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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, NCAAB, and UCL Previews and Odds - 03/18/26

by Big Al Staff

Wednesday, Mar 18, 2026

The Wednesday sports card features NBA, NHL, NCAAB, and UCL action. The National Basketball League has nine games on its docket. The Boston Celtics host the Golden State Warriors on ESPN at 7:10 p.m. ET as an 11.5-point favorite with the total set at 215.5 (all odds from DraftKings). Two more NBA games tip off at 7:40 p.m. ET. The Oklahoma City Thunder travel to Brooklyn to play the Nets as a 19.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 214.5. The Portland Trail Blazers play in Indiana against the Pacers as a 10.5-point road favorite with a total of 234.5. Three NBA games start at 8:10 p.m. ET. The Toronto Raptors visit Chicago to face the Bulls as a 7.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 232.5. The New Orleans Pelicans play at home against the Los Angeles Clippers as a 1.5-point favorite with a total of 232.5. The Minnesota Timberwolves are home to take on the Utah Jazz as an 11.5-point favorite with an over/under of 233.5. Two NBA games begin at 8:40 p.m. ET. The Denver Nuggets play in Memphis against the Grizzlies as a 13.5-point road favorite with a total of 240.5. The Atlanta Hawks are on the road against the Dallas Mavericks as an 8.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 238.5. The Houston Rockets host the Los Angeles Lakers on ESPN at 9:40 p.m. ET as a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 222.5. The National Hockey League has nine games on its slate. Two NHL games drop the puck at 7:07 p.m. ET. The New Jersey Devils are on the road against the New York Rangers on TNT as a -115 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Carolina Hurricanes play at home against the Pittsburgh Penguins as a -170 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Ottawa Senators travel to Washington to challenge the Capitals at 7:37 p.m. ET as a -120 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. Two NHL games start at 9:37 p.m. ET. The St. Louis Blues play in Calgary against the Flames on TNT as a -115 money-line road favorite with a total of 5.5. The Colorado Avalanche are home to battle the Dallas Stars on TNT as a -155 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Anaheim Ducks host the Philadelphia Flyers at 10:07 p.m. ET as a -155 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The NCAAB college basketball schedule tips off at 6:40 p.m. ET with 10 games involving Division I opponents. Three of these games are on major national television. Lehigh takes on Prairie View A&M in the First Four of the NCAA tournament at the University of Dayton Arena in Dayton, Ohio, on truTV at 6:40 p.m. ET as a 3.5-point favorite with an over/under of 143.5. SMU plays Miami (OH) in the final First Four game in the NCAA tournament in Dayton on truTV at 9:15 p.m. ET as a 6.5-point favorite with a total of 163.5. California plays at home against Illinois-Chicago in the first round of the NIT on ESPN2 at 11:00 p.m. ET as a 4.5-point favorite with an over/under of 149.5. The knockout phase of the UEFA Champions League continues with the four remaining matches in the second leg of the round of 16. Barcelona is at home against Newcastle United at 1:45 p.m. ET as a -1.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 3.5. Three more UCL matches begin at 4:00 p.m. ET. Bayern Munich hosts Atalanta on the CBS Sports Network as a -1.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 3.5. Liverpool plays at home against Galatasaray as a -1.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 3.5. Atletico Madrid is on the road to battle Tottenham as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with an over/under of 2.5. All four matches are broadcast on Paramount+. 

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ASA NCAA South Region Projections

by ASA, Inc.

Tuesday, Mar 17, 2026

ASA SOUTH REGION PROJECTIONS ASA PLAY ILLINOIS +325 to win the South Region This is the toughest region in our opinion.  All team in the South Region are plus money and the top 3 seeds all sit in the top 7 of KenPom’s overall rankings.  We feel it’s toss up between 1-see Florida, 2-seed Houston, and 3-seed Illinois, and are all within 2 points of each other on a neutral court.  Because of that, let’s grab the best odds and the Illini at +325.  Half of the Illinois losses (4 of 8) have come in OT all vs solid NCAA teams Michigan St, UCLA, and Wisconsin (twice).  They fit the KenPom criteria (explained above) ranking 2nd in the nation in offensive efficiency and 28th defensively.  They had some injuries during the season with starting PG Boswell and starting forward Stojakovic missing some games.  Both are back and this team is rested and healthy having played only 1 game since March 8th entering this tournament.  The Illini have some high level numbers in a number of key metrics including 3rd nationally in offensive rebounding, 10th in offensive turnover rate, and they send opponents to the FT line at the lowest rate in the entire country.  This is the tallest team in the country with two 7 footers and two 6’9 plus players that can all play inside and out.  They also have a top 10 NBA draft pick in Keaton Wagler, who KenPom rates as the 7th best player in the country.  The downside is they may have to get through both Houston and Florida to get out of this Region but they are definitely capable.   ASA LONGERSHOT – VANDERBILT +1000 to win the South Region Vandy fits the KenPom mold ranking 7th in offensive efficiency and 31st defensive and we’re getting them at 10 to 1 odds.  They have the 2nd most Quad 1 wins in the SEC (10) behind only 1-seed Florida and they are playing very well right now.  The Commodores in the last 2 weeks beat Tennessee twice and crushed Florida by 17 points.  They lost vs Arkansas in the SEC Championship game when the Razors simply got red hot making 15 triples hitting a ridiculous 63% from beyond the arc.  They have 2 high level guards, Duke Miles and Tyler Tanner, who combined to average 36 PPG and both shoot very well from deep.  This team  turns the ball over only 13% of the time (11th best nationally) and make almost 80% of the FT’s.  If they get by McNeese they’d most likely face a 4-seed Nebraska team that isn’t playing well and in fact, Vandy would be favored in that game.         BONUS WAGER – Vanderbilt -130 to make the Sweet 16 See above analysis.  They’d have to get through McNeese who thrives on creating turnovers and with Vandy’s great back court, they rarely turn the ball over.  The Commodores should control the glass and they are the much better shooting team.  Then it’s most likely Nebraska who is just 6-6 their last 12 games with 5 of those wins coming vs non NCAA tourney teams.  

