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NCAA Tournament Futures Consideration: Kansas

by Nelly's Sports

Tuesday, Feb 27, 2024

March Madness is just around the corner and now is the time to lock in a few futures positions, looking for teams that could see their seeding improve or that are capable of winning multiple games in the NCAA Tournament. Kansas is a team that may be underpriced due to recent inconsistency but could still land a very attractive path in the Big Dance.  Kansas Jayhawks +3500 Depending on where you look there are at least a dozen teams with lower odds of winning it all than Kansas even though many well established bracketologists have Kansas projected as a #2 seed. Kansas is only 9-5 in Big XII play but that is good enough for third place in the ultra-difficult conference, and only two teams in the Big XII have top five offensive and defensive numbers: Houston and Kansas.  The Jayhawks still must play BYU, Baylor, and Houston in addition to a rivalry game with Kansas State as winning out is unlikely, but Kansas won’t slide far on Selection Sunday as they have an impressive collection of non-conference wins, defeating Kentucky, Tennessee, and Connecticut. They also have wins over Houston and Baylor already in Big XII play and every win in the final two weeks of the regular season and in the Big XII tournament will be a quality result.  Kansas is rated as a top 10 defense nationally and while the current offensive efficiency ranking is in the 30s, that figure could improve as the season completes. Kansas has not lost a home game this season and four of five conference losses have come by six or fewer points.  Kansas has good shooting numbers at every level as the top effective field goal rate in the Big XII while also taking good care of the ball. Kansas isn’t a strong outside shooting team, but they also take the fewest 3-point shots in the Big XII. Johnny Furphy and Dejuan Harris are both 41 percent 3-point shooters as there are solid options for the team from beyond the arc despite the marginal team numbers. Hunter Dickinson is a difficult matchup even if his career ascension has stalled from his very promising early years at Michigan. Kansas is also going to get Kevin McCullar back to full strength at some point after he has missed a few recent games as the lineup could be in great form by the tournament.   Bill Self has had a few early tournament flameouts in his career, but he does have two Championships and 10 trips to at least the Elite 8 in his career. His two championship teams were better offensively than this year’s team, but this year’s team has the potential to be one of his highest rated defensive teams in the last decade.  Teams like Tennessee, Duke, Alabama, and North Carolina are going to get more attention but won’t likely be seeded above Kansas and there are numerous favorable options for locations for Kansas in the Round of 64 and Round of 32 games including Omaha, Indianapolis, and Memphis. Kansas would be well supported if they landed in the South or Midwest regions and advanced to games in Dallas or Detroit as a favorable March path could line up for the Jayhawks. This year’s team has provided some inconsistency, but the high-ceiling wins have been very impressive, and this will be one of the most experienced and tallest teams in the NCAA Tournament field and looks like a worthy risk at this price when a #2 seed with a favorable travel path is still realistic. Kansas also still has great ammunition in its schedule as making a great late season run including a second or even third win over Houston could push the Jayhawks to the #1-seed line given that they will have one of the best strengths of schedule ratings in the nation. 

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2024 March Madness Sleeper Teams to Consider, Part 2

