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Thursday's All-Sports Notebook: What to Expect in Week 9, College FB ATS Report, Wemby's Efficiency and Much More

by Vegas Writer

Thursday, Oct 30, 2025

We're about to cross over the halfway mark of the NFL season, as Week 9 crept up on us. Suddenly, we're talking playoff position and divisional races.Entering Week 9, 13 teams have recorded at least five wins this season, the third-most through Week 8 since 1970. Three teams - Baltimore, Miami and the New York Jets - earned victories in Week 8 after entering the week with one or fewer wins.Here’s a look at a few interesting storylines entering Week 9: Three of the four division leaders in the AFC - Denver (6-2), Indianapolis (7-1) and New England (6-2) - have at least six wins this season and have winning streaks of four or more games. The two NFC teams with six wins - Philadelphia and Tampa Bay - each have a Week 9 bye. Most importantly, for us, two of those three AFC division leaders with six wins have been the two best choices against the spread: Indianapolis and New England, who are both 6-2 at the window. The Broncos are 3-4-1 ATS.Speaking of the Patriots, they'll host the Falcons (3-4) this week and come into th game riding a five-game win streak. A victory would give them six straight wins for the first time since 2021. If you're looking for an indicator toward an over/under, especially with temperatures dropping in Massachusetts and the Falcons being an indoor team, New England ranks fourth in the NFL in total defense, allowing 18.9 points per game. They're one of four teams to allow 20 or fewer points in six games this season.A rather critical NFC North showdown takes place in the Motor City this weekend, as the Vikings (3-4) visit Detroit (5-2). The Vikings lead the series 80-45-2, but last year in Week 18, it was the Lions who beat the Vikings, 31-9, to secure the NFC North division title. Be aware, if you're looking for a player prop, and considering Detroit quarterback Jared Goff will be fired up for this game, he has recorded a 116.4 passer rating and 74.9 completion percentage at home this season.We have a 2024 AFC Championship Game rematch, as Buffalo (5-2) hosts Kansas City. It will be the ninth matchup, including the postseason, between quarterbacks Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes. The Bills have won the past four regular-season matchups, while the Chiefs have won the past four postseason meetings. In Week 11 last season, the Bills defeated the Chiefs, 30-21, in Buffalo, to hand Kansas City its first loss of the season after a 9-0 start. Buffalo is 3-4 ATS this season, while the Chiefs are 5-3 versus the books. PRIMETIME NFLAs we kick off Week 9 in the NFL, everyone knows the popularity of the primetime games. We want the edge and a jump start to the bankroll on Thursday's, we love to parlay profits into Sunday's late game, and we all have different reasons to bail out on Monday's.The dogs dominated early on, but the favorites have made a statement the last two weeks, going 5-2 both SU and ATS, including a 3-0 showing in Week 8.For the year, the dogs are 13-12-1 SU and 16-10 ATS.Here are the week-by-week results for underdogs:WEEK        SU      ATSWeek 1:   2-1     3-0Week 2:  2-2    2-2Week 3:  1-2     2-1Week 4:  0-1-1  1-1Week 5:  3-0    3-0Week 6:  3-1     3-1Week 7:  2-2    2-2Week 8:  0-3   0-3COLLEGE MIDTERMSAs we head to the final quarter pole in college football, I was curious to see the most profitable teams have been. Only two teams have covered at least seven games, only one still has a 0 in the loss column, and a total of four FBS teams have one or fewer losses ATS.Flipside, every team has covered at least once, with five teams covering just once.Here are your best of the best...Memphis 7-1-0Mississippi St. 7-1-0Ohio State 6-0-1San Diego St. 6-1-0And the worst of the worst...Penn State 1-6-0S Houston St. 1-6-0Baylor 1-7-0Georgia St. 1-7-0Oklahoma St. 1-7-0UNIQUE COLLEGE FB QUARTETOnly four FBS teams have not allowed more than 24 points in a game this season: Auburn, Indiana, Ohio State and Miami.The latter three don't surprise me, but I was shocked to find out the Tigers have shown such stringency this season, especially after a mediocre 4-4 start.I did a double-take, but even with a double-overtime loss to Missouri (23-17), the Tigers rank 21st with their scoring defense, having allowed an average of 18.6 points per game.I suppose that tells us all we need to know about Auburn's offense, right? The Tigers have been held to 17 or fewer in all four of their losses.WONDERFUL WEMBYAre we impressed with Victor Wembanyama yet?You should be, and allow me to point out something that might tell you a bit more about why he's been so much more efficient through the first four games.The other night, he did something he'd never done before, during the 121-103 victory over Toronto: Wemby didn't take a 3-pointer.And that's important to note, because last year he averaged nine attempts a game. This season, he's averaging less than three per game.His most attempts in one game were six, and he drained three. We're still early this season, I know. But we saw this during the preseason.And in eliminating his 3-pointers, he's correspondingly taking six more 2-pointers per game than he did a year ago. The result: he's averaging seven more points a game, and he's shooting 60% from the field, instead of the mid-40s.That alone transitions him from being not only an All-Star, but an MVP candidate, all because he is focusing on taking higher percentage shots and using his advantage closer to the rim.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NFL, NCAAF, NBA and NHL Previews and Odds - 10/30/2025

