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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA and MLB Previews and Odds - 04/17/26

by Big Al Staff

Friday, Apr 17, 2026

The Friday sports card features NBA and MLB action.The National Basketball League postseason concludes with the final two games in the Play-In Tournament on Amazon Prime. The Charlotte Hornets travel to Orlando to play the Magic at 7:40 p.m. ET as a 3.5-point road favorite with the total set at 217.5. The winner of this game earns the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs and plays in Detroit against the Pistons on Sunday in the opening game of that Eastern Conference quarterfinals series. The loser’s season ends.The Phoenix Suns host the Golden State Warriors at 10:10 p.m. ET as a 3.5-point favorite with an over/under of 219.5. The winner takes the eighth seed in the Western Conference playoffs and plays in Oklahoma City against the Thunder on Sunday in Game 1 of that Western Conference quarterfinals series. The loser’s season ends. Major League Baseball has 15 games scheduled. The Chicago Cubs play at home against the New York Mets at 2:20 p.m. ET as a -143 money-line favorite with a total of 10.5. The Cleveland Guardians are home to take on the Baltimore Orioles on Peacock as a -143 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. The Atlanta Braves play in Philadelphia against the Phillies at 6:40 p.m. ET as a -112 money-line road favorite with a total of 9.5. Two MLB games throw out the first pitch at 6:45 p.m. ET. The Pittsburgh Pirates host the Tampa Bay Rays as a -143 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The San Francisco Giants are on the road in Washington to challenge the Nationals as a -156 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The New York Yankees play at home against the Kansas City Royals at 7:05 p.m. ET as a -181 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Miami Marlins are home to face the Milwaukee Brewers at 7:10 p.m. ET as a -115 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The Boston Red Sox host the Detroit Tigers on Apple TV+ as a -131 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. Two MLB games start at 8:10 p.m. ET. The Houston Astros play at home against the St. Louis Cardinals. The Minnesota Twins are at home to battle the Cincinnati Reds as a -175 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7.5. The Los Angeles Dodgers visit Colorado to play the Rockies at 8:40 p.m. ET as a -308 money-line road favorite with a total of 9.5. The Los Angeles Angels host the San Diego Padres at 9:38 p.m. ET as a -149 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. Three more games conclude the MLB card at 9:40 p.m. ET. The Arizona Diamondbacks play at home against the Toronto Blue Jays as a -136 money-line favorite with a total of 9. The Seattle Mariners are home to play the Texas Rangers as a -131 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Athletics host the Chicago White Sox as a -149 money-line favorite with a total of 9.5.  

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NHL and MLB Previews and Odds - 04/16/26

by Big Al Staff

Thursday, Apr 16, 2026

The Thursday sports card features NHL and MLB action.The National Hockey League has six games on its docket on its final day of the regular season. The Utah Mammoth hosts the St. Louis Blues on ESPN at 7:37 p.m. ET as a -115 money-line favorite with the total set at 6.5 (all odds from DraftKings). Two more NHL games drop the puck at 8:07 p.m. ET. The Winnipeg Jets play at home against the San Jose Sharks as a -170 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Anaheim Ducks travel to Nashville to play the Predators with both teams priced as -110 money-line favorites with a total of 6.5. Two NHL games start at 9:07 p.m. ET. The Los Angeles Kings play in Calgary against the Flames as a -130 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Edmonton Oilers are at home to play the Vancouver Canucks as a -325 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Colorado Avalanche host the Seattle Kraken on ESPN at 10:07 p.m. ET as a -180 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. Major League Baseball has 10 games scheduled. The Pittsburgh Pirates play at home against the Washington Nationals at 12:35 p.m. ET. The Pirates send out Braxton Ashcraft to pitch against the Nationals’ Foster Griffin. Pittsburgh is a -156 money-line favorite with a total of 9. The Cincinnati Reds are at home to take on the San Francisco Giants at 12:40 p.m. ET. Chase Burns gets the ball for the Reds to challenge Landen Roupp for the Giants. Cincinnati is a -131 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Kansas City Royals are on the road in Detroit to play the Tigers at 1:10 p.m. ET. The Royals turn to Kris Bubic to face the Tigers’ Keider Montero. Both teams are priced as -110 money-line favorites with a total of 8.5. The New York Yankees host the Los Angeles Angels at 1:35 p.m. ET. Max Fried takes the hill for the Yankees to battle a starting pitcher yet to be named by the Angels/ New York is a -252 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9.5. The Milwaukee Brewers play at home against the Toronto Blue Jays at 1:40 p.m. ET. The Brewers tap Brandon Sprout to pitch against the Blue Jays’ Patrick Corbin. Milwaukee is a -126 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The Tampa Bay Rays visit Chicago to challenge the White Sox at 2:10 p.m. ET. Stephen Matz takes the mound for the Rays to take on Anthony Kay for the White Sox. Tampa Bay is a -131 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Texas Rangers play on the road in Sacramento against the Athletics at 3:05 p.m. ET. The Rangers send out Jack Leiter to face the Athletics’ Jacob Lopez. Texas is a -120 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 9. The Cleveland Guardians are home to take on the Baltimore Orioles at 6:10 p.m. ET. Patrick Messick gets the ball for the Guardians to battle Shane Baz for the Rays. Cleveland is a -122 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The Houston Astros host the Colorado Rockies at 8:10 p.m. ET. The Astros turn to Ryan Weiss to go against the Rockies’ Juan Mejia. Houston is a -199 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Seattle Mariners are on the road in San Diego to face the Padres at 8:40 p.m. ET. Luis Castillo takes the hill for the Mariners to pitch against the Padres’ Walker Buehler. Seattle is a -120 money-line road favorite with a total of 8.  

