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NFL Week 16 Breakdown

by Will Rogers

Thursday, Dec 23, 2021

BEST GAME – Buffalo at New England (-2.5)Buffalo 8-6 SU, 7-6-1 ATS, 7-7 O/UNew England 9-5 SU, 9-5 ATS, 6-8 O/UThe Patriots had hoped to close the Bills’ coffin in Week 15, but NE’s loss in Indy and Buffalo’s victory over Carolina tightened things up again in the AFC East and set up this division showdown in Foxboro. Miami (7-7 and with six straight wins) still has a puncher’s chance if things break right, but mostly likely the East belongs to the Pats again if they can take care of business on Sunday in the final week of play in calendar year 2021. The season has been full of surprises, no smaller than Bill Belichick actually APOLOGIZING to reporters for his dour non-responsive post-Indy press conference. What Belichick would love for Christmas is a half-decent performance from rookie QB Mac Jones, who was pantsed by the Colts. Buffalo, still bitter from losing to Jones and the Pats in the wind a few weeks ago, no doubt took note. The long-term Sunday forecast for Foxboro on Sunday is sun and light winds. Sorry, Bill.WORST GAME – Jacksonville at New York Jets (-2.5)Jacksonville 2-12 SU, 4-12 ATS, 3-11 O/UNew York 3-11 SU, 4-10 ATS, 8-6 O/UWith negative Urban Meyer stories seemingly every week this season, overall No. 1 pick Trevor Lawrence has been able to pretty much escape scrutiny. Turns out Lawrence has taken more than his share of lumps as well. After a decent start Lawrence has struggled as the season has worn on, and last Sunday’s loss to the also-woeful Texans highlighted the regression – 210 yards passing and no touchdowns. In fact, he has just two TDs in his last six games, and his numbers are pretty much down across the board when compared to the first half of the season. If anyone needs the season to end (hopefully without serious injury), it’s Lawrence and the Jags. The Jets are giving a few in this one because the game is in East Rutherford, and the early bettors seem to like their chances of covering.BIGGEST SPREAD – Tampa Bay at Carolina (+10.5)Tampa Bay 10-4 SU, 7-7 ATS, 7-7 O/UCarolina 5-9 SU, 5-9 ATS, 7-7 O/UJob One for Tom Brady and the defending champs is to figure out what the offense is going to look like without wide receiver Chris Godwin, whose ACL tear has sidelined him for the rest of the season. Lots of his targets will no doubt now go to Antonio Brown, who is back from his latest suspension. But can Brown even be counted on going forward, and should the Bucs even go balls to the wall in the final three games to get the top seed in the NFC? Carolina is not likely to get much betting action despite being a double-digit home dog. Since their 3-0 start, the Panthers have won only twice, and have lost five straight home games.SMALLEST SPREAD – Denver at Las Vegas (-1)Denver 7-7 SU, 7-7 ATS, 3-11 O/ULas Vegas 7-7 SU, 5-9 ATS, 7-7 O/UThere are just too many tiebreaker hoops for the Broncos to jump through to get to the playoffs this season even though they are still technically in the hunt. A red zone fumble by QB Drew Lock last week in a loss to Cincinnati  just about nailed down the coffin. The Raiders, OTOH, stayed very much in the hunt thanks to their last-second field goal win over the Covid-ravaged Browns on Monday night. Yes, the delayed game does give the Raiders less prep time for the Broncos, but at least they are still in the playoff picture. Not much early money down yet, but what there is has been mostly on LV.LARGEST TOTAL – Indianapolis at Arizona (49.5)Indianapolis 8-6 SU, 9-5 ATS, 8-6 O/UArizona 10-4 SU, 9-5 ATS, 7-7 O/UEvery team should be able to take a week off, right? Well, last week against Detroit was Arizona’s, and you have the figure that the Cardinals playing at home in Week 16 will move heaven and earth to win this one. They still have a chance to catch Green Bay for the best record in the NFC, and the Colts may be primed for a letdown after their huge win over New England. Arizona figures to emphasize offense after getting shut down by the Lions, and the Cardinal defense will have its hands full with NFL leading rusher Jonathan Taylor. If you prefer to bet the side, bear in mind that the Cardinals have beaten a decent team at home only once this season (Oct. 3, Rams).SMALLEST TOTAL – Miami at New Orleans (38.5)Miami 7-7 SU, 7-6-1 ATS, 6-8 O/UNew Orleans 7-7 SU, 7-7 ATS, 6-8 O/UA rare total in the 30s in a season in which handicappers regularly set multiple totals in the 50s every week. Much of the number reflects Miami’s top-notch defense, which has fueled the Dolphins’ six-game winning streak. But don’t overlook New Orleans’s offensive problems, including ragged QB play from Taysom Hill.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NFL, NCAAF, NBA and NCAAB Previews and Odds - 12/23/2021

