Expert Sports Picks and Analysis from Al McMordie

Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, MLB and EPL Previews and Odds - 04/16/2023

Sunday, Apr 16, 2023

The Sunday sports card features action in the NBA, MLB, and EPL.The National Basketball Association playoffs continue with four games in the conference quarterfinals. The Memphis Grizzlies host the Los Angeles Lakers on ABC at 3 PM ET as a 3.5-point favorite, with the total set at 227.5 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). The Milwaukee Bucks play at home against the Miami Heat on TNT at 5:30 PM ET as a 9-point favorite with an over/under of 218.5. The Phoenix Suns are at home against the Los Angeles Clippers on TNT at 8 PM ET as a 7.5-point favorite with a total of 225.5. The Denver Nuggets host the Minnesota Timberwolves on TNT at 10:30 PM ET as a 7.5-point favorite with an over/under of 226. The Sunday card in Major League Baseball has 15 games on its schedule. The San Francisco Giants travel to Detroit to play the Tigers at 1:10 PM ET as a -145 money-line road favorite with a total of 8.5. Three more MLB games throw out the first pitch at 1:35 PM ET. The Cleveland Guardians play in Washington against the Nationals as a -230 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Boston Red Sox play at home against the Los Angeles Angels as a -115 money-line favorite with a total of 9.5. The New York Yankees are at home against the Minnesota Twins as a -155 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7. The Tampa Bay Rays are in Toronto to play the Blue Jays at 1:37 PM ET as a -120 money-line road favorite with a total of 8.5. Two MLB games start at 1:40 PM ET. The Philadelphia Phillies visit Cincinnati to play the Reds as a -190 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 9. The Miami Marlins host the Arizona Diamondbacks as a -125 money-line favorite with a total of 7. Two more MLB games begin at 2:10 PM ET. The Atlanta Braves play in Kansas City against the Royals as a -165 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 9. The Chicago White Sox play at home against the Baltimore Orioles as a -145 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The St. Louis Cardinals are at home against the Pittsburgh Pirates at 2:15 PM ET as a -175 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5.The New York Mets travel to Oakland to play the Mets at 4:07 PM ET as a -165 money-line road favorite with a total of 8.5. Three more MLB games start at 4:10 PM ET. The Los Angeles Dodgers host the Chicago Cubs as a -230 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Seattle Mariners play at home against the Colorado Rockies as a -280 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The San Diego Padres are at home against the Milwaukee Brewers as a -175 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7.5. Sunday Night Baseball on ESPN has the Houston Astros play at home against the Texas Rangers at 7:10 PM ET. The Astros are a -195 money-line favorite with a total of 7.5.Matchweek 31 in the English Premier League continues with two matches. Arsenal visits West Ham United on the USA Network at 9 AM ET as a -1 goal-line road favorite with an over/under of 2.5 (all soccer odds from BetMGM). Manchester United plays at Nottingham Forest on the USA Network at 11:30 AM ET as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with a total of 2.5.

NBA Playoff First Round Round-Up!