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, MLB and UCL Previews and Odds - 04/15/26

by Big Al Staff

Wednesday, Apr 15, 2026

The Wednesday sports card features NBA, NHL, MLB, and UCL action. The National Basketball League postseason continues with the final two opening games in the Play-In Tournament on Amazon Prime. The Philadelphia 76ers host the Orlando Magic at 7:40 p.m. ET as a 1.5-point favorite with the total set at 222.5 (all odds from DraftKings). The winner of this game claims the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. The loser plays at home against the Charlotte Hornets on Friday. The Los Angeles Clippers are home to play the Golden State Warriors at 10:10 p.m. ET as a 5.5-point favorite with an over/under of 221.5. The winner plays The National Hockey League has six games on its docket. Three NHL games drop the puck at 7:07 p.m. ET. The Buffalo Sabres host the Dallas Stars as a -115 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Detroit Red Wings travel to Florida to face the Panthers on TNT as a -130 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Tampa Bay Lightning play at home against the New York Rangers as a -135 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Ottawa Senators are home to take on the Toronto Maple Leafs as a -192 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The San Jose Sharks play in Chicago against the Blackhawks at 8:37 p.m. ET as a -125 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The Vegas Golden Knights host the Seattle Kraken at 10:07 p.m. ET as a -285 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. Major League Baseball has 15 games scheduled. The Baltimore Orioles play at home against the Arizona Diamondbacks at 12:35 p.m. ET as a -163 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The St. Louis Cardinals are home to battle the Cleveland Guardians at 1:15 p.m. ET as a -112 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Boston Red Sox are on the road in Minnesota to play the Twins at 1:40 p.m. ET as a -130 money-line road favorite with a total of 8. Four MLB games throw out the first pitch at 6:40 p.m. ET. The Pittsburgh Pirates host the Washington Nationals as a -181 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9. The San Francisco Giants visit Cincinnati to face the Reds as a -120 money-line road favorite with a total of 9. The Detroit Tigers play at home against the Kansas City Royals as a -136 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. The Philadelphia Phillies are home to take on the Chicago Cubs as a -143 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The New York Yankees host the Los Angeles Angels on Peacock at 7:05 p.m. ET as a -199 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9.5. The Atlanta Braves play at home against the Miami Marlins at 7:15 p.m. ET as a -171 money-line favorite with a total of 9. Two more MLB games start at 7:40 p.m. ET. The Tampa Bay Rays play in Chicago against the White Sox as a -118 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8. The Toronto Blue Jays are on the road in Milwaukee to battle the Brewers as a -122 money-line road favorite with a total of 7.5. The Houston Astros are at home to challenge the Colorado Rockies at 8:10 p.m. ET as a -186 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. Two MLB games begin at 9:40 p.m. ET. The Athletics host the Texas Rangers as a -115 money-line favorite with a total of 9.5. The San Diego Padres play at home against the Seattle Mariners as a -115 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. The Los Angeles Dodgers are home to play the New York Mets on ESPN at 10:10 p.m. ET as a -226 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The knockout phase playoffs in the UEFA Champions League continue with the final two second-leg matches in the quarterfinals at 3:00 p.m. ET. Bayern Munich hosts Real Madrid as a -1.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 3.5. Arsenal plays at home against Sporting CP as a -1.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5. Both matches are broadcast on Paramount+. 

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, MLB and UCL Previews and Odds - 04/14/26

