Expert Sports Picks and Analysis from Al McMordie

Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, MLB and EPL Previews and Odds - 05/21/2023

Sunday, May 21, 2023

The Sunday sports card features action in the NBA, NHL, MLB, and EPL.The National Basketball Association playoffs continue with the Boston Celtics traveling to Miami to play the Heat on TNT at 8:30 PM ET in the third game of the Eastern Conference finals. The Heat took a 2-0 lead in the series with a 111-105 upset victory as a 10-point underdog on Friday. The Celtics are a 3.5-point road favorite, with the total set at 213.5 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). The National Hockey League playoffs continue with the Vegas Golden Knights hosting the Dallas Stars on ABC at 3:05 PM ET in the second game of the Western Conference finals. The Golden Knights won the first game of this series with a 4-3 victory in overtime on Friday. Vegas is a -125 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Sunday card in Major League Baseball has 16 games on its schedule. The New York Yankees visit Cincinnati to play the Reds on Peacock at 11:35 AM ET as a -150 money-line road favorite with a total of 9. Four more MLB games throw out the first pitch at 1:35 PM ET. The Washington Nationals play at home against the Detroit Tigers as a -135 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Arizona Diamondbacks are in Pittsburgh to play the Pirates as a -125 money-line road favorite with a total of 8.5. The Philadelphia Phillies are at home against the Chicago Cubs as a -120 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9. The Seattle Mariners play in Atlanta against the Braves, with both teams priced at -110 with a total of 9. The Toronto Blue Jays host the Baltimore Orioles at 1:37 PM ET as a -190 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. Two more MLB games start at 1:40 PM ET. The New York Mets play at home against the Cleveland Guardians in the opening game of their doubleheader as a -155 money-line favorite with a total of 7.5. The Tampa Bay Rays are at home against the Milwaukee Brewers as a -140 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7.5. Two MLB games begin at 2:10 PM ET. The Houston Astros host the Oakland A’s as a -350 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The Chicago White Sox play at home against the Kansas City Royals as a -185 money-line favorite at BetMGM with an over/under of 9.5. The Los Angeles Dodgers travel to St. Louis to play the Cardinals at 2:15 PM ET as a -150 money-line road favorite with a total of 8.5. The Texas Rangers are at home against the Colorado Rockies at 2:35 PM ET as a -205 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9.The San Francisco Giants host the Miami Marlins at 4:05 PM ET as a -125 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The Los Angeles Dodgers play at home against the Minnesota Twins at 4:07 PM ET as a -145 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. The San Diego Padres are at home against the Boston Red Sox at 4:10 PM ET as a -145 money-line favorite with a total of 9. Sunday Night Baseball on ESPN has the Mets host the Guardians in the second game of their doubleheader at 7:10 PM ET. New York is a -155 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7.5.Matchweek 37 in the English Premier League continues with three matches. Leeds United plays at West Ham United at 8:30 AM ET in a pick ‘em match with a total of 2.5 (all soccer odds from BetMGM). Brighton and Hove Albion is at home against Southampton as a -2 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 3.5. Manchester City hosts Chelsea on the USA Network at 11 AM ET as a -1.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 3.

