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Around The Horn

by AAA Sports

Tuesday, Sep 12, 2023

Are the Jacksonville Jaguars ready to take the Big Step and join the heavy hitters in the AFC?We should find out this coming Sunday when the 1-0 Jags host the defending Super Bowl-champion Chiefs in northern Florida.J-Ville was hardly dominant and actually had to rally late to defeat the Colts in the opener, but here we are just one game into the season and the Jaguars are the only undefeated team in the weak AFC South.Now come the Chiefs, who have to be spitting bullets after looking ordinary in losing to the Lions. There is talk that Travis Kelce could return against the Jaguars, but that’s far from a sure thing. If it’s a shootout, advantage Jacksonville with an offense that includes emerging star Trevor Lawrence, plus Travis Etienne and Calvin Ridley.Bookmakers aren’t yet convinced. Jacksonville is a 3.5-point dog, with the O/U number at a healthy 51 (the highest number in Week 2).FIBA WORLD CUPThe United States was a prohibitive 3/5 favorite to win the FIBA World Cup before eventual champion Germany rained on the Americans’ parade, proving that while Warriors-style small ball can win you an NBA title, on the international stage it doesn’t hurt to have a few bigs in the lineup. Setting lines on international competition in any sport can’t be easy, given teams’ limited prep time and lack of cohesion. It’ll be interesting to see what kind of team the US assembles for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, but after the FIBA performance, there will likely be tremendous pressure on coach Steve Kerr to make major changes.ON THE POLITICAL FRONTDemocrats who are considered tossing themselves off the Empire State Building after reading polls that show President Biden neck and neck with former President Trump can take heart with some historical data. In the last two elections, Trump has failed to garner even 47 percent of the popular vote (46 percent and change each time). If Trump is the nominee again in 2024 and history repeats, it will likely result in another loss. Only once in the last eight presidential elections (George W. Bush got 50.7 in his 2004 victory over John Kerry) has the Republican candidate got as much as 47 percent of the popular vote. A recent Real Clear Politics aggregate total (Betfair, Bovada, BWin, Neds, PointsBet, PredictIt, and Sporting Bet) shows Biden with a 6-point composite edge over Trump, with the widest margin (11 points) coming from PredictIt.PRIME TIME IN THE ROCKIESSanders Mania is in full swing in Boulder now that his Colorado Buffaloes have followed up their stunning victory over TCU with a dominant take-down of Nebraska. Assuming CU takes care of business at home against Colorado State this coming Saturday (Buffaloes are 21-point favorites), they can turn the college football season completely on its head the next two Saturdays when they face ranked teams – No. 13 Oregon and (at) No. 6 USC. Colorado’s odds of winning the national championship have surged from +10000 (after Week 1) to +8000. QB Shedeur Sanders is now in the thick of the Heisman Trophy race at +2000. FINALLY . . . CHEW ON THISThere is no more sure bet than Joey Chestnut winning the July 4 Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest. Chestnut went off at -4000 this year, and had little difficulty in grabbing yet another Mustard Belt – downing 62 dogs in 10 minutes. But before you blindingly bet on Chestnut, be aware that his digestive prowess does not appear to include other food on the competitive eating scene. Earlier this month Chestnut finished a distant second to an Australian competitor in the US Chicken Wing Eating Championship in (where else?) Buffalo. The Aussie downed 276 wings in 12 minutes to Chestnut’s 240. It marked the fifth straight year that Chestnut has not won the event. Chestnut did, however, retain his No. 1 Major League Eating world ranking heading into the Pork Roll Eating Championships in Trenton, N.J. later this month.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: MLB Previews and Odds - 09/12/2023

