Expert Sports Picks and Analysis from Al McMordie

College Football Starts Saturday 08/23

Sunday, Aug 17, 2025

College football starts Saturday 08/23 2025 COLLEGE TOP 10 WEEK 1 By Wayne Allyn Root Here's a breakdown of the strengths and potential weaknesses for each of the top 10 college football teams in 2025. One thing is certain, this list will revolve like my rolodex throughout the season 1. Texas Strengths: The Longhorns have a potentially loaded defense at all three levels. Sophomore Colin Simmons leads a strong defensive end group. Junior Anthony Hill Jr. could be the best linebacker in the country. A top-10 backfield and receiving corps will support new QB Arch Manning. The Longhorns have a talented running back room, led by junior Quintrevion Wisner. Weaknesses: The offense will feature four new offensive line starters. The biggest hole to fill is at tight end. There will be reliance on portal additions at defensive tackle. The team needs to improve its rushing attack. 2. Penn State Strengths: The Nittany Lions return a dynamic running back duo in Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen. The team returns a majority of its offensive line. Quarterback Drew Allar is experienced. The team might have the fewest holes of any title contender. Weaknesses: The team struggles against highly-ranked opponents. The team lost tight end Tyler Warren, who caught a program record 104 passes last season. 3. Clemson Strengths: Quarterback Cade Klubnik is returning. The team returns its top three receivers, and Tyler Brown is back from injury. The team has a veteran roster and a loaded depth chart. The team has an experienced and improved offensive line. Weaknesses: The running back room could be a weakness. There is inexperience on defense, especially in the cornerback room. 4. Ohio State Strengths: The Buckeyes return wide receiver Jeremiah Smith and safety Caleb Downs. The receiving corps remains the best in college football. The team has a deep defensive line rotation. Weaknesses: The offensive line projects as average. The team lost all four starters from its 2024 defensive front. The team must replace eight starters on defense. Quarterback Julian Sayin has limited experience. 5. Georgia Strengths: The team should have a top-10 defense. The linebacker unit should be a real strength. The team has a new wave of talent stepping in. Weaknesses: The passing game has plenty of questions. The team has a brand new quarterback in Gunnar Stockton. The run game lacks a clear bell cow running back. The team lost its entire elite interior offensive line. 6. Notre Dame Strengths: The ground game is strong with running back Jeremiyah Love and one of the nation's top offensive lines returning. The transition from Al Golden to Chris Ash as defensive coordinator should be seamless. The team has a strong secondary. Weaknesses: The development of new quarterback C.J. Carr looms large. The team has inexperience at quarterback. 7. Oregon Strengths: The Ducks have depth and talent, especially post-transfer portal. The team has a strong elite edge rush, receiving depth, and an explosive backfield. The defense is talented at all three levels. The team might have their next great quarterback in Dante Moore. Weaknesses: The team has quarterback inexperience. The team needs to get more out of the ground game. 8. LSU Strengths: Garrett Nussmeier returns as LSU's starting QB. The team has an expensive and expansive receiver room with multiple potential stars. Linebackers Whit Weeks and Harold Perkins form a strong duo. Weaknesses: The Tigers lose four starting offensive linemen from a year ago. The team's defense was its Achilles' heel. The rebuilt offensive line must improve in run blocking. 9. Alabama Strengths: The team has a star-studded defense. The team has a wide receiver core. The team has a strong supporting cast to ease new quarterback Ty Simpson into the lineup. Weaknesses: The team has inexperience under center. The team's pass rush, specifically from the interior of the defensive line, could be a weakness. 10. Miami Strengths: The Hurricanes have several All-American candidates on both sides of the ball. The team addressed last season's biggest issue by hiring new defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman. The secondary is going to feature a lot of transfer players. Weaknesses: The team allowed 25.3 points per game last season. The team has a difficult non-conference schedule with a season opener against Notre Dame and a match-up against in-state rival Florida. There is a chance that Hetherman's new defensive scheme could cause communication issues

Big Al's Daily Angle: NFL, MLB and EPL Previews and Odds - 08/17/2025

by Big Al Staff

Sunday, Aug 17, 2025

The Sunday sports card features NFLX, MLB, and EPL action. The NFLX preseason continues its Week 2 with two games. The Jacksonville Jaguars travel to New Orleans to play the Saints on the NFL Network at 1:00 p.m. ET as a 2.5-point road favorite with the total set at 40.5 (all odds from DraftKings). The Chicago Bears host the Buffalo Bills on Fox at 8:00 p.m. ET as a 2.5-point favorite with an over/under of 40.5. Major League Baseball has 15 games scheduled. The Philadelphia Phillies play in Washington against the Nationals at 11:35 a.m. ET on the Roku Channel as a -175 money-line road favorite with a total of 9.5. The Boston Red Sox play at home against the Miami Marlins at 1:35 p.m. ET as a -245 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. The Texas Rangers are in Toronto to take on the Blue Jays at 1:37 p.m. ET as a -112 money-line road favorite with a total of 8. Two MLB games throw out the first pitch at 1:40 p.m. ET. The Cleveland Guardians are home against the Atlanta Braves as a -132 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9. The Milwaukee Brewers visit Cincinnati to face the Reds as a -111 money-line road favorite with a total of 9.5. Three more MLB games start at 2:10 p.m. ET. The Houston Astros host the Baltimore Orioles as a -137 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Detroit Tigers play in Minnesota against the Twins. The Kansas City Royals play at home against the Chicago White Sox. The New York Yankees are in St. Louis to challenge the Cardinals at 2:15 p.m. ET as a -144 money-line road favorite with a total of 9.5. The Chicago Cubs play at home against the Pittsburgh Pirates at 2:20 p.m. ET as a -208 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. The Colorado Rockies are home against the Arizona Diamondbacks at 3:10 p.m. ET.Three MLB games begin at 4:05 p.m. ET. The Los Angeles Angels travel on the road to face the Athletics with both teams priced as a -110 money-line road favorite with a total of 10. The San Francisco Giants host the Tampa Bay Rays as a -164 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7.5. The Los Angeles Dodgers play at home against the San Diego Padres as a -158 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5.The Seattle Mariners play in New York against the Mets in the Little League Classic for Sunday Night Baseball on ESPN at 7:10 p.m. ET. This game is being played on a neutral field in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. The Mariners are a -124 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8.Matchweek 1 of the English Premier League season continues with three matches. Two matches start at 9:00 a.m. ET. Chelsea plays at home against Crystal Palace on the USA Network as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5. Nottingham Forest is home against Brentford as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Arsenal is at Manchester United on NBC at 11:30 a.m. ET as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with a total of 2.5.