by AAA Sports

Saturday, Apr 15, 2023

EASTERN CONFERENCEMilwaukee (1) vs. Miami (8)Series odds – Bucks -1200, Heat +750Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton missed a combined total of 83 games (more than a full season) this year, but the Bucks still finished with the best record in the league. They’re Jonesing for another run to the Finals after losing in seven (without Middleton) to Boston a year ago. There doesn’t appear to be much the Heat – who will be playing with tired legs – can do about it. If this goes even six, it will be a surprise.Boston (2) vs. Atlanta (7)Series odds – Celtics -1200; Hawks +750Lots of mixed signals coming out of Boston, where the Celtics dominated the league pre-All Star Game, lost interest in March and then finished strong after falling out of first in the East. Boston’s dip (and a shooting slump) cost Jayson Tatum a legit shot at the MVP, and there are rumblings that rookie HC Joe Mazzulla might be over his head. On paper this translates to Boston in four or five, but if the 3s don’t drop – and they often don’t in the playoffs – Trae Young & Co. could make things uncomfortable. PS -- Don’t think Boston is not delighted at not having to face Miami.Philadelphia (3) vs. Brooklyn (6)Series odds – 76ers -1000; Nets +660If the Nets nail down this series, they’ll have the same number of playoff series wins as the ill-fated Irving-Durant Nets had. Ouch. The Sixers should be able to take care of business, but if Brooklyn carries this one to six or seven, it could wear down expected MVP Joel Embiid for a probable EC semifinal battle against Boston. So keep an eye on his minutes. At some point doesn’t James Harden have to be on a team that makes a long playoff run in order to validate his HoF credentials?Cleveland (4) vs. New York (5)Series odds – Cavaliers -205; Knicks +172All the attention will be focused on the backcourts with Donovan Mitchell and Jalen Brunson center stage, but the series could hinge on the health of Julius Randle’s tender injured ankle. If he’s a 100 percent go, he’ll be a PITA cover even for the Cavs’ talented front line of Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. For all their size, the Cavs are just so-so defensively. Still, Mitchell is the Big Dog in a series which could go to a seventh game in Cleveland.WESTERN CONFERENCEDenver (1) vs. Minnesota (8)Series odds – Nuggets -500, Timberwolves +385Nuggets coach Mike Malone and back-to-back MVP Nicola Jokic both have a lot at stake in the playoffs and need a deep playoff run to cement their legacies. But Denver (5-5 to finish the season) is hardly roaring into the post-season, and doesn’t figure to have to spend too much first-round energy against a Timberwolves team badly in need of a psychiatrist. The Towns-Gobert Double Big Experiment has shown mixed results at best, and T-Wolves coach Chris Finch more than has his hands full keeping these guys focused for an entire series.Memphis (2) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (7)Series odds – Grizzlies -142, Lakers +120Seems like just yesterday LA was ready to turn the page on the Great AD-LBJ Experiment, fire management and start from scratch. But somehow the Lakers (16-7 since the All-Star break) are healthy again and appear ready to let the air out of the Grizzlies’ tires. The absence of Steven Adams (knee) is a killer for Memphis, which appears to have put Ja Morant’s issues at least temporarily in the rear view mirror. Totals players take note: Both of these teams play fast.Sacramento (3) vs. Golden State (6)Series odds – Kings +225; Warriors -275The longest playoff drought in NBA history (17 years) has finally ended, but the Kings’ reward is a thankless Northern California matchup with the surging Warriors. The defending champs have escaped from whatever funk they were in earlier in the season, and the only issue they have is melding Andrew Wiggins back in the lineup after missing extended time taking care of a sick family member. Taking down the defending champs will be a tall order for the Kings, especially as play slows in the playoffs. Did you know that Sacramento’s Domantas Sabonis led the league in rebounding (12.3)?Phoenix (4) vs. Los Angeles Clippers (5)Series odds – Suns -500; Clippers +385Depth is less of an issue in the playoffs, and the Suns with their top-heavy talent (Durant, Booker, Paul, Ayton) are fine with that. On paper they have a huge edge over the Clippers, who don’t seem to have an idea when Paul George (injured knee) will return – if at all. That makes it Kawhi Leonard against the Suns’ Murderers Row. Phoenix is as good as anyone in the West right now, and everything seems to line up for a long playoff run after disappointments the last two seasons.

