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Your Best College Basketball Futures Right Now

by Oskeim Sports

Monday, Nov 06, 2023

It’s almost hard to believe, but the 2023-24 college basketball season tips off on Wednesday, November 8. That means it’s time to take a look at the college basketball futures market. There are a number of great values right now. Here, we take a look at four. Aggies Win March MadnessKey veteran returnees give Texas A&M a ton of experience. They have a standout point guard, play great defense, and rebound well. Those are keys to winning a national championship.  The Aggies, who finished 15-3 in the SEC last year and have returned every member of their starting lineup save for Dexter Dennis. Texas A&M would have received one of the top four seeds in the NCAA tournament last year if not for a poor non-conference strength of schedule and a few disappointing early losses. Wade Taylor IV is one of the top point guards in the nation and runs the offense. With Julius Marble, Henry Coleman III, and Andersson Garcia as their big men, A&M should be well-positioned to be a top rebounding team once again.  The Aggies also have a coach who has been there before. Buzz Williams, who led Marquette and Virginia Tech to the second round of the NCAA tournament and came perilously close to making it to the Final Four, will lead the Aggies again this season. You can get Texas A&M at a value at +5500 to win a national title this season. Is This Creighton’s Year?The stage has been set for a deep run this March by Creighton with two Sweet 16 appearances in the last three seasons. With their starting five, the Bluejays should be able to break into the top 10 early this season. They finished 12th in the KenPom rankings last season. Normally, a team that has historically built its roster through player development and continuity would find it impossible to overcome the losses of Arthur Kaluma and Ryan Nembhard. However, this offseason, head coach Greg McDermott hit the portal successfully. At point guard, Steven Ashworth is a fantastic addition because he combines deadly long-range shooting with effective playmaking. During his final season at Utah State, he averaged 16.2 points per game and made 43% of his three-point attempts. With Trey Alexander and Ryan Kalkbrenner back, teams will have to play a pick-your-poison game every night because of their ability to shoot the basketball. Their final member of the big four, Baylor Scheierman, is a stat-sheet stuffer with a ton of March Madness experience. Creighton plays in a tough Big East conference which prepares them for the rigors of March Madness. McDermott has been there before and this could be the team that finally breaks into the Final Four. Creighton is a top-3 Big East team and at least a No. 5 seed in the tourney this year. You can bet the Bluejays to win it all at +3300. What Happened to Kentucky? There isn't a definite favorite to win the SEC this season, but Kentucky is still a strong contender at +600 to win the conference for the first time since 2020. In four of the previous five SEC seasons, the Wildcats have finished 12-6, 14-4, 15-3, and 15-3, but they have only won one conference title. Each year, head coach John Calipari adds to the Kentucky roster. This year, the Wildcats will still start a mix of freshmen alongside fifth-year guard Antonio Reeves and West Virginia transfer Tre Mitchell. Calipari is feeling the heat in Lexington after early exits from the NCAA tourney the last few years.  They will host Tennessee, Alabama, and Arkansas, all favorites to win the conference. An upset here or there and the Wildcats may be worth a small stake to win the SEC at +600. Speaking of the SEC Given how loaded the SEC is, Arkansas has a good chance of winning the 2024 NCAA title. For some reason, no one is paying much attention to the Hogs in the conference battle.  Davonte Davis is back for Arkansas, and Trevon Brazile returns after a season-ending injury early in 2022. If Brazile hadn't been hurt, he was probably a lottery pick in the 2023 NBA draft. Head coach Eric Musselman added a number of key additions via the transfer portal.  The starting lineup includes El Ellis from Louisville, Chandler Lawson from Memphis, Keyon Menifield Jr. from Washington, Jeremiah Davenport from Cincinnati, Tramon Mark from Houston and Khalif Battle from Temple. And, Musselman landed two top-60 recruits in Baye Fall and Layden Blocker. The Razorbacks were ranked in the top 20 by KenPom in terms of both adjusted offensive and defensive efficiency. This is a team that can get it done on both ends of the floor. It’s why you should consider Arkansas to win the SEC Championship at +850.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NFL, NBA, NHL, NCAAB and EPL Previews and Odds - 11/6/23

by Big Al Staff

Monday, Nov 06, 2023

The Monday sports card features NFL, NBA, NHL, NCAAB, and EPL action.Week 9 in the NFL concludes with one game. The Los Angeles Chargers travel to New York to play the Jets on ABC and ESPN at 8:15 PM ET. The Chargers are a 3.5-point road favorite, with the total set at 39.5 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). The National Basketball Association has 12 games on its docket. Four NBA games tip off at 7:10 PM ET. The Golden State Warriors play in Detroit against the Pistons as a 6-point road favorite with an over/under of 228.5. The Indiana Pacers host the San Antonio Spurs as a 7.5-point favorite with a total of 238. The Orlando Magic play at home against the Dallas Mavericks as a 1.5-point favorite with an over/under of 224.5. The Philadelphia 76ers are at home against the Washington Wizards as an 11.5-point favorite with a total of 227.5. Three NBA games start at 7:40 PM ET. The Milwaukee Bucks play in Brooklyn against the Nets as a 5.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 230. The Miami Heat host the Los Angeles Lakers as a 1-point favorite with a total of 221.5. The Los Angeles Clippers are in New York to play the Knicks as a 2-point road favorite with an over/under of 226.5. Four NBA games begin at 8:10 PM ET. The Chicago Bulls play at home against the Utah Jazz as a 3.5-point favorite with a total of 223.5. The Houston Rockets are at home against the Sacramento Kings as a 2-point favorite with an over/under of 219. The Boston Celtics play in Minnesota against the Timberwolves as a 4-point road favorite with a total of 225.5. The Atlanta Hawks visit Oklahoma City to play the Thunder as a 2.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 236.5. The Denver Nuggets host the New Orleans Pelicans at 9:10 PM ET as a 6-point favorite with a total of 223. The National Hockey League has two games on its slate. Two NHL games drop the puck at 7:07 PM ET. The Florida Panthers play at home against the Columbus Blue Jackets as a -238 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Toronto Maple Leafs are at home against the Tampa Bay Lightning as a -155 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Dallas Stars host the Boston Bruins at 8:07 PM ET as a -130 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Edmonton Oilers play at Vancouver against the Canucks at 10:07 PM ET as a -118 money-line road favorite with a total of 7. The college basketball season tips off with four games on national television on its schedule. Oregon plays at home against Georgia on truTV at 4 PM ET as a 5-point favorite with an over/under of 139.5. Rutgers is at home against Princeton on Peacock at 7 PM ET as a 5.5-point favorite with a total of 137. USC visits Kansas State on TNT at 10 PM ET as a 3-point road favorite with an over/under of 143. San Diego State plays at home against Cal-State Fullerton on FS1 as a 15-point favorite with a total of 131. Matchweek 11 in the English Premier League concludes with one match. Tottenham is at home against Chelsea at 3 PM ET as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 3.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NFL, NBA, NHL and EPL Previews and Odds - 11/05/2023

