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Big Al's Daily Angle: NFL, NCAAF, NBA, NHL, NCAAB and EPL Previews and Odds - 12/30/2024

by Big Al Staff

Monday, Dec 30, 2024

The Monday sports card features NFL, NCAAF, NBA, NHL, NCAAB, and EPL action. Week 17 in the NFL concludes with one game. The Detroit Lions travel to San Francisco to play the 49ers on ABC and ESPN at 8:15 p.m. ET. The Lions are a 3.5-point road favorite, with the total set at 50.5.The college football bowl season continues with one bowl game. Missouri battles Iowa in the Music City Bowl at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee, on ESPN at 2:30 p.m. ET. The Tigers are a 2.5-point favorite with an over/under of 40.5. The National Basketball Association has seven games on its docket. Two NBA games tip off at 7:10 p.m. ET. The Chicago Bulls travel to Charlotte to play the Hornets as a 5.5-point road favorite with a total of 227.5. The New York Knicks play in Washington against the Commanders as an 11.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 230.5. The Los Angeles Clippers are in New Orleans against the Pelicans at 8:10 p.m. ET as a 6.5-point road favorite with a total of 221. The Denver Nuggets visit Utah to play the Jazz at 9:10 p.m. ET as a 6.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 240. Three more games conclude the NBA card at 10:10 p.m. ET. The Philadelphia 76ers play in Portland against the Trail Blazers as a 5.5-point road favorite with a total of 223.5. The Cleveland Cavaliers are in Golden State to play the Warriors as a 4.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 231.5. The Sacramento Kings host the Dallas Mavericks as a 4-point favorite with a total of 231.5. The National Hockey League has three games on its slate. The Florida Panthers play at home against the New York Rangers at 7:07 p.m. ET as a -192 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6. The Winnipeg Jets are home against the Nashville Predators at 7:37 p.m. ET as a -162 money-line favorite with a total of 6. The Utah Hockey Club travels to Seattle to play the Kraken at 8:07 p.m. ET as a -118 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6. The NCAAB college basketball schedule has 26 games between Division I opponents. Three games are on major national television. Cincinnati plays at Kansas State on the CBS Sports Network at 7:00 p.m. ET as a 3.5-point road favorite with a total of 140.5. Arkansas hosts Oakland University on ESPN2 at 8:00 p.m. ET as an 18.5-point favorite with an over/under of 143. Iowa State is at Colorado on the CBS Sports Network at 9:00 p.m. ET as a 10-point road favorite with a total of 146.5. Matchweek 19 in the English Premier League continues with three matches. Two EPL matches begin at 2:45 p.m. ET. Aston Villa plays at home against Brighton and Hove Albion as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Chelsea visits Ipswich Town as a -1.5 goal-line road favorite with a total of 3.5. Newcastle United plays at Manchester United on the USA Network at 3:00 p.m. ET as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. 

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Blackhawks-Blues: NHL Winter Classic By The Numbers

by Vegas Writer

Monday, Dec 30, 2024

The Chicago Blackhawks renew one of their oldest rivalries this year in the Winter Classic, as they'll face the St. Louis Blues at Wrigley Field. . The two previously met in the Classic in 2017 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, as the Blackhawks lost 4-1.Some reports tell us weather conditions suggest a potential date change, but until then, we're counting on the game taking place on New Year's Eve.Here's a glance inside some of the Winter Classic numbers:3 – The Winter Classic will be the third outdoor NHL game for the Blues, who are 2-0-0 in previous outdoor game contests.4 - The Blackhawks come into the Winter Classic on a four-game skid.4 - The Blues have scored at least four goals in 10 of their last 16 meetings with Chicago.6 - The Blackhawks entered the week allowing 3.32 goals per game, tied for sixth-most in the league.7 – The Winter Classic will be the seventh outdoor NHL game for the Blackhawks, the most among NHL teams. The Blackhawks are 1-5-0 in previous outdoor game appearances.13 - The Blues have won 13 of the last 16 meetings.16 - In playing 21 games away from their barn, the Blackhawks have lost 16 of those contests, going 5-14-2.31 - For the month of December, the Blackhawks rank 31st in allowing 3.93 goals per game this month.332 -- The Winter Classic will mark the 332nd time the Blackhawks and Blues have faced off in regular-season games since 1967. Chicago holds a 356-334 edge in points over the Blues. In 12 playoff series, the Blackhawks have won eight.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NFL, NBA, NHL, EPL and NCAAB Previews and Odds - 12/29/2024

