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Big Al's Daily Angle: NCAAF, NBA, NHL, CFL, WNBA and EPL Previews and Odds - 10/31/26

by Big Al Staff

Saturday, Oct 31, 2026

The Saturday sports card features NCAAF, NBA, NHL, CFL, WNBA, and EPL action. Week 9 in NCAAF college football concludes with 47 games between FBS opponents. Five NCAAF games on major national television kick off at noon ET. Notre Dame travels on the road to play Navy on ABC as a 30.5-point road favorite with the total set at 56.5 (all odds from DraftKings). Western Michigan hosts Bowling Green on the CBS Sports Network as a 13.5-point favorite with an over/under of 44.5. Iowa plays at home against Wisconsin on Fox as a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 36.5. Texas Tech is at home to take on Arizona on ESPN as a 3.5-point favorite with an over/under of 54.5. Duke hosts Boston College on The CW as a 7-point favorite with a total of 48.5. Five NCAAF games on major national television start at 3:30 p.m. ET. Georgia plays at home against Florida on ABC as a 12.5-point favorite with an over/under of 56.5. BYU is at home to face Arizona State on Fox as a 16.5-point favorite with an over/under of 48.5. Indiana hosts Minnesota on CBS as a 20.5-point favorite with a total of 41.5. Liberty plays at home against Florida International as a 14-point favorite with an over/under of 45.5. Utah State is at home to challenge Colorado State on the USA Network as a 7.5-point favorite with a total of 61.5. Utah plays at Cincinnati on ESPN at 3:45 p.m.  ET as a 7-point road favorite with an over/under of 56.5. Two NCAAF games on major national television begin at 7:00 p.m. ET. San Diego State hosts Washington State on the CBS Sports Network as a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 47.5. Oklahoma State is on the road at Iowa State on Fox as a 9.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 58.5. Three NCAAF games on major national television begin at 7:30 p.m. ET. Miami (FL) visits North Carolina on ABC as a 14-point road favorite with a total of 53.5. Texas plays at home against Mississippi State on ESPN as a 20.5-point favorite with an over/under of 50.5. Ohio State plays at USC on NBC as a 6.5-point road favorite with a total of 50.5.Boise State is at home to play Texas State on The CW at 10:00 p.m. ET as a 10.5-point favorite with an over/under of 63.5. UNLV hosts Northern Illinois on the CBS Sports Network at 10:30 p.m. ET as a 21.5-point favorite with a total of 54.5. Oregon State plays at Fresno State on the USA Network at 11:00 p.m. ET as a 6-point road favorite with an over/under of 58.5. The National Basketball Association has seven games on its docket. The Portland Trail Blazers are on the road in Utah against the Jazz at 3:10 p.m. ET as a 6.5-point favorite with a total of 231.5. The Philadelphia 76ers travel to Charlotte to play the Hornets at 6:10 p.m. ET as a 1.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 216.5. The Atlanta Hawks play in New Orleans against the Pelicans at 7:10 p.m. ET as a 4.5-point road favorite with a total of 239.5. Three NBA games tip off at 8:10 p.m. ET. The San Antonio Spurs plays at home against the Minnesota Timberwolves as a 12.5-point favorite with an over/under of 226.5. The Memphis Grizzlies are at home to take on the Sacramento Kings as a 10.5-point favorite with a total of 233.5. The Cleveland Guardians are on the road in Milwaukee to face the Bucks as a 9.5-point favorite with an over/under of 237.5. The Houston Rockets host the Oklahoma City Thunder at 8:40 p.m. ET as a 4.5-point favorite with a total of 218.5. The National Hockey League has 10 games on its slate. Two NHL games drop the puck at 1:07 p.m. ET. The St. Louis Blues visit Detroit to challenge the Red Wings as a -115 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Boston Bruins play at home against the Chicago Blackhawks as a -225 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. Two more NHL games begin at 2:07 p.m. ET. The Edmonton Oilers play in New York against the Islanders as a -135 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Tampa Bay Lightning are on the road in Nashville to battle the Predators as a -170 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. Two NHL games start at 4:07 p.m. ET. The Buffalo Sabres travel to Los Angeles to play the Kings as a -122 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Ottawa Senators play in San Jose against the Sharks as a -135 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. Two NHL games begin at 7:07 p.m. ET. The Toronto Maple Leafs are on the road in Vancouver to face the Canucks as a -166 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Montreal Canadiens are at home against the Pittsburgh Penguins as a -155 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Dallas Stars host the Columbus Blue Jackets at 8:07 p.m. ET as a -185 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Colorado Avalanche play at home against the Calgary Flames at 10:07 p.m. ET as a -410 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Canadian Football League playoffs begin with two games in the divisional semifinals. The Toronto Argonauts are at home to battle the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at 1:00 p.m. ET as a 4.5-point favorite with an over/under of 57.5. The British Columbia Lions host the Saskatchewan Roughriders at 4:30 p.m. ET as a 6.5-point favorite with a total of 59.5. The WNBA concludes its postseason with Game 7 of the best-of-seven finals series. The Golden State Valkyries play at home against the Atlanta Dream on the USA Network/CNBC at 8:00 p.m. ET as a 1.5-point favorite with an over/under of 142.5. Matchweek 9 in the English Premier League continues with eight matches. Chelsea is at home to challenge Manchester United on the USA Network at 8:30 a.m. ET, as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5. Six EPL matches start at 11:00 a.m. ET. Bournemouth hosts Leeds United as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Brentford plays at home against Nottingham Forest on the USA Network as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5. Sunderland visits Coventry City as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Hull City is at home to face Ipswich Town as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5. Manchester City hosts Brighton and Hove Albion as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 3.5. Tottenham plays at home against Crystal Palace on NBC at 1:30 p.m. ET as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5. Aston Villa is at home to challenge Fulham at 4:00 p.m. ET as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. 

