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Conference Championship Games: Odds And Previews

by Will Rogers

Sunday, Dec 01, 2024

A unique and exciting college football season is winding down. Before we get to the bowls and the College Football Playoff, there's a matter of the Conference Championships to settle. I've provided the odds for this weekend's big games and given brief previews below. It's helpful to know the venue, the current form and whether or not the teams met in the regular season. When looking at the teams, think about some of the ones that aren't there! *Also, see if you can guess which of these teams has the worst ATS record? You might be surprised by the answer!  Friday, December 6th CONFERENCE: AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIP VENUE: MICHIE STADIUM - WEST POINT, NY TEAMS: TULANE VS. ARMYODDS: TULANE -4, 47.5 PREVIEW: Army has the better record and plays at home but Tulane has the higher ranking and is favored. Tulane (9-3 SU, 9-3 ATS) is ranked 18th in the country. The Green Wave are here on the strength of their defense. They allow 18.4 ppg. Army (10-1 SU and 7-4 ATS) is ranked #25. The Black Knights are also stingy. They allow 15.1 ppg and 295.5 ypg. Army bounced back to win its final game of the season, after getting blown out by Notre Dame the previous week. Tulane lost to Memphis in its finale, after having won its previous eight. This game will determine the AAC's representative in any potential New Year's Six bowl considerations CONFERENCE: CONFERENCE USAVENUE: AMFIRST STADIUM - JACKSONVILLE, AL TEAMS: JACKSONVILLE STATE VS. WESTERN KENTUCKY ODDS: JACKSONVILLE STATE -3.5, 58.5PREVIEW: Both these teams were 5-1 at home and 3-3 on the road. That being the case, Jacksonville State (8-4 SU and 6-6 ATS) will be looking to capitalize on home field advantage. These teams just played a close game at Western Kentucky on November 30th. The Hilltoppers (8-4 SU, 7-5 ATS) won 19-17, as a 1-point favorite. Can they beat the Jaguars twice in less than a week? CONFERENCE: MOUNTIAN WESTVENUE: ALBERTSONS STADIUM - BOISE, ID TEAMS: UNLV VS. BOISE STATEODDS: BOISE -4, 59 PREVIEW: In the past, this would have been a real David vs. Goliath matchup. UNLV (10-2 SU, 7-5 ATS) is better than it used to be though. The Rebels lost by only five points to the Broncos mid-season (at UNLV) and have responded by winning each of their final five games. Behind its superstar running back, Boise State (11-1 SU, 6-5-1 ATS) has been dominant, aiming for another championship to bolster its CFP resume. If you haven't seen Ashton Jeanty, a Heisman contender, you're in for a treat. Saturday, December 7th  CONFERENCE: BIG 12VENUE: AT&T STADIUM - ARLINGTON, TX TEAMS: ARIZONA STATE VS. IOWA STATEODDS: ARIZONA STATE -2.5, 51 PREVIEW Both teams have had impressive runs in Big 12 play, each checking in with 7-2 conference records. Arizona State (10-2 SU, 10-2 ATS) comes in riding high off a dominant 49-7 blowout win against instate rival Arizona. That was the Sun Devils 5th straight win and cover. Iowa State (10-2 SU, 7-5 ATS) is off three straight wins. This game is important for College Football Playoff seeding and could influence the selection committee's decisions CONFERENCE: BIG 10VENUE: FORD FIELD, DETROIT MITEAMS: MIAMI OHIO VS. OHIOODDS: MIAMI OHIO -2.5, 44.5 PREVIEW: Miami (10-2 SU, 6-6 ATS) had an outstanding "conference" season, going 7-1 in MAC play to clinch the East Division. Ohio (9-3 SU, 8-4 ATS) had the better overall record but a 6-2 record within the conference. The difference in conference records was a result of the Redhawks defeating the Bobcats when they met, at Miami, in mid-October. Miami took a 30-6 lead into the 4th quarter before Ohio scored a couple late touchdowns to make the score look a little more respectable.  CONFERENCE: SECVENUE: MERCEDEZ-BENZ STADIUM - ATLANTA, GATEAMS: TEXAS VS GEORGIA ODDS: TEXAS -3, 49 PREVIEW: They're playing in Atlanta but Texas is still favored. The Longhorns (11-1 SU, 7-5 ATS) in their inaugural season in the SEC have a chance to claim the conference title and secure a spot in the playoffs. Georgia (10-2 SU, 3-9 ATS) after surviving an 8-overtime thriller, aims to spoil the party. Texas will be looking to avenge its only loss, a 30-15 home loss to the Bulldogs back in October. Georgia's Trevor Etienne ran for three touchdowns. The Longhorns were #1 at the time. Needless to say, this is a huge game.  *Having gone 3-9 at the betting window, the Bulldogs have the worst ATS record of any team playing this weekend. CONFERENCE: SUN BELTVENUE: CAJUN FIELD -LAFAYETTE, LA TEAMS: MARSHALL VS LOUISIANAODDS: LOUISIANA -4, 57.5 PREVIEW: Both teams were 7-1 in Sun Belt play. Marshall (9-3 SU, 10-1-1 ATS) clinched the East in dramatic fashion. The Thundering Herd defeated James Madison in 2-OT to advance here, their first Sun Belt title game. Louisiana (10-2 SU, 7-5 ATS) has been consistent all year. With an impressive 10-1-1 ATS record, Marshall has been a cash cow for bettors all season. Will that continue on Saturday?  CONFERENCE: ACC VENUE: BANK OF AMERICA STADIUM - CHARLOTTE, NC TEAMS: CLEMSON VS. SMU ODDS: SMU -2.5, 57 PREVIEW: SMU was the only team to go undefeated in ACC play. The Mustangs blowout of Cal this past Saturday extended a 17-game winning streak in conference play. Clemson (9-3 SU, 5-6 ATS) on the other hand, is seeking to re-establish its dominance in the ACC, having won eight of the last ten championships. This game is obviously huge for both teams' CFP aspirations, with SMU looking to make a statement in its first ACC title game and Clemson aiming for another championship.CONFERENCE: BIG TENVENUE: LUCAS OIL STADIUM - INDIANAPOLIS, IN TEAMS: OREGON VS PENN STATEODDS: OREGON -3.5, 49.5 PREVIEW: This game features the #1 ranked team Oregon (12-0 SU, 6-6 ATS) taking on #2 ranked Penn State (11-1 SU, 6-6 ATS). The Ducks finished the regular season undefeated, marking their first such finish since 2010. Penn State's only loss came against Ohio State, a team Oregon defeated by a single point. Naturally, this game has significant implications for the playoffs. 

