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Big Al's Daily Angle: NCAAF, MLB, and UEFA Champions League Previews and Odds - 10/05/22

by Big Al Staff

Wednesday, Oct 05, 2022

The Wednesday sports card features action in NCAAF, MLB, and the UEFA Champions League.Week 6 in the regular season of the college football season kicks off with one game. Central Florida hosts Southern Methodist on ESPN2 at 7 PM ET after this game got postponed last week because of Hurricane Ian. The Knights are on a two-game winning streak after a 27-10 victory against Georgia Tech as a 21-point favorite on September 24th. The Mustangs lost their second-straight game in a 42-34 loss to TCU as a 2.5-point underdog on September 24th. Central Florida is a 3-point favorite with the total set at 63 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). Major League Baseball concludes its regular season with 16 games in the afternoon. The Baltimore Orioles play at home against the Toronto Blue Jays at 12:35 PM ET. The Los Angeles Angels visit Oakland against the A’s at 4 PM ET as a -250 money line road favorite with an over/under of 7. Three more MLB games throw out the first pitch at 4:05 PM ET. The Blue Jays play the Orioles in the second game of their doubleheader. The New York Yankees play at Texas against the Rangers as a -140 money line road favorite with a total of 7.5. The St. Louis Cardinals travel to Pittsburgh to play the Pirates.Ten MLB games start at 4:10 PM ET. The Tampa Bay Rays are at Boston to play the Red Sox. The Chicago Cubs visit Cincinnati to play the Reds as a -115 money line road favorite with an over/under of 8. The Kansas City Royals play at Cleveland against the Guardians. The Washington Nationals travel to New York to play the Mets. The Atlanta Braves play at Miami against the Marlins. The Houston Astros host the Philadelphia Phillies as a -180 money line favorite with a total of 7.5. The Chicago White Sox are at home against the Minnesota Twins as a -140 money line favorite with an over/under of 8. The Milwaukee Brewers play at home against the Arizona Diamondbacks as a -175 money line favorite with a total of 7. The Detroit Tigers travel to Seattle to play the Mariners. The San Francisco Giants are at San Diego to play the Padres. The Colorado Rockies play at Los Angeles against the Dodgers at 4:20 PM ET.Matchday 3 in the UEFA Champions League concludes with eight group stage matches. Two matches start at 12:45 PM ET. Salzburg hosts Dinamo Zagreb as a -1 goal line favorite with an over/under of 2.5 (all soccer odds from BetMGM). RB Leipzig is at home against Celtic as a -1 goal line favorite with a total of 3. Six matches conclude the UCL card at 3 PM ET. Real Madrid plays at home against Shakhtar Donetsk as a -2 goal line favorite with an over/under of 3.5. Chelsea hosts AC Milan as a -0.5 goal line favorite with a total of 2.5. Manchester City is at home against FC Copenhagen as a -3 goal line favorite with an over/under of 4. Borussia Dortmund visits Sevilla in a pick ‘em match with a total of 2.5. Paris Saint-Germain plays at Benfica as a -0.5 goal line road favorite with an over/under of 3. Juventus plays at home against Maccabi Haifa as a -1.5 goal line favorite with a total of 3. All eight Champions League matches are available on Paramount+. The CBS Sports Network’s “The Golazo Show” is an NFL Red Zone-inspired show that presents live updated highlights of all eight games.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: MLB and UEFA Champions League Previews and Odds - 10/04/2022

by Big Al Staff

Tuesday, Oct 04, 2022

The Tuesday sports card features action in MLB and the UEFA Champions League.Major League Baseball has 18 games on its schedule. The New York Yankees play at the Texas Rangers in the first game of their doubleheader at 2:05 PM ET. The Washington Nationals visit New York to play the Mets at 4:10 PM ET in the opener of their doubleheader. Two more MLB games throw out the first pitch at 6:10 PM ET. The Cleveland Guardians are at home against the Kansas City Royals as a -180 money line favorite with the total set at 7.5 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). The Seattle Mariners host the Detroit Tigers as a -165 money line favorite with an over/under of 7. The St. Louis Cardinals travel to Pittsburgh to play the Pirates at 6:35 PM ET. Two more MLB games throw out the first pitch at 6:40 PM ET. The Chicago White Sox are at home against the Chicago Cubs as a -115 money line favorite with a total of 8. The Atlanta Braves play at Miami against the Marlins. The Baltimore Orioles play at home against the Toronto Blue Jays at 7:05 PM ET as a -105 money line favorite with an over/under of 7.5. Two MLB games start at 7:10 PM ET. The Mets host the Nationals in the second game of their doubleheader as a -260 money line favorite with a total of 7. The Tampa Bay Rays play on the road against the Boston Red Sox as a -115 money line road favorite with an over/under of 7.5. The Arizona Diamondbacks visit the Milwaukee Brewers at 7:40 PM ET as a -115 money line road favorite with a total of 7. The Yankees visit the Rangers in the second game of their doubleheader at 8:05 PM ET. Two more MLB games begin at 8:10 PM ET. The Chicago White Sox are at home against the Minnesota Twins as a -180 money line favorite with an over/under of 7. The Philadelphia Phillies play at Houston against the Astros. The Tigers play at the Mariners in the second game of their doubleheader at 9:10 PM ET.Two MLB games begin at 9:40 PM ET. The Los Angeles Angels travel to Oakland as a -130 money line road favorite with a total of 7. The San Francisco Giants play at San Diego against the Padres. The Los Angeles Dodgers host the Colorado Rockies at 10:10 PM ET as a -365 money line favorite with an over/under of 8.Matchday 3 in the UEFA Champions League has eight group stage matches. Two matches start at 12:45 PM ET. Bayern Munich hosts Viktoria Plzgen as a -3.5 goal line favorite with a total of 4 (all soccer odds from BetMGM). Olympique Marseille is at home against Sporting Lisbon as a -0.5 goal line favorite with an over/under of 2.5.Six matches conclude the UCL card at 3 PM ET. Liverpool is at home against the Rangers as a -2.5 goal line favorite with a total of 3.5. FC Porto host Bayern Leverkusen as a -0.5 goal line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Ajax is at home against Napoli as a -0.5 goal line favorite with a total of 3. Atletico Madrid visits Club Brugge as a -0.5 goal line road favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Barcelona plays at Inter Milan as a -0.5 goal line road favorite with a total of 3. Tottenham travels to Frankfurt as a -0.5 goal line road favorite with an over/under of 2.5.  All eight Champions League matches are available on Paramount+. The CBS Sports Network’s “The Golazo Show” is an NFL Red Zone-inspired show that presents live updated highlights of all eight games.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NFL, MLB and EPL Previews and Odds - 10/03/2022