by Big Al Staff

Sunday, Nov 05, 2023

The Sunday sports card features NFL, NBA, NHL, and EPL action.Week 9 in the NFL continues with 12 games. Nine NFL games kick off at 1 PM ET. The Kansas City Chiefs battle the Miami Dolphins at Deutsche Bank Park in Frankfurt, Germany on the NFL Network at 9:30 AM ET. The Chiefs are a 1-point favorite, with the total set at 50.5 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). Seven NFL games tip off at 1 PM ET. The Atlanta Falcons play at home against the Minnesota Vikings as a 4-point favorite with an over/under of 37.5. The Baltimore Ravens are at home against the Seattle Seahawks as a 6.5-point favorite with a total of 44. The Cleveland Browns host the Arizona Cardinals as a 12.5-point favorite with an over/under of 38. The Green Bay Packers play at home against the Los Angeles Rams as a 3.5-point favorite with a total of 38. The Houston Texans are at home against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a 3-point favorite with an over/under of 40. The New England Patriots host the Washington Commanders as a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 41. The New Orleans Saints play at home against the Chicago Bears as a 9.5-point favorite with an over/under of 41. The Indianapolis Colts travel to Carolina to play the Panthers at 4:05 PM ET as a 2-point road favorite with a total of 44. Two more NFL games start at 4:25 PM ET. The Las Vegas Raiders are at home against the New York Giants as a 1.5-point favorite with an over/under of 37.5. The Philadelphia Eagles host the Dallas Cowboys as a 3-point favorite with a total of 47. Sunday Night Football on NBC has the Cincinnati Bengals playing at home against the Buffalo Bills at 8:20 PM ET. The Bengals are a 2.5-point favorite with an over/under of 50.5. The National Basketball Association has five games on its docket. The Phoenix Suns visit Detroit to play the Pistons at 3:10 PM ET as a 5.5-point road favorite with a total of 222.5. The Toronto Raptors play in San Antonio against the Spurs at 3:40 PM ET as a 3-point road favorite with an over/under of 224. The Cleveland Cavaliers are at home against the Golden State Warriors at 6:10 PM ET as a 1.5-point favorite with a total of 224. The Dallas Mavericks host the Charlotte Hornets at 7:40 PM ET as an 11.5-point favorite with an over/under of 236. The Memphis Grizzlies are in Portland to play the Trail Blazers at 9:10 PM ET as a 2.5-point road favorite with a total of 218.5. The National Hockey League has two games on its slate. The New Jersey Devils travel to Chicago to play the Blackhawks at 7:07 PM ET as a -230 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Vegas Golden Knights play in Anaheim against the Ducks at 8:07 PM ET as a -185 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. Matchweek 11 in the English Premier League continues with two matches on the USA Network. Aston Villa is at Nottingham Forest at 9 AM ET as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Liverpool travels to Luton Town at 11:30 AM ET as a -2 goal-line road favorite with a total of 3.5.

