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Big Al's Daily Angle: NFL, MLB, WNBA, CFL and EPL Previews and Odds - 08/28/26

by Big Al Staff

Friday, Aug 28, 2026

The Friday sports card features NFLX, MLB, WNBA, CFL, and EPL action. The NFLX preseason continues its Week 3 with 10 games. The Baltimore Ravens host the Washington Commanders on the NFL Network at 6:00 p.m. ET as a 2.5-point favorite with the total set at 33.5 (all odds from DraftKings, unless indicated otherwise). Two more NFLX preseason games kick off at 7:00 p.m. ET. The Houston Texans travel to Carolina to play the Panthers as a 1.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 36.5. The Atlanta Falcons play in Miami against the Dolphins as a 4.5-point road favorite with a total of 36.5. Two NFLX preseason games start at 7:30 p.m. ET. The New York Giants are the technical road team when they battle the New York Jets as a 3.5-point favorite with an over/under of 36.5. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers visit Jacksonville to face the Jaguars as a 3-point road favorite with a total of 34.5.Five NFLX preseason games begin at 8:00 p.m. ET. The Green Bay Packers play at home against the Arizona Cardinals as a 1.5-point favorite with an over/under of 36.5. The Kansas City Chiefs are at home to battle the Seattle Seahawks as a 1.5-point favorite with a total of 33.5. The Dallas Cowboys host the New Orleans Saints as a 2.5-point favorite with an over/under of 38.5. The Philadelphia Eagles play at home against the Cincinnati Bengals as a 3-point favorite with a total of 36.5. The Denver Broncos are at home to take on the Minnesota Vikings on the NFL Network at 9:00 p.m. ET as a 3.5-point favorite with an over/under of 37.5. Major League Baseball has 15 games scheduled. The Chicago Cubs host the Cincinnati Reds at 2:20 p.m. ET as a -199 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The Los Angeles Dodgers play in Detroit against the Tigers at 6:40 p.m. ET as a -223 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 7.5. The Miami Marlins are on the road to play the Washington Nationals at 6:45 p.m. ET as a -155 money-line road favorite with a total of 8.5. Three MLB games throw out the first pitch at 7:10 p.m. ET. The Cleveland Guardians are at home to face the Kansas City Royals as a -142 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. The Houston Astros travel to New York to challenge the Mets on Peacock as a -130 money-line road favorite with a total of 7.5. The Tampa Bay Rays host the San Diego Padres as a -136 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7.5. Three MLB games start at 7:15 p.m. ET. The Toronto Blue Jays play at home against the Seattle Mariners. The New York Yankees are at home to face the Boston Red Sox on Apple TV+ as a -168 money-line favorite with a total of 7.5. The Atlanta Braves host the Colorado Rockies as a -238 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9. The Milwaukee Brewers play at home against the Texas Rangers at 7:45 p.m. ET as a -181 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The Minnesota Twins are at home to challenge the Chicago White Sox at 8:10 p.m. ET as a -117 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9. The Pittsburgh Pirates play in St. Louis against the Cardinals at 8:15 p.m. ET as a -119 money-line road favorite with a total of 7. The Philadelphia Phillies are on the road in Los Angeles to play the Angels on Peacock at 9:38 p.m. ET as a -142 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8. The Baltimore Orioles are on the road to visit the Athletics at 9:40 p.m. ET. The Arizona Diamondbacks play in San Francisco against the Giants at 10:15 p.m. ET as a -125 money-line road favorite with a total of 7.5. The WNBA has four games on tap. Two WNBA games tip off at 7:30 p.m. ET. The Indiana Fever host the Connecticut Sun as a 17.5-point favorite with an over/under of 178.5. The Atlanta Dream play at home against the Portland Fire as a 12.5-point favorite with a total of 180.5. Two games conclude the WNBA card at 10:00 pm. ET. The Washington Mystics are on the road in Los Angeles to face the Sparks as a 5.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 167.5. The Las Vegas Aces are at home to battle the Toronto Tempo as a 13.5-point favorite with a total of 176.5. Week 13 in the Canadian Football League kicks off with one game. The Montreal Alouettes travel to Winnipeg to take on the Bombers at 8:30 p.m. ET as a 6.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 59.5. Matchweek 2 in the English Premier League begins with one match on the USA Network at 3 PM ET. Manchester City plays at Crystal Palace as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with a total of 2.5.