by Big Al Staff

Sunday, Dec 29, 2024

The Sunday sports card features NFL, NBA, NHL, NCAAB, and EPL action. Week 17 in the NFL continues with nine games. Six NFL games kick off at 1:00 p.m. ET. The Philadelphia Eagles host the Dallas  Cowboys as a 7.5-point favorite with the total set at 38 (all odds from DraftKings). Las Vegas travels to New Orleans to play the Saints as a 2-point road favorite with an over/under of 37.5. The Buffalo Bills play at home against the New York Jets as a 10-point favorite with a total of 46. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are home against the Carolina Panthers as a 9.5-point favorite with an over/under of 48. The Indianapolis Colts play in New York against the Giants as a 7.5-point road favorite with a total of 40. The Jacksonville Jaguars host the Tennessee Titans as a 1-point favorite with an over/under of 39. Two NFL games start during the second window of afternoon games. The Miami Dolphins are in Cleveland to face the Browns at 4:05 p.m. ET as a 3.5-point road favorite with a total of 34. The Minnesota Vikings play at home against the Green Bay Packers at 4:25 p.m. ET as a 1-point favorite with an over/under of 49.  The Washington Commanders are home against the Atlanta Falcons on NBC at 8:20 p.m. ET for Sunday Night Football. The Commanders are a 3.5-point favorite with a total of 46.5.The National Basketball Association has six games on its docket. The Orlando Magic host the Brooklyn Nets at 3:40 p.m. ET as a 5.5-point favorite with an over/under of 206. Two more NBA games tip off at 6:10 p.m. ET. The Boston Celtics play at home against the Indiana Pacers as an 11.5-point favorite with a total of 233.5. The Atlanta Hawks visit Toronto to challenge the Raptors as a 1-point road favorite with an over/under of 237.5. Two NBA games start at 7:10 p.m. ET. The Oklahoma City Thunder are home against the Memphis Grizzlies as a 7-point favorite with a total of 228. The Houston Rockets host the Miami Heat as a 7-point favorite with an over/under of 216.5. The Minnesota Timberwolves play at home against the San Antonio Spurs as a 6-point favorite with a total of 214.5. The National Hockey League has nine games on its slate. The St. Louis Blues are home against the Buffalo Sabres at 3:07 p.m. ET as a -122 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Edmonton Oilers play in Anaheim against the Ducks at 4:07 p.m. ET as a -285 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. Two more NHL games begin at 5:07 p.m. ET. The Tampa Bay Lightning host the Montreal Canadiens as a -270 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Washington Capitals are in Detroit to play the Red Wings as a -135 money-line road favorite with a total of 6. The Pittsburgh Penguins play at home against the New York Islanders at 5:37 p.m. ET as a -120 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.Two NHL games start at 8:07 p.m. ET. The Minnesota Wild are home against the Ottawa Senators as a -142 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Vegas Golden Knights host the Calgary Flames as a -245 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6. The Dallas Stars travel to Chicago to play the Blackhawks on ESPN at 8:37 p.m. ET as a -250 money-line road favorite with a total of 6. The Los Angeles Kings play at home against the Philadelphia Flyers at 9:07 p.m. ET as a -218 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The NCAAB college basketball schedule has 43 games between Division I opponents. Four games are on major national television. Penn State is home against Pennsylvania on Peacock at 1:00 p.m. ET as a 25-point favorite with a total of 150.5. Northwestern hosts Northeastern on Peacock at 2:00 p.m. ET as a 14.5-point favorite with an over/under of 136. Two more NCAAB games are on major national television at 3:00 p.m. ET. Temple plays at home against Buffalo on ESPNU as a 15-point favorite with a total of 150. Washington is home against the New Jersey Institute of Technology on Peacock as a 23-point favorite with an over/under of 137.5. Matchweek 19 in the English Premier League begins with six matches. Manchester City plays at Leicester City at 9:30 a.m. ET as a -1.5 goal-line road favorite with a total of 3.5. Four EPL matches begin at 10:00 a.m. ET. Crystal Palace hosts Southampton as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Everton plays at home against Nottingham Forest on the USA Network as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of an over/under of 2.5. Fulham is home against Bournemouth as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5. Tottenham hosts Wolverhampton as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 3.5. Liverpool is at West Ham United on the USA Network at 12:15 p.m. ET as a -1.5 goal-line road favorite with a total of 3.5.

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The Second Half Turnaround of the Baltimore Ravens Defense

