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Selection Committee Choice of Virginia Should Open Our Eyes in NIT

by Vegas Writer

Wednesday, Mar 20, 2024

Virginia's humiliating loss in the First Four was embarrassing to the ACC. It was also very embarrassing for the Selection Committee.You think about the end of the season, how Virginia played in those four games it didn't get to 50 points, and then the First Four game against a very good Colorado State team. I'm not taking anything away from the Rams, but that was an embarrassing loss for the Cavaliers.Only 14 points in the first half just does not make a league like the ACC look all that competitive. It also looks as if the Selection Committee dropped the ball.Anyone who says it's an indictment on Tony Bennett and the style of play he coaches, well, it is not. His style of play can still win by defending better and taking care of the basketball. Also, not giving up second shots, choosing the shots they want, not the shots your opponent wants you taking.And if you look at this roster, Virginia missed in recruiting. Some of the great Tony Bennett teams had really good players who bought in and executed at a ridiculously high level on offense and defense. This team was just not talented enough. And that is a reflection of some potential recruiting mistakes, and maybe even NIL issues.Tony Bennett hasn't forgotten how to coach, that system can work. But the game Tuesday night was definitely not a great reflection on both the Selection Committee and the ACC.Having said that, there are teams like Wake Forest, Indiana State, Oklahoma and St. John's - all of which were probably more deserving - look extremely attractive if still playing in the postseason. Two of them opted into the NIT, that being a very angry ACC-team in Wake Forest and Indiana State.Pay close attention, as the anger of both teams could be fueled by knowing they could have turned in a better showing than the Cavaliers.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, NCAAB and MLB Previews and Odds - 03/20/2024

by Big Al Staff

Wednesday, Mar 20, 2024

The Wednesday sports card features NBA, NHL, NCAAB, and MLB action.The National Basketball Association has eight games on its docket. Two NBA games tip off at 7:10 p.m. ET. The Cleveland Cavaliers host the Miami Heat as a 2.5-point favorite, with the total set at 202 (all odds from DraftKings). The Indiana Pacers travel to Detroit to play the Pistons as a 9.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 232.5. Two more NBA games start at 7:40 p.m. ET. The Boston Celtics play at home against the Milwaukee Bucks on ESPN as a 9-point favorite, with a total of 223. The Sacramento Kings play in Toronto against the Raptors as a 10.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 232. The Oklahoma City Thunder are at home against the Utah Jazz at 8:10 p.m. ET as a 15-point favorite with a total of 231.5. Three more games conclude the NBA card at 10:10 p.m. ET. The Golden State Warriors host the Memphis Grizzlies on ESPN as a 9.5-point favorite with an over/under of 217. The Phoenix Suns play at home against the Philadelphia 76ers as an 8.5-point favorite with a total of 220. The Los Angeles Clippers are in Portland to play the Trail Blazers as an 11-point road favorite, with an over/under of 215.5. The National Hockey League has three games on its slate. The Toronto Maple Leafs visit Washington to play the Capitals on TNT at 7:37 p.m. ET as a -142 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The Dallas Stars are at home against the Arizona Coyotes at 8:07 p.m. ET as a -285 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Los Angeles Kings host the Minnesota Wild on TNT at 10:07 p.m. ET as a -148 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The college basketball schedule has four tournament games on national television. Montana State battles Grambling on truTV at 6:40 p.m. ET in the first four round of the NCAA tournament at the University of Dayton Arena in Dayton, Ohio, as a 4-point favorite with an over/under of 135. Seton Hall plays at home against Saint Joseph’s on ESPN2 at 7 p.m. ET in the first round of the National Invitational Tournament as a 7.5-point favorite with a total of 146.5.Villanova is at home against Virginia Commonwealth on ESPN2 at 9 p.m. ET in the first round of the NIT as a 6.5-point favorite with an over/under of 131. Colorado challenges Boise State on truTV at 9:10 p.m. ET  in the first round of the National Invitational Tournament as a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 140.5.The 2024 Major League Baseball regular season begins with the Seoul Series in South Korea. The Los Angeles Dodgers play the San Diego Chargers on ESPN at 6:05 a.m. ET. The Dodgers give the ball to Tyler Glasnow to pitch against the Padres’ Yu Darvish. Los Angeles is a -192 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5.The final game of this two-game series starts at 6:05 a.m. ET on Thursday. The Dodgers turn to Yoshinosu Yamamoto as their starting pitcher to go against the Padres’ Joe Musgrove. Los Angeles is a -166 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5.