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NFL Top 10 Poll - Week 9

by Wayne Root

Saturday, Nov 04, 2023

Is the cream of the NFL separating from the rest and able to hold their position this upcoming week? 1. Philadelphia (7-1)It’s a huge conference game this week for the Eagles as they get set to play Dallas. The Cowboys defense is fortunate that Jalen Hurts is limping heavily. The Eagles made it another wild game with the Commanders this season but they showed their offense with Jalen Hurts is fine getting it done when it can't really run. A.J. Brown seems to have become unstoppable downfield. A.J. Brown is making a case for MVP.2. Baltimore (6-2)They’re the best team in the NFL’s best division. However, they have a very difficult game this week against the Seahawks. Pete Carroll Will certainly make life miserable for Lamar and Co. The Ravens don't get a lot of style points for getting a little sloppy defensively at the end of their game at Arizona, but keep in mind they were riding the high of the Lions rout and had a mini letdown ahead of bigger matchups. Still, Lamar Jackson and the running game kept doing their thing.3. Miami (6-2)Germany gets the best game the NFL has ever exported, with a pair of top-five teams as the Dolphins meet the Chiefs. The Dolphins took care of their trap game at home against the Patriots by unleashing their usual brand of offense, backed by key improved pressure and coverage defense. It will be fun when Mahomes and Hill are on the same field again in Frankfurt. Watch out, autobahn.4. Jacksonville (6-2)Having their bye week at the pinnacle of their hot streak is somewhat unlucky for the Jags. The Jaguars are the hottest team in the AFC, having won five consecutive games. They have taken care of the Bills and Steelers far away from Jacksonville along the way. The defense keeps making key plays and the offense gets it done however it feels with Trevor Lawrence and Travis Etienne. Only the bye cools them off. A San Francisco showdown — and potential Super Bowl preview — is coming after their bye. It’ll be interesting to see how they respond after this layoff. 5. Kansas City (6-2)It was eventual that Patrick Mahomes would lose to a losing team and also lose to the Broncos. He got it out of his system with a turnover mess in Denver that set up their first loss since Week 1. Perhaps they were also caught looking ahead to the track meet with the team now right behind them in Germany next week. Will the Chiefs develop any viable option in the passing game after Travis Kelce? Does having Taylor Swift as the number 1 media sensation help Kelce and the team or distract them?6. Dallas (5-2)They’ve quietly developed the best home-field advantage in the league. The Cowboys tend to rock after a bye with Dak Prescott and he was the big reason for the massive victory over the Rams. Prescott had his best passing game, confident throwing everywhere downfield. The defense and special teams got back into their complementary mojo, too. The Cowboys defense should be able to contain Jalen Hurts as he’s limping badly the past few days. It’s the Cowboys must win game of their year. 7. San Francisco (5-3)That win over the Cowboys seems like it was a very long time ago. The elapsed time will actually seem much longer as they enter their bye week. The 49ers have hit a low with a three-game losing streak. It's all tied to Brock Purdy coming down to earth and making more mistakes than big plays. He is still using his weapons well but they do miss Deebo Samuel. The bigger question is, what happened to the defense dominating?8. Seattle (5-2)What a difference a year makes in the NFL. Geno Smith hasn't quite lit it up. The running game is up and down. The defense is trying to figure out more answers after a slow start. Yet, the Seahawks, thanks to the 49ers losing, are in first place in the division. They'll get a good test in Baltimore this week to see just how complete they are this time under Pete Carroll. We’ll find out who they are starting on Thanksgiving, when the 49ers come to town.9. Buffalo (5-3)This game this week in Cincinnati should bring up many memories. The Bills went back to letting Josh Allen loose with his running and passing and it got the offense somewhat going again, with major help from a traditional rushing attack. But the defense still is undergoing transitional pains vs. the pass. And Burrows is coming around at just the right time. With three losses, Buffalo needs to right the course. However, they’re going to have their hands full in Cincinnati.10. Detroit (6-2)The jury is still out concerning the Detroit Lions. The Lions know how to win and defeat the lower talented teams but that’s where it ends so far. The Lions stumbled for a second time this season against the Ravens in Week 8 after losing earlier to the Seahawks. They got well with everything, especially the running game and defense, vs. the Raiders at home on Monday night. The No. 1 seed isn’t impossible, given the schedule. They are currently on their bye week. 

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Michigan's Sign-Stealing Scandal Under Jim Harbaugh

by Oskeim Sports

Saturday, Nov 04, 2023

Many well-known members of the national sports media have advocated for Michigan to be punished prior to the conclusion of an NCAA investigation. That is not the answer and if Michigan were a Group of 5 school that hadn’t won a ton of games over the past few seasons, this issue wouldn’t even be on everyone’s radar. One FOX Sports analyst used social media on Thursday to provide the Big Ten conference with a much-needed voice of reason regarding the NCAA investigation into the Michigan football program. Reports suggest that a Michigan staffer attended games of Wolverines' opponents and recorded them. That is not permitted according to NCAA rules. The FOX analyst said that the level of resentment for the Wolverines is directly related to the amount of success they have had recently. Every NCAA or Big Ten infraction should be handled the exact same way. There should be no decisions made until the investigation is finished. A number of well-known ESPN personalities and others are urging the Big Ten to take immediate action. A majority of Big Ten coaches have urged the conference’s commissioner, Tony Petitti to levy punishment on Michigan right away.  In any other case involving the breaking of NCAA or conference rules, there is an investigation. All relevant facts are collected, sorted out, and a decision is made. Why would that be different in this case? According to this FOX analyst and many others, it’s because Michigan has enjoyed tremendous success over the past two seasons. The Wolverines have made each of the last two College Football Playoffs.  Connor Stalions, a Michigan off-field staff member, reportedly attended - or paid for someone else to attend - games of Michigan opponents. The games were filmed along with the coaches on the sideline in an effort to break down opponents’ signals. There are no rules against breaking down and “stealing” an opponent’s signals. What is prohibited is scouting an FBS opponent in person. Proving that is going to be difficult for the NCAA and/or the Big Ten. Head coach Jim Harbaugh has stated that he and his staff had no knowledge of what Stalions was doing. Stalions is an interesting character who wrote a whole 600-page “manifesto” on how he was going to take over the Michigan football program. He is in his first year as a paid member of the Michigan football staff, though Stalions serves in an off-the-field role. He’s a Naval Academy graduate and a retired Marine Corps captain. Whatever happens, it might be time for the NCAA or the FBS conferences to start looking into helmet audio technology. The NFL has been using it for years. There is even new technology, developed by AT&T, that allows players to actually see a play call on a small screen inside the facemask of the helmet. The technology was developed for Gaulladet University, which is a school for non-hearing, i.e. deaf, students. Of course, the argument against technology is that not all 133 FBS programs could afford it. The NCAA, however, could surely front the bill. The organization had revenues of nearly $1 billion in 2022 on TV and marketing rights alone.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NCAAF, NBA, NHL, CFL and EPL Previews and Odds - 11/04/2023