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, NCAAB and EPL Previews and Odds - 03/17/2026

by Big Al Staff

Tuesday, Mar 17, 2026

The Tuesday sports card features NBA, NHL, NCAAB, and EPL action. The National Basketball League has eight games on its docket. Three NBA games tip off at 7:10 p.m. ET. The Detroit Pistons travel to Washington to play the Wizards as a 17.5-point road favorite with the total set at 233.5 (all odds from DraftKings). The Charlotte Hornets host the Miami Heat as a 3.5-point favorite with an over/under of 233.5. The Oklahoma City Thunder play in Orlando against the Magic as a 9.5-point road favorite with a total of 220.5. The New York Knicks play at home against the Indiana Pacers at 7:40 p.m. ET as a 16.5-point favorite with an over/under of 223.5. Two more NBA games start at 8:10 p.m. ET. The Cleveland Cavaliers are on the road against the Milwaukee Bucks on NBC/Peacock as a 9.5-point road favorite with a total of 229.5. The Minnesota Timberwolves are home to take on the Phoenix Suns as a 4.5-point favorite with an over/under of 221.5. Two games conclude the NBA card at 10:10 p.m. ET. The Denver Nuggets host the Philadelphia 76ers on NBC/Peacock as a 15.5-point favorite with a total of 234.5. The San Antonio Spurs visit Sacramento to face the Kings as a 13.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 233.5. The National Hockey League has nine games on its slate. Three NHL games drop the puck at 7:07 p.m. ET. The Montreal Canadiens play at home against the Boston Bruins as a -170 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The New York Islanders play in Toronto against the Maple Leafs as a -142 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Carolina Hurricanes are on the road against the Columbus Blue Jackets as a -135 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The Minnesota Wild travel to Chicago to challenge the Blackhawks on TNT at 7:37 p.m. ET as a -175 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Winnipeg Jets are home to battle the Nashville Predators at 8:07 p.m. ET as a -135 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Edmonton Oilers host the San Jose Sharks at 9:07 p.m. ET as a -175 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5.Three games complete the NHL card at 10:07 p.m. ET. The Tampa Bay Lightning play in Seattle against the Kraken on TNT as a -185 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The Vegas Golden Knights play at home against the Buffalo Sabres as a -125 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Florida Panthers are on the road against the Vancouver Canucks as a -148 money-line road favorite with a total of 5.5. The NCAAB college basketball schedule tips off at 6:00 p.m. ET with 10 games involving Division I opponents. Five of these games are on major national television. George Mason is home against Liberty in the first round of the NIT on ESPN2 at 6:00 p.m. ET as a 5.5-point favorite with an over/under of 144.5. UMBC takes on Howard in the First Four of the NCAA tournament at the University of Dayton Arena in Dayton, Ohio, on truTV at 6:40 p.m. ET as a 1.5-point favorite with a total of 141.5. Oklahoma State hosts Davidson in the first round of the NIT on ESPN2 at 8:00 p.m. ET as an 8.5-point favorite with an over/under of 156.5. North Carolina State faces Texas in the First Four of the NCAA tournament in Dayton on truTV at 9:15 p.m. ET as a 1.5-point favorite with a total of 158.5. Auburn plays at home against South Alabama in the first round of the NCAA tournament on ESPN2 at 10:00 p.m. ET as a 17.5-point favorite with a total of 154.5. The knockout phase of the UEFA Champions League continues with the first four matches in the second leg of the round of 16. Sporting Lisbon is at home against Bodo/Glimt on the CBS Sports Network at 1:45 p.m. ET as a -1.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 3.5. Three more UCL matches begin at 4:00 p.m. ET. Arsenal hosts Bayer Leverkusen as a -1.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5. Chelsea plays at home against Paris Saint-Germain as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 3.5. Manchester City is home to challenge Real Madrid as a -1.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 3.5. All four matches are broadcast on Paramount+. 

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The Valspar Championship Preview and Picks