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MLB Futures Wager: Atlanta Braves to Win the 2024 World Series

by Al McMordie

Tuesday, Mar 19, 2024

With the Major League Baseball season starting tomorrow, in Seoul, South Korea, with a two-game series between the Dodgers and Padres, it's time for my annual MLB Futures prediction.  This season, I'm going to go with the Atlanta Braves.  In my opinion, the Braves were the most accomplished team in MLB last year.  Obviously, they didn't win the World Series but they had an amazing campaign in 2023 that included a League-best 104 wins, an MLB all-time team record (tied with the 2019 Twins) 307 home runs, the best overall player in the game (Ronald Acuna), a first baseman that led MLB with 54 of those HRs, and an ace that had 281 strikeouts at a time when it's hard to reach 200 in a season.  Not needing more than some tweaks in the off-season, the Braves added veteran LHP Chris Sale to their rotation and all indications are -- based on the Spring he's having -- that Sale is 100% and ready to contribute in a big way.     It's hard to believe that despite winning 104 games, the Braves will not be the team that most people will have their eyes on as we begin the 2024 season.  That distinction will belong to the Dodgers and it's not even close.  Although there will be pressure on the Braves to go deeper into the post-season come October, it pales in comparison to the microscope that Freddy Freeman, Mookie Betts, Clayton Kershaw and new arrivals Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto will be under in Tinseltown.  In the NL East division, the Phillies will once again keep the Braves honest over 162 regular season games.  But at the end of September, almost everyone expects that Atlanta will be Division Champs once again.  While the Dodgers and Padres should be formidable, there are so many questions to be answered with the changes both teams have undergone, it's hard to tell where they will end up.  But it's steady as she goes for the Braves -- as long as they can stay healthy.  Take Atlanta at +550 (at MGM Sportsbook) to win the 2024 MLB World Series.  As always, good luck...Al McMordie.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, and NCAAB Previews and Odds - 03/19/2024

by Big Al Staff

Tuesday, Mar 19, 2024

The Tuesday 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 Orlando Magic host the Charlotte Hornets as a 13.5-point favorite with the total set at 203 (all odds from DraftKings). The Houston Rockets travel to Washington to play the Wizards as a 9-point road favorite with an over/under of 228.5. The New Orleans Pelicans play in Brooklyn against the Nets at 7:40 p.m. ET as an 8-point road favorite with a total of 216.5. The Dallas Mavericks are in San Antonio to play the Spurs at 8:10 p.m. ET as an 8.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 231.5. The Denver Nuggets visit Minnesota to play the Timberwolves at 9:10 p.m. ET as a 6.5-point road favorite with a total of 212. The National Hockey League has 13 games on its slate. Five NHL games drop the puck at 7:07 p.m. ET. The Boston Bruins play at home against the Ottawa Senators as a -218 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6. The Detroit Red Wings are at home against the Columbus Blue Jackets as a -166 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The New Jersey Devils host the Pittsburgh Penguins as a -135 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The New York Rangers play at home against the Winnipeg Jets as a -125 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Toronto Maple Leafs play in Philadelphia against the Flyers as a -135 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Carolina Hurricanes are in New York against the Islanders at 7:37 p.m. ET as a -162 money-line road favorite with a total of 6. Two more NHL games start at 8:07 p.m. ET. The Nashville Predators are at home against the San Jose Sharks as a -395 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6. The Colorado Avalanche travel to St. Louis to play the Blues as a -205 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The Edmonton Oilers host the Montreal Canadiens at 9:07 p.m. ET as a -380 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. Four more games conclude the NHL card at 10:07 p.m. ET. The Minnesota Wild play in Anaheim against the Ducks as a -218 money-line road favorite with a total of 6. The Los Angeles Kings play in Chicago against the Blackhawks as a -375 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Vancouver Canucks are at home against the Buffalo Sabres as a -205 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Vegas Golden Knights host the Tampa Bay Lightning as a -142 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The college basketball schedule has nine tournament games on national television. Howard University battles Wagner on truTV at 6:40 p.m. ET in the first four round of the NCAA tournament at the University of Dayton Arena in Dayton, Ohio, as a 3-point favorite with a total of 128. Three more games in the first round of the National Invitational Tournament begin at 7 p.m. ET. Providence plays at home against Boston College on ESPNU as a 3.5-point favorite with an over/under of 138. Georgia is at home against Xavier on ESPN as a 1.5-point favorite with a total of 152.5. Ohio State hosts Cornell on ESPN2 as a 10.5-point favorite with an over/under of 155. Two NCAAB games tip off at 9 p.m. ET. Virginia Tech plays at home against Richmond on ESPN2 as a 5.5-point favorite with a total of 143.5. Butler is at home against Minnesota on ESPNU as a 3.5-point favorite with an over/under of 147.5. Iowa hosts Kansas State on ESPN as a 5.5-point favorite with a total of 157. Colorado State challenges Virginia on truTV at 9:10 p.m. ET in the first four of the NCAA tournament as a 3-point favorite with an over/under 121.  Utah plays at home against UC-Irvine on ESPN2 at 11 p.m. ET as a 7.5-point favorite with a total of 148.5. 