by Big Al Staff

Thursday, Dec 23, 2021

The Thursday sports card features action in the NFL, NCAAF, NBA, and NCAAB.Week 16 in the National Football League begins with San Francisco visiting Tennessee on the NFL Network at 8:20 PM ET. The 49ers won their fifth game in their last six with a 31-13 victory against Atlanta as a 9.5-point favorite on Sunday. They raised their record to 8-6 with the win. The Titans lost their third game in their last four with a 19-13 loss at Pittsburgh as a 1-point underdog last week. Tennessee’s record fell to 9-5 with the defeat. San Francisco is a 3-point road favorite, with the total set at 44.5 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). The college football bowl season continues with two games, both on ESPN. Miami (Ohio) plays North Texas at 3:30 PM ET in the Frisco Football Classic at the Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas. The RedHawks had their two-game winning streak end with a 48-47 upset loss in overtime at Kent State as a 1-point favorite on November 27th. They ended their regular season with a 5-6 record. The Mean Green are on a five-game winning streak after a 45-23 upset win at UTSA as a 9.5-point underdog on November 27th. North Texas has a 6-6 record. Miami (Ohio) is a 3-point favorite with an over/under of 55.Florida plays Central Florida at 7 PM ET in the Gasparilla Bowl at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. The Gators won their second game in their last three with a 24-21 win against Florida State as a 4-point favorite on November 27th. They improved their record to 6-6. The Knights won their fifth game in their last six with a 17-13 victory against South Florida on November 26th. Central Florida raised their record to 8-4 with the win. Florida is a 7-point favorite with a total of 55.5.Eleven games are on the docket in the National Basketball Association. Three games tip-off the card at 7:10 PM ET. Indiana plays at home against Houston as an 8.5-point favorite with an over/under of 219. Philadelphia hosts Atlanta as an 8.5-point favorite. New Orleans travels to Orlando as a 5-point road favorite. Two more games start at 7:40 PM ET. Miami is at home against Detroit as a 10-point favorite. Washington visits New York as a 1-point road favorite. Milwaukee plays at Dallas at 8:40 PM ET as a 5-point road favorite. Three NBA games begin at 9:10 PM ET. Denver hosts Charlotte as a 3-point favorite with a total of 229. Phoenix is at home against Oklahoma City as a 14.5-point favorite with an over/under of 215. Utah plays at home against Minnesota as a 10.5-point favorite with a total of 225. Golden State hosts Memphis at 10:10 PM ET as a 6.5-point favorite at PlayMGM with an over/under of 217.5. The Los Angeles Lakers are at home against San Antonio at 10:40 PM ET as a 1.5-point favorite with a total of 223.5.Five games are on national television in college basketball. Liberty plays Stanford in a semifinals contest on ESPN2 at 4 PM ET in the Diamond Head Classic at the Stan Sheriff Center in Honolulu, Hawaii. Northern Iowa goes against Wyoming on ESPNU at 6:30 PM ET in a loser’s bracket game in the Diamond Head Classic. St. John’s hosts Butler on FS1 at 6:30 PM ET as a 6-point favorite with an over/under of 135.5. BYU faces Vanderbilt on ESPN2 at 10 PM ET in the second semifinals game in Diamond Head Classic. South Florida battles Hawaii on ESPN2 at 12:30 AM ET in a loser’s bracket match in the Diamond Head Classic.

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NHL Off the Post: Holiday pause edition

by Sean Murphy

Wednesday, Dec 22, 2021

The NHL has hit the pause button, at least until after Christmas as Covid, and more specifically the Omicron variant, has once again taken hold. The good news is, this disruption is likely to be short-lived as the other professional sports believe the way forward is to 'play through' and adjust testing protocols. Science tends to agree, at least to a certain extent. Here's a look at four teams to keep an eye on when the action (hopefully) resumes next week.Bad Hab-itsWith just seven wins in 31 games this season and only one so far in December (that came by way of a shootout against the Flyers), the Montreal Canadiens have been one of the league's biggest disappointments. While a return to Earth was certainly expected after the Habs unbelievable run to the Stanley Cup Final last Spring/Summer, this big of a drop-off comes as a surprise. The good news is, Carey Price should be back between the pipes sooner rather than later (he has resumed practicing with the team). The bad news is, a pre-trade deadline sell-off is probably in the cards. With that being said, I do think we will see some value backing the Habs going forward as their young nucleus is too talented to continue to wallow near the bottom of the NHL standings. Excellent Pen-manshipThe Pittsburgh Penguins enter the holiday pause as one of the league's hottest teams - winners of seven games in a row. They've been doing it despite missing a number of key contributors including Jake Guentzel and Bryan Rust. For a team that is presumed to be lacking in scoring depth, their run has certainly been impressive. Credit goaltender Tristan Jarry who is enjoying a tremendous turn-around season after a dismal 2020-21 campaign. Jarry has posted a stellar 1.94 goals against average and .932 save percentage in 24 games this season, certainly warranting early-season Vezina Trophy consideration. As always, the Pens are likely to be active 'buyers' in the January-March trading window as they gear up for perhaps one of Sidney Crosby's last runs at Lord Stanley's Cup. Long Island bluesYou have to feel for the New York Islanders. Thought to be a legitimate Stanley Cup contender entering the season, it didn't take long for the wheels to fall off. Most of their issues have been Covid-induced, however, as they dealt with a string of postponements before getting back on the ice with a skeleton crew. The Isles currently find themselves sitting in 29th place in the NHL but do have at least two games on hand on every other team (and in most cases three or four). Barry Trotz's squad certainly has its work cut out for it but I'll be buyer coming out of the break as the Isles have certainly shown signs of life, collecting at least a point in seven of their last nine games and have scored at least three goals in five of their last six contests. They'll hope to have Mat Barzal back from Covid protocols next week. Crown themFew believed the Los Angeles Kings would be anywhere close to playoff contention this season but as we near the end of December, they sit just three points back of the fourth-place Oilers in the Pacific Division - and only seven points behind the division-leading Golden Knights with two games in hand. Veteran goaltender Jonathan Quick has enjoyed a renaissance of sorts, posting a 2.19 GAA and .930 save percentage in 18 games. Anze Kopitar has been a workhorse up front, averaging over 21 minutes per game while posting almost a point-per-game pace (he's played in all 30 games which is an accomplishment given the current state of affairs). While I'm not convinced the Kings are a true contender in the West, I'm also not going to be 'selling' them come January as I do like the core they've built with a nice mix of youth and experience. 