by Big Al Staff

Tuesday, Sep 12, 2023

The Tuesday sports card features MLB action.Major League Baseball has 17 games on its schedule. The Boston Red Sox host the New York Yankees in the opening game of their doubleheader at 1:35 PM ET. Nick Pivetta takes the ball for the Red Sox to pitch against the Yankees’ Randy Vasquez. Boston is a -148 money-line favorite, with the total set at 10. The Chicago White Sox play at home against the Kansas City Royals in the first game of their doubleheader at 4:40 PM ET. The White Sox turn to Dylan Cease to face the Royals’ Brady Singer. Chicago is a -142 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. Two MLB games throw out the first pitch at 6:35 PM ET. Pittsburgh is at home against Washington, with Bailey Falter going to the mound for the Pirates to face Joan Adon for the Nationals. The Pirates are a -142 money-line favorite with a total of 9. Baltimore hosts St. Louis with the Orioles’ tapping John Means to pitch against the Cardinals’ Adam Wainwright. The Orioles are a -192 money-line favorite with an over/under of 10.5. Two MLB games start at 6:40 PM ET. Cincinnati travels to Detroit with Brandon Williamson taking the ball to pitch for the Reds against the Tigers’ Joey Wentz. Atlanta plays at Philadelphia, with the Braves turning to Max Fried to go against the Phillies’ Zack Wheeler. The Braves are a -125 money-line road favorite with a total of 8.5. The Toronto Blue Jays play at home against the Texas Rangers at 7:07 PM ET. Hyun Jin Ryu goes to the mound for the Blue Jays to face Max Scherzer for the Rangers. Toronto is a -112 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. Three MLB games begin at 7:40 PM ET. Minnesota is at home against Tampa Bay, with the Twins turning to Joe Ryan to pitch against the Rays’ Zack Littell. The Twins are a -130 money-line favorite with a total of 8. Miami is in Milwaukee, with J.T. Chargois taking the mound for the Marlins to face the Brewers' Freddy Peralta. Chicago hosts Kansas City in the second game of their doubleheader, with the White Sox sending out Touki Toussaint to go against the Royals’ Jordan Lyles. The White Sox are a -142 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The Houston Astros play at home against the Oakland A’s at 8:10 PM ET. Justin Verlander gets the ball for the Astros to duel against J.P. Sears for the A’s. Houston is a -305 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Chicago Cubs are at Colorado to play the Rockies at 8:40 PM ET. The Cubs turn to Javier Assad to face the Rockies’ Chris Flexen. Chicago is a  -185 money-line road favorite with a total of 11.5. The Seattle Mariners are at home against the Los Angeles Angels at 9:40 PM ET. Bryan Woo gets the ball for the Mariners to face Patrick Sandoval for the Angels. Seattle is a -218 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7.5. Two games conclude the MLB card at 9:45 PM ET. San Francisco plays at home against Cleveland Guardians, with the Giants giving the ball to Sean Manaea to battle against the Guardians’ Cal Quantrill. The Giants are a -142 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. Los Angeles hosts San Diego, with the Dodgers tapping Lance Lynn to face the Padres’ Michael Wacha. The Dodgers are a -162 money-line favorite with a total of 9.5.  

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NFL and MLB Previews and Odds - 09/11/2023

by Big Al Staff

Monday, Sep 11, 2023

The Monday sports card features NFL and MLB action.Week 1 in the NFL concludes with one game. The Buffalo Bills play in New York against the New York Jets on ABC, ESPN, and the ESPN2 Manning Cast at 8:15 PM ET. The Bills come off a 14-4 season that ended in their 27-10 loss at home against the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC divisional round of the playoffs. The Jets missed the playoffs with a 7-10 record. Buffalo is a 2-point road favorite with a total of 45 (all odds from DraftKings).Major League Baseball has 15 games on its schedule. The Atlanta Braves travel to Philadelphia to play the Phillies at 1:05 PM ET in the opening game of their doubleheader. The Braves turn to Charlie Morton to pitch against the Phillies’ Taijuan Walker. Atlanta is a -165 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 10. Two MLB games throw out the first pitch at 6:35 PM ET. Pittsburgh hosts Washington with a starting pitcher yet to be determined for the Pirates set to pitch against Patrick Corbin for the Nationals. The Pirates are a -135 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. Baltimore plays at home against St. Louis with the Orioles tapping Dean Kremer to go against the Cardinals’ Dakota Hudson. The Orioles are a -170 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9. The Phillies face the Braves at 6:40 PM ET in the second game of their doubleheader with Michael Lorenzen taking the ball for Philadelphia to face a starting pitcher yet to be named for Atlanta. The Toronto Blue Jays are at home against the Texas Rangers at 7:07 PM ET. The Blue Jays turn to Chris Bassitt to face the Rangers 'Dane Dunning. Toronto is a -135 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. Two MLB games start at 7:10 PM ET. New York hosts Arizona with Jose Quintana taking the mound for the Mets to battle against Zach Davies for the Diamondbacks. The Mets are a -130 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9. Boston plays at home against New York with the Red Sox sending out Kutter Crawford to face the Yankees’ Clarke Schmidt. The Red Sox are a -130 money-line favorite with a total of 9.5. Three MLB games begin at 7:40 PM ET. The Chicago White Sox are at home against the Kansas City Royals with neither starting pitcher yet to be named. Tampa Bay travels to Minnesota with Tyler Glasnow on the mound for the Rays to duel against Sonny Gray for the Twins. The Rays are a -118 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 7.5. Milwaukee hosts Miami with Brandon Woodward pitching for the Brewers against Jesus Luzardo for the Marlins. The Brewers are a -142 money-line favorite with a total of 7.5. The Houston Astros play at home against the Oakland A’s at 8:10 PM ET. The Astros tap Framber Valdez to duel against the A’s Mason Miller. Houston is a -298 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Chicago Cubs are in Colorado to play the Rockies at 8:40 PM ET. Jordan Wicks takes the hill for the Cubs to pitch against Kyle Freeland for the Rockies. The Cubs are a -180 money-line road favorite with a total of 11.5. The Seattle Mariners are at home against the Los Angeles Angels at 9:40 PM ET. The Mariners turn to Logan Gilbert to go against the Angels’ Reid Detmers. Seattle is a -225 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7.5. The San Francisco Giants host the Cleveland Guardians at 9:45 PM ET. Alex Cobb gets the ball for the Giants to face Gavin Williams for the Guardians. San Francisco is a -148 money-line favorite with a total of 7.5. The Los Angeles Dodgers play at home against the San Diego Padres at 10:10 PM ET. The Dodgers turn to Gavin Stone to pitch against the Padres’ Pedro Avila. Los Angeles is a -170 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9.5. 

