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NBA Playoff Angles to Consider

by Kyle Hunter

Tuesday, Apr 22, 2025

The NBA playoffs are here! It’s an exciting time of the year. I personally find the NBA regular season difficult to watch, but the playoffs are fantastic. These are top end players putting out max effort, and it results in some great drama. I wanted to take a look at a few important angles/trends to consider when you are betting the NBA playoffs. First Round Unders- It’s no secret that the defensive intensity goes up a whole lot when the playoffs get started. That has led to a lot of unders in the first round of the NBA playoffs going all the way back to 2006. During that time, totals of 200.5 or higher are 249-200 (55.5% unders) on the closing line. It is important to remember that many NBA totals in the first round are bet down, so numbers on the opening line would be even more toward the under. In the Eastern Conference, first round totals of 200.5 or higher are 103-72 (58.9%) to the under during that time.  First Round Non Playoff Team on the Road vs. First Round Playoff Team- This angle is betting on first round playoff teams who were not part of the NBA playoffs in the previous year. The angle fits only when they are playing against teams who were in the playoffs the previous season. Those road teams who missed the playoffs the previous year are 76-53 (58.9%) ATS going back to 2011.  NBA Playoffs- Fade Trendy Underdog This one is through the entire NBA playoffs. It is a fade of a trendy underdog. Betting on the home team who is receiving 40% or fewer of the spread bets: they are 123-89 (58%) ATS since 2005. If the home favorite is -6.5 or less, the number jumps to 93-62 (60% ATS). In the first three games of a playoff series, this angle jumps all the way up to 55-31 (64% ATS). Keep an eye out for games that fit these angles in the NBA playoffs. There will be plenty that match these angles. I would never blindly bet these angles, but they are great to know as part of your handicapping the NBA playoffs.

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MLB Home Favorites Making Money - What Comes Next?

by Kyle Hunter

Tuesday, Apr 22, 2025

We are nearly a month into the MLB regular season. I wanted to take a look at the road/home splits so far. They are pretty drastic, but after we take a look at the specifics we’ll also examine if there is anything you should look for going forward.For games played through April 21st, the home team is 206-129 on the moneyline (61.5%) and bettors just blindly backing the home team in every game on the moneyline have an ROI of 9.7%. The National League home teams have been cashing at a really high rate. In the NL alone, the home team is 109-57 (65.7%) for an ROI of 16.1%. Additionally, it is has mainly been the smaller favorites on the moneyline that have really paid off for bettors so far this season. Home teams with a price of -137 or smaller are 80-46 (63.5%) for an ROI of 16.9%. How did home favorites do in the last two full seasons in Major League Baseball? In the 2023 and 2024 seasons, home favorites went 1,750-1,259 (57.9%), but bettors lost money betting all of those favorites. In fact, if you bet all the home favorites in 2023 and 2024 you had an ROI of -5.1%. On home favorites of -137 or smaller, the ROI was -3.6% in 2023 and 2024.What should you do betting going forward with the information of home favorites crushing it in baseball so far this season? You should expect regression to the mean! No one knows how soon it will come, but regression to the mean is absolutely coming. In most professional sports, the home field/court advantage has actually gotten smaller in recent years. If the market wants to start putting a premium on home teams, I would look for spots to bet those road underdogs on the moneyline. 

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Burns' Bulletin Board: Top 15 NFL Mock Draft