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WNBA Championship Futures Bet

by Sean Murphy

Thursday, Aug 27, 2026

When looking at futures bets, I’m generally not interested in taking the favorite. If a team is going to win the WNBA Championship, I want to know whether the price gives us enough value to justify tying up the money for the weeks and months ahead. Right now, the Minnesota Lynx deserve to be the favorite. They've won 16 of their last 17 games and have separated themselves from much of the league. But with Minnesota now priced accordingly, there is very little room for error from a value standpoint. So, I’m looking at a team further down the board.Golden State Valkyries (+900) The Golden State Valkyries are the team I'm most interested in. It has little to do with them being a longshot bet - there are legitimate reasons to believe Golden State can make a deep playoff run. The biggest is defense. The Valkyries currently rank No. 1 in the WNBA in defensive rating, which is exactly the type of foundation I want when looking at a championship futures bet. They pass the eye test in that regard as well - few teams have put together as strong of a defensive campaign as the Valkyries this year.  We know what happens in the playoffs. The pace generally slows down, possessions become more valuable and teams can't simply rely on running up the score against weaker competition. That's where Golden State can shine. And it has already shown it can beat the teams it will likely have to go through. The market has already moved toward the Valkyries. They opened the season as a much longer shot, but by Aug. 21 they were around +750 at some books. That number has since moved back into a more favorable range. There is one major question with the Valkyries, and it's their offense. They certainly don't have the same level of firepower as a team like Indiana, nor do they possess the collection of established stars that some of the other contenders have. That's the argument against them but that's also why we're getting such a generous price. Every futures bet has to have a reason why the market is offering value. With Golden State, the concern about its offense is already reflected in the price. I'm willing to bet on the Valkyries defense and their ability to make games ugly when necessary. And I'm willing to bet on a team that has already demonstrated it can beat elite competition.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NFL, MLB and WNBA Previews and Odds - 08/27/26

by Big Al Staff

Thursday, Aug 27, 2026

The Thursday sports card features NFLX, MLB, and WNBA action. The NFLX preseason kicks off Week 3 with two games. The Buffalo Bills host the Pittsburgh Steelers on the NFL Network at 7:00 p.m. ET as a 3-point favorite, with the total set at 34.5 (all odds from DraftKings, unless indicated otherwise). Two more NFLX preseason games kick off at 8:00 p.m. ET. The Las Vegas Raiders play at home against the San Francisco 49ers as a 3-point favorite with an over/under of 38.5. The New England Patriots travel to Cleveland to play the Browns on Amazon Prime Video as a 2.5-point road favorite with a total of 35.5. The Los Angeles Chargers are the technical home team when they take on the Los Angeles Rams on the NFL Network at 10:00 p.m. ET as a 3.5-point favorite with an over/under of 38.5.Major League Baseball has seven games scheduled. The Washington Nationals host the Colorado Rockies at 1:05 p.m. ET. The Nationals send out Jake Irvin to pitch against the Rockies’ Gabriel Hughes. Washington is a -121 money-line favorite with a total of 9. The Baltimore Orioles play in St. Louis against the Cardinals at 2:15 p.m. ET. Trevor Rogers gets the ball for the Orioles to duel against a starting pitcher yet to be named for the Cardinals. Baltimore is a -120 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The New York Yankees play at home against the Houston Astros at 7:05 p.m. ET. The Yankees turn to Gerrit Cole to face the Astros’ Hayden Wesneski. New York is a -160 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The Kansas City Royals are on the road in Toronto to battle the Blue Jays at 7:07 p.m. ET. Spencer Arrighetti grabs the ball for the Royals to duel against Noah Cameron. Kansas City is a -113 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8. The Milwaukee Brewers visit New York to challenge the Mets at 7:10 p.m. ET. The Brewers tap Jacob Misiorowski to pitch against the Mets’ Sean Manaea. Milwaukee is a -224 money-line road favorite with a total of 7. The Atlanta Braves are home to face the Los Angeles Dodgers on FS1 at 7:15 p.m. ET. Chris Sale gets the starting pitcher assignment for the Braves to take on Yoshinobu Yamamoto for the Dodgers. Atlanta is a -117 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7. The Arizona Diamondbacks play in San Francisco against the Giants on Peacock at 9:45 p.m. ET. The Diamondbacks turn to Edward Cabrera to challenge the Giants' Landen Roupp. Arizona is a -114 money-line road favorite with a total of 8.       The WNBA has two games on tap on Amazon Prime Video. The New York Liberty are at home to play the Golden State Valkyries at 8:10 p.m. ET as a 3.5-point favorite with an over/under of 162.5. The Washington Mystics are on the road in Phoenix to face the Mercury at 10:10 p.m. ET as a 3.5-point road favorite with a total of 166.5.   

