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5 NBA Future Bets to Make Before the Season Begins:

by William Burns

Wednesday, Oct 16, 2024

The NHL has now commenced and that leaves us with another sport to watch out for. Basketball. The NBA season begins on October 22nd with the Knicks/Celtics & TWolves/Lakers. It should be another fantastic year and I'm looking forward to it very much. Let's take a look at five NBA Future Bets to make this season prior to the beginning of the 2024-25 campaign. *All Odds via. DraftKings Sportsbook. ----------------  1.) Victor Wembanyama to Win the Defensive Player of the Year (-170)  You can't really bet on anyone else here. Last season, in his rookie year, Wemby completely dominated on the defensive side of the ball. As a matter of fact, he averaged 1.2 steals per game as well as 3.6 blocks a game. Some would say that he got robbed of the Defensive Player of the Year just because he was a rookie. Now, I'm not going to say he got "robbed." But, I am going to say that Rudy Gobert (who won it last year) needs to be ready for the biggest challenge of his life this season. The 7'3" 20yr old played 71 games last season. If he can play anywhere close to that this season, he'll be a threat to break some block records in his first two seasons in the NBA. Nobody wants to challenge the big man in the paint with his insane wingspan. The Spurs are slightly better than last season as well which should help take the Frenchman's game to even another level. Expect Wemby to win his first DPOY this season.  2.) Denver Nuggets Over 51.5 Wins (-105)  After disappointingly losing to the Timberwolves in the Conference Semi-Finals last year, the Nuggets will want to regain their throne as the best team in the West this year. Although it was a down season for them, they still managed to finish second in the conference with 57 wins on the season. Yes, that's a lot of wins to try and repeat this season. But, they've still got plenty of the pieces from these past few seasons and should be able to at least make it "over" the total. The Nuggets added Russell Westbrook & Dario Saric this offseason which should help bolster their depth. Don't get me wrong, 51.5 wins is still quite a bit considering that this is probably the most competitive conference of the two with about 12 teams that could make a push into the playoffs this year. That being said, this Nuggets team is good enough to do just that once again this season. Prediction: 55-27 record. 3.) Lauri Markkanen to Make the All-Star Game (+320)  After being an All-Star during the 2022-23 campaign, Lauri Markkanen wasn't able to get back to it in 2023-24. That being said, I do believe that he will be able to reach the All-Star game again this season. The Jazz big man is one of the deadliest perimeter forwards in the game right now. His ability to stretch the floor and cause havoc under the basket has really set him a part from others. Lauri only played 55 games last year, which is why he wasn't eligible for contention. But, he still averaged 23.2 PTS, 8.2 REB, 2.0 AST, 0.9 Steals & 0.5 Blocks. This season, he's getting tremendous value to make this All-Star game. Although he wouldn't be considered a front-runner by any means, Lauri is good enough and should be in contention to be an All-Star for the second time in his career this season.  4.) Stephen Curry to be the 3s Made Per Game Leader (-275)  As everyone now knows, Stephen Curry is the greatest three-point shooter to ever live in the game of basketball. He's made three after three over the course of his career which is why he stands alone as the #1 three point getter of all-time. Last year, he led the NBA for the eight time in this category. As a matter of fact, Steph was 73 3pt FG's ahead of the next best guy who was Luka Doncic. That's absurd. Curry and the Warriors are reloading again this season as they hunt for another deep playoff run. They've got tons of depth which a good playoff team always needs. Losing Klay Thompson wasn't ideal for the Dubs, but that should open up even more 3pt opportunities for Curry this season. He's the big favorite in this category for a reason and there's no doubt in my mind that as long as he stays healthy, that he will win his ninth 3pt's Made in a Season title this season.  5.) Stephon Castle to Win Rookie of the Year (+1000)  Out of all of the rookies, I'm going to go a different route than most people would expect. Yes, Zach Edey is the favorite. His size and connection with Ja Morant has looked very strong so far. There is also Zaccharie Risacher, Reed Sheppard, Alexandre Sarr, Rob Dillingham & Matas Buzelis to consider. That being said, I'm going to go with Stephon Castle. The UCONN point guard can do it all and will do whatever Head Coach Greg Popovich asks of him. With other guard Devin Vassell out of the lineup for at least a couple of weeks, this is the perfect opportunity for the youngster to show the NBA what he's made of. Castle didn't put up monster numbers at UCONN last season. But, he didn't have to. He did the little things and it helped them win their second championship in as many seasons. He still was able to average 11.1 PTS, 4.7 REB, 2.9 AST in 34 contests last season. Castle is going to need to work for his playing time this year. But, don't be shocked if he builds a great relationship with both CP3 & Wemby. Popovich won't have any other choice than to keep him in the starting lineup all season long. -----------------In less than a week now, we will have another sport to cheer on. I finished the year on a fantastic 24-13 (+$9,700) NBA sides run last season. Jump on board with a subscription today before I start winning big!

