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Big Al's Daily Angle: NCAAF, MLB, NBA, WNBA, CFL, NHL and EPL Previews and Odds - 10/24/26

by Big Al Staff

Saturday, Oct 24, 2026

The Saturday sports card features NCAAF, MLB, NBA, NHL, CFL, WNBA, and EPL action. Week 8 in NCAAF college football concludes with 44 games between FBS opponents. Five NCAAF games on major national television kick off at noon ET. LSU travels on the road to play Auburn on ABC as a 7-point road favorite with the total set at 51.5 (all odds from DraftKings). TCU hosts West Virginia on ESPN2 as a 10.5-point favorite with an over/under of 57.5. Miami (FL) plays at home against Pittsburgh as a 19.5-point favorite with a total of 48.5. SMU is at home to take on California on The CW as an 18.5-point favorite with an over/under of 55.5. Indiana plays at Michigan on Fox as a 7.5-point road favorite with a total of 42.5.Three NCAAF games on major national television start at 3:30 p.m. ET. South Carolina hosts Tennessee on ESPN as a 2.5-point favorite with an over/under of 50.5. Alabama plays at home against Texas A&M on ABC as a 13.5-point favorite with a total of 50.5. UCLA is at home to face Michigan State as a 15.5-point favorite with an over/under of 44.5. Kansas State is on the road to battle Arizona State on ESPN2 at 3:45 p.m. ET as a 1.5-point road favorite with a total of 52.5. San Diego State visits Colorado State on The CW at 6:30 p.m. ET as a 1.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 60.5. Clemson hosts Virginia Tech on ESPN at 7:00 p.m. ET as a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 48.5. Three NCAAF games on major national television begin at 7:30 p.m. ET. USC plays at Wisconsin on NBC at 7:30 p.m. ET as a 3-point road favorite with an over/under of 49.5. Texas plays at home against Mississippi on ABC as a 3-point favorite with a total of 53.5. Arizona is at home to challenge Iowa State on ESPN2 as a 10.5-point favorite with an over/under of 51.5. New Mexico hosts North Dakota State on The CW at 10:00 p.m. ET as a 4.5-point favorite with a total of 40.5. Utah plays at home against Houston on ESPN at 10:15 p.m. ET as a 6.5-point favorite with an over/under of 57.5. The Major League Baseball postseason continues with Game 2 in the World Series. The Milwaukee Brewers are at home against the Tampa Bay Rays on Fox at 8:00 p.m. ET. The Brewers took the opening game of this best-of-seven series with their 5-2 victory on Friday. They send out Logan Henderson to duel against the Rays’ Drew Rasmussen. Milwaukee is a -127 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The National Basketball Association has eight games on its docket. The Miami Heat is on the road to play the Charlotte Hornets at 6:10 p.m. ET as a 3.5-point road favorite with a total of 231.5. Two NBA games tip off at 7:40 p.m. ET. The Cleveland Cavaliers host the Brooklyn Nets as an 11.5-point favorite with an over/under of 231.5. The Philadelphia 76ers play at home against the Milwaukee Bucks as a 12.5-point favorite with a total of 233.5. Two NBA games start at 8:10 p.m. ET. The Washington Wizards travel to Chicago to face the Bulls as a 1.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 243.5. The San Antonio Spurs play in Dallas to take on the Mavericks as a 12.5-point road favorite with a total of 230.5. The Atlanta Hawks are at home to challenge the Houston Rockets at 8:40 p.m. ET as a 1.5-point favorite with an over/under of 230.5. The Denver Nuggets host the New Orleans Pelicans at 9:10 p.m. ET as an 11.5-point favorite with a total of 237.5. The Phoenix Suns play at home against the Golden State Warriors at 10:10 p.m. ET as an 8.5-point favorite with an over/under of 220.5. The National Hockey League has 12 games on its slate. The Philadelphia Flyers are home to battle the Anaheim Ducks at 1:07  p.m. ET as a -122 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The New Jersey Devils host the Los Angeles Kings at 3:37 p.m. ET as a -166 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. Seven NHL games drop the puck at 7:07 p.m. ET. The Edmonton Oilers play at home against the Toronto Maple Leafs as a -180 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Boston Bruins are at home to play the San Jose Sharks as a -192 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Vegas Golden Knights are on the road to play in Columbus against the Blue Jackets as a -135 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The Ottawa Senators host the New York Rangers as a -122 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Carolina Hurricanes visit St. Louis to take on the Blues as a -155 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The Pittsburgh Penguins play at home against the Nashville Predators as a -142 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Washington Capitals are at home to take on the Buffalo Sabres as a -125 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Utah Mammoth hosts the Tampa Bay Lightning hosts the Tampa Bay Lightning at 9:07 p.m. ET as a -142 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. Two more games conclude the NHL card at 10:07 p.m. ET. The Minnesota Wild play in Seattle against the Kraken as a -155 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The Detroit Red Wings are on the road in Calgary to challenge the Flames as a -148 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The WNBA continues its postseason with Game 4 of the best-of-seven finals series. The Atlanta Dream plays at home against the Golden State Valkyries on NBC at 1:00 p.m. ET. The Dream took a 2-1 series lead with their 97-71 win at home as a 4.5-point favorite on Wednesday. Atlanta is a 4.5-point favorite with a total of 153.5. Week 21 in the Canadian Football League concludes with two games at 3:00 p.m. ET. The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are at home to play the Ottawa Senators as a 4.5-point favorite with an over/under of 58.5. The Saskatchewan Roughriders host the Edmonton Elks as a 1.5-point favorite with a total of 50.5.Matchweek 8 in the English Premier League continues with four matches. Manchester City travels to Aston Villa on the USA Network at 7:30 a.m. ET as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with an over/under of 3.5. Two EPL games begin at 10:00 a.m. ET. Arsenal plays at home against Everton on the USA Network as a -1.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5. Fulham plays at Coventry City as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Chelsea is at home to face Tottenham as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 3.5.