by Big Al Staff

Tuesday, Apr 14, 2026

The Tuesday sports card features NBA, NHL, MLB, and UCL action. The National Basketball League tips off its postseason with the first two games in the Play-In Tournament on Amazon Prime. The Charlotte Hornets host the Miami Heat at 7:40 p.m. ET as a 5.5-point favorite with the total set at 228.5 (all odds from DraftKings). The winner of this game plays the loser of tomorrow’s Orlando/Philadelphia game on Friday to determine the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs.The Phoenix Suns play at home against the Portland Trail Blazers at 10:10 p.m. ET as a 3.5-point favorite with an over/under of 217.5. The winner of this game takes the seventh seed in the Western Conference playoffs. The loser will host the winner of tomorrow’s Golden State/Los Angeles Clippers game to determine the eighth seed in the Western Conference playoffs.  The National Hockey League has nine games on its docket. Four NHL games drop the puck at 7:07 p.m ET. The Boston Bruins are home to play the New Jersey Devils as a -130 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The New York Islanders host the Carolina Hurricanes as a -120 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Montreal Canadiens travel to Philadelphia to play the Flyers as a -155 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The Columbus Blue Jackets play at home against the Washington Capitals as a -115 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Minnesota Wild are home to take on the Anaheim Ducks at 8:07 p.m. ET as a -115 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. Two more NHL games start at 9:07 p.m. ET. The Utah Mammoth hosts the Winnipeg Jets as a -175 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Colorado Avalanche play in Calgary against the Flames as a -175 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The St. Louis Blues play at home against the Pittsburgh Penguins at 9:37 p.m. ET as a -130 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Los Angeles Kings are on the road to battle the Vancouver Canucks on ESPN at 10:07 p.m. ET as a -148 money-line road favorite with a total of 5.5.Major League Baseball has 15 games scheduled. Two MLB games are on major national television. The Philadelphia Phillies are home to face the Chicago Cubs on truTV/TBS at 6:40 p.m. ET as a -149 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Los Angeles Dodgers host the New York Mets on Peacock at 10:10 p.m. ET as a  -199 money-line favorite with a total of 7.5. The knockout phase playoffs in the UEFA Champions League continue with the first two second-leg matches in the quarterfinals at 3:00 p.m. ET. Barcelona visits Atletico Madrid as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with an over/under of 3.5. Liverpool plays at home against Paris Saint-Germain as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 3.5. Both matches are broadcast on Paramount+.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: MLB, NHL and EPL Previews and Odds - 04/13/26

by Big Al Staff

Monday, Apr 13, 2026

The Monday sports card features NHL, MLB, and EPL action. The National Hockey League has 10 games on its docket. Three NHL games drop the puck at 7:07 p.m. ET. The Carolina Hurricanes travel to Philadelphia to play the Flyers as a -115 money-line road favorite with the total set at 6.5. The New York Rangers play in Florida against the Panthers with both teams priced as -110 money-line favorites with an over/under of 6.5. The Tampa Bay Lightning host the Detroit Red Wings as a -205 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Dallas Stars are on the road in Toronto to play the Maple Leafs at 7:37 p.m. ET as a -170 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. Two NHL games start at 8:07 p.m. ET. The Minnesota Wild visit St. Louis to play the Blues as a -130 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The Nashville Predators play at home against the San Jose Sharks as a -155 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Buffalo Sabres play in Chicago against the Blackhawks as a -218 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. Two NHL games begin at 9:37 p.m. ET. The Los Angeles Kings are on the road in Seattle to face the Kraken on ESPN as a -148 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Colorado Avalanche travels to Edmonton to face the Oilers as a -120 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The Vegas Golden Knights host the Winnipeg Jets at 10:07 p.m. ET as a -185 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. Major League Baseball has 10 games scheduled. The Seattle Mariners host the Houston Astros at 4:10 p.m. ET as a -175 money-line favorite with the total set at 7.5. The Baltimore Orioles play at home against the Arizona Diamondbacks at 6:35 p.m. ET as a -131 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. Two MLB games begin at 6:40 p.m. ET. The Pittsburgh Pirates are home against the Washington Nationals as a -226 money-line favorite with a total of 7.5. The Philadelphia Phillies host the Chicago Cubs on FS1 as a -186 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. The New York Yankees play at home against the Los Angeles Angels at 7:05 p.m. ET  as a -181 money-line favorite with a total of 9. The Atlanta Braves are home against the Miami Marlins at 7:15 p.m. ET as a -143 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. The Boston Red Sox play in Minnesota against the Twins at 7:40 p.m. ET as a -168 money-line road favorite with a total of 7.5. The Cleveland Guardians are on the road in St. Louis against the Cardinals at 7:45 p.m. ET as a -118 money-line road favorite with an over/under of  8. The Texas Rangers are on the road in Sacramento to face the Athletics on Peacock at 9:40 p.m. ET as a -131 money-line road favorite with a total of 9. The Los Angeles Dodgers host the New York Mets at 10:10 p.m. ET as a -168 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9. Matchweek 32 in the English Premier League concludes with one match. Manchester United plays at home against Leeds United on the USA Network at 3:00 p.m. ET as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5. 

