Expert Sports Picks and Analysis from Al McMordie

NBA: Early Upgrades and Downgrades

Sunday, Oct 31, 2021

The 2021-22 NBA Season is not even two weeks old, but already there are a handful of teams where I’ve made a significant upgrade or downgrade to my own personal power rankings. That’s what I want to go over today. Upgrades Miami - The Heat figured to be a top six team in the East with the addition of Kyle Lowry. But so far they’ve played as well as anybody. Their record is 5-1 and they are outscoring opponents by a league-best 17 points per game. Ranking first in the league in defensive efficiency is always key and that’s where the Heat are right now.Golden State - Again, the Warriors are a team I’d tabbed to finish in the top six in the West. But they have been better than advertised. They are 5-1 and playing like one of the best teams in the league. They have yet to lose in regulation.New York & Chicago - I’m putting these teams together because coming into the year I thought they’d finish pretty close. One of them is probably going to get a top six spot in the East. Both have started 5-1. The Bulls did just lose Patrick Williams to a season-ending injury. The Knicks won’t be #1 in 3PT% defense again (like they were last season). So beware just a little bit. At the same time, note the Knicks are #2 in offensive efficiency and the Bulls are #4 in defensive efficiency.DowngradesLA Lakers - The Lakers have been a below average team in their first six games. That’s a downgrade from what was expected to be a top two team (along with Utah) in the Western Conference. Do I still expect LeBron and company in the top six? Of course. But this is not a deep team. Boston - The way things are looking early on, the best the Celtics might be able to do is the play-in round. They’ve definitely been below average. Three of their games have gone to overtime and they’ve twice been a loser in double overtime games. Like the Lakers, Boston ranks in the bottom third in defensive efficiency.Milwaukee - Well, when you come into the season ranked #1 in the power rankings, the best you can hope for is to maintain that ranking. The Bucks have dropped due to getting outscored by roughly five points per 100 possessions. They are even lower than the Celtics and Lakers when it comes to defensive efficiency - ranking 25th. While things are skewed due to an awful showing vs. Miami, the Bucks just lost to the T’wolves and Spurs.

Big Al's Daily Angle: NFL, MLB, NCAAF, NHL and EPL Previews and Odds - 10/31/2021

by Big Al Staff

Sunday, Oct 31, 2021

The Sunday sports card features action in the NFL, MLB, NCAAF, NBA, NHL, and the EPL.Week 8 in the National Football League continues with 13 games. Eight games kick off the card at 1 PM ET. Indianapolis hosts Tennessee as a 2.5-point favorite with the total set at 50.5 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). Cincinnati visits the New York Jets as an 11-point road favorite with an over/under of 42.5. Philadelphia travels to Detroit as a 3.5-point road favorite with a total of 48. Atlanta plays at home against Carolina as a 3-point favorite with an over/under of 46. San Francisco is at Chicago as a 4-point road favorite with a total of 40. Cleveland hosts Pittsburgh as a 4.5-point favorite with an over/under of 42.5. The Los Angeles Rams are at Houston as a 16.5-point road favorite with a total of 46.5. Buffalo plays at home against Miami as a 14-point favorite with an over/under of 49. Four games take place in the second-afternoon window. Two games begin at 4:05 PM ET. Seattle is at home against Jacksonville as a 4-point favorite with a total of 44. The Los Angeles Chargers host New England as a 4.5-point favorite with an over/under of 49.5. Two games start at 4:25 PM ET. Tampa Bay visits New Orleans as a 4.5-point road favorite with a total of 48.5. Denver is at home against Washington as a 3.5-point favorite with an over/under of 45. Minnesota hosts Dallas on NBC for Sunday Night Football at 8:20 PM ET. The Vikings are a 3-point favorite with a total of 51. The World Series in Major League Baseball continues with Game 5 of the best-of-seven on Fox with the first pitch at 8:15 PM ET. The Atlanta Braves took a 3-1 lead with their 3-2 victory over the Houston Astros last night. The Astros will start Framber Valdez against a Braves starting pitcher yet to be named. Houston is a -115 money line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5.Five games are on the docket in the National Basketball Association. Dallas plays at home against Sacramento at 3:40 PM ET as a 4.5-point favorite. Two games tip-off at 7:10 PM ET. Charlotte hosts Portland in a pick ‘em match-up. Utah visits Milwaukee as a 1-point road favorite with a total of 223. Brooklyn is at home against Detroit at 7:40 PM ET as a -12.5-point favorite with an over/under of 215. The Los Angeles Lakers are at home against Houston at 10:40 PM ET as a 12-point favorite with a total of 223.5. The National Hockey League has five games on the slate. Carolina is at home against Arizona at 1:08 PM ET as a -320 money line favorite with an over/under of 6. Two games drop the puck at 4:08 PM ET. Montreal travels to Anaheim as a -120 money line road favorite with a total of 5.5. The Los Angeles Kings are at home as a -130 money line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. New Jersey plays at home against Columbus at 5:08 PM ET as a -115 money line favorite with a total of 6. Seattle hosts the New York Rangers at 9:08 PM ET as a -115 money line favorite with an over/under of 6.Matchweek 10 in the English Premier League continues with two matches on the NBC Sports Network. Leeds United visits Norwich City on the NBC Sports Network at 10 AM ET as a -0.5 goal line road favorite with a total of 2.5. West Ham United travels to Aston Villa at 12:30 PM ET in a pick ‘em match with an over/under of 2.5.