by Wayne Root

Tuesday, Feb 27, 2024

What’s Ahead in March? Very few would have expected to see first-time Final Four participants Florida Atlantic, Miami (FL), and San Diego State and UConn in Houston last year. Will we see any surprise teams in Glendale, Arizona, the site of the 2024 men’s Final Four? No #1 seeds reached the Elite Eight last season, and the highest-seeded team to reach the Final Four was UConn, the #4 seed in the West Regional.  As for this article for 2024 March Madness, here’s some longshots to look to make some noise. Just like we saw in that historic round one. The biggest single result saw Purdue, the #1 seed in the East Regional, fall in the first round to #16 seed Fairleigh Dickinson, just the second #16 seed in men’s March Madness history to boot a top seed in the first round. Will there be more?  It will probably take another article or two to complete this list. Let’s remember that this is to win a game or two. Will one get to the Final Four? It’s quite possible that one from my list will. Next article will be the next tier up on sleepers that actually have a chance to make the Final Four. You’ll have to come back in a week to find out.  Here’s a small sample size to take notice for this year. From a betting odds perspective, all teams listed here have March Madness winner odds of +7500 or longer. Let’s continue and pick up from my previous article of under the radar sleeper teams that have a shot to make the round of eight.  1. Mississippi State  Last season, the Bulldogs made the First Four despite severe offensive issues, especially from the perimeter. Those issues still remain to some degree and led to a shocking home loss to Southern University earlier this season. They also are a factor in why the Bulldogs have struggled mightily on the road.The Bulldogs are a paltry 2-6 on the road. But MSU also owns wins over Tennessee and Auburn, and they defeated Washington State and Northwestern in non-conference play, and they still rank as one of the top defensive teams in college basketball even after some less than stellar showings in SEC play.Mississippi State hasn’t won a game in the Big Dance since 2008, but at their best, they are a team with serious second week potential. Big man Tolu Smith is having a fine senior season after missing the first 12 games due to injury, and after being the nation’s worst three-point shooting team last season, improvement in that area has come in the form of fantastic freshman guard Josh Hubbard. 2. Nebraska  Like New Mexico, Nebraska has not been to the NCAA Tournament since 2014. But they are in position to end that drought this season, and a team that owns wins over Michigan State, Purdue, Northwestern, and Wisconsin will be a tough out in the tournament. The Huskers have three players averaging at least 11.4 PPG and 5.8 RPG, and they have several outside threats, led by leading scorer Keisei Tominaga, who is also known as the “Japanese Steph Curry.” A lot of patience has been needed in Fred Hoiberg’s tenure, but that patience might about to pay off. However one’s patience might be wearing thin based on Nebraska’s home/road dichotomy. They are 17-1 at home and 2-7 when away. The most you can count on them depending on seeding is a first round upset. That might be your best bet.  3. Washington State  The Cougars haven’t been to the NCAA Tournament since 2008, the season before Klay Thompson’s three-season stint in Pullman began.But happy times are here again for Washington State. They weren’t on the March Madness radar in early January but are now in a strong position thanks to nine wins in ten games heading into a home matchup with Stanford. This team is loaded. They absolutely stole three great players from the players portal. And this is after the Cougars lost their top four scorers from last year. Idaho transfer Isaac Jones has been a standout, but the big story is guard Myles Rice. Rice came to Pullman in 2021, redshirted in his first season, then had to medically redshirt last season due to Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Hows this for the Cinderella story the media is always wanting? After beating cancer, Rice received his medical clearance and made his collegiate debut this season. Entering a home matchup with Stanford, Rice is averaging 16.0 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 3.7 APG, and 1.7 SPG. When he faced the Cardinal in Palo Alto, he had 35 points and eight assists in the Cougars’ 89-75 win. This is definitely a team that can represent the PAC 12 in the Round of Eight. Four Cougars average 10.4 PPG or better, but Washington State also ranks in the top 30 in adjusted defensive efficiency. In addition, they are one of the few teams that have a positive road record at 6-4. With the success they are having on both ends of the floor, this is a team to watch. Be sure to check back after the pairings are set for more tournament sleepers.

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The NBA's Home Stretch

by AAA Sports

Tuesday, Feb 27, 2024

ARE WE HEADED FOR A LAKERS-WARRIORS ELIMINATION GAME?Two teams who view themselves as championship contenders appear looks like they’ll have to slum it this season in the Play-In Tournament. Worse yet, they might be the 9-10 teams in the Western Conference, which would be the equivalent of a Taylor Swift concert in the local high school gym. There are a couple of dozen games left in the regular season, and as of this writing, the Lakers and Warriors are four games behind the No. 8 Mavericks. Just when they would need to start thinking about getting Steph Curry and LeBron James rest for the playoffs, they’ll have to play them big minutes to avoid falling out of the playoffs completely. Both teams are now at about +4000 to win the title, but even those odds seem generous considering the mountain they would have to climb just to make it to the playoffs proper.WHAT’S HAPPENING AT THE TOP OF THE WEST?Down the stretch they come, and everything points to a photo finish among the top four teams. Neither Minnesota nor Oklahoma City are showing any signs of slowing down, but Denver and the Clippers each have far more experience. Oddsmakers still like the defending-champ Nuggets to come out of the West (+190), with the Thunder (+800) getting little respect for a team that has both an MVP candidate in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and a Rookie of the Year possible in Chet Holmgren, plus young legs up and down the rotation. The Clippers were the best team in the league just prior to the All-Star Game, but have faded just a bit.SPEAKING OF MVPs, WHO’S IN THE MIX?With injured Joel Embiid out of the running, it’s time to round up the usual suspects. MVP talk now begins and ends with Nikola Jokic, who is now a solid if not prohibitive favorite at -160. In any game the Nuggets play, everything offensively and defensively seems to revolve around Jokic. He is the man, and it’s hard to envision Gilgeous-Alexander, Luka Doncic, or Giannis Antetokounmpo doing anything about it in the last month of the season.CAN THE CELTICS FINALLY GET IT DONE?They have the most talented starting five in the league, by a large margin, and they’re on pace to win 65 games. They’ll have a home-court advantage in every series they play. Oddsmakers like their chances to win it all (+250). They have two all-NBA players in Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Yet they carry the weight of the Finals loss to Golden State two years ago and the embarrassment of losing to the Play-In Heat last year. They are a 3-point-shooting team with a coach (Joe Mazzulla) who says weird things, loves analytics, and thinks 40-plus 3s is not enough from behind the line. So there are doubts that will persist until they hang championship banner 18.IF BOSTON FALTERS, WHO COMES OUT OF THE EAST?Who knows? Everyone else in the East has issues. Boston may take too many 3s, but the Cavaliers worry that they’re taking too few. What should be a great backcourt (Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland) struggle at times when they are on the court together. Milwaukee has had problems defensively all season after emptying the cupboard for Damien Lillard. The Knicks are plenty deep – but only when injured starters O.J. Anunoby, Julius Randle and Donovan Mitchell get back, and no one knows when that will be. And then there’s Miami, which plays 82 games only to comply with NBA rules and then turns it on in the postseason.

