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The Cognizant Classic Preview and Picks

by Matt Fargo

Wednesday, Feb 25, 2026

We were out of the money for the first time with The Genesis Invitational as it was Jacob Bridgeman winning his first PGA Tour event. He bogeyed two of his last three holes last week at Pebble Beach to fall short and it looked like another possible meltdown at Riviera. After birdieing two of his first three holes, eventually building a seven-shot lead, he went +3 over his last 15 holes and held off Kurt Kitayama and Rory McIlroy to win by only one shot. The California swing is complete and the tour heads to Florida for the next four events starting with the Cognizant Classic from PGA National Resort (Champions Course) in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.Formerly known as The Honda Classic, Cognizant took over sponsorship in 2024 and unfortunately for the event, it precedes the signature event Arnold Palmer Invitational and this year has to follow a signature event as it was usually played after the Mexico Open but that was moved to late October. The Champions Course at PGA National is a par 71 and will be played at 7,223 yards, an increase of around 100 yards from last year. The yardage increase means little as this was once a very difficult track but a renovation was done after the 2022 edition and the biggest course change was changing the fairways from Bermuda to a more forgiving Ryegrass overseed.From 2004-2022, the lowest winning score was -14 in 2005 and since the changes, the winning scores have been -14 by Chris Kirk in 2023, -17 by Austin Eckroat in 2024 and -19 by Joe Highsmith in 2025. There are still dangers at the Cognizant Classic, most notably holes 15, 16 and 17 conveniently dubbed The Bear Trap after Jack Nicklaus, and while it has eased up, it is still one of the most difficult three-hole stretches on tour. SG: Approach is by far the most important key stat this week as this is one of the toughest approach courses and each of the last five winners have finished top 10 in Approach. Additionally, SG: Putting is right there with three of the last five winners inside the top 10.Course history has meant little here, even before the renovations, as of the last six winners, three had missed the cut the previous year and three others finished no higher than T33 the year before. A lot of this is due to the wide open field that changes drastically year to year without the big names in play so it has been a wide open event. Notable past winners from 2012-2018 Rory McIlroy, Russell Henley, Adam Scott (WD this year), Rickie Fowler and Justin Thomas rarely are to be found anymore. Correlating events this week are the RBC Heritage at Harbour Town Golf Links, the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale and the RSM Classic at Sea Island Resort.We are back to a full field in the Cognizant Classic at 123 players with the top 65 and ties making the cut. Because of Monday withdrawals, there are no OWGR top 25 players in the field as Ryan Gerard is the highest ranked player at No. 26. Only eight players ranked in the top 50 are in town this week (Gerard, Shane Lowry, Aaron Rai, Michael Brennan, Kristoffer Reitan, Rasmus Højgaard, Sami Valimaki and Michael Thorbjornsen) with other notables Brooks Koepka, Keith Mitchell, Daniel Berger, Max Homa, Billy Horschel and Gary Woodland. The defending champion is Joe Highsmith who won by two shots over Jacob Bridgeman and J.J. Spaun.The forecast calls for low 80s throughout the week with a slight chance of rain each day but nothing noteworthy while winds will be a factor at 10-15 mph favoring lower ball hitters. From a statistical standpoint, iron play at the Cognizant Classic tops the list with our top three key categories being:Strokes Gained: ApproachStrokes Gained: Putting (Bermuda)Bogey AvoidanceEach bet is Win/Top Five/Top Ten. The typical recommendation is 50%/25%/25% with odds, payouts and results based on a $1000 unit (easy round number for bookkeeping) on each of the following players. The payouts are listed right below the odds which are all from DraftKings:Nicolai HøjgaardOdds: Win 2,150 ~ Top Five 420 ~ Top Ten 215Payout: Win 1,075.00 ~ Top Five 105.00 ~ Top Ten 53.75Højgaard is one of the favorites just ahead of twin brother Rasmus and will be out to gain his first PGA Tour win. He has gotten off to a solid start with a T22 at the Farmers Insurance Open and a T3 at the WM Phoenix Open. He comes in No. 1 in the field in SG: Off The Tee, No. 9 in SG: Approach and No. 1 in Bogey Avoidance and while his Bermuda putting has been average, he is No. 19 in the field in that category. He was T14 here last year as he had four sub-70 rounds as his approach game was spot on and was +0.88 in putting.John KeeferOdds: Win 4,800 ~ Top Five 810 ~ Top Ten 395Payout: Win 2,400.00 ~ Top Five 202.50 ~ Top Ten 98.75Keefer is not a household name yet but good things await after finishing No. 1 on the Korn Ferry Tour last season. He finished T7 at the correlating RSM Classic to close 2025 and he has made all four cuts to start 2026. His putting has been horrible but he goes from Poa Annua to Bermuda which is going to help his game. His iron game has kept him around for all four weekends as he is No. 5 in the field in SG: Approach as well as No. 5 in SG: Off The Tee and overall on tour, he is No. 9 in GIR.Sami ValimakiOdds: Win 6,100 ~ Top Five 970 ~ Top Ten 455Payout: Win 3,050.00 ~ Top Five 242.50 ~ Top Ten 113.75After missing the cut in his first two starts at The American Express and the Farmers Insurance Open, Valimaki has been trending the right way with a T41, T34 and T37 in his last three starts. Since it has been nothing off the charts, his numbers are not in the upper echelon but he has been plus in SG: Approach in those last three starts including +1.21 at The Genesis Invitational. His last start in 2025 was at the correlating RSM Classic which he won in a similar field and was plus in SG across the board. David FordOdds: Win 11,000 ~ Top Five 1,600 ~ Top Ten 720Payout: Win 5,500.00 ~ Top Five 400.00 ~ Top Ten 180.00Ford is another name people are not familiar with but he fits the mold here. He has made three starts with his best finish a T13 at The American Express and while it is a small sample, he is No. 12 in SG: Approach, No. 1 in Total Driving and No. 7 in Ball Striking on tour and in the field, he is No. 6 in SG: Approach and No. 8 in Bogey Avoidance and even though he is a rookie, he actually has a win at PGA National and while it was six years ago and course history is not important, it brings in confidence. Results through The Genesis Invitational (3 Tournaments):Win: -6,000.00Top Five: +1,325.00Top Ten: +837.50