by Big Al Staff

Monday, Oct 03, 2022

The Monday sports card features action in the NFL, MLB, and EPL.The third week in the National Football League concludes with one game for Monday Night Football. The San Francisco 49ers host the Los Angeles Rams on ESPN and ESPN2 for the Manningcast at 8:15 PM ET. The 49ers lost for the second time in three games this season with an 11-10 upset loss at Denver as a 1.5-point favorite last Sunday night. The Rams won for the second-straight time after their 20-12 victory at Arizona as a 5.5-point favorite on Sunday. This NFC West showdown is a rematch of last year’s NFC championship game which Los Angeles won at home, 20-17, as a 3.5-point favorite on January 30th. San Francisco is a 1.5-point favorite, with the total set at 42.5 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). Major League Baseball has 15 games on its schedule. The Cleveland Guardians play at home against the Kansas City Royals at 6:10 PM ET as a -180 money line favorite with an over/under of 7. The Pittsburgh Pirates are at home against the St. Louis Cardinals at 6:35 PM ET. Two more MLB games throw out the first pitch at 6:40 PM ET. The Cincinnati Reds play at home against the Chicago Cubs as a -135 money line favorite with a total of 7.5. The Atlanta Braves travel to Miami to play the Marlins. Two MLB games start at 7:05 PM ET. The Toronto Blue Jays travel to Baltimore to play the Orioles as a -140 money line road favorite with an over/under of 8. The New York Yankees play at Texas against the Rangers as a -145 money line road favorite with a total of 8. Two more MLB games begin at 7:10 PM ET. The Tampa Bay Rays are at Boston against the Red Sox as a -135 money line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Washington Nationals visit New York to play the Mets. The Milwaukee Brewers play at home against the Arizona Diamondbacks as a -215 money line favorite with a total of 7.5. Two MLB games start at 8:10 PM ET. The Philadelphia Phillies are at Houston against the Astros. The Chicago White Sox host the Minnesota Twins as a -125 money line favorite with an over/under of 7. Three more MLB games begin at 9:40 PM ET. The Los Angeles Angels play at Oakland against the A’s as a -175 money line road favorite with a total of 7. The Seattle Mariners are at home against the Detroit Tigers as a -250 money line favorite with an over/under of 7. The San Francisco Giants visit San Diego against the Padres. The Los Angeles Dodgers play at home against the Colorado Rockies as a -340 money line favorite with a total of 8. The English Premier League completes their Matchweek 9 fixtures with one match. Leicester City hosts Nottingham Forest on the USA Network at 3 PM ET as a -0.5 goal line favorite at BetMGM with an over/under of 3.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NFL, MLB and EPL Previews and Odds - 10/02/2022

by Big Al Staff

Sunday, Oct 02, 2022

The Sunday sports card features action in the NFL, MLB, and EPL.The third week in the National Football League continues with 14 games. One game kicks off the card at 9:30 AM ET. The Minnesota Vikings play the New Orleans Saints at Tottenham Hotspurs Stadium in London on the NFL Network. The Vikings are a 3.5-point favorite, with the total set at 42 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). Nine NFL games start at 1 PM ET. The Cleveland Browns visit the Atlanta Falcons as a 1-point road favorite with an over/under of 47.5. The Philadelphia Eagles host the Jacksonville Jaguars as a 6.5-point favorite with a total of 46. The Los Angeles Chargers play at Houston against the Texans as a 5.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 45. The Indianapolis Colts are at home against the Tennessee Titans as a 3.5-point favorite with a total of 43. The Dallas Cowboys play at home against the Washington Commanders as a 3-point favorite with an over/under of 41.5. The New York Giants host the Chicago Bears as a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 38.5. The Detroit Lions are at home against the Seattle Seahawks as a 3.5-point favorite with an over/under of 47.5. The Pittsburgh Steelers play at home against the New York Jets as a 3.5-point favorite with a total of 41.5. The Buffalo Bills visit Baltimore to play the Ravens as a 3-point road favorite with an over/under of 51. One NFL game begins at 4:05 PM ET. The Carolina Panthers are at home against the Arizona Cardinals as a 1-point favorite with a total of 43.5. Two more NFL games start at 4:25 PM ET. The Green Bay Packers host the New England Patriots as a 9.5-point favorite with an over/under of 40. The Las Vegas Raiders are at home against the Denver Broncos as a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 45. Sunday Night Football on NBC has the Tampa Bay Buccaneers playing at home against the Kansas City Chiefs at 8:20 PM ET. The Buccaneers are a 1-point favorite with an over/under of 46. Major League Baseball has 15 games on its schedule. The Minnesota Twins play at Detroit against the Tigers at 12:10 PM ET. Two more MLB games throw out the first pitch at 1:35 PM ET. The Philadelphia Phillies travel to Washington to play the Nationals as a -240 money line road favorite with a total of 7.5. The New York Yankees host the Baltimore Orioles as a -190 money line favorite. The Toronto Blue Jays are at home against the Boston Red Sox at 1:37 PM ET as a -190 money line favorite with an over/under of 8. The Cleveland Guardians play at home against the Kansas City Royals at 1:40 PM ET as a -225 money line favorite with a total of 7. Two MLB games begin at 2:10 PM ET. The Milwaukee Brewers are at home against the Miami Marlins. The Houston Astros host the Tampa Bay Rays as a -165 money line favorite with an over/under of 7.5. The St. Louis Cardinals play at home against the Pittsburgh Pirates at 2:15 PM ET as a -205 money line favorite with a total of 7. The Chicago Cubs are at home against the Cincinnati Reds at 2:20 PM ET as a -170 money line favorite. The Arizona Diamondbacks play at San Francisco against the Giants at 4:05 PM ET. The Texas Rangers are at Los Angeles against the Angels at 4:07 PM ET. Three more MLB games begin at 4:10 PM ET. The Los Angeles Dodgers are at home against the Colorado Rockies as a -295 money line favorite with an over/under of 8. The Seattle Mariners host the Oakland A’s as a -275 money line favorite with a  total of 7. The San Diego Padres play at home against the Chicago White Sox as a -165 money line favorite with an over/under of 7.The Atlanta Braves are at home against the New York Mets on ESPN at 7:08 PM ET for Sunday Night Baseball. The Braves are a -130 money line favorite with a total of 7.5. Matchweek 9 in the English Premier League concludes with two matches. Manchester City hosts Manchester United at 9 AM ET as a -1.5 goal line favorite with an over/under of 3.5 (all soccer odds from BetMGM). Aston Villa visits Leeds United on the USA Network at 11:30 AM ET in a pick ‘em match with a total of 2.5.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NCAAF, MLB, CFL and EPL Previews and Odds - 10/01/2022

