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Big Al's Daily Angle: MLB, CFL, Euro 2024 and Copa America 2024 Previews and Odds - 06/29/2024

by Big Al Staff

Saturday, Jun 29, 2024

The Saturday sports card features MLB, CFL, Euro 2024, and Copa America 2024 action.Major League Baseball has 15 games on its schedule. The Chicago White Sox host the Colorado Rockies at 2:10 p.m. ET as a -112 money-line favorite, with the total set at 8.5. The St. Louis Cardinals play at home against the Cincinnati Reds at 2:15 p.m. ET as a -180 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. The New York Yankees travel to Toronto to play the Blue Jays at 3:07 p.m. ET as a -122 money-line road favorite with a total of 8. The Philadelphia Phillies are at home against the Miami Marlins at 4:05 p.m. ET as a -258 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. Seven more MLB games throw out the first pitch at 4:10 p.m. ET. The Atlanta Braves host the Pittsburgh Pirates as a -155 money-line favorite with a total of 7.5. The Kansas City Royals play at home against the Cleveland Guardians as a -112 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. The Houston Astros play in New York against the Mets as a -118 money-line road favorite with a total of 8. The Boston Red Sox are home against the San Diego Padres as a -148 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Tampa Bay Rays host the Washington Nationals as a -135 money-line favorite with a total of 7.5. The Milwaukee Brewers play at home against the Chicago Cubs on FS1 as a -118 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Arizona Diamondbacks are at home against the Oakland A’s.Two MLB games on Fox’s regional television coverage start at 7:15 p.m. ET. The Los Angeles Dodgers are in San Francisco to play the Giants as a -210 money-line road favorite at BetOnline with a total of 7.5. The Baltimore Orioles host the Texas Rangers as a -155 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9. The Detroit Tigers visit Los Angeles to play the Angels at 10:07 p.m. ET as a -122 money-line road favorite with a total of 9. The Minnesota Twins play in Seattle against the Mariners at 10:10 p.m. ET as a -118 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 7.5. Week 4 in the Canadian Football League continues with one game. The Winnipeg Jets are in Calgary to play the Stampeders on the CBS Sports Network at 7:00 p.m. ET as a 3-point road favorite with a total of 47.5. The knockout stage of the Euro 2024 begins with two matches in the round of 16. Italy challenges Switzerland on FS1 at noon ET in a pick ‘em match with an over/under of 2 (all soccer odds from BetMGM). Germany hosts Denmark on Fox at 3:00 p.m. ET as a -1 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5.The Copa America 2024 continues with two matches at 8:00 p.m. ET. Argentina plays Peru on FS1 as a -1 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Chile faces Canada on FS2 as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.

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2024 Big 10 Conference Football Preview