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College Basketball Late Season Totals Trends

by Kyle Hunter

Tuesday, Feb 27, 2024

We are definitely in the late regular season period now in college basketball. In this period, you have to handicap a little bit differently. Some teams will be shutting it down at least for the regular season. Other teams are playing for a conference title.In this article, I’ll be giving a couple systems to show how totals typically trend in the late season in college hoops. It will give you an overall idea of how to view totals betting in the last three or four games of the regular season for each teamBad Teams Late Season OversTeams with a winning percentage of 50% or lower on the season who are matched up against each other with the following filters-Game 21 of the season or later for the team -Both teams have cashed the over on 45% or fewer of their games so far this season-The posted total is 143 points or lowerIn these games the over is 277-209 dating back to 2005. That is 57% wins for the over. The ROI here is an excellent 10%. This angle shows that late season games between two teams who have little to play for certainly lean toward the over. That is especially the case when it is two teams who have played lower scoring games earlier in the season. The results get worse if you include teams who have trended over and games that have higher totals. Good Teams Late Season Low UndersOverall strong teams playing against each other late in the regular season tends to mean there is a lot more on the line. Let’s take a look at an example of a system that has been profitable on unders late in the year. Teams with a winning percentage of 60% or higher matched up against each other with the following filters-Game 23 of the season or later-A total of 136.5 or lowerThe under is 508-434 (53.9% unders) with an ROI of 4%. This angle hasn’t been as strong as the over angle with bad teams, but it does still show a lean toward lower scoring games with good teams late. If you include all games it is about 52.5% to the under, but if you filter out by the lower totals it bumps up to about 54%. This is interesting to me, and I believe it shows that the games with elite defenses can be real rock fights very late in the regular season. Keep both of these totals trends in mind as you handicap the rest of the regular season in college hoops. 

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, and NCAAB Previews and Odds - 02/27/2024