by Hollywood Sports

Saturday, Dec 28, 2024

The Ravens held the Steelers to just 315 yards of offense last week as they continue to play much better on the defensive side of the football. I was worried about Baltimore’s defense heading into the season because of the brain drain from the coaching staff with whiz-kid defensive coordinator Matt Macdonald taking the head coaching job in Seattle along with assistant coaches Anthony Walker and Dennard Wilson getting promoted to coordinator jobs at Miami and Tennessee. Former Baltimore Pro Bowler and linebacker coach Zachary Orr took over defense — but the 32-year-old had never called plays. Their defense last year was highly dependent on Macdonald’s schemes. They ranked seventh in disguised coverage schemes out of their base two-high safety shell — and despite relying on four or fewer rushers nearly 80% of the time, MacDonald’s disguised pass rush plays generated a league-leading 60 sacks. Predictably, things started slow for the Ravens' defense especially when defending the pass. Dak Prescott threw for 361 yards against them in Week Three. Two weeks later, Joe Burrow tore them up for another 359 yards. That’s when the ever-savvy John Harbaugh brought back the forever-young Dean Pees out of retirement (something he has done several times in his career) to serve as a senior advisor on defense for Orr. That helped. And after Burrow torched them for another 421 passing yards in Week Ten, Pees’ fingerprints were probably all over the decision to move safety Kyle Hamilton from strong safety often playing inside the box against the run to free safety dedicating himself to pass coverage. Since then, Baltimore is only giving up 174.8 passing Yards-Per-Game going into Week 17 — and the 5.4 Yards-Per-Attempt they are giving up is far below their season average of 7.0 YPA by their opponents against them. From Week One to Week Nine, the Ravens ranked 28th in Opponent Expected Points Added per dropback Allowed. Since then with Hamilton moving to free safety, they lead the NFL in that metric. So just citing Baltimore’s second-to-last pass defense giving up 259.4 passing YPG raw numbers does not capture what this unit is doing now.Not surprisingly given Harbaugh’s penchant for making positive changes as the season moves on, Baltimore had played 20 of their last 32 games Under the Total in Weeks 16 and 17 going into their Christmas Day game on the road in Houston against the Texans.The Ravens may have played their best defensive game in the season in our NFL Total of the Month for that contest. Baltimore held the Houston offense scoreless in a 31-2 victory. The Texans managed only ten first downs and gained only 185 yards of offense. Quarterback C.J. Stroud completed only 17 of 31 passes for 185 yards before he got subbed out of the game. Moving forward, with Hamilton playing at free safety and Pees providing his insight on a weekly basis, this Ravens team may have one of the best defenses in the league — despite what the season-long statistics may suggest. Best of luck — Frank. 

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NFL Sunday Night Player Prop

by ASA, Inc.

Saturday, Dec 28, 2024

Atlanta Falcons vs Washington CommandersSunday, Dec 29th at 8:15 PM ET PLAYER PROP – Washington QB Jayden Daniels Over 48.5 Rushing Yards Jayden Daniels of the Washington Commanders has been a dynamic force on the ground this season, averaging 8.5 rushes and 49 rushing yards per game. This trend looks set to continue against the Atlanta Falcons, who have shown vulnerabilities in defending against quarterback runs. Daniels has managed to exceed 66 rushing yards in three of his last four games, showcasing his ability to break significant yardage. Additionally, he has hit the 50-yard mark or higher in four of his last six home games, indicating a strong performance trend at home. The Falcons currently rank 28th in Expected Points Added (EPA) per play against quarterback runs, which suggests a favorable matchup for Daniels. This matchup could provide him with ample opportunities to exploit the defense with his legs, potentially leading to another high-rushing yardage game.  Daniels ranks 2nd among QBs in YPG rushing and when Atlanta faced Philadelphia’s QB Hurts, who ranks 3rd in rushing among QB’s, he ran for nearly 90 yards.   Given these stats and trends, Daniels is likely to have a notable impact on the ground. Prop bets focused on his rushing yards could be a smart play, particularly if set around or slightly above his recent averages which is where it sits right now at 48.5.  Facing one of the worst defenses in the NFL at limiting QB runs, we look for Daniels to get into at least the 50’s for his rushing yards on Sunday night.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NFL, NCAAF, NBA, NHL and NCAAB Previews and Odds - 12/28/2024

