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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL and NCAAB Previews and Odds - 03/20/2025

by Big Al Staff

Thursday, Mar 20, 2025

The Thursday sports card features NBA, NHL, and NCAAB action. The National Basketball Association has five games on its docket. Two NBA games tip off at 7:10 p.m. ET. The Indiana Pacers host the Brooklyn Nets as a 9-point favorite with the total set at 226.5 (all odds from DraftKings). The New York Knicks travel to Charlotte to face the Hornets as a 7.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 222. Two more NBA games start at 10:10 p.m. ET. The Golden State Warriors plays at home against the Toronto Raptors as a 14-point favorite with a total of 226. The Sacramento Kings are home against the Chicago Bulls as a 7-point favorite with an over/under of 235. The Milwaukee Bucks play in Los Angeles against the Bucks at 10:40 p.m. ET as a 3-point road favorite with a total of 226. The National Hockey League has two games on its slate. Five NHL games drop the puck at 7:07 p.m. ET. The New Jersey Devils host the Calgary Flames as a -180 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Florida Panthers are in Columbus to face the Blue Jackets as a -185 money-line road favorite with a total of 5.5. The New York Rangers play at home against the Toronto Maple Leafs as a -122 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Washington Capitals are home against the Philadelphia Flyers as a -250 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Colorado Avalanche play in Ottawa against the Senators with both teams priced at -110 with an over/under of 6.5. Two NHL games begin at 7:37 p.m. ET. The St. Louis Blues host the Vancouver Canucks as a -135 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The New York Islanders play at home against the Montreal Canadiens as a -135 money-line with an over/under of 5.5. Two more NHL games start at 8:07 p.m. ET. The Dallas Stars are home against the Tampa Bay Lightning as a -130 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Nashville Predators host the Anaheim Ducks as a -175 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Los Angeles Kings are in Chicago to face the Blackhawks at 8:37 p.m. ET as a -265 money-line road favorite with a total of 5.5. Two NHL games begin at 9:07 p.m. ET. The Utah Hockey Club plays at home against the Buffalo Sabres as a -180 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Vegas Golden Knights are home against the Boston Bruins at 10:07 p.m. ET as a -265 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Carolina Hurricanes travel to San Jose to face the Sharks at 10:37 p.m. ET as a -340 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 5.5.The NCAAB college basketball schedule has 16 games between Division I opponents in the tip-off of the first round of the NCAA tournament. Louisville battles Creighton on CBS at 12:15 p.m. ET as a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 145.5. Purdue plays High Point on truTV at 12:40 p.m. ET as a 7.5-point favorite with an over/under of 153.5. Wisconsin goes against Montana on TNT at 1:30 p.m. ET as a 16.5-point favorite with a total of 152.5. Houston takes on SIU-Edwardsville on TBS at 2:00 p.m. ET as a -28.5-point favorite with an over/under of 126.5.Auburn challenges Alabama State on CBS at 2:50 p.m. ET as a 32.5-point favorite with a total of 149.5. Clemson faces McNeese on truTV at 3:15 p.m. ET as a 7.5-point favorite with an over/under of 133.5. BYU battles VCU on TNT at 4:05 p.m. ET as a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 146.5. Gonzaga plays Georgia on TBS at 4:35 p.m. ET as a 6.5-point favorite with an over/under of 150.5. Tennessee faces Wofford on TNT at 6:50 p.m. ET as an 18.5-point favorite with a total of 133.5. Kansas challenges Arkansas on CBS at 7:10 p.m. ET as a 5.5-point favorite with an over/under of 145.5. Texas A&M goes against Yale on TBS at 7:25 p.m. ET as a 7.5-point favorite with a total of 139.5. Missouri takes on Drake on truTV at 7:35 p.m. ET as a 6.5-point favorite with an over/under of 132.5. UCLA plays Utah State on TNT at 9:25 p.m. ET as a 5.5-point favorite with a total of 144.5. St. John’s battles Nebraska-Omaha on CBS at 9:45 p.m. ET as an 18.5-point favorite with an over/under of 148.5. Michigan faces UC-San Diego on TBS at 10:00 p.m. ET as a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 142.5. Texas Tech goes against UNC-Wilmington on truTV at 10:10 p.m. ET as a 14.5-point favorite with an over/under of 142.5.

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The Valspar Championship Preview and Picks

