Articles

Super Bowl Props (You Should Not Bet)

by Wayne Root

Tuesday, Feb 06, 2024

The Super Bowl LVIII takes place Sunday, Feb. 11 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.  As of Friday afternoon, the Chiefs are getting 71% of the betting tickets on the spread via Action Network. Over the last 20 years of Super Bowls, the record for percent of betting tickets for a team is 68% by the 2018-19 Patriots (beat Rams 13-3) and 2013-14 Broncos (lost to Seahawks 43-8). ———————The Singing of the National Anthem +102 Sixteen consecutive musicians have taken at least 91 seconds to perform the national anthem at the Super Bowl. Reba McEntire does have a history of performing the national anthem very quickly, but with this price, we’re taking the over shoulder you decide to bet. This is the lowest national anthem total ever listed for a Super Bowl. McEntire has performed the song in as little as 65 seconds on a massive stage before. The longest she’s ever performed is 85 seconds. While that may make the under seem like a lock, we have seen musicians drag it out at the Super Bowl. Why couldn’t McEntire do the same the one time she will perform at the Super Bowl? With that; we will pass.  ————-The Coin Flip +100 Over the last 18 Super Bowls, heads and tails have each hit nine times. There’s a reason why when something is seen as a 50/50 chance, people say it’s a coin flip. Tails currently leads the all-time series 30-27, so we’re going to back heads to close the gap. This is a bet where the sports books actually charge vig on money for both sides. It should be no juice to get you started. Pass —————————The Gatorade ColorPurple +330 This is one of the few novelty bets that actually can be chosen with reason. Generally, the color is reminiscent of the color of the winning team’s uniforms. However, last year, the Chiefs dumped purple on Andy Reid. Athletes and coaches are superstitious people, and if purple worked last year, there’s no reason to think they won’t use the same color this year. Of course, purple is only going to hit if the Chiefs win this game. If you think the 49ers are more likely to win, then we’d recommend wagering on red. There are odds of +350 available for that color right now. We’d take a bet like that IF purple and red were the only two colors. Pass ———————The First Coaches Challenges Chiefs -115 Neither of these coaches use challenges very often. However, Reid does get a slight edge in this category. He threw five challenge flags this season, and four of those plays were overturned. That means he’s entering the Super Bowl confident, and if he thinks something should be challenged, he won’t hesitate to throw the flag. Kyle Shanahan only threw three challenge flags this season. In his career, he’s thrown just 37 challenge flags. That’s an average of just over five per season. Meanwhile, Reid has thrown more than six per season throughout his career. There’s no solid info to make a decision here. Pass —————-A repeat final score of Super Bowl LIV  They’re calling this the SEXY "Super Bowl LIV repeat" since this 31-20 was the score when these two teams met four years ago in Super Bowl 54. While there is a catchy name associated with this prop, the odds of fate happening is almost nil. The odds of this happening are incredibly low, however, it’s not unreasonable to think this will be close to the final score. Plus, do you want to be the one person who didn’t believe in history repeating itself if this does hit and a $1 bet wins $300? We still take a pass.  ————————First Team to Call Timeout 49ers -115 The Chiefs won the Super Bowl last year. They’ve played in huge games like this every year that Mahomes has been under center. They’re not going to be shaken by the moment. The same can’t be said of the 49ers.Brock Purdy is a young quarterback who has been prone to mistakes this season. There is a chance that he could get rattled early, which could lead to an unwarranted timeout. This one is about 50/50, but there is a legitimate reason for the 49ers to call timeout first. Purdy may struggle to read what the Chiefs' defense is presenting him. We think it’s better to save your money for a better bet. Pass —————————2nd Half Under  When the game hits the second half, the Chiefs have virtually run out the clock all season. Chiefs wins are 18-2 to the second-half under in their last 20 games and 19-1 to the fourth-quarter under. Since 2005, the Chiefs are the most profitable team to the second-half over or under, according to Bet Labs. A $100 bettor would be up $1,474 taking second-half unders in Chiefs games this season. The next-best were the 2017 Falcons — whose offensive coordinator was Shanahan — who were 15-1-2 to the under at +$1,348. • 2023 Chiefs: 18-2, $1,474 (unders)• 2017 Falcons: 15-1-2, $1.348 (unders)• 2011 Browns: 13-2-1, +$948 (unders)• 2010 Broncos: 14-2, +$1,088 (overs)Well……..ok, we WILL look at this as the week goes.  Good Luck and be sure to come back for my side and total AND all the prop bets I will bet.  Wayne Root 

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, and NCAAB Previews and Odds - 02/06/2024

