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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, MLB and WNBA Previews and Odds - 05/25/26

by Big Al Staff

Monday, May 25, 2026

The Monday Memorial Day sports card features NBA, NHL, MLB, and WNBA action.The National Basketball Association continues its playoff season with Game 4 in the Eastern Conference finals. The New York Knicks go for the four-game sweep in Cleveland against the Cavaliers on ESPN at 8:10 p.m. ET as a 2.5-point road favorite with the total set at 217.5 (all odds from DraftKings). The National Hockey League playoffs continue with Game 3 in the Eastern Conference finals. The Carolina Hurricanes travel to Montreal to face the Canadiens in their 1-1 series on TNT/truTV/HBO Max at 8:10 p.m. ET as a -135 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 5.5. Major League Baseball has 15 games scheduled. Two MLB games throw out the first pitch at 1:35 p.m. ET. The Chicago Cubs play in Pittsburgh against the Pirates as a -115 money-line road favorite with a total of 8. The Tampa Bay Rays are on the road to take on the Baltimore Orioles as a -131 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 7.5. Two MLB games start at 2:10 p.m. ET. The Minnesota Twins visit Chicago to face the White Sox as a -112 money-line road favorite with a total of 8. The Milwaukee Brewers play at home against the St. Louis Cardinals as a -219 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7.5. The New York Yankees play in Kansas City against the Royals on ESPN at 3:40 p.m. ET as a -149 money-line road favorite with a total of 9.The New York Mets are at home against the Cincinnati Reds at 4:10 p.m. ET as a -163 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7.5. The San Francisco Giants host the Arizona Diamondbacks at 5:05 p.m. ET as a -143 money-line favorite with a total of 7.5. The Cleveland Guardians play at home against the Washington Nationals at 6:10 p.m. ET at 6:10 p.m. ET as a -181 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. The Philadelphia Phillies are on the road in San Diego against the Padres at 6:40 p.m. ET as a -130 money-line road favorite with a total of 7.5. The Texas Rangers are home to battle the Houston Astros on Peacock at 7:05 p.m. ET as a -136 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Toronto Blue Jays host the Miami Marlins at 7:07 p.m. ET as a -171 money-line favorite with a total of 7.5. The Los Angeles Dodgers play at home against the Colorado Rockies at 9:10 p.m. ET as a -311 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9. The Seattle Mariners travel on the road to challenge the Athletics at 9:40 p.m. ET as a -118 money-line favorite with a total of 10. The WNBA has two games on tap. The New York Liberty are home to play the Portland Fire on Peacock at 8:00 p.m. ET as a 13.5-point favorite with an over/under of 177.5. The Golden State Valkyries host the Connecticut Sun at 10:00 p.m. ET as a 12.5-point favorite with a total of 160.5.  