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Big Al's Daily Angle: MLB and NFL Previews and Odds - 09/10/2023

by Big Al Staff

Sunday, Sep 10, 2023

The Sunday sports card features NFL and MLB action.Week 1 in the NFL continues with 14 games. Eight NFL games kick off at 1 PM ET. The Atlanta Falcons host the Carolina Panthers as a 3.5-point favorite, with the total set at 39.5 (all odds from DraftKings). The Baltimore Ravens play at home against the Houston Texans as a 9.5-point favorite with an over/under of 43.5. The Cincinnati Bengals travel to Cleveland to play the Browns as a 2-point road favorite with a total of 47.5. The Jacksonville Jaguars are in Indianapolis to play the Colts at 1 PM ET as a 4.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 46. The Minnesota Vikings play at home against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a 5.5-point favorite with a total of 46. The New Orleans Saints are at home against the Tennessee Titans as a 3-point favorite with an over/under of 42. The San Francisco 49ers visit Pittsburgh to play the Steelers as a 2-point road favorite with a total of 41.5. The Washington Commanders host the Arizona Cardinals as a 7-point favorite with an over/under of 38.Five NFL games start at 4:25 PM ET. The Chicago Bears play at home against the Green Bay Packers as a 1-point favorite with a total of 41.5. The Denver Broncos are at home against the Las Vegas Raiders as a 3.5-point favorite with an over/under of 43.5. The Los Angeles Chargers host the Miami Dolphins as a 3-point favorite with a total of 51. The Philadelphia Eagles play in New England against the Patriots as a 3.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 44.5. The Seattle Seahawks are at home against the Los Angeles Rams as a 5-point favorite with a total of 46. Sunday Night Football features the Dallas Cowboys traveling to New York to play the Giants on NBC at 8:20 PM ET. The Cowboys are a 3-point road favorite with an over/under of 45.Major League Baseball has 15 games on its schedule. The Philadelphia Phillies host the Miami Marlins at 1:05 PM ET. Two more MLB games throw out the first pitch at 1:10 PM ET. The Tampa Bay Rays play at home against the Seattle Mariners as a -135 money-line favor with a total of 7. The Detroit Tigers are at home against the Chicago White Sox as a -130 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9. Four MLB games start at 1:35 PM ET. The Pittsburgh Pirates are in Atlanta to play the Braves. The Washington Nationals host the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Boston Red Sox host the Baltimore Orioles as a -115 money-line favorite with a total of 10. The New York Yankees play at home against the Milwaukee Brewers as a -130 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7.5. The Toronto Blue Jays are at home against the Kansas City Royals at 1:37 PM ET as a -185 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The Cincinnati Reds host the St. Louis Cardinals at 1:40 PM ET as a -115 money-line favorite with an over/under of 10. Two MLB games begin at 2:10 PM ET. The Houston Astros play at home against the Sam Diego Padres. The Minnesota Twins are at home against the New York Mets as a -198 money-line favorite with a total of 9. The Chicago Cubs host the Arizona Diamondbacks at 2:20 PM ET as a -135 money-line favorite. The Texas Rangers play at home against the Oakland A’s as a -245 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9. The Cleveland Guardians visit Los Angeles to play the Angels at 4:07 PM ET as a -185 money-line road favor with a total of 9.Sunday Night Baseball on ESPN has the Colorado Rockies playing in San Francisco against the Giants.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NCAAF, MLB and CFL Previews and Odds - 09/09/2023

