches / 22.3 YPC / 4 TDs in four games) has been cleared to return to practice and could play in this game. RB Harris can't match Sermon's heroics of the last two games but ran for 1,387 yards on 6.1 YPC with 24 TDs on the season.Both offenses seem 'unstoppable,' as Ohio St averages 42.5 PPG (8th), while Alabama averages 49.7 PPG (2nd). Both defenses are strong with Ohio State allowing 21.0 PPG and Alabama 19.5 PPG. However, the Alabama defense has really 'found itself,' after a poor start. The Crimson Tide allowed 28.8 PPG through their first four games but just 14.1 PPG over their last eight. Note, that includes them giving up 46 points to Florida in the SEC title game. Eliminating that game and the Tide allowed just 9.6 PPG over SEVEN of their last eight! Alabama is favored by 8 1/2-points and the over/under is 75.It was called the NFL's Super Wild Card weekend, as there were SIX games as opposed to the usual four. Home teams went 2-4 SU and 2-4 ATS and until Sunday night's 'explosion' in which the Browns beat the Steelers 47-38, the first five wild card games averaged a very modest 43.6 PPG. Three of the first five went over (counting Ind/Buf as an over, with that total closing 50 1/2 and ending 51). Obviously, Cle/Pit went over, making four overs and two unders for the weekend, as games averaged 50.5 points.The No. 1 seeds were the only teams to get a bye in this season's expanded format and both No.2 seeds (Buffalo and New Orleans) advanced. Buffalo were AFC East champions for the first time since 1995 and hosted their first playoff game since 1996 on Saturday. The Bills' 27-24 win over the Colts snapped an 0-6 postseason skid, winning their first playoff game since a 37-22 win over Miami on Dec 30, 1995. The Saints beat the Bears 21-9, holding Chicago to 11 FDs and 239 yards, 99 of which came on the game's final drive. It ended with a 19-yard TD pass on the game's final play with no extra-point try (mattered to some).However, both No. 3 seeds and No. 4 seeds lost at home. In the NFC, No. 3 Seattle never played with the lead against the Rams and was 2 of 14 on third downs. It was Seattle's first home playoff game in four years was a 'disaster, as the Seahawks saw their 10-game home playoff win streak snapped. The Rams allowed just 278 total yards and 11 FDs. LA had QB issues (Wolford was KO'd and Goff was far from healthy) but after a a terrific season, Seattle's Russell Wilson completed 11 of 27 for 174 yards, while throwing a "pick-6" and getting sacked FIVE times!Over in the AFC, let me start with this. Pittsburgh's "Big Ben" threw for 501 yards and four TDs, leading the Steelers to 38 points. However, the Steelers were NEVER in the game. The Browns scored 14 seconds into the game and led 28-0 at the end of the second quarter! Cleveland was without head coach Kevin Stefanski, who tested positive for COVID-19, and assorted other coaches and players because of protocol related to the pandemic. The Browns had limited practice time NONE of that mattered. The Browns were playing their first playoff game since 2002 and walked away with the team's first playoff victory since beating the Pats on New Year's Day 1995 (1994 season). Think that's a big deal? Try this. It was the team's first playoff win on the road since Dec 28, 1969! The Steelers opened the 2020 season 11-0 but then lost FOUR of five, before Sunday' 48-37 loss to the Browns. Both No. 4 seeds also lost but neither result was a surprise. The No. 5 Bucs closed as a 10-point favorite at No. 4 Washington (7-9 record) and won 31-23, as Tom Brady threw for 381 yards and two TDs. It was 'old hat' for TB 12, who made his 42nd postseason start (31st win). However, it was his first not in a New England Patriots uniform and he led the Bucs to their first playoff victory since the 2002 season! However, Brady's counterpart made quite an impression. Taylor Heinicke made just his second pro start and first in the playoffs in place of injured starter Alex Smith. He was signed in early December to the practice squad and threw for 306 yards (one TD) and ran for 46 yards (one TD).Baltimore was as hot as any NFL team down the stretch, closing 5-0 SU & ATS while outscoring opponents on average, 37.2-to-17.8 PPG. The Ravens had lost in the 2019 playoffs at home to Tennessee 28-12 and also 30-24 (OT) at home in Week 11, but were 3 or 3 1/2-point favorites at No. 4 Tennessee. The Ravens fell behind 10-0 in the first quarter but dominated the rest of the way in winning 20-13. Lamar Jackson finally got his first postseason victory (0-2), running for 136 yards and a 48-yard TD while throwing for 179 yards. The Baltimore D held Tennessee to its fewest points all season and smothered 2,000-yard rusher Derrick Henry. Henry had run all over the Ravens with 328 yards rushing combined in the last two meetings but had his worst performance of the season, gaining only 40 yards on 18 carries. The Ravens snapped a string of 21 straight games lost by the franchise in either the regular season or playoffs when trailing by 10 or more. Can we rename them the "Comeback Kids?"My first look at the Division Round games will come in Wednesday's Notes and a final preview in Friday's Notes.Good luck...Larry

