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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, and MLB Previews and Odds - 05/21/2025

by Big Al Staff

Wednesday, May 21, 2025

The Wednesday sports card features NBA, NHL, and MLB action.The National Basketball Association continues its playoff season with Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals on TNT/truTV/Max. The New York Knicks host the Indiana Pacers at 8:05 p.m. ET as a 4.5-point favorite with the total set at 224 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise).The National Hockey League playoffs continue with Game 1 of the Western Conference finals on ESPN on its slate. The Dallas Stars play at home against the Edmonton Oilers at 8:10 p.m. ET as a -130 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5.Major League Baseball has 16 games on its schedule. The Cincinnati Reds travel to Pittsburgh to play the Pirates at 12:35 p.m. ET. The Reds send out Brady Singer to pitch against the Pirates’ Andrew Heaney. Cincinnati is a -125 money-line road favorite with a total of 8. Four more MLB games throw out the first pitch at 1:10 p.m. ET. Minnesota is home against Cleveland with Chris Paddack taking the ball for the Twins to take Gavin Williams for the Guardians in the opening game of their doubleheader. The Twins are a -115 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7.5. Houston plays in Tampa Bay with the Astros tapping Hunter Brown to face the Rays’ Taj Bradley. The Astros are a -135 money-line road favorite with a total of 8.5. Milwaukee hosts Baltimore with Chad Patrick taking the hill for the Brewers to challenge Tomoyuki Sugano for the Orioles. The Brewers are a -125 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. Chicago is in Miami with the Cubs turning to Cade Horton to battle the Marlins’ Max  Meyer. The  Cubs are a -130 money-line road favorite with a total of 9. The St. Louis Cardinals play at home against the Detroit Tigers at 1:15 p.m. ET. Andrew Pallante gets the nod for the Cardinals to go against Brant Hurter for the Tigers. St. Louis is a -118 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Seattle Mariners visit Chicago to face the White Sox at 2:10 p.m. ET. The Mariners send out Logan Evans to pitch against the White Sox’s Shane Smith. Seattle is a -155 money-line road favorite with a total of 8. The Guardians battle the Twins on the road in the second game of their doubleheader at 3:40 p.m. ET. The San Francisco Giants are home against the Kansas City Royals at 3:45 p.m. ET.  Logan Webb gets the ball for the Giants to take on a starting pitcher yet to be named for the Royals. Two MLB games start at 6:45 p.m. ET. Boston hosts New York with the Red Sox turning to Garrett Crochet to face the Mets’ Tylor Megill. The Red Sox are a -148 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. Atlanta plays in Washington with A.J. Smith-Shawver getting the assignment for the Braves to pitch against Trevor Williams for the Nationals. The Braves are a -162 money-line road favorite with a total of 8.5. The New York Yankees play at home against the Texas Rangers at 7:05 p.m. ET. The Yankees tapping Ryan Yarbrough to take on the Rangers’ Jacob deGrom. New York is a -115 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7.5. The Toronto Blue Jays are home against the San Diego Padres at 7:07 p.m. ET. Kevin Gausman takes the mound for the Blue Jays to battle Randy Vasquez for the Padres. Toronto is a -155 money-line favorite at BetOnline with a total of 8.5. The Philadelphia Phillies are in Colorado to play the Rockies at 8:40 p.m. ET. The Phillies send out Taijuan Walker to face the Rockies’ Carson Palmquist. Philadelphia is a -238 money-line favorite with an over/under of 11.5. The Athletics host the Los Angeles Angels at 10:05 p.m. ET. J.P. Sears gets the ball for the Athletics to take on Jack Kochanowicz for the Angels. The Athletics are a -155 money-line favorite with a total of 10.5. The Los Angeles Dodgers play at home against the Arizona Diamondbacks at 10:10  p.m. ET. The Dodgers turn to Dustin May to pitch against the Diamondbacks’ Corbin Burnes. Los Angeles is a -135 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9.

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Early Season MLB MVP Race

by ASA, Inc.