by Big Al Staff

Thursday, Oct 30, 2025

The Thursday sports card features NFL, NCAAF, NBA, and NHL action.Week 9 in the National Football League kicks off with one game. The Baltimore Ravens travel to Miami to play the Dolphins on Prime Video at 8:15 p.m. ET. The Ravens ended a four-game losing streak with a 30-16 victory at home against Chicago as a 2.5-point favorite last Sunday. The Dolphins snapped their three-game losing streak with a 34-10 upset victory at Atlanta as a 7-point underdog on Sunday. Baltimore is a 7.5-point road favorite with the total set at 51.5 (all odds from DraftKings). Week 10 in NCAAF college football continues with two games between FBS opponents at 7:30 p.m. ET. Tulane plays at UTSA on ESPN. The Green Wave are on a three-game winning streak after their 24-17 victory against Army as a 10-point favorite back on October 18th. The Roadrunners lost for the second time in their last three games in a 55-17 loss at North Texas two Saturdays ago. Tulane is a 5.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 54.5. Marshall is on the road to take on Coastal Carolina on ESPN2. The Thundering Herd won for the fourth time in their last five games in a 40-37 victory in overtime against Texas State on October 18th. The Chanticleers won for the third time in their previous four games in a 45-37 upset victory at Appalachian State as a 10.5-point favorite two Saturdays ago. Marshall is a 6.5-point road favorite with a total of 55.5.The National Basketball Association has four games on its docket. The Orlando Magic visit Charlotte to face the Hornets at 7:10 p.m. ET as a 2.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 241.5. Two more NBA games tip off at 8:10 p.m. ET. The Oklahoma City Thunder host the Washington Wizards as a 15.5-point favorite with a total of 231.5. The Golden State Warriors play in Milwaukee against the Bucks as a 2.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 231.5. The San Antonio Spurs play at home against the Miami Heat as a 5.5-point favorite with a total of 231.5.The National Hockey League has 11 games on its slate. Four NHL games drop the puck at 7:07 p.m. ET. The Philadelphia Flyers are home against the Nashville Predators as a -148 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Tampa Bay Lightning host the Dallas Stars on TNT/truTV/HBO Max as a -142 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Ottawa Senators play at home against the Calgary Flames as a -162 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Buffalo Sabres are on the road to battle the Boston Bruins, with both teams priced as -110 money-line favorites with a total of 6.5. The Carolina Hurricanes are home against the New York Islanders at 7:37 p.m. ET as a -218 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. Three more NHL games start at 8:07 p.m. ET. The Winnipeg Jets host the Chicago Blackhawks as a -245 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The St. Louis Blues play at home against the Vancouver Canucks as a -148 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Minnesota Wild are home against the Pittsburgh Penguins as a -175 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Edmonton Oilers host the New York Rangers at 9:07 p.m. ET as a -162 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The New Jersey Devils travel to San Jose to battle the Sharks at 10:07 p.m.  ET as a -218 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The Los Angeles Kings play at home against the Detroit Red Wings at 10:37 p.m. ET as a -148 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5.

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William Burns' WTA Finals (Tennis) Predictions:

by William Burns

Wednesday, Oct 29, 2025

At the end of the year, the top eight tennis players in the world (WTA & ATP) compete against each other for another chance at a significant trophy. As a matter of fact, this tournament is the most significant tennis event in the calendar year (Grand Slam's not included.) That being said, there's tons to play for and I'm expecting some phenomenal matches to be played. This year's event is held from November 1-8. Meet The Players ..  #1 .. Aryna SabalenkaDeservedly the number one seed. She's the most recent Grand Slam winner and has been the face of Women's Tennis over the past couple of years now along side Swiatek. Sabalenka is capable of dismantling everyone that is put in front of her with her sheer power and dominance on the court. She is the favorite coming into this tournament. #2 .. Iga SwiatekAs mentioned in Sabalenka's analysis, Swiatek has been one of the best in the Women's game ever since she started playing professionally. Sort of coming out of nowhere, the Pole is still very young and eager for more greatness. She's got the hunger and determination to win every match and she definitely is one of the hardest workers on tour. #3 .. Coco GauffConsidering that Gauff won her most recent tournament in Wuhan, winning matches against both Paolini & Pegula along the way, I believe that her confidence will be sky high coming into this event. She's also an extremely young and star in the game. If she's playing her best, there's no question that Gauff can emerge as the WTA Finals champ. That's harder said that done though as she's not been her best this season since the French Open. #4 .. Amanda AnisomovaLike Gauff, she's a killer when she's her best. Anisimova is coming off consecutive Grand Slam Finals appearances and even though she hasn't finished them necessarily well, she's definitely one of the best in the world and has the tools to contend with the best. Amanda dismantled Coco in the most recent encounter between the two and also beat Paolini in that same China Open en route to a Singles Title. #5 .. Jessica PegulaAfter four, the list drops off a tad in my eyes. However, I'm not going to say that anyone in the 5-8 ranking cannot win this event. Pegula knocked off Sabalenka in Wuhan and made the finals of that tournament. She also was a Semi-Finalist at the US Open a couple of months ago now. If she gets rolling, she can be right in the mix. #6 .. Madison KeysConsidering that she hasn't played since being knocked out in the opening round of the US Open, it's hard to know what to expect from the fourth American in the WTA Finals. She's definitely had her moments this season, winning the Australian Open back in January. However, it hasn't really been the same Keys since. If she gets back to that level of play, she will do damage.#7 .. Elena RybakinaOne of the most in form players at the moment despite withdrawing her recent tournament. Rybakina is always one of the most active players on tour, playing in as many tournaments as she can to have the best ranking possible. In the last tournament she was in and finished, she won it. She's won six consecutive matches and will be a threat to anyone if health isn't an issue. #8 .. Jasmine PaoliniSort of the "not talked about as much" player out of these eight, Paolini IS very much an excellent player in the Women's game. I don't expect her to be at the same level as some of the rest of the field given the current form that she's in. But, the 5'4" Italian is one of the grittiest players in the game and could cause problems to anyone.  What Burns Expects ..  If you don't know the format, there will be two groups of four, each player playing each player in their respective group in a round robin style version of play. The top two players from each group will move on to the knockout stage, a mini Semi Finals/Finals to finish the tournament off. That being said, here's what I expect:Considering the draws I believe that both Swiatek & Sabalenka should be able to move through to the knockout stage. Coco Gauff has been hit or miss this season, but should advance through the round robin faze as well. Even though I love Anisimova's game and believe that she can beat anybody when she's playing her best, she's going to have her hands full with both Rybakina and Keys in her group as will as Iga. That being said, I will predict the top four seeds all advancing to the semi's in Riyadh.  Burns' Champion Selection ..  Iga Swiatek at +260 via. DraftKings Sportsbook.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NCAAF, MLB, NBA and NHL Previews and Odds - 10/29/2025