by Big Al Staff

Tuesday, Feb 27, 2024

The Tuesday sports card features NBA, NHL, and NCAAB action.The National Basketball Association has 11 games on its docket. Three NBA games tip off at 7:10 p.m. ET. The Cleveland Cavaliers host the Dallas Stars as a 4-point favorite with the total set at 233 (all odds from DraftKings). The Orlando Magic play at home against the Brooklyn Nets as an 8.5-point favorite with an over/under of 215.5. The Golden State Warriors travel to Washington to play the Wizards as a 10.5-point road favorite with a total of 242. The Boston Celtics are at home against the Philadelphia 76ers on TNT at 7:30 p.m. ET as a 12-point favorite with an over/under of 227.5. Two more NBA games start at 7:40 p.m. ET. The Atlanta Hawks host the Utah Jazz as a 3-point favorite with a total of 237.5.  The New Orleans Pelicans play in New York against the Knicks as a 2.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 219.5. Three NBA games begin at 8:10 p.m. ET. The Minnesota Timberwolves play at home against the San Antonio Spurs as a 13.5-point favorite with a total of 224.5. The Chicago Bulls are at home against the Detroit Pistons as an 11.5-point favorite with an over/under of 226.5. The Milwaukee Bucks host the Charlotte Hornets as a 15-point favorite with a total of 225.5. The Oklahoma City Thunder play at home against the Houston Rockets on TNT at 10 p.m. ET as a 10.5-point favorite with an over/under of 234.5. The Miami Heat are in Portland to play the Trail Blazers at 10:10 p.m. ET as a 6.5-point road favorite with a total of 214.5.The National Hockey League has 12 games on its slate. Five NHL games drop the puck at 7:07 p.m. ET. The Detroit Red Wings are at home against the Washington Capitals as a -186 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Florida Panthers host the Buffalo Sabres as a -230 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Arizona Coyotes visit Montreal to play the Canadiens as a -115 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6. The Tampa Bay Lightning play in Philadelphia against the Flyers as a -122 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The Toronto Maple Leafs play at home against the Vegas Golden Knights as a -170 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. Three NHL games start at 8:07 p.m. ET. The Carolina Hurricanes are in Minnesota to play the Wild as a -155 money-line road favorite with a total of 6. The Nashville Predators are at home against the Ottawa Senators as a -142 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Winnipeg Jets host the St. Louis Blues as a -192 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Calgary Flames play at home against the Los Angeles Kings at 9:07 p.m. ET as a -112 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6. The Colorado Avalanche are at home against the Dallas Stars at 9:37 p.m. ET as a -155 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Vancouver Canucks host the Pittsburgh Penguins at 10:07 p.m. ET as a -155 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The New Jersey Devils travel to San Jose to play the Sharks at 10:37 p.m. ET as a -250 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5.The college basketball schedule has 11 games on national television. Villanova plays at home against Georgetown on FS1 at 6:30 p.m. ET as a 15.5-pint favorite with an over/under of 140. Five NCAAB games are on national television at 7 p.m. ET. Houston is at home against Cincinnati on ESPN2 as a 13.5-point favorite with a total of 132.5. Mississippi State hosts Kentucky on ESPN as a 4-point favorite with an over/under of 156. Dayton plays at home against Davidson on the CBS Sports Network as a 10-point favorite with a total of 132.5. Syracuse is at home against Virginia Tech on ESPNU as a 1-point favorite with an over/under of 154.5. Wisconsin plays at Indiana on Peacock as a 4.5-point road favorite with a total of 141.5. Three nationally televised NCAAB games tip off at 9 p.m. ET. Florida State hosts North Carolina State on ESPN2 as a 2-point favorite with an over/under of 150.5. Texas Tech plays at home against Texas on ESPN as a 4.5-point favorite with a total of 145. UNLV is at Wyoming on the CBS Sports Network as a 5-point road favorite with an over/under of 143.5. Colorado State is at home against Nevada on FS1 at 10:30 p.m. ET as a 7-point favorite with a total of 138. San Diego State hosts San Jose State on the CBS Sports Network at 11 p.m. ET as a 22-point favorite with an over/under of 138.

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2024 March Madness Sleeper Teams to Consider, Part 1

by Wayne Root

Monday, Feb 26, 2024

What’s Ahead in March?In today’s article, it understandable that 80% of the country doesn’t really get a true handle on West Coast college basketball. The games finished between 1-2:00 am. The updates get buried in games you’re looking to bet. Not games that ended in your sleep. I’ll cover some sleeper teams. The three today are from smaller conferences and don’t get much attention from the press. I can assure you the west coast basketball is alive, fast paced and full of three’s. Let’s remember the Final Four of 2023. It consisted of a No. 4 seed, two No. 5 seeds and a No. 9 seed and it is none too early to start trying to figure out which Sleepers to watch out for in the 2024 men's NCAA tournament.Obviously, matchups are everything when it comes to the NCAA tournament, and we have no clue what sort of draw any of these teams will get—if they make the tournament at all. But teams are ranked in ascending order of how confident we are in saying they will win at least one game, regardless of the hand they are dealt by the selection committee.1. St Mary’s  I've been promoting the Gaels as a sleeper team on a darn-near annual basis for the past decade, but they haven't made it to the Sweet 16 since 2010. They’re 23-6 and 14-0 in conference play. The Gaels are a strong team. The defense is great. The rebounding is superb. Their snail-like tempo is impossible to speed up. And they've been almost unbeatable for the past two months, winning 15 of their past 16 games.2. New MexicoWhat we didn't know three months ago was that Donovan Dent would become one of the biggest breakout stars in the country, nearly tripling his scoring average while becoming UNM's primary ball-handler. Or that forward JT Toppin would emerge as arguably one of the 10 best freshmen in the nation. Or that fellow freshman Tru Washington would be so valuable as a sixth man, particularly with his ball-hawking skills on defense. There's no question they have the goods to make a deep run. We already knew about Jaelen House and Jamal Mashburn Jr. from last season, when they averaged a combined 36 points per game. We also knew about Nelly Junior Joseph, the big man who transferred from Rick Pitino at Iona to Richard Pitino at New Mexico. That trio alone made the Lobos an intriguing preseason candidate to reach the dance. New Mexico is just loaded with dudes who can ball. You've been warned. Look out for the Lobos.3. Grand Canyon Grand Canyon was the pick to become this year's Cinderella team.And at the time, we had no clue how good Tyon Grant-Foster would be. The former JUCO transfer has been GCU's brightest star, averaging 19.0 points, 5.6 rebounds and better than one assist, steal and block per game. More predictably, returnees Ray Harrison and Gabe McGlothan have also been excellent, combining for close to 30 points and 11 rebounds per game after leading the 'Lopes to a No. 14 seed in last year's dance. The 'Lopes are no joke, undeniably better than they already had been in recent years. If GCU gets a seed in the Nos. 11-13 range, though, it could knock off any team currently in the mix for the Nos. 3-6 seed lines.Be sure to check back for more sleeper teams that will have success and be under the radar. 

