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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL and MLB Previews and Odds - 04/28/2023

by Big Al Staff

Friday, Apr 28, 2023

The Friday sports card features action in the NBA, NHL, and MLB.The National Basketball Association playoffs continue with two games on ESPN in the conference quarterfinals. The Golden State Warriors host the Sacramento Kings at 8 PM ET. The Warriors took a 3-2 lead in this series with their 126-116 victory on the road against the Kings as a 1.5-point favorite on Wednesday. Golden State is a 7.5-point favorite, with the total set at 235.The Los Angeles Lakers play at home against the Memphis Grizzlies at 10:30 PM ET. The Grizzlies pulled within a 3-2 margin in this series with a 116-99 victory at home as a 4.5-point favorite on Wednesday. The Lakers are a 4.5-point favorite with an over/under of 218.5. The National Hockey League playoffs continue with four games on its slate in the conference quarterfinals. The New York Islanders are at home against the Carolina Hurricanes on TBS at 7:08 PM ET. The Islanders pulled within a 3-2 margin in the series with a 3-2 victory on the road again the Hurricanes on Tuesday. New York is a -120 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Boston Bruins travel to Florida to play the Panthers on TNT at 7:38 PM ET. The Rangers pulled within a 3-2 margin in the series with their 4-3 win on the road against the Bruins. Boston is a -175 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6. The Minnesota Wild host the Dallas Stars on TBS at 9:38 PM ET. The Stars took a 3-2 lead in the series with their 4-0 victory at home on Tuesday. The Wild are a -120 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Colorado Avalanche visits Seattle to play the Kraken on TNT at 10:08 PM ET. The Kraken made this a 3-2 series with their 3-2 win on the road on Wednesday. The Avalanche are a -155 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 5.5.The Friday card in Major League Baseball has 14 games on its schedule. The Minnesota Twins play at home against the Kansas City Royals at 4:10 PM ET as a -260 money-line favorite with a total of 8. Two MLB games throw out the first pitch at 6:40 PM ET. The Chicago Cubs travel to Miami to play the Marlins as a -120 money-line road favorites with an over/under of 7.5. The Baltimore Orioles are in Detroit against the Tigers as a -130 money-line road favorite with a total of 7.5. The Pittsburgh Pirates play in Washington against the Nationals at 7:05 PM ET as a -125 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 9. The Toronto Blue Jays are at home against the Seattle Mariners at 7:07 PM ET as a -115 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. Three MLB games throw out the first pitch at 7:10 PM ET. The Cleveland Guardians play in Boston against the Red Sox as a -140 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Atlanta Braves visit New York to play the Mets as a -140 money-line road favorite with a total of 7.5. The Tampa Bay Rays are in Chicago to play the White Sox as a -155 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Texas Rangers host the New York Yankees at 8:05 PM ET as a -215 money-line favorite with a total of 7.5. Two MLB games start at 8:10 PM ET. The Houston Astros play at home against the Philadelphia Phillies as a -145 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7.5. The Milwaukee Brewers are at home against the Los Angeles Angels as a -140 money-line favorite with a total of 9. The Arizona Diamondbacks travel to Colorado to play the Rockies at 8:40 PM ET as a -135 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 11. The Cincinnati Reds play in Oakland to play the A’s at 9:40 PM ET. The Los Angeles Dodgers host the St. Louis Cardinals at 10:10 PM ET  as a -140 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. 

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MLB Around the Horn: April 27th