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NCAAF, NBA and NCAAB Previews and Odds - 12/22/2021

by Big Al Staff

Wednesday, Dec 22, 2021

The Wednesday sports card features action in NCAAF, NBA, and NCAAB.The college football bowl season continues with the Armed Forces Bowl on ESPN at 8 PM ET. Army plays Missouri at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas. The Black Knights had their four-game winning streak end with their 17-13 upset loss to Navy as a 7-point favorite on December 11th. Their record dropped to 8-4 with the loss. The Tigers ended a two-game winning streak with a 34-17 loss at Arkansas on November 26th. Army is a 6.5-point favorite with the total set at 54.5. Six games are on the docket in the National Basketball Association. Two games tip-off at 7:40 PM ET. Atlanta plays at home against Orlando as an 8-point favorite. Boston hosts Cleveland as a 6-point favorite. Three more NBA games begin at 8:10 PM ET. Chicago plays at home against Toronto at 8:05 PM ET as a 9-point favorite. Milwaukee is at home against Houston as a 10-point favorite. Denver visits Oklahoma City as a 5-point road favorite. The Los Angeles Clippers travel to Sacramento at 10:10 PM ET as a 6-point road favorite. The National Hockey League shut down their scheduled games on Wednesday due to COVID. They return to play after the holiday break on Monday.Eight games are on national television in college basketball. Three games are on ESPNU for the Diamond Head Classic at the Stan Sheriff Center in Honolulu, Hawaii. Northern Iowa plays Liberty at 3 PM ET as a 2.5-point favorite with an over/under of 125.5. Stanford battles Wyoming at 5:30 PM ET as a 1.5-point favorite with a total of 139.5. BYU faces South Florida at 9:30 PM ET as a 15.5-point favorite with an over/under of 128.5. Kentucky hosts Western Kentucky on ESPN at 6 PM ET. The Wildcats won their eighth game in their last nine with a 98-69 victory against North Carolina as a 3-point favorite on a neutral court at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday. They improved their record to 8-2 with the win. The Hilltoppers have won seven of eight after their 82-72 upset victory against UMass as a 1-point underdog on Saturday. Western Kentucky has an 8-4 record. Kentucky is a 10-point favorite with a total of 142.5Tennessee plays at home against Arizona on ESPN2. The Volunteers won their second straight game in a 96-52 win against the University of South Carolina Upstate as a 35.5-point favorite on December 14th. They improved their record to 8-2. The Wildcats are unbeaten in 11 games with their 84-60 victory against Cal-Baptist as a 28-point favorite on December 18th. Tennessee is a 2-point favorite with an over/under of 149.5Kennesaw State visits Nebraska on ESPNU at 7:30 PM ET. Duke is at home against Virginia Tech on ESPN2 at 9 PM ET as a 9-point favorite with a total of 139. Vanderbilt travels to Hawaii on ESPN2 at 11:59 PM ET as a 5.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 134. 

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NFL, NCAAB, NBA, NHL and NCAAF Previews and Odds - 12/21/2021