by Big Al Staff

Saturday, Sep 09, 2023

The Saturday sports card features NCAAF, MLB, and CFL action. Week 1 in NCAAF college football concludes with 19 games on national television between FBS opponents. Seven nationally televised NCAAF games kick off at noon ET. Colorado hosts Nebraska on Fox as a 3-point favorite, with the total set at 58.5 (all odds from DraftKings). Virginia Tech plays at home against Purdue on ESPN2 as a 2.5-point favorite with an over/under of 49.5. Utah travels to Baylor on ESPN as a 7-point road favorite with a total of 46. Notre Dame is at North Carolina State on ABC as a 7.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 49. James Madison plays at Virginia on ESPNU as a 6.5-point road favorite with a total of 40.5. Kansas State is at home against Troy on FS1 as a 15.5-point favorite with an over/under of 49. Three NCAAF games on national television start at 3:30 PM ET. Texas A&M visits Miami (FL) on ABC as a 3-point road favorite with a total of 51. Iowa plays at Iowa State on Fox as a 4-point road favorite with an over/under of 36.5. Michigan hosts UNLV on CBS as a 37-point favorite with a total of 57.5. Marshall is at East Carolina on ESPNU at 4 PM ET as a 3-point road favorite with an over/under of 43.5. Pittsburgh plays at home against Cincinnati on The CW at 6:30 PM ET as a 6.5-point favorite with a total of 45. Three nationally televised NCAAF games begin at 7 PM ET. Houston travels to Rice on the NFL Network as an 8-point road favorite with an over/under of 52.5. Central Florida plays at Boise State on FS1 as a 3.5-point road favorite with a total of 58.5. Oregon is at Texas Tech on Fox at 7 PM ET as a 6.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 69. Three more NCAAF games on national television start at 7:30 PM ET. Maryland is at home against Charlotte on NBC as a 24.5-point favorite with a total of 50. Wisconsin plays at Washington State on ABC as a 6-point road favorite with an over/under of 58.5. UCLA is at San Diego State on CBS as a 13.5-point road favorite with a total of 48.5. Air Force travels to Sam Houston State on the CBS Sports Network at 8 PM ET as a 13.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 37. Three more games on national television conclude the NCAAF card. Auburn plays at California on ESPN as a 6-point road favorite with a total of 55.5. USC hosts Stanford on Fox as a 29.5-point favorite with an over/under of 69.5. Oklahoma State is at Arizona State on FS1 as a 3-point road favorite, with a total of 53.5.Major League Baseball has 15 games on its schedule. The New York Yankees plays at home against the Milwaukee Brewers at 2:05 PM ET as a -148 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9. The Minnesota Twins are at home against the New York Mets at 2:10 PM ET as a -148 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The Chicago Cubs host the Arizona Diamondbacks at 2:20 PM ET as a -142 money-line favorite. The Toronto Blue Jays play at home against the Kansas City Royals at 3:07 PM ET. Two MLB games throw out the first pitch at 4:05 PM ET. The Tampa Bay Rays are at home against the Seattle Mariners on FS1 as a -122 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Los Angeles Dodgers travel to Washington to play the Nationals as a -205 money-line road favorite with a total of 9.5. The Boston Red Sox host the Baltimore Orioles at 4:10 PM ET as a -162 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9.5. The Philadelphia Phillies play at home against the Miami Marlins at 6:05 PM ET as a -185 money-line favorite with a total of 9. The Chicago White Sox are in Detroit against the Tigers at 6:10 PM ET. The St. Louis Cardinals play in Cincinnati against the Reds at 6:40 PM ET as a -135 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 10.5.  The Texas Rangers are at home against the Oakland A’s at 7:05 PM ET. The Houston Astros host the San Diego Padres at 7:10 PM ET as a -130 money-line favorite with a total of 9. The Atlanta Braves play at home against the Pittsburgh Pirates at 7:20 PM ET as a -278 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9.5. The San Francisco Giants are at home against the Colorado Rockies at 9:05 PM ET as a -225 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The Cleveland Guardians are in Los Angeles against the Angels at 9:07 PM ET as a -120 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 9. Week 14 in the Canadian Football League concludes with three games. The Toronto Argonauts host the Montreal Alouettes at 1 PM ET as a 10-point favorite with a total of 52.5. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers play at home against the Saskatchewan Roughriders at 4 PM ET as an 8.5-point favorite with an over/under of 48. The Edmonton Elks are at home against the Calgary Stampeders at 7 PM ET as a 2-point favorite with a total of 48.5.

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NFL Season-Opening Division Dilemma

by Tom Stryker

Friday, Sep 08, 2023

Getting out of the gate in the NFL is never easy.  Teams in the league and their corresponding talent levels change on an annual basis and it takes a few games to see if this year’s squad can get after it or not. Season openers can be really tricky, too.  Several NFL teams don’t show very much in the preseason and tend to flip the switch when the contests count for real.  Since everyone is highly motivated in their first regular season battle, you’ll find that division wars carry additional meaning.  Old rivalries never die, and teams locked into division matchups in openers can provide us with some really nice investment opportunities. With the help of my NFL football database, the same one that was featured in the December 13th, 2010, issue of the ESPN Insider magazine, I’ve been able to isolate and profit from a number of incredible technical situations.  My “NFL Season Opening Division Dilemma” system is one that has made my clients and I a great deal of money over the years.  It kind of goes against the grain.  The result I expected was the opposite of what really transpired.  Take a peek at this beauty: Since 1981, PLAY AGAINST any season opening home favorite priced competitively at -5 or less provided they were a losing team a year ago (won/loss percentage less than .500) if their opponent owned a team won/loss percentage less than .560 last season.  42 Year ATS Record = 44-25-1 ATS for 63.8 percent  This Week’s PLAY ON Teams  = CAROLINA, TENNESSEE, GREEN BAY, and LAS VEGAS  Surprisingly, this short, hungry home favorite that was a stone-cold loser a season ago just isn’t ready to lay a small number into an opposing team that is starved for respect as well.  There is one special tightener that can be added to this technical situation that really makes it pop.  If our “play against” side is matched up against a division foe, this game one angle crashes to a horrible 4-16 ATS.  The Falcons, Bears, and Broncos are locked into this negative wagering parameter. Good luck with the Panthers, Packers, and Raiders on Opening Day!