by William Burns

Tuesday, Apr 22, 2025

The NFL Draft is this coming Thursday and I'm more excited than anyone for this upcoming season. After successfully predicting the 2024-25 CFB Champs prior to the season in my "Way-Too-Early NCAAF Predictions & Future Bets to Make:" article (OSU at +400 to win,) I'm back with a bit of an NFL Draft guide for this years draft on the College players. Here's my; MOCK DRAFT of the 2025 NFL DRAFT and why I have them where they are. ***This is not my top 10 players across the board. This is who I think is going to be picked at what spot. (will have sleepers at the end.  1. TENNESSEE TITANS - Cam Ward (MIAMI → QB) Perhaps not the best overall player in the draft, Ward has established himself as the best QB in the draft. He's now (-20000) to be selected #1 overall via. DraftKings and I can't go against that. Tennessee badly needs a QB and Ward is the guy that the Titans should be going after if they are looking in that direction.  Burns' Player Comp: Jordan Love2. CLEVELAND BROWNS - Travis Hunter (COLORADO → WR/CB) Playing at an elite level on both sides of the ball, Travis Hunter is going to be a problem in the NFL if the Browns let him play both sides. He probably is the best overall prospect in this draft and the Browns would be stupid to not go him at #2 if he slips. Whoever is the QB1 for the Browns on Week 1 is going to love this new addition. Burns' Player Comp: WR = DeVonta Smith, CB = Champ Bailey 3. NEW YORK GIANTS - Abdul Carter (PENN STATE → EDGE) My favorite player in this years draft is Abdul Carter. An absolute killer off the edge, this guy will feed in NFL games. With Ward/Hunter already gone, this selection is a no brainer for NYG. Adding Carter to this already solid DLINE is going to make this Giants front four extremely dangerous in this upcoming season. Burns' Player Comp: Micah Parsons/Von Miller 4. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS - Will Campbell (LOUISIANA STATE → OT) A 3-year starter at Left-Tackle for LSU, Will Campbell should fit right into the New England system to protect Drake Maye's blind side. Campbell has a much smaller arm-length than most tackles in the NFL. However, if he's being selected in the first round yet alone top 15, he's should be a very good addition to a NE team that badly needs a tackle. Burns' Player Comp: Dion Dawkins 5. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS - Tetairoa McMillan (ARIZONA → WR) Maybe the most productive pass-catcher in the draft, McMillan will provide that size option that Trevor Lawrence is looking for. The Jags already have a stud in Brian Thomas Jr at the other WR spot. Adding McMillan to the mix with Christian Kirk in the slot could be a deadly wideout trio for Jacksonville. Burns' Player Comp: Courtland Sutton/Tee Higgins 6. LAS VEGAS RAIDERS - Shedeur Sanders (COLORADO → QB)  Oakland needs a QB and this could be a perfect fit for Shedeur. Going from one great to another in father Deion Sanders to Pete Carroll, the Sanders family will be extremely excited to get to work with someone who people continue to doubt. Russell Wilson was dominant with Pete Carroll in Seattle. Sanders could just be another QB that works perfectly in Carroll's system. Burns' Player Comp: Geno Smith with upside 7. NEW YORK JETS - Mason Graham (MICHIGAN → IDL) Not much to say here other than Mason Graham is a beast. He's also got a less than average length in terms of arms, which might cause him slipping outside of the top 5 which I have. However, Graham is explosive right out of the gates and should be able to cause lots of disruption in the backfield for whoever selects him. Burns' Player Comp: Kenny Clark/Cameron Hayward 8. CAROLINA PANTHERS - Jalon Walker (GEORGIA → EDGE)  What can we say about Georgia pass rushers. We've already seen Philadelphia load up on these guys in recent years and it definitely paid off with the Eagles winning the Super Bowl this past season. Jalon Walker is a guy that will fit right into any teams defense and can play both on the edge or as a linebacker. Burns' Player Comp: Leonard Floyd 9. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS - Will Johnson (MICHIGAN → CB)  New Orleans is searching for the next Marshon Lattimore (traded last year.) Will Johnson might just be that guy. Although he didn't play very many games last season, he was effective in each and every game that he played in. Johnson is simply a tall shutdown corner with elite athleticism. Burns' Player Comp: Jaycee Horn/Christian Gonzales (upside of Pat Surtain II) 10. CHICAGO BEARS - Mykel Williams (GEORGIA → EDGE) Another Georgia pass rusher in the top 10? You bet. Although some Mock Drafts have Mykel Williams outside of the top ten, I believe that this is a great spot for him to go off the board. Williams has more of the pass rushing build (vs. his soon to be former teammate Jalon Walker.) He's got a bit of work to do before he reaches his full potential but his relentless style of play will most definitely be something coaches are excited about. Burns' Player Comp: Travon Walker 11. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS - Shemar Stewart (TEXAS A&M → EDGE) Shamar Stewart seems like the type of guy Kyle Shanahan would like. Stewart was outstanding in the NFL combine and that skyrocketed his draft stock. He's a got the potential to be great and pairing him off the edge with Nick Bosa would be something to watch. He might not start early on in this already stacked SF DLine group. But, Stewart's upside is greater than most in this years draft. Burns' Player Comp: Jermaine Johnson II 12. DALLAS COWBOYS - Ashton Jeanty (BOISE STATE → RB) Yes, yes, Ashton Jeanty could most definitely go higher in the NFL Draft. However, I simply just don't believe that Runningbacks are more valuable than some of the other positions on the football field. Jeanty was dominant last year, breaking records, and has the intangibles to be great. Landing somewhere like Dallas could do him wonders. Burns' Player Comp: Frank Gore/Marshawn Lynch 13. MIAMI DOLPHINS - Jahdae Barron (TEXAS → CB) Jahdae Barron will be missed at Texas. He was the top corner on a team that took Ohio State to the final whistle. Barron is an extremely aggressive corner than had five INT's last year. He impressed very much in the combine and I expect him to fill the Jalen Ramsay role (most likely to leave this offseason) in this Dolphins team. Burns' Player Comp: Trent McDuffie  14.  INDIANAPOLIS COLTS - Tyler Warren (PENN STATE → TE) No doubt, the best Tight-End prospect in the draft in my opinion and he's going to a place in Indianapolis that is in much need of a reliable tight end. Penn State doesn't throw the ball much. But, when the Nittany Lions did, Tyler Warren was the main focal point. His frame and work ethic is going to be something that the Colts will be looking forward to this September. Burns' Player Comp: George Kittle/Jeremy Shockey 15. ATLANTA FALCONS - Mike Green (MARSHALL → EDGE) Sleeper alert! Mike Green might have played at a small school in Marshall. However, this guy is an absolute savage. Green creates chaos in the opposing teams backfield and is going to be a nightmare for tackles in the NFL. I firmly believe that Green could outperform all of the edge's I've mentioned so far and perhaps even win ROTY at very good odds. Burns' Player Comp: Nolan Smith 

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NHL Playoff Series Prediction

by ASA, Inc.

