Expert Sports Picks and Analysis from Al McMordie

Fight Night: Fiziev vs Torres (UFC Baku) Preview and Picks

Wednesday, Jun 24, 2026

The UFC returns to Azerbaijan for the second time this weekend, taking place at the National Gymnastics Arena in Baku. This marks the UFC's second visit to the country as part of a multi-year deal for annual "Fight Nights" through 2028. Last year's event was held at the Baku Crystal Hall. It included some interesting fights including Azerbaijani native Nazim Sadykhov vs. Nikolas Motta, which was the "fight of the night." Sadykhov scored a 2nd round TKO victory. Last year's main event featured former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jamahal Hill against former title challenger Khalil Rountree Junior. Rountree won by a decisive unanimous decision. The co-main event saw another Azerbaijan native Rafael Fiziev win 30-27 on all three judges' scorecards against Ignacio Bahamondes. Fiziev is back, this time in the main event against Manuel Torres. Sadykhov also returns. Let's take a closer look at what promises to be another exciting card. The Main Event: Rafael Fiziev -115 vs Manuel TorresEven factoring in his win here last year, the 33-year-old Fiziev (13-5) is just 1-4 in his past five fights. Still, those losses came against top-tier opponents including Justin Gaethje (twice), Mateusz Gamrot and Mauricio Ruffy. Fiziev is a former Muay Thai fighter who mixes in combat sambo, boxing, Jiu Jitsu, and wrestling. Torres (17-3) is a 31-year-old Mexican fighter. He's had back-to-back wins since losing to Bahamondes, the fighter whom Fiziev beat here last year. Torres, who also has a Muay Thai background, combines a strong striking game with sharp grappling skills. The Pick: Under 1.5 Rounds +110. The pick'em line seems fair, as I see this fight as a legitimate coin flip. Torres has the more impressive record but Fiziev has faced better opponents and is fighting in his home country. I do see some value in the under 1.5 rounds, at +110. Fiziev was stopped in the second round of his last fight and 13 of Torres's last 14 fights (19 of 20 overall) finished in the first round. Play the Under.The Co-Main Event: Shara Magomedov -360 vs. Michel Pereira Shara "Bullet" Magomedov (16-1) is an exciting and dynamic middleweight striker from Dagestan. Blind in his right eye, Magomedov is known for spinning and creative attacks, high output, and relentless pressure. Michel Pereira (32-14), not related to Alex Pereira, hails from Brazil. He won his last fight, snapping a 3-fight losing streak. The Pick: Over 2.5 Rounds at -125 Magomedov is likely to win but the price is too steep. Instead, we will again focus on the total. Five of Magomedov's last six fights were decided by the judges. Two of Pereira's last four fights went the distance and another went to the fifth round. Play the Over. Fight Of The Night? Nazim Sadykhov -238 vs. Matheus CamiloOff a loss and back in front of his countrymen, Sadykhov "The Black Wolf" (11-2-1) will want to put on a good show. Only one of his past 10 fights went the distance; it was a majority draw. Camilo (10-3), a 25-year-old fighter from Brazil is likely in over his head. However, he's won seven of his past eight and should put up a good fight. No pick, just enjoy this one.Note the early start time. The main card starts at 12:00 PM Eastern on Paramount+ with the prelims beginning at 9:00 AM.

WNBA Notebook: Who is the Best Team?