by Big Al Staff

Tuesday, Dec 21, 2021

The Tuesday sports card features action in the NFL, NCAAF, NBA, NHL, and NCAAB.Week 15 in the National Football League concludes with two games on Fox (regional coverage) at 7 PM ET. Philadelphia hosts Washington on Fox for 70% of the country. The Eagles won their third game in their last four with a 33-18 victory in New York against the Jets as a 5-point favorite on December 5th. They went into their bye last week with a 6-7 record. The Football Team had their four-game winning streak end in a 27-20 loss at home to Dallas as a 6.5-point underdog on December 12th. Washington has a 6-7 record. Philadelphia is a 6.5-point favorite, with the total set at 42.5. The Los Angeles Rams play at home against Seattle on Fox for 30% of the country. The Rams won their second straight game with a 30-23 upset victory at Arizona as a 3-point underdog last Monday. They improved their record to 9-4. The Seahawks won their second straight game with a 33-13 win at Houston as a 10-point favorite last Sunday. Seattle raised their record to 5-8 with the victory. Los Angeles is a 7-point favorite with an over/under of 46.5. The college football bowl season continues with two games on ESPN. Wyoming plays Kent State at 3:30 PM ET in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl at Albertsons Stadium in Boise, Idaho. The Cowboys ended their regular season losing two of their last three games after a 38-14 upset loss to Hawaii as a 13-point favorite on November 27th. They have a 6-6 record. The Golden Flashes lost to Northern Illinois, 41-23, as a 3.5-point favorite in the Mid-American Conference championship game on December 4th. Kent State has a 7-6 record. Wyoming is a 3.5-point favorite with a total of 59.San Diego State battles the University of Texas-San Antonio at 7:30 PM ET in the Frisco Bowl at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas. The Aztecs had their four-game winning streak end in a 46-13 upset loss to Utah State as a 6.5-point favorite in the Mountain West Conference championship game on December 4th. They have an 11-2 record. The Roadrunners won the Conference USA championship game with a 49-41 upset win against Western Kentucky as a 3.5-point underdog on December 3rd. UTSA raised their record to 12-1 with the victory. San Diego State is a 3-point favorite with an over/under of 49.5. Five games are the docket in the National Basketball Association. Two games tip-off at 7:40 PM ET. Indiana visits Miami in a pick ‘em contest. New York plays at home against Detroit as a 9.5-point favorite. Portland travels to New Orleans at 8:10 PM ET as a 1-point road favorite. Minnesota is at Dallas at 8:40 PM ET as a 1-point road favorite. Phoenix plays at Los Angles against the Lakers at 10:10 PM ET as a 7-point road favorite. The Washington/Brooklyn game got canceled because of a COVID outbreak. The National Hockey League has two games on its slate. Washington travels to Philadelphia at 7:08 PM ET as a -135 money line road favorite with a total of 6. Vegas hosts Tampa Bay at 10:08 PM ET as a -135 money line favorite with an over/under of 6. Eight games got canceled because of COVID outbreaks: St. Louis/Ottawa; Carolina/Boston; Winnipeg/Nashville; New Jersey/Pittsburgh; Florida/Chicago; Anaheim/Calgary; Arizona/Seattle; Vancouver/San Jose.Three games are on national television in college basketball. Villanova plays at home against Xavier on FS1 at 7 PM ET as a 5.5-point favorite with a total of 137. Two games start at 9 PM ET. Kansas visits Colorado on ESPN2 as a 10.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 144. UConn plays at Marquette on FS1 as a 3.5-point road favorite with a total of 144.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NFL, NCAAB, NHL, NCAAF and NBA Previews and Odds - 12/20/2021

by Big Al Staff

Monday, Dec 20, 2021

The Monday sports card features action in the NFL, NCAAF, NBA, NHL, and NCAAB.Week 15 in the National Football League continues with two games. Las Vegas visits Cleveland on the NFL Network at 5 PM ET. The Raiders lost their fifth game in their last six contests with a 48-9 loss at Kansas City as a 10-point underdog last Sunday. Las Vegas’ record has fallen to 6-7. The Browns won their second game in their last three with a 24-22 win against Baltimore as a 3-point favorite on December 12. They improved their record to 7-6 win the win. Las Vegas is a 3-point road favorite with the total set at 41.5 (all odds from DraftKings).Minnesota travels to Chicago on ABC and ESPN at 8:15 PM ET for Monday Night Football. The Vikings ended a two-game losing streak with a 36-28 win against Pittsburgh as a 3.5-point favorite on December 9th. Minnesota brings a 6-7 record into this game. The Bears lost their seventh game in their last eight with a 45-30 loss at Green Bay as an 11.5-point underdog on Sunday. Their record has dropped to 4-9. This is the first meeting between these NFC North rivals this season. They split their two games last year. Minnesota is a 6.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 46.5. The college football bowl season continues with Tulsa playing Old Dominion in the Myrtle Beach Bowl at Brooks Stadium in Conway, South Carolina. The Golden Hurricane is on a three-game winning streak after a 34-31 upset win at SMU as a 3-point underdog on November 27th. They have a 6-6 record. The Monarchs are on a five-game winning streak after a 56-34 win against Charlotte as a 9-point favorite on November 27th. Old Dominion has a 6-6 record. Tulsa is a 10.5-point favorite with a total of 50.5. The kickoff is at 2:30 PM ET on ESPN.Six games are on the docket in the National Basketball Association. Boston hosts Philadelphia at 7:40 PM ET as a 3.5-point favorite with an over/under of 213.5. Two games tip-off at 8:10 PM ET. Chicago plays at home against Houston as a 6.5-point favorite with a total of 222.5. Memphis hosts Oklahoma City as a 9-point favorite with an over/under of 214.5. Utah plays at home against Charlotte at 9:10 PM ET as a 12.5-point favorite with a total of 237.5. Golden State is at home against Sacramento at 10:10 PM ET as a 12.5-point favorite with an over/under of 221.5. The Los Angeles Clippers host San Antonio at 10:40 PM ET as a 4.5-point favorite with a total of 217. The Orlando/Toronto game got postponed because of COVID outbreaks.The National Hockey League has one game on its slate. Dallas plays at home against Minnesota as a -115 money line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. Four games got postponed because of COVID outbreaks: Columbus/Buffalo; Montreal/New York Islanders; Colorado/Detroit; Anaheim/Edmonton.Sixteen games are on the college basketball card tonight. There are no games on national television.