NBA 1st Round Match-Ups and Series Predictions

by Al McMordie

Saturday, Apr 15, 2023

The NBA's 1st Round of the Playoffs tips off today, so let's take a look at the match-ups and the pertinent stats.#3 Philadelphia 76ers vs. #6 Brooklyn NetsGame 1: Saturday, April 15, 1:00 pmLine: Philadelphia -8.5, O/U 213.5Series Odds: 76ers -1120; Nets +715Season Series: Philadelphia 4-0Season Over/Under Results: Over 3-1#2 Boston Celtics vs. #7 Atlanta HawksGame 1: Saturday, April 15, 3:30 pmLine: Boston -10, O/U 231.5Series Odds: Celtics -1250; Hawks +820Season Series: Boston 3-0Season Over/Under Results: Over 2-1#4 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. #5 New York KnicksGame 1: Saturday, April 15, 6:00 pmLine: Cleveland -5.5, O/U 216.5Series Odds: Cavaliers -195; Knicks +180Season Series: New York 3-1Season Over/Under Results: O/U split, 2-2#3 Sacramento Kings vs. #6 Golden State WarriorsGame 1: Saturday, April 15, 8:30 pmLine: Sacramento -1, O/U 237.5Series Odds: Warriors -265; Kings +225Season Series: Golden State 3-1Season Over/Under Results: O/U split, 2-2#2 Memphis Grizzlies vs. #7 Los Angeles LakersGame 1: Sunday, April 16, 3:00 pmLine: Memphis -3.5, O/U 227Series Odds: Grizzlies -145; Lakers +125Season Series: Los Angeles 2-1Season Over/Under Results: Under 3-0#1 Milwaukee Bucks vs. #8 Miami HeatGame 1: Sunday, April 16, 5:30 pmLine: Milwaukee -9, O/U 218.5Series Odds: Bucks -905; Heat +645Season Series: Teams split, 2-2Season Over/Under Results: O/U split, 2-2#4 Phoenix Suns vs. #5 Los Angeles ClippersGame 1: Sunday, April 16, 8:00 pmLine: Phoenix -7, O/U 225.5Series Odds: Suns -510; Clippers +405Season Series: Teams split, 2-2Season Over/Under Results: O/U split, 2-2#1 Denver Nuggets vs. #8 Minnesota TimberwolvesGame 1: Sunday, April 16, 10:30 pmLine: Denver -7.5, O/U 224.5Series Odds: Nuggets -540; Timberwolves +425Season Series: Teams split, 2-2Season Over/Under Results: Over 3-1Based on my research, an important predictor of NBA Playoff series success is (not surprisingly) regular season series results. As you can see above, there were two series sweeps this season: Boston defeated Atlanta in all three games (including two in Atlanta), while Philadelphia was 4-0 vs. Brooklyn. I would favor taking the Celtics and 76ers to win their respective series. Admittedly, one has to lay a huge price on each of those series, but sometimes, one should go after the low-hanging fruit. An alternate strategy might be to lay 1.5 (or 2.5) games with a series prop bet. That way, one could get a better return on the wager, but one would lose if his team won the series 4 games to 3 (or 4 games to 2 if laying 2.5 games).Good luck, as always...Al McMordie

Big Al's NBA, MLB and EPL Previews and Odds - 04/15/2023

by Big Al Staff

Saturday, Apr 15, 2023

The Saturday sports card features action in the NBA, MLB, and EPL.The National Basketball Association playoffs begin with four games in the conference quarterfinals. The Philadelphia 76ers host the Brooklyn Nets on ESPN at 1 PM ET as an 8.5-point favorite, with the total set at 214.5 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). The Boston Celtics play at home against the Atlanta Hawks on ESPN as a 9-point favorite with an over/under of 230.5. The Cleveland Cavaliers are at home against the New York Knicks on ESPN at 6 PM ET as a 5.5-point favorite with a total of 216.5. The Golden State Warriors travel to Sacramento to play the Kings on ABC-TV at 8:30 PM ET as a 1-point road favorite with an over/under of 237.5.The Saturday card in Major League Baseball has 15 games on its schedule. The New York Yankees host the Minnesota Twins at 1:05 PM ET as a -125 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The San Francisco Giants play in Detroit against the Tigers. The Baltimore Orioles are in Chicago against the White Sox at 2:10 PM ET as a -120 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 9. The St. Louis Cardinals play at home against the Pittsburgh Pirates at 2:15 PM ET as a -200 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The Toronto Blue Jays are at home against the Tampa Bay Rays at 3:07 PM ET as a -120 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9.5. Two more MLB games throw out the first pitch at 4:05 PM ET. The Cleveland Guardians visit Washington to play the Nationals as a -170 money-line road favorite with a total of 9.5. The San Diego Padres host the Milwaukee Brewers as a -130 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. The New York Mets play in Oakland against the A’s at 4:07 PM ET as a -180 money-line road favorite with a total of 9. Three MLB games start at 4:10 PM ET. The Cincinnati Reds play at home against the Philadelphia Phillies as a -115 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9. The Atlanta Braves visit the Kansas City Royals as a -140 money-line road favorite with a total of 9. The Los Angeles Angels play in Boston against the Red Sox as a -115 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 9.5. The Houston Astros play at home against the Texas Rangers at 7:10 PM ET as a -175 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The Los Angeles Dodgers are at home against the Chicago Cubs at 9:10 PM ET as a -165 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9. The Seattle Mariners host the Colorado Rockies at 9:40 PM ET as a -245 money-line favorite with a total of 8.Matchweek 31 in the English Premier League begins with seven matches. Newcastle United visits Aston Villa on the USA Network as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Five games begin at 10 AM ET. Brighton and Hove Albion play at Chelsea in a pick ‘em match with a total of 2.5. Everton plays at home against Fulham as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Crystal Palace is at Southampton in a pick ‘em contest with an over/under of 2.5. Tottenham plays at home against Bournemouth on the USA Network as a -1 goal-line favorite with a total of 3. Brentford plays at Wolverhampton in a pick ‘em match with a total of 2.5. Manchester City is at home against Leicester City on NBC at 12:30 PM ET as a -2 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 3.5.