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MLB Betting Preview

by Oskeim Sports

Monday, Mar 18, 2024

MLB betting odds provide an effective means of measuring public sentiment towards specific games, which can help you decide if it makes more sense to fade the public or go with moneyline wagers. As part of their baseball handicapping strategies, experts must take several factors into account when handicapping games - weather and team histories are just two such considerations that need to be made when handicapping matches at Coors Field in Denver. Coors Field's unique physical surroundings also impact totals for each game played there. Futures wagers Futures bets offer an effective way of increasing your potential baseball betting payout. While they require greater patience and knowledge than other types of bets, futures wagers can reap big dividends when done properly. Always check odds before placing futures wagers as these odds change frequently depending on injuries, trades, and other variables that could influence play on any given day. Futures bets that are most frequently offered include league and division winners as well as team win totals. These types of bets tend to be easier for beginners to grasp than more intricate wagers and you can place them online or at your favorite sportsbook. Futures bets can take longer to settle than moneyline and run line bets, especially for season-long markets such as baseball. If you place a bet on the Houston Astros winning the World Series before its season begins, for example, your ticket could cash out months after first placing it; making them riskier. Runline bets Just like in football, run lines offer bettors another way of gambling on which team will win a game. Like point spreads but with larger margins of victory and higher odds. A standard MLB run line typically stands at 1.5 runs. Bets may be placed either on either team; however, bets on underdogs tend to yield greater returns due to good teams often facing weak opponents which produces more one-sided contests. However, standard MLB run lines can be adjusted depending on each matchup by one full or half run. Furthermore, sportsbooks may provide alternate run lines which are more volatile than standard lines, including ones based on how many points a team has scored which increases risk but results in larger rewards should you win. Parlay bets Parlay bets offer an effective way to increase winning wagers by adding multiple selections to a sports betting ticket at once. They can be placed on moneylines, run lines or total runs picks using complex baseball pick models which analyze team and player performance stats. Teaser bets use this same model to adjust point spreads and total line odds in your favor and are typically offered by reputable sportsbooks as an attractive offer to attract new customers or reward existing ones. Furthermore, parlays are easy to place and can make an excellent addition to your MLB betting preview. Just be careful when placing parlays involving multiple teams as any mistaken bet could mean your entire wager is lost - therefore you must conduct extensive research before placing any parlays and use disciplined straight betting practices when betting straight on multiple teams. Player props Player prop bets involve placing money on an individual player in a game. They tend to be more complex than side or total wagers and require research on past performances and injury reports of each team. One popular player prop bet involves betting on how many rushing yards a running back will amass in an individual game. This bet can usually be found at most US sportsbooks with odds of at least -120; when betting this way it's wise to consider team defense as this can have a considerable effect on game outcome. Other player props could include betting on how many strikeouts a starting pitcher will throw, or how many three-pointers a point guard will make in a game - these bets provide another way of adding excitement without risking your entire bankroll.

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Thursday Round of 64 NCAA Tournament Location Advantages