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NCAA Football Championship and Semi-Final Games: A Point Spread Review

by Al McMordie

Monday, Dec 20, 2021

Dating back to the first BCS Championship Game -- Florida State vs. Tennessee, on January 4, 1999 -- there have been 37 College Football games in the semi-final or championship round.  Let's take a look at how these games have shaken out from a point spread perspective.First, it's worth noting that all but one of the games was played at a completely neutral site.  The lone exception was the BCS Championship Game played at the Rose Bowl, on January 4, 2006 between USC and Texas.  The Trojans had the advantage of playing in their home city of Los Angeles (though the game was played at the home field of UCLA).  Unfortunately for Angelenos who attended the game, the Longhorns upset USC, 41-38, as a 7-point underdog.The majority (23 of 37) of games had point spreads of 7 points or less, while a minority (14 of 37) were above a touchdown, with 10 involving spreads of 10 or more points.The games have been roughly split evenly between favorites and underdogs.  The underdogs do have a slight edge, at 19-18 ATS.In 32 of the 37 games, the straight-up winner has covered the point spread.  The five exceptions were:Florida St. (-12, 34-31) vs. Auburn, BCS Championship, Jan. 6, 2014Alabama (-6, 45-40) vs. Clemson, NCAA Championship, Jan. 11, 2016Alabama (-3.5, 26-23) vs. Georgia, NCAA Championship, Jan. 8, 2018Alabama (-14.5, 45-34) vs. Oklahoma, NCAA Semi-Final, Dec. 29, 2018Alabama (-18.5, 31-14) vs. Notre Dame, NCAA Semi-Final, Jan. 1, 2021The point spread ranges have had the following results:Pk to -3 (Favorites 4-2 ATS; Underdogs 2-4 ATS)-3 to -6.5 (Favorites 6-8 ATS; Underdogs 8-6 ATS)-7 to -9.5 (Favorites 3-4 ATS; Underdogs 4-3 ATS)-10 to -12.5 (Favorites 5-3 ATS; Underdogs 3-5 ATS)-13 or more (Favorites 0-2 ATS; Underdogs 2-0 ATS)Here are some other situations of note:Teams playing with revenge from a loss in the current season have gone 1-0 ATSTeams playing with revenge from a loss in the prior season have gone 4-1 ATSTeams off an upset win in its previous game have gone 6-1 ATSTeams off a loss in its previous game have gone 2-2 ATSTeams that played in their Conference Championship game have gone 10-3 ATS against opponents that did not play in their Conference Championship game.Teams off a double-digit win have gone 9-9 ATS vs. opponents not off a double-digit winTeams off a double-digit cover have gone 10-9 ATS vs. opponents that did not cover the spread by 10+ points in their previous gameTeams off an ATS win have gone 11-7 ATS vs. opponents not off an ATS winTeams with the greater scoring margin have gone 14-23 ATSTeams that gave up less points on defense have gone 21-16 ATSTeams that scored more points on offense have gone 17-20 ATSGood luck, as always,Al McMordie

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Time To Crank It Up A Notch

by Tom Stryker

Sunday, Dec 19, 2021

It’s getting late in the NFL season and there are a number of teams that need to crank their game up a notch.  Each team in the league is playing their 14th game (out of a 17-game season) and those squads that are hovering around the .500 mark need to make a move. With that thought in mind, I took a look at game 14 teams that held a 7-6 SU and 6-7 SU records.  With only four games remaining, those are the ones I felt really needed to put the pedal to the metal and pick up a victory.  The best of what I discovered can be found in the NFL system below.  Since 1980, PLAY ON any NFL game 14 competitive underdog priced at +7 or less provided they take the field with a 6-7 SU record.  41 Year ATS Record = 41-23-3 ATS for 64.1 percent  This Week’s Plays = WASHINGTON & LAS VEGAS  At 6-7 SU and with four games left on their schedule, these teams understand that a loss puts them two games under the .500 mark with only four games left to play.  That means the best they could do if they dropped this contest would be to finish a game over the .500-mark at 9-8 SU.  More than likely, postseason play would be difficult with that record. There are a couple of tighteners that can be added to this general system that really make it pop.  If our “play on” side is not off a blowout loss of 19 points or more and currently matched up against an opponent that takes the field off a tough division game, this system tightens up to a sensational 20-5-1 ATS for 80.0 percent.  Of the two teams that fit the general part of this system, only the Raiders apply to the tightener. Good luck with Las Vegas on Monday.  

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NFL, NHL, EPL, and NCAAB Previews and Odds - 12/19/2021