by Matt Fargo

Friday, Jun 28, 2024

2024 Big 10 Conference Preview Regular Season Win Totals and Big 10 Championship Odds (via DraftKings) Ohio State: 10.5 Over -150 Under +125/+155 Big 10 WinnerOregon: 10.5 Over +100 Under -120/+200 Big 10 WinnerPenn State: 10.5 Over +140 Under -165/+500 Big 10 WinnerMichigan: 9 Over +115 Under -135/+700 Big 10 WinnerIowa: 8 Over -135 Under +115/+3,500 Big 10 WinnerNebraska: 7.5 Over -125 Under +105/+5,500 Big 10 WinnerUSC: 7.5 Over +105 Under -125/+2,000 Big 10 WinnerWashington: 6.5 Over -105 Under -115/+8,000 Big 10 WinnerMaryland: 6.5 Over +100 Under -130/+10,000 Big 10 WinnerRutgers: 6 Over -140 Under +120/+12,000 Big 10 WinnerWisconsin: 7 Over +120 Under -140/+6,500 Big 10 WinnerIllinois: 5.5 Over +105 Under -125/+20,000 Big 10 WinnerIndiana: 5.5 Over -135 Under +115/+20,000 Big 10 WinnerNorthwestern: 4.5 Over -120 Under +100/+20,000 Big 10 WinnerUCLA: 5 Over +115 Under -135/+15,000 Big 10 WinnerMichigan State: 5 Over -105 Under -115/+20,000 Big 10 WinnerMinnesota: 5.5 Over +100 Under -120/+18,000 Big 10 WinnerPurdue: 4.5 Over +135 Under -160/+30,000 Big 10 Winner Coaching Changes Indiana: Tom Allen Out ~ Curt Cignetti InMichigan: Jim Harbaugh Out ~ Sherrone Moore InMichigan State: Mel Tucker Out ~ Jonathan Smith InUCLA: Chip Kelly Out ~ DeShaun Foster InWashington: Kalen DeBoer Out ~ Jedd Fisch In Ohio State Buckeyes 11-2 ~ 8-1 Big 10 ~ 7-5-0 ATS ~ 3-9-0 O/UReturning Starters ~ Offense 7/Defense 9 The last three seasons for Ohio St. have been nearly identical and the Buckeyes are looking for that to change. Three straight 11-2 finishes is fantastic but there has been one roadblock and that is hated rival Michigan. Ohio St. has gone into the season finale ranked No. 2 in the country and all three times it came away with a loss. That should reverse this year with the Buckeyes loaded roaster and the Wolverines going through some retooling. Head coach Ryan Day is an outstanding 56-8 in six seasons but the Michigan bleeding has to stop. They lost quarterback Kyle McCord to the transfer portal but got Will Howard through the portal from Kansas St. and now they have Chip Kelly calling the plays. Ohio St. lost a lot at receiver but there is plenty of depth and new blood while possessing arguably the best running back tandem in the country. The defense is even more loaded with 10 upperclassmen starting and they should be even better than their No. 4 overall ranking last season and No. 2 in points scored. The Buckeyes schedule helps out as it is in the bottom third of the Big 10 in terms of strength, partly due a nonconference slate that rivals Michigan from last year as they face Akron, Western Michigan and Marshall. The two big challenges will be games at Oregon and at Penn St. Oregon Ducks 12-2 ~ 8-1 Pac 12 ~ 10-2-0 ATS ~ 5-7-0 O/UReturning Starters ~ Offense 8/Defense 9 Oregon was ever so close to a trip to the CFP last season but Washington was too tough to take down twice. In two years under head coach Dan Lanning, the Ducks are 22-5, Washington accounting for three of the losses, Georgia being the fourth and a four-point loss at rival Oregon St. in the Civil War. Now, they head to a bigger and tougher conference but the good news is that they just as good and the expanded CFP will only help them out. The offense was potent under quarterback Bo Nix, ranking No. 1 passing and No. 2 in both total offense and scoring. Nix is now in the NFL but Oregon reloaded and brought in former Oklahoma and UCF quarterback Dillon Gabriel who is now in his sixth season. The Ducks also lost their top running back and receiver but are not without returning star power while four of five offensive linemen are back. The defense has a ton of experience thanks to the transfer portal mostly helping the secondary that lost three of four starters. They finished No. 22 overall and should improve based on the schedule. The Ducks have a couple challenges in the nonconference with a visit from Boise St. and a trip to Corvallis while the Big 10 schedule is not bad at all as they miss Penn St., Iowa and USC and while they do play Ohio St. the game is in Eugene. Penn State Nittany Lions 10-3 ~ 7-2 Big 10 ~ 9-3-0 ATS ~ 6-6-0 O/UReturning Starters ~ Offense 6/Defense 7 Penn St. has been good, just not good enough. Over the last eight seasons, five have resulted in double-digit wins but there has not been a trip to the CFP and only one time did they make it to the Big 10 Championship game. Penn St. has started 5-0, 5-0 and 6-0 the last three campaigns but failed to keep it going with three conference losses to teams ranked in the top five and then were not able to fully recover. This season could be different as they are the fourth most experienced team in the conference, face a doable schedule and of course, the CFP is expanded. The offense scored 30 or more points nine times but scored only 27 points combined against Ohio St. and Michigan and they finished No. 12 overall in scoring. Quarterback Drew Allar had a 25:2 TD:INT ratio but completed only 60 percent of his passes, loses two of his top three receivers as well as three offensive linemen so it could take time. Defensively is where they will dominate again after finishing No. 2 overall and No. 3 in points allowed and the Nittany Lions are strong on all three levels to lead the team early on. Penn St. will likely get off to another undefeated 5-0 start but then there is a trip to USC. The two real tough tests after that are against Ohio St. and Washington, but those are both at home. Michigan Wolverines 15-0 ~ 9-0 Big 10 ~ 6-5-1 ATS ~ 6-5-1 O/UReturning Starters ~ Offense 2/Defense 5 Michigan is coming off its first National Championship since 1997 in its third straight season making the CFP. The Wolverines were 84-21 under head coach Jim Harbaugh taking out the 2-4 COVID season and now that he is off to the NFL again, it will be up to former offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore to keep the magic going. Moore did go 4-0 in the four games he coached when Harbaugh was suspended so he is not totally coming in raw. Michigan was gashed by the NFL Draft as it lost 16 starters and comes in as the second least experience team in the conference so while there certainly is talent, it could be a struggle early. The only starters back on offense are the tight end and one offensive lineman so there is work to be done for whichever quarterback wins the starting job. Nearly 3,000 yards of offense was lost from the running back and receiver positions. Defensively, Michigan will be much better off so even though the No. 1 ranked unit from last season will take a step down, it should be a huge descent. Only five starters are back but they are strong up front and in the middle but the secondary needs work. The schedule is a mix of brutal and easy as Michigan has Texas, USC, Oregon and Ohio St. but the Buckeyes are the only game on the road of the four.Iowa Hawkeyes 10-4 ~ 7-2 Big 10 ~ 6-5-1 ATS ~ 2-10-0 O/UReturning Starters ~ Offense 10/Defense 8 Similar to Penn St., Iowa has been good, just not good enough. The Hawkeyes are coming off another double-digit win season, their third over the last four years excluding the 2020 COVID season and last season, made their second Big Ten Championship game only to get ambushed by Michigan both times by a combined 68-3. Heah coach Kirk Ferenz will be entering his 26th season and after a couple rough first years following Hayden Fry, he has had only two losing campaigns over the last 23. That is consistency but consistency is not good enough unless championships are involved and Iowa could be at its closest yet. The offense has regressed the last three seasons, bottoming out last season with 234.6 ypg and 15.4 ppg, No. 133 and No. 132 respectively. New offensive coordinator Tim Lester was brought in to turn this around and part of the problem last year was that quarterback Cade McNamara was hurt in August and was never the same while missing 9 games. They have to be better. The defense had to make up for it which it did, ranking No. 7 overall and No. 4 in scoring. Eight starters are back so it should be more of the same. Iowa St. comes to visit and then there is a trip to Ohio St. followed by a home game against Washington and it is all downhill after that. Nebraska Cornhuskers 5-7 ~ 3-6 Big 10 ~ 4-7-1 ATS ~ 5-7-0 O/UReturning Starters ~ Offense 9/Defense 8 Nebraska is a sexy pick to make a lot of noise in the conference and it is possible with what it has on the roster but it will come down to what the so-called quarterback whisperer can do. This once Blue Blood program endured its seventh consecutive losing season in 2023, the first one for head coach Matt Rhule and you can tell the culture is changing. Even last year could have been better with even average play as the offense was stuck in neutral most of the time yet the Huskers lost five games by one possession including their last four games where a win in one of those and they were bowl bound. Freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola looks to be the savior as he comes to Lincoln as a five-star recruit and looks to start right away which is smart given the soft frontend schedule. Four of five starters are back along the offensive line and transfer help at receiver will ease him in. The defense kept the Huskers in those close games as in those five losses, the offense scored no more than 17 points and scored 10 three times. Eight starters are back from the unit that finished No. 11 in total defense and they will be stout again. Nebraska could and should start the season 7-0 but then come big boys with four of the last five at Ohio St., at USC, at Iowa and hosting UCLA. USC Trojans 8-5 ~ 5-4 Pac 12 ~ 3-9-0 ATS ~ 9-3-0 O/UReturning Starters ~ Offense 5/Defense 9 The Trojans were ranked No. 6 in the Preseason AP Poll, made it to No. 5 and after a 6-0 start, they suffered a 28-point loss at home to Notre Dame and the bottom fell out. That started a 1-5 run to end the regular season and it ended up being the fourth time in five seasons, not counting 2020, that they finished outside the AP Top 25. The expectations are not as high as they move to a new conference and less expectations can be a very good thing. Behind quarterback Caleb Williams, the offense was one of the best around as USC was ranked No. 10 thanks to a passing attack that was No. 5. Backup Miller Moss played in the Holiday Bowl against Louisville and he was great and should be the starter but UNLV transfer Jayden Maiva will give him a push. Each of the top two rushers and receivers are gone as well but there is good returning experienced talent to take over behind a strong offensive line. The Trojans season was lost because of the defense that allowed an average of 42.4 ppg over their last eight games, winning three of those by just 10 points combined. There is talent and experience but it will take a lot for a huge improvement. USC avoids Ohio St. and Oregon but has LSU and Notre Dame and in the Big 10, it goes to Michigan, Washington and UCLA while hosting Penn St. Washington Huskies 14-1 ~ 9-0 Pac 12 ~ 5-6-1 ATS ~ 6-6-0 O/UReturning Starters ~ Offense 2/Defense 4 It was a great story in Spokane which was expected as the Huskies came in as a Top 10 team and rolled in their first four games. Then good fortunes came in as the next 10 wins were all by 10 points or less, seven by a touchdown before getting beat by 21 points against Michigan in the CFP Championship. To their credit, good teams win the majority of those close games but great teams win them all so Washington was certainly the latter. Now it looks to be a complete rebuild with head coach Kalen DeBoer gone to Alabama and with 13 players off to the NFL and along with the transfer portal, 16 starters have to be replaced. New head coach Jedd Fisch mastered a quick three-year turnaround at Arizona and he will look to at least keep the Huskies somewhat in contention. Washington is the least experienced team in the Big 10 so there will be a lot of growing up to do. The offense was great but will have a different look with Mississippi St. transfer quarterback Will Rogers coming in and having to replace the top eight receivers and leading rusher. Defensively, the Huskies barely got by and new defensive coordinator Stephen Belichick was brought in to turn it around. A 5-0 start is likely against inferior competition to get the kinks out but then we will see what the Huskies possess.Maryland Terrapins 8-5 ~ 4-5 Big 10 ~ 6-6-0 ATS ~ 7-5-0 O/UReturning Starters ~ Offense 4/Defense 8 Maryland has put together three straight winning seasons culminating with three bowl wins and after a rough first season in 2019, head coach Mike Locksley has job security at a non-traditional Big 10 program. The expansion of the conference further nationwide definitely helps a team like the Terrapins with greater exposure even though if it means tougher competition. That will not necessarily be the case this season but the Big 10 will never be a cakewalk so getting to eight wins again will be a challenge. What makes it even more of a challenge is that Maryland has to replace the All Time Big 10 passing leader Taulia Tagovailoa who