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UFC 310: Preview And Picks

by Will Rogers

Sunday, Dec 01, 2024

UFC 310 Pantoja vs Asakura Saturday, December 7thT-Mobile Arena - Las VegasThe UFC returns to T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas this Saturday. The last pay-per-view event of 2024, UFC 310 is loaded with exciting fights. Though there have been some changes to the original lineup, it should still be a great event. Let's take a closer look.  The Main Event  Pantoja vs AsakuraPantoja -2702.5 over -140 The flyweight title is on the line, as current champion Alexandre Pantoja squares off against Kai Asakura. Pantoja (28-5) is known for his aggressive style and ground game. Askakura (21-4) is making his UFC debut. It's not often you see a fighter get a shot in his first UFC fight but that speaks to the level of success Askakura had prior to coming to America. The Japanese fighter hails from the "Rizin Fighting Federation," where he was a 2-time bantamweight champion.  Pantoja "The Cannibal" obviously has a huge edge in UFC experience. A determined fighter with a lot of heart, he's been in numerous wars. He takes some punishment at times but never quits. He's never been knocked out or submitted. Pantoja's last three fights all went the distance. He was last seen earning a unanimous decision over Steve Erceg in May. Askakura hasn't fought since late 2023. He had two fights in 2023 and won them both, one by KO and the other by TKO. Both victories featured knee shots to the body.Prediction: Pantoja's experience and overall toughness should be too much for Askakura. I wouldn't want to lay -270 though.  The Co-Main Event  Rakhmonov vs GarryRakhmonov -3702.5 over -140 This was originally supposed to be a welterweight title fight between Belal Muhammad and Shavkat Rakhmonov. However, Muhammad had to withrdraw due to a bone infection. That's too bad, as Muhammad/Rakhmonov would have been really good. In steps Ian Machado Garry. He faces Rakhmonov in a five-round title eliminator bout. Rakhmonov has a reputation for finishing his opponents. He's 18-0 and none of those fights went the distance. Ten submissions and eight wins by KO/TKO. Garry is also undefeated (15-0) but hasn't fought the same level of competition. Still, the Hungarian fighter has defeated the opponents put in front of him. This fight will (very likely) determine the next challenger for the welterweight title.Prediction: The steep price is there for good reason, Rakhmonov is on another level from Garry. I'm currently considering the under 2.5 round option.Other FightsOutside of the two main fights, there are some other big name fighters on the card. Cyril Gane, who has looked good against everyone besides Jon Jones and Francis Nganno, takes on Alexander Volkov. It's a rematch of a 2021 fight which Gane won by decision. Gane is currently a -310 favorite. Another recognizable name is Aljamain Sterling. The "Funkmaster" is a former bantamweight champ (by disqualification) and he's 10-1 his last 11 fights. Yet, he's a sizeable underdog against Movsar Evloev. The Russian fighter is 18-0 - each of his past eight wins came by decision. The Gracie name still carries a lot of weight but Kron Gracie is in over his head against Bryce Mitchell. One of the more evenly matched fights sees Nate Landwehr take on Doo Ho Choi. Both Landwehr and Choi are known for their entertaining styles, which should make for an exciting bout. Thanks for following along with my UFC picks in 2024. It's been a great year and I'm hoping to close it out with a big win ... Will Rogers 

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NFL, NBA, NHL, EPL and NCAAB Previews and Odds - 12/01/2024

by Big Al Staff

Sunday, Dec 01, 2024

The Sunday sports card features NFL, NBA, NHL, NCAAB, and EPL action. Week 13 in the NFL continues with 11 games. Seven NFL games kick off at 1:00 p.m. ET. The Los Angeles Chargers travel to Atlanta to play the Falcons as a 1-point road favorite with the total set at 47.5 (all odds from DraftKings). Seattle plays in New York against the Jets as a 1-point road favorite with an over/under of 41.5. The Indianapolis Colts are in New England to play the Patriots as a 2.5-point road favorite with a total of 42.5. The Minnesota Vikings host the Arizona Cardinals as a 3-point favorite with an over/under of 45. Houston visits Jacksonville as a 3.5-point road favorite with a total of 44. The Washington Commanders play at home against the Tennessee Titans as a 6-point favorite with an over/under of 44.5. The Cincinnati Bengals are home against the Pittsburgh Steelers as a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 47.Three NFL games start during the second window of afternoon games. Two NFL games start at 4:05 p.m. ET. The Los Angeles Rams play in New Orleans against the Saints as a 2.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 49. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are in Carolina to play the Panthers as a 6-point road favorite with a total of 46.5. The Baltimore Ravens host the Philadelphia Eagles at 4:25 p.m. ET as a 2.5-point favorite with an over/under of 51.The Buffalo Bills play at home against the San Francisco 49ers on NBC at 8:20 p.m. ET for Sunday Night Football. The Bills are a 6-point favorite with a total of 44.5. The National Basketball Association has ten games on its docket. Two NBA games tip off at 3:40 p.m. ET. The Orlando Magic travel to Brooklyn to play the Nets as an 8.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 210.5. The Memphis Grizzlies are home against the Indiana Pacers as a 7.5-point favorite with a total of 242.5. Three NBA games begin at 6:10 p.m. ET. The New York Knicks host the New Orleans Pelicans as a 12-point favorite with an over/under of 226. The Boston Celtics play in Cleveland against the Cavaliers as a 1.5-point road favorite with a total of 235.5. The Miami Heat are in Toronto to play the Raptors as a 4.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 222. The Oklahoma City Thunder visits Houston to play the Rockets at 7:10 p.m. ET as a 1.5-point road favorite with a total of 221. The Los Angeles Lakers play in Utah against the Jazz at 8:10 p.m. ET as a 7.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 232. Two more NBA games start at 9:10 p.m. ET. The Sacramento Kings are at home against the San Antonio Spurs as a 5.5-point favorite with a total of 224.5. The Dallas Mavericks are in Portland to play the Trail Blazers as a 7-point road favorite with an over/under of 228.5. The Denver Nuggets travel to Los Angeles to play the Clippers at 10:10 p.m. ET as a 2.5-point road favorite with a total of 222.The National Hockey League has five games on its slate. The Vancouver Canucks play in Detroit against the Red Wings at 12:37 p.m. ET as a -135 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6. Two more NHL games drop the puck at 3:07 p.m. ET. The Boston Bruins host the Montreal Canadiens as a -230 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Columbus Blue Jackets are in Chicago to play the Blackhawks as a -118 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.The Dallas Stars play at home against the Winnipeg Jets at 4:37 p.m. ET as a -148 money-line favorite with a total of 6. The Ottawa Senators visit Anaheim to play the Ducks at 8:07 p.m. ET as a -180 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6. The college basketball schedule has 30 games between Division I opponents. Two NCAAB games are on major national television. UAB is home against Middle Tennessee on ESPN2 at 4:00 p.m. ET as a 7.5-point favorite with a total of 155.5. Xavier hosts South Carolina State on FS1 at 4:30 p.m. ET as a 25.5-point favorite with an over/under of 146. Matchweek 13 in the English Premier League concludes with four matches. Three matches begin at 8:30 a.m. ET. Chelsea plays at home against Aston Villa on the USA Network as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 3.5. Manchester United is home against Everton as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Tottenham hosts Fulham as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 3.5. Liverpool plays at home against Manchester City on the USA Network as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 3.5. 