by Big Al Staff

Saturday, Nov 04, 2023

The Saturday sports card features NCAAF, NBA, NHL, CFL, and EPL action.The tenth week in NCAAF college football concludes with 53 games between FBS opponents. Seven NCAAF games kick on national television at noon ET. Ohio State travels to Rutgers on CBS as an 18.5-point road favorit,e with the total set at 42.5 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). Mississippi hosts Texas A&M on ESPN as a 3-point favorite with an over/under of 52. Notre Dame plays at Clemson on ABC as a 3-point road favorite with a total of 44.5. Texas is at home against Kansas State on Fox as a 4-point favorite with an over/under of 50. Florida plays at home against Arkansas on ESPN2 as a 3.5-point favorite with a total of 49. Nebraska is at Michigan State on FS1 as a 3-point road favorite with an over/under of 34.5. South Carolina hosts Jacksonville State on ESPNU as a 15-point favorite with a total of 55. Virginia is at home against Georgia Tech on The CW at 2 PM ET as a 1.5-point favorite with an over/under of 56. Air Force battles Army at Empower Field at Mile High on the CBS Sports Network at 2:30 PM ET as a 17.5-point favorite with a total of 32. Eight NCAAF games on national television start at 3:30 PM ET. Iowa faces Northwestern at Wrigley Field in Chicago on Peacock as a 5-point road favorite with an over/under of 31. Georgia plays at home against Missouri on CBS as a 15-point favorite with a total of 55. Florida State visits Pittsburgh on ESPN as a 21.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 50. Central Florida plays at Cincinnati on FS1 as a 3.5-point road favorite with a total of 60. Oklahoma is at Oklahoma State on ABC as a 6-point road favorite, with an over/under of 62. Tulane travels to East Carolina on ESPNU as a 17-point road favorite with a total of 45.5. James Madison plays at Georgia State on ESPN2 as a 5.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 53. Penn State is at Maryland on Fox as an 8.5-point road favorite with a total of 50. Two more nationally televised NCAAF games begin at 6 PM ET. Liberty hosts Louisiana Tech on the CBS Sports Network as a 15-point favorite with an over/under of 58.5. Appalachian State is at home against Marshall on the NFL Network as a 3.5-point favorite with a total of 55.5. Four nationally televised NCAAF games start at 7 PM ET. Iowa State plays at home against Kansas on ESPN as a 3-point favorite with an over/under of 53.5. West Virginia hosts BYU on Fox at 7 PM ET as a 12-point favorite with a total of 48.5. Utah State visits San Diego State on FS1 as a 2.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 57. Washington plays at USC on ABC and ESPN2 as a 3-point road favorite with a total of 77. Michigan is at home against Purdue on NBC as a 32.5-point favorite with an over/under of 52.5. Alabama plays at home against LSU on CBS at 7:45 PM ET as a 3-point favorite with a total of 61.5. Washington State hosts Stanford on ABC at 9 PM ET as a 13-point favorite with an over/under of 59. Two more NCAAF games on national television begin at 10 PM ET. Oregon State is at Colorado on ESPN as a 13-point road favorite with a total of 61.5. Fresno State is at home against Boise State on the CBS Sports Network as a 2.5-point favorite with an over/under of 54.5. UCLA travels to Arizona on FS1 at 10:30 PM ET as a 2.5-point road favorite with a total of 50.5. The National Basketball Association has eight games on its docket. The Phoenix Suns play in Philadelphia against the 76ers at 1:10 PM ET. Three more NBA games tip off at 7:10 PM ET. The Charlotte Hornets are at Indiana to face the Pacers. The Los Angeles Lakers visit Orlando to play the Magic as a 3.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 218.5. The Atlanta Hawks play in New Orleans against the Pelicans. Three NBA games start at 8:10 PM ET. The Boston Celtics are in Brooklyn to play the Nets as a 9.5-point road favorite with a total of 229.5. The Sacramento Kings travel to Houston to play the Rockets. The Minnesota Timberwolves host the Utah Jazz as a 7.5-point favorite with an over/under of 226.5. The Chicago Bulls play in Denver against the Nuggets at 9:10 PM ET. The National Hockey League has 15 games on its slate. The Edmonton Oilers are at home against the Nashville Predators at 3:07 PM ET as a -185 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Winnipeg Jets play in Arizona against the Coyotes at 4:07 PM ET as a -125 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. Five NHL games drop the puck at 7:07 PM ET. The St. Louis Blues play at home against the Montreal Canadiens as a -118 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Boston Bruins visit Detroit to play the Red Wings as a -148 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6. The Ottawa Senators are at home against the Tampa Bay Lightning as a -120 money-line favorite with a total of 7. The Toronto Maple Leafs host the Buffalo Sabres as a -218 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Washington Capitals play at home at home against the Columbus Blue Jackets as a -142 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. Two NHL games start at 7:37 PM ET. The Carolina Hurricanes travel to New York to play the Islanders as a -120 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Los Angeles Kings play in Philadelphia against the Flyers as a -170 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. Two more NHL games begin at 8:07 PM ET. The Florida Panthers are in Chicago against the Blackhawks as a -198 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Minnesota Wild are at home against the New York Rangers as a -115 money-line favorite with a total of 6. The NHL card concludes with four games at 10:07 PM ET. The Seattle Kraken host the Calgary Flames as a -125 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6. The Pittsburgh Penguins play in San Jose against the Sharks as a -230 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The Dallas Stars visit Vancouver to play the Canucks as a -125 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6. The Colorado Avalanche are in Vegas to play the Golden Knights, with both teams priced at -110 with a total of 6.5.The playoffs begin in the Canadian Football League with the two divisional semifinal contests. The Montreal Alouettes play at home against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats as a 3.5-point favorite with an over/under of 48. The British Columbia Lions are at home against the Calgary Stampeders at 6:30 PM ET as a 7-point favorite with a total of 49.5.Matchweek 11 in the English Premier League begins with seven matches. Manchester United plays at Fulham on the USA Network at 8:30 PM ET as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with an over/under of 2.5 (all soccer odds from BetMGM). Four more EPL matches start at 11 AM ET. Brentford hosts West Ham United as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5. Crystal Palaces visits Burnley in a pick ‘em match with an over/under of 2.5. Brighton and Hove Albion is at Everton as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with a total of 3. Manchester City plays at home against Bournemouth on the USA Network as a -2.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 3.5. Wolverhampton plays at Sheffield United as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with a total of 2.5. Arsenal travels to Newcastle United on NBC at 1:30 PM ET in a pick ‘em match with an over/under of 2.5.