Serie A Futures (2025/26 Season)

by Amedeus Mastrangelo

Saturday, Aug 16, 2025

The Serie A season in Italy is right around the corner, starting on Saturday, August 23. Napoli is coming into this season as the defending champions, beating out the 2nd place team Inter Milan by 1 point, but this is a very competitive league from year to year as they have had 3 different champions over the last 4 seasons. Now with the league ready to start up again, it is time to see who has the best chance at lifting the Serie A Title this season. To Win Outright Napoli +162: Napoli is coming into this season as the team with the best chance at lifting the trophy according to the oddsmakers. Napoli is coming off of a season where they won the Serie A Title by 1 point over the 2nd place side and that title race went right down to the final match of the season. They had the best defense in the league last season as they only allowed 27 goals in their 38 matches, but their attack only scored 59 goals and was not nearly as strong as the other 2 teams in the top 3. Their defense is likely going to take a step back this season as well since they did lose some key pieces and it will be tough to recreate the kind of defensive season they had last year. They still have lots of quality in their attack and midfield, but they also played all of last season without playing in any European competitions and that was a big reason for their success in the league. Now they are going to have Champions League to worry about this season which will take away focus from the league and they do not have the depth that some of the other major players have in Serie A so winning the title in B2B years feels like a stretch for this squad, especially as the favorite to do so. There is no real value in Napoli to lift the trophy at this price as there are better options to go with. Inter Milan +275: Inter Milan is coming into this season as the team with the next best chance at lifting the trophy according to the oddsmakers. Inter Milan is coming off of a good season as they finished in 2nd place in the league, losing the title to Napoli by 1 point, and they also finished 2nd place in Champions League as they lost to PSG in the Final. They still came away empty handed last year so it was not a great season by their standard, but that is only going to increase their hunger to win this season and what they did last year was still impressive, performing so well in those 2 competitions. They are going to be under new management this season and they already had a taste with him in the Club World Cup, but they still have all of the quality and depth from last season so it may not click right away, but they will figure things out as the season goes on and they are once again going to be a force in the league. They have also won the Serie A Title twice over the last 5 seasons and they have been a consistent dominant force over the last decade, always giving themselves a chance in the title race. Inter Milan is going to be focused on the league this year after coming so close last year and they have the talent as they only allowed 35 goals in their 38 matches last season while scoring 79 goals. Last season likely refocused this squad and they are going to be motivated to win a trophy with their new manager this year. There is a lot of value in Inter Milan at this price since they still have the best squad in the league. Juventus +500: Juventus is coming into this season as the team with the next best chance at lifting the trophy according to the oddsmakers. Juventus is coming off of a good season as they finished in 4th place in the league and have been building themselves back up after the turmoil they went through just a few seasons ago. They had one of the better defenses in the league last season as they allowed 35 goals in their 38 matches, but their attack was a big problem with only 58 goals scored. They have made some moves to fix that as they brought in a striker and they still have a lot of quality in their midfield and on defense, but they did lose their goalkeeper which could have a big impact. Juventus is going to continue to improve this season as they look to be a stronger force in Serie A, but Champions League is still going to be a big focus for them and they do not have the quality in their depth to make a deep run in both competitions. Their defense also got exposed in the Club World Cup as they fell flat on their face against the stronger teams they had to face so when push comes to shove in this league, Juventus will drop points in the key matches against other Italian giants. Juventus will continue to improve this season, but there is no real value in them winning the title at this price. AC Milan +550: AC Milan is coming into this season as the team with the next best chance at lifting the trophy according to the oddsmakers. AC Milan is coming off of a bad season by their standards as they finished in 8th place and were 2 points out of a European spot. Their attack was good with 61 goals in their 38 matches and their defense only allowed 43 goals, but neither was at the elite level they needed to be at to compete with the top 4. They have made some big moves in the transfer window though and they have added to that midfield with a lot more quality and depth, also improving the defense with more quality as well. This is a rare season where AC Milan is not in any European competitions so they are going to have the hunger to perform better in the league and they will be highly focused on the league now with no European competitions to take away from their focus. AC Milan is also one of the champions of Serie A in the last 4 seasons so the players know what it takes to win in this league and they are a big wild card that could come out as one of the more dominant teams. AC Milan is not going to take a step back from where they were last season with the talent they have so there is a lot of upside with AC MIlan to exceed expectations this year. They have the quality to compete with the other Italian giants so there is some good value in AC Milan to win the title at this price. Roma +1000: Roma is coming into this season as the team with the next best chance at lifting the trophy according to the oddsmakers. Roma is coming off of a good season as they finished in 5th place in the league and earned themselves a Europa League spot. They have been a very consistent team in Serie A over the years as they always seem to find their way into Europa League, but they struggle to make the top 4 every season so winning the title feels very out of reach for them still. They do have some quality in their attack, but they lost some key pieces in the transfer window. Their midfield and their defense lacks a lot of quality as well so they will likely be a competitive team as they usually are, but they do not have the quality to compete with the top teams. They also have Europa League to worry about and they always seem to make a good run in the competition so that is going to take away focus from the league and they will likely end up as another fringe team fighting for the Europa or Conference League spots. There is no real value in Roma to win the title at this price. Atalanta +2000: Atalanta is coming into this season as the team with the next best chance at lifting the trophy according to the oddsmakers. Atalanta is coming off of a great season as they finished in 3rd place in Serie A and they have been improving a lot over the last 2 seasons, starting to establish themselves as a dominant team in Serie A. They had one of the better defenses as they only allowed 37 goals in their 38 matches and they had one of the best attacks with 78 goals scored as well. They still have a lot of the quality that they had last season so they are going to be a force in Serie A once again, but they are also coming off of a disappointing Champions League campaign so that will likely be a big focus for them this year. They certainly have the quality to compete with some of the bigger clubs in the league, but Champions League is going to take away from that focus on the league and they still lack the depth that some of the other teams have. Atalanta is an interesting dark horse at this price, but there are still better options to go. Lazio +3300: Lazio is coming into this season as the team with the next best chance at lifting the trophy according to the oddsmakers. Lazio is coming off of a season where they finished in 7th place in the league and they missed out on European competition by goal differential. They scored 61 goals in their 38 matches last season, but they also allowed 49 goals and they will not be able to compete with the bigger clubs like that. They have been a consistent Europa team for the last few years, but making the top 4 has always been a struggle for them, and it is only going to get harder this year. They took a big step back last season and now they have lost a lot of quality and depth that they used to have. They are going to continue to take a step back this year as they have changed up the squad quite a bit and it lacks the quality that a lot of these other teams have around them. Lazio will be lucky to even qualify for European competition this year unless they make some big moves in the transfer window. Lazio has no real value to win the title at this price. RecommendationThe Serie A in Italy is always fluctuating with a very competitive top 7, but there are still some clear contenders coming into this season. Inter Milan is still the best option coming into the season as they do have the best squad and have been so dominant in the league over the last few years. AC Milan also has some value though as they did make some big moves to improve the squad and they have no European competitions to participate in so winning the Serie A Title is going to be priority number 1. Inter Milan at +275 is the best option for a Serie A winner followed by AC Milan at +550 as a dark horse.