Big Al's Daily Angle: NCAAF, MLB, NBA, EPL, CFL and NHL Previews and Odds - 10/30/2021

by Big Al Staff

Saturday, Oct 30, 2021

The Saturday sports card features action in MLB, NCAAF, NBA, NHL, CFL, and the EPL.The World Series in Major League Baseball continues with Game 4 on Fox with the first pitch at 8:09 PM ET. Atlanta took a 2-1 lead in the series with a 2-0 victory against Houston last night. The Astros pitch Zach Greinke as their starting pitcher against an opening starting pitcher for the Braves yet to be named. Atlanta is a -115 money line favorite, with the total set at 8.5 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). Week 9 of the college football season concludes with 49 games between FBS opponents. Seventeen games begin in the noon ET to 3 PM ET window. Six games kickoff on national television at noon ET. Michigan visits Michigan State on Fox as a 4-point road favorite with an over/under of 50.5. Baylor hosts Texas on ABC as a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 61.5. Wisconsin plays at home against Iowa on ESPN as a 3.5-point favorite with an over/under of 37. Cincinnati travels to Tulane on ESPN2 as a 27.5-point road favorite with a total of 61.5. Louisiana-Lafayette is at home against Texas State on ESPNU as a 21-point favorite with an over/under of 58. Buffalo plays at home against Bowling Green on the CBS Sports Network as a 13.5-point favorite with a total of 51.5. Arizona State hosts Washington State on FS1 at 3 PM ET as a 16.5-point favorite with an over/under of 53. Eighteen games start in the 3:30 ET to 6 PM ET window. Seven games are on national television kicking off at 3:30 PM ET. Georgia plays Florida at TIAA Bank Stadium in Jacksonville on ABC as a 14-point favorite with a total of 51. Oklahoma hosts Texas Tech on ABC as a 19-point favorite with an over/under of 66.5. Oregon is at home against Colorado on Fox as a 24.5-point favorite with a total of 50. Clemson plays at home against Florida State on ESPN as a 9-point favorite with an over/under of 48. Nebraska hosts Purdue on ESPN2 as a 7.5-point favorite with a total of 52.5. Kansas State is at home against TCU on ESPNU as a 3.5-point favorite with an over/under of 58.5. Louisiana Tech travels to Old Dominion on the CBS Sports Network as a 4.5-point road favorite with a total of 55. San Jose State plays at home against Wyoming on FS2 as a 2.5-point favorite with an over/under of 40.5. Fourteen games conclude the NCAAF card beginning at 7 PM ET. Five games are on national television beginning at 7 PM ET. Auburn hosts Ole Miss on ESPN as a 3-point favorite with a total of 66.5. USC plays at home against Arizona on ESPNU as a 21.5-point favorite with an over/under of 55.5. Boise State visits Colorado State on the CBS Sports Network as a 2.5-point road favorite with a total of 51.5. Houston hosts SMU on ESPN2 as a 1-point favorite with an over/under of 61.5. Oklahoma State is at home against Kansas on FS1 as a 28.5-point favorite with a total of 55.5. Two games are on national television at 7:30 PM ET. Notre Dame plays at home against North Carolina on NBC as a 3.5-point favorite with an over/under of 62.5. Ohio State hosts Penn State on ABC as a 19.5-point favorite with a total of 61. Utah is at home against UCLA on ESPN at 10 PM ET as a 6.5-point favorite with an over/under of 60.5. BYU plays at home against Virginia on ESPN2 at 10:15 PM ET as a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 65. Stanford hosts Washington on FS1 at 10:30 PM ET as a 2.5-point favorite with an over/under of 47. Fresno State travels to San Diego State on the CBS Sports Network at 10:30 PM ET as a 1-point road favorite with a total of 44.5. Eleven games are on the docket in the National Basketball Association. Washington is at home against Boston at 5:10 PM ET as a 2-point favorite with an over/under of 224. Two games start at 7:10 PM ET. Detroit plays at home against Orlando as a 5.5-point favorite with a total of 207. New York visits New Orleans as a 5.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 215. Two more games begin at 7:40 PM ET. Indiana hosts Toronto as a 3.5-point favorite. Philadelphia is at home against Atlanta as a 3.5-point favorite. Three NBA games kick off at 8:10 PM ET. Utah travels to Chicago as a 4-point road favorite with a total of 217.5. Memphis plays at home against Miami as a 2-point favorite. Milwaukee hosts San Antonio as a 9.5-point favorite. Golden State is at home against Oklahoma State at 8:40 PM ET as a 12-point favorite with an over/under of 221. Minnesota plays at home against Denver at 9:10 PM ET as a 3-point favorite. Phoenix hosts Cleveland at 10:10 PM ET as a 10-point favorite with a total of 216. Ten games are on the slate in the National Hockey League. The New Islanders visit Nashville at 1:38 PM ET as a -115 money line road favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Los Angeles Kings are at home against Montreal at 4:08 PM ET as a -120 money line favorite with a total of 5.5. Four games drop the puck at 7:08 PM ET. San Jose is at home against Winnipeg as a -110 money line favorite with an over/under of 6. Boston hosts Florida as a -125 money line favorite with a total of 6. Toronto plays at home against Detroit as a -265 money line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. Pittsburgh hosts New Jersey as a -130 money line favorite with a total of 5.5. St. Louis is at home against Chicago at 8:08 PM ET as a -180 money line favorite with an over/under of 6. Colorado plays at home against Minnesota at 9:08 PM ET as a -160 money line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. Two games conclude the card at 10:08 PM ET. Calgary is at home against Philadelphia as a -160 money line favorite with a total of 6. Edmonton plays at Vancouver as a -140 money line road favorite with an over/under of 6. Two games conclude Week 13 in the Canadian Football League on ESPN+. Toronto plays at home against British Columbia at 4 PM ET as a 3-point favorite with a total of 46. Montreal is at home against Saskatchewan at 7 PM ET as a 1-point favorite with an over/under of 46. Matchweek 10 in the English Premier League begins with seven matches. Leicester City hosts Arsenal on the NBC Sports Network at 7:30 AM ET in a pick ‘em match with a total of 2.5. Five games start at 10 AM ET. Burnley plays at home against Brentford on Peacock in a pick ‘em match with an over/under of 2.5. Liverpool hosts Brighton and Hove Albion on the USA Network as a -1.5 goal line favorite with a total of 3. Manchester City is at home against Crystal Palace on the NBC Sports Network as a -2 goal line favorite with an over/under of 3. Chelsea travels to Newcastle United on Peacock as a -1.5 goal line road favorite with a total of 2.5. Southampton visits Watford on Peacock as a -0.5 goal line road favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Manchester United plays at Tottenham on NBC at 12:30 PM ET in a pick ‘em match with a total of 2.5.