by Big Al Staff

Saturday, Dec 28, 2024

The Saturday sports card features NFL, NCAAF, NBA, NHL, and NCAAB. Week 17 in the NFL continues with three games on the NFL Network. The Los Angeles Chargers travel to New England to play the Patriots at 1:00 p.m. ET as a 5.5-point road favorite with the total set at 42.5 (all from DraftKings). The Cincinnati Bengals host the Denver Broncos at 4:30 p.m. ET as a 3.5-point favorite with an over/under of 50. The Los Angeles Rams play at home against the Arizona Cardinals as a 6.5-point favorite with a total of 47.5.The college football bowl season continues with eight bowl games. North Carolina battles Connecticut in the Fenway Bowl at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts, on ESPN at 11:00 a.m. ET. The Tar  Heels are a 2.5-point favorite with an over/under of 53.5. Nebraska plays Boston College in the Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New York, on ABC at noon ET. The Cornhuskers are a 4-point favorite with a total of 46.5. TCU is home against Louisiana-Lafayette in the New Mexico Bowl at University Stadium in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on ESPN at 2:15 p.m. ET. The Horned Frogs are a 10-point favorite with an over/under of 59. Miami (FL) challenges Iowa State in the Pop-Tarts Bowl at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida, on ABC at 3:30 p.m. ET. The Hurricanes are a 4.5-point favorite with a total of 57.5. Miami (OH) faces Colorado State in the Arizona Bowl at Arizona Stadium in Tucson, Arizona, on The CW at 4:30 p.m. ET. The RedHawks are a 2.5-point favorite with an over/under of 40.5. North Carolina State goes against East Carolina in the Military Bowl at the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Maryland, on ESPN at 5:45 p.m. ET. The Wolfpack is a 7-point favorite with a total of 60. Colorado battles BYU in the Alamo Bowl at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, on ABC at 7:30 p.m. ET. The Buffaloes are a 3-point favorite with an over/under of 55.5. Army plays Louisiana Tech in the Independence Bowl at Independence Stadium in Shreveport, Louisiana, on ESPN at 9:15 p.m. ET. The Black Knights are a 14-point favorite with a total of 43.5.The National Basketball Association has nine games on its docket. The Atlanta Hawks are home against the Miami Heat at 3:10 p.m. ET as a 1.5-point favorite with an over/under of 226.5. The Oklahoma City Thunder play in Charlotte against the Hornets at 6:10 p.m. ET as a 12.5-point road favorite with a total of 218. The New York Knicks are in Washington to play the Wizards as a 13-point road favorite with an over/under of 228.5. The Milwaukee Bucks visit Chicago to play the Bulls at 8:10 p.m. ET as a 2.5-point road favorite with a total of 228.5. The Golden State Warriors host the Phoenix Suns at 8:40 p.m. ET as a 5.5-point favorite with a total of 220. The Denver Nuggets play at home against the Detroit Pistons at 9:10 p.m. ET as a 5.5-point favorite with an over/under of 230.5. The Philadelphia 76ers play in Utah against the Jazz at 9:40 p.m. ET as a 7-point road favorite with a total of 222.5. The Dallas Mavericks are in Portland to face the Trail Blazers at 10:10 p.m. ET as a 4-point road favorite with an over/under of 225.5. The Los Angeles Lakers are home against the Sacramento Kings at 10:10 p.m. ET as a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 225. The National Hockey League has 11 games on its slate. The Florida Panthers host the Montreal Canadiens at 1:07 p.m. ET as a -325 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. Three more NHL games drop the puck at 4:07 p.m. ET. The Vancouver Canucks play at home against the Seattle Kraken as a -130 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Philadelphia Flyers visit Anaheim to face the Ducks as a -148 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6. The Edmonton Oilers play in Los Angeles against the Kings as a -130 money-line road favorite with a total of 6. Five NHL games start at 7:07 p.m. ET. The Winnipeg Jets are home against the Ottawa Senators as a -155 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6. The Carolina Hurricanes host the New Jersey Devils as a -135 money-line favorite with a total of 6. The Toronto Maple Leafs play at home against the Washington Capitals as a -112 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6. The Tampa Bay Lightning host the New York Rangers as a -162 money-line favorite with a total of 6. The Boston Bruins play at home against the Columbus Blue Jackets as a -225 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The New York Islanders are home against the Pittsburgh Penguins at 7:37 p.m. ET as a -142 money-line favorite with a total of 6. The Calgary Flames are in San Jose to play the Sharks at 10:07 p.m. ET as a -166 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6. The college basketball schedule has 32 games between Division I opponents. Four NCAAB games are on national television. North Carolina A&T hosts North Carolina Central on CBS at 2:00 p.m. ET as a 1-point favorite with a total of 156.5. Two more NCAAB games on major national television begin at 4:00 p.m. ET. Gonzaga battles UCLA on a neutral court at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, as a 4-point favorite with an over/under of 148. Hampton plays at home against Howard on CBS as a 3.5-point favorite with a total of 144.5. San Diego State is home against Utah State on Fox at 6:00 p.m. ET as a 3.5-point favorite with an over/under of 144.5.