by Big Al Staff

Tuesday, Feb 06, 2024

The Tuesday sports card features NBA, NHL, and NCAAB action. The National Basketball Association has seven games on its docket. The Indiana Pacers host the Houston Rockets at 7:10 p.m. ET as a 7-point favorite, with the total set at 238.5 (all odds from DraftKings). The Dallas Mavericks travel to Brooklyn to play the Nets on TNT at 7:30 p.m. ET as a 1.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 233.5. Two NBA games tip off at 7:40 p.m. ET. The Miami Heat play at home against the Orlando Magic as a 3-point favorite with a total of 213. The New York Knicks are at home against the Memphis Grizzlies as a 13.5-point favorite with an over/under of 214.5.  The Minnesota Timberwolves play in Chicago against the Bulls at 8:10 p.m. ET as a 5-point road favorite with a total of 217. The Oklahoma City Thunder are in Utah to play the Jazz at 9:10 p.m. ET as a 3-point road favorite with an over/under of 242.5. The Phoenix Suns host the Milwaukee Bucks on TNT at 10 p.m. ET as a 4-point favorite with a total of 245.The National Hockey League has eight games on its slate. Six NHL games drop the puck at 7:07 p.m. ET. The Boston Bruins play at home against the Calgary Flames as a -192 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6. The Dallas Stars visit Buffalo to play the Sabres as a -155 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The Carolina Hurricanes are at home against the Vancouver Canucks as a -148 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Florida Panthers host the Philadelphia Flyers as a -218 money-line favorite with a total of 6. The Pittsburgh Penguins play at home against the Winnipeg Jets as a -115 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Washington Capitals are at home against the Montreal Canadiens as a -166 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5.The Colorado Avalanche play in New Jersey against the Devils at 7:37 p.m. ET, with both teams priced at -110 with an over/under of 6.5. The Edmonton Oilers are in Vegas to play the Golden Knights at 10:07 p.m. ET as a -142 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.The college basketball schedule has 12 games on national television. St. John’s faces DePaul on a neutral court at the UBS Arena in Elmont, New York, on FS1 at 6:30 p.m. ET as a 21.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 148.5. Four more NCAAB games on national television start at 7 p.m. ET. North Carolina plays at home against Clemson on ESPN as a 7-point favorite with a total of 153.5. Houston is at home against Oklahoma State on ESPN2 as a 20-point favorite with an over/under of 129. Wake Forest travels to Georgia Tech on ESPNU as a 4-point road favorite with a total of 151. Ohio State hosts Indiana on Peacock as a 5.5-point favorite with an over/under of 142.5. Dayton plays at Saint Joseph’s on the CBS Sports Network at 8 p.m. ET as a 2-point road favorite with a total of 143. Three more NCAAB games are on national television at 9 p.m. ET. South Florida is home against Charlotte on ESPN2 as a 2.5-point favorite with an over/under of 134.5. Baylor hosts Texas Tech on ESPN as a 6-point favorite, with a total of 145.5. Michigan State is at Minnesota on Peacock as a 3.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 139.San Diego State visits Air Force on FS1 at 10:30 p.m. ET as a 10.5-point road favorite with a total of 133.5. Saint Mary’s plays at Pacific on ESPN2 at 11 p.m. ET as a 21.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 129.5.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, NCAAB and EPL Previews and Odds - 02/05/2024

by Big Al Staff

Monday, Feb 05, 2024

The Monday sports card features NBA, NHL, NCAAB, and EPL action. The National Basketball Association has six games on its docket. Three NBA games tip off at 7:10 p.m. ET. The Los Angeles Lakers travel to Charlotte to play the Hornets as a 10.5-point road favorite, with the total set at 231.5 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). The Cleveland Cavaliers host the Sacramento Kings as a 5-point favorite with an over/under of 232. The Dallas Mavericks play in Philadelphia against the 76ers as a 1.5-point road favorite with a total of 243. Two NBA games start at 7:40 p.m. ET. The Los Angeles Clippers are in Atlanta to face the Hawks as a 3-point road favorite with an over/under of 244. The Brooklyn Nets play at home against the Golden State Warriors as a 2-point favorite with a total of 236.5. The New Orleans Pelicans are at home against the Toronto Raptors at 8:10 p.m. ET as an 11.5-point favorite with an over/under of 232.The National Hockey League returns from the All-Star break with two games that drop the puck at 7:07 p.m. ET. The New York Rangers host the Columbus Blue Jackets as a -112 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Toronto Maple Leafs play at home against the New York Islanders as a -162 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5.The college basketball schedule has three games on national television. Virginia is at home against Miami (FL) on ESPN at 7 p.m. ET. The Cavaliers are on a six-game winning streak after their 66-65 upset victory at Clemson as a 4.5-point underdog on Saturday. The Hurricanes won for the third time in their last four games after their 82-74 victory as a 4-point favorite on Saturday. Virginia is a 5.5-point favorite with a total of 132. Two NCAAB games are on national television at 9 p.m. ET. Kansas visits Kansas State on ESPN. The Jayhawks won for the second time in a 78-65 victory against Houston as a 1-point underdog on Saturday. The Wildcats are on a four-game losing streak after their 75-72 upset loss at Oklahoma State as a 2-point favorite on Saturday. Kansas is a 5-point road favorite with an over/under of 144.5. Jackson State hosts Southern on ESPN2 at 9 p.m. ET. The Jaguars are on a three-game winning streak after a 71-70 upset victory at Alcorn State as a 2-point underdog on Saturday. The Braves have lost three games in a row after a 70-62 upset loss against Grambling as a 2.5-point favorite on Saturday. Jackson State is a 1.5-point road favorite at BetMGM with a total of 143.5.Matchweek 23 in the English Premier League concludes with one match. Manchester City plays at Brentford on the USA Network at 3 p.m. ET. The Cityzens have won four straight EPL matches after their 3-1 victory against Burnley on Wednesday. The Foxes come off a 3-2 loss at Tottenham on Wednesday. Man City is a -1.5 goal-line road favorite with an over/under of 3.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NCAAB and EPL Previews and Odds - 02/04/2024