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Four Late Regular Season College Hoops Betting Tips

by Kyle Hunter

Wednesday, Feb 25, 2026

The smallest conferences only have one or two games left in their regular season. The bigger conferences have three or four regular season games remaining. March is just around the corner. I want to take a look at some specific tips for betting the late regular season in college hoops. Look toward overs for teams with nothing to play for- This late in the season there are going to be teams who have little to nothing to play for, and those teams are more likely to have shootouts than low scoring defensive battles. The long term angles confirm this is true. The strongest overs have been the totals set at a low number between two teams who both have a poor record. They might have had low scoring games earlier in the year, but these are very tricky spots to look for unders. Keep an eye out for the overs when these low quality teams play each other late! Look toward unders for teams with a bunch on the line- The opposite is true as well, though this angle has been a bit less strong than the previous one. The games that are the strongest in this situation are the matchups between two teams fighting for a regular season league title, or at least two teams who are fighting for a high seed in the conference tournament. The possessions typically slow down a bit here. There is more to play for and the defenses show up. Be willing to lay the points- I’m not a big fan of laying a lot of points in college basketball, but in the very late regular season it is something that must be considered. There are absolutely teams who are shutting it down and just preparing for the conference tournament. A team that was expected to be good that has had a disappointing season is perfect for a fade late in the regular season. What can they prove by playing hard in the last game or two of the regular season?  Watch the injury report even closer- You’ll find a lot of late injury scratches late in the regular season. This is especially true in the games where the teams have little to play for and are preparing for the conference tournament. College basketball injury information is very tough to find, but this is the time of the year to look closely for beat writers and check social media regarding the status of key players.

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2026 NCAA Tournament: ACC Bubble Teams

by Nelly's Sports

Wednesday, Feb 25, 2026

While the ACC has been overshadowed by the SEC and the Big Ten this season, the conference still has proven it can be successful in March, winning three of the past 10 titles with a few runners-up finishes as well. Over the past four NCAA Tournaments, the ACC has produced five Final Four teams even if the last national title for the conference came back in the 2019 Tournament.  Duke’s win over Michigan last week established the Blue Devils as perhaps the overall favorite in the upcoming NCAA tournament, while Virginia, North Carolina, Louisville, and NC State look like teams that are safely into the field. Here are five other ACC teams that need to pick up a few more quality wins to feel secure with their fate on Selection Sunday:  SMU: 19-8 overall, 8-6 ACC Best Wins: (N) Texas A&M, (H) North Carolina, (H) Louisville Remaining Games: (A) California, (A) Stanford, (H) Miami FL, (A) Florida State  Last week’s home win over Louisville is likely enough to put SMU into the NCAA Tournament for Andy Enfield’s second season in Dallas. The numbers all around are improved compared to last season when SMU had a 24-11 record including 13-7 in ACC play but didn’t get an invitation to the Big Dance. That team didn’t have any top 50 wins; this year’s team has three.  The remaining schedule does include three of four games on the road and there is no short travel for SMU in ACC play as the Mustangs will hit both coasts in the final two weeks of the regular season. The only remaining home game is the toughest foe left on the schedule with Miami visiting Dallas in a clash of teams that could land near the bubble. If SMU wins at least one more game to clinch at least a 9-9 ACC record, they should be in a good position to get called on Selection Sunday but getting to 10-8 or at least winning one ACC Tournament game might not be the worst idea.  Miami FL: 22-6 overall, 11-4 ACC Best Wins: (H) North Carolina, (A) NC State Remaining Games: (H) Boston College, (A) SMU, (H) Louisville Miami has a terrific record, but the Hurricanes have a profile that resembles SMU and Wake Forest from the 2024-25 season, with both of those teams left out of the NCAA Tournament despite going 13-7 in the ACC. Missing the NCAA Tournament with that kind of success in the ACC would have been unthinkable a decade ago, but the expanded conference has a number of bad teams dragging down the rankings and the schedules can be quite uneven. Some of the problems the ACC had in the football season could manifest in similar ways to hurt the conference in basketball as well, as multi-team tiebreakers in the standings are possible to impact the ACC Tournament seeding.  Miami faced one of the weakest non-conference schedules of any major conference team this season and having to face SMU and Louisville in the final two regular season games means a 12-6 finish is a realistic possibility for the Hurricanes after surviving early this week in a dangerous game at Florida State. Miami will likely be a favorite in its first ACC Tournament game as well. That means losing the final two regular season games and then potentially losing an ACC tournament game vs. a team that won’t likely boost Miami’s resume could be a recipe for the Hurricanes to play their way out of the field.  Clemson: 20-8 overall, 10-5 ACC Best Wins: (N) Georgia, (H) SMU, (H) Miami FL Remaining Games: (H) Louisville, (A) North Carolina, (H) Georgia Tech Clemson went 18-2 last season to finish second in the ACC standings, earning a #5 seed in the NCAA Tournament and getting upset by McNeese State. The Tigers looked like an ACC contender early this season starting 10-1 in ACC play to reach 20-4 overall, but mid-February has provided a disastrous four-game slide that puts Clemson’s postseason in jeopardy.  Clemson lost at Duke for a forgivable result but also lost at home to Virginia Tech and Florida State, and on the road at Wake Forest, three losses that are not going to be helpful to the team’s profile by season’s end. The losing may not be over as after a full week off, the Tigers face Louisville and North Carolina in the next two games. Clemson almost certainly needs to win one of those games to ensure a 12-6 ACC season and get another top 30 caliber win on the resume. Head-to-head wins over both SMU and Miami FL as well as non-conference wins over Georgia and Cincinnati, could prove to be important results if Clemson shares a spot on the bubble with those teams at season’s end.   Virginia Tech: 18-10 overall, 7-8 ACC Best Wins: (H) Virginia, (A) Clemson  Remaining Games: (A) North Carolina, (H) Boston College, (A) Virginia Mike Young’s hiring at Virginia Tech after his success at Wofford was universally praised but now in his seventh season in Blacksburg, there isn’t much to show for it with no NCAA Tournament wins and only two appearances. After going 13-19 last season this felt like a big season for the Hokies and despite a few recent tough losses, Virginia Tech has a path to play its way into the Big Dance.  Virginia Tech has three overtime wins this season, but the triple-overtime win over Virginia is what keeps the Hokies in the mix for March. Losing by one-point at Miami last week may be a devastating result but road games at North Carolina and at Virginia provide the Hokies with a path to pick up a quality result and play itself to at least .500 in ACC play. Virginia Tech will probably have some pressure on in the ACC tournament but a head-to-head win over Clemson might be beneficial in comparison, while the Hokies have faced a tougher ACC schedule than most of the other teams on the bubble.  California: 19-8 overall, 7-7 ACC  Best Wins: (N) UCLA, (H) North Carolina, (A) Miami FL Remaining Games: (H) SMU, (H) Pittsburgh, (A) Georgia Tech, (A) Wake Forest California doesn’t look like a NCAA Tournament team but winning out to reach 11-7 looks realistic given a favorable remaining schedule with the toughest game this week at home hosting SMU. A win in that game would give the Bears a big boost and a stronger collection of quality wins than the other ACC bubble candidates. A three-point loss at Virginia Tech, a two-point loss at Florida State, and a double-overtime loss at Syracuse provide close-misses on the resume for the Bears as this squad wasn’t far from being in a stronger position.  The non-conference schedule didn’t do the Bears a lot of favors as Big XII teams Kansas State and Utah turned out to have poor seasons, though a win over UCLA is holding up. Cal may need to win out including two east coast games in March to give itself a chance to have something to play for in the ACC Tournament, but this group has competed well through a tough travel path this season. 