by Nelly's Sports

Monday, Mar 18, 2024

Thursday Round of 64 NCAA Tournament Location Advantages The NCAA Tournament field is set and while the seeds and matchups are worthy of most of the attention, the locations can have an impact as well. Most of the brackets printed don’t even list the venues but it is worth paying attention to when and where teams are playing this week. Here is a look at a few location advantages for Thursday’s Round of 64 schedule.  (6) BYU vs. (11) Duquesne – Omaha, NE Provo is nearly 1,000 miles from Omaha as Pittsburgh is slightly closer to Omaha for Duquesne. The advantage for BYU comes by forcing Duquesne to play one of the first games of the tournament early on Thursday after making a long trip west, when the Dukes were one of the very last teams to finish their season winning the A-10 Championship on Sunday. A #6 seed in generous for a BYU squad that was only 10-8 in Big XII play and only had one top 50 win out of conference way back in early November and having a full week turnaround ahead of this game where the Cougars will be well-supported in Omaha sets up a favorable draw.  (14) Akron vs. (3) Creighton – Pittsburgh, PA Akron won the MAC tournament title in dramatic fashion last week and will only have to travel just over 100 miles to Pittsburgh despite being a #14 seed. While Omaha was off the table for Creighton as its home site, preferable placements in Memphis or Indianapolis were available instead of an over 900 mile trip east to Pittsburgh, in a venue that could be dominated by Kentucky fans.  (1) North Carolina vs. (16) First Four Winner – Charlotte, NC The Tar Heels didn’t have a slam dunk case to be a #1 seed after losing to NC State last weekend. In addition to that loss the Tar Heels have three other losses to teams that didn’t make the tournament. Not only did North Carolina earn the fourth #1 seed, they landed in a comfortable venue in Charlotte. North Carolina is in the West region with Arizona as the #2 seed plus with Saint Mary’s lurking as a potential Sweet 16 foe as the location edge may shift later in the tournament for the Tar Heels.  Also in Charlotte, if (10) Virginia is able to win Tuesday’s First Four game with Colorado State, they would be in appealing location with an ACC crowd against (7) Texas.  (5) Gonzaga vs. (12) McNeese – Salt Lake City, UT Gonzaga doesn’t have the credentials of most of the Bulldogs teams of the past decade, but this year’s team wound up with a #5 seed and in the most appealing venue they could have hoped for given that the home site of Spokane was off the table. It is still 700 miles from Spokane to Salt Lake City, but it is a familiar trip for Gonzaga fans and the Bulldogs were also granted a night game. McNeese is a 30-win team but will make a long trip for a night game at altitude to perhaps quell some of the upset potential for the Cowboys.  (10) Drake vs. (7) Washington State – Omaha, NE Despite being the lesser seed, Drake landed with one of the most preferable location edges of the entire field, playing just a two-hour drive on I-80 away from campus. Omaha would have been a decent venue for teams like Texas and Dayton on the #7 line, but Drake landed Washington State who certainly would have preferred to be in Spokane or Salt Lake City. A consolation for the Cougars is that the tip will be the last one of the entire schedule on Thursday, in a normal game time for Washington State and a very late start for the Bulldogs. 

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Friday Round of 64 NCAA Tournament Location Advantages

by Nelly's Sports

Monday, Mar 18, 2024

Friday Round of 64 NCAA Tournament Location Advantages The NCAA Tournament field is set and while the seeds and matchups are worthy of most of the attention, the locations can have an impact as well. Most of the brackets printed don’t even list the venues but it is worth paying attention to when and where teams are playing this week. Here is a look at a few location advantages for Friday’s Round of 64 schedule.  (5) San Diego State vs. (12) UAB – Spokane, WA Six Mountain West teams made the NCAA Tournament and a San Diego State team that finished fifth in the conference standings earned by far the most attractive seeding. Last year’s Final Four run seemed to give the Aztecs a bump while head-to-head wins over both Gonzaga and Saint Mary’s perhaps influenced the committee to put San Diego State on the same line as the two WCC powers. San Diego isn’t remotely close to Spokane, but the Aztecs avoid having to travel east, though last year’s great tournament run started in Orlando. Birmingham is over 2,200 miles from Spokane for the one of the greatest travel distances that any team in the field will face. UAB will also make the trip on a short turnaround playing Friday after winning the AAC Tournament title on Sunday. An early start time slot does potentially favor the Blazers however.  (15) Western Kentucky vs. (2) Marquette – Indianapolis, INIndianapolis is a choice landing spot for Marquette, but their opponent has only about an hour drive to Indianapolis compared to the four-hour trek from Milwaukee. Marquette can’t complain about this draw while also getting to play Friday instead of Thursday to allow for one more day to hopefully get Tyler Kolek back to health. Western Kentucky should have some support in Indianapolis with the short trip and the early time slot on Friday and a venue filled with Purdue fans will likely adopt the Hilltoppers should they find a way to keep the game competitive into the second half.  (1) Connecticut vs. (16) Stetson – Brooklyn, NY Being the defending champions and the overall #1 seed affords Connecticut their preferred venue and Brooklyn is a great spot to be for the Huskies. Stetson also is making a long trip from Florida up the Atlantic coast compared to some of the other #16 options that would have been much closer to Brooklyn. Should the Huskies advance to the Sweet 16 they will be in Boston. Last year’s title run also started in the state of New York for the Huskies in Albany for their first two games.  (6) Clemson vs. (11) New Mexico – Memphis, TN Clemson is a healthy 500-mile trip to Memphis but other than Charlotte, this is a solid spot for Clemson to land, getting a #6 seed and an appealing location even with losses in three of the final four games of the season, all against non-tournament teams. New Mexico earned its way into the field with four wins in four days in Las Vegas and now must make a long trip east while also facing a relatively early start time on Friday.  (13) Vermont vs. (4) Duke – Brooklyn, NY Vermont has an appealing 350-mile drive south to Brooklyn compared to a nearly 500-mile trip northeast for Duke. The popular Blue Devils will certainly be well supported in Brooklyn for a prime time game but compared to #13 seed options Samford and Charleston, this is a much more appealing venue for Vermont than some of the alternatives, though the temptation to put #13 Yale with Duke in this pairing was resisted by the committee.  (1) Purdue vs. (16) First Four Winner – Indianapolis, IN Purdue’s infamous loss in the Round of 64 last season came in Columbus and the Boilermakers will be well-supported in a home state venue looking to make amends this season, playing just 70 miles away from campus. This is also the venue where Purdue had a successful non-conference win against Arizona in December for some positive memories and familiarity.  Either Grambling or Montana State will be far from home for Friday’s evening game as Purdue should avoid last season’s humiliation. 