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WNBA MVP Race: A’ja Wilson Has Separated From the Field

by Vegas Writer

Wednesday, Aug 26, 2026

The 2026 WNBA MVP conversation may still produce plenty of debate, but the betting market is becoming increasingly one-sided.With the league approaching its FIBA World Cup break and the stretch run looming, A’ja Wilson has gone from MVP favorite to overwhelming favorite. At the same time, Olivia Miles and Caitlin Clark remain the two players with the most realistic chance of making a late charge.As of Wednesday, BetMGM lists Wilson at -1400, followed by Miles at +900, Clark at +5000 and Kelsey Mitchell +5000.Everyone else is +20000 or longer. Wilson was only -800 a week earlier, illustrating how rapidly the market has moved in her direction.Here's a look at the Big 3:A’JA WILSON, LAS VEGAS ACES, -1100Status: The overwhelming favorite.Wilson is averaging 26.0 points, 9.5 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 2.0 blocks and 1.4 steals, while carrying a league-high 32% usage rate and a 62% true-shooting percentage.Her value becomes even clearer analytically: Las Vegas owns a +11.0 net rating with Wilson on the floor and -16.6 when she sits, a massive 27.6-point swing.She leads the WNBA in scoring and blocks, giving her something no other leading candidate can quite match: MVP-level offensive production combined with Defensive Player of the Year-level impact.The market has reacted accordingly. Wilson moved from -190 in mid-June to -400 in late July and -1100 on Saturday. Now the price is higher. She has also attracted 63.3% of all money wagered on the MVP market at BetMGM.Bottom line: Unless Wilson suffers a dramatic statistical decline or Las Vegas collapses down the stretch, this has become her award to lose.OLIVIA MILES, MINNESOTA LYNX, +900Status: Wilson's strongest challenger.Miles has gone from a massive preseason longshot to the second choice in the market while directing the team with the best record in the WNBA.Minnesota continued winning despite being without Napheesa Collier for much of the season, strengthening Miles' argument that she has been one of basketball's most valuable individual players.Her 26.5% usage rate leads Minnesota, yet she has maintained a 61.2% true-shooting percentage while flirting with a 50/40/90 shooting season.The Lynx's performance with her is elite: Minnesota has produced a 115.5 net rating with Miles on the court compared with 104.5 when she's off.Miles also became the fastest player in WNBA history to reach 650 points and 200 assists, giving her a historic rookie narrative.Bottom line: If anyone can make Wilson sweat, it's Miles. Winning MVP as a rookie would require an extraordinary finish, but leading the league's best team gives her a legitimate argument beyond the numbers.CAITLIN CLARK, INDIANA FEVER, +3000Status: The most dangerous late-charging candidate.Clark's odds have been on a roller coaster. She opened around +250, drifted as far as +3500 earlier in August and rallied back to +3000 as Indiana has surged. The numbers has since increased.She enters the latter portion of August averaging 22.1 points and 8.3 assists, ranking third in scoring and tied for first in assists.Her recent production has strengthened the argument. Through the WNBA's Aug. 26th MVP update, Clark was averaging 23.4 points and 9.1 assists in August, with Indiana going 6-4 over that stretch.Indiana has developed into the league's premier offensive machine, ranking first at the time in scoring (96.6 PPG), field-goal percentage (48.9%) and offensive rating (115.6).Her biggest obstacle isn't offense; it's Wilson's two-way dominance. Clark can rival virtually anyone as an offensive engine, but Wilson's defensive influence gives the favorite another major component to her résumé.Bottom line: Clark probably needs Indiana to finish near the top of the standings while producing a spectacular statistical closing stretch. At +5000, however, she remains the most intriguing established-star alternative to Wilson.WHERE THE RACE STANDSThis is increasingly a Wilson-versus-the-field market.Wilson's -1400 price translates to roughly a 94% implied probability before accounting for sportsbook hold, compared with about 7.7% for Miles at +900 and 3.8% for Clark at +5000. More importantly, Wilson owns the statistical combination voters traditionally love: league-leading scoring, elite rebounding, elite rim protection, tremendous efficiency, team success and enormous on/off impact.Miles has the best combination of team success, historical significance and betting value among the challengers. Clark has the clearest opportunity to make a dramatic late push because Indiana's offense is exploding with her controlling it.But barring a major reversal over the final stretch, everyone else is chasing No. 22.Current MVP pecking order: Wilson first - and then everybody else.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: MLB and WNBA Previews and Odds - 08/26/26