led it to that success. There is no clear cut favorite heading into fall camp with four candidates but will likely come down to Billy Edwards, who was the Music City Bowl MVP, and NC State transfer MJ Morris. The receiving corps is loaded with six of the top eight pass catchers back as well as the top two running backs. Maryland has improved on defense yardage wise each of the last five years and the Terrapins bring back a strong front seven but do need some help in the secondary. They open the season with five games against non-bowl teams then host Northwestern. USC, Oregon, Iowa and Penn St. make up four of the final six games. Rutgers Scarlet Knights 7-6 ~ 3-6 Big 10 ~ 6-5-1 ATS ~ 6-6-0 O/UReturning Starters ~ Offense 8/Defense 8 After a 6-2 start last season, it was the quickest Rutgers had became bowl eligible since 2012 when it started 7-0 and last season was the first one with a winning record since 2014. It did not end well with four straight losses to end the regular season but those were all against teams that finished with eight or more wins and they closed with a Pinstripe Bowl win over Miami to bring some confidence into this season. The Scarlet Knights bring back a very experienced team, the second most experienced team in the Big 10 in fact, so they could present some problems and it helps having the second easiest schedule in the conference. The passing game was non-existent last season as Rutgers finished No. 127 in passing offense and they completed only 48 percent of their passes. They brought in Minnesota transfer Athan Kaliakmanis and while he did not have a great 2023 season, he will be a big upgrade. The receiving corps is also upgraded and the leading rusher is back. The defense kept them in games, finishing No. 16 overall and eight starters are back with experience across all three levels. A game at Virginia Tech is the only nonconference test and in the Big 10, they miss Ohio St., Michigan and Penn St., which they are on a 0-27 run against, as well as Oregon. Wisconsin Badgers 7-6 ~ 5-4 Big 10 ~ 4-6-2 ATS ~ 4-8-0 O/UReturning Starters ~ Offense 7/Defense 8 It was not a great season for Wisconsin but not for anything else, it showed character in its first year under head coach Luke Fickell. The Badgers opened the season 5-2 but lost three straight games including a pair of losses against Indiana and Northwestern as big favorites yet they showed their fight and won in overtime against Nebraska to become bowl eligible. A win in the final week against Minnesota solidified its 22nd consecutive season with a winning record which is currently the most among all Power Four teams but beyond that, there has been nothing spectacular happening. This will be a tough season for major improvement based on the conference expansion and their schedule. The offense was average as it has been for the last four seasons and they should get a passing game going with Miami transfer Tyler Van Dyke coming in and he will have the top two receivers back. The running game will be fine with four of five offensive linemen returning. The defense was above average which is always the case but the 343.7 ypg allowed was the most given up since 2007 and they will improve. The schedule is the fourth toughest in the conference as Wisconsin has Alabama in the nonconference while travelling to USC, Iowa and Nebraska and hosting Penn St. and Oregon. Illinois Fighting Illini 5-7 ~ 3-6 Big 10 ~ 3-9-0 ATS ~ 6-5-1 O/UReturning Starters ~ Offense 6/Defense 7 Illinois head coach Bret Bielema came into a tough situation in 2021 despite 18 returning starters but the talent was not there and the Illini opened 2-5 and was unable to get that sixth win. Illinois went 8-5 in 2022, the first winning season since 2011, but took a step back last season with a 5-7 campaign that included a pair of excruciating two-point losses to end the season denying them a bowl game and it is back to the drawing board. It was not a completely lost season as the offense had its best season since 2019 and the Illini actually outgained their Big 10 opponents despite a 3-6 record but their defense let them down. Illinois was sensational in Bielema's first year but the unit dropped by 104 ypg and 16.6 ppg, despite having a First Team All American defensive end, and that is hard for an offense to make up for. The secondary was the big issue yet there is experience back there this season but now the entire defensive line has to be replaced. The offense did not have prolific numbers but actually had the third best passing attack in the conference and quarterback Luke Altmyer takes over full time and they could be potent. The Illini only have four Big 10 home games but Michigan is the only true test but of the five road games, two of those are at Oregon and Penn St. Indiana Hoosiers 3-9 ~ 1-8 Big 10 ~ 7-5-0 ATS ~ 8-4-0 O/UReturning Starters ~ Offense 10/Defense 11 The Tom Allen era ended after seven years that included only two winning seasons and it concluded with a 9-27 record the last three years. The Hoosiers went with an upcoming name, hiring Curt Cignetti from James Madison where he compiled a 52-10 record in five seasons including a 19-5 record at the FBS level. The 3-9 record last season, which included a win against Indiana St. of the FCS and a win over 2-10 Akron that took four overtimes, was not surprising as the Hoosiers brought back only eight starters but now have 21 of 22 starters back which does include many transfer starts with a lot of those from James Madison. The offense was abysmal but that should change with the addition of Ohio transfer quarterback Kurtis Rourke who was the MAC Offensive Player of the Year in 2022. Every running back is gone but Cignetti brought over leading rusher Kaelon Block with him and the receiving corps with JMU transfers. It is the same on the other side with defensive end Mikail Kamara, defensive tackle James Carpenter and linebackers Aiden Fisher and Jailin Walker all coming over from James Madison. The mini Dukes have the easiest schedule in the Big 10 with games against UCLA, Michigan and Ohio St. being the only big tests while the three nonconference games should be wins. Northwestern Wildcats 8-5 ~ 5-4 Big 10 ~ 8-4-0 ATS ~ 6-6-0 O/UReturning Starters ~ Offense 7/Defense 8 Head coach Pat Fitzgerald was fired in July because of hazing allegations and that was probably not a bad thing anyway considering Northwestern was coming off a 4-20 record the previous two seasons. David Braum was hired from North Dakota St. where he was defensive coordinator so it was supposed to be a lost season yet the team fought through adversity with just 11 starters back and won its final three games to become bowl eligible and took out Utah in the Las Vegas Bowl. Repeating that success will be difficult as the Wildcats were pretty fortunate in that they won six of their games by one possession. The offense dropped 31 ypg from 2022 yet averaged 8.2 more ppg and the reason is that they had only nine turnovers which included an unthinkable one fumble. The Wildcats lose their quarterback and leading receiver but four starters return on the offensive line as well as their leading back. Defensively, Northwestern went through a stretch of allowing 20 points or less in five of six games and while they have eight starters back, there should be regression. The schedule is not great but doable. However, Ryan Field is going through renovations so five home games will be at a temporary on campus location with two others at Wrigley Field and Soldier Field so this is a big disadvantage. UCLA Bruins 8-5 ~ 4-5 Pac 12 ~ 5-7-0 ATS ~ 2-10-0 O/UReturning Starters ~ Offense 7/Defense 5 After a rough start at UCLA, Chip Kelly put together a 25-13 record over the last three seasons but he decided to leave and take the offensive coordinator job at Ohio St. which is arguably a step up and DeShaun Foster takes over where he was the running backs coach. UCLA is considered an elite high profile program but that is questionable considering is has not had a double-digit winning season since 2014 and has had consecutive double-digit winning seasons only three times in the history of the program. The defense was the catalyst as the Bruins were No. 10 in the country overall and No. 12 in points allowed but they are going to see a drastic drop in those rankings. They have only five starters back and two losses up front are probably two of the biggest in the country with edges Laiatu Latu and Gabriel Murphy combining for 21 sacks and 37.5 tackles for loss. The offense took a huge step back from 2022, averaging 12.7 ppg and 77 ypg less and that should improve with the hiring of Eric Bienemy as offensive coordinator so while there was a reversal of both units last season, it will be reversed in 2023. UCLA left the west coast only once last season when it went to Utah, but this season it leaves the time zone five times and plays the second hardest schedule in the country. Michigan State Spartans 4-8 ~ 2-7 Big 10 ~ 5-6-1 ATS ~ 5-7-0 O/UReturning Starters ~ Offense 7/Defense 8 The once proud Spartans program has taken a step back the last two seasons with a 9-15 record with the coaching situation turning into a mess. Mel Tucker came in during the COVID season but led Michigan St. to an 11-2 record in 2021 but then lost its last two games in 2022 to finish 5-7 and then Tucker was fired last season after a 2-0 start because of sexual allegations and the season ended up being a dumpster fire. In comes Jonathan Smith who turned around a fledging Oregon St. program with three straight winning seasons in his five years there. He has the resources and the history to turn this place around but it will not be overnight. His first job will be to try and turn around an offense that went from 31.8 ppg in 2021 to 24.4 ppg in 2022 to 15.9 ppg last season. The good news is that quarterback Aidan Chiles followed Smith to East Lansing and while he lacks experience, he is a playmaker with huge potential and already knows the incoming system. The Spartans have been a mess on defense for the last five seasons and while there will probably not be a huge improvement, a ton of starting transfer experience will make it interesting. Five straight weeks midseason against Ohio St., Oregon, Bye, Iowa and Michigan does them no favors which could cook them. Minnesota Golden Gophers 6-7 ~ 3-6 Big 10 ~ 3-9-0 ATS ~ 5-7-0 O/UReturning Starters ~ Offense 8/Defense 8 P.J. Fleck has kept Minnesota a winning program and while last season finished 6-7, it closed with a bowl win so it was still positive. While never challenging for the Big 10 title, Minnesota has been good enough to make it to a bowl game 19 times over the last 25 seasons and while the betting win total says it will not be a good year, this team could exceed those expectations. Taking out the 2020 COVID year, this is the best five-season run for the Gophers since 2002-2006 and with the sixth most experienced team in the conference and a fairly light schedule, the run should continue. The offense dipped off considerably as it dropped by more than a touchdown per game and close to 90 yards per game but the Gophers might have brought in a weapon at quarterback with Max Brosmer who is a transfer from New Hampshire where he was a finalist for the FCS Heisman. Having the leading receiver and leading running back and four of five offensive linemen return should get the offense back on track. The defense regressed as well as it allowed nearly 13 more ppg than the previous season but eight true starters are back so the experience is there. The Gophers avoid Ohio St. and Oregon but face the next top four teams although three of those are at home. Purdue Boilermakers 4-8 ~ 3-6 Big 10 ~ 4-8-0 ATS ~ 6-5-1 O/UReturning Starters ~ Offense 8/Defense 6 After five straight losing seasons, Jeff Brohm was hired in 2017 and turned Purdue around, taking the Boilermakers to a bowl game in four of his six seasons, although one of the non-bowl years was 2020 and he left for Louisville with Ryan Walters taking over last season. He was left with a bare cupboard with only five returning starters on each side of the ball and it showed with a 4-8 record, five of those losses coming by double digits. The Boilermakers are in better shape this season as they come in as the fifth most experienced team in the conference but the schedule will dictate how much, if any, progress they can make. The offense has a lot of potential with Graham Harrell as offensive coordinator and while it was not great last season, it was far from horrible with what was there. Quarterback Hudson Card has the chance to be really good and while the top four receivers are gone, this system can find replacements. Purdue took a step back defensively but not a big one and they are loaded with experience on the back end. Replacing three starters up front is a necessity but two transfers from the SEC can make a difference. The schedule is brutal as it is ranked top ten in the country in strength but at least they get Notre Dame, Oregon and Penn St. at home, not that it will matter.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: MLB, CFL and Copa America Previews and Odds - 06/28/2024