Tuesday, May 20, 2025

Pete Alonso (10-1) National League MVPOvershadowed by his rival NY slugger, Alonso has had arguably the second hottest start to the 2025 season. Tied for fourth in the NL with 37 RBIs, 9 HRs, and a top ten batting average of .301, Alonso is fourth in the NL MVP odds so far. At the current pace, he would finish with roughly 123 RBIs and 30 HRs. Those gaudy slugging numbers mixed with a stellar average would keep Alonso in the MVP mix all year, assuming Shohei Ohtani doesnt hit 54 homers again like he did last year. Shohei is well behind his 2024 pace, specifically in RBIs. He only has 30 at the current moment, and his lack of dual threat ability hurts his MVP candidacy. The Mets have the second most wins in baseball, which certainly plays a role in voting as well. When looking for NL players who could dethrone the three time MVP winner, Alonso checks all the boxes. Freddie Freeman (18-1) National League MVPWith Shohei Ohtani playing a DH role right for Los Angeles, it leaves the door open for teammate Freddie Freeman. Freeman missed some time this year due to injury, but has lit it up in the games he has played. He is leading the NL in average by a wide margin at .371 while having 9 HRs and 34 RBIs. On top of that, Freeman has the second best NL OBP with a staggering .430. In fact, the Dodges have 3 of the top 4 OBP leaders in the NL. Will Smith, Freeman, and Ohtani all get on base over 40% of the time. Based on that, it's shocking LA doesn't have a larger lead in the NL West. Regardless, Freddie has some of the best individual hitting stats in all of baseball, and combined with his stellar glove at the one bag, he is an MVP candidate. If Ohtani remains on a modest pace while only playing as a DH, we will have a new NL MVP in 2025. Alex Bregman (60-1) American League MVPCurrently Aaron Judge is -1500 to win the AL MVP, which is insane considering we are barely a quarter of the way through the season. Yet, with so much of the season remaining, there has to be value elsewhere in the AL, even if it is completely contingent on Judge getting injured. Breman is hitting .303 with 11 HRs and 35 RBIs while handling third base duties for the Red Sox. He ranks top six in all three major categories in the AL and is a huge reason Boston is in 2nd in the AL East. Bregman is on pace for 37 HRs and 118 RBIs. Should Judge miss significant time this season, there will be a mad scramble for the next best AL hitter. Bregman has as good a case as any, and only a sprinkle on him will pay dividends on his long odds. He has the third highest odds currently, but anyone not named Judge is considered a longshot at this point.   

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NFL 2025-26 Top 5 Easiest Schedules

by Wayne Root

Tuesday, May 20, 2025

Many bettors that love to make bets on futures and win totals need to comb the entire schedule. I did that and was amazed at a few teams that made the list. This information will help you make bets on some of these teams on the over in their win total. Note that Buffalo is favored in every game in the oddsmakers futures point spreads.In the 2025 NFL season, the teams with the top five easiest schedules are as follows:1. **San Francisco 49ers**2. **New England Patriots**3. **New Orleans Saints**4. **Atlanta Falcons**5. **Buffalo Bills**Overview of Each Team's Schedule1. San Francisco 49ersThe 49ers have been projected to have the easiest schedule in the league, with a projected win total of 10.5 games. This favorable schedule is attributed to their strong roster and the relatively weaker opponents they will face throughout the season.2. New England PatriotsThe Patriots come in second with a projected win total of 7.5. Their schedule is seen as manageable, allowing them to potentially improve upon their recent performances. The combination of facing weaker teams and their own roster improvements contributes to this favorable outlook. 3. New Orleans SaintsRanked third, the Saints also have a projected win total of 6.5. Their schedule is expected to provide opportunities for wins, especially against teams that struggled in the previous season. This could help the Saints regain competitiveness in their division.4. Atlanta FalconsThe Falcons are fourth on the list, sharing a projected win total of 7.5 with the Patriots. Their schedule includes several matchups against teams that did not perform well last season, which could lead to a successful campaign for Atlanta.5. Buffalo BillsDespite facing both Super Bowl teams from the previous season, the Bills have the fifth-easiest schedule, with a projected win total of 11.5. Their schedule benefits from a weak AFC East division and includes several games against teams that did not finish with winning records last year.ConclusionThese rankings are based on projected win totals from Vegas oddsmakers, which provide a more accurate assessment of team strength than past performance alone. The 2025 season looks promising for these teams, as they navigate through a schedule that is expected to be less challenging compared to their peers. Learn to make money by making “future” bets. Good Luck, Wayne

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NHL, MLB and EPL Previews and Odds - 05/20/2025