Serie A Prop Futures (2025/26 Season)

by Amedeus Mastrangelo

Saturday, Aug 16, 2025

Big Al's Daily Angle: NFL, MLB, CFL and EPL Previews and Odds - 08/16/2025

by Big Al Staff

Saturday, Aug 16, 2025

The Saturday sports card features NFLX, MLB, CFL, and EPL action. The NFLX preseason continues its Week 2 with 11 games on the NFL Network. Five NFLX preseason games kick off at 1:00 p.m. ET. The Indianapolis Colts host the Green Bay Packers as a 6-point favorite with the total of 40.5 (all odds from DraftKings). The Philadelphia Eagles play at home against the Cleveland Browns on the NFL Network as a -4.5-point favorite with an over/under of 37.5. The Miami Dolphins travel to Detroit to take on the Lions as a 1.5-point road favorite with a total of 37.5. The Houston Texans are home against the Carolina Panthers as a 1.5-point favorite with an over/under of 39.5. The Minnesota Vikings host the New England Patriots as a 1.5-point favorite with a total of 37.5. The Las Vegas Raiders play at home against the San Francisco 49ers on the NFL Network at 4:00 p.m. ET as a 4.5-point favorite with an over/under of 40.5. Four NFLX games start at 7:00 p.m. ET. The Los Angeles Chargers are the technical road team facing the Los Angeles Rams as a 6.5-point favorite with a total of 39.5. The New York Giants are the technical home team when going against the New York Jets on the NFL Network as a 3.5-point favorite with a total of 39.5. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers play in Pittsburgh against the Steelers as a 2.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 38.5. The Baltimore Ravens are in Dallas to take on the Cowboys as a 1.5-point road favorite with a total of 36.5. The Denver Broncos host the Arizona Cardinals on the NFL Network at 9:30 p.m. ET as a 3-point favorite with an over/under of 38.5. Major League Baseball has 15 games scheduled. The Chicago Cubs play at home against the Pittsburgh Pirates on FS1 at 2:20 p.m. ET as a -232 money-line favorite with a total of 9. The Toronto Blue Jays are home against the Texas Rangers at 3:07 p.m. ET as a -149 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Philadelphia Phillies travel to Washington to challenge the Nationals at 4:05 p.m. ET as a -157 money-line road favorite with a total of 9.5. Two more MLB games throw out the first pitch at 4:10 p.m. ET. The Seattle Mariners play in New York against the Mets as a -132 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Boston Red Sox host the Miami Marlins as a -181 money-line favorite with a total of 9.5. The Milwaukee Brewers are in Cincinnati to face the Reds at 6:40 p.m. ET as a -136 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 9. Three more MLB games start at 7:10 p.m. ET. The Cleveland Guardians play at home against the Atlanta Braves as a -119 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The Houston Astros are home against the Baltimore Orioles as a -144 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Kansas City Royals host the Chicago White Sox as a -169 money-line favorite with a total of 9.5. Two MLB games are featured on Fox’s regional coverage at 7:15 p.m. ET. The Detroit Tigers visit Minnesota to battle the Twins as a -112 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8. The New York Yankees play in St. Louis against the Cardinals as a -150 money-line road favorite with a total of 8. The Arizona Cardinals are in Colorado to play the Rockies at 8:10 p.m. ET as a -193 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 11.5. The San Francisco Giants play at home against the Tampa Bay Rays at 9:05 p.m. ET as a -132 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The Los Angeles Dodgers are home against the San Diego Padres at 9:10 p.m. ET as a -132 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. The Athletics host the Los Angeles Angels at 10:05 p.m. ET as a -115 money-line favorite with a total of 10.5. Week 11 in the Canadian Football League concludes with two games on the CBS Sports Network. The Saskatchewan Roughriders play at home against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats at 3:00 p.m. ET as a 3.5-point favorite with an over/under of 54.5. The British Columbia Lions are home against the Montreal Alouettes at 7:00 p.m. ET as a 7.5-point favorite with a total of 50.5. Matchweek 1 of the English Premier League season continues with five matches. Aston Villa hosts Newcastle United on the USA Network at 7:30 a.m. ET as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Three more matches begin at 10:00 a.m. ET. Brighton and Hove Albion play at home against Fulham on the USA Network as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5. Tottenham is home against Burnley as a -1.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. West Ham United is at Sunderland as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Manchester City travels to Wolverhampton on NBC at 12:30 p.m. ET as a -1.5 goal-line road favorite with a total of 2.5.

Big Al's Daily Angle: MLB, FIFA Club World Cup, and CONCACAF Gold Cup Previews and Odds - 08/15/2025

by Big Al Staff

Friday, Aug 15, 2025

The Sunday sports card features MLB, FIFA Club World Cup, and CONCACAF Gold Cup action.Major League Baseball has 15 games scheduled. The Detroit Tigers host the Cincinnati Reds on Roku at 12:05 p.m. ET as a -182 money-line favorite, with the total set at 9 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). Five MLB games throw out the first pitch at 1:35 p.m. ET. The New York Yankees travel to Boston to play the Red Sox as a -194 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Baltimore Orioles play at home against the Los Angeles Angels as a -132 money-line favorite with a total of 9. The Philadelphia Phillies are home against the Toronto Blue Jays as a -182 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7.5. The Washington Nationals host the Miami Marlins as a -182 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The Atlanta Braves play at home against the Colorado Rockies as a -185 money-line favorite at BetMGM with an over/under of 8. The New York Mets are home against the Tampa Bay Rays at 1:40 p.m. ET as a -169 money-line favorite with a total of 8. Three MLB games start at 2:10 p.m. ET. The Houston Astros host the Minnesota Twins as a -137 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Kansas City Royals play at home against the Athletics as a -164 money-line favorite with a total of 9. The Milwaukee Brewers are home against the St. Louis Cardinals as a -126 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Chicago Cubs host the Pittsburgh Pirates at 2:20 p.m. ET as a -176 money-line favorite. The Texas Rangers play at home against the Chicago White Sox at 2:35 p.m. ET. Two MLB games begin at 4:10 p.m. ET. The Arizona Diamondbacks are home against the San Diego Padres as a -132 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The Seattle Mariners host the Cleveland Guardians as a -112 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7.5.Sunday Night Baseball on ESPN features the Los Angeles Dodgers playing at home against the San Francisco Giants at 7:10 p.m. ET. The Dodgers are a -182 money-line favorite with a total of 9.The FIFA Club World Cup continues with four matches. Bayern Munich takes on Auckland City at the TQL Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio, on DAZN at noon p.m. ET as a -4.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 4.5. Paris Saint-Germain plays Atletico Madrid at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on TNT/truTV/DAZN at 3:00 p.m. ET as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5. Palmeiras faces FC Porto at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on DAZN at 6:00 p.m. ET as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Botofogorj challenges the Seattle Sounders at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington, on DAZN at 10:00 p.m. ET as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5.The CONCACAF Gold Cup continues its tournament with three matches. The USMNT hosts Trinidad and Tobago at Pay Pal Park in San Jose, California, on Fox at 6:00 p.m. ET as a -2.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 3.5. Saudi Arabia battles Haiti at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, California, on FS1 at 8:15 p.m. ET as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5. Costa Rica plays Suriname at Snapdragon Stadium on FS1 at 11:00 p.m. ET as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5.