by Matt Fargo

Wednesday, Mar 19, 2025

THE PLAYERS Championship is in the books with Rory McIlroy winning in an anticlimactic three-hole aggregate playoff on Monday over J.J. Spaun. He became the eighth player to win twice at TPC Sawgrass and it has been a great start to the season for McIlroy who also won at Pebble Beach giving him some momentum in quest of a Major championship that has eluded him since the 2014 PGA Championship. The PGA Tour remains in Florida and heads to Palm Harbor for the Valspar Championship at Innisbrook Resort’s Copperhead Course. This will be the 24th year of the Valspar that debuted in 2000 at Copperhead which is a par 71 that stretches 7,352 yards and like last week, it demands elite ball striking. This is another positional course with narrow, tree-lined fairways which tends to yield below average driving accuracy and driving distance rankings. It once again makes Strokes Gained: Approach the top key stat this week along with SG: Around The Green and SG: Putting (Bermuda) right in the mix so it is nearly a duplicate of TPC Sawgrass in regard to what it takes to succeed. With five par threes that average 221 yards, Par 3s Gained: 200-225 Yards is also a key metric as to not lose ground on those holes. The three closing holes at Copperhead are among the toughest three-hole stretches on tour and the Snake Pit moniker is apropos as going even par on 16, 17 and 18 is rare. Peter Malnati is the defending champion and an unlikely one as he went off at 300/1, the biggest underdog since 2014. Only four players have won here two times, most recently Sam Burns in 2021 and 2022 and he joined Paul Casey as the only players to defend after Casey did it in 2018 and 2019. Despite coming off THE PLAYERS and The Arnold Palmer Invitational the week before, the field is fairly strong which is usually the case here and 13 of the 25 players in the OWGR are teeing it up this week. The favorites under 30/1 are Tommy Fleetwood (11/1), Xander Schauffele (12/1), Sepp Straka (16/1), Justin Thomas (20/1), Tom Kim (22/1) and Sam Burns (22/1). The weather messed around last week with windy conditions off and on and storms forcing a Monday finish and while the forecast looks dry this week, wind looks to play a major role on Thursday and Friday, namely Thursday afternoon and Friday morning where gusts will hit 30 mph. The Thursday AM/Friday PM draw looks to have a significant edge and those are the players we will target to avoid those gusty conditions. Top four key categories this week: Strokes Gained: ApproachStrokes Gained: Around The GreenStrokes Gained: Putting (Bermuda)Par 3s Gained: 200-225 Yards Each bet is Win/Top Five/Top Ten. The typical recommendation is 50%/25%/25% with odds, payouts and results based on a $1000 unit (easy round number for bookkeeping) on each of the following players. The payouts are listed right below the odds which are all from DraftKings: Sam BurnsOdds: Win 2,200 ~ Top Five 400 ~ Top Ten 210Payout: Win 11,000.00 ~ Top Five 1,000.00 ~ Top Ten 520.50 It has been an erratic start for Burns and he actually has been trending down, missing his first cut of the season last week but if there is a place to pick up his game, this is it. He has back-to-back wins here in 2021 and 2022 to go along with a T6 over his last four starts at the Valspar. His iron game has been abysmal this season, notably the last two starts, so we are going against the top key statistic but the course fit trumps that this week. He has been great off the tee and on the greens so get that SG: Approach back to where it was at the end of last year and he could be hoisting his third trophy here. Michael KimOdds: Win 3,000 ~ Top Five 500 ~ Top Ten 250Payout: Win 15,000.00 ~ Top Five 1,250.00 ~ Top Ten 620.50 Kim was a popular play last week in the betting and DFS markets but he missed the cut albeit by just one stroke so it was not a disaster. He was on fire prior to that as he finished T13 or better in his previous five starts including a T2, a solo fourth and a T6 and it was due to his SG: Approach and SG: Around The Green numbers. He was fine in those categories last week at TPC Sawgrass but he was -0.91 in SG: Off The Tee and that was an aberration as he was +SG in six of his first eight starts in that category. He came to the Valspar last year missing the cut in four of his previous five starts and finished a respectable T33. Stephan JaegerOdds: Win 4,400 ~ Top Five 800 ~ Top Ten 360Payout: Win 22,000.00 ~ Top Five 2,000.00 ~ Top Ten 900.00 Jaeger has missed two cuts this year which happened to be the only two starts where he as -SG: Approach. When his irons are on, he contends as when he has gained one or more strokes on approach, he has finishes of T6, T3 and T20, the latter coming last week at THE PLAYERS where he was in the top ten after the first and third rounds but a Sunday 75 did him in. He was not able to get off the tee as his irons were spot on and he can prosper at this point. He missed the cut in his first start here but finished T27 in 2023 where he was +SG in everything but putting. That was his issue in 2023 and early 2024 but he has completely turned that around. Jacob BridgemanOdds: Win 5,000 ~ Top Five 850 ~ Top Ten 400Payout: Win 25,000.00 ~ Top Five 2,125.00 ~ Top Ten 1,000.00 Hardly a household name, Bridgeman is putting together a solid season after a slow start. He missed the cut in three of his first four starts with a T21 at The American Express being the outlier where his putter was on fire. His iron play was dreadful in all four of those starts but he has flipped that as he has been +SG: Approach in his last four starts and it has turned into making the weekend in all four including a T2 at the Cognizant Classic and a T15 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. His putting remains above average and he is No. 14 in Strokes Gained: Total and while he missed the cut here last year, he was not in the same form. Christiaan BezuidenhoutOdds: Win 6,000 ~ Top Five 900 ~ Top Ten 400Payout: Win 30,000.00 ~ Top Five 2,250.00 ~ Top Ten 1,000.00 Bezuidenhout missed the cut at THE PLAYERS as he had his worst putting performance since the 2023 PGA Championship and last week was a total anomaly as he had been +Strokes Gained: Putting in his previous 13 starts. He is a master short game player as he is No. 11 in Strokes Gained: Around the Green to go along with a No. 9 in putting and No. 6 in scrambling. The concern is his iron game as he has been -SG: Approach in six of his eight starts but this should come around at some time as he is normally above average. His T9 here last year with a positive approach game can bring that confidence back. Results through THE PLAYERS Championship (7 Tournaments): Win: -15,500Top Five: -4,375Top Ten: -225