by Big Al Staff

Sunday, Feb 04, 2024

The Sunday sports card features NBA, NCAAB, and EPL action. The National Hockey League continues its All-Star Game break that lasts until Monday, February 5th. The National Basketball Association has eight games on its docket. The Orlando Magic travel to Detroit to play the Pistons at 3:10 p.m. ET as a 6.5-point road favorite with the total set at 226.5 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). The Phoenix Suns play at Washington against the Wizards at 3:40 p.m. ET as an 11-point road favorite with an over/under of 240.5. Three NBA games tip off at 6:10 p.m. ET. The Boston Celtics host the Memphis Grizzlies as a 16-point favorite with a total of 222. The Indiana Pacers are in Charlotte against the Hornets as a 9-point road favorite with an over/under of 242. The Los Angeles Clippers visit Miami to play the Heat on ESPN as a 4-point road favorite with a total of 227. Two NBA games start at 7:10 p.m. ET. The Minnesota Timberwolves play at home against the Houston Rockets as a 7.5-point favorite with an over/under of 217.5. The Oklahoma City Thunder are at home against the Toronto Raptors as a 9.5-point favorite with a total of 233.5. The Utah Jazz host the Milwaukee Bucks at 8:10 p.m. ET as a 1-point favorite with an over/under of 247.5. The Denver Nuggets play at home against the Portland Trail Blazers at 8:40 p.m. ET as a 13.5-point favorite with a total of 221. The college basketball schedule has eight games on national television. Two NCAAB games are on national television at 1 p.m. ET. Purdue play at Wisconsin on CBS as a 2.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 146. Loyola-Chicago is at home against Davidson on the CBS-Sports Network as a 5-point favorite with a total of 137. Furman hosts UNC-Greensboro on ESPNU at 2 p.m. ET as a 3.5-point favorite with an over/under of 147. Tulane plays at home against Temple on ESPNU at 4 p.m. ET as an 8.5-point favorite with a total of 153. South Dakota State is at home against South Dakota on the CBS-Sports Network as a 15-point favorite with an over/under of 154. Two NCAAB games begin at 6 p.m. ET. SMU hosts UAB on ESPN2 at 6 p.m. ET as a 7-point favorite with a total of 151.5. Villanova plays at home against Providence on FS1 as a 4.5-point favorite with an over/under of 138. Arizona is at home against Stanford on FS1 at 8 p.m. ET as a 17.5-point favorite with a total of 162.Matchweek 23 in the English Premier League continues with four matches. Three matches start at 9:00 a.m. ET. Bournemouth hosts Nottingham Forest as a -1 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 3 (all soccer odds from DraftKings). Chelsea plays at home against Wolverhampton on the USA Network as a -1 goal line favorite with a total of 2.5. Manchester United is at home against West Ham United as a -1 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 3. Arsenal plays at home against Liverpool as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 3.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NCAAB and EPL Previews and Odds - 02/03/2024

by Big Al Staff

Saturday, Feb 03, 2024

The Saturday sports card features NBA, NCAAB, and EPL action. The National Hockey League continues its All-Star Game break that lasts until Monday, February 5th. The National Basketball Association has six games on its docket. The Philadelphia 76ers host the Brooklyn Nets at 6:10 p.m. ET as a 4-point favorite, with the total set at 231 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). The Atlanta Hawks play at home against the Golden State Warriors at 7:40 p.m. ET as a 2.5-point favorite with an over/under of 248. The Chicago Bulls are at home against the Sacramento Kings at 8:10 p.m. ET as a 1.5-point favorite with a total of 229.5. Three more games conclude the NBA card at 8:40 p.m. ET. The New York Knicks host the Los Angeles Lakers on ABC as a 6-point favorite with an over/under of 227. The Milwaukee Bucks travel to Dallas to play the Mavericks as a 3.5-point road favorite with a total of 250.5. The Cleveland Cavaliers play in San Antonio against the Spurs as a 9.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 231.The college basketball schedule has 16 games on major national television. Three NCAAB games on major national television tip-off at noon ET. UConn is at St. John’s on Fox as a 2.5-point road favorite with a total of 146.5. Miami (FL) plays at home against Virginia Tech on ESPN as a 3.5-point favorite with an over/under of 153. LSU is home against Arkansas on ESPN2 as a 6-point favorite with a total of 152. Memphis hosts Wichita State on CBS at 1 p.m. ET as a 10.5-point favorite with an over/under of 157. Two major nationally televised NCAAB games start at 2 p.m. ET. TCU plays at home against Texas on ESPN2 as a 4-point favorite with a total of 149. Clemson is at home against Virginia on ESPN as a 4.5-point favorite with an over/under of 127.5. San Diego State hosts Utah State at 3:30 p.m. ET as a 5.5-point favorite with a total of 147.5. Two more NCAAB games on major national television begin at 4 p.m. ET. Houston plays at Kansas on ESPN as a 1.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 134.5. Texas A&M is at home against Florida on ESPN2 as a 2-point favorite with a total of 153.5. Michigan State plays at home against Maryland on Fox at 5:30 p.m. ET as a 7-point favorite with an over/under of 130.5. Two more NCAAB games on major national television start at 6 p.m. ET. Indiana State hosts Drake on ESPN2 as a 4.5-point favorite with a total of 156. North Carolina plays at home against Duke on ESPN as a 4-point favorite with an over/under of 151. Baylor is at home against Iowa State on ESPN2 at 8 p.m. ET as a 3-point favorite with a total of 143. Tennessee travels to Kentucky on ESPN at 8:30 p.m. ET as a 1.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 160. Oregon plays at UCLA on ESPN2 at 10 p.m. ET as a 2-point road favorite with a total of 133.5. Gonzaga hosts Saint Mary’s on ESPN at 10:30 p.m. ET as a 4-point favorite with an over/under of 138.Matchweek 23 in the English Premier League begins with five matches. Tottenham is at Everton on the USA Network at 7:30 a.m. ET in a pick ‘em match with a total of 3 (all soccer odds from BetMGM). Three more EPL matches begin at 10 a.m. ET. Brighton and Hove Albion play at home against Crystal Palace on the USA Network as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Fulham travels to Burnley in a pick ‘em contest with a total of 2.5. Newcastle United is at home against Luton Town as a -1.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 3. Aston Villa plays at Sheffield United at 12:30 p.m. ET as a -1 goal-line road favorite with a total of 3.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA and NCAAB Previews and Odds - 02/02/2024