by Matt Fargo

Monday, Mar 16, 2026

THE PLAYERS Championship is in the books and while we had two players in contention on Sunday, we had to settle for just a T8 with Sepp Straka while Viktor Hovland posted his worst round of the week to fall out of the money. Cameron Young had a memorable birdie on 17 while Matt Fitzpatrick bogeyed 18 and Young claimed his second PGA Tour win, the first coming at the Wyndham Championship last summer after a record tying seven runner-ups before the first victory. The PGA Tour remains in Florida for the fourth and final leg as it heads to Palm Harbor for the Valspar Championship at Innisbrook Resort’s Copperhead Course. This will be the 25th year of the Valspar Championship that debuted in 2000 at Copperhead which is a par 71 that stretches 7,352 yards and like last week, it demands elite ball striking. It features very narrow fairways with well placed bunkers and punishing rough in key areas. Overall, there are 74 bunkers while nine holes have water in play so positioning is vital and once on the greens, players will again be putting on TifEagle Bermudagrass with Poa Trivialis overseed that will hit an average of 12 on the Stimpmeter. The three closing holes at Copperhead are among the toughest three-hole stretches on tour and the Snake Pit moniker is apropos as going even par on 16, 17 and 18 is rare. Viktor Hovland is the defending Valspar Championship winner as he won by one shot over Justin Thomas and Hovland was an unexpected champion at 50/1 as he entered in horrible form, missing the cut in his three previous starts and not having a top ten since August 2024. He was the third straight longshot with Peter Molinati at 300/1 and Taylor Moore at 50/1 winning the previous two years. Current form has meant little as of all winners since 2013, only Sam Burns in 2021 came in with a top ten in their previous start. Only four players have won here two times, most recently Sam Burns in 2021 and 2022 and he joined Paul Casey as the only players to defend after Casey did it in 2018 and 2019. As mentioned, this is another positional course with narrow, tree-lined fairways which tends to yield below average driving accuracy and driving distance rankings evidenced by three of the last eight winners losing strokes off the tee. It once again makes Strokes Gained: Approach the top key stat this week along with Strokes Gained: Off-The-Tee and Strokes Gained: Around The Green right in the mix so it is nearly a duplicate of TPC Sawgrass in regard to what it takes to succeed. With five par threes that average 221 yards, Par 3s Gained: 200-225 Yards is also a key metric as to not lose ground on those holes. The Copperhead Course has ranked in the top ten in difficulty each of the last three years. Despite coming off THE PLAYERS and The Arnold Palmer Invitational the week before, the field is fairly strong which is usually the case here and nine of the 25 players in the OWGR are teeing it up this week but only Xander Schauffele is ranked in the top ten at No. 7. The top favorites at the Valspar Championship are Schauffele +1050, Matt Fitzpatrick +1475, Viktor Hovland +1900, Akshay Bhatia +1950, Patrick Cantlay +2200, Justin Thomas and Jacob Bridgeman +2250 and Jordan Spieth +2500. Backing the recent longshot success, betting the top of the board has not been the key to winning as over the last 10 years, 12/1 Jordan Spieth in 2015 is the only winner with closing odds of shorter than 20/1.The weather messed around on Thursday last week with a short delay and while the forecast looks dry this week, wind looks to play a role which is typically the case. Thursday looks to have the strongest gusts at around 20 mph and with no rain, we will see a firm and fast track. Top three key categories this week:Strokes Gained: ApproachStrokes Gained: Off-The-TeeStrokes Gained: Around The GreenEach bet is Win/Top Five/Top Ten. The typical recommendation is 50%/25%/25%  with odds, payouts and results based on a $1000 unit (easy round number for bookkeeping) on each of the following players. The payouts are listed right below the odds which are all from DraftKings:Jordan SpiethOdds: Win 2,500 ~ Top Five 490 ~ Top Ten 245Payout: Win 1,250.00 ~ Top Five 122.50 ~ Top Ten 61.25Spieth has strong history at the Valspar Championship, including a victory in 2015, following that up with a T18, a T3 in 2023 while posting a T28 last year. His elite short game and creativity suit Copperhead’s tight layout and while he was just T32 last week, we reiterate current form matters little and he has never had much success at Sawgrass anyway, but he still finished No. 8 in Strokes Gained: Approach and No. 16 in Strokes Gained: Around The Green. His putting let him down up until Sunday after coming in having gained strokes on the greens in three straight starts. He has missed only one cut this year where he was awful across the board at the WM Phoenix Open. Ryo HisatsuneOdds: Win 4,200 ~ Top Five 730 ~ Top Ten 345Payout: Win 2,100.00 ~ Top Five 182.50 ~ Top Ten 86.25Hisatsune finished T4 here last year which shows strong comfort on the challenging Copperhead Course. He has also displayed solid recent form, which is not huge but it is nice to have in the back pocket including a T13 finish at THE PLAYERS Championship and strong tee-to-green numbers. His accurate ball-striking suits Copperhead’s narrow fairways and doglegs and after missing the cut at the Sony Open in Hawaii, he posted three straight top ten finishes including a runner-up at the Farmers Insurance Open. He has gained strokes off the tee in every event while gaining strokes in approach and around the green in seven of eight starts. If he can roll it, look out.Austin SmothermanOdds: Win 5,600 ~ Top Five 930 ~ Top Ten 440Payout: Win 2,800.00 ~ Top Five 232.25 ~ Top Ten 110.00Smotherman is ranked No. 1 on the PGA Tour in Strokes Gained: Approach and he has parlayed that into a T2, a T8 and a T13 in seven starts. His other four starts have resulted in a withdrawal and three missed cuts which was due to losing strokes putting and around the green. He is ranked No. 118 in Strokes Gained: Around The Green which is not ideal but taking a look at his last finish start here where he finished T36, ironically, he was lights out in both categories and it was his approach game that let him down where he was -0.91. He is also ranked No. 28 on tour in Strokes Gained: Off-The-Tee so those recent Copperhead short game memories can get him on top. Taylor MooreOdds: Win 7,600 ~ Top Five 1,175 ~ Top Ten 540Payout: Win 3,800.00 ~ Top Five 293.75 ~ Top Ten 138.50Moore comes in ranked No. 22 in Strokes Gained: Off-The-Tee and No. 21 in Strokes Gained: Around The Green so he has been elite in two of the top three categories as his approach game has let him down. This has led to four finishes of T44, T49, T50 and T56 so it has not been ideal but in the one start at the Cognizant Classic where he gained strokes in approach, he finished T2. He missed the cut here last year which came after a T12 in 2024 where his approach game was spot on which followed a victory here in 2023 where he led the field off the tee. He is close to putting it all together and coming back to a place that he conquered can ultimately do that. Results through THE PLAYERS Championship (6 Tournaments):Win: -12,500.00Top Five: +275.00Top Ten: +3,287.50