by Vegas Writer

Wednesday, Jun 24, 2026

Heading into Tuesday's one-game slate, the Minnesota Lynx and Las Vegas Aces were favored to win the WNBA title.At DraftKings, the odds were as follows: Minnesota and Las Vegas at +300, followed by the New York Liberty (+320), Atlanta Dream (+700), Dallas Wings (+1400) and Indiana Fever (+1400).After the Liberty walloped the Aces in Las Vegas, the teams switched places, as it's now New York and Minnesota favored to win it all, while the defending champs are now +320.The powerful three are once again proving they're the class of the league, and the road to a title rolls through Sin City, the Twin Cities or Gotham.But if you ask me, the team to invest in right now is the Lynx. Despite a few stumbling blocks, they've dominated since the start of the season behind two key elements surrounded by a rock-solid supporting cast.First, there's Rookie of the Year frontrunner Olivia Miles, who looks more like a fourth-year guard hitting her stride when humbling veterans on defense. Miles' quick first step or long-range jumper has her ranked in the top 12 in scoring at 18.5 points per game and tied for ninth in assists at 5.6 per contest.Second, veteran Natasha Howard was a key offseason acquisition, and she has fit splendidly into coach Cheryl Reeve's system. She's scoring 17.3 points and grabbing 7.4 rebounds per game. Her presence - and effectiveness - provides spacing for others, as she's drawing defensive attention away from the perimeter.And here's the thing, they're doing all of this without Napheesa Collier, easily one of the three best players in the world when she's 100 percent healthy. Recovering from surgery on both ankles, she should be back this season, and the odds on Minnesota will drop.Now is the time to invest in the Lynx.PROP WATCH OF THE WEEKDallas Wings forward JESSICA SHEPARD was the Western Conference Player of the Week after averaging 16.7 points, 11.0 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.0 steals per contest the last three games. In the Wings' 96-66 win over the Aces on June 15, Shepard flirted with her third triple-double of the year, falling one assist shy with 15 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists. It was her third game of the season with at least 15 points and 15 rebounds. She'll be in Las Vegas for a return engagement in a critical game against the Aces.GAME OF THE WEEKSunday, June 28, 2 p.m. Eastern on CBS: Minnesota at Dallas -- The Lynx head to Big D after the Wings' game in Las Vegas, and it'll be interesting to see how the young guns respond after facing A'ja Wilson and company after their loss to the Liberty. Paige Bueckers has been impressive with big buckets recently, be it overcoming a double-digit deficit or helping to seal an overtime win. It'll be the third meeting of rookie sensations Miles and Azzi Fudd. The Lynx have won the first two meetings, so there will be a double-revenge mindset in place.RANKINGS:1. Minnesota Lynx - The Lynx are not only the No. 1 team in the league, but they're twinning with SU and ATS records of 13-4.2. New York Liberty - Had the Liberty lost on Tuesday night in Las Vegas, the teams would be swapped in this poll. Make note, they're 6-2 on the road.3. Las Vegas Aces - The Aces have been much better on the road, going 8-2 while ordering room service.4. Atlanta Dream - Angel Reese has found a home, and this team is benefiting from what will be the best season of her three-year career.5. Dallas Wings - If, and it's a very big IF, the Wings can beat the Aces for a second-straight meeting and then beat the Lynx, you have to consider this team as a top-three squad.6. Golden State Valkyries - If this team can find consistency, especially on the road, this is a sleeper to be wary of down the stretch.7. Los Angeles Sparks - They've gone on the road and won five of seven. They've come home and lost seven of nine. If they learn to win at home, they'll be dangerous.8. Washington Mystics - They've been a fantastic option when you least expect it, having covered nine of 15.9. Indiana Fever - The discord between Caitlin Clark and Stephanie White could be coming to a head. She doesn't fit in her system, but the rest of the team does. Who goes first?10. Portland Fire - The verdict is out on this team, still. They have impressive wins and questionable losses.11. Toronto Tempo - If there's one thing you can count on with the Tempo, it's high-scoring games. Twelve of 17 have gone over.12. Phoenix Mercury - Last year's runner-up is not only 5-13, but they're 6-12 ATS. Fade material.13. Seattle Storm - I don't trust the coaching hire and wonder why they didn't hire a veteran to replace Noelle Quinn.14. Connecticut Sun - They get a bump because they beat the Sky.15. Chicago Sky - Is Tyler Marsh going to be fired anytime soon?