by Big Al Staff

Friday, Feb 02, 2024

The Friday sports card features NBA and NCAAB action. The National Hockey League continues its All-Star Game break that lasts until Monday, February 5th. The National Basketball Association has ten games on its docket. Two NBA games tip off at 7:10 p.m. ET. The Los Angeles Clippers travel to Detroit to play the Pistons as a 12-point road favorite, with the total set at 236.5 (all odds from DraftKings). The Miami Heat play in Washington against the Wizards as an 8-point road favorite with an over/under of 232. Two more NBA games start at 7:40 p.m. ET. The Phoenix Suns are in Atlanta to play the Hawks as a 3.5-point road favorite with a total of 247. The Sacramento Kings visit Indiana to play the Pacers as a 3-point road favorite with an over/under of 247. Five NBA games begin at 8:10 p.m. ET. The Houston Rockets host the Toronto Raptors as a 5.5-point favorite with a total of 227.5. The Golden State Warriors play in Memphis against the Grizzlies as a 6.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 223. The Minnesota Timberwolves are at home against the Orlando Magic as a 7.5-point favorite with a total of 212. The Oklahoma City Thunder play at home against the Charlotte Hornets as a 16-point favorite with an over/under of 228.5. The New Orleans Pelicans are in San Antonio to play the Spurs as a 7.5-point road favorite with a total of 235.5. The NBA card concludes at 9:10 p.m. ET with the Denver Nuggets hosting the Portland Trail Blazers as an 11.5-point favorite with an over/under of 221.The college basketball schedule has seven games on national television. Kent State travels to Buffalo on the CBS Sports Network at 6:30 p.m. ET as an 8-point road favorite with a total of 148. Three more nationally televised NCAAB games tip off at 7 p.m. ET. Iowa is at home against Ohio State on FS1 as a 4.5-point favorite with an over/under of 158. Yale hosts Princeton on ESPNU as a 4-point favorite with a total of 140.5. Dayton plays at home against St. Bonaventure on ESPN2 at 7 p.m. ET. The Flyers won for the 14th time in their last 15 games with an 83-61 victory against George Washington as a 12.5-point favorite on Tuesday. The Bonnies won their second straight game after their 67-62 victory at home against VCU as a 4-point favorite on Tuesday. Dayton is a 7-point favorite with an over/under of 134.5. Two NCAAB games are on national television at 9 p.m. ET. Creighton plays at home against Butler on FS1 as a 9-point favorite with a total of 147.5. Akron is at home against Toledo on ESPN2. The Zips won for the eighth time in their last nine games with their 77-46 victory at Eastern Michigan as an 11-point favorite on Tuesday. The Rockets are on a three-game winning streak with eight victories in their last nine games after their 88-63 win against Western Michigan as an 11.5-point favorite on Tuesday. Akron is a 4-point favorite with an over/under of 147. Nevada hosts San Jose State on FS1 at 11 p.m. ET as a 12-point favorite with a total of 142.

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NHL Power Rankings: All-Star Break Comes At Right Time

by Vegas Writer

Thursday, Feb 01, 2024

Nothing like a bye week at the end of January to slow things down in the NHL. For some teams, the bye weeks and the All-Star Break couldn’t have come at a better time.There’s been a lot of hockey played over the first half of the season. Some teams have played 50 games, more than any team in the league. Others are slowly trekking their way up there and will have a loaded second half on the horizon.But it’s time to go through the Top 10 of the week and see how things look with All-Star Weekend upon us.5-minute major1) Vancouver Canucks (33-11-5)The Canucks aren’t slowing down any time soon. They’re 8-0-2 in their last 10 and on an 11-game point streak while going 2-0-1 this week. The top players are still playing absurdly. Brock Boeser is a 30-goal scorer. Everything is coming up Vancouver right now, but coming out of the break may be their toughest test; a five-game road trip starting at Carolina and Boston. The Canucks open the second half with eight out of their first 10 on the road.2) Boston Bruins (31-9-9)Remember when the Bruins were supposed to fall off? They keep getting back up. They’ve earned points in 11 of their last 12 and David Pastrnak deserves every bit of Hart Trophy conversation his way (72 points; 33 goals, 39 assists). The only blemish over the last month was a 3-2 loss at home to Carolina; other than that, it’s been wins stacked upon wins for this team. Now, they open the second half on a seven-game homestand with winnable games against Calgary, Washington and Los Angeles.3) Edmonton Oilers (29-15-1)If you go with the traditional coach-speak on how tough it is to win in the NHL, then the Oilers’ winning streak is incredible. Sixteen wins should be commemorated. But talk about the benefit of a soft schedule; a streaky Rangers team, the Sharks, the Kings, the Ducks, the Senators, Bedard-less Chicago twice, Calgary, Columbus. I will give them credit for this: That six-game road trip back in December with two back-to-backs was impressive. But they’ll need to have a big win at some point. Their first game on Feb. 6, in Vegas, will suffice.4) Winnipeg Jets (30-12-5)Winnipeg has cooled down since its 8-game winning streak by losing four of its last six going into the break, capped off with home-and-home losses to Toronto. The Jets’ offense went cold down the stretch with five goals in their last four games. If a team needs a break, it’s the Jets. And if there’s a player who could use a nap or two, it’s Connor Hellebuyck carrying the Jets on his back.5) Florida Panthers (31-14-4)It’s safe to say the Eastern Conference champions might be the hottest team in the conference at 13-2-2 in their last 17 games. Ironically enough, this run started with a win in the Stanley Cup Final rematch over Vegas — and then the Panthers beat Vegas again on Jan. 4. Leading the charge for the Panthers? Not Matthew Tkachuk (though he’s playing very well). It’s Sam Reinhart and his 37 goals. It’s not out of the realm of possibility that he could hit 60 in a contract year. Back up the Brinks truck.2-minute minor6) Vegas Golden Knights (29-15-6)The Golden Knights have rebounded well despite a third of their roster on injured reserve. They closed the first half going 7-3-1 in their last 11. Adin Hill is back, and William Karlsson might be as well. Think of how crazy things could get if they end Edmonton’s winning streak on Feb. 6.7) Colorado Avalanche (32-14-3)Colorado has won 11 of 14 and is looking every bit like the contender it should be. Goaltending is still an absolute crapshoot at the moment, but it always helps when Nathan MacKinnon (84 points) and Cale Makar (58 points) lead the way.8) Dallas Stars (30-13-6)Dallas ended the first half going 8-2-1. Considering how things looked three weeks ago, that’s an improvement. The timing is good to get Jake Oettinger some rest. The young goalie has fallen back to Earth hard, but the Stars keep finding ways to win.9) Carolina Hurricanes (28-15-5)The only thing you need to know about the Hurricanes: They are 12-3-2 in their last 17. Andrei Svechnikov has been a primary reason for that; 19 points (10 goals, nine assists) in that time. When Carolina is healthy, that forward group is tough to beat.Power play (surprise team)10) Detroit Red Wings (26-18-6)The state of Michigan is just riding the wave. Michigan won the National Championship, the Detroit Lions were 30 minutes away from the Super Bowl, and now the Red Wings are on pace to get back to the playoffs for the first time since 2016. Eminem is going to be a busy man. No one is blown away by Detroit’s star power, but they have a lot of really good players that have helped in the balance of this lineup. Dylan Larkin (46 points) and Alex DeBrincat (43) have been great. Patrick Kane, though injured, has 16 points in 19 games. He’s come as advertised for a team that’s needed it. Alex Lyon (13-6-1, .924 SV%) has assumed the No. 1 goalie role and is taking it by the horns. Detroit is firmly in the wild card race, and it’s good for the NHL if they get back.

