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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, and NCAAB Previews and Odds - 01/17/2025

The Thursday sports card features NBA, NHL, and NCAAB action.The National Basketball Association has ten games on its docket. The Boston Celtics host the Orlando Magic on ESPN at 7:10 p.m. ET. The Celtics lost for the second time in their last three games after their 110-97 upset loss at Toronto as a 14.5-point favorite on Wednesday. The Magic lost for the third time in their last four games after a 122-94 loss at Milwaukee a a 6.5-point underdog on Wednesday. Boston is a 12.5-point favorite with a total of 210. The New York Knicks play at home against the Minnesota Timberwolves at 7:40 p.m. ET as a 4-point favorite with an over/under of 221. Four NBA games tip off at 8:10 p.m. ET. The Chicago Bulls are home against the Charlotte Hornets as a 4-point favorite with a total of 235. The Miami Heat host the Denver Nuggets as a 2-point favorite with an over/under of 224. The New Orleans Pelicans play at home against the Utah Jazz as a 10.5-point favorite with a total of 230.5. The Milwaukee Bucks are home against the Toronto Raptors as a 12-point favorite with an over/under of 230. The Oklahoma City Thunder travel to Dallas to face the Mavericks at 8:40 p.m. ET as a 7.5-point road favorite with a total of 222.5. The Memphis Grizzlies play in San Antonio against the Spurs on ESPN at 9:40 p.m. ET. The Grizzlies on for the second time in their last three games with a 129-115 victory at San Antonio as a 2.5-point road favorite on Wednesday. The Spurs have lost four of their last five games. Memphis is a 2-point road favorite with an over/under of 239. The Los Angeles Lakers host the Brooklyn Nets at 10:40 p.m. ET as an 11-point favorite with a total of 218.The National Hockey League has two games on its slate that both drop the puck at 7:07 p.m. ET. The Carolina Hurricanes play at home against the Vegas Golden Knights as a -155 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Buffalo Sabres are home against the Pittsburgh Penguins as a -130 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The NCAAB college basketball schedule has ten games between Division I opponents. Seven NCAAB games are on major national television. Akron hosts Ohio on the CBS Sports Network at 6:00 p.m. ET as a 3-point favorite with an over/under of 159. Two more NCAAB games on major national television tip-off at 7:00 p.m. ET. Villanova plays at home against Providence on FS1 as an 8.5-point favorite with a total of 141.5. VCU is at Saint Joseph’s on ESPNU as a 2-point road favorite with an over/under of 142. Two major nationally televised NCAA-B games start at 8:00 p.m. ET. Georgetown is at home against DePaul on the CBS Sports Network as a 9-point favorite with a total of 142.5. Ohio State hosts Indiana on Fox as a 7-point favorite with an over/under of 148.5. UCLA plays at home against Iowa on FS1 at 9:00 p.m. ET as a 6.5-point favorite with a total of 153. New Mexico is home against Boise State on FS1 at 11:00 p.m. ET as a 3.5-point favorite with an over/under of 152. 

NFL System of the Week

The NFL Playoffs resume Saturday, with the Washington Commanders visiting the Detroit Lions, and the Houston Texans traveling to Kansas City to face the Chiefs.  On Sunday, the match-ups are even better.  The Los Angeles Rams will take on the Philadelphia Eagles, while the weekend's best game pits the Baltimore Ravens against the Buffalo Bills.As a situational and technical handicapper, I review dozens of metrics.  Everything from scoring margin to yards per rush to a series history.  One thing often overlooked by bettors is a team's schedule.  And that will be the focus of our NFL System of the Week.When the Commanders travel to the Motor City, it will mark their 3rd straight game on the road.  Last week, Washington defeated the Buccaneers, 23-20, in Tampa Bay.  And they played the Cowboys in Dallas to end the regular season.Over the last 45 years, NFL teams playing their 3rd straight road game have been horrible against the point spread, with a record of 132-168-4 ATS.  And it hasn't mattered whether they've been underdogs (96-124-2 ATS) or favorites (34-42-2 ATS).  Or whether it was a regular season game (105-124-1 ATS) or a playoff game (27-44-3 ATS).We saw this angle come into play last week in the Wild Card Round game between the Los Angeles Chargers and the Houston Texans.  Los Angeles was playing its 3rd straight road game, and lost outright as a 2.5-point road favorite, 32-12.  This week, the Texans are an 8.5-point underdog vs. the Chiefs.  And it's worth noting that underdogs (like Houston) priced from +6.5 to +9.5 in the NFL Playoffs, that were playing their 3rd straight road game, have gone 4-17-1 ATS since 1980.Good luck, as always...Al McMordie

Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, NCAAB and EPL Previews and Odds - 01/16/2025

The Thursday sports card features NBA, NHL, NCAAB, and EPL action.The National Basketball Association has five games on its docket. Two NBA games tip off at 7:10 p.m. ET. The Phoenix Suns travel to Washington to play the Wizards as a 10.5-point road favorite with the total set at 233 (all odds from DraftKings). The Detroit Pistons host the Indiana Pacers as a 3-point favorite with an over/under of 227. Oklahoma City plays at home against the Cleveland Cavaliers on TNT at 7:40 p.m. ET as a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 232. Two games conclude the NBA card at 10:10 p.m. ET. The Los Angeles Clippers plays at Portland against the Trail Blazers as a 6-point road favorite with an over/under of 222. The Sacramento Kings are home against the Houston Rockets on TNT as a 3.5-point favorite with a total of 226.5. The National Hockey League has 13 games on its slate. Five NHL games drop the puck at 7:07 p.m. ET. The Tampa Bay Lightning host the Anaheim Ducks as a -305 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Columbus Blue Jackets play at home against the San Jose Sharks as a -180 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Washington Capitals are in Ottawa to play the Senators as a -112 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Florida Panthers are home against the Detroit Red Wings on ESPN as a -225 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The New Jersey Devils visit Toronto to play the Maple Leafs as a -120 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The New York Islanders host the Philadelphia Flyers at 7:37 p.m. ET as a -142 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. Four NHL games start at 8:07 p.m. ET. The Nashville Predators play at home against the Chicago Blackhawks as a -258 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Dallas Stars are home against the Montreal Canadiens as a -238 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The St. Louis Blues host the Calgary Flames as a -135 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Winnipeg Jets play at home against the Seattle Kraken as a -218 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Utah Hockey Club is home against the New York Rangers at 9:07 p.m. ET as a -112 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Colorado Avalanche host the Edmonton Oilers on ESPN at 9:37 p.m. ET as a -135 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Los Angeles Kings play in Vancouver against the Canucks at 10:07 p.m. ET as a -115 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 5.5.The NCAAB college basketball schedule has 62 games between Division I opponents. Eight NCAAB games are on major national television. Four NCAAB games on major national television tip-off at 7:00 p.m. ET. Memphis is at Temple on ESPN2 as a 9-point road favorite with a total of 155.5. Towson plays at home against Hofstra on the CBS Sports Network as a 4-point favorite with an over/under of 123.5. Michigan travels to Minnesota on FS1 as a 9.5-point road favorite with a total of 144.5. High Point plays at Longwood on ESPNU as a 4-point road favorite with an over/under of 154. Two NCAAB games begin at 9:00 p.m. ET. Liberty is home against UTEP on the CBS Sports Network as a 9-point favorite with a total of 134.5. Nebraska hosts Rutgers on FS1 as a 9-point favorite with an over/under of 141.5. Portland plays at home against Pacific on ESPN at 10:00 p.m. ET as a 1.5-point favorite with a total of 146.5. Gonzaga is at Oregon State on the CBS Sports Network at 11:00 p.m. ET as a 10-point road favorite with an over/under of 150.5. Matchweek 21 in the English Premier League concludes with two matches. Brighton and Hove Albion visits Ipswich Town at 2:30 p.m. ET as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with a total of 2.5. Manchester United is home against Southampton on the USA Network at 3:00 p.m. ET as a -1.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 3.5.

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