by Big Al Staff

Sunday, Dec 19, 2021

The Sunday sports card features action in the NFL, NBA, NHL, NCAAB, and the EPL.Week 15 in the National Football League continues with ten games. Six games kick off at 1 PM ET. Dallas plays at New York against the Giants as an 11-point road favorite with the total set at 44.5 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). Jacksonville hosts Houston as a 4.5-point favorite with an over/under of 39.5. Pittsburgh is at home against Tennessee as a 1-point favorite with a total of 41.5. Arizona plays at Detroit as a 12.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 47. Miami hosts the New York Jets as a 9.5-point favorite with a total of 41.5. Buffalo is at home against Carolina as a 13-point favorite with an over/under of 44. Three games start in the second-afternoon window. Denver plays at home against Cincinnati at 4:05 PM ET as a 3-point favorite with a total of 44. San Francisco hosts Atlanta at 4:05 PM ET as an 8.5-point favorite with an over/under of 46.5. Green Bay travels to Baltimore at 4:25 PM ET as a 7-point road favorite with a total of 43.5. Tampa Bay hosts New Orleans on NBC at 8:20 PM ET for Sunday Night Football. The Buccaneers are 11-point favorites with an over/under of 46. Nine games are on the docket in the National Basketball Association. Three games tip-off at 6:10 PM ET. Miami visits Detroit as a 5-point road favorite. Memphis plays at home against Portland as a 4-point favorite. San Antonio is at Sacramento as a 3-point road favorite. Philadelphia hosts New Orleans at 7:10 PM ET as a 6-point favorite. Two more NBA games start at 7:30 PM ET. Atlanta is at home against Cleveland as a 5-point favorite. Denver travels to Brooklyn. Three games conclude the NBA card at 8:10 PM ET. Minnesota plays at home against Dallas as a 3.5-point favorite. Phoenix hosts Charlotte as a 7.5-point favorite. Chicago is at home against the Los Angeles Lakers as a 4.5-point favorite. The National Hockey League has four games on its slate. Vegas visits New York to play the Islanders at 2:08 PM ET as a -140 money line road favorite with a total of 5.5. Winnipeg plays at home against St. Louis at 3:08 PM ET as a -130 money line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. Two games complete the NHL card at 7:08 PM ET. Washington is at home against Los Angeles as a -140 money line favorite with a total of 5.5. Pittsburgh travels to New Jersey as a -165 money line road favorite with an over/under of 6. Four NHL games got canceled because of COVID outbreaks impacting rosters: Boston at Ottawa; Nashville at Carolina; Toronto at Seattle; Arizona at Vancouver. One game is on national television in college basketball. Texas plays Stanford on ABC at 3 PM ET on the neutral court at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The Longhorns are a 9.5-point favorite with a total of 129.5.Matchweek 17 in the English Premier League concludes three matches. Manchester City visits Newcastle United on the NBC Sports Network at 9 AM ET as a -2 goal line road favorite with an over/under of 3.5. Chelsea travels to Wolverhampton on the USA Network at 9 AM ET as a -1 goal line road favorite with a total of 2.5. Liverpool plays at Tottenham on Peacock at 11:30 AM ET as a -1 goal line road favorite with an over/under of 3.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NCAAB, NFL, NCAAF, EPL, NBA and NHL Previews and Odds - 12/18/2021