by Sean Murphy

Thursday, Apr 27, 2023

For this week's edition of Around the Horn we'll take a look at several key weekend matchups in Major League Baseball. We're about a month into the season and many of the usual suspects have emerged as front-runners while a few surprise division leaders are in the mix as well. Here's a look at four matchups worthy of your attention this coming weekend.Seattle Mariners vs. Toronto Blue JaysWith a strong following on the west coast, the Blue Jays always bring a raucous band of supporters with them on road trips to Seattle. That's turned the two teams into quasi-rivals over the years. The first instalment between the two clubs this year will take place in Toronto this weekend. I suppose the Mariners can be considered an early-season disappointment, sitting in fourth place in the American League West sporting an 11-13 record. While they've only managed to play .500 baseball on the road, they have proven to be a better offensive team compared to at home, averaging 5.0 runs per game. They'll need all the offense they can muster against a Blue Jays team that ranks tied for 11th in runs per game and fifth in hits per contest. The good news for the M's is that they'll start the series with their ace Luis Castillo taking the ball on Friday. Note that Seattle ranks third in the majors in home runs allowed this season, giving up just 19 to date. That's in stark contrast to the Jays pitching staff, which has been tagged for 30 long balls.Atlanta Braves vs. New York MetsAs expected, the Braves and Mets hold down the top two spots in the National League East as we approach the end of April. They'll match up for the first time this season in Queens this weekend. Atlanta figures to have the starting pitching advantage, in the front half of the four-game set at least, as they send Max Fried and Spencer Strider to the mound on Friday and Saturday, respectively. The Braves have been red hot and check in ranked top-five in the league in runs per game and tied for second in runs allowed. Only three teams have posted a collective ERA lower than Atlanta's so far this season. New York's pitching staff has been decimated by injuries in the early going and unfortunately the bats haven't been able to pick up the slack, ranking tied for 15th in runs per game and tied for 19th in hits per contest. New York Yankees vs. Texas RangersWhile the Yankees are off to a respectable start to the season they still find themselves looking up at three teams in the American League East, entering this series sporting a 14-11 record. The Rangers are just a half-game better than the Yanks at 14-10, yet currently hold down the American League West division lead. The highlight of this series could come on Friday night as the Rangers send Jacob deGrom to the hill against Clarke Schmidt. deGrom has lived up to billing as Texas' big offseason acquisition, recording a 3.04 ERA and 0.79 WHIP in 26 2/3 innings of work. Of course he's been overshadowed by the Rangers offense, which enters Thursday's action ranking tops in baseball in runs per game (6.4). New York has dealt with a number of key injuries to its lineup but that's no excuse for averaging only 4.3 runs per game, good for a tie for 20th in the majors. St. Louis Cardinals vs. Los Angeles DodgersThe Cardinals have taken their lumps this week in San Francisco. In fact, it's been a rotten west coast road trip from the start for the Cards as they were also thrashed in Seattle last weekend. Sitting at 9-16 entering Thursday's action, St. Louis has its work cut out for it as it heads to Los Angeles for a three-game series against the Dodgers beginning on Friday. The Cards pitching staff ranks 20th in the majors in ERA and worse still, tied for 26th in WHIP. That's just not going to cut it when your offense is averaging only 4.4 runs per contest. Interestingly, despite the low scoring average, St. Louis actually ranks fourth in baseball in hits per game. It will face a difficult challenge against the Dodgers with L.A. sending Dustin May and Clayton Kershaw to the hill in the first two games of the series. The Dodgers have had a number of key hitters in and out of the lineup over the last week but should be near full-strength to open this weekend set. L.A. ranks top-five in the majors in runs per game this season, averaging 5.2. 

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, MLB and EPL Previews and Odds - 04/27/2023

by Big Al Staff

Thursday, Apr 27, 2023

The Thursday sports card features action in the NBA, NHL, MLB, and EPL.The National Basketball Association playoffs continue with one game in the conference quarterfinals. The Boston Celtics travel to Atlanta to play the Hawks on TNT at 8:30 PM ET. The Hawks pulled within a 3-2 margin in this series with their 119-117 upset victory as a 13-point underdog on Tuesday. The Celtics are a 6.5-point road favorite, with the total set at 232 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). The National Hockey League playoffs continue with three games on its slate in the conference quarterfinals. The Toronto Maple Leafs host the Tampa Bay Lightning on TBS at 7:08 PM ET. The Maple Leafs took a 3-1 series lead with their 5-4 victory on Monday. Toronto is a -155 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The New Jersey Devils play at home against the New York Rangers on ESPN2 at 7:38 PM ET. The Devils evened this series at 2-2 with their 3-1 win against the Rangers on Monday. New Jersey is a -120 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Vegas Golden Knights are at home against the Winnipeg Jets on ESPN2 at 10:08 PM ET. The Golden Knights took a 3-1 lead in the series with their 4-2 victory against the Jets on Monday. Vegas is a -190 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6. The Thursday card in Major League Baseball has 11 games on its schedule. The Atlanta Braves host the Miami Marlins at 12:20 PM ET as a -190 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The Los Angeles Dodgers visit Pittsburgh to play the Pirates at 12:35 PM ET as a -155 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 7.5. The Philadelphia Phillies play at home against the Seattle Mariners at 1:05 PM ET as a -115 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The San Diego Padres are in Chicago to play the Cubs at 2:20 PM ET as a -135 money-line road favorite. The San Francisco Giants are at home against the St. Louis Cardinals as a -145 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Los Angeles Angels host the Oakland A’s at 4:07 PM ET as a -305 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The Baltimore Orioles travel to Detroit to play the Tigers at 6:40 PM ET as a -155 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8. Two more MLB games throw out the first pitch at 7:10 PM ET. The New York Mets play at home against the Washington Nationals as a -230 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The Tampa Bay Rays are in Chicago to play the White Sox as a -145 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 7. The Minnesota Twins are at home against the Kansas City Royals at 7:40 PM ET as a -195 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The New York Yankees play in Texas against the Rangers at 8:05 PM ET as a -170 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8. Matchweek 33 in the English Premier League concludes with three matches. Two matches start at 2:45 PM ET. Newcastle United visits Everton on the USA Network as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with a total of 2.5. Southampton hosts Bournemouth as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Manchester United play at Tottenham in a pick ‘em match with a total of 3.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: EPL, NBA, NHL and MLB Previews and Odds - 04/26/2023