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Big Al's Daily Angle: MLB, NHL, and NCAAF Previews and Odds - 10/16/2024

by Big Al Staff

Wednesday, Oct 16, 2024

The Wednesday sports card features NCAAF, MLB, and NHL action.Week 8 in NCAAF college football continues with two games between FBS opponents. Western Kentucky travels to Sam Houston on ESPN2 at 7:00 p.m. ET. The Hilltoppers have won four of their last five games after their 44-17 victory against UTEP as an 18.5-point favorite on Saturday. The Bearkats are on a four-game winning streak after their 41-21 win at UTEP as a 10-point favorite back on October 3rd. Western Kentucky won last year’s meeting by a 28-23 score at home as a 10-point favorite on November 18th. Sam Houston is a 2.5-point favorite with the total set at 55.5 (all odds from DraftKings). Florida International plays at UTEP on the CBS Sports Network at 9:00 p.m. ET. The Golden Panthers lost for the third time in their last four games in a 31-24 loss in overtime at Liberty last Tuesday. The Miners are winless in their first six games this season after a 44-17 loss as an 18.5-point underdog last Thursday. UTEP pulled off the upset in the meeting between these two teams last season with their 27-14 win on the road as a 3.5-point underdog on October 11th. Florida International is a 7-point road favorite with an over/under of 47.5. Major League Baseball continues the best-of-seven league championship round series of the playoffs with Game 3 in the NLCS. The New York Mets host the Los Angeles Dodgers on FS1 at 8:08 p.m. ET. The Mets evened this series at 1-1 with their 7-3 victory on the road against the Dodgers on Monday. They have won three of their last four games. Los Angeles had won three games in a row before the loss. New York taps Luis Severino to pitch against the Dodgers’ Walker Buehler. The Dodgers are a -112 money-line road favorite with a total of 7.5.The National Hockey League has four games on its slate. The Pittsburgh Penguins play at home against the Buffalo Sabres on TBS/truTV/Max at 7:10 p.m. ET. The Penguins have won two of their last three games after their 6-3 win at Montreal on Monday. They have four points from their 2-2-0 record. The Sabres ended a three-game losing streak with a 5-2 victory against Florida on Saturday. They have two points with their 1-3-0 record. Pittsburgh is a -130 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6. The Toronto Maple Leafs are home against the Los Angeles Kings at 7:40 p.m. ET. The Maple Leafs are on a two-game winning streak after their 4-2 victory against the Penguins on Saturday. They have four points from their 2-1-0 record. The Kings have lost two in a row after an 8-7 loss at Ottawa on Monday. They have four points with their 1-2-2 record. Toronto is a -175 money-line favorite with a total of 6. The Colorado Avalanche host the Boston Bruins on TNT/truTV/Max at 9:40 p.m. ET. The Avalanche have lost their first three games of the season after a 6-2 loss at home against the New York Islanders on Monday. The Bruins had won two games in a row before their 4-3 loss to Florida on Monday. They have four points coming from a 2-2-0 record. Colorado is a -122 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Utah Hockey Club is in Anaheim to play the Ducks at 10:10 p.m. ET. The former Arizona Coyotes had won their first three games of the season before a 3-0 loss at New Jersey on Monday. They have six points on the season from a 3-1-0 record. The Ducks have split their first two games of the season after a 3-1 loss in Las Vegas against the Golden Knights on Sunday. The Utah Hockey Club is a -135 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.

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Week 8 College Football Top 12 Poll