by Big Al Staff

Wednesday, Aug 26, 2026

The Wednesday sports card features MLB and WNBA action. Major League Baseball has 15 games scheduled. The Detroit Tigers host the Tampa Bay Rays at 1:10 p.m. ET as a -120 money-line favorite with the total set at 8 (all odds from DraftKings). The Arizona Diamondbacks play at home against the Chicago Cubs at 3:40 p.m. ET as a -112 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The San Francisco Giants are at home to take on the Cincinnati Reds at 3:45 p.m. ET as a -117 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The Cleveland Guardians travel to Los Angeles to face the Angels at 4:07 p.m. ET as a -144 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5. Two more MLB games throw out the first pitch at 4:10 p.m. ET. The Philadelphia Phillies play in Seattle against the Mariners as a -130 money-line road favorite with a total of 7. The San Diego Padres host the Pittsburgh Pirates as a -136 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. The Boston Red Sox are on the road in Miami to battle the Marlins on Peacock at 6:40 p.m. ET. The Red Sox send out Sonny Gray to pitch against the Marlins’ Ryan Gusto. Boston is a -159 money-line road favorite with a total of 7.5. The Washington Nationals play at home against the Colorado Rockies at 6:45 p.m. ET as a -131 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9. The New York Yankees are at home to challenge the Houston Astros at 7:05 p.m. ET as a -143 money-line favorite with a total of 9. The Toronto Blue Jays host the Kansas City Royals at 7:07 p.m. ET as a -142 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Milwaukee Brewers visit New York to play the Mets at 7:10 p.m. ET as a -163 money-line road favorite with a total of 8. The Los Angeles Dodgers play in Atlanta against the Braves at 7:15 p.m.  ET as a -130 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Chicago White Sox play at home against the Texas Rangers at 7:40 p.m. ET as a -136 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The St. Louis Cardinals are at home to face the Baltimore Orioles at 7:45 p.m. ET as a -112 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. The Minnesota Twins are on the road to take on the Athletics on Peacock at 9:05 p.m. ET. Conner Prielipp takes the ball for the Twins to duel against J.T. Ginn. Minnesota is a -142 money-line road favorite with a total of 10.5. The WNBA has two games on tap. The Golden State Valkyries travel to Connecticut to play the Sun at 7:00 p.m. ET as a 13.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 150.5. The Seattle Storm host the Toronto Tempo on the USA Network at 10:00 p.m. ET. The Storm lost for the 14th time in their previous 15 games in a 92-70 loss at Dallas as an 8.5-point underdog on Sunday. The Tempo lost for the 13th time in their last 14 games after an 88-78 loss against Las Vegas as a 13.5-point underdog three days ago. Seattle is a 6.5-point favorite with a total of 176.5. 

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ASA's NFL Rookie of the Year Projections

by ASA, Inc.

Tuesday, Aug 25, 2026

Favorite - Raiders QB Fernando Mendoza +550Not often does a Heisman-winning, national-champion, consensus first-overall pick sit outside the top 3 for ROTY odds heading into the season. The only reason for this is because 38-year-old Kirk Cousins is thought to be the current starting quarterback for the Raiders while Mendoza develops behind him. However, from watching Cousins during his last two seasons in Atlanta, we know he has been objectively bad. In his last 24 games, Cousins has 28 touchdowns and 21 interceptions, ranking 22nd in QBR last year. So how long do we truly expect him to remain the starter while Mendoza waits his turn? It likely will not be long at all. Las Vegas has a win total of 5.5, so there is little sense in keeping their number one pick on the bench when Cousins sputters. Simply put, Mendoza is a stud, and once he is comfortable in Klint Kubiak’s offense, he will take Cousins’ job and not look back. In Weeks four through seven, the Raiders have a brutal schedule against the Chiefs, Patriots, Bills, and Rams. During that stretch, if not before, Mendoza will be installed. If Mendoza were named the starter tomorrow, he would immediately jump to the top of the ROTY odds. It will be sooner rather than later he gets his chance. Mid-Tier - Browns WR KC Concepcion +2000Of all the negative buzz coming from Cleveland this training camp, there is no lack of positive buzz around KC Concepcion, who they selected 24th overall. He seems firmly in line to start, and many think he will lead the team in targets. Veteran Jerry Jeudy and rookie Denzel Boston are his only target competition. Percy Harvin comparisons have been thrown around due to KC’s versatility, making him a very intriguing pick with the ability to rack up receiving, rushing, and return stats. Harvin won offensive ROTY in 2009 with only 60 catches for 790 yards as a receiver. The Browns will likely be horrible, but the loss of Myles Garrett is good news for more pass-heavy negative game scripts. If Cleveland uses Concepcion as they indicate they have been in camp, Concepcion could be a household name by the end of his rookie year.Longshot - Chargers WR Brenen Thompson +9000Thirteen wide receivers went before Thompson in the NFL draft this year. Yet, Thompson not only ran the fastest 40-time at the combine (3rd-fastest all-time) but he also led the coveted SEC in receiving yards. Those two accolades would be worthy of a day one pick for most college receivers. Now in LA, everyone knows new OC Mike McDaniel loves to stretch the field, with Thompson already making numerous splash plays with the starting offense this camp. Justin Herbert has a cannon and Thompson can already get on the field as a deep threat, but he is much more than a one-trick pony, running the entire route tree effectively against the best corners in college football. If Thompson can carve out a significant role on a projected top ten offense, the sky is the limit for him. Dare we say Mike McDaniel’s next Tyreek Hill?  

