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2022 Kansas Jayhawks Preview

by Matt Fargo

Thursday, Jul 21, 2022

Kansas Jayhawks2021-22 Season Record 2-10 (1-8 Big 12) - 4-8-0 ATS - 7-5-0 O/UReturning StartersOffense - 9Defense - 8OverviewKansas has been the doormat of the Big 12 for 13 straight years as it has gone 8-106 in the conference over that stretch and has never won more than one game in a season. The Jayhawks last bowl game was in 2008 when they finished 8-5 and it seems like forever ago when they went 12-1 in 2007 that included a win in the Orange Bowl that resulted in a ranking of No. 7 in the final AP Poll. They are coming off a 2-10 season, the first for head coach Lance Leipold but things were different toward the end. After defeating South Dakota in the opener, it was blowout after blowout after blowout, eight straight by double-digits to be exact, but then something happened. Kansas defeated Texas in a wild 57-56 overtime upset and then lost its final two games by just nine points combined. It now has an opportunity to carry that positive energy into this season and see where it can go. And there is nowhere to go but up. OffenseThere was nothing good about the offense as Kansas finished No. 113 overall and No. 111 in scoring. It put up 17 points or fewer in half of their contests but the Jayhawks had three of their four highest point totals in the last three games. Now with nine starters back and with a second straight decent recruiting class, things have a chance to improve. Quarterback Jalon Daniels played sporadically in two September games but came in against Kansas St. and showed promise and started those final three games where he completed 69.2 percent of his passes for 860 yards with seven touchdowns and three interceptions and he is the man going forward. There is not much star power at receiver but there is talent and plenty of experience that came late in the season. Four starters are back on the offensive line which will improve the running game and create some balance as leading rusher Devin Neal and his 707 yards is back. DefenseAs bad as the offense was, the defense was worse as the Jayhawks were No. 129 in total defense, scoring defense and rushing defense and the only reason they were No. 80 in passing defense was because teams did not have to throw. Like the other side, the defense has a chance to be a lot better with eight starters back and increased depth with a lot of key transfers that will get a ton of time. The three top tacklers are back, two from the linebacking corps with Rich Miller, Jr. and Gavin Potter combining for 157 tackles to form a solid nucleus. The secondary should be greatly improved as safety Kenny Logan who led the Jayhawks with 111 tackles returns and they get two transfers who played big roles on their old teams to solidify the backfield. The defensive line was not good but three starters are back along with another key transfer so experience should make improvements up front and get a better pass rush. 2022 Season OutlookThere have been seven coaches on the Kansas sideline during this putrid 13-year stretch and while a 2-10 season is not going to instill much confidence into the fanbase, good things happened down the stretch and if Leipold was able to turn things around in Buffalo, he has a chance to do it here but it will be small steps. Kansas opens with Tennessee Tech and while this is an easy game for most teams, typically that is not the case here but a blowout could do wonders with two road games on deck. The Big 12 schedule is difficult as usual but there are games to keep close. Betting a Kansas over usually came down to the final two or three games and most of the time it did not turn out good but this could be the year where there is no sweat in November. The O/U win total this season is 2.5 and this team could feasibly be 3-1 in its first four home games and an upset on the road could cement the over for a stress free November. 

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2022 James Madison Dukes Preview

by Matt Fargo

Thursday, Jul 21, 2022

James Madison Dukes2021-22 Season Record 12-2 (7-1 CAA) - 0-0-0 ATS - 0-0-0 O/UReturning StartersOffense - 9Defense - 8OverviewThe lone entrant into the FBS pool in 2022 are the James Madison Dukes who come over from a very successful run in the FCS ranks following a 12-2 record last season including a 7-1 record in the CAA to win their third straight conference championship. No. 3 seed James Madison rolled over SE Louisiana and Montana in the first two rounds of the FCS playoffs before succumbing to No. 2 seed North Dakota St., the eventual National Champion by six points. The Dukes enter the Sun Belt Conference and while this is their first season, they would likely be at the top half of the favorites board to win it but they are ineligible for a title and a bowl game because of a ludicrous NCAA probationary rule. This team is loaded with 17 returning starters and should give some of the big boys headaches but a jump to a bigger and stronger field could cause some growing pains. OffenseWhile nine starters are back on offense, one of those is not quarterback Cole Johnson who was the Offensive Player of the Year in the CAA and he will be missed. The likely player to take over is Todd Centeio who is a transfer from Colorado St. and he was solid yet unspectacular with the Rams last season as he threw for 2,958 yards on a 60.3 percent completion clip with 15 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Going to a lesser conference helps as does the fact he is behind a great offensive line that returns four starters that will be better in pass protection and keep the holes open for a strong running attack. Leader rusher Latrele Palmer returns after running for 947 yards and there is good depth behind him. Leading receiver Antwane Wells and his 1,250 yards and 15 touchdowns is gone but second leading receiver Kris Thornton and his 1,097 yards and 13 touchdowns is back. DefenseDefensively, the Dukes were also the best in the conference where they allowed just 275.2 ypg and 15.4 ppg but they will likely take a fall despite a solid core coming back. Losing the top two tacklers is hard to replace, especially at the linebacker position where James Madison goes from veteran leadership to very young plugins. This will be the weakest unit on the field so the front and back ends will have to make it up as much as they can. The defensive line also lost its best player but there was good rotation last season and three other starters are back to stop the run and get pressure on the quarterback. The Dukes were No. 13 in the FCS in sacks with nearly three per game while the rushing defense was No. 8, allowing a mere 89.0 ypg. The secondary is loaded as well with three starters back as well as solid incoming talent from both recruiting and transfers. 2022 Season OutlookHead coach Curt Cignetti has built a powerhouse in Harrisonburg and he looks to continue that at the higher level and while it could take some time, he is not starting from the ground floor up. This is not the SEC they are playing in so the Dukes will be competitive and win their share of games in a schedule that includes only 11 games with six of those taking place on the road. He could be in line for another Sun Belt coach to find work at a major program down the line. James Madison opens with home games against Middle Tennessee St. and Norfolk St. and then gets christened into the conference slate with a game at favorite Appalachian St. Five of the final eight games are against teams with losing records from last season so who knows. The O/U win total is 6.5 and that is a tough number to predict for a team making the jump into bigger waters so this has to be a pass. 