by Big Al Staff

Friday, Jun 28, 2024

The Friday sports card features MLB, CFL, and Copa America 2024 action.Major League Baseball has 15 games on its schedule. The Philadelphia Phillies host the Miami Marlins at 6:20 p.m. ET as a -278 money-line favorite, with the total set at 8.5. The Tampa Bay Rays play at home against the Washington Nationals at 6:50 p.m. ET as a -162 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7.5. The Baltimore Orioles are at home against the Texas Rangers at 7:05 p.m. ET as a -135 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The New York Yankees travel to Toronto to play the Blue Jays at 7:07 p.m. ET as a -120 money-line road favorite with a total of 8.5. Three MLB games throw out the first pitch at 7:10 p.m. ET. The Houston Astros play in New York against the Mets on Apple TV+ as a -118 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Boston Red Sox host the San Diego Padres on Apple TV+ as a -155 money-line favorite with a total of 9.5. The Chicago White Sox play at home against the Colorado Rockies as a -118 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Atlanta Braves are at home against the Pittsburgh Pirates at 7:20 p.m. ET as a -184 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. Two MLB games start at 8:10 p.m. ET. The Cleveland Guardians are in Kansas City to play the Royals as a -125 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 10. The Milwaukee Brewers host the Chicago Cubs as a -135 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The St. Louis Cardinals play at home against the Cincinnati Reds at 8:15 p.m. ET as a -135 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Detroit Tigers visit Los Angeles to play the Angels at 9:38 p.m. ET as a -115 money-line road favorite with a total of 9. Two more MLB games begin at 9:40 p.m. ET. The Arizona Diamondbacks are home against the Oakland A’s as a -155 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Seattle Mariners host the Minnesota Twins as a -130 money-line favorite with a total of 7. The Los Angeles Dodgers play in San Francisco to face the Giants at 10:15 p.m. ET, with both teams priced at -110 with an over/under of 7.5.Week 4 in the Canadian Football League continues with one game. The Montreal Alouettes are in Toronto to play the Argonauts at 7:30 p.m. ET. The Alouettes have won their opening three games of the season after their 47-21 victory against Ottawa as a 7-point favorite last Thursday. The Argonauts won their first two games of the season after their 39-36 win against Edmonton as a 6-point favorite on Saturday. Montreal is a 3-point road favorite with a total of 51.5. The Copa America 2024 continues with two matches on FS1. Colombia faces Costa Rica at 6:00 p.m. ET as a -1.5 goal-line favorite with an overunder of 2.5. Brazil battles Paraguay at 9:00 p.m. ET as a -1.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 2

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Big Al's Daily Angle: MLB, CFL, and Copa America 2024 Previews and Odds - 06/27/2024