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Understanding Betting Systems

by Wayne Root

Tuesday, Aug 25, 2026

Principles of Effective Betting Systems To be effective, a sports betting system should be built on clear principles that help you stay disciplined, control risk, and make decisions based on evidence rather than impulse. Reminder that there’s a huge difference between “principles” and “systems”.   1. Statistical Foundation A strong betting system is grounded in statistics or a mathematical model. Many successful approaches use patterns related to progression, probability, or odds. Instead of relying on gut feeling, bettors use data and analysis to guide wagers. Our gut feelings or instincts is applied after we research a game. Base bets on data, not emotion: Use statistics, research, team performance, recent form, and relevant factors (like injuries) rather than personal bias. We can help you with this as it is built into the games we put out.  Use a betting log: Record every bet, including why you placed it and the result. This lets you evaluate whether your strategy is actually working over time. This is one thing that players hate to do.  Example: Before betting an NFL game, review team stats, injury reports, and recent trends instead of betting simply because you prefer one team. Injuries: college injury information is not used as much as in the NFL.  2. Bankroll Management Bankroll management is a core part of any betting system. It sets rules for how much money to risk per wager so you don’t expose yourself to excessive losses—especially during losing streaks. The emphasis on this could be stated before every game and the reminder will be of no use. It’s that amazing   Set betting limits: Decide in advance how much you can afford to lose. For example, if your bankroll is $5000 you might risk only 1–2% per bet. Avoid chasing losses: Don’t increase your stake after a loss to “make it back.” Stick to your planned bet size and never exceed what you can afford. If you don’t know the importance of discipline is; you will not win.  Example: A bettor may cap NFL wagers at $500 per game regardless of how confident they feel, helping protect their bankroll through streaks. 3. Consistency A betting system is designed to create consistency. When you follow a structured plan, you’re less likely to make emotional changes—like increasing bets after wins or losses (often called “chasing”). Consistency reduces the influence of short-term results and supports long-term stability. Stick to the system: After choosing your approach, remain disciplined even during short-term downturns. Emotional betting can quickly lead to financial trouble. RE; Betting on your alma mater or your favorite team will lead to a huge disaster. Set time limits: Decide how long you’ll bet in a session to avoid boredom, frustration, or rushed decisions.  Example: With a flat betting system, you place the same bet size on every NFL game, regardless of recent outcomes. This helps you avoid impulsive adjustments based on temporary results. At this point, let’s advise to avoid parlays.  4. Understanding Variance Even well-structured betting systems go through variance—periods where bets win and lose in streaks. No system can guarantee constant profits, and variance is normal in sports betting. Embrace variance: Accept that losing streaks happen. Your job is to manage them responsibly within your limits. Patience and long-term thinking are key. Avoid “get rich quick” systems: Be cautious of strategies promising guaranteed profit or rapid success. Sustainable results come from responsible, long-term decision-making—not unrealistic promises.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: MLB and WNBA Previews and Odds - 08/25/26

by Big Al Staff

Tuesday, Aug 25, 2026

The Tuesday sports card features MLB and WNBA action. Major League Baseball has 15 games scheduled. Two MLB games throw out the first pitch at 6:40 p.m. ET. The Tampa Bay Rays travel to Detroit to play the Tigers as a -136 money-line road favorite with the total set at 7.5 (all odds from DraftKings). The Boston Red Sox play on the road in Miami against the Marlins. The Washington Nationals host the Colorado Rockies at 6:45 p.m. ET as a -156 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The New York Yankees play at home against the Houston Astros at 7:05 p.m. ET as a -149 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The Toronto Blue Jays are at home to face the Kansas City Royals at 7:07 p.m. ET as a -131 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Milwaukee Brewers are on the road in New York to take on the Mets at 7:10 p.m. ET as a -167 money-line road favorite with a total of 7.5. The Los Angeles Dodgers visit Atlanta to battle the Braves on TBS at 7:15 p.m. ET. The Dodgers send Tyler Glasnow to the mound in his return from the injured list to duel against the Braves’ Bryce Elder. Los Angeles is a -157 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Texas Rangers play in Chicago against the White Sox at 7:40 p.m. ET as a -114 money-line road favorite with a total of 8. The St. Louis Cardinals host the Baltimore Orioles at 7:45 p.m. ET as a -126 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9. The Cleveland Guardians are on the road in Los Angeles to challenge the Angels at 9:38 p.m. ET as a -142 money-line road favorite with a total of 7.5. Four more MLB games start at 9:40 p.m. ET. The Seattle Mariners play at home against the Philadelphia Phillies as a -120 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. The Minnesota Twins travel on the road to take on the Athletics as a -156 money-line road favorite with a total of 9.5. The San Diego Padres are at home to face the Pittsburgh Pirates as a -120 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7.5. Arizona hosts Chicago with Brandon Pfaadt taking the ball for the Diamondbacks to duel against Clay Holmes for the Cubs on Peacock. The Diamondbacks are a -106 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The San Francisco Giants play at home against the Cincinnati Reds at 9:45 p.m. ET as a -114 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. The WNBA has three games on tap. The Chicago Sky play on the road against the Connecticut Sun at 7:00 p.m. ET as a 5.5-point road favorite with a total of 168.5. The Dallas Tempo are at home to battle the Portland Fire at 8:00 p.m. ET as an 8.5-point favorite with an over/under of 176.5. The Washington Mystics are on the road in Phoenix to play the Mercury at 10:00 p.m. ET as a 2.5-point road favorite with a total of 167.5. 