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NCAAF, NBA, NHL and EPL Previews and Odds 10/30/26

by Big Al Staff

Friday, Oct 30, 2026

The Friday sports card features NCAAF, NBA, NHL, and EPL action. Week 9 in NCAAF college football continues with three games between FBS opponents. Tulane travels on the road to play Charlotte on ESPN2 at 7:00 p.m. ET. The Green Wave lost for the second time in their previous three games, with a 42-19 loss at home against UTSA as a 2.5-point underdog last Saturday. The 49ers ended a six-game losing streak with a 38-31 upset win at Temple as a 17.5-point underdog on October 17th. Tulane is an 8.5-point road favorite with the total set at 47.5 (all odds from DraftKings). Baylor plays on the road at Central Florida on ESPN at 7:30 p.m. ET. The Bears are on a two-game losing streak after their 25-24 loss at Kansas as a 1.5-point underdog last Saturday. The Knights ended a two-game losing streak with their 39-31 upset win in overtime at home against BYU as a 7.5-point underdog on Saturday. Baylor is a 1.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 48.5. Kent State is on the road to face Sacramento State on ESPN2 at 10:30 p.m. ET. The Golden Flashes ended a three-game losing streak with a 35-30 win against Akron as a 2.5-point favorite last Saturday. The Hornets have lost six games in a row after their 34-17 loss at Ball State as a 14.5-point underdog on Saturday. Kent State is a 7-point favorite with a total of 46.5.The National Basketball Association has ten games on its docket. The Washington Wizards host the Charlotte Hornets at 7:10 p.m. ET as a 1.5-point favorite with an over/under of 220.5. Four NBA games tip off at 7:40 p.m. ET. The Toronto Raptors play at home against the Orlando Magic as a 5.5-point favorite with a total of 225.5. The Detroit Pistons visit Brooklyn to play the Nets as a 7.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 221.5. The New York Knicks play in Philadelphia against the 76ers as a 1.5-point road favorite with a total of 228.5. The Boston Celtics are at home against the Chicago Bulls as a 15.5-point favorite with an over/under of 235.5. Three NBA games start at 8:10 p.m. ET. The Houston Rockets are on the road in Dallas to challenge the Mavericks as a 5.5-point road favorite with a total of 226.5. The Miami Heat host the Indiana Pacers as a 7.5-point favorite with an over/under of 236.5. The Minnesota Timberwolves play at home against the Los Angeles Clippers as a 7.5-point favorite with a total of 222.5. Two games conclude the NBA card at 10:10 p.m. ET. The Denver Nuggets travel to Phoenix to battle the Sun as a 4.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 231.5. The Los Angeles Lakers play in Golden State to battle the Warriors as a 1.5-point road favorite with a total of 234.5. The National Hockey League has three games on its slate. The Vegas Golden Knights are at home to take on the New Jersey Devils at 6:07 p.m. ET as a -115 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Florida Panthers host the Winnipeg Jets at 7:07 p.m. ET as a -225 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Seattle Kraken are on the road in Calgary to challenge the Flames at 8:07 p.m. ET as a -115 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. 