by Big Al Staff

Thursday, Jun 27, 2024

The Thursday sports card features MLB, CFL, and Copa America 2024 action.Major League Baseball has nine games on its schedule. The Arizona Diamondbacks host the Minnesota Twins at 3:40 p.m. ET. Jordan Montgomery takes the ball for the Diamondbacks to pitch against David Festa for the Twins. Arizona is a -115 money-line favorite at BetMGM with the total set at 9.5. The Chicago Cubs travel to San Francisco to play the Giants at 3:45 p.m. ET. Shota Imanaga takes the ball for the Cubs to face Jordan Hicks for the Giants. Chicago is a -112 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 7.5 (all other odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). The Atlanta Braves play in Chicago against the White Sox at 4:10 p.m. ET. The Braves turn to Chris Sale to go against a White Sox starting pitcher yet to be named after they decided to bump Drew Thorpe back to Friday. Atlanta is a -310 money-line road favorite with a total of 7.5. The Philadelphia Phillies play at home against the Miami Marlins at 6:20 p.m. ET. Zack Wheeler takes the mound for the Phillies to battle against Trevor Rogers for the Marlins. Philadelphia is a -290 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. The Baltimore Orioles are at home against the Texas Rangers at 6:35 p.m. ET. The Orioles tap Corbin Burnes to face the Rangers’ Jon Gray. Baltimore is a -200 money-line favorite at BetMGM with a total of 8. The New York Yankees are in Toronto to play the Blue Jays at 7:07 p.m. ET. The Yankees send out Carlos Rodon to duel against the Blue Jays’ Jose Berrios. New York is a -135 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The St. Louis Cardinals host the Cincinnati Reds at 7:45 p.m. ET as a -135 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. Miles Mikolas takes the mound for the Cardinals to pitch against Andrew Abbott for the Reds. St. Louis is a -135 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Cleveland Guardians visit Kansas City to play the Royals on FS1 at 8:10 p.m. ET. The Guardians turn to Ben Lively to take the hill against the Royals’ Michael Wacha. Cleveland is a -115 money-line road favorite with a total of 8.5. The Detroit Tigers play in Los Angeles to play the Angels at 9:38 p.m. ET. Jack Flaherty gets the ball for the Tigers to go against Davis Daniel for the Angels. Detroit is a -165 money-line road favorite at BetMGM with an over/under of 8.5.Week 4 in the Canadian Football League begins with one game. The British Columbia Lions play at home against the Edmonton Eskimos at 10:00 p.m. ET. The Lions have won two games in a row after their 26-24 upset victory as a 2.5-point underdog at Winnipeg last Friday. The Eskimos have lost their first three games in the season after their 39-36 loss at Toronto as a 6-point underdog on Saturday. British Columbia is a 7.5-point favorite with a total of 54.The Copa America 2024 continues with two matches on Fox. The US Men’s National Team battles Panama at 6:00 p.m. ET as a -1.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5 (all soccer odds from BetMGM). Uruguay plays Bolivia at 9:00 p.m. ET as a -2 goal-line favorite with a total of 3.5.

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WNBA After the Commissioner's Cup Break

by Vegas Writer

Thursday, Jun 27, 2024

I'm on a 15-6 roll in the WNBA for $8,270 net profit since June 3, and I'm in a nice groove right now. But now that we're coming up for air from the WNBA's Commissioner's Cup break, and there are four games on the card for Thursday, I'm going to give you a quick peek into the games.When I can, on occasion, expect to see a breakdown of the WNBA card, with a short capsule, and the way I'd lean with the edge to a specific play.Here you go for Thursday:Minnesota (-10, 162') at Dallas - Fresh off their Commissioner's Cup championship in Long Island, New York, I'd normally be worried about the Minnesota Lynx and a letdown. But the Dallas Wings have been the most injury-plagued team in the league this season, and are missing players through the Olympic break. You can't replace certain elements, and the Lynx are a powerhouse that has proven to be the best team in the league behind one of the WNBA's most stringent defenses.EDGE - Eight of the last 10 meetings have gone over, and even though the Lynx have stayed under in seven of their last 10, they're facing a defensive lethargic team whose games have landed north of the posted total in seven of its last 10. Minnesota might run the score up, forcing Dallas into a high-scoring game. I'd rather play the total over than a side in this one. Connecticut (-10, 153) at Washington - This one is tricky, as the Connecticut Sun arrive in D.C. on the heels of back-to-back losses in Las Vegas and Seattle. Good thing for the Sun is they've had time to seethe, recover, and prepare. Bad thing for them is Washington is playing its best basketball of the season and rides into this one having covered seven of 10 while also going high in seven of 10.EDGE - Connecticut allows a league-low 71.7 points per game. But it's allowed 72 or more in five of its last seven games. This team has some scorers, and considering the Mystics are at home and have been competitive all season - even during their season-opening 12-game skid - I think we could see a high-scoring game. The lean is to the over.Las Vegas (-10', 170') at Chicago - Las Vegas is finally looking like the two-time defending champs we've become accustomed to. Chelsea Gray is back in the lineup and that is dangerous for any opponent. The Aces snapped a five-game ATS slide by winning and covering their last two at home, against formidable foes in Seattle and Connecticut. The Sky also snapped a skid of their own, a four-game slide on the hardwood, and they've won two straight.EDGE - I'm not buying into Chicago's surge just yet, but I do believe the Aces are tired of looking like a lackadaisical bunch and want to return to their dominating ways. Of the three 10-point road favorites, I'd lean toward the champs more than any other team.Indiana at Seattle (-8, 167') - The Caitlin Clark tour continues, and this trip could spell trouble for the rookie. Seattle is in after bouncing back from back-to-back road losses by knocking off Connecticut. Now, with time to prepare with a veteran-laden group, the Storm will be chomping at the bit to remain in the top four.EDGE - The Storm are one of the most efficient teams at both ends of the court, and when you give coach Noelle Quinn time to prepare her veterans, who have been home all week since Sunday's win over the Sun, it's hard to ignore what the Storm offer. I'd lean on the home chalk.

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Summer Olympics: Betting Options in Paris

by Sean Murphy

Wednesday, Jun 26, 2024

As the world gears up for the Summer Olympics in Paris, sports fans and betting aficionados alike are eagerly anticipating the potential for financial gain. The Olympics, a quadrennial spectacle showcasing the pinnacle of athletic prowess, also presents a myriad of opportunities for strategic betting. Here, I'll delve into some of the best betting options for the Summer Olympics, highlighting key factors and events to consider. 1. Track and Field: Sprinting and Long-Distance Races Track and field events are perennial favorites at the Olympics, drawing massive global attention. Betting on events like the 100m and 200m sprints, as well as longer distances like the 1500m and marathon, can offer exciting opportunities. Consider athletes' recent form, historical performances, and track conditions when placing bets.  2. Swimming: Individual Races and Relays Swimming events at the Olympics are fast-paced and ultra-competitive. Betting on individual races such as the 100m freestyle or 200m butterfly, where swimmers like Michael Phelps have made history, can be lucrative. Additionally, relay races, such as the 4x100m freestyle, provide opportunities to bet on team dynamics and anchor performances. As usual, the Americans will be the ones to watch in the pool and figure to dominate the podium. 3. Gymnastics: Artistic and Rhythmic Gymnastics combines athleticism with artistry, making it a captivating sport for spectators and bettors alike. Artistic gymnastics events, including the individual all-around and apparatus finals (such as the vault and balance beam), offer chances to bet on athletes' technical proficiency and judges' scoring tendencies. Similarly, rhythmic gymnastics presents opportunities to bet on individual and group performances characterized by grace and precision. 4. Basketball: Men's and Women's Tournaments Basketball at the Olympics features top-tier talent from around the globe, with both men's and women's tournaments showcasing fierce competition. Betting on outright winners, individual game outcomes, and player performances can be rewarding, especially considering the star-studded rosters and national team dynamics. The WNBA's sudden surge in popularity is sure to lead to plenty of fanfare around this year's women's tournament in particular, even with Caitlin Clark being left off the USA roster. 5. Soccer: Men's and Women's Competitions Olympic soccer tournaments provide a stage for emerging talent and established stars to compete on an international level. Betting on match outcomes, top goal scorers, and team strategies can yield dividends, with considerations such as squad depth, recent form, and key player availability influencing betting odds. Keep in mind, the men's competition is considered an 'under-23' tournament so many of the world's best players will not be taking part. 6. Cycling: Road, Track, and BMX Cycling events at the Olympics encompass a variety of disciplines, including road races, track sprints, and BMX competitions. Betting on these events involves evaluating factors such as course difficulty, weather conditions, and riders' tactical prowess. From the grueling road races to the adrenaline-pumping BMX finals, cycling offers diverse betting opportunities for knowledgeable bettors. 7. Tennis: Singles and Doubles Olympic tennis tournaments attract top-ranked players vying for gold medals in singles and doubles competitions. Betting on matches involves assessing players' recent form, surface preferences, and performance under pressure. Upsets and surprises are common in Olympic tennis, making it an exciting option for astute bettors looking for value in underdog selections. 8. Diverse Sports: Consider Emerging Stars and Underdogs Beyond these marquee events, the Summer Olympics feature a plethora of lesser-known sports and disciplines where underdogs and emerging stars can shine. Sports like judo, weightlifting, and shooting offer niche betting opportunities based on athletes' technical skills, competition experience, and strategic adaptability. New sports in this year's Olympics include breaking (break dancing), climbing, skateboarding, and surfing. Navigating the vast array of betting options at the Summer Olympics can be overwhelming and requires a blend of passion for sport and strategic insight into competitive dynamics. Whether focusing on high-profile events like track and field or exploring niche disciplines, informed betting decisions can enhance the excitement of following the world's premier sporting event. By analyzing athletes' form, historical trends, and competition conditions, bettors can uncover hidden gems and maximize their chances of success in this global celebration of athleticism and sportsmanship.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: MLB, Euro 2024 and Copa America 2024 Previews and Odds - 06/26/2024