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2022 Iowa St. Cyclones Preview

by Matt Fargo

Thursday, Jul 21, 2022

Iowa St. Cyclones2021-22 Season Record 7-6 (5-4 Big 12) - 5-8-0 ATS - 6-7-0 O/UReturning StartersOffense - 5Defense - 3OverviewLast year was supposed to be a whole lot better. The Cyclones came into the season ranked No. 7 in the preseason AP Poll, coming off a 9-3 season, closing No. 9 in the rankings which was the highest ever and returning 20 starters. They snuck by Northern Iowa in the season opener then lost to rival Iowa the following week for the sixth straight time and it was all average after that. It was the fifth straight winning season for head coach Matt Campbell since coming to the program from Toledo which followed seven straight losing years in Ames but the once hot commodity coach is just another name at this point. Things look to be more challenging this season as a lot of the core pieces have moved on but they have showed to do more with less, finishing 8-5 in 2018 and 9-3 in 2020 with limited returnees and thus are hoping for something similar with only 8 starters back. OffenseThe offense had its moments last season but those mostly came against bad competition and the Cyclones managed 24 points or less five times. They did finish No. 35 and No. 34 in total offense and scoring offense respectively and many new faces will have a tough time matching those rankings. Quarterback Brock Purdy was very good but he has moved on and it will be Hunter Dekkers taking the snaps and while he has thrown only 43 collegiate passes, this is his third year in the system. He has wide receiver Xavier Hutchinson at his disposal as he hauled in 83 passes for 987 yards but the loss of tight end Charlie Kolar is big. Along with Purdy, the other big loss is running back Breece Hall who rushed for 1,472 yards and 20 scores. It will be up to his backup  Jirehl Brock, who has had limited action and will be behind an offensive line that has to replace four starters. DefenseThe Cyclones stopped the teams they were supposed to as they allowed 10 points or less four times including a great performance against Texas while finishing No. 23 in points allowed and No. 10 in total defense but that is mostly in the past. Iowa St. has only three starters back but all hope is not lost as there are playmakers and it will be up to some key reserves to plug into the vacated holes. The linebacking corps took the biggest hit as Jake Hummel and Mike Rose, who combined for 153 tackles are gone but there is promise with experienced replacements. The defensive line will have to carry the load at least early on and will be led by defensive end Will McDonald IV who had 11.5 sacks and forced five fumbles. Replacing versatile safely Greg Elsworth II is a problem for a secondary that finished No. 11 in the nation in passing defense and overall, has to replace three starters. 2022 Season OutlookIowa St. outgained opponents by 116 yards per game and a disparity like that needs to produce a better record. The Cyclones lost five games by one possession as they simply were not clutch when needed as they were No. 91 on third down, converting just 36.4 percent of their opportunities. There were too many slow starts which put pressure on the defense and that could only go so far. Campbell is safe but he really needs that breakout season that has eluded him. Iowa St. opens with SE Missouri St. followed by a road game at nemesis Iowa hoping to break the losing streak. Five of the next seven games are at home but they close with two road games at Oklahoma St. and TCU sandwiched around a home game against Oklahoma. The O/U win total is 6.5 and based on the past, this should be covered but there are six games that could be more likely losses than wins. 