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, NCAAB and UCL Previews and Odds - 02/25/26

by Big Al Staff

Wednesday, Feb 25, 2026

The Wednesday sports card features NBA, NHL, NCAAB, and UCL action. The National Basketball League has six games on its docket. Three NBA games tip off at 7:40 p.m. ET. The Detroit Pistons host the Oklahoma City Thunder on ESPN as a 7.5-point favorite with the total set at 218.5 (all odds from DraftKings). The San Antonio Spurs travel to Toronto to play the Raptors as a 7.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 229.5. The Golden State Warriors play in Memphis against the Grizzlies as a 3.5-point road favorite with a total of 227.5. Two NBA games start at 8:10 p.m. ET. The Houston Rockets play at home against the Sacramento Kings as a 14.5-point favorite with an over/under of 223.5. The Cleveland Cavaliers are on the road against the Milwaukee Bucks as an 8.5-point road favorite with a total of 227.5. The Denver Nuggets are at home against the Boston Celtics on ESPN at 10:10 p.m. ET as a 4.5-point favorite with an over/under of 227.5. The National Hockey League returns from its Olympics hiatus with eight games on its slate. Two NHL games drop the puck at 7:07 p.m. ET. The New Jersey Devils host the Buffalo Sabres as a -112 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Washington Capitals play at home against the Philadelphia Flyers as a -155 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Tampa Bay Lightning are at home against the Toronto Maple Leafs on TNT at 7:37 p.m. ET as a -225 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Dallas Stars host the Seattle Kraken at 8:07 p.m. ET as a -162 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Colorado Avalanche visit Utah to face the Mammoth at 9:07 p.m. ET as a -122 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. Two NHL games begin at 10:07 p.m. ET. The Los Angeles Kings play at home against the Vegas Golden Knights on TNT as a -165 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Winnipeg Jets play in Vancouver against the Canucks as a -125 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The Edmonton Oilers are on the road in Anaheim against the Ducks at 10:37 p.m. ET as a -115 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The NCAAB college basketball schedule tips off at 6:00 p.m. ET with 54 games involving Division I opponents. There are five NCAAB games on major national television. Two of these nationally-televised NCAAB games tip off at 7:00 p.m. ET. Villanova is at home to take on Butler on FS1 as a 9.5-point favorite with a total of 146.5. Florida travels to challenge Texas on ESPN2 as a 6.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 157.5. Two more NCAAB games on major national television begin at 9:00 p.m. ET. Arkansas hosts Texas A&M on ESPN2 as a 7.5-point favorite with a total of 170.5. Colorado plays at home against Kansas State on FS1 as a 6.5-point favorite with an over/under of 161.5. San Diego State is at home against Utah State on FS1 at 11:00 p.m. ET as a 1.5-point favorite with a total of 146.5. The knockout phase of the UEFA Champions League continues with the final four matches in the second leg of the knockout round playoffs. Atalanta hosts Borussia Dortmund at 12:45 p.m. ET as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Three more UCL matches start at 3:00 p.m. ET. Juventus plays at home against Galatasaray on the CBS Sports Network as a -1.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 3.5. Paris Saint-Germain is home to take on AS Monaco as a -1.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 3.5. Real Madrid hosts Benfica as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 3.5. All four matches are broadcast on Paramount+. 

