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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, NCAAB, and MLB Previews and Odds - 03/31/2025

by Big Al Staff

Monday, Mar 31, 2025

The Monday sports card features NBA, NHL, NCAAB, and MLB action. The National Basketball Association has eight games on its docket. Four NBA games tip off at 7:10 p.m. ET. The Miami Heat travel to Washington to face the Wizards as an 8.5-point road favorite with the total set at 221 (all odds from DraftKings). The Utah Jazz play in Charlotte against the Hornets as a -1 point road favorite with an over/under of 219.5. The Indiana Pacers host the Sacramento Kings as a 5.5-point favorite with a total of 235. The Los Angeles Clippers are in Orlando to play the Magic as a 2.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 211.5. The Boston Celtics visit Memphis to challenge the Grizzlies on TNT at 7:40 p.m. ET as a 4.5-point road favorite with a total of 236. The Oklahoma City Thunder play at home against the Chicago Bulls at 8:10 p.m. ET as a 14.5-point favorite with an over/under of 239. The Dallas Mavericks are home against the Brooklyn Nets at 8:40 p.m. ET as a 10-point favorite with a total of 220.5. The Los Angeles Lakers host the Houston Rockets on TNT at 10:10 p.m. ET as a 5-point favorite with an over/under of 226.The National Hockey League has four games on its slate. Two NHL games drop the puck at 7:07 p.m. ET. The New Jersey Devils play at home against the Minnesota Wild as a -155 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Philadelphia Flyers are home against the Nashville Predators as a -122 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Colorado Avalanche host the Calgary Flames at 8:37 p.m. ET as a -258 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Dallas Stars play in Seattle against the Kraken at 10:07 p.m. ET as a -162 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The NCAAB college basketball schedule has the first four games in the debut of the College Basketball Crown postseason tournament on FS1 taking place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Butler battles Utah at 3:00 p.m. ET as a 1-point favorite with a total of 155.5. Boise State takes on George Washington at 5:30 p.m. ET as an 8.5-point favorite with an over/under of 141.5. Nebraska challenges Arizona State at 8:30 p.m. ET as a 4.5-point favorite with a total of 154.5. Georgetown goes against Washington State at 11:00 p.m. ET as a 3.5-point favorite with an over/under of 159.5.Major League Baseball has 14 games on its schedule. Two MLB games throw out the first pitch at 2:10 p.m. ET. The Minnesota Twins are in Chicago to play the White Sox as a -180 money-line road favorite with a total of 8.5. The Milwaukee Brewers play at home against the Kansas City Royals as a -118 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Baltimore Orioles are home against the Boston Red Sox at 2:35 p.m. ET as a -148 money-line favorite with a total of 9.5. The Philadelphia Phillies host the Colorado Rockies at 3:05 p.m. ET as a -238 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. Two MLB games start at 6:40 p.m. ET. The New York Mets travel to Miami to face the Marlins as a -185 money-line road favorite with a total of 8.5. The Texas Rangers play in Cincinnati against the Reds as a -125 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 9. The Tampa Bay Rays play at home against the Pittsburgh Pirates at 7:05 p.m. ET. The Toronto Blue Jays are home against the Washington Nationals at 7:07 p.m. ET as a -170 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The St. Louis Cardinals host the Los Angeles Angels at 7:45 p.m.  ET as a -135 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Houston Astros play at home against the San Francisco Giants at 8:10 p.m. ET as a -125 money-line favorite with a total of 8. Two more MLB games begin at 9:40 p.m. ET. The Seattle Mariners are home against the Detroit Tigers as a -122 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7.5. The San Diego Padres host the Cleveland Guardians as a -135 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The Chicago Cubs are in Oakland to face the A’s at 10:05 p.m. ET as a -130 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Los Angeles Dodgers play at home against the Atlanta Braves at 10:10 p.m. ET as a -205 money-line favorite with a total of 8.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, NCAAB and MLB Previews and Odds - 03/30/2025