by Big Al Staff

Tuesday, May 20, 2025

The Tuesday sports card features NBA, NHL, MLB, and EPL action.The National Basketball Association continues its playoff season with Game 1 of the Western Conference finals on ESPN. The Oklahoma City Thunder are at home against the Minnesota Timberwolves at 8:40 p.m. ET as a 7-point favorite with an over/under of 217.5 (all odds from DraftKings). The National Hockey League playoffs continue with Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals on TNT/truTV/Max on its slate. The Carolina Hurricanes host the Florida Panthers at 8:10 p.m. ET as a -125 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. Major League Baseball has 15 games on its schedule. Two MLB games throw out the first pitch at 6:40 p.m. ET. Cincinnati travels to Pittsburgh with the Reds tapping Nick Martinez to pitch against the Pirates’ Bailey Falter. The Reds are a -125 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8. Chicago plays in Miami with Jameson Taillon taking the ball for the Cubs to face Ryan Weathers for the Marlins. The Cubs are a -155 money-line road favorite with a total of 8.5.Two MLB games start at 6:45 p.m. ET. New York is in Boston with the Mets tapping Clay Homes to take on a Red Sox’s starting pitcher yet to be named on TBS. The Mets are a -120 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 9. Washington plays at home against Atlanta with Mitchell Parker taking the mound for the Nationals to challenge a starting pitcher yet to be determined for the Braves. Two MLB games begin at 7:05 p.m. ET. Tampa Bay is at home against Houston with the Rays turning to Zack Littell to battle an Astros starting pitcher yet to be named. The Rays are a -185 money-line favorite with a total of 9. New York hosts Texas with Willie Warren taking the mound for the Yankees to pitch against Patrick Corbin for the Rangers. The Yankees are a -185 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9. The San Diego Padres visit the Toronto Blue Jays at 7:07 p.m. ET. The Padres send out Dylan Cease to take on a Blue Jays' starting pitcher yet to be named. Three MLB games start at 7:40 p.m. ET. The Seattle Mariners play in Chicago against the White Sox. Minnesota plays at home against Cleveland with Chris Paddock taking the ball for the Twins to battle Gavin Williams for the Guardians. The Twins are a -115 money-line favorite with a total of 7.5. Baltimore is in Milwaukee with the Orioles turning to Keegan Akin as their opener to face the Brewers’ Logan Henderson. The Detroit Tigers travel to St. Louis to play the Cardinals at 7:45 p.m. ET. Tarik Skubal gets the pitching assignment for the Tigers to take on Erick Fedde for the Cardinals. Detroit is a -180 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 7.5. The Philadelphia Phillies play in Colorado against the Rockies at 8:40 p.m. ET. The Phillies send out Jesus Luzardo to challenge the Rockies’ Antonio Senzatela. Philadelphia is a -285 money-line road favorite with a total of 10.5. The San Francisco Giants are home against the Kansas City Royals at 9:45 p.m. ET. Hayden Birdsong takes the mound for the Giants to face Michael Lorenzen for the Royals. San Francisco is a -135 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. The Athletics host the Los Angeles Angels at 10:05 p.m. ET. The Athletics tap Gunnar Hoglund to go against the Angels’ Kyle Hendricks. The Athletics are a -162 money-line favorite with a total of 10. The Los Angeles Dodgers play at home against the Arizona Diamondbacks at 10:10 p.m. ET. Yoshinobu Yamamoto gets the assignment for the Dodgers to face Ryne Nelson for the Diamondbacks. Los Angeles is a -225 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9.Matchweek 37 in the English Premier League concludes with two matches at 3:00 p.m. ET. Crystal Palace is home against Wolverhampton as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5. Manchester City hosts Bournemouth on the USA Network as a -1.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 3.5.  

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Big Al's Daily Angle: MLB and EPL Previews and Odds - 05/19/2025

by Big Al Staff

Monday, May 19, 2025

The Monday sports card features MLB and EPL action. Major League Baseball has 12 games on its schedule. Two MLB games throw out the first pitch at 6:40 p.m. ET. Cincinnati travels to Pittsburgh with the Reds tapping Nick Lodolo to pitch against the  Pirates’ Mitch Keller. The Reds have won five games in a row after their 3-1 win at home against Cleveland on Sunday. The Pirates are on a four-game losing streak after a 1-0 loss at Philadelphia yesterday. Cincinnati is a -130 money-line road favorite with the total set at 8 (all odds from DraftKings).Chicago plays in Miami with Ben Brown taking the ball for the Cubs to take on Edward Cabrera for the Marlins. The Cubs are on a four-game winning streak after their 6-2 victory against the Chicago White Sox yesterday. The Marlins won for the fourth time in their last five games in a 5-1 win against Tampa Bay on Sunday. Chicago is a -175 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 9.The New York Mets are in Boston to play the Red Sox at  6:45 p.m. ET. The Mets turn to Kodai Senga to battle the Red Sox’s Hunter Dobbins. New York has lost three of their last four games after an 8-2 loss on the road against the New York Yankees on Sunday. Boston has lost six of their last seven games after a 10-4 loss against Atlanta yesterday. The Mets are a -142 money-line road favorite with a total of 9.The Tampa Bay Rays host the Houston Astros at 7:05 p.m. ET. Ryan Pepiot takes the hill for the Rays to face Colton Gordon for the Astros. Tampa Bay has lost three of their last four games after their loss at Miami yesterday. Houston has won three of their last four games after a 4-3 victory on the road against Texas on Sunday. The Rays are a -135 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9. Three MLB games start at 7:40 p.m. ET. Seattle visits Chicago with the Mariners sending out Luis Castillo to challenge the White Sox’s Davis Martin. The Mariners are on a four-game winning streak after their 6-1 win at San Diego on Sunday. The White Sox have lost five games in a row after their loss on the road against the Cubs yesterday. Seattle is a -205 money-line favorite with a total of 8.Milwaukee plays at home against Baltimore with Quinn Priester getting the call for the Brewers to pitch against Dean Kremer for the Orioles. The Brewers have won two games in a row after a 5-2 victory against Minnesota yesterday. The Orioles have lost seven games in a row after a 10-4 loss at home against Washington on Sunday. Milwaukee is a -120 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. Minnesota is home against Cleveland with the Twins tapping Bailey Ober facing the Guardians’ Logan Allen. The Twins have lost two games in a row after losing to the Brewers yesterday. The Guardians are on a five-game losing streak after losing to the Reds on Sunday. Minnesota is a -135 money-line favorite with a total of 7.5.  The Detroit Tigers play in St. Louis against the Cardinals at 7:45 p.m. ET. The Tigers won for the sixth time in their last seven games with a 3-2 win at Toronto on Sunday. The Cardinals have lost two games in a row after a 2-1 loss at Kansas City yesterday. Detroit has yet to announce their starting pitcher who will go against St. Louis’ Sonny Gray. The Philadelphia Phillies are in Colorado to take on the Rockies at 8:40 p.m. ET. Cristopher Sanchez gets the ball for the Phillies to face Kyle Freeland for the Rockies. Philadelphia has won four games in a row after bearing the Phillies yesterday. Colorado has lost six of their last seven games after a 2-1 loss at Arizona on Sunday. The Phillies are a -270 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 10. Two MLB games begin at 9:45 p.m. ET. San Francisco hosts Kansas City with the Giants sending out Robbie Ray to take on the Royals’ Kris Bubic. The Giants have won four games in a row after a 3-2 win on the road against the Athletics on Sunday. The Royals have won two games in a row after their victory against the Cardinals yesterday. San Francisco is a -125 money-line favorite with a total of 7.The Athletics play at home against Los Angeles with J.T. Ginn getting the ball for the Athletics to face Jose Soriano for the Angels. The Athletics lost for the sixth straight time in their setback against the Giants yesterday. The Angels have won four games in a row after a 6-4 victory on the road in Los Angeles against the Dodgers on Sunday. The Athletics are a -122 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9.5. The Los Angeles Dodgers are home against the Arizona Diamondbacks at 10:10 p.m. ET. The Dodgers turn to Landon Knack to battle the Diamondbacks Brandon Pfaadt. Los Angeles has lost four games in a row after their loss to the Angeles on Sunday. Arizona has won four of their last five games after their win against the Rockies yesterday. The Dodgers are a -142 money-line favorite with a total of 9.5. Matchweek 37 in the English Premier League continues with one match. Liverpool travels to Brighton and Hove Albion on the USA Network at 3:00 p.m. ET as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with an over/under of 3.5. 