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MLB 2022: Mid-Season Report

by Larry Ness

Thursday, Jul 21, 2022

The NL jumped all over Tampa Bay's Shane McClanahan for two runs and four hits in the bottom of the first inning in the first All-Star Game at Dodger Stadium in 42 years Tuesday night. Paul Goldschmidt hit a solo HR and then Mookie Betts singled in Ronald Acuna Jr, after his double. However, the final score looked all too familiar. The American League won 3-2 for its NINTH straight All-Star victory and 21st in the last 25 Midsummer Classics. The game turned in the fourth inning when Giancarlo Stanton (game-tying two-run shot) and Byron Buxton (solo shot) delivered back-to-back HRs off the Los Angeles Dodgers' Tony Gonsolin. Giancarlo Stanton was named MVP and is now one of FIVE players to win a league MVP Award, a Home Run Derby and an All-Star Game MVP, joining Ken Griffey Jr, Miguel Tejada, Cal Ripken Jr and Dave Parker.Yes, the AL has now won NINE straight All-Star Games and holds a 27-6 advantage since 1988, but the World Series has been a much closer battle, as the AL leads 17-16 in that same time span. The second half of the 2022 MLB season resumes on Thursday, with the regular season ending Wednesday, October 5th. There is a new postseason format this year, as in the 2022 collective bargaining negotiations, owners and players agreed to a 12-team postseason with six teams per league. Seedings for the six teams are as follows: Division winners are seeded one, two, three and wild card teams four, five, six. The top two division winners in each league will receive byes into the division series. The lowest-seeded division winner and three wild card teams, each seeded according to regular season record, will play a best-of-three Wild Card round, with the higher seed hosting ALL three games. The tie-breaker game (a.k.a. "Game 163") was also eliminated with playoff spots now determined through tie-breaker formulas. The Division Series will have the top-seed play the fourth-fifth winner, while the runner-up plays the third-sixth winner. The brackets remain fixed, with no re-seeding. The team with the best record will own the home field edge in both two LCS and the same holds true in the World Series. The 2022 season opened with the LA Dodgers owning the longest active streak of postseason appearances, followed by the Astros and the Yankees, each tied at FIVE playoff appearances in a row. Seattle owned the longest playoff drought (20 years!) of any team, with Philadelphia having missed 10 consecutive postseasons. Let me start with those five teams and then move on to the playoff 'picture' as of the All-Star break. The Dodgers saw their run of EIGHT consecutive NL West titles end last season, when the Giants won 107 games but LA's 106 wins extended their run of consecutive postseason appearances to NINE in a row. The Dodgers 60-30 Dodgers seem well on their way to another NL West title and a 10th straight postseason appearance is a virtual 'lock.' The team's plus-169 run differential is more than double that of any other NL team. LA's averaging 5.13 RPG (2nd-best in MLB) and owns the lowest team ERA of any team at 2.96.The Astros, the team everyone "loves to hate' is 59-32, giving them a NINE-game lead in the AL West at the break, and owns MLB's second-best team ERA at 2.98. Houston will again be a threat come October. The NY Yankees won FOUR World Series titles from 1996-2000 but have won just ONE since 2001. New York began the season having made 17 of the last 21 postseason but its ONLY World Series title in that span came back in 2009. The Yankees seem determined to end that 'drought' here in 2022. They own MLB's best record at 64-28, putting them on pace to win 113 games. Th team record for most wins in a season is 114 (set in 1998) and the MLB record is 116 (Cubs of 1906 and Mariners of 2001), so the Yanks own a legitimate shot at breaking BOTH of those records. The Yanks own MLB's best run differential (plus-199).  New York is MLB's highest scoring team (5.40 RPG), its 157 HRs are more than any team and the team's ERA of 3.08 ranks third, behind the Dodgers and Astros (see above). Seattle finished second in the American League West in 2021 with a 90-72 record, just two games out of a wild-card berth. That extended Seattle's postseason drought to 20 years, as the Mariners last made the playoffs back in 2001. Ironically, that team won 116 games, tying a MLB record for most wins in a single season. The Mariners were headed 'nowhere' with a 29-39 record through June 19 but then went 22-3 to close the first half to reach 51-29. The Mariners have won 14 in a row, the longest ever winning streak heading into the All-Star break. However, the Mariners are still NINE games behind the first-place Astros in the AL West plus their recent surge put them right in the mix of the wild cards race, but SEVEN teams are battling for just THREE open spots. Is this the year Seattle breaks its 20-year postseason drought? Do you believe in karma? The only other teams to have a 10-plus game winning streak heading into the All-Star break were the 1935 Tigers and the 1975 Reds. BOTH teams would go on to win the World Series!Philadelphia's 10-year playoff drought is just HALF that of Seattle's. Philadelphia fired Joe Girardi on June 3 and Rob Thomson took over as interim manager and won his first EIGHT games! and 14 of his first 16. However, they've cooled since, having gone 13-12 their last 25 games prior to the break. Philadelphia is currently 49-43 and 8 1/2-games behind the NL East-leading Mets, as well as SIX games behind the four-time defending division champion Braves. The Phillies find themselves in a virtual tie with the 50-44 Cards for the third and final NL wild card spot, with both teams just a half-game better than the SF Giants.The AL East is MLB's best division with the Yankees owning MLB's best record plus NONE of their four rivals own losing records. The Tampa Bay Rays entered the current season off three straight postseason appearances (team won the AL East in both 2020 and 2021) and is currently second with a 51-41 record. The Toronto Blue Jays missed a wild card spot by ONE game in 2021 but were a 'sexy' preseason pick to best the Rays, Red Sox and Yankees in the brutally tough AL East in 2022. That has NOT been the case but even at a disappointing 50-43, the Jays are right in the wild card mix. The Red Sox have won four World Series titles since 2004 but Boston struggled to a 24-36 record in the 2020 season, before surprising most by going 92-70 in 2021. The Red Sox made it to the ALCS last season but lost 4-2 to the Astros. Boston is currently 48-45 and like the Rays and Jays, battling for one of THREE wild card spots. Then there is Baltimore. The Orioles have missed the postseason in each of the last FIVE years, losing 100-plus games in THREE of the four full seasons, including tying Arizona for MLB's worst record in 2021 at 52-110. However, Baltimore ended the first half on an 11-2 run and will open the second half at 46-6.Over in the AL West, Houston seems like a 'lock' to win the division with the only "unknown" being can Seattle finally break its 20-year playoff drought by earning one of THREE wild card spots. The Chicago White Sox ended an 11-year postseason drought in 2020 with a wild card appearance. They then ran away with the American League Central title last season with a 93-69 record, winning the division by 13 games over Cleveland. Chicago was a heavy favorite to win the division in 2022 but the White Sox check in at just 46-46 at the break. The Minnesota Twins went just 73-89 in 2021 (20 games behind the division-winning White Sox), after winning the AL Central in 2019 and 2020. The Twins have been atop the division for most of the first half and will begin the second half at 50-44, giving them a two-game lead over Cleveland and a three-game lead over the White Sox. Cleveland began a new era in 2022 (no longer the Indians, now the Guardians). Cleveland lost to the Cubs in the 2016 World Series (led 3-1, before losing the final three games) and followed with THREE more postseason appearances in the next four years (exception was in 2019 when the team won 93 games). However, Cleveland would go just 80-82 in 2021, Based on the first half, 46-44 Cleveland has as good a chance as Minnesota and Chicago has to earn the AL's No. 3 seed by winning the AL Central.The Braves were just 51-53 in late-July of 2021 but went 37-20 the rest of the way and won the NL East (for the FOURTH straight season) before capturing the franchise's first World Series title since 1995. In stark contrast, the Mets went 22-38 down the stretch to finish in third place at 77-85, 11 1/2 games out of first place. The Mets made the 2015 World Series (lost 4-1 to KC) and made a one-game wild card appearance in 2016, but they've been playoff-less the last five years, The Mets got off to a great start this season and were 34-17 through the end of May. As for the Braves, Atlanta was just 23-27, 10 1/2-games behind New York at that time. However, the Braves opened June by winning their first 14 games and ended the month 21-6. They have followed by going 10-5 in June, closing to within 2 1/2-games of the 58-35 Mets at 56-38.The Milwaukee Brewers entered the current season having made the last four postseasons, winning the NL Central in 2021 and were favorites to do so again in 2022. Milwaukee was 32-18 through May 30 but ended the first half at just 51-41, going 18-23 prior to the break. The 50-40 Cardinals have been postseason regulars this decade, making the playoffs in 15 of the last 20 seasons. St Louis has been able to pull within a half-game of Milwaukee in the NL Central due to Milwaukee's poor play heading into the break. I've already touched on LA's domination of the NL West but both San Diego (52-42) and San Francisco (48-43) are still wild card contenders. That said, the Padres open the second half having lost 14 of 21 and the Padres resume play on an 11-16 run.With so many teams in the hunt, expanding to a 12-team playoff field turned out to be a good idea. The trade deadline is August 2 and could provide 'fireworks.' I'll check back around Labor Day for a 'state of the union' update.Closing note: A record-tying number of teams are on pace for both 100 wins and 100 losses (four each). Possible 100-game winners are the Yankees (113-win pace), Dodgers (108), Astros (105) and Mets. Possible 100-game losers are the Nationals (109), A's (105), Reds (101) and Cubs (100).Good luck...Larry