by Big Al Staff

Sunday, Mar 30, 2025

The Sunday sports card features NBA, NHL, NCAAB, and MLB action. The National Basketball Association has eight games on its docket. The Cleveland Cavaliers host the Los Angeles Clippers at 3:40 p.m. ET as an 8-point favorite with the total set at 231 (all odds from DraftKings). The New York Knicks play at home against the Portland Trail Blazers at 6:10 p.m. ET as an 8-point favorite with an over/under of 221.5. Four NBA games tip off at 7:10 p.m. ET. The New Orleans Pelicans are home against the Charlotte Hornets as a 3.5-point favorite with a total of 214.5. The Milwaukee Bucks host the Atlanta Hawks as a 4-point favorite with an over/under of 235. The Minnesota Timberwolves play at home against the Detroit Pistons as a 7.5-point favorite with a total of 226. The Golden State Warriors travel to San Antonio to play the Spurs as a 12-point road favorite with an over/under of 232.5. The Toronto Raptors play in Philadelphia against the 76ers at 7:40 p.m. ET as a 4-point road favorite with a total of 222.5. The Houston Rockets are in Phoenix to take on the Suns as a 2.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 224.The National Hockey League has eight games on its slate. The Florida Panthers are at home against the Montreal Canadiens at 1:07 p.m. ET as a -290 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. Two more NHL games start at 3:07 p.m. ET. The Washington Capitals host the Buffalo Sabres as a -285 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Winnipeg Jets play at home against the Vancouver Canucks as a -225 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Utah Hockey Club visits Chicago to battle the Blackhawks at 4:07 p.m. ET as a -218 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. Two NHL games begin at 5:07 p.m. ET. The Carolina Hurricanes are home against the New York Islanders as a -290 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Ottawa Senators play in Pittsburgh against the Penguins as a -142 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Toronto Maple Leafs are in Anaheim to go against the Ducks at 8:07 p.m. ET as a -162 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The Los Angeles Kings host the San Jose Sharks on ESPN at 10:07 p.m. ET as a -410 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The NCAAB college basketball schedule has two games between Division I opponents on CBS in the final two games of the Elite Eight of the NCAA tournament. Houston battles Tennessee at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana, at 2:20 p.m. ET. The Cougars are a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 124.5. Auburn challenges Michigan State at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, at 5:05 p.m. ET. The Tigers are a 4.5-point favorite with an over/under of 147.5. Major League Baseball has 13 games on its schedule. Two MLB games throw out the first pitch at 1:35 p.m. ET. The New York Yankees play at home against the Milwaukee Brewers as a -142 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The Philadelphia Phillies travel to Washington to play the Nationals as a -162 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Toronto Blue Jays are home against the Baltimore Orioles a 1:37 p.m. ET as a -135 money-line favorite with a total of 9. Three more MLB games start at 1:40 p.m. ET. The Tampa Bay Rays host the Colorado Rockies as a -198 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The San Francisco Giants play in Cincinnati against the Reds as a -120 money-line road favorite with a total of 8.5. The Pittsburgh Pirates are in Miami against the Marlins as a -112 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8. Two more MLB games begin at 2:10 p.m. ET. The Los Angeles Angels visit Chicago against the White Sox as a -135 money-line road favorite with a total of 8.5. The Kansas City Royals play at home against the Cleveland Guardians as a -115 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7.5. The Minnesota Twins are in St. Louis to take on the Cardinals at 2:15 p.m. ET as a -125 money-line road favorite with a total of 8. The Texas Rangers are home against the Boston Red Sox at 2:35 p.m. ET as a -185 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. Two MLB games start at 4:10 p.m. ET. The Arizona Diamondbacks host the Chicago Cubs as a -125 money-line favorite with a total of 9. The Seattle Mariners play at home against the Oakland A’s as a -166 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7. Sunday Night Baseball on ESPN at 7:10 features the San Diego Padres at home battling the Atlanta Braves. The Padres are a -125 money-line favorite with a total of 8. 

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, NCAAB and MLB Previews and Odds - 03/29/2025

by Big Al Staff

Saturday, Mar 29, 2025

The Saturday sports card features NBA, NHL, NCAAB, and MLB action. The National Basketball Association has seven games on its docket. The Sacramento Kings travel to Orlando to face the Magic at 5:10 p.m. ET as a 1-point road favorite with the total set at 218 (all odds from DraftKings). The Brooklyn Nets play in Washington against the Wizards as a 1-point road favorite with an over/under of 220.5. The Miami Heat are in Philadelphia to face the 76ers as a 7.5-point road favorite with a total of 218. Four games conclude the NBA card at 8:10 p.m. ET. The Boston Celtics visit the San Antonio Spurs as a 12-point road favorite with an over/under of 228.5. The Memphis Grizzlies host the Los Angeles Lakers as a 2-point favorite with a total of 237.5. The Oklahoma City Thunder play at home against the Indiana Pacers as a 10-point favorite with an over/under of 239. The Chicago Bulls are home against the Dallas Mavericks as a 3-point favorite with a total of 237.5. The National Hockey League has 11 games on its slate. The Philadelphia Flyers host the Buffalo Sabres at 1:07 p.m. ET as a -115 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Tampa Bay Lightning play at home against the New York Islanders at 2:07 p.m. ET as a -230 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Colorado Avalanche are home against the St. Louis Blues at 4:37 p.m. ET as a -205 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Minnesota Wild host the New Jersey Devils at 6:07 p.m. ET as a -130 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Vegas Golden Knights play in Nashville against the Predators at 6:37 p.m. ET as a -162 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 5.5. Two more NHL games drop the puck at 7:07 p.m. ET. The Ottawa Senators play at home against the Columbus Blue Jackets as a -198 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Los Angeles Kings are home against the Toronto Maple Leafs as a -142 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5.The Detroit Red Wings host the Boston Bruins on ABC at 8:07 p.m. ET as a -175 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Edmonton Oilers play at home against the Calgary Flames at 10:07 p.m. ET as a -162 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. Two more games finish the NHL card at 10:37 p.m. ET. The New York Rangers are in San Jose to take on the Sharks as a -198 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The Dallas Stars travel to Seattle to face the Kraken as a -170 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The NCAAB college basketball schedule has two games between Division I opponents on TBS in the first two games of the Elite Eight of the NCAA tournament. Florida battles Texas Tech at the Chase Center in San Francisco, California, at 6:09 p.m. ET. The Gators are a 6.5-point favorite with a total of 156.5.Duke challenges Alabama at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, at 8:49 p.m. ET. The Blue Devils are a 6.5-point favorite with an over/under of 174.5. Major League Baseball has 15 games on its schedule. The New York Yankees are home against the Milwaukee Brewers at 1:05 p.m. ET as a -155 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The Los Angeles Angels play in Chicago against the White Sox at 2:10 p.m. ET as a -166 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8. The Minnesota Twins are in St. Louis against the Cardinals on FS1 at 2:15 p.m. ET as a -122 money-line road favorite with a total of 7.5. The Toronto Blue Jays host the Baltimore Orioles at 3:07 p.m. ET as a -130 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Philadelphia Phillies play at Washington against the Nationals at 4:05 p.m. ET as a -155 money-line road favorite with a total of 8.5. Four more MLB games throw out the first pitch at 4:10 p.m. ET as a -205 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. The Tampa Bay Rays play at home against the Colorado Rockies as a -205 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The Kansas City Royals are home against the Cleveland Guardians as a -122 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Cincinnati Reds host the San Francisco Giants as a -125 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The Pittsburgh Pirates are in Miami to play the Marlins as a -125 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Texas Rangers play at home against the Boston Red Sox at 7:05 p.m. ET as a -115 money-line favorite with a total of 9. Two more MLB games are Fox’s regional coverage at 7:15 p.m. ET. The Houston Astros are home against the New York Mets as a -125 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Atlanta Braves visit San Diego to play the Padres as a -135 money-line road favorite with a total of 8.The Arizona Diamondbacks host the Chicago Cubs at 8:40 p.m. ET as a -122 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. Two more games complete the MLB card at 9:10 p.m. ET. The Los Angeles Dodgers play at home against the Detroit Tigers as a -205 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The Seattle Mariners are home against the Oakland A’s as a -162 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, NCAAB and MLB Previews and Odds - 03/28/2025