by Big Al Staff

Saturday, Oct 01, 2022

The Saturday sports card features action in NCAAF, MLB, CFL, and EPL.The fifth week of the college football regular season continues with 51 games between FBS opponents. Seven nationally-televised NCAAF games kick off at noon ET. Memphis hosts Temple on ESPNU as a 19-point favorite with the total set at 50 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). Oklahoma visits TCU on ABC as a 5-point road favorite with an over/under of 69.5. Minnesota plays at home against Purdue on ESPN2 as an 11.5-point favorite with a total of 52. Army is at home against Georgia State on the CBS Sports Network as a 7.5-point favorite with an over/under of 54. Michigan travels to Iowa on Fox as a 10.5-point road favorite with a total of 42. Air Force plays at home against Navy on CBS as a 14-point favorite with an over/under of 38.5. Mississippi hosts Kentucky on ESPN as a 7-point favorite with a total of 54.5. Nine nationally-televised NCAAF games between FBS opponents start at 3:30 PM ET. Maryland plays at home against Michigan State on FS1 as a 7.5-point favorite with an over/under of 58. Fresno State is at Connecticut on the CBS Sports Network as a 23.5-point road favorite with a total of 51.5. Penn State hosts Northwestern on ESPN as a 25-point favorite with an over/under of 50.5. Buffalo is at home against Miami (Ohio) on ESPNU as a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 50.5. Iowa State visits Kansas on ESPN2 as a 3-point road favorite with an over/under of 58.5. Baylor plays at home against Oklahoma State on Fox as a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 55.5. Toledo hosts Central Michigan on the NFL Network as a 7-point favorite with an over/under of 56. Florida State is at home against Wake Forest on ABC as a 6.5-point favorite with a total of 66. Alabama travels to Arkansas on CBS as a 17.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 61. Two NCAAF games on national television between FBS opponents begin at 7 PM ET. LSU plays at Auburn on ESPN as an 8-point road favorite with a total of 45. Cincinnati visits Tulsa on ESPNU as a 10-point road favorite with an over/under of 58.5. Three more NCAAF nationally-televised matchups between FBS foes start at 7:30 PM ET. San Jose State is at Wyoming on the CBS Sports Network as a 3-point road favorite with a total of 42.5. Clemson hosts North Carolina State on ABC as a 6.5-point favorite with an over/under of 45. Texas plays at home against West Virginia on FS1 as a 9.5-point favorite with a total of 62.5. USC is at home against Arizona State on ESPN at 10:30 PM ET as a 25.5-point favorite with an over/under of 60. Oregon hosts Stanford on FS1 as a 17-point favorite with a total of 62.5. Major League Baseball has 16 games on its schedule. Two MLB games throw out the first pitch at 1:05 PM ET. The Philadelphia Phillies travel to Washington to play the Nationals in the opening game of their doubleheader as a -180 money line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The New York Yankees are at home against the Baltimore Orioles as a -210 money line favorite with a total of 7.5. The Chicago Cubs play at home against the Cincinnati Reds at 2:20 PM ET as a -135 money line favorite. The Toronto Blue Jays host the Boston Red Sox at 3:07 PM ET as a -145 money line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Arizona Diamondbacks play at San Francisco against the Giants at 4:05 PM ET. The Seattle Mariners are at home against the Oakland A’s at 4:10 PM ET as a -255 money line favorite with a total of 6.5. Two more MLB games start at 6:10 PM ET. The Minnesota Twins visit Detroit to play the Tigers as a -130 money line road favorite with an over/under of 7.5. The Cleveland Guardians are at home against the Kansas City Royals as a -190 money line favorite with a total of 7.5. The Phillies play the Nationals in the second game of their doubleheader at 7:05 PM ET. The Miami Marlins play at Milwaukee against the Brewers at 7:10 PM ET. The St. Louis Cardinals host the Pittsburgh Pirates at 7:15 PM ET as a -245 money line favorite with an over/under of 7. Two MLB games are featured on Fox at 7:20 for regional coverage. The Houston Astros are at home against the Tampa Bay Rays as a -155 money line favorite with a total of 6.5. The New York Mets play at Atlanta against the Braves as a -130 money line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The San Diego Padres host the Chicago White Sox at 8:40 PM ET as a -120 money line favorite with a total of 7. The Los Angeles Angels are at home against the Texas Rangers at 9:07 PM ET as a -145 money line favorite with an over/under of 8. The Los Angeles Dodgers play at home against the Colorado Rockies at 9:10 PM ET as a -245 money line favorite with a total of 8.5. Week 17 of the Canadian Football League concludes with two games. The Montreal Alouettes travel to the Edmonton Eskimos at 4 PM ET as a 4-point road favorite with an over/under of 54. The Calgary Stampeders are at home against the Toronto Argonauts at 7 PM ET as a 5.5-point favorite with a total of 52.5. Matchweek 9 in the English Premier League begins with seven matches. Arsenal hosts Tottenham on the USA Network at 7:30 AM ET as a -0.5 goal line favorite with an over/under of 3 (all soccer odds from BetMGM). Five matches start at 10 AM ET. Brentford visits Bournemouth as a -0.5 goal line road favorite with a total of 2.5. Chelsea plays at Crystal Palace on the USA Network as a -0.5 goal line road favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Newcastle United is at Fulham in a pick ‘em matchup with a total of 2.5. Liverpool plays at home against Brighton and Hove Albion as a -1.5 goal line favorite with an over/under of 3. Southampton is at home against Everton as a -0.5 goal line favorite with a total of 2.5. West Ham United hosts Wolverhampton on the USA Network at 12:30 PM ET as a -0.5 goal line favorite with an over/under of 2.5.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: MLB, NCAAF and CFL Previews and Odds - 09/30/2022