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Big Al's Daily Angle: MLB and CFL Previews and Odds - 07/21/2022

by Big Al Staff

Thursday, Jul 21, 2022

The Thursday sports card features MLB and CFL action.Major League Baseball has six games on its schedule in its return after the All-Star break. Two games throw out the first pitch at 1:10 PM ET. The Miami Marlins play at home against the Texas Rangers. The Marlins are on a three-game losing streak after going into the break with a 4-0 loss to Philadelphia on Sunday. They have a 43-48 record. The Rangers have lost four in a row after their 6-2 loss to Seattle on Sunday. Jorge Lopez takes the ball for Miami to pitch against Jon Gray for Texas. Miami is a -125 money line favorite with the total set at 6.5 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). The Houston Astros host the New York Yankees in the first game of their doubleheader at 1:10 PM ET. The Astros lost for the second time in their last three games with their 4-3 loss at home to Oakland on Sunday. Their record fell to 59-32 with the setback. The Yankees are on a two-game winning streak after beating Boston on Sunday, 13-2. They have an MLB-best 64-28 record. The Astros tap Cristian Javier to duel against a starting pitcher yet to be named for New York. Houston is a -125 money line favorite at BetMGM with an over/under of 7 at Caesars. The Detroit Tigers visit Oakland to play the A’s in the opening game of their doubleheader at 3:37 PM ET. The Tigers went into the break on a four-game losing streak with a 10-0 loss at Cleveland on Saturday. After losing eight of their last nine games, their record has fallen to 37-55. The A’s won for the second time in their last three games with their victory against the Astros on Sunday. They raised their record to 32-61 win the win. Tarik Skubal gets the start for Detroit to face off against Zach Logue for Oakland. The Tigers are a -130 money line road favorite with a total of 7.5. The second game of the Tigers/A’s doubleheader starts at 6:37 PM ET. Oakland turns to Frankie Montas in the nightcap to pitch against Detroit’s Garrett Hill. The A’s are a -165 money line favorite with an over/under of 7. The nightcap of the Yankees/Astros doubleheader begins at 6:40 PM ET. Luis Garcia is slotted to start for Houston against a starting pitcher yet to be determined for New York. Caesars lists the total at 7.5.The Los Angeles Dodgers are at home against the San Francisco Giants on ESPN at 10:09 PM ET. The Dodgers won for the fourth straight time with a 7-1 victory on the road against the Los Angeles Angels on Saturday. After winning 11 of their last 12 games, Los Angeles raised their record to 60-30. The Giants won for the third straight time with their 9-5 victory against Milwaukee on Sunday. By winning seven of their last nine contests, they have improved their record to 48-43. The Dodgers turn to Mitch White in their starting rotation to duel against the Giants’ Carlos Rodon. Los Angeles is a -155 money line favorite with an over/under of 8.Week 7 in the Canadian Football League kicks off with two games. The Montreal Alouettes travel to Ottawa Redblacks at 7 PM ET. The Alouettes are on a two-game losing streak after a 32-31 upset loss at home to Edmonton as a 9-point favorite last Thursday. The Redblacks are winless in their first five games this year after a 25-23 loss at Hamilton as an 8.5-point underdog on Saturday. Montreal is a 2.5-point road favorite with a total of 48.The British Columbia Lions host the Hamilton Tiger-Cats at 10 PM ET. The Lions had their three-game winning streak to start the season end, with a 43-22 upset loss to Winnipeg as a 2.5-point favorite on July 9th. The Tiger-Cats ended their four-game losing streak to begin the year with their victory against Ottawa last week. British Columbia is an 8-point favorite with an over/under of 52.5. 