by Big Al Staff

Friday, Mar 28, 2025

The Friday sports card features NBA, NHL, NCAAB, and MLB action. The National Basketball Association has seven games on its docket. The Cleveland Cavaliers travel to Detroit to face the Pistons at 7:10 p.m. ET as a 6.5-point road favorite with the total set at 230.5 (all odds from DraftKings). Two more NBA games tip off at 7:40 p.m. ET. The Toronto Raptors host the Charlotte Hornets as a 6-point favorite with an over/under of 217.5. The Los Angeles Clippers play in Brooklyn to take on the Nets as a 13-point road favorite with a total of 214.5. Three NBA games start at 8:10 p.m. ET. The Golden State Warriors visit New Orleans to play the Pelicans as a 13-point road favorite with an over/under of 223.5. The New York Knicks play in Milwaukee against the Bucks as a 1-point road favorite with a total of 220.5. The Minnesota Timberwolves play at home against the Phoenix Suns as a 7-point favorite with an over/under of 227. The Denver Nuggets are home against the Utah Jazz as a 17.5-point favorite with a total of 238.5. The National Hockey League has six games on its slate. Three NHL games drop the puck at 7:07 p.m. ET. The Florida Panthers host the Utah Hockey Club as a -258 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Columbus Blue Jackets play at home against the Vancouver Canucks as a -118 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Carolina Hurricanes are home against the Montreal Canadiens as a -298 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Winnipeg Jets host the New Jersey Devils at 8:07 p.m. ET as a -175 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Vegas Golden Knights play in Chicago against the Blackhawks at 8:40 p.m.  ET as a -305 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The New York Rangers are in Anaheim to face the Ducks as a -162 money-line road favorite with a total of 5.5. The NCAAB college basketball schedule has four games between Division I opponents in the final four games of the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament. Michigan State battles Mississippi at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, on CBS at 7:09 p.m. ET as a 3.5-point favorite with an over/under of 143.5. Tennessee faces Kentucky at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana, on TBS at 7:39 p.m. ET as a 4.5-point favorite with a total of 144.5. Auburn plays at home against Michigan at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, on CBS at 9:39 p.m. ET as an 8.5-point underdog with an over/under of 153.5. Houston challenges Purdue at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana, on TBS at 10:09 p.m. ET as an 8.5-point favorite with a total of 131.5. Major League Baseball has nine games on its schedule. The Tampa Bay Rays play at home against the Colorado Rockies at 4:10 p.m. ET as a -205 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. The Toronto Blue Jays are home against the Baltimore Orioles at 7:07 p.m. ET as a -130 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The Pittsburgh Pirates travel to Miami to go against the Miami Marlins at 7:10 p.m. ET as a -142 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 7.5.The Boston Red Sox play in Texas to play the Rangers at 8:05 p.m. ET as a -125 money-line road favorite with a total of 8.5. The Houston Astros host the New York Mets at 8:10 p.m. ET as a -142 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. Three MLB games start at 9:40 p.m. ET. The Arizona Diamondbacks play at home against the Chicago Cubs as a -135 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The Seattle Mariners are home against the Oakland A’s as a -155 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7. The San Diego Padres host the Atlanta Padres as a -130 money-line favorite with a total of 7.5. The Los Angeles Dodgers play at home against the Detroit Tigers as a -205 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7.5.