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NFL Current ATS Results

by Wayne Root

Friday, Dec 27, 2024

One should monitor ATS Oddsmakers Point Spreads. With Americans expected to place $35 billion in legal bets on NFL games this season, understanding how spreads evolve over the course of the season can offer fascinating insights into the dynamics of sports prediction models. Among the various types of bets, the spread is one of the most widely used. It levels the playing field between teams of different strengths by predicting the expected margin of victory. The spread serves as a benchmark, giving both bettors and analysts a reference point for how close or lopsided a game is expected to be. Conventional wisdom suggests that, as the NFL season progresses and more data becomes available, prediction models should produce increasingly accurate spreads. Did you know this?Research supports the idea that sportsbooks optimize spreads for profit, not accuracy.Results of NFL games from 2014-2023 show that the [+] favorite covers the spread in 47% of games, the favorite wins but fails to cover the spread in 16% of games, the underdog wins in 34% of games, and the remaining games result in a push.Furthermore; History Data on historical closing spreads and game results from the 2014-2023 NFL seasons show that the home team was favored in about 63% of NFL games, with an average spread of -5.6 points. In contrast, when the home team was not favored (37% of games), the average spread was slightly lower at -4.6 points. Despite this home-field advantage in spreads, the actual outcomes reveal a more balanced picture. Home teams covered the spread in only 46% of games where they were the favorite, while away favorites covered the spread 49% of the time. This suggests that while home teams are often favored, they do not consistently outperform expectations against the spread. In about 16% of all NFL games, the favorite wins the game but fails to cover the spread.2024 Spread AccuracyThe NFL is constantly evolving—new rookies join, veterans retire, rule changes are implemented, and new stadiums are built. As such, the past does not always serve as a perfect predictor of future outcomes. However, looking back in the first four weeks of the 2024 NFL season, we are already seeing familiar patterns emerge. So far, favorites have covered the spread in 27 games, failed to cover in 35, and 2 games ended in a push. On average, the margin of victory has been about 1.7 points below the spread.This early trend aligns with the historical data from previous seasons, where the spread tends to overestimate the margin of victory early in the season. While past performance is no guarantee of future results, these recurring patterns provide valuable insight into how spreads play out during the rest of the weeks of the NFL season.2024 thru week 15Team ATS Record Denver 11-4-0 73.3%Minnesota 10-4-1 71.4%LA Chargers 10-5-0 66.7%Detroit 10-5-0 66.7%Pittsburgh 10-6-0 62.5%Washington 9-5-1 64.3%Tampa Bay 9-6-0 60.0%Buffalo 9-6-0 60.0%Indianapolis 9-6-0 60.0%Philadelphia 9-6-0 60.0% Arizona 9-6-0 60.0%Baltimore 9-6-1 60.0%Cincinnati 9-6-0 60.0%Green Bay 9-6-0 60.0%LA Rams 8-7-0 53.3% Kansas City 8-8-0 50.0%Jacksonville 7-7-1 50.0% Chicago 7-7-2 50.0% Carolina 7-8-0 46.7% Atlanta 6-8-1 42.9%Las Vegas 6-8-1 42.9%New England 6-8-1  42.9%Houston 6-8-2 42.9%Seattle 6-9-1 40.0%Miami 6-9-0 40.0% New Orleans 6-9-0 40.0%Dallas 6-9-0 40.0% NY Jets 5-10-0 33.3% San Francisco 5-10-0 33.3% NY Giants 4-11-0 26.7%Cleveland  4-11-0 26.7%Tennessee 2-13-0 13.3%

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NHL Off the Post: December 27th

by Sean Murphy

Friday, Dec 27, 2024

NHL action is ready to resume following a brief holiday break. Here's a look at five teams recent fortunes as we prepare to flip the calendar over to 2025 next week. Jets Flying High The Winnipeg Jets have been cruising through the season, establishing themselves as one of the NHL’s top contenders. With a 12-3-1 record on home ice, the Jets’ ability to defend their territory has been second to none. They'll begin a brief two-game homestand on Saturday against Ottawa and 10 of their next 11 contests will be at home. The Jets shutout victory over Minnesota last week solidified their dominance, showcasing both a potent offense and a steadfast defense. While challenges from the fast-charging Colorado Avalanche and Dallas Stars loom large in the Central Division, the Jets’ trajectory suggests they’ll continue to soar. Bruins Bare Their Claws At 8-3 over their last 11 games, the Boston Bruins continue to strike fear into opponents with their disciplined, relentless style of play. Their defensive prowess has been a hallmark this season, regularly stifling even the league’s most potent offenses. The B's currently rank sixth in the league in shots on goal allowed per game. While they’ve hit the occasional rough patch on the road, the Bruins remain a force to be reckoned with, consistently clawing their way to victories in tightly contested matchups. They come out of the holiday break just four points back of the first-place Panthers in the Atlantic Division. Avalanche Rolling Strong The Colorado Avalanche have been an offensive juggernaut, rolling over opponents with an impressive blend of speed and skill. Winners of three straight games, the Avs have found the back of the net 13 times over that stretch. Their top lines have been clicking, and the power play has been deadly. At the other end of the rink, Colorado has held seven of its last nine opponents to two goals or less. The Avs will benefit from playing four of their next five games on home ice before starting a three-game road trip in mid-January. Flames Flickering The Calgary Flames have struggled to find consistency, with their once-bright start to the season now dimming. Coming out of the holiday break, the Flames sit in fifth-place in the Pacific Division, seven points clear of the sixth-place Seattle Kraken. Defensive lapses and an inability to close out games have plagued them, especially against stronger opponents. While their offense has shown flashes of brilliance, the Flames need to reignite their spark and rediscover the tenacity that made them early season upstarts.  Islanders in Stormy Seas The New York Islanders have been a team of streaks, riding waves of momentum followed by frustrating slumps. Their recent 6-3 victory over Toronto highlighted their potential to dominate elite teams. However, they followed it up with an embarrassing 7-1 loss against the lowly Sabres on home ice, as the Islanders’ defense and goaltending have had difficulty holding firm against sustained pressure. If they can weather these storms and steady the ship, the Islanders could make a strong push toward the postseason. Despite their recent struggles, the Isles sit just five points back of the Senators for the second Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference. 