Big Al's Daily Angle: World Cup, MLB and WNBA Previews and Odds - 06/24/26

by Big Al Staff

Wednesday, Jun 24, 2026

The Wednesday sports card features World Cup, MLB, and WNBA action.The group stage of the 2026 Men’s World Cup continues with six matches. Two matches begin at 3:00 p.m. ET. Switzerland plays Canada at BC Place in Vancouver, Canada, on Fox as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with the total set at 2.5 (all odds from DraftKings). Bosnia and Herzegovina take on Qatar at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington, as a -1.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Two World Cup matches begin at 6:00 p.m. ET. Morocco challenges Haiti at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on FS1 as a -1.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 3.5. Brazil battles Scotland at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, on Fox as a -1.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Two more matches conclude the World Cup card at 9:00 p.m. ET. Mexico takes on the Czech Republic at Estadio Banorte in Mexico City on Fox as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5. South Korea faces South Africa at Estadio Monterrey in Guadalupe, Mexico, on FS1 as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Major League Baseball has 16 games scheduled. The Texas Rangers travel to Miami to play the Marlins at 12:10 p.m. ET as a -126 money-line road favorite with a total of 7.5. The New York Mets host the Chicago Cubs at 1:10 p.m. ET in the opening game of their doubleheader. The Cleveland Guardians play in Chicago against the White Sox at 2:10 p.m. ET as a -122 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Boston Red Sox are on the road in Colorado to play the Rockies at 3:10 p.m. ET as a -175 money-line road favorite with a total of 11. The Los Angeles Angels play at home against the Baltimore Orioles at 4:07 p.m. ET as a -125 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9.5. Three MLB games throw out the first pitch at 6:40 p.m. ET. The Detroit Tigers are at home against the New York Yankees as a -143 money-line favorite with a total of 7.5. The Pittsburgh Pirates host the Seattle Mariners as a -118 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7.5. The Tampa Bay Rays play at home against the Kansas City Royals as a -149 money-line favorite with a total of 7.5. The Philadelphia Phillies visit Washington to take on the Nationals at 6:45 p.m. ET as a -136 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 9.5. The Toronto Blue Jays are at home to play the Houston Astros at 7:07 p.m. ET as a -163 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. Two MLB games start at 7:10 p.m. ET. The Mets battle the Cubs in the second game of their doubleheader. The Milwaukee Brewers play in Cincinnati against the Reds as a -148 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Los Angeles Dodgers are on the road in Minnesota against the Twins on Peacock as a -185 money-line road favorite with a total of 7.5. The St. Louis Cardinals host the Arizona Diamondbacks at 7:45 p.m. ET as a -118 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9. The Atlanta Braves travel to San Diego to face the Padres at 8:40 p.m. ET as a -131 money-line road favorite with a total of 7.5. The Athletics play in San Francisco against the Giants at 9:45 p.m. ET as a -131 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8. The WNBA has four games on tap. Two WNBA games tip off at 7:30 p.m. ET. The Indiana Fever play at home against the Phoenix Mercury on the USA Network as an 8.5-point favorite with a total of 175.5. The Minnesota Lynx are on the road in Washington to face the Mystics as an 8.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 168.5. The Chicago Sky are at home to face the Portland Fire at 8:00 p.m. ET as a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 169.5. The Atlanta Dream visit the Golden State Valkyries on the USA Network at 10:00 p.m. ET as a 2.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 165.5.

Big Al's Daily Angle: World Cup, MLB and WNBA Odds and Previews - 06/23/26

by Big Al Staff

Tuesday, Jun 23, 2026

The Tuesday sports card features World Cup, MLB, and WNBA action.The group stage of the 2026 Men’s World Cup continues with four matches. Portugal plays Uzbekistan as a -2.5 goal-line favorite with the total set at 3.5 (all odds from DraftKings) at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, on Fox at 1:00 p.m. ET. England takes on Ghana as a -1.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on Fox at 4:00 p.m. ET. Croatia challenges Panama as a -1.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5 at BMO Field in Toronto, Canada, on Fox at 7:00 p.m. ET. Colombia faces Congo DR as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5 at Estadio Akron in Guadalajara, Mexico, on FS1 at 10:00 p.m. ET. Major League Baseball has 15 games scheduled. The Toronto Blue Jays host the Houston Astros at 4:07 p.m. ET as a -143 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. Four MLB games throw out the first pitch at 6:40 p.m. ET. The Seattle Mariners travel to Pittsburgh to battle the Pirates as a -122 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8. The Tampa Bay Rays play at home against the Kansas City Royals as a -186 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The New York Yankees play in Detroit against the Tigers as a -115 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 7.5. The Miami Marlins are at home to play the Texas Rangers as a -156 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The Philadelphia Phillies are on the road in Washington to take on the Washington Nationals at 6:45 p.m. ET as a -168 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5. Two more MLB games start at 7:10 p.m. ET. The New York Mets host the Chicago Cubs on TBS as a -120 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The Milwaukee Brewers visit Cincinnati to face the Reds as a -122 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 10. Two MLB games begin at 7:40 p.m. ET. The Cleveland Guardians play in Chicago against the White Sox as a -114 money-line road favorite with a total of 7. The Los Angeles Dodgers are on the road to challenge the Minnesota Twins as a -168 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The St. Louis Cardinals play at home against the Arizona Diamondbacks at 7:45 p.m. ET as a -114 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The Boston Red Sox travel to Colorado to battle the Rockies at 8:40 p.m. ET as a -163 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 10.5. The Baltimore Orioles play in Los Angeles against the Angels on Peacock at 9:38 p.m. ET as a -163 money-line road favorite with a total of 9. The Atlanta Braves are on the road in San Diego to face the Padres as a -112 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8. The San Francisco Giants are at home to take on the Athletics at 9:45 p.m. ET as a -125 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The WNBA has one game on tap. The Las Vegas Aces host the New York Liberty on the USA Network at 10:00 p.m. ET as a 2.5-point favorite with an over/under of 175.5.