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NBA System of the Week

by Al McMordie

Thursday, Mar 27, 2025

Sports handicappers have many tools in their toolbox that they use to get an edge on the bookmakers.  When I handicap the NBA, I like to look at things like margin of victory, points scored, home/road statistics, won/loss percentages, and so forth.  Another thing I will often look at is the series history between the two teams, with a particular focus on which team won the previous meeting, and by how many points.Tonight, we have a nice situation in the NBA.  The Los Angeles Lakers will be in Chicago to face the Bulls, who just walloped L.A. at Staples Center five days ago, 146-115.  And what made that loss even more remarkable was that the Lakers were favored by 10.5 points, yet lost by 31.I consulted my trusty NBA Database (which was written up in ESPN Magazine on December 13, 2010), and researched how teams do when playing with revenge from such a big defeat earlier in the season.  And here's what I found.  Teams playing with revenge from a same-season loss by 30 or more points do quite well provided two other factors were present.  First, our revenge-minded team need to be the favorite.  And, second, our opponent needed to be off a SU/ATS win.  In that situation, our revengers have gone 73-46-1 ATS since 1990.Let's look deeper at our Chicago Bulls/Los Angeles Lakers match-up tonight.  The Lakers played last night, so there's always a chance they might rest players.  However, currently, both Luka Doncic and LeBron James are expected to suit up, and L.A. is a 4-point favorite at Circa Sportsbook.  That's good, since our revenger does need to be the favorite.  Next, we need the Bulls to be off a SU/ATS win.  And, indeed, they are, as they defeated Denver, 129-119, in their previous game.NBA System of the Week:  Play on a favorite with revenge from a loss earlier in the season by 30 or more points, if its opponent is off a SU/ATS win. Tonight's play:  Los Angeles Lakers -4Good luck, as always,Al McMordie

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, NCAAB and MLB Previews and Odds - 03/27/2025

by Big Al Staff

Thursday, Mar 27, 2025

 The Thursday sports card features NBA, NHL, NCAAB, and MLB action. The National Basketball Association has eight games on its docket. Three NBA games tip off at 7:10 p.m. ET. The Indiana Pacers travel to Washington to play the Wizards as an 11-point road favorite with the total set at 235.5 (all odds from DraftKings). The Orlando Magic host the Dallas Mavericks as a 6-point favorite with an over/under of 219. The Cleveland Cavaliers play at home against the San Antonio Spurs as a 13.5-point favorite with a total of 239. The Miami Heat are home against the Atlanta Hawks at 7:40 p.m. ET as a 1.5-point favorite with an over/under of 227. Two NBA games start at 8:10 p.m. ET. The Los Angeles Lakers play in Chicago against the Bulls as a 3.5-point road favorite with a total of 239. The Oklahoma City Thunder host the Memphis Grizzlies as a 10-point favorite with an over/under of 238. The Houston Rockets are in Utah to play the Jazz at 9:10 p.m. ET as a 12.5-point road favorite with a total of 228. The Sacramento Kings play at home against the Portland Trail Blazers as a 5.5-point favorite with an over/under of 225.5.The National Hockey League has ten games on its slate. Four NHL games drop the puck at 7:07 p.m. ET. The Buffalo Sabres are home against the Pittsburgh Penguins as a -135 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Montreal Canadiens visit Philadelphia to play the Flyers as a -120 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Tampa Bay Lightning host the Utah Hockey Club as a -198 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Ottawa Senators play in Detroit against the Red Wings as a -130 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 5.5.The Washington Capitals are in Minnesota to play the Wild at 7:37 p.m. ET as a -162 money-line road favorite with a total of 5.5. The St. Louis Blues travel to Nashville to face the Predators at 8:07 p.m. ET as a -135 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Dallas Stars play in Calgary against the Flames at 9:07 p.m. ET as a -148 money-line road favorite with a total of 5.5. Two NHL games begin at 10:07 p.m. ET. The Colorado Avalanche play at home against the Los Angeles Kings on ESPN as a -155 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Edmonton Oilers are in Seattle to play the Kraken with both teams priced as a -110 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Toronto Maple Leafs visit San Jose to play the Sharks at 10:37 p.m. ET as a -278 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 5.5.The NCAAB college basketball schedule has four games between Division I opponents in the opening games of the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament. Alabama battles BYU on CBS at 7:09 p.m. ET at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, as a 5.5-point favorite with a total of 175.5. Florida takes on Maryland on TBS at 7:39 p.m. ET at the Chase Center in San Francisco, California, as a 6.5-point favorite with an over/under of 156.5. Duke plays against Arizona on CBS at 9:39 p.m. ET at the Prudential  Center in Newark as a 9.5-point favorite with a total of 153.5. Texas Tech challenges Arkansas on TBS at 10:09 p.m. ET at the Chase Center in San Francisco as a 5.5-point favorite with an over/under of 148.5. Opening Day in Major League Baseball has 14 games on its schedule. The New York Yankees are home against the Milwaukee Brewers on ESPN at 3:05 p.m. ET as a -155 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The Baltimore Orioles play in Toronto to take on the Blue Jays at 3:07 p.m. ET as a -112 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5. Two more MLB games throw out the first pitch at 4:05 p.m. ET. The Boston Red Sox are in Texas to play the Rangers as a -115 money-line road favorite with a total of 7.5. The Philadelphia Phillies travel to Washington to play the Nationals as a -170 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 7. Six MLB games begin at 4:10 p.m. ET. The Los Angeles Angels play in Chicago against the White Sox as a -155 money-line road favorite with a total of 8. The Houston Astros host the New York Mets as a -130 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. The Kansas City Royals play at home against the Cleveland Guardians as a -130 money-line favorite with a total of 7.5. The Atlanta Braves are in San Diego to go against the Padres as a -130 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 7. The Pittsburgh Penguins travel to Miami to take on the Marlins as a -155 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The San Francisco Giants play in Cincinnati to challenge the Reds with both teams priced at -110 with an over/under of 8. The Minnesota Twins are in St. Louis to battle the Cardinals at 4:15 p.m. ET as a -118 money-line road favorite with a total of 7.5.The Los Angeles Dodgers are home against the Detroit Tigers on ESPN at 7:10 p.m. ET as a -184 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7. Two games conclude the MLB card at 10:10 p.m. ET. The Seattle Mariners host the Oakland A’s as a -175 money-line favorite with a total of 7. The Arizona Diamondbacks play at home against the Chicago Cubs as a -130 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. 