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North Carolina is Worth Looking Into For Futures Bets

by Vegas Writer

Wednesday, Mar 19, 2025

The North Carolina Tar Heels are laughing all the way to the first round of this year’s NCAA Tournament.While 99.9% of America - or what seemed like that many - said the Tar Heels didn't belong in the dance, they smacked San Diego State back to Southern California and looked like a team on a mission with a huge win in the First Four on Tuesday.Brand recognition or not, regardless if the Selection Committee put the Heels in because of Bubba Cunningham or because tickets would sell, this is still an ACC team that went through a gauntlet of conference opponents to get to this point.Next up: Ole Miss.But what I think you should focus on is DraftKings' prices for the Tar Heels to advance. They're (only) +380 to get to the Sweet 16 They're +900 to get to the Elite 8 They're +3000 to win the South Region They're +6500 to get to the Final They're +17000 to win the Championship Why even consider this? Because of the 99.9% of America that ridiculed the Selection Committee since about 6:30 pm Eastern time on Sunday.Again, on a mission, the Heels are motivated by the hate and we saw it last night in their 95-68 rout of San Diego State on Tuesday night.RJ Davis scored 26 points and was 6 of 6 from 3-point range to help the Tar Heels silence skeptics while destroying the Aztecs in their own arena."I don’t think it was a weight on us to try to get into the NCAA Tournament," North Carolina coach Hubert Davis said in his postgame press conference. "My communication with them is to focus on us. It’s not the noise on the outside in terms of comments and critics. Focusing on our preparation, our practice and our play."Okay Hubie, we'll let you tell it however you want. But the fact is, the Heels looked like a team with something to prove. Your players were indeed fueled by the noise.Thus, I find it interesting the number to win two more to get to the sweetened weekend is just +380. Seems as if there is suddenly legitimacy. In the way is Ole Miss , and then either Iowa State or Lipscomb.Now, per KenPom, the Heels are the third-best team, ranked 30th with their net rating. But Ole Miss is just four spots higher at 26th. Iowa State is 10th and Lipscomb is 82nd.If you're holding a near 4-to-1 ticket, though, you have a big enough cushion to hedge. Same goes if you bet them to win the Region, or further.More questions about this team will be answered on Friday, but for now, it's well worth thinking about an investment in North Carolina's future, as it's a team playing with a mighty big chip on its shoulders.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, NCAAB, and MLB Previews and Odds - 03/19/2025

by Big Al Staff

Wednesday, Mar 19, 2025

The Wednesday sports card features NBA, NHL, NCAAB, and MLB action. The National Basketball Association has five games on its docket. Two NBA games tip off at 7:10 p.m. ET. The Houston Rockets travel to Orlando to face the Magic as a 3-point road favorite with the total set at 210 (all odds from DraftKings). The Indiana Pacers host the Dallas Mavericks as a 9-point favorite with an over/under of 234.5. The Detroit Pistons play in Miami against the Heat on ESPN at 7:40 p.m. ET as a 5.5-point road favorite with a total of 217.5. Three NBA games start at 8:10 p.m. ET. The Minnesota Timberwolves play at home against the New Orleans Pelicans as a 12.5-point favorite with an over/under of 224.5. The New York Knicks are in San Antonio to play the Spurs as an 8.5-point road favorite with a total of 230. The Oklahoma City Thunder are home against the Philadelphia 76ers as a 10-point favorite with an over/under of 230.5. The Utah Jazz host the Washington Wizards at 9:40 p.m. ET as a 4.5-point favorite with a total of 230.5. Four NBA games complete the NBA card at 10:10 p.m. ET. The Memphis Grizzlies visit Portland to challenge the Trail Blazers as a 4.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 235.5. The Cleveland Cavaliers play in Sacramento against the Kings as a 5-point road favorite with a total of 234.5. The Phoenix Suns play at home against the Chicago Bulls as a 6.5-point favorite with an over/under of 235.5. The Los Angeles Lakers are home against the Denver Nuggets on ESPN as a 1-point favorite with a total of 232.5. The National Hockey League has two games on its slate. The Colorado Avalanche are in Toronto to go against the Maple Leafs at 7:07 p.m. ET as a -118 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Minnesota Wild hosts the Seattle Kraken at 9:37 p.m. ET as a -180 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5.The NCAAB college basketball schedule has 11 games between Division I opponents in postseason tournament action. Five NCAAB games are on major national television. The NCAA Tournament continues at 6:40 p.m. ET with the first four game between American University and Mount St. Mary’s at the University of Dayton Arena in Dayton, Ohio, on truTV at 6:40 p.m. ET. The Eagles are a 1-point favorite with an over/under of 151.5.  Florida Atlantic plays at home against Dayton in the first round of the NIT on ESPN2 at 7:00 p.m. ET as a 1-point favorite with a total of 151.5. SMU is home against Northern Iowa in the first round of the NIT on ESPN2 at 9:00 p.m. ET as a 10.5-point favorite with an over/under of 146.5. The NCAA Tournament concludes the first four in a game between Xavier and Texas at the University of Dayton Arena in Dayton, Ohio, on truTV at 9:10 p.m. ET. The Musketeers are a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 151.5. Loyola-Chicago travels to San Jose State in the first round of the NIT on ESPN2 at 11:00 p.m. ET as a 2.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 141.5.  Major League Baseball finishes the MLB World Tour in Tokyo, Japan, with the Los Angeles Dodgers battling the Chicago Cubs on FS1 at 6:10 a.m. ET as a -155 money-line favorite with a total of 8. 