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2026 CFL Season Preview

by Sean Murphy

Sunday, May 24, 2026

The 2026 CFL season kicks off in a couple of weeks so now is a good time to take stock of where the league's eight teams stand entering the new campaign.  Saskatchewan heads in as the defending Grey Cup champion after finally getting over the hump last year, but not surprisingly it doesn't open the season favored to repeat.2026 Grey Cup Odds (courtesy BetMGM)Montreal Alouettes +310 BC Lions +350 Saskatchewan Roughriders +600 Hamilton Tiger-Cats +600 Winnipeg Blue Bombers +750 Calgary Stampeders +850 Toronto Argonauts +900 Ottawa Redblacks +1100 Edmonton Elks +1500 Rule changesA number of rule changes have been implemented in advance of the new season with more changes on the way in 2027.- A 35-second play clock will start as soon as a play is dead, rather than waiting for an official to spot the ball.- We'll see a 20-second play clock that must be whistled in by an official during the final three minutes of both halves.- Teams will be able to end a game or half on a kneel-down if there are 40 seconds or fewer remaining on the clock, it is first down, and the defensive team holds no remaining timeouts.- Missed field goals, punts, or kickoffs that go through or bounce out of the back or sides of the end zone will no longer be awarded a single point (rouge).- A rouge is only given if the ball remains in the end zone and the returner fails to advance it or takes a knee.- Of particular consequence to totals (and pointspreads), regular season games can no longer end in a tie. If teams remain tied following two standard overtime mini-games, they will alternate two-point convert attempts from the 3-yard line until a winner is determined. Montreal Alouettes Montreal deserves to be the favorite going into the season. This has probably been the most balanced team in the CFL over the last number of years and doesn't really have many obvious weaknesses. You know what you're going to get with the Alouettes. They defend well, they’re disciplined and they usually don’t put themselves in bad spots with mistakes. Losing the Grey Cup to Saskatchewan last year surely lights a fire entering the season and a defensive shake-up in the offseason is what the team hopes will get it over the hump. The East Division runs through Montreal until someone proves otherwise.B.C. Lions Stop me if you've heard this before but B.C. feels like the team with the highest upside in the CFL. When the Lions offense gets rolling, they can score with anybody and they’ve got the kind of explosiveness that can take over games quickly. The problem has been consistency. There are weeks where the Lions look dominant and other weeks where the offense completely stalls out for stretches. But the talent is there. If B.C. puts everything together for a full season, this team is more than capable of winning the Grey Cup.Saskatchewan Roughriders Saskatchewan finally broke through last season and now the challenge becomes trying to stay on top. That’s not easy in this league where roster turnover is commonplace. What made the Riders dangerous last year was the fact they didn’t beat themselves very often. They played tough defensively, handled pressure well and made enough plays offensively when they had to. Now everyone will be coming after them every week. It’s a lot different chasing a title than defending one.Hamilton Tiger-Cats Hamilton might be one of the more interesting teams in the league heading into the year. There’s definitely enough talent offensively for this team to make noise if things click. The issue is whether they can hold up defensively over the course of a full season. Too many games in recent years have turned into shootouts and that usually catches up with teams eventually. Still, their Grey Cup odds feel reasonable for a team that could easily surprise people.Winnipeg Blue Bombers  A perennial contender, you can never completely count Winnipeg out. Even though this team doesn’t feel as dominant as it did a few years ago, the Bombers still know how to win and they still have plenty of experience - not to mention a large chip on their shoulder after a disappointing 2025 campaign. With that being said, it does feel like the gap between Winnipeg and the rest of the league has all but closed. This still looks like a playoff team, though, and once you get into November, experience certainly counts.Calgary Stampeders Calgary feels like one of the tougher teams to figure out entering the season. There’s enough talent here to stay competitive, but consistency has been an issue and there isn't a true identity. The good news for the Stamps is expectations aren’t nearly as high as they used to be and that might actually help them a bit. I wouldn’t be shocked if Calgary ends up outperforming, particularly in the early going.Toronto Argonauts Toronto took a big step backward last season after winning the Grey Cup the year before and never really looked comfortable offensively for long stretches. The talent level is still good enough to bounce back, though. This isn’t a team in the throws of a rebuild and we've seen similar teams rise up before following down years. If the Argos can get more consistency offensively and stop killing drives with mistakes, they should at least be back in the playoff mix.Ottawa Redblacks  Ottawa has improved compared to where this franchise was a few years ago, but it still feels like there’s another level missing offensively. Last year's four-win campaign was a disaster, especially with expectations rising in the nation's capital. The defense can compete most weeks and they usually play hard, but against the better teams in the CFL, Ottawa still struggles creating enough big plays consistently. This feels more like a middle-of-the-pack team at best rather than a true contender right now.Edmonton Elks  Edmonton opens the year with the longest odds on the board and that’s understandable considering how the last few seasons have gone and given its roster construction.The Elks have shown flashes at times, but they still haven’t proven they can put things together consistently enough to really be taken seriously as contenders, or even a legitimate playoff threat. Of course, things can change quickly in the CFL. One strong season at quarterback can completely change the outlook of a franchise in this league.

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2026 Roland Garros (French Open) Preview/Predictions:

by William Burns

Sunday, May 24, 2026

What Has Happened in 2026 So Far in Tennis:When the world #2 in the Mens game of tennis (& B2B winner of this event) was announced out of this tournament, my heart sank. Carlos Alcaraz is not only a joy to watch. But, he's one of the premier talents & a showman. I wish him a speedy recovery + hope to see him out on the court very soon. That being said, Jannik Sinner is now the -340 favorite, which is the largest pre-tournament Grand Slam favorite since Rafael Nadal at the 2009 French Open (Mens.) That's pretty great company as Nadal won this tournament 14 times. Sinner/Alcaraz had been the two best in the world by a pretty large margin heading into 2026. Therefore, I'm not too surprised with Alcaraz being absent. But, Novak Djokovic quickly changed some views on those two being the two best, as he went on to beat Sinner in Australia earlier this year. Since then, Sinner has pretty much been unbeatable. It's going to be very hard for someone to beat him, especially on clay at the moment. Maybe, youngster (first year pro) Rafael Jodar can give him a run for his money, as he sent their match to a tiebreaker just a month ago. On the Women's side of the bracket, things are getting interesting. Since completely the sunshine double, #1 Aryna Sabalenka has dropped matches in consecutive tournaments before the Semi-Final. Quite shocking considering the matchups, both against non top-20 players. With clay not being the specialty of this year's Australian Open winner, Elena Rybakina, that leaves plenty of opportunity for the rest of the field. Will 4-time French Open winner, Iga Świątek  finally gain her form again and cruise to a fifth? Will Coco Gauff go B2B? Let's find out together. 3 Opening Round Matchups To Watch:  Hailey Baptiste vs. Barbora Krejčíková (W) ... This is definitely the match to watch of the opening round in my opinion. No, former #2 in the world and 2021 French Open Champ Barbora Krejčíková isn't what she used to be by any means. But, you can never count a former champion out. Hailey Baptiste has risen up the rankings over the past couple of months, with a signature win over world #1 Aryna Sabalenka. I think that this match is going to be extremely intense. Hugo Gaston vs. Gael Monfils (M) ... With so much at stake here, this could be Gael Monfils' last match here at the French Open. He definitely wants to go out with a bang on his final season on tour & what a way to do just that than to go out and look dominant in this year's event. He's matched up with another frenchman in the opening round of Roland Garros and oddsmakers are expecting an absolute show here. I do as well. Look out, this one could produce fireworks. Anna Kalinskaya vs. Lois Boisson (W) ... If you all remember, Lois Boisson went from unknown to a French tennis icon at the last French Open. People didn't know who she was before she made it all the way to the Semi-Final as an unranked wildcard. That's pretty absurd if you'd ask me. No, I do not expect a repeat performance from the local woman. However, if she can get passed the always difficult Anna Kalinskaya, anything is possible.  Odds to Win (via. DraftKings:) Men's: Jannik Sinner -340Alexander Zverev +1000Novak Djokovic +1200Casper Ruud +2200Rafael Jodar +2200Daniil Medvedev +5000Andrey Rublev +6500Joao Fonseca +8000Matteo Berrettini +10000Adam Walton +10000Women's: Aryna Sabalenka +250Iga Swiatek +275Elena Rybakina +650Coco Gauff +650Mirra Andreeva +900Elina Svitolina +1600Marta Kostyuk +2500Victoria Mboko +4000 Amanda Anisimova +4000Qinwen Zheng +4000 Burns' French Open 2025 Projections:  Sadly, we won't get to see Carlos Alcaraz/Jannik Sinner put on an absolute classic for us in the Men's Final like we saw a year ago. But, I'm still hoping for one of the top names to challenge the Italian without the Spaniard in this tournament. Like I mentioned at the top of this article, Novak Djokovic managed to beat Sinner back at the Australian Open earlier this year so that could definitely be something to look out for if those two meet in the final.In the Women's side, Aryna Sabalenka has looked a bit shaky over the past month or so, dropping matches that we're so accustomed to watching her dominate. That leaves some room for some of the other women to maybe put on a show here in Paris. I think that this is about as competitive of a women's bracket as we've had in a very long time and that could definitely cause for some epic battles. Burns' Best Bets: Iga Świątek to reach Semi Final (-125) .... Jannik Sinner to win (-340).