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2022 Iowa Hawkeyes Preview

by Matt Fargo

Wednesday, Jul 20, 2022

Iowa Hawkeyes2021-22 Season Record 10-4 (7-2 Big Ten) - 6-6-2 ATS - 6-8-0 O/UReturning StartersOffense - 8Defense - 7OverviewYou know you have a solid program when there has been just two head coaches since 1979 and at 23 years and running, Kirk Ferentz is by far the longest tenured coach in the Big Ten. With a 10-4 record last season, it was the ninth straight winning campaign for the Hawkeyes which broke their previous record of eight, set twice, the last coming from 1981-1988. They have finished in the final top 10 in the AP Poll five times under Ferentz but no higher than No. 7 and playing in the rugged Big Ten makes it hard to get over the top. There are 15 starters returning and Iowa will come into the season ranked and should get off to another strong start that will push them up on the polls before the beef of the conference season kicks in. Iowa has another legitimate shot at making it back to the Big Ten Championship playing in the weaker West Division but the crossover will be a test. OffenseThis is where Iowa fell flat last season as it finished No. 123 in total offense and No. 96 in scoring offense while averaging 8.5 ppg in its four losses. The quarterback situation was a mess as Spencer Petras and Alex Padilla split time because of injuries and neither were effective as combined, they completed 54.3 percent of their passes for 2,305 yards, 11 touchdowns and eight interceptions. The good news is both saw extensive time so whoever wins the job knows the system and has plenty of reps in it. The leading receiver is back, albeit a tight end, and Iowa needs to find ways to get the ball downfield. Surprisingly, the running game was just as bad as the Hawkeyes averaged just 120 ypg on 3.5 ypc and that is not Iowa football. Leading rusher Tyler Goodson and his 1,151 yards need to be replaced and it will be up to the improved offensive line to open holes and protect better. DefenseThe defense carried the team all season as the Hawkeyes finished No. 18 overall and No. 14 in points allowed and while they did allow 42 points to Michigan in the Big Ten Championship, they were great in almost every other game. They did slip a little down the stretch but that happens to a lot of teams going deep into a season and Iowa has the potential to be just as good. There are seven starters back that includes All-Conference playmakers on each level. Lukas Van Ness and Joe Evans are stars on the defensive line after combining for 14 sacks and were excellent run stuffers. The linebackers are in great shape with Jack Campbell and Seth Benson returning after a combined 246 tackles and both will be considered for the Big Ten First Team. The secondary has to replace some key components but they are led by Riley Moss who returns after missing three games. 2022 Season OutlookIowa has not had back-to-back double-digit winning seasons since doing it three straight times in 2002-2004. Getting to that 10-win milestone again will be difficult based on the setup of the conference schedule but if everything goes at it should, yes it is possible. The Hawkeyes have had only four losing seasons under Ferentz, two coming in his first two seasons and another because of a bowl loss so this has been one of the most consistent programs in the country. The Hawkeyes will open 4-0 barring a home upset against Iowa St. before hosting Michigan. They have three tough road games at Ohio St., Minnesota and Purdue and the only other difficult game is at home against Wisconsin. The O/U win total is 7.5 which is a very reasonable number as there are seven wins at first glance so it will take just one win in those hard games and it is very possible Iowa gets more than one. 

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2022 Indiana Hoosiers Preview

by Matt Fargo

Wednesday, Jul 20, 2022

Indiana Hoosiers2021-22 Season Record 2-10 (0-9 Big Ten) - 2-10-0 ATS - 7-5-0 O/UReturning StartersOffense - 5Defense - 7OverviewIndiana is not known as a football powerhouse so when the Hoosiers came into last season ranked No. 17 in the AP Preseason Poll, the first time ranked since 1969 when they were pegged at No. 14, something special may be happening. 2020 was a weird year because of COVID so take it for what it is worth but beating Michigan, Michigan St. and Wisconsin and losing to Ohio St. by just a touchdown is impressive for any team, let along a program like Indiana. Expectations were sky high heading into 2021 with that massive Big Ten season and 17 starters back yet the Hoosiers got nothing going and had their worst season since 2011 when they went 1-11. Head coach Tom Allen put together a very respectable 24-21 record in his first four seasons, the best four-year run since the early 90s, and just like that a 2-10 mark has put the Hoosiers back to familiar territory. OffenseIndiana was coming off a pair of seasons where it averaged 32.6 ppg and 30.1 ppg and with eight starters back, the Hoosiers were ready to take off. Instead, they averaged 17.2 ppg and 290.0 ypg, No. 123 and No. 124 in the country respectively and now more questions than answers await. Part of the issue was they could not stay healthy, namely at quarterback where Michael Penix, Jr. played only five games and there was no semblance of a running game. There is a three-man competition led by Connor Bazelak to try and get the offense moving again but it will not come easy. The top two receivers are gone and transfers will try and take on two of the three top spots and as for the running game, it is a similar story with the top two backs elsewhere. The offensive line was awful and this is where the turnaround has to start and it will be a challenge with a mix of new and old. DefenseThe defense was better but it would have taken a miracle effort to make up for the lack of offense and that obviously did not happen. While they allowed only seven more ypg from 2020, they gave up nearly two touchdowns more per contest and the Big Ten ate them alive. Like the offense, transfers will be a big part of the unit and there are pieces in place to get better. The strength is in the secondary with three starters back but they need to improve on the five interceptions gained last season, No. 120 in the nation. The rushing defense was not horrible but it has to do a better job at the point of contact as there were too many missed tackles. The defensive line will have at least three transfers to try and solve the issues as well as getting to the quarterback where it was No. 114 with just 17 sacks. The linebacking corps lost its best player but there is depth in the middle. 2022 Season OutlookAllen was getting all sorts of praise after his first four seasons but it does not take long for the critics to speak out and while his job is not in jeopardy, something good has to go their way to avoid another extended freefall. While the conference was better last season, losing nine games by an average of 24.7 ppg is inexcusable and it does not get much easier this season. Indiana opens the season at home against Illinois which is a big game for both teams to get out to a strong start and then it hosts Idaho and Western Kentucky in a revenge game for the Hilltoppers, the lone FBS win for Indiana last season. The Big Ten slate is manageable early but closes with four brutal matchups. The O/U win total is set at 4 which looks spot on as there are four games that stand out as wins on paper so it will take a couple strong efforts on the road to climb over that mark and compete for a bowl. 