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2026 World Series: Rays vs. Brewers Tale Of The Tape

by Vegas Writer

Friday, Oct 23, 2026

A first championship awaits either the Milwaukee Brewers or the Tampa Bay Rays, two franchises whose limited head-to-head history is about to give way to their most consequential meeting.Milwaukee finished 103-59, the best in MLB, while Tampa Bay went 98-64 to secure the American League’s top seed. The Brewers are making their second World Series appearance and first since losing to St. Louis in seven games in 1982. The Rays return for the third time after falling to Philadelphia in five games in 2008 and the Dodgers in six in 2020.The Brewers hold a 15-13 all-time series lead, including two wins in three meetings this season. All three games were played in Milwaukee from March 30 through April 1. Tampa Bay won the opener 3-2, then the Brewers answered with 6-2 and 8-2 wins, outscoring the Rays 16-7 overall.Both teams also succeeded against the opposite league. Milwaukee went 32-16 against American League opponents, tying Pittsburgh for baseball’s best interleague record. Tampa Bay finished 27-21 against National League competition.Now comes a matchup between Milwaukee’s offensive depth and powerful bullpen and Tampa Bay’s established rotation and exceptional defense, with one franchise guaranteed to celebrate its first World Series title.Here is the Tale of the Tape of the 2026 World SeriesSTARTING PITCHINGBrewers: Jacob Misiorowski has the highest individual ceiling in the series. He led the majors in ERA and strikeouts during the regular season, and his triple-digit fastball can overwhelm hitters even when they know it is coming. The concern is efficiency. Misiorowski failed to complete five innings in either of his first two postseason starts. Tampa Bay doesn't have to score early to beat him; extending at-bats and increasing his pitch count could change the game. Logan Henderson finished the regular season with a 2.47 ERA and 0.84 WHIP, while Robert Gasser has allowed one earned run in nine postseason innings. Milwaukee has quality beyond its ace, but needs more length.Rays: Drew Rasmussen, Freddy Peralta and Nick Martinez give the Rays a more established front three. Rasmussen posted a 2.67 ERA and 0.91 WHIP during the regular season. Peralta enters the postseason with a 1.08 ERA over 16.2 innings, while Martinez posted a 3.10 ERA in the regular season. Starting Martinez in Game 1 also gives Rasmussen and Peralta additional rest. The tradeoff is asking Martinez to handle Milwaukee’s lineup opposite its most overpowering starter. Milwaukee’s addition of Brandon Woodruff creates another option, but his absence from major league competition since July 4 makes his contribution difficult to project.EDGE: TAMPA BAY ... While the Brewers have the most intimidating individual arm. The Rays offer greater confidence across multiple starting assignments.BULLPENBrewers: This is Milwaukee's strongest category. Its bullpen enters with a 1.33 postseason ERA, and Aaron Ashby, Abner Uribe, Trevor Megill, DL Hall and JoJo Romero give Pat Murphy several ways to handle trouble. Ashby’s ability to cover multiple innings is particularly valuable. He can bridge an abbreviated start without forcing Murphy to use a different pitcher every inning. Uribe supplies strikeout potential with runners aboard, while Megill gives Milwaukee a dependable finish. The versatility matters against Tampa Bay’s lineup. Murphy can attack its most dangerous hitters when they appear, even if that confrontation comes well before the ninth inning.Rays: Bryan Baker can match almost anyone in the late innings. He posted a 1.44 regular-season ERA and 41 saves, giving the Rays a reliable option to protect a late lead. Ian Seymour supplies length and a different look from the left side. Tampa Bay can also change arm angles and speeds instead of repeatedly facing similar power pitchers. The Rays’ best strategy is to make this a short bullpen assignment. Their starters must limit the number of outs required before Baker.EDGE: MILWAUKEE ... The Brewers have more attractive options across more situations. Tampa Bay can narrow that advantage by winning the starting-pitching battle.HITTINGBrewers: Milwaukee can build an inning without waiting for a home run. Their patience, contact and baserunning force opponents to execute repeatedly. William Contreras enters batting .367 with three postseason homers. Jake Bauers has delivered productive, extended plate appearances, while Brice Turang and Jackson Chourio add threats. Chourio represents a key opportunity for improvement. Milwaukee reached this point despite his 6-for-35 postseason performance. If he starts producing closer to his potential, an already difficult lineup becomes much harder to navigate. The Brewers must capitalize on hittable strikes. Waiting out Tampa Bay’s pitchers becomes less productive if they consistently establish favorable counts.Rays: Junior Caminero is the Rays’ most imposing individual power threat, hitting 42 regular-season homers. Yandy Díaz brings a .905 postseason OPS, while Jonathan Aranda adds another substantial run-producing bat. Tampa Bay also finished with the lowest regular-season strikeout rate in baseball. That makes its confrontation with Milwaukee’s power arms especially compelling. Putting difficult pitches into play can extend innings, advance runners and increase defensive pressure. The concern is how much responsibility falls on the primary run producers. The Rays need contributions around them to keep Murphy from stacking his preferred relief matchups against the same part of the lineup.EDGE: MILWAUKEE (slightly) ... I prefer the Brewers’ distribution of offensive threats. Tampa Bay has enough top-end impact to quickly erase that advantage.DEFENSEBrewers: Turang anchors the middle infield, while Joey Ortiz, Cooper Pratt and an athletic outfield give Milwaukee strong defensive personnel. Ortiz finished the regular season with eight outs above average at third base. Against Tampa Bay’s speed, sound decisions will matter as much as range. Holding a ball when an out is unavailable can keep a difficult inning from becoming damaging.Rays:  The Rays excel at converting contact into outs. Opponents hit .379 on hard-hit balls that remained in play, the best defensive result of the Statcast era. Taylor Walls supplies substantial value at shortstop, while Tampa Bay’s outfield range can erase potential extra-base hits. That directly challenges Milwaukee’s approach at the plate. The Brewers might execute a productive plate appearance and still get nothing if Tampa Bay consistently closes the available gaps.EDGE: TAMPA BAY ... The Rays’ ability to take hits away could be decisive in games with limited scoring opportunities.INTANGIBLESBrewers: The Brewers won 103 regular-season games and enter the series 4-0 at home this postseason. They averaged an MLB-leading 5.5 runs per home game during the regular season. Home field matters: Milwaukee gets the final at-bat in four potential games, including Games 6 and 7. The extended break after the NLCS also allowed its heavily used bullpen to recover.Rays: The Rays have just navigated a six-game ALCS against Cleveland after sweeping the Yankees. They have recently handled the adjustments and pressure of a longer series. Their opportunity is to capitalize immediately if Milwaukee needs time to regain its offensive timing. An opening split would give Tampa Bay a favorable three-game stretch.EDGE: MILWAUKEE (slightly) ... Home field and a rested bullpen give the Brewers the more tangible advantages.COACHINGBrewers: Murphy has the bullpen personnel to manage aggressively. He can prioritize the most dangerous confrontation instead of reserving every important arm for a specific inning. His toughest assignment is balancing today’s need against tomorrow’s availability. Repeatedly using several premium relievers to cover short starts could become costly during the three-game stretch in Tampa Bay.Rays: Kevin Cash brings previous World Series managerial experience and a roster suited to matchup decisions, defensive substitutions and changes in pitching style. His most consequential decisions could involve how long to trust an effective starter. Removing one too early could expose the middle relief; waiting too long could allow Milwaukee to turn a patient inning into a breakthrough.EDGE: EVEN ... Cash has the World Series experience. Murphy has greater bullpen flexibility. Both have the personnel to influence a close game beyond the starting lineup.OVERALL PREDICTION: MILWAUKEE IN SEVEN GAMESTampa Bay has a convincing championship formula: quality starts, exceptional defense and timely production from Caminero, Díaz and Aranda. That combination should keep the Rays competitive throughout the series. Milwaukee gets my selection because its lineup offers more avenues to sustained pressure and its bullpen provides more ways to protect a narrow advantage. The deciding variable is starting-pitcher length. If Tampa Bay repeatedly forces Milwaukee into relief before the fifth inning, the Rays can gradually undermine the Brewers’ greatest strength. Milwaukee needs enough efficient innings from Misiorowski, Henderson and Gasser to keep Murphy’s preferred options available. I expect both teams to win games through pitching and execution, with neither establishing lasting control. In a deciding game at Milwaukee, I trust the Brewers’ relief depth and final at-bat to make the difference.PREDICTION: BREWERS 4, RAYS 3.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: MLB, NCAAF, NHL, NBA, CFL, and EPL Previews and Odds - 10/23/26