November Paths for Five NFC Contenders

by Nelly's Sports

Friday, Oct 29, 2021

Week 8 of the NFL season started with a huge Thursday night clash in the NFC as the Packers narrowly held off the Cardinals in a battle of top NFC contenders. Five teams have created separation in the NFC as top conference title threats, here is a look at the November paths for those teams as the potential playoff bracket is starting to come into form. These teams are listed in the current standings as of 10/29/2021 Green Bay Packers (+450 to win the NFC as of 10/29/21) Green Bay is 7-1 and on top of the NFC standings after knocking off the league’s final undefeated team on Thursday night in Week 8. The Packers also earned the head-to-head tiebreaker with Arizona in pursuit of earning the top seed in the NFC for a second consecutive season. Winning while short-handed was a great result for Green Bay, now winners of seven straight games since the opening loss to the Saints but Green Bay has the weakest scoring differential of the top threats in the NFC and will have a difficult November path. The Packers will have an extended turnaround ahead of Week 9 after the early game in Week 8, but they will head to Kansas City next for a difficult game, even if the Chiefs have been vulnerable this season. Green Bay catches a break in Week 10 as a potentially difficult home game with Seattle seems likely to be without Russell Wilson, although some are suggesting his timetable could be moved up. A huge division game at Minnesota is ahead in Week 11 while on Thanksgiving weekend the Packers host the Rams before a Week 13 bye week. A 2-2 November might be considered an acceptable result for Green Bay with some of the season’s most difficult games ahead in the next few weeks. Arizona Cardinals (+550 to win the NFC as of 10/29/21) Falling from the ranks of the unbeaten was a tough result for Arizona last week, particularly given the golden opportunity to escape with a win that was there in the final minute last week vs. Green Bay. Given how difficult the NFC West was projected to be this season, any Cardinals fan must still be thrilled that the team is 7-1, a year after finishing 8-8 and missing the playoffs entirely last season. The Cardinals have the top scoring differential in the NFC and while there are wins over Houston and Jacksonville included to boost the numbers, Arizona has road wins over Tennessee, the LA Rams, and Cleveland as this is not an empty 7-1 resume. The Cardinals have two difficult division games remaining in November but playing at San Francisco and at Seattle no longer looks quite as difficult as expected. Russell Wilson could be back for the Seahawks in time for that Week 11 game but with a home game with Carolina in Week 10, the next three weeks are a very manageable path for the Cardinals as moving back ahead of the Packers is certainly a possible outcome by the end of the month. Getting a long layoff ahead of the Week 9 game with San Francisco could be greatly beneficial given the lingering injury issues for a few key players but it is clear that Arizona isn’t going anywhere as a serious NFC threat even after taking its first loss. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+250 to win the NFC as of 10/29/21) The Buccaneers haven’t necessarily looked like the defending Super Bowl champions in a 6-1 start but a big reason the Buccaneers were the prohibitive favorite in the NFC while having a great chance to repeat as Super Bowl champions is a favorable schedule. Tampa Bay’s best win so far this season was the narrow opening week win over Dallas as they lost their big road test to the Rams. Tampa Bay won’t play the other three NFC contenders on this list and the most formidable remaining game is a December home game with Buffalo as the path to the best record in the NFC remains clear for Tampa Bay. October closes with a big division game in New Orleans and a win in that game would give Tampa Bay a significant cushion in the division race. Tampa Bay has a bye week in Week 9 before a playoff rematch at Washington in Week 10. The Buccaneers will complete its series with the four NFC East teams hosting the Giants in Week 11 before a potentially dangerous game in Indianapolis in Week 12. With only three November games, the bye week may be the most important factor for Tampa Bay this month and it is hard to see this group having more than two losses heading into December. Los Angeles Rams (+400 to win the NFC as of 10/29/21) The Rams have started 6-1 but they are behind in the NFC West race by virtue of the head-to-head loss hosting Arizona in Week 4. Los Angeles does have a big potential tiebreaker under its belt from beating Tampa Bay in Week 3 and five of six wins for Los Angeles have been against the NFC as Los Angeles will be facing AFC teams in three of the next five games. The Week 14 game at