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2026 Travers Stakes Preview

by Al McMordie

Tuesday, Aug 25, 2026

The 157th edition of the Travers Stakes (Grade 1) -- also known as the mid-summer Derby -- will take place this Saturday at Saratoga Race Course.  To say this is a weak group of three-year-olds is stating the obvious -- and it seems like we're saying that every year now.  But this crop especially, even when comparing them to last year's 3YOs, seems particularly lacking as there are no Sovereigntys in here.  But having said that, you don't need a ton of talent to have a compelling and competitive horse race, and it seems like we certainly will have that at 6:35 PM ET on Saturday (race 13 of 14 races) when 10 horses go to the post.  Here is a preview of the field (by post position with morning line odds):   1) Emerging Market 15-1: This Chad Brown trained son of Candy Ride is one of two that the meet's leading conditioner has in the race (with #7 Sea Strike being the other).  Brown has never won the Travers (in fact never even finished second in this race).  Emerging Market has had three chances to show he belongs among the top of the 3YO crop since winning the Louisiana Derby in his second start.  Unfortunately, he hasn't stood out against many of the same runners that he will be facing today and in fact in his last race, he couldn't even win an Allowance tune-up here at Saratoga on July 25th (finished 2nd).  He's hard to back coming off of that one and the rail post doesn't help his chances.  Regular rider (and leading jockey) Flavien Prat opted for Sea Strike over this one so Ricardo Santana will ride.   2) Leading Change 12-1:  This son of Gun Runner has raced only twice and won both times, most recently prevailing by a neck as the 1-2 favorite in the 1 1/16-mile Indiana Derby (G3) on July 11. Trainer Brad Cox won the 2021 Travers with Essential Quality and jockey Manny Franco won the COVID-year Travers with Tiz the Law (2020).  Franco replaces regular rider Irad Ortiz Jr. who is out with a foot injury.  It's a big step up for this lightly raced colt but if anyone knows how to win in these situations it's Cox.   3) Napoleon Solo 8-1: The Preakness winner chose the Haskell Stakes path this summer and he performed well in that race at Monmouth on July 18, finishing a hard-fought 2nd to Baby Vino.  The son of Liam's Map is trained by Chad Summers who is having a tough Saratoga meet so far, but all that could be erased with a win by Napoleon Solo here.  He's a well-traveled colt, having already raced at Aqueduct, Gulfstream Park, Laurel Park, Monmouth, and here at Saratoga where he won his very first race as a maiden.  A jockey change from Paco Lopez to three-time Travers winner John Velazquez certainly doesn't hurt.   4) The Puma 8-1:  Gustavo Delgado won the 2023 Kentucky Derby with Mage and was hoping for a repeat just three years later with this son of Essential Quality.  But The Puma had to be scratched right before the big race due to a skin infection and he finally made his comeback at the Haskell on July 18, finishing 4th with a solid speed rating.  If the Puma can improve on that and return to the form he had in winning the Tampa Bay Derby and finishing a close 2nd in the Florida Derby, he can be a major factor today.   Regular rider Javier Castellano returns for the mount and Castellano is having a fantastic Saratoga meet so far.   5) Renegade 3-1:  This Todd Pletcher-trained son of leading sire Into Mischief is the second choice today after Derby and Belmont winner Golden Tempo.  Pletcher has teamed with owner Mike Repole to win this race twice before -- in 2011 with Stay Thirsty and more recently in 2024 with Fierceness.  Renegade won the local tune-up, the August 1 Jim Dandy Stakes, impressively and he equaled his best speed rating in doing so.  If the extended time off for Golden Tempo results in his not being at his best today, then Renegade is the obvious choice.  Tyler Gaffalione replaces regular rider Irad Ortiz, who, if healthy, likely would have chosen Renegade over #2, Leading Change.   6) Ocelli 20-1:  Everyone's favorite maiden is back to try again in a Grade 1 race.  This son of Connect has now tried 10 times to get a victory with no success.  One has to wonder why the owners and trainer D. Whitworth Beckman haven't simply put him in a maiden race at Saratoga where his chances of winning would be very high.  He could then go on with his stakes schedule if they wanted, but that is not the path they are choosing for some reason.  What's particularly head-scratching about their decision to try the deep waters of the Travers is that Ocelli is coming off of arguably his worst race as he finished a well-beaten 7th in the Haskell Stakes.  Edgard Zayas replaces Gaffalione in the saddle today.   7) Sea Strike 5-1:  The "other" Chad Brown horse in the race is actually much more of a buzz horse than Emerging Market, who has already lost to many of the runners in here.  This son of Midshipman was ultra-impressive in winning the Curlin Stakes here at Saratoga on August 2, trouncing the well-regarded Derby runner, Chief Wallabee.  But this is a big step up and historically, winners of the Curlin who then try the Travers have not fared well.  A big positive for him however is the fact that Flavien Prat chose him over the aforementioned Emerging Market.  But you would need considerably higher than 5-1 on Sea Strike in order for it to be fair odds for the victory today.   8) Baby Vino 10-1:  Here is perhaps the most intriguing of the 10 runners in the field.  This son of Vino Rosso was sent off at odds of 28-1 in the Haskell but a rail-skimming ride by unheralded local NJ jockey Jorge Vargas and a valiant stretch duel with Napoleon Solo resulted in a huge upset win for Baby Vino and trainer Lindsay Shultz.  Can they do it again on an even bigger stage?  Not only won't you get 28-1 to find out, but you likely also won't get 10-1 as Baby Vino will probably be bet down below his morning line odds.  Apparently Schultz and the owners felt compelled to go with a jockey switch even though Vargas produced that Haskell win, so Paco Lopez gets the mount.   9) Golden Tempo 5-2:  The obvious favorite after winning both the Kentucky Derby and Belmont in exciting last-to-first finishes, Golden Tempo finally returns to action for trainer Cherie DeVaux and owners Phipps Stable and St. Elias Stable.  An illness later in June caused this son of Curlin to miss training and skip the Jim Dandy and the big question today will be whether he can return to form without having any prep race.  He's beaten most of the others in here before but 3YO colts mature quite a bit over the summer so it will be interesting to see if any of the others -- including the new shooters -- will be able to keep Golden Tempo out of the winners circle.  5-2 or 2-1 odds likely won't be enough to persuade folks to bet their mortgage on him.  Leading rider Jose Ortiz returns for the mount.   10) Silent Tactic 10-1:  Mark Casse would love to add the Travers Stakes to his ever-growing Hall-of-Fame resume.  The 65-year-old conditioner will send out this son of Tacitus in what might be his best chance ever to win this prestigious race.  Silent Tactic makes his second start off a four-month layoff when he finished third in the Jim Dandy here at Saratoga.  A bruised foot took Silent Tactic off the Triple Crown trail, but he's back and looking to improve off of that solid Jim Dandy effort.  Like Golden Tempo, Silent Tactic is a come-from-behind type who will need a solid pace up front, but the #10 post shouldn't bother him at all.  Two-time Travers winner Luis Sáez will have the mount.   Good luck, as always,Al McMordie