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Say Goodbye to Auto-Betting Unders in NBA Game 7s

by Team Del Genio

Sunday, May 18, 2025

The days of Game 7s in the NBA playoffs being almost automatic under bets are probably gone for good. Oddsmakers have consistently adjusted to the past Game 7 under trends and it was inevitable that this “tax” would eventually be too costly. The league continues to feature offense over defense in philosophy, the rules, and the officiating. Going into the Round 1 seventh game between the Los Angeles Clippers and the Denver Nuggets, the previous sixteen Game 7s in the first round of the NBA playoffs have eleven of those games finish over the total. We concluded that the over was the correct play for that Game 7 earlier this month. Granted, the pace of play in this series had been slow, and it was getting more methodical. The 91.25 adjusted possessions per game in this series had been the second slowest in the playoffs, and Game 6 had 88.5 adjusted possessions. Yet did that justify the oddsmakers initially installing the over/under at 204.5 for this game? The market bet this number up a bit into the 207 range. However, the offensive attacks had the edge for both teams as this series progressed. The Clippers made 52.4% of their shots in Game 5 before shooting 50% in their 111-105 victory on Thursday. The Nuggets made 55.8% of their shots in the Game 5 win at home before shooting 52.4% in their Game 6 loss. The oddsmakers installed the over/under for Game 1 of this series at 224.5. The lowest the total dropped in this series was at 209.5 in Game 5. After 246 combined points were scored in that game, the oddsmakers pushed the over/under for Game 6 to 213, yet that game finished over that number with 216 combined points scored. The Game 7 under tax looked too stiff.Denver had the advantage of playing at home for this Game 7, and they have generally played higher-scoring games on their home court. The Nuggets had played twenty-seven of their forty-four games at home over the number this season. The Clippers had a 48.2% field goal percentage for the year, and Denver has played seventeen of their last twenty-six games at home against opponents who shoot 46% or better from the field. Denver had played thirteen of their last eighteen games over the total after losing on the road in their previous game. They had played eight of their last eleven games over the number when playing with revenge from a previous loss to their opponent. It just be the fourth game all season that Los Angeles is playing on the road in a game when the oddsmakers installed the over/under from 200 to 209.5. All three of those previous games finished over the total, and we expected that trend to continue despite it being a Game 7. Denver’s scoring attack did show up for that game as they made 52.2% of their shots and dominated the game in a 120-101 victory. Those 221 combined points easily surpassed the 207 over/under number installed by the oddsmakers. The next day, the Golden State/Houston Game 7 finished well below the 206 over/under number installed by the oddsmakers in the Warriors’ 103-89 victory. The over trends in Round 1 Game 7s are far from being a new rule to follow. It is also noteworthy that Round 2 Game 7s unders are just 9-6 after Oklahoma City’s 125-93 victory against Denver. Unfortunately, we were on the under in that game. The sample size is small, yet the recent trends fall in line with our observations about Round 1 Game 7 unders. The Thunder got to 125 points in large part by forcing 22 turnovers. More teams are likely to adopt the pressure defense that has worked so well for them this season, and that will be yet another dynamic that will put pressure against lower-scoring games. Pressure tends to create quicker scoring opportunities for both teams either from the forced turnover or breaking the press. Officials tend to call more fouls when teams are pressuring the basketball, and scoring when the clock is stopped does no favors for under bets.The NBA Game 7 under trends were a great ride for a long time, yet nothing lasts forever. Successful handicappers know when it is time to adapt. Good luck - TDG.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, MLB and EPL Previews and Odds - 05/18/2025