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Manchester United Hits Rock Bottom

by Team Del Genio

Thursday, Oct 29, 2026

Manchester United has hit a rock bottom that blue-blood franchises like them rarely encounter. Going into their Sunday game at home against Bournemouth in the English Premier League, the Red Devils last played on Wednesday, when they lost on the road to Serie A upstarts Como by an embarrassing 4-1 score in the Champions League. They were winless in their previous seven games across all competitions, with four losses and three draws. For the 2026-2027 season, they had only two victories in eleven games, against Ipswich Town in the English Premier League and Sabah FK in the Champions League. It is fair to say that both teams are at the bottom of those leagues. With only seven points in the EPL, Man United were in 15th place, and just one point above relegation territory. The team was not playing well, yet even worse is the morale of the team. Two weeks ago, Lisandro Martinez called out management for not spending enough money to fortify the roster in the summer during the transfer window. After the loss to Como this week, captain Bruno Fernandes called out manager Michael Carrick for his tactical decisions, comments that the embattled manager had to answer in his own press conference. It is the worst start for Man United in the English Premier League since the 1986-1987 season. Now Carrick was returning to Old Trafford in what may be his final match with the club if the results remain below expectations. He may have lost the support of the locker room, and he had a difficult decision as to whether or not to even play Fernandes in this game after his act of subordination. Carrick may be in over his head. His previous management experience was with Middlesbrough in the second-tier Championship League before getting fired in the summer of 2025. He was named interim manager at Man United earlier this year, and the team played well enough for him to be offered a contract as the full-time manager. Yet the perception is that he got the job only because of his history as a player with the Red Devils during their glory years and that his coaching skills did not warrant the position. From that end, he represents yet another reason for the players that management is unserious about making a commitment to investing in this franchise. A new interim manager seems imminent. These circumstances are far from ideal for a team that is a goal line favorite in this game.Bournemouth was better than the six points they have accrued in the EPL. They had won three games in a row in all competitions after a 3-0 victory against AC Milan in the Europa League on Thursday. They beat Sunderland, 2-0, in the EPL last Saturday. They had shut out each of their previous three opponents while scoring eight goals over that stretch. They have won all three of their games in the Europa League. Their three losses in the EPL were against Manchester City, Liverpool, and Chelsea. They had earned draws with Everton, Newcastle United, and Brentford. As their domestic schedule eases up, the Cherries should compete for the top half of the table. The core of the squad that finished in sixth place in the EPL last year and qualified for European competition for manager Marco Rose remains this year. Marcus Tavernier had scored five times in his eleven games. Bournemouth would not be intimidated by playing at Old Trafford against this wounded blue blood either. In their previous six games against Man United, the Cherries were unbeaten with two victories and four draws. Carrick did opt to bench Fernandes in this game, and it was interesting to see the Manchester United crowd enthusiastically applaud the manager. Yet the Red Devils gave up a goal in the 36th minute before Tavernier scored for the sixth time in his previous twelve games just before halftime. Bournemouth scored for a third time in the second half to secure a 3-0 victory on the road. The fans at Old Trafford targeted several Manchester United players to jeer for their effort and performance. Their message was that the manager was not the problem.Man United management announced the next day that Carrick would remain their manager for the time being. It is hard to see what yet another caretaker manager would do to fix the problems with this organization. The ultimate blame probably lies with Director of Football Jason Wilcox, who made the decisions regarding the roster and the recent managers. If there is one thing that would unite the players and the fans once again, it would be his removal. Until that happens, it is difficult to see things getting much better for this fabled franchise.Good luck - TDG.