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Top 5 Teams In The NFL Draft

by Will Rogers

Wednesday, Mar 19, 2025

Just about a month to go until the NFL Draft, Here’s a look at teams holding the top five picks,(No. 1 ) TENNESSEE TITANS – Tennessee was linked to Aaron Rodgers for a while and there was some spec that they would recycle Russell Wilson, but it appears now that they aren’t going the free agent route and will focus on Miami quarterback Cam Ward. Having a cost-controlled face of the franchise for the next half-decade or more is just too enticing for a team that needs to win back its fan base after a 3-14 season with just one win at home in 2024. Ward is the overwhelming -650 favorite to be the first pick and appears to be the perfect match for the Titans. Ward is also on record as saying Tennessee is where he wants to play. The Titans did use free agency to protect the new QB’s back side, overpaying for offensive tackle Dan Moore. Moore had a so-so 2024 season for the Steelers, but Tennessee is betting big that he’ll get it together this coming season.(No. 2) CLEVELAND BROWNS – Like Russia, the Browns’ overall strategy is often a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma. What we do know is that the Browns need a quarterback. Deshaun Watson will spend most if not all of the 2025 season recovering from his SECOND Achilles surgery. That opens the door for someone like Wilson, who could use his time there to rehab his career and try to cash in one last time. Mock drafts have been all over the map on the Browns. If they go into Best Player Available mode, they could punt on the QB, draft Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter, pair him with newly-signed Myles Garrett, and let newcomer Kenny Pickett take a beating while the front office takes another year to figure things out. Colorado’s Shadeur Sanders is an option, but what do they do with him if/when Watson returns?(No. 3) NEW YORK GIANTS – There’s talk that the Giants will take both forks in the road – signing either Wilson or Rodgers as a stopgap, then drafting Sanders. Having a vet at the controls and hoping they don’t start the season 1-5 might keep the fans quiet and allow Sanders time to understand the pro game that he and his father are convinced they know already. Sanders is +4000 to be the first QB taken, but he’ll almost certainly be the second off the board. Holding him back is his perceived lack of arm strength and his moderate scrambling ability. He’s scary accurate, however, and not likely to be a turnover machine.(No. 4) NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS – The Patriots love that QB Drake Maye can move out of the pocket. They just are a tad concerned when he has to do that on every play. That’s why, barring a huge trade, New England will most likely take a big step toward solidifying its porous offensive line by taking a left tackle. If that LT is LSU’s Will Campbell, expect a lot of talk about the fact that his arms are on the short side. If new coach Mike Vrabel listens to the analytics department and doesn’t want to take a chance on Campbell, the Pats could look in another direction and take a much-needed receiver. New England had the weakest WR grouping the league last season and is desperate for deep threats such as Matthew Golden from Texas. Would they look at Colorado's two-way threat Travis Hunter after spending a fortune in the off-season rebuilding their defense?(No. 5) JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS – The Jags won only four games last season, and are headed for another drab year unless they can fix a defense that is in dire straits after allowing 389 yards and 25.6 points per game. They would do handstands if Carter somehow fell into their laps at this spot, but that is unlikely. So the focus now is on Michigan DT Mason Graham. With the Wolverines, Graham showed that he can be both an effective run-stopper and someone who can pressure the quarterback. Jacksonville did spend some free agent cash on upgrading the O-Line, so this pick makes perfect sense.

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NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 Futures Value Plays

by Kyle Hunter

Tuesday, Mar 18, 2025

It’s a great time of the year to be a sports fan and a sports bettor. March Madness brings all the drama, and we have just about reached the start of that great four days of sports on Thursday-Sunday of the first weekend. I wanted to take a look at a few Sweet 16 Futures that I believe have some value before we tip off the tournament. The price listed is the best price I found by searching 8 different major sportsbooks. When you are betting futures, always make sure you shop around for the best price! Kentucky To Reach Sweet 16 (+120) The Kentucky Wildcats are expected to get Lamont Butler back for the NCAA Tournament. Butler’s importance cannot be overstated because he is a great ball handler and creator. Kentucky’s spot in the bracket isn’t a bad one at all either. Illinois is a wildly inconsistent team that can’t be trusted as the sixth seed. Troy doesn’t have the scoring upside of some other 13 or 14 seeds. I think this is a buy low spot for the Kentucky Wildcats. Marquette to Reach Sweet 16 (+320) The Marquette Golden Eagles rank a solid 15th at Shot Quality in adjusted Shot Quality rating. Marquette has been a bit unlucky throughout the season. This team underachieved their preseason expectations, but they still have the upside potential in them. Shaka Smart has been a good coach in the NCAA Tournament. New Mexico is their Round of 64 matchup, and the Mountain West is 13-33 ATS in the Round of 64. Michigan State would be their second round game. The Spartans are clearly a good team, but I think their lack of shot making could hold them back. North Carolina to Reach Sweet 16 (+700) Should North Carolina have made the NCAA Tournament. No. Still, I think there is value here. The Tar Heels take on San Diego State in the First Four. The Mountain West cannot be trusted. North Carolina would then take on an Ole Miss team that hasn’t consistently looked like a top team. Iowa State is the #3 seed here, and the Cyclones are shorthanded without Gilbert. The Tar Heels have heard everyone saying they shouldn’t have made it this week. North Carolina’s team talent ranking is very high. This wouldn’t be the first time we’ve seen a team go from Dayton to the Sweet 16.  Wisconsin to Reach Sweet 16 (+100) This is probably my least favorite of the group, but I think this is a buy low spot on Wisconsin as well. Montana in the first round is a great matchup for Wisconsin. The Big Sky Conference has consistently been overmatched in the NCAA Tournament. Wisconsin just went 7/39 from 3 point range against Michigan, but I’m confident their offense will look a lot better against Montana. Wisconsin then would play the winner of VCU/BYU. That isn’t an easy game, but Wisconsin would be favored in either matchup. 