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Betting Odds of First NFL Head Coach to be Fired in 2022

by Oskeim Sports

Wednesday, Jul 20, 2022

NFL teams are just starting to report to training, but it’s never too early to speculate on which head coach will be let go first. It’s not every year that an NFL head coach fails to make it through a season, but Urban Meyer did just that last year when he got the axe after a disastrous start in Jacksonville. The Jags and seven other franchises – Bears, Dolphins, Giants, Raiders, Texans, Saints, and Vikings – will have new coaches this season.One would think that the first-year guys are safe, but in today’s ‘win now or else’ era anything is possible. If you are looking for job stability, don’t become an NFL head coach. It’s pretty much a given that at least one of 32 will be fired in 2022. Which one will be first?MATT RHULE – CAROLINA (+300)Rhule’s first two teams in Carolina have yet to win more than five games – 5-11 in 2020 and 5-12 last season. If star RB Christian McCaffrey could stay healthy, Rhule might not even be in this discussion. The Panthers went out and acquired QB Baker Mayfield to compete with Sam Darnold for the starting job. That should help the offense.McCaffrey needs to stay healthy though. His absence killed the Panthers’ offense. Last year, Carolina averaged 17.9 points a game which was 29th in the NFL. Carolina’s defense is one of the better units in the NFL. If Rhule is going to stick around, the offense has to improve.MIKE MCCARTHY – DALLAS (+500)Cowboys’ owner Jerry Jones hasn’t enjoyed the taste of a Super Bowl in quite a while. He was hopeful that former Green Bay head coach Mike McCarthy could get Dallas back to the big game. After struggling through a 6-10 first season, McCarthy’s team went 12-5 and won the NFC East.The problem is the Cowboys lost to San Francisco in the NFC wild-card game. McCarthy, who went 125-77-2 with the Packers and won Super Bowl XLV, might need to go deeper in the postseason this year. Dallas lost some key contributors like WR Amari Cooper. If McCarthy can’t get it done in 2022, Jones is likely to make a change.PETE CARROLL – SEATTLE (+600)It’s hard to believe, but Carroll makes the list as the Seahawks appear to be fading. There is no doubt Carroll has been one of the all-time great NFL head coaches. His records of 119-73-1 in Seattle and 152-104-1 overall speak for themselves.But, what has Carroll done lately? The Seahawks went 7-10 last season and failed to make the postseason for just the second time in a decade. Then, Seattle traded away its best player, QB Russell Wilson. Seattle was a mediocre offense with Wilson averaging 23.2 points a game last season. It’s doubtful Drew Lock or Geno Smith can do much better.In his NFL career thus far, Carroll has never had consecutive seasons in which his teams missed the playoffs. How Seattle has success without Wilson at quarterback is hard to fathom. A second straight losing season might be the writing on the wall for Carroll and his career.FRANK REICH – INDIANAPOLIS (+700)Reich has gone 37-28 as the Colts head man, but his teams have only made the playoffs twice and they have never won a division title. Last year, Reich brought in his former Philadelphia quarterback, Carson Wentz. It was a disaster.The Colts ended up 9-8 and out of the playoffs again. Wentz was shipped to Washington and now Reich will work with former Atlanta star Matt Ryan. Reich did sign a contract extension that runs through the 2026 season, but he is going to need to produce in 2022 or he could be out the door.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: WNBA and Euro 2022 Previews and Odds - 07/20/2022