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World Series Projections

by ASA, Inc.

Wednesday, Mar 26, 2025

Favorite - Philadelphia Phillies (+1000)The Dodgers are the overwhelming favorite to repeat as World Series champs, but the return is not favorable for LAD at +240. If one team has the ability to knock off the 2025 favorites, it is the Phillies. They currently have the 2nd highest active payroll and plenty of talent to compete with anyone in the league. Last season Philly finished with the second most wins, and dominated at home winning a league best 54 games at Citizen Bank Park. However, that sensational performance only amounted to a disappointing divisional series loss to the Mets in four games. On offense, Philadelphia has an elite top five of their batting order, projected as Trea Turner, Bryce Harper, Alec Bohm, Kyle Schwarber, and Nick Castellanos. Ranked top five in almost all offensive categories in 2024, except the Phillies to have elite bats once again. On defense, Zack Wheeler is the highest paid starter in baseball, while having exceptional depth behind him. Having a top tier roster (or payroll) is not necessary to win the World Series, but it certainly helps when trying to dethrone the heavily favored Dodgers. Philly is one of the few who can compete with them on paper. Mid-Tier - Detroit Tigers (+3000)Even though Detroit ended their season to Cleveland in the divisional round, losing the series 3-2, they still finished as one of the hottest teams in MLB. The Tigers were 55-63 in August, then finished the regular season 31-12, sporting the best pitching in the league during that stretch. A historic ending to 2024 leaves high hopes for Detroit in 2025. Pitching is the catalyst for the Tigers, led by reigning Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal. Reese Olson and Jack Flaherty are extremely solid while Jackson Jobe is possibly the best pitching prospect in the sport, with a flamethrower of an arm. With a rotation like that, the Tigers will be in a lot of close ball games. They led MLB in one run wins last season with 31, but hope to have a better run differential in 2025. They have an elite group of pitchers, making them dangerous for any team to face.  Long-Shot - Milwaukee Brewers (+5000)Each year the Brewers seem to lose a few of their best players, yet reload again and again in true moneyball fashion. They have made the playoffs in six of the past seven seasons which is one of the best marks in the league, especially considering their 23rd ranked payroll. Milwaukee had a top 5 team ERA last season, and the rotation is expected to be strong again with the return of star Brandon Woodruff. The batting is led by veteran Christian Yelich, William Contreras, and young star Jackson Chourio. The Brewers should once again be in contention for a NL Central title with the chance to make some noise come playoff time. Milwaukee seems to get the absolute most bang for their buck when it comes to players, maybe their World Series odds could provide some value as well.  

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL and NCAAB Previews and Odds - 03/26/2025

by Big Al Staff

Wednesday, Mar 26, 2025

The Wednesday sports card features NBA, NHL, and NCAAB action. The National Basketball Association has six games on its docket. The Philadelphia 76ers host the Washington Wizards at 7:10 p.m. ET as a 3-point favorite with the total set at 230 (all odds from DraftKings). Three more NBA games tip off at 7:40 p.m. ET. The Los Angeles Lakers travel to Indiana to face the Pacers as a 1.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 235. The Brooklyn Nets play at home against the Toronto Raptors as a 1.5-point favorite with a total of 215. The Los Angeles Clippers play in New York against the Knicks on ESPN as a 2-point road favorite with an over/under of 218. The Denver Nuggets are home against the Milwaukee Bucks at 9:10 p.m. ET as a 5-point favorite with a total of 225.5. The Boston Celtics are in Phoenix to play the Suns on ESPN at 10:10 p.m. ET as a 3.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 223. The National Hockey League has four games on its slate. Two NHL games drop the puck at 7:37 p.m. ET. The New York Islanders host the Vancouver Canucks as a -125 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The New Jersey Devils visit the Chicago Blackhawks on TNT as a -225 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 5.5. Two more games conclude the NHL card at 10:07 p.m. ET. The Dallas Stars play in Edmonton against the Oilers on TNT as a -148 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The Anaheim Ducks play at home against the Boston Bruins as a -125 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5.The NCAAB college basketball schedule has three games between Division I opponents on ESPN2. The championship game of the College Basketball Invitational at the Ocean Center in Daytona, Florida tips off at 5:00 p.m. ET with Illinois State battling Cleveland State. The Redbirds reached the finals of this tournament with their 78-73 victory against Incarnate Word as a 5.5-point favorite on Tuesday. The Vikings reached the championship game with a 72-65 win against the Florida Gulf Coast as a 3.5-point favorite yesterday. Illinois State is a 1.5-point favorite with a total of 141.5. The quarterfinals of the National Invitational Tournament conclude with two games. Loyola-Chicago plays Kent State at 7:00 p.m. ET. The Ramblers won for the fifth time in their last six games with a 77-76 upset victory as a 5-point underdog on Sunday. The Golden Flashes won for the fifth time in their last six games with a 77-75 upset victory at Stanford as a 7.5-point underdog on Sunday. Loyola-Chicago is a 4.5-point favorite with an over/under of 144.5. UC-Irvine is home against UAB at 9:00 p.m. ET. The Anteaters won for the eighth time in their last nine games with a 66-61 victory against Jacksonville State as an 8-point favorite with a total of 140.5 on Sunday. The Blazers won for the fourth time in their last five games after their 88-84 upset victory as a 6.5-point underdog on Sunday. UC-Irvine is a 4.5-point favorite with a total of 160.5.  