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA and NHL Previews and Odds - 03/18/2024

by Big Al Staff

Monday, Mar 18, 2024

The Monday sports card features NBA and NHL action.The National Basketball Association has eight games on its docket. The Indiana Pacers host the Cleveland Cavaliers at 7:10 p.m. ET. The Pacers won for the third time in their last four games with a 1201-100 victory as an 8-point favorite on Saturday. The Cavaliers lost for the third time in their last four games in a 117-103 upset loss at Houston as a 4.5-favorite on Saturday. Indiana is a 7.5-point favorite, with the total set at 223.5 (all odds from DraftKings).Two NBA games tip off at 7:40 p.m. ET. The Boston Celtics play at home against the Detroit Pistons. The Celtics are on a five-game winning streak after a 130-104 victory at Washington as a 14.5-point favorite on Sunday. The Pistons are on a two-game losing streak after their 104-101 loss at home to Miami on Sunday. Boston is a 16-point favorite with an over/under of 226.The Philadelphia 76ers are at home against the Miami Heat on ESPN. The 76ers ended a two-game losing streak with a 109-98 victory as a 10-point favorite on Saturday. The Heat are on a two-game winning streak after their victory against the Pistons yesterday. Philadelphia is a 2-point favorite with a total of 210. The Chicago Bulls host the Portland Trail Blazers at 8:10 p.m. ET. The Bulls won for the second time in their last three games after a 127-98 victory as a 9.5-point favorite on Friday. The Trail Blazers have lost two games in a row after a 126-117 loss at New Orleans as a 13-point underdog on Friday. Chicago is a 7.5-point favorite with an over/under of 213.5. The Minnesota Timberwolves travel to Utah to play the Jazz at 9:10 p.m. ET. The Timberwolves have won two games in a row after a 119-100 victory at Utah as an 8-point road favorite on Saturday. The Jazz have lost four of their last five games. Minnesota is an 8-point road favorite with a total of 222. Two NBA games start at 10:10 p.m. ET. The Golden State Warriors play at home against the New York Knicks on ESPN. The Warriors won for the second time in their last three games in a 128-121 upset victory as a 12-point underdog in Los Angeles against the Lakers on Saturday. The Knicks are on a three-game winning streak after their 98-91 victory at Sacramento as a 4-point underdog on Saturday. Golden State is a 4.5-point favorite with an over/under of 212.5. The Sacramento Kings are at home against the Memphis Grizzlies. The Kings had won two games in a row before their 98-91 loss against the Knicks on Saturday. The Grizzlies lost for the fourth time in their last five games after their 118-112 loss against Orlando as an 11-point underdog on Saturday. Sacramento is a 9.5-point favorite with a total of 223.5.The Los Angeles Lakers host the Atlanta Hawks at 10:40 p.m. ET. The Lakers are on a two-game losing streak after their loss to the Warriors on Saturday. The Hawks ended a three-game losing streak with a 110-93 upset victory in Los Angeles against the Clippers as a 9.5-point underdog on Sunday. Los Angeles is an 8.5-point favorite with an over/under of 227.The National Hockey League has two games on its slate. The Calgary Flames play at home against the Washington Capitals at 8:37 p.m. ET. The Flames are on a two-game winning streak after their 5-2 victory against Montreal on Saturday. The Capitals won for the fourth time in their last six games in a 2-1 victory at Vancouver on Saturday. Calgary is a -135 money-line favorite with a total of 6. The Seattle Kraken are at home against the Buffalo Sabres at 10:07 p.m. ET. The Kraken are on a four-game losing streak after their 4-1 loss at Buffalo on Saturday. The Sabres were on a three-game winning streak before their 4-1 loss at Detroit on Saturday. Seattle is a -118 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5.