by Big Al Staff

Friday, Oct 23, 2026

The Friday sports card features NCAAF, MLB, NBA, NHL, CFL, and EPL action. Week 8 in NCAAF college football continues with five games between FBS opponents. Two NCAAF games kick off at 7:00 p.m. ET. Virginia hosts Duke as a 2.5-point favorite with the total set at 46.5 (all odds from DraftKings). Connecticut plays at home against Massachusetts on the CBS Sports Network as a 14.5-point favorite with an over/under of 50.5. Tulsa is at home to take on Army on ESPN2 at 8:30 p.m. ET as a 1.5-point favorite with a total of 54.5. Air Force travels on the road to take on Wyoming on the CW as a 5.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 44.5. North Carolina State plays at Stanford on ESPN at 10:30 p.m. ET as a 6.5-point road favorite with a total of 56.5. The Major League Baseball postseason continues with Game 1 in the World Series. The Milwaukee Brewers host the Tampa Bay Rays on Fox at 8:00 p.m. ET. The Brewers send out Jacob Misiorowski to duel against the Rays’ Nick Martinez. Milwaukee is a -101 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The National Basketball Association has 12 games on its docket. The Milwaukee Bucks play at home against the Chicago Bulls at 4:10 p.m. ET as a 1.5-point favorite with a total of 237.5. Five more NBA games tip off at 7:10 p.m. ET. The Indiana Pacers are at home to battle the Dallas Mavericks as a 5.5-point favorite with an over/under of 236.5. The Minnesota Timberwolves are on the road in Orlando to challenge the Magic as a 1.5-point road favorite with a total of 235.5. The Toronto Raptors visit Washington to play the Wizards as a 5.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 236.5. The Atlanta Hawks play in Charlotte against the Hornets as a 2.5-point road favorite with a total of 225.5. The Boston Celtics host the New York Knicks on Amazon Prime as a 2.5-point favorite with an over/under of 224.5. The Detroit Pistons are on the road in Miami to play the Heat at 8:10 p.m. ET as a 1.5-point road favorite with a total of 237.5. Two more NBA games start at 9:40 p.m. ET. The Utah Jazz play at home against the New Orleans Pelicans as a 2.5-point favorite with an over/under of 238.5. The San Antonio Spurs are at home to face the Houston Rockets on Amazon Prime as a 5.5-point favorite with a total of 238.5. Three games conclude the NBA card at 10:10 p.m. ET. The Los Angeles Lakers host the Los Angeles Clippers as a 9.5-point favorite with an over/under of 228.5. The Portland Trail Blazers travel to Sacramento to face the Kings as a 7.5-point road favorite with a total of 232.5. The Golden State Warriors play at home against the Memphis Grizzlies as a 3.5-point favorite with an over/under of 235.5. The National Hockey League has two games on its slate. The Montreal Canadiens play in Chicago against the Blackhawks at 8:07 p.m. ET as a -142 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The Colorado Avalanche are at home to battle the Tampa Bay Lightning at 9:07 p.m. ET as a -125 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. Week 21 in the Canadian Football League kicks off with two games. The Montreal Alouettes are on the road in Toronto to challenge the Argonauts at 7:00 p.m. ET as a 3-point road favorite with a total of 50.5. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers visit British Columbia to play the Lions at 10:00 p.m. ET as a 7-point road favorite with an over/under of 53.5. Matchweek 8 in the English Premier League begins with one match. Nottingham Forest plays at Ipswich Town on the USA Network at 3:00 p.m. ET as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with a total of 2.5.

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Big Al's Breeders Cup Juvenile Preview