by Big Al Staff

Sunday, May 18, 2025

The Sunday sports card features NBA, NHL, MLB, and EPL action. The National Basketball Association continues its playoff season with one game on ABC. The Oklahoma City Thunder host the Denver Nuggets in Game 7 of their Western Conference semifinal series at 3:40 p.m. ET. The Thunder are an 8-point favorite with the total set at 213.5 (all odds from DraftKings).The National Hockey League playoffs continue with one game on TNT/truTV/Max on its slate. The Florida Panthers travel to Toronto to take on the Maple Leafs at 7:40 p.m. ET. The Panthers are a -130 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 5.5.Major League Baseball has 15 games on its schedule. The Houston Astros play in Texas against the Rangers on Roku at 1:05 p.m. ET. Three more MLB games throw out the first pitch at 1:35 p.m. ET. The Atlanta Braves are in Boston to face the Red Sox as a -130 money-line road favorite with a total of 9. The Baltimore Orioles host the Washington Nationals as a -166 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9.5. The Pittsburgh Pirates visit Philadelphia to play the Phillies as a -118 money-line road favorite with a total of 8. The Toronto Blue Jays play at home against the Detroit Tigers at 1:37 p.m. ET as a -118 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. Two more MLB games start at 1:40 p.m. ET. The Tampa Bay Rays play in Miami against the Marlins as a -155 money-line road favorite with a total of 8.5. The Cincinnati Reds are home against the Cleveland Guardians as a -125 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9. Two MLB games begin at 2:10 p.m. ET. The Kansas City Royals host the St. Louis Cardinals as a -115 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The Milwaukee Brewers play at home against the Minnesota Twins as a -162 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7.5. The Chicago Cubs are home against the Chicago White Sox at 2:20 p.m. ET as a -305 money-line favorite. The San Francisco Giants host the Athletics at 4:05 p.m. ET as a -148 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. Three more MLB games start at 4:10 p.m. ET. The Arizona Diamondbacks play at home against the Colorado Rockies as a -360 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9. The Los Angeles Dodgers are home against the Los Angeles Angels as a -250 money-line favorite with a total of 9. The San Diego Padres host the Seattle Mariners as a -142 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7.5.Sunday Night Baseball on ESPN features the New York Yankees playing at home against the New York Mets at 7:10 p.m. ET. The Yankees are a -170 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5.Matchweek 37 in the English Premier League continues with five matches. Everton hosts Southampton on the USA Network at 7:00 a.m. ET as a -1.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5. Nottingham Forest is at West Ham United on the USA Network at 9:15 a.m. ET as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Two more EPL matches begin at 10:00 a.m. ET. Brentford plays at home against Fulham as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5. Leicester City is home against Ipswich Town as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Arsenal hosts Newcastle United on the USA Network at 11:30 a.m. ET as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5.  

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2025 NFL: Early MVP Longshot Bets

by Sean Murphy

Saturday, May 17, 2025

With the 2025 NFL season approaching, it's an opportune time to explore some longshot candidates for the MVP award. While quarterbacks generally dominate this accolade, identifying under-the-radar players can potentially yield significant returns. Here are five quarterbacks with longer odds, in no particular order, who could make a surprising run for the MVP title this season.Odds courtesy Draft Kings. 1. Bo Nix (Denver Broncos) +3500 Bo Nix enters his second NFL season after a promising rookie year with the Denver Broncos. He led the team to a 10-win season and a playoff berth, setting multiple franchise records along the way. Nix's familiarity with head coach Sean Payton's system and the potential for an improved supporting cast could position him as a dark horse MVP candidate. The Broncos have made strategic offseason moves to bolster their offense, aiming to support Nix's development. The addition of tight end Evan Engram provides a versatile weapon in the passing game, while there's speed-to-burn with returning receivers like Marvin Mims Jr. and Devaughn Vele. Denver used second round draft capital on running back RJ Harvey and he represents an upgrade in the backfield, perhaps relieving some of the pressure on Nix. With these enhancements, Denver's offense is poised to be more dynamic, potentially elevating Nix's performance and MVP prospects. 2. Matthew Stafford (Los Angeles Rams) +3500 Veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford aims to recapture the form that led the Rams to a Super Bowl victory in the 2021 season. With one of the league's strongest receiving corps and a rock-solid offensive line, Stafford has the tools to orchestrate a high-powered offense. A resurgence in performance could position him as a dark horse in the MVP race, even as he enters the twilight of his career. The Rams have focused on strengthening their offensive line to protect Stafford, re-signing guards Kevin Dotson and Jonah Jackson. Additionally, the acquisition of wide receiver DaVante Adams and tight end Terrance Ferguson will compliment Puka Nacua in the passing game, enhancing the Rams' offensive versatility and likely boosting Stafford's numbers. 3. Drake Maye (New England Patriots) +4500 Drake Maye, the third overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, showed flashes of potential during his rookie season with the New England Patriots. After taking over as the starting quarterback, Maye demonstrated his ability to lead the offense and by all accounts is ready to make the jump to 'household name' status in 2025. The Patriots have made significant offseason moves to support Maye's development. The acquisition of wide receiver Stefon Diggs provides a proven playmaker, while the additions of offensive linemen Morgan Moses and Garrett Bradbury aim to bolster pass protection. With these enhancements and the return of offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, Maye is well-positioned to take a significant step forward in his second season. 4. Geno Smith (Las Vegas Raiders) +15000 The biggest longshot on our list, Geno Smith's move to the Las Vegas Raiders presents a fresh start for the seasoned quarterback. After a commendable stint with the Seattle Seahawks, Smith brings experience and poise to the Raiders' offense. The Raiders have undergone significant changes, hiring Pete Carroll as head coach and Chip Kelly as offensive coordinator while also adding game-breaking running back Ashton Jeanty in the draft. These changes, along with the addition of offensive lineman Alex Cappa and wide receiver Jack Bech, aim to revitalize the Raiders' offense. If Smith can effectively integrate into this new system and lead the team to success, he could emerge as a surprising MVP contender. 5. Brock Purdy (San Francisco 49ers) +3000 Brock Purdy enters the 2025 season looking to rebound after a challenging 2024 campaign. With a year of experience under his belt and a favorable schedule ahead, Purdy has the opportunity to lead the 49ers back to playoff contention. The 49ers have the easiest strength of schedule in the league, with opponents having a combined .415 winning percentage in 2024. This favorable schedule, coupled with a healthy roster and a strong supporting cast, positions Purdy to potentially elevate his performance and re-enter the MVP conversation.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NHL and MLB Previews and Odds - 05/17/2025