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NBA System of the Week

by Al McMordie

Sunday, Mar 17, 2024

When handicapping the NBA, I often will use revenge as a factor.  But I generally need a team to have done more than just lose to its opponent in the season's prior meeting.  Some of the other things I will look at would be the site of the previous meeting, the point spread in the previous meeting, the win percentage differential between the teams, the magnitude of the loss, and how many points our revenge-minded team gave up to its opponent.Certainly, scoring has been up in the NBA the last few years.  And one of my NBA regular season systems has been getting a lot of plays as a result.  That system goes against favorites (or PK'em teams) that scored 145 (or more) points in winning the season's previous meeting.  After giving up a lot of points to an opponent, the revenge-minded team no doubt will want to play harder defense the next time around.  And that's generally all we need to get the edge (and the cover) in the current game.  Since 1990, this system has clocked in with a 38-16 ATS record (70.3%), including 9-1 ATS if our revenge-minded team owned a winning record.  This system will have at least 3 more plays this season (including one tonight):March 17:  Atlanta Hawks + over Los Angeles ClippersMarch 25:  Indiana Pacers + over Los Angeles ClippersApril 4:  Atlanta Hawks + over Dallas MavericksThe Hawks +9.5 are a play, tonight, over the Clippers as a result of their 149-144 loss at home to the Clippers, on February 5.  And Indiana also gave up a lot of points to the Clippers in its prior meeting, as it lost 151-127 at home, on December 18.  And, finally, on April 4, the Hawks will look to avenge a 148-143 upset home loss to the Mavericks back on January 26.  Of note is the fact that the Pacers do own a winning record, so they will fall into the 9-1 ATS subset in their game on March 25 vs. the Clippers.Good luck, as always...Al McMordie

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, NCAAB and EPL Previews and Odds - 03/17/2024

by Big Al Staff

Sunday, Mar 17, 2024

The Sunday sports card features NBA, NHL, NCAAB, and EPL action.The National Basketball Association has seven games on its docket. The Milwaukee Bucks host the Phoenix Suns on ABC at 1:10 p.m. ET as a 2-point favorite, with the total set at 228 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). The Miami Heat travel to Detroit to play the Pistons at 3:10 p.m. ET as a 6.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 215. The Denver Nuggets play in Dallas against the Mavericks on ABC at 3:40 p.m. ET as a 3-point road favorite with a total of 225.5. Two NBA games tip off at 6:10 p.m. ET. The Orlando Magic play at home against the Toronto Raptors as a 12.5-point favorite with an over/under of 216.5. The Boston Celtics are in Washington to play the Wizards as a 10.5-point road favorite with a total of 232.5. The San Antonio Spurs are at home against the Brooklyn Nets at 7:10 p.m. ET as a 1-point favorite with an over/under of 220. The Los Angeles Clippers host the Atlanta Hawks at 9:40 p.m. ET as a 10-point favorite with a total of 226. The National Hockey League has seven games on its slate. The New York Rangers play at home against the New York Islanders on TNT at 1:07 p.m. ET as a -170 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Vegas Golden Knights are at home against the New Jersey Devils on TNT at 3:37 p.m. ET as a -166 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. Four NHL games drop the puck at 6:07 p.m. ET. The Chicago Blackhawks host the San Jose Sharks as a -162 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6. The Winnipeg Jets visit Columbus to play the Blue Jackets as a -250 money-line road favorite with a total of 6. The Carolina Hurricanes play in Ottawa against the Senators as a -185 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Pittsburgh Penguins play at home against the Detroit Red Wings as a -135 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The St. Louis Blues are at home against the Anaheim Ducks at 7:07 p.m. ET as a -205 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6. The college basketball schedule has five conference tournament championship games on national television. Yale battles Brown on ESPN2 at noon ET in the Ivy League tournament as a 7.5-point favorite with a total of 134.5. Two NCAAB games tip off at 1 p.m. ET. Auburn faces Florida on ESPN in the SEC tournament as a 7.5-point favorite with an over/under of 155.5. Virginia Commonwealth plays Duquesne on CBS in the Atlantic 10 tournament as a 2-point favorite with a total of 126.5. UAB challenges Temple at 3:15 p.m. ET on ESPN in the American Athletic Conference tournament as a 6-point favorite with an over/under of 138. Illinois goes against Wisconsin on CBS at 3:30 p.m. ET in the Big Ten tournament as a 3-point favorite with a total of 149. Matchweek 29 in the English Premier League concludes with one match. Aston Villa are at West Ham United on the USA Network at 10 a.m. ET in a pick ‘em match at BetMGM with an over/under of 3.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, NCAAB and EPL Previews and Odds - 03/16/2024