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Will Rogers' Fab 5 Super Bowl Props

by Will Rogers

Thursday, Feb 01, 2024

The Super Bowl offers an enormous amount of proposition wagering opportunities. Some are kind of silly but others provide us with a great chance to profit. Sorting through them can be tough. So, I've tried to assist in that area by providing several to keep an eye out for. I've tried to feature a little something for everyone. So, whether you're into favorites or underdogs, I've got you covered. Remember to shop around. These lines can vary a lot, from book to book. Travis Kelce Receptions (UNDER 6.5) +121Kelce absolutely went off last game. Between his 11-catch performance and all the extra hype surrounding his relationship with Taylor Swift, there are a lot of bettors wanting to play on him in every way possible. The books are forced to act accordingly and Kelce prices are set sky high. That provides value in going against him. Last game, he was being asked to have 5.5 catches. Now, he's being asked to catch 6.5. Not only that, you have to pay a steep price on the over for the privilege. That means we get the under 6.5 with a solid underdog return. The 49ers will have a defensive strategy in place to slow down Kelce. They'll do a much better job of doing so than Baltimore did. Isiah Pacheco Rushing Yards (Over 65.5) -118If the 49ers are going to focus a lot of energy on stopping Mahomes and Kelce, they may become vulnerable to the Chiefs' running game. Keep in mind that the Lions just put up 182 rushing yards against them. Montgomery had 92 and Gibbs and Williams had 45 and 42, respectively. Pacheco didn't even average 3 yards a carry against the Ravens and still had 68 rushing yards. Barring an injury, he'll dominate the carries for KC and finish with 70+ yards on the ground. Christian McCaffrey Anytime TD (YES) -214The price on this one is rather steep. That is, until you consider that McCaffrey is a scoring machine. In 18 games, he's scored 18 touchdowns. He scored  2 touchdowns against the Lions after scoring 2 against the Packers. If SF is going to find the end zone, there's a good chance its going to be McCaffrey. Patrick Mahomes Pass Attempts (Under 36.5) +100If there's anyone that gets more hype than Kelce, its Mahomes. All that hype brings inflated prices. Most don't want to bet against the KC superstar. The Chiefs don't want their QB having to throw on every down. They saw the Lions run all over the 49ers and they will try and follow a similar gameplan. They'd prefer a game like they had against Buffalo where Mahomes was an efficient 17 of 23, for 215 yards with 2 TDs and 0 interceptions. He'll throw more than 23 times against the 49ers but probably less than 37. Will the Super Bowl go to Overtime? (Yes) +938Here's a big long-shot play, for those who are so inclined. Super Bowls don't usually go to Overtime. It's only happened once that I can remember, Brady's famous comeback versus the Falcons. This one has the makings of a really close game though. I'm personally not touching the side as I think its a coin flip. Both teams have been playing close games to get here. The 49ers 2 playoff games were both decided by a field goal. The Chiefs last 2 games were decided by 7 and 3. The previous time these teams met in the SB, the score was tied at halftime. There's no reason this one can't be tied at the end of regulation. At nearly 10-1, I'm taking a shot. 