Arizona will loom large in the division race and the chances for the Rams to be the top NFC seed are hurt by a late season schedule closing with Minnesota, Baltimore, and San Francisco, all teams that seem likely to need late season wins in the wild card race. In the short term the Rams have a serious shot to move up to being the #1 seed in the NFC in November as they close the month at Green Bay after a bye week for a great opportunity to earn a key tiebreaker. After playing as a big favorite in Houston this week, a big AFC test is ahead Sunday night in Week 9 with the Titans before a Monday night game in San Francisco in Week 10 as the Rams will be in the spotlight in November with a chance to move up in the NFC pecking order. Dallas Cowboys (+600 to win the NFC as of 10/29/21) As strange as it sounds Dallas may be the overlooked and undervalued team in the NFC race. There is not much of a case for Dallas being the most complete nor the best team in the NFC, and the current Dak Prescott injury situation is a big shadow over that prospect. The NFC East will provide Dallas with a better opportunity than the rest of the conference however. The only noteworthy wins for Dallas so far are narrow road escapes vs. the Chargers and Patriots but Dallas has an incredibly favorable remaining schedule and still has a realistic chance to end up with the top record in the NFC. Dallas was off in Week 7 and Prescott’s status remains up in the air for Week 8 at Minnesota in one of the most difficult remaining games of the season. If Dallas can win that game, they have home dates with Denver and Atlanta the next two weeks before a big Week 11 game in Kansas City that should be a highly anticipated game. Dallas closes November with the Raiders on Thanksgiving Day and while four of the final six games will be road games for the Cowboys, four of those final six games will be division games. Dallas has a substantial lead in the NFC East and may not face much pressure to go for the #1 seed in the NFC, but at full strength the Cowboys are only likely to be an underdog in two of three remaining games from November to January. Last season there was much talk of how much more valuable being the #1 seed was in the NFL playoff field with the switch to a 14-team field and only two teams getting playoff bye weeks, but the Super Bowl champion wound up being the #5 seed in the NFC team as a wild card that won three road games before catching a big advantage with a home Super Bowl. The #1 seed did win the NFC in 2019 and 2017 with the Eagles winning the Super Bowl as the #1 seed in 2017 as the last NFC team to do so and over time it should play out to be a significant advantage in the new playoff format. The standings are likely to shuffle significantly in the upcoming weeks and while Green Bay has the current momentum as the top spot, they appear to have the most difficult path in the coming weeks to hold as they try to repeat as the #1 seed in the NFC again this season.

College Football's Sweet Snowman System

by Tom Stryker

Friday, Oct 29, 2021

When I was on the links, I never really cared for the dreaded snowman. For those of you that didn’t play golf, a snowman is a slang term players use for a score of eight on any individual hole. Let me tell you, when I first started hacking away, the snowman and I were really good friends. Thankfully, game eight in the college football season has been much kinder in a sports wagering way. With the help of my college football database, the same one that was featured in the December 13th, 2010, issue of the ESPN Insider magazine, I’ve been able to isolate and profit from a number of late season technical sets that have performed very well. Here is a unique game eight situation that has been extremely profitable. Take a look: Since 1980, PLAY ON any college football game eight team that holds a 4-3 SU record provided they enter off two or more straight up wins and are currently lined up against a conference foe that owns a team won/loss percentage of .500 or better. 41-Year ATS Record = 66-30 ATS for 68.7 percent This Week’s Plays = TROY STATE, WISCONSIN, and LA-MONROE (ULM) There are a couple of additional parameters that can be added to this general system that really make it pop. If our “play on” side is running with revenge and priced as a favorite or an underdog of +14 or less, this Sweet Snowman System tightens up to a spectacular 28-6 ATS for 82.3 percent. Last year, the Badgers (-1) visited Iowa City and dropped a 28-7 decision to the Hawkeyes. This season, UW is a -3.5-point home favorite over Iowa, and it fits this exclusive situation perfectly. (Troy State is priced at +19 and ULM is at grabbing +27.5 so they don’t apply.) The Badgers will use the strength of this Sweet Snowman System and “jump around” to a huge win early on Saturday afternoon. Good luck with Wisky this week!