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When Handicapping Instincts Trump the Analytics: Two Case Studies

by Hollywood Sports

Saturday, Nov 30, 2024

Successful sports handicapping requires not simply assessing teams but analyzing how your assessment of a team relates to the lines put out by the bookmakers. One of the challenges in addressing this conundrum relates as when to rely on the deeper analytics to drive a conclusion versus trusting one’s instincts from years of experience reacting to oddsmakers posted numbers. Two illustrative examples of this took place during a two-day span in the NFL this month.The Detroit Lions traveled to Houston to play the Texans as a 3.5-point road favorite for Sunday Night Football on November 10th. I do not like the “sell high” or “buy low” rationales in sports betting. I think it is a flawed analogy to suggest sports teams are like stocks — as if their performances are destined to rise and fall like a price in the stock market. I also do not think the betting market (or the stock market) is necessarily rational. So-called “sharps” lose all the time — and square bettors win their share of games (which keeps them gambling). Bettors “selling high” on the Detroit Lions would likely be bankrupt by Week 10 of this NFL season considering they are on a 33-12 ATS run over the last three seasons — and these bettors thinking they are sharp by only fading them away from Ford Field would have lost 12 of their last 14 bets. Those caveats aside, we may have been seeing the peak of the Lions' perceived value by the betting market after their resounding victory in the rain against the Packers — and that presented us some point spread value with the line being pushed past some key numbers. But that dynamic was not enough for me to endorse the Texans in that contest. The second factor that persuaded me was simply that Detroit’s underlying numbers suggest their recent success will be difficult to replicate. For starters, the Lions were thriving in winning the turnover battle. They scored on a 27-yard interception returned for a touchdown the previous week — and that event helped obscure that their defense surrendered 411 yards and that they actually got outgained by -150 net yards. Despite their 7-1 record, Detroit were only outgaining their opponents by +12.5 net Yards-Per-Game at the time. The Lions led the NFL in net turnover margin — and they were averaging a +1.4 net turnover margin per game. That dynamic was simply unsustainable as the season moves on. In their last five games, Detroit had forced 12 turnovers while committing just one turnover. Now I didn’t expect Jared Goff to become midseason Sam Darnold suddenly, but a few interceptions here, a few lost fumbles there, and fewer takeaways along the way quickly evens out that recent turnover edge — and the Lions' meager edge in yards results in them being in coin flip games. On the other hand, we were catching Houston a bit undervalued relative to what I expect to be long-term market expectations. They outgained the Jets the previous week by +29 net yards despite a 21-13 loss. The Texans had not paid off bettors in their last two games — but they had then covered the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games after failing to cover the point spread in two straight games. The team expected wide receiver Tank Dell to return to the field for this game. I expected plenty of touches from running back Joe Mixon who is averaging over 100 rushing YPG this season. Detroit can be run on — opposing rushers were generating 4.8 Yards-Per-Carry against them at the time. And then there is second-year quarterback C.J. Stroud who still is exhibiting extreme home/road splits in his young career. In 12 games on the road, Stroud is completing only 60.7% of his passes with 12 touchdowns and four interceptions. But in his 12 starts at home in his career before that game, he enjoyed a 66.4% completion percentage with 22 touchdown passes and five interceptions. Houston was 4-0 this season at home with an average winning margin of +4.0 PPG. They were outgaining their guests by +109.0 net YPG due to the strength of their defense. The Texans were holding visiting teams to just 274.3 YPG which is resulting in only 18.3 PPG. They ranked second in the NFL in Defensive DVOA using the metrics by the Football Outsiders. And, by the way, the 383.3 total YPG they average at home which was more than the Lions’ 379.3 YPG that they generated on the road going into that game. Houston raced out to a 23-7 lead going into halftime of that game. While they did not score in the second half and lost the game by a 26-23 score, they still covered the +3.5 point spread. The next day for Monday Night Football, the Los Angeles Rams hosted the Miami Dolphins as a 2.5-point favorite. This was a fishy line. Miami was on a three-game losing streak and has won only two games this season — and wide receiver Tyreek Hill was a game-time decision. The Rams were riding a three-game winning streak and were getting healthy on both sides of the ball, especially with wide receivers Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacau back from their injuries. The Dolphins were crushing their bettors this season — they were getting outscored by -8.2 Points-Per-Game relative to the point spread. The betting public was all over the Rams that night. At DraftKings, 80% of the money and 77% of the bets are on Los Angeles — and yet most books including DraftKings had not even moved the Rams to a field goal favorite? I smelled a rat — and I decided to fade the public. I saw enough to justify this decision. Tua Tagovailoa completed 25 of his 28 passes last week. They outgained the Bills by +48 net yards while generating 373 total yards of offense. In the previous two weeks since Tagovailoa returned from the concussion protocol, their offense ranked second in Expected Points Added per play on offense. The Dolphins defense had played a bit better than expected as well. Despite giving up 30 points last week, they held the Bills to just 325 yards of offense. They were only giving up 303.1 total YPG — and they were holding their home hosts to 319.5 total YPG and 20.0 PPG. Miami came into the game desperate — and they had covered the point spread in 5 of their last 7 games after a loss by six points or less. I appreciated that the Los Angeles offense was much more potent when both wide receivers Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua were healthy and on the field. But the Rams were still banged up on their offensive line with right tackle Rob Havenstein out and right guard Kevin Dotson questionable. The Rams got outgained by -58 net yards in their win against the Seahawks the previous week — but a +2 net turnover margin including a 103-yard interception return for a touchdown helped them overcome that yardage deficit. It was telling that Los Angeles had failed to cover the point spread in 6 of their last 9 games at home when favored by up to seven points. They had also failed to cover the point spread in 5 of their last 7 games in November.Miami raced out to a 10-6 lead at halftime and went on to win the game by a 23-15 score to pull off the upset victory. Proving once again, sometimes the number presented by the bookies tells a more compelling story than the narrative that the deeper analytics appear to be telling us. Best of luck — Frank.