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Betting Notes on NFL and College Football

by Wayne Root

Friday, Sep 08, 2023

It’s time for FOOTBALL 2023.  Let’s get ready to WIN!! If you’re a serious college/NFL bettor or sports investor, it’s important to use all the tools at your disposal – including the right sports betting software and systems to help you optimize your bets. You need tools like real-time line moves, public betting percentages, bet signals and breaking injury alerts and that’s what Wayne Root is here to assist. Wayne’s proprietary software provides live NFL odds including sports point spreads, totals/moneylines, market bet signals, historical odds, betting trends & percentages, line moves, line predictions, value ratings and more. I mention this because one needs to understand that there’s a huge difference between studying and guessing. The NFL and college football is the most heavily bet sport that we cover, and betting against the public is a strong strategy to use. The more bettors that we have access or the more amateur or “square” bettors we have, we can use that to our advantage and get that information to you within our selections. Most weeks on Wednesdays, Wayne provides members a unique “insider” perspective on the weekend’s biggest early matchups with an advance play. Hopefully, our clients bet before the lines reset on game day. Read the vital news and information that shapes the sports betting industry from us weekly. Wayne has earned the respect of leading online sportsbooks and sports fans in his efforts to break down the barriers to winning in the sports betting marketplace. This is Wayne Root’s 38th year in handicapping the Vegas lines. Every week we analyze the sports betting marketplace to pinpoint which games the public are chasing and which the sharps are pounding.The goal of our weekly betting write ups are to highlight games that offer true line value. Often if a line looks too good to be true, there is a reason. You’ll occasionally need the worst teams on the board to come through. We typically buy on bad news and sell on good. We takes teams the public refuses to bet. After 38 years of observation, we know that the oddsmakers are not your friends and will jack up the point spread on public teams.  Last year, our College best bets won at an incredible rate. We identify them as a MAXX BET PINNACLE. They finished at 11-1, 92%. Remember that our plays are independently monitored. Again,  by taking teams that the public refuses to touch, we make a bundle year in and year out. The college football season starts August 26th.  Good luck and great wagers.  Wayne Allyn Root 

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Hedging NFL Futures and In-Game Bets.

by Wayne Root

Friday, Sep 08, 2023

The purpose of hedging NFL futures is to set up a two way middle for the playoffs.  Let’s say you bet Kansas City to win the Super Bowl. The possibility of them reaching the playoffs and having home field advantage is not an uncommon prediction. The Chiefs are + 550 right now to go all the way. In their first game of the playoffs we do not have to lay points. That a huge advantage for us; obviously.  Let’s say their first opponent is Miami Dolphins. The line could be Chiefs -7.5. Here’s our game situation. We have the Chiefs at Even for $550 and then we bet the Dolphins at +7.5 for $550.  Our goal is the middle the bets and win both. If the final score is: Chiefs 27-Miami 20, (or anything in between), we win the Miami money for $550 and our Chiefs bet moves on and we do the same thing in our second playoff game having the Chiefs.  Hedging bets is something that is talked about more than it is understood. It’s also a concept that can be very profitable because it can easily be used in ways that correctly  impacts your bottom line.  As far as NFL futures, I’m recommending a few bets that as division winners, should have home field advantage(s). It’s not impossible to imagine these teams in the playoffs and having home field.  Chiefs +550 Bills +800 Philadelphia +600 San Francisco +800 We should be able to hit middles with these as they most likely will have home field advantage of which we have all four team at pick ‘em. Additionally, as you begin to understand the concept then you also can see that you could do the same thing by betting on a game and hedging the bet with in-game betting. The opportunity to make a guaranteed profit happens surprisingly often, and even if that doesn’t work out quite right you can often limit the size of your loss by hedging. So, with hedging we can limit our losses and often guarantee a profit. Sounds perfect, doesn’t it? Well, since it seems to good to be true there are obviously some downsides to hedging.  The first is that you often have to act fairly quick to be sure to get the right price. Hedging can be a bit confusing to think about when you are first doing it, so it is easy to make a mistake when you are working fast. And you must work your bets in a fast quick time element on game days.  Hedging and in-game betting is very popular but especially for Super Bowl futures. 