2026 NBA Draft: What to Expect

by William Burns

Monday, Jun 22, 2026

Welcome to the 2026 NBA Draft. Here's what I expect to happen on Tuesday evening. Lottery Picks: Entering the 2026 NBA Draft, the three names that have stood out all season long have been AJ Dybansta (BYU,) Darryn Peterson (Kansas,) & Cameron Boozer (Duke.) As it stands now, AJ Dybantsa is the heavy favorite to go #1 overall (-700) with the other two expected to follow suit. I believe that it will go in the order that I mentioned. Don't sleep on guys like Caleb Wilson (UNC,) Darius Acuff Jr (Arkansas,) & Karim Lopez (New Zealand Breakers) though. I could see all three of these players becoming absolute stars in the NBA with the right coaching and situation. Will there be surprises in the Lottery? Of course. There are surprises in almost every single draft & sometimes it's for the good. Other times, the team badly messes up. People that are disgusted with a pick sometimes regret it later though. One will never know until these new rookies officially step on the court. Last Notes:Here are a couple of players to keep an eye on in my eyes. I'm pretty high on Aday Mara (Michigan.) What I believe could turn out to be an "even better" version of Marc Gasol, the former Michigan Center was an absolutely crucial piece to the championship that the Wolverines just one. Just think of former champions in the NCAA. Donovan Clingan is beginning to ball out for the Trail Blazers & Alex Condon has become a dominant big man for the Florida Gators. Mara could definitely be a lottery pick. But, nobody really knows until draft day. Another player that stands out as someone who I believe could be a huge "sleeper pick," in the late-1st or early 2nd, is Ebuka Okorie (Stanford.) If you've never seen him play, you should go watch some of his highlights right now. I wanted him to return back to College to show the nation what he's really capable of with a stronger team. But, his dribbling is absolutely silky smooth & I believe that he could be a steal of this draft. William's Top 20 Draft Pick Projections (If No Trades Happen): Washington Wizards #1 // AJ Dybansta (BYU) Utah Jazz #2 // Darryn Peterson (Kansas)Memphis Grizzlies #3 // Cameron Boozer (Duke) Chicago Bulls #4 // Caleb Wilson (UNC) Los Angeles Clippers #5 // Brayden Burries (Arizona)Brooklyn Nets #6 // Keaton Wagler (Illinois)Sacramento Kings #7 // Darius Acuff Jr (Arkansas) Atlanta Hawks #8 // Aday Mara (Michigan)Dallas Mavericks #9 // Mikel Brown Jr (Louisville) Milwaukee Bucks #10 // Nate Ament (Tennessee) Golden State Warriors #11 // Yaxel Lendeborg (Michigan) Oklahoma City Thunder #12 // Karim Lopez (New Zealand Breakers)Milwaukee Bucks #13 // Kingston Flemmings (Houston) Charlotte Hornets #14 // Morez Johnson Jr (Michigan) Chicago Bulls #15 // Hannes Steinbach (Washington)Memphis Grizzlies #16 // Labaron Philon (Alabama)Oklahoma City Thunder #17 // Ebuka Okorie (Stanford)Charlotte Hornets #18 // Jayden Quaintance (Kentucky)Toronto Raptors #19 // Christian Anderson (Texas Tech)San Antonio Spurs #20 // Allen Graves (Santa Clara)Two Draft Night "Prop Bets" to Make: Although it may be considered a bit of a longshot, I would not be surprised one bit if the Clippers go with Brayden Burries with the #5 overall pick in this draft. The first four are pretty locked in. But, with the fifth pick at a price of +650 to be selected in the Top 5. Don't pass up on this opportunity. A bit of a heavier juiced one, I'm willing to lay the -260 on Cameron Boozer to be selected 3rd overall by the Memphis Grizzlies. Now, the Grizzlies could end up with Peterson if the Jazz pass up on him. But, I believe that it will go in the order that I mentioned above, leading this to be the safe bet of the night.

ASA's NBA Draft Projections

by ASA, Inc.