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Texas Children's Houston Open Preview and Picks

by Matt Fargo

Tuesday, Mar 25, 2025

Viktor Hovland had missed three straight cuts but he was able to find his putter to win the Valspar Championship by one shot over Justin Thomas, his first PGA Tour win since the 2023 TOUR Championship. His +1.83 SG: Putting was his highest of any career PGA Tour event so it was lightning in a bottle to get the victory at 80/1 odds. The Florida swing concluded and the PGA Tour heads to Houston for the Texas Children's Houston Open from Memorial Park Golf Course. This will be the fifth straight year (no event in 2023) that it has played host and is a par 71, playing to 7,412 yards that tends to play even longer. Unlike the last two events that demanded elite ball striking, Memorial Park challenges the short game. Before being the current stop, Memorial Park went through a massive renovation in 2019. It is considered one of the top municipal courses in the country with over 60,000 rounds played annually so it was a challenge to set up to make it playable for the public and yet to challenge the tour pros. It was not overly lengthened while 34 bunkers were removed bringing it down from 54 to 20. A lot of the greenside bunkers that were taken out are now undulating slopes where players need to be imaginative to get up and down. The Bermuda greens are big and sloped with a lot of crowns so putting is a challenge as well. The top two key factors this week are SG: Around The Green and SG: Putting (Bermuda). Stephan Jaeger is the defending champion as he won by one shot over five players for his first PGA Tour win. It looked like a playoff was inevitable but Scottie Scheffler missed a five-foot putt on the 72nd hole to give Jaeger the victory. He will look to become only the second player to defend the title as Vijay Singh won back-to-back in 2004 and 2005 while also becoming just the second three-time champion along with Curtis Strange. There is another fairly strong field on hand highlighted by Scheffler (4/1) and Rory McIlroy (7/1) and in total, 11 of the top 30 in the OWGR will be competing. It is a big odds drop off after those two with Aaron Rai, Wyndham Clark, J.J. Spaun and Tony Finau all next closest at 30/1. When you think of Texas weather in the spring, wind is the first thing that comes to mind and there will be plenty of it all four days but nothing like we have seen the last two weeks. Rain is predicted all four days as well but again, nothing that will be overly problematic to really affect play or cause delays unless we see some pop up thunderstorms which are always in play. The Thursday AM/Friday PM wave did have the edge last week as predicted but both waves this week should be on equal ground with no advantages either way. Top four key categories this week in order: Strokes Gained: Around The GreenStrokes Gained: PuttingStrokes Gained: ApproachBogey Avoidance Each bet is Win/Top Five/Top Ten. The typical recommendation is 50%/25%/25% with odds, payouts and results based on a $1000 unit (easy round number for bookkeeping) on each of the following players. The payouts are listed right below the odds which are all from DraftKings: Jason DayOdds: Win 3,500 ~ Top Five 600 ~ Top Ten 300Payout: Win 17,500.00 ~ Top Five 1,500.00 ~ Top Ten 750.00 Day is coming off a WD at THE PLAYERS Championship which was due to illness and not injury. He is positive in all SG categories with SG: Off-The-Tee being the lowest at +0.14 but that is not such a huge category here. He is No. 66 in SG: Around-The-Green which is above average albeit not great but he is trending the right way with his putter as he was +1.61 in SG: Putting at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, his best of the season which resulted in a T8. He did not make the cut last year but had a T7 and a T16 in two of the previous three editions. Min Woo LeeOdds: Win 3,500 ~ Top Five 650 ~ Top Ten 300Payout: Win 17,500.00 ~ Top Five 1,625.00 ~ Top Ten 750.00 Min Woo was right there at THE PLAYERS Championship as he entered Saturday with a share of the lead but stumbled with a Saturday 78 and he ended up T20. That was his fourth T20 of the season in six starts and his lone MC was at The Arnold Palmer Invitational where he was -3.35 in SG: Approach, his second worst in his career PGA Tour starts, the 2023 Masters only being worse. He is No. 9 in SG: Around-The-Green and No. 15 in SG: Putting making him perfect for this course so it is not a concern that this is his first start here. Alex SmalleyOdds: Win 5,500 ~ Top Five 900 ~ Top Ten 400Payout: Win 27,500.00 ~ Top Five 2,250.00 ~ Top Ten 1,000.00 Smalley is coming off a MC at the Valspar Championship, his second of the season, but when he makes the weekend, he has been at the top of the leaderboard. He has finished T21 or better in six made starts and while his best finish is a T10, his game fits here. He was -SG: Around-The-Green for the first time this season and he is ranked No. 5 overall in that category. His putter has been solid as well as he is No. 41 in SG: Putting so his short game is in fine form. While he missed the cut here last year, he has a T4 in 2022 and a T15 in 2021. Max GreysermanOdds: Win 6,000 ~ Top Five 1,000 ~ Top Ten 450Payout: Win 30,000.00 ~ Top Five 2,500.00 ~ Top Ten 1,125.00 We last used Greyserman at the Farmers Insurance Open and while it resulted in a T48, he had nothing going after a letdown from The American Express the previous week. He is coming off a MC in his last start at THE PLAYERS Championship but had three consecutive T25s prior to that and his -3.40 SG: Approach at TPC Sawgrass was by far the worst of his career. His game fits here as his putting and around the green games are back on track and he finished only two shots back in Houston last year, good for a T7. Results through The Valspar Championship (8 Tournaments): Win: -18,000Top Five: -3,255Top Ten: -225