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, and EPL Previews and Odds - 03/16/26

by Big Al Staff

Monday, Mar 16, 2026

The Monday sports card features NBA, NHL, and EPL action. The National Basketball League has eight games on its docket. Two NBA games tip off at 7:10 p.m. ET. The Golden State Warriors travel to Washington to play the Wizards as a 7.5-point road favorite with the total set at 231.5 (all odds from DraftKings). The Atlanta Hawks host the Orlando Magic on Peacock as a 2.5-point favorite with an over/under of 230.5. Two NBA games tip off at 7:40 p.m. ET. The Boston Celtics play at home against the Phoenix Suns as an 8.5-point favorite with a total of 213.5. The Portland Trail Blazers play in Brooklyn against the Nets as a 9.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 222.5. Two NBA games start at 8:10 p.m. ET. The Chicago Bulls are home to play the Memphis Grizzlies as a 6.5-point favorite with a total of 242.5. The New Orleans Pelicans host the Dallas Mavericks as a 7.5-point favorite with an over/under of 237.5. The Houston Rockets play at home against the Los Angeles Lakers on Peacock at 9:40 p.m. ET as a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 226.5. The San Antonio Spurs are on the road against the Los Angeles Clippers on Peacock at 10:10 p.m. ET as a 9.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 228.5. The National Hockey League has five games on its slate. Three NHL games drop the puck at 7:07 p.m. ET. The Detroit Red Wings are at home against the Calgary Flames as a -180 money-line favorite as a -180 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Los Angeles Kings visit the New York Rangers as a -120 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 5.5.The New Jersey Devils host the Boston Bruins on ESPN. The Devils ended a two-game losing streak with a 6-4 victory against the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday. The Bruins won for the second time in their last three games with a 3-2 victory at Washington in a shootout on Saturday. New Jersey is a -125 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Dallas Stars play at home against the Utah Mammoth at 8:07 p.m. ET as a -162 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Colorado Avalanche are home against the Pittsburgh Penguins on ESPN at 9:37 p.m. ET. The Avalanche lost for the second time in the last three games in a 3-1 loss at Winnipeg on Saturday. The Penguins ended a two-game losing streak with a 4-3 victory at Utah on Saturday. Colorado is a -230 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. Matchweek 30 in the English Premier League concludes with one match. Brentford hosts Wolverhampton on the USA Network at 4:00 p.m. ET. Brentford comes off a 0-0 draw at Bournemouth in their previous match in the English Premier League on March 3rd. Wolverhampton beat upset Liverpool at home by a 2-1 score on March 3rd. Brentford is a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. 

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Be Careful Betting These 5 NFL Teams Next Year!

by Jazz Ray

Sunday, Mar 15, 2026

Playoff turnover is a staple in the Any Given Sunday league, and here are five teams which made it to the tournament this past season and could be on the outside looking in come next January. Odds of making it in are in parenthesis.1. CAROLINA PANTHERS (+280)The Panthers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Atlanta Falcons all finished with 8-9 records in the woeful NFC South last season. One of them had to make the playoffs, and Carolina took advantage of two early-season wins over the then-disorganized Falcons plus Tampa Bay’s late-season collapse to grab the one spot. The Panthers played a decent wild card round game against the Rams before bowing out of the post-season. Those conditions likely won’t be repeated this season as both the Buccaneers and Falcons figure to be much improved. Books don’t foresee another playoff game for the Panthers, whose rebuild continues.2. HOUSTON TEXANS (-150)You have to wonder what’s going through the minds of the suits in the front office after C.J. Stroud spit the bit against the Patriots in the playoffs last January, throwing four interceptions in the first half alone which led to a playoff exit. Granted, Houston had gotten by Pittsburgh in the first round, but Stroud had two fumbles and an interception – which Houston survived due to its superb defense. All of which has led to questions as to whether Stroud will continue to be The Guy for this franchise. No one is expecting Jacksonville to take a step back after winning the AFC South last year, so there could be a lot of heat on the Texans.3. CHICAGO BEARS (+105)Credit Caleb Williams for finally figuring things out and providing the spark which led to several late game comeback victories and a playoff spot in 2025. But can they really continue to walk on the edge of the cliff before falling over? There figures to be some reversion to the mean this coming season. Chicago will also have to do some repair work along the offensive line after the surprising decision to retire by All-Pro center Drew Dalmon. The Bears don’t have a lot of money to spend in free agency, so they’ll look the plug holes during the draft. Defensive line is an area of need.4. PITTSBURGH STEELERS (+155)Mike McCarthy replaces Mike Tomlin on the sidelines, and McCarthy immediately inherits the Aaron Rodgers Will He Return or Not? scene. Even if he does return, Rodgers will turn 43 before the playoffs begin this coming season, and only one quarterback in NFL history (Tom Brady) has started and won a playoff older than Rodgers will be. At some point the carriage turns into a pumpkin. Can Rodgers even survive another 17-game season without suffering a major injury? One more thing – Baltimore figures to be a lot better this year, making life more difficult for the Steelers.5. GREEN BAY PACKERS (-205)Green Bay has been hit hard by the off-season. Tackle Rasheed Walker left for the Panthers, wideout Romeo Doubs signed with New England, backup QB is now with Miami, defensive end Kingsley Enegbare signed with the Jets and several other key pieces are gone. No one knows when linebacker Micah Parsons will get on the field – he suffered an ACL tear in Week 15. He’s a huge part of the Green Bay defense. With the talented Detroit Lions eager to rebound after an off-season, the Packers will probably need to improve a bit over last year’s 9-7-1 to return to the post-season.