Tuesday, Apr 22, 2025

Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Florida Panthers First Round Series Betting Prediction (2025 NHL Playoffs) Pick: Tampa Bay Lightning to Win Series (-105) The Tampa Bay Lightning are a solid bet at -105 to beat the Florida Panthers in the 2025 NHL Playoffs first round, driven by offensive depth, goaltending, and health advantages. Tampa led the NHL with 3.60 goals per game (GF/GP), powered by Kucherov (121 points), Point (42 goals), and Guentzel (41 goals), while allowing 2.40 GA/GP since February 1 (sixth-fewest). Florida scored 3.00 GF/GP (15th) and allowed 2.72 GA/GP (seventh-fewest), but finished 29 goals below expected. Net Rating shows a two-goal difference, favoring Tampa’s finishing. Andrei Vasilevskiy (2.18 GAA, .921 SV%) outshines Sergei Bobrovsky (2.44 GAA, .906 SV%), with a .927 save percentage since the 4 Nations Face-Off. Florida’s injury woes—Tkachuk (groin), Ekblad (suspended), and Barkov (upper-body)—contrast with Tampa’s healthy roster and 20-6-5 run since January 30. Tampa’s power play matches Florida’s (9.56 xGF/60), but their top-10 penalty kill (80.3%) gives a slight edge. Tampa performs better when Florida takes penalties (20-9-3), which could disrupt the Panthers’ disciplined style. Tampa’s offensive firepower, goaltending, and health make them the pick to win in six or seven games.

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2025 WNBA Preview: Eastern Conference

by Sean Murphy

Tuesday, Apr 22, 2025

With the 2025 WNBA season set to tip off in May, here's a quick preview of each Eastern Conference team, including their current championship odds as provided by Draft Kings. New York Liberty The reigning WNBA champions, the New York Liberty, enter the 2025 season as the favorites to repeat, with odds set at +220. Their core roster remains largely intact, including stars like Sabrina Ionescu, Jonquel Jones, and Betnijah Laney-Hamilton. Breanna Stewart's recent re-signing was obviously a major piece of the puzzle. The Liberty's wealth of talent, depth and experience position them as strong contenders for back-to-back titles.​ New York's offseason moves have been relatively quiet, focusing on maintaining team chemistry and building upon its successful 2024 campaign. With a balanced roster and a mix of veteran leadership and young talent, the Liberty aim to dominate the Eastern Conference once again. Their strategic approach and proven track record make them a formidable force in the upcoming season.​ Connecticut Sun The Connecticut Sun face a transitional period in 2025, reflected in their championship odds of +20000. The departure of longtime star Alyssa Thomas to the Phoenix Mercury marks a significant shift for the team. In response, the Sun have brought in new talent, including sharpshooters Madison Hayes and Morgan Maly, to bolster their offensive capabilities .​ Despite these changes, the Sun retain a competitive roster with experienced players ready to step up. The integration of new talent will be crucial in determining their success this season. If the team can quickly establish cohesion and adapt to their new dynamics, they have the potential to surprise or at least exceed low expectations in the Eastern Conference.​ Indiana Fever The Indiana Fever are on an upward trajectory, with championship odds at +400. Led by rising star Caitlin Clark, the team made significant strides last season, reaching the playoffs for the first time since 2016. With a young and talented roster, including Aliyah Boston - the number one pick in the 2023 WNBA Draft, the Fever are poised to build upon their recent success.​ The team's focus will be on developing their young core and enhancing team chemistry. If Clark and Boston continue to evolve and lead effectively, Indiana could emerge as a formidable force in the league. Their youthful energy and potential make them an exciting team to watch in the 2025 campaign.​ Atlanta Dream The Atlanta Dream have made a significant offseason move by signing two-time WNBA Defensive Player of the Year Brittney Griner, boosting their championship odds to +5000. Griner's addition brings veteran experience and defensive prowess to a team that already features talents like Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray.​ The Dream aim to improve upon their previous season's performance, where they secured a playoff spot as the No. 8 seed. With Griner anchoring the defense and providing leadership, Atlanta has the potential to climb the standings in the Eastern Conference. Their success will depend on how quickly the team can integrate Griner and develop on-court chemistry.​ Chicago Sky The Chicago Sky are in a rebuilding phase, reflected in their championship odds of +8000. The team is focusing on developing a new core, highlighted by the drafting of Hailey Van Lith, Angel Reese, and Kamilla Cardoso. These young players bring energy and potential to a franchise looking to return to its former glory.​ Under new head coach Tyler Marsh, the Sky aim to foster growth and establish a strong foundation for the future. While immediate success may be challenging, the development of their young talent will be crucial for long-term competitiveness. Patience and strategic planning will be key as Chicago navigates this transitional period.​ Washington Mystics The Washington Mystics face a challenging season ahead, with championship odds set at +10000. The team is dealing with roster uncertainties and the need to develop young talent. Their performance will heavily depend on the progression of emerging players and the ability to establish a cohesive unit.​ The Mystics' focus will be on rebuilding and laying the groundwork for future success. While immediate playoff contention may be a stretch, the development of their roster and strategic acquisitions could set the stage for a more competitive team in the coming years. Monitoring the growth of their young players will be essential in assessing the team's direction.​