by Big Al Staff

Wednesday, Oct 29, 2025

The Wednesday sports card features NCAAF, MLB, NBA, and NHL action.Week 10 in NCAAF college football continues with two games between FBS opponents. Jacksonville State travels to Middle Tennessee on ESPN2 at 7:30 p.m. ET. The Gamecocks won for the third time in their last four games with their 38-25 upset victory as a 3-point underdog on October 15th. The Blue Raiders are on a four-game losing streak after a 31-28 loss at Delaware last Wednesday. Jacksonville State is a 5.5-point road favorite with the total set at 54.5 (all odds from DraftKings). Missouri State hosts Florida International on the CBS Sports Network at 8:00 p.m. ET. The Bears won for the third time in their last four games in a 24-17 win in overtime at New Mexico State as a 2.5-point favorite last Wednesday. The Golden Panthers lost for the third time in their last four games in a 45-26 loss at home against Kennesaw State as a 3-point underdog on Tuesday of last week. Missouri State is a 4-point favorite with an over/under of 50.5. Major League Baseball continues the World Series with Game 5 of this best-of-seven series. The Los Angeles Dodgers play at home against the Toronto Blue Jays on Fox at 8:00 p.m. ET. The Blue Jays evened this series at 2-2 with their 6-2 victory on the road last night. The Dodgers send out Blake Snell to pitch against Toronto’s Trey Yesavage. Los Angeles is a -207 money-line favorite with a total of 7.5. The National Basketball Association has ten games on its docket. The Houston Rockets play in Toronto against the Raptors at 6:40 p.m. ET as a 5.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 232.5. Two more NBA games tip off at 7:10 p.m. ET. The Cleveland Cavaliers are in Boston to play the Celtics on ESPN as a 4.5-point road favorite with a total of 231.5. The Orlando Magic visit Detroit to take on the Pistons as a 1.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 225.5. The Atlanta Hawks play in Brooklyn to face the Nets at 7:40 p.m. ET as an 8.5-point road favorite with a total of 237.5. The Chicago Bulls are home against the Sacramento Kings at 8:10 p.m. ET as a 4.5-point favorite with an over/under of 236.5. The Dallas Mavericks host the Indiana Pacers at 8:40 p.m. ET as a 6.5-point favorite with a total of 229.5. Two NBA games start at 9:10 p.m. ET. The Denver Nuggets play at home against the New Orleans Pelicans as a 13.5-point favorite with an over/under of 235.5. The Portland Trail Blazers are in Utah to play the Jazz as a 1.5-point road favorite with a total of 233.5. The Minnesota Timberwolves are home against the Los Angeles Lakers on ESPN at 9:40 p.m. ET as a 7.5-point favorite with an over/under of 224.5. The Memphis Grizzlies travel to Phoenix to challenge the Suns at 10:10 p.m. ET as a 2.5-point road favorite with a total of 240.5. The National Hockey League has one game on its slate. The Toronto Maple Leafs play in Columbus against the Blue Jackets at 7:37 p.m. ET  with both teams priced as a -110 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. 

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NCAAF, MLB, NBA and NHL Previews and Odds - 10/28/2025

by Big Al Staff

Tuesday, Oct 28, 2025

The Tuesday sports card features NCAAF, MLB, NBA, and NHL action.Week 10 in NCAAF college football kicks off with two games between FBS opponents at 8:00 p.m. ET. Kennesaw State hosts UTEP on ESPNU as a 10-point favorite with the total set at 50.5 (all odds from DraftKings). James Madison travels to Texas State on ESPN2 as a 7-point road favorite with an over/under of 55.5. Major League Baseball continues the World Series with Game 3 of this best-of-seven series. The Los Angeles Dodgers play at home against the Toronto Blue Jays on Fox at 8:00 p.m. ET. The Dodgers took a 2-1 series lead late last night with their 6-5 victory in 11 innings. Shohei Ohtani takes the mound for Los Angeles to pitch against Shane Bieber for the Blue Jays. The Dodgers are a -208 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. The National Basketball Association has five games on its docket. The Philadelphia 76ers play at Washington against the Wizards as a 5.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 237.5. The Miami Heat are home against the Charlotte Hornets at 7:40 p.m. ET as a 6.5-point favorite with a total of 240.5. Two NBA games tip off at 8:10 p.m. ET. The Oklahoma City Thunder host the Sacramento Kings as a 10.5-point favorite with an over/under of 227.5. The New York Knicks are in Milwaukee against the Bucks on NBC as a 1.5-point road favorite with a total of 229.5. The Los Angeles Clippers are on the road against the Golden State Warriors on NBC at 11:10 p.m. ET as a 1.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 224.5. The National Hockey League has 16 games on its slate. Two NHL games drop the puck at 6:07 p.m. ET. The Toronto Maple Leafs play at home against the Calgary Flames as a -198 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Philadelphia Flyers are home against the Pittsburgh Penguins on ESPN as a -155 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Carolina Hurricanes host the Vegas Golden Knights at 6:37 p.m. ET as a -142 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Buffalo Sabres play at home against the Columbus Blue Jackets at 6:52 p.m. ET as a -120 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Florida Panthers are home against the Anaheim Ducks at 7:07 p.m. ET as a -185 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The New York Islanders visit the Boston Bruins at 7:22 p.m. ET as a -142 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Tampa Bay Lightning play in Nashville against the Predators at 7:52 p.m. ET as a -155 money-line road favorite with a total of 5.5. The Winnipeg Jets are on the road against Minnesota at 8:07 p.m. ET with both teams priced at -110 with an over/under of 5.5. The St. Louis Blues host the Detroit Red Wings at 8:22 p.m. ET as a -115 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Dallas Stars play at home against the Washington Capitals on ESPN at 8:52 p.m. ET as a -135 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Ottawa Senators travel to Chicago to take on the Blackhawks as a -135 money-line road favorites as -135 money-line road favorites with a total of 5.5. The Colorado Avalanche are home against the New Jersey Devils at 9:07 p.m. ET as a -155 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Edmonton Oilers host the Utah Mammoth at 9:37 p.m. ET as a -155 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The New York Rangers play in Vancouver against the Canucks at 10:07 p.m. ET as a -120 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Montreal Canadiens are on the road against the Seattle Kraken at 10:37 p.m. ET as a -125 money-line road favorite with a total of 5.5. The Los Angeles Kings travel to San Jose to face the Sharks on ESPN at 11:07 p.m. ET as a -192 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. 