by Big Al Staff

Friday, Sep 30, 2022

The Friday sports card features action in NCAAF, MLB, and CFL.The fifth week of the college football regular season continues with five games between FBS opponents. Houston hosts Tulane on ESPN at 7 PM ET as a 4.5-point favorite with the total set at 53.5 (all odds from DraftKings). UTSA visits Middle Tennessee on the CBS Sports Network at 8 PM ET as a 4.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 64. Boise State plays at home against San Diego State on FS1 at 8 PM ET as a 6.5-point favorite with a total of 38. Washington is at UCLA on ESPN at 10:30 PM ET as a 2.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 65.5. UNLV is at home against New Mexico on the CBS Sports Network at 11 PM ET as a 14-point favorite with a total of 44.Major League Baseball has 16 games on its schedule. The Washington Nationals are at home against the Philadelphia Phillies in the opening game of their doubleheader at 1:05 PM ET as a -165 money line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Chicago Cubs host the Cincinnati Reds at 2:20 PM ET as a -155 money line favorite with a total of 7. Two MLB games throw out the first pitch at 7:05 PM ET. The New York Yankees play at home against the Baltimore Orioles as a -175 money line favorite with an over/under of 7.5. The Pirates play the Nationals in the second game of their doubleheader as a -200 money line road favorite with a total of 8.5. The Toronto Blue Jays play at home against the Boston Red Sox at 7:07 PM ET as a -195 money line favorite with an over/under of 8. Two more MLB games start at 7:10 PM ET. The Minnesota Twins play at Detroit against the Tigers as a -155 money line road favorite with a total of 7. The Cleveland Guardians host the Kansas City Royals as a -135 money line favorite with an over/under of 7. The New York Mets visit the Atlanta Braves at 7:20 PM ET as a -135 money line road favorite with a total of 6.5.Two MLB games begin at 8:10 PM ET. The Houston Astros play at home against the Tampa Bay Rays as a -170 money line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Milwaukee Brewers are at home against the Miami Marlins as a -190 money line favorite with a total of 6. The St. Louis Cardinals host the Pittsburgh Pirates at 8:15 PM ET as a -205 money line favorite with an over/under of 7. The Los Angeles Angels play at home against the Texas Rangers at 9:38 PM ET as a -165 money line favorite with a total of 8.  Two more MLB games start at 9:40 PM ET. The Seattle Mariners play at home against the Texas Rangers as a -240 money line favorite with an over/under of 7. The San Diego Padres are at home against the Chicago White Sox as a -215 money line favorite with a total of 7.5. The Los Angeles Dodgers host the Colorado Rockies at 10:10 PM ET as a -390 money line favorite with an over/under of 8. The San Francisco Giants play at home against the Arizona Diamondbacks at 10:15 PM ET as a -130 money line favorite with a total of 7. Week 17 of the Canadian Football League kicks off with two games. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers play at home against the Saskatchewan Roughriders at 8 PM ET as a 7-point favorite with an over/under of 51.5. The British Columbia Lions are at home against the Ottawa Redblacks on ESPN2 at 10:30 PM ET as a 6-point favorite with a total of 46.5.

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3 College Football Angles To Watch

by Kyle Hunter

Friday, Sep 30, 2022

There can be some very overrated angles/systems in college football, but there are also some great angles that can help you win in the long run. The ability to decipher which angles are predictive and which are garbage is crucial. Let’s take a look at three angles that I believe can help all college football bettors! These statistics listed are all from games from 2006 through today. Road underdogs off a home favorite win (192-147 ATS or 56.6% ATS) This angle is a conference road underdog that is coming off a home ATS win. The team also has an overall winning percentage of 50-70%. As a whole, road teams have been undervalued in the past decade in college football. The road underdogs who come in with momentum have been valuable.  Windy unders (550-418 ATS or 56.8%) This is a simple angle that has been a big winner for many years in a row. The average wind in the game is 13 mph or more and the posted total is set at 43.5 or higher. While many will talk about rain or snow, the wind is by far the biggest deal to totals bettors. Keep in mind as well that heavy wind is an even bigger deal when betting college football than the NFL. These quarterbacks on the whole don’t have arms that are as strong as NFL quarterbacks. A game played in heavy wind will change the play calling a lot, and that has led to unders.  Small Road Conference Underdogs on the ML (904-1645 or 35.5% but with a 7.1% Return on Investment) This is taking a conference road underdog of 13.5 points or fewer on the moneyline in the first ten games of the season. This is a huge sample size and it has been a solid winner. Why eliminate games after game ten of the season? There are too many games with a lot of variance when some teams simply don’t care any more in the last week or two of the regular season. Again, we see that road teams have value and that has especially been true in conference contests. Keep an eye out for games that would fit these angles as you do your college football handicapping the rest of the season. This information could give you a little extra edge when placing those bets! 

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Brandon Woodruff's Second Half Resurgence

by Team Del Genio

Thursday, Sep 29, 2022

Brandon Woodruff struggled early in the season, but he has been outstanding since the middle of May. He came off a strong season where he had a 2.56 era and a 0.96 whip in 179 1/3 innings, although he settled for a 9-10 record with the Brewers last year. Yet there were early troubles signs from the abbreviated spring training where he allowed six home runs and 16 hits along with 15 runs (14 earned runs) in three starts comprising 11 2/3 innings. These difficulties continued in the regular season. He only struck out two batters in each of his first two April starts. In his first six starts, Woodruff had a 5.96 era and a 1.29 whip. The shortened spring training led to many starting pitchers struggling to build their arm strength to achieve their maximize their velocity. Bettors made a mistake by automatically discounting these established starting pitchers who were underachieving early in the year. Woodruff may very well be pitching at the highest level of his career since mid-May. In his start on Wednesday against the St. Louis Cardinals, the right-hander comes off another strong effort where he allowed only one earned run and three hits in six innings of work at Cincinnati last Thursday. He struck out 11 Reds batters while inducing seventeen swinging strikes and a called strike or swinging strike rate of 35%. Woodruff had struck out at least ten batters in three straight games, and he has double-digit strikeouts in four of his last six starts. For the season going into that game, he had a 12-4 record with a 3.18 era, a 1.09 whip, and a strikeout rate of 30.1% of the batters he has faced. In his twelve starts since the all-star break, he had a 2.52 era and a 1.00 whip. He had pitched well in his two starts against St. Louis this year against which he has a 2.00 era and a 0.78 whip. In his eleven starts at home, Woodruff had a 2.16 era and a 0.84 whip. The Brewers have won ten of his eleven starts at home this year. They have won seven of their previous ten games when Woodruff is their starting pitcher tasked with ending a team losing streak.   We endorsed Milwaukee behind Woodruff in that game against the Cardinals, and we were rewarded with a 5-1 victory. Woodruff continued his outstanding form by giving up only five hits and no earned runs in six innings to earn the victory. He continued his torrid strike-out pace by punching out ten St. Louis batters, representing 41.7% of the batters he faced.In his twenty starts since May 15th after his slow start, Woodruff has a 2.35 era and a 1.04 whip. His 156 strikeouts in 118 2/3 innings have him averaging 11.8 punch outs per nine innings which would be the highest mark of his career if extended through to the entire season. He has lowered his season era from 3.54 to 3.05 just in his last five starts.Bettors should always consider shorter-term trends when looking at season-long numbers. While it is easy to appreciate that Woodruff is a good starting pitcher, a closer examination reveals just how dominant he has been. If Milwaukee makes the National League playoffs as the third wild card team, they could be very dangerous when Woodruff is their starting pitcher.Good luck - TDG.