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, MLB and EPL Previews and Odds - 04/22/2025

by Big Al Staff

Tuesday, Apr 22, 2025

The Tuesday sports card features NBA, NHL, MLB, and EPL action.The National Basketball Association continues its playoff season with three games. The Indiana Pacers host the Milwaukee Bucks on NBA TV at 7:10 p.m. ET as a 4-point favorite, with the total set at 229. The Oklahoma City Thunder play at home against the Memphis Grizzlies on TNT/truTV/Max at 7:30 p.m. ET as a 14.5-point favorite with an over/under of 229. The Los Angeles Lakers are home against the Minnesota Timberwolves on TNT/truTV/Max at 10:00 p.m. ET as a 5.5-point favorite with a total of 210. The National Hockey League playoffs continue with four games on its slate. The Carolina Hurricanes host the New Jersey Devils on ESPN at 6:10 p.m. ET as a -258 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Toronto Maple Leafs play at home against the Ottawa Senators on ESPN2 at 7:40 p.m. ET as a -185 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Tampa Bay Lightning are home against the Florida Panthers on ESPN at 8:40 p.m. ET as a -115 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Vegas Golden Knights host the Minnesota Wild on ESPN at 11:10 p.m. ET as a -245 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. Major League Baseball has 15 games on its schedule. The Cleveland Guardians play at home against the New York Yankees at 6:10 p.m. ET as a -112 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. Two more MLB games throw out the first pitch at 6:40 p.m. ET. The Cincinnati Reds travel to Miami to play the Marlins as a -125 money-line road favorite with a total of 8.5. The Detroit Tigers are home against the San Diego Padres as a -112 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7.5. Two more MLB games start at 6:45 p.m. ET. The Boston Red Sox host the Seattle Mariners as a -135 money-line favorite with a total of 9. The Baltimore Orioles play in Washington against the Nationals as a -135 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 9. The Philadelphia Phillies are in New York to battle the Mets on TBS at 7:10 p.m. ET as a -130 money-line road favorite with a total of 7.5. The Atlanta Braves play at home against the St. Louis Cardinals at 7:15 p.m. ET as a -225 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. Three more MLB games begin at 7:40 p.m. ET. The Kansas City Royals are home against the Colorado Rockies as a -218 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The Los Angeles Dodgers visit Chicago to take on the Cubs as a -118 money-line road favorite. The Minnesota Twins host the Chicago White Sox as a -245 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Houston Astros play at home against the Toronto Blue Jays at 8:10 p.m. ET as a -115 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The Los Angeles Angels are home against the Pittsburgh Pirates at 9:38 p.m. ET as a -185 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Arizona Diamondbacks host the Tampa Bay Rays at 9:40 p.m. ET as a -155 money-line favorite with a total of 9. The San Francisco Giants play at home against the Milwaukee Brewers at 9:45 p.m. ET as a -135 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7.5. The Athletics are home against the Texas Rangers at 10:05 p.m. ET as a -135 money-line favorite with a total of 10. Matchweek 33 in the English Premier League continues with one match. Manchester City hosts Aston Villa on the USA Network at 3:00 p.m. ET as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 3.5.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, MLB and EPL Previews and Odds - 04/21/2025