by Big Al Staff

Wednesday, Jun 26, 2024

The Wednesday sports card features MLB, Euro 2024, and Copa America 2024 action.Major League Baseball has 15 games on its schedule. The Seattle Mariners travel to Tampa Bay to play the Rays at 12:10 p.m. ET as a -120 money-line road favorite with the total set at 7.5 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). Two more MLB games throw out the first pitch at 1:10 p.m. ET. The Cincinnati Reds host the Pittsburgh Pirates as a -125 money-line favorite at BetMGM with an over/under of 9.5. The Philadelphia Phillies play at Detroit against the Tigers as a -175 money-line road favorite at BetMGM with a total of 9. Three MLB games start at 2:10 p.m. ET. The Houston Astros play at home against the Colorado Rockies as a -196 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. The Kansas City Royals are at home against the Miami Marlins as a -230 money-line favorite at BetOnline with a total of 9. The Milwaukee Brewers host the Texas Rangers as a -112 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. The Los Angeles Angels play at home against the Oakland A’s at 4:07 p.m. ET as a -125 money-line favorite with a total of 9. The San Diego Padres are home against the Washington Nationals at 4:10 p.m. ET as a -185 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9.5. The Baltimore Orioles host the Cleveland Guardians at 6:35 p.m. ET as a -185 money-line favorite with a total of 9.5. Two MLB games begin at 7:10 p.m. ET. The Boston Red Sox play at home against the Toronto Blue Jays as a -155 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9.5. The New York Yankees are across town to play the New York Mets as a -155 money-line road favorite with a total of 9. The Atlanta Braves visit the St. Louis Cardinals at 7:15 p.m. ET as a -184 money-line road favorite at BetOnline with an over/under of 8.The Los Angeles Dodgers play in Chicago against the White Sox at 8:10 p.m. ET as a -185 money-line road favorite with a total of 8.5. The Minnesota Twins are in Arizona to play the Diamondbacks at 9:40 p.m. ET as a -120 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 9. The San Francisco Giants are at home against the Chicago Cubs at 9:45 p.m. ET.The Euro 2024 continues with four matches. Two matches start at noon ET. Romania plays Slovakia on FS1 in a pick ‘em match with a total of 1.5 (all soccer odds from BetMGM). Belgium faces the Ukraine on Fox as a -1 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5.  Two more Euro 2024 matches begin at 3:00 p.m. ET. Turkey battles the Czech Republic on FS1 in a pick ‘em match with a total of 2.5. Portugal challenges Georgia on Fox as a -1.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 3. The Copa America 2024 continues with two matches on FS1. Ecuador plays Jamaica at 6:00 p.m. ET as a -1 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Mexico goes against Venezuela at 9:00 p.m. ET as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.

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Big Al's MLB, Euro 2024, and Copa America 2024 Previews and Odds - 06/25/2024

by Big Al Staff

Tuesday, Jun 25, 2024

The Tuesday sports card features MLB, Euro 2024, and Copa America 2024 action.Major League Baseball has 15 games on its schedule. The Baltimore Orioles host the Cleveland Guardians at 6:35 p.m. ET as a -142 money-line favorite, with the total set at 9.5. The Philadelphia Phillies travel to Detroit to play the Tigers at 6:40 p.m. ET as a -125 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 7.5. The Seattle Mariners play in Tampa Bay against the Rays as a -130 money-line road favorite with a total of 7.5. Three MLB games throw out the first pitch at 7:10 p.m. ET. The Boston Red Sox play at home against the Toronto Blue Jays as a -115 money-line favorite at BetMGM with an over/under of 9. The Cincinnati Reds are at home against the Pittsburgh Pirates as a -120 money-line favorite at BetMGM with a total of 8.5. The New York Yankees are across town playing the New York Mets as a -148 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Atlanta Braves visit St. Louis to play the Cardinals at 7:45 p.m. ET as a -142 money-line road favorite with a total of 7.5. Four MLB games start at 8:10 p.m. ET. The Los Angeles Dodgers play in Chicago against the White Sox as a -218 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 9. The Kansas City Royals host the Miami Marlins as a -205 money-line favorite with a total of 9.5. The Milwaukee Brewers play at home against the Texas Rangers as a -125 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Houston Astros play at home against the Colorado Rockies as a -258 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The Los Angeles Angels are at home against the Oakland A’s at 9:38 p.m. ET as a -130 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. Two more MLB games begin at 9:40 p.m. ET. The San Diego Padres host the Washington Nationals as a -130 money-line favorite with a total of 7.5. The Minnesota Twins are Arizona to play the Diamondbacks as a -120 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8. The Chicago Cubs travel to San Francisco to play the Giants at 9:45 p.m. ET. The Euro 2024 continues with four matches. Two matches start at noon ET. France plays Poland on Fox as a -1.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 3 (all soccer odds from DraftKings). The Netherlands faces Austria on FS1 as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5. Two more Euro 2024 matches begin at 3:00 p.m. ET. Denmark battles Serbia on FS1 as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. England challenges Slovenia on Fox as a -1.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5. The Copa America 2024 continues with two matches on FS1. Canada plays Peru at 6:00 p.m. ET as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2. Argentina takes on Chile as a -1 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5.

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2024 NBA Mock Draft: Top 10 Picks

