Big Al

Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NCAA Basketball, NHL and EPL Preview

by Big Al Staff

Wednesday, Feb 03, 2021
The Wednesday sports card features college basketball with additional action in the NBA, the NHL, and the English Premier League.

The college basketball card tips off a 4 PM ET with James Madison hosting Elon at 4 PM ET as a 7.5-point favorite with the total set at 141 (all odds from BetOnline). 

The nationally-televised schedule begins at 7 PM ET. Missouri hosts Kentucky on ESPN2 at 7 PM ET. The Tigers rank 18th in the Associated Press poll with an 11-3 record. They have won four of their last five games after defeating TCU, 102-98, as a 10-point favorite on Saturday. The Wildcats, 5-10, have lost four of five after their 70-59 loss at Alabama as a 7-point underdog on January 26th. COVID complications have kept John Calipari’s team off the court since that setback. Missouri is a 4.5-point favorite with an over/under of 136.5.

Alabama plays at home against LSU on ESPNU at 7 PM ET. The Crimson Tide rank 10th by the AP and are an 8.5-point favorite with the total at 163. Seton Hall visits Providence on FS1 at 7 PM ET. The Pirates are a 1-point road favorite with an over/under of 141. 

Oklahoma State travels to TCU on ESPN2 at 9 PM ET. The Cowboys, 11-4, have won their last two games after defeating Arkansas, 81-77, as a 2-point favorite on Saturday. TCU has fallen to 9-7 with five straight losses after losing at Missouri, 102-98, as a 10-point underdog on Saturday. Oklahoma State is a 5-point road favorite with the total at 140.5. 

Villanova visits St. John’s on the CBS Sports Network at 9 PM ET. The Wildcats rank third in the AP poll. They are 8.5-point road favorites with an over/under of 152. Creighton plays at home against Georgetown on FS1. The AP has the Bluejays ranked 15th, and they are a 13-point favorite with the total at 149. SMU travels to Tulsa on ESPNU as a 2.5-point road favorite with the total at 135.

San Diego State travels to New Mexico on FS1 at 11 PM ET. The Aztecs improved to 13-4 with their fourth straight victory on Saturday with their 98-71 win against Wyoming as an 18-point favorite. The Lobos, 5-11, have lost their last three games after a 65-55 loss at Fresno State as a 6.5-point underdog on Saturday. San Diego State is a 19-point road favorite with an over/under of 128.

Ten games are on the NBA docket, headlined by a doubleheader on ESPN. Milwaukee hosts Indiana at 7 PM ET in the first game. The Bucks defeated Portland, 134-106, as a 10-point favorite on Monday. The Pacers had been upset in two straight games after their 119-110 loss to Philadelphia as a 2.5-point favorite on Saturday, but bounced back strong at home last night with a 134-116 rout of the red-hot Memphis Grizzlies (who came in on a 7-game SU/ATS win streak). Milwaukee is an 8.5-point favorite, with the total at 232.5. 

The nightcap on ESPN has Phoenix visiting New Orleans at 9:35 PM ET. The Suns have won three in a row with two straight upset victories after they defeated Dallas on the road as a 2-point underdog on Monday. The Pelicans have lost two in a row with their 118-109 upset loss to Sacramento as a 2.5-point favorite on Monday. Phoenix is a 2.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 222.

Two games are on the NHL slate, with both televised on the NBC Sports Network. Tampa Bay plays at home against Detroit at 5:30 PM ET as a -293 money line favorite with the total at 5.5. Boston visits Philadelphia at 8 PM ET as a -131 road favorite with an over/under of 5.5. 

The English Premier League has five matches on tap for Wednesday, with two games beginning the action at 1 PM ET. Liverpool plays at home against Brighton and Hove Albion on the NBC Sports Network at 3:15 PM ET as a -1.25 goal line favorite with the total at 2.75.