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, NCAAB and EPL Previews and Odds - 02/26/2024

by Big Al Staff

Monday, Feb 26, 2024

The Monday sports card features NBA, NHL, NCAAB, and EPL action.The National Basketball Association has four games on its docket. The Indiana Pacers host the Toronto Raptors at 7:10 p.m. ET as a 6-point favorite, with the total set at 245.5 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). The New York Knicks play at home against the Detroit Pistons as an 11-point favorite with an over/under of 223.5. The Brooklyn Nets travel to Memphis to play the Grizzlies at 8:10 p.m. ET as a 1.5-point road favorite with a total of 214.5. The Sacramento Kings are home against the Miami Heat at 10:10 p.m. ET as a 7.5-point favorite with an over/under of 226.5. The National Hockey League has four games on its slate. The Ottawa Senators play in Washington against the Capitals at 7:07 p.m. ET as a -118 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The Dallas Stars host the New York Islanders at 8:07 p.m. ET as a -175 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6. The Edmonton Oilers play at home against the Los Angeles Kings at 9:37 p.m. ET as a -155 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Boston Bruins are in Seattle to play the Kraken at 10:07 p.m. ET as a -135 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The college basketball schedule has five games on national television. Delaware is at home against Drexel on the CBS Sports Network at 6:30 p.m. ET as a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 138.Two NCAAB games on national television tip off at 7 p.m. ET. North Carolina hosts Miami (FL) on ESPN. The Tar Heels won their second straight game in a 54-44 victory at Virginia as a 2.5-point favorite on Saturday. The Hurricanes lost their sixth straight game in an 80-76 upset loss at home against Virginia Tech as a 9-point favorite on Saturday. North Carolina is a 14.5-point favorite with an over/under of 154.5. Kansas State plays at home against West Virginia on ESPN2. The Wildcats ended a three-game losing streak with an 84-74 victory against BYU as a 1.5-point favorite on Saturday. The Mountaineers lost for the fifth time in their last six games in a 71-64 loss at Iowa State as an 18-point underdog. Kansas State is a 9.5-point favorite with a total of 143. UNC-Wilmington visits Campbell on the CBS Sports Network at  8:30 p.m. ET as an 8.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 143.5.TCU is at home against Baylor on ESPN at 9 p.m. ET. The Horned Frogs are on a three-game winning streak after their 75-57 victory against Cincinnati as a 5.5-point favorite on Saturday. The Bears are on a two-game losing streak after their 82-76 setback against Houston as a 2.5-point underdog on Saturday. TCU is a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 148.Matchweek 26 in the English Premier League concludes with one match. Brentford plays at West Ham United on the USA Network at 3 p.m. ET in a pick ‘em match at BetMGM with an over/under of 2.5.

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NBA System of the Week

by Al McMordie

Monday, Feb 26, 2024

The NBA held its All-Star festivities last weekend, and the 30 teams returned from their extended break last Thursday.  I generally prefer to sit on the sidelines as a bettor in the first game after the All-Star Break since I like to give the teams an opportunity to shake off whatever rust might have developed in their week of rest.  But after that I'm ready to go.  And the All-Star Break can often provide us with some nice betting angles.  I'm going to use one of them here, as our NBA System of the Week.One of the things I like to do is play on teams that get off to bad starts after the All-Star Break.  After a week of rest, all the teams are generally refreshed and energized.  And they don't want to get off on an extended losing streak.  I like playing on NBA teams in the 3rd game after the All-Star Break when they're off back-to-back SU/ATS losses, and especially if our team is not favored by 4+ points.  Over the last 34 seasons, this angle has gone 63-41-1 ATS (60.5%).  This season, we have two plays.  On Monday, February 26, the Brooklyn Nets are a play at Memphis.  And on Tuesday, February 27, the Portland Trail Blazers will be a play at home vs. Miami.  And, though there's nothing wrong with a 63-41 record, we can improve our numbers substantially by focusing on the teams that also lost their last game going into the All-Star Break, SU/ATS.  Those teams riding 3-game (or worse) SU/ATS losing streaks have trotted out to a 28-11 ATS record in their third game after the All-Star Break.  And Both Brooklyn and Portland fall into that 28-11 ATS tightener.Good luck, as always,Al McMordie

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2024 NBA Title Insights

by ASA, Inc.