by Big Al Staff

Wednesday, Jul 20, 2022

The Wednesday sports card features WNBA and Women’s EURO 2022 action.One game is on the docket in the Women’s National Basketball Association. The Chicago Sky host the Seattle Storm at noon ET. The Storm is on a three-game winning streak after their 89-81 victory at Dallas as a 4.5-point favorite on Saturday. Emma Meeseman stepped up to score 23 points while adding eight rebounds and seven assists in the win. She is third on the team with a 12.7 points per game scoring average. Kahleah Copper added 23 points and 14 rebounds. She leads Chicago with a 14.6 points per game scoring average. Candace Parker is second on the team with a 13.4 points per game scoring average, and she leads the Sky by averaging 8.8 rebounds per game. Chicago has won five of its last seven games to stay in first place in the East Division with a 19-6 record. They are 2.5 games ahead of the second-place Connecticut Sun.The Storm won for the third time in their last four games with their 81-65 victory against Indiana as a 15.5-point favorite on Sunday. Breanna Stewart scored 25 points and added eight rebounds in the win. She leads Seattle with a 21.0 points per game scoring average and 7.2 rebounds per game. Sue Bird added six assists. She leads the Storm with 6.0 assists per game. Seattle has won five of its last seven games to improve to 17-8, which is good for second place in the West Division. They are 0.5 games behind the Las Vegas Aces for first place in the division. Seattle won the first meeting between these two teams at home on May 18th, 74-71, as a 1-point favorite. Chicago is a 3-point favorite with the total set at 161.5 (all odds from DraftKings). NBA-TV has the broadcast. The knockout stage of the Women’s EURO 2022 tournament begins with the first quarterfinal match between host nation England against Spain. The Three Lionesses completed a perfect 3-0 group stage with a 5-0 victory against Northern Ireland on Friday to take first place in Group A. England opened the competition with a nervy 1-0 victory against Austria before following that up with an 8-0 victory against Norway. They have scored 14 goals in this tournament without conceding a goal. Beth Mead leads the team with five goals. The Three Lionesses are dealing with a COVID outbreak which kept manager Sarina Wiegman away from the sidelines in the match against Northern Ireland. Backup keeper Hannah Hampton and defender Lotte Wubben-Moy have also missed time from positive tests. Wiegman has yet to be cleared from quarantine as of Tuesday night. Spain enters this event at less than full strength after injuries to Alexia Putellas and Jennifer Hermosa in the training for the competition. They opened the tournament with a 4-1 win against Finland before getting outclassed in a 2-0 loss to Germany. The women Spaniards claimed second place in Group B and a spot in the knockout stage after a late goal from Morta Cardona gave them a 1-0 win against Denmark. They have scored five goals in this tournament while conceding three times. Four of their five goals have come from headers. This match takes place at the Brighton and Hove Community Stadium in Brighton at 3 PM ET. England is a -0.5 goal line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. ESPN2 has the broadcast. 

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2022 Illinois Fighting Illini Preview

by Matt Fargo

Tuesday, Jul 19, 2022

Illinois Fighting Illini2021-22 Season Record 5-7 (4-5 Big Ten) - 7-4-1 ATS - 3-8-1 O/UReturning StartersOffense - 7Defense - 6OverviewRough times continue in Champaign as it was another losing season in 2021, the 10th straight for the Illini although two of those were .500 seasons that ended in a bowl loss. Illinois has not finished in the final rankings since 2007 when it finished No. 20 in the AP Poll which was also the last season it had more than seven wins. The Lovie Smith experiment failed and Illinois brought in a successful former Big Ten coach in Bret Bielema and his first season was far from horrible at 5-7 but he inherited a roster that had 17 starters and was loaded with seniors but despite a decent number coming back in 2022, it is not close to the same scenario. Bielema fell into a great situation following the great Barry Alvarez at Wisconsin but this is a totally different culture, one that really should be better where it is located. Another non-bowl season is likely but this could be the right guy. OffenseFour of the seven losses came by one possession and that was because of an offense that could not score and Illinois went through a stretch where it scored 17 or fewer points in six of eight games after putting up 30 points in each of its first two games. The Illini were No. 117 in scoring offense and No. 111 in total offense but it will be better if the quarterback play can show some consistency. Artur Sitkowski opened the season as the starter and completed only 50 percent of his passes for 704 yards with six touchdowns and two interceptions before getting hurt and he will be challenged by Syracuse transfer Tommy DeVito who is capable. Whoever gets the starting nod will have the leading receiver back in Isaiah Williams as well as leading rusher in Chase Brown who ran for 1.005 yards. The offensive line will be a work in progress but Bielema is known for maximum production.  DefenseThe defense was extremely potent as it allowed only 21.9 ppg which was No. 31 overall and Illinois allowed over 100 fewer ypg that it did in 2021 and a solid core is back. The defensive line caused havoc with pressure on the quarterback which helped out the passing defense that was No. 44 in the country but the rushing defense needs to shore up after giving up 151.4 ypg. The Illini had 30 sacks which was No. 49 in the nation which was the most for the program in a decade and there is a ton of depth as 14 players registered at least one sack with a lot of those returning. However, the two top linebackers are gone and while they are deep at the position, there is not a ton of long-term playing time. The secondary held their own but their leading interceptor is gone and safety Sydney Brown will lead the unit after registering a team high 81 tackles last season. 2022 Season OutlookThe problem for Illinois last season was a 1-4 start with three of those losses coming by a combined 14 points. The Illini recovered well with four wins in seven games down the stretch including wins over Penn St. and Minnesota as double-digit underdogs and that is a huge thing that can carry a young team into the next season. Bielema has the staff in place for success and his recruiting should get better in a place that is surrounded by star talent out of high school. A good start to the season should take place with home games against Wyoming, Virginia and Chattanooga as well as its conference opener at Indiana which can be won. The Big Ten schedule features four home games against teams with projected wins of 7.5, not easy. The O/U win total is 4.5 and while the early games are winnable, the latter 2/3 of them are a beast and it will take major upsets to get to the over. 