NFL Stock Rising and Falling: Week 8

by Sean Murphy

Friday, Oct 29, 2021

It's hard to believe but we're nearing the halfway point of the 2021 NFL season. With only 13 teams having posted above .500 records to date the stakes are especially high entering Sunday's action. Here's a quick look around the league at two teams that are on the rise and two that are on their way down in this week's edition of 'Stock Rising and Falling'.Stock risingAtlanta FalconsI'm hesitant to include the Falcons in this category as their last two wins have come against the likes of the Jets and Dolphins. However, the runway is clear for Atlanta to keep rolling as hosts the reeling Panthers this week. We've finally seen veteran QB Matt Ryan find some chemistry with much-hyped rookie TE Kyle Pitts and it should only be a matter of time before WR Calvin Ridley rounds back into form. Ridley has found it tough sledding in the post-Julio Jones era but I would anticipate Ryan force-feeding him a little more in the weeks to come. Defensively, the Falcons haven't had to be great but the good news is, they won't face a truly elite offensive opponent until Week 10 when they travel to Dallas to face the Cowboys.Indianapolis ColtsThe Colts got off to a slow start this season but that was to be expected as they faced a brutal early schedule that included games against the (then healthy) Seahawks, Rams, Titans and Ravens in the first four weeks. They've turned the corner since, posting consecutive wins over the Texans and 49ers and now comes a true statement game against the division-rival Titans on Sunday in Indy. I've never been all that high on QB Carson Wentz but there's no denying he's put the team on his back lately, throwing eight touchdown passes while running for another without tossing a single interception in the last four games. He gets another mouth-watering matchup against the Titans defense this week and I would anticipate head coach Frank Reich coming up with an aggressive offensive gameplan to take advantage of that unit being on a bit of a heater.Stock fallingMiami DolphinsI question what type of spot the Dolphins are in mentally after last Sunday's demoralizing last-second loss against the Falcons. Credit Miami for battling back and taking the lead late in that game, but it couldn't make it stand up as its defense once again dropped the proverbial ball. Of course, defense was supposed to be the strength of the Fins but that simply hasn't been the case. Now Miami faces the unenviable task of traveling to Buffalo to face a Bills squad that will be in a foul mood following a Monday night loss against the Titans (which was followed by a bye week). The good news is that relief should come in the form of five of Miami's next six games coming against the Texans, Jets (twice), Panthers and Giants. San Francisco 49ersIs it another lost season in Santa Clara? It certainly appears headed that way after the 49ers fell in a rain-soaked primetime game against the Colts last Sunday. Rookie QB Trey Lance is still banged-up while Jimmy Garroppolo looks like anything but the answer under center. While injuries have certainly played a role in the 49ers struggles this season, there are other issues lying beneath the surface. We've seen the wide receiving corps fail to make plays at key points while the running backs just haven't been afforded nearly the time and space we've seen them enjoy in recent years. San Fran's defense is healthier than it was during a disastrous 2020 campaign but it hasn't made much of a different as opponents are routinely marching up and down the field on them. Maybe the Niners right the ship in a favored role in Chicago this Sunday but sitting at 2-4 the path to the playoffs is anything but clear.

The Worst College Football Teams in the Country

by Oskeim Sports

Friday, Oct 29, 2021

Each week, college football fans, players, coaches, and more sift through an endless supply of information about the sport with most of it geared toward the best. The best coach. The best quarterback. The best player. The best team. What about the worst team? Not that you want to be in that category, but if there is a best there has to be a worst, right? So, which team or teams would fit into the category of worst? The U’s If your college team is identified with a “U” at the beginning of its name, you might have one of the worst college football teams in the country. UNLV, emphasis on the “L,” is 0-7. The Rebels looked like they might grab their first win last week but allowed San Jose State to block a field goal and then drive the length of the field for the game-winning touchdown in the game’s final minutes. UConn (1-8) and UMass (1-6) actually played each other in this year. UMass picked up its only win of the 2021 season, a 27-13 defeat of the Huskies whose only win came against FCS Yale and even that wasn’t easy. UConn held off a late Yale rally after leading 21-0 to win 21-15. 19 Straight It’s hard to lose 19 straight games as an FBS program. Arizona has done it pretty easily though the Wildcats did put up a fight against a two-win Washington last week. Arizona, which is 0-6 thus far this season, led 16-7 in the fourth quarter. The Wildcats allowed two fourth-quarter Washington touchdowns and lost 21-16. The Wildcats will go after their first win in 20 games this weekend when they play at USC. This Is Kansas, Dorothy Ahh…Kansas. Rock, Chalk, Jayhawk. When is it basketball season? The Jayhawks are currently 1-6 with new head coach Lance Leipold attempting to build something. After a season-opening win over that juggernaut known as FCS South Dakota, the Jayhawks have lost games by scores like 49-22, 45-7, and 59-7. The Jayhawks can’t score – 17.7 points per game ranks 117th in the nation – and they can’t stop anybody. Kansas gives up 46.8 points a game. That ranks 129th. Only Arkansas State (47.8 ppg) is worse. Florida International There’s an FBS program named Florida International? Wow! Who knew. Apparently, no one really cares since Florida International University, aka FIU, is 1-6 this season. They are one of the worst defensive teams in the country giving up 40.8 points per game. That ranks 125th out of 130 FBS programs. Not good. The Panthers' only win this season came against FCS LIU, aka Long Island University, a program that is in its second year of play at the FCS level. Yikes! Green Wave Tulane is one of the few FBS programs whose nickname does not end with the letter “s.” The Green Wave are also one of the worst college football programs in the country. Tulane is currently 1-7 and soon to be 1-8 as the Green Wave face No. 2 Cincinnati this weekend. In their last three games, the Green Wave defense has waved bye-bye to numerous touchdown scorers. Tulane has given up 147 points in those three games. The Wave is right in there with UMass and Kansas ranking 128th in scoring defense allowing opponents 46 points per game. That won’t win many games. Blue Mexico State Coaches and players are sad at New Mexico State since they are just 1-6 this season. That’s nothing new. The only win this season came against FCS South Carolina State. The Aggies lost to Hawaii 48-34 last week and that was their second loss of the season to the Rainbow Warriors this season. New Mexico State is so bad they have to fill their schedule with teams they have already lost to.