by Al McMordie

Thursday, Oct 22, 2026

The Breeders Cup Juvenile is one of the most exciting races of Championship Weekend and the most important race to be contested on Friday when all the Breeders Cup races feature the two-year-olds.  It's our first big look at the leading contenders for the next year's Kentucky Derby but this year's Juvenile will be a bit different.  The horse who most people consider the leading two-year-old Colt at this point -- U.S.S Valor -- is skipping the BC Juvenile because his trainer, Claude R. "Shug" McGaughey, wants a longer on-ramp to the Derby and doesn't consider the timing of the Breeders Cup to be optimal.  Simply put, the connections of the best two-year-old in the country feel there is a better path to success in 2027.  And the Juvenile hasn't proven to be a crucial stepping stone to the Derby anyway, as the last Juvenile winner to wear the Blanket of Roses the following May was Nyquist in 2015.   Just because U.S.S. Valor won't be running doesn't make this race any less compelling, There are some major players in here -- likely two from Bob Baffert and Todd Pletcher and one each from Brad Cox and Chad Brown.  Below is a preview of some of the horses we feel will be the major players when the Juvenile Colts go post-ward in Race 9 (approximately 4:55 pm ET) on Friday, October 30 at Keeneland Race Course.   Hughes:  Surprise, surprise -- One of the favorites in this year's Breeders Cup Juvenile will be a well-bred colt trained by Bob Baffert.  This son of leading sire Into Mischief is venturing away from the West Coast for the first time but that hasn't prevented Baffert from winning this race before.  And Hughes has done nothing wrong in his young career, winning all four of his California races, including the Grade 1 American Pharoah and Del Mar Futurity.  Regular rider Juan Hernandez should travel east for the mount.   American History:  This lightly-raced son of Constitution is one of two colts trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher who are pointed for the Juvenile.  American History has only raced twice coming into the Breeders Cup but both of those have been impressive wins.  His latest score was right here at Keeneland in the Grade 1 Breeders Futurity when he beat the highly-regarded Coach Pope on October 3.  Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez has won this race twice previously, most recently in 2023 with the Pletcher-trained Fierceness.   Gaudreau:  Although U.S.S. Valor is skipping the BC Juvenile, the horse who finished second to him in the Champagne Stakes will be here.  Gaudreau is a speedy colt trained by Chad Brown and after beating both U.S.S. Valor and Coach Pope in his debut maiden race, U.S.S. Valor flipped the script on him in the Champagne at Belmont on October 3.  It remains to be seen how Gaudreau will do around two turns and if he is perhaps better suited to sprint races, but the connections feel he's earned the right to be here.  Named for a former NHL star who tragically passed away, Gaudreau's sire Nyquist (also named for an NHL player) is the last horse to complete the Juvenile-Kentucky Derby double.   Coach Pope:  This son of Tapit trained by Kenny McPeek was thought to be the top two-year-old racing on the Kentucky Circuit until he was upset by American History in the 1 1/16 mile Breeders Futurity right here at Keeneland.  Coach Pope will look to turn the tables on American History in the Juvenile as McPeek looks for his second victory in the Breeders Cup (he took home the Distaff trophy in 2024 with the great race filly Thorpedo Anna).  Red-hot jockey Jose Ortiz will have to decide between this one and the Baffert horse Salahudin (see below).   Salahudin:  Here is the second likely Bob Baffert-trained participant in the Juvenile.  Like his stablemate Hughes, this son of Uncle Mo has done nothing wrong so far, winning all three of his starts.  But unlike Hughes, when Baffert decided to keep a string of horses in Kentucky this Spring for the first time, he brought this one with him, so Salahudin has all of his race experience here in the state (although he has yet to race at Keeneland).  Salahudin has also improved his speed figure with each race.  This speedy colt is owned by Amr Zedan who campaigned Medina Spirit -- famous for crossing finishing line first in the 2021 Kentucky Derby but who was later DQ'd for a drug violation.   QB Rocket:  Trainer Brad Cox is usually loaded with two-year-old prospects this time of year but for whatever reason his barn feels a little light in 2026.  The best of his Juveniles at this point is this son of Gun Runner who has only raced twice coming into the Breeders Cup.  After breaking his maiden over the summer at Saratoga, QB Rocket got into a bit of a speed duel with Coach Pope in his second start in the Breeders Futurity here at Keeneland and ended up finishing third.  Look for jockey Junior Alvarado to be a little more patient today as QB Rocket's pedigree suggests he should have no problem with the 1 1/16 mile distance.  You'll get a very nice price on him as well.Good luck, as always,Al McMordie

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NFL, NCAAF, NBA and NHL Previews and Odds - 10/22/2026

by Big Al Staff

Thursday, Oct 22, 2026

The Thursday sports card features NFL, NCAAF, NBA, and NHL action.Week 7 in the National Football League kicks off with one game. The Chicago Bears host the New England Patriots on Amazon Prime at 8:15 p.m. ET as a 3-point road favorite with the total set at 50.5 (all odds from DraftKings). Week 8 in NCAAF college football continues with three games between FBS opponents. Two NCAAF games start at 7:00 p.m. ET. James Madison travels to Appalachian State on ESPNU as an 11.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 56.5. Liberty plays at Kennesaw State on the CBS Sports Network as a 9.5-point road favorite with a total of 50.5. Memphis plays at home against East Carolina on ESPN2 at 7:30 p.m. ET as a 10.5-point favorite with an over/under of 54.5. The National Basketball Association has two games on its docket on ESPN. The Philadelphia 76ers are at home to take on the Cleveland Cavaliers as a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 235.5. The Oklahoma City Thunder host the Denver Nuggets at 9:10 p.m. ET as an 8.5-point favorite with an over/under of 235.5. The National Hockey League has 12 games on its slate. Five NHL games drop the puck at 7:07 p.m. ET. The New York Rangers are on the road to face the Toronto Maple Leafs as a -112 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The New Jersey Devils play at home against the Anaheim Ducks as a -198 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Pittsburgh Penguins are at home to face the Florida Panthers as a -115 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Ottawa Senators host the San Jose Sharks as a -135 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Boston Bruins play at home against the Nashville Predators as a -155 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The New York Islanders are at home to battle the Los Angeles Kings at 7:37 p.m. ET as a -115 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. Two more NHL games begin at 8:07 p.m. ET. The Vegas Golden Knights visit St. Louis to battle the Blues as a -120 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The Dallas Stars host the Winnipeg Jets as a -205 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. Two NHL games start at 9:07 p.m. ET. The Minnesota Wild play in Calgary against the Flames as a -205 money-line road favorite with a total of 5.5. The Carolina Hurricanes are on the road in Edmonton to challenge the Oilers as a -118 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. Two more games conclude the NHL card at 10:07 p.m. ET. The Utah Mammoth travel to Seattle to play the Kraken as a -162 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The Detroit Red Wings play in Vancouver against the Canucks as a -170 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NCAAF, NBA, NHL, WNBA and UEFA Champions League Previews and Odds - 10/21/26