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NCAA Basketball Futures Wager: Purdue to Win the 2024 Championship

by Al McMordie

Saturday, Nov 04, 2023

Back in 2018, the Virginia Cavaliers were seeded #1 in the Men's NCAA basketball tournament, but became the first #1 seeded-team to lose to a #16 seed.  Maryland-Baltimore County was a whopping 20.5-point underdog, but upset the Cavaliers by a staggering 20 points.  That following season, I had Virginia as my futures play at 22-1 odds, as I thought the ignominy of losing to a #16 seed would fuel Tony Bennett's men throughout the season, and catapult them to a National Championship.  Indeed, it was my favorite futures play of any I have made in my 45 years of sports handicapping.  Sure enough, the Cavaliers played great that season, finished with a 29-3 record in the regular season, and were ranked as the #1 team for much of the season.  Not bad value for a 22-1 ticket.  They then finished off the job by winning their six games in the Tourney (and I pressed them every game along the way by playing them on the moneyline).I thought I would never have another opportunity to take a team on a futures bet that was coming off a loss to a #16 seed.  And that was for two reasons.  First, I didn't think I would see such an upset again in my lifetime (I'm old).  And, second, one not only has to get a #1 seed to lose to a #16 seed, but that team has to also have a reasonable chance to win the following season.  But, lo and behold, the Purdue Boilermakers have given us this opportunity.  They were seeded #1 last year, and got smacked, 63-58, by the 23-point underdog, Fairleigh Dickinson Knights (who almost pulled the trick 38 years earlier when they narrowly lost to #1-seeded Michigan, 59-55).  There was a chance that center Zach Edey would depart for the NBA.  But he elected to return to West Lafayette, and that cemented Purdue as a National Title contender.Matt Painter's team returns nine of its 10 rotation players from last season.  Only Brandon Newman (6 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 1.1 apg) has departed.  The Boilers will also welcome two new players in Myles Colvin and Lance Jones.  Colvin is a 6'6" freshman guard with NBA potential, while Jones transferred from Southern Illinois, where he poured in 13.8 ppg and pulled down 3.1 boards last season.I like Painter as a coach (notwithstanding his post-season failures), and believe that Purdue will earn a #1 seed (they're ranked #3 in the preseason poll).  Currently, Purdue is 15-1 at BetMGM.  Take the Boilermakers to win the National Championship.  Good luck, as always...Al McMordie

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NCAAF, NBA and NHL Previews and Odds - 11/03/2023

by Big Al Staff

Friday, Nov 03, 2023

The Thursday sports card features NCAAF, NBA, and NHL action.The tenth week in NCAAF college football continues with two games on national television between FBS opponents. Syracuse hosts Boston College on ESPN2 at 7:30 PM ET. The Orange are on a four-game losing streak after their 38-10 loss at Virginia Tech as a 2.5-point underdog on Thursday. The Eagles are on a four-game winning streak after their 21-14 win against Connecticut as a 14.5-point favorite on Saturday. Syracuse is a 3-point favorite, with the total set at 51 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise).The Wyoming Cowboys play at home against Colorado State on the CBS Sports Network at 8 PM ET. The Cowboys are on a two-game losing streak after their 32-7 loss at Boise State as a 4.5-point underdog last Saturday. The Rams lost for the third time in their last four games with a 30-13 loss to Air Force as a 14.5-point underdog on Saturday. Wyoming is a 6-point favorite with an over/under of 42. The National Basketball Association tips off the In-Season Tournament with its first Tournament Night with seven games on its docket. The Cleveland Cavaliers travel to Indiana to play the Pacers at 7:10 PM ET. The Cavaliers ended a three-game losing streak with their 95-89 upset victory at New York as a 6-point underdog on Wednesday. The Pacers are on a two-game losing streak after their 155-104 loss at Boston as a 13-point underdog on Wednesday. Cleveland is a 4.5-point road favorite at BetMGM with a total of 222.5.The Milwaukee Bucks are at home against the New York Knicks on ESPN at 7:40 PM ET. The Bucks lost for the second time in their last three games after a 130-111 upset loss at Toronto as a 4.5-point favorite on Wednesday. The Knicks lost for the second time in their last three games in their loss to Cleveland on Wednesday. Milwaukee is a 6.5-point favorite with an over/under of 228. Three NBA games tip off at 8:10 PM ET. The Miami Heat host the Washington Wizards. The Heat have lost four games in a row after their 109-105 loss to Brooklyn as a 6.5-point favorite on Tuesday. The Wizards are on a two-game losing streak after a 109-105 loss at Atlanta on Wednesday. Miami is a 9.5-point favorite with a total of 226.5. The Chicago Bulls play at home against the Brooklyn Nets. The Bulls lost for the second time in their last three games with their 114-105 loss at Dallas as a 3.5-point underdog on Wednesday. The Nets are on a two-game winning streak after beating the Heat on Wednesday. Chicago is a 4-point favorite with an over/under of 220. The Golden State Warriors visit Oklahoma City. The Warriors won their fourth straight game with a 102-101 victory against Sacramento as a 7-point favorite on Wednesday. The Thunder lost for the second time in their last three games with a 110-106 upset loss to New Orleans as a 3.5-point favorite on Wednesday. Golden State is a 5.5-point road favorite with a total of 229. Two games conclude the NBA card at 10:10 PM ET. The Denver Nuggets are at home against the Dallas Mavericks on ESPN. The Nuggets had won their first four games of the season before a 110-89 upset loss at Minnesota on Wednesday. The Mavericks have won their first four games of the season after their victory against the Bulls on Wednesday. Denver is a 7.5-point favorite at BetMGM with an over/under of 227.5. The Memphis Grizzlies play in Portland against the Trail Blazers. The Grizzlies remain winless in their last five games after a 133-109 loss at Utah as a 1.5-point underdog on Wednesday. The Trail Blazers are on a two-game winning streak with a 110-101 upset win at Detroit as a 3-point underdog on Wednesday. Memphis is a 2-point road favorite with a total of 218. The National Hockey League has two games on its slate. The Buffalo Sabres host the Philadelphia Flyers at 7:07 PM ET as a -185 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7. The New Jersey Devils are in St. Louis to play the Blues at 8:07 PM ET as a -155 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. 