by Big Al Staff

Monday, Apr 21, 2025

The Monday sports card features NBA, NHL, MLB, and EPL action.The National Basketball Association continues its playoff season with two games on TNT/truTV/Max. The New York Knicks host the Detroit Pistons at 7:40 p.m. ET as a 6.5-point favorite with the total set at 221.5. The Los Angeles Clippers travel to Denver to play the Nuggets at 10:10 p.m. ET as a 1-point road favorite with an over/under of 217. The National Hockey League playoffs continue with four games on its slate. The Washington Capitals play at home against the Montreal Canadiens on ESPN at 7:10 p.m. ET as a -198 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Winnipeg Jets are home against the St. Louis Blues on ESPN2 at 7:40 p.m. ET as a -192 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Colorado Avalanche play in Dallas against the Stars on ESPN at 9:40 p.m. ET as a -142 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The Los Angeles Kings are at home against the Edmonton Oilers on ESPN2 as a -125 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. Major League Baseball has eight games on its schedule. The Boston Red Sox host the Chicago White Sox at 11:10 a.m. ET. Walker Buehler gets the ball for the Red Sox to pitch against Jonathan Cannon for the White Sox. Boston is a -298 money-line favorite with a total of 9. The New York Yankees are in Cleveland to take on the Guardians at 6:10 p.m. ET. The Yankees send out Clarke Schmidt to face the Guardians’ Gavin Williams. New York is a -120 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5. Two MLB games throw out the first pitch at 6:40 p.m. ET. Cincinnati visits Miami with Nick Lodolo taking the ball for the Reds to battle Max Meyer for the Marlins. The Reds are a -130 money-line road favorite with a total of 8. Detroit plays at home against San Diego on FS1 with the Tigers tapping Keider Montero to challenge the Padres’ Randy Vasquez. The Tigers are a -130 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. The New York Mets are home against the Philadelphia Phillies at 7:10 p.m. ET. Tylor Megill takes the mound for the Mets to go against Aaron Nola for the Phillies. New York is a -122 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The Atlanta Braves host the St. Louis Cardinals at 7:15 p.m. ET. The Braves send out Spencer Schwellenbach to face the Cardinals’ Erick Fedde. Atlanta is a -192 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Houston Astros play at home against the Toronto Blue Jays at 8:10 p.m. ET. The Astros turn to Hunter Brown to pitch against the Blue Jays’ Kevin Gausman. Houston is a -142 money-line favorite with a total of 7.5. The San Francisco Giants are home against the Milwaukee Brewers at 9:45 p.m. ET as a -148 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. Matchweek 33 in the English Premier League continues with one match. Tottenham hosts Nottingham Forest on the USA Network at 3:00 p.m. ET as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, EPL and MLB Previews and Odds - 04/20/2025

by Big Al Staff

Sunday, Apr 20, 2025

The Sunday sports card features NBA, NHL, MLB, and EPL action.The National Basketball Association continues its playoff season with four games. The Oklahoma City Thunder host the Memphis Grizzlies on ABC at 1:10 p.m. ET as a 13.5-point favorite, with the total set at 229. The Boston Celtics play at home against the Orlando Magic on ABC at 3:40 p.m. ET as a 14-point favorite with an over/under of 205.5. The Cleveland Cavaliers are home against the Miami Heat on TNT/truTV/Max at 7:10 p.m. ET as a 12.5-point favorite with a total of 215. The Houston Rockets host the Golden State Warriors on TNT/truTV/Max at 9:40 p.m. ET as a 1-point favorite with an over/under of 212.5. The National Hockey League playoffs continue with three games on its slate. The Carolina Hurricanes play at home against the New Jersey Devils on ESPN at 3:10 p.m. ET as a -205 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Toronto Maple Leafs are home against the Ottawa Senators on ESPN2 at 7:10 p.m. ET as a -162 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Vegas Golden Knights host the Minnesota Wild on ESPN at 10:10 p.m. ET as a -198 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. Major League Baseball has 16 games on its schedule. Five MLB games throw out the first pitch at 1:35 p.m. ET. The Boston Red Sox play at home against the Chicago White Sox as a -285 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9. The Pittsburgh Pirates are home against the Cleveland Guardians as a -115 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The Philadelphia Phillies host the Miami Marlins as a -305 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Baltimore Orioles play at home against the Cincinnati Reds as a -162 money-line favorite with a total of 9.5. The Atlanta Braves are home against the Minnesota Twins as a -120 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7.5. The Seattle Mariners travel to Toronto to face the Blue Jays at 1:37 p.m. ET as a -120 money-line road favorite with a total of 8. Three more MLB games throw out the first pitch at 1:40 p.m. ET. The New York Mets host the St. Louis Cardinals as a -142 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7.5. The New York Yankees play in Tampa Bay against the Rays as a -148 money-line road favorite with a total of 8.5. The Detroit Tigers play at home against the Kansas City Royals as a -218 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7. The Athletics are in Milwaukee to take on the Brewers at 2:10 p.m. ET with both teams priced as a -110 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The Chicago Cubs are home against the Arizona Diamondbacks at 2:20 p.m. ET as a -130 money-line favorite. The Los Angeles Dodgers visit Texas to battle the Rangers at 2:35 p.m. ET as a -155 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Washington Nationals play in Colorado against the Rockies in the opening game of their doubleheader at 3:10 p.m. ET as a -115 money-line road favorite with a total of 10. The San Francisco Giants are in Los Angeles to challenge the Angels at 4:07 p.m. ET as a -115 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5.Sunday Night Baseball on ESPN features the Houston Astros hosting the San Diego Padres at 7:10 p.m. ET. The Astros are a -130 money-line favorite with a total of 7.5. The Nationals go against the Rockies in the second game of their doubleheader at 8:10 p.m. ET as a -125 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 10.5. Matchweek 33 in the English Premier League continues with four matches. Three EPL matches begin at 9:00 a.m. ET. Chelsea travels to Fulham on the USA Network as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with a total of 2.5. Arsenal plays at Ipswich Town as a -1.5 goal-line road favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Manchester United plays at home against Wolverhampton as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5. Liverpool is at Leicester City on the USA Network at 11:30 a.m. ET as a -1.5 goal-line road favorite with an over/under of 3.5. 