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College Football: Two Season Win Total Under Wagers

by Kyle Hunter

Monday, Aug 24, 2026

College football is here! Week zero is this coming weekend. I am a big fan of the season win total markets, and I have had a lot of success on these wagers in the long run. Let’s take a look at two season win under wagers I have made for the upcoming season. North Texas under 5.5 (+110) You won’t find a bigger power ratings downgrade than North Texas from last season to the start of this season. The people who try to handicap based off of last year are in deep trouble here. Morris and Mestemaker are at Oklahoma State. Neal Brown steps in here. North Texas had the 137th rated recruiting class out of 138 teams this year. They tried to do their work in the portal, but they didn’t get enough high end guys. A huge drop off is coming.The North Texas offensive line looks a massive weakness and there are a lot of defensive fronts on their schedule who will take advantage of that weakness. North Texas wants to run the football with White in the backfield, but the offensive line is likely to make that a difficult task.I have North Texas as an underdog of more than 3 points in seven games. I have them favored by more than a touchdown just three times all season. I think it is likely they start 0-3. 4-8 looks more likely than 6-6. I’ll take the under here at plus money.  Illinois under 4.5 conference wins (-115) Note that this is Big Ten conference games only, not the full season. Luke Altmeyer did a tremendous job taking care of the ball and bailing Illinois out of a lot of bad situations. His scrambling ability was underrated. I like Katin Houser pretty well, but he is a downgrade from Altmeyer. Illinois was long thought of as a strong team in the trenches under Bret Bielema. This offensive line is now a clear weakness. They averaged just 3.9 YPC last year. They are less experienced this year and the running backs behind them are below average for a Big Ten team. The Illini have had a great defensive line the last couple years. That is no longer the case. Gabe Jacas was a huge loss. They’ll be much worse against the run this season.What is the identity of this team? I’m not sure. They are no longer a smashmouth strong in the trenches team and they lost their star QB. The defense is way down from a few years ago as well.Schedule- at Ohio State and home against Oregon are huge underdog roles for Illinois. I like UCLA and I think at UCLA is a likely loss. Purdue at home is the only real “free” win I see here.I took conference winds under 4.5 to save the juice rather than taking under 7.5 at -160 though I do think they will stay under the 7.5 as well.