Are the Cowboys and Rams Good Enough to Win their Divisions?

by Vegas Writer

Friday, Aug 15, 2025

Dak Prescott went out on a limb and stated it would be the Dallas Cowboys and Los Angeles Rams who would meet in this season’s NFC Championship game. Is he spot on or delusional?I mean, can the Cowboys even win the NFC East? DraftKings (+550) and BetMGM (+600) have them listed as the third choice to win the division.With the regular season around the corner, the majority of the players in the league are going to say that their team has a shot at a conference title, but few will be able to back that up. Prescott may be one of those who can’t.Dallas typically looks great on paper during the preseason, yet the fact remains that they haven’t been to a conference title game in 28 years.For starters, Prescott enters the year at the age of 32 and has suffered more than his fair share of injuries along the way. And after missing half of last year with a torn hamstring, it’s difficult to gauge his readiness for this campaign, let alone that of the rest of the roster. This is especially troubling when you consider the Cowboys, again, have questions with their depth on the offensive line. We haven’t even gotten to Week 1, and they’ve already seen former first-round left tackle Tyler Guyton go down with a knee injury that may see him miss the remainder of the preseason.Couple this with an unproven backfield and the fact that Jerry Jones has yet to clean up the team’s messy contract negotiations with defensive end Micah Parsons, and you can see how America’s Team has its hands full already.As for meeting the Rams in the NFC title game, I'm not sure they're better than the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC West.The Rams are the second choice in their division, with DraftKings at +195 and BetMGM at +175.The Rams have their own concerns with quarterback Matthew Stafford. Many believe the Rams can only go as far as he can take them - I'm in that group - and we're talking about a 37-year-old who has also been banged up and has missed a good portion of this year’s training camp with a back injury. This, after they released All-Pro receiver Cooper Kupp and saw All-Pro defensive tackle Aaron Donald announce his retirement.Neither team appears overly concerned about their respective outlooks. Still, with the Cowboys coming off a dismal 7-10 mark last season, I’m sure Philadelphia, Detroit and Minnesota, among others, will have something to say about all of this when the time comes.

Burns' 2025-26 College Football Preseason Top 50 Power Poll:

by William Burns

Thursday, Aug 14, 2025

Before the football season begins, there's always talk about who's going to be the team to win the Heisman, who's going to win the conferences, and who's going to win the National Title. There's also chatter about all of the little things that teams must go through in order to accomplish these things. This article is going to feature my PRESEASON POWER POLL (TOP 50) of teams in the CFB and how good I believe each team is. At the end of it, I will add some detail for my top ten "most talented" teams in the country and why I have them there. This season should be ridiculously fun. Good luck!Burns' 2025-26 CFB Power Poll: 1.) Texas2.) Penn State3.) Clemson4.) Notre Dame5.) Ohio State6.) Georgia 7.) Alabama 8.) Oklahoma 9.) LSU10.) Florida 11.) Texas A&M12.) Arizona State13.) Indiana 14.) Oregon15.) USC16.) Michigan17.) Tennessee18.) South Carolina19.) Miami FL 20.) Mississippi 21.) Illinois 22.) Baylor 23.) Utah24.) SMU25.) Pittsburgh 26.) Auburn27.) Iowa State 28.) Louisville 29.) Texas Tech30.) Iowa31. ) TCU32.) Kansas State 33.) Florida State 34.) BYU35.) Wisconsin 36.) Nebraska 37.) Vanderbilt 38.) Washington39.) Arkansas40.) Georgia Tech 41.) Missouri42.) Colorado 43.) Minnesota44.) Virginia Tech45.) Cincinnati 46.) UNC 47.) Duke48.) Kansas 49.) UCLA 50.) Kentucky Honorable Mentions (Non Power-Four) Boise StateJames MadisonTulane Burns' Top 10 "Most Talented" Teams:#1 Texas Longhorns As I mentioned in my, " way-too-early-ncaaf-predictions-future-bets-to-make " article last month, the Texas Longhorns are the team that I believe are the best in the country this season and will be victorious at the end of the year. Arch Manning has the name of "QB legend" and I expect him to perform at a very, very high level this season. He's definitely got weapons, with Quintrevion Wisner & CJ Baxter (missed all of last year) in the backfield as well as Ryan Wingo & DeAndre Moore Jr at WR. The defensive line/linebackers are stellar as well, with great defensive backs. This team is complete and even if they were to fall short in week one (not saying I think that they are going to,) I do believe that the Longhorns would still be able to come back and win the National Championship at the end of the season. #2 Penn State Nittany Lions After Texas, there's a couple teams that I like a lot this season. However, it's hard not to look at Penn State and ignore the fact that it's returning its QB and both star RB's this season. The Nittany Lions made the playoffs a year ago and just fell short in the Semi-Final game against Notre Dame. I believe that they could very well challenge for the National Title given