Big Al's Daily Angle: MLB, CFL, NHL, NBA, and NCAAF Previews and Odds - 10/29/2021

by Big Al Staff

Friday, Oct 29, 2021

The Friday sports card features action in MLB, NCAAF, CFL, the NBA, and the NHL.The World Series in Major League Baseball resumes with Game 3 on Fox with the first pitch at 8:09 PM ET. Houston evened this series at 1-1 with a 7-2 victory at home against Atlanta on Wednesday. The series moves to Atlanta for the next three days. The Astros turn to Luis Garcia tonight against the Braves Ian Anderson. Both teams are a -110 money line favorite, with the total set at 8.5 (all odds from DraftKings). Week 9 of the college football season continues with two games between FBS opponents. Tulsa hosts Navy on ESPN2 at 7:30 PM ET. The Golden Hurricane has won three of their four last four games with their 32-31 win at South Florida as a 7.5-point favorite on October 16th. They are 3-4 on the season. The Midshipmen have lost three in a row after their 27-20 loss to Cincinnati as a 28.5-point underdog on Saturday. Navy has a 1-6 record. Tulsa is an 11-point favorite with an over/under of 47.Nevada plays at home against UNLV on the CBS Sports Network at 10 PM ET. The Wolf Pack had their three-game winning streak end with a 34-32 loss at Fresno State as a 3.5-point underdog on Saturday. They have a 5-2 record. The Rebels remained winless after a 27-20 loss to San Jose State as a 6-point underdog on Thursday of last week. Nevada is a 20.5-point favorite with a total of 58.Two games kick off Week 13 in the Canadian Football League on ESPN+. Calgary visits Ottawa at 7 PM ET as an 11-point road favorite with an over/under of 42.5. Hamilton plays at Edmonton at 9:45 PM ET as a 4.5-point road favorite with a total of 43. Seven games are on the docket in the National Basketball Association. Toronto hosts Orlando at 7:10 PM ET as an 8-point favorite with an over/under of 210. Two games tip-off at 7:40 PM ET. Brooklyn plays at home against Indiana as an 8-point favorite with a total of 223.5. Miami is at home against Charlotte on ESPN as a 6-point favorite. Sacramento travels to New Orleans at 8:10 PM ET as a 2-point road favorite with an over/under of 219.5. Two games in the NBA begin at 10:10 PM ET. Denver is at home against Dallas on ESPN as a 1-point favorite. Portland hosts the Los Angeles Clippers as a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 224. The Los Angeles Lakers are home against Cleveland at 10:40 PM ET as a 9-point favorite. Six games are on the slate in the National Hockey League. Four games drop the puck at 7:08 PM ET. Florida visits Detroit as a -185 money line road favorite with an over/under of 6. The New York Rangers are at home against Columbus as a -180 money line favorite with a total of 5.5. Washington hosts Arizona as a -265 money line favorite with an over/under of 6. Carolina is at home against Chicago as a -175 money line favorite with a total of 6. Vegas hosts Anaheim at 8:08 PM ET as a -250 money line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. Dallas plays at home against Ottawa at 8:38 PM ET as a -195 money line favorite with a total of 5.5.

Early Season Look at NBA Futures

by ASA, Inc.