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NCAA Football Top 10 Poll - Week 10

by Wayne Root

Thursday, Nov 02, 2023

By Wayne Allyn Root The Top 5 teams have moved around this week as the teams move into conference play. The lines will be tightened up as will the performances of the Coaches and players.   1. Ohio St The Ohio State Buckeyes are the best team in college football. Entering Week 9, the Buckeyes had the highest Football Power Index in the nation, putting them over Michigan and Georgia by a fairly significant margin. The Buckeyes avoided a hangover one week after beating Penn State, winning at Wisconsin by two touchdowns. Plus, the Buckeyes’ offense has been producing through injuries to key players. Quarterback Kyle McCord wasn’t great, although wideout Marvin Harrison Jr. was. And the Ohio State defense was once again tremendous, which has been the case all year. Victories over Notre Dame – on the road – and against Penn State further demonstrate why Ohio State has earned the No. 1 spot in our college football rankings for the last three weeks. 2. Michigan I dropped Michigan from the No. 1 spot because of their popcorn schedule. It’s totally embarrassing. The Michigan Wolverines don’t have a win over a ranked opponent this season, but they are continuing to dominate in the midst of the biggest scandal in college football this season. Fortunately for Jim Harbaugh and J.J. McCarthy, they can cross off that last remaining hole on their resume in Week 11 with a victory against Penn State. Next week, the Wolverines play Purdue before taking a fascinating road trip to Penn State. While the Nittany Lions are at home, we’ll always bet on Harbaugh and McCarthy against a James Franklin-coached team. 3. Georgia The Georgia Bulldogs aren’t the same without Brock Bowers, but Kirby Smart and Co. have proven countless times they can overcome injury. Life without tight end Brock Bowers started off on the right foot. Georgia clobbered Florida 43-20, moving to 8-0. On Saturday, Georgia’s offense did just that. Carson Beck racked up over 300 yards through the air, with Ladd McConkey stepping up for a huge performance. Between that and a strong ground game with a defense still playing at a high level, Georgia has equaled Michigan in our eyes when comparing the top teams in the nation. The Bulldogs enter a fascinating stretch of games, starting with a home matchup against Missouri. The following week, Georgia plays Ole Miss before taking a road trip to Tennessee. 4. Washington   For the second week, Washington struggled mightily against lesser competition. This is it for the Washington Huskies. Led by Michael Penix Jr., head coach Kalen DeBoer’s program has won 15 consecutive games since October 15, 2023. It’s been all thanks to one of the best offenses in college football over the last two years. Penix remains a frontrunner according to the latest Heisman odds. The Huskies are unbeaten, although the signs are concerning. Now, the Huskies head into their most challenging stretch with matchups against the USC Trojans, Utah Utes and Oregon State Beavers. 5. Florida St Florida State made quick work of Wake Forest, cruising to a 41-16 win. The Florida State Seminoles offense put on a clinic this Saturday against Wake Forest. Travis, one of the leading Heisman candidates, had one of his best performances through the air in 2023 with Trey Benson and Keon Coleman coming through with big performances. Plus, the Seminoles’ defense played well. For the Seminoles, everything is still in front of them. They’ll play at Pittsburgh next, and they’ll be a favorite in every remaining game. With two quality wins on the year already, Florida State can now go for style points as it controls its destiny in the CFP race. 6. Alabama   Nick Saban has had much better teams, but this one has heart and spunk. The bye week came at the perfect time for the Alabama Crimson Tide, providing a banged-up team with much-needed rest. Plus, Alabama’s offense showed a lot more life in its Week 8 victory over Tennessee and that second-half performance provided a lot to build from. LSU’s high-power offense is coming to town, and the environment promises to be one of the best we get all season. This is a yearly ritual and a massive football game all at once. As long as the Crimson Tide’s offensive line holds up against LSU’s pass rush, the Crimson Tide should roll to victory in Week 10. 7. Oregon The Oregon Ducks needed a signature win on Saturday to sustain any slim hope of sneaking into the CFP picture. The Ducks traveled to Utah, and they responded with an emphatic win that showcased their talent and depth on both sides of the ball. In a tough spot on the road against the Utah Utes, the Ducks came through in emphatic fashion thanks to Bo Nix. With Texas missing Quinn Ewers, the Ducks move up a few spots. There are meaningful games still to come, but there’s only one road game remaining. This team feels like a real threat at the moment. The path to even making the top five is difficult, but the Ducks can at least have a shot if they head into the Civil War (Nov. 24) with a 10-1 record. 8. Ole Miss The victories are rarely pretty for the Ole Miss Rebels, but they do have wins over two ranked opponents this season and entered Saturday 13th in FPI. The next two games will tell us plenty. Ole Miss plays Texas A&M and at Georgia, which will ultimately swing this ranking up or down. The Rebels are rarely going to win in dominating fashion and that likely includes next Saturday’s matchup at home against Texas A&M. If Lane Kiffin’s program wants more national recognition, it will need to pull off a stunner in Georgia on Nov. 11. We wouldn’t count on that happening, but Quinshon Judkins at least gives Ole Miss a shot. 9. Oklahoma The effort we saw last Saturday in a two-point victory over Central Florida carried over into Week 9. And after beating Texas just a few short weeks ago, the team was rocked. There will be a lot of finger-pointing in Norman after Saturday, with quarterback Dillon Gabriel shouldering some if not most of the responsibility. Our biggest takeaway, though, is Brent Venables’ reputation as a brilliant defensive mind has not translated to much on-field success by his defense in recent weeks. It doesn’t get immediately easier. Oklahoma heads to Oklahoma State for a massive rivalry game. The Sooners’ playoff hopes are effectively toast. 10. Texas  The Texas Longhorns should be favored in every remaining game on their regular-season schedule and victories will keep them in the top 10. When stacking up the best teams in college football, though, that’s where the Quinn Ewers injury really hurts. Despite playing without its starting QB, Texas destroyed BYU. Backup QB Maalik Murphy wasn’t perfect, but he did account for two touchdowns. While he’s not out for the season, starting a very inexperienced quarterback always significantly reduces a team’s margin for error in each game and that puts Texas at risk of an upset loss. In a massive week of games, Texas has a doozy. The Longhorns welcome surging Kansas State to town, and a win will not be easy.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NFL, NCAAF, NBA and NHL Previews and Odds - 11/02/2023