their experience and how well coached they are. Penn State did lose its best player from a year ago in Abdul Carter to the NFL. But, it's still got an insane amount of talent to compete with the best in the country. #3 Clemson Tigers Next on my list, I've got Dabo Sweeney's Clemson Tigers. Also bringing back their quarterback in Cade Klubnik, the Tigers are definitely going to be one of the most explosive offensive attacking teams in the league. Klubnik, who I believe is one of the best Quarterbacking options in the entire nation. The Tigers have excellent options at Wide Receiver and also brings in one of, if not the best defensive line of all teams. The Tigers O-Line should also help them succeed at a very high level this year. #4 Notre Dame Fighting Irish After their National Championship Game appearance a season ago, the Fighting Irish should definitely be back in the conversation again this season to get another chance at glory. Bringing back, in my opinion, the best running back in College (Jeremyiah Love,) this team is more than likely going to be favored in every single regular season game this season as well as getting back in in the College Football Playoff. With a new QB at the helm, there's questions to be asked. But, I wouldn't be shocked if ND is right back where it was last year. #5 Ohio State Buckeyes The defending National Title Champs are reloaded and back for more this season. They return their best two players from last year's team in Jeremiah Smith & Caleb Downs who weren't even eligible to be drafted yet. That being said, it's definitely going to be slightly difficult for the Buckeyes to repeat what they did last season, beating so many great teams along the way. They will have a new Quarterback and new Running Backs to rely on this season and although I still have them playing in my Championship Game, week 1 is going to be a huge test for them and we'll find out a lot in that game, which is a potential preview of the Title Game, whether the Buckeyes will be back where they should be at the end of the season. #6 Georgia Bulldogs Always in the conversation to be named the best team in the country, the Georgia Bulldogs once again in a great spot. UGA will have Gunnar Stockton as its QB this year, who ended the season last year for it. That should be a bit of a sigh of relief for the "Dawgs," who want to win Championships, and Championships only. Oscar Delp is an outstanding tight end, and they bring in Zachariah Branch from USC to give Stockton quite a bit of talent to work with. Let's also not forget that they've always got one of, if not the best defenses in College. With how well coached this team is, I believe that they have as good of a chance as anyone to get to the National Title Game this season. #7 Alabama Crimson Tide Just like Georgia, Alabama is pretty much always in the mix to be in contention by the end of the season. It was a "transition year" for the Crimson Tide last season, who didn't make the 12-team playoff. Kalen DeBoer took over for Nick Saban and nobody quite knew what to expect. Having said that, it wasn't a complete failure. The guys are now used to DeBoer's style and I believe that the Tide should no-doubt, be back in the CFB Playoffs at the end of this season. #8 Oklahoma Sooners While there's been a bit of speculation about new Sooner QB John Mateer having bet on some games in 2022, there's nothing that's proven that it's happened. Having said that, I'm going to go about this believing that he'll play all of this year. The Sooners are in the stacked SEC, which is going to be maybe the best we've ever seen in this insanely talented conference (six of my top 10 teams are SEC.) Deion Burks & Isaiah Sategna are stud wideouts and the Sooners also bring in Jaydn Ott Sr. at RB from Cal. This team could be very electric if Mason Thomas has a big year like everyone expects him to at Defensive End. #9 Louisiana State Tigers Another SEC team in LSU gets my #9 spot. Like the Tigers of Clemson, the Tigers of Louisiana State have an excellent Quarterback that's returning to the team for this year's campaign. Garrett Nussmeier is now a senior and is supposed to have a wicked season with Aaron Anderson and Barion Brown. The defense looks really strong and these guys are definitely contenders to win a lot of games and go far in the playoffs. It's just a matter of getting the job done against the tough opponents on the schedule in the regular season to set them up for success. The week 1 game vs. Clemson will be a great indicator of what to expect. #10 Florida Gators Round out my top 10 most talented teams in the Florida Gators. Last season, DJ Lagway had to take over the team after injuries at the QB position. He is going to be a contender to win the Heisman Trophy this season and for good reason. A dual threat that can make every single throw. The Gators get better at almost every position, having a great offensive line and the defense is going to be ferocious. Caleb Banks (DT) is a projected top 10 pick by some people and the defensive backs should be much improved from last season. Don't be surprised to see Florida knock off some great teams this season. Burns' Official Title Game Prediction: Texas vs. Georgia.28-17 Texas.