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, MLB, WNBA and EPL Previews and Odds - 05/24/26

by Big Al Staff

Sunday, May 24, 2026

The Sunday sports card features NBA, NHL, MLB, WNBA, and EPL action.The National Basketball Association continues its playoff season with Game 4 in the Western Conference finals. The San Antonio Spurs look to even their series with the Oklahoma City Thunder at 2-2 on NBC/Peacock at 8:10 p.m. ET as a 2.5-point home favorite with the total set at 218.5 (all odds from DraftKings). The National Hockey League playoffs continue with Game 3 in the Western Conference finals. The Colorado Avalanche travel to Vegas to play the Golden Knights on ESPN at 8:10 p.m. ET, trailing 0-2 in this best-of-seven series but still a -148 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 5.5.Major League Baseball has 16 games scheduled. The Toronto Raptors play at home against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Peacock at 12:15 p.m. ET as a -156 money-line favorite with a total of 7.5. The Baltimore Orioles are home to take on the Detroit Tigers in the first game of their doubleheader as a -136 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. Three MLB games throw out the first pitch at 1:35 p.m. ET. The Boston Red Sox host the Minnesota Twins as a -163 money-line favorite with a total of 7.5. The New York Yankees play at home against the Tampa Bay Rays as a -137 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7.5. The Cleveland Guardians play in Philadelphia against the Phillies as a -131 money-line road favorite with a total of 7.5. Two MLB games start at 1:40 p.m. ET. The New York Mets are on the road in Miami to face the Marlins as a -115 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Cincinnati Reds are home to challenge the St. Louis Cardinals as a -118 money-line favorite with a total of 9.5. Two more MLB games begin at 2:10 p.m. ET. The Los Angeles Dodgers visit Milwaukee to battle the Brewers as a -175 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8. The Seattle Mariners play in Kansas City against the Royals as a -143 money-line road favorite with a total of 8.5. The Chicago Cubs host the Houston Astros at 2:20 p.m. ET as a -168 money-line favorite. The Chicago White Sox are on the road in San Francisco to play the Giants at 4:05 p.m. ET as a -112 money-line road favorite with a total of 8. Three more MLB games start at 4:10 p.m. ET. The Arizona Diamondbacks play at home against the Colorado Rockies as a -194 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9.5. The Atlanta Braves are home to take on the Washington Nationals as a -167 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The San Diego Padres host the Athletics on Peacock as a -171 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. The Orioles play at home against the Tigers in the second game of their doubleheader at 6:05 p.m. ET. Sunday Night Baseball on Peacock at 7:20 p.m. ET features the Texas Rangers playing in Los Angeles against the Angels. The WNBA has three games on tap. The Atlanta Dream are home to battle the Phoenix Mercury at 3:00 p.m. ET as a 5.5-point favorite with a total of 167.5. The New York Liberty host the Dallas Wings on NBC at 3:30 p.m. ET as a 7.5-point favorite with an over/under of 177.5. The Washington Mystics travel to Seattle to challenge the Storm at 6:00 p.m. ET as a 3.5-point road favorite with a total of 160.5. Matchweek 38 concludes the English Premier League season with 10 matches on Peacock at 11:00 a.m. ET. Four of these EPL matches are also on major national television. Arsenal plays at home against Crystal Palace on CNBC as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Liverpool is at home to take on Brentford on the SyFy Network as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 3.5. Tottenham hosts Everton on NBC as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. West Ham United plays at home against Leeds United on the USA Network as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5. 