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March Madness Betting Considerations

by Wayne Root

Tuesday, Mar 18, 2025

There are too many ways to start with your handicapping whether it’s for individual games, futures or pools. I like to at least use these 10 things to look for as a start. 1.  First half under bets in first round. These teams will be nervous and playing in huge arenas and site lines will be off. I will bet every first half under on Thursday and Friday games. Since 2011, 58% and a seven year stretch of 69% overall.  2. TV timeouts. Remember that a great experienced coach will know how to make quick sideline adjustments. Huge advantage in these games. I’ve seen as many players blow a game as I have with coaches.  3. Easier to slow a pace than speed them up.  Look for match ups. If a team with a high pace of play is playing a team that plays exceptionally slow, the fast pace team cannot speed up the slower team. Gives the dog an advantage. 4. Throw out home game stats and see what’s left. If a team is 24-8 overall but of those games they’re 1-6 on the road and 0-1 on a neutral court, forget their wins at home and move on. For this tournament, they’re 1-7. 5. When heavy favorites get a big lead, rest is needed more than a blowout. These teams that are 20 point plus favorites will look to close out most games with their starters on the bench resting. That’s is great for a back door cover. They need six wins in total; not a big blowout. Pace and rest. 6. 12 seed vs 5 seed  For some reason the 12 seed is the team to upset and become the March Cinderella. The opposite as a two seed. They have fared poorly in this tournament the last decade.  7. Bet teams that have senior guards.You’ll win many games with great guard play. Especially with those seniors that have the experience to keep their team at calm, focused and at bay. 8. Bet teams that can shoot the 3-pointer.In this day and age, teams must be able to hit 35.5% of the threes for the year. Any less and you’re not winning many games. And the mid-majors that shoot lights out from three are providing the upsets and Cinderella stories. 9. Bet teams that are in the top 20 in offense AND in defense. I don’t mean top 20 in either one but in both categories. Find them and they’ll be in the elite 8 and covering spreads along the way. 10. Bet teams where the higher seed is a favorite to the lower seed. There’s one to start out with but as the tournament progresses, more and more will come out front depending on the matches. Advantage to the better seed getting the role as the underdog. Good LuckWayne

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, NCAAB and MLB Previews and Odds - 03/18/2025

by Big Al Staff

Tuesday, Mar 18, 2025

The Tuesday sports card features NBA, NHL, NCAAB, and MLB action. The National Basketball Association has four games on its docket. The Atlanta Hawks travel to Charlotte to face the Hornets at 7:10 p.m. ET as a 6.5-point road favorite with the total set at 237 (all odds from DraftKings). The Boston Celtics host the Brooklyn Nets at 7:40 p.m. ET as a 13.5-point favorite with an over/under of 216. The The Milwaukee Bucks play in Golden State against the Warriors as a 2.5-point road favorite with a total of 232. The Cleveland Cavaliers are in Los Angeles to play the Clippers at 10:40 p.m. ET as a 4-point road favorite with an over/under of 231.5. The National Hockey League has nine games on its slate. Four NHL games drop the puck at 7:07 p.m. ET. The Washington Capitals play at home against the Detroit Red Wings as a -192 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The New York Islanders visit Pittsburgh to play the Penguins with both teams priced at -110 with an over/under of 5.5. The Ottawa Senators play in Montreal against the Canadiens as a -142 money-line road favorite with a total of 5.5. The New York Rangers are home against the Calgary Flames as a -218 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. Two NHL games start at 8:07 p.m. ET. The St. Louis Blues are in Nashville to challenge the Predators as a -115 money-line road favorite with a total of 5.5. The Dallas Stars host the Anaheim Ducks as a -355 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Seattle Kraken travel to Chicago to battle the Blackhawks at 8:37 p.m. ET as a -155 money-line road favorite with a total of 5.5. The Edmonton Oilers play at home against Utah against the Hockey Club on ESPN at 9:07 p.m. ET as a -170 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Winnipeg Jets play in Vancouver against the Canucks at 10:07 p.m. ET as a -162 money-line road favorite with a total of 5.5. The NCAAB college basketball schedule has nine games between Division I opponents in postseason tournament action. Five NCAAB games are on major national television. The NCAA Tournament tips off at 6:40 p.m. ET with the initial first four game between Alabama State facing Saint Francis (PA) at the University of Dayton Arena in Dayton, Ohio, on truTV at 6:40 p.m. ET. The Hornets are a 4.5-point favorite with an over/under of 139.5. Georgia Tech is home against Jacksonville State in the first round of the NIT on ESPN2 at 7:00 p.m. ET as a 5.5-point favorite with a total of 141.5. Oklahoma State hosts Wichita State in the first round of the NIT on ESPN2 at 9:00 p.m. ET as a 5.5-point favorite with an over/under of 155.5. The NCAA Tournament continues with the second first four game between North Carolina and San Diego State at the University of Dayton Arena in Dayton, Ohio, on truTV at 9:10 p.m. ET. The Tar Heels are a 4.5-point favorite with a total of 142.5. Stanford plays CS-Northridge in the first round of the NIT on ESPN2 at 11:00 p.m. ET as a 6.5-point favorite with an over/under of 154.5.Major League Baseball throws out the first pitch for its first regular season game in the MLB World Tour in Tokyo, Japan. The Los Angeles Dodgers battle the Chicago Cubs on Fox at 6:10 a.m. ET as a -155 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The second game starts on Wednesday at 6:10 a.m. ET on FS1 with the Dodgers priced as a -155 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. 