How to Maximize MLB First Five Innings Bets

by Oskeim Sports

Saturday, May 20, 2023

One of the best methods to uncover value in baseball betting is wagering on the First Five innings. It’s the equivalent of betting on the NFL’s or NBA’s first half. Bettors can more accurately forecast potential outcomes because it lowers the number of variables that can impact the game’s conclusion. Simply put, first five innings bets allow you to disregard any game developments that take place after the fifth inning. How can you maximize those bets?Types of First Five BetsMost bookmakers allow you to wager on the first five innings in the same ways that you may on the entire game. These include straight-up moneyline wagers, run line wagers (point spread), and totals wagers on the combined run totals for both teams.When computing odds for the First Five, also known as F5, there are fewer factors to consider. It makes sense that betting on the F5 will typically offer less favorable odds than betting on the full game. When there are concerns about a team’s bullpen, betting on the First Five is frequently the wiser course of action. More on that in a moment.Examples of First Five BetsFirst Five Innings wagers are rather simple when compared to full game wagers. Let’s look at an example. Here’s a look at a Phillies-Marlins game. The odds for an entire game are listed first. The First Five Odds are listed next.Phillies -125 -1.5 (+145) O 7.5 (-105)Marlins +105 +1.5 (-170) U 7.5 (-115)Phillies -120 -1.5 (+120) O 4.5 (-105)Marlins +100 +1.5 (-140) U 4.5 (-115)The final innings of a game are frequently when a team’s advantages start to matter more. That should be reflected for bettors in correctly constructed odds. Favorites will have a bigger advantage in whole game wagers than in first five inning wagers. While placing a complete game wager will normally yield a higher return on investment, it is not always the optimum bet.The First Five Is All About PitchingEven though baseball is a team sport, the pitcher is the one who has the most impact on the game. It’s like the goalie in hockey. A starting pitcher in MLB is good enough to go five innings. The best MLB pitchers frequently go six or more innings.Because you just need to consider the relative strength of the starting pitchers and not the bullpen, the first five innings of a game are often simpler to handicap than the entire game. The effect of relief pitchers in a game is far less predictable. Betting the First Five takes the bullpen out of the equation. Strong pitching ultimately has a big effect on F5 betting.Because of schedule variance, there are times when a team’s No. 1 starter will go up against an opponent’s No. 5 starter. Think of Max Scherzer, Clayton Kershaw, or Sandy Alcantara going up against a lesser-known fifth starter. How about those pitchers against a team that pitches a bullpen game?When you have high confidence in the starting pitcher’s relative strength, it makes sense to consider the First Five wager.Top Heavy LineupsA head-to-head analysis of the relative strengths of each team’s starting pitcher is definitely the most important factor in handicapping for the First Five innings bet. However, bettors shouldn’t stop there.A comparison of the batting lineups for each club would be part of a more thorough analysis. Bettors should focus on where the power hitters are in a lineup. Typically, you’ll find those hitters in the No. 3, 4, and 5 slots in the batting order. If a team has three solid hitters batting at the top of the order, that helps the First Five bet. Those hitters will usually get an extra at-bat by the fifth inning.

Vegas Writer's Daily Recap - May 20, 2023

by Vegas Writer

Saturday, May 20, 2023

Let's tip off Saturday's Daily Recap with the WNBA.A split for the home and road teams, while three of the four games stayed under the posted number.Let's start with one of the league's preseason favorites, as the New York Liberty went into the nation's capital and got smacked around by the Washington Mystics in an 80-64 loss.Natasha Cloud and Ariel Atkins each scored 14 points in the win, while it seems New York coach Sandy Brondello has plenty of work to do in blending personalities with three new additions in Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones and Courtney Vandersloot. The Liberty started the game making just 5 of 23 shots and finished the first half shooting 27%. It was a clear sign that it'll take time before the Liberty can figure out who should get the offense flowing, especially with prolific scorer Sabrina Ionescu in the lineup.The defending Eastern Conference champion Connecticut Sun went into Indianapolis and beat the Fever by nine points, 70-61, spoiling the debut of No. 1 overall pick Aliyah Boston, who finished one rebound shy of a double-double (15 points, 9 rebounds). The Fever, last year's cellar dweller in the league, did some impressive things late and got as close as five points, but couldn't quite complete the comeback.The new-look Chicago Sky got the best of the Minnesota Lynx, 77-66. Kahleah Copper had 20 points, seven rebounds and five assists while Alanna Smith added 15 points to lead the Sky. Chicago outscored the Lynx 22-3 in the second quarter to take a 17-point lead into the locker room at the break.The Los Angeles Sparks spoiled the much-ballyhooed return of Brittney Griner, as crushed the Phoenix Mercury, 94-71. Nneka Ogwumike scored 17 points and rookie Zia Cooke chipped in 14, as the Sparks got the win and cover in my Western Conference Game of the Month.Two games on the card for Saturday, as the Atlanta Dream and Dallas Wings tip at 1 pm eastern, and the defending champion Las Vegas Aces open defense of their title in Seattle against a Storm team that will open their season without Sue Bird for the first time in 20 years.In the NHL, the Vegas Golden Knights took a 1-0 series lead over the Dallas Stars with a 4-3 overtime win, when Brett Howden's shot off the back of netminder Jake Oettinger found its way in the net just 1:35 into the extra period.The Golden Knights looked like the better team from the jump, skating furiously while the Stars lacked the energy coach Pete DeBoer hoped to see after being taken to seven games by the Seattle Kraken.The two resume their series Sunday at 3 pm eastern.Tonight, it's Game 2 between the Panthers and Hurricanes, as puck drop is at 8:05 pm eastern, less than 48 hours after that marathon 4OT thriller on Thursday.NHL Notes:Road teams are 42-33 in the postseason.Underdogs are 36-38 in the postseason, with a $100 wager on the pups turning a profit of roughly $1200.The Over is 40-34-1, but the Under has cashed 25 of the last 45 games.There have been 20 overtime games, and road teams are 14-6 in those games.NHL favorites higher than -150 are 14-31 on the puck line this postseason.In the NBA, I went 1-0-1 with the Miami Heat winning outright again, and the total finishing as a push.Boston's Grant Williams didn't do his team any favors by going forehead-to-forehead with Jimmy Butler in a short dust up. Butler hit back-to-back buckets to tie the game and give Miami the lead, finished with 27 points, and the eighth-seeded Heat left Boston with a 111-105 victory and a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference Finals.Butler contributed nine points during a 23-9 run that turned a nine-point deficit into a 105-100 lead, and the Heat never looked back.The series shifts for Games 3 and 4, to Miami, where the Heat have covered six of seven.Went 3-2-1 on Friday, including the Miami Heat outright. I'm on an 80-63-4 overall run for $13,790 net profit since 4/17, including a 40-24-3 NBA run for $13,550. And part of that NBA win streak is a 27-15 run with side selections. Tonight I'm in Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals with my NBA SIDE WINNER # 28 of 43.On the MLB diamond, five of the 14 underdogs won Friday, with one game a pick. No doubt about it the most notable was the Pittsburgh Pirates at +150 (DraftKings), as they devoured the Arizona Diamondbacks, 13-3. The Pirates have now won three of four behind an offense that is hitting .293 and averaging 6.2 runs per game since May 14.Friday, I hit my MLB Blank Check Winner # 5 of 7 on the Giants. I'm on an 80-63-4 overall run for $13,790 net profit since 4/17. And since the start of the MLB season, I've hit five of my first seven BLANK CHECK releases. Tonight I've isolated one specific game for you, and you have my permission to fill in the blank. Whatever you want to put on this game, feel free. It's my MLB BLANK CHECK WINNER # 6 OF 8.

Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, MLB and EPL Previews and Odds - 05/20/2023

by Big Al Staff

Saturday, May 20, 2023

The Saturday sports card features action in the NBA, NHL, MLB, and EPL.The National Basketball Association playoffs continue with the Los Angeles Lakers hosting the Denver Nuggets on ESPN at 8:30 PM ET in the third game of the Western Conference finals. The Nuggets have a 2-0 series lead after their 108-103 victory at home against the Lakers as a 5.5-point favorite on Thursday. Los Angeles is a 5.5-point favorite with the total set at 222.5 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise).The National Hockey League playoffs continue with the Carolina Hurricanes playing at home against the Florida Panthers on TNT at 8:05 PM ET in the second game of the Eastern Conference finals. The Panthers took a 1-0 lead in the series with a 3-2 victory in four overtimes on the road on Thursday. The Hurricanes are a -145 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Saturday card in Major League Baseball has 15 games on its schedule. The Chicago White Sox are at home against the Kansas City Royals at 2:10 PM ET as a -175 money-line favorite with a total of 9. The Toronto Blue Jays host the Baltimore Orioles at 3:07 PM ET as a -140 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9.5. Five MLB games throw out the first pitch at 4:05 PM ET. The Texas Rangers play at home against the Colorado Rockies as a -190 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The Washington Nationals are at home against the Detroit Tigers as a -115 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9. The Pittsburgh Pirates host the Arizona Diamondbacks as a -135 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The Philadelphia Phillies play at home against the Chicago Cubs as a -165 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9. The San Francisco Giants are at home against the Miami Marlins as a -165 money-line favorite with a total of 7.5. Four MLB games start at 4:10 PM ET. The Cincinnati Reds host the New York Yankees. The Tampa Bay Rays play at home against the Milwaukee Brewers on FS1 as a -210 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7.5. The New York Mets are at home against the Cleveland Guardians as a -165 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The Houston Astros host the Oakland A’s as a -295 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. Two MLB games are on Fox regional coverage at 7:15 PM ET. The Atlanta Braves play at home against the Seattle Mariners. The Los Angeles Dodgers travel to St. Louis to play the Cardinals, with both teams priced at -110 with a total of 9.5. The Los Angeles Angeles are at home against the Minnesota Twins as a -120 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The San Diego Padres host the Boston Red Sox at 10:10 M ET as a -125 money-line favorite with a total of 8.Matchweek 37 in the English Premier League begins with six matches. Tottenham plays at home against Brentford on the USA Network at 7:30 AM ET as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5 (all soccer odds from BetMGM). Four EPL games begin at 10 AM ET. Manchester United visits Bournemouth on the USA Network as a -1 goal-line road favorite with a total of 3. Crystal Palace plays at Fulham in a pick ‘em matchup with an over/under of 2.5. Liverpool is at home against Aston Villa as a -1 goal-line favorite with a total of 3. Wolverhampton is at home against Everton in a pick ‘em match with an over/under of 2.5. Arsenal travels to Nottingham Forest on NBC at 12:30 PM ET as a -1 goal-line road favorite with a total of 3.