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2026 MLB Futures Wager: Los Angeles Dodgers to Win the World Series

by Al McMordie

Sunday, Mar 15, 2026

For the 2026 MLB season, our World Series futures selection is the same as our pick last season:  the Los Angeles Dodgers.  Currently, DraftKings has the odds at +230 (last year, our odds were +260).  So, what do you get the team that has everything?  Well if it's Major League Baseball we're talking about (which doesn't have a restrictive salary cap), how about filling two of the only holes the Dodgers had by signing the best closer on the market and the best outfielder as well.  Reliever Edwin Diaz (formerly of the Mets) and OF Kyle Tucker (Cubs) are heading to the City of Angels, while L.A. didn't lose any of its "front-line" players (although Michael Conforto, Kirby Yates, Michael Kopech, and a couple of others have moved on).  Yes, in professional baseball, the rich get richer and there's really nothing anyone can do about that (at least not until there's a new CBA -- which is supposed to be after this season).  So as they say, "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em" and we're happy to heed that advice just like we did last season when we had the Dodgers to win it all.     Diaz is going to be key as the Dodgers have been completely dominant the past several seasons without a true lights-out closer, and now it appears they have that in the 32-year-old from Puerto Rico who signed a three-year, $60 Million contract to wear Dodger blue.  Tucker is an important piece as well.  For as good as the Dodgers' offense has been, their outfield has been a bit of a revolving cast the last few years, and especially more-so now that Mookie Betts is a full-time shortstop.  Tucker is a rare, five-tool talent whose services were coveted by just about every big-market team in the National League.  So landing him -- even though it's only for two years right now -- not only ensures he'll be in the Dodgers' lineup every day, but also that they won't have to see him out there potentially playing for one of their rivals.  And who can forget Yoshinobu Yamamoto's incredible performance in the post-season last Fall -- a performance that should set him up to be every bit the ace that the Dodgers were hoping for now that future Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw has retired.  And then there's Shohei Ohtani...'nuff said.   There's no reason to think that the Dodgers won't be able to do it again, and about two dozen reasons to think that they will.  Take the Los Angeles Dodgers to win the 2026 MLB World Series at +230 odds (DraftKings).Good luck, as always,Al McMordie.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, NCAAB and EPL Previews and Odds - 03/15/26

by Big Al Staff

Sunday, Mar 15, 2026

The Sunday sports card features NBA, NHL, NCAAB, and EPL action. The National Basketball League has seven games on its docket. The Oklahoma City Thunder hosts the Minnesota Timberwolves on ABC at 1:10 p.m. ET as a 9.5-point favorite with the total set at 225.5 (all odds from DraftKings). Three more NBA games tip off at 3:40 p.m. ET. The Milwaukee Bucks play at home against the Indiana Pacers as a 7.5-point favorite with an over/under of 229.5. The Cleveland Cavaliers are home against the Dallas Mavericks as a 17.5-point favorite with a total of 237.5. The Detroit Pistons travel to Toronto to play the Raptors as a 3.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 220.5. The Portland Trail Blazers play in Philadelphia against the 76ers as a 7.5-point road favorite with a total of 228.5. The New York Knicks host the Golden State Warriors on NBC at 8:10 p.m. ET as a 13.5-point favorite with an over/under of 216.5. The Sacramento Kings play at home against the Utah Jazz at 10:10 p.m. ET as a 1.5-point favorite with a total of 233.5. The National Hockey League has six games on its slate. The Winnipeg Jets are home to take on the St. Louis Blues at 3:07 p.m. ET as a -125 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Ottawa Senators host the San Jose Sharks at 5:07 p.m. ET as a -218 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Montreal Canadiens play at home against the Anaheim Ducks at 7:07 p.m. ET as a -155 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Minnesota Wild are home against the Toronto Maple Leafs on TNT as a -250 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. Two games conclude the NHL card at 8:07 p.m. ET. The Edmonton Oilers host the Nashville Predators as a -185 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Florida Panthers play in Seattle against the Kraken as a -135 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5.   The NCAAB college basketball schedule tips off at noon ET with five remaining conference tournament championship games. Yale plays Pennsylvania in the Ivy League tournament championship game on ESPN2 as a 9.5-point favorite with an over/under of 142.5. Two more NCAAB games tip off at 1:00 p.m. ET. VCU takes on Dayton in the championship game of the Atlantic 10 tournament on CBS as a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 140.5. Vanderbilt faces Arkansas in the SEC tournament championship game on ESPN as a 2.5-point favorite with an over/under of 165.5. South Florida battles Wichita State in the championship game of the American Conference tournament on ESPN at 3:15 p.m. ET as a 5.5-point favorite with a total of 150.5. Michigan challenges Purdue in the Big Ten tournament championship game on CBS at 3:30 p.m. ET as a 5.5-point favorite with an over/under of 150.5.Matchweek 30 in the English Premier League continues with four matches. Three EPL matches begin at 10:00 a.m. ET. Crystal Palace plays at home against Leeds United as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5. Manchester United is at home against Aston Villa on the USA Network as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Nottingham Forest hosts Fulham as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5. Liverpool hosts Tottenham at 12:30 p.m. ET as a -1.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 3.5. 