Four NBA Playoff Systems/Angles

by Kyle Hunter

Friday, Apr 14, 2023

The NBA playoffs are here! Now that March Madness is in the rear view mirror, the NBA will be get a lot of the attention in the next couple months. The play in tournament has brought some solid games already, and the full playoffs tip off on Saturday April 15. I wanted to take a look at four different NBA playoff angles that have made money in the past. These angles/systems aren’t the be-all and end-all, but they are good pieces of information to know as part of your handicaps throughout the playoffs. Four NBA Playoff Systems/Angles Home favorites with 4 or more days of rest since their last game are an impressive 112-69 (61.9% ATS) in the NBA playoffs dating back to the 2006 season. When does this system usually pop up? This is most commonly in game one of a series when the higher seeded team has had a good break between their contests. Even larger favorites have done very well inside this system. Favorites of 5 points or larger are 85-52 ATS, which has yielded an ROI of 20.5%. Keep an eye on those rested home favorites through the playoffs. A favorite receiving 40% or less of the spread bets is 110-75-5 ATS (60.8%). Public bettors haven’t been good at picking underdogs in the NCAA Tournament, and they aren’t good at betting underdogs in the NBA playoffs. This is a system that is just a straight fade of the trendy underdog. First round NBA playoff games that start before 6 pm eastern are 124-88 to the under. That is good for 58.5% wins and an ROI of an impressive 13.7%. Overall, early start times have leaned toward the under in the NBA in both the regular season and the playoffs. It isn’t something I would blindly bet, but it is definitely something to consider before placing your wagers. Road underdogs where the line has moved at least 1 point in the direction of the other team and the spread bets are less than 45% on the road underdog- Those road underdogs are 75-54-2 ATS (58.1% ATS). The thought here is the public has moved the line toward the favorite a bit too much and has inflated the line. Remember NBA playoff betting is far different than regular season betting. It is now less about motivation and more about matchups. Good luck during the playoffs!

Big Al's Daily Angle: MLB, NBA and NHL Previews and Odds - 04/14/2023

by Big Al Staff

Friday, Apr 14, 2023

The Friday sports card features action in the NBA, NHL, and MLB.The National Basketball Association postseason continues with the final two games in the Play-In Tournament. The Miami Heat host the Chicago Bulls on TNT at 7 PM ET. The winner earns the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs and draws the Milwaukee Bucks in the conference quarterfinals. The Heat are a 5.5-point favorite, with the total set at 208.5 (all odds from DraftKings). The Minnesota Timberwolves play at home against the Oklahoma City Thunder on ESPN at 9:30 PM ET. The winner takes the eighth seed in the Western Conference playoffs and draws the Denver Nuggets in the conference quarterfinals. The Timberwolves are a 5.5-point favorite with an over/under of 228.5. The National Hockey League has two games on its slate. The Buffalo Sabres travel to Columbus to play the Bluejackets at 7:37 PM ET as a -165 money-line road favorite, with the total set at 7. The Colorado Avalanche play in Nashville against the Predators at 8:07 PM ET as a -190 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6. The Friday card in Major League Baseball has 15 games on its schedule. Three MLB games throw out the first pitch at 6:40 PM ET. The San Francisco Giants visit Detroit to play the Tigers on Apple TV+ as a -145 money-line road favorite with a total of 9. The Philadelphia Phillies play in Cincinnati against the Reds as a -150 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 9.5. The Miami Marlins are at home against the Arizona Diamondbacks as a -155 money-line favorite with a total of 9. Two MLB games start at 7:05 PM ET. The Cleveland Guardians are in Washington against the Nationals as a -155 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 9. The New York Yankees host the Minnesota Twins as a -180 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The Tampa Bay Rays play in Toronto against the Blue Jays at 7:07 PM ET as a -140 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 9. Two more MLB games begin at 7:10 PM ET. The Los Angeles Angels travel to Boston to play the Red Sox on Apple TV+ as a -120 money-line road favorite with a total of 9.5. The Baltimore Orioles play in Chicago against the White Sox as a -120 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 9. Two MLB games throw out the first pitch at 8:10 PM ET. The Houston Astros play at home against the Texas Rangers as a -165 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The Atlanta Braves are in Kansas City to play the Royals as a -140 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 9. The St. Louis Cardinals are at home against the Pittsburgh Pirates at 8:15 PM ET as a -165 money-line favorite with a total of 9. Two MLB games start at 9:40 PM ET. The New York Mets travel to Oakland to play the A’s as a -210 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8. The Milwaukee Brewers are in San Diego to play the Padres. Two more games complete the MLB card at 10:10 PM ET. The Los Angeles Dodgers host the Chicago Cubs as a -165 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The Seattle Mariners play at home against the Colorado Rockies as a -180 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5.