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Assessing Stanford Football After Year Two of the Troy Taylor Tenure

by Hollywood Sports

Saturday, Nov 30, 2024

The Stanford Cardinal finished 3-9 in the second season under head coach Troy Taylor after their 34-31 loss at San Jose State on Friday, November 29th. While this team seemed to be better this season in their first year in the ACC, the results do not do much to back that claim up.Last year was destined to be a trying season for Taylor’s first season as he was taking over a decimated Cardinal program whose high academic standards made things very difficult in the new world of college football with the NIL and the transfer portal. Taylor inherited the fewest returning production of all Power Five programs. A 3-9 campaign ensued with Stanford getting outgained by -128 Yards-Per-Game in Pac-12 play. But there were bright spots. The Cardinal pulled off upsets against Colorado and Washington State. Dual-threat quarterback Ashton Daniels showed flashes with 11 touchdown passes. Sophomore wide receiver Elic Ayomanor caught 62 balls for 1013 receiving yards in Taylor’s fast-paced stretch Air Raid offense. With four starters back, Stanford may have had the most improved offensive line in the country. But the defense suffered by ranking 129th in the nation by allowing 37.2 Points-Per-Game and 461.7 YPG. Fifteen of the 20 players who logged in at least 200 snaps return with the hope that a second year under defensive coordinator Bobby April will lead to a significant growth spurt. Taylor has improved recruiting — they ranked 31st and 27th respectively by 247 Sports and Rivals for their 2024 class. He is not attempting to take shortcuts in the transfer portal (which simply may not be an option for a school like Stanford) so things remain a long-term project. Stanford blew a 21-7 lead in the third quarter the previous week against California and lost the game after the Golden Bears executed a 98-yard touchdown drive in the final two minutes. They got outgained by -112 net yards in that contest. They entered their final game of the season against the Spartans surrendering 412.3 total YPG which resulted in 39.3 PPG. The 412.3 passing YPG they were giving up is the eighth most in the FBS. They ranked 110th in Opponent Pass Success Rate Allowed with opposing quarterbacks completing 66% of their passes against them with 27 touchdown passes. San Jose State gained 443 yards against them with their defense continuing to be a problem. Spartans’ quarterback Walker Eget completed 33 of 49 passes for 385 yards with four touchdown passes and an interception in that game. The previous week against UNLV, Eget only completed 4 of 22 passes for 81 yards albeit in rain and sloppy conditions. Stanford's offense did play better in their final game in 2024. After going into that contest scoring only 19.2 PPG on the road, they gained 379 yards with Daniels leading the offense down the field midway in the fourth quarter to take a 31-27 lead. He completed 26 of 40 passes for 252 yards with one touchdown pass — but he did throw three interceptions. He added another 91 yards on the ground with another touchdown. But the defense could not stop the Spartans who scored the winning touchdown with just under two minutes to go in the game. The Cardinal offense had not rushed for at least 120 yards in seven of their games — and they had failed to pass for at least 200 yards in eight of their games. They overcame those low standards against San Jose State. They were converting on just 34% of their third downs going into that game. They ranked 116th in Havoc Rate Allowed with their offensive line giving up 38 sacks and 95 tackles for loss — but they only gave up one sack in their final game against a Spartans team that ranked 30th in Havoc Rate with 22 sacks and 77 tackles for loss going into that game. Optimists can point to Stanford’s offensive numbers against San Jose State along with their general improvement on defense to conclude that the Cardinal is moving in the right direction under Taylor. Yet after two straight 3-9 campaigns, these are baby steps, at best. Stanford would probably be ill-advised to let Taylor go after only two seasons given his commitment to rebuilding this program with a strong foundation rather than quick-fix gambles. But he probably needs to see the Cardinal make significant strides on the field in his third season next year. UPDATE: The day after I wrote this article, Stanford hired their legendary quarterback Andrew Luck as their first football general manager. Such a splashy hire is a strong  signal they they remain serious about rebuilding their football program.  Best of luck — Frank. 

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The Miami Dolphins (but not Tua) Continue to Struggle in Cold Weather

by Team Del Genio

Saturday, Nov 30, 2024

The Miami Dolphins have developed the well-earned reputation of struggling when playing in cold weather, yet the oddsmaker only installed them as a field goal underdog in their Monday night game in the chilly temperatures in Lambeau Field against the Green Bay Packers on the last Thursday Night Football game in November.The Dolphins hit rock bottom with their 30-27 loss at Buffalo earlier in the month lowered their record to 2-6 on the season. They had since won three games in a row to raise their record to 5-6 and keep their postseason hopes alive. Yet the Packers were the best team they had played since losing to the Bills. They followed that up with a win in Los Angeles against the Rams before returning home where they beat Las Vegas and then New England, 34-15, the previous week. The Dolphins had covered the point spread once in their last five games on the road after winning at home in their previous game. Against teams with a winning, they had covered the point spread just twice in their last eight games. In their last six games on the road against winning teams, they had covered the point spread only once. Now Miami travels to Green Bay where it was going to be very cold. Temperatures were expected to drop into the 20s. The Dolphins had an 11-28 record in their franchise history when playing at 32 degrees or lower, and they are on a nine-game losing streak in those games. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa had lost all four of his career starts when the temperature was under 40 degrees. The Dolphins had covered the point spread in only one of those four games, and they have been beaten by the point spread by an average of 18 points in those four games. Yet it’s just not in cold weather where Miami with Tagovailoa has not played as well. In stand-alone games, the Dolphins had a 6-10 record with Tagovailoa as their starting quarterback while covering the point spread in just five of those sixteen games. When playing at night, Miami had a 5-8 record with Tagovailoa, covering the point spread in four of those thirteen games. When playing at night against a winning team with Tagovailoa as their starting quarterback, they had a 3-6 record with only three-point spread covers in those nine games. If those winning teams had a winning percentage of 60% or better, then the Dolphins are winless in those five-night games with Tagovailoa with only one point spread cover. Miami had covered the point spread in three of their eleven games when the oddsmakers installed them as an underdog. They had covered the point spread in four of their last eleven games on the road when the oddsmakers installed the over/under from 42.5 to 49.Sure enough, the Dolphins, bundled in their heavy jackets and crowding around their portal warmers, started slowly in this game. Green Bay went into halftime with a 24-3 lead. They later took a 30-11 lead midway late in the fourth quarter before Miami scored a late touchdown in a 30-17 loss. The Dolphins offense did gain 375 yards, and Tagovailoa’s stat line was good. He completed 37 of 36 passes for 365 yards with two touchdown passes and no interceptions. It’s hard to argue with that performance. Yet the Dolphins were still not competitive in these conditions. They made special teams mistakes. Their defense gave up 388 yards. They fumbled the ball twice. These miscues were not the fault of Tagovailoa. Miami plays in cold weather in their final two games of the season in Cleveland against the Browns and then in New York against the Jets in their last game of the regular season. Tagovailoa’s now 0-5 record in games played below 40 degrees will be mentioned frequently. Yet it would probably be unfair to put the blame on him for that record given his performance in Green Bay against the Packers on the last Thursday night game of the month. Good luck - Team Del Genio.