by Big Al Staff

Wednesday, Apr 26, 2023

The Wednesday sports card features action in the NBA, NHL, MLB, and EPL.The National Basketball Association playoffs continue with four games in the conference quarterfinals. The Cleveland Cavaliers host the New York Knicks on NBA TV at 7 PM ET. The Knicks hold a 3-1 lead in this series after winning Game 4 on Sunday. The Cavaliers are a 5.5-point favorite, with the total set at 202.5 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise).The Memphis Grizzles play at home against the Los Angeles Lakers on TNT at 7:30 PM ET. The Lakers took a 3-1 series lead with their victory in Game 4 on Monday. Memphis is a 4-point favorite with an over/under of 222.The Milwaukee Bucks are at home against the Miami Heat on NBA TV at 9:30 PM ET. The Heat took a 3-1 lead in this series with their Game 4 win on Monday. The Bucks are an 11.5-point favorite, with the total at 219.5. The Golden State Warriors travel to Sacramento to play the Kings on TNT at 10 PM ET. The Warriors evened the series at 2-2 with their win in Game 4 on Sunday. Golden State is a 1.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 235. The National Hockey League playoffs continue with two games on its slate in the conference quarterfinals. The Boston Bruins host the Florida Panthers on ESPN at 7:08 PM ET. The Bruins took a 3-1 lead in the series with their win in Game 4 on Sunday. They are a -245 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Colorado Avalanche play at home against the Seattle Kraken on ESPN at 9:38 PM ET. The Kraken evened this series at 2-2 with their upset victory in Game 4. The Avalanche are a -180 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Wednesday card in Major League Baseball has 15 games on its schedule. The Texas Rangers visit Cincinnati to play the Reds at 12:35 PM ET as a -115 money-line road favorite with a total of 9. The Baltimore Orioles are at home against the Boston Red Sox at 1:05 PM ET as a -125 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Toronto Blue Jays host the Chicago White Sox at 1:07 PM ET as a -180 money-line favorite with a total of 9.5. Two MLB games throw out the first pitch at 1:10 PM ET. The Colorado Rockies play in Cleveland against the Guardians. The Minnesota Twins play at home against the New York Yankees as a -120 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. The Milwaukee Brewers are at home against the Detroit Tigers at 1:40 PM ET as a -215 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The Arizona Diamondbacks host the Kansas City Royals at 3:40 PM ET as a -225 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Los Angeles Dodgers travel to Pittsburgh to play the Pirates at 6:35  PM ET as a -140 money-line road favorite with a total of 8.5. Two more MLB games begin at 6:40 PM ET. The Seattle Mariners play in Philadelphia against the Phillies as a -120 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8. The Tampa Bay Lightning are at home against the Houston Astros as a -130 money-line favorite at BetMGM with a total of 9. The New York Mets host the Washington Nationals at 7:10 PM ET as a -205 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Atlanta Braves play at home against the Miami Marlins at 7:20 PM ET as a -155 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The San Diego Padres are in Chicago to play the Cubs at 7:40 PM ET as a -115 money-line road favorite. The Los Angeles Angels are at home against the Oakland A’s at 9:38 PM ET as a -245 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9. The St. Louis Cardinals play in San Francisco against the Giants at 9:45 PM ET, with both teams priced at -110 with a total of 8.5. Matchweek 33 in the English Premier League continues with four matches. Brighton and Hove Albion visit Nottingham Forest at 2:30 PM ET as a -1 goal-line road favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Two more matches start at 2:45 PM ET. Chelsea hosts Brentford as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5. Liverpool plays at West Ham United as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with an over/under of 3. Manchester City plays at home against Arsenal at 3 PM ET as a -1 goal-line favorite with a total of 3. 

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, MLB and EPL Previews and Odds - 04/25/2023