by Big Al Staff

Wednesday, Oct 21, 2026

The Wednesday sports card features NCAAF, NBA, NHL, WNBA, and UEFA Champions League action. Week 8 in NCAAF college football continues with one game between FBS opponents. New Mexico State travels on the road to play Sam Houston on ESPN2 as a 2.5-point road favorite with the total set at 44.5 (all odds from DraftKings). The National Basketball Association has 11 games on its docket. Two NBA games tip off at 7:10 p.m. ET. The Washington Wizards host the Milwaukee Bucks as a 4.5-point favorite with an over/under of 239.5. The Orlando Magic plays at home against the Atlanta Hawks as a 3.5-point favorite with a total of 235.5. Three NBA games start at 7:40 p.m. ET. The Toronto Raptors are at home to take on the Chicago Bulls as a 9.5-point favorite with an over/under of 236.5. The Brooklyn Nets host the Charlotte Hornets as a 1.5-point favorite with a total of 218.5. The Miami Heat plays at home against the Minnesota Timberwolves on ESPN as a 1.5-point favorite with an over/under of 242.5. Two NBA games begin at 8:10 p.m. ET. The Memphis Grizzlies are at home to face the Utah Jazz as a 1.5-point favorite with a total of 239.5. The Indiana Pacers play in New Orleans against the Pelicans as a 3.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 239.5. The Houston Rockets host the Dallas Mavericks at 8:40 p.m. ET as a 9.5-point favorite with a total of 229.5. Two NBA games start at 10:10 p.m. ET. The Portland Trail Blazers play at home against the Phoenix Suns as a 2.5-point favorite with an over/under of 231.5. The Los Angeles Lakers are at home to challenge the Golden State Warriors on ESPN as a 6.5-point favorite with a total of 235.5. The Los Angeles Clippers host the Sacramento Kings at 10:40 p.m. ET as a 4.5-point favorite with an over/under of 228.5. The National Hockey League has two games on its slate at 7:37 p.m. ET. The Buffalo Sabres play at home against the Philadelphia Flyers on TNT as a -185 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Florida Panthers are on the road in Ottawa to battle the Senators as a -112 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The WNBA continues its postseason with Game 3 of the best-of-seven finals series. The Atlanta Dream are at home against the Golden State Valkyries on the USA Network at 8:10 p.m. ET. The Dream evened this series at 1-1 with a 79-65 upset victory as a 1.5-point underdog on the road in Golden State on Monday. Atlanta is a 3.5-point favorite with a total of 151.5. Matchday 3 in the UEFA Champions League concludes with nine league phase matches. Two games start at 12:45 p.m. ET. Como hosts Manchester United as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 3.5. Lille plays at home against Galatasaray as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5.Six matches conclude the UCL card at 3 p.m. ET. Aston Villa is at home to take on Viking FK as a -2.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 3.5. Bayern Munich hosts Arsenal as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 3.5. Club Brugge plays at home against Lens as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 3.5. Inter Milan are at home to face Shakhtar Donetsk on the CBS Sports Network as a -2.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 3.5. Real Betis host Feyenoord as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 3.5. Real Madrid plays at home against RB Leipzig as a -2.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 4.5. Sporting CP is at home to battle LASK Linz as a -2.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 3.5. All nine Champions League matches are available on Paramount+.   

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NCAA FB Totals Numbers This Season- What Comes Next?

by Kyle Hunter

Tuesday, Oct 20, 2026

NCAA FB Totals Numbers Year to Date- What Comes Next?We are more than halfway through the college football season. For huge college football fans like myself that is a sad reality. Still, we need to enjoy all the games have remaining. I want to take a look at what the overall college football totals landscape has looked like so far this season. Where might we go next?Year To Date266 Overs (52.36%) 242 Unders (47.64%)Last 30 Days170 Overs 153 Unders The over has had the edge this season thus far. It makes sense when you see that favorites have covered 53% of the time this season. The favorite and over are fairly correlated in the long haul. Now, we are entering week eight of the season, and we are in late October. I think that totals bettors need to remember a couple key factors the rest of the way. The weather will turn worse in many parts of the country in coming weeks. We will have the cold weather fronts moving through that can cause high winds and even rain/snow at the same time. Wind is the primary factor you should look for, but the combination of wind and precipitation really changes the game in a big way. I don’t see many games like that this weekend, but a weekend is coming soon when you’ll need to know the weather forecasts very well. These windy games trend toward the under. That is even more the case in games where it is two teams who generally throw the ball, and now they aren’t able to do what they want to do on offense. The high total windy unders between passing teams are some of my favorite wagers. Remember that some teams will be less motivated down the stretch. We might not quite be to that point yet, but there will be some teams quitting in the next two or three weeks. They can’t match their preseason goals and feel they have nothing to play for now. These teams are very tricky to bet totals on since they might not have the effort when it comes to tackling either. I think the under will probably do better than the over the rest of the way, but look for specific spots where there could be the most value. Don’t just blindly bet unders to see if it comes back to 50/50. 

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NBA Four Season Win Total Picks

by Kyle Hunter

Tuesday, Oct 20, 2026

NBA Season Win Totals- Four Win Totals to ConsiderThe NBA is back! It comes around quickly, and this is a long season. Be ready for every team to have its highs and lows. I wanted to take a look at four season win total wagers to consider for the season ahead. Portland Blazers under 41.5- The Portland Blazers were a surprise last year. They went 42-40,  but had a negative point differential for the season. Can Damian Lillard be the same in his upper 30’s and coming off a major injury? Portland now has a lot of guys who are accustomed to having the basketball all the time. This is going to be a big adjustment. Sharpe was one of their best players last year and he is out until March. There are plenty of guys on this roster who are name brands now, but the Western Conference is deep and I think they slip. New York Knicks under 52.5- The New York Knicks had a fantastic season last year. It was fun to see them make a run and win the title. I think it will be tough for them to have the same sort of luck they had throughout the season last year. The Knicks are an older roster, and last season they were the healthiest team in the NBA. Can nearly everyone stay healthy again this season? The odds are against that happening once again. Mitchell Robinson wasn’t good on offense, but they’ll miss his defense. The Knicks are very thin in the frontcourt now. Cleveland Cavaliers over 48.5- The Cleveland Cavaliers might not be built for a long postseason run, but I think they are built to win a lot of regular season games. Cleveland doesn’t have good perimeter defenders, but that primarily matters in the postseason when the games mean more to the top teams. Cleveland does have a lot of scoring options, and they are likely to get on some hot stretches through the season. Utah Jazz under 38.5- The Utah Jazz do have a good home court advantage, but this team has too many holes. Utah relies far too much on a couple guys to carry them on a nightly basis. This team lacks the depth that most of the teams in the Western Conference have as far as scoring options. I think this is a few wins too high.

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ASA's NBA Futures Betting Preview - 2026-27

by ASA, Inc.