by Big Al Staff

Saturday, Mar 16, 2024

The Saturday sports card features NBA, NHL, NCAAB, and EPL action.The National Basketball Association has nine games on its docket. The Cleveland Cavaliers travel to Houston to play the Rockets at 5:10 p.m. ET as a 5.5-point road favorite, with the total set at 215.5 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). Three more NBA games tip off at 7:10 p.m. ET. The Indiana Pacers host the Brooklyn Nets as a 9-point favorite with an over/under of 228.5. The Philadelphia 76ers play at home against the Charlotte Hornets as a 10.5-point favorite with a total of 208. The New Orleans Pelicans are home against the Portland Trail Blazers as a 13.5-point favorite with an over/under of 212.5. Two NBA games start at 8:10 p.m. ET. The Chicago Bulls host the Washington Wizards as a 10.5-point favorite with a total of 226.5. Oklahoma City plays at Memphis against the Grizzlies as a 9-point road favorite with an over/under of 219.5. The Los Angeles Lakers play at home against the Golden State Warriors on ABC as a 3.5-point favorite with a total of 237. The Minnesota Timberwolves are in Utah to play the Jazz as an 8-point road favorite with an over/under of 224. The Sacramento Kings are at home against the New York Knicks at 10:10 p.m. ET as a 3-point favorite with a total of 220. The National Hockey League has 14 games on its slate. Two NHL games drop the puck at 12:37 p.m. ET. The Buffalo Sabres visit Detroit to play the Red Wings, with both teams priced at -110 with an over/under of 6.5. The New York Islanders host the Ottawa Senators as a -166 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The New York Rangers play in Pittsburgh against the Penguins on ABC at 3:07 p.m. ET as a -142 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6. The New Jersey Devils are in Arizona to play the Coyotes at 5:07 p.m. ET as a -162 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The Florida Panthers play at home against the Tampa Bay Lightning at 6:07 p.m. ET as a -170 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6. Four NHL games begin at 7:07 p.m. ET. The Calgary Flames are at home against the Montreal Canadiens as a -175 money-line favorite with a total of 6. The Boston Bruins host the Philadelphia Flyers as a -205 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Columbus Blue Jackets play at home against the San Jose Sharks as a -205 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Carolina Hurricanes travel to Toronto to play the Maple Leafs, with both teams priced at -110 with an over/under of 6. Two NHL games start at 8:07 p.m. ET. The Dallas Stars are at home against the Los Angeles Kings as a -155 money-line favorite with a total of 6. The Minnesota Wild play in St. Louis against the Blues as a -130 money-line road favorite with an over/under 6.5. Three more games conclude the NHL card at 10:07 p.m. ET. The Nashville Predators are in Seattle to play the Kraken as a -122 money-line road favorite with a total of 5.5. The Vancouver Canucks host the Washington Capitals as a -230 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6. The Edmonton Oilers play at home against the Colorado Avalanche as a -130 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5.The college basketball schedule has 16 conference tournament games on major national television. Vermont hosts UMass-Lowell on ESPN2 at 11 a.m. ET as a 7.5-point favorite with an over/under of 135. Three NCAAB games on major national television tip-off at 1 p.m. ET. Purdue plays Wisconsin on CBS as a 6-point favorite with a total of 143. Auburn battles Mississippi State on ESPN as a 7.5-point favorite with an over/under of 142.5. Howard University goes against Delaware State on ESPN2 as a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 140. Two NCAAB games on major national television start at 3 p.m. ET. Illinois faces Nebraska on CBS as a 4.5-point favorite with an over/under of 154. South Florida battles UAB on ESPN2 as a 3-point favorite with a total of 145.5. Florida goes against Texas A&M on ESPN as a 2.5-point favorite at BetMGM with an over/under of 151. Florida Atlantic plays against Temple on ESPN2 at 5 p.m. ET as a 12-point favorite with a total of 141.5. Two NCAAB games on major national television tip-off at 6 p.m. ET. Houston challenges Iowa State on ESPN as a 5.5-point favorite with an over/under of 122.5. San Diego State plays New Mexico on CBS as a 1.5-point favorite with a total of 143.5. Connecticut is against Marquette on Fox at 6:30 p.m. ET as an 8.5-point favorite with an over/under of 142.5. Akron goes against Kent State on ESPN2 at 7:30 p.m. ET as a 4.5-point favorite with a total of 132.5. North Carolina faces North Carolina State on ESPN at 8:30 p.m. ET as a 9.5-point favorite with an over/under of 147.Colorado plays Oregon on Fox at 9 p.m. ET as a 4-point favorite with a total of 147. UC-Davis battles Long Beach State on ESPN2 at 9:30 p.m. ET as a 1-point favorite with an over/under of 146. Grand Canyon faces UT-Arlington on ESPN2 at 11:30 p.m. ET as a 5.5-point favorite with a total of 147. Matchweek 29 in the English Premier League begins with three matches. Two matches begin at 11 a.m. ET. Brentford visits Burnley as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Nottingham Forest plays at Luton Town on the USA Network as a pick ‘em with a total of 2.5. Tottenham is at Fulham at 1:30 p.m. ET as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with an over/under of 3. 