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Three NFL Teams Poised to Go Under Their 2026 Win Totals

by Jazz Ray

Saturday, May 23, 2026

Positive regression to the mean is something that all successful organizations have to contend with from one season to the next. For many teams, the upcoming 2026/27 season brings heightened expectations after a successful 2025 campaign. DraftKings Sportsbook and most other books have released their season win totals and after highlighting three teams in my last article that I thought would go over their posted win total, this time around I'm going to explore three teams that I feel overachieved last season and who are poised for regression this year.Detroit Lions Under 10.5 WinsDetroit's 2026 win total is set at 10.5 at DraftKings, but it's carrying -115 juice to the under. The Lions had another decent season in 2025, but they face one of the NFL's most difficult schedules this year, including grueling NFC North battles and other difficult non-conference games. Jared Goff is an above average quarterback, in my opinion, but key defensive pieces have left, which thins out a unit that struggled in several categories last season. There are question marks surrounding the offensive line as well, so a drop to 8 or 9 wins looks like the most likely outcome to me in this loaded conference, where potentially close games may not bounce their way again.Denver Broncos Under 9.5 WinsDenver posted 14 wins in 2025/26 and its remarkable campaign pushed it to the top of the AFC West. The Broncos' season win total is set at 9.5 and around -105 to the under. Many will be quick to back another big campaign for Denver, but I'll issue some caution. The Broncos benefited from one of the easiest schedules in the league, but the 2026 schedule is much more difficult and it raises serious questions about sustainability, in my opinion. Quarterback Bo Nix has shown plenty of promise, but his supporting cast remains a weak point, despite additions like Jaylen Waddle. Denver "surprised" many teams last year, but the playbook is now out on the Broncos coming into the season. Was Denver's 2025/26 campaign an outlier? Possibly, but either way, an 8 or 9 win season looks like the most victories they'll achieve, rather than posting ten or more.New England Patriots Under 9.5 WinsLike the Broncos, the New England Patriots also enjoyed a better-than-expected season which culminated in a Super Bowl appearance. The Pats have opened at 9.5 wins with the under favored. Not many would argue, though, that the Patriots benefited from likely the "easiest" schedule in the league, and plenty of fortunate calls and bounces on the way to the Super Bowl. But, a much tougher 2026 campaign points to plenty of upcoming struggles. Roster depth across the board is concern and regression often occurs after unexpected deep playoff runs. 8 or 9 wins looks more probable to me, rather than another 10-plus win season.Don't believe the hype on these three teams! Natural regression and demanding schedules combine and make the "under" on their season win totals the correct call. As I stated in my last article as well, remember that futures carry risk, and you always have to consider whether you can afford to, or even want to, tie up a portion of your bankroll for the entire year. That said, if you enjoy making these types of wagers, these three picks are my top teams to go under their season win total in 2025/26.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, MLB and WNBA Previews and Odds - 05/23/26

by Big Al Staff

Saturday, May 23, 2026

The Saturday sports card features NBA, NHL, MLB, and WNBA action.The National Basketball Association continues its playoff season with Game 3 in the Eastern Conference finals. The Cleveland Cavaliers host the New York Knicks, attempting to win their first game in this series on ABC at 8:10 p.m. ET as a 2.5-point favorite with the total set at 213.5 (all odds from DraftKings).The National Hockey League playoffs continue with Game 2 in the Eastern Conference finals. The Carolina Hurricanes want to even this best-of-seven series at 1-1 on TNT/truTV/HBO Max at 7:10 p.m. ET as a -218 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5.Major League Baseball has 16 games scheduled. The Cincinnati Reds are at home against the St. Louis Cardinals in the first of their doubleheader at 1:10 p.m. ET with both teams priced as -110 money-line favorites with a total of 9.5. The New York Yankees host the Tampa Bay Rays on Peacock at 1:35 p.m. ET as a -112 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. The Chicago Cubs play at home against the Houston Astros at 2:20 p.m. ET as a -156 money-line favorite with a total of 7.5. The Pittsburgh Pirates travel to Toronto to play the Blue Jays at 3:07 p.m. ET as a -149 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 7.5. Three MLB games throw out the first pitch at 4:05 p.m. ET. The San Francisco Giants are at home to take on the Chicago White Sox as a -126 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The Baltimore Orioles host the Detroit Tigers as a -120 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. The Philadelphia Phillies play at home against the Cleveland Guardians as a -199 money-line favorite with a total of 7.5. Four MLB games start at 4:10 p.m. ET. The Boston Red Sox are at home to face the Minnesota Twins as a -118 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Seattle Mariners play in Kansas City against the Royals on FS1 as a -143 money-line road favorite with a total of 8.5. The Atlanta Braves host the Washington Nationals as a -193 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9. The Miami Marlins play at home against the New York Mets as a -115 money-line favorite with a total of 8. Two MLB games are on Fox’s regional television coverage beginning at 7:15 p.m. ET. The Los Angeles Dodgers are on the road in Milwaukee to battle the Brewers as a -126 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 9. The Reds challenge the Cardinals in the second game of their doubleheader as a -112 money-line favorite with a total of 9.5. The Athletics visit San Diego to play the Padres at 9:40 p.m. ET with both teams priced as -110 money-line favorites with an over/under of 8. The Texas Rangers play in Los Angeles against the Angels at 10:05 p.m. ET as a -136 money-line road favorite with a total of 8. The Arizona Diamondbacks are at home to face the Colorado Rockies at 10:10 p.m. ET as a -181 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9. The WNBA has three games on tap. The Minnesota Lynx are on the road in Chicago to challenge the Sky on CBS at 1:00 p.m. ET as a 2.5-point road favorite with a total of 166.5. The Toronto Tempo hosts the Portland Fire at 6:00 p.m. ET as a 5.5-point favorite with an over/under of 175.5. The Las Vegas Aces play at home against the Los Angeles Sparks on CBS at 8:00 p.m. ET as an 8.5-point favorite with a total of 182.5. 