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, NCAAB, EPL and NCAAF Previews and Odds - 12/27/2024

by Al McMordie

Friday, Dec 27, 2024

The Friday sports card features NCAAF, NBA, NHL, NCAAB, and EPL action. The college football bowl season continues with five bowl games. Oklahoma battles Navy in the Armed Forces Bowl at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas, on ESPN at noon ET. The Sooners are a 2.5-point favorite with the total set at 43 (all odds from DraftKings). Georgia Tech plays Vanderbilt in the Birmingham Bowl at Protective Stadium in Birmingham, Alabama, on ESPN at 3:30 p.m. ET. The Yellow Jackets are a 3-point favorite with an over/under of 50. Texas Tech challenges Arkansas in the Liberty Bowl at the Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in Memphis, Tennessee, on ESPN at 7:00 p.m. ET. Syracuse faces Washington State in the Holiday Bowl at the Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, California, on Fox at 8:00 p.m. ET. The Orange are a 17.5-point favorite with a total of 59.5. Texas A&M goes against USC in the Las Vegas Bowl at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada, on ESPN at 10:30 p.m. ET. The Aggies are a 4-point favorite with an over/under of 52. The National Basketball Association has eight games on its docket. The New York Knicks travel to Orlando to play the Magic at 7:10 p.m. ET as a 6.5-point road favorite with a total of 211. Two NBA games tip off at 7:40 p.m. ET. The San Antonio Spurs play in Brooklyn against the Nets as a 7.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 212.5. The Boston Celtics host the Indiana Pacers as a 10.5-point favorite with a total of 232. Two NBA games start at 8:10 p.m. ET. The Houston Rockets play at home against the Minnesota Timberwolves as a 1-point favorite with an over/under of 213.5. The Memphis Grizzlies are in New Orleans to play the Pelicans as a 9.5-point road favorite with a total of 239. Two NBA games begin at 9:10 p.m. ET. The Phoenix Suns are home against the Dallas Mavericks as a 2-point favorite with an over/under of 225.5. The Cleveland Cavaliers visit Denver to play the Nuggets as a 2-point road favorite with a total of 237. The Los Angeles Clippers host the Golden State Warriors at 10:10 p.m. ET as a 4.5-point favorite with an over/under of 214.5. The National Hockey League has eight games on its slate. Four NHL games drop the puck at 7:07 p.m. ET. The Toronto Maple Leafs play in Detroit against the Red Wings as a -148 money-line road favorite with a total of 6. The Boston Bruins are in Columbus to face the Blue Jackets as a -162 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6. The New Jersey Devils play at home against the Carolina Hurricanes as a -125 money-line favorite with a total of 6. The Buffalo Sabres are home against the Chicago Blackhawks on ESPN2 as a -180 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6. Two NHL games start at 8:07 p.m. ET. The Dallas Stars host the Minnesota Wild as a -175 money-line favorite with a total of 6. The Nashville Predators travel to St. Louis to play the Blues as a -130 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Colorado Avalanche play in Utah against the Hockey Club on ESPN2 at 9:37 p.m. ET as a -135 money-line road favorite with a total of 6. The Vegas Golden Knights are in San Jose to play the Sharks at 10:37 p.m. ET as a -245 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.The NCAAB college basketball schedule has two games. Neither contest is between two Division I opponents. Matchweek 18 in the English Premier League concludes with two matches. Brighton and Hove Albion play at home against Brentford as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 3.5. Arsenal are home against Ipswich Town on the USA Network at 3:15 p.m. ET as a -2.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 3.5.

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2024 Year In Review ... Top Events From This Year