Sunday, Feb 25, 2024

LA Clippers (+500)The value on the Clippers has dissipated as the once +2300 has dropped to +500. Yet, LAC may still be worth an investment. They have been on a tear since December going 29-8 allowing Kawhi Leonard to sneak into the MVP conversation (+7000). Leonard is having the best shooting season of his career currently at 45% from three and 53% from the field. He ranks 9th in overall player efficiency rating and if the Clippers can capture the one seed in the West, Leonard may have the upper hand on MVP over Jokic (+200) and Gilgeous-Alexander (+350). Kawhi has his own case for MVP, but a main reason the Clippers still have value is the overall team efficiency they are playing with. George, Harden, and Powell are all shooting 40% or better from three. Combined with Russell Westbrook and Terance Mann, LAC seems to have unlimited offensive options. In a seven game series all that firepower will be tough to suppress, the one determining factor may come down to team chemistry and the willingness for the Clippers superstars to make unselfish plays for a chance at the Larry O'Brien trophy. Cleveland Cavaliers (+2500)The Cavs take pride on defense boasting the second best Defensive Rating in the NBA behind the Timberwolves. On offense Donovan Mitchell (+2000) is in the MVP discussion, a true number one scorer carrying Cleveland to second in the East behind Boston. Behind Mitchell is some quality depth with five other players averaging 12+ ppg. Darius Garland (18.3 ppg) and Evan Mobley (15.5 ppg) will be the key to how far Cleveland can go. In a star studded league, Mitchell will need offensive help in order to compete with the likes of Boston and Milwaukee in the East. However, we saw both of those supposed juggernauts lose to the eighth seeded Heat last year showing that neither are world-beaters by any means. If young role players can step up behind their established stud in Mitchell, Cleveland provides some solid value in the less competitive East. Longshot - Miami Heat (+4200)Miami has made the NBA finals two of the past four years. The East is once again wide open and the Heat seem to take the regular season a bit less seriously than other teams. In the past seven years, the number one seed in the East has failed to make the NBA Finals. In fact, only three times since 2003 has the one seed in the East made the Finals. History tells us that Boston is in a precarious situation. Miami ranks seventh in Defensive Rating and neither the Celtics nor Bucks want to see Erik Spoelstra and Jimmy Butler again this spring.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, NCAAB and EPL Previews and Odds - 02/25/2024

by Big Al Staff

Sunday, Feb 25, 2024

The Sunday sports card features NBA, NHL, NCAAB, and EPL action.The National Basketball Association has 11 games on its docket. The Milwaukee Bucks travel to Philadelphia to play the 76ers on ABC at 1:10 p.m. ET as a 5-point road favorite with the total set at 232 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). The Phoenix Suns host the Los Angeles Lakers on ABC at 3:40 p.m. ET as a 4-point favorite with an over/under of 237.5. The Dallas Mavericks play at Indiana against the Pacers at 5:10 p.m. ET as a 1-point road favorite with a total of 252. The Cleveland Cavaliers are in Washington to play the Wizards at 6:10 p.m. ET as an 11-point road favorite with an over/under of 232.5. Four NBA games tip off at 7:10 p.m. ET. The Orlando Magic visit Atlanta to play the Hawks as a 1-point road favorite, with a total of 226.5. The Oklahoma City Thunder play in Houston to play the Texans as a 6-point road favorite with an over/under of 235.5. The New Orleans Pelicans play at home against the Chicago Bulls as a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 222.5. The Denver Nuggets are in Golden State to play the Warriors on ESPN as a 1-point road favorite with an over/under of 232. The Utah Jazz are at home against the San Antonio Spurs at 8:10 p.m. ET as a 7-point favorite with a total of 242. The Portland Trail Blazers host the Charlotte Hornets at 9:10 p.m. ET as a 3-point favorite with an over/under of 219.5. The Los Angeles Clippers play is at home against the Sacramento Kings on ESPN as a 6.5-point favorite with a total of 239.The National Hockey League has seven games on its slate. The New Jersey Devils are at home against the Tampa Bay Lightning on TNT at 1:07 p.m. ET as a -122 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Pittsburgh Penguins host the Philadelphia Flyers on TNT at 3:37 p.m. ET as a -170 money-line favorite with a total of 6.Four more NHL games drop the puck at 6:07 p.m. ET. The Detroit Red Wings visit Chicago to play the Blackhawks as a -192 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6. The Winnipeg Jets play at home against the Arizona Coyotes as a -238 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Carolina Hurricanes are in Buffalo to play the Sabres as a -155 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6. The New York Rangers play in Columbus against the Blue Jackets as a -198 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The Nashville Predators travel to Anaheim to play the Ducks at 8:07 p.m. ET as a -162 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5.The college basketball schedule has 11 games on national television. Four NCAAB games tip-off on national television at noon ET. Creighton plays at St. John’s on CBS as a 2-point road favorite with a total of 152. SMU is at South Florida on ESPN2 as a 1.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 147. LaSalle hosts Rhode Island on the USA Network as a 3.5-point favorite with a total of 153. Wagner plays at home against Long Island on the CBS Sports Network as a 9-point favorite with an over/under of 130.5. Two NCAAB games are on national television at 2 p.m. ET. Purdue visits Michigan on CBS as a 13-point road favorite with a total of 123.5. Florida Atlantic plays at Memphis on ESPN as a 1.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 159. Four nationally-televised NCAAB games begin at 4 p.m. ET. Wichita State is at home against Temple on ESPN as a 6.5-point favorite with a total of 143. Tulane hosts UAB on ESPN2 as a 2.5-point favorite with an over/under of 161. Michigan State plays at home against Ohio State on CBS as a 10-point favorite with a total of 137.5. VCU is at home against Saint Joseph’s on the CBS Sports Network as a 5-point favorite with an over/under of 142. Marquette hosts Xavier on FS1 at 5 p.m. ET as a 10-point favorite with a total of 158.5. Matchweek 26 in the English Premier League continues with one match. Wolverhampton plays at home against Sheffield United on the USA Network at 8:30 a.m. ET. The Wolves are a -1-goal-line favorite with an over/under of 3. 