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Italy Serie A Futures (2026/27 Season)

by Amedeus Mastrangelo

Thursday, Oct 29, 2026

The Serie A season in Italy is 9 matches in and it already looks like a more competitive year. There is no real dominant team in Italy this season with a lot of parity at the top. Inter Milan is the defending champion of the league from last season, but they are certainly more vulnerable this season. The same 2 clubs have won the title the last 4 straight seasons, Inter Milan and Napoli, but there has not actually been a repeat champion in 7 straight seasons. Now with a quarter of the season already in the books, it is time to see who has the best chance at lifting the Serie A Title in this more competitive season. To Win Outright Inter Milan -200: Inter Milan is the team with the best chance at bringing home the Serie A Title this season, according to the oddsmakers. Inter Milan is listed as a clear favorite with their hot start to the season and them also being the defending champions, but it has been a very long time since this club has actually won B2B titles. They have been one of the more dominant teams in Italy over the last 5 years and have even made some very deep runs in Champions League, but this is a very different team from those that were so dominant over the last 5 years and even in their dominance, they could never win the title B2B years. They are on pace to lead the table right now with one of the better attacks in the league, but they have been forced to score so many goals this season due to their defense struggling. They have allowed a lot of goals in their first 9 matches for a team that is supposed to be elite in this league and they have found themselves trailing by 2 goals to lesser opponents in multiple matches already. There is not a lot of value in Inter Milan at this price with the strength of the competition around them in the league, but even if they were a plus money favorite, there are still plenty of other teams in the league this year who can challenge them if they fall off. They are still competing in Champions League this season as well and they are going to be focused on making a deep run as that is one competition that they have not been able to conquer during these dominant years. Inter very well could be the best team in the league again, but recent history in this league suggests otherwise and there is no real value in them at this price.  Roma +450: Roma is the team with the next best chance at bringing home the Serie A Title this season, according to the oddsmakers. Roma is another team that has had a very hot start to the season, being undefeated through 9 matches. They also have one of the better attacks in the league as well as a very good defense that does not concede many goals. Even when their defense has not played well against stronger opponents, their attack has been there to back them up which is not something that this club has been used to in the past. Their attack has been lacking quality for years as they have always been a good team in Italy over the last few seasons but never a great team. Now they have a lot of quality in their attack though and they have the potential to be one of the better teams in the league this year. Roma had a lot of promise coming into the season and they have backed that up with their performance so far. They have the quality to compete with clubs like Inter and they have a much better defense to lean on as well. Roma is also in Champions League which is a competition that they have not been in since 2018/19, so they are going to be focused on doing well, but they are also going to be highly focused on winning the league if they are still in the race late in the season as they have not won a Serie A Title since the 2000/01 season. Roma has the quality to win the league this season and they might actually be the best team in Italy this year, so there is a lot of value in them at this price. Como +800: Como is the team with the next best chance at bringing home the Serie A Title this season, according to the oddsmakers. Como has had a very good start to this season and they were one of the better teams in the league last year as well. They are not a big club in Italy though and this is going to be the 1st real season where they have had to juggle multiple meaningful competitions. This is only their 3rd season back in Serie A after a 20 year drought of not being in the league and they have invested a lot over the last 3 years to sustain themselves as a Serie A team and avoid going back down. They have put themselves on the right track and once again have a very good team with a lot of quality, but now they are also playing their 1st ever season in Champions League. Champions League is always a priority over the league for the bigger clubs and all European competitions are usually a priority for the smaller clubs who get promoted and find a lot of success in those first 2 years. The 1st season back in Serie A was mainly just to stay up and they ended up in 10th place. The 2nd season once they managed to stay up was all about investing to improve the team and sustain success which they were able to do by finishing in 4th place. Now they have earned a spot in Champions League though which will take over as the main priority and that could be a distraction later in the season if they find themselves in the title race while also making a deep Champions League run. They still have not established themselves as an elite club though and they do not have the depth to dominate both competitions simultaneously with shorter rest being a factor as well. Como is a very good team in Italy this season and they will find themselves near the top of the table for most of the season, but they have bigger fish to fry this season with their 1st ever appearance in Champions League and they will struggle to get to the top of this league with the quality of the competition. There is not a lot of value in Como at this price.  