Big Al's Daily Angle: NHL and MLB Previews and Odds - 04/13/2023

by Big Al Staff

Thursday, Apr 13, 2023

The Thursday sports card features action in the NHL and MLB.The National Hockey League has 15 games on its slate. Seven NHL games drop the puck at 7:07 PM ET. The Boston Bruins travel to Montreal to play the Canadiens as a -275 money-line road favorite, with the total set at 6.5 (all odds from DraftKings). The Florida Panthers host the Carolina Hurricanes as a -120 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Tampa Bay Lightning play at home against the Detroit Red Wings as a -240 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The New Jersey Devils are in Washington to play the Capitals as a -175 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Buffalo Sabres are at home against the Ottawa Senators as a -130 money-line favorite with a total of 7. The Pittsburgh Penguins play in Columbus against the Bluejackets as a -190 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The New York Rangers host the Toronto Maple Leafs as a -130 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5.Three NHL games start at 8:07 PM ET. The Minnesota Wild visit Nashville to play the Predators at 8:07 PM ET, with both teams priced at -110 with an over/under of 5.5. The Colorado Avalanche play at home against the Winnipeg Jets as a -170 money-line favorite with a total of 6. The Dallas Stars are at home against the St. Louis Blues on ESPN as a -225 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Philadelphia Flyers play in Chicago against the Blackhawks at 8:37 PM ET as a -120 money-line road favorite with a total of 6. The Edmonton Oilers host the San Jose Sharks at 9:07 PM ET as a -460 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7. Two more NHL games begin at 10:07 PM ET. The Los Angeles Kings are in Anaheim against the Ducks as a -225 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The Vancouver Canucks travel to Arizona to play the Coyotes as a -145 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Vegas Golden Knights play in Seattle against the Kraken on ESPN at 10:37 PM ET as a -120 money-line road favorite with a total of 6. The Thursday card in Major League Baseball has seven games on its schedule. The Baltimore Orioles play at home against the Oakland A’s at 1:05 PM ET as a -225 money-line favorite with an over/under of 10. The Tampa Bay Rays are at home against the Boston Red Sox at 1:10 PM ET as a -205 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The Cincinnati Reds host the Philadelphia Phillies at 6:40 PM ET as a -115 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The New York Yankees play in Minnesota against the Twins at 7:05 PM ET as a -145 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The Toronto Blue Jays are in Detroit against the Tigers at 7:07 PM ET as a -250 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9.5. The St. Louis Cardinals host the Pittsburgh Pirates at 7:45 PM ET as a -250 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The San Diego Padres play at home against the Milwaukee Brewers at 9:40 PM ET as a -140 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5.