Tuesday, Oct 20, 2026

NBA Futures Betting Preview - 2026-27 With the NBA’s new anti-tanking rules in place for the 2026-27 season (the “3-2-1” lottery system that puts the three worst teams in a relegation zone with reduced odds), late-season tanking should largely disappear. Teams now have far less incentive to lose on purpose, and most franchises have already internalized a more practical lesson from last year: keeping your core healthy and available matters far more than chasing home-court advantage in the playoffs. The best-positioned clubs are the ones that can stay relatively intact for 82 games and still have something left in the tank for the postseason. Here are our top futures leans heading into the season: WESTERN CONFERENCE San Antonio Spurs UNDER 60.5 Total Wins The combination of a target on their backs, regression in close games, and any dip in availability makes 61+ a high bar for the Spurs in 2026-27. San Antonio won 62 games a year ago with a +8.3 points per game scoring differential. The Spurs were 6th in offensive efficiency at 1.144PPP, 3rd in defensive efficiency at 1.067PPP allowed. The Spurs notched 8 wins last season by one possession games, 6 wins by two. If a few of those wins go against them this season, they won’t get to 61 or more. You also have to be concerned about Wemby’s durability or health for the full season (played 64 of 82 regular season games a year ago) and whether San Antonio take a cautious approach and protect him for another deep playoff run. San Antonio also had the 2nd lowest games missed by starters last season at 131 so if they suffer some unfortunate injuries, it could limit their win total.    Dallas Mavericks OVER 34.5 Total Wins The Mavericks have a very intriguing starting lineup with three former #1 picks in the NBA draft on the roster. The return of (#1 pick) PG Kyrie Irving (missed all of last season) and C Derek Lively II (played 7 games) from injury along with former #1 pick Zaccharie Risacher, (#1 pick) Cooper Flagg and PJ Washington give the Mavs a formidable starting lineup. Lively will be out to start the season but they have a vet rim protector in Daniel Gafford in his absence. They also have scoring off the bench with Naji Marshall, Max Christie and Santi Aldama. Dallas has a new head coach in former Michigan coach Dusty May who won 83.1% of his games in two years at UM. His style is modern and will translate to the NBA. His offenses make sense mathematically. He has shown he can adapt to different personnel. Players seem to buy into him, and his college teams already looked more like NBA teams than most. Dallas had 35 unique starting lineups in 2025-26 as heavy injury issues, plus lineup experimentation led to constant shuffling of the starting five. Dallas was 29th in defensive efficiency a year ago at 1.166PPP allowed but will be better on that end of the court with Risacher and Lively in the lineup. The Mavs offense is instantly better with Irving and will produce more than the 1.112PPP (27th) it averaged last season.  EASTERN CONFERENCE Boston Celtics OVER 50.5 Total Wins The Celtics are quietly flying under the radar in the Eastern Conference right now with all the “noise” surrounding the LeBron/76ers, Heat/Giannis and Raptors/Kawhi. Not to mention the Washington Wizards and the trades they made last season for Tray Young and Anthony Davis. Boston shipped Jaylen Brown (good riddance) to the 76ers for vet Paul George and handed the keys to the team to Jayson Tatum. Brown wasn’t well liked in the locker room and caused some friction with Tatum as he felt he was the #1 guy on the roster. Ask yourself why, despite Stevens/Celtics trading away an All-Star who averaged 28.7ppg last season along with 6.9 rebounds, Boston’s win total O/U is 4th highest in the league. Tatum looks healthy and the additions of Paul George and Mitchell Robinson fit perfectly with what the Celtics want to do moving forward. The older George can still shoot/score and has not problem deferring to Tatum as “the guy”. Derrick White does everything well, Pritchard is a proven scorer off the bench, and the combination of Robinson/Queta will dominate the glass. Then add in the fact that the Celtics have great 3-point shooting with Hauser and Scheiermam. Boston was the 9th best 3PT% team in the league a year ago at 36.4% on the 3rd most attempts per game at 42.5. They were the 2nd most efficient offense in the league at 1.208 points per possession and ranked 4th in defensive efficiency.  New York Knicks UNDER 52.5 Total Wins Much like our preview on the Spurs, the Knicks will have a target on their backs and get everyone’s best shot as the reigning NBA Champions. New York decided to run-it back this season with essentially the same lineup from a team that won 53 games in the regular season a year ago. The Knicks had the 3rd fewest missed games to injury overall a year ago, which clearly had a positive impact on their Championship run. We see New York employing a similar strategy to last year’s model which was stay healthy, win enough games to secure home court in the first round and take your chances from there. The Knicks were 7th in DEFF and the 3rd most efficient offense in 2025-26. In the regular season the Knicks had the 5th best scoring differential at +6.3ppg. Don’t get us wrong, we like this Knicks roster of Brunson, Hart, Bridges, Anunoby and Anthony-Towns, but this year they go from being the hunters to the hunted and we don’t see them getting to 52 or more total wins.  Other considerations:  Under 43.5 Wins Orlando Magic: The entire Eastern Conference is better this season, and the Magic won 45 games a year ago against lesser competition. The Magic had an average +/- of plus +0.6ppg – 17th in the NBA. We don’t see them getting 40+ wins this season. Under 40.5 Wins Golden State Warriors: This aging roster will have a tough time improving on 37 wins from a year ago. Jimmy Butler will miss a portion of the season, Porzingis is MIA and Steph Curry only played 43 games a year ago. The Warriors had an average scoring differential of minus -0.6ppg. This looks like the end of the dynasty. NBA Champions:  San Antonio Spurs +250 – It became clear last season during the Western Conference Finals that the Spurs have a roster built to beat OKC. San Antonio beat the Thunder in 4 of five regular season games (Including the NBA Cup) and 4 of seven in the playoffs. The young Spurs may not win 60 regular season games but they don’t need to for another WC Title. San Antonio had the 2nd best efficiency differential a year ago at +8.3 and a year of maturity should make them better in 2026-27. The challengers in the West will be the Nuggets, Thunder, Rockets and Timberwolves but we don’t see those teams usurping the Spurs and their title run. 