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2021 NCAA Football Championship: Ohio State/Alabama Preview

by Big Al Staff

Monday, Jan 11, 2021

Ohio State and Alabama will play for the 2020-21 College Football National Championship at 8 PM ET on ESPN. Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, is the site for the game.The Buckeyes reached this pinnacle game by upsetting Clemson in the national semifinals on January 1st, 49-28, as a 7-point underdog. Ohio State generated 639 yards against the Tigers’ defense while outgaining them by 195 yards. Their 8.9 yards-per-play average was their highest output in a game since 2017 when they averaged 9.2 yards-per-play against Rutgers. Justin Fields completed 22 of 28 passes in the victory. The junior quarterback passed for 385 yards with six touchdown passes, which were both career highs. Fields has completed 73.4% of his passes this season for 1906 yards with 21 touchdown passes and six interceptions. He also rushed for 316 yards with five scores. Running back Trey Sermon has stepped to rush for 524 yards in the Buckeyes’ last two games after rushing for 192 yards against Clemson. The former Oklahoma transfer broke Ohio State’s school two-game rushing record set by Ezekiel Elliott, who ran for 476 yards over two games in 2015. After not rushing for more than 215 yards in their first three games, the Buckeyes have gained at least 254 yards on the ground in their last four games.Ohio State enters this game with a 7-0 mark in a COVID-shortened season. The Buckeyes defeated Northwestern in the Big Ten Championship Game and Penn State in the regular season. Alabama has won five more games with victories against Georgia and Texas A&M before defeating Florida in the SEC Championship Game. The Crimson Tide then beat Notre Dame in the national semifinals, 31-14, as an 18.5-point favorite on January 1st. Mac Jones completed 25 of 30 passes for 297 yards with four touchdowns and without an interception in the victory. The junior completed 77% of his passes for 4036 yards with 36 touchdown passes and no interceptions. Jones’ top target was DeVonta Smith. The Heisman Trophy winner caught 105 passes for 1640 yards with 20 touchdowns. Alabama won 11 of their 12 games by at least 15 points. They were riding an NCAA record 24-game streak where they scored at least 35 points before the Fighting Irish held them to 31 points. Crimson Tide center Landon Dickerson is out the season with the knee injury he suffered in the SEC Championship Game. Wide receiver Jaylen Waddle will be a game-time decision with the ankle injury that has kept him out the last seven games. Fields is probable for Ohio State despite the mid-body injury he incurred mid-game against Clemson. The Buckeyes are still dealing with the COVID outbreak that has limited their roster since the Big Ten Championship Game. Running back Myian Williams revealed on Twitter that he did not make the trip to Miami. Ohio State will also rely on freshman kicker Jake Siebert with their two other kickers, Blake Haubeil and Dominic Dimaccio, out with COVID. Defensive linemen Tommy Togiai and Tyreke Smith have also tested positive, with their status in doubt. There is speculation that Togiai had a false positive test and that the team may bypass Big Ten protocols for CDC protocols in allowing Togiai to play. There is speculation that the remaining players impacted by COVID are backups, but the Buckeyes may be down to just four defensive ends for this game. Ohio State makes their first appearance in the National Championship Game since 2014 when they won the title. The Buckeyes defeated the Crimson Tide in the semifinals by a 42-35 score, which was the last time these two teams played on the gridiron. Alabama will be playing in their eighth championship game since 2009. The Tide's last appearance in this game was on January 8th, 2018, when Tua Tagovailoa came off the bench to lead their second-half rally to defeat Georgia in overtime by a 26-23 score. The Crimson Tide has won five national championships under head coach Nick Saban.BetAnySports lists Alabama as an 8.5-point favorite with the total set at 75.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NCAA Basketball and NCAA Football Preview