by Big Al Staff

Thursday, Nov 02, 2023

The Thursday sports card features NFL, NCAAF, NBA, and NHL action.Week 8 of the NFL regular season kicks off with the Pittsburg Steelers hosting the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Amazon Prime at 8:15 PM ET. The Steelers were on a two-game winning streak before a 20-10 loss to Jacksonville as a 2.5-point underdog on Sunday. The Titans ended a two-game losing streak with a 28-23 upset loss as a 2.5-point underdog last Sunday. Pittsburgh is a 3-point favorite, with the total set at 37 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise).The tenth week in NCAAF college football continues with three games on national television between FBS opponents. Texas Tech plays at home against TCU on FS1. The Red Raiders are on a two-game losing streak after their 27-14 upset loss as a 3-point favorite on October 21st. The Horned Frogs have lost three of their last four games after a 41-3 loss at Kansas State as a 5.5-point underdog on October 21st. Texas Tech is a 3-point favorite with an over/under of 59.5. Two NCAAF games kick off at 7:30 PM ET. Duke is at home against Wake Forest on ESPN. The Blue Devils lost for the third time in their last four games in a 23-0 loss at Louisville as a 4.5-point underdog last Saturday. The Demon Deacons lost for the fourth time in their last five games with their 41-16 loss to Florida State as a 21-point favorite on Saturday. Duke is a 12.5-point favorite with a total of 45. Troy hosts South Alabama on ESPN2. The Trojans are on a five-game winning streak after beating Texas State on the road by a 31-13 score as a 7-point favorite last Saturday. The Jaguars had won two games in a row before their 33-20 upset loss at Louisiana-Lafayette as an 11.5-point favorite on Saturday. Troy is a 4-point favorite with an over/under of 44.5.The National Basketball Association has four games on its docket. The Philadelphia 76ers host the Toronto Raptors at 7:10 PM ET as an 8.5-point favorite at BetMGM with a total of 215.5. The New Orleans Pelicans play at home against the Detroit Pistons at 8:10 PM ET as an 8.5-point favorite at BetMGM with an over/under of 219.5. The Orlando Magic travels to Utah to play the Jazz at 9:10 PM ET as a 1-point road favorite with a total of 222.5. The Phoenix Suns are at home against the San Antonio Spurs at 10:10 PM ET as an 8-point favorite with an over/under of 225. The National Hockey League has 12 games on its slate. Five NHL games drop the puck at 7:07 PM ET. The Tampa Bay Lightning play in Columbus against the Blue Jackets as a -170 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The Florida Panthers are in Detroit against the Red Wings as a -118 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The New York Rangers host the Carolina Hurricanes as a -118 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Los Angeles Kings visit Ottawa to play the Senators as a -112 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 7. The New York Islanders play in Washington against the Capitals as a -130 money-line road favorite with a total of 5.5. The Boston Bruins play at home against the Toronto Maple Leafs at 7:37 PM ET as a -122 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6. The New Jersey Devils are in Minnesota against the Wild at 8:07 PM ET as a -122 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The Edmonton Oilers play at home against the Dallas Stars at 9:07 PM ET as a -130 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. Three NHL games begin at 10:07 PM ET. The Arizona Coyotes are at home against the Montreal Canadiens as a -130 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Seattle Kraken host the Nashville Predators as a -125 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6. The Vegas Golden Knights play at home against the Winnipeg Jets as a -166 money-line favorite with a total of 6. The Vancouver Canucks play in San Jose against the Sharks at 10:37 PM ET as a -218 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.