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Premier League Futures (2025/26 Season)

by Amedeus Mastrangelo

Monday, Oct 27, 2025

The English Premier League has started for the 2025/26 Season and about a quarter of the season has gone by. Every team in the league has played 9 matches this season and it is not the usual suspects crowding the top of the table, but there is still plenty of time left in the season. Each team still has 29 matches left in the season as well as the winter transfer window to make any changes they need so there is still plenty of opportunities for teams to make moves in the table. With a quarter of the season gone by already, it is time to see where the value is for a potential winner of the Premier League Title this season.  To Win Outright Arsenal -225: Arsenal is currently listed as the team with the best chance at winning the Premier League Title this season according to the oddsmakers. They have had a very hot start to the season and are currently sitting at the top of the table with 22 points from a 7-1-1 record. They have the best defense in the league by far with only 3 goals allowed in their 9 matches and they also have the 2nd best attack in the league with 16 goals scored. They have a lot of quality in their squad and a lot of depth on the bench as well. They are the big favorites right now for a reason, but this is not a good price to lay with so many matches still left to play. Arsenal has been one of the better teams in the league over the last few seasons now and they may very well be the best team in the league this year, but they do have a history in recent seasons of leading the table late into the year and then choking it away. This is not the price to be laying with a team that has shown the tendency to let the Title slip away down the final stretch. Arsenal also made a very deep run in Champions League last season which is another competition that they are highly focused on winning so another deep Champions League run could have them taking their attention away from the league late in the season, and that will be trouble for them if they are in a tight title race. Arsenal certainly has one of the better squads in the league this year, but there is no real value in them at this price with so many matches still to be played.  Manchester City +450: Man City is currently listed as the team with the next best chance at winning the Premier League Title this season according to the oddsmakers. They are currently sitting in 5th place of the table after 9 matches with 16 points from a 5-1-3 record. They have the 2nd best defense in the league right now with 7 goals allowed in their 9 matches and they have the best attack as well, scoring 17 goals in their 9 matches. They have been shedding a lot of quality over the last 2 seasons as this is no longer the same Man City team that was dominating the league for years. They are still a very good team this year with a lot of quality and depth in their squad, but they also have a lot of younger talent that they are trying to work into the lineup as well. They will still be a very good team this year, but this is not a team that is ready to compete for the Title as they are in the middle of a mini reset. They are also in Champions League which is the more important competition to them, considering their dominance in the Premier League over the years, and they have underperformed in UCL so there will be more of a focus on that competition which could take away their attention in a late season title race. There is some value in Man City at this price since they are only 6 points behind 1st place and could make some moves in the winter transfer window, but they are not a great option to win the Title this year as they are too inconsistent.  Liverpool +700: Liverpool is currently listed as the team with the next best chance at winning the Premier League Title this season according to the oddsmakers. They were the hottest team to start the season with a 5-0-0 record after the first 5 matches and it was looking like the defending champions were going to repeat, but 4 straight losses now has them in 7th place in the table with 15 points from a 5-0-4 record. They have a very potent attack that is the 2nd best in the league, scoring 16 goals in their 9 matches, but they also have an awful defense that has allowed 14 goals in their 9 matches as well. This defense has been a big problem all season, even in their wins, and it could be what keeps them from winning the Title this year. They still have one of the better squads in the league with a lot of depth as well, but most of that quality and depth comes in the midfield and the attack. Their defense has been a glaring problem for years that is now starting to rear its ugly head. They could certainly make the moves needed to fix this problem in the winter transfer window, but another problem is that they already have 4 losses just 9 matches into the season. Liverpool only lost 4 matches all year when they won the Title last season and the Premier League Title winner has not had more than 4 losses in the last 2 seasons. The Premier League Title winner has not had more than 5 losses in the last 6 straight seasons as well so Liverpool is working with a very thin margin of error for the rest of the season. Normally this would be incredible value for the defending champions this early in the year, but 4 early losses in the season as well as an awful defense is going to prevent them from being a true threat to win the Title. Manchester United +2500: Man Utd is currently listed as the team with the next best chance at winning the Premier League Title this season according to the oddsmakers. They had a very poor start to the season, but they are starting to turn things around now. They are currently sitting in 6th place in the table with 16 points from a 5-1-3 record. They have had one of the better attacks in the league this year with 15 goals scored in their 9 matches, but their defense has not been good with 14 goals allowed as well. Man Utd has been in a lot of turmoil over the last few years. They have seen multiple managers come and go as well as being a revolving door of talent. They picked up another flurry of players for this season to try and get a spark in the lineup and it did not work well at first, but they are starting to come around now. They have been in much better form than the way they started the season and they have picked up some nice wins in their 9 matches as well, but this is still a very inconsistent and volatile team that is going to go through cycles this year. They are in a good stretch right now, but they are not consistent enough to keep this up for the long haul. They should have a brighter future with this group of players, but they are still trying to find their way this season. They could finish in the top 4 if they keep this up, but they are not going to be able to catch Arsenal in a title race, especially with their defense still being a problem that needs to be addressed in the transfer window. There is no real value in Man Utd at this price to win the Premier League Title this year. Chelsea +4000: Chelsea is currently listed as the team with the next best chance at winning the Premier League Title this season according to the oddsmakers. They are currently sitting in 9th place in the table with 14 points from a 4-2-3 record. They got off to a very hot start this season, but they have fallen out of form recently and could be feeling the tolls of last season. Chelsea has a lot of young quality and depth in their squad and they have been building a very good team after a few years of hardship in the league. They have rounded themselves into a very good team that is ready to compete in the league, but this still might not be their year. They are coming off of a very accomplished season where they were the Conference League Champions and then went on to win the Club World Cup in the summer as well, beating PSG the Champions League champions in the Final. They played a lot of extra matches last season that they had to focus on and they did not get a full summer rest due to the Club World Cup either. They are starting to feel the fatigue of those competitions now, and now they have Champions League to worry about this year as well. This Chelsea team has gone through a lot over the last year and even with their Conference League Title last season, they still struggled to get through the Premier League season. Chelsea still has a top 4 quality team in the league, but there is too much going on for them to focus on the title race this season. There is no real value in Chelsea at this price to win the Premier League Title.  Tottenham +6600: Tottenham is currently listed as the team with the next best chance at winning the Premier League Title this season according to the oddsmakers. They are currently sitting in 3rd place in the table with 17 points from a 5-2-2 record. They have had the best attack in the league this season with 17 goals scored in their 9 matches, and they have had the 2nd best defense with 7 goals allowed in their 9 matches as well. Tottenham has had a lot of quality in their squad for the last few years, but they were starting to get stale as a team and needed to make changes. They brought in some new pieces this season along with a new manager to guide them, and he has them heading in the right direction. They are a very well rounded team with their attack and defense which is going to make them a threat in the title race. They are playing in Champions League this season which is always going to be a distraction, but Tottenham does not have the quality of some of the other teams in the competition so they will likely not go very far. An early exit from Champions League could be a blessing in disguise though. They are not a team that is going to give up a lot of goals this season so points are always going to be on the table for them, even if they come in draws. They only have 2 losses through 9 matches as well so they are in a great position to keep themselves in the title race at that pace. Tottenham is a real threat to win the Premier League Title this season so there is some great value in them at this price.  RecommendationArsenal is the big favorite early on in the season and for good reason. They have not shown many weaknesses with their defense not allowing many goals and that is going to lead to very few losses as they find ways to rack up points in every match. Arsenal could very well run away with this league at the pace they are going at, but they do have other competitions to worry about and have shown that they tend to fold late in the season. There is still more than 3 quarters of the season left for Arsenal to fall, and Tottenham is the best team to catch them as they have the defense to keep collecting points to stay on their tail. Tottenham at +6600 has some great value for them to win the Premier League Title this season.