by Big Al Staff

Tuesday, Apr 25, 2023

The Tuesday sports card features action in the NBA, NHL, MLB, and EPL.The National Basketball Association playoffs continue with three games in the conference quarterfinals. The Boston Celtics host the Atlanta Hawks on TNT at 7:30 PM ET. The Celtics hold a 3-1 lead in the series after winning Game 4. They are a 13-point favorite, with the total set at 229.5 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). The Denver Nuggets play at home against the Minnesota Timberwolves on NBA TV at 9 PM ET. Denver has a 3-1 lead in this series after losing Game 4. They are a 9.5-point favorite with an over/under of 221.5. The Phoenix Suns are at home against the Los Angeles Clippers on TNT at 10 PM ET. The Suns took a 3-1 lead in the series with their victory in Game 4. They are a 12-point favorite with a total of 224. The National Hockey League playoffs continue with three games on its slate in the conference quarterfinals. The Carolina Hurricanes host the New York Islanders on ESPN at 7:08 PM ET. The Hurricanes took a 3-1 lead in the series with their win in Game 4. They are a -150 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Dallas Stars play at home against the Minnesota Wild on TBS at 8:08 PM ET. The Stars evened this series at 2-2 with their win in Game 4. They are a -150 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Edmonton Oilers are at home against Los Angeles against the Kings on ESPN at 9:38 PM ET. The Oilers pulled even in this series at 2-2 with their overtime victory in Game 4. Edmonton is a -230 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Tuesday card in Major League Baseball has 15 games on its schedule. The Cleveland Guardians host the Colorado Rockies at 6:10 PM ET as a -205 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The Los Angeles Dodgers travel to Pittsburgh to play the Pirates at 6:35 PM ET as a -130 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Baltimore Orioles play at home against the Boston Red Sox at 6:35 PM ET as a -155 money-line favorite with a total of 9. Three MLB games throw out the first pitch at 6:40 PM ET. The Texas Rangers visit Cincinnati to play the Reds as a -140 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 9. The Seattle Mariners play in Philadelphia against the Phillies as a -120 money-line road favorite with a total of 8.5. The Tampa Bay Rays are at home against the Houston Astros as a -170 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. The Toronto Blue Jays host the Chicago White Sox at 7:07 PM ET as a -195 money-line favorite with a total of 9.5. The Washington Nationals play in New York against the Mets at 7:10 PM ET. The Atlanta Braves are at home against the Miami Marlins at 7:20 PM ET as a -240 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. Three MLB games begin at 7:40 PM ET. The Chicago Cubs host the San Diego Padres as a -120 money-line favorite. The Minnesota Twins play at home against the New York Yankees as a -120 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Milwaukee Brewers are at home against the Detroit Tigers as a -170 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Los Angeles Angels host the Oakland A’s at 9:38 PM ET as a -170 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The Arizona Diamondbacks play at home against the Kansas City Royals at 9:40 PM ET as a -135 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9.5. The St. Louis Cardinals are in San Francisco to play the Giants at 9:45 PM ET. Matchweek 33 in the English Premier League begins with three matches. Wolverhampton is at home against Crystal Palace at 2:30 PM ET as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 2. Aston Villa hosts Fulham at 2:45 PM ET as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Leeds United plays at home against Leicester City on the USA Network at 3 PM ET as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5.

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A New NBA Favorite

by AAA Sports

Monday, Apr 24, 2023

The Celtics are in the process of wrapping up their Eastern Conference series against the Hawks, and the stars appear to be aligned properly for Boston to make a second straight run to the Finals.Assuming that Atlanta proves nothing more than the minor annoyance the Hawks were expected to be, the road ahead for Boston looks much smoother than it did a few weeks ago when oddsmakers had the Bucks as the favorites to win it all.Milwaukee has its hands full with Play-In survivor Miami after Giannis Antetokounmpo went crumbling to the floor in an injury which has helped the Heat take a 2-1 edge heading into Game 4. The status of Antetokounmpo’s lower back injury will have a lot to say about the EC playoff scene.The Celtics also might have gotten a huge boost when the 76ers – trying to reach their first ECF since  Allen Iverson was carrying the team on his back in 2001 – have been forced to deal with an injury to expected MVP Joel Embiid. Embiid sat out Philly’s series-clinching win over Brooklyn last weekend, but his sprained right knee could be problematic against the Celtics.Toss in a wild Western Conference playoffs where injuries are also taking a toll, and things are lining up pretty well for the healthy Celtics. Most books have now made Boston the favorite to win the title -- +250 at FanDuel, +275 at BetMGM, +260 at Caesars. Milwaukee has been leapfrogged and is now next, followed by the +410 Suns (finally getting their act together). The 76ers are at +750.So the door appears wide open for the Celtics, if for no other reason than that SOMEBODY has to be the favorite.And Boston does have a lot of ammo. Only a late-season shooting slump that has extended into the playoffs kept Jayson Tatum from making a legit run at the MVP award, and Jaylen Brown is also capable to taking over a game and creating shots when the offense bogs down. Add in the emergence of Derrick White, the good health of shot blocker/rim runner Robert Williams and a deep bench anchored by 6th Man of the Year Malcolm Brogdon, and the pieces appear in place.But there are some buts.The Celtics have developed a nasty habit of pissing away large leads and not being able to seal the deal late in games, resulting in several unnecessary losses post-All-Star Game and the loss of home-court advantage in a possible ECF series against Milwaukee.There is also concern that Boston’s reliance on the 3-pointer, which served the Celtics so well during a 57-win regular season, might be the team’s undoing when things get tight later in the playoffs and opponents can game-plan.And speaking of game-planning, can Boston realistically expect to win a championship with a 34-year-old rookie head coach with no NBA HC experience? Mazzulla has raised eyebrows with some of his inconsistent and varied rotations and an unwillingness to call time-outs to break runs by opponents. Can he raise his game and at the same time convince the Celtics to keep their foot on the accelerator, hoping to avoid a crash-and-burn as they did in Games 5 and 6 last year in the Finals against the Warriors?Oddsmakers think that the Celtics will figure things out, or at least may be the last team standing when all of their injury-stained opponents haven’t had the depth to make it all the way. Every other Boston team (Red Sox, Bruins, Patriots) has won a championship since Boston raised Banner #17 in 2008. Books think that that streak is about to end.  