Big Al's Daily Angle: MLB and CFL Previews and Odds - 08/14/2025

by Big Al Staff

Thursday, Aug 14, 2025

The Thursday sports card features MLB and CFL action. Major League Baseball has seven games scheduled. The Seattle Mariners travel to Baltimore to play the Orioles at 1:05 p.m. ET. The Mariners had won eight games in a row before their 4-3 loss against the Orioles on Wednesday. Baltimore had lost three games in a row before their victory yesterday. The Mariners send out Logan Evans to pitch against Baltimore’s Tomoyuki Sugano. Seattle is a -132 money-line road favorite with a total of 9.5 (all odds from DraftKings). The Chicago Cubs play in Toronto against the Blue Jays at 3:07 p.m. ET. The Cubs ended a two-game losing streak with a 4-1 win at Toronto on Wednesday. The Blue Jays had won two games in a row before that loss. Matthew Boys gets the ball for Chicago to face Toronto’s Max Scherzer. The Cubs are a -112 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Cleveland Guardians host the Miami Marlins at 6:40 p.m. ET. The Guardians lost for the second time in their last three games in a 13-4 loss at home against the Marlins yesterday. The Marlins ended a four-game losing streak with the victory. Cleveland taps Tanner Bibee to take on Miami’s Edward Cabrera. The Guardians are a -131 money-line favorite with a total of 7.5. The Philadelphia Phillies are in Washington to face the Nationals at 6:45 p.m. ET. The Phillies are on a two-game losing streak after an 8-0 loss on the road against Cincinnati on Wednesday. The Nationals ended a two-game losing streak with their 8-7 victory at Kansas City yesterday. Jesus Luzardo takes the mound for Philadelphia to duel against Brad Long for Washington. The Phillies are a -208 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The New York Mets play at home against the Atlanta Braves at 7:10 p.m. ET. The Mets lost for the eighth time in their last nine games after their 11-6 setback against the Braves on Wednesday. The Braves have won four of their last five games. New York turns to Kodai Senga to challenge Atlanta’s Bryce Elder. The Mets are a -194 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The Detroit Tigers visit Minnesota to take on the Twins at 7:40 p.m. ET. The Tigers have won three of their last four games after their 1-0 victory in Chicago against the White Sox yesterday. The Twins ended a two-game losing streak with a 4-1 win on the road against the New York Yankees on Wednesday. Tarik Skubal gets the starting assignment for Detroit to face Bailey Ober for Minnesota. Detroit is a -208 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 7.5. The Arizona Diamondbacks play in Colorado against the Rockies on FS1 at 8:40 p.m. ET. The Diamondbacks won for the fifth time in their last six games in a 6-4 victory at Texas on Wednesday. The Rockies have won two games in a row after a 6-1 win at St. Louis yesterday. Arizona taps Eduardo Rodriguez to pitch against Colorado’s Bradley Blaylock. The Diamondbacks are a -181 money-line road favorite with a total of 12.Week 11 in the Canadian Football League kicks off with one game. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are home to play against the Ottawa Redblacks on the CBS Sports Network at 8:30 p.m. ET. The Blue Bombers lost for the fourth time in their last five games after their 28-27 loss at Calgary as a 4-point underdog on Saturday. They are in third place in the West Division with a 4-3 record, trailing the first-place Saskatchewan Roughriders by 2 1/2 games. The Redblacks had lost four games in a row, yet they are now on a two-game winning streak after a 46-42 upset victory at Toronto as a 3-point underdog on Saturday. They are in third place in the East Division with a 3-6 record, trailing the Hamilton Tiger-Cats by three games. Winnipeg is a 5-point favorite with an over/under of 53.