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UFC Musings And Free Picks

by Jazz Ray

Monday, Oct 27, 2025

HeavyWeight Title Fight - RecapGutted? Absolutely, I was! Even though I didn’t place a bet, I was pumped for last week’s heavyweight title clash between Cyril Gane and Tom Aspinall. Aspinall’s status as a significant favorite didn’t dampen my excitement—I just wanted to see two of the world’s best heavyweights throw down. The moment arrived, but just as it kicked off, it was over. An eye poke from Gane led to a frustrating no-contest. Gane could argue he had the early edge, while Aspinall might claim he was just finding his rhythm. Regardless, a rematch is coming, and the buildup should carry some serious tension.After the fight Dana White indicated he'd like to see a rematch as soon as possible: "The rematch is very interesting. Right here, right now, being honest – I never do this when it comes to talking about what next fight is going to happen – the rematch is what makes sense." Assuming Aspinall's eye heals in time, a December 6th date is tentatively being tossed around. Aspinall will be favored again but likely not by quite as much. UFC Fight Night - Main Event The main event for the November 1st Fight Night in Vegas doesn't have any household names. But I can pretty much guarantee that it'll be a lot better than last week's big fight. As of Monday afternoon, Steve Garcia is a -130 favorite against David Onama. These two featherweights are both on the rise. They’re positioned next to each other in the rankings — Garcia is No. 12, Onama is No. 13. So, the winner takes a step forward while the loser goes the other way.  Onama, 14-2, is off four straight wins. The past three all came via unanimous decision. Both “The Silent Assassin’s” career losses also came by decision. He’s never been stopped. Onama is 31 years old and stands at 5-foot-10. Garcia, “Mean Machine,” is 18-5 and off six straight wins. His most recent victory was via decision but the previous five were all stoppages. The 6-foot fighter is 33 years old. Garcia said this: “If you look at my history and my streak that I’ve had, I’ve been able to finish people within the first two rounds. It can be a little gritty, but for the most part, I’ve been kind of able to make it look a little bit cleaner. You look at Onama’s win streak – I have more of a finish streak, he has more of a win streak. It only turned to a win streak because I didn’t finish Calvin Kattar. If you compare the two, he’s had a lot more grittier, harder fights when it comes to trying to get the win, where mine’s kind of been more with ease, you can say.”  Garcia’s words are accurate but do his “easy” wins prepare him properly? Or do Onama’s "grittier" fights have him more ready for what Saturday night will bring? Time will tell but I kind of like Onama!  Free Picks Favorite: Naciemento over Durden. At -185, I think Allan Nacimento is a bargain. He's won three in a row while Durden has dropped four of his past five, including each of his past two. Lay the price with the fighter with the forward momentum Underdog: Wells over Gorimbo. At +114, as I thought he might be favored, Jeremiah Wells looks like very fair value.  Neither fighter has fought in 2025 and they're both off a loss. Though Wells (38) is four years older, this is a favorable matchup. He's capable of winning by submission and Gorimbo has been submitted three times.