AC Milan +1000: AC Milan is the team with the next best chance at bringing home the Serie A Title this season, according to the oddsmakers. AC Milan has been a very good team in Italy over the last few seasons and really turned things around after a decade of darkness pre-2020. They have put themselves back on the right track and are an elite team that always finds themselves somewhere in the top 5, but this team is also very inconsistent and is not a true contender to win the title. They last won the title 5 years ago in the 2021/22 season, but they are not a team that can be trusted to get to the top of the table and sustain themselves there. They have a very good attack as well as a great defense, but their attack is certainly lacking quality compared to some of the other elite teams in the league. They are playing in Europa League this season after finishing in 5th place last year and that is not a competition that they are going to be too focused on, so they will certainly have more focus on getting back to the top of the league, but they have also finished outside the top 4 the last 2 straight seasons. They are not a consistent enough team to win the league title this season, especially with the emergence of some other clubs who have been taking a backseat in the league over the past few years. AC Milan is still a very good team that is going to find themselves near the top of the league all year, but they do not have the quality to sustain long winning runs where they can actually take over the lead of the table. AC Milan is never going to be in a position this season where they are leading the table, so there is no real value in them at this price as they are not a true contender to win the league.  Lazio +1200: Lazio is the team with the next best chance at bringing home the Serie A Title this season, according to the oddsmakers. Lazio has been on fire to start this season and they have been playing like one of the better teams in the league this year. They have one of the better attacks in the league with a very clinical approach where they make the most of their scoring opportunities, even when they do not have many, and they also have the best defense in the league through 9 matches. They have turned things around in a big way this season and it has been a long time coming for them with their struggles in recent years. Lazio has been an elite club in the league, but the last 3 seasons have not been good for them. They have missed out on European competitions the last 2 straight seasons and they have not finished higher than 7th place the last 3 straight seasons. This team has come out extremely motivated to turn things around this season though and they have a big advantage that the other elite clubs do not. Since Lazio has struggled the last 3 seasons, they are not in any European competitions this season which means they only have Serie A to worry about. They were also kicked out of Coppa Italia in their 1st match, so this is the only competition that they are going to be playing in all season and they are going to be highly focused on winning the league since that is the only trophy they can win. They have the quality to win this league while the other elite teams are stretched thin by other competitions as the season goes on and they are currently sitting right at the top of the table with a very hot start. Lazio has the tools to win this title and there is a lot of value in them at this price with their current start to the year and the fact that this will be their only competition.  Juventus +3300: Juventus is the team with the next best chance at bringing home the Serie A Title this season, according to the oddsmakers. Juventus has not had a great start to the season and they are not the same team that they were years ago. They have not won the league title since the 2019/20 season and they did not even finish in the top 4 last season. They are not in Champions League this season which is a positive for their league title hopes as they are not going to be fully focused on winning Europa League, but they do not have the quality to compete with the top of the league this season. They still have a very good defense that does not concede many goals, but their attack has been awful to start the season and they do not have a lot of quality in their attack that is going to find the net a lot. They also have 2 losses already in the 1st quarter of the season and only 1 team currently in the top 5 actually has a loss this season with 4 of the top 5 teams in the league still being undefeated. Their defense will keep them afloat this year as they are not going to lose too many matches, but their attack is going to be a big problem which will lead to more draws and draws are not going to get Juventus to the top of the table. This is just not a quality team compared to the top of the league right now and they have a long way to go before they can even be considered a threat this season. There is no real value in Juventus at this price as they are not a true contender to win the league. RecommendationThere are some very good teams in the league this season that are not the usual suspects and it has been a very tight race at the top in this 1st quarter of the season with no real dominant club pulling away from the rest. Inter Milan seems to be a clear favorite according to the oddsmakers, but the brand name is doing a lot for them as their defense is going to be a liability all season and the history of this league suggests that they are not likely to repeat as champions. Roma at +450 is a great option right now with their hot start to the season and they have the quality in their squad to actually be the single best team in Italy this year. Lazio at +1200 is another team with a lot of value due to their very hot start to the season and the fact that they have no other competitions, so they will be solely focused on winning the league title this year. Roma at +450 is the best option to go with for a team to win the Serie A Title this season, followed by Lazio at +1200 as a dark horse. 