by Big Al Staff

Monday, Jan 11, 2021

The Monday sports card features action in the NBA and college basketball, with the main attraction being the College Football National Championship Game.Eight games are on the NBA docket. Four games tip-off the card at 7 PM ET. Two contests conclude the schedule at 10 PM ET. None of the games are on national television.The college basketball schedule tips off at 3 PM ET with SMU hosting Temple in an American Athletic Conference showdown. The Mustangs are an 11.5-point favorite with the total set at 142 (all odds from BetOnline).UConn travels to DePaul at 6 PM ET on FS1. The Huskies raised their record to 6-1 after their 72-60 win at Butler as a 1.5-point favorite on Saturday. The Blue Demons have lost three in a row to fall to 1-3 season after losing to Seton Hall on Saturday by a 76-68 score. UConn is a 5-point road favorite with an over/under of 140. Boise State plays at Wyoming at 9 PM ET on the CBS Sports Network. The Broncos lost their opening game of the season at Houston by a 68-58 score but have since rattled off nine straight victories. They last played on Friday when they defeated Air Force by an 80-69 score as an 18.5-point favorite with a total of 132. Wyoming is now 7-2 on the season after their six-game winning streak ended last Monday in an 81-61 loss at Fresno State as a 3.5-point underdog. Boise State is an 8.5-point road favorite with the total at 147.5.Ohio State and Alabama will play for the 2020-21 College Football National Championship at 8 PM ET on ESPN. Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, is the site for the game.The Buckeyes reached this pinnacle game by upsetting Clemson in the national semifinals on January 1st, 49-28, as a 7-point underdog. Ohio State generated 639 yards against the Tigers’ defense while outgaining them by 195 yards. Their 8.9 yards-per-play average was their highest output in a game since 2017 when they averaged 9.2 yards-per-play against Rutgers. Alabama beat Notre Dame in the national semifinals, 31-14, as an 18.5-point favorite on January 1st. Mac Jones completed 25 of 30 passes for 297 yards with four touchdowns and without an interception in the victory. The junior completed 77% of his passes for 4036 yards with 36 touchdown passes and no interceptions. Jones’ top target was DeVonta Smith. The Heisman Trophy winner caught 105 passes for 1640 yards with 20 touchdowns. Alabama won 11 of their 12 games by at least 15 points. They were riding an NCAA record 24-game streak where they scored at least 35 points before the Fighting Irish held them to 31 points. Ohio State makes their first appearance in the National Championship Game since 2014 when they won the title. The Buckeyes defeated the Crimson Tide in the semifinals by a 42-35 score, which was the last time these two teams played on the gridiron. Alabama will be playing in their eighth championship game since 2009. The Tide's last appearance in this game was on January 8th, 2018, when Tua Tagovailoa came off the bench to lead their second-half rally to defeat Georgia in overtime by a 26-23 score. The Crimson Tide has won five national championships under head coach Nick Saban.Alabama is an 8.5-point favorite, with the total set at 75.

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NFL Sunday Night Football: Steelers/Browns Preview

by Big Al Staff

Sunday, Jan 10, 2021

The conclusion to the Super Wild Card Playoff Weekend triple-header on Sunday has Cleveland visiting Pittsburgh for the third installment this season of their AFC North rivalry.The Browns ended their 17-year playoff drought last weekend with their 24-22 victory over the Steelers. Baker Mayfield completed 17 of 27 passes for 196 yards with a touchdown pass and no interceptions. Nick Chubb added 108 yards on the ground from 14 carries. Mayfield has completed 62.8% of his passes in his third season in the league for 3563 yards with 26 touchdown passes and eight interceptions. The former Heisman Trophy winner has struggled in his three career starts in Pittsburgh. Mayfield has lost all three games while averaging only 165 passing yards-per-game with four touchdowns and four interceptions. He got sacked 11 times while posting a low 70.6 passer rating in those games. Not only did the Browns lose all three games, they only averaged 16.5 points-per-game. The more pressing concern for the Cleveland organization has been managing the COVID outbreak in their organization. Quarantine guidelines will prevent first-year head coach Kevin Stefanski from being on the sidelines and communicating with his team and coaching staff during the game. Special teams coach Mike Priefer will serve as the acting head coach with offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt will call the plays. The Browns were able to get back to the practice field on Friday after quarantining for most of the week. Injuries and COVID keep Cleveland far from at full strength for their return to the postseason. Pro-Bowl guard Joel Bitonio, cornerback Denzel Ward, and safety Ronnie Harrison, Jr. is the most significant losses for them to COVID. The Browns will also be without tight end Harrison Bryant, wide receiver KhaDarel Hodge, cornerback Kevin Johnson, safety Jovante Moffat, and linebacker Malcolm Smith. The Browns also have been hit by injuries with the loss to defensive end Olivier Vernon to his Achilles’ injury. Vernon is second on the team with nine sacks. Cleveland also has the following seven players listed as questionable: wide receiver Donovan People-Jones; tackle Jack Conklin; defensive end Myles Garrett; cornerback Terrance Mitchell; defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson; cornerback M.J. Stewart guard Wyatt Teller. People-Jones did pass the concussion protocol at the end of the week and practiced on Friday. Stefanski is optimistic that at least Garrett and Richardson will be able to play.Pittsburgh has no players on their final injury report this week. Cornerback Joe Haden is the only player on their COVID list. The Steelers have sustained injuries this season with seven players either out the year or on their Injured Reserve, with starting linebackers Devin Bush and Marcus Dupree being the most notable. The Steelers were able to rest some starters last week in the loss to the Browns after being locked into the third seed. Ben Roethlisberger was able to get the game off with backup Mason Rudolph completing 22 of 39 passes for 315 yards with two touchdown passes and one interception. Roethlisberger is completing 65.6% of his passes this season for 3803 yards with 33 touchdown passes and ten interceptions. He has owned Cleveland in his career when playing at home in Heinz Field, where he sports a 13-0 record with the average scoring being 28-13. The Steelers won the first meeting between these two teams by a 38-7 score at home on October 18th.BookMaker lists the Steelers as a 6-point favorite with the total set at 46.5. Kickoff on NBC is at 8:15 PM ET.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NFL and NCAA Basketball Preview