by Al McMordie

Monday, Jun 24, 2024

The 2024 NBA Draft will introduce a new format.  Unlike past drafts, in which both the first and second rounds were on the same night, this year’s draft will be spread over two days.  On Wednesday, June 26, Round 1 will be held at Barclays Center, in Brooklyn.  Then, on Thursday, June 27, the venue will shift to ESPN’s Seaport District Studios in Manhattan.  The amount of time given to teams to select a player in the second round is also changing.  Teams used to have two minutes, but now will have four (which I think is a welcome change, given how many millions are invested in second round draft choices).  The time to select a first round pick will remain at five minutes.  This season, Atlanta won the lottery and will select first.   The Detroit Pistons were the big losers of the lottery (again).  They were the worst team last season but will select fifth.  Let’s take a look at our projections for the Top 10 picks of the draft.1. Atlanta Hawks - Zaccharie Risacher, SF/PF, Bourg, FranceAtlanta has a lot to figure out beyond which player it tabs as its first selection.  The Hawks backcourt tandem hasn’t worked out, so it may trade Trae Young or Dejounte Murray (or both) this summer.  Center Clint Cappella may also be moved, and especially if Atlanta chooses Donovan Clingan with this #1 pick.  But my feeling is that when all is said and done, Atlanta will go with Zaccharie Risacher, who is a seen as a 3-and-D wing.  Risacher made 48.2% of his long distance shots over his first 34 games.  And his defense will benefit from his 6’9” wingspan.  Risacher is currently -270 to be drafted #1 (all odds courtesy of BetOnline), with Clingan the second choice, at +220.2. Washington Wizards - Alexandre Sarr, PF/C, Perth, AustraliaAlexandre Sarr, in a move to try to dissuade the Hawks from drafting him, did not work out for them.  He clearly prefers to go to the Washington Wizards.  Many around the league view Sarr’s upside as the highest of any player in this draft, and it’s hard to argue with that.  If Sarr doesn’t go first, he’ll surely get taken here, at #2.  He’s 7’0”, and covers a lot of ground with his mobility.  There’s no doubt he will be a terrific rim protector.  The only issue is his offensive game.  He does have an improving 3-point shot and could be a stretch-big down the road.  But he’s not there yet.  Still, his floor in this draft is at #2.  The current odds on Sarr to be drafted second is -800.3. Houston Rockets - Reed Sheppard, PG/SG, KentuckyThere’s a decent chance the Houston Rockets might trade down and move this #3 pick to another team looking to draft Donovan Clingan (such as Memphis), in exchange for a veteran player.  The Rockets already have a bevy of young talent on their roster, and might prefer to bring in a star player to take a leap this next season.  But if they keep this pick, I expect them to pull the trigger on Reed Sheppard, who is the best pure shooter in the draft.  The Rockets are driven by analytics, and Sheppard is an analytics darling.  Houston was woeful from 3-point range last season (36.1%), so Sheppard would immediately pay dividends with his marksmanship (52.1% on 3s).  He is currently the betting favorite to go #3, with his odds at -140.  Clingan is next at +240.4. San Antonio Spurs - Stephon Castle, PG/SG, ConnecticutThe San Antonio Spurs hit the jackpot last season with #1 pick, Victor Wembanyama.  The Spurs still have many pieces to fill, with the most glaring being at point guard.  There are a lot of options available:  Stephon Castle, Devin Carter, Rob Dillingham, Nikola Topic.  Castle seems the most likely.  But if the Spurs favor Carter (who worked out for San Antonio against Castle earlier this month), then it’s possible they go with a wing like Matas Buzelis or Cody Williams, here, and then go with Carter at #8.  However, if Castle is their guy, they’ll take him with their first pick, and then look at getting Williams, or maybe Tidjane Salaun, -- or even Carter -- four picks later.  Castle offers the defensive skills valued by Spurs brass, and the playmaking ability the team sorely needs.  He’s 6’5”, 210, with a 6’9” wingspan.  He’s not proficient from downtown (26.7% on 3s), which is his biggest negative.  But he fits their greatest positional need.  Castle has the shortest odds to go #4 at +160, with Reed Sheppard next at +375, Zaccharie Risacher at +400 and Buzelis at +450.  Castle’s odds to go anywhere in the Top 5 are -160.5. Detroit Pistons - Matas Buzelis, SF/PF, G League IgniteThe Detroit Pistons had the league's worst record in each of the last two seasons.  And they have also had the worst draft lottery luck, as they fell to #5 in both drafts.  Owner Tom Gores no doubt wasn’t happy about last season, as the team recently parted ways with coach Monty Williams (who signed a record-setting contract one year ago).  So, Williams is still owed a staggering $65 million, as Detroit conducts its search for next season’s coach.  Trajan Langdon is tasked with building this roster, and can go in different directions with this pick. The most likely is to take Matas Buzelis, who played in the G League last season.  Buzelis is a high-flyer, and is a highlight reel with his dunks.  He needs to regain his 3-point shooting form, as it went missing last season (27.3%).  He shot well from long distance in high school, so if he gets back to that level, he may develop into the best player of this draft.  Buzelis has odds of +130 to be drafted #5, with Cody Williams next at +300.  And Buzelis is -130 to be drafted anywhere among the Top 5.6. Charlotte Hornets - Dalton Knecht, SG/SF, TennesseeThe Charlotte Hornets will have several options with this 6th pick.  In an ideal world, the Spurs will bypass Stephon Castle, and the Hornets could choose the UConn guard.  Otherwise, Donovan Clingan, Dalton Knecht and Cody Williams will all be in contention.  The Hornets need scoring, and floor-spacing, so Knecht makes a lot of sense.  He was dynamite offensively for the Volunteers, as he averaged 21.7 ppg on 48.4% FG shooting, including 42.4% from beyond the arc.  The odds on Knecht going in the Top 10 are -450, and he’s -155 to be drafted among the first eight picks.7. Portland Trail Blazers - Donovan Clingan, C, ConnecticutNo player better illustrates the fluidity of the top part of this draft than Donovan Clingan.  He’s probably one of the two likeliest players (along with Zaccharie Risacher) to be drafted first.  But he also could fall as low as #7.  At 7’2”, 280 lbs, Clingan was a defensive force for the National Champion Huskies.  He will be an elite screener, rebounder and rim protector.  Many teams value what he will provide, and he’s the one player in this draft who could motivate teams (like the Chicago Bulls) to trade up for his rights.    If Clingan is snapped up earlier, then the Trail Blazers could pull the trigger on a wing like Cody Williams.  But if there aren’t any shake-ups through trades, then I like Clingan to find his way to Portland.  Interestingly, Clingan’s shortest odds are +220 to be drafted first, and +240 to be drafted third (he’s +850 to go #2).8. San Antonio Spurs - Devin Carter, PG/SG, ProvidenceThe San Antonio Spurs are the only team to have two picks in the Top 10.  That will allow GM Brian Wright to have a lot of flexibility with his first choice, at #4.  The glaring need for the Spurs is at point guard, and the question for Wright is, does he go with one point guard or two with his picks.  And if the Spurs only want one point guard, then do they use #4 on Stephon Castle or Reed Sheppard, or wait until pick #8 to tab Devin Carter, Rob Dillingham or Nikola Topic.  If I was San Antonio’s GM, I would go with Buzelis at #4 and Carter at #8.  But they might try to get two point guard prospects out of this draft.  If so, then Carter should be their choice, here.  This past season, he was a high-volume three-point shooter, and converted 37.7% of almost seven 3-point attempts per game.  The odds on Devin Carter going in the Top 10 are -175.9. Memphis Grizzlies - Cody Wiliams, SF, ColoradoUnfortunately for Oklahoma City, where Cody Williams’ brother, Jaylen, plays, the Thunder won’t likely have the opportunity to pair the siblings together.  Williams could go as high as #4 to the Spurs, but probably won’t fall below #9.  For much of the early part of his basketball season, the ex-Colorado Buffalo was ranked as high as #1 in 2024 NBA mock drafts.  But Williams had an up-and-down season — due, in part, to injuries — and his stock fell.  Lately, though, Williams has been inching up the mock draft boards, so landing in the top half of the Lottery is possible.  A more likely destination is here at #9, where his ability to score in transition would pay dividends for the Memphis Grizzlies.  With his length (7’1” wingspan), he will be able to guard anywhere on the perimeter.  But he needs to add weight to his frame to become more physical, and improve his shooting mechanics.  Memphis, may, however, trade up to draft Donovan Clingan, who would solve their interior woes.  Williams is -130 to be among the first eight players drafted.10. Utah Jazz - Nikola Topic, PG, Mega MIS, Adriatic LeagueNikola Topic tore his ACL and will be lost for all of next season.  That has caused his draft stock to plummet.  He may not be drafted this high but any team which gets him should be thrilled five years from now.  Indeed, Chet Holmgren finished 2nd in the Rookie of the Year voting this past season, after missing all of the previous season.  So, a team needs to take a long view.  And Topic is the best playmaking point guard in the draft.  He doesn’t have great athleticism, so he won’t be able to blow by defenders.  But he will be deadly in transition offense, and in the pick-and-roll.  Finally, a side benefit for many rebuilding teams looking to add young talent is that his injury status will HELP a team be worse this next season, and that will come in handy, given the strength of NEXT YEAR's draft class.  The odds on Topic going in the Top 10 are +145.Good luck, as always,Al McMordie