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AAA Sports' Top 3 NBA Title Contenders in Each Conference

by AAA Sports

Thursday, Oct 29, 2026

We are a week and a half into the new NBA season and here are our top three contenders from each conference to win the Larry O'Brien Trophy in 2026-2027. Eastern Conference: Philadelphia 76ers ~Philadelphia made some big moves in the offseason. In fact, the Sixers went out and got both Jaylen Brown and LeBron James to bolster their starting five. Now, Philadelphia has Maxey, VJ, Brown, LeBron and Embiid as their lineup. That's as scary as any team has had over the past decade on paper. We will all have to just wait and see if the 76ers can live up to the hype. But, with a solid bench as well, Philadelphia is our pick to win the conference, both in the regular season and in the postseason this season. Our Expectation is a 59-23 record -- a one seed for PhiladelphiaCleveland Cavaliers ~Cleveland should be one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference again this week. Donovan Mitchell and James Harden return as the two guards in the back court, with a new addition of Payton Watson to bolster the defense. The front-court also has both Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen grabbing the majority of the rebounds for the team. Cleveland could definitely jump back into control of the conference with the one seed. But, we're anticipating the Cavs to finish second in the stacked East. Our Expectation is a 57-25 record -- a two seed for Cleveland. New York Knicks ~There's a lot of teams that could also be on this list including teams like Boston, Detroit (last year's one seed) and Toronto with the addition of Kawhi Leonard. But, it's too difficult to have a list of top teams and not include the defending NBA Champions. The Knicks didn't lose any of their starters (Brunson, Hart, Bridges, OG, Towns) and have pretty much the same bench as well. There's no doubt that they should be a threat again this year if everyone stays healthy. Our Expectation is a 56-26 record -- a three seed for New York. Western Conference:  San Antonio Spurs ~In the Western Conference, everyone has to go through San Antonio this year. Before the injuries to Oklahoma City, we would've had these two teams neck and neck as the top teams in the conference. Now, we think that the Spurs are definitely the team with the most amount of skill all-around, leading us to believe that they will win the one-seed this season. The starting lineup includes Fox, Harper, Castle, Vassell and Wemby. This team is only getting better and improving as they get more experienced. Our Expectation is a 64-18 record -- a one seed for San Antonio. Houston Rockets ~Houston definitely remains in the mix in the Western Conference, especially with Fred VanVleet returning after missing all of last season. The Rockets were able to win 52 games last season without a 'real' point guard. They should be much more comfortable offensively this season with that not being the case. Houston is one of the teams that is running under the radar and could shock some people here in 2026-2027. Don't underestimate the Rockets at all.  Our Expectation is a 59-23 record -- a two seed for Houston.Oklahoma City Thunder  ~Like we said in the San Antonio preview, we had high hopes for Oklahoma City entering the season. The year is just a few games in, and the Thunder have suffered not one, but two costly injuries. Both Jalen Williams and Cason Wallace are going to miss significant time, with both possibly looking at missing the whole campaign. Ajay Mitchell and Alex Caruso are likely to step up and play big roles alongside Shai, Chet and Hartenstein. We also see OKC making some moves with their picks and loading up again for the rest of the season. The Thunder will remain a top team. Our Expectation is a 58-24 record -- a three seed for OKC. 

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NFL, NCAAF, NBA, NHL and WNBA Previews and Odds - 10/29/26

by Big Al Staff

Thursday, Oct 29, 2026

The Thursday sports card features NFL, NCAAF, NBA, NHL, and WNBA action. Week 8 in the National Football League kicks off with one game. The Green Bay Packers host the Carolina Panthers on Amazon Prime at 8:15 p.m. ET as a 3.5-point favorite with the total set at 47.5 (all odds from DraftKings). Week 9 in NCAAF college football continues with two games between FBS opponents at 7:30 p.m. ET. James Madison plays at home against Troy on ESPN2 as a 19.5-point favorite with an over/under of 49.5. North Texas is at home to take on Florida Atlantic on  ESPN as a 14-point favorite with a total of 76.5.The National Basketball Association has three games on its docket. The Atlanta Hawks host the Cleveland Guardians at 7:10 p.m. ET as a 1.5-point favorite with an over/under of 239.5. The New Orleans Pelicans play at home against the Sacramento Kings at 8:10 p.m. ET as a 5.5-point favorite with a total of 238.5. The Portland Trail Blazers are at home to face the Memphis Grizzlies at 10:10 p.m. ET as a 7.5-point favorite with an over/under of 233.5.The National Hockey League has 11 games on its slate. Three NHL games drop the puck at 7:07 p.m. ET. The Tampa Bay Lightning host the Winnipeg Jets as a -238 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Carolina Hurricanes play at home against the Columbus Blue Jackets as a -230 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Utah Mammoth travel to Pittsburgh to battle the Penguins as a -130 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The Detroit Red Wings are at home to challenge the Chicago Blackhawks as a -180 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. Four NHL games start at 8:07 p.m. ET. The Minnesota Wild host the New York Islanders as a -192 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Washington Capitals play at Nashville against the Predators as a -112 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Dallas Stars are at home to face the Montreal Canadiens as a -162 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The St. Louis Blues host the Boston Bruins as a -115 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. Three games conclude the NHL card at 10:07 p.m. ET. The San Jose Sharks play at home against the Vancouver Canucks as a -185 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Ottawa Senators are on the road in Los Angeles to take on the Kings, with both teams priced as -110 money-line favorites with an over/under of 5.5. The Buffalo Sabres visit Anaheim to battle the Ducks as a -130 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5.The WNBA continues its postseason with Game 6 of the best-of-seven finals series. The Atlanta Dream are at home to play the Golden State Valkyries on the USA Network at 12:30 p.m. ET. The Valkyries took a 3-2 lead in this series with a 64-55 upset victory at home as a 1.5-point underdog on Monday. Atlanta is a 4.5-point favorite with an over/under of 146.5. 