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, UEFA Champions League and NCAAF Previews and Odds - 10/20/26

by Big Al Staff

Tuesday, Oct 20, 2026

The Tuesday sports card features NCAAF, NBA, NHL, and UEFA Champions League action. Week 8 in NCAAF college football kicks off with three games between FBS opponents. Two NCAAF games start at 7:00 p.m. ET. Florida International hosts Middle Tennessee on the CBS Sports Network as a 10-point favorite with the total set at 45.5 (all odds from DraftKings). Delaware plays at home against Missouri State on ESPNU as a 3-point favorite with an over/under of 52.5. South Alabama travels on the road to play Marshall on ESPN2 at 7:30 p.m. ET as a 3-point road favorite with a total of 65.5.The National Basketball Association regular season tips off with three games on NBC. The Boston Celtics play in Detroit against the Pistons at 3:00 p.m. ET as a 1.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 221.5. The New York Knicks are at home to take on the Philadelphia 76ers at 7:00 p.m. ET as a 4.5-point favorite with a total of 232.5. The San Antonio Spurs host the Oklahoma City Thunder at 9:00 p.m. ET as a 1.5-point favorite with an over/under of 231.5. The National Hockey League has 11 games on its slate. Five NHL games drop the puck at 7:10 p.m. ET. The Montreal Canadiens play at home against the San Jose Sharks as a -205 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Washington Capitals are at home to face the Los Angeles Kings as a -166 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Columbus Blue Jackets host the Toronto Maple Leafs as a -162 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The New York Islanders play at home against the Anaheim Ducks as a -155 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Colorado Avalanche are on the road in New Jersey to challenge the Devils as a -115 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. Two NHL games start at 8:10 p.m. ET. The Dallas Stars are at home to battle the Boston Bruins on ESPN as a -170 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The St. Louis Blues host the Winnipeg Jets as a  -148 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Edmonton Oilers play at home against the Minnesota Wild at 9:10 p.m. ET as a -130 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Seattle Kraken are at home to play the Detroit Red Wings at 9:50 p.m. ET as a -115 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Carolina Hurricanes visit Vancouver to face the Canucks as a -290 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Vegas Golden Knights host the Tampa Bay Lightning on ESPN at 10:40 p.m. ET as a -115 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. Matchday 3 in the UEFA Champions League begins with nine league phase matches. Two games start at 12:45 p.m. ET. Fenerbahce plays at home against Slavia Prague as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 3.5. Borussia Dortmund plays at Sabah HK as a -1.5 goal-line road favorite with a total of 3.5. Six matches conclude the UCL card at 3 p.m. ET. AS Roma is at home to take on Slovan Bratislava as a -2.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 3.5. FC Porto hosts PSV Eindhoven as a -1.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 3.5. Liverpool plays at home against Villarreal as a -1.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 3.5. Manchester City is at home to challenge AEK Athens as a -2.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 3.5. Napoli hosts Bodo/Glimt as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 3.5. Paris Saint-Germain plays at home against Barcelona as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 4.5. Atletico Madrid is on the road to challenge VfB Stuttgart as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with an over/under of 3.5. All nine Champions League matches are available on Paramount+.

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Five Defining NFL Observations Through Week 6

by Vegas Writer

Tuesday, Oct 20, 2026

Six weeks into the NFL season, the standings are revealing separation in some places and considerable uncertainty in others.Kansas City remains unbeaten, Cleveland has pulled into a three-team tie atop the AFC North, and Houston has followed four consecutive losses with two victories. The NFC East, meanwhile, went through another week without producing a winner.The more useful distinctions involve how those results developed. Denver survived Thursday despite limited offensive production. C.J. Stroud delivered another efficient performance for Houston. Las Vegas competed with Buffalo but surrendered opportunities that could have changed the outcome. San Francisco dominated Washington early Monday, then needed its defense to preserve an unbeaten record.Those performances offer evidence of sustainable strengths, emerging weaknesses and the consequences of personnel losses.These are five observations from Week 6, played Oct. 15-19, examining what the results suggest about the weeks ahead.1. Kansas City’s balance is creating separation in an AFC West with sharply different offensive problemsKansas City’s 22-6 victory over the Chargers reinforced why the Chiefs have established the AFC West’s strongest position.Kenneth Walker III rushed for 128 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries, for four 100-yard runs in five games. Kansas City improved to 5-0 overall and 3-0 against divisional opponents.The defense complemented that production with four sacks and two takeaways. The Chiefs have forced multiple turnovers in four of their five games, providing recurring opportunities to shorten the field or end an opponent’s scoring threat.Denver’s Thursday victory demonstrated a different formula. The Broncos defeated Seattle 17-14 in overtime despite Bo Nix completing 17 of 27 passes for 107 yards. Seattle’s overtime interception gave Denver the field position it needed for the winning kick.Winning while an offense struggles has value. It also creates a question about how often that support can compensate for limited production.Kansas City currently asks less of any single unit. Its running game can establish control, its defense can create additional possessions, and Patrick Mahomes remains available to solve situations that escape the initial design.The Chargers, now 0-6, face a much more fundamental offensive repair. Denver has demonstrated competitive resilience, but its passing production needs improvement. Kansas City’s advantage is the breadth of its answers—and the divisional victories already secured while its opponents search for theirs.2. The AFC North is becoming a contest of survival, with Cleveland’s defense keeping the race openCleveland, Baltimore and Pittsburgh emerged from Sunday tied at 4-2, but their paths to that position revealed how unsettled the AFC North remains.The Browns’ 13-10 victory over Baltimore began with a familiar problem: insufficient offense. Cleveland trailed 10-0 and converted only one of six third downs in the first half.Its defense prevented that deficit from becoming decisive. The Browns shut out Baltimore after the Ravens’ first two possessions, recorded three sacks and nine quarterback hits, and forced the fourth-quarter fumble by Derrick Henry that set up the tying touchdown.Personnel context matters. Baltimore was operating with Tyler Huntley at quarterback, and Henry’s turnover placed additional pressure on an offense already missing Lamar Jackson. Cleveland still had to capitalize, eventually assembling a 10-play, 62-yard drive to set up Andre Szmyt’s winning field goal.Pittsburgh also needed extra work, defeating Tampa Bay 26-19 in overtime on an Aaron Rodgers touchdown pass to rookie Germie Bernard. The Steelers earned their first road victory and first winning streak of the season.The implication is that no team has established enough consistency to comfortably control this division.Cleveland’s defense provides a credible foundation, but repeated late escapes leave little room for offensive stagnation. Baltimore’s outlook depends partly on quarterback availability and protecting possessions. Pittsburgh keeps winning while working toward more complete performances.With three teams level, those practical differences carry more weight than preseason expectations.3. Houston’s recovery shows why quarterback performance must be evaluated separately from the standingsHouston’s 0-4 start suggested a team in serious trouble. C.J. Stroud’s individual production made the assessment more complicated.The Texans have now won consecutive games after defeating Jacksonville 34-31 in London. Stroud completed 24 of 34 passes for 312 yards and three touchdowns, averaging 9.2 yards per attempt while taking no sacks.His recent efficiency extends beyond Sunday. Over Houston’s past three games, Stroud has completed 71 of 99 attempts for 920 yards, six touchdowns and one interception. That's a 71.7% completion rate and about 9.3 yards per attempt. His passer rating exceeded 100 in each game.Those numbers suggest an offense capable of supporting a recovery, even though the early losses still restrict Houston’s margin for error.Sunday also tested Stroud’s ability to respond to mistakes. His late interception helped Jacksonville tie the game, but he returned to direct the possession that ended with Ka’imi Fairbairn’s winning 49-yard field goal.The distribution of production was encouraging. Foster Moreau caught two touchdown passes, while Jaylin Noel supplied 107 receiving yards and another score. Jacksonville couldn't contain Houston by taking away one target.Two victories do not erase four defeats. They do demonstrate why the record alone was an incomplete description of Stroud’s play.If Houston can maintain this passing efficiency while delivering more consistent support elsewhere, its early-season position need not define its remaining schedule.4. The NFC East’s open race is concealing problems that require different solutionsThe NFC East finished another week without a win, leaving its teams close enough to stay involved despite major shortcomings.Philadelphia and Dallas fell to 2-4, the Giants dropped to 3-2-1, and Washington finished Monday at 1-4-1.The Eagles face their biggest personnel adjustment. Jalen Hurts is expected to miss the rest of the season with blood clots, leaving Tanner McKee to lead an offense already struggling after Sunday’s 25-14 loss to Carolina.Carolina held Philadelphia to 35 rushing yards and registered 10 quarterback hits. Those numbers show why changing quarterbacks alone cannot explain or resolve the Eagles’ offensive difficulties.Dallas encountered similar problems establishing productive possessions at Green Bay. The Cowboys scored only seven points through the first 59-plus minutes, converted five of 13 third downs and threw two interceptions in their 23-13 defeat.The Giants’ 34-27 loss to New Orleans added to the quarterback uncertainty. Jameis Winston threw two interceptions before J.J. McCarthy entered and sparked a late rally.Washington, meanwhile, demonstrated that a competitive second half can coexist with an opening stretch that creates an excessive burden.The division’s compressed standings buy time, but they do not repair protection, restore injured personnel or improve possession efficiency. Each team still has a route into contention. The meaningful question is which can correct its particular problems quickly enough to use it.5. Buffalo and San Francisco showed the value of finishing, while the Raiders exposed the cost of incomplete possessionsThe distinction between competing with a contender and defeating one remained painfully clear for Las Vegas.The Raiders rebounded from their loss at New England with a much stronger performance against Buffalo, but fell 33-30 after scoring touchdowns on only two of five red-zone trips. A 15-play drive reached the Bills’ 2-yard line, but two unsuccessful runs and an incomplete pass forced another field goal.The problem extended beyond the goal line. Las Vegas opened the second half with three incompletions that consumed less than 15 seconds, then later surrendered possession on a Kirk Cousins interception. The Raiders have been outscored by 26 points in third quarters this season.Those are identifiable weaknesses in an otherwise more competitive team: empty possessions, limited red-zone returns and stretches that place the defense back on the field too quickly.San Francisco warned that even unbeaten teams are vulnerable to similar lapses. The 49ers led Washington 20-3 at halftime with a 303-90 yardage advantage, but ultimately needed late defensive stops to preserve a 23-17 victory and improve to 6-0.The difference was the final response. San Francisco denied Washington’s last two scoring opportunities.Las Vegas has shown progress, but turning it into wins requires more possessions to end productively. San Francisco has earned its unbeaten record, but it also got a reminder that early dominance doesn't remove the obligation to finish.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NFL, MLB, NHL, WNBA and EPL Previews and Odds - 10/19/26