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Be Careful About Taking Los Angeles Chargers Unders

by Team Del Genio

Saturday, Nov 30, 2024

The conventional wisdom regarding Jim Harbaugh’s arrival as the head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers is that he has transformed the Justin Herbert-led offense into a run-first attack. It is true that Harbaugh is asking less of Herbert so far this season. After playing in five games last year where he threw 40 or more passes, he has yet to do that this season. The Chargers had not played a game this season that had more than 44 combined points scored before their thrilling 34-27 victory against Cincinnati in week 11 on November 17th. Yet the oddsmakers still installed the over/under for the Monday night “Harbaugh Bowl” against the Baltimore Ravens on November 25th in the high 40s, and it was then bet up into the 50s. It may look easy to take the under given the Chargers' commitment to run the football and play strong defense under head coach Jim Harbaugh, yet we concluded in taking the over that those assumptions may be faulty. Herbert did not throw more than 27 times in his first four games. Yet remember that he was slowed by an ankle injury early in the season that kept him from playing in the preseason. Since their bye week after those first four games, Herbert had thrown the ball 32 or more times in four of his six games. In the shootout the previous week with the Bengals, Herbert completed 17 of 36 passes for 297 yards with two touchdown passes. He had also been more willing to tuck the ball and run lately. He rushed for 65 yards the previous week. In his previous four games, Herbert had run for 148 yards and averaged 7 yards per carry. His ankle seems better. The Chargers have scored 26 or more points in four straight games. Harbaugh is known for pivoting his offensive game plan in big games. As the Michigan head coach, he would often flip the script with his run-first approach by passing the ball more in their annual showdowns with Ohio State or against Alabama in the college football playoff semifinals. Against a Ravens defense that was holding their opponents to 87 rushing yards per game and 3.6 yards per carry, Harbaugh may lean on his quarterback who he declared as already one of the best ever earlier in the week. Baltimore is allowing 312 passing yards per game and 7.8 yards per attempt. A pass-heavy game plan made sense going into that game.The Chargers scored a touchdown on their first drive and took a 10-0 lead early in the second quarter. The Ravens then got their offense going and went into halftime with a 14-13 lead with the game pace on track to finish over the number. Our over became in doubt when both teams only traded field goals in the third quarter. Yet Baltimore scored two touchdowns early in the fourth quarter to take a 30-16 lead. The Chargers scored a late touchdown to pull within seven points, securing our over with 53 combined points scored. Herbert completed 21 of 36 passes for 218 yards. He added another 29 yards on the ground. That game was the fifth time in their last six games that the Chargers threw more passes than they ran the football. That is a stark change from their first five games when Los Angeles only had one game where they passed the ball more than they ran it.The Chargers have played seven of their eleven games this season under the number. Yet they have played their last three games over the total. So while Harbaugh is not asking Herbert to carry the offense like he had been in the past, the commitment to run the football early in the season may had more to do with his injured ankle rather than Harbaugh wanting to run the 1980s offense he operated for the Chicago Bears with Mike Ditka as their head coach. Bettors assuming the Chargers are a good team to play the under should consider the evolution of their play-calling.Good luck - TDG.

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Coppa Italia Futures 2024/25 Season

by Amedeus Mastrangelo

Saturday, Nov 30, 2024

The Coppa Italia Round of 16 is approaching with the first matches starting on Tuesday, December 3. There are a lot of quality teams left in the final 16 with a lot of rich history in this competition, but there are also quite a few teams that do not have the quality or depth to go the distance. With the Round of 16 just around the corner now, it is time to see who has the best chance at lifting the trophy this year.  To Win Outright Inter Milan +200: Inter Milan is the team with the best chance at lifting the trophy this season according to the oddsmakers. Inter Milan has been in great form entering December, but they are currently sitting 3rd place in the Serie A table. The league title is always the 1st priority for this club followed by Champions League and since Inter Milan is not dominating the league right out of the gate like they have in the past, that could take a toll on them in this competition. They are playing Udinese in this round and it will be their 1st round in the competition as they had byes until now, but they are also on the harder side of the bracket by far. The next round would see them play the winner of Lazio/Napoli and that will be no easy match, especially if it is Napoli who they play against as Napoli is currently leading the league and has no other competitions to focus on either. The new Champions League format also has them playing 2 extra matches which can take a toll on them, so between that and the closer race at the top of the league now, they are not going to be so focused on the Coppa Italia. They have one of the better attacks in the league this season, but there are some very good defenses in the league right now that can match them and Inter has already struggled in a few of their matches this season against top clubs in the league. Inter is tied for 2nd on the all-time list with 9 Coppa Italias and they have won 2 in the last 3 years as well, but they are not the defending champions. Those are also the only 2 they have won in the last 13 years so they have not been that dominant in this competition over the last decade and they are on the harder side of the bracket as well. There could be some value in Inter at a better price, but right now as the current favorite there is no real value with all things considered.  Juventus +350: Juventus is the team with the next best chance at lifting the trophy this season according to the oddsmakers. Juventus has not been in the best form entering December, but they are currently sitting in 6th place of the league table and they are the only team in Serie A that does not have a loss this season. They have the best defense in the league with only 7 goals allowed in their 13 league matches and they have been a very tough team to beat all year in all competitions. They have struggled in the league in recent years, but their biggest focus this season will be on Champions League as that is a competition they missed last season. This is also a competition they are usually focused on as they are the defending champions from last year, but they have also had the most success in the competitions history. Juventus has won 15 Coppa Italias, winning 2 in the last 4 years, and they have also won 6 in the last 10 years. They are playing Cagliari in the Round of 16 after getting byes until now, but they have also been dropped on the easier side of the bracket. They would have to play the winner of Fiorentina/Empoli in the next round which will not cause too many problems for them, and the only other teams that could really challenge them before the final would be Bologna and Atalanta. Atalanta could be a tricky team for them, but it is still better than the teams they could see on the other side of the bracket, and Bologna is just a shell of the team they were last season as well. Juventus is always a true threat to win this competition and at this price with them not being the favorite either, there is some good value in Juventus here.  AC Milan +600: AC Milan is the team with the next best chance at lifting the trophy this season according to the oddsmakers. AC Milan has been in great form entering December, but they are currently sitting in 7th place in the league table and have still been very inconsistent this season. AC Milan is the kind of team that is always a bridesmaid and never a bride, whether it be in Serie A, Champions League, or this competition, they always find a way to do well and just come up short. They have won 5 Coppa Italias in their club history, but that only puts them tied for 7th place on the all-time list. They have not had any recent success either with their last win coming in 2003. They are playing against Sassuolo in the Round of 16, but they are also on the much harder side of the bracket with teams like Roma, Lazio, Napoli, and Inter Milan who they have struggled with a lot in recent years. AC Milan has quality in their squad, but they have been too inconsistent for years and always come up short in these competitions. They are the kind of team that, until they prove they can win, there is no real value in taking them to lift a trophy.  Napoli +600: Napoli is the team with the next best chance at lifting the trophy this season according to the oddsmakers. Napoli has been in great form entering December as they currently sit atop the Serie A table. They are 9-2-2 this season and they have the 2nd best defense in the league with just 9 goals allowed in 13 matches. Antonio Conte is in his 1st season as the manager, but already he has flipped this team on its head. Conte has them headed in the right direction and he is also a proven manager in Serie A from his days at Inter Milan. This is actually a competition that he never won in his tenure at Inter Milan, but this is the perfect season for him to go for it since Napoli is not in any European competitions and has nothing else to worry about except the league. Napoli has to play Lazio in the Round of 16, but they actually played in the last round as well so they will be ready for this match. They are on the stronger side of the bracket and it will not be easy for them to make the final, but they already have wins against AC Milan and Roma this season as well as a draw with Inter Milan so there is nobody on their side of the bracket who they will be afraid of. Napoli has a lot of quality in their squad and Conte has them playing with a lot more confidence this season after their old manager left them. With no other competitions to focus on this season besides the league, and the fact that Conte never won the Coppa Italia in his tenure at Inter Milan, this will certainly be a competition that Napoli is focused on winning. There is some nice value here in Napoli to lift the trophy as a dark horse. Atalanta +1200: Atalanta is the team with the next best chance at lifting the trophy this season according to the oddsmakers. Atalanta has been in great form entering December as they currently sit in 2nd place of the league table. They have been playing well in Champions League too, but right now they are in the title race for Serie A and that is something that does not happen often for them. As long as they are near the top of the table, they will be focused on the league to try and win their 1st ever Serie A Title since they have never done so. They are also playing well in Champions League and were the Europa League champions last season so Champions League is also going to be high on their list of priorities. With Atalanta being more focused on those 2 bigger competitions, this is a competition they could see themselves fizzle out in, especially since they do not have a good history in the competition either. The only Coppa Italia that Atalanta has ever won came back in 1963, over 60 years ago. They have been the runners up 5 times which includes last season and twice in the last 4 years, but they always come up short. Atalanta has a lot of quality on their side, but this is not going to be a competition they are fully focused on and they do not have the depth to make a deep run here with more important competitions to worry about. They have come close to winning the Coppa Italia in recent years, but this is not going to be one of those seasons. There is no real value in Atalanta to win this competition with the other ones taking focus away.  RecommendationThis competition has been very straightforward over the last few seasons as it has generally been dominated by a handful of teams with a few exceptions here and there. It is usually the same group of teams that are always a threat in this competition, but only 1 club can win it all and there are external factors that affect each team's focus and motivation. This season, Juventus at +350 has the best value for a team to lift the trophy as they are the most dominant club in the competition and have yet to lose a match this season making them a very difficult out in competitions like this where a team must advance. Napoli at +600 is also a great dark horse though since the motivation is going to be there with the new manager and they do not have any other competitions to play in that will take their focus away, allowing them to put out the best lineup for these matches. Juventus at +350 and Napoli at +600 are the 2 best options for teams to lift the Coppa Italia this season, and it is possible that both of these clubs face each other in the Final due to the bracket.