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NFL Through 7 Weeks: Who's Been Lucky and Unlucky?

by Jazz Ray

Wednesday, Oct 28, 2026

Let’s go back to last month when I wrote an article about what was “real” and “fake” through the first three weeks of the NFL season. I looked at the five 3-0 (straight up) teams as well as the five 0-3 SU teams at the time to make determinations about whether or not what they were doing would be sustainable moving forward. In most instances, I felt the 3-0 teams were for real while it was looking like long seasons for the 0-3 teams. Hardly going out on a limb there, but I did call for the Texans to get back on track and they’ve gone 2-2 SU since. While not a believer in the Vikings (now 6-0), I did make clear they could still not only make the playoffs, but win a competitive NFC North Division. Let the record show the market remains skeptical of Minnesota. This week, they are actually underdogs to a 4-2 Lions team. It will be only the fifth time in the Super Bowl era where a team that is undefeated in Week 7 or later is getting three or more points against an opponent whose win percentage is below .700. For this month’s article, let’s take a look at teams that I would clearly define as being “lucky” or “unlucky” at this point in the season.  Lucky Cleveland (5-2 SU) - No NFL team has gone Over or Under its season win total by the eighth game since 2013. With a win this week in Pittsburgh, the Browns could go Over their season win total of 5.5. This Browns team has clearly overachieved with five one-score victories, none coming by more than four points. In fact, three of the wins have come via field goals kicked in the final 10 seconds. The Browns are also one of only two teams (Eagles) that haven’t been leading after the first quarter in any game this season. They still have a negative YTD point differential (-13) due to the blowout loss in Jacksonville back in Week 1. Very interesting that they closed +2.5 at home vs. the Steelers four weeks ago (won 27-24) and now head to Pittsburgh (a place they’ve lost 22 straight in the regular season), getting only three this Sunday. Denver (5-2) - The Broncos, as was also the case last year, have been benefiting from close wins themselves. To be fair, they’ve faced the most challenging schedule in the NFL up to this point and managed to go 3-1 SU vs. the NFC West. I believe in Denver far more than I do Cleveland, but that’s not an Earth-shattering assessment. Since head coach Sean Payton took back playcalling duties, the offense has actually gotten worse on third down (just 7 of 37). QB Bo Nix has been poor, but finally showed off his running ability last week in Arizona with a long TD run. There’s no denying that Payton should feel very fortunate to be 5-2 SU to start the year. Like the Browns, the Broncos’ offense has failed to score on two-thirds of its total drives for the season. But the reason to believe in Denver is a defense that is very good at applying pressure. This week’s showdown with Kansas City could go a long way in determining the AFC West winner. NY Giants (4-2-1) - The Giants have been schedule merchants thus far, though they did just win a game in Houston where they were 10-point underdogs. The other three wins were against the Cowboys (Week 1), the Titans and Cardinals. To be fair, it would have been impossible to predict that JJ McCarthy would be the starting QB for this team in Week 7. Because the NFC East looks so weak this year, the G-Men could actually win this division (it may only require 8-9 wins). Minnesota (6-0) - In addition to what I mentioned earlier, no offense has gotten to the red zone fewer times. The Vikings are also #1 in turnover differential (+7) through seven weeks. Brian Flores’ defense is awesome. Unlucky Texans (2-5) - After an 0-4 start, things were picking up in Houston after back to back wins. But losing to the Giants, as a 10-point home favorite, may make the hole too deep to climb out of this season. But the remaining schedule, after the bye, is among the easiest in the league. This is a team that started 0-3 last year and made the playoffs. The defense has been far worse than expected. They forced only four points on 11 Giants’ drives, for example. The Texans have allowed 27+ points four times already. Still, four of the five losses have been by six points or less. That’s why they make the unlucky list. Bucs (2-5) - At least the 0-13 ATS streak is over. Because they play in the NFC South, you can’t count the Bucs out just yet. Especially with Baker Mayfield back from injury and a defense that has given up the third fewest yards per game in the league. Tampa is on the unlucky list because all of their losses have come in one-possession games. Seahawks (4-3) - A team that won the Super Bowl last February and now has a winning record typically isn’t one you’d consider unlucky. But Seattle is better than its record. They have the best defense in the NFL and could be 7-0 if not for a trio of turnover-fueled losses. The dominant win over the Chiefs Sunday night reminded us all what the Seahawks ceiling is. Rams (3-4) - I don’t think both the Seahawks and Rams make the playoffs this year. San Francisco has a two-game lead in the NFC West. A different division, the NFC North, seems more likely to send three teams to the playoffs. Still, the Rams are power-rated as one of the best teams in the NFL. 