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College Football: Two Season Win Total Over Selections

by Kyle Hunter

Monday, Aug 24, 2026

College football is here! Week zero is this coming weekend. I am a big fan of the season win total markets, and I have had a lot of success on these wagers in the long run. Let’s take a look at two season win total overs that I like for this year. Marshall over 7.5 (+105) Marshall played better than their final record from last season would indicate. They also found a star quarterback in Del Rio Wilson. In the offseason the Thundering Herd brought in a new offensive coordinator (Rod Smith) to run a hyper fast paced offense. I think Del Rio Wilson can thrive in this system, especially with this deep group of wide receivers. On the other side of the ball, Marshall has a defensive-minded head coach who had another year to get his type of players into the program. The secondary appears much stronger than it was a year ago. Gibson is a good coach, and I expect some clear improvement from this defense. My power ratings have Marshall as a favorite of more than a touchdown eight times this season! That means the Thundering Herd just need to take care of business to get us past this win total which also happens to be plus money.I only have Marshall as an underdog of more than 7 points once this year (first game at Penn State). Marshall has a very realistic chance of winning at least nine games, so I’m happy to take over 7.5 here. Fresno State over 6.5 wins (-140) *Make sure you bet this at a book that is including all 12 games including their flex week on 11/28*Matt Entz is a great head coach. This is a guy who knows how to win from his days leading North Dakota State! Entz is all about having a strong team in the trenches.The offensive line only allowed 19 sacks last year. The run game will be really good this year. Luke is the main guy, but I think 4 guys will see quite a few carries because of their depth at RB. On defense Fresno State is amazing on the defensive line. I think Fresno is a top 30 or so defensive line nationally. They will dominate a bunch of the offensive fronts in this new Pac 12. They are top notch in the secondary as well. I think the Bulldogs will be very difficult to score on this season! The special teams at Fresno should be the best in the conference, and that will get them an extra win at some point. They should only be an underdog of more than a touchdown once this season (at USC in game one). Fresno State’s strength in the trenches makes me really like this team. I’m on the over.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: MLB, WNBA and EPL Previews and Odds - 08/24/26

by Big Al Staff

Monday, Aug 24, 2026

The Monday sports card features MLB, WNBA, and EPL action. Major League Baseball has 10 games scheduled. Two MLB games throw out the first pitch at 6:40 p.m. ET. Boston travels to Miami with the Red Sox sending out Ranger Suarez to pitch against the Marlins’ Sandy Alcantara. The Red Sox are a -137 money-line road favorite with the total set at 7.5 (all odds from DraftKings). Tampa Bay plays in Detroit on FS1 with Drew Rasmussen taking the mound for the Rays to face Framber Valdez for the Tigers. The Rays are a -144 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 7.5. The Washington Nationals host the Colorado Rockies at 6:45 p.m. ET. The Nationals turn to Cade Cavalli to take on the Rockies’ Ryan Feltner. Washington is a -197 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The Chicago White Sox play at home against the Texas Rangers at 7:45 p.m. ET. Jose Urquidy gets the ball for the White Sox to duel against Kumar Rocker for the Rangers. Chicago is a -131 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Cleveland Guardians are on the road in Los Angeles to battle the Angels at 9:38 p.m. ET. The Guardians turn to Parker Messick to take the mound to challenge the Angels’ George Klassen. Cleveland is a -160 money-line road favorite with a total of 8. Four MLB games start at 9:40 p.m. ET. Chicago visits Arizona with Kevin Gausman taking the starting pitcher assignment for the Cubs to pitch against Merrill Kelly for the Diamondbacks. The Cubs are a -150 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 9. Philadelphia plays in Seattle with the Phillies tapping Zack Wheeler to duel against the Mariners’ Logan Gilbert. The Phillies are a -123 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. Minnesota is on the road to face the Athletics, with Zebby Matthews getting the ball for the Twins to battle against Jeffrey Springs. The Twins are a -156 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 10.5. Pittsburgh travels to San Diego with the Pirates sending out Braxton Ashcraft to take on the Padres’ Robbie Ray. The Pirates are a -111 money-line favorite with a total of 7.5. The Cincinnati Reds play in San Francisco against the Giants on FS1 at 9:45 p.m. ET. Chase Burns takes the hill for the Reds to face Carson Whisenhunt for the Giants. Cincinnati is a -150 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 7.5.The WNBA has two games on tap. The Minnesota Lynx are at home to play the Golden State Valkyries on the USA Network at 8:00 p.m. ET as a 4.5-point favorite with a total of 159.5. The Atlanta Dream are on the road in Los Angeles to face the Sparks on Peacock and the NBC Sports Network at 10:00 p.m. ET as a 9.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 183.5.Matchweek 1 of the English Premier League season concludes with one match. Chelsea visits Fulham on the USA Network at 3:00 p.m. ET as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with a total of 2.5. 

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