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2026 NCAA Tournament: Big Ten Bubble Teams

by Nelly's Sports

Tuesday, Feb 24, 2026

Not since 2000 has a Big Ten team won the national title in college basketball. The conference has several title threats this season that will command attention in March. This week we’ll look at the middle of the conference and consider the current bubble teams in the Big Ten as the regular season enters the final two weeks.  Six teams in the Big Ten should comfortably be in the NCAA Tournament Field: Michigan, Illinois, Purdue, Nebraska, Michigan State, and Wisconsin. Here are five teams that need to pick up a few more quality wins to feel secure with their fate on Selection Sunday:  UCLA: 18-9 overall, 10-6 Big Ten Best Wins: (H) Purdue, (H) Illinois Remaining Games: (H) USC, (A) Minnesota, (H) Nebraska, (A) USC UCLA’s epic comeback overtime win over Illinois last weekend is likely enough to get the Bruins in the NCAA Tournament, shaking off back-to-back blowout losses on the road vs. Michigan and Michigan State. Now with two prominent wins and at a minimum a .500 Big Ten record, this is a team that should make the field, unless UCLA closes the season losing five straight games. The remaining schedule has more risk to damage the profile with a loss than boost the team’s credentials with a quality win. UCLA has only one home loss this season heading into this week but there are only three wins away from home all season and a December win at Washington is the only top 100 result away from home. While UCLA is ahead of Iowa in the standings, the Bruins have worse metrics than the Hawkeyes and lost the lone head-to-head meeting in Iowa City by double-digits.  Getting to 12-8 should assure the Bruins of a spot in the Big Dance but the profile is built on success at home and without last week’s one-point overtime win over Illinois it might be a very close call for the Bruins.  Iowa: 19-8 overall, 9-7 Big Ten Best Wins: (H) UCLA, (A) Indiana, (H) Nebraska Remaining Games: (H) Ohio State, (A) Penn State, (H) Michigan, (A) Nebraska  Iowa has strong metrics and is a top 30 KenPom team but the Hawkeyes didn’t have a signature win in Ben McCollum’s first season until last week’s home win over Nebraska in a tight low-scoring game. Iowa lost at Wisconsin the follow-up game and probably needs to go 2-2 in the final four to feel good about its NCAA Tournament chances, as that would put the Hawkeyes at 11-9 in the Big Ten play.  That is not a simple task however, as the home games are difficult, facing Ohio State and Michigan. The road finale is at Nebraska while the upcoming weekend features a road game at Penn State that the Hawkeyes cannot afford to give away. Wednesday’s game with Ohio State is a big one in the bubble conversation in the Big Ten.  Iowa faced an incredibly weak non-conference schedule and lost in the only top 50 test as unless the Hawkeyes can upset Michigan or Nebraska in the final week, the Big Ten Tournament may feature meaningful games for Iowa depending on how much the bubble is squeezed around the country.  Indiana: 17-10 overall, 8-8 Big Ten Best Wins: (H) Purdue, (A) UCLA, (H) Wisconsin Remaining Schedule: (H) Northwestern, (H) Michigan State, (H) Minnesota, (A) Ohio State Overtime wins over UCLA and Wisconsin have kept the Hoosiers in the running for a NCAA Tournament spot but with a double-digit figure in the loss column and a .500 Big Ten record with four games to go, the Hoosiers are likely destined for tense wait on Selection Sunday. Indiana has three of the final four regular season games at home and the Big Ten tournament is in Chicago as things could still finish favorably for the Hoosiers. A head-to-head game with another bubble team Ohio State on the road in the season finale is a potentially dangerous outcome for Indiana, however. That game will carry far more weight if the Hoosiers are upset by either Northwestern or Minnesota, unless they are able to upset Michigan State on the late season home stand to offset a bad loss.  Non-conference wins over Marquette and Kansas State wound up not helping the Hoosiers as Indiana did take on a few major conference non-conference tests. The signature win over Purdue in January is keeping Indiana in the postseason conversation but recent blowout losses to Illinois and also in the rematch with Purdue have left concerns about if this team will be worthy of a spot in March.  Ohio State: 17-10 Overall, 9-7 Big Ten Best Wins: (H) UCLA, (H) Wisconsin Remaining Games: (A) Iowa, (H) Purdue, (A) Penn State, (H) Indiana A head-to-head win over fellow bubble team UCLA was about all that was holding up Ohio State’s resume until last week’s emphatic home win over Wisconsin. Most losses for the Buckeyes outside of a home loss to Michigan by 20 have been competitive games and Ohio State has often looked the part of a team that can compete against top competition. The loss count is already at 10 and there are tough games remaining as the Buckeyes are likely to have a Selection Sunday sweat.  None of the remaining four games on the regular season schedule can be confidently penciled in as a win as finishing above .500 in league play is not a given. The Buckeyes do have four Big Ten road wins but those results came against the bottom of the conference while a double-overtime non-conference win over West Virginia in a neutral setting does at least provide some value to an otherwise inconsequential non-conference resume.  Ohio State has the opportunity in front of them with home games remaining with quality teams plus a bubble battle with Iowa this week but given some of the head-to-head pairings in the late season Big Ten schedule, there won’t be room for everyone on this list to get in.  USC: 18-9 Overall, 7-9 Big Ten Best Wins: (A) Wisconsin, (H) Indiana Remaining Schedule: (A) USC, (H) Nebraska, (A) Washington, (H) UCLA USC is on the wrong side of the NCAA Tournament bubble, but the Trojans have quality win opportunities remaining and winning three of the final four to reach 10-10 in Big Ten play would warrant significant notice. While USC didn’t pick up a top 50 win, it was a higher caliber non-conference schedule than many Big Ten teams faced. The Trojans had solid wins over Illinois State, Boise State, Seton Hall, and Arizona State in non-home games for a more well-rounded resume than some of the other Big Ten bubble teams that have little to show away from home.   USC also didn’t have NBA prospect Alijah Arenas until late January while Chad Baker-Mazara missed two of the worst losses for the team as a little late season momentum could give the committee a glimpse of what this team would have the potential to perform like at full strength in the NCAA Tournament.  Beating Nebraska at home next weekend and at least landing a split in the two remaining games with rival UCLA will keep USC in the picture for NCAA Tournament consideration. 