by Wayne Root

Tuesday, Oct 15, 2024

The Texas Longhorns rolled through Red River, the Oregon Ducks outlasted the Ohio Buckeyes and the college football rankings were shaped by overtime madness.The seventh weekend of the 2024 season was headlined by several thrilling finishes, including LSU's win over Ole Miss in Baton Rouge, Tennessee's overtime victory versus Florida, Oregon's win against Ohio State, and Penn State's overtime escape over USC. Also, Alabama needed a last-minute interception versus South Carolina to avoid another upset defeat, with Kansas State and BYU also picking up big-time wins in Big 12 play.1. Texas (6-0)Next up: Hm vs GeorgiaThe Longhorns got revenge for the 2023 last-minute loss to Oklahoma in the Red River Rivalry with a dominant 34-3 victory on Saturday. Defense led the way for coach Steve Sarkisian, as this unit limited the Sooners to 237 yards and recorded five sacks. Quarterback Quinn Ewers returned after missing the last two games due to injury but showed some rust (20 of 29 for 199 yards and a touchdown). The quarterback left no doubt about who the No. 1 team in the land is after Week 7. Up next for Texas is a massive Saturday night showdown against Georgia. The Longhorns face their toughest test of the season in what will be a Top 5 showdown for the ages.2. Oregon (6-0) Next up: At PurdueThe Oregon Ducks were one of the shakiest top 10 teams in college football to begin the season. Now, they're the owners of the most impressive win of the year. Oregon and Ohio State traded punches for four quarters on Saturday night in a back-and-forth heavyweight showdown in Eugene. The Ducks came out on top with quarterback Dillon Gabriel (341 passing yards and three overall scores) and a timely defensive stop in the final seconds proving to be the difference. The Ducks bested Ohio State, 32-31, in a tight battle that went down to the very end. The difference? Dillon Gabriel made the plays to win while Will Howard fell short. The Ducks QB went 23-of-34 for 341 yards and two touchdowns, with 32 yards and a score on the ground as well. Running back Jordan James and receiver Evan Stewart each went off with more than 100 yards and a touchdown. Oregon struggled to find its rhythm early in the year, but the pieces have clearly fallen into place for coach Dan Lanning after Saturday night's massive victory.3. Georgia (5-1) Next up: At TexasWith a huge showdown at Texas looming next week, Georgia may have been peeking ahead a bit with Mississippi State in Athens on Saturday. The Georgia Bulldogs had a relatively uneventful week, if a 10-point win over a one-win team like Mississippi State can be classed as "uneventful." The Dawgs had a 34-10 lead in the third quarter but they took their foot off the gas and MSU closed the gap. It took a 7:26-minute, 16-play touchdown drive in the fourth quarter to close things out. Despite Carson Beck's 459 yards and three touchdowns, it doesn't feel like UGA has gotten things running smoothly just yet this season. Coach Kirby Smart's team was in control most of the way in a 41-31 victory, but Mississippi State gave Georgia more of a battle than most anticipated. Quarterback Carson Beck led the offense to an average of 7.9 yards a snap and threw for 459 yards and three touchdowns.4. Ohio State (5-1)Next up: Bye WeekThe Buckeyes came up just short in a 32-31 battle at Oregon on Saturday night. Traditionally AP voters drop teams who lose a few spots simply because they've added to the loss column. This time, they should avoid such a simple read of the situation. The Ohio State Buckeyes traveled across the country to play in one of the most hostile environments in college football and came away with a last-second, one-point loss to the No. 3 team in the polls. They shouldn't be punished harshly for this one. Ohio State's offense had no trouble moving the ball (467 yards), but its top-ranked defense struggled (7.6 yards a play allowed). In addition to the loss, coach Ryan Day's team suffered a major injury with left tackle Josh Simmons suffering an ailment against the Ducks that will sideline him indefinitely.5. Penn St (6-0) Next up: Bye WeekJames Franklin has a reputation for losing the tough games, so going on the road to face a recently-unranked USC team was always going to be a bit of a "show me" outing. The Nittany Lions can hold their heads high having avoided the upset, but they looked vulnerable while doing it. A bigger win might have justified a ranking ahead of a conference rival who just picked up their first loss. However, Penn State had to overcome a 14-point deficit and beat the Trojans in overtime while Tyler Warren had a herculean effort with 224 yards on 17 catches. Tight end Tyler Warren's monster day (17 catches for 224 yards and a touchdown) and a stingy second-half effort by the defense helped to fuel Penn State for a 33-30 overtime victory at USC. The Nittany Lions trailed 20-6 at halftime, but the defense stepped up in the final two quarters, with Warren and quarterback Drew Allar (391 yards) delivering clutch plays to lift coach James Franklin's team to a victory after a long road trip to the West Coast.6. Tennessee (5-1)Next up: Hm vs Alabama Tennessee, Tennessee, wherefor art thou offense, Tennessee? Seriously, since the start of SEC play, the Volunteers offense has been straight up absent. Considering Florida has dominated the recent series against Tennessee, it's hard for coach Josh Heupel to complain too much about an overtime victory. However, the Volunteers were favored by just over two touchdowns and trailed until the fourth quarter. Last week's 23-17 overtime win over Florida was Nico Iamaleava's second game without a touchdown pass. He committed two turnovers, including an interception and a fumble. The Vols were held scoreless in the first half. And as solid as the defense has been, they let DJ Lagway toss a game-tying touchdown on third-and-19. The Vols running back Dylan Sampson (112 yards) was excellent, and the defense stepped up in the second half to help Tennessee secure the win. Most should agree that this hardly looks like a top 15 team right now, let alone a top 10 team.7. Miami-Florida (6-0)Next up: At Louisville The Hurricanes had an off date in Week 7. After a wild trip to Berkeley in Week 6, the Miami Hurricanes got to sit back, relax and watch everyone else deal with an upset bid for a change. What matters for Miami after two straight close calls is that they're still undefeated and on track to play for the ACC title with an automatic CFP bid on the line. Miami will return to action this Saturday in a huge ACC showdown at Louisville. 8. Alabama (5-1)Next up: At Tennessee I'm honestly tempted to punish Alabama for their 27-25 squeaker of a win over South Carolina. A week after suffering an embarrassing loss to Vanderbilt, the Crimson Tide should have been out for blood. Instead, it was the same story as blunders on offense and questionable defense opened the door for a lesser opponent. The Gamecocks were a two-point conversion away from forcing overtime and wrecking Bama's season. But the Tide got away with another shaky performance so they cling to this spot. Quarterback Jalen Milroe accounted for three overall touchdowns, but the offense struggled with the Gamecocks' rush (four sacks allowed). Also, the Crimson Tide's defense was an issue once again. South Carolina converted seven of 15 third-down attempts, and the offense posted nearly 400 yards (374). Coach Kalen DeBoer and his staff have a ton to work on before next week's game at Tennessee.9. Iowa St (6-0)Next up: Hm vs UCFThe Cyclones are 6-0 for the first time since 1938 after an impressive 28-16 victory at West Virginia. Should the 6-0 Iowa State Cyclones be even higher than this? There might be a good argument for that one. I'm just not there yet. The Cyclones are taking care of business these days, including beating West Virginia 28-16. Rocco Becht continues to play good football. The ISU defense takes care of business. This is just a well-drilled team winning games without much fuss. Quarterback Rocco Becht threw for 265 yards and a touchdown on 18 completions, and the Iowa State defense limited the Mountaineers' standout ground game to 148 rushing yards. 10. LSU (5-1)Next up: At Arkansas After LSU lost to USC and struggled with Nichols State, South Carolina and UCLA, we all would have rightly laughed at the idea of the Tigers contending for a CFP bid. Something has clicked for Garrett Nussmeier and the Tigers and it showed on the final drive of regulation against Ole Miss as LSU captured an overtime victory. The QB hit Aaron Anderson with a perfect strike to tie the game with 27 seconds remaining and then he found Kyron Lacy with another beautiful throw into the endzone to end OT. The Bayou Bengals struggled early, but coach Brian Kelly's team battled to force overtime and eventually found a way to knock off Ole Miss 29-26. Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier made several clutch throws late, including a 25-yard touchdown pass to receiver Kyren Lacy on the first play of overtime to secure the victory. LSU's offensive line held Ole Miss' standout defensive front to zero sacks and gave Nussmeier plenty of time to make plays downfield when the game was on the line in the fourth quarter. 11. Notre Dame (5-1)Next up: At Georgia TechThe Fighting Irish cruised to a 49-7 victory against Stanford on Saturday afternoon. Quarterback Riley Leonard (16 of 22 for 229 yards and three scores) took a step forward with his overall performance, and Notre Dame's defense limited the Cardinal to only 200 total yards. Notre Dame's win over Texas A&M looks better by the week and their loss to Northern Illinois looks worse. They weren't playing either of those teams this week though. They had Stanford in front of them and they demolished them in short order. Could the Fighting Irish rise this week? I'd listen to an argument for that, especially relative to the team directly in front of them here. For now, they stay put.12. BYU (6-0)Next up: Hm vs Oklahoma StThe Arizona Wildcats are in the middle of a disappointing campaign but they have talent enough to cause problems for any team that doesn't take them seriously enough. BYU didn't have that problem, trouncing Noah Fifita et al, 41-19. If the Cougars keep winning, they'll keep rising. They have a clear path to the Big 12 title game if they take care of business from here on out. The Cougars continued their surprise run at the Big 12 title with a 41-19 victory over Arizona. Coach Kalani Sitake's defense forced four turnovers, which the team converted into 24 points. Quarterback Jake Retzlaff was efficient (218 yards and two touchdowns), and the ground game pounded the Wildcats for 147 yards over 27 attempts.