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3 NCAA Tournament Trends/Angles To Watch

by Kyle Hunter

Tuesday, Mar 18, 2025

NCAA Tournament 3 Angles/Trends To WatchThe NCAA Tournament is finally here! As a huge sports fan, I can confidently say this is my favorite sporting event of the year. The first four days of March Madness are as exciting as you get in the world of sports. Today, I want to take a look at three angles/trends I think you should keep in mind when placing your bets during the NCAA Tournament this year. The Mountain West is 26-53 ATS (32.9%) in their last 79 NCAA Tournament games. Mountain West teams are 13-33 ATS in the Round of 64. San Diego State made that long run a couple years ago, but outside of that the Mountain West has absolutely been burning bettors money for many years. The Mountain West is clearly worse this year than it was a year ago. New Mexico takes on Marquette in Cleveland. Marquette certainly has the higher upside, but neither team has been consistent this season. San Diego State takes on North Carolina in the First Four game in Dayton. North Carolina has a massive talent advantage in that one as well. Will the Tar Heels have a chip on their shoulder? Be careful before you trust the MWC in general. NCAA Tournament with a spread of six points or more and a total of 137 or higher are 197-143 to the under (57.9% unders) since 2005. What is the thought process here? These are games that are less likely to go to overtime. They are also less likely to be a fouling fest in the last minute or two. These have done especially well in the early rounds of the tournament. There are going to be a bunch of matches to this angle this season. Importantly, I would definitely never bet an angle like this blindly. If it is a matchup of two teams who are going to push tempo all the way and get a bunch of trips to the line, that is one where I would sit out on following this angle. #11 and #12 Seeds facing an opponent with an ATS Win (Cover) Rate of 55% or higher on the year- these teams are 67-41 ATS (62% ATS). The #11 and #12 seeds have been profitable for bettors in general in the past decade, but when the opposition has been a great cover team through the year this angle has been even better. The middle of the brackets in terms of seeds have been valuable to underdog bettors. There are top teams in the #1 and #2 seeds, but in the #5 and #6 areas we’ve often found some inconsistent teams who aren’t worthy of laying the number of points they are laying.  Remember these angles are just one part of the handicap, but I think all three of these are good to keep in mind when getting set for the NCAA Tournament this year. 

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CBB - March Madness Preview: (By Region)