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2026 MLB: Cy Young Award Contenders

by Sean Murphy

Saturday, Mar 14, 2026

With the 2026 MLB season approaching, Cy Young Award futures markets are settling out, giving bettors and fans an early look at which pitchers are expected to contend for the game’s most prestigious pitching award. With odds courtesy of BetMGM, here's a look at some of the top contenders from each league. American LeagueTarik Skubal – Detroit Tigers (+300) Skubal enters the season as the favorite to win the American League Cy Young Award after capturing the honor in both 2024 and 2025. He got in one start at the World Baseball Classic before returning to the Tigers for the remainder of Spring Training, emphasizing his commitment to preparation for the upcoming season. The Tigers ace has emerged as one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball, combining elite strikeout ability with exceptional control. His 2025 campaign included a 2.21 ERA and 241 strikeouts in 31 starts, cementing his place atop the AL pitching hierarchy.  With back-to-back Cy Young Awards already on his résumé, Skubal will be attempting to join an exclusive group of pitchers who have won the award three times.Garrett Crochet – Boston Red Sox (+400) Crochet is expected to be Skubal’s biggest challenger entering the season. After finishing as the runner-up in last year’s voting, the Red Sox left-hander sits just behind the favorite on the odds board.  Crochet’s electric stuff and ability to miss bats make him one of the most dangerous starters in the league. If he builds on last year’s standout performance, and perhaps if the Red Sox turn out to be a contender, he could easily flip the script and claim the award in 2026.Jacob deGrom – Texas Rangers (+1000) Few pitchers possess the upside of deGrom when healthy. The two-time Cy Young winner remains one of the most dominant arms in baseball when he takes the mound, even in the latter stages of his career.  Despite injury concerns in recent seasons, the Rangers ace still sits near the top tier of contenders at +1300, showing how much respect the betting market has for his ability to dominate lineups.Cole Ragans – Kansas City Royals (+1100) Ragans has quickly developed into one of the most exciting young starters in the American League. His rising strikeout numbers and improving command have made him a legitimate Cy Young dark horse on an up-and-coming Royals team. If he continues to progress as anticipated, Ragans could emerge as one of the biggest threats to the top two favorites.National League Paul Skenes – Pittsburgh Pirates (+225) Skenes enters the 2026 season as the clear favorite to repeat as National League Cy Young winner. The Pirates phenom followed his Rookie of the Year campaign with a dominant 2025 season, posting a 1.97 ERA with 216 strikeouts.  Still early in his career and having not been pushed to the limit by a non-contending Buccos team, Skenes has already established himself as arguably the best pitcher in baseball and the betting market reflects that dominance.Yoshinobu Yamamoto – Los Angeles Dodgers (+500) Yamamoto has quickly become one of the most feared pitchers in the National League. The Dodgers star combines elite command with a deep pitch arsenal that consistently keeps hitters off balance. Helping his cause is the fact that he pitches for the best team in baseball. With the Dodgers expected to contend for a World Series title once again, Yamamoto should have plenty of opportunities to build a Cy Young résumé this season.Cristopher Sánchez – Philadelphia Phillies (+700) Sánchez finished as the runner-up in last year’s Cy Young voting and enters 2026 with the third-best odds on the board.  With little fanfare, the Phillies left-hander has developed into a reliable frontline starter capable of dominating opposing lineups. If he replicates last season’s performance, he could easily challenge Skenes for the award.Logan Webb – San Francisco Giants (+2000) Webb continues to be one of the most consistent pitchers in the National League. Known for his ability to generate weak contact and work deep into games, the Giants ace remains a steady presence in the Cy Young conversation. Off a strong showing at the World Baseball Classic and priced at +1200, Webb represents one of the more intriguing value options among the top contenders, currently priced higher than both Chris Sale and Zack Wheeler. Final thoughts The early 2026 Cy Young futures market suggests the race could once again be defined by dominant young arms but with veterans like deGrom and Webb capable of contending as well.As always, injuries, breakout seasons, and team performance will ultimately influence the race, but that's a quick look at some of the pitchers that currently sit at or near the top of the board as the most likely Cy Young winners heading into the 2026 MLB season.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, NCAAB and EPL Previews and Odds - 03/14/26