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, MLB and WNBA Previews and Odds - 05/22/26

by Big Al Staff

Friday, May 22, 2026

The Friday sports card features NBA, NHL, MLB, and WNBA action.The National Basketball Association continues its playoff season with Game 3 in the Western Conference finals. The San Antonio Spurs host the Oklahoma City Thunder with the series tied at 1-1 on NBC/Peacock at 8:40 p.m. ET as a 1.5-point favorite with the total set at 217.5 (all odds from DraftKings). The National Hockey League playoffs continue with Game 2 in the Western Conference finals. The Colorado Avalanche play at home against the Vegas Golden Knights, attempting to even this series at 1-1 on ESPN at 8:10 p.m. ET as a -192 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. Major League Baseball has 15 games scheduled. The Chicago Cubs are at home to play the Houston Astros on Apple TV+ at 2:20 p.m. ET as a -144 money-line favorite with a total of 7. Two more MLB games throw out the first pitch at 6:40 p.m. ET. The Cincinnati Reds host the St. Louis Cardinals as a -114 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9.5. The Philadelphia Phillies play at home against the Cleveland Guardians as a -181 money-line favorite with a total of 7. The New York Yankees are at home to take on the Tampa Bay Rays at 7:05 p.m. ET as a -156 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. The Toronto Blue Jays host the Pittsburgh Pirates at 7:07 p.m. ET as a -167 money-line favorite with a total of 8. Two more MLB games start at 7:10 p.m. ET. The Boston Red Sox play at home against the Minnesota Twins as a -156 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. The New York Mets travel to Miami to take on the Marlins as a -126 money-line road favorite with a total of 8. Two MLB games begin at 7:15 p.m. ET. The Baltimore Orioles are at home to challenge the Detroit Tigers as a -131 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Atlanta Braves host the Washington Nationals as a -219 money-line favorite with a total of 9. Two more MLB games start at 7:40 p.m. ET. The Seattle Mariners play in Kansas City against the Royals as a -137 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8. The Los Angeles Dodgers are on the road to battle the Milwaukee  Brewers as a -114 money-line road favorite with a total of 8.5. The Texas Rangers visit Los Angeles to play the Angels at 9:38 p.m. ET as a -168 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 7.5. Two more MLB games begin at 9:40 p.m. ET. The Arizona Diamondbacks play at home against the Colorado Rockies as a -199 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The San Diego Padres are home to face the Athletics as a -136 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. The Chicago White Sox play in San Francisco against the Giants at 10:15 p.m. ET as a -114 money-line road favorite with a total of 7.The WNBA has three games on tap. Two WNBA games begin at 7:30 p.m. ET. The Indiana Fever hosts the Golden State Valkyries as a 6.5-point favorite with an over/under of 168.5. The Atlanta Dream plays at home against the Dallas Wings as a 5.5-point favorite with a total of 172.5. The Seattle Storm are at home to take on the Connecticut Sun at 10:00 p.m. ET as a 2.5-point favorite with an over/under of 166.5. 

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, MLB and WNBA Previews and Odds - 05/21/26