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NFL Week 8 Observations

by Vegas Writer

Monday, Oct 27, 2025

Week 8 began to reveal a great deal about the NFL landscape, with teams separating themselves with statement wins.It started Thursday with the Chargers dominating the Vikings in a 37-10 win, and carried over to Sunday, where I was impressed with several teams and players.Some Sunday superlatives to keep in mind as we head to the second half of the season:The Indianapolis Colts dominated to capture their fourth consecutive win and improve to 7-1, the best record in the NFL. It marked the first time since 2009, when they began 14-0, that the Colts have won seven of their first eight games of a season.The Denver Broncos (over Dallas) and New England Patriots (over Cleveland) were both impressive offensively in extending their winning streaks to five with victories in Week 8.The Broncos lead the NFL with 36 sacks and have allowed a league-low eight sacks this season. They're the first team in NFL history with at least 35 sacks and 10-or-fewer sacks allowed in the first eight games of a season.Three teams – Baltimore, Miami and the New York Jets – earned victories in Week 8 after entering the week with one or fewer wins. Did that salvage their seasons? Eh, remains to be seen, especially with the Jets and Dolphins. Baltimore certainly needs Lamar Jackson back in the fold.The Jets overcame a 15-point deficit in the fourth quarter to secure their first win of the season. Coming into the season, teams had lost 135 consecutive games when trailing by 15-or-more points entering the fourth quarter, including the playoffs.Jets running back Breece Hall rushed for 133 yards and two touchdowns and threw the go-ahead touchdown pass with 1:54 remaining in the team’s 39-38 comeback victory in Cincinnati. He became the first non-quarterback with multiple rushing touchdowns and a touchdown pass in the fourth quarter of a single game.Indianapolis quarterback Daniel Jones continued his most-improved campaign, passing for 272 yards and three touchdowns with a 136.0 rating, and running back Jonathan Taylor, in his 75th career game, totaled 174 scrimmage yards (153 rushing, 21 receiving) and three touchdowns (two rushing, one receiving) in the Colts' 38-14 win over Tennessee.Baltimore running back Derrick Henry powered his way to two touchdowns in Baltimore’s 30-16 win over Chicago.Philadelphia quarterback Jalen Hurts had four touchdown passes with no interceptions and a 141.5 rating, while running back Saquon Barkley rushed for 150 yards, including a 65-yard rushing touchdown, while adding a touchdown reception in the Eagles' 38-20 win over the New York Giants.Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen continued his MVP campaign with three touchdowns (two rushing, one passing), while running back James Cook registered 216 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns on 19 attempts in Buffalo’s 40-9 win at Carolina.New England quarterback Drake Maye passed for 282 yards and three touchdowns for a 135.8 passer rating in New England’s 32-13 victory over Cleveland.Miami running back De’Von Achane had 91 scrimmage yards (67 rushing, 24 receiving) and a touchdown reception in Miami’s 24-10 win at Atlanta. Achane has 13 receiving touchdowns since he entered the league in 2023.Cleveland defensive end Myles Garrett registered a career-high and single-game franchise record of five sacks in Week 8.Cincinnati wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase registered 12 receptions for 91 yards in Week 8. Chase now has 38 receptions in his past three games.New York Giants rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart, in his fifth career start, had a touchdown pass and a rushing touchdown in Week 8. He is the second quarterback since 1950 with a touchdown pass and rushing touchdown in four of his first five career starts.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL Previews and Odds - 10/27/2025

by Big Al Staff

Monday, Oct 27, 2025

The Monday sports card features NFL, MLB, NBA, and NHL action. Week 8 in the NFL concludes with one game. The Kansas City Chiefs host the Washington Commanders on ABC/ESPN and the ESPN2 Manningcast at 8:15 p.m. ET. The Chiefs have won four of their last five games after their 31-0 victory as a 13.5-point favorite last Sunday. The Commanders lost for the third time in their last four games in a 44-22 setback at Dallas as a 1.5-point underdog to the Cowboys on Sunday. Kansas City is a 10.5-point favorite with the total set at 48.5 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). Major League Baseball continues the World Series with Game 3 of this best-of-seven series. The Los Angeles Dodgers play at home against the Toronto Blue Jays on Fox at 8:00 p.m. ET. The Dodgers evened this series at 1-1 with their 5-1 victory on the road against the Blue Jays on Saturday. Los Angeles sends out Tyler Glasnow to pitch against Toronto’s Max Scherzer. The Dodgers are a -206 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.The National Basketball Association has 11 games on its docket. Two NBA games tip off at 7:10 p.m. ET.  The Orlando Magic travel to Philadelphia to take on the 76ers as a 3.5-point road favorite with a total of 224.5. The Cleveland Cavaliers play in Detroit against the Pistons as a 2.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 231.5.  Four NBA games start at 8:10 p.m. ET. The Chicago Bulls are home against the Atlanta Hawks as a 1.5-point favorite with a total of 239.5. The San Antonio Spurs host the Toronto Raptors as a 4.5-point favorite with an over/under of 232.5. The Houston Rockets play at home against the Brooklyn Nets as a 15.5-point favorite with a total of 225.5. The New Orleans Pelicans are home against the Boston Celtics as a 2.5-point favorite with an over/under of 233.5.The Oklahoma City Thunder are in Dallas to face the Mavericks at 8:40 p.m. ET as a 7.5-point road favorite at BetOnline with a total of 228. The Phoenix Suns visit the Utah Jazz at 9:10 p.m. ET as a 1.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 233.5. The Denver Nuggets play in Minnesota against the Timberwolves on Peacock at 9:40 p.m. ET as a 5-point road favorite at BetOnline with a total of 229.The Golden State Warriors host the Memphis Grizzlies at 10:10 p.m. ET as an 8.5-point favorite with an over/under of 238.5.  The Los Angeles Lakers play at home against the Portland Trail Blazers at 10:40 p.m. ET in a pick ‘em contest with a total of 222.The National Hockey League has two games on its slate. The St. Louis Blues play at Pittsburgh to take on the Penguins at 7:07 p.m. ET as a -120 money-line road favorite with a total of 5.5. The Ottawa Senators play at home against the Boston Bruins at 7:37 p.m. ET as a -180 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. 