Reviewing a Typical MLB Game

by Wayne Root

Thursday, Apr 13, 2023

Let’s review yesterday’s 4-2 win with the San Diego Padres. (4/11) Given out as a free play. Be sure to follow. The San Diego Padres have done well playing the NY Mets on the road. San Diego is now 7-2 in the last eight meetings with the Mets and 6-2 in the last seven in New York. Baseball is slow to change the history between teams. It’s not until their current players are no longer around that trends begin to move. The Padres have great balance and play in the very difficult NL West honing their game day skills and forcing management to get great players. They are stacked from top to bottom and have already shown that if one guy isn’t doing anything, someone else is. These two teams were highly touted back in the offseason, so this plays up as a good chance for San Diego to prove their dominance over high caliber teams while away from home. Yesterday, San Diego was up 4-1 in the ninth so they saved their relief pitchers as they were dominating the game since the Mets were held to 5 hits. I also liked that the public had 63% of the money on New York. As a contrarian, that is another aspect of my decisions. There’s much more than just looking a data tho. Of course analytics help but so does being a World Champion handicapper living in Vegas. That victory work well yesterday but a whole new lineup and pitchers has to be analyzed for the following day. And so goes the constant grind. Good luck betting baseball. The number 1 choice of top professionals like, Wayne Allyn Root.

NBA Playoffs Offer Attractive Choices in Opening Round

by Vegas Writer

Wednesday, Apr 12, 2023

As the play-in round continues, it's time to look at two Opening Round series that look attractive for those hoping to secure future plays.Let's take a look at two of the series, with insight as to where my money would go:Eastern Conference 4/5 SeriesNo. 4 Cavaliers (-200, DKS) over No. 5 KnicksIt’s been five long years since the Cleveland Cavaliers have tasted playoff basketball, but they’ll finally get a sample of it when they play host to the fifth-seeded New York Knicks in the opening round of this postseason.The last time Cleveland won a playoff series was the 2017-18 season when it stunned the Boston Celtics 4-3 in the Eastern Conference Finals, and they have just as good a chance (if not better) of repeating that feat here against the Knicks.Despite posting just 112.3 points per game this season (25th), the one thing the fourth-seeded Cavaliers have going for themselves is their defense, which is tops in the NBA in points allowed at 106.9 ppg, while letting the opposition connect on just 46.8% of its shot attempts (8th).New York went through a postseason drought itself, missing the playoffs between the 2013-14 and 2019-20 seasons. It also missed out last year after getting bounced in the first round by the Atlanta Hawks in 2020-21.Though they faced their share of some ups and downs, the Knicks still managed to put together an impressive season, posting a 47-35 record compared to last year’s mark of 37-45. Their main concern heading into this initial series, though, will be the absence of their leading scorer (25.1 ppg) and rebounder (10 rpg.) Julius Randle, who is out for possibly the next two weeks with a severely sprained ankle.Though they lack depth, the Cavs are an explosive, young team with loads of potential moving forward, and with a poised Donovan Mitchell taking the lead role, they’ll ultimately out-duel New York in this series, and advance to the second round where they’ll face the winner of the Milwaukee/Play-in winner.Western Conference 3/6 SeriesNo. 6 Warriors (-286, DKS) over No. 3 KingsIf there were a Cinderella in this year’s NBA season it would undoubtedly have to be the Sacramento Kings. Locked in as the three-seed in the Western Conference, the Kings went from a 30-52 record a year ago to 49-33 this season, while also capturing the Pacific Division title. As rewarding as that may be, they now have the unenviable task of facing the defending champion Golden State Warriors when the postseason officially gets underway this weekend.Granted, Sacramento led the league in scoring at 121 points per game, but the playoffs are officiated differently, and physicality is almost rewarded, something they’re not accustomed to, having not played more than 82 games in a season for over a decade-and-a-half. In addition, the Kings rank a lowly 26th in scoring defense, allowing 118.2 ppg (26th) on a dismal 49.2% shooting (29th) and 37.4% from three-point territory (28th).Golden State, on the other hand, has more championship rings in the past decade (4) than Sacramento has playoff appearances (1). And even though the Kings will have homecourt advantage here, they’ll still struggle to dispose of the defending champions who’ve won at least one road playoff tilt in 24 consecutive postseason series, and 20 or more playoff games in five of the last six seasons overall.As good as Sacramento is playing, one cannot dismiss the fact that it hasn’t made a postseason appearance since 2006, and has only made the playoffs 28 times in its 74 years of existence. Experience is key when you reach postseason play, and the Kings simply don’t have it. This is precisely why the Warriors will advance to the second round by the time this series is in the books.

Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, MLB and UCL Previews and Odds - 04/12/2023

by Big Al Staff

Wednesday, Apr 12, 2023

The Wednesday sports card features action in the NBA, NHL, MLB, and UCL.The National Basketball Association postseason continues with two games in the Play-In Tournament on ESPN. The Toronto Raptors host the Chicago Bulls at 7 PM ET. The winner plays in Miami against the Heat on Friday for the opportunity to earn the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. The Raptors are a 5.5-point favorite, with the total set at 213.5 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). The New Orleans Pelicans play at home against the Oklahoma City Thunder at 9:30 PM ET. The winner hosts the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday for the right to take the eighth seed in the Western Conference playoffs. The Pelicans are a 5.5-point favorite with an over/under of 227.The National Hockey League has three games on its slate. The New York Islanders host the Montreal Canadiens at 7:07 PM ET as a -365 money-line favorite with a total of 6. The Dallas Stars play in St. Louis against the Blues on TNT at 7:37 PM ET as a -165 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6. The Calgary Flames are at home against the San Jose Sharks on TNT as a -230 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Wednesday card in Major League Baseball has 15 games on its schedule. The Houston Astros travel to Pittsburgh to play the Pirates at 12:35 PM ET as a -155 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 9. Three MLB games throw out the first pitch at 1:10 PM ET. The Minnesota Twins play at home against the Chicago White Sox as a -165 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The San Diego Padres are in New York to play the Met,s with both teams priced at -110 with an over/under of 8.5. The New York Mets visit Cleveland to play the Guardians. The Seattle Mariners play in Chicago against the Cubs at 2:20 PM ET, with both teams priced at -110. The St. Louis Cardinals are in Colorado to play the Rockies at 3:10 PM ET as a -180 money-line road favorite with a total of 12.5. The Milwaukee Brewers travel to Arizona to play the Diamondbacks at 3:40 PM ET as a -130 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Philadelphia Phillies are at home against the Miami Marlins at 4:05 PM ET as a -190 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The Los Angles Angels host the Washington Nationals at 4:07 PM ET as a -165 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9.5.The Baltimore Orioles play at home against the Oakland A’s at 6:35 PM ET as a -170 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The Tampa Bay Rays are at home against the Boston Red Sox at 6:40 PM ET as a -120 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Toronto Blue Jays host the Detroit Tigers at 7:07 PM ET as a -265 money-line favorite with a total of 9. The Atlanta Braves play at home against the Cincinnati Reds at 7:20 PM ET as a -260 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. The Texas Rangers are at home against the Kansas City Royals at 8:05 PM ET as a -175 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The Los Angeles Dodgers travel to San Francisco to play the Giants at 9:45 PM ET as a -175 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 7.5. The knockout stage of the UEFA Champions League continues with the final two legs in the first round of the quarterfinals at 3 PM ET. Real Madrid hosts Chelsea on CBS as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5 (all soccer odds from BetMGM). AC Milan plays at home against Napoli in a pick ‘em match with an over/under of 2.5.

Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, MLB and UCL Previews and Odds - 04/11/2023