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EFL (Carabao) Cup Futures 2024/25 Season

by Amedeus Mastrangelo

Saturday, Nov 30, 2024

The EFL Cup is entering the Quarterfinals with the 1st match taking place on December 18. There have been some quality teams that made it through, but there have also been a few surprises as well. With the competition now getting down to the final 8 teams, it is time to see who has the best chance at lifting the Carabao Cup this season.  To Win Outright Arsenal +250: Arsenal is the team with the best chance at lifting the trophy this season according to the oddsmakers. Arsenal has been a dominant club over the last 2 seasons, but this year they have been struggling more as they currently sit at 5th in the Premier League table entering December. They are starting to get back into good form now, but they also have Champions League which has been taking away a lot of their focus as well. They have been one of the dominant teams in the league the last 2 seasons, but they always fell short and did not have the squad depth to make a run in European competition either. Now with their early struggles in the league and still with Champions League to focus on, this competition is not going to be very high on their list of priorities. They are up against Crystal Palace in the Quarterfinals, but they have not really played any quality teams in this competition with their last 2 wins coming against Preston and Bolton in the previous rounds. They will also have to match up with the winner of Tottenham/Man Utd in the next round so neither of those teams are going to be an easy pass either. This is not a competition that Arsenal has had success in either, winning just 2 EFL Cups in their club history, the last one coming in 1993. Arsenal does not have a lot of value to lift the trophy at this price.  Liverpool +275: Liverpool is the team with the next best chance at lifting the trophy this season according to the oddsmakers. Liverpool has been a dominant team in the Premier League for years, but recently they have been coming up short over the last few seasons. Klopp decided to leave the team before the season as he was looking for a break from the sport, but their new manager has them going in the right direction. The quality has not changed much from last season, but the team itself sure has as they are currently leading the Premier League entering December and they have a large lead as well. They have the best defense in the league right now as they are the only team that has not conceded 10 goals this season, and they also have one of the better attacks. They also have Champions League to worry about, but they have been dominant in that competition as well and after playing 2nd fiddle to Man City the last few years, they are going to be focused on winning the Treble this year as they have a real chance to clean house in a all of these competitions. The quality is there as well as the depth and this team has not shown any signs of slowing down with their new manager. This is also a competition they have had a lot of success in as Liverpool actually has the most EFL Cups in the history of the competition. They have won 10 EFL Cups in their club history and they are also the defending champions from last season, winning it twice in the last 3 years. Liverpool is the best team in England right now and might even be the best team in Europe. There is a lot of value in Liverpool to lift the trophy this season as it is their competition to lose.  Newcastle +450: Newcastle is the team with the next best chance at lifting the trophy this season according to the oddsmakers. Newcastle has been struggling in the Premier League this season as they currently sit in the middle of the table entering December and have never been the same as that team that went to Champions League seasons ago. They have quality in their squad but injuries have been an ongoing problem for the club over the years and it has affected their depth in these competitions. They do not have any European competitions to worry about this season so they will have more energy to focus on this, but they are not doing so well in the Premier League either so that is also a priority to them, finishing high in the table to be in European competition for next season. They have been very inconsistent this season and also have one of the weaker attacks in the league. They have had a tough path to get here as they did get through Nottingham Forest and Chelsea, but Brentford is also a bit of a wild card like Newcastle so they are not going to be an easy out in this round. Even if Newcastle gets through Brentford, they could have a date with Liverpool in the next round and that is no easy match to get through either. Newcastle does not have the quality to compete with some of the better teams in the competition right now and they have been too inconsistent to be trusted to make a deep run. This is not a competition they have had success in either as they have never won the EFL Cup and have only been to the Final twice, losing to Man Utd in 2023 and the other appearance being in 1976. Newcastle really should not be the 3rd best option to lift this trophy, there is no real value in them at this price.  Tottenham +500: Tottenham is the team with the next best chance at lifting the trophy this season according to the oddsmakers. Tottenham is not having a great season as they currently sit in the middle of the table entering December. They do have one of the better attacks in the Premier League this season as well as having a good defense too, but they have been inconsistent in their matches with other competitions like Europa League to worry about as well. The team has a lot of quality and they have made strides over the last 2 seasons with their newer manager Postecoglou, but they have also been very erratic on defense with their high line coming back to bite them at times. Even in their recent matches going into December, they have fallen out of form a bit with their defense starting to concede more goals. They did have a tough challenge in the last round as they kicked out Man City, but Man Utd is not going to be an easier opponent as they have found new life under their new manager and also have a very good record in this competition. The next round could see a date with Arsenal as well so Tottenham does not have an easy path to the Final and it will take a toll on them with the other competitions taking away focus as well. Tottenham is 6th on the all-time list with 4 EFL Cups as well as being runners up 5 times, but the last time they actually won this competition was back in 2008. Tottenham has a good team but they are too inconsistent so there is no real value in them to lift the trophy at this price.  Manchester United +600: Manchester United is the team with the next best chance at lifting the trophy this season according to the oddsmakers. Man Utd has been struggling a lot this season as they currently sit in the bottom half of the table entering December. They are in Europa League as well so they have that competition taking focus away, but Europa League is also not as big of a priority as a competition like Champions League would be for a club like Man Utd. They have a lot of quality on their team as well, but they have not been performing and it has been an ongoing problem going back to last season. They have finally fixed the issue though, sacking their manager a few weeks ago, and now they have been in great form since the sacking. They have played 6 matches under their new manager with 4 wins and no losses in that span. Their attack has been flowing much better in these matches which is key since they have a lot of quality attackers in their squad, but the defense has also tightened up as well. Everything is moving in the right direction for Man Utd and this new manager, and this is a great morale booster to try and win this competition and show the results to the players which will help them buy into the new methods. Man Utd has had a very easy path in this competition so far and now have to play Tottenham in the Quarterfinals, but Man Utd is playing like the more stable team right now and they have a lot more depth than Tottenham as well. They could see Arsenal in the next round which will not be easy, but they have the talent to beat a club like that and this new manager could be exactly what they need to push themselves over the line. Either way, this is a great competition for the new manager to focus on, and it is a competition they have had a lot of success in as well. Man Utd is 3rd on the all-time list with 6 EFL Cups with their most recent one coming just 2 seasons ago in 2023. They have also won 2 EFL Cups in the last 8 seasons as well. Man Utd is on the right path with their new manager and they very well could be a dark horse in this competition. There is some good value in Man Utd to lift the trophy at this price.  RecommendationThere are some quality teams left in this competition, but a lot of external factors can also affect how teams play in this competition and apply their focus on it. Out of all the teams left, there is 1 team that is clearly on a roll right now and has been the best team in the league all season by far. Liverpool at +275 is the best option to lift this trophy with the form they have been in all season, but Man Utd at +600 is also a good option with their new manager boost. Man Utd makes a good dark horse as well since they can end up in the final with Liverpool. The best options here for a team to lift the EFL Cup this season are Liverpool at +275 and Manchester United at +600.