Vegas Writer's Daily Recap - May 19, 2023

by Vegas Writer

Friday, May 19, 2023

How many of you were able to last the entire Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final? Quite a marathon that lasted nearly a full four overtimes, save for about 15 seconds.Nevertheless, the Florida Panthers took a 1-0 lead in the series against the Carolina Hurricanes, when Matthew Tkachuk beat Frederik Andersen in the final seconds of the fourth overtime to deliver a 3-2 victory.It was the sixth-longest game in NHL history.Florida won its seventh straight road game in these playoffs and improved to 5-0 in overtime.Carolina, which is in the Eastern final for the second time in five years, its ninth straight game in the conference-final round dating to 2009. The Hurricanes' losing streak in the NHL semifinals dates to Pittsburgh’s sweep of the Hurricanes in 2009.NHL Notes: Road teams are 42-32 in the postseason, the most wins by visitors at this stage of a postseason (74 games played) in league history. Underdogs are 36-37 in the postseason, with a $100 wager on the pups turning a profit of roughly $1300. The Over is 39-34-1 after the first two rounds, but the Under has cashed 25 of the last 44 games. There have been 19 overtime games, and road teams are 14-5 in those games. NHL favorites higher than -150 are 14-31 on the puck line this postseason. Game 1 of the Western Conference Final between the Vegas Golden Knights and Dallas Stars is tonight, and I have the total available as part of a three-pack of totals that includes an MLB Division Total of the Month and Game 2 of the NBA's Eastern Conference Finals.In the NBA, I lost by a half-point when the Denver Nuggets managed just a five-point win over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals.While everyone had their eyes peeled for Nikola Jokic, it was Jamal Murray scoring 23 of his 37 points in the fourth quarter, to lift the Nuggets to a 108-103 come-from-behind win over Los Angeles for a 2-0 lead in the series.Anthony Davis and LeBron James were a combined 13 of 36 from the floor.The series shifts for Games 3 and 4, to Los Angeles, where the Lakers have covered six in a row.Despite last night's setback by one-half point with the Nuggets, I'm on a 77-61-3 overall run for $12,890 net profit since 4/17, including a 39-24-3 NBA run for $12,550. I'm in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Final tonight with my NBA SIDE WINNER # 27 of 42.On the MLB diamond, five of the six underdogs won Thursday. No doubt about it the most notable was the St. Louis Cardinals at +130 (DraftKings), as they stroked seven home runs en route to a 16-8 victory over Los Angeles. The Redbirds have now won nine of 11 behind an offense that is hitting .281 and averaging 7.8 runs per game since May 7.Since the start of the MLB season, I've hit four of my first six BLANK CHECK releases. Tonight I've isolated one specific game for you, and you have my permission to fill in the blank. Whatever you want to put on this game, feel free. It's my MLB BLANK CHECK WINNER # 5 of 7.

Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL and MLB Previews and Odds - 05/19/2023