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Are These 5 Teams For Real?

by Jazz Ray

Sunday, Oct 26, 2025

Hello, hockey enthusiasts! With over a handful of games played, each team has hit the ice between eight and 10 times. The early standings reveal some unexpected twists. Things aren't quite as predicted yet. For instance, Montreal is leading the Atlantic Division, while New Jersey tops the Metro. Meanwhile, the Lightning and the Rangers are languishing at the bottom of their divisions. Out West, the Mammoth is dominating. This week, I'll dive into five of the early overachievers and then share my strategy for them moving forward. MONTREAL (7-3, 14 points, 36 goals for, 30 goals against, 5-3-2 O/U)The Canadiens, one of only two teams to play 10 games by Sunday, have a solid 7-3 record. Their +6 goal differential shows they're winning without overwhelming opponents. This young, dynamic team is exciting to watch. They may not hold onto the Atlantic's top spot, but I anticipate a largely successful season.Buy/Sell Rating: Neutral NEW JERSEY (7-1, 14 points, 31 goals for, 19 against, 4-4 O/U)The Devils boast the league's best record, earning 14 points in eight games with a +12 goal differential, tied for first. Their stellar play isn't surprising, given projections of around 100 points. While an 88% win rate won't last, they're a clear playoff contender. I'll be selective with their games.Buy/Sell Rating: Neutral UTAH (7-2, 14 points, 34 goals for, 22 against, 4-5 O/U)Rebranded as The Mammoth from "The Hockey Team," Utah is thriving, especially with a perfect 4-0 home record. Despite the strong start, I'm skeptical about the Mammoth's staying power. Projected for about 92 points, they’re unlikely to maintain this pace. Look for opportunities to bet against them.Buy/Sell Rating: Sell PITTSBURGH (6-2-1, 13 points, 32 goals for, 24 goals against, 5-2 O/U)The Penguins have started strong. So, far they're the "most profitable" team for their backers. However, their longevity is questionable. As the league’s oldest team, averaging nearly 31 years, fatigue and injuries will likely soon take a toll. Despite their talent, I expect the Penguins to fade and miss the playoffs.Buy/Sell Rating: Sell BUFFALO (4-4-1, 9 points, 27 goals for, 27 goals against, 3-4 O/U)I’m optimistic about the Sabres. They may not win the Stanley Cup or even make the playoffs, but they’ll compete in most games. Unlike past seasons where poor starts buried them, their nine points in nine games show promise. Years of underperformance keep them undervalued, making them a good bet. Buy/Sell Rating: Buy

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NFL, NBA, NHL, and EPL Previews and Odds - 10/26/2025

by Big Al Staff

Sunday, Oct 26, 2025

The Sunday sports card features NFL, NBA, NHL, and EPL action. Week 8 in the NFL continues with 11 games. Seven NFL games kick off at 1:00 p.m. ET. The Houston Texans host the San Francisco 49ers as a 2.5-point favorite with the total set at 41.5 (all odds from DraftKings). The Buffalo Bills travel to Carolina to play the Panthers as a 7-point road favorite with an over/under of 46.5. The Philadelphia Eagles play at home against the New York Giants as a 7.5-point favorite with a total of 43.5. The New England Patriots are home against the Cleveland Browns as a 7-point favorite with an over/under of 40.5. The Baltimore Ravens host the Chicago Bears as a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 45.5. The Cincinnati Bengals play at home against the New York Jets as a 6-point favorite with an over/under of 44.5. The Atlanta Falcons are home against the Miami Dolphins as a 7-point favorite with a total of 44.5. Three NFL games start in the late afternoon window. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers play on the road against the New Orleans Saints as a 4.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 46.5. Two more NFL games start at 4:25 p.m. ET. The Denver Broncos host the Dallas Cowboys as a 3.5-point favorite with a total of 50.5. The Indianapolis Colts play at home against the Tennessee Titans as a 14.5-point favorite with an over/under of 47.5. The Green Bay Packers are on the road against the Pittsburgh Steelers on NBC at 8:20 PM ET for Sunday Night Football. The Packers are a 3-point road favorite with a total of 45.5.  The National Basketball Association has nine games on its docket. The San Antonio Spurs are home against the Brooklyn Nets at 2:10 p.m. ET as an 11.5-point favorite with an over/under of 227.5. The Detroit Pistons host the Boston Celtics at 3:40 p.m. ET as a -170 money-line favorite with a total of 226.5. Three NBA games tip off at 6:10 p.m. ET. The Washington Wizards play at home against the Charlotte Hornets as a 1.5-point favorite with 235.5 being posted over/under number. The New York Knicks visit Miami to take on the Heat as a 2.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 227.5. The Cleveland Cavaliers are home against the Milwaukee Bucks as a 6.5-point favorite with a total of 235.5. The Minnesota Timberwolves host the Indiana Pacers at 7:10 p.m. ET as a 9.5-point favorite with an over/under of 229.5.  The Dallas Mavericks play at home against the Toronto Raptors at  7:40 p.m. ET as a 1.5-point favorite with a total of 231.5. Two more games conclude the NBA card at 9:10 p.m. ET. The Los Angeles Lakers play in Sacramento against the Kings as a 2.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 231.5. The Los Angeles Clippers are home against the Portland Trail Blazers as a 7.5-point favorite with a total of 224.5. The National Hockey League has eight games on its slate. The New Jersey Devils host the Colorado Avalanche at 1:07 p.m. ET as a -130 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Tampa Bay Lightning play at home against the Vegas Golden Knights at 5:07 p.m. ET as a -135 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. Two more NHL games drop the puck at 6:07 p.m. ET. The Winnipeg Jets are home against the Utah Mammoth as a -170 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Minnesota Wild host the San Jose Sharks as a -225 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. Two NHL games start at 7:07 p.m. ET. The Los Angeles Kings are on the road against the Chicago Blackhawks as a -142 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Dallas Stars travel to Nashville to face the Predators as a -155 money-line road favorite with a total of 5.5. The New York Rangers play in Calgary against the Flames at 8:07 p.m. ET as a -135 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Edmonton Oilers are in Vancouver to battle the Canucks at 10:07 p.m. ET as a -142 money-line road favorite with a total of 5.5.Matchweek 9 in the English Premier League continues with five matches. Four EPL matches begin at 10:00 a.m. ET. Arsenal plays at home against Crystal Palace as a -1.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Manchester City visits Aston Villa on the USA Network as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5. Bournemouth is home against Nottingham Forest as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Wolverhampton hosts Burnley as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5. Everton plays at home against Tottenham on the USA Network at 12:30 p.m. ET as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5.