by Big Al Staff

Sunday, Jan 10, 2021

The Sunday sports card features the second-leg of the NFL Super Wild Card Weekend triple-header in addition to action in the NBA and college basketball.The NFL card kicks off at 1:05 PM ET Baltimore visiting Tennessee on ABC and the ESPN networks. The Ravens have won five games in a row after defeating Cincinnati on the road by a 38-3 score last Sunday as a 13.5-point favorite. The Titans won their third game in four contests with their 41-38 victory at Houston as a 7-point favorite last week. Baltimore is a 3-point road favorite with the total set at 54.5 (all odds from BetOnline).New Orleans hosts Chicago at 4:40 PM ET on CBS. The Saints won their final two games of the regular season after beating Carolina on the road last week by a 33-7 score as a 6-point favorite. The Bears backed into the playoffs despite losing last week at Green Bay, 35-16, as a 4.5-point underdog, which snapped their three-game winning streak. New Orleans is a 10.5-point favorite with an over/under of 48. Cleveland plays at Pittsburgh in the nightcap at 8:15 PM ET on NBC. The Browns ended their 17-year playoff drought last weekend with their 24-22 victory over the Steelers as a 10.5-point favorite. Pittsburgh had the luxury of resting some starters, including Ben Roethlisberger, after being locked into the third seed in the AFC playoffs. A pressing concern for the Cleveland organization this week has been managing the COVID outbreak in their organization. Quarantine guidelines will prevent first-year head coach Kevin Stefanski from being on the sidelines and communicating with his team and coaching staff during the game. Special teams coach Mike Priefer will serve as the acting head coach with offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt will call the plays. The Browns were able to get back to the practice field on Friday after quarantining for most of the week. The Browns will be without eight players on their COVID list, including Pro-Bowl guard Joel Bitonio, cornerback Denzel Ward, and safety Ronnie Harrison, Jr. The Steelers are a 6-point favorite with a total of 47.The college basketball card tips off at 11 AM ET with Xavier hosting Providence on Fox. The Musketeers ended a two-game losing streak on Wednesday with their 69-61 win against St. John’s as a 6.5-point favorite to raise their record to a 9-2 mark. The Friars felt 7-4 last Saturday with their narrow 67-65 loss at home to Creighton as a 4-point underdog. Xavier is a 3.5-point favorite with an over/under of 140.5.Cincinnati travels to Wichita State on ESPN2 at 4:30 PM ET. The Bearcats ended a five-game slide on Thursday with a 76-69 upset victory at SMU. The Shockers' five-game winning streak ended on Wednesday in a 70-63 loss at Houston as an 11-point underdog. Wichita State is a 2.5-point favorite with the total at 140.5.Colgate defeated Boston University yesterday by an 86-79 score as a 3.5-point road favorite. The CBS Sports Network has the rematch at 6 PM ET.Loyola-Illinois plays at Indiana State at 6:30 PM ET on ESPN2. The Sycamores lost their fourth game in a row last Sunday in a 76-66 loss at Missouri State as a 3.5-point underdog. The Ramblers won their fourth straight game last Saturday with their 57-49 win against North Texas as a 7-point favorite. The NBA has eight games on the docket starting at 3:05 PM ET, with Utah visiting Detroit as a 7.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 216. The card concludes with Golden State hosting Toronto at 8:35 PM ET.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NFL and NCAA Basketball Preview