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Breaking Down The AFC Draft

by Jazz Ray

Sunday, Apr 12, 2026

Looking at each team in the AFC heading in to the draft (odds to win the conference in parenthesis):BALTIMORE RAVENS (+500) - There are reports that Lamar Jackson, who in the past has blown off voluntary off-season work, is more invested this year. We’ll see. Whether he shows or not, the Ravens will be looking to bolster their receiving corps in the draft. There is also the not-so-small problem of replacing center Tyler Linderbaum, who is now in Las Vegas.BUFFALO BILLS (+500) – Oddsmakers still like the Bills’ overall talent starting with perennial MVP candidate Josh Allen. If the Patriots’ winning the division last season was an anomaly, the door is wide open again for the Bills in the AFC East. Buffalo joins a long list of teams who would be looking for an edge rusher. They figure to concentrate on defense in the draft.CINCINNATI BENGALS (+1400) – Yeah, Joe Burrow has to stay healthy, and that starts with protecting him. They need improvement on the offensive line. But defense comes first for a team that gave up the second-most (Jets) points in the conference in 2025. Don’t be shocked if the Bengals spend spend their first three picks on defenders.CLEVELAND BROWNS (+7500) – They wouldn’t draft another quarterback. Or would they? If your options were Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel or Deshaun Watson, you might. Maybe not in the first round, though. Published reports indicate that Cleveland – which owns the 6th and 24th picks in the first round, and nine overall picks – is looking seriously at upgrading its offensive line early in the draft.DENVER BRONCOS (+900) – After acquiring WR Jaylen Swaddle, Denver has only one pick (62) in the top 100, so barring another deal they’ll sit and watch until the middle of Day 2. With a Top 5 defense already in place, an argument can be made for the Broncos to take the best offensive player available when their turn comes.HOUSTON TEXANS (+900) – Another team with a defense that doesn’t need a lot of tweaking. There is no secret that the Texans weren’t exactly delighted with the play of the offensive line last season. Once the O-Line concerns are addressed, they could use another playmaker for C.J. Stroud somewhere in the middle of the draft.INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (+3000) – 2025 ended on the sourest of notes for Indy, which started 7-1, lost QB Daniel Jones to an Achilles injury, then lost its final six to miss the playoffs. There are leaks in several spots (linebacker, WR among them) as the Colts try to navigate the draft without a first-round pick.JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (+1200) – Eight straight wins to finish the season enabled the Jags to win the AFC South, and even without a first-round pick they have the luxury of drafting for depth. One area of concern is the defensive backfield, where Travis Hunter appears to be the best of the bunch despite an injury-plagued rookie season.KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (+700) – After a weird non-playoff season in 2025, KC is expected to replenish its defensive backfield in the draft. One way to help the DBs is to add an edge rusher to make life more difficult for opposing QBs. The Chiefs do have two picks in the first round, so they should be able to fill some holes quickly and get back to the post-season.LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (+7500) – Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza will be the No. 1 overall pick, and the Raiders will spend this season figuring out ways to keep him upright and healthy. The WRs are average at best, so they no doubt will be taking a pass-catcher at some point. LV signed some decent defensive players in free agency.LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (+800) – No one seems to have a good idea where the Chargers will turn in the draft. They couldn’t score a touchdown in last year’s playoff loss to New England, so offense might be a good start. Shoring up the O-Line and finding another receiver would plug a couple of holes.MIAMI DOLPHINS (+15000) – Yikes. In Salary Cap hell and without a decent QB, Miami has real problems and it’s hard to see the Fins winning seven games again this season. The best way to be competitive is to assemble a decent defense, but the talk is Miami will be looking at a wide receiver with their first pick.NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (+900) – It starts and ends in the trenches with New England, where a spotty first season from LT Will Campbell and lack of pressure from the edge were exposed in the playoffs. Don’t be surprised if the Patriots take a page out of the Belichick playbook and trade out of the first round.NEW YORK JETS (+10000) – A team that scores the fewest and allows the most points in its division (both by wide margins) needs help just about everywhere. Geno Smith is a stopgap at QB, and the Jets will scouring their draft board for players to help him move the chains. Having three picks in the top 33 – including No. 2 overall – makes things easier.PITTSBURGH STEELERS (+2000) – Will he come back or not? The Steelers are getting the full Aaron Rodgers Treatment as they head into the draft. Would they spend the first-rounder on a QB without knowing Rodgers’ plans? Probably. The future is here, no matter what Rodgers decides. At some point the Steelers have to move on.TENNESSEE TITANS (+5000) – After 3-14, the Road to Respectability for the Titans is long and winding. Coach Robert Saleh is biased toward the defensive side of the ball, so look for Tennessee to spend the No. 4 overall pick on an edge rusher – Step 1 toward patching a defense that gave up 193 more points than the offense produced last season.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, EPL and MLB Previews and Odds - 04/12/26