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Be Attentive When Public Money is on the Underdog

by Wayne Root

Monday, Jun 24, 2024

As we prepare for betting football, knowing where the sharp money is is always valuable, and this is the easiest and most definite circumstance to be able to spot it.One of the power factors when it comes to effective handicapping is one that is often overlooked and misunderstood by many bettors – the public action. Once you understand how the public views a game you can look at why they are betting like they are, how that is impacting the line moves, and what opportunities that presents for us.When it is on the underdog:As I have stated for 40 years, the public almost always likes the favorite. I’m fairly shocked when the public bets an underdog. That’s because the public doesn’t necessarily look at who is likely to cover the spread, but rather who is likely to win the game. When the public isn’t on the favorite – especially if that’s a favorite that they should like – then there is something going on with the game, and there could be a real opportunity.When it isn’t where you would expect it to be:When I first look at any game I like to think about two things before I look at the odds – what I think the line should be, and who I expect the public to be on. If the actual line differs significantly from what I think it should be then I look closer to see if there is a good reason why I am wrong, and if there isn’t I have found value. If the public isn’t where I expect them to be then I also try to figure out why, and if it isn’t obvious then there’s a good chance that the line has some value to be found.Number of tickets vs Amount bet:First of all, this is a look at the total number of bets that have been placed on each team, not the total amount of money that has been bet. Books are happy to share the number of bets, but they are not at all interested in sharing real information about the amount of money that has been bet because then people can know how much they have won or lost on a particular game. The books are far too secretive for that. When it is heavy on one side and the line moves the other wayThe betting lines work as a market if the action is heavily tilted to one side the line will adjust until the action is more closely balanced. In some cases, though, you’ll find situations where you would expect the line to move in one direction based on the public action, but it actually moves significantly in the other direction. What this means is that the smaller percentage of bets on the one team actually represents the larger amount of sharp money bet. That in turn means that the average amount bet on the team that the public doesn’t favor it much higher, and that probably means that the serious bettors are aggressively on the side the public isn’t on.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NHL, MLB, UEFA Euro 2024 and Copa America 2024 Previews and Odds - 06/24/2024

by Big Al Staff

Monday, Jun 24, 2024

The Monday sports card features NHL, MLB, UEFA Euro 2024, and Copa America 2024 action.The National Hockey League playoffs conclude with Game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals. The Florida Panthers host the Edmonton Oilers on ABC at 8:20 p.m. ET. The Oilers forced this seventh game with their 5-1 victory at home on Friday. The Panthers had won six games in a row, including winning the first three games of this series before losing Games 4, 5, and 6. Florida is a -115 money-line favorite with the total set at 5.5 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). Major League Baseball has 12 games on its schedule. The Baltimore Orioles play at home against the Cleveland Guardians at 6:35 p.m. ET as a -120 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Philadelphia Phillies travel to Detroit to play the Tigers at 6:40 p.m. ET as a -170 money-line road favorite with a total of 8. The Seattle Mariners play in Tampa Bay against the Rays at 6:50 p.m. ET as a -112 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 7.5. Two MLB games throw out the first pitch at 7:10 p.m. ET. The Boston Red Sox are at home against the Toronto Blue Jays as a -150 money-line favorite at BetOnline with a total of 8.5. The Cincinnati Reds host the Pittsburgh Pirates as a -112 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9.5. The Atlanta Braves are in St. Louis to play the Cardinals at 7:45 p.m. ET as a -122 money-line road favorite with a total of 8.5. Two MLB games start at 8:10 p.m. ET. The Los Angeles Dodgers visit Chicago against the White Sox. The Kansas City Royals play at home against the Miami Marlins as a -245 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9.5. The Milwaukee Brewers are at home against the Texas Rangers at 8:10 p.m. ET as a -245 money-line favorite with a total of 9.5. The Los Angeles Angels hosting the Oakland A’s at 9:38 p.m. ET as a -125 money-line favorite at BetMGM with an over/under of 8.5. The San Diego Padres play at home against the Washington Nationals at 9:40 p.m. ET as a -218 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The San Francisco Giants are at home against the Chicago Cubs at 9:45 p.m. ET.The UEFA Euro 2024 continues with two matches in Group B at 3:00 p.m. ET. Spain plays Albania on FS1 as a -1.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Italy goes against Croatia on Fox as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5. Spain leads the group with six points. Italy is in second place with three points. Albania and Croatia are tied with only one point. The Copa America 2024 continues with two matches on FS1. Columbia battles Paraguay on FS1 at 6:00 p.m. ET as a -1 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2. Brazil challenges Costa Rica as a -2 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 3.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: MLB, CFL, UEFA Euro 2024 and Copa America 2024 Previews and Odds - 06/23/2024

by Big Al Staff

Sunday, Jun 23, 2024

The Sunday sports card features MLB, CFL, UEFA Euro 2024, and Copa America 2024 action.Major League Baseball has 14 games on its schedule. The Philadelphia Phillies host the Arizona Diamondbacks on the Roku Channel at 11:35 a.m. ET as a -198 money-line favorite, with the total set at 9.5 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). Two more MLB games throw out the first pitch at 1:35 p.m. ET. The Pittsburgh Pirates play at home against the Tampa Bay Rays as a -155 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. The New York Yankees are at home against the Atlanta Braves as a -112 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. Four MLB games start at 1:40 p.m. ET. The Cincinnati Reds host the Boston Red Sox as a -166 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9.5. The Cleveland Guardians play at home against the Toronto Blue Jays as a -112 money-line favorite with a total of 9. The Detroit Tigers are at home against the Chicago White Sox as a -180 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Seattle Mariners travel to Miami to play the Marlins as a -175 money-line road favorite with a total of 7.5. The Houston Astros host the Baltimore Orioles at 2:10 p.m. ET as a -125 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The St. Louis Cardinals play at home against the San Francisco Giants at 2:15 p.m. ET as a -125 money-line favorite with a total of 7. The Texas Rangers are at home against the Kansas City Royals at 2:35 p.m. ET as a -155 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Washington Nationals play in Colorado against the Rockies at 3:10 p.m. ET as a -125 money-line road favorite with a total of 11. The Minnesota Twins are in Oakland to play the A’s at 4:07 p.m. ET as a -180 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8. The San Diego Padres host the Milwaukee Brewers at 4:10 p.m. ET as a -135 money-line favorite with a total of 8. Sunday Night Baseball on ESPN has the Chicago Cubs play at home against the New York Mets at 7:10 p.m. ET. The Cubs are a -118 money-line favorite.Week 3 in the Canadian Football League concludes with one game. The Saskatchewan Roughriders are at home against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on the CBS Sports Network at 7:00 p.m. ET as a 2.5-point favorite with an over/under of 50.5.The UEFA Euro 2024 continues with two matches at 3:00 p.m. ET. Hungary faces Scotland on FS1 in a pick ‘em match with a total of 2.5 (all soccer odds from DraftKings). Germany plays Switzerland on Fox as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. The Copa America 2024 continues with two matches on Fox. The US Men’s National Team battles Bolivia at 6:00 p.m. ET as a -2 goal-line favorite with a total of 3. Uruguay goes against Panama at 9:00 p.m. ET as a -1.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. 

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