by Big Al Staff

Saturday, May 17, 2025

The Saturday sports card features NHL and MLB action. The 150th running of the Preakness Stakes headlines the sporting events of the day. The second leg of the Triple Crown is the 13th race at the Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland, with a start time of 7:01 p.m. ET. The National Hockey League playoffs continue with one game on ABC on its slate. The Dallas Stars host the Winnipeg Jets in Game 7 of their Western Conference semifinal series at 8:10 p.m. ET. The Jets evened this best-of-seven series at 3-3 with their 4-0 victory at home against the Stars on Thursday. Dallas is a -155 money-line favorite with the total set at 5.5 (all odds from DraftKings).Major League Baseball has 15 games on its schedule. The New York Yankees play at home against the New York Mets at 1:05 p.m. ET. The Yankees send out Clarke Schmidt to pitch against the Mets’ Griffin Canning. The Yankees are a -135 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9.5. The Chicago Cubs are home against the Chicago White Sox at 2:20 p.m. ET. Matthew Boyd takes the ball for the Cubs to take on Sean Burke for the White Sox. The Cubs are a -278 money-line favorite. The Detroit Tigers travel to Toronto to face the Blue Jays at 3:07 p.m. ET. The Tigers tap Reece Olson to battle against a Blue Jays’ starting pitcher yet to be named. The Baltimore Orioles host the Washington Nationals on FS1 at 4:05 p.m. ET. The Orioles send out Kyle Gibson to challenge the Nationals’ Jake Irvin. Baltimore is a -162 money-line favorite with a total of 10. The Tampa Bay Rays travel to Miami to take on the Marlins at 4:05 p.m. ET. Drew Rasmussen takes the ball for the Rays to challenge Sandy Alcantara for the Marlins. Tampa Bay is a -148 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8. The Philadelphia Phillies play at home against the Pittsburgh Pirates at 6:05 p.m. ET. The Phillies send out Zack Wheeler to pitch against the Pirates’ Carmen Mlodzinski. Philadelphia is a -290 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The Cleveland Guardians play in Cincinnati against the Reds at 6:40 p.m. ET. Slade Cecconi takes the mound for the Guardians to take on Brent Suter for the Reds. Cleveland is a -125 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 10.  The Texas Rangers are home against the Houston Astros at 7:05 p.m. ET. The Rangers turn to Tyler Mahle to pitch against the Astros’ Ronel Blanco. Texas is a -142 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The Kansas City Royals host the St. Louis Cardinals at 7:10 p.m. ET. Noah Cameron gets the assignment for the Royals to go against Miles Mikolas for the Cardinals. Kansas City is a -125 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. Two MLB games are featured on Fox’s regional television coverage at 7:15 p.m. ET. Boston plays at home against Atlanta with the Red Sox tapping Lucas Giolito to pitch against the Braves’ Grant Holmes. The Red Sox are a -122 money-line favorite with a total of 9. Minnesota is in Milwaukee with Pablo Lopez taking the mound for the Twins to battle Tobias Myers for the Brewers. The Twins are a -112 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 7.5.The Arizona Diamondbacks are home against the Colorado Rockies at 8:10 p.m. ET. The Diamondbacks turn to Zac Gallen to face the Rockies’ German Marquez. Arizona is a -340 money-line favorite with a total of 9. The San Diego Padres host the Seattle Mariners at 8:40 p.m. ET. Nick Pivetta gets the ball for the Padres to challenge Emerson Hancock for the Mariners. San Diego is a -170 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. The San Francisco Giants play at home against the Athletics at 9:05 p.m. ET. The Giants turn to Landen Roupp to battle the Athletics’ Luis Severino. San Francisco is a -130 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The Los Angeles Dodgers are home against the Los Angeles Angels at 9:10 p.m. ET. Clayton Kershaw pitches for the Dodgers against Tyler Anderson for the Angels. The Dodgers are a -245 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9. 