by William Burns

Thursday, Dec 26, 2024

As the 2024 year comes to an end, we can know say welcome to 2025. First, let's take a moment and realize what a year of sports it has been, a rollercoaster to say the least. From the Olympics to Championship Games, it's time to recap what my top events of 2024 Kansas City Chiefs - 3peat incoming?  Let's kick things off with the NFL. Playoffs are right around the corner and we're now coming down to the wire. Who's going to win it all? Well, we know one thing for sure. Kansas City, who are coming off their second consecutive Super Bowl ring, are challengers once again. With their 15-1 record this season, the Chiefs are the favorites to win the NFL once again. However, there are some very strong football teams standing in their way this time around. They most definitely are good enough to become champions for a third straight season. The Chiefs have their core of Patrick Mahomes & Travis Kelce back, and Hollywood Brown just returned from the IR which should be a massive help. But, will they get it done? Only time will tell. Here are the odds of the top five contenders as of right now.  Kansas City Chiefs (+350)Detroit Lions (+400) Buffalo Bills (+600)Philadelphia Eagles (+650)Baltimore Ravens (+650) Burns' Super Bowl Prediction as of today: Buffalo Bills (31) beats Detroit Lions (24). Spain are kings of Europe after winning European Championships!!  Looking at another type of football, this is the World's Most Beautiful Game. European Football (Soccer) is the biggest sport in the World and it's still growing. Now, although the "World Cup" is the most prestigious tournament to win in the world of Soccer for all of the players, the European Championships (Euro Cup) comes next in terms of International Tournaments. There's the Copa America, AFCON, Asian Cup etc.. However, the best teams are located in Europe and this is the tournament for just those teams. In this year's version, we saw a bunch of new faces reach new heights. For Spain, who ended up winning the tournament, a young 17yr old sensation took center stage. Lamine Yamal, who plays at Barcelona for club soccer, is one of the world's greatest up and coming superstars. He's already made a name for himself and people from all over the world are absolutely loving it. Yamal dominated France in the Semi's as he scored an absolute screamer. He also set up many opportunities for his teammates over the course of the tournament. It's just the start of something special that Spain is building and their next chance to show it is at the Nations League in 2025. Expect Spain to be serious challengers once again come the World Cup in 2026 & Euros in 2028. "The Avengers" strike back and win gold at the 2024 Olympics! (Team USA Basketball):  If you somehow missed the Men's Basketball portion of the 2024 Olympic Games, go check it out right now. Team USA, who lost in both the Semi Finals as well as the Bronze Medal game in the FIBA World Cup in 2023, were in it to prove something this time around. The fastest man in the world, Noah Lyles (who won gold in the 100M sprint in these very Olympics) had something to say after he realized that NBA Finals Champions were calling themselves the Champions of the World. That motivated the USA to bring together the greats and best players from their country for the 2024 olympics. With players like LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry a part of the team, you wouldn't expect anything else but gold. Having said that, Serbia & France did all they could to slow them down. But, Curry took exception. In the fourth quarter of both of those games (Semis & Finals) the "Baby Faced Assassin" took over. It was one of the greatest basketball performances of all time. Even the French TV announcer said, “The devil named Curry is hurting us!” when he was going off in the final minutes of the Gold Medal Game. Nicknamed "The Avengers" I think this time challenges some of the Team USA's of the past as one of the best teams ever assembled.  UCONN dynasty in College Hoops? Winning one championship in College Basketball is extremely difficult. Teams battle through all sorts of adversity all throughout the school year just to get put in a 68-team tournament at the end of the season to duel it out with the nations best programs. Well, this Connecticut Men's Basketball team has managed to win the NCAA Championship in consecutive years now. This is the first time that it's happened that a team won two straight since 2006-07, and the ninth time all time. Head Coach, Dan Hurley, was offered a six year 70-million dollar deal to become this year's HC of the Los Angeles Lakers. Hurley declined the offer and extended his tenure with the Huskies through the 2029-30 season for 20 million less. People may question his hard coaching style. But, there's no question that he's a winner/has loyalty to his program. He's here to build something special. It would be something "special" if the Huskies are able to win another title this season, that's for sure. It's only ever happened one other time in the late 60s/early 70s & there's no question that they should be considered as contenders once again. Either way, this is a team to watch for years to come, that's for sure. Shohei Ohtani shatters records. Dodgers win the World Series!!  After signing the biggest contract in sporting history (10yr/700-million) just over a year ago now, Shohei Ohtani has already cemented himself as one of the best players to play the game of baseball after just one season with his new team. Ohtani, who broke many records over the course of this season, started his career with the Dodgers a bit slower than one would expect (to his standards.) It wasn't until a betting scandal broke out with his former interpreter and Ohtani's bank account that the NL MVP started dominating. Finishing the season as the first player in MLB history to record 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a single season. What's even more impressive about this feat is that Shohei is just as talented, if not better as a pitcher. He didn't pitch in 2024, but is expected to get back to it in 2025. The Dodgers, who were stacked with talent, won the World Series with the top guys leading the way. Even though he didn't have an amazing playoffs, Ohtani's season will go down as one of the best ever by a hitter.  Luke Littler Takes Over the Dart World! Not many people outside of Europe pay attention to darts. However, like most sports, Darts is growing around the world. Luke Littler, a 17year old from Runcorn, United Kingdom, "kicked ass" in juniors. In his first season in the "big leagues," Littler "kicked even more ass." Luke "The Nuke" now has plenty of wins and titles under his belt (10 senior PDC titles already,) and he's the favorite to win the World Darts Championships which is the tournament that's going on right now. He's ranked as a top-five player in the World and might even be the best currently. Expect more winning to come over the course of this young phenom's career. 