by Big Al Staff

Sunday, Apr 12, 2026

The Sunday sports card features NBA, NHL, MLB, and EPL action. The National Basketball League has 15 games on its docket on the final day of the regular season. Seven NBA games tip off at 6:10 p.m. ET. The Orlando Magic travel to Boston to play the Celtics on ESPN as an 11.5-point road favorite with the total set at 217.5 (all odds from DraftKings). The Charlotte Hornets play in New York against the Knicks as a 13.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 217.5. The Miami Heat host the Atlanta Hawks as a 3.5-point favorite with a total of 242.5. The Philadelphia 76ers play at home against the Milwaukee Bucks as a 15.5-point favorite with an over/under of 226.5. The Toronto Raptors are at home to face the Brooklyn Nets as a 22.5-point favorite with a total of 218.5. The Cleveland Cavaliers host the Washington Wizards as a 10.5-point favorite with an over/under of 233.5. The Detroit Pistons are on the road to take on the Indiana Pacers as a 13.5-point road favorite with a total of 229.5.  Eight more games conclude the NBA card at 8:40 p.m. ET. The Oklahoma City Thunder play at home against the Phoenix Suns as a 5.5-point favorite with an over/under of 213.5. The Los Angeles Clippers are home to challenge the Golden State Warriors as a 5.5-point favorite with a total of 213.5. The San Antonio Spurs host the Denver Nuggets on ESPN as an 11.5-point favorite with an over/under of 232.5. The Portland Trail Blazers play at home against the Sacramento Kings as a 16.5-point favorite with a total of 227.5. The Los Angeles Lakers are home to battle the Utah Jazz as a 14.5-point favorite with an over/under of 236.5. The Houston Rockets host the Memphis Grizzlies as a 12.5-point favorite with a total of 224.5. The Dallas Mavericks play at home against the Chicago Bulls as a 6.5-point favorite with an over/under of 246.5. The Minnesota Timberwolves are home to play the New Orleans Pelicans as a 6.5-point favorite with a total of 235.5. The National Hockey League has six games on its docket. The Washington Capitals host the Pittsburgh Penguins on TNT/truTV/HBO at 3:07 p.m. ET as a -162 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. Two NHL games drop the puck at 6:07 p.m. ET. The Montreal Canadiens visit New York to face the Islanders, with both teams priced as -110 money-line favorites with a total of 6.5. The Columbus Blue Jackets play at home against the Boston Bruins as a -142 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Ottawa Senators play in New Jersey against the Devils at 7:07 p.m. ET as a -130 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The Anaheim Ducks are home to battle the Vancouver Canucks at 8:07 p.m. ET as a -305 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Utah Mammoth are on the road in Calgary to face the Flames at 9:07 p.m. ET as a -162 money-line road favorite with a total  of 5.5. Major League Baseball has 15 games scheduled. Two MLB games are on major national television. The Milwaukee Brewers host the Washington Nationals on Peacock at 2:15 p.m. ET as a -199 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. Sunday Night Baseball on NBC at 7:20 p.m. ET has the Atlanta Braves playing at home against the Cleveland Guardians as a -194 money-line favorite with a total of 7.5. Matchweek 32 in the English Premier League continues with four matches. Three EPL matches begin at 9:00 a.m. ET. Newcastle United travels to Crystal Palace as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Aston Villa plays at Nottingham Forest as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with a total of 2.5. Sunderland is at home to take on Tottenham on the USA Network as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Manchester City is on the road at Chelsea on the USA Network at 11:30 a.m. ET as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with a total of 3.5. 

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NBA System of the Week - 04/11/26

by Al McMordie

Saturday, Apr 11, 2026

Tomorrow is the final day of the NBA's regular season.  Many teams are already locked into a particular playoff seed, or know that they won't be making the post-season at all.  So, it's a tricky day because of the lack of incentive on the part of a lot of teams.Still, I do like the end of the regular season, as it does offer some good betting opportunities, if you know where to look.One of the things I like to do is focus on teams playing their final home game of the season.  Of course, for half the league, that would be in the final game.  But for the rest of the teams, it might have occurred in Game 81, 80, 79, etc., depending on how the schedule broke down.Because it's the end of the year, I like to assure that the team I'm betting on will have motivation to win.  One way to do that is to focus on taking favorites.  Another is to play on revenge-minded teams.  For our NBA System of the Week, we are going to take teams favored by more than 5 points that are playing with revenge in their final home game of the season.Since 1990, these home teams have gone 105-61-6 ATS (63.2%).On Sunday, there are currently four teams locked into this system:Toronto (-21) vs. BrooklynDallas (-6.5) vs. ChicagoMinnesota (-7) vs. New OrleansSan Antonio (-9.5) vs. DenverOf course, there's nothing wrong with 63.2%.  But I always like to see if I can improve a system.With this particular angle, we can boost our stats to 76-35-2 ATS (68.4%) if our home team is NOT off a SU/ATS loss.  Two of the four teams fall into that tightener:  San Antonio and Minnesota.Good luck, as always...Al McMordie