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, and MLB Previews and Odds - 04/24/2023

by Big Al Staff

Monday, Apr 24, 2023

The Monday sports card features action in the NBA, NHL, and MLB.The National Basketball Association playoffs continue with two games on TNT in the conference quarterfinals. The Milwaukee Bucks travel to Miami to play the Heat at 7:30 PM ET. The Heat took a 2-1 series lead with the victory in Game 3 on Saturday. Milwaukee is a 5.5-point road favorite, with the total set at 217.5. The Los Angeles Lakers host the Memphis Grizzlies at 10 PM ET. The Lakers took a 2-1 series lead with their victory in Game 3 on Saturday. Los Angeles is a 4.5-point favorite with an over/under of 220.5. The National Hockey League playoffs continue with four games on its slate in the conference quarterfinals. The New York Rangers play at home against the New Jersey Devils on ESPN at 7:08 PM ET. The Rangers have a 2-1 lead in this series after losing Game 3 at home. They are a -150 money-line favorite with a total of 6. The Toronto Maple Leafs visit Tampa Bay to play the Lightning on TBS at 7:38 PM ET. The Maple Leafs took a 2-1 lead in this series with their victory in Game 3. Both teams are priced at -110 with an over/under of 6.5. The Vegas Golden Knights are in Winnipeg to play the Jets on ESPN at 9:38 PM ET. The Golden Knights took a 2-1 series lead after winning Game 3. They are a -115 money-line road favorite with a total of 6. The Colorado Avalanche play in Seattle against the Kraken on TBS at 10:08 PM ET. The Avalanche hold a 2-1 lead in the series after taking Game 3. Colorado is a -150 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6. The Saturday card in Major League Baseball has 11 games on its schedule. The Cleveland Guardians are at home against the Colorado Rockies at 6:10 PM ET as a -200 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The Boston Red Sox travel to Baltimore to play the Orioles at 6:35 PM ET as a -115 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8. Two more MLB games throw out the first pitch at 6:40 PM ET. The Texas Rangers play in Cincinnati against the Reds, with both teams priced at -110 with a total of 8.5. The Tampa Bay Rays host the Houston Astros as a -150 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Toronto Blue Jays play at home against the Chicago White Sox at 7:07 PM ET as a -165 money-line favorite with a total of 9. The Atlanta Braves are at home against the Miami Marlins at 7:20 PM ET as a -265 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7.5. Two MLB games start at 7:40 PM ET. The Minnesota Twins host the New York Yankees as a -150 money line favorite with a total of 8. The Milwaukee Brewers play at home against the Detroit Tigers as a -155 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Los Angeles Angels are at home against the Oakland A’s at 9;38 PM ET as a -205 money-line favorite with a total of 9.5.The Arizona Diamondbacks host the Kansas City Royals at 9:40 PM ET as a -120 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9.5. The St. Louis Cardinals play in San Francisco against the Giants at 9:45 PM ET as a -125 money-line road favorite with a total of 8.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, EPL and MLB Previews and Odds - 04/23/2023