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NCAAB and EPL Previews and Odds - 02/01/2024

by Big Al Staff

Thursday, Feb 01, 2024

The Thursday sports card features NBA, NCAAB, and EPL action. The National Hockey League begins its All-Star Game break lasting until Monday, February 5th. The National Basketball Association has four games on its docket. The Boston Celtics host the Los Angeles Lakers on TNT at 7:30 p.m. ET. The Celtics are on a two-game winning streak with five victories in their last six games after their 129-124 win against Indiana as an 8-point favorite on Tuesday. The Lakers have lost two games in a row after their 138-122 loss at Atlanta as a 6-point underdog on Tuesday. Boston is an 11-point favorite, with the total set at 240 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise).The New York Knicks play at home against the Indiana Pacers at 7:40 p.m. ET as a 3-point favorite with an over/under of 241. The Cleveland Cavaliers travel to Memphis to play the Grizzlies at 8:10 p.m. ET as a 5-point road favorite with a total of 219.5. The Utah Jazz are home against the Philadelphia 76ers on TNT at 10 p.m. ET. The Jazz are on a two-game losing streak with five losses in their last seven games after a 118-103 loss at New York against the Knicks as a 4.5-point underdog on Tuesday. The 76ers are on a four-game losing streak after a 119-107 loss at Golden State as a 4-point underdog on Tuesday. Utah is a 4-point favorite with an over/under of 233.5.The college basketball schedule has nine games on national television. Three NCAAB games on national television tip off at 7 p.m. ET. SMU hosts Tulane on ESPN2 as a 9-point favorite with a total of 157. High Point plays at home against Longwood on ESPNU as a 6-point favorite with an over/under of 145.5. Delaware is at William & Mary on the CBS Sports Network as a 4.5-point road favorite with a total of 142.5. Three nationally televised NCAA games start at 9 p.m. ET. Arizona State is at home against Stanford on ESPN2 as a 1-point favorite with an over/under of 151. Wright State hosts Youngstown State on ESPNU as a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 164. Western Kentucky plays at home against Sam Houston State on the CBS Sports Network as a 4.5-point favorite with an over/under of 156.5. Oregon visits USC on ESPN at 10:30 p.m. ET as a 2-point road favorite with a total of 149.5. Two more NCAAB games are on national television at 11 p.m. ET. San Francisco is at home against San Diego on the CBS Sports Network as an 18.5-point favorite with an over/under of 149.5. UC-Santa Barbara hosts UC-Davis on ESPNU as a 4-point favorite with a total of 141.5.Matchweek 22 in the English Premier League concludes with two matches. Bournemouth plays at West Ham United at 2:30 p.m. ET in a pick ‘em match with an over/under of 3 (all soccer odds from BetMGM). Manchester United is at Wolverhampton on the USA Network at 3:15 p.m. ET in a pick ‘em match with a total of 2.5.

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Dan Campbell Screwed Dan Campbell (Along with the Lions and the Detroit Fan Base)