by Big Al Staff

Saturday, Mar 14, 2026

The Saturday sports card features NBA, NHL, NCAAB, and EPL action. The National Basketball League has seven games on its docket. The Philadelphia 76ers host the Brooklyn Nets at 1:10 p.m. ET as an 8.5-point favorite with the total set at 216.5 (all odds from DraftKings). The Atlanta Hawks play at home against the Milwaukee Bucks at 3:10 p.m. ET as a 7.5-point favorite with an over/under of 231.5. The San Antonio Spurs are home against the Charlotte Hornets on Amazon Prime Video at 3:40 p.m. ET as a 5.5-point favorite with a total of 229.5. The Boston Celtics host the Washington Wizards at 6:10 p.m. ET as a 19.5-point favorite with an over/under of 229.5. The Miami Heat play at home against the Orlando Magic at 8:10 p.m. ET as a 3.5-point favorite with a total of 235.5. The Denver Nuggets travel to Los Angeles to play the Lakers on ABC at 8:40 p.m. ET as a 2.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 244.5. The Los Angeles Lakers are home to take on the Sacramento Kings on ESPN at 10:40 p.m. ET as a 13.5-point favorite with a total of 229.5. The National Hockey League has 14 games on its slate. The Ottawa Senators host the Anaheim Ducks at 1:07 p.m. ET as a -162 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Washington Capitals play at home against the Boston Bruins on ABC at 3:07 p.m. ET as a -135 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Colorado Avalanche play in Winnipeg against the Jets at 4:07 p.m. ET as a -185 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Minnesota Wild are home to face the New York Rangers at 6:07 p.m. ET as a -230 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. Five NHL games drop the puck at 7:07 p.m. ET. The Montreal Canadiens host the San Jose Sharks as a -185 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The New York Islanders play at home against the Calgary Flames as a -135 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Tampa Bay Lightning are home playing the Carolina Hurricanes as a -135 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The New Jersey Devils host the Los Angeles Kings as a -148 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Buffalo Sabres play at home against the Toronto Maple Leafs as a -230 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Columbus Blue Jackets are on the road to challenge the Philadelphia Flyers at 7:37 p.m. ET as a -125 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The Dallas Stars are home to battle the Detroit Red Wings at 8:07 p.m. ET as a -170 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Utah Mammoth hosts the Pittsburgh Penguins at 9:07 p.m. ET as a -148 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. Two more games conclude the NHL card at 10:07 p.m. ET. The Vegas Golden Knights play at home against the Chicago Blackhawks as a -238 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Seattle Kraken visit the Vancouver Canucks as a -130 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5.The NCAAB college basketball schedule tips off at 11:00 a.m. ET with 20 games involving Division I opponents. Six of these games are on major national television, starting with two NCAAB games tipping off at 1:00 p.m. ET. Florida takes on Vanderbilt in the semifinals of the SEC tournament on ESPN as an 8.5-point favorite with an over/under of 160.5. Michigan plays Wisconsin in the semifinals of the Big Ten tournament on CBS as a 12.5-point favorite with a total of 160.5.Purdue faces UCLA in the semifinals of the Big Ten tournament on CBS at 3:30 p.m. ET as an 8.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 146.5. Arizona battles Houston in the championship game of the Big 12 tournament on ESPN at 6:00 p.m. ET as a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 137.5. UConn challenges St. John’s in the championship game of the Big East tournament on Fox at 6:30 p.m. ET as a 2.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 139.5. Duke faces Virginia in the championship game of the ACC tournament on ESPN at 8:30 p.m. ET as an 8.5-point favorite with a total of 136.5. Matchweek 30 in the English Premier League begins with five matches. Two EPL matches start at 9:00 a.m. ET. Bournemouth plays at Burnley as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Brighton and Hove Albion is on the road against Sunderland on the USA Network as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with a total of 2.5. Two more EPL matches start at 1:30 p.m. ET. Arsenal is at home against Everton on the USA Network as a -1.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Chelsea hosts Newcastle United as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 3.5. Manchester City travels to West Ham United at 4:00 p.m. ET as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with an over/under of 2.5. 

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, and NCAAB Previews and Odds - 03/13/26

by Big Al Staff

Friday, Mar 13, 2026

The Friday sports card features NBA, NHL, and NCAAB action. The National Basketball League has eight games on its docket. Four NBA games tip off at 7:40 p.m. ET. The Detroit Pistons host the Memphis Grizzlies as a 15.5-point favorite with the total set at 232.5 (all odds from DraftKings). The Cleveland Cavaliers travel to Dallas to face the Mavericks on Amazon Prime Video as a 12.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 236.5. The Toronto Raptors play at home against the Phoenix Suns as a 3.5-point favorite with a total of 218.5. The New York Knicks play in Indiana against the Pacers as an 11.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 227.5. The Houston Rockets are home to take on the New Orleans Pelicans at 8:10 p.m. ET as a 6.5-point favorite with a total of 228.5. Two more NBA games start at 10:10 p.m. ET. The Portland Trail Blazers host the Utah Jazz as a 14.5-point favorite with an over/under of 236.5. The Minnesota Timberwolves are on the road against the Golden State Warriors on Amazon Prime Video as a 5.5-point road favorite with a total of 225.5. The Los Angeles Clippers play at home against the Chicago Bulls at 10:40 p.m. ET as a 12.5-point favorite with an over/under of 234.5. The National Hockey League has two games on its slate. The New York Islanders are home to take on the Los Angeles Kings at 7:07 p.m. ET as a -148 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Edmonton Oilers visit St. Louis to face the Blues at 8:07 p.m. ET as a -155 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The NCAAB college basketball schedule tips off at 1:00 p.m. ET with 31 games involving Division I opponents. Nine of these games are on major national television. Two NCAAB games on major national television tip off at 11:30 a.m. ET. UAB challenges Charlotte in the semifinals of the Conference USA tournament on ESPN2 at 1:00 p.m. ET as a 4.5-point favorite with a total of 145.5. Florida battles Kentucky in the quarterfinals of the SEC tournament on ESPN as a 10.5-point favorite with an over/under of 159.5. Tulsa plays North Texas in the quarterfinals of the American Conference tournament on ESPN2 at 3:00 p.m. ET as a 7.5-point favorite with a total of 142.5. Vanderbilt faces Tennessee in the quarterfinals of the SEC tournament on ESPN at 3:30 p.m. ET as a 1.5-point favorite with an over/under of 147.5. St. John’s takes on Seton Hall in the semifinals of the Big East tournament on Fox at 5:30 p.m. ET as a 7.5-point favorite with a total of 133.5. Two NCAAB games on major national television begin at 7:00 p.m. ET. Virginia challenges Miami (FL) in the semifinals of the ACC tournament on ESPN2 as a 3.5-point favorite with an over/under of 143.5. Arizona battles Iowa State in the semifinals of the Big 12 tournament on ESPN as a 4.5-point favorite with a total of 143.5. Two more NCAAB games on major national television start at 9:30 p.m. ET. Houston plays Kansas on ESPN as a 5.5-point favorite with an over/under of 134.5. Duke faces Clemson on ESPN2 as an 11.5-point favorite with a total of 133.5. 