Monday, Jun 22, 2026

Second Overall Pick (odds at DraftKings)Darryn Peterson at -130After one up and down year at Kansas, where he averaged 20 PPG, Peterson will be a high lottery pick in this week’s NBA Draft, just as projected coming out of high school about a year ago. There is enough buzz around the NBA to wonder if he has even crept up high enough to be selected at the number one spot above AJ Dybantsa. Many scouts believe Peterson (6 '5 with a 6' 10 wingspan) to be the best player in the draft and a pure three level scorer with great efficiency. Still, injury and character questions are the main reason he did not have a better year at Kansas. We do not foresee Washington using the first overall pick on Peterson, but the talent is impossible to overlook, and besides Dybantsa, there is no prospect as gifted as Peterson in this draft. At this price, the return on the second overall pick provides strong value. Fifth Overall Pick (odds at DraftKings)Keaton Wagler at +240In just one season, this Illinois freshman racked up a list of awards that most college players could only dream of. Consensus Second Team All-American, First Team All Big Ten, Big Ten Freshman of the Year, and NCAA Tournament South Region Most Outstanding Player. He averaged nearly 18 PPG in a loaded conference, ending the year with a run to the Final Four. Wagler is a smooth operator who is always in control and has great size for a point guard at the next level. His shooting ability is the real difference maker that allowed him to surpass almost everyone's expectations, connecting on nearly 40% of his attempts from beyond the arc. This portion of the draft is where things open up, as no player after the four spot has favorable odds. Wagler has the talent and certainly showed the production in college to warrant a selection here. Player Draft Position (odds at DraftKings)Darius Acuff Jr. Over 6.5 at +120Again, at this part of the draft, things can swing a few different ways. Acuff is a phenomenal player who we do not like picking against, since he averaged 23.5 PPG on 48% shooting from the field and an unheard of 44% from three. Yet, the Arkansas product is only 6 '2 in stature and there are a number of other players in this range that teams may view with more potential, strictly due to size. Mikel Brown (6’ 4) is another high scoring freshman point guard from Louisville that projects to go at the sixth pick. Many of the latest mock drafts have Acuff going at pick seven to Sacramento, who reportedly loves him. With plus odds, we feel it's a good bet Acuff makes it to the Kings’ pick.

Big Al's Daily Angle: World Cup, MLB and WNBA Previews and Odds - 06/22/26

by Big Al Staff

Monday, Jun 22, 2026

The Monday sports card features World Cup, MLB, and WNBA action.The group stage of the 2026 Men’s World Cup continues with four matches. Argentina plays Austria as a -1.5 goal-line favorite with the total set at 2.5 (all odds from DraftKings) at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Fox at 1:00 p.m. ET. France takes on Iraq as a -2.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 3.5 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Fox at 5:00 p.m. ET. Norway faces Senegal as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Fox at 8:00 p.m. ET. Algeria challenges Jordan as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, on FS1 at 11:00 p.m. ET. Major League Baseball has 13 games scheduled. The New York Yankees travel to Detroit to play the Tigers at 6:10 p.m. ET as a -126 money-line road favorite with a total of 8. Two more MLB games throw out the first pitch at 6:40 p.m. ET. The Tampa Bay Rays host the Kansas City Royals as a -175 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7.5. The Miami Marlins play at home against the Texas Rangers as a -126 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The Philadelphia Phillies play in Washington against the Nationals at 6:45 p.m. ET. The Toronto Blue Jays are home to battle the Houston Astros at 7:07 p.m. ET as a -125 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7.5. Two more MLB games start at 7:10 p.m. ET. The Chicago Cubs play in New York against the Mets on Peacock as a -115 money-line road favorite with a total of 8.5. The Milwaukee Brewers are on the road to play the Cincinnati Reds as a -168 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 9.5. Two MLB games begin at 7:40 p.m. ET. The Cleveland Guardians visit Chicago to take on the White Sox as a -114 money-line road favorite with a total of 7.5. The Los Angeles Dodgers play in Minnesota against the Twins as a -157 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 9. The St. Louis Cardinals host the Arizona Diamondbacks at 7:45 p.m. ET as a -144 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The Boston Red Sox are on the road in Colorado to battle the Rockies at 8:40 p.m. ET as a -126 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 12. The Baltimore Orioles travel to Los Angeles to face the Angels at 9:38 p.m. ET as a -163 money-line road favorite with a total of 9. The Athletics play in San Diego against the Padres on ESPN at 10:10 p.m. ET as a -112 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 7. The WNBA has four games on tap. The Chicago Sky are on the road in Connecticut to challenge the Sun at 7:00 p.m. ET as a 3.5-point road favorite with a total of 167.5. The Atlanta Dream play at home against the Toronto Tempo at 7:30 p.m. ET as a 13.5-point favorite with an over/under of 178.5. The Indiana Fever are at home to play the Phoenix Mercury on the USA Network at 8:00 p.m. ET as a 5.5-point favorite with a total of 177.5. The Dallas Wings visit Seattle to take on the Storm at 10:00 p.m. ET as a 9.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 165.5.