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MLB Postseason Futures Outlook

by Nelly's Sports

Thursday, Sep 29, 2022

MLB Postseason Futures Outlook  The MLB Playoffs have a new format this season and there may be some inefficiency in the futures market as four teams will have a bye in the first round for a dramatic change to the mechanics of the tournament. The eight teams playing immediately in the playoffs will play a best of three series to bring higher variance to the picture and potentially help the case for a possible series upset.  The division series games will start on October 11 as the four teams not playing in the wild card round will have six days off after the regular season, perhaps a less than ideal situation for lineups to maintain their peak form. The ALDS and NLDS pairings will remain best of five games before the standard seven-game series format goes in place for the League Championship Series.  With a week to go in the regular season the wild card teams are still jostling for positions. While Baltimore has not yet been eliminated in the AL, the three likely wild card teams Toronto, Tampa Bay, and Seattle are separated by only two games as the positions are still in flux. In the National League Milwaukee is just a half-game out of the final playoff position as they will compete with San Diego and Philadelphia in the final week with only two of those three teams making the field.  The NL East race is the most critical piece of the futures picture as the Mets lead Atlanta by one game in the standings with those teams entering the NL field as the #2 and #4 seeds. This distinction will be severe as the #4 seed will not only have to face a do-or-die three-game series in the wild card round, but they will also be paired with the Dodgers in the NLDS should they survive that round.  In the American League the case can be made that the #6 seed may be the preferable wild card position, drawing the AL Central champion Cleveland Guardians, a team that might wind up with a lesser record than some of the wild card teams. The victor of the 3/6 pairing will be matched with a Yankees team that slumped in the final two months of the season rather than the AL leading Astros.  Likewise the case can be made that it may be preferable to be the #2 seed compared to being the #1 seed in this format as the top wild card team if often a stronger team than the #3 division winner, as would likely be the case in both leagues this season.  Worthy Long Shots: Atlanta Braves: +950 to win the World Series (9/29 at FanDuel)  The Braves are catching nearly double the price that the Mets have while just one game out of the NL East lead heading into the final week of the regular season. Atlanta has the better scoring differential on the season and is on a 74-32 run since June 1. Atlanta will host New York for three games this week before finishing the season in Miami as the Braves have a great opportunity to win the series this week to move into at least a tie for the division lead. The Mets close the season hosting Washington, a team that has been playing well down the stretch as Atlanta has a realistic chance to climb to the #2 seed.  Even if the Braves do wind up in the wild card route, the Padres, Phillies, and Brewers don’t offer an overly intimidating draw in the 4/5 pairing. The Braves also are the biggest threat to the Dodgers as Atlanta is 36-16 vs. left-handed starters while posting some of MLB’s best offensive splits vs. left-handed pitching. All four starters in the Los Angeles rotation right now are left-handed until Tony Gonsolin comes off the IL and it is unlikely Gonsolin would get a start in the NLDS anyhow. Atlanta took the Dodgers to seven games in the 2020 NLCS and won the NLCS 4-2 against the Dodgers last season as the Braves are a serious NL threat in whatever path they wind up in.  Tampa Bay Rays: +1000 to win the American League (9/29 at DraftKings)  The Rays could wind up in any of the three wild card positions. The #6 spot opposite Cleveland is a favorable place to be but even if they match up with Toronto, the Rays won the season series with the Blue Jays and the pricing gap between those teams in this market is difficult to justify. Toronto’s offense has been streaky and the starting pitching for the Blue Jays is marginal. Shane McClanahan has been one of the top pitchers in MLB this season to give the Rays a true ace while Tyler Glasnow’s recent return provides a boost to the pitching staff even if he is only used in relief or as an opener as he works his way back to full strength. Corey Kluber and Drew Rasmussen have had fine seasons and the pitching staff for Tampa Bay can carry it to a series win, particularly in a three-game set where McClanahan can start Game 1.  The Rays play at Houston in the final week of the regular season to provide some familiarity and comfort level should they advance and match up with Houston in the ALDS. Tampa Bay went just 8-11 vs. the Yankees but with near-even scoring and the Rays went 5-4 vs. New York in the final three series between those teams. The Rays beat the Yankees in the 2020 ALDS and New York’s starting pitching has left plenty of question marks down the stretch as they could be a vulnerable group.  Seattle Mariners: +1400 to win the American League (9/29 at BetMGM) The Mariners have not made the playoffs since their 116-win 2001 season and after narrowly missing the postseason last year Seattle is in a good position to not only get in but to emerge as a threat to win several games. Seattle closes the season on a long home stand to avoid hectic late season travel and this team is well-suited for a three-game series with Luis Castillo and Robbie Ray as elite starting pitchers from each side. Seattle has not played its best ball in September and the recent injury to star rookie Julio Rodriguez is a setback, but he is expected to be cleared to return in early October in time for the playoffs. Cleveland has been a great story this season but right now the Mariners have a stronger scoring differential than Cleveland and own 15 more wins vs. winning teams than the Guardians. Seattle also went 6-1 head-to-head with Cleveland this season with a 29-11 edge in scoring. Seattle won four of six with the Yankees this season as the Mariners would be a threat to get in a position for a competitive ALDS series to provide profitable opportunities for those holding a piece of a long shot ticket with Seattle.  Milwaukee Brewers: +5000 to win the National League (9/29 at PointsBet)  The Brewers are not even in the playoffs right now as this is a serious long shot proposition. The closing schedule is dramatically favorable for Milwaukee compared to Philadelphia however, playing at home vs. Miami and Arizona for the final two series. A Phillies team with a 10-13 record in September while -16 in scoring will be on the road for the final two series, playing Washington and Houston. The Astros may not have anything to play for in that final series, but Washington is on pace to have its best month of the season in September even if the Nationals have played poorly head-to-head with the Phillies. If Milwaukee finds a way into the playoffs as the #6 seed they would have a familiar draw in the Cardinals, who they went 9-10 against. Milwaukee’s starting pitching with Brandon Woodruff and Corbin Burnes would be formidable in a three-game series and while St. Louis added left-handers Jordan Montgomery and Jose Quintana mid-season in part to match up with Milwaukee, the Cardinals would almost certainly start right-hander Adam Wainwright in Game 1 for a possible advantage in the huge swing game for a Brewers team that excels vs. right-handers. Holding this ticket comes with no serious expectation that Milwaukee will make it to the World Series but even entering the playoffs or providing a Game 1 win in the wild card round would provide a profitable hedging situation.  If you are looking to play on one of the favorites in the postseason futures market, truthfully, you’re too late. At the current prices you are better off waiting to see how the bracket plays out to see if one of the top contenders would lose an opening game of the division series to provide a window to jump back in at a more favorable price. In the division series round last season, three of the four teams that advanced lost Game 1 in the ALDS or NLDS. The MLB playoffs rarely go according to seeding form and with the new format the advantage for the #1 seeds has been reduced with a case to be made the #2 seeds could have a more favorable position.  Remember, playing the futures market is not about guessing who will win it all, it is about consistently adjusting your positions to ensure that you profit no matter what team wins. 