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, and NCAAB Previews and Odds - 03/25/2025

by Big Al Staff

Tuesday, Mar 25, 2025

The Tuesday sports card features NBA, NHL, and NCAAB action. The National Basketball Association has eight games on its docket. Two NBA games tip off at 7:10 p.m. ET. The Orlando Magic travel to Charlotte to face the Hornets as a 5-point road favorite with a total of 212 (all odds from DraftKings). The Detroit Red Pistons host the San Antonio Spurs as a 9.5-point favorite with an over/under of 235. Two more NBA games start at 7:40 p.m. ET. The Golden State Warriors play at Miami against the Heat on TNT as a 5-point road favorite with a total of 218. The New York Knicks play at home against the Dallas Mavericks as a 7.5-point favorite with an over/under of 224.5. The Houston Rockets are home against the Atlanta Hawks at 8:10 p.m. ET as an 8-point favorite with a total of 234. The Memphis Grizzlies are on the road against the Utah Jazz at 9:10 p.m. ET as a 10-point road favorite with an over/under of 241. Two more games conclude the NBA card at 10:10 p.m. ET. The Oklahoma City Thunder visit Sacramento against the Kings on TNT as a 10-point road favorite with a total of 231. The Cleveland Cavaliers play in Portland to take on the Trail Blazers as a 6.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 231. The National Hockey League has 10 games on its slate. Four NHL games drop the puck at 7:07 p.m. ET. The Carolina Hurricanes host the Nashville Predators as a -270 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Ottawa Senators are in Buffalo against the Sabres as a -148 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Toronto Maple Leafs play at home against the Philadelphia Flyers as a -258 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Tampa Bay Lightning are home against the Pittsburgh Penguins as a -270 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. Three NHL games begin at 8:07 p.m. ET. The St. Louis Blues host the Montreal Canadiens as a -155 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Vegas Golden Knights travel to Minnesota to play the Minnesota Wild as a -185 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Winnipeg Jets play at home against the Washington Capitals as a -142 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. Two NHL games start at 9:07 p.m. ET. The Colorado Avalanche are home against the Detroit Red Wings as a -278 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Calgary Flames host the Seattle Kraken as a -135 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Los Angeles Kings play at home against the New York Rangers at 10:37 p.m. ET as a -170 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The NCAAB college basketball schedule has four games between Division I opponents. The quarterfinals of the National Invitational Tournament tip-off with two games. Bradley is home against Chattanooga on ESPN2 as a 3.5-point favorite with a total of 152.5. The semifinals of the College Basketball Invitational taking place at the Ocean Center in Daytona Beach, Florida, sees Illinois State battling Incarnate Word on ESPNU as a 5.5-point favorite with an over/under of 149.5.Oklahoma State challenges North Texas in the quarterfinals of the NIT on ESPN2 at 9:30 p.m. ET as a 1.5-point favorite with a total of 138.5. Cleveland State hosts the Florida Gulf Coast on ESPNU at 9:30 p.m. ET as a 3.5-point favorite with an over/under of 140.5. 