by Big Al Staff

Sunday, Apr 23, 2023

The Sunday sports card features action in the NBA, NHL, MLB, and EPL.The National Basketball Association playoffs continue with four games in the conference quarterfinals. The New York Knicks host the Cleveland Cavaliers on ABC at 1 PM ET. The Knicks own a 2-1 lead in the series after winning Game 3. New York is a 2.5-point favorite, with the total set at 206.5 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). The Golden State Warriors play at home against the Sacramento Kings on ABC at 3:30 PM ET. The Kings hold a 2-1 series lead despite losing Game 3. The Warriors are a 7.5-point favorite with an over/under of 237.5. The Boston Celtics travel to Atlanta to play the Hawks on TNT at 7 PM ET. The Celtics own a 2-1 lead in the series despite losing Game 3. Boston is a 6-point road favorite with a total of 232. The Denver Nuggets play in Minnesota against the Timberwolves on TNT at 9:30 PM ET. The Nuggets hold a 3-0 lead in the series. Denver is a 3.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 225. The National Hockey League playoffs continue with four games on its slate in the conference quarterfinals. The New York Islanders are at home against the Carolina Hurricanes on TNT at 1:08 PM ET. The Hurricanes have a 2-1 lead in the series after losing Game 3. The Islanders are a -125 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Boston Bruins visit Florida to play the Panthers on TNT at 3:30 PM ET. The Bruins hold a 2-1 lead in the series after winning Game 3. Boston is a -150 money line road favorite with an over/under of 6.The Minnesota Wild host the Dallas Stars on TBS at 6:38 PM ET. The Wild have a 2-1 lead in the series after winning Game 3. Minnesota is a -120 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Edmonton Oilers play in Los Angeles against the Kings on TBS at 9:38 PM ET. The Kings hold a 2-1 lead in the series after their Game 3 victory. The Oilers are a -155 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Sunday card in Major League Baseball has 15 games on its schedule. The Philadelphia Phillies play at home against the Colorado Rockies at 12:05 PM ET as a -285 money-line favorite with a total of 9. Four MLB games throw out the first pitch at 1:35 PM ET. The Cincinnati Reds are in Pittsburgh to play the Pirates, with both teams priced at -110 with an over/under of 8.5. The Toronto Blue Jays visit New York to play the Yankees as a -135 money-line road favorite with a total of 8.5. The Atlanta Braves are at home against the Houston Astros as a -135 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. The Baltimore Orioles host the Detroit Tigers as a -180 money-line favorite with a total of 8. Two MLB games start at 1:40 PM ET. The Tampa Bay Rays play at home against the Chicago White Sox as a -150 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7.5. The Miami Marlins are in Cleveland to play the Guardians, with both teams priced at -110 with a total of 7.5. Two MLB games begin at 2:10 PM ET. The Minnesota Twins are at home against the Washington Nationals as a -25 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Milwaukee Brewers host the Boston Red Sox as a -175 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The Los Angeles Dodgers travel to Chicago to play the Cubs at 2:20 PM ET as a -140 money-line road favorite. The Texas Rangers play at home against the Oakland A’s at 2:35 PM ET as a -320 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7. The Los Angeles Angles are at home against the Kansas City Royals at 4:07 PM ET as a -205 money-line favorite with a total of 9.5. Two MLB games start at 4:10 PM ET. The San Diego Padres visit Arizona to play the Diamondbacks as a -150 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 9. The St. Louis Cardinals play in Seattle against the Mariners, with both teams priced at -110 with a total of 8.5. Sunday Night Baseball on ESPN has the New York Mets in San Francisco playing the Giants. The Mets are a -120 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 9.Matchweek 32 in the English Premier League concludes with two matches at 9 AM ET. West Ham United plays at Bournemouth in a pick ‘em match with a total of 2.5. Newcastle United plays at home against Tottenham on the USA Network as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, MLB and EPL Previews and Odds - 04/22/2023

by Big Al Staff

Saturday, Apr 22, 2023

The Saturday sports card features action in the NBA, NHL, MLB, and EPL.The National Basketball Association playoffs continue with four games in the conference quarterfinals. The Philadelphia 76ers travel to Brooklyn to play the Nets on TNT at 1 PM ET. The 76ers hold a 3-0 lead in the series. Philadelphia is a 2-point road favorite, with the total set at 208.5 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). The Phoenix Suns play in Los Angeles against the Clippers on TNT at 3:30 PM ET. The Suns have a 2-1 lead in the series. Phoenix is a 7.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 226.The Milwaukee Bucks visit Miami to play the Heat on ESPN at 7:30 PM ET. This series is tied at 1-1. The Bucks are a 5-point road favorite with a total of 220.5. The Los Angeles Lakers host the Memphis Grizzlies on ESPN at 10 PM ET. It is a tied series at 1-1. The Lakers are a 4-point favorite with an over/under of 220.5. The National Hockey League playoffs continue with four games on its slate in the conference quarterfinals. The Vegas Golden Knights are in Winnipeg to play the Jets on TBS at 4:08 PM ET. It is a tied series at 1-1.  Both teams are priced as a -110 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Toronto Maple Leafs travel to Tampa Bay to play the Lightning on TBS at 7:08 PM ET. It is a tied series at 1-1. The Maple Leafs are a -120 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The New York Rangers play at home against the New Jersey Devils on ABC at 8:08 PM ET. The Rangers hold a 2-0 lead in the series. New York is a -140 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Colorado Avalanche visit Seattle to play the Kraken on TBS at 10:08 PM ET. It is a tied series at 1-1. The Avalanche are a -155 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6. The Friday card in Major League Baseball has 16 games on its schedule. The New York Yankees host the Toronto Blue Jays at 1:05 PM ET as a -165 money-line favorite with a total of 7.5. The Minnesota Twins play at home against the Washington Nationals at 2:10 PM ET as a -285 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7. The Los Angeles Dodgers play in Chicago against the Cubs at 2:20 PM ET as a -135 money-line road favorite. The Philadelphia Phillies are at home against the Colorado Rockies at 3:05 PM ET as a -180 money-line favorite with a total of 9.5. The Miami Marlins are in Cleveland to play the Guardians in the opening game of their doubleheader at 3:10 PM ET. Two MLB games throw out the first pitch in a doubleheader on Fox at 4:05 PM ET. The Tampa Bay Rays host the Chicago White Sox as a -190 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7. The San Francisco Giants play at home against the New York Mets as a -125 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The Guardians play the Marlins in the second game of their doubleheader at 6:10 PM ET as a -140 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7. The Pittsburgh Pirates are at home against the Cincinnati Reds at 6:35 PM ET as a -150 money-line favorite with a total of 9. Two MLB games start at 7:05 PM ET. The Baltimore Orioles host the Detroit Tigers on FS1 as a -180 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Texas Rangers play at home against the Oakland A’s as a -230 money-line favorite with a total of 9. The Milwaukee Brewers are at home against the Boston Red Sox at 7:10 PM ET as a -135 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Houston Astros play in Atlanta against the Braves at 7:20 PM ET with both teams priced at -110 and the total set at 8.5. The San Diego Padres travel to Arizona to play the Diamondbacks at 8:10 PM ET as a -145 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 9.5. The Los Angeles Angels host the Kansas City Royals at 9:07 PM ET as a -180 money-line favorite with a total of 9.5. The Seattle Mariners play at home against the St. Louis Cardinals at 9:40 PM ET as a -155 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.Matchweek 32 in the English Premier League continues with five matches. Fulham is at home against Leeds United on the USA Network at 7:30 AM ET in a pick ‘em match with a total of 2.5 (all soccer odds from BetMGM). Four more EPL matches begin at 10 AM ET. Aston Villa visits Brentford in a pick ‘em match with an over/under of 2.5. Crystal Palace host Everton as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 2. Leicester City plays at home against Wolverhampton in a pick ‘em match with an over/under of 2.5. Liverpool is at home against Nottingham Forest as a -2 goal-line favorite with a total of 3.5.