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Vegas Writer's NHL Morning Skate

by Vegas Writer

Tuesday, Oct 15, 2024

Tuesday's edition of the "Morning Skate" follows a wild Monday slate, where there were three early games and three late, and again a few high-scoring affairs.A total of 47 goals were scored in the six games, with four of them landing on seven or more goals.Let's get right to it to find out what took place with Monday's games: The Los Angeles Kings opened their road game with an early 2-0 lead, but the feisty Ottawa Senators aren't like the Sens of old. They battled back to tie the game in what turned into a seven-goal second period that saw the game head into the third knotted at 5-all. They tied 2-2 in the third, and at 7-all in overtime, Josh Norris and Tim Stützle combined on an OT winner for Ottawa.In my featured game of the night, I told you I thought the Penguins and Canadiens could go over, and we saw Evgeni Malkin (1 goal, 2 assists) help the Penguins build a two-goal lead in the first period, Nick Suzuki (2 assists) and Montreal take a second-period lead, and Pittsburgh pot four straight goals en route to a 6-3 victory.And in an early season rematch from opening night, Florida and Boston were on the ice for the second time in less than a week. Sam Reinhart registered his 68th multi-point game with the Panthers, as he scored on the man advantage and the penalty kill, to help Florida defeat the Bruins at TD Garden, 4-3. Through the first six nights: Favorites are 25-19 Overs are 21-21-2 Tonight's FEATURED GAME (lines courtesy DraftKings):Vegas (-130, 6u-115) at WashingtonWith nine games on the board, I'm looking at the top of the rotation at the first game, with the Vegas Golden Knights visiting the Washington Capitals.A lot of emotion going into this one, as former teammates will be battling between the pipes, with Vegas' Adin Hill facing Washington's Logan Thompson.Thompson started his career with Vegas but spent a lot of time in the press box as a healthy scratch during the team's Stanley Cup run two seasons ago, and had a somewhat tumultuous behind-the-scenes campaign last season.Now with Washington, this is a game he undoubtedly has been looking forward to, and will also be glad to get out of the way.Vegas opened the season 3-0-0, all the games being played at home. The Knights played Sunday night, got on an 8 am flight Monday and now play Tuesday. Washington is playing just its second game of the season, so it'll be interesting to see how these teams perform.PREDICTION: The Golden Knights came out flying in their first two games, scoring 8 goals and then 4. Sunday against Anaheim, they scored just 3 goals. Now they're on the road and open a three-game trip against a very salty former teammate who is looking forward to shutting them down. This one could come down to the netminders, and which one breaks first. I think we're headed to a low-scoring game.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: MLB, NHL, and NCAAF Previews and Odds - 10/15/2024

by Big Al Staff

Tuesday, Oct 15, 2024

The Tuesday sports card features NCAAF, MLB, and NHL action.Week 8 in NCAAF college football starts with three games between FBS opponents. South Alabama hosts Troy on ESPN2 at 7:30 p.m. ET. The Jaguars have lost two of their last three games after their 18-16 upset loss at Arkansas State as a 2.5-point favorite last Thursday. The Trojans are on a two-game losing streak with their 38-17 loss against Texas State as a 14-point underdog on October 3rd. South Alabama is a 13.5-point favorite, with the total set at 54.5 (all odds from DraftKings).Middle Tennessee plays at home against Kennesaw State on the CBS Sports Network at 8:00 p.m. ET. The Blue Raiders are on a five-game losing streak after their 48-21 loss at Louisiana Tech as a 5-point underdog on Thursday. The Owls are winless after their first five games this season after a 63-24 loss against Jacksonville State as a 17-point favorite on October 4th. Middle Tennessee is a 9.5-point favorite with an over/under of 50.5. Louisiana Tech travels to New Mexico State on ESPNU at 9:00 p.m. ET. The Bulldogs ended a three-game losing streak with their victory against the Blue Raiders last Thursday. The Aggies are on a five-game losing streak after a 54-13 loss at Jacksonville State as a 21-point underdog last Wednesday. Louisiana Tech is an 11.5-point road favorite with a total of 50. Major League Baseball continues the best-of-seven league championship round series of the playoffs with Game 2 in the ALCS. The New York Yankees are home against the Cleveland Guardians on TBS, truTV, and Max at 7:38 p.m. ET. The Yankees took the opening game of this series with their 5-2 victory on Monday. They send out Gerrit Cole to pitch against Cleveland’s Tanner Bibee. New York is a -170 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7. The National Hockey League has nine games on its slate. Four NHL games drop the puck at 7:10 p.m. ET. The Vegas Golden Knights play in Washington against the Capitals as a -142 money-line road favorite with a total of 6. The Tampa Bay Lightning host the Vancouver Canucks as a -135 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Florida Panthers are in Columbus to face the Blue Jackets as a -170 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The Carolina Hurricanes play at home against the New Jersey Devils as a -155 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Minnesota Wild visit St. Louis to play the Blues on ESPN at 7:40 p.m. ET as a -120 money-line road favorite with a total of 6. Two more NHL games start at 8:10 p.m. ET. The Nashville Predators are home against the Seattle Kraken at 8:10 p.m. ET as a -175 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6. The Dallas Stars host the San Jose Sharks as a -355 money-line favorite with a total of 6. The Calgary Flames play at home against the Chicago Blackhawks at 9:10 p.m. ET as a -155 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6. The Edmonton Oilers are home against the Philadelphia Flyers on ESPN at 10:10 p.m. ET as a -225 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. 