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL and NCAAB Previews and Odds - 03/12/26

by Big Al Staff

Thursday, Mar 12, 2026

The Thursday sports card features NBA, NHL, and NCAAB action. The National Basketball League has nine games on its docket. Three NBA games tip off at 7:10 p.m. ET. The Phoenix Suns travel to Indiana to play the Pacers as a 9.5-point road favorite with the total set at 225.5 (all odds from DraftKings). The Orlando Magic host the Washington Wizards as a 15.5-point favorite with an over/under of 231.5. The Detroit Pistons play at home against the Philadelphia 76ers on Amazon Prime Video as a 14.5-point favorite with a total of 221.5. Two NBA games tip off at 7:40 p.m. ET. The Miami Heat are home against the Milwaukee Bucks as a 5.5-point favorite with an over/under of 230.5. The Atlanta Hawks host the Brooklyn Nets as a 14.5-point favorite with a total of 226.5. The Dallas Mavericks play in Memphis against the Grizzlies at 8:10 p.m. ET as a 4.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 236.5. The San Antonio Spurs play at home against the Denver Nuggets at 9:10 p.m. ET as a 4.5-point favorite with a total of 236.5. The Oklahoma City Thunder are home against the Boston Celtics on Amazon Prime Video at 9:40 p.m. ET as a 6.5-point favorite with an over/under of 215.5. The Los Angeles Lakers host the Chicago Bulls at 10:40 p.m. ET as an 11.5-point favorite with a total of 234.5. The National Hockey League has 14 games on its slate. Seven NHL games drop the puck at 7:07 p.m. ET. The Florida Panthers play at home against the Columbus Blue Jackets as a -115 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Tampa Bay Lightning are home against the Detroit Red Wings as a -205 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Boston Bruins host the San Jose Sharks as a -170 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Buffalo Sabres play at home against the Washington Capitals as a -205 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Anaheim Ducks play in Toronto against the Maple Leafs, with both teams priced as -110 money-line favorites with an over/under of 6.5. The New Jersey Devils are home against the Calgary Flames as a -185 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Carolina Hurricanes host the St. Louis Blues as a -290 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. Three NHL games begin at 8:07 p.m. ET. The Winnipeg Jets play at home against the New York Rangers as a -162 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Minnesota Wild are at home against the Philadelphia Flyers as a -250 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Dallas Stars host the Edmonton Oilers as a -130 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Utah Mammoth plays at home against the Chicago Blackhawks at 9:07 p.m. ET as a -230 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. Three more games conclude the NHL card at 10:07 p.m. ET. The Nashville Predators are on the road against the Vancouver Canucks as a -155 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The Colorado Avalanche visits Seattle to play the Kraken as a -198 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Vegas Golden Knights are at home against the Pittsburgh Penguins as a -155 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The NCAAB college basketball schedule tips off at 11:00 a.m. ET with 38 games involving Division I opponents. Eight of these games are on major national television. Virginia takes on North Carolina State in the quarterfinals of the ACC tournament on ESPN2 at noon ET as a 5.5-point favorite with an over/under of 148.5. Iowa State battles Texas Tech in the quarterfinals of the Big 12 tournament on ESPN at 12:30 p.m. ET as a 5.5-point favorite with a total of 143.5. Louisville takes on Miami (FL) in the quarterfinals of the ACC tournament on ESPN2 at 2:30 p.m. ET as a 1.5-point favorite with an over/under of 154.5. Arizona battles Central Florida in the quarterfinals of the Big 12 tournament on ESPN at 3:00 p.m. ET as a 16.5-point favorite with a total of 161.5. Two NCAAB games on major national television at 7:00 p.m. ET. Duke faces Florida State in the quarterfinals of the ACC tournament on ESPN as a 17.5-point favorite with an over/under of 151.5. Houston plays BYU in the quarterfinals of the Big 12 tournament on ESPN2 as an 8.5-point favorite with a total of 147.5. Two NCAAB games are on major national television at 9:30 p.m. ET. North Carolina challenges Clemson in the quarterfinals of the ACC tournament as a 1.5-point favorite with an over/under of 140.5. Kansas takes on TCU in the quarterfinals of the Big 12 tournament on ESPN2 as a 5.5-point favorite with a total of 141.5.   

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