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NCAAB and UCL Previews and Odds - 02/24/26

by Big Al Staff

Tuesday, Feb 24, 2026

The Tuesday sports card features NBA, NCAAB, and UCL action. The National Hockey League returns from its Winter Olympics hiatus on February 25th. The National Basketball League has 11 games on its docket. The Philadelphia 76ers travel to Indiana to play the Pacers at 7:10 p.m. ET as an 8.5-point favorite with the total set at 235.5 (all odds from DraftKings). Four NBA games tip off at 7:40 p.m. ET. The Cleveland Cavaliers host the New York Knicks on Peacock as a 3.5-point favorite with an over/under of 230.5. The Dallas Mavericks play in Brooklyn against the Nets as a 1.5-point road favorite with a total of 224.5. The Oklahoma City Thunder are on the road against the Toronto Raptors as a 1.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 218.5. The Atlanta Hawks play at home against the Washington Wizards as a 13.5-point favorite with a total of 235.5. Three NBA games start at 8:10 p.m. ET. The Charlotte Hornets visit Chicago to take on the Bulls as an 8.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 229.5. The Miami Heat play in Milwaukee against the Bucks as a 5.5-point road favorite with a total of 228.5. The Golden State Warriors are on the road against the New Orleans Pelicans as a 1.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 224.5. The Boston Celtics travel to Phoenix to face the Suns at 9:10 p.m. ET as a 6.5-point road favorite with a total of 209.5. The Minnesota Timberwolves play in Portland against the Trail Blazers on Peacock at 10:10 p.m. ET as a 5.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 234.5. The Los Angeles Lakers are home against the Orlando Magic at 10:40 p.m. ET as a 4.5-point favorite with a total of 230.5. The NCAAB college basketball schedule tips off at 6:00 p.m. ET with 36 games involving Division I opponents. There are 12 NCAAB games on major national television. Five of these nationally-televised NCAAB games tip off at 7:00 p.m. ET. Indiana hosts Northwestern on FS1 as a 9.5-point favorite with an over/under of 146.5. Texas Tech plays at home against Cincinnati on ESPN2 as a 5.5-point favorite with a total of 142.5. Georgetown is home against Marquette on Peacock as a 3.5-point favorite with an over/under of 150.5. Duke is on the road at Notre Dame on ESPN as a 17.5-point road favorite with a total of 140.5. Oklahoma State hosts West Virginia on the CBS Sports Network as a 1.5-point favorite with an over/under of 141.5. Four NCAAB games on major national television start at 9:00 p.m. ET. Auburn visits Oklahoma on ESPN as a -1.5 point road favorite with a total of 159.5. Arizona plays at Baylor on ESPN2 as an 8.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 154.5. Iowa State is on the road to challenge Utah on FS1 as a 13.5-point road favorite with a total of 144.5. TCU plays at home against Arizona State on the CBS Sports Network as a 6.5-point favorite with an over/under of 148.5. Three NCAAB games on major national television begin at 11:00 p.m. ET. BYU is at home to battle Central Florida on ESPN2 as an 11.5-point favorite with a total of 163.5. New Mexico travels to Nevada on the CBS Sports Network as a 1.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 152.5. UCLA hosts USC on FS1 as a 6.5-point favorite with a total of 150.5.  The knockout phase of the UEFA Champions League continues with the first four matches in the second leg of the knockout round playoffs. Atletico Madrid plays at home against Club Brugge at 12:45 p.m. ET as a -1.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 3.5. Three more UCL matches start at 3:00 p.m. ET. Bayer Leverkusen is at home against Olympiacos as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5. Inter Milan hosts Bodo-Glimt as a -1.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 3.5. Newcastle United plays at home against FK Qarabag as a -2.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 3.5. All four matches are broadcast on Paramount+. 

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ASA's National Championship Value Plays

by ASA, Inc.

Monday, Feb 23, 2026

ASA’s VALUE PLAYS to win the NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP (as of February 24th)VANDERBILT at +8000 (FanDuel)  There is definitely value with the Commodores at 80/1.  They absolutely fit our Ken Pom line criteria as of now and quite comfortably.  21 of the last 23 NCAA Champions have finished in the top 20 in offensive efficiency and in the top 40 in defensive efficiency per Ken Pomeroy metrics.  Vandy is currently 15th offensively and 20th defensively.  The only other teams that are in the top 20 in both as of February 24th are Michigan, Duke, Arizona, Florida, Houston, and Iowa State.  Those 6 teams sit in the top 7 in regards to best odds to win the National Championship and the worst number is Iowa State at 15/1.  And Vanderbilt is 80/1?  The Commodores are 21-6 on the season facing the 24th most difficult strength of schedule.  Four of their six losses have come by 4 points or less.  On offense they protect the ball ranking 12th in offensive turnover percentage, they sit top 60 in both 2 point and 3 point FG% and they make almost 78% of their FT’s.  Their defense allows low quality 3 point attempts and defends the arc well ranking top 25 in 3-point FG% allowed.  Their downside defensively is they foul a lot allowing opponents an average of 24 FT attempts per game which is outside the top 300.  The fact that FanDuel has 19 teams with better odds than Vandy with the metrics they have is simply off base.  All in all, this team will be a very dangerous 4 seed (maybe 5) that could make a deep run in the Big Dance and at 80-1 they are definitely worth a strong look.  PURDUE at +2500 (FanDuel) The Boilers have had a bit of a disappointing season sitting tied for 3rd place in the Big 10 when they were the heavy favorites to win the league entering the season.  This is still a veteran team (top 20 in D1 experience per KenPom) that has all the components to get to the Final 4.  They are lethal offensively ranking 2nd in efficiency, 11th in eFG%, and top 20 in both 2 point and 3 point FG%.  They rarely turn the ball over and are top 5 nationally in assist rate.  Purdue has one of the best point guards in the country with Braden Smith (15 PPG and 9 assists per game) and with 4 starters averaging double figures scoring, this is just a tough team to defend.  On the other end of the court they are very good as well ranking 25th in defensive efficiency.  They do allow a lot of 3’s with 46% of opponent’s shots coming from beyond the arc (342nd nationally) so if they get matched up with a team that gets red hot from 3 that might not be ideal.  The Boilermakers basically have the same team as they had last season (4 of 5 starters are back) and they were upended by just 2 points in the Sweet 16 by Houston who went onto the National Championship Game.  Purdue has better efficiency numbers both offensively and defensively compared to last year’s team and they’ve shown they can get it done away from home with a 9-2 record (road & neutral).  That includes wins @ Nebraska and @ Alabama, along with a neutral site win vs a very good Texas Tech team.  They are currently projected as a 2-seed and barring a poor stretch, they should remain on that line as they will be favored in all 4 of their final regular season games.  