Thursday, Oct 28, 2021

This article will be contrarian to what you normally read regarding a Future prediction as we aren’t going to give you teams to bet on, but instead, teams to avoid in your betting strategies. It’s early in the NBA season but some things have become all-to-clear in our eyes and we’ll go on record with the following speculations. NBA TEAMS “NOT” TO PUT ON YOUR FUTURES TICKET Los Angeles Lakers +550 We had our thoughts on this Lakers team going into the season but wanted to see the team’s chemistry in the first few games before coming to this conclusion. The Lakers won’t play in the Finals this season and will not have the opportunity to win it all in 2022. This team had the best overall defensive efficiency numbers in the NBA a year ago allowing just 1.071-Points Per Possession. The offense was another matter ranking 24th in terms of Offensive Efficiency. LeBron forced the Lakers hand in the offseason and rebuilt this aging roster to his liking and it doesn’t look good. How have the Lakers gotten better offensively or defensively? Russell Westbrook is a triple-threat machine when he dominates the basketball but that doesn’t fit the Lakers style and LeBron. Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard and Rajon Rondo are well past their prime and not the complimentary pieces James and Anthony need. We are only a few games in, and the Lakers offensive numbers have improved slightly over last year’s, but their defensive efficiency has dipped to 25th allowing 1.120-Points Per Possession. Don’t be surprised if this roster gets shook up before the All-Star break when LeBron and the Lakers get desperate to make a playoff run. RUNNER UP – WHO NOT TO BET Golden State Warriors +900 The Warriors should not be the 4th highest bet team to win the NBA Finals. The West is loaded at the top with Utah, Denver, Phoenix and even the Clippers, Blazers and Mavericks. The Warriors lofty numbers here are swayed by the eventual return of Klay Thompson and evolution of James Wiseman. If we combine the East and West, our model currently has the Warriors as the 10th best team in the NBA. The Warriors had a .542 winning percentage a year ago and the 14th best average Margin of Victory of +0.9PPG. Golden State was 24-10 SU last season against teams ranked 17th or worse in the NBA and 15-25 SU against teams ranked 16th or better. It’s tough to get through the Playoffs when you can’t beat the league's best teams.

World Series Game 3 Preview

by Ben Burns

Thursday, Oct 28, 2021

With the teams splitting the first two games at Houston, we're down to a "Best Of Five" World Series. A pivotal Game 3 goes Friday, at Atlanta. It'll be the first time that two rookie starting pitchers oppose each other in the WS, since 2006. Let's take a closer look. THE STARTERSIan Anderson goes for the Braves. Having not reached enough innings last year, he's still technically a "rookie." However, he's already got plenty of postseason experience. In fact, this will already be his eighth career playoff start. He's 3-0 with a 1.47 ERA through the first seven, striking out 36 in 30 2/3 innings. This season, he was 9-5 with a 3.58 ERA.Luis Garcia doesn't have the playoff numbers that Anderson does. However in Game 6 of the ALCS, when Houston needed him most, he bounced back with an absolutely dominant performance. In fact, he took a no-hitter into the 6th inning. It was the second most number of "no-hit" innings by a rookie, in playoff history. (Wacha had a no-hitter for 7 1/3 innings in the 2013 NLDS.) He was 11-8 with a 3.48 ERA on the season. THE ODDSDespite the Braves "having home field advantage," the Game 3 line is essentially a "pick'em." Perhaps, that's because playing at home hasn't been much of an advantage, in recent Fall Classics. Houston's Game 2 win was the first (victory) by a home team since Game 3 of the 2018 World Series. The Braves were 42-38 at home this season. The Astros were 44-37 on the road. THE O/U LINEThe first two games have seen the final scores land right on, or near, the number. Game 1 saw eight runs scored. Game 2 saw the teams combine for nine. Fittingly, at most shops, the O/U line is 8.5 for Game 3. GAME 3 IS IMPORTANTLast year, the Dodgers and Rays were tied 1-1. The Dodgers took Game 3 and went on to become champions. That game marked the 17th time in 40 years that the World Series was tied after two games. Including the Dodgers last year, 13 of the 17 Game 3 winners went on to win the series. While there were a few recent teams that did lose Game 3 and went on to win, that's still better than 76% over a 40-year span. Recall that the Astros were tied 1-1 in the 2017 WS. They won Game 3 and went on to win in seven.

Big Al's Daily Angle: NFL, NCAAF, NBA and NHL Previews and Odds - 10/28/2021

by Big Al Staff

Thursday, Oct 28, 2021

The Thursday sports card features action in the NFL, NCAAF, NBA, and the NHL.Week 8 in the National Football League kicks off with Arizona hosting Green Bay on Fox and the NFL Network at 8:20 PM ET. The Cardinals remained unbeaten after their first seven games with their 31-5 victory against Houston as a 20.5-point favorite on Sunday. The Packers improved to 6-1 on the season with their 24-10 win against Washington as an 8.5-point favorite on Sunday. Arizona is a 6.5-point favorite with the total set at 50.5 (all odds from DraftKings).The college football season continues with two games between FBS opponents to begin of Week 9 at 7:30 PM ET. East Carolina plays at home against South Florida on ESPN. The Pirates lost their second in a row after a 31-24 loss in overtime at Houston as a 13.5-point underdog on Saturday. They have a 3-4 record this season. The Bulls ended a three-game losing streak with a 34-13 win against Temple as a 2-point favorite on Saturday. They improved their record to 2-5. East Carolina is a 10-point favorite with an over/under of 56. Coastal Carolina is at home against Troy on ESPN2. The Chanticleers lost for the first time in seven games this year with a 30-27 upset loss at Appalachian State as a 4.5-point favorite on Wednesday. The Trojans have won two in a row after their 31-28 victory at Texas State as a 7-point favorite on October 16th. They improved to 4-3 with the win. Coastal Carolina is a 17.5-point favorite, with the total at 51.5.Six games are on the docket in the National Basketball Association. Two games tip-off the card at 7:10 PM ET. Philadelphia hosts Detroit as a 10.5-point favorite. Atlanta visits Washington as a 1.5-point road favorite with a total of 222. Two more NBA games begin at 8:10 PM ET. Chicago plays at home against New York as a 2-point favorite with an over/under of 215. Utah travels to Houston as a 9-point road favorite with a total of 222.5. Dallas is at home against San Antonio at 8:40 PM ET as a 7-point favorite. Golden State hosts Memphis at 10:10 PM ET as a 5.5-point favorite with an over/under of 233. Nine games are on the slate in the National Hockey League. Three games drop the puck at 7:08 PM ET. Tampa Bay plays at home against Arizona as a -320 money line favorite with a total of 5.5. Pittsburgh is at home against Calgary as a -135 money line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. Carolina hosts Boston as a -135 money line favorite with a total of 6. Colorado visits St. Louis at 8:08 PM ET as a -125 money line road favorite with an over/under of 6. Two games start at 10:08 PM ET. Minnesota travels to Seattle as a -110 money line road favorite with a total of 5.5. Anaheim plays at home against Buffalo as a -135 money line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. Vancouver is at home against Philadelphia at 10:11 PM ET as a -115 money line favorite with a total of 6. Two games close out the card in the NHL at 10:41 PM ET. Winnipeg visits Los Angeles to play the Kings as a -115 money line road favorite with an over/under of 5.5. San Jose hosts Montreal as a -135 money line favorite with a total of 6.