by William Burns

Monday, Mar 17, 2025

South Region:  Aka. Auburn's region, this region is very intriguing. We've got a brilliant matchup in Louisville/Creighton kicking the 4-day weekend off on Thursday and the best overall team in the field in Auburn. The Tigers are coming into this tournament with (-135) odds to win this region and head to the Final Four. That's not giving much respect to the rest of the teams, who most definitely all have a chance. The first couple of games in the South will actually be played on Tuesday in the First Four. St. Francis takes on Alabama State to get into the tournament. That should be a very close game that comes down to the wire. In the other matchup, we'll see a hungry San Diego State team take on a team that perhaps shouldn't even be here in North Carolina. The rankings were with UNC, but the results were not. I mean, the Tar Heels were 1-12 in Quad-1 games this season. They also have a Quad-3 loss at home to Stanford. Having said that, teams like West Virginia, Indiana & Boise State were left at home not happy whatsoever. But, take nothing away from the Tar Heels. They are in and have as good of a shot as any to go in and win their First-Four matchup and even more. They got a pretty good draw considering all of this. Let's not skip too far down the bracket yet though. Michigan may have just won the Big 10 Tournament. But, it's got a very interesting first round matchup against a UC San Diego team that might just be the worst possible opponent for them. The Tritons force plenty of TO's and Michigan has a TO issue. Upset Alert? Yale upset Auburn last season in the #4/13 matchup. Can the Bulldogs do it again this March? Back to the bottom half of the bracket again, despite the injury from Keshon Gilbert, the Cyclones are still a phenomenal basketball team. They played very well in the Big 12 Tournament vs. BYU without Gibert & Lipsey. Lipsey is expected to be back. Michigan State is also not to be slept on. I mean it's the reigning Big 10 Regular Season champs. East Region:  Aka. Duke's region. Finishing the pre-March Madness season with the best record in College Basketball, the Duke Blue Devils had to finish the season with their best player sitting on the sidelines. Yes, I expect Cooper Flagg to return to the Blue Devils for the entirety of this tournament. This team is as strong as any Duke team that's ever been in this tournament. What a matchup we have in the #8/#9 between Mississippi State & Baylor. If the Bears advance we could see Jeremy Roach against his old team (Duke) - that matchup would be very fun. If Mississippi State wins, it could also cause problems for Duke as the Blue Devils haven't played a team that plays to the style of MSST all season. I'd keep a close eye on this game if it were to happen. Oregon got a favorable draw in Liberty in my opinion. I know that the Flames only lost six games this season. But I also don't think that the CUSA is all that strong this season. I'm not counting Liberty out, Oregon should take it though. Arizona/Akron will be running up and down the court all game long. Bad matchup for Akron? Maybe. But, I could see the Zips making this one closer than people anticipate. BYU/VCU might just be the best game of the first round. Excellent three point shooting against some of the best 3pt defending in the country. Wisconsin was the runner up in the Big 10 Tourney. John Tonje looked like he could've been Big 10 POTY in that tournament. But, Montana shoots very, very well (2nd in the country in FG %.) and if Wisconsin is missing its shots, maybe, just maybe this could be Cinderella. St. Mary's vs. Vandy is expected to be very close as well. I think that the Commodores slightly over performed this season and could disappoint, but that doesn't mean that Jason Edwards isn't a special player and could make something happen. St. Mary's has something to prove this season after the first round exit last year. At the bottom, we've got Alabama taking on Robert Morris. I think this is a good matchup for Bama even if Grant Nelson can't go. His status is something to look for though in games to come. Midwest Region:  Aka. Houston's region, might just be the weakest region. Especially in the bottom half. But, at the top, we've got Houston/SIUE. I simply don't see an upset here whatsoever. I know, I'm boring. But, C'mon. Have you watched Houston this season? The Cougars won't lose to a non-power 4 school yet alone 16 seed in the first round. In the next matchup though, Houston could have something coming for them. Gonzaga might just be the most under seeded team in the entire tournament and Georgia is led by one of the best big men in the country in Asa Newell as just a freshman. Newell was a part of that stacked Monteverde team last season in High School with Cooper Flagg and co. Now, Houston's J'Wan Roberts' status is something to keep an eye on. Upset could be looming if Roberts can't go in round 2. Clemson/McNeese State & Purdue/High Point might be the most exciting #5/#12 , #4/#13 part of this whole bracket. Any one of those four teams could make a run into the Sweet Sixteen and they are all very talented at what they do. I believe that these two games should both come down to the wire. In the bottom half of the bracket, Illinois awaits the winner of Xavier/Texas. Now, both those teams were bubble teams and both didn't know that they would make it. Texas is very hot right now and Xavier has some very good talent on its roster. If Illinois isn't ready, it could be one and done. Kentucky is looking to not repeat the disaster that it had last season in the #3/#14 matchup. If you don't remember Jack Gohlke hitting 10 threes for Oakland and shocking the Wildcats last season, I don't know what you  are doing. Luckily, Troy isn't a great three point shooting team so a repeat of that is unlikely. But, don't count out the Trojans who are great at rebounding and defending. UCLA/Utah State will be slow paced most likely. The Bruins play great defense and Utah State moves the ball around a lot in that offense. I could see a mini upset here, but the Big 10 team might be too strong for Mountain West. Finally, Tennessee/Wofford will close out this region at the bottom. Wofford has a guy by the name of Kyler Filewich who shoots Free Throw's underhanded. Get prepared for madness. That bottom half is scary with the inconsistencies of the lower seeds. Expect the unexpected. West Region:  Aka. Florida's region, this is going to be something special. Not only does the West have FOUR TOP 12 TEAMS in KenPom's overall rankings, but it's also got teams like Memphis, UCONN (B2B defending champs,) Kansas, Arkansas, Missouri, Colorado State and even Oklahoma. Now, if there was any group to label the group of death, it's most definitely this one in my opinion. Looking at the matchups, Florida should obviously cruise past Norfolk State. UCONN/OU is going to be very good. Although they are still very good, I believe that Vegas is overhyping the Huskies slightly with the current odds in that game (-4.5.) I mean, that games a toss up if you ask me and the Jeremiah Fears/Jalon Moore combo is so fun to watch. Memphis/Colorado. Now, here's something unexpected. The #12 seed is actually favored in this game against the #5. Will Memphis pull off the "upset" as a five seed? That seems very weird to say but I definitely think that this game could also go either way. Maryland/GCU is a battle of two high scoring teams that wanted easier matchups. Grand Canyon beat St. Mary's last season in the tournament so you cannot count the Antelopes out. Maryland could be a Final Four team though. Missouri/Drake. I mean another toss up here. Bennett Striz is a joy to watch, but will him and the rest of his former division two filled roster be enough to crack one a team from the sports' top conference? We'll have to wait and see. We've seen bigger upsets before than a #3/#14, but Texas Tech seems to be much better than UNC Wilmington. I mean the Seahawks got a gift by playing Delaware in the CAA championship game. I don't see them pulling off this upset. John Calipari/Bill Self is next. What a game this should be. Two great coaches and two teams that underperformed this season. Finishing off we've got Omaha looking to upset the Big East Champs in St. John's. Now an upset here, that would be something. But, don't underestimate the team that beats up trash cans after their wins from Omaha. 