by Big Al Staff

Thursday, May 21, 2026

The Thursday sports card features NBA, NHL, MLB, and WNBA action.The National Basketball Association continues its playoff season with Game 2 in the Eastern Conference finals. The New York Knicks host the Cleveland Cavaliers on ESPN at 8:10 p.m. ET. The Knicks took a 1-0 lead in this best-of-seven series with a 115-104 victory in overtime as a 6.5-point favorite on Tuesday. New York is a 6.5-point favorite with the total set at 215.5 (all odds from DraftKings). The National Hockey League playoffs continue with Game 1 in the Eastern Conference semifinals. The Carolina Hurricanes play at home against the Montreal Canadiens on TNT/truTV/HBO Max at 8:10 p.m. ET as a -205 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5.Major League Baseball has seven games scheduled. The Detroit Tigers are at home to play against the Cleveland Cavaliers at 1:10 p.m. ET. The Tigers turn to Casey Mize to pitch against the Guardians’ Joey Cantillo. Detroit is a -114 money-line favorite with a total of 7.5. The Pittsburgh Pirates travel to St. Louis to face the Cardinals at 1:15 p.m. ET. Braxton Ashcraft takes the ball for the Pirates to take on Dustin May for the Cardinals. Pittsburgh is a -126 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8. The New York Mets play in Washington against the Nationals at 4:05 p.m. ET. The Mets tap David Peterson to take the mound to face the Nationals’ Cade Cavalli. New York is a -115 money-line road favorite with a total of 8.5. The Atlanta Braves are on the road to challenge the Miami Marlins on Peacock at 6:40 p.m. ET. Spencer Strider takes the hill for the Braves to challenge Sandy Alcantara for the Marlins. Atlanta is a -143 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 7.5. The New York Yankees host the Toronto Blue Jays at 7:05 p.m. ET. The Yankees tap Carlos Rodon to battle a Blue Jays’ starting pitcher yet to be named. New York is a -163 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The Los Angeles Angels play at home against the Athletics at 9:38 p.m. ET. Jose Soriano gets the ball for the Angels to pitch Luis Severino for the Athletics. Los Angeles is a -112 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. The Arizona Diamondbacks are at home to face the Colorado Rockies at 9:40 p.m. ET. The Diamondbacks turn to Eduardo Rodriguez to take on a Rockies starting pitcher yet to be determined. Arizona is a -194 money-line favorite with a total of 9.The WNBA has three games on tap. Two WNBA games tip off at 8:00 p.m. ET. The New York Liberty host the Golden State Valkyries on Amazon Prime Video as a 7.5-point favorite with an over/under of 170.5. The Minnesota Lynx play at home against the Toronto Tempo as a 6.5-point favorite with a total of 173.5. The Phoenix Mercury are home to battle the Los Angeles Sparks on Amazon Prime Video at 10:00 p.m. ET as a 2.5-point favorite with an over/under of 176.5.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, MLB and WNBA Previews and Odds - 05/20/26

by Big Al Staff

Wednesday, May 20, 2026

The Wednesday sports card features NBA, NHL, MLB, and WNBA action.The National Basketball Association continues its playoff season with Game 2 in the Western Conference finals. The Oklahoma City Thunder host the San Antonio Spurs, looking to even this best-of-seven series at 1-1 on NBC/Peacock at 8:40 p.m. ET as a 6.5-point favorite with the total set at 215.5 (all odds from DraftKings). The National Hockey League playoffs continue with Game 1 in the Western Conference semifinals. The Colorado Avalanche play at home against the Vegas Golden Knights on ESPN at 8:10 p.m. ET as a -192 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. Major League Baseball has 15 games scheduled. The Philadelphia Phillies are at home to play the Cincinnati Reds at 1:05 p.m. ET as a -143 money-line favorite with a total of 10. The Tampa Bay Rays host the Baltimore Orioles at 1:10 p.m. ET as a -118 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Minnesota Twins play at home against the Houston Astros as a -156 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The Texas Rangers travel to Colorado to take on the Rockies at 3:10 p.m. ET as a -136 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 10.5. The Arizona Diamondbacks are at home to face the San Francisco Giants at 3:40 p.m. ET as a -131 money-line favorite with a total of 9. The Seattle Mariners host the Chicago White Sox at 4:10 p.m. ET as a -149 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7.5. Two MLB games throw out the first pitch at 6:40 p.m. ET. The Atlanta Braves play in Miami against the Marlins as a -205 money-line road favorite with a total of 7.5. The Detroit Tigers play at home against the Cleveland Guardians on Peacock. The New York Mets are on the road to challenge the Washington Nationals at 6:45 p.m. ET as a -126 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 9.5. The New York Yankees are at home to battle the Toronto Blue Jays at 7:05 p.m. ET as a -167 money-line favorite with a total of 8. Two more MLB games start at 7:40 p.m. ET. The Chicago Cubs host the Milwaukee Brewers as a -117 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Kansas City Royals play at home against the Boston Red Sox as a -122 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The St. Louis Cardinals are home to play the Pittsburgh Pirates at 7:45 p.m. ET as a -122 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7.5. The Los Angeles Dodgers visit San Diego to play the Padres at 8:40 p.m. ET as a -175 money-line road favorite with a total of 7. The Athletics play in Los Angeles against the Angels at 9:38 p.m. ET as a -126 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 9.5. The WNBA has three games on tap. The Indiana Fever host the Portland Fire on the USA Network at 7:00 p.m. ET as a 13.5-point favorite with a total of 180.5. The Dallas Wings are on the road to face the Chicago Sky at 9:00 p.m. ET as a 2.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 170.5. The Seattle Storm play at home against the Connecticut Sun at 10:00 p.m. ET as a 1.5-point favorite with a total of 166.5.   