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Best NBA Finals Match-Ups

by AAA Sports

Monday, Mar 24, 2025

I propose five hypothetical Finals matchups that the League would love to see:1.      BOSTON vs. LOS ANGELES LAKERS – Duh. Outside of the other playoff teams and their fan bases, who WOULDN’T want to see these two go at it for the umpteenth time? Adam Silver and the NBA marketing department would have the easiest sale of their lives with this one. LeBron James gets another crack at Boston and LA tries to even up the championships won at 18 each. The Celtics, heavy favorites to win the East and also a slighter favorite to win their second straight title, would like nothing better than to take out LBJ and once again expose Luka Doncic. For this matchup to happen, both teams will have to (barring huge upsets) take out conference champs (Cleveland and Oklahoma City) who have dominated the regular season. Odds to win conference – Lakers +700, Celtics -1202.      CLEVELAND vs. OKLAHOMA CITY – Speaking of the Cavs and Thunder, why in the world SHOULDN’T they be rewarded with an A on their report cards after doing their homework for the last six months? Cleveland had the East clinched by January, and OKC doing pretty much the same thing in the West. The teams are still battling for best record overall and with that home-court advantage in a Finals series. That could prove significant because in the only sampling this year, each team won pretty easily on its home court. Oddly, the Cavs’ 7-point win came just 8 days before the Thunder won by 20 in Oklahoma City. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander winning the MVP Award would add some shine to the first real Finals between two small-market teams since 2007 when San Antonio swept the Cavs. Odds to win conference – Thunder -135, Cavaliers +2103.      NEW YORK vs. LOS ANGELES LAKERS – Ok, the Knicks do have to do some heavy lifting to get this far, but a 7-game East Coast-West Coast Finals between these teams would definitely rock the casbah, and then some. Lots of demons could be exorcised if this one happens. Doncic could show the world that he can indeed drag himself through an entire post-season without wilting. NY’s Karl-Anthony Towns could shake his rep as a soft player, and Knicks coach Tom Thibodeu could say “stuff it” to everyone who says he plays his rotation players too many minutes. Imagine Bronny getting a ring? Instagram would blow up in minutes. Odds to win conference – Lakers +700, Knicks +7504.      GOLDEN STATE vs. BOSTON – Steph Curry’s tailbone better be OK, or this one has zero chance of happening. Imagine the barrage of 3s if the teams meet in a re-match of the 2022 Finals when the Warriors picked themselves off the mat, battled back from a 2-1 deficit and stopped the Celtics in their tracks. Since Game 6 of that series, the Celtics have taken well north of 10,000 3-pointers, and a new battle against the Warriors and Curry would no doubt produce hundreds more. That could open things up for mid-range expert Jimmy Butler, whose presence would no doubt cause Miami’s Pat Riley to have stomach pains. Odds to win conference – Warriors +750, Celtics -1205.      DETROIT vs. HOUSTON – A little off the wall, to be sure, but the re-birth of two downtrodden franchises getting to the Finals would send a message to all the tanking teams that you can actually win by building through the draft and making solid decisions. Last season the Pistons won only 14 games, the worst in the NBA, and the year before that the Rockets had 22 victories, tied for second-worst (yes, Detroit was the worst that year, too). Yet here they are, knocking on the door. Long odds of either getting to the Finals, but stranger things have happened. Odds to win conference – Rockets +4000, Pistons +10000

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2025 MLB MVP Award Predictions

by Sean Murphy

Monday, Mar 24, 2025

For the 2025 MLB MVP awards, while the favorites Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge are understandably popular choices, here are my predictions for each league based on emerging talent and players capable of having standout seasons at valuable odds.American League MVP Prediction: Bobby Witt Jr. (Kansas City Royals) - Odds: +450 Bobby Witt Jr. is one of the most dynamic young players in baseball and has all the tools to become a future MVP. After another impressive campaign in 2024, Witt continues to develop into a five-tool player. He has the power to hit 30+ home runs, speed to steal 30+ bases, and solid defensive skills that make him one of the top shortstops in the league. The Kansas City Royals are not expected to contend for the postseason, but Witt's individual performance could still stand out. If he can elevate his on-base percentage and refine his consistency at the plate, Witt will have every chance to capture the MVP award. In a season where he’s likely to be at the forefront of the Royals’ offense, his ability to carry the team offensively could make him a standout candidate in a crowded AL field. The AL MVP race is usually dominated by big-market stars but Witt Jr.'s upside is significant. At just 24 years old, he’s only scratching the surface of his potential. If he continues to grow and develops into a more complete hitter, he could lead the Royals in all offensive categories, including home runs, RBIs, and stolen bases. With the Royals’ lack of star power around him, Witt will likely get plenty of attention for his contributions. Given the +450 odds, he's a great value pick for those seeking an emerging player who could challenge the established stars.National League MVP Prediction: Juan Soto (New York Mets) - Odds: +550 Juan Soto is one of the most feared hitters in baseball, and his move to the New York Mets in 2025 could be the catalyst for an MVP-worthy season. Soto’s eye-popping on-base percentage and power make him a threat every time he steps to the plate. Over the past few seasons, he's consistently ranked among the top players in walks and home runs, and in 2025, he’ll be in a position to shine as the focal point of the Mets' lineup. With Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso around him, Soto will have plenty of opportunities to drive in runs and impact games. Moreover, staying in a big market like New York will only maintain his visibility, making him a frontrunner for the award if he stays healthy and produces at his usual elite level. Soto’s odds of +550 reflect his status as one of the top MVP contenders in the NL, but he is often overshadowed by players like Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts and Fernando Tatis Jr. However, Soto's ability to impact the game in multiple ways—whether it’s getting on base, hitting for power, or even drawing attention with his elite plate discipline—gives him the edge. The Mets, with their revamped roster, should contend for the postseason, and Soto will likely be at the center of that push. If he can stay healthy and put up another monster year, 2025 could finally be his time to secure his first MVP award, keeping in mind he's finished in the top three in voting twice previously.

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