Big Al's Daily Angle: MLB, World Cup and WNBA Previews and Odds - 06/21/26

by Big Al Staff

Sunday, Jun 21, 2026

The Sunday sports card features the World Cup, MLB, and WNBA action.The group stage of the 2026 Men’s World Cup continues with four matches. Spain plays Saudi Arabia as a -2.5 goal-line favorite with the total set at 3.5 (all odds from DraftKings) at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, on Fox at 12:00 p.m. ET. Belgium takes on Iran as a -1.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5 on FS1 at 3:00 p.m. ET. Uruguay challenges Cape Verde as a -1.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, on FS1 at 9:00 p.m. ET. Egypt faces New Zealand as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5 at BC Place in Vancouver, Canada, on FS1 at 9:00 p.m. ET. Major League Baseball has 15 games scheduled. Two MLB games throw out the first pitch at 1:35 p.m. ET. The Atlanta Braves host the Milwaukee Brewers as a -136 money-line favorite with a total of 9. The New York Yankees play at home against the Cincinnati Reds on Peacock as a -126 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. Three more MLB games start at 1:40 p.m. ET. The Tampa Bay Rays are at home to battle the Washington Nationals as a -136 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The Detroit Tigers host the Chicago White Sox as a -120 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. The San Francisco travels to Miami to play the Marlins as a -143 money-line road favorite with a total of 8. Two MLB games begin at 2:10 p.m. ET. The Houston Astros play at home against the Cleveland Guardians as a -136 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The St. Louis Cardinals play in Kansas City against the Royals as a -122 money-line road favorite with a total of 9. The Toronto Blue Jays are on the road in Chicago against the Cubs at 2:20 p.m. ET as a -125 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Texas Rangers are at home to face the San Diego Padres at 2:35 p.m. ET as a -149 money-line favorite with a total of 7.5. The Pittsburgh Pirates visit Colorado to play the Rockies at 3:10 p.m. ET as a -149 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 12. The Arizona Diamondbacks play at home against the Minnesota Twins on Peacock at 3:15 p.m. ET. The Athletics are at home to take on the Los Angeles Angels at 4:05 p.m. ET as a -131 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9.5. Two more MLB games start at 4:10 p.m. ET. The Los Angeles Dodgers host the Baltimore Orioles as a -219 money-line favorite with a total of 9. The Seattle Mariners play at home against the Boston Red Sox as a -143 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. Sunday Night Baseball on NBC/Peacock features the Philadelphia Phillies at home to challenge the New York Mets. The Phillies are a -199 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The WNBA has three games on tap. The Las Vegas Aces host the Golden State Valkyries on CBS at 4:00 p.m. ET as a 4.5-point favorite with an over/under of 167.5. The Minnesota Lynx play at home against the Washington Mystics at 6:00 p.m. ET as a 13.5-point favorite with a total of 168.5. The New York Liberty plays in Los Angeles against the Sparks on ESPN at 8:00 p.m. ET as a 4.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 180.5.