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Copa do Brasil Futures (2025 Season)

by Amedeus Mastrangelo

Saturday, Oct 25, 2025

The Copa do Brasil is down to the last 4 teams with the Semi-Finals starting on Wednesday, December 10. Flamengo is the defending champion of the competition, winning the last 2 seasons as well as 4 of the last 6 seasons while appearing in 6 straight Finals, but they are out of the competition so there is going to be a new champion this season. The Semi-Finals will include Cruzeiro vs Corinthians and Vasco da Gama vs Fluminense. Flamengo may be the defending champions, but Cruzeiro has the most Titles in Copa do Brasil history with 6. With the Semi-Finals approaching, it is time to see who has the best chance at bringing home the trophy this season.  To Win Outright Cruzeiro +175: Cruzeiro is coming into the Semi-Finals as the team with the best chance at taking home the trophy according to the oddsmakers. Cruzeiro has been having a very good season in the Brasileirao as they are currently sitting in the top 4 and have been one of the more dominant teams in the league all season. They came up from Serie B for the 2023 season, but each year they have been improving and they have a lot of quality in their squad now. They were knocked out of Copa Sudamericana earlier this season, but their focus has turned to this competition now and they have been dominant in it with 3 straight wins in the competition. They have one of the better attacks in the league with 42 goals scored in their 29 league matches, but their defense has been their biggest strength. They have only allowed 21 goals in their 29 league matches and that is the 2nd best defense in the league behind Flamengo. Cruzeiro is currently in the Title race for the Brasileiro, but the Semi-Finals of this competition do not start until the Brasileirao season is over so Cruzeiro will be fully focused on winning this competition, especially if they come up short in the Title race. They are also going up against Corinthians in the Semi-Finals who have been a very inconsistent team all season, currently sitting in 11th in the Brasileirao and allowing more goals this season than they have scored. Cruzeiro has a lot of value here at +175 as they are the best team left in the competition.  Fluminense +250: Fluminense is coming into the Semi-Finals as the team with the next best chance at bringing home the trophy according to the oddsmakers. Fluminense has had a good season as they are currently sitting inside the top 10 of the Brasileora, but they are also right outside the top 6 as they have been very inconsistent this season. They had a slow start to the season and found a spark in the Club World Cup, but that spark never translated to the league as they went into a big slump after that competition. They have been in better form toward the end of the season now and they do have a lot of quality in their squad, but they have also been underperforming in these competitions all season. They were just kicked out of Copa Sudamericana and they were the best team left in that competition as well. Both their attack and their defense have not been great this season either, scoring 35 goals and allowing 35 goals in their 28 matches. Fluminense has not been a very balanced team this season either. They have been very home dependent in their matches, but 8 of their 11 losses in the Brasileirao have come away from home. They have also struggled this season and in recent years against all 3 opponents left in the competition. Fluminense may be the better side with more quality, but there is no guarantee that they get through Vasco da Gama in the Semi-Finals. Even if they do get through, either opponent will be tough for them in the Finals. Fluminense at +250 is not a great option to bring home the trophy as this will likely be a season of disappointment for them.  Corinthians +275: Corinthians is coming into the Semi-Finals as the team with the next best chance at bringing home the trophy according to the oddsmakers. Corinthians has not had a great season in the Brasileirao as they are currently sitting outside the top 10 in the bottom half of the league. They have been a very inconsistent team all season and they do not have a strong attack as they actually have a negative goal differential on the season. They have scored 31 goals and have allowed 35 goals in their 29 league matches. They do have some good quality in their squad, but it has not been clicking for a lot of the season. They have not been in great form heading into the final stretch of the Brasileirao season either. They are also going up against Cruzeiro in the Semi-Finals and that is not an easy matchup for them since Cruzeiro is a top 3 team in the league and has been very dominant for most of the season. They did not play well in Copa Sudamericana this season either, failing to get out of the group stage, and these matches are going to be played after the Brasileirao season is over so Cruzeiro is not going to be distracted by other competitions. Corinthians does not have the defense to survive a 2-leg round with Cruzeiro so they have a very big road block in this competition right in the Semi-Finals. There is no real value in Corinthians at +275 to win this competition.  Vasco da Gama +450: Vasco da Gama is coming into the Semi-Finals as the team with the next best chance at bringing home the trophy according to the oddsmakers. Vasco da Gama has been having a good season in the Brasileirao as they are currently sitting inside the top 10. They have been staying very competitive in the league this season, but they are not a team that has a lot of quality in their squad. They are the weakest team left in the competition and they do have a very good attack, but that is also because their defense has been so bad. They have a top 5 attack in the Brasileirao with 46 goals scored in their 29 matches, but they have also allowed 41 goals which is higher in the league. They have been in great form heading into the final stretch of the season, but they still have a very tough path to win this competition. They do not have an easy match against Fluminense in the Semi-Finals, and either opponent will be very tough for them if they make it to the Finals. They very well could get by Fluminense, but both Cruzeiro and Corinthians have much better defenses so Vasco will not be able to score their way out of those matches. There is some value in Vasco da Gama to make it to the Finals as they could certainly get by Fluminense, but they do not have the squad to win this competition in the Final. There is no real value in Vasco da Gama at +450 to win this competition.  RecommendationOnly 1 team can take home the trophy this season and there is a clear option to do so. Cruzeiro is the best team left in the competition and it is theirs to win. They are not going to struggle against any of the other opponents and there is no team left in the competition that can really challenge them. This will also be a big focus for them as they have a chance to finish the season with multiple trophies this year. Cruzeiro at +175 is the best option to win the Copa do Brasil this season. 

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