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NHL, MLB and EPL Previews and Odds - 04/11/26

by Big Al Staff

Saturday, Apr 11, 2026

The Saturday sports card features NHL, MLB, and EPL action. The National Hockey League has 15 games on its docket. The Tampa Bay Lightning travel to Boston to play the Bruins on ABC at 12:37 p.m. ET as a -125 money-line road favorite with the total set at 6.5 (all odds from DraftKings). The Ottawa Senators play in New York against the Islanders at 1:07 p.m. ET as a -120 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Pittsburgh Penguins host the Washington Capitals on ABC at 3:07 p.m. ET as a -130 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Los Angeles Kings play at home against the Edmonton Oilers at 4:07 p.m. ET as a -115 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. Five NHL games drop the puck at 5:07 p.m. ET. The St. Louis Blues are on the road in Chicago to take on the Blues as a -130 money-line road favorite with a total of 5.5. The Dallas Stars are home to face the New York Rangers as a -198 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Detroit Red Wings host the New Jersey Devils as a -142 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Minnesota Wild visit Nashville to battle the Predators as a -130 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Utah Mammoth plays at home against the Carolina Hurricanes as a -122 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Winnipeg Jets are home to battle the Philadelphia Flyers as a -130 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Toronto Maple Leafs host the Florida Panthers as a -130 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Seattle Kraken play at home against the Calgary Flames as a -155 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Montreal Canadiens are home to play the Columbus Blue Jackets as a -142 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5.The Colorado Avalanche host the Vegas Golden Knights on ABC at 8:07 p.m. ET as a -135 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The San Jose Sharks play at home against the Vancouver Canucks at 10:07 p.m. ET as a -218 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5.Major League Baseball has 15 games scheduled. The Philadelphia Phillies are home to face the Arizona Diamondbacks on FS1 at 1:05 p.m. ET as a -125 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Detroit Tigers host the Miami Marlins at 1:10 p.m. ET as a -143 money-line favorite with a total of 7.5. The Chicago Cubs play at home against the Pittsburgh Pirates at 2:10 p.m. ET as a -143 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Toronto Blue Jays are home to face the Minnesota Twins at 3:07 p.m. ET as a -112 money-line favorite with a total of 8. Three MLB games throw out the first pitch at 4:10 p.m. ET. The New York Mets host the Athletics on Peacock as a -156 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7.5. The Kansas City Royals play at home against the Chicago White Sox as a -194 money-line favorite with a total of 9. The Cincinnati Reds are home to battle the Los Angeles Angels as a -136 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9. The New York Yankees play in Tampa Bay against the Rays at 6:10 p.m. ET  as a -199 money-line road favorite with a total of 7.5. The Milwaukee Brewers host the Washington Nationals at 7:10 p.m. ET as a -175 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. Three more MLB games start at 7:15 p.m. ET. The Atlanta Braves play at home against the Cleveland Guardians as a -120 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The two other MLB games at this time are featured on Fox’s regional coverage. The San Francisco Giants are on the road to challenge the Baltimore Orioles as a -120 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 7.5. The Boston Red Sox travel to St. Louis to play the Cardinals as a -143 money-line road favorite with a total of 7.5. The San Diego Padres are home to face the Colorado Rockies at 8:40 p.m. ET as a -163 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Los Angeles Dodgers host the Texas Rangers at 9:10 p.m. ET as a -194 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The Seattle Mariners play at home against the Houston Astros at 9:40 p.m. ET as a -143 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7.5. Matchweek 32 in the English Premier League continues with four matches. Arsenal is at home to take on Bournemouth on the USA Network at 7:30 a.m. ET as a -1.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5. Two EPL matches begin at 10:00 a.m. ET. Brentford hosts Everton on the USA Network as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Brighton and Hove Albion plays at Burnley as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with a total of 2.5. Liverpool plays at home against Fulham on NBC at 12:30 p.m. ET as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 3.5. 

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, MLB and EPL Previews and Odds - 04/10/26