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NFL, NCAAF and MLB Previews and Odds - 09/29/2022

by Big Al Staff

Thursday, Sep 29, 2022

The Thursday sports card features action in NFL, NCAAF, and MLB.Week 4 in the National Football League kicks off with the Cincinnati Bengals hosting the Miami Dolphins on Amazon Prime at 8:15 PM ET. The Bengals won their first game last week with a 27-12 victory in New York against the Jets as a 6.5-point favorite on Sunday. The Dolphins remained unbeaten this season with a 21-19 upset win at home against Buffalo as a 4-point underdog on Sunday. Cincinnati is a 3.5-point favorite, with the total set at 48 (all odds from DraftKings).The fourth week of the college football regular season begins with BYU playing at home against Utah State on ESPN at 8 PM ET. The Cougars won for the third time in their first four games with a 38-24 victory at home against Wyoming as a 21-point favorite on Saturday night. The Aggies lost for the third time in their first four games after a 34-24 loss at home to UNLV as a 3-point underdog on Saturday. BYU is a 25-point favorite with an over/under of 60.Major League Baseball has ten games on its schedule. Two MLB games throw out the first pitch at 1:10 PM ET. Detroit is home against Kansas City, with Eduardo Rodriguez taking the ball to pitch against Jonathan Heasley for the Royals. The Tigers are a -135 money line favorite with a total of 7.5. Chicago visits Minnesota with the White Sox tapping Lucas Giolito to pitch against the Twins’ Louie Varland. The White Sox are a -120 money line road favorite with an over/under of 7.5. The Boston Red Sox host the Baltimore Orioles at 1:35 PM ET. Nathan Eovaldi takes the hill for the Red Sox to battle against Mike Baumann for the Orioles. Boston is a -155 money line favorite with a total of 9. The Philadelphia Phillies play at Chicago against the Cubs at 2:20 PM ET. The Phillies turn to Ranger Suarez in their starting rotation to pitch against the Cubs’ Javier Assad. Philadelphia is a -190 money line road favorite. The Tampa Bay Rays travel to Cleveland to play the Guardians at 6:10 PM ET. Jeffrey Springs takes the mound for the Rays to duel against Cal Quantrill for the Guardians. Tampa Bay is a -115 money line road favorite with an over/under of 7. The Miami Marlins play at Milwaukee against the Brewers at 7:40 PM ET. The Marlins Braxton Garrett takes the ball to pitch against the Brewers Eric Lauer. The Los Angeles Angels are at home against the Oakland A’s at 9:38 PM ET. Shohei Ohtani pitches for the Angels against Cole Irvin for the A’s. Los Angeles is a -250 money line favorite with a total of 7. Two MLB games start at 9:40 PM ET. Los Angeles travels to San Diego with neither the Dodgers nor the Padres yet to commit to their starting pitcher for the game. Seattle is home against Texas, with the Mariners sending Marco Gonzales to pitch against the Rangers’ Jon Gray. The Mariners are a -120 money line favorite with an over/under of 7. The San Francisco Giants host the Colorado Rockies at 9:45 PM ET. Carlos Rodon takes the hill for the Giants to pitch against Ryan Feltner for the Rockies. San Francisco is a -215 money line favorite with a total of 7.5.

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FBS Coaching Change ATS Results since 2018