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NCAAF, MLB and CFL Previews and Odds - 09/08/2023

by Big Al Staff

Friday, Sep 08, 2023

The Friday sports card features NCAAF, MLB, and CFL action. Week 1 in NCAAF college football kicks off with one game between FBS opponents. Kansas hosts Illinois on ESPN2 at 7 PM ET. The Jayhawks won their opening game of the season with a 48-17 victory against Missouri State as a 32.5-point favorite last Friday. The Fighting Illini started 1-0 this year after their 30-28 victory against Toledo as a 7.5-point favorite on Saturday. Kansas is a 3.5-point favorite, with the total set at 57.5 (all odds from DraftKings). Major League Baseball has 15 games on its schedule. The Arizona Diamondbacks travel to Chicago to play the Cubs at 2:20 PM ET as a -115 money-line road favorite. Three MLB games throw out the first pitch at 6:40 PM ET. The Cincinnati Reds play at home against the St. Louis Cardinals on Apple TV+ as a -130 money-line favorite with an over/under of 10.5. The Detroit Tigers are at home against the Chicago White Sox as a -130 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The Seattle Mariners play in Tampa Bay against the Rays, with both teams priced at -110 with an over/under of 7.5. Three MLB games start at 7:05 PM ET. The New York Yankees host the Milwaukee Brewers as a -125 money-line favorite with a total of 9. The Los Angeles Dodgers visit Washington to play the Nationals as a -175 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 9.5. The Philadelphia Phillies play at home against the Miami Marlins as a -142 money-line favorite with a total of 9. The Toronto Blue Jays are at home against the Kansas City Royals at 7:07 PM ET as a -230 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9. The Baltimore Orioles play in Boston against the Red Sox at 7:10 PM ET as a -122 money-line road favorite with a total of 10. The Atlanta Braves host the Pittsburgh Pirates at 7:20 PM ET as a -205 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9.5. The Texas Rangers play at home against the Oakland A’s at 8:05 PM ET as a -230 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. Two more MLB games start at 8:10 PM ET. The Houston Astros are at home against the San Diego Padres on Apple TV+ as a -130 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The New York Mets are in Minnesota to play the Twins as a -115 money-line road favorite with a total of 8.5. The Cleveland Guardians travel to Los Angeles to play the Angels at 9:38 PM ET as a -135 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The San Francisco Giants host the Colorado Rockies at 10:15 PM ET as a -205 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. Week 14 in the Canadian Football League begins with one game. The Ottawa Redblacks play at home against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on the CBS Sports Network at 7:30 PM ET. The Redblacks are a 4-point favorite with an over/under of 47.5.

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NFL Week 1: VW's Power Rankings