by Big Al Staff

Friday, Apr 10, 2026

The Friday sports card features NBA, MLB, and EPL action. The National Basketball League has 15 games on its docket. Three NBA games tip off at 7:10 p.m. ET. The Atlanta Hawks host the Cleveland Cavaliers on Amazon Prime Video as a 6.5-point favorite with the total set at 234.5. The Miami Heat play in Washington against the Wizards as a 17.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 249.5. The Charlotte Hornets play at home against the Detroit Pistons as a 3.5-point favorite with a total of 223.5. Three NBA games start at 7:40 p.m. ET. The Boston Celtics are home to play the New Orleans Pelicans as a 16.5-point favorite with an over/under of 224.5. The New York Knicks host the Toronto Raptors as a 6.5-point favorite with a total of 219.5. The Philadelphia 76ers play in Indiana against the Pacers as a 14.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 234.5. Three NBA games begin at 8:10 p.m. ET. The Orlando Magic are on the road in Chicago against the Bulls as a 14.5-point road favorite with a total of 241.5. The Milwaukee Bucks play at home against the Brooklyn Nets as a 9.5-point favorite with an over/under of 220.5. The San Antonio Spurs are home to take on the Dallas Mavericks as a 17.5-point favorite with a total of 236.5. The Denver Nuggets take on the Oklahoma City Thunder at home at 9:10 p.m. ET as a 10.5-point favorite with an over/under of 231.5.Two NBA games start at 9:40 p.m. ET. The Houston Rockets host the Minnesota Timberwolves on Amazon Prime Video as a 10.5-point favorite with a total of 219.5. The Utah Jazz play at home against the Memphis Grizzlies as a 3.5-point favorite with an over/under of 247.5. Two NBA games begin at 10:10 p.m. ET. The Portland Trail Blazers are at home to face the Los Angeles Clippers as a 1.5-point favorite with a total of 225.5. The Golden State Warriors visit Sacramento to challenge the Kings as an 11.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 229.5. The Phoenix Suns go on the road to battle the Los Angeles Lakers at 10:40 p.m. ET as a 1.5-point road favorite with a total of 219.5. Major League Baseball has 15 games scheduled. The Chicago Cubs play at home against the Pittsburgh Pirates at 2:20 p.m. ET as a -156 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. Two MLB games throw out the first pitch at 6:40 p.m. ET. The Detroit Tigers are home to challenge the Miami Marlins as a -149 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The Philadelphia Phillies host the Arizona Diamondbacks as a -194 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Cincinnati Reds play at home against the Los Angeles Angels on Apple TV+ at 6:45 p.m. ET as a -194 money-line favorite with a total of 9. The Toronto Blue Jays are home to play the Minnesota Twins at 7:07 p.m. ET as a -143 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9. Two more MLB games start at 7:10 p.m. ET. The New York Mets host the Athletics as a -156 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The New York Yankees play in Tampa Bay against the Rays as a -149 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8. Two MLB games begin at 7:15 p.m. ET. The Baltimore Orioles play at home against the San Francisco on Apple TV+ as a -122 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The Atlanta Braves are home to face the Cleveland Guardians as a -136 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. Two more MLB games start at 7:40 p.m. ET. The Kansas City Royals host the Chicago White Sox as a -175 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The Milwaukee Brewers play at home against the Washington Nationals as a -199 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. The Boston Red Sox are on the road to take on the St. Louis Cardinals on Peacock at 8:15 p.m. ET as a -149 money-line road favorite with a total of 7.5. Two more MLB games at 9:40 p.m. ET. The Seattle Mariners are at home to battle the Houston Astros as a -136 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7.5. The San Diego Padres host the Colorado Rockies as a -186 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The Los Angeles Dodgers play at home against the Texas Rangers at 10:10 p.m. ET as a -232 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9.Matchweek 32 in the English Premier League begins with one match. West Ham United is at home to challenge Wolverhampton on the USA Network at 3:00 p.m. ET as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL and MLB Previews and Odds - 04/09/26

by Big Al Staff

Thursday, Apr 09, 2026

The Thursday sports card features NBA, NHL, and MLB action. The National Basketball League has six games on its docket. Two NBA games tip off at 7:10 p.m. ET. The Chicago Bulls travel to Washington to play the Wizards as a 6.5-point road favorite with the total set at 246.5 (all odds from DraftKings). The Toronto Raptors host the Miami Heat as a 3.5-point favorite with an over/under of 239.5. Two NBA games start at 7:40 p.m. ET. The New York Knicks play at home against the Boston Celtics on Amazon Prime Video as a 3.5-point favorite with a total of 217.5. The Indiana Pacers play in Brooklyn against the Nets as a 2.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 224.5. The Houston Rockets are at home to play the Philadelphia 76ers at 8:10 p.m. ET as a 3.5-point favorite with a total of 225.5. The Golden State Warriors host the Los Angeles Lakers on Amazon Prime Video at 10:10 p.m. ET as a 4.5-point favorite with an over/under of 225.5. The National Hockey League has 14 games on its slate. The New York Islanders play at home against the Toronto Maple Leafs at 6:52 p.m. ET as a -230 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. Five more NHL games drop the puck at 7:07 p.m. ET. The Detroit Red Wings are home to take on the Philadelphia Flyers as a -125 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Pittsburgh Pirates are on the road against the New Jersey Devils as a -112 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The Ottawa Senators host the Florida Panthers as a -285 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Tampa Bay Lightning visit the Montreal Canadiens as a -115 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The Buffalo Sabres play at home against the Columbus Blue Jackets as a -130 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5.The St. Louis Blues are home to face the Winnipeg Jets at 8:07 p.m. ET as a -115 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Carolina Hurricanes play in Chicago against the Blackhawks at 8:37 p.m. ET as a -230 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. Three NHL games begin at 9:07 p.m. ET. The Dallas Stars host the Minnesota Wild as a -125 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Utah Mammoth plays at home against the Nashville Predators as a -162 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Colorado Avalanche are at home against the Calgary Flames as a -340 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. Two NHL games begin at 10:07 p.m. ET. The Anaheim Ducks host the San Jose Sharks as a -170 money-line with an over/under of 6.5. The Vegas Golden Knights play in Seattle against the Kraken as a -192 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The Los Angeles Kings play at home against the Vancouver Canucks at 10:37 p.m. ET as a -278 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. Major League Baseball has six games scheduled. The Miami Marlins are home to challenge the Cincinnati Reds at 12:10 p.m. ET as a -131 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The New York Yankees host the Athletics at 1:35 p.m. ET as a -219 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. The Detroit Tigers are on the road to battle the Minnesota Twins at 1:40 p.m. ET as a -136 money-line road favorite with a total of 8.5. The New York Mets play at home against the Arizona Diamondbacks at 7:10 p.m. ET as a -163 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7. The Kansas City Royals are home against the Chicago White Sox at 7:40 p.m. ET as a -186 money-line favorite with a total of 9.5. The San Diego Padres host the Colorado Rockies on Peacock at 9:40 p.m. ET as a -199 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.