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Stanley Cup Playoffs: Handicapping the Conn Smythe Award

by Sean Murphy

Tuesday, May 19, 2026

With the Conference Finals now set, the Conn Smythe Trophy race is starting to take shape. At this point in the playoffs, the award usually comes down to either a superstar carrying his team offensively or a goaltender stealing multiple series along the way.Here are my four favorite Conn Smythe Award predictions heading into the Conference Finals.1. Nathan MacKinnon (+170 at BetMGM) MacKinnon has looked like the most dominant player for much of these playoffs. Colorado remains the favorite to hoist Lord Stanley's Cup, and everything continues to run through MacKinnon. He’s producing at an elite level while also controlling the pace of games almost every shift he’s on the ice. If the Avalanche reach the Stanley Cup Final, he's the clear Conn Smythe frontrunner and we're probably no longer being offered a plus-money return. The number is already short, but sometimes the safest play is still the right one. Voters of course view MacKinnon as one of the defining stars in the league, and another Cup run would only strengthen that narrative.2. Frederik Andersen (+400 at BetMGM) Andersen still stands out as arguably the best value play on the board. Carolina’s defensive structure naturally creates a path for a goaltender to win this award, especially in tight playoff games where every save becomes magnified. Andersen has already been outstanding throughout the postseason - undefeated, in fact - and now sits two rounds away from potentially becoming the biggest story of Carolina’s playoff run.  The Hurricanes also don’t have one overwhelming offensive superstar dominating headlines, even though Logan Stankoven has been the breakout star of these playoffs, which makes it easier for a goalie to take control of the Conn Smythe conversation. 3. Jack Eichel (+2500 at BetMGM) While the Golden Knights face long odds trying to 'upset' the mighty Avalanche, Eichel is still one of my favorite true longshots remaining in the field. Vegas has the depth to at the very least contend with the Avs and should this series go deep, who knows what can happen. Mitch Marner is currently the team's Conn Smythe favorite but I don't think there's a lot separating he and Eichel. There's an opportunity for Eichel to climb the odds board if he can deliver a few signature performances over the next two rounds.  This is the kind of bet that looks great if the Knights stage the upset in the Western Conference Final. Eichel has the talent to take over offensively, and if Vegas reaches the Stanley Cup Final with him leading the way, these odds obviously won't last. 4. Nick Suzuki (+3000 at BetMGM) Suzuki sets up as a low-risk, high-reward Conn Smythe play. The Canadiens weren’t expected to get this far, but Montreal continues finding ways to survive - winning each of its first two series' on the road in Game 7. Captain Suzuki is the emotional and offensive leader of the team, delivering big moments while logging huge minutes in pressure situations. What makes this intriguing is the narrative potential. Suzuki provides the heartbeat for the Habs and if Montreal reaches the Stanley Cup Final, he would further solidify his place in team lore.  The Canadiens are still considerable underdogs, but at +3000, the upside is obvious if this run continues.Final Thoughts MacKinnon remains the most likely winner overall, but Andersen offers the best combination of realistic path and betting value. Eichel and Suzuki are the bigger swings, but both have the kind of upside that can reshape this market should an upset or two occur over the next couple of weeks.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, MLB, WNBA, and EPL Previews and Odds - 05/19/26

by Big Al Staff

Tuesday, May 19, 2026

The Tuesday sports card features NBA, MLB, WNBA, and EPL action.The National Basketball Association continues its playoff season with Game 1 in the Eastern Conference finals. The New York Knicks host the Cleveland Cavaliers on ESPN at 8:10 p.m. ET as a 7.5-point favorite with the total set at 217.5 (all odds from DraftKings). Major League Baseball has 15 games scheduled. The Atlanta Braves travel to Miami to play the Marlins at 4:10 p.m. ET as a -136 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. Three MLB games throw out the first pitch at 6:40 p.m. ET. The Tampa Bay Rays play at home against the Baltimore Orioles as a -122 money-line favorite with a total of 7.5. The Cleveland Guardians play in Detroit against the Tigers on FS1 as a -122 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8. The Philadelphia Phillies are at home to play the Cincinnati Reds as a -136 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The New York Mets are on the road in Washington to take on the Nationals at 6:45 p.m. ET as a -156 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 9. The New York Yankees host the Toronto Blue Jays at 7:05 p.m. ET as a -143 money-line favorite with a total of 9. Three more  MLB games start at 7:40 p.m. ET. The Milwaukee Brewers visit Chicago to play the Cubs as a -117 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8. The Minnesota Twins play at home against the Houston Astros as a -143 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The Boston Red Sox play in Kansas City to battle the Royals as a -129 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8. The Pittsburgh Pirates are on the road in St. Louis to go against the Cardinals at 7:45 p.m. ET with both teams priced as -110 money-line favorites with a total of 8.The Texas Rangers travel to Colorado to challenge the Rockies at 8:40 p.m. ET. The Los Angeles Angels are at home to play the Athletics at 9:38 p.m. ET as a -131 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9. Three more games conclude the MLB card at 9:40 p.m. ET. The Arizona Diamondbacks host the San Francisco Giants on Peacock as a -122 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The Seattle Mariners play at home against the Chicago White Sox as a -149 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7.5. The Los Angeles Dodgers play in San Diego against the Padres as a -156 money-line road favorite with a total of 8.5.The WNBA has one game on tap. The Phoenix Mercury are at home to take on the Toronto Tempo at 10:00 p.m. ET as an 8.5-point favorite with an over/under of 171.5. Matchweek 37 in the English Premier League concludes with two matches. Manchester City is on the road to face Bournemouth on the USA Network at 3:15 p.m. ET as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with a total of 3.5. Chelsea hosts Tottenham at 3:15 p.m. ET as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5.