by Vegas Writer

Thursday, Sep 07, 2023

Football is back!And every week you'll be able to find my personal NFL Power Rankings, ranking the league from best to worst.I've scoured every media outlet, read most beat writers, and familiarized myself with every team after six weeks of practice and the few exhibition games we've seen.Where did it all leave me? Dazed and confused, of course.And if I thought the past several weeks were bad, wait, the league turns my rankings on its head and has me baffled every week.We have to start somewhere, and with the season getting underway Thursday, let's get to it:THE UPPER TIER1. Kansas City - Until I am proven otherwise, the reigning champs deserve the top spot in Week 1. The Chiefs addressed issues on the offensive line, they've bolstered the wide receivers' room and, in two words: Patrick Mahomes2. Philadelphia - The reigning runner-up Eagles made headlines with their draft selections, and figure to be better than last season. Everyone is excited to see Jalen Hurts, but I can't wait to see defensive lineman Jalen Carter.3. Cincinnati - I keep hearing chatter about Joe Burrow's extension and this being Tee Higgins' final year. But is anyone taking in consideration both those things in a positive light? Both will be at their best, proving their worth for obvious reasons.4. San Francisco - A healthy Brock Purdy will go a long way this season. The fact the 49ers felt comfortable in shipping Trey Lance to Dallas, not to mention them returning a stellar defensive unit now that Nick Bosa agreed to terms, tells me they're ready to overtake the NFC and return to the Super Bowl.5. Buffalo - The Bills will always get their respect because of Josh Allen, who has the offensive weapons to keep this team relevant. That said, I want to see Monday's game vs. the Jets and Aaron Rodgers, as it wouldn't shock me if I swapped these two next week.6. Dallas - It's now or never. If the Cowboys aren't in must-win mode this season, meaning "Super Bowl or Bust," owner Jerry Jones needs to be questioned. There is pressure on everyone to produce, and if Dak Prescott and Mike McCarthy can't deliver, it'll be time to move on.7. Baltimore - The only question I have with the Ravens is how long it'll take to move them up the ranks, since I fully expect Lamar Jackson to jell nicely with like Odell Beckham Jr. and Zay Flowers. If there's immediate chemistry, the rest of the AFC North will be contending to earn a wild-card berth.8. Miami - The Dolphins' season hinges on a healthy Tua Tagovailoa. If he plays the entire season, the Fins are a Top 10 team and will challenge for the AFC East title. We'll also need to see an immediate impact with Vic Fangio serving as defensive coordinator.9. N.Y. Jets - The team I had the biggest struggle with comes in ninth, as this is another team that I need to see in action, with chemistry the biggest question, before I turn in a firm verdict. Something tells me Rodgers will have things shaken up - in either a good way, or bad.10. Jacksonville - Remember when the Jaguars were the doormat of the league? Now they've crept into the Top 10, and they're a candidate to move up the rankings since they'll face the Colts and rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson in Week 1.11. L.A. Chargers - The only reason I'm giving the Bolts this much respect, this early on, is because they've finally bolstered their offensive line, which will help keep Justin Herbert upright. Since arriving in the NFL, Herbert ranks ninth in being sacked 101 times - one of nine quarterbacks who have been sacked at least 100 times.12. Detroit - An upset in Week 1 would catapult this team into the Top 10. Can the Lions pull off an upset of the Chiefs? Hey, anything is possible. And we're talking about one of the most anticipated teams in franchise history, all due respect to some talented teams that included Barry Sanders.13. Seattle - Were the Seahawks expected to make it to the postseason in 2022? Not by many. Yet there they were, creeping into the postseason thanks to Geno Smith's career revival. Coach Pete Carroll has a nice blend of experience and youthful exuberance making up a talented roster.14. Cleveland - Not the Browns sneaking in higher than the Steelers. But yes, I think this team has the potential to challenge for a playoff spot. If, and it's a big IF, quarterback Deshaun Watson can be better than we've ever seen from him. If not, disappointing quarterback play won't cut it and they may want to switch to Dorian Thompson-Robinson.15. Minnesota - If there is one team I think could see a drastic decline, it's the Vikings. Last year's 13-win season was a facade behind a rather easy schedule. This year's slate is much tougher, so this is another team the verdict remains out until I can see how competitive they are against tougher competition.16. Pittsburgh - I'm a big believer in Kenny Pickett, and with the right protection, I can see him and tight end Darnell Washington having immediate chemistry. Pickett showed poise last season, but with the blueprint out, any skittish moments can be calmed with Washington in his sights.THE LOWER TIER:17. N.Y. Giants - Two words: Darren Waller. Get him involved immediately.18. New Orleans - Is Derek Carr poised for a career year just to spite the Raiders?19. Green Bay - Jordan Love has been waiting for this moment. Will he make the most of it?20. New England - JuJu Smith-Schuster and Ezekiel Elliott are in Foxborough. Problem might be, so is Mac Jones.21. Denver - If Sean Payton can revive Russell Wilson, look out.22. Washington - The Commanders need to improve on the offensive line most of all.23. Atlanta - The Falcons did some good things in building their roster with stout offensive linemen and top defenders. Now if only Desmond Ridder proves critics wrong.24. Carolina - Bryce Young will either make or break this team.25. Chicago - It's a make-or-break season for Justin Fields. We need to see the kid who was highly regarded out of high school.26. Las Vegas - Poor Raiders fans, the last thing coach Josh McDaniels needed was media leaks that he's begun losing the locker room.27. Tennessee - The Titans ranked last in the league last season with their PFF pass-blocking grade (53.7) and allowed the fifth-most sacks in the league (33). That will be an issue.28. Tampa Bay - Baker Mayfield has thrown the most interceptions (64) in the NFL since 2018. Let's see how his tenure in Tampa starts out.29. L.A. Rams - Don't be surprised if Aaron Donald is shipped out at some point, to a contender that needs a defensive menace. The Rams aren't going anywhere they'll need him.30. Indianapolis - Let the Anthony Richardson era begin. May the growing pains be minimal.31. Houston - The good news is, the Texans aren't the worst team in the league anymore. That's it, there is no other news.32. Arizona - I actually feel bad for Kyler Murray. It'll be a long season in Glendale.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NFL and MLB Previews and Odds - 09/07/2023