by Big Al Staff

Saturday, Jan 09, 2021

The Saturday sports card features a loaded slate in college basketball along with action in the NBA and a Super Wild Card Weekend tripleheader in the NFL playoffs.The NFL card kicks off at 1:05 PM ET with Buffalo hosting Indianapolis. The Bills claimed the second seed in the AFC playoffs last week by winning their sixth game in a row by beating Miami, 56-26. The Colts have won four of their last five by defeating Jacksonville, 28-14, last Sunday. Buffalo is a 6-point favorite with the total set at 51 (all odds from BetOnline). CBS has the broadcast.Fox has the NFC West showdown between the Los Angeles Rams at Seattle that kicks off at 4:40 PM ET. The Seahawks have won four games in a row after defeating San Francisco on the road last week by a 26-23 score. The Rams snapped their two-game losing streak last Sunday in an 18-7 win against Arizona. Seattle is a 3-point favorite with an over/under of 42.The nightcap has Washington hosting Tampa Bay on ABC and the ESPN networks. The Football Team won the NFC East and the fourth seed in the NFC playoffs last Sunday night in their 20-14 win at Philadelphia. The Buccaneers have won four games in a row to claim the top wildcard spot in the NFC with a 44-27 victory against Atlanta last week. Tampa Bay is an 8-point road favorite with a total of 44.5. Kickoff is at 8:15 PM ET.The nationally-televised college basketball schedule tips off at noon PM ET. Creighton hosts St. John’s on FS1. The Bluejays are ranked seventh in the AP poll laying 13.5-points with the over/under at 159. Richmond is a 6-point road favorite at George Mason, with the total at 143.5 on the CBS Sports Network. On ESPN2, Alabama is a 5-point road favorite at Auburn with an over/under of 150. West Virginia hosts Texas in a battle of ranked Big 12 teams on ESPN at 1 PM ET. The Mountaineers are 14th in the AP poll, with the Longhorns ranking 4th. West Virginia is a 1.5-point favorite with the total at 140.At 2 PM ET, Tennessee visits Texas A&M on ESPN2. The ninth-ranked Volunteers are 10.5-point road favorites with an over/under of 129. On FS1, Seton Hall is laying 4 points on the road at DePaul, with the total set at 147.5. VCU plays at home against Rhode Island as a 6-point favorite with an over/under of 139 on the CBS Sports Network. Duquesne hosts Fordham on the NBC Sports Network as a 13.5-point favorite with the total at 127.5.Baylor travels to TCU at 3 PM ET on ESPN. The second-ranked Bears are 12.5-point road favorites with an over/under of 143.5.At 4 PM ET, 11th ranked Houston is laying 18.5 points against Tulane on ESPNU with the total set at 129. 18th ranked Texas Tech is a 7.5-point road favorite at Iowa State on ESPN2 with the total at 133.5. Butler is a 3-point favorite at home against UConn on the CBS Sports Network with an over/under of 128. Colorado State hosts UNLV as a 7-point favorite on FS1, with the total at 145. UMass is at home laying 5 points against LaSalle on the NBC Sports Network with an over/under of 146. UTSA hosts North Texas in the second game of their back-to-back on ESPNU.CBS has sixth-ranked Kansas hosting Oklahoma at 4:30 PM ET. The Jayhawks are 6.5-point favorites, with the total set at 144.5. At 5 PM ET, Florida plays at home against Kentucky on ESPN as a 4.5-point favorite with the over/under at 141. Oklahoma State travels to Manhattan to play Kansas State as a 7.5-point favorite on ESPN2 with the total at 139.5 at 6 PM ET.At 7 PM ET, Syracuse hosts Georgetown on ESPN as a 10-point favorite with an over/under of 146.5. The CBS Sports Network has Saint Mary’s hosting Santa Clara as a 9-point favorite with the total at 127. UCLA travels to Arizona at 9 PM ET on ESPN. The Wildcats are 3-point favorites with an over/under of 138.5. The CBS Sports Network has San Diego State playing at home at 9 PM ET laying 11 points against Nevada with the total set at 135.The NBA card has eight games on the docket. Denver plays at Philadelphia to tip things off at 3:05 PM ET. The schedule concludes at 10:05 PM ET with Portland playing at Sacramento. None of the games are on national television.

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