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College Hoops: Winners/Losers from November & Season Predictions

by William Burns

Saturday, Nov 30, 2024

In perhaps the most exciting sport to watch in the world of sports, the 2024-25 College Basketball season commenced earlier this month. We've already seen a bunch of exciting matchups and some very interesting styles of play. The in-season tournaments have been stellar watches and this is just the beginning of what should be an absolutely amazing CBB season. The month of November means more to certain teams that it does to others. Some programs will take games very seriously right now while others are simply just trying to find their legs and hit the ground running. This is the perfect time to see what your team is about, facing top teams and battling it out in style. Here are your winners and losers (known schools) in the month of November.  Winners: 1.) Auburn Tigers (7-0 Record)  The Auburn Tigers have been the most impressive team so far this season in my opinion. They've beaten everyone that's gotten put in front of them and have an amazing group of guys. Already this season, Auburn has won @Houston & has wins against ISU, UNC as well as Memphis in the Maui Invitational. Two of those four wins came by double digits! Now, the SEC is one of, if not the toughest division in College Hoops this season. So, don't be shocked if they pick up the occasional loss in conference play. However, the Tigers are out for revenge this season after being sent home early in last year's March Madness (1st Round Loss to Yale.) Season Prediction: Elite Eight appearance - possible Final Four team. 2.) Oklahoma Sooners (7-0 Record) The Sooners have been great so far this year and their record proves it. They began the season as a mid/low-tier SEC school and have absolutely shaken things up in this highly competitive conference. No, I do not expect them to keep winning every game, especially in the SEC. However, with wins over teams like Providence, Arizona & Louisville in Nassau, Bahamas, and an In-Season Tournament Championship Trophy to show for, they should be flying high on confidence through their first month in a new conference. Season Prediction: Round of 32 appearance 3.) Marquette Golden Eagles (7-0 Record) Just like the first two teams of this list, Marquette has looked excellent and owns a perfect 7-0 record to begin the season. Now, they are in the Big East, which is also a very strong conference as well. Now, even though the Golden Eagles don't have as many strong wins against top teams so far, they've looked dominant in the one's that they've played in. With a win over a 6-1 Maryland team and blowout wins against Purdue & Georgia, it's tough not to put them on this list. They will bump up in the rankings when the next Top 25 is released next week. Expect another title contending season for Marquette. Season Prediction: Sweet Sixteen appearance Losers: 1.) Connecticut Huskies (4-3 Record)  The UCONN Huskies are my top 'Loser' of the opening month of this season. They lost every game in the Maui Invitational in very winnable games where they were sizeable favorites. Those losses were suffered against Memphis, Colorado & Dayton. Now, I don't expect this to hurt UCONN very much as we head into conference play. However, Connecticut will need to shake it off and smarten up. I think that they very much can do so with the likes of Dan Hurley behind the bench coaching them. Look for another big year from the Huskies as they search for their third consecutive. Season Prediction: Final Four Appearance  2.) Arizona Wildcats (3-4 Record)  It has not been a pretty start for the Wildcats of Arizona. They've had a couple of very tough games this season and haven't shown signs of being a very strong contender so far. Losses against all of the tough teams that they've played including Wisconsin, Duke, OU & West Virginia in overtime. Well, what's next for them? They're in one of the top three conferences in CBB in my opinion with tough teams all over the place. Don't get your hopes up this season Arizona fans. If they don't smarten up, this is going to be a very rough season for Arizona. Season Prediction: If they make it (I'll give them an 80% chance right now,) Round of 32 appearance - possible Sweet Sixteen team.  3.) Creighton Blue Jays (4-3 Record) Although just like all of these teams, the Blue Jays still have plenty of time to find their identity, it's been a struggle for them so far. After losing their best player to the NBA in Baylor Scheierman this offseason, they were forced to regroup a bit. Now, they still have great talent in Ryan Kalkbrenner & Steven Ashworth. And they did add Pop Isaacs to the team. But, they've lost three consecutive games in late November against Nebraska, San Diego State & Texas A&M which won't look so good on their resume come the end of the season. I don't think that they'll have much trouble making the Big Dance. But, they could have early problems in that tournament with the lack of early-season success against Non-Conf opponents. They are currently playing Notre Dame to finish off the month with a win. Season Prediction: Round of 32 appearance