by Big Al Staff

Saturday, Dec 18, 2021

The Saturday sports card features action in the NFL, NCAAF, NBA, NHL, NCAAB, and the EPL.Week 15 in the National Football League continues with the Indianapolis Colts hosting the New England Patriots on the NFL Network at 8:20 PM ET. The Colts are a 3-point favorite with the total set at 44.5 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). The college football bowl season continues with six games. Western Kentucky plays Appalachian State on ESPN at 11 AM ET in the Boca Raton Bowl at FAU Stadium in Boca Raton, Florida. The Mountaineers are a 2.5-point favorite with an over/under of 66.5. Fresno State goes against UTEP on ESPN at 2:15 PM ET in the New Mexico Bowl at University Stadium in Albuquerque. The Bulldogs are an 11.5-point favorite with a total of 52. BYU faces UAB on ABC at 3:30 PM ET in the Independence Bowl at Independence Stadium in Shreveport, Louisiana. The Cougars are a 6.5-point favorite with an over/under of 54.5. Liberty battles Eastern Michigan on ESPN at 5:45 PM ET in the Lending Tree Bowl at Hancock Whitney Stadium in Mobile, Alabama. The Flames are a 10-point favorite with a total of 58.5. Oregon State plays Utah State on ABC at 7:30 PM ET in the LA Bowl at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. The Beavers are a 7-point favorite with an over/under of 67.5. Louisiana-Lafayette goes against Marshall on ESPN at 9:15 PM ET in the New Orleans Bowl at the Caesar’s Superdome in New Orleans. The Ragin’ Cajuns are a 4-point favorite with a total of 55.5. Seven games are on the docket in the National Basketball Association. Detroit plays at home against Houston at 12:10 PM ET as a 1.5-point favorite with an over/under of 215. Boston hosts New York at 7:10 PM ET as a 4.5-point favorite with a total of 210. Two games tip-off at 7:40 PM ET. Brooklyn is at home as a 2.5-point favorite at BetRivers. Golden State plays at Toronto as a 3.5-point road favorite at BetRivers. The Los Angeles Clippers visit Oklahoma City at 8:10 PM ET as a 4-point road favorite. Two games conclude the NBA card at 9:10 PM ET. Milwaukee hosts Cleveland as a 1-point favorite with an over/under of 214. Utah is at home against Washington as an 11-point favorite with a total of 228.5. The National Hockey League has six games on its slate. The puck drops at 7:08 PM ET for three games. Philadelphia plays at home against Ottawa as a -155 money line favorite with an over/under of 6. Carolina hosts Los Angeles as a -155 money line favorite with a total of 5.5. Toronto travels to Vancouver as a -135 money line road favorite with an over/under of 6. Two more NHL games start at 8:08 PM ET. Detroit is at home against New Jersey as a -140 money line favorite with a total of 6. Dallas plays at home against Chicago as a -165 money line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. Edmonton visits Seattle at 10:08 PM ET as a -130 money line road favorite with a total of 6. Seventeen games are on national television in college basketball. Three games tip-off at noon ET. Purdue plays Butler on Fox in the opening game of the Crossroads Classic at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The Boilermakers are a 15.5-point favorite with an over/under of 132.5. Tennessee plays Memphis on ESPN2 at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. The Volunteers are a 5-point favorite with a total of 142.5. St. John’s hosts Pittsburgh in a Gotham Classic match on FS1. The Red Storm are a 13.5-point favorite with an over/under of 141.5. Gonzaga plays Texas Tech on CBS at 1 PM ET at the Footprint Center in Phoenix. The Bulldogs are an 8.5-point favorite with a total of 146.5. TCU visits Georgetown on FS1 at 2 PM ET as a 2-point road favorite with an over/under of 143. Indiana plays Notre Dame on Fox at 2:30 PM ET in the second game of the Crossroads Classic in Indianapolis. The Hoosiers are a 4-point favorite with a total of 138. Louisville travels to Western Kentucky on CBS at 3 PM ET as a 2.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 138.5. Two games begin at 4 PM ET. Xavier hosts Marquette on FS1 as a 10-point favorite with a total of 148.5. Howard plays North Carolina A&T on TNT in a Legacy Classic game at the Providence Center in Newark, New Jersey. Two more NCAAB games start at 5 PM ET. Connecticut plays at home against Providence on Fox as a 6.5-point favorite with an over/under of 137. UAB is at home against West Virginia on the CBS Sports Network at 5 PM ET as a 3-point favorite with a total of 135. Kentucky plays North Carolina on CBS at 5:30 PM ET in a rescheduled game at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The Wildcats are a 2.5-point favorite with an over/under of 146. Two NCAAB games begin at 7 PM ET. Houston plays Oklahoma State on ESPNU at the Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas. The Cougars are a 9.5-point favorite with a total of 134. LSU goes against Louisiana Tech on the CBS Sports Network at the Brookshire Grocery Arena in Bossier City, Louisiana. The Tigers are a 10-point favorite with an over/under of 146. Auburn travels to St. Louis on the CBS Sports Network at 9 PM ET as a 6-point road favorite with a total of 145.5. Baylor visits Oregon on ESPN2 at 10 PM ET as a 7-point road favorite with an over/under of 137.5. Nevada is at home against Loyola-Marymount on the CBS Sports Network at 11 PM ET as a 6-point favorite with a total of 146.5. Matchweek 18 in the English Premier League begins with two matches on an abbreviated weekend schedule that had five games canceled because of COVID protocols. Aston Villa hosts Burnley on the NBC Sports Network at 10 AM ET as a -0.5 goal line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Arsenal visits Leeds United on NBC at 12:30 PM ET as a -0.5 goal line road favorite with a total of 2.5. 

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NCAAF, NBA, NHL and NCAAB Previews and Odds - 12/17/2021

by Big Al Staff

Friday, Dec 17, 2021

The Friday sports card features action in the NCAAF, NBA, NHL, and NCAAB.The college football bowl season kicks off with two games. Toledo plays Middle Tennessee on ESPN at noon ET in the Bahamas Bowl at Thomas Robinson Stadium in Nassau in the Bahamas. The Rockets concluded their regular season with a 49-14 victory against Akron as a 28.5-point favorite on November 27th. They have three straight wins to raise their record to 7-5. The Blue Raiders became bowl eligible with a 27-17 upset win at Florida Atlantic as a 3.5-point underdog on November 27th. Middle Tennessee won two of three games to even their record at 6-6. Toledo is an 11-point favorite with the total set at 49.5 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). Coastal Carolina faces Northern Illinois on ESPN2 at 6 PM ET in the Cure Bowl at Exploria Stadium in Orlando, Florida. The Chanticleers ended their regular season with a 27-21 victory in overtime at South Alabama as a 14.5-point favorite on November 26th. They won four of their final five games to raise their record to 10-2. The Huskies won the Mid-American Conference championship game, 41-23, as a 3.5-point underdog against Kent State on December 4th. Northern Illinois won three of their last four games to improve their mark to 9-4. Coastal Carolina is an 11-point favorite with an over/under of 62. Eight games are on the docket in the National Basketball Association. Miami visits Orlando at 7:10 PM ET as a 3.5-point road favorite with a total of 209. Two games tip-off at 7:40 PM ET. Atlanta plays at home against Denver as a 4-point favorite with an over/under of 221. Golden State is at Boston on ESPN as a 2.5-point road favorite with a total of 214.5. Milwaukee plays at New Orleans as a 3-point road favorite. Utah hosts San Antonio at 9:10 PM ET as a 12-point favorite with an over/under of 223.5. Three games conclude the NBA card at 10:10 PM ET. Portland is at home against Charlotte as a 1.5-point favorite with a total of 225. Memphis travels to Sacramento. The Los Angeles Lakers play at Minnesota on ESPN as a 1-point road favorite. The National Hockey League has six games on its slate. Two games drop the puck at 7:08 PM ET. Vegas plays at New York against the Rangers as a -125 money line road favorite with an over/under of 6. Pittsburgh is at home against Buffalo as a -320 money line favorite with a total of 5.5. Two games begin at 8:08 PM ET. St. Louis hosts Dallas as a -125 money line road favorite with an over/under of 5.5. Washington visits Winnipeg as a -115 money line road favorite with a total of 6. Chicago is at home against Nashville at 8:38 PM ET as a -114 money line favorite at BetRivers with an over/under of 5.5. Anaheim plays at home against Arizona at 10:08 PM ET as a -260 money line favorite with a total of 5.5. Two games are on national television in college basketball. Virginia Tech plays St. Bonaventure on ESPN2 at 4 PM ET in a Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Shootout contest at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Hokies are a 2.5-point favorite with an over/under of 129.5. Villanova travels to Creighton on FS1 at 8 PM ET as a 6.5-point road favorite with a total of 129.5. 