by Big Al Staff

Friday, May 19, 2023

The Friday sports card features action in the NBA, NHL, and MLB.The National Basketball Association playoffs continue the conference finals, with the Boston Celtics hosting the Miami Heat on TNT at 8:30 PM ET. The Heat took the opening game of this best-of-seven series in the Eastern Conference finals with a 123-116 upset win on the road as an 8.5-point favorite on Wednesday. The Celtics are a 9-point favorite, with the total set at 215.5. The National Hockey League playoffs continue the conference finals, with the Vegas Golden Knights playing at home against the Miami Heat on ESPN at 8:35 PM ET in the opening game of the Western Conference finals. The Golden Knights beat the Edmonton Oilers in six games with their 5-2 victory on the road on Sunday. The Stars come off a 2-1 win against Seattle in the seventh game of their series on Monday. Vegas is a -125 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5.The Friday card in Major League Baseball has 15 games on its schedule. The Arizona Diamondbacks travel to Pittsburgh to play the Pirates at 6:35 PM ET as a -170 money-line road favorite with a total of 7.5. Two more MLB games throw out the first pitch at 6:40 PM ET. The Milwaukee Brewers play in Tampa Bay against the Rays as a -165 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 10.5. Two MLB games start at 7:05 PM ET. The Detroit Tigers are in Washington to play the Nationals as a -115 money-line road favorite with a total of 9. The Philadelphia Phillies are at home against the Chicago Cubs as a -125 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Toronto Blue Jays host the Baltimore Orioles on Apple TV+ at 7:07 PM ET as a -145 money-line favorite with a total of 9. The New York Mets play at home against the Cleveland Guardians at 7:10 PM ET as a -150 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9. The Atlanta Braves are at home against the Seattle Mariners on Apple TV+ at 7:20 PM ET as a -145 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The Texas Rangers host the Colorado Rockies at 8:05 PM ET as a -210 money-line favorite with an over/under 9. Two more MLB games begin at 8:10 PM ET. The Houston Astros play at home against the Oakland A’s as a -250 money-line favorite with a total of 9.5. The Chicago White Sox are at home against the Kansas City Royals as a -130 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9.5. The Los Angeles Dodgers visit St. Louis to play the Cardinals at 8:15 PM ET as a -135 money-line road favorite with a total of 8.5. The Minnesota Twins play in Los Angeles against the Angels as a -130 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The San Diego Padres host the Boston Red Sox at 9:40 PM ET as a -140 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The San Francisco Giants play at home against the Miami Marlins at 10:15 PM ET as a -120 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7.5.

Vegas Writer's Daily Recap - May 19, 2023

by Vegas Writer

Thursday, May 18, 2023

The NBA Playoffs continued last night, with Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals tipping off in Boston.And the Miami Heat certainly made the statement I thought they would, winning outright as an 8-point underdog.Jimmy Butler scored 35 points, including 20 after halftime, and Miami came from behind in the second half to upset the Celtics 123-116.Surprisingly, The betting market moved the number from -8 to -8.5, and the Heat made their backers happy with an outright win. Those cashing the moneyline were ecstatic with a +310 closing price at Draft Kings.Game 2 is scheduled for Friday.I'm now 77-57-3 for $16,090 since 4/17, including an NBA run of 39-23-2 for $13,600. Riding a 26-14-1 run with SIDE WINNERS in the NBA, and tonight I jump back into the Western Conference Finals between the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Lakers. My NBA LINE MISTAKE awaits.On the MLB diamond, only four of the 15 underdogs won Wednesday. No doubt about it the most notable was the Kansas City Royals at +230 (DraftKings), as they won in San Diego, 4-3. They've now won two straight after a four-game skid and have the day off before finishing their road trip playing at division-rival Chicago. And make note, KC just took three of four from the White Sox earlier this month (May 8-11).I'm offering is another DIVISION TOTAL OF THE MONTH. On Monday you got my NL East Total of the Month on the Mets-Nats OV. I'm on a 21-13-1 roll with ALL TOTALS from every sport. I make it 22 of 36 tonight with my DIVISION TOTAL OF THE MONTH.The NHL Playoffs are back tonight with Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final starting in Raleigh, North Carolina.Numbers to keep in mind: Road teams are 41-32 in the postseason, the most wins by visitors at this stage of a postseason (73 games played) in league history. Eight of 12 series-clinching wins have been claimed on the road. Underdogs are 35-37 in the postseason, with a $100 wager on the pups turning a profit of roughly $1200. The 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs are averaging 6.4 goals-per-game, the highest rate at this stage of a postseason (73 GP) since 1995. The Over is 39-33-1 after the first two rounds, but the Under has cashed 24 of the last 43 games. There have been 18 overtime games, and road teams are 13-5 in those games. NHL favorites higher than -150 are 14-31 on the puck line this postseason. I couldn't be any happier about the conference finals getting started, as I've had my eye on this game since the TOTAL came out. I'm on a 91-79-2 roll in the NHL all season ($15,350), and 15-11 in the postseason ($5,130). I also come into Thursday on a 21-13-1 roll with ALL SPORTS TOTALS - including a 4-2 run with NHL Playoff totals. Tonight I make if 5 of 7 with NHL Playoff totals with my CONFERENCE FINAL TOTAL OF THE YEAR.

Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, MLB and EPL Previews and Odds - 05/18/2023

by Big Al Staff

Thursday, May 18, 2023

The Thursday sports card features action in the NBA, NHL, MLB, and EPL.The National Basketball Association playoffs continue the conference finals, with the Denver Nuggets hosting the Los Angeles Lakers on ESPN at 8:30 PM ET. The Nuggets took a 1-0 lead in this best-of-seven series with a 132-126 victory as a 6.5-point favorite on Tuesday. Denver is a 5.5-point favorit,e with the total set at 227 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise).The National Hockey League playoffs return with the beginning of the conference finals, with the Carolina Hurricanes playing at home against the Florida Panthers on TNT at 8:05 PM ET. The Hurricanes come off a 3-2 victory against New Jersey last Thursday that ended that series in five games. The Panthers beat Toronto, 3-2 in overtime on Friday, to complete that series in five games. Carolina is a -140 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5.The Thursday card in Major League Baseball has six games on its schedule. The Baltimore Orioles are at home against the Los Angeles Angels at 12:35 PM ET. The Orioles turn to Tyler Wells in their starting rotation to pitch against the Angels’ Tyler Anderson. Baltimore is a -145 money-line favorite with a total of 9. Two MLB games throw out the first pitch at 1:10 PM ET. The New York Mets host the Tampa Bay Rays, with Tylor Megill taking the mound for the Mets to battle against Taj Bradley for the Rays. The Mets are a -115 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Miami Marlins play at home against the Washington Nationals, with Eury Perez pitching for the Marlins against Trevor Williams for the Nationals. The Marlins are a -145 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The Chicago White Sox are at home against the Cleveland Guardians at 2:10 PM ET. Dylan Cease takes the hill for the White Sox to duel against Logan Taylor Allen for the Guardians. Chicago is a -140 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. The Toronto Blue Jays host the New York Yankees at 7:07 PM ET. The Blue Jays tap Jose Berrios as their starting pitcher to go against the Yankees' Nestor Cortes. Toronto is a -130 money-line favorite with a total of 9. The Los Angeles Dodgers travel to St. Louis to play the Cardinals at 7:45 PM ET. Julio Urias pitches for the Dodgers against Adam Wainwright for the Cardinals. Los Angeles is a -150 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5.Matchweek 36 in the English Premier League concludes with one match. Newcastle United hosts Brighton and Hove Albion on the USA Network at 2:30 PM ET. The Magpies last played on Saturday when they settled for a 2-2 draw at Leeds United. The Seagulls won for the third time in their last four matches with a 3-0 victory at Arsenal on Sunday. This game is a rematch of a 0-0 draw between these two teams at the American Express Community Stadium in the opening week of the 2022-23 EPL season on August 13th. Newcastle is a -0.5 goal-line favorite at BetMGM with a total of 3.

Vegas Writer's Daily Recap - May 17, 2023

by Vegas Writer

Wednesday, May 17, 2023

The NBA Playoffs resumed last night, with Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals tipping off in Denver.The Nuggets seemingly had the game in command, but the Los Angeles Lakers stormed back and turned a double-digit deficit into a 3-point nail-biter in the closing minutes.Nikola Jokic recorded his sixth triple-double of these playoffs with 34 points, 21 rebounds and 14 assists, powering the Nuggets to a 1-0 lead in the series after the 132-126 win.The point spread dipped as low as -5.5 in some places, while others sat on -6 for the push.Anthony Davis had 40 points and 10 rebounds, and LeBron James finished with 26 points, 12 boards and nine assists for the Lakers.Game 2 is scheduled for Thursday.I'm now 76-57-3 for $16,190 since 4/17, including an NBA run of 38-23-2 for $12,600. Riding a 25-14-1 run with SIDE WINNERS in the NBA, and tonight I jump head first into the Eastern Conference Final opener between the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat. My NBA LINE MISTAKE awaits.On the MLB diamond on Monday, nine of the 13 underdogs won. There were several notable underdog winners, including the Milwaukee Brewers (+155 DraftKings) in a 3-2 road win at the St. Louis Cardinals. The teams have split the first two of the series, and play the rubber match tonight.I hit two of three DOG OF THE MONTH winners in baseball on Tuesday. Scored with the Red Sox (AL Dog OTM) and Brewers (NL Central GOM), and tonight I'm focused on one division. The Yankees and Blue Jays are embroiled in an A.L. East clash and tonight is Game 3 of the 4-game set. Toronto looks for revenge after New York took the first two. Huge pitching showdown, and I'm going to point out the glaring difference for my side. E-Z WINNER right here with my AL EAST GAME OF THE MONTH.The NHL Playoffs are on hiatus until Thursday night, with Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final starting in Raleigh, North Carolina.Numbers to keep in mind: Road teams are 41-32 in the postseason, the most wins by visitors at this stage of a postseason (73 games played) in league history. Eight of 12 series-clinching wins have been claimed on the road. Underdogs are 35-37 in the postseason, with a $100 wager on the pups turning a profit of roughly $1200. The 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs are averaging 6.4 goals per game, the highest rate at this stage of a postseason (73 GP) since 1995. The Over is 39-33-1 after the first two rounds, but the Under has cashed 24 of the last 43 games. There have been 18 overtime games, and road teams are 13-5. NHL favorites higher than -150 are 14-31 on the puck line this postseason.

Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, MLB and UCL Previews and Odds - 05/17/2023

by Big Al Staff

Wednesday, May 17, 2023

The Wednesday sports card features action in the NBA, MLB, and UCL.The National Basketball Association playoffs continue the conference finals, with the Boston Celtics hosting the Miami Heat on TNT at 8:30 PM ET. The Celtics beat the Philadelphia 76ers by a 112-88 score as a 6-point favorite on Sunday to win that seven-game series. The Heat defeated the New York Knicks, 96-92, as a 6.5-point favorite on Friday to end that series in six games. Boston is an 8-point favorite, with the total set at 210.5 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise).The Wednesday card in Major League Baseball has 15 games on its schedule. The Detroit Tigers play at home against the Pittsburgh Pirates at 1:10 PM ET as a -155 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7.5. Two more MLB games throw out the first pitch at 3:10 PM ET. The Los Angeles Dodgers are at home against the Minnesota Twins as a -145 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The Colorado Rockies host the Cincinnati Reds as a -120 money-line favorite with an over/under of 11.5. The Arizona Diamondbacks travel to Oakland to play the A’s at 3:37 PM ET as a -155 money-line road favorite with a total of 9.5. The Philadelphia Phillies play in San Francisco against the Giants at 3:45 PM ET. The San Diego Padres play at home against the Kansas City Royals at 4:10 PM ET. The Baltimore Orioles are at home against the Los Angeles Angels at 6:35 PM ET as a -140 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9. The Miami Marlins host the Washington Nationals at 6:40 PM ET as a -130 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The New York Yankees visit Toronto to play the Blue Jays at 7:07 PM ET as a -120 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8. Two more MLB games start at 7:10 PM ET. The Boston Red Sox play at home against the Seattle Mariners as a -125 money-line favorite with a total of 9.5. The Tampa Bay Rays travel to New York to play the Mets as a -110 money-line road favorite at BetMGM with an over/under of 9. The Milwaukee Brewers are at St. Louis to play the Cardinals at 7:45 PM ET as a -115 money-line road favorite with a total of 8. The Atlanta Braves travel to play the Texas Rangers at 8:05 PM ET as a -150 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 7.5. Two more games complete the MLB card at 8:10 PM ET. The Houston Astros are at home against the Chicago Cubs as a -155 money-line favorite with a total of 9. The Chicago White Sox host the Cleveland Guardians as a -115 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9.The second leg of the semifinals of the UEFA Champions League concludes on CBS at 3 PM ET. Manchester City plays at home against Real Madrid after a 1-1 draw in Spain in the first leg last Tuesday. Man City is a -1 goal-line favorite at BetMGM with a total of 3.