by Big Al Staff

Monday, Oct 19, 2026

The Monday sports card features NFL, MLB, NHL, WNBA, and EPL action. Week 6 in the NFL concludes with one game. The San Francisco 49ers host the Washington Commanders on ABC/ESPN at 8:15 p.m. ET. The 49ers have won their first five games of the season after their 32-29 upset victory at Seattle against the Seahawks as a 3.5-point underdog last Sunday. The Commanders settled for a 27-27 draw at home against the New York Giants as a 3.5-point favorite on Sunday. San Francisco is a 7.5-point favorite with a total of 52.5 (all odds from DraftKings). The Major League Baseball postseason continues with Game 6 in the American League Championship Series. The Tampa Bay Rays play at home against the Cleveland Guardians on TBS/truTV/HBO Max at 8:08 p.m. ET. The Rays took a 3-2 lead in this best-of-seven series with a 3-1 victory on the road on Sunday. They send out Freddy Peralta to duel against a Guardians starting pitcher that has yet to be named. Tampa Bay is a -147 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5.    The National Hockey League has four games on its slate. Two NHL games drop the puck at 7:10 p.m. ET. The New York Rangers are at home to take on the Anaheim Ducks. The Rangers have lost two games in a row after a 1-0 loss in overtime at Columbus on Saturday. The Ducks have lost two games in a row after a 4-2 loss at home against Boston on Friday. New York is a -142 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Colorado Avalanche travel to Philadelphia to play the Flyers at 7:10 p.m. ET. The Avalanche won for the second time in their previous three games with a 5-2 victory against Pittsburgh on Friday. The Flyers ended a nine-game losing streak to start the season with a 3-1 victory against Ottawa on Saturday. Colorado is a -218 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Toronto Maple Leafs host the San Jose Sharks at 7:40 p.m. ET has lost three games in a row with a 4-1 loss at home against the New York Islanders on Saturday. The Sharks lost for the third time in their previous four games with their 4-3 loss at Detroit in a shootout on Saturday. Toronto is a -142 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Utah Mammoth plays at home against the Pittsburgh Penguins at 9:10 p.m. ET. The Mammoth had won three games in a row before their 6-2 loss against Edmonton on Saturday. The Penguins are on a three-game losing streak after their 6-2 loss on the road in Vegas against the Golden Knights on Saturday. Utah is a -185 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5.The WNBA continues its postseason with Game 2 of the best-of-seven finals series. The Golden State Valkyries play at home against the Atlanta Dream on the USA Network/CNBC at 8:00 p.m. ET. The Valkyries took a 1-0 series lead with their 68-64 victory at home against the Dream as a 2.5-point favorite on Saturday. Golden State is a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 151.5. Matchweek 7 in the English Premier League concludes with one match. Tottenham is at home to face Coventry City on the USA Network at 3:00 p.m. ET as a -1.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. 

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