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, MLB and EPL Previews and Odds - 05/16/2025

by Big Al Staff

Friday, May 16, 2025

The Friday sports card features NBA, NHL, MLB, and EPL action.The National Basketball Association continues its playoff season with one game on ESPN. The New York Knicks host the Boston Celtics in Game 6 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series at 8:00 p.m. ET. The Knicks are a 2.5-point favorite, with the total set at 210 (all odds from DraftKings).The National Hockey League playoffs continue with one game on TNT/truTV/Max on its slate. The Florida Panthers play at home against the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 6 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series at 8:10 p.m. ET. The Panthers are a -245 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5.Major League Baseball has 15 games on its schedule. The Chicago Cubs are home against the Chicago White Sox at 2:20 p.m. ET as a -230 money-line favorite. The Cleveland Guardians travel to Cincinnati to play the Reds at 6:40 p.m. ET as a -122 money-line road favorite with a total of 9. The Philadelphia Phillies host the Pittsburgh Pirates at 6:45 p.m. ET as a -230 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. Two MLB games throw out the first pitch at 7:05 p.m. ET. The New York Yankees play at home against the New York Mets as a -142 money-line favorite with a total of 9. The Baltimore Orioles are home against the Washington Nationals as a -112 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9. The Detroit Tigers play in Toronto against the Blue Jays at 7:07 p.m. ET as a -130 money-line road favorite with a total of 8.5. Two MLB games start at 7:10 p.m. ET. The Boston Red Sox host the Atlanta Braves as a -125 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. The Tampa Bay Rays are in Miami to face the Marlins. The Kansas City Royals play at home against the St. Louis Cardinals at 7:40 p.m. ET as a -155 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The Texas Rangers are home against the Houston Astros on Apple TV+ at 8:05 p.m. ET as a -185 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. The Minnesota Twins visit the Milwaukee Brewers at 8:10 p.m. ET as a -118 money-line road favorite with a total of 7.5. Two more MLB games begin at 9:40 p.m. ET. The Arizona Diamondbacks host the Colorado Rockies as a -395 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9.5. The San Diego Padres play at home against the Seattle Mariners on Apple TV+ as a -155 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The Los Angeles Dodgers are home against the Los Angeles Angels at 10:10 p.m. ET as a -298 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9.5. The San Francisco Giants host the Athletics at 10:15 p.m. ET as a -180 money-line favorite with a total of 7.Matchweek 37 in the English Premier League begins with two matches. Aston Villa plays at home against Tottenham on the USA Network at 2:30 p.m. ET as a -1.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 3.5. Chelsea is home against Manchester United at 3:15 p.m. ET as a -1.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 3.5. 

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2025 NFL Schedules - 5 Most Difficult

by ASA, Inc.