Big Al's Daily Angle: MLB Previews and Odds - 08/13/2025

by Big Al Staff

Wednesday, Aug 13, 2025

The Wednesday sports card features MLB action. Major League Baseball has 15 games scheduled. Three MLB games throw out the first pitch at 2:10 p.m. ET. Milwaukee hosts Pittsburgh with the Brewers sending out Brandon Woodruff to pitch against the Pirates’ Mitch Keller. The Brewers are a -208 money-line favorite with the total set at 7.5. Kansas City plays at home against Washington, with Seth Lugo taking the ball for the Royals to take on Jake Irvin for the Nationals. The Royals are a -180 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9. Chicago is at home against Detroit with the White Sox tapping Shane Smith to face a starting pitcher for the Tigers yet to be named. The St. Louis Cardinals host the Colorado Rockies at 2:15 p.m. ET. Michael McGreey gets the ball for the Cardinals to take on the Austin Gomber for the Rockies. St. Louis is a -220 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5.The Texas Rangers play at home against the Arizona Cardinals at 2:35 p.m. ET. The Rangers turn to Merrill Kelly to face the Cardinals’ Zac Gallen. Texas is a -150 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5.The San Diego Padres travel to San Francisco at 3:45 p.m. ET. Nick Pivetta takes the mound for the Padres to take on Kai-Wei Teng for the Giants. San Diego is a -164 money-line road favorite with a total of 8. The Philadelphia Phillies play in Cincinnati against the Reds at 5:10 p.m. ET. The Phillies turn to Cristopher Sanchez to take the ball to battle against the Reds’ Hunter Greene. Philadelphia is a -143 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Seattle Mariners are in Baltimore to take on the Orioles at 6:35 p.m. ET. Logan Gilbert gets the starting assignment for the Mariners to pitch against Trevor Rogers for the Orioles. Seattle is a -144 money-line road favorite with a total of 9.5. The Cleveland Guardians are home against the Miami Marlins at 6:40 p.m. ET. The Guardians turn to Gavin Williams to challenge the Marlins’ Eury Pérez. Cleveland is a -126 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. The New York Yankees host the Minnesota Twins at 7:05 p.m. ET. Cam Schlittler takes the hill for the Yankees to duel against Joe Ryan for the Twins. New York is a -137 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The Toronto Blue Jays play at home against the Chicago Cubs at 7:07 p.m. ET. The Blue Jays tap Kevin Gausman to face the Cubs’ Cade Horton. Toronto is a -33 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. Two MLB games start at 7:10 p.m. ET. New York is home against Atlanta on FS1 with David Peterson getting the ball for the Mets to battle against Carlos Carrasco for the Braves. The Mets are a -200 money-line favorite with a total of 9. Houston hosts Boston with the Astros sending out Hunter Brown to face the Red Sox’s Walker Buehler. The Astros are a -172 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. The Los Angeles Dodgers play across town against the Los Angeles Angels at 9:38 p.m. ET. Shohei Ohtani gets the ball for the Dodgers to go against Kyle Hendricks for the Angels. The Dodgers are a -217 money-line road favorite with a total of 9.5. The Tampa Bay Rays travel to play the Athletics at 10:05 p.m. ET. The Rays tap Drew Rasmussen to pitch against the Athletics' J.T. Ginn. Tampa Bay is a -137 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 9.5.