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5 CBB Sleeper Teams -- Conference Tourney Cinderellas

by AAA Sports

Monday, Feb 23, 2026

As the first Conference Tournament begins on March 3rd, we are now less than 10 days away from letting the madness begin. It's been a regular season filled of surprises as we've just seen the #1 and #2 team go down this past weekend. With limited games left on the schedule, the AAA team has put together a list of teams to watch out for in their respective conference.1 ) Norfolk State Spartans (14-14 record ~ Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference)Before the season began, we thought that Norfolk State could end up at the top of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. In the power-conferences, winning the conference regular season title means quite a bit. But, in a conference like the MEAC, it doesn't really mean much other than a banner and some bragging rights. What really matters is the conference tournament. The Spartans have been playing much better lately, winning four games in a row. They get the luxury of playing in their home city of Norfolk, Virginia in the conference tournament. Considering that the rest of the MEAC isn't too strong other than Howard, the Spartans could definitely end up in the Big Dance when it's all said in done. 2 ) Florida Gulf Coast Eagles (14-15 record ~ Atlantic Sun)The Atlantic Sun Conference doesn't get talked about enough. With a third of the conference owning a winning record this year, there's definitely going to be some competitive games in the Conference Tourney in March. Florida Gulf Coast might be on the outside of those top four at the moment. But, the Eagles are red hot off four straight wins. They shoot the ball really effectively and don't take too many bad shots. That's key in a tournament down the stretch of games as some teams panic when it matters most. Austin Peay is most likely going to be the #1 choice of many people to come out of this tournament, but an upset could be brewing here in the ASUN and we're liking the way the Eagles are playing. 3 ) Kennesaw State Owls (16-11 record ~ Conference USA)The first team with a winning record on this list. Kennesaw State is getting a bit overlooked at the moment in our opinion. With nine teams seperated by just three games in the CUSA conference standings, there's a lot of question about who's going to challenge Liberty for a spot in March Madness. With how the committee is, it's unlikely to select any teams from the conference that isn't a conference tournament winner, even Liberty (23-4.) Kind of disappointing, but just how things go. Kennesaw State has some tournament experience, being there in 2022-23 as a #14 and just barely losing to the #3 Xavier. With maybe the Owls best roster since that year, we've seen stranger things happen. The Flames don't look at their best at the moment and the seasons end is near. 4 ) South Alabama Jaguars (20-9 record ~ Sun Belt)How bout 'dem Jaguars. South Alabama sits in fourth in the Sun Belt Conference right now because of conference records being the seeding factor. But, the Jaguars have the best overall record in the SBC and are the only team with less than 10 losses. It's been terrific on the road and great in home games as well. We know that this is a list of sleeper teams. But, with three teams above the Jags in the standings, this definitely could be talked about as a sleeper pick in not only the conference tournament, but the Big Dance too if they are to make it. South Alabama is no joke this season -- the ability not to turn the ball over and get easy buckets in the paint is a treat to watch. 5 ) Cal State Northridge Matadors (18-10 record ~ Big West)The last team on our list goes to Cal State Northridge. The Big West has had great teams over the last few years, including UC San Diego last season. UC Irvine & Hawaii are other teams that have been really good this year and could make it through. But, just take a look at the Matadors for a second. They are on a seven game winning streak and like to play really, really fast. A different style of game to the rest of the conference, the Matadors could definitely end up being too fast for a lot of these teams to disrupt some of their opponents. If they remain hot, look out in thwe Big West.

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UFC Fight Night Picks: (Feb 28th)