by Hollywood Sports

Wednesday, Jan 31, 2024

In my preseason deep dive on the Detroit Lions, one of my notes of concern regarded Dan Campbell’s proclivity to go for it on fourth down. In his first two seasons as their head coach, the Lions led the NFL in fourth down attempts. Detroit also attempted eight fake punts and was successful seven times. But with the higher expectations for the team, after they won eight of their final ten games last season, I wondered if Campbell’s aggressiveness would end up backfiring for his team. Aggressive play-calling is a way for underdogs to overachieve expectations. It made sense for Campbell to instill confidence in his team by taking these chances. These tactics also helped protect a suspect defense that was giving up plenty of points. But the problem with all the fake punts is that opponents become aware to be prepared for it. The surprise value of the trick has limited returns. Detroit converted on a fake punt early in the season — but when they tried it again in their Thanksgiving Day game against Green Bay, the Packers were ready for it. The Lions failed to execute the play — and Green Bay got the ball just outside the red zone. The Packers soon scored a touchdown to take a 29-14 lead — and they would go on to win by a 29-22 score. Perhaps the harbinger for the end of Detroit’s 2023-24 season took place last year in their game against New England. In that 29-0 loss, the Lions failed on all six of their fourth down attempts.Cut to Detroit’s regular season showdown at Dallas against the Cowboys late in the season. Campbell lost his cool by recklessly doubling down by going for the win even though it was fourth and seven (then fourth and four after a Cowboys penalty) after suffering the cosmic injustice of a bad call from the referees after the Lions were too clever for its own good tackle-eligible receiver play. Campbell remained steadfast in not regretting his decision to simply kick the extra point and be willing to play in a tie game late in the fourth quarter. The seeds were planted for Detroit’s historic meltdown in the NFC Championship Game. The Lions enjoyed a dream first half on the road in San Francisco against the 49ers. And when faced with the opportunity late in the first half to try to score another touchdown with time running out, Campbell made the prudent and, in my mind, prudent decision to settle for a field goal rather than risking not scoring any points with time expiring. Detroit went into halftime with a 24-7 lead. For San Francisco to win, they would need to overcome a three-possession deficit. The 49ers got the ball first — the Lions scored a victory by holding them to just a field goal. 24-10. Detroit immediately moved the ball down the field with an effective rushing attack. But the play-calling got aggressive with a failed long pass to tight end Sam LaPorta setting up a third-and-five. The Lions chose to run the ball — as if it was two-down territory despite them being in field goal range. Then on fourth and a long one-yard, quarterback Jared Goff’s pass to Josh Reynolds was dropped. Granted a 31-10 lead after scoring a potential touchdown might have been the dagger. But neutralizing the Niners' initial field goal in the second half by matching those three points would have made it a 27-10 game with half the third quarter already burned. A three-possession lead would continue to squeeze the life out of a team and a fan base that had little to cheer about. Instead, San Francisco got the stop they needed. A few plays later, the Niners got very lucky when an overthrown deep pass from Brock Purdy got tipped up in the air which allowed Brandon Aiyuk to grab it for a 51-yard reception inside Detroit’s five-yard line. Moments later the 49ers are only trailing by seven points. For those of us who believe in momentum, the tables have suddenly turned. Perhaps the Momentum Gods would not intervene with the tipped ball if the Lions simply kicked the field goal. But a 27-17 lead would have felt much better when Detroit got the ball again. Instead, rookie running back Jahmyr Gibbs received a handoff deep on the Lions' side of the field suddenly led by only one score. Gibbs then fumbles, the Niners recover and score the tying touchdown. In a matter of a few moments, a game that seemed almost out of reach was now tied. And a franchise that had never reached the Super Bowl had suddenly blown a 17-point lead. Maybe Campbell’s aggressiveness helped Detroit win the NFC North and reach the playoffs. But losing cultures don’t flip simply because someone declares it over. Winning cultures come from winning games — and good head coaches are stewards of their players in managing games to secure victories. In this regard, Campbell failed. His decision-making was, in fact, the act of a loser — one who thought seizing a 21-point lead was necessary. He communicated to his team that taking the easier 17-point lead was not going to be enough. Campbell later defended his decision by uttering something about the 49ers taking back momentum by controlling the time of possession. The only second-half drive that San Francisco had was the one where they settled for a field goal. My dude, if the Niners were going to continue to embark on long-scoring drives, they were risking running out of time. They still needed three drives with just over  22 minutes left in the game. The field goal would have kept the pressure on. Pressure busts pipes. Even after all this, Campbell had one more ill-advised decision left in him. San Francisco scored a field goal to take a 27-24 lead. The Lions got the ball back and immediately moved down the field to get into field goal range. But once again, when faced with a fourth down, Campbell bypassed the potential game-tying field goal to go for it on fourth down. Once again, Detroit fails to convert. The 49ers move down the field to score a touchdown to take a ten-point lead with about three minutes left in the game. The Lions score a touchdown but then fail to recover an onside kick. The decision to forego a game-tying field represented the three-point margin in their 34-31 loss. While taking a potential 31-27 lead would have been better, the risk of missing the fourth down and creating the possibility of San Francisco scoring a touchdown to take a two-possession lead late in the game was of graver magnitude. I am aware of Expected Points Added models that called for the Lions to go for (both) fourth downs. Those models do not reveal their methodology regarding how they derive their numbers. Those models also do not take momentum into account — in fact, the underlying assumption is that momentum does not exist since it would invalidate their sample sizes since the data points may have circumstances no longer applicable. Who are you going to believe — businesses promoting their analytics or your lying eyes?In hindsight, Detroit’s second-half collapse was staggering. The fumble and the several dropped passes all happened after the missed fourth down when they had a 17-point lead midway through the third quarter. I consider it the most obvious example of negative momentum in action in recent history since the 2018 Western Conference Finals in the NBA when the Houston Rockets missed 27 straight shots from 3-point range against Golden State.   When discussing what happened in the famed Montreal Screwjob when professional wrestler Brett “the Hit Man” Hart lost his championship belt in an unscripted turn of events orchestrated by World Wrestling Federation owner Vince McMahon proclaimed in denying that he screwed Brett: “Brett screwed Brett.” Well, it’s now called the WWE for World Wrestling Entertainment and McMahon is now facing sex trafficking charges. McMahon broke kayfabe to justify why the script was changed for Hart in his last match with the company before leaving for a rival with this now-infamous quote. Watching Dan Campbell’s coaching performance in the NFC Championship Game reminded me of the line. Credit to San Francisco, but the Lions lost that game. Campbell screwed himself with those coaching decisions. He screwed his players were outplaying the 49ers and had put themselves in the position to win that game. And he screwed a fanbase that has not experienced the joy of an NFL championship since 1957.Brandon Staley got run out of town after making too many bad decisions despite his aggressiveness being defended by the supposed analytics. His players were initially on record for liking his tactics. But the losses piled up — and his players eventually turned on him. For those who think that cannot happen with this Lions team, just look at what happened to the Philadelphia Eagles. A year ago at this time, the Eagles were playing in the Super Bowl. Less than a year later, the culture inside the locker room completely eroded in a seven-game losing streak to end the season culminating in an embarrassing blowout loss in the playoffs. And Philadelphia has won another Super Bowl in 2018. Perhaps Campbell will learn from his mistakes. Coaching underdogs with a history of losing is one thing. Protecting double-digit leads in the playoffs is quite another. If Campbell does not grow, things could get very ugly much faster than expected in Motown. Best of luck — Frank.  

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San Francisco -- The New BYU in the West Coast Conference?

by Team Del Genio

Wednesday, Jan 31, 2024

In college basketball, Gonzaga has been the toast of the West Coast Conference for decades. Their stiffest competition has consistently been Saint Mary’s since Randy Bennett took over as the Gaels’ head coach in 2003. BYU was often the third-best team in the conference, and they have made the NCAA tournament a dozen times this century. They have six regular season titles as well since 2001. With BYU’s move to the Big 12 conference, the opportunity exists for another program to take over its position. San Francisco may fit the bill.The Dons are a dangerous team this season because of their frontline. Center Jonathan Mobgo may win conference Player of the Year honors. He is making 66.3% of his shots inside the arc. For the season, he is averaging 15.0 points per game and adding 10.6 rebounds per game. Mike Sharavjamts and Ndewedo Newbury give him space to work inside since they are both stretch forwards who combine to make 42% of their shots from 3-point land. As a team, the Dons rank 14th in the nation by making 57.4% of their 2-point shots. They are second in the nation with only 5.4% of their shots blocked by their opponent. On defense, head coach Chris Gerlufsen’s team ranks 29th in the country in defensive efficiency. San Francisco forces turnovers in 21.0% of their opponents' possessions which is the 31st best mark in the nation. They also limit second-chance scoring opportunities by limiting their opponents to rebounding only 23.6% of their missed shots. The Dons were on a seven-game winning streak before a 77-60 upset loss at home to Saint Mary’s on January 20th. Those 60 points were the fewest they had scored in eight games. They then lost on the road at Gonzaga, 77-72, last Thursday. San Francisco responded last Saturday with a 76-64 victory at home against Portland.  They go into February with a 16-6 record overall. In conference play, they have a 5-2 record with their two losses to Saint Mary’s and Gonzaga which leaves them in fourth place. The fourth team in the mix is Santa Clara who San Francisco has yet to play this season. Their first encounter this season will be on February 10th. The Broncos upset Gonzaga earlier this season yet lost to Saint Mary’s by 24 points. The computer projections currently predict the Dons to win both their games against Santa Clara, so bettors should expect the oddsmakers to install San Francisco as the favorite in both games. The Dons’ best victory this season to help their tournament resume was a 76-58 victory on a neutral court against Minnesota who has a 13-7 record going into February. The Golden Gophers are not likely to make the NCAA tournament, so San Francisco will need to take full advantage of their upcoming rematches against Gonzaga and Saint Mary’s to build their tournament resume. Without big wins against those teams, the Dons will need to win the West Coast Conference tournament. That may be too tall a task for this team. Yet, San Francisco remains the team most likely to fill BYU’s shoes as the third-best basketball team in the conference.Good luck - TDG.