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NHL Playoffs: A Glance Inside The Numbers

by Vegas Writer

Saturday, Apr 19, 2025

The most exciting postseason is set to begin, as the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs open Saturday, beginning the two-month parade to see who will hoist Lord Stanley's Cup.That means it's time to delve inside the playoff numbers.Here are several for you to chew on:* If you're counting on one of the five Canadian teams to win the Stanley Cup, remember among the 16 teams that qualified for this year's postseason, the four longest waits for a championship belong to teams from north of the border: Toronto (58 years; last 1967), Edmonton (35 years; last 1990), Montreal (32 years; last 1993) and Ottawa (32 years; looking for first Cup)* If you're wondering which playoff teams have won the most series in the last five years (since 2020), seven teams have won at least six playoff series over the past five years, including four that have won the Stanley Cup: 11 – Tampa Bay (SC in 2020 & 2021) 8 – Vegas (SC in 2023) 8 – Florida (SC in 2024) 7 – Colorado (SC in 2022) 7 – Dallas 6 – Carolina 6 – Edmonton * Looking for a Wild Card longshot? Good news! At least one Wild Card team has advanced from the opening round in six of the nine years under that format, including multiple teams four times in a single postseason.* Who will represent the Eastern Conference? An Atlantic Division team isn't a bad bet for your future wager. To wit: a team currently in the Atlantic Division has reached the Stanley Cup Final in six straight years. In the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Atlantic Division has five of the eight playoff spots in the East: Toronto, Tampa Bay, Florida, Ottawa and Montreal. Here are the Atlantic Division teams who have made the Stanley Cup Final, since 2019: 2024 – Florida (Won Cup) 2023 – Florida (Lost Final) 2022 – Tampa Bay (Lost Final) 2021 – Tampa Bay (Won Cup) 2020 – Tampa Bay (Won Cup) 2019 – Boston (Lost Final) Here is a glance at the No. 1 trend or stat to think about for each team coming into the playoffs: Carolina: The Hurricanes closed their regular-season campaign on a 1-7 slide, and were outscored by an average final of 4.38 to 2.88.Colorado: Dating back to Feb. 26, the Avalanche are tied with the Blues for the highest point production, with an average of 3.74 goals-for per game.Dallas: The Stars were tied for second-to-last with the New Jersey Devils down the stretch, after losing their seven of their last eight games (1-5-2) since April 2. Dallas was outscored by an average final of 4.38 to 2.88 in that span.Edmonton: The Oilers have stayed under in nine of their last 10 regular-season games. The average tally in those games was 4.9 goals per game.Florida: The defending Stanley Cup champion Panthers closed their regular-season campaign losing seven of their final 10 games. They also stayed under in seven of their last nine.Los Angeles: The Kings are 17-5-0 since March 8, a stretch that has seen them rank No. 1 in allowing just 2.00 goals per game.Minnesota: The Wild won four of their last five regular-season games to clinch the No. 1 Wild Card spot in the Western Conference. Important to note: the four wins all came in overtime.Montreal: The Canadiens won seven of their last 10 games in the regular season, with seven of those games staying under the posted number.New Jersey: The Flames landed over the posted number in eight of their last 11 games of the regular season. Those 11 games averaged a final tally of 5.91 goals per game.Ottawa: The high-scoring Senators went over the posted number in their last five games with each game landing on seven goals or higher.St. Louis: Rank No. 1 in the NHL with 40 points since Feb. 23, having won 19 of its last 25 games of the regular season, going 19-4-2.Tampa Bay: The high-flying Lightning closed the regular season going over in five of their last six games, with those contests averaging nearly seven goals per game.Toronto: The Leafs won nine of their last 10 games of the regular season and allowed two or fewer goals in seven of those games. Since March 29, the Leafs are the only team allowing less than two goals per game.Vegas: The Golden Knights won 19 of their final 28 games, ranking tied for third with 42 points since Feb. 6. They ranked third in that span in allowing 2.32 goals per game.Washington: The Capitals, who qualified for the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs with a -36 goal differential, finished with a +57 goal differential this season.Winnipeg: Rank No. 1 in the NHL with 57 points since Jan. 11, having won 28 of its final 39 games of the regular season, going 28-10-1.