Big Al's Daily Angle: World Cup, MLB, CFL and WNBA Previews and Odds - 06/20/26

by Big Al Staff

Saturday, Jun 20, 2026

The Saturday sports card features the World Cup, MLB, CFL, and WNBA action.The group stage of the 2026 Men’s World Cup continues with four matches. The Netherlands plays Sweden as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with the total set at 2.5 (all odds from DraftKings, unless indicated otherwise) at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, on Fox at 1:00 p.m. ET. Germany challenges the Ivory Coast as a -1.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5 at BMO Field in Toronto, Canada, on Fox at 4:00 p.m. ET.Ecuador takes on Curacao as a -2.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 3.5 at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, on FS1 at 8:00 p.m. ET as a -2.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 3.5. Japan faces Tunisia as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5 at Estadio BBVA in Guadalupe, Mexico, on FS1 at 12:00 a.m. ET. Major League Baseball has 14 games scheduled. The Detroit Tigers host the Chicago White Sox on Peacock at 1:10 p.m. ET as a -143 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The New York Yankees play at home against the Cincinnati Reds at 1:35 p.m. ET as a -193 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9.5. The Chicago Cubs are at home against the Toronto Blue Jays at 2:20 p.m. ET as a -126 money-line favorite with a total of 9. The Texas Rangers host the San Diego Padres at 4:05 p.m. ET as a -143 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7.5. Three more MLB games throw out the first pitch at 4:10 p.m. ET. The Miami Marlins play at home against the San Francisco Giants as a -143 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The Atlanta Braves are at home to take on the Milwaukee Brewers as a -131 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7.5. The Tampa Bay Rays host the Washington Nationals as a -122 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. Two MLB games are on Fox’s regional coverage at 7:15 p.m. ET. The Houston Astros play at home against the Cleveland Guardians as a -143 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Philadelphia Phillies are at home to battle the New York Mets as a -180 money-line favorite with a total of 7.5. The Pittsburgh Pirates travel to Colorado to play the Rockies at 9:10 p.m. ET as a -204 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 10. The Athletics host the Los Angeles Angels at 10:05 p.m. ET as a -160 money-line favorite at BetOnline with a total of 9. Three more games conclude the MLB card at 10:10 p.m. ET. The Seattle Mariners play at home against the Boston Red Sox as a -126 money-line favorite with a total of 7.5. The Los Angeles Dodgers are at home against the Baltimore Orioles as a -252 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Arizona Diamondbacks host the Minnesota Twins as a -132 money-line favorite with a total of 9. Week 3 in the Canadian Football League concludes with three games. The Toronto Argonauts play in Ottawa against the Redblacks at 1:00 p.m. ET as a 1.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 54.5. The Montreal Alouettes are on the road in Edmonton against the Elks at 4:00 p.m. ET as a 3-point road favorite with a total of 50.5. The Saskatchewan Roughriders visit Calgary to play the Roughriders on the CBS Sports Network at 7:00 p.m. ET as a 1.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 50.5. The WNBA has three games on tap. The Atlanta Dream play at home against the Indiana Fever on ABC at 1:00 p.m. ET as a 5.5-point favorite with a total of 175.5. The Phoenix Mercury are at home to take on the Seattle Storm on ABC at 3:00 p.m. ET as a 7.5-point favorite with an over/under of 161.5. The Dallas Wings host the Chicago Sky on CBS at 8:00 p.m. ET as a 9.5-point favorite with a total of 170.5.

Big Al's Daily Angle: World Cup, MLB, CFL and WNBA Previews and Odds - 06/19/26

by Big Al Staff

Friday, Jun 19, 2026

The Friday sports card features the World Cup, MLB, CFL, and WNBA action.The group stage of the 2026 Men’s World Cup continues with four matches. The USMNT plays Australia as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5 (all odds from DraftKings) at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington, on Fox at 3:00 p.m. ET. Morocco takes on Scotland as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on Fox at 6:00 p.m. ET. Brazil battles Haiti as a -2.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 3.5 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Fox at 8:30 p.m. ET. Turkey faces Paraguay as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, on FS1 at 11:00 p.m. ET. Major League Baseball has 14 games scheduled. The Chicago Cubs host the Toronto Blue Jays at 2:20 p.m. ET as a -120 money-line favorite with a total of 7. The Detroit Tigers play at home against the Chicago White Sox at 6:40 p.m. ET as a -237 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. The New York Yankees are at home to play the Cincinnati Reds on Peacock at 7:05 p.m. ET as a 278 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. Two MLB games throw out the first pitch at 7:10 p.m. ET. The Tampa Bay Rays host the Washington Nationals as a -131 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. The Miami Marlins play at home against the San Francisco Giants. The Milwaukee Brewers travel to Atlanta to play the Braves at 7:15 p.m. ET as a -186 money-line road favorite with a total of 7.5. The Texas Rangers are at home to challenge the San Diego Padres at 8:05 p.m. ET as a -163 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7. The Houston Astros host the Cleveland Guardians at 8:10 p.m. ET as a -125 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The St. Louis Cardinals play in Kansas City against the Royals on Apple TV+ at 8:15 p.m. ET as a -125 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 9. The Pittsburgh Pirates are on the road in Colorado to take on the Rockies at 8:40 p.m. ET as a -143 money-line road favorite with a total of 11.5. The Athletics play at home against the Los Angeles Angels at 9:40 p.m. ET as a -168 money-line favorite with an over/under of 10. The Arizona Diamondbacks are at home to face the Minnesota Twins on Apple TV+ at 9:45 p.m. ET as a -175 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. Two more games conclude the MLB card at 10:10 p.m. ET. The Seattle Mariners host the Boston Red Sox as a -131 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Los Angeles Dodgers play at home against the Baltimore Orioles as a -193 money-line favorite with a total of 9.5. Week 3 in the Canadian Football League kicks off with one game. The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are home to battle the British Columbia Lions at 7:30 p.m. ET as a 1.5-point favorite with an over/under of 59.5. The WNBA has three games on tap. Two WNBA games tip off at 7:30 p.m. ET. The Toronto Tempo visits Connecticut to play the Sun as a 1.5-point road favorite with a total of 166.5. The New York Liberty host the Washington Mystics as a 12.5-point favorite with an over/under of 167.5. The Minnesota Lynx play in Golden State against the Valkyries at 10:00 p.m. ET as a 2.5-point road favorite with a total of 162.5.