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Vegas Writer's NHL Morning Skate

by Vegas Writer

Monday, Oct 14, 2024

Monday's edition of the "Morning Skate" catches up after a busy weekend on the ice, as there were 13 games on Saturday and another four on Sunday, culminating with a game here in Las Vegas, with the Golden Knights hosting the Anaheim Ducks.I'll give you a few tidbits from both days, as there were some incredible superlatives to note from the weekend.Weekend RECAP:On Saturday... Jonathan Huberdeau (2 goals, 2 assists) and Mikael Backlund netted third-period goals to lift the Calgary Flames to victory in an emotional home opener at Scotiabank Saddledome. The evening opened with the Flames honoring the lives of brothers Matthew and Johnny Gaudreau.Clayton Keller (2 goals, 1 assist) scored an overtime winner to help the relocated Utah Hockey Club squash a New York Rangers comeback while improving to 3-0-0 on the season. The UHC can become the first franchise in NHL history to go 4-0-0 when it completes its New York metropolitan area road trip versus the Devils tonight.Connor Bedard (1 goal, 2 assists) scored his first goal of the season and collected his fifth career three-point game to tie Jonathan Toews as well as Jeremy Roenick for the second most by a teenager in franchise history in Chicago's 5-2 win in Edmonton. On Sunday... In extending his season-opening point streak to three games, Wyatt Johnston scored his first goal of the campaign, as the Stars skated to a second shutout in as many days.After falling 1-0 early in the first period, Winnipeg rallied with goals from Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor in overtime to help the Jets improve to 3-0-0 – their longest winning streak to begin a season in franchise history.Justin Kirkland scored his first NHL goal to help the Flames improve to 3-0-0 this season, one shy of their longest winning streak to start a campaign in franchise history.Jack Eichel became the first player in franchise history with at least seven points through three games of a campaign as Vegas improved to a 3-0-0 start for the third straight season. Through the first six nights: Favorites are 21-17 Overs are 17-19-2 Tonight's FEATURED GAME (lines courtesy DraftKings):Pittsburgh (-130, 6o, -120) at MontrealMonday's six-game slate includes Sidney Crosby and the Penguins visiting Nick Suzuki and the Canadiens, as we have one star nearing the end of his career and another just getting started.Crosby needs one point to become the 10th player in NHL history with 1,600. Crosby has accumulated 24 of his 1,599 career points at Bell Centre. The Penguins have registered wins in three straight against the Canadiens, and are on a 7-2-2 run against Montreal.Even further, the Penguins have tallied three or more goals in 10 of their last 11 games against Montreal.PREDICTION: I'm not ready to lay a heavy price with the Penguins, and don't want to lay a puck line on the road this early in the season. But with how well the Pens have scored against Montreal recently, and the Canadiens coming off back-to-back games of scoring four goals in each, I can see a high-scoring game tonight.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NFL, MLB, CFL and NHL Previews and Odds - 10/14/2024