by Nelly's Sports

Thursday, Sep 29, 2022

FBS Coaching Change ATS Results since 2018 The calendar has not even turned to October yet and three major conference FBS head coaches have already been fired. In most recent seasons there are only a handful of mid-season changes at FBS schools, but last season 15 head coaches were fired or resigned before the end of the regular season as there seems to be a quickening pace for programs to get in front of the line for the next hiring cycle.  Nebraska was a popular play-on team after Scott Frost was fired and there is a general perception that a coaching change might provide a spark for a program and could be a catalyst to saving the season if the move is made early. Nebraska and Arizona State both lost badly in their first games after making September coaching changes this season and the track record the past few years has a negative correlation in the games following a move, albeit with a small sample size and many circumstantial differences in each case.  An argument can be made that administrators don’t necessarily want interim coaches to succeed, potentially thwarting their preferred coaching choice for the future, and in the case of the three firings this season, the move came preceding one of the most difficult games of the season rather than ahead of a more favorable stretch of the schedule. Nebraska fired Frost ahead of hosting Oklahoma, Arizona State fired Herm Edwards ahead of hosting Utah. Geoff Collins was just fired ahead of playing at Pittsburgh for a tough pairing in the transition.  Below is a list of the mid-season FBS coaching changes since 2018 and the result immediately following the move. In the next game after a coaching change, those teams have gone 7-24 S/U and 10-21 ATS. Only eight teams out 29 mid-season coaching changes from 2018 and 2021 finished the season with a winning ATS record the rest of the way following making a move.  Most schools making a mid-season coaching change are having a difficult season, so it is not a surprise that losing results continue. There is however not much support in the recent instances to suggest there is any sort of coaching change spark provided to teams, nor a valuation decrease significant enough to warrant playing on teams in this situation. It is likely best to avoid Georgia Tech this week even with an elevated underdog price and it is likely worth steering clear of backing most teams that have made a coaching change during the season.  10/14/2018 Bowling Green 1-6 S/U, 2-5 ATS Mike Jinks firedNext Game: At Ohio (+16) S/U and ATS Loss 14-49Record after coaching change: 2-3 S/U, 2-3 ATS 10/31/2018 Maryland 5-3 S/U, 5-3 ATS DJ Durkin firedNext Game: At Michigan State (+3.5) S/U and ATS Loss 3-24Record after coaching change: 0-4 S/U, 1-3 ATS  11/4/2018 Kansas 3-6 S/U, 4-5 ATS David Beaty firedNext Game: At Kansas State (+8.5) S/U Loss and ATS Win 17-21Record after coaching change: 0-3 S/U, 3-0 ATS  11/11/2018 Louisville 2-8 S/U, 1-9 ATS Bobby Petrino fired Next Game: Hosting NC State (+16) S/U and ATS loss 10-52Record after coaching change: 0-2 S/U, 0-2 ATS 11/18/2018 Colorado 5-6 S/U, 5-6 ATS Mike MacIntyre firedNext Game: At California (+11.5) S/U and ATS Loss 21-33Record after coaching change: 0-1 S/U, 0-1 ATS 11/18/2018 Texas State 3-8 S/U, 6-4-1 ATS Everett Withers firedNext Game: Hosting Arkansas state (+14) S/U and ATS Loss 7-33Record after coaching change: 0-2 S/U, 0-2 ATS 11/18/2018 Charlotte 4-7 S/U, 6-5 ATS Brad Lambert firedNext Game: AT Florida Atlantic (+16.5) S/U and ATS Win 27-24Record after coaching change: 1-0 S/U, 1-0 ATS 9/30/2019 Rutgers 1-3 S/U, 1-3 ATS Chris Ash firedNext Game: Hosting Maryland (+14) S/U and ATS Loss 7-48Record after coaching change: 1-7 S/U, 3-5 ATS  11/3/2019 Florida State 4-5 S/U, 3-5-1 ATS Willie Taggart firedNext Game: At Boston College (+1) S/U and ATS Win 38-31Record after coaching change: 2-2 S/U, 1-3 ATS (lost bowl game)  11/10/2019 Arkansas 2-8 S/U, 2-8 ATS Chad Morris firedNext Game: At LSU (+41) S/U Loss and ATS Win 20-56Record after coaching change: 0-2 S/U, 2-0 ATS  11/22/2019 UNLV 2-8 S/U 4-6 ATS Tony Sanchez was fired but remained to coach the final two games – which were both S/U and ATS wins  9/7/2020 Southern Miss 0-1 S/U, 0-1 ATS - Jay Hopson resignedNext Game: Hosting Louisiana Tech (-7) S/U and ATS Loss 30-31Record after coaching change: 2-6 S/U, 4-5 ATS  11/7/2020 Utah State 0-3 S/U, 0-3 ATS - Gary Andersen firedNext Game: Hosting Fresno State (+11) S/U and ATS Loss 16-35Record after coaching change: 1-2 S/U, 1-2 ATS 11/16/2020 South Carolina 2-5 S/U, 4-3 ATS - Will Muschamp firedNext Game: Hosting Missouri (+5.5) S/U and ATS Loss 10-17Record after coaching change: 0-3 S/U, 0-3 ATS  11/29/2020 Vanderbilt 0-8 S/U, 4-4 ATS - Derek Mason firedNext Game: Hosting Tennessee (+15.5) S/U and ATS Loss 17-42Record after coaching change: 0-1 S/U, 0-1 ATS 9/6/2021 Connecticut 0-2 S/U, 0-2 ATS - Randy Edsall resignedNext Game: Hosting Purdue (+35) S/U and ATS Loss 0-49Record after coaching change: 1-9 S/U, 6-4 ATS  9/14/2021 USC 1-1 S/U, 1-1 ATS - Clay Helton firedNext Game: At Washington State (-3.5) S/U and ATS Win 45-14 Record after coaching change: 3-7 S/U, 3-7 ATS  9/26/2021 Georgia Southern 1-3 S/U, 1-3 ATS - Chad Lunsford firedNext Game: Hosting Arkansas State (-2) S/U and ATS Win 59-33Record after coaching change: 2-6 S/U, 5-3 ATS 10/19/2021 LSU 4-3 S/U, 3-4 ATS - Ed Orgeron resignedNext Game: At Mississippi (+9.5) S/U and ATS Loss 17-31 Record after coaching change: 2-3 S/U, 2-2-1 ATS  10/20/2021 Washington State 4-3 S/U, 4-3 ATS - Nick Rolovich firedNext Game: Hosting BYU (+3.5) S/U Loss and ATS Win 19-21 Record after coaching change: 3-3 S/U, 4-2 ATS  10/25/2021 Texas Tech 5-3 S/U, 4-4 ATS - Matt Wells firedNext Game: At Oklahoma (+19) S/U and ATS Loss 21-52 Record after coaching change: 2-3 S/U, 3-2 ATS 10/31/2021 TCU 3-5 S/U,1-7 ATS - Gary Patterson resignedNext Game: Hosting Baylor (+7.5) S/U and ATS Win 30-28Record after coaching change: 2-2 S/U, 1-3 ATS 11/4/2021 Akron 2-7 S/U, 4-5 ATS - Tom Arth firedNext Game: At Western Michigan (+25) S/U Loss and ATS Win 40-45Record after coaching change: 0-3 S/U, 1-2 ATS  11/8/2021 Massachusetts 1-8 S/U, 3-6 ATS - Walt Bell firedNext Game: Hosting Maine (+4.5) S/U and ATS Loss 10-35Record after coaching change: 0-3 S/U, 1-2 ATS  11/14/2021 Washington 4-6 S/U, 3-7 ATS Jimmy Lake – fired – had been suspended for final game Next Game: At Colorado (-6.5) S/U and ATS Loss 17-20 Record after coaching change: 0-2 S/U, 0-2 ATS  11/15/2021 Florida International 1-9 S/U, 2-8 ATS Butch Davis firedNext Game: Hosting North Texas (+10.5) S/U and ATS Loss 7-49Record after coaching change: 0-2 S/U, 0-2 ATS 11/16/2021 Virginia Tech 5-5 S/U, 4-6 ATS Justin Fuente firedNext Game: At Miami, FL (+7) S/U and ATS Loss 26-38 Record after coaching change: 1-2 S/U, 1-2 ATS (lost bowl game)  11/21/2021 Florida 5-6 S/U, 3-8 ATS Dan Mullen firedNext Game: Hosting Florida State (-3.5) S/U Win and ATS Loss 24-21Record after coaching change: 1-1 S/U, 0-2 ATS (lost bowl game)  11/23/2021 New Mexico State 1-10 S/U, 6-5 ATS Doug Martin firedNext Game: Hosting Massachusetts (-7) S/U and ATS Win 44-27Record after coaching change: 1-0 S/U, 1-0 ATS 11/21/2021 Troy 5-6 S/U, 4-7 ATS Chip Lindsey firedNext Game: At Georgia State (+6.5) S/U and ATS Loss 10-37Record after coaching change: 0-1 S/U, 0-1 ATS 9/11/2022 Nebraska 1-2 S/U, 0-3 ATS Scott Frost firedNext Game: Hosting Oklahoma (+10.5) S/U and ATS Loss 14-49 9/18/2022 Arizona State 1-2 S/U, 1-2 ATS Herm Edwards firedNext Game: Hosting Utah (+16.5) S/U and ATS Loss 13-34 9/25/2022 Georgia Tech 1-3 S/U, 1-3 ATS Geoff Collins firedNext Game: At Pittsburgh (+22) October 1 