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL and NCAAB Previews and Odds - 03/15/2024

by Big Al Staff

Friday, Mar 15, 2024

The Friday sports card features NBA, NHL, and NCAAB action.The National Basketball Association has six games on its docket. Two NBA games tip off at 7:10 p.m. ET. The Phoenix Suns travel to Charlotte to play the Hornets as a 9-point road favorite, with the total set at 217 (all odds from DraftKings). The Miami Heat play in Detroit against the Pistons as a 7.5-point favorite with an over/under of 213.5. The Orlando Magic are in Toronto to play the Raptors at 7:40 p.m. ET as a 7.5-point road favorite with a total of 217. The New Orleans Pelicans host the Los Angeles Clippers at 8:10 p.m. ET as a 6-point favorite with an over/under of 217. The Denver Nuggets visit San Antonio to play the Spurs at 8:40 p.m. ET as a 9.5-point road favorite with a total of 222. The Atlanta Hawks play in Utah against the Jazz at 9:40 p.m. ET as a 2.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 224. The National Hockey League has two games on its slate. The Winnipeg Jets host the Anaheim Ducks at 8:07 p.m. ET as a -380 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Los Angeles Kings are in Chicago to play the Bulls at 8:37 p.m. ET as a -258 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The college basketball schedule has 17 conference tournament games on national television. UTEP plays Sam Houston on the CBS Sports Network at 12:30 p.m. ET. Two college basketball conference tournament games on national television tip off at 1 p.m. ET. Tennessee battles Mississippi State on ESPN as a 9.5-point favorite with a total of 141. South Florida goes against East Carolina on ESPN2 as a 7-point favorite with an over/under of 136.5. Two more NCAAB conference tournament games on national television begin at 3 p.m. ET. Middle Tennessee faces Western Kentucky on the CBS Sports Network. UAB challenges Wichita State on ESPN2 as a 5-point favorite with a total of 146.5. Auburn battles South Carolina on ESPN at 3:30 p.m. ET as a 7.5-point favorite with an over/under of 142. Kent State plays Bowling Green on the CBS Sports Network at 5 p.m. ET as a 1.5-point road favorite with a total of 141. Connecticut goes against St. John’s on Fox at 5:30 p.m. ET as a 9.5-point favorite with an over/under of 146.5. Saint Peter’s faces Quinnipiac on ESPN News at 6:30 p.m. ET. North Texas battles Florida Atlantic on ESPNU at 7 p.m. ET. Ohio challenges Akron on the CBS Sports Network at 7:30 p.m. ET. Providence plays Marquette on FS1 at 8 p.m. ET. Two nationally-televised college basketball conference tournament games start at 9 p.m. ET. Marist faces Fairfield on ESPN News. Temple battles Charlotte on ESPNU. Colorado goes against Washington State on FS1 at 10:30 p.m. ET. Two nationally televised conference tournament games complete the college basketball card at 11:30 p.m. ET. Hawaii plays UC-Davis on ESPN2. UT-Arlington challenges Tarleton State on ESPNU.

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