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ASA NBA MVP Forecast

by ASA, Inc.

Wednesday, Apr 08, 2026

NBA MVP betting forecast – By ASAwins.com With the NBA season drawing to a close we hear many sports outlets talking about postseason awards and who specifically is going to be MVP. Let me be upfront with this, I am not a Nikola Jokic super-fan, I’m a basketball guy. In my opinion, the NBA in the 80’s and 90’s was the single greatest sport to watch where winning was everything. This ramble or vent is on how little the so called ‘experts’ talk about or support Jokic as the league’s MVP. I’m a realist and a bettor and I know he’s not going to win this season, but the reality is…he’s the most valuable player in the league and it’s not as close as you think. I’ll explain below with a little help from the computers. Current 2025-26 season records (near the end of the regular season, ~78-79 games played out of 82): Oklahoma City Thunder: 62-16 (.795) San Antonio Spurs: 60-19 (.759) Denver Nuggets: 51-28 (.646) Key player stats (per game averages and advanced metrics; all data as of the latest available): Nikola Jokić (DEN) PPG: 28.0 | RPG: 12.9 | APG: 10.9 | SPG: 1.4 | TOV: 3.8 PER: 32.3 (elite efficiency) Win Shares (WS): 14.2 (with WS/48 of .315) Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC) PPG: 31.4 | RPG: 4.4 | APG: 6.5 | SPG: 1.4 | TOV: 2.2 PER: 31.0 Win Shares (WS): 15.0 (league leader, WS/48 of .328) Victor Wembanyama (SAS) PPG: 24.8 | RPG: 11.5 | APG: 3.1 | SPG: 1.0 | TOV: 2.4 | BPG: 3.1 PER: 29.5 Win Shares (WS): 9.6 (WS/48 of .254) Simulation Method – Win Shares (WS) is the most direct metric here for estimating a player’s win contribution. It is built from box-score stats (points, rebounds, assists, steals, turnovers) plus defensive contributions, efficiency adjustments, pace, and team context. It is normalized so a replacement-level player contributes ~0 WS. PER provides supporting context on individual efficiency but is already embedded in the WS calculation. The simulation is straightforward and standard for these hypotheticals: Estimated wins without the star ≈ current team wins − player’s WS (rounded to nearest whole win). Losses increase by the same amount to keep total games played the same. This assumes the star’s minutes are filled by replacement-level talent (0 WS contribution). It is an estimate—real basketball has lineup synergies, chemistry, and schedule effects that WS approximates but does not perfectly capture. Remaining games (~3–4) have minimal impact given how close we are to the end of the season. Estimated Records Without the Star Player Denver Nuggets without Nikola Jokić: ~37-42Current: 51-28. Subtract Jokić’s 14.2 WS → ~37 wins (losses rise accordingly).Jokić’s triple-double-level production, historic efficiency (PER 32.3), and massive WS make him the clear engine. Without him the Nuggets would still be a solid playoff-level team thanks to depth, but they drop from a top-3 West seed to a borderline play-in squad. Oklahoma City Thunder without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: ~47-31Current: 62-16. Subtract SGA’s 15.0 WS → ~47 wins.SGA is the league’s WS leader and an MVP-caliber two-way force. The Thunder have excellent supporting pieces and depth, so they would remain a strong playoff team (likely still a top-4 seed in the West), but they lose their offensive engine and defensive versatility, dropping from historic pace to “very good but not elite.” San Antonio Spurs without Victor Wembanyama: ~50-29Current: 60-19. Subtract Wemby’s 9.6 WS → ~50 wins.Wembanyama’s elite two-way impact (PER 29.5, massive blocks, rebounding, and growing playmaking) is huge, but the Spurs have built real supporting talent around him. Without him they would still contend for a high playoff seed, but they lose the defensive anchor and unique spacing/rim protection that makes their system special. Bottom line: All three teams would remain competitive without their superstar (thanks to depth and coaching), but each would drop noticeably—most dramatically the Nuggets (Jokić’s WS impact is enormous relative to the team’s margin). These are data-driven estimates grounded in the exact metrics. There is a good chance Jokic will never win another MVP even if he continues to put up these historical statistics. SGA is going to win again this year, then it will be Wemby for the forseeable future who will probably win multiple years in a row, until the voters get “Wemby-fatigue” and move on from him.

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