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Michigan Finally Silenced the Haters

by Hollywood Sports

Wednesday, Jan 31, 2024

There were plenty of casual dismissals of the Michigan Wolverines football team all season despite their being ranked at the top of most analytics-based power rankings. Anonymous Big Ten coaches were quoted by Bruce Feldman in The Athletic in the build-up to the College Football Playoffs where they predicted an easy Alabama victory. It was funny how these coaches know more about the intricacies of the Crimson Tide than they do the Wolverines considering Michigan had won 24 games in a row in conference play. There were a lot of haters in the Big Ten against Jim Harbaugh right now — epitomized by the moral panic surrounding the pending investigation regarding overzealous sign decoding schemes (every football team attempts to “steal” signs — and it is mostly a legal practice). Any doubt that the Wolverines' recent success was due to an illegal or unethical theft of inside information was debunked in November when they soundly defeated Penn State and Ohio State. Critics downplay their strength of schedule — but the Nittany Lions and Buckeyes are widely considered two of the top-ten teams in the nation and the Iowa team they beat in the Big Ten Championship Game had the best statistical defense in the nation. Granted, the Michigan passing game was not nearly as explosive at the end of the season with the Wolverines not passing for more than 147 yards in four straight games — but that was simply a whine about style points. With offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore serving as the interim head coach in three of those games, Michigan stuck to what was working with a methodical rushing attack that protected their lead. Only throwing the ball eight times against Penn State but still winning on the road by nine points should have been seen as a sign of utter domination. Quarterback J.J. McCarthy was dealing with some nagging injuries in those games so not exposing him to more hits was a way to help set up their playoff run. In the game against Maryland before the showdown with the Buckeyes, McCarthy’s foot injury kept him from planting his foot to throw the football. Still, the Wolverines scored more points against Ohio State, Penn State, and Iowa than any other opponent — those are all top-ten defenses in the nation. Critics also referenced Michigan’s six-game losing streak in bowl games. The loss in the playoffs against Georgia two years ago was not unexpected — but last year’s loss to TCU was reflective of an arrogant offensive game plan that was compounded by McCarthy throwing two pick-sixes. The other four bowl game losses mean next to nothing since they were pre-COVID and during a period when Harbaugh began using lesser-tiered bowl games as the audition for the upcoming season. Three straight victories against Ohio State should have demonstrated that Harbaugh could prepare his team for big games. Michigan was been the most consistent team in the country going into the playoffs. While they want to win behind their dominant offensive line and two-headed monster of running backs Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards, McCarthy has demonstrated he can win games with his arm and with his mobility. The Wolverines' defense was elite after allowing only 239.8 total Yards-Per-Game and 9.5 Points-Per-Game. Harbaugh claimed there are at least 17 players on the roster who will be drafted into the NFL in April. While Michigan does not recruit at the level of Alabama, their player development takes a back seat to no program. Minnesota head coach P.J. Fleck declared that this Michigan team may be the best college team he had ever coached against after playing them earlier in the season. He must not have been one of the rival conference coaches contacted by Feldman. Heading into the playoffs, I considered the notion of SEC dominance already dead in the NIL and transfer portal era. What was Georgia’s best win this season? What was Alabama’s second-best win? Were they being elevated because of legacy? Granted, the same can be said about Michigan and Ohio State — and that is where laptops came in which generally projected the Wolverines as a bigger favorite against Alabama than the market’s betting line. The Buckeyes might have outplayed Georgia in the semifinals last year (and won that game if Marvin Harrison does not get injured). Michigan dominated the Crimson Tide in the first half of their Semifinal showdown but only went into halftime with a 13-10 lead. Special teams mishaps plagued the Wolverines from taking a larger lead. Alabama turned the tables in the third quarter to take control of the game — but McCarthy engineered a late fourth-quarter comeback to force overtime where Michigan scored the opening touchdown before stopping the Crimson Tide on downs to win the game. When the game was on the line, the Wolverines beat Alabama at the point of attack at the line of scrimmage and demonstrated more speed than the team with all the blue-chip five-star players. Michigan took their 27-20 victory into the National Championship Game against Washington. Once again, the betting public and many of the “sharps” were on the Huskies — especially with them getting 4.5 or more points and above the key number of 4. I committed to the Wolverines in our College Football Game of the Year. Michigan controlled the game and pulled away with a 34-13 victory and their first national championship in the BCS era. But the rival Big Ten coaches may have received their ultimate wish with Harbaugh deciding to return to the NFL to coach the Los Angeles Chargers. Now Harbaugh is not only out of the Big Ten, but perhaps the most vocal head coach in football regarding paying college athletes is no longer in the NCAA. In hindsight, the personal motivations critics had in downplaying this year’s Michigan team may offer the best explanation of their words. Best of luck — Frank.

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