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2022 Houston Cougars Preview

by Matt Fargo

Tuesday, Jul 19, 2022

Houston Cougars2021-22 Season Record 12-2 (8-0 AAC) - 8-6-0 ATS - 8-6-0 O/UReturning StartersOffense - 7Defense - 6OverviewHouston dropped its opener against Texas Tech and then it ran off 11 straight wins before getting clobbered by Cincinnati in the AAC Championship. It was a very successful season at 12-2 after a couple down years to rebuild and the Cougars remain an elite force in the AAC heading into this season. Tom Herman went 22-4 in two seasons before leaving for Texas and while Major Applewhite had two winning seasons, Dana Holgorsen was hired in 2019 and he proved his worth in 2021 and looks to continue the success before heading to the Big XII next season. 13 starters return with balance on both sides of the ball and the Cougars are ranked No. 34 in the nation in returning production so they are poised once again to roll through the AAC and set up a date for another championship game with Cincinnati as they do not play in the regular season for a second straight year. OffenseThe Cougars offense was very good as they averaged 416.0 ypg and 37.3 ppg, No. 30 and No. 14 in the country respectively. The bookend losses against Texas Tech and Cincinnati saw them score just 21 and 20 points and managed a mere 17 points in its bowl game win but was explosive everywhere else. Seven starters are back including quarterback Clayton Tune who threw for 3,544 yards with 30 touchdowns and 10 interceptions and he is now back for his fifth season and can be even better. He has his favorite target back in Nathaniel Dell who had 1,179 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns with plenty of pieces behind him. The offensive line gets three starters back and a massive transfer from Texas but the offense did take a huge hit as running back Alton McCaskill tore his ACL in the offseason and his 883 yards and 16 touchdowns will have to be replaced. DefenseIt was a huge turnaround for the defense that had nine starters back for a second straight season and it improved by 169 total yards and 14 points over the last two seasons. They finished No. 6 in total defense and led the nation in third down defense and while only six starters are back in 2022, the cupboard is full on all levels. Leading tackler Donovan Mutin is back in his leading linebacker role and there is plenty of depth around him. The defensive line is loaded with talent and it starts with ends Derek Parish and D'Anthony Jones who combined for 11 sacks and 67 tackles and will once again be an integral part of the stout rushing defense. The passing defense finished No. 14 in efficiency and Houston is led by safety Gervarrius Owens who made the All AAC First Team and while both starting corners are gone, there is depth here just like everywhere else. 2022 Season OutlookA repeat of last season would be difficult for a lot of teams, especially losing a decent amount of starting players and a pair of massive playmakers but Houston is in good shape to be just as good in its final season in the AAC. Granted it is a weak conference so getting through that has not been an issue for most of its nine years but last season was special and with a weaker Cincinnati team, this could be the year which would make a great sendoff. The schedule does not open easy as the Cougars are on the road at a sneaky good UTSA team and then at Texas Tech. The nonconference slate closes with home games against cupcakes Kansas and Rice. The AAC schedule is what it is but four tough road games await. The O/U win total is set at 9 which is aggressive but missing Cincinnati and UCF is important and it will take a big road performance for them to surpass the nine wins. 

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2022 Hawaii Rainbow Warriors Preview

by Matt Fargo

Tuesday, Jul 19, 2022

Hawaii Rainbow Warriors2021-22 Season Record 6-7 (3-5 MWC West) - 5-7-1 ATS - 6-7-0 O/UReturning StartersOffense - 4Defense - 2OverviewAfter a solid three-year run with a cumulative 23-15 record from 2018-2020, last season was average as Hawaii went 6-7 and missed out on a bowl game after three in a row. However, it was more than just the record as head coach Todd Graham lasted only two seasons as he was let go following misconduct in the program that included player abuse. A slew of players left the team because of him and now former Rainbow Timmy Chang takes over in one of the biggest rebuilds in the country. The Warriors have the second lowest returning production in the nation as they return only six starters along with many others missing from a very good roster that had potential to be good going forward. The one positive is another 13-game schedule that is far from difficult including seven home games and a quick start should take place which could add confidence heading into MWC time. OffenseThis was a middle of the road offense last season and with only four returning starters, work needs to be done. The strength will be the offensive line as three starters are back in a new scheme under offensive coordinator Ian Shoemaker and the line will be asked to hold the unit together until the chemistry falls into place. The quarterback situation is unsettled heading into fall camp as the battle will come down to Brayden Schager, who had saw limited action last season and incoming transfer Cammon Cooper from Washington St. who worked in a similar high potent offense. Someone will have to emerge at wide receiver as the three top pass catchers are gone with Zion Bowens and his 257 receiving yards likely being the leading candidate. Dedrick Parson returns as the leading back after rushing for 618 yards and eight touchdowns while also securing 279 receiving yards. DefenseThe defense was awful, especially defending the pass and immediate changes are on the way. Everyone from the secondary is gone that allowed 289.7 ypg which was No. 126 in the country but they did have 14 interceptions yet none of that matters now as Hawaii is hoping some transfers can plug the holes. Linebacker Penei Pavihi saw action in 12 of 13 games and is one veteran who can take over as the leader of the defense but needs help around him, especially in pass coverage. The defensive line is the one area that Hawaii does have experience coming back as Blessman Ta'ala and John Tuitupou are both seniors and will anchor the inside. The defensive ends are a different story however as the depth chart shows no one as a starter and the roster is small and inexperienced. The hope is the offense can score enough to take pressure off the defense. 2022 Season OutlookThe passing offense was decent under Graham but we will see a different look going back to the days when Chang led the offense from 2000-2004 and is still the leading passer in program history. It might take some time for the unit to hit its stride but the Warriors will take chances and it will be at least entertaining. While there are seven home games, there is not a big edge as Hawaii is playing in a 9,000 seat facility until the new Aloha Stadium is complete. Vanderbilt, Duquesne and New Mexico St. are three of the first five foes with Michigan and Western Kentucky sandwiched in so a 3-2 start is likely. The MWC slate is doable at home with Utah St. the only big challenge but the road portion is tough. The O/U win total is 4.5 and Hawaii does have an opportunity to go over that as long as it avoids the upsets and can steal a road win at either Colorado St. or San Jose St.

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