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NFL, NCAAF, NBA and EPL Previews and Odds - 12/26/2024

by Big Al Staff

Thursday, Dec 26, 2024

The Thursday sports card features NFL, NCAAF, NBA, and EPL action. Week 17 in the NFL continues with one game. The Seattle Seahawks travel to Chicago to play the Bears on Amazon Prime Video at 8:15 p.m. ET as a 4-point road favorite with the total set at 42.5 (all odds from DraftKings).The college football bowl season continues with three bowl games on ESPN. Pittsburgh battles Toledo in the GameAbove Sports Bowl at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan, at 2:00 p.m. ET. The Panthers are a 7-point favorite with an over/under of 50.Kansas State plays Rutgers in the Rate Bowl at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona, at 5:30 p.m. ET. The Wildcats are a 7-point favorite with a total of 52.Bowling Green challenges Arkansas State in the 68 Ventures Bowl at Hancock Whitney Stadium in Mobile, Alabama, at 9:00 p.m. ET. The Falcons are an 8.5-point favorite with an over/under of 53. The National Basketball Association has nine games on its docket. Three NBA games tip off at 7:10 p.m. ET. The Oklahoma City Thunder play in Indiana against the Pacers as a 5-point road favorite with a total of 227.5. The Charlotte Hornets are in Washington to play the Wizards as a 4-point road favorite with an over/under of 227.5. The Orlando Magic host the Miami Heat as a 1.5-point favorite with a total of 208. The Atlanta Hawks play at home against the Chicago Bulls at 7:40 p.m. ET as a 6.5-point favorite with an over/under of 243.5. Three NBA games start at 8:10 p.m. ET. The Memphis Grizzlies are home against the Toronto Raptors as a 12-point favorite with a total of 239. The Houston Rockets visit New Orleans to play the Pelicans as a 7.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 220.5. The Milwaukee Bucks host the Brooklyn Nets as a 10-point favorite with a total of 214. Two games conclude the NBA card at 10:10 p.m. ET. The Sacramento Kings play at home against the Detroit Pistons as a 5-point favorite with an over/under of 227. The Portland Trail Blazers are home against the Utah Jazz as a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 227.5.Matchweek 18 on Boxing Day in the English Premier League begins with eight matches. Manchester City hosts Everton on the USA Network at 7:30 a.m. ET as a -1.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 3.5. Five EPL matches begin at 10:00 a.m. ET. Bournemouth plays at home against Crystal Palace as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5. Chelsea is at home against Fulham as a -1.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Newcastle United hosts Aston Villa on the USA Network as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5. Nottingham Forest plays at home against Tottenham as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 3.5. West Ham United plays at Southampton as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 3.5. Manchester United is at Wolverhampton on the USA Network at 12:30 p.m. ET as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Liverpool is home against Leicester City on the USA Network at 3:00 p.m. ET as a -2.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 4.5.

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NBA on Christmas Day: 35 Years of Betting Data

by Al McMordie

Wednesday, Dec 25, 2024

Christmas Day is the NBA's signature television event (apart from the Playoffs), and features match-ups between the league's elite and/or popular teams.   This season, we will be treated to five games (all odds courtesy of BetAnySports):San Antonio Spurs at New York Knicks (Knicks -8.5, 222.5)Minnesota Timberwolves at Dallas Mavericks (Mavericks -5.5, 221.5)Philadelphia 76ers at Boston Celtics (Celtics -8.5, 221)Los Angeles Lakers at Golden State Warriors (Warriors -4.5, 221.5)Denver Nuggets at Phoenix Suns (Nuggets -2.5, 232.5)Let's take a look at the data for Christmas Day games, dating back to December 25, 1990.Home teams:  61-53-1 ATSAway teams:  53-61-1 ATSFavorites:  60-53-1 ATSUnderdogs:  53-60-1 ATSDouble-digit Faves:  4-5 ATSDouble-digit Dogs:  5-4 ATSRevenge-minded Teams:  20-24 ATSOvers:  53-58-4 Unders:  58-53-4Teams off Win (vs. Foes off Loss):  22-30-1 ATSTeams off Loss (vs. Foes off Win):  30-22-1 ATSTeams off ATS Win (vs. Foes not off ATS Win):  29-36-1 ATSTeams off ATS Loss (vs. Foes not off ATS Loss:  36-28-1 ATSTeams off Upset Win (vs. Foes not off Upset Win):  8-10 ATSTeams off Upset Loss (vs. Foes not off Upset Loss):  25-17-1 ATSTeams off Back-to-Back Wins (vs. Foes not off Back-to-Back Wins):  23-29-1 ATSTeams off Back to Back Losses (vs. Foes not off Back-to-Back Losses):  16-14 ATSFrom this data, we can see that there might be an edge in playing teams off losses against foes off wins.  Since 1990, those teams have gone 30-22-1 ATS.  This year, there are four teams that fit the bill:  Spurs +8.5, Timberwolves +5.5, Celtics -8.5, and Suns +2.5).  Notably, home teams have done much better than road teams in this set of 53 games.  Home teams have gone 16-9 ATS, while road teams are just 14-13-1.  The home teams off a loss this season that are playing a road team off a win are:  Celtics -8.5 and Suns +2.5.  And if we break our 16-9 ATS set down further to Home Dogs and Home Favorites, we find they both have been profitable.  Home Dogs on Christmas Day off a loss have gone 6-4 ATS vs. foes off a win, while Home Favorites off a loss have gone 9-5 ATS vs. foes off a win (and Home PK'em teams have gone 1-0 ATS).Consider taking the Celtics and Suns on this Christmas Day.Good luck, as always...Al McMordie

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