by AAA Sports

Monday, Feb 23, 2026

The Main Event After an upset in last weekend's main event of Sean 'Tarzan' Strickland / Anthony 'Fluffy' Hernandez, the UFC heads down to Mexico for a huge Fight Night in Mexico City. This time, we're going to get to see former two-time Flyweight champion Brandon Moreno (23-9-2  | Mexico) take on the UK's rising star, Lone'er Kavanaugh (9-1-0 | England.) Moreno is favored to win in the -230 to -250 range. Back in 2021, Moreno won his first belt in the Flyweight Division. His tetralogy (four fights) with Deiveson Figueiredo was what this sport needed in the smaller weight classes as all three fights were terrific to watch. Even though it's been a couple of wins and a couple of losses since those days, 'The Assassin Baby' remains one of the top contenders in this division. Before his latest fight, Lone'er Kavanaugh was perhaps the next big thing in this weight class. He still might be just that. But, he definitely did not look like a future champion on August 23rd in 2025 when he got finished by Charles Johnson. Kavanaugh still has a great chance at being successful though with a 9-1 record and this fight could get him back into the conversation. The total is set at 4.5 rounds, favoring the OVER slightly. Both fighters just lost via the knockout, so the UNDER could definitely be in play if someone's to get touched up early. The Verdict -- One loss isn't going to make or break your career in the UFC, especially as a young 26 year old 'prospect.' Even two losses isn't the end of the world as many fighters suffer a ton of losses before reaching their ultimate peak. But, with a chance like this against a former two-time champ, Kavanaugh needs to lock in. Some would say Moreno is fast his prime. But, with this fight in Mexico and having watch Kavanaugh's last fight, we cannot take the younger fighter here. Go with Moreno.  The Co Main EventNot getting as much respect as he used to, Marlon 'Chito' Vera (23-11-1 | Ecuador) takes on David 'Doctor' Martinez (13-1-0 | Mexico) in the Co-Main Event at UFC Fight Night. Basically just like the main event, the Mexican is favored to win in the -250 to -300 range. Marlon Vera was a top fighter in the Bantamweight Division for many years. He has some fantastic wins over Sean O'Malley, Frankie Edgar, Rob Font, Dominick Cruz, and Pedro Munhoz. But, off three losses in a row, the Ecuadorian is getting the 'past his prime' treatment. The home crowd will definitely be behind the man that they call 'Doctor' this weekend. Martinez is on a nine fight win streak and could break into a spot with a bunch of the top guys in the division with a win. Comparable to Kavanaugh, Martinez is in his mid-20's and is looking for a first signature win to boost his career status. The OVER is heavily favored in this Co-Main bout on Saturday as both guys tend to like going the distance. In his 35 fight career, Marlon Vera has never been finished. That's telling us something -- with Vera as the pretty big underdog. The Verdict -- Unlike the Main Event, the 'rising' star is favored in this one. Martinez is probably going to be the more active fighter, being the younger of the two. But, don't count out Marlon Vera who's been near the top Bantamweight Division for the majority of his career. Vera isn't even that old considering some of the other fighters in the UFC who attempt at UFC gold. I think the best choice is the OVER, even despite the poor odds. But, if you're looking for an underdog, this could be it. Marlon Vera could definitely score the upset. 

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Using Advanced MLB Stats to Bet Smarter this Season

by Sean Murphy

Monday, Feb 23, 2026

Betting on Major League Baseball isn’t just about ERA, batting average, or win-loss records anymore. Modern MLB stats—often called “advanced analytics”—can give you a serious edge if you use them correctly. The good news? You don’t need to be a math expert. Here’s a simple guide on which stats matter most and how to apply them when betting on the upcoming MLB season.1. Focus on xERA and FIP (not just ERA) Traditional ERA tells you how many earned runs a pitcher allowed. But it doesn’t tell you how lucky or unlucky he’s been. Two better tools: FIP (Fielding Independent Pitching) – Measures what a pitcher controls: strikeouts, walks, hit batters, and home runs. xERA (Expected ERA) – Estimates what a pitcher’s ERA should be based on quality of contact. How to use it: If a pitcher has: ERA: 2.50 FIP: 4.10 That’s a red flag. He may be overperforming and due for regression. That can create value fading him in his next few starts.On the flip side, if a pitcher has: ERA: 4.50 xERA: 3.40 He may be undervalued by the market — a good buy-low opportunity.2. Look at hard hit % and barrel % Not all hits are equal. Hard Hit % – How often a hitter makes strong contact. Barrel % – Measures ideal launch angle + exit velocity (often leads to home runs). Why it matters: If a hitter’s batting average is low but his Hard Hit % is high, he might be getting unlucky. That can mean: Value in player props (total bases, HR props) Team total overs if multiple hitters show strong contact trends For pitchers, high Barrel % allowed = danger for overs.3. Pay attention to strikeout & walk Rates K% (strikeout rate) and BB% (walk rate) are extremely predictive.For pitchers: High K% = more control over outcomes High BB% = potential blow-up innings For hitters: High strikeout teams struggle against elite strikeout pitchers Patient teams (high walk rate) drive pitch counts up Betting angle: If a high-strikeout pitcher faces a high-strikeout lineup, that’s often a strong matchup. This can impact: First 5 innings bets Strikeout props Unders 4. Use wOBA instead of batting average wOBA (Weighted On-Base Average) values hits properly. A home run counts more than a single. Walks matter. Extra-base hits matter more.Batting average treats all hits equally. wOBA doesn’t. How to apply: When evaluating: Lefty vs righty splits Team offense vs specific pitcher types Bullpen performance Look at wOBA allowed (for pitchers) and wOBA vs handedness (for hitters).5. Don’t ignore bullpen metrics Many games are decided after the starter leaves. Instead of saves or ERA, check: Bullpen FIP Strikeout rate Walk rate Recent usage (fatigue) Even casual baseball bettors know that a weak bullpen behind a strong starter can ruin full-game bets in a hurry. 6. Watch for regression signals Regression is your friend in MLB betting. Signs a team or pitcher may regress: Extremely high or low BABIP Unsustainably high HR/FB rate Big gap between ERA and xERA/FIP Sportsbooks often price teams based on surface stats. If you can identify regression early, you can beat those numbers before the market adjusts. 7. Use stats to support — not replace — context Advanced stats are powerful, but they’re only part of the puzzle. Still consider: Travel spots Lineup changes Weather (wind matters in baseball) Umpire tendencies Ballpark factors The best bets happen when advanced stats and situational context align. Simple strategy for the 2026 season If you want a straight-forward, repeatable approach this season:Start with pitching matchup. Compare ERA vs FIP/xERA. Check strikeout and walk rates. Review Hard Hit % trends. Evaluate bullpen reliability. Then check price and market movement. You don’t need 25 different metrics to be successful. Just 4–6 well-implemented ones can give you an edge over bettors relying on traditional stats. Baseball is a long season. The sharper you are with underlying metrics, the more consistent (and hopefully profitable) your results will be.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NCAAB, and EPL Previews and Odds - 02/23/2026