by Big Al Staff

Monday, Oct 14, 2024

The Monday sports card features NFL, MLB, CFL, and NHL action. Week 6 in the NFL concludes with one game. The Buffalo Bills travel to New York to play the Jets on ESPN at 8:15 p.m. ET. The Bills have lost two games in a row after their 23-20 loss at Houston as a 1-point underdog last Sunday. The Jets are also on a two-game losing streak after their 23-17 loss against Minnesota as a 2.5-point underdog in London last week. Buffalo is a 1-point road favorite with the total set at 41 (all odds from DraftKings). Major League Baseball continues the best-of-seven league championship round series of the playoffs with two games. The Los Angeles Dodgers host the New York Mets on Fox and FS1 at 4:08 p.m. ET. The Dodgers took Game 1 of this series with a 9-0 victory on Sunday. They have yet to name their starting pitcher who will face the Mets’ Sean Manaea. Los Angeles is a -142 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5.The New York Yankees play at home against the Cleveland Guardians on TBS, truTV, and Max at 7:38 p.m. ET. The Yankees have won four of their last five games after beating Kansas City in four games in their best-of-five series in a 3-1 victory on the road against Kansas City on Thursday. The Guardians have won two games in a row after their 7-3 win against Detroit in Game 5 of their best-of-five series with the Tigers on Saturday. Carlos Rodon gets the ball for New York to pitch against Alex Cobb for Cleveland. The Yankees are a -166 money-line favorite with a total of 7.5. The National Hockey League has six games on its slate. Three NHL games drop the puck at 1:10 p.m. ET in honor of Canadian Thanksgiving Day. The Ottawa Senators host the Los Angeles Kings as a -125 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6. The Boston Bruins play at home against the Florida Panthers as a -122 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The New Jersey Devils are home against the Utah Hockey Club as a -180 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The New York Rangers host the Detroit Red Wings at 7:10 p.m. ET as a -198 money-line favorite with a total of 6. The Pittsburgh Penguins play in Montreal against the Canadiens at 7:40 p.m. ET as a -130 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6. The Colorado Avalanche play at home against the New York Islanders at 9:10 p.m. ET as a -148 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. Week 19 in the Canadian Football League concludes with its one traditional game on Canadian Thanksgiving Day. The Montreal Alouettes are home against the Ottawa Redblacks on the CBS Sports Network at 1:00 p.m. ET. The Alouettes are winless in their last four games after their 37-31 upset loss at Toronto as a 2-point favorite on September 28th. The Redblacks are on a three-game losing streak after their 29-16 loss at Saskatchewan as a 4-point underdog on September 28th. Montreal is a 4.5-point favorite with an over/under of 48.5.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NFL, NHL and MLB Previews and Odds - 10/13/2024

by Big Al Staff

Sunday, Oct 13, 2024

The Sunday sports card features NFL, MLB, and NHL action. Week 5 in the NFL continues with 12 games. The Jacksonville Jaguars are the technical road team against the Chicago Bears on the NFL Network at 9:30 p.m. ET at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, England. The Jaguars are a 1-point favorite with the total set at 44.5 (all odds from DraftKings). Seven NFL games kick off at 1:00 p.m. ET. The Baltimore Ravens host the Washington Commanders as a 7-point favorite with an over/under of 51.5. The Houston Texans travel to New England against the Patriots as a 6.5-point road favorite with a total of 37.5. The Philadelphia Eagles play at home against the Cleveland Browns as an 8.5-point favorite with an over/under of 42.5. The Tennessee Titans are home against the Indianapolis Colts as a 3-point favorite with a total of 43. The Green Bay Packers host the Arizona Cardinals as a 5.5-point favorite with an over/under of 47. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers play in New Orleans against the Saints as a 3.5-point road favorite with a total of 42.5. The Pittsburgh Steelers are in Las Vegas to play the Raiders as a 3-point road favorite with an over/under of 36.5.Three NFL games start during the second window of afternoon games.  The Los Angeles Chargers visit Denver to play the Broncos at 4:05 p.m. ET as a 3-point road favorite with a total of 35.5. Two more NFL games start at 4:25 p.m. ET. The Detroit Lions play in Dallas against the Cowboys as a 3.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 52.5. The Atlanta Falcons are in Carolina to play the Panthers as a 6-point road favorite with a total of 46.5. The Cincinnati Bengals travel to New York to play the Giants on NBC at 8:20 p.m. ET for Sunday Night Football. The Bengals are a 3.5-point  road favorite with an over/under of 47. Major League Baseball begins the best-of-seven league championship round of the playoff with Game 1 of the NLCS. The Los Angeles Dodgers play at home against the New York Mets on Fox at 8:15 p.m. ET. The Dodgers advanced past the San Diego Padres in the NLDS in five games after their 2-0 victory on Friday. The Mets beat the Philadelphia Phillies in four games after their 4-1 win on Wednesday. Los Angeles taps Jack Flaherty to pitch against the Mets’ Kodai Senga. The Dodgers are a -155 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The National Hockey League has four games on its slate. The Winnipeg Jets are home against the Minnesota Wild at 6:10 p.m. ET as a -175 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. Two more NHL games drop the puck at 8:10 p.m. ET. The Dallas Stars host the Seattle Kraken as a -198 money-line favorite with a total of 6. The Edmonton Oilers play at home against the Calgary Flames as a -285 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Vegas Golden Knights are home against the Anaheim Ducks at 10:10 p.m. ET as a -305 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NCAAF, MLB, CFL and EPL Previews and Odds - 10/12/2024