by Big Al Staff

Thursday, Sep 07, 2023

The Thursday sports card features NFL and MLB action. The 2023-24 NFL season begins with the NFL Kickoff Game on NBC and Peacock, with the Kansas City Chiefs hosting the Detroit Lions at 8:20 PM ET. The Chiefs won their second Super Bowl in the last four seasons with their 38-35 victory against the Philadelphia Eagles last February. The Lions come off a 9-8 season last year. Kansas City is a 4.5-point favorite, with the total set at 53 (all odds from DraftKings).Major League Baseball has six games on its schedule. Two MLB games throw out the first pitch at 6:40 PM ET. Seattle travels to Tampa Bay, with Luis Castillo getting the ball for the Mariners to pitch against Zack Littell for the Rays. The Mariners ended a three-game losing streak with their 8-4 victory on the road against the Reds on Wednesday. The Rays won for the third time in their last four games in a 3-1 win at home against Boston yesterday. Seattle is a -130 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 7.5. Los Angeles plays in Miami, with the Dodgers tapping Ryan Pepiot to face the Marlins’ Braxton Garrett. The Dodgers lost for the fifth time in their last six games in an 11-4 loss on the road in Miami yesterday. Miami has won six games in a row. Los Angeles is a -125 money-line road favorite with a total of 8.5. The New York Yankees are at home against the Detroit Tigers at 7:05 PM ET. The Yankees are on a five-game winning streak after their 4-3 victory at home against the Tigers last night. The Tigers have lost two games in a row. Carlos Rodon gets the ball for New York to battle against Eduardo Rodriguez for Detroit. The Yankees are a -166 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5.The Atlanta Braves host the St. Louis Cardinals at 7:20 PM ET. The Braves are on a three-game losing streak after an 11-6 loss at home to the Cardinals on Wednesday. The Cardinals have won five of their last seven games. Atlanta turns to Max Fried to take the mound to duel against St. Louis’ Adam Wainwright. The Braves are a -298 money-line favorite with a total of 10.5. The Chicago Cubs play at home against the Arizona Diamondbacks at 7:40 PM ET. The Cubs are on a four-game winning streak after their 8-2 victory against San Francisco yesterday. The Diamondbacks won for the second time in their last three games with their 12-5 victory at home against Colorado on Wednesday. Javier Assad gets tapped to pitch for Chicago to go against Ryne Nelson for Arizona. The Cubs are a -185 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Cleveland Guardians visit Los Angeles to play the Angels at 9:38 PM ET. The Guardians ended a three-game losing streak with a 2-1 win at home against Minnesota yesterday. The Angels are on a six-game losing streak after a 10-3 loss at home against Baltimore on Wednesday. Cleveland sends out Cal Quantrill to face a Los Angeles starting pitcher yet to be named.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: MLB Previews and Odds - 09/06/2023

by Big Al Staff

Wednesday, Sep 06, 2023

The Wednesday sports card features MLB action. Major League Baseball has 15 games on its schedule. The Milwaukee Brewers travel to Pittsburgh to play the Pirates at 12:35 PM ET. Freddy Peralta takes the ball for the Brewers to pitch against Colin Selby for the Pirates. Milwaukee is a -190 money-line road favorite at BetMGM, with the total set at 8.5. The Minnesota Twins play in Cleveland against the Guardians at 1:10 PM ET. The Twins tap Joe Ryan to face the Guardians' Gavin Williams. Minnesota is a -130 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5 (all other odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). The Chicago Cubs are at home against the San Francisco Giants at 2:20 PM ET. Jordan Wicks goes to the mound for the Cubs to face Alex Wood for the Giants. Chicago is a -155 money-line favorite at BetMGM with a total of 10.5. The Toronto Blue Jays travel to Oakland to play the A’s at 3:37 PM ET. The Blue Jays turn to Hyun Jin Ryu to duel against the A’s J.P. Sears. Toronto is a -170 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Arizona Diamondbacks host the Colorado Rockies at 3:40 PM ET. Zach Davies gets the start for the Diamondbacks to battle against Chris Flexen for the Rockies. Arizona is a -205 money-line favorite with a total of 9. The Philadelphia Phillies play in San Diego against the Padres at 4:10 PM ET. The Phillies turn to Zack Wheeler to pitch against the Padres’ Michael Wacha. Philadelphia is a -115 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8. Four MLB games throw out the first pitch at 6:40 PM ET. Los Angeles is in Miami, with Lance Lynn getting the ball for the Dodgers to face J.T. Chargois for the Marlins. The Dodgers are a -155 money-line road favorite with a total of 9. Tampa Bay plays at home against Boston, with Tyler Glasgow taking the hill for the Rays to pitch against Nick Pivetta for the Red Sox. The Rays are a -155 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7.5. Seattle visits Cincinnati with the Mariners sending out Logan Gilbert to battle against the Reds’ Lyon Richardson. The Mariners are a -162 money-line road favorite with a total of 10.5. Two MLB games start at 7:05 PM ET. New York is at home against Detroit, with Clarke Schmidt taking the ball for the Yankees to go against Matt Manning for the Yankees. The Yankees are a -166 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. New York plays in Washington, with the Mets tapping Jose Butto to face the Nationals’ Joan Adon. The Mets are a -130 money-line road favorite with a total of 10. The Atlanta Braves host the St. Louis Cardinals at 7:20 PM ET. Spencer Strider goes to the mound for the Braves to duel against the Cardinals Dakota Hudson. Atlanta is a -285 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9. The Kansas City Royals play at home against the Chicago White Sox at 7:40 PM ET. The Royals tap Jordan Lyles to face the White Sox's Touki Toussaint. Kansas City is a -120 money-line favorite with a total of 9.5. The Texas Rangers are at home against the Houston Astros at 8:05 PM ET. Max Scherzer takes the mound for the Rangers to battle against Justin Verlander for the Astros. Texas is a -118 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Baltimore Orioles travel to Los Angeles to play the Angels at 9:38 PM ET. The Orioles send out Kyle Gibson to face the Angels' Patrick Sandoval. Baltimore is a -130 money-line road favorite with a total of 8.5.

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