NFL Week 8 Breakdown

by Will Rogers

Wednesday, Oct 27, 2021

BEST GAME – Green Bay at Arizona (-3.5)Green Bay 6-1 SU, 6-1 ATSArizona 7-0 SU, 6-1 ATSThe Packers and Aaron Rodgers haven’t exactly kissed and made up, but their marriage of accommodation appears to be holding firm through the first half of the schedule. Rodgers’s three TD passes and 274 yards through the air offset getting sacked three times by Washington on Sunday, and the Pack are putting some air between themselves and the rest of the NFC North. A lot of credit has to go to a more-than decent defense which held the WFT to three points on four second-half red zone trips. This, despite missing four starters. Whether GB can hold it together twice in five days will be interesting when the Packers hit the road Thursday night against the undefeated and dominant Cardinals. Arizona had the next-beat thing to a bye this past Sunday, with Houston in town, and will have a huge prep edge against Green Bay. This game also has the highest total (53.5) on the board, due no doubt to the Cardinals’ potent offense (7th in the NFL) going against what has to be a rubber-legged GB defense that may or may be near full strength.WORST GAME – Philadelphia at Detroit (+3)Philadelphia 2-5 SU, 3-4 ATSDetroit 0-7 SU, 4-3 ATSWith a 17-game schedule and an extra playoff team in the mix, five losses in seven games may not be the death sentence that it once was. But the Eagles have to right the ship, and fast, after an embarrassing and error-laden loss at Las Vegas. Simply put, Philly couldn’t move the ball until the fourth quarter when it didn’t matter. When your QB (Jalen Hurts) is also your leading rusher, there are problems. But the winless Lions don’t want to hear about anyone’s else’s issues, and it’s no consolation that Detroit has come close several times and actually has a better record ATS than 19 other teams in the NFL.BIGGEST SPREAD – Los Angeles Rams at Houston (+14.5)Los Angeles 6-1 SU, 4-3 ATSHouston 1-6 SU, 3-4 ATSTime for the Rams to make hay while the sun shines, because after this (Lions and Texans back to back) schedule respite, they have division leaders Tennessee, Green Bay and Arizona in three of the next four weeks. Yikes. So it’s imperative that LA – which had problems at home against the Lions and couldn’t put the game away until late – stays focused. All Houston is focused on, meantime, is whether or not Deshaun Watson will be traded. Houston’s defense is not the worst in the league, but the offense just can’t move the ball, leading books to make the Texans a huge home dog in this one.SMALLEST SPREAD – Dallas at Minnesota (+1.5)Dallas 5-1 SU, 6-0 ATS, 5-1 O/UMinnesota 3-3 SU, 3-3 ATS, 3-3 O/UAfter a long, dark period, things finally seem to be breaking right for the Boys. A bye week followed Dallas’s strenuous overtime victory over the Patriots in Foxboro, gave everyone time to heal before what should be a tight game in Minnesota. The Vikings have been a so-so team, losing close games to powerhouses Arizona and Cincinnati, and are only two possessions from being 5-1 instead of .500. But as Bill Parcells said, “You are what your record says you are,” so the Vikes really need this one badly if they are to make it a race in the NFC North. If things go south in the North this weekend, Minnesota could be three losses down to the Packers.SMALLEST TOTAL – San Francisco at Chicago (39.5)San Francisco 2-4 SU, 3-3 ATS, 3-3 O/UChicago 3-4 SU, 3-4 ATS, 1-6 O/UThis is the only game in the NFL so far this season with a total under 40, according to teamrankings.com, and it befits two teams whose offenses are struggling mightily and two quarterbacks who are having trouble getting their teams into the end zone. There are constant questions about SF’s Jimmy Garoppolo, and they are louder still today after what his coach said was his worst game of the season in a loss to Indianapolis. It’s doubtful that Justin Fields sympathizes much after turning the ball over five times (three INTs, two lost fumbles) and his Bears putting up only three points in a loss to Tampa Bay.

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