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NFL Draft Props

by ASA, Inc.

Saturday, Apr 19, 2025

Top be a Top 10 Pick - Tetairoa McMillian (+430)According to most NFL insiders McMillan is the clear WR1 (not including Travis Hunter) in this year's NFL draft, making him a hot commodity for teams in need of a 6’4 220 lb monster. If McMillian had shown a bit more speed (ran a 4.48 40 yard dash reported by Jordan Schulz), he would be a consensus top 10 pick. Still, multiple teams in the top third of the draft order are desperate to get help at receiver. The Raiders, Jets, Panthers, Saints, and Cowboys are teams to target a player like McMillan. Three WRs went in the top 10 in the 2024 draft, showing teams willingness to invest high picks in playmakers. An NFL comparison to Drake London is a good sign, since London was the number eight overall pick in 2022. London and McMillan also ran very similar 40 times. As always, every mock draft is different and speculation runs wild with players as well as potential trades. For the current price, McMillan can return a lot of value with numerous mock drafts forecasting him as a top 10 selection.Team to Draft Shedeur Sanders- New York Giants (+350)Sanders has been mocked all over the first round, but it seems a majority project him to either go to the Saints at the nine spot (+150) or to the Giants at number three. New York does not have a patient fanbase and the star power of Sanders seems like a perfect fit on paper. If the Giants pass on Shedeur and he goes on to have a successful rookie year elsewhere, GM Joe Schoen will have some hard questions to answer. This pick relies heavily on what the Browns do with the number two overall pick. If Travis Hunter is off the board, the Giants might be more inclined to select their franchise QB, but if Abdul Carters goes at two, Hunter may be higher on New York's draft board. Watch for lots of movement on draft night as the Jets and Browns may also be willing to gamble on Sanders. First Offensive Lineman Drafted - Josh Simmons (+8000)A longshot on paper, this prop holds some value due to the uncertainty the public has on how NFL teams assess players. Ohio State’s Josh Simmons tore his patellar tendon six games into 2024, but was arguably in line to be the top tackle drafted in 2025. Simmons did a limited workout at the Ohio State pro day a few weeks ago, where recovery seemed to be going as planned. Thought by many to be the best true left tackle in the draft, some teams like the Patriots at four may be willing to overlook the recent injury to get a cornerstone left tackle. A sprinkle on Simmons could payout big, and we know the Patriots, for example, have shown major contrarian thinking in the draft in years past. 

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The NBA Western Conference Playoffs

by Will Rogers

Saturday, Apr 19, 2025

OKLAHOMA CITY (1) vs. MEMPHIS (8)Game 1 odds – Thunder -12.5Series odds –Odds to win West – Thunder -150With 68 regular-season wins in their back pocket and a stifling defense that was stat-wise the third-best in the league, the Thunder seem more than ready for a long playoff run. Oh, and they also have the expected MVP in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. That should help a bit. Toss in Isaiah Hartenstein and Chet Holmgren to protect the rim (which they didn’t have this time last year), and the package appears complete.  Can Memphis actually make this a series? The Grizzlies don’t have the deepest bench among playoff teams, and front-liners Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. will have to see big minutes. Fatigue is a factor for any OKC opponent. There is a reason – actually, lots of reasons – why the Thunder won 68 games this year, 20 more than Memphis.HOUSTON (2) vs. GOLDEN STATE (7)Game 1 odds – Warriors -1.5Series odds – Warriors -200, Rockets +165Odds to win West – Warriors +750, Rockets +2500He’s ba-a-a-a-ack. Playoff Jimmy has entered the building. Butler had 38 points and got to the foul line a staggering total of 18 times in Golden State’s Show-the-Kid-Who’s-Boss 7-8 Play-In win over Morant and the Grizzlies. Now the Rockets have to figure out how to deal with Butler’s slashing mid-range game AND keep an eye on Steph Curry moving around outside the 3-point line. Houston finds itself in the odd position of finishing second in the conference, winning 52 games, and the underdog in a series against a Play-In survivor. The Rockets’ No. 1 problem as the playoffs start is that they lack a genuine go-to player when they need a bucket late in the game. Amen Thompson, perhaps the best defender in the league, will have to log big minutes.LOS ANGELES LAKERS (3) vs. MINNESOTA (6)Game 1 odds – Lakers -4.5Series odds – Lakers -200, Timberwolves +160Odds to win West – Lakers +600, Timberwolves +1600This is the first playoff meeting between these teams, but the Wolves no doubt recall all too well the way Luka Doncic carved them up like a Thanksgiving turkey in the West finals last season. Minnesota will have to deal with both Doncic and a title-thirsty LeBron James this time around, and the only way the Wolves can get past this series is if Anthony Edwards is clearly the best player on the court for at least four games. That may be asking a little too much for Ant-Man, even though confidence in himself never seems to wane. Expect Minnesota to reprise Boston’s strategy in beating Doncic’s Mavericks in The Finals last year – go at Doncic on every possession, and harass him over 94 feet when the Lakers have the ball. Tiring out James and Doncic may not be a winning strategy, but it might have some effect if the series goes 6 or 7.DENVER (4) vs. LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS (5)Game 1 odds – Nuggets -3.5Series odds – Nuggets -135, Clippers +110Odds to win West – Nuggets +1000, Clippers +1600To paraphrase Jason Bateman’s character in Dodgeball, “Firing your head coach just before the playoffs is a bold move, Cotton. Let’s see if it pays off.”  Put another way, if interim boss David Adelman has the answers, why didn’t he tell former HC Mike Malone? No one knows how this will all play out, but Denver and perennial MVP candidate Nikola Jokic figure to have their hands full with the Clippers. The LAC have overachieved after letting Paul George flee to Philadelphia, and now venerable vets James Harden and Kawhi Leonard have their team peaking at just the right time – 9 wins in their final 10 regular season games. This series has the look and feel of a long grind, and home court for Denver in a Game 7 could be pivotal. The Clippers are mediocre on the road.