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2022-23 NHL Preview: Metropolitan Division

by Sean Murphy

Wednesday, Sep 28, 2022

The puck drops on the 2022-23 NHL season with a pair of games between the Sharks and Predators in Czechia beginning on October 7th. Before that, I'm running through quick previews of all 32 teams, continuing with the Metropolitan Division.Odds to win division in parentheses.Carolina Hurricanes (+195)I can't help but feel the Canes took the 'addition by subtraction' route by offloading constant distraction Tony DeAngelo and an aging Nino Niederreiter in the offseason. A pair of veterans, Brent Burns and Max Pacioretty, were brought into the fold although the latter will start the season on the shelf as he recovers from surgery to repair his achilles. The regular season hasn't been a problem for Carolina as it took top spot in the division last year and has been in the mix for a number of years. The question is whether the Canes can get over the hump come playoff time - just winning a round isn't enough anymore as expectations are seemingly sky-high on an annual basis, and rightfully so. An x-factor could be the performance of goaltender Frederik Andersen, who came up with a career year in 2021-22 but will need to match it to keep Carolina atop the heap in the Metro. Pittsburgh Penguins (+340)Evgeni Malkin is back to play Robin to Sidney Crosby's Batman for another year but it remains to be seen whether the once-dynamic duo has another Stanley Cup run in them. This seems to be a franchise unwilling to turn the page on an era that saw it win three Stanley Cups in relatively short succession. Yes, there is plenty of young talent in the fold to compliment veterans Malkin, Crosby, Jake Guentzel and Kris Letang but it just hasn't been enough to push the team from division contenders to Stanley Cup contenders in recent years. Pittsburgh's biggest offseason addition was steady veteran defenseman Jeff Petry. Instead of going out to get help between the pipes, the Pens will once again rely on Tristan Jarry, who has been frustratingly inconsistent throughout his career. New York Rangers (+350)After making a surprisingly deep playoff run last Spring, the Rangers are a popular Stanley Cup sleeper pick heading into this season. All of the right pieces appear to be in place with an All-World goaltender in Igor Shesterkin and a strong forward group led by Artemi Panarin and Mika Zibanejad. Despite their success last season, the Blueshirts didn't stand pat over the Summer, signing Vincent Trocheck to add even more offensive punch. Depth on the blue line could be an issue but New York has a couple of defensive anchors to work around in newly-named captain Jacob Trouba and rising star Adam Fox. Washington Capitals (+730)The Capitals made some interesting offseason moves, bringing in goaltender Darcy Kuemper from the Stanley Cup champion Avalanche and a pair of depth players up front in Marcus Johansson and Dylan Strome. Johansson is of course familiar with the team as this will be his third go-round with Washington. The most exciting part of the Caps 2022-23 season will likely be Alex Ovechkin's chase for the NHL's all-time goal-scoring record, currently held by Wayne Gretzky. It remains to be seen whether that ongoing storyline gives the Caps an emotional boost or proves to be a distraction over the course of the season.New York Islanders (+880)In a move that was questioned by many, the Islanders fired Barry Trotz following a disappointing 2021-22 campaign. It would have seemingly been difficult to fault Trotz for the Isles woes a year ago as they were handed a number of blows including an early-season Covid outbreak that put them behind the eight-ball in a crowded division. Apart from the ousting of Trotz, New York didn't make many offseason moves of note. It did lock up one of its young franchise cornerstones in defenseman Noah Dobson but Mat Barzal's free agency after this season is looming. A successful season would likely go a long way toward enticing Barzal to return for another run at the Cup on Long Island. New Jersey Devils (+2280)There are some good young pieces in place, namely captain Nico Hischier and 2022-23 breakout candidate Jack Hughes (who was on his way to a monster year before getting sidelined with an injury last season), but also a lot of holes in the New Jersey roster. That's especially true on the blue line and in goal where the Devils remain unsettled following a quiet offseason. You have to figure the Newark faithful are starting to get restless given it's been over a decade since the Devils last iced a team that had a legitimate shot at hoisting Lord Stanley's Mug. Head coach Lindy Ruff will likely need to work some serious magic to keep his team in contention for a Wild Card spot this season.Columbus Blue Jackets (+3870)It may seem strange to see the Blue Jackets being priced so generously given they landed one of the biggest free agent names in the league in Johnny Gaudreau. The problem is, there's not much depth behind the former Flames sniper. Elvis Merzlikins does inspire confidence between the pipes but the blue line needs help, as do the second-through-fourth lines up front. All indications are that Columbus is playing the long game to a certain extent as it has the services of Gaudreau for the next seven years. Given the steep return being offered, I don't mind taking a flyer with the Jackets in a division that could be a little more wide-open than most are expecting. Philadelphia Flyers (+6180)Will the John Tortorella experiment work in Philadelphia? One thing's for sure, he's going to be a polarizing character in Philly sports media circles. Curiously, the Flyers did little to bolster a roster than led to a last-place finish in the Metropolitan Division last season. It's becoming more evident with each passing season that Carter Hart isn't the answer in goal. Guys like James Van Riemsdyk and Sean Couturier will be relied upon heavily to shoulder the load offensively but they both have plenty of miles on their tires. Travis Konecny has to feel like he's been left on an island given the lack of offensive talent around him. While there's little pressure given the low expectations, I'm anticipating another tumultuous campaign in the City of Brotherly Love. 

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