by Big Al Staff

Saturday, Oct 12, 2024

The Saturday sports card features NCAAF, MLB, CFL, and EPL action.Week 7 in NCAAF college football continues with 44 games between FBS opponents. Ten of these NCAAF games kick off in the opening window between noon ET and 2:00 p.m. ET, with three games starting on major national television at noon ET. Clemson visits Wake Forest on ESPN as a 21-point road favorite with the total set at 62 (all odds from DraftKings). Alabama hosts South Carolina on ABC as a 21.5-point favorite with an over/under of 50.5. Iowa plays at home against Washington on Fox as a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 41. Seventeen NCAAF games between FBS opponents start in the 3:30 p.m. ET to 5:00 p.m. ET window. Four college football games on major national television at 3:30 p.m. ET. Pittsburgh is home against California on ESPN as a 3.5-point favorite with an over/under of 58. Penn State plays at USC on CBS as a 4-point road favorite with a total of 51. Texas battles Oklahoma in the Red River rivalry on a neutral field at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas, as a 15.5-point favorite with an over/under of 49. Notre Dame hosts Stanford on NBC as a 23-point favorite with a total of 45. BYU plays at home against Arizona on Fox as a 3-point favorite with a total of 48. Seventeen NCAAF games between FBS opponents begin at 7:00 p.m. ET or later to complete the Saturday football card. Tennessee plays at home against Florida on ESPN as a 14.5-point favorite with an over/under of 57. Two more NCAA-F games on major national television begin at 7:30 p.m. ET. Mississippi is at LSU on ABC as a 3.5-point road favorite with a total of 62. Ohio State visits Oregon on NBC as a 3-point road favorite with an over/under of 54. Iowa State plays at West Virginia on Fox as a 3-point road favorite with an over/under of 52. Kansas State is at Colorado on ESPN at 10:15 p.m. ET as a 3.5-point road favorite with a total of 53.5. Major League Baseball concludes the best-of-five divisional round of the playoffs with one Game 5 in the American League. The Detroit Tigers travel to Cleveland to play the Guardians on Fox at 1:08 p.m. ET. The Tigers tap Tarik Skubal to pitch against the Guardians’ Matthew Boyd. Detroit is a -125 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6. The National Hockey League has 13 games on its slate. The Boston Bruins are home against the Los Angeles Kings at 1:07 p.m. ET as a -155 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. Six NHL games from the puck at 7:07 p.m. ET. The Florida Panthers play in Buffalo against the Sabres as a -135 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6. The New Jersey Devils are in Washington to play the Capitals as a -148 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The New York Rangers host the Utah Hockey Club as a -205 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6. The Toronto Maple Leafs play at home against the Pittsburgh Penguins as a -192 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Nashville Predators visit Detroit to play the Red Wings as a -122 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Ottawa Senators play in Montreal against the Canadiens as a -162 money-line road favorite with a total of 6. Two NHL games start at 8:07 p.m. ET. The Dallas Stars are home against the New York Islanders as a -166 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6. The Minnesota Wild host the Seattle Kraken as a -148 money-line favorite with a total of 6. The Colorado Avalanche play at home against the Columbus Blue Jackets at 9:07 p.m. ET as a -340 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. Three more games conclude the NHL card at 10:07 p.m. ET. The Edmonton Oilers are home against the Chicago Blackhawks at 10:07 p.m. ET as a -360 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Anaheim Ducks are in San Jose to play the Sharks as a -135 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6. The Calgary Flames host the Philadelphia Flyers as a -130 money-line favorite with a total of 6. Week 19 in the Canadian Football League continues with two games. The Calgary Stampeders play at home against the Edmonton Elks at 3:00 p.m. ET as a 1-point favorite with an over/under of 51. The Saskatchewan Roughriders are home against the British Columbia Lions at 7:00 p.m. ET as a 1.5-point favorite with a total of 51.

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Vegas Writer's NHL Morning Skate

by Vegas Writer

Saturday, Oct 12, 2024

Saturday's edition of the "Morning Skate" takes us to the busiest day of the first week this season, as there are 13 games scheduled for today. Carolina-Tampa Bay's second of a home-and-home was postponed, and we offer those affected by Milton well wishes and safety for their families.Home teams split out on Friday, as two guests won and two hosts won. And finally, we saw a majority of low-scoring games take place.Last night's RECAP: Nikita Kucherov notched the third hat trick of the season, and second in natural fashion. This in just four nights since the season started, as Kucherov led the Tampa Bay Lightning to a 4-1 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes in their season-opening contest.Vegas and Winnipeg both remained undefeated to start the season, thanks to multi-point performances. The Knights beat St. Louis, 4-3, as teammates Jack Eichel and Ivan Barbashev each registered multi-points. Meanwhile, Jets forward Mark Scheifele had two goals in a 2-1 overtime over Chicago.Philadelphia went into Vancouver and stole a 3-2 shootout victory. Through the first four nights: Favorites are 11-10 Overs are 10-9-2 Tonight's FEATURED GAME (lines courtesy DraftKings):New Jersey (-148, 6.5-u, -120) at WashingtonThe Washington Capitals host the New Jersey Devils as Alex Ovechkin begins his 20th campaign and continues his pursuit of the all-time goals record.With a goal tonight, Ovechkin can tie Michel Goulet (14 goals in 13 games played) and Dino Ciccarelli (14 goals in 16  games played) for the most career goals in season-opening games in NHL history.In addition, defensemen Jakob Chychrun and Matt Roy are expected to make their Capitals' debut. The Capitals, who had two defensemen with 20-plus points last season (John Carlson and Rasmus Sandin), now have four defensemen on their roster who surpassed the 20-point mark in 2023-24 with the addition of Chychrun and Roy.The Devils are three games into the regular season already, after playing two games in Prague as part of the 2024 Global Series. New Jersey went 2-0 with 4-1 and 3-1 wins over the Buffalo Sabres. But In their home opener Thursday, the Devils lost 4-2 to the Toronto Maple Leafs.PREDICTION: This could be a good spot to catch a rare home dog price this big with the Caps. The Devils could be weary at this point, as they play their first true road opener, against a team that hasn't played yet and will be amped up to get started. Strong lean on the underdog.