by Big Al Staff

Monday, Feb 23, 2026

The Monday sports card features NBA, NCAAB, and EPL action. The National Hockey League returns from its Winter Olympics hiatus on February 25th. The National Basketball League has three games on its docket. The Detroit Pistons host the San Antonio Spurs on Peacock at 7:10 p.m. ET. The Pistons have won five games in a row after a 126-110 victory at Chicago as a 10.5-point favorite on Saturday. The Spurs are on an eight-game winning streak after a 139-122 victory at their temporary home site in Austin, Texas, as an 18.5-point favorite two days ago. Detroit is a 1.5-point favorite with the total set at 228.5 (all odds from DraftKings). The Memphis Grizzlies play at home against the Sacramento Kings at 8:10 p.m. ET as a 5.5-point favorite with an over/under of 233.5. The Houston Rockets are home against the Utah Jazz on Peacock at 9:40 p.m. ET. The Rockets have lost two of their previous three games after a 108-106 loss in New York against the Knicks as a 3.5-point underdog on Saturday. The Jazz have lost two games in a row after a 123-114 loss at Memphis as a 2.5-point underdog on Friday. Houston is a 15.5-point favorite with a total of 223.5. The NCAAB college basketball schedule tips off at 7:00 p.m. ET with nine games involving Division I opponents. Three NCAAB games tip off at 7:00 p.m. ET. Louisville travels to North Carolina on ESPN. The Cardinals won for the sixth time in their previous seven games after an 87-70 victory against Georgia Tech as a 23.5-point favorite on Saturday. The Tar Heels won for the second time in their previous three games with a 77-64 victory at Syracuse on Saturday. Louisville is a 2.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 163.5. Texas A&M Corpus Christi plays at Southeast Louisiana as a 2.5-point road favorite with a total of 131.5. Lamar hosts Nicholls State on the CBS Sports Network as a 4.5-point favorite with an over/under of  146.5. Four NCAAB games start at 7:30 p.m. ET. McNeese plays at home against UT-Rio Grande Valley as an 11.5-point favorite with a total of 144.5. Northwestern State is home to face Incarnate Word as a 2.5-point favorite with an over/under of 140.5. East Texas A&M hosts Houston Christian as a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 136.5. Stephen F. Austin plays at home against New Orleans as a 13.5-point favorite with an over/under of 149.5. Grambling State is home to take on Mississippi Valley State at 8:00 p.m. ET as a 16.5-point favorite with a total of 135.5. Houston is on the road to challenge Kansas on ESPN at 9:00 p.m. ET. The Cougars have lost two games in a row after a 73-66 upset loss at home against Arizona as a 6.5-point favorite two days ago. The Jayhawks lost for the second time in their previous three games with an 84-68 upset loss against Cincinnati as an 8.5-point favorite on Saturday. Houston is a 1.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 137.5.Matchweek 27 in the English Premier League concludes with one match. Manchester United visits Everton on the USA Network at 3:00 p.m. ET as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with a total of 2.5. 

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2026 Olympic Games in Review:

by William Burns

Sunday, Feb 22, 2026

Over the past few weeks, thousands of athletes from around the world have been competing for a chance to win gold at the 2026 Olympic Games in Milano/Cortina, Italy. It's brought fan support in from 93 countries who all took part in this world-wide event. Having come to an end on Sunday, there's definitely some people going home happy and others in pure sadness.  9 Records Broken Over the course of the 16 days in Milan, there were a total of nine records broken, which is unbelievable. Home phenom, Italian's Francesca Lollobrigida dominated Woman's Speed Skating taking home a pair of gold medals as well as an Olympic Record in the Women's 3000m. Femke Kok & Juuta Leerdam were the Dutch's top performers, winning in the 500m & 1000m and both breaking records along the way. All nine of these new olympic records set at these games were set on the ice tracks, with seven coming in speed skating & two coming in short track speed skating.  The Most Dominant Winter Athlete Ever?  Prior to these Olympic Games, the Norwegian sensation was already a legend, having won five gold medals across both the 2018 and 2022 olympics. Johannes Høsflot Klæbo also came in with 116 World Cup wins & as a 15-time world champion. This time around, he was searching for the ultimate goal. A perfect 6/6. Kicking things off early on in these games, he managed to take home his first gold. Across two weeks, Klæbo didn't just win all four of his individual events, he managed to win both of the relay events as well, taking home the most gold medals an athlete has ever taken home at a single Olympic Games. Simply remarkable. Klæbo was undoubtedly a huge part in Norway's success in winning the entire medal count as well in 2026. USA edges Canada in hockey finals.  Last year's Four Nations Faceoff gave us a little taste of international hockey greatness and to conclude the Olympics in 2026, the two powerhouses collided again in the finals. USA came out hot, scoring in the opening six minutes of the game on an excellent play by Matt Boldy of the Minnesota Wild. Then, things started to turn. Canada was a bit unfortunate with a couple of missed calls throughout this game. But, with some of the chances that they were creating, it shouldn't have even mattered. With a pair missed "empty nets" in the 3rd period, it was only a question of when those misses would come back to cost the entire nation of Canada. As the game headed into OT, the tension was definitely building, perhaps even more than at the start of the game. In 3-on-3, one lucky break can change the entire course of the game. In the end, Jack Hughes ended the game, leading USA to its third hockey gold medal ever, and first since the 1980's. Canada outshot the USA 42-28 in the game. Connor Hellebuyck stood on his head and got my respect. With the USA winning the Woman's Hockey as well in OT, the American's completed the clean hockey sweep. Now, fans will have to wait four more years to see these teams compete for gold at an Olympic Games again. 

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