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA and NHL Previews and Odds - 03/17/2025

by Big Al Staff

Monday, Mar 17, 2025

The Monday sports card features NBA and NHL action. The National Basketball Association has ten games on its docket. The New York Knicks host the Miami Heat on ESPN at 7:40 p.m. ET. The Knicks were on a two-game winning streak before a 97-94 loss at Golden State as a 6.5-point underdog on Saturday. Their 42-24 record puts them in second place in the Atlantic Division and third place in the Eastern Conference. The Heat have lost seven games in a row after a 125-91 loss at Memphis as a 6-point underdog on Saturday. Their 29-38 record puts them in third place in the Southeast Division and ninth place in the Eastern Conference. New York is a 7.5-point favorite with the total set at 212.5 (all odds from DraftKings). Three NBA games tip off at 8:10 p.m. ET. The Minnesota Timberwolves play at home against the Indiana Pacers as a 7-point favorite with an over/under of 229.5. The Houston Rockets are home against the Philadelphia 76ers as a 15.5-point favorite with a total of 222. The Detroit Pistons travel to New Orleans to play the Pelicans as a 6-point road favorite with an over/under of 233.5. The Chicago Bulls play in Utah against the Jazz at 9:10 p.m. ET  as a 5.5-point road favorite with a total of 239.5. Four NBA games start at 10:10 p.m. ET. The Portland Trail Blazers host the Washington Wizards as a 5-point favorite with an over/under of 232. The Sacramento Kings play at home against the Memphis Grizzlies as a 3-point favorite with a total of 240. The Phoenix Suns are home against the Toronto Raptors as an 8.5-point favorite with an over/under of 227.5. The Golden State Warriors host the Denver Nuggets on ESPN. The Warriors have won 13 of their last 14 games after their 97-94 victory against New York as a 6.5-point favorite on Saturday. Their 39-28 record puts them in second place in the Pacific Division and third place in the Western Conference. The Nuggets lost for the second time in three games after a 126-123 upset loss against Washington as a 12-point favorite on Saturday. Their 43-25 record puts them in second place in the Northwest Division and third place in the Western Conference. Golden State is a 5-point favorite with a total of 236.5. The Los Angeles Lakers play at home against the San Antonio Spurs at 10:40 p.m. ET as a 9-point favorite with an over/under of 229.The National Hockey League has five games on its slate. Three NHL games drop the puck at 7:07 p.m. ET. The Boston Bruins are home against the Buffalo Sabres as a -125 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Tampa Bay Lightning host the Philadelphia  Flyers as a -265 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The New Jersey Devils are in Columbus to face the Blue Jackets as a -135 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The Toronto Maple Leafs play at home against the Calgary Flames at 7:37 p.m. ET as a -218 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Los Angeles Kings visit the Minnesota Wild at 8:07 p.m. ET as a -142 money-line road favorite with a total of 5.5.

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NCAA Tournament: Buyer Beware on These Two Higher Seeds

by Vegas Writer

Sunday, Mar 16, 2025

Now that the Selection Committee has done its job, it's time for me to do mine and provide you with a Buyer Beware speech before the dance gets underway this week.While many are on the prowl to identify the right team to invest in, the one with the right odds and that can make a run at the title, I'm alerting you to a couple of higher-seeded teams I see bowing out sooner than expected so you don't make any financial mistakes.AUBURN (No. 1 seed, South Region)Of the No. 1 seeds in this year's event, the Tigers appear to be the most vulnerable, and one I don't think makes it into the national semifinals, let alone the South final. The Tigers bowed out of the SEC Tournament with a 62-57 loss to the Tennessee Volunteers, and come into the tournament losers in three of their last four games.They closed the regular season with consecutive losses to Texas A&M and Alabama, and I have to tell you, I think Bruce Pearl's troops is going to have problems when it gets locked into physical games due to its knack for fouling.Auburn ranks 318th in the nation in committing 18.6 fouls per game, and by putting teams on the line, the Tigers could shoot themselves in the foot as early as the second round against either Louisville or Creighton.PURDUE (No. 4 seed, Midwest Region)I bought into the Boilermakers early on this season, after they bolted out to an 11-2 mark in the Big Ten. But then they lost four in a row, and ended up closing the season, and postseason tournament, with losses in six of their last nine games.The defense scares me, as it went from allowing 69 points per game over its first 24 games but then gave up 78 per contest over the last nine.The other problem with this team is turnovers. Yes, they rank 48th in committing only 10.4 miscues per game, but this team has an upset-minded High Point in the opening round and then could face Clemson and Houston if it gets as far as the regional semifinal. The Boilers would suffocate under Houston's pressure.

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