Vegas Writer's Daily Recap - May 16, 2023

by Vegas Writer

Tuesday, May 16, 2023

The Dallas Stars held off the Seattle Kraken, and we have an interesting Western Conference Final on our hands.Dallas coach Peter DeBoer is in his first year as coach of the Stars, after being fired by the Vegas Golden Knights last April.Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy has the Golden Knights back in the playoffs after being fired by the Boston Bruins last April.Two skilled first-year coaches with entwined ties will lead their teams to the ice Friday for Game 1 in Vegas.With Dallas winning at home, road teams are now 41-32 in the postseason, while underdogs dropped to 35-37 in the postseason with a $100 wager on the pups turning a profit of roughly $1200.The Over was 26-23-1 in the first round, and after Monday's game stayed low, the run with Unders improved to 24-19. The record for Overs in the NHL postseason is now 39-33-1.The overall tally for overtime games sits at 18 this postseason. Road teams are 13-5 in those games.Now, for an interesting note, those who turn to the puck line when NHL favorites have gotten higher than -150 during the postseason may want to remember this.With Seattle making it a one-goal game with less than 30 seconds in the game, NHL favorites higher than -150 dropped to 14-31 on the puck line this postseason.The NBA had the night off but returns with Game 1 tonight in Denver, where the Nuggets host the Los Angeles Lakers.I'm rolling with another SIDE WINNER. I'm on a 74-56-2 run for $14,210 since April 17, including a 38-23-2 NBA run for $12,600. And part of the NBA win streak is a 25-14 roll with SIDE RELEASES. Tonight it's Game 1 between the Lakers and Nuggets and I have NBA SIDE WINNER # 26 of 40.On the MLB diamond on Monday, only four of the 12 underdogs won. The most impressive pup was easily the Washington Nationals (+140 DraftKings) in a 10-3 rout of the Miami Marlins. The Nats have now won five of eight behind stellar hitting, with a .299 batting average while scoring 5.3 runs per game.I hit my Interleague Total of the Month winner on the Mets-Nationals going over by 3.5 runs. Tonight in baseball I have three UNDERDOG WINNERS, all DOGS OF THE MONTH, including two DIVISION DOGS OF THE MONTH and one LEAGUE DOG OF THE MONTH. I'm on a 74-56-2 run for $14,210 since April 17, and that bankroll will grow quickly at these prices with my MLB DOG OF THE MONTH TRIPLE PLAY.

NHL Conference Finals Preview

by Sean Murphy

Tuesday, May 16, 2023

The NHL Conference Final matchups are set with the Florida Panthers, Carolina Hurricanes, Dallas Stars and Vegas Golden Knights serving as this year's unlikely Final Four. Here's a quick preview of both series' including my take on which sides' will end up meeting in the Stanley Cup Final. Odds courtesy of DraftKings.Carolina Hurricanes -135 vs. Florida PanthersI'm not sure any team has looked as dominant through the opening two rounds of the Stanley Cup Playoffs as the Carolina Hurricanes. Despite missing a number of key contributors due to injury, the Canes have ramped up their game to another level in skating past the New York Islanders and New Jersey Devils. Now they face the last team to qualify for an Eastern Conference playoff spot in the upstart Florida Panthers in an old Southeast Division showdown. Note that Carolina took two of three regular season meetings, outscoring Florida by a 10-7 margin along the way. While the Canes have prevailed in 42 of the last 62 home meetings in this series, the Panthers have actually come away victorious in two of their last three games in Raleigh. Both teams are expected to get some help on the injury front with the Panthers expecting to have Ryan Lomberg back on the ice while the Canes welcome back Teuvo Teravainen, likely in one of the first two games in the series. Carolina has been incredibly stingy on home ice this season, limiting the opposition to just 2.4 goals per game while outscoring opponents by an average margin of 1.0 goal. The Panthers have given up 3.3 goals per contest on the season but have tightened things up in the postseason, yielding 3.1 goals per game. Prediction: Hurricanes in six. Vegas Golden Knights -140 vs. Dallas StarsFew teams have been forced to use as many goaltenders as the Golden Knights this season but here they are, still standing with home ice advantage as the Western Conference Final awaits. The Dallas Stars actually swept the three-game regular season series between these two teams, outscoring Vegas by a wide margin of 9-3. The return of Mark Stone from long-term injured reserve has made a big difference for the Knights as he has contributed 12 points in 11 games, playing mostly on the second line. The Knights and Stars are almost mirror images of one another in terms of goals for and against this season, both at home and on the road. While Vegas will hope to get goaltender Laurent Brossoit back sooner rather than later, Adin Hill stepped in and performed admirably late in the series against Edmonton and has posted a .934 save percentage in five appearances in these playoffs. Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger seemed to be fighting it throughout the series against Seattle and has recorded a .903 save percentage in 13 playoff games. Of note, the Stars haven't lost consecutive games since March 14th and 16th while the Knights last dropped back-to-back contests on March 28th and 30th. Prediction: Vegas in seven.

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