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The NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs

by Will Rogers

Saturday, Apr 19, 2025

CLEVELAND (1) vs. MIAMI (8)Game 1 odds – Cavaliers -12.5Series odds – N/AOdds to win East – Cavaliers +190, Heat +50000The Cavs didn’t do much to quell any stray doubters when they stumbled down the stretch, losing three of their last five games. They’ll no doubt consider that bad run as a one-off and point to their wire-to-wire dominance of the Eastern Conference. Nine years after LeBron James bolted Cleveland and the Cavs have resurfaced with a deep, talented team that should be well-rested – none of the Core 4 (Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Jarret Allen and Evan Mobley) averaged as many as 32 minutes this season. Can Miami, which has been backsliding since it surprisingly made it to the 2023 Finals, really make this a series? Not likely, even with Tyler Herro playing out of his mind (68 points in the Heat’s two Play-In victories). Just not enough talent, especially since Jimmy Butler shot his way out of South Florida.BOSTON (2) vs. ORLANDO  (7)Game 1 odds – Celtics -13.5Series odds – Celtics -1600, Magic +8000Odds to win East – Celtics -140It’s doubtful that the Magic can get this series to a sixth game, but Orlando has a big and effective front line that is capable of doing some physical damage and take some spring out of the Celtics’ step in the next round. Orlando has actually had decent success against Boston in the regular season, winning 10 of the last 13 meetings, although the Celtics won by 27 in Boston this season. There was some concern about the status of 2024 Finals MVP Jaylen Brown, who missed 19 games this season, including the final three games. Boston (which has a history of downplaying injuries) reports that Brown and his tender right knee is good to go for Game 1. As always, the Celtics will bomb away from deep. Opponents have had some success this season by leaving one player (usually Jrue Holiday) open and playing tight D on the other four.NEW YORK (3) vs. DETROIT (6)Game 1 odds – Knicks -7.5Series odds – Knicks -400, Pistons +310Odds to win East – Knicks +1000, Pistons +8000New York has been waiting all season for Mitchell Robinson to return and fill the hole left by the departure of Isiah Hartenstein, but will Robinson be game-ready to have an impact in the playoffs against the on-the-rise Pistons? The Knicks are hardly the picture of confidence as they enter the playoffs after not recording a single victory over any of the top three teams (Cleveland, Boston and OKC) this season. “We have to get it fixed and we have to get it fixed fast,” said Tom Thibodeau after NY blew a 28-point lead in a loss to the Cavs.  Detroit, with a blend of veterans led by superstar-in-the-making Cade Cunningham, can’t wait to get rolling. Pistons fans haven’t seen their team win a playoff game since 2008. Bad draw for the Knicks, who desperately need to take The Next Step, and for Thibodeau.INDIANA (4) vs. MILWAUKEE (5)Game 1 odds – Pacers -5.5Series odds – Pacers -200, Bucks +160Odds to win East – Pacers +2500, Bucks +4000The Bucks look like they’ll have to get by without injured Damien Lillard, who has missed 14 straight games due to blood clots in his right calf. Milwaukee’s defense has actually been a bit better without Lillard on the court, but it’s hard to see the Bucks advancing until Giannis Antetokounmpo gets significant help from somewhere. The Pacers bring a balanced attack behind Tyrese Halliburton and Pascal Siakam, and have far more depth than the Bucks. Expect Indiana to put constant pressure on Antetokounmpo, play a faster pace than Milwaukee wants to play at, and sub liberally. The two met in the playoffs last season; Lillard was banged up, and the Pacers took full advantage in a six-game series win. History seems to be repeating.

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