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Betting Trends in the NBA Playoffs

by Oskeim Sports

Friday, Apr 21, 2023

There have been a few early surprises in the playoffs. Giannis Antetokounmpo played just 11 minutes before leaving Game 1 of the Bucks playoff series against Miami, and the Heat won the series opener against Milwaukee. While some other series, including Boston-Atlanta and Philly-Brooklyn, are proceeding as expected, the Lakers looked strong in defeating Memphis in Game 1. The Grizzlies gave it right back in Game 2. If you plan on betting on the NBA playoffs this season, it might be beneficial to be aware of some intriguing trends. Let’s start with the favorites to win it all. Favorite in the Futures Market  The NBA championship is currently expected to be won by the Boston Celtics. Boston currently is given +275 odds. The Bucks are next on the board at +335.  Over the previous 47 NBA seasons, 24 teams entered the postseason as favorites and won the NBA title. Golden State was the most recent NBA favorite to enter the postseason and go on to win the championship. In fact, the Warriors did it three times in 2015, 2017, and 2018. Nine more favorites participated in the championship game out of those 47 NBA seasons. That means 33 of 47 favorites to win the NBA title at least played in the NBA Finals. It's interesting to note that the team picked to win it all in each of the previous three seasons (2020 Clippers, 2021 Nets, 2022 Suns) has not made the NBA Finals. Be Wary of Underdogs The Sacramento Kings had their best season in a long time. The result was the team's first appearance in the playoffs since the 2005–06 campaign. With a 48-34 record, the Kings secured the third seed. The odds for Sacramento to win the NBA championship are currently +2200. Sacramento will become the 30th team seeded in the top-3 given odds of +2000 or higher since the NBA increased the playoff field to 16 teams in 1984. None of the previous 29 teams  reached the NBA Finals. Before bowing out of the playoffs, 10 of those 29 teams advanced to the conference finals. The 2020 Denver Nuggets were the most recent team to do this.  In 2018, Portland was a top-3 seed and was given +5800 odds to win the NBA championship. The Trail Blazers were eliminated in the first round. Speaking of Underdogs Bettors should avoid supporting the trendy underdog too. Underdogs that have at least 66 percent of the tickets since 2005 are only 29-43-1 ATS. These dogs are 6–12 ATS as of 2015. There is a way you might be able to take advantage of NBA playoff underdogs. When there is a short home underdog, you should take a look at the total. Oddsmakers are expecting a close game and, usually, these games live up to the expectations. In 247 such NBA playoff games, the Under is 145-101-1, which represents a winning percentage of 59 percent.  Speaking of Unders In the playoffs, Unders appear to be a more common wager. The pace of play is typically slower than during the regular season as teams value every possession. Unders finished 58-35 last postseason. That’s a 62.4 winning percentage. Unders have exceeded .500 in four of the last five playoff seasons. Smart bettors can go a little further and advance their Under betting. Since 2005, the Under is 548-525-20 (51.1%). The Under is 235-192-2 with a winning percentage of 55% in Games 5 through 7 of a playoff series. Games 6 and 7 are where the real value can be found.  Since 2005, the Under is 121-86 (58.5%). The Under has prevailed in those games by an average of 2.7 points. Defense Only three NBA teams have won the championship in the previous 40 years without having a top-10 defense (in terms of points allowed). The Golden State Warriors from 2018 were the most recent. The Lakers in 2001 and the Houston Rockets in 1995 were the other two. Of the top 10 defensive teams in the league this season,  seven are playing in the postseason.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, MLB and EPL Previews and Odds - 04/21/2023