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NFL Week 15 Breakdown

by Will Rogers

Thursday, Dec 16, 2021

BEST GAME – New England at Indianapolis (-2)New England 9-4 SU, 9-4 ATSIndianapolis 7-6 SU, 8-5 ATSFish-or-cut-bait time for the red-hot Colts, who need this one more than the Patriots do. An Indy loss basically closes the door in the AFC South and would most likely force the Colts to run the table (at Arizona, home vs. Las Vegas, at Jacksonville) to squeak into the playoffs. Any edge Indy might have gained by having Week 14 off is negated by NE also coming off its bye week, with Bill Belichick having 12 days to prepare for Jonathan Taylor. (Taylor is so far ahead in the NFL rushing stats that he could sit out the final four games and probably STILL win that title, but prop bettors should probably take a hard look at the under here.) Playing indoors will probably enable Belichick to remove the choke chain from rookie QB Mac Jones, who was allowed to throw only three times in the Buffalo wind two weeks ago. If you care about weird statistics, the Patriots are unbeaten (6-0) on the road this season. This one might not have the intensity of those many early-2000s Brady-Manning battles, but it has plenty of meaning – and the added juice of two teams that have been reliable covers (combined 17-9 ATS) all season. Oddsmakers originally listed this one as a pick ‘em.WORST GAME – Houston at Jacksonville (-3, O/U 42.5)Houston 2-11 SU, 5-8 ATS, 5-8 O/UJacksonville 2-11 SU, 4-9 ATS, 2-11 O/UCall it the Race to the Bottom Bowl, with the loser of this one still having a puncher’s chance to beat out Detroit for the overall No. 1 pick come next April. Since the Jags already have their quarterback of the future, there is more incentive for Houston to tank this one. Plus, the last thing J-Ville coach Urban Meyer needs right now is more pressure, so he’ll empty the playbook to try to save his job. No matter what, this game is all about the future for both teams, as the present is not all that pleasant. As befitting two offensively-challenged teams, this is also the lowest total on the board (41). Houston’s Davis Mills showed a little zip against Seattle in his late-season QB audition, but Trevor Lawrence is coming off a disastrous 4-interception shutout loss to Tennessee.LARGEST SPREAD – Arizona at Detroit (+14)Arizona 10-3 SU, 9-4 ATSDetroit 1-11-1 SU, 8-5 ATSYes, the Lions got pasted in Denver this past Sunday and yes, 1-11-1 is 1-11-1. But a two-touchdown home dog? For a team that would be around .500 if all its one-score losses were flipped?  The number actually went UP a half-point after Arizona’s loss to the Rams on Monday night in a game which threw a hand grenade in the Cardinals’ march to the NFC West title, best record in the conference and playoff bye. They CAN’T let up now in Detroit.LARGEST TOTAL – Kansas City at Los Angeles Chargers (51)Kansas City 9-4, SU, 6-7 ATS, 6-7 O/ULos Angeles 8-5 SU, 7-6 ATS, 6-7 O/UWhatever issues the Chiefs may have had when they were in the midst of that 3-4 start are long since in the rear view mirror. KC has it rolling now, and will bring tons of momentum to the West Coast for this one on Thursday night. It’s doubtful that totals players will shy away from this one even though the Chiefs defense has found its footing and now had held three consecutive opponents to 9 points each. The Chiefs offense is capable of covering the 51 all by itself, although if recent history is any guide the Chargers will hold up their end of the bargain. The LAC have scored at least 37 in three of the last four. The D coordinators won’t be sleeping much as they prep for this one on a short week.SMALLEST TOTAL – Tennessee at Pittsburgh (41.5)Tennessee 9-4 SU, 8-5 ATS, 7-6 O/UPittsburgh 6-6-1 SU, 5-8 ATS, 5-8 O/UThe Houston-Jacksonville game is a half-point smaller, but this game at 41.5 has some significance in that it in all likelihood is the beginning of the end for Steelers warhorse Ben Roethlisberger? Pittsburgh faces a closing grim schedule (after the Titans they’ll be at Kansas City, home vs. Cleveland and at Baltimore). How much gas is left in Ben’s tank is anyone’s guess. The Steelers did score 28 this past Sunday, but that was against a relaxed Vikings defense that was playing with a 29-0 lead. The Titans, meanwhile, are continuing to cope without RB Derrick Henry. They averaged 28 points a game with him, and in five without him they’ve dropped to 19 a game.

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