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NCAAF, NHL, NCAAB and EPL Previews and Odds - 11/30/2024

by Big Al Staff

Saturday, Nov 30, 2024

The Saturday sports card features NCAAF, NBA, NHL, NCAAB, and EPL action.Week 14 in NCAAF college football concludes with 50 games between FBS opponents. Nineteen of these NCAAF games kick off in the opening window between noon ET and 3:00 p.m. ET, with three games starting on major national television at noon ET. Ohio State hosts Michigan on Fox as a 19.5-point favorite with the total set at 42 (all odds from DraftKings). Clemson plays at home against South Carolina on ESPN as a 2.5-point favorite with an over/under of 49. Tennessee travels to Vanderbilt on ABC as a 10.5-point road favorite with a total of 48.5. Nineteen NCAAF games between FBS opponents start in the 3:30 p.m. ET to 6:30 p.m. ET window. Four college football games are on major national television at 3:30 p.m. Notre Dame plays at USC on CBS as a 7.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 52.5. Arizona State is at Arizona on Fox as an 8.5-point road favorite with a total of 53.5. Alabama is home against Auburn on ABC as a 10.5-point favorite with a total of 52.5. Miami (FL) visits Syracuse on ESPN as an 11-point road favorite with an over/under of 67. Ten NCAAF games between FBS opponents begin at 7:00 p.m. ET or later to complete the Saturday football card. LSU hosts Oklahoma on ESPN at 7:00 p.m. ET as a 6-point favorite with a total of 47. Three more NCAAF games on major national television begin at 7:30 p.m. ET. Oregon plays at home against Washington on NBC as an 18-point favorite with an over/under of 51. Texas plays at Texas A&M on ABC as a 5-point road favorite with a total of 48.5. Iowa State is home against Kansas State on Fox as a 2-point favorite with an over/under of 51.5. BYU hosts  Houston on ESPN at 10:15 p.m. ET as a 13-point favorite with a total of 41.The National Basketball Association has five games on its docket, with one game on NBA TV. The Phoenix Suns play at home against the Golden State Warriors at 9:10 p.m. ET as a 3.5-point favorite with an over/under of 230.5. The National Hockey League has 12 games on its slate, with two games on the NHL Network. The New York Rangers are home against the Montreal Canadiens at 1:07 p.m. ET as a -205 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Pittsburgh Penguins host the Calgary Flames at 7:07 p.m. ET as a -120 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6. The college basketball schedule has 62 games between Division I opponents. Four NCAAB games are on major national television in the Players Era Festival at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Creighton battles Notre Dame on truTV at 1:00 p.m. ET as a 5.5-point favorite with a total of 145.5. Texas A&M plays Rutgers on truTV at 3:30 p.m. ET as a 4.5-point favorite with an over/under of 147.5. Houston challenges San Diego State on TNT at 7:00 p.m. ET as a 12.5-point favorite with a total of 129. Alabama faces Oregon on TNT at 9:30 p.m. ET as a 6-point favorite with an over/under of 165.5. Matchweek 13 in the English Premier League continues with five matches, with matches on the USA Network. Nottingham Forest plays at home against Ipswich Town at 10:00 a.m. ET as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5. Arsenal is at West Ham United on the USA Network at 12:30 p.m. ET as a -1.5 goal-line road favorite with an over/under of 2.5.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NFL, NCAAF, NBA, NHL, NCAAB and EPL Previews and Odds - 11/29/2024

by Big Al Staff

Friday, Nov 29, 2024

The Friday sports card features NFL, NCAAF, NBA, NHL, NCAAB, and EPL action. Week 14 in the National Football League continues with one game. The Kansas City Chiefs host the Las Vegas Raiders on Amazon Prime Video at 3:00 p.m. ET as a 13-point favorite, with the total set at 42.5 (all odds from DraftKings)Week 14 in NCAAF college football continues with 14 games between FBS opponents. Four NCAAF games on major national television kick off at noon ET. Boise State plays at home against Oregon State on Fox as an 18-point favorite with an over/under of 57.5. Colorado is home against Oklahoma State on ABC as a 16.5-point favorite with a total of 65. East Carolina hosts Navy on ESPN as a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 55. Minnesota travels to Wisconsin on CBS as a 1-point road favorite with an over/under of 41. Mississippi plays at home against Mississippi State on ABC at 3:30 p.m. ET as a 26-point favorite with a total of 61.5. San Jose State is home against Stanford as a 2.5-point favorite with an over/under of 54.5. Two more NCAAF games start at 7:30 p.m. ET. Iowa hosts Nebraska on NBC as a 3.5-point favorite with a total of 40. Georgia plays at home against Georgia Tech on ABC as an 18.5-point favorite with an over/under of 51.5. Central Florida is home against Utah on Fox at 8:00 p.m. ET as a 10-point favorite with a total of 46.5. The National Basketball Association has 10 games on its docket in the NBA Cup. Two NBA games are featured in a doubleheader on ESPN. The Minnesota Timberwolves host the Los Angeles Clippers at 7:40 p.m. ET as a 5.5-point favorite with an over/under of 215.5. The Los Angeles Lakers play at home against the Oklahoma City Thunder at 10:10 p.m. ET as a 1-point favorite with a total of 230. The National Hockey League has 14 games on its slate. TNT broadcasts two games in a Friday night doubleheader. The Boston Bruins are home against the Pittsburgh Penguins at 6:37 p.m. ET as a -175 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6. The Dallas Stars host the Colorado Avalanche at 9:07 p.m. ET as a -135 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5.  The college basketball schedule has 53 games between Division I opponents. Ten games are on major national television. Indiana battles Providence in the Battle 4 Atlantis at the Imperial Arena at the Atlantis Resort in Nassau, Bahamas, on ESPN2, at 11:00 a.m. ET as a 4.5-point favorite with an over/under of 141.5. Wake Forest plays Minnesota in the ESPN Events Invitational at the State Farm Field in Kissimmee, Florida, on ESPN2 at 1:00 p.m. ET as a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 131.5. TCU challenges Colorado State in the Acrisure Holiday Classic Event at the Acrisure Arena in Palm Springs, California, on truTV as a 3.5-point favorite with an over/under of 143. Arizona faces West Virginia in the Battle 4 Atlantis on ESPN2 at 3:00 p.m. ET as a 5.5-point favorite with a total of 152.5. Florida goes against Wichita State in the ESPN Events Invitational on ESPN at 3:30 p.m. ET as an 8.5-point favorite with a total of 151.5. Louisville challenges Oklahoma in the Battle 4 Atlantis on ESPN at 5:30 p.m. ET as a 3.5-point favorite with an over/under of 148.5. Utah State plays North Texas in the ESPN Events Invitational on ESPN2 at 6:30 p.m. ET as a 5-point favorite with a total of 138. Gonzaga battles Davidson in the Battle 4 Atlantis on ESPN2 at 8:30 p.m. ET as a 20.5-point favorite with an over/under of 153.5. Saint Mary’s faces Arizona State in the Acrisure Holiday Classic Event on truTV at 11:30 p.m. ET.Matchweek 13 in the English Premier League begins with one match. Brighton and Hove Albion plays at home against Southampton at 3:00 p.m. ET as a 1.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 3.5. 

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