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What's Going On Out West?

by Will Rogers

Wednesday, Nov 01, 2023

Prior to the season, I looked at some of the teams from the Pacific Division. I previewed the Canucks, Oilers, Flames and the Kraken. With those clubs having all played a decent number of games, it's time to get caught up on where they're at. Edmonton: Through their first eight games, the Oilers are sitting at 2-5-1. This is not the start that they envisioned. Beating up on their provincial rival in their last game has them pointed in the right direction. The talent is still there and they still should be fine. However, seven of their next 11 games come on the road. They need to smarten up before digging themselves too deep a hole. Calgary: A coaching change was supposed to be just what the under-achieving Flames needed. Outscored 34-19 in going 2-6-1, perhaps the Flames' issues were deeper than Calgary fans wanted to admit. I also thought they'd be better. They play eight of their next 12 on the road.  The season could be over before it started. The Flames know things are bad. They've suspended all contract talks. Vancouver: Things are much rosier on the West Coast than they are in the Prairies. The Canucks have gotten used to slow starts. So, they're very much appreciating going 6-2-1 through their first nine games. They've outscored opposing teams by a 36-21 margin. They've got a lot of winnable upcoming games, including three in November against a really bad San Jose team. This looks like a legit playoff team. Seattle: Everything went right for the Kraken last season. So far this season? Not so much. Seattle sits at 3-5-1. No longer sneaking up on teams, the Kraken have been outscored 34-24. Much of that was thanks to an 0-4 start. They've been better since.  Though the Kraken should remain competitive on most nights, the playoffs look like they could be a long-shot. The Pacific Division is currently home to the both the top team in the NHL, in terms of points and also the worst. All four teams are chasing Vegas. The Knights (9-0-1) are setting the pace in the Pacific. I touched on the Sharks being a bad team. They could be historically bad. They're 0-8-1 getting outscored 35-9. Of course, there's still a long way to go. It'll be interesting to see where we're at by this time next month! 

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NCAAF, NHL, MLB and NBA Previews and Odds - 11/01/2023

by Big Al Staff

Wednesday, Nov 01, 2023

The Wednesday sports card features NCAAF, MLB, NBA, and NHL action.The tenth week in NCAAF college football continues with two games on national television between FBS opponents. Bowling Green hosts Ball State on ESPN2 at 7 PM ET. The Falcons are on a two-game winning streak after their 41-14 victory against Akron as a 7-point favorite on October 21st. The Cardinals ended a four-game losing streak with a 24-17 upset victory against Central Michigan as a 5-point underdog on October 21st. Bowling Green is a 5.5-point favorite, with the total set at 40 (all odds from DraftKings). Akron plays at home against Kent State on ESPNU at 7:30 PM ET. The Zips are on a six-game losing streak after their loss to Bowling Green 11 days ago. The Golden Flashes are on a five-game losing streak after their 24-6 loss to Buffalo as a 6-point favorite on October 21st. Akron is a 4.5-point favorite with an over/under of 38.5. Major League Baseball continues its postseason with Game 5 of the World Series on Fox at 8:03 PM ET. Texas took a 3-1 lead in this best-of-seven series with their 11-7 victory on the road against the Diamondbacks on Tuesday. The Rangers send out Nathan Eovaldi to pitch against Arizona’s Zac Gallen. Texas is a -115 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The National Basketball Association has 13 games on its docket. Two NBA games tip off at 7:10 PM ET. The Detroit Pistons are at home against the Portland Trail Blazers as a 4-point favorite with an over/under of 214. The Milwaukee Bucks travel to Toronto to play the Raptors as a 4.5-point road favorite with a total of 224. Five NBA games start at 7:40 PM ET. The Atlanta Hawks host the Washington Wizards as a 7.5-point favorite with an over/under of 237.5. The Boston Celtics play at home against the Indiana Pacers as an 11.5-point favorite with a total of 231.5. The Miami Heat are at home against the Brooklyn Nets as a 6-point favorite with an over/under of 222.5. The New York Knicks host the Cleveland Guardians as a 6.5-point favorite with a total of 210.5. The Oklahoma City Thunder play at home against the New Orleans Pelicans on ESPN as a 3.5-point favorite with an over/under of 225.5. Two NBA games begin at 8:10 PM ET. The Houston Rockets are at home against the Charlotte Hornets as a 2-point favorite with a total of 223. The Denver Nuggets play in Minnesota against the Timberwolves as a 3-point road favorite with an over/under of 223.5. The Dallas Mavericks host the Chicago Bulls at 8:40 PM ET as a 5-point favorite with a total of 225.5. The Utah Jazz play at home against the Memphis Grizzlies at 9:10 PM ET as a 2.5-point favorite with an over/under of 228.5. Two more games conclude the NBA card at 10:10 PM ET. The Golden State Warriors are at home against the Sacramento Kings as a 7.5-point favorite with a total of 234.5. The Los Angeles Lakers are the technical home team at Crypto.com Arena against the Los Angeles Clippers as a 3-point favorite with an over/under of 226.5. The National Hockey League has four games on its slate. The Buffalo Sabres visit Philadelphia to play the Flyers on TNT at 7:07 PM ET as a -115 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The Dallas Stars play in Calgary against the Flames at 8:37 PM ET as a -135 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6. The Colorado Avalanche host the St. Louis Blues on TNT at 9:37 PM ET as a -230 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Arizona Coyotes play in Anaheim against the Ducks at 10:07 PM ET as a -125 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. 

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