by Big Al Staff

Tuesday, Apr 11, 2023

The Tuesday sports card features action in the NBA, NHL, MLB, and UCL.The National Basketball Association has two games on its docket for the opening games of the Play-In Tournament on TNT. The Miami Heat host the Atlanta Hawks at 7:30 PM ET. The winner takes the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs, and the loser hosts the winner of the Toronto/Chicago play-in game on Wednesday. The Heat are a 5-point favorite, with the total set at 226.5 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise).The Los Angeles Lakers play at home against the Minnesota Timberwolves at 10 PM ET. The winner takes the seventh seed in the Western Conference playoffs, and the loser hosts the winner of the New Orleans/Oklahoma City play-in game on Wednesday. The Lakers are an 8-point favorite with an over/under of 231. The National Hockey League has ten games on its slate. Five games drop the puck at 7:07 PM ET. The Philadelphia Flyers host the Columbus Blue Jackets as a -170 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Carolina Hurricanes play at home against the Detroit Red Wings as a -245 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6. The Tampa Bay Lightning are at home against the Toronto Maple Leafs on TNT as a -120 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Boston Bruins host the Washington Capitals as a -260 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The New Jersey Devils play at home against the Buffalo Sabres as a -180 money-line favorite with a total of 7. The Pittsburgh Penguins are at home against the Chicago Blackhawks at 7:37 PM ET as a -450 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Minnesota Wild host the Winnipeg Jets at 8:07 PM ET as a -125 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Edmonton Oilers travel to Colorado to play the Avalanche on TNT at 9:37 PM ET as a -125 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. Two more games conclude the NHL card at 10:07 PM ET. The Vegas Golden Knights play at home against the Seattle Kraken as a -155 money-line favorite with a total of 6. The Vancouver Canucks are in Anaheim to play the Ducks as a -145 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Tuesday card in Major League Baseball has 15 games on its schedule. The New York Yankees visit Cleveland to play the Guardians at 6:10 PM ET as a -170 money-line road favorite with a total of 8. Two MLB games throw out the first pitch at 6:35 PM ET. The Baltimore Orioles are at home against the Oakland A’s as a -195 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. The Houston Astros play in Pittsburgh against the Pirates as a -180 money-line road favorite with a total of 8. Two MLB games start at 6:40 PM ET. The Philadelphia Phillies are at home against the Miami Marlins as a -155 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7.5. The Tampa Bay Rays host the Boston Red Sox as a -180 money-line favorite with a total of 7. The Toronto Blue Jays play at home against the Detroit Tigers at 7:07 PM ET as a -275 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9. The New York Mets are at home against the San Diego Padres on TBS at 7:10 PM ET as a -140 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The Atlanta Braves host the Cincinnati Reds at 7:20 PM ET as a -230 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9. Two MLB games begin at 7:40 PM ET. The Seattle Mariners play in Chicago against the White Sox as a -115 money-line road favorite. The Minnesota Twins play at home against the Chicago White Sox as a -150 money-line favorite with a total of 7.5. The Texas Rangers are at home against the Kansas City Royals as a -275 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. The St. Louis Cardinals play in Colorado against the Rockies at 8:40 PM ET as a -165 money-line road favorite with a total of 11.5. The Los Angeles Angels host the Washington Nationals at 9:38 PM ET as a -300 money-line favorite with an over/under 8.5. The Milwaukee Brewers play in Arizona against the Diamondbacks at 9:40 PM ET as a -135 money-line road favorite with a total of 8.5. The Los Angeles Dodgers are in San Francisco Giants at 9:45 PM ET as a -155 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The knockout stage of the UEFA Champions League continues with two legs in the first round of the quarterfinals at 3 PM ET. Manchester City hosts Bayern Munich on CBS as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 3 (all soccer odds from BetMGM). Benfica plays at home against Inter Milan as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5.

Gearing Up for the 2023 NBA Playoffs

by Wayne Root

Monday, Apr 10, 2023

Do you know which team has the best defense AND the best record since the All-Star Break? (Answer is below) Whether you want to believe it or not, throw out the regular season records for the NBA playoffs. Lay off the 10 years of trends. Look for anything but history. In fact, going against two teams season results will show more cashes. Trust me, the oddsmakers is making their lines knowing what the public will be. If you see Fox, TNT or ESPN spouting out records of recent matchups, you’ll know what I mean. They are the worst. They’re accurate with their stats but the statistics don’t apply. So please try to avoid getting you betting selections from TV hosts. They are not gamblers. NBA teams entering the playoffs now gear up for postseason basketball with the campaign wrapped up Sunday. Playoff seedings are set and we have a good look at each team’s route to hoist the Larry O’Brien trophy. This figures to be one of the most wild NBA playoffs in recent history. The defending champion Golden State Warriors are the sixth seed in the Western Conference, but near three dollar favorites in their first round series with the Sacramento Kings. In the Eastern Conference, the reigning conference champion Boston Celtics will likely have to get by Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks, but prohibitive MVP favorite Joel Embiid lurks, hoping to ruin the party. Three of the top four teams with the best odds to win the NBA title are from the Eastern Conference, led by none other than the team to last pull off a championship run. The best team against the spread entering the 2023 NBA playoffs is the No. 3-seeded Philadelphia 76ers. The worst team against the spread, meanwhile, is the No. 7-seeded Miami Heat. It’s a guarantee the oddsmakers know this and they will make their own adjustments. The Celtics, who were the preseason title favorites after finishing runner-up to the Warriors in last year’s NBA Finals, have the next best odds among the teams in the field at +360. The Milwaukee Bucks are the team to beat, at +240. Using a odds calculator, that implies a 29.4% probability Milwaukee wins. They paced the NBA in victories during the regular season and were the only team with a winning percentage above .700. Answer: The LA Lakers

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