by Big Al Staff

Friday, Apr 21, 2023

The Friday sports card features action in the NBA, NHL, MLB, and EPL.The National Basketball Association playoffs continue with three games in the conference quarterfinals. The Boston Celtics travel to Atlanta to play the Hawks on ESPN at 7 PM ET. The Celtics hold a 2-0 lead in the series. Boston is a 5-point road favorite, with the total set at 228 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). The New York Knicks host the Cleveland Cavaliers on ABC-TV at 8:30 PM ET. This series is tied at 1-1. The Knicks are a 2-point favorite with an over/under of 211.5. The Denver Nuggets visit Minnesota to play the Timberwolves on ESPN at 8:30 PM ET. The Nuggets have a 2-0 lead in the series. Denver is a 2.5-point road favorite with a total of 223.The National Hockey League playoffs continue with four games on its slate in the conference quarterfinals. The Carolina Hurricanes play in New York against the Islanders on TBS at 7 PM ET. The Hurricanes hold a 2-0 lead in the series. Both teams are priced at -110 with an over/under of 5.5. The Boston Bruins are in Florida to play the Panthers on TNT at 7:30 PM ET. This series is tied at 1-1. The Bruins are a -155 money-line road favorite with a total of 6. The Dallas Stars travel to Minnesota to play the Wild on TBS at 9:30 PM ET. This series is even at 1-1. The Starts are a -115 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Edmonton Oilers play in Los Angeles against the Kings on TNT at 10 PM ET. Its an even series at 1-1. The Oilers are a -150 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The Friday card in Major League Baseball has 15 games on its schedule. The Los Angeles Dodgers play in Chicago against the Cubs at 2:20 PM ET as a -165 money-line road favorite. The Pittsburgh Pirates play at home against the Cincinnati Reds at 6:35 PM ET as a -140 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Tampa Bay Rays are at home against the Chicago White Sox at 6:40 PM ET as a -165 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The MLB games throw out the first pitch at 7:05 PM ET. The Philadelphia Phillies host the Colorado Rockies as a -280 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Baltimore Orioles play at home against the Detroit Tigers as a -175 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The New York Yankees are at home against the Toronto Blue Jays on Apple TV+ as a -135 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9. The Cleveland Guardians play at home against the Miami Marlins at 7:10 PM ET as a -140 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The Atlanta Braves are at home against the Houston Astros on Apple TV+ at 7:20 PM ET as a -125 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5.The Texas Rangers host the Oakland A’s at 8:05 PM ET as a -200 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. Two MLB games start at 8:10 PM ET. The Minnesota Twins play at home against the Washington Nationals as a -210 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. The Milwaukee Brewers are at home against the Boston Red Sox as a -175 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The Los Angeles Angels host the Kansas City Royals at 9:38 PM ET as a -280 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The San Diego Padres visit Arizona to play the Diamondbacks at 9:40 PM ET as a -115 money-line road favorite with a total of 9. The Seattle Mariners play at home against the St. Louis Cardinals at 10:10 PM ET as a -135 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. The New York Mets are in San Francisco to play the Giants at 10:15 PM ET, with both teams priced at -110 with a total of 8.5. Matchweek 32 in the English Premier League begins with one match. Arsenal is at home against Southampton on the USA Network at 3 PM ET as a -2 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 3.

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Home Dogs Don't Bark Loudly In NBA Post-Season!

by Al McMordie

Thursday, Apr 20, 2023

Generally speaking, I tend to stay away from home dogs in the NBA post-season.  This might surprise many of my long-term clients, as I love playing on certain NBA home dogs in the regular season.  And I love playing on certain home dogs in the post-seasons of other sports, like NCAAF, NFL, and NCAAB.  But, the facts don't lie:  home dogs have NOT done well over the long-term in the NBA post-season (but have been profitable in the post-seasons of the NFL, NCAAF and NCAAB).Let's take a look at the NBA numbers.Since 1990, NBA home dogs have gone 217-237-11 ATS (47.7%) in the NBA post-season.  In contrast, NBA home favorites have gone 1023-956-36 ATS (51.6%).And the home dogs have been poor across the board, in most technical situations:Off a win:  77-85-4 ATSOff a loss:  140-152-7 ATSOff back-to-back wins:  16-17-2 ATSOff back-to-back losses:  98-97-6 ATSOff an ATS win:  99-115-5 ATSOff an ATS loss:  97-111-4 ATSOff back-to-back ATS wins:  45-49-1 ATSOff back-to-back ATS losses:  56-55-3 ATSOff back-to-back SU/ATS wins:  15-15-1 ATSOff back-to-back SU/ATS losses:  53-51-3 ATSOff a double-digit win:  27-28-1 ATSOff a double-digit loss:  93-102-6 ATSCovered by 10+ last game:  42-54-2 ATSFailed by 10+ last game:  46-55-3 ATSLead in series:  24-28-2 ATSTrail in series:  158-161-7 ATSTied in series:  35-48-2 ATSIn elimination games:  74-84-5Good luck, as always...Al McMordie

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