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, NCAAB and EPL Previews and Odds - 02/24/2024

by Big Al Staff

Saturday, Feb 24, 2024

The Saturday sports card features NBA, NHL, NCAAB, and EPL action.The National Basketball Association has three games on its docket. The Orlando Magic travel to Detroit to play the Pistons at 8:10 p.m. ET as a 7-point road favorite with the total set at 226 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). The Boston Celtics play in New York against the Knicks at 8:40 p.m. ET as a 7-point road favorite with an over/under of 223. The Minnesota Timberwolves host the Brooklyn Nets at 9:10 p.m. ET as a 7.5-point favorite with a total of 216.5. The National Hockey League has 13 games on its slate. The Detroit Red Wings play at home against the St. Louis Blues on ABC at 12:07 p.m. ET as a -142 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. Two more NHL games drop the puck at 2:07 p.m. ET. The New Jersey Devils are at home against the Montreal Canadiens as a -230 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Tampa Bay Lightning are in New York to play the Islanders as a -112 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The New York Rangers visit Philadelphia to play the Flyers on ABC at 3:07 p.m. ET as a -135 money-line road favorite with a total of 6. The Florida Panthers host the Washington Capitals at 6:07 p.m. ET as a -218 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. Three more NHL games drop the puck at 7:07 p.m. ET. The Vancouver Canucks host the Boston Bruins as a -112 money-line favorite with a total of 6. The Colorado Avalanche play at home against the Toronto Maple Leafs as a -120 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Ottawa Senators are at home against the Vegas Golden Knights as a -115 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Carolina Hurricanes host the Dallas Stars at 8:07 p.m. ET as a -135 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6. Three NHL games start at 10:07 p.m. ET. The Seattle Kraken play at home against the Minnesota Wild as a -135 money-line favorite with a total of 6. The Nashville Predators play at San Jose against the Sharks as a -218 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6. The Edmonton Oilers are at home against the Calgary Flames as a -192 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Los Angeles Kings host the Anaheim Ducks at 10:37 p.m. ET as a -270 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.The college basketball schedule has 16 games on major national television. Three NCAAB games on major national television tip-off at noon ET. Houston is at Baylor on CBS as a 2.5-point road favorite with a total of 136. Syracuse plays at home against Notre Dame on ESPN as a 5.5-point favorite with an over/under of 133. Arkansas is at home against Missouri on ESPN2 as a 4.5-point favorite, with a total of 146. Three NCAAB games on major national television start at 2 p.m. ET. Arizona hosts Washington on CBS as a 15-point favorite with an over/under of 166.5. Iowa State plays at home against West Virginia on ESPN2 as an 18-point favorite with a total of 143.5. Wake Forest is at home against Duke on ESPN as a 2.5-point favorite with an over/under of 150.5. Three major nationally televised games in NCAAB begin at 4 p.m. ET. Kentucky hosts Alabama on CBS as a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 174.5. North Carolina visits Virginia on ESPN as a 3-point road favorite with an over/under of 130. Oklahoma State plays at home against Oklahoma on ESPN2 as a 1.5-point favorite with a total of 140. Two more NCAAB games on national television start at 6 p.m. ET. Kansas is at home against Texas on ESPN as an 8.5-point favorite with an over/under of 144.5. Appalachian State plays at Marshall on ESPN2 as a 6-point road favorite with a total of 147.5. Three NCAAB games on major national television tip-off at 8 p.m. ET. Connecticut hosts Villanova on Fox as a 12.5-point favorite with an over/under of 134. Tennessee plays at home against Texas A&M on ESPN as a 10.5-point favorite with a total of 145.5. Washington State is at Arizona State on ESPN2 as a 5.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 139. Two more major nationally televised games start at 10 p.m. ET. UCLA is at home against USC on ESPN as a 5-point favorite, with a total of 133. Gonzaga hosts Santa Clara on ESPN2 as a 14.5-point favorite with an over/under of 156.5.Matchweek 26 in the English Premier League begins with six matches. Four matches start at 10 a.m. ET. Aston Villa plays at home against Nottingham Forest on the USA Network as a -1 goal-line favorite with a total of 3 (all soccer odds from BetMGM). Brighton and Hove Albion are at home against Everton as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 3. Crystal Palace hosts Burnley as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5. Manchester United plays at home against Fulham as a -1 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 3. Manchester City travels to Bournemouth on NBC at 12:30 p.m. ET as a -1.5 goal-line road favorite with a total of 3. Arsenal is at home against Newcastle United at 3 p.m. ET as a -1.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 3.