Thursday, May 15, 2025

Our NFL Strength of Schedule rankings take a number of factors into account with the most prevalent being opponents’ projected 2025 win totals per the oddsmakers.  We also consider opponents’ 2024 record, travel, schedule situations, among many other factors.  You’ll see a common theme and that is the NFC North schedules are all very tough.  Green Bay is the only team in the division that doesn’t land in our top 5 for SOS, but they are in the top 10.  Below is a quick overview of the 5 teams we feel have the most difficult schedules for the upcoming season.   1. New York GiantsThe Giants face the NFL’s toughest schedule according to our projections which is surprising for a team that won only 3 games last season.  Normally we’d expect an easy slate the following year for a team like the NYG but that’s not the case.  Their opponents had nearly a 58% winning percentage from last season and 12 of their 17 opponents this season are projected to win more than 8 games.  They face 4 teams that are favored to win their respective divisions including Kansas City, San Francisco, Detroit, and Philadelphia (twice).  It’s going to be tough for the Giants to get off to a good start this season with five of their first eight games on the road and their home games during that stretch are vs KC, Philadelphia, and the LA Chargers.  The Giants win total is set at 5.5 which is the lowest in the NFL along with Cleveland, Tennessee and the NY Jets.    2. Chicago BearsThe average win total for Chicago’s opponents this year is nearly 9 (8.8 to be exact).  Those teams had a win percentage of 57% in 2024.  The NFC North projects to be very difficult which adds to the over SOS for the Bears.  In fact, all 4 teams in the division are projected to win more than 8 games.  The Bears better win their home games this season because their road slate is brutal.  Every team they play on the road this season but one (Las Vegas Raiders) has their win total set at 8.5 or higher with 4 of those opponents projected to have double digit wins (Lions, 49ers, Eagles, and Ravens).  They only have 1 home game between September 28th and November 2nd with 4 road tilts during that stretch.  They do have a bye in that tough 5 game run which will help.   3. Detroit LionsThe Lions start on the road in 4 of the first 6 weeks of the season and those games are all very tough @ Green Bay, @ Baltimore, @ Cincinnati, and @ KC.  They also close out the season with 3 of their final 4 games on the road.  Detroit had the benefit of 9 home games last season but this year they will play 9 on the road.  Similar to the Bears, Detroit’s road slate is extremely challenging as every opponent had a winning record last year with the exception of Chicago.  The overall 2024 record for Detroit’s road opponents this year was 102-51.  They also play 3 Thursday games add to the difficulty of their 2025 schedule.     4. Philadelphia EaglesThe Super Bowl Champs were rewarded with a very tough schedule in 2025.  11 of their 17 opponents are projected to win more than 8 games and the 2024 winning percentage of their opponents this year was 56%.  This team will have a target on their backs this season and they face 11 games vs teams that made the playoffs last year.  The Eagles bye isn’t ideal in our opinion as it comes very late in the season (week 14).  They only make 1 trip to the west coast (@ LA Chargers) which is good but they play 6 “non-Sunday” games which can be challenging.  Their toughest stretch is late in the season spanning the month of December when they are @ Chargers, @ Commanders, and @ Bills sandwiched around a home game vs the Raiders.     5. Minnesota VikingsSurprise, surprise!  Another NFC North team with a very difficult SOS.  Again, much of the difficulty can be attributed to the division where every team is projected to win more than 8 games.  The Vikes bye week comes early as well and following their week off they’ll have to play 12 consecutive weeks.  Every team in the division has 9 road games (only 8 home games) which also adds to the demanding schedules for the NFC North.  12 of their 17 opponents are projected to win 8+ games.  From late November through late December, Minnesota has one of the tougher “situational” schedule stretch with 4 road games in 5 weeks with their lone home game during that run vs Washington, which is no piece of cake.

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2025 NFL Schedule: Favorable and Unfavorable

by Sean Murphy

Thursday, May 15, 2025

The 2025 NFL schedule has been finalized and here are three teams that have drawn favorable and unfavorable slates over the course of the upcoming 17-game season.Favorable matchups 1. New England Patriots Under the leadership of new head coach Mike Vrabel and with an offense guided by star-in-the-making quarterback Drake Maye, the Patriots are by all accounts poised for a promising season. They benefit from the NFL's third-easiest strength of schedule, with opponents holding a combined .429 win percentage from the 2024 campaign. Additionally, 12 of their 17 games are slated for the 1:00 p.m. ET slot, allowing for consistent routines and minimal disruptions.  The Patriots' schedule also includes only three primetime games, reducing the strain of late night travel and preparation. A late season bye provides a beneficial rest period before a challenging final stretch, potentially bolstering their playoff aspirations should things break right in Foxborough during the Fall.2. New Orleans Saints While not expected to make a lot of noise this season, the Saints enter the campaign with the league's second-easiest schedule, facing only three teams that made the playoffs in 2024. This favorable lineup of opponents offers a solid foundation for a successful campaign, even in the face of talent deficiencies on the field. While they do have some long distance road games, including trips to Los Angeles and Seattle, the overall light strength of schedule and limited exposure to cold weather games enhance their prospects. Scheduling of these potentially challenging games earlier in the season could further mitigate difficulties with health not as big of a concern.3. San Francisco 49ers Despite a disappointing 6-11 finish last season, the 49ers are set to appear in five primetime games in 2025. Notably, four of these matchups are against teams from the Eastern or Central time zones, potentially giving the West Coast-based 49ers somewhat of an advantage during late kickoffs.  Avoiding international games this season allows the team to maintain a reasonably consistent travel schedule, which could contribute to improved performance and recovery times throughout the season. If any team could use a break on the injury-front, it's the Niners.Unfavorable Matchups 1. Kansas City Chiefs The high-profile Chiefs face a demanding schedule, highlighted by their participation in both Thanksgiving and Christmas Day games, making them the first team since 2016 to do so. They also open the season in São Paulo, Brazil, against the Los Angeles Chargers, introducing significant travel and potential acclimatization challenges right out of the gate. These marquee games, while showcasing the team's prominence, could lead to increased fatigue and limited recovery time, potentially impacting performance as the season progresses.2. New York Giants The Giants' season begins with consecutive road games against NFC East rivals, the Washington Commanders and Dallas Cowboys. Historically, the Giants have struggled in these matchups, including an eight-game losing streak at AT&T Stadium. Following these challenging openers, the Giants host the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers, both formidable opponents. This grueling start could set a difficult tone for the remainder of the season for a team that already has its share of challenges.3. Los Angeles Chargers The Chargers' schedule is front-loaded with challenges, including an opening game in Brazil against the Chiefs. They face a potentially brutal December stretch with games against the Eagles, Chiefs, Cowboys, Texans, and Broncos, all of whom are playoff contenders. Additionally, the Chargers have a Week 12 bye, meaning they must navigate 11 consecutive games before receiving a rest week. This extended period without a break could lead to increased fatigue and a higher risk of injuries over the course of the season.

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