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Vegas Writer's NHL Morning Skate

by Vegas Writer

Friday, Oct 11, 2024

Friday's edition of the "Morning Skate" takes us out of opening week and into opening weekend, as we've already seen some exciting stuff from several veteran faces and some newer ones. The week of high-scoring games continues will teams are still in search of their defense, as five of the nine games played last night finished with seven or more goals.Last night's RECAP: Rookie Macklin Celebrini, the first-overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, became the third-youngest player in NHL history to post multiple points in his debut. Unfortunately for him, the San Jose Sharks blew a three-goal, third-period lead and lost to the visiting St. Louis Blues, 5-4.Speaking of St. Louis, the Blues joined the Calgary Flames as the second team this season to overcome a three-goal deficit to win. This time, however, the Blues, achieved the feat in the third period. Last season there were 27 three-goal come-from-behind wins – the second most in a single campaign after 1989-90 (30). Also, there were 10 such victories in the third period last season, which trailed only 2006-07 (12).Los Angeles Kings captain Anze Kopitar registered his second season-opening hat trick in four years to become the seventh player in league history to net a natural hat trick in his club’s first contest, as the Kings went into Buffalo and won 3-1. Through the first two nights:Favorites are 9-8Overs are 9-6-2Tonight's FEATURED GAME (lines courtesy DraftKings):Tampa Bay at Carolina (-130, 6o, -120)It's the season opener for both teams, as the Tampa Bay Lightning visit the Carolina Hurricanes. Normally I would be excited for this matchup, but something's telling me the Bolts could be on the decline this season, and will eventually be leapfrogged in the Atlantic Division by possibly Detroit or Ottawa.The Hurricanes, however, will still be a force in a stacked Metropolitan Division, along with New Jersey and the New York Rangers.Carolina lost the season series last year, going 1-2-0 in 2023-24, and I think this is one particular matchup the Hurricanes want to own. And I'm hoping we'll see Frederik Andersen in net, as he holds a 9-10-1 record, .888 save percentage and 3.24 goals-against average with two shutouts versus the Lightning in his career. Andersen owns a 4-0-0 record, .931 save percentage, 1.45 goals-against average and one shutout against Tampa Bay while with the Hurricanes.Amazingly, the winning team in this series has recorded a shutout in four of the last five meetings since March 5, 2023, with Carolina going 2-3-0 in that span.Sebastian Aho, who is creeping up to his 600th career game, has registered 19 points (8 goals, 11 assists) in 29 career regular-season games against the Lightning. We could see Aho with a big game to start the season.PREDICTION: As much as I think the Hurricanes should win this game, I want to see how the Lightning play for a couple of weeks before I go all-in on fading them against upper-tier teams. I like the first period to go Over 1.5 goals (-130), as I think we'll see a fast start by both, with each team looking to establish dominance early on.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NCAAF, MLB, NHL and CFL Previews and Odds - 10/11/2024

by Big Al Staff

Friday, Oct 11, 2024

The Friday sports card features NCAAF, MLB, NHL, and CFL action. Week 7 in NCAAF college football continues with three games between FBS opponents. The Memphis/South Florida game originally scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET tonight was pushed back until 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday due to Hurricane Milton. Maryland hosts Northwestern on FS1 at 8:00 p.m. ET. The Terrapins had won two games in a row before their 42-28 loss at Indiana as a 7.5-point underdog on September 28th. The Wildcats are on a two-game losing streak after their 41-24 loss at home to Indiana as a 13-point underdog last Saturday. Maryland is an 11-point favorite with the total set at 45.5 (all odds from DraftKings).UNLV travels to Utah State on the CBS Sports Network at 9:00 p.m. ET. The Rebels had won four games in a row before their 44-41 upset loss as a 6-point favorite last Friday. The Aggies are on a four-game losing streak after their 62-30 loss at Boise State as a 28-point underdog on Saturday. UNLV is a 19.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 66.5. Utah plays at Arizona State on ESPN at 10:30 p.m. ET. The Utes had won four games in a row before their 23-10 upset loss at home against Arizona as a 7.5-point favorite on September 28th. The Sun Devils rebounded from a loss at Texas Tech with their 35-31 victory against Kansas as a 2.5-point favorite on Saturday. Utah is a 5.5-point road favorite with a total of 46.5. Major League Baseball continues the best-of-five divisional round of the playoffs with one Game 5 in the National League. The Los Angeles Dodgers play at home against the San Diego Padres on Fox at 8:08 p.m. ET. The Dodgers forced the fifth game with their 8-0 victory on the road on Wednesday. Yoshinobu Yamamoto takes the mound for Los Angeles to pitch against the Padres’ Yu Darvish. The Dodgers are a -142 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7.5. The National Hockey League has four games on its slate. The Carolina Hurricanes are home against the Tampa Bay Lightning at 7:10 p.m. ET. The Hurricanes make their 2024-25 season debut after their 58-35-10 regular season with 126 points last year. The Lightning play their first game of the new season after registering 101 points from their 46-41-9 record last year. Carolina is a -130 money-line favorite with a total of 6. The Winnipeg Jets host the Chicago Blackhawks at 8:10 p.m. ET. The Jets opened their season with a 6-0 victory at Edmonton on Wednesday. The Blackhawks made their season debut with a 5-2 loss on the road against the Utah Hockey Club on Tuesday. Winnipeg is a -250 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.Two games drop the puck at 10:10 p.m. ET to conclude the NHL card. The Vancouver Canucks play at home against the Philadelphia Flyers. The Canucks opened their season with a 6-5 loss at home against Calgary. The Flyers begin their season tonight after posting a 38-33-11 record with 87 points last year. Vancouver is a -180 money-line favorite with a total of 6.The Vegas Golden Knights are home against the St. Louis Blues. The Golden Knights began their season with an 8-4 victory at home against Colorado on Wednesday. The Blues opened their new year with a 3-2 victory at Seattle on Tuesday. Vegas is a -192 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.Week 19 in the Canadian Football League kicks off with one game. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers host the Toronto Argonauts at 8:30 p.m. ET. The Blue Bombers are on a seven-game winning streak after their 31-10 victory at Hamilton as a 3.5-point favorite last Friday. The Argonauts won for the second time in their last three games after their 37-31 upset win at home against Montreal as a 2-point underdog on September 28th. Winnipeg is a 4-point favorite with a total of 50.

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