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NHL Off the Post: February 23rd

by Sean Murphy

Friday, Feb 23, 2024

We're just two weeks away from the NHL Trade Deadline as a number of teams jockey for positioning and decide whether they'll be 'buyers' or 'sellers'. Here's a look at some notes from around the league as we approach the end of February.Cleared for takeoffThe Winnipeg Jets stumbled out of the All-Star break, scoring a grand total of one goal in consecutive losses against the Penguins and Flyers. Since then, they've turned it around, securing four wins in their last five games entering Friday's matchup with the lowly Blackhawks. The good news is, the first-place Vancouver Canucks have stumbled lately, leaving the door open for the Jets to gain ground in the Western Conference standings. Winnipeg currently sits seven points behind Vancouver but has a whopping five games-in-hand. The bad news is, the Jets face a difficult upcoming schedule with 11 of their next 17 games being played on the road. Winnipeg has posted a winning record away from home this season but there is reason for concern as it has averaged just 2.8 goals per game along the way. Seeing StarsIt's been a tough road trip for the Dallas Stars as they've lost all three games on their current jaunt out East. In fact, Dallas has lost four consecutive games overall and draws another difficult matchup in Carolina on Saturday before returning home for one game against the struggling New York Islanders. It seems the Stars nine-goal outburst in Nashville back on February 15th may have led to a bit of complacency as they've produced only eight goals in four games since. Dallas does remain in second-place in the Western Conference standings and continues to lead the Central Division. With that being said, the Colorado Avalanche are nipping at their heels, sitting just a single point back. A showdown with the Avs in Denver awaits on Tuesday night. Red hot BlueshirtsI noted prior to the All-Star break that the then-struggling New York Rangers would be a team we'd be looking to get behind in the coming weeks. Right on schedule, the Rangers have gone on a tear, reeling off nine straight victories culminating with a decisive 5-1 win over the New Jersey Devils in Newark on Thursday. The schedule doesn't get much tougher until the start of March as the Blueshirts will close out February with a stop in Philadelphia followed by a home-and-home series with the lowly Blue Jackets. New York's recent surge has strengthened its grip on the Metropolitan Division lead as it currently sits six points ahead of the second-place Carolina Hurricanes. The Rangers and Canes will next meet in Raleigh on March 12th, marking their final matchup of the regular season. Decision timeThe Philadelphia Flyers were an afterthought when it came to preseason playoff prognostication but as we approach the Trade Deadline they find themselves in third-place in the Metropolitan Division, holding a seven-point advantage over the 'first team out' in the Eastern Conference playoff picture (the Washington Capitals). Whether Philadelphia will be buying or selling prior to the deadline remains to be seen. Standing pat is an option as well should the organization decide it is still a year or two away from making legitimate noise come playoff time. A glimpse ahead shows that the Flyers will play 12 of their final 25 regular season games against opponents that are currently outside of the playoff picture. 

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