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WNBA Notebook: Surprising ATS Starts

by Vegas Writer

Monday, May 18, 2026

While we know who the top teams in the WNBA will be, or at least assume who they'll be, this is a good time to identify which team or teams are the ones to watch with a value price on their heads.Enter the Washington Mystics and Chicago Sky.Both teams, which entered the season with little to no expectations, have been two of the top teams at the betting window through the first two weeks of the season.The Mystics come into the week with a perfect 3-0 ATS mark while winning two of three straight-up. Impressively, the two wins came on the road, including a 104-102 overtime victory in Indianapolis over Caitlin Clark and the Fever. It was the Mystics' second straight overtime clash, after they took the preseason-favored New York Liberty to extra time.The Mystics continued their four-game road trip in Dallas on Monday, and will close out the junket with two winnable games in Seattle. They return home to close out May with a Friday night clash against the Los Angeles Sparks, and then open June at home with the Sky in what could be a battle of the league's top two most profitable teams.As for the new-look Sky, who shipped Angel Reese to the Atlanta Dream during the offseason, they opened the season winning and covering three of their first four games - all of them away from Chi-town.After a couple of days off, the Sky will open the home portion of their schedule on Wednesday against Paige Bueckers and the Dallas Wings, the start of a four-game homestand, which will also bring in Minnesota, Toronto and Minnesota again.If you're looking for early-season value with perceived underdog numbers, keep an eye on the Mystics and Sky.PROP WATCH OF THE WEEKIn three games last week, Toronto veteran BRITTNEY SYKES averaged 29.0 points per game and hit 64.4% of her shot attempts. And that included back-to-back games in Los Angeles, where she helped the Tempo to split against the Sparks. With two more left on the road trip, coach Sandy Brondello could lean on Sykes with games in Phoenix and Minneapolis. The 10-year veteran owns a career average of 13.9 points versus the Mercury and 9.4 against the Lynx. The latter doesn't reflect her best performances, but with Minnesota experiencing a bit of a struggling start this season, and still without Napheesa Collier, it wouldn't surprise me to see Sykes get a couple of good warm-ups before the Tempo close the week with an expansion showdown against the Portland Fire in Toronto on Saturday.GAME OF THE WEEKThursday, 8 pm eastern, GOLDEN STATE at NEW YORK: The VW No. 2 Liberty host the No. 3 Valkyries in an early-season clash of two of the best teams in the league. The question is whether or not coach Natalie Nakase's squad will arrive in Brooklyn with rust after being off for more than a week. The Valkyries haven't played since losing at home to the Chicago Sky, 69-63, at home. It was quite different than when the Valks opened the season with 91 points in an 11-point win at Seattle and 95 points in their 16-point home-opening win. The Liberty, meanwhile, return home after playing three straight road games, the last two in Portland, where they split a pair against the expansion Fire. It'll be the start of a seven-game homestand for the Liberty, and they'll be looking to make a statement.WEEKLY RANKINGS:1. Las Vegas Aces - A'ja Wilson for MVP and Chennedy Carter for 6th Player of the Year.2. New York Liberty - Sabrina Ionescu can't return quickly enough to spark this offense.3. Golden State Valkyries - Janelle Salaün is coming off the bench to lead the team with 15.7 points per game.4. Atlanta Dream - Angel Reese is off and running with a double-double average of 10.7 points and 12.7 rebounds per game.5. Washington Mystics - If there were a Sophomore of the Year Award, then Sonia Citron would be the leading candidate, as she leads the team with 24.3 points per game.6. Minnesota Lynx - I don't expect to see the true version of coach Cheryl Reeve's bunch until Napheesa Collier is back from injury.7. Chicago Sky - Huge blow to the team when Rickea Jackson left Sunday's game against the Lynx with an injury, as she leads the team with 18.0 points per game.8. Phoenix Mercury - Five players are scoring double figures, but the surprise has been Jovana Nogić, who has scored at least 16 in three of the first four games of her career.9. Indiana Fever - While most will clamor about Caitlin Clark's team-leading 24.3 points per game, her fans should be more concerned with her 5.0 turnovers per contest.10. Toronto Tempo - As Kiki Rice continues to improve, this team has a built-in leader who blends nicely with the veterans on this team.11. Dallas Wings - Coach Jose Fernandez should look in the mirror before calling out one of the best players on his team (Maddy Siegrist).12. Portland Fire - The staple mark win over the New York Liberty should help provide a spark when this team needs a reminder of how to win.13. Los Angeles Sparks - When Rae Burrell starts taking over games, this team will raise its danger zone.14. Seattle Storm - Coach Sonia Raman can't hold a candle to Noelle Quinn. This will be a long year for the Storm.15. Connecticut Sun - These ladies have one foot out the door and on their way to Houston.

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