2026 NHL Draft: Best bets

by Sean Murphy

Friday, Jun 19, 2026

The NHL Draft is one of the toughest events to handicap. Teams don't exactly advertise what they're planning to do and a lot can change in the days leading up to the draft. Still, there are several bets on the board that look worth a shot based on where things stand right now. Here are four NHL Draft bets I'm looking at (odds courtesy BetMGM). Ivar Stenberg to be selected second overall (-133) Most signs continue to point toward Stenberg being the second player off the board. There's been some debate over who belongs behind Gavin McKenna, but Stenberg has consistently been mentioned near the very top of the class throughout the process. He's viewed as one of the safest prospects available and there hasn't been much indication that his stock is moving in the wrong direction. At -133, you're not being asked to lay an outrageous price and this feels like one of the more straightforward positions currently available. Draft betting can get messy in a hurry, but this is the outcome that appears to have the most support heading into draft week. Caleb Malhotra to be selected third overall (-400) The price isn't attractive, but sometimes that's because the betting marketplace is simply expecting something to happen and the price could actually be even loftier. Malhotra has been projected near the top of the draft for a long time and there hasn't been much movement when it comes to his expected landing spot. Teams looking for a high-end forward are going to have a hard time passing on him - especially the Vancouver Canucks given their tie-in to Caleb's dad Manny. I'm generally not interested in laying -400 on draft props, but if you're building a parlay or simply looking for what appears to be one of the safer outcomes on the board, this one deserves consideration. Chase Reid to be selected second overall (+100) If you're looking for a plus-money option, Reid is probably the most interesting play on the board. While Stenberg remains the favorite for the second pick, Reid has been mentioned in the same conversation throughout the year and it wouldn't take much for a team to prefer his upside. We've seen plenty of surprises at the top of NHL Drafts before and this feels like one of those situations where there may not be a huge difference between the top two candidates. Without question, the San Jose Sharks are in need of a defenseman and they currently hold the second overall pick. At even money, you're getting a better return and there's certainly a path to cashing this ticket if the Sharks decide to swing for the fences.Keaton Verhoeff to be selected fourth overall (+250)This is the longer shot of the group, but it's also the one that offers the most upside. Verhoeff has steadily climbed draft boards over the last year and many scouts view him as one of the top defensemen available in this class. Teams picking near the top of the draft are often willing to pay a premium for a potential franchise blueliner, especially one with Verhoeff's size and all-around game. While there isn't nearly as much certainty here as there is with some of the top-three selections, the price is attractive considering Verhoeff is widely projected inside the top five. If a team looking for defense passes on one of the forwards ahead of him, this ticket could suddenly be in a great position.

College World Series Winner

by Harry Gagnon

Thursday, Jun 18, 2026

The latest line is that the North Carolina Tar Heels are -160 to beat the Oklahoma Sooners in the College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska. It’s a bit of a price to lay but I’m going to lay it with the Tar Heels. They have 12 more wins than Oklahoma has on the season and even though the Sooners have figured out how to get through regionals in Atlanta & Lawrence, their luck runs out here. UNC has scored more runs & have more hits than Oklahoma and have a higher team batting average. When it comes to pitching they possess a full run better ERA wise as well. UNC’s first 4 batters have batting averages of .292 or better. With having better pitching & having outfielder Owen Hull are my main reasons for taking them to win the championship. Hull has a remarkable.398 batting average on the season & has a OBP of over .500. I can’t see Oklahoma even stealing a game. I got the Tar Heels -160 & winning it in 2 games in the best 2 out of 3 format).

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