A Cut Above: Two Teams Worthy of World Series Wagers

by Sean Murphy

Tuesday, Aug 12, 2025

The Dodgers and Phillies sit atop the World Series odds board for good reason. At +350 and +550 respectively (odds courtesy DraftKings), they offer the best blend of current form, roster strength and October upside. The Dodgers remain the class of baseball - even if there have been a few more bumps in the road than expected. The defending champs haven’t shown any signs of a hangover, carrying their 2024 championship momentum into this season. Shohei Ohtani continues to do things no one else in the sport can, the middle of the order has been relentless, and they’ve gotten key contributions up and down the lineup. On the mound, Clayton Kershaw’s milestone summer has been backed by a rotation and bullpen that simply don’t give much away. It’s hard to find a hole in this roster, and even at a short price, the Dodgers are certainly worthy of top billing. What makes the Dodgers such a dangerous futures bet isn’t just their star power — it’s the sheer number of ways they can beat you. The lineup has shown an ability to manufacture runs when the long ball isn’t there, the bullpen has multiple reliable late-inning options, and their bench depth allows them to absorb injuries without much of a drop-off. That versatility matters come October, when matchups tighten and managers are forced to pull every lever they have. For bettors, it’s that stability and adaptability that makes them worth paying the premium price again this year. The Phillies, meanwhile, are the rare second choice on the board that actually feels underpriced. They’ve spent most of the year near the top of the N.L. East, fending off a strong push from the Mets, and they’ve done it with a balanced attack and one of the league’s better rotations, which was only bolstered by the return of Ranger Suarez after a season-opening stint on the injured list. This is a group that’s been there before in October and knows how to win those tight, pressure-packed games. If they stay healthy, the path back to the Fall Classic - or at least an NLCS date with the Dodgers - is wide open — and a +550 ticket could look awfully good in a month or two. Philadelphia’s case is built on more than just experience. Their starting pitching has been one of the most consistent units in baseball this year, routinely working deep into games and keeping the bullpen fresh for the stretch run. Offensively, they’ve shown the power to change games in one swing but also the patience to grind out at-bats and wear down opposing starters. In a postseason environment where one hot stretch can carry a team, the Phillies’ combination of pitching depth, lineup length, and playoff-tested leadership makes them as dangerous as anyone in the field — especially at a number that still offers value compared to the Dodgers’ shorter price. Bottom line: the Dodgers are the safe play, the Phillies are the value play, and both deserve a spot in your World Sereis futures portfolio.

Big Al's Daily Angle: MLB Previews and Odds - 08/12/2025

by Big Al Staff

Tuesday, Aug 12, 2025

The Tuesday sports card features MLB action. Major League Baseball has 15 games scheduled. The Seattle Mariners travel to Baltimore to play the Orioles at 6:35 p.m. ET. The Mariners send out George Kirby to pitch against the Orioles’ Dean Kremer. Seattle is a -158 money-line road favorite with the total set at 9.5 (all odds from DraftKings).Two MLB games throw out the first pitch at 6:40 p.m. ET. Cleveland hosts Miami with Logan Allen taking the ball to face the Marlins’ Janson Junk. The Guardians are a -145 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9. Philadelphia plays in Cincinnati with the Phillies turning to Ranger Suarez to challenge the Reds’ Brady Singer. The Phillies are a -157 money-line road favorite with a total of 9. The New York Yankees are home against the Minnesota Twins at 7:05 p.m. ET. Carlos Rodon takes the mound for the Yankees to duel against a starting pitcher yet to be named for the Twins. The Toronto Blue Jays host the Chicago Cubs on TBS at 7:07 p.m. ET. The Blue Jays tap Jose Berrios to go against the Cubs’ Ben Brown. Toronto is a -132 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9. The New York Mets play at home against the Atlanta Braves at 7:10 p.m. ET. Clay Holmes gets the starting assignment for the Mets to battle against Spencer Strider for the Braves. New York is a -142 money-line favorite with a total of 8. Three MLB games start at 7:40 p.m. ET. Detroit is in Chicago with the Tigers sending out Jack Flaherty to face a White Sox starting pitcher yet to be determined. Milwaukee is home against Pittsburgh with Freddy Peralta getting the ball for the Brewers to take on Paul Skenes for the Pirates. The Brewers are a -125 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7. Kansas City hosts Washington, with the Royals turning to Michael Wacha to battle the Nationals’ Mitchell Parker. The Royals are a -180 money-line favorite with a total of 9. The St. Louis Cardinals play at home against the Colorado Rockies at 7:45 p.m. ET. Matthew Liberatore takes the hill for the Cardinals to duel against Kyle Freeland for the Rockies. St. Louis is a -208 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Texas Rangers are home against the Arizona Diamondbacks at 8:05 p.m. ET. The Rangers give the ball to Jack Leiter to take on the Diamondbacks’ Anthony DeSclafani. Texas is a -157 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The Houston Astros host the Boston Red Sox at 8:10 p.m. ET. Spencer Arrighetti gets the starting pitcher assignment for the Astros to face Dustin May for the Red Sox. Houston is a -121 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5.The Los Angeles Dodgers travel across town to play the Los Angeles Angels at 9:38 p.m. ET. The Dodgers send out Emmet Sheehan to challenge the Angels’ Tyler Anderson. The Dodgers are a -182 money-line road favorite with a total of 9.5. The San Francisco Giants play at home against the San Diego Padres at 9:45 p.m. ET. Robbie Ray takes the hill for the Giants to go against Nestor Cortes for the Padres. San Francisco is a -137 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7.5. The Athletics are home against the Tampa Bay Rays at 10:05 p.m. ET. The Athletics turn to Jacob Lopez to pitch against the Rays’ Shane Baz. The Athletics are a -130 money-line favorite with a total of 10.

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A Cut Above: Two Teams Worthy of World Series Wagers

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