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, MLB and NCAAF Previews and Odds - 10/28/26

by Big Al Staff

Wednesday, Oct 28, 2026

The Wednesday sports card features NCAAF, MLB, NBA, and NHL action. Week 9 in NCAAF college football continues with two games between FBS opponents. Middle Tennessee hosts Kennesaw State on the CBS Sports Network at 7:00 p.m. ET as a 2.5-point favorite with the total set at 50.5 (all odds from DraftKings). Jacksonville State travels on the road to play New Mexico State on ESPN2 at 8:00 p.m. ET as a 3-point road favorite with an over/under of 49.5. The Major League Baseball postseason continues with Game 5 in the World Series. The Milwaukee Brewers play in Tampa Bay against the Rays on Fox at 8:00 p.m. ET. The Rays kept their season alive with their 4-3 comeback victory in the bottom of the 11th inning last night. They trail this best-of-seven series by a 3-1 margin. The Brewers send out Jacob Misiorowski to pitch against a Tampa Bay starting pitcher yet to be named. Milwaukee is a -141 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The National Basketball Association has 10 games on its docket. Four NBA games tip off at 7:10 p.m. ET. The Cleveland Cavaliers play at home against the Washington Wizards as a 10.5-point favorite with an over/under of 239.5. The Philadelphia 76ers are on the road in Indiana to face the Pacers on ESPN as a 4.5-point favorite with a total of 237.5. The Detroit Pistons are at home to take on the Charlotte Hornets as a 7.5-point favorite with an over/under of 215.5. The Atlanta Hawks host the Miami Heat as a 3.5-point favorite with a total of 240.5. The Toronto Raptors play at home against the Orlando Magic at 7:40 p.m. ET as a 4.5-point favorite with an over/under of 223.5. Four more NBA games start at 8:10 p.m. ET. The Minnesota Timberwolves are at home to battle the Golden State Warriors as a 3.5-point favorite with a total of 228.5. The Denver Nuggets visit New Orleans to challenge the Pelicans as a 4.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 240.5. The Houston Rockets play in Milwaukee against the Bucks as an 8.5-point road favorite with a total of 227.5. The New York Knicks are on the road in Chicago to play the Bulls as a 7.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 234.5. The San Antonio Spurs travel to Utah to take on the Jazz at 9:10 p.m. ET as a 12.5-point road favorite with a total of 234.5. The Oklahoma City Thunder play in Dallas against the Mavericks on ESPN at 9:40 p.m. ET as a 5.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 229.5. The Los Angeles Lakers play across town against the Los Angeles Clippers at 10:40 p.m. ET as a 5.5-point road favorite with a total of 228.5. The National Hockey League has four games on its slate. The Washington Capitals host the Philadelphia Flyers on TNT at 7:37 p.m. ET as a -230 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Edmonton Oilers play at home against the Calgary Flames at 8:37 p.m. ET as a -218 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Colorado Avalanche are at home to take on the New Jersey Devils at 9:07 p.m. ET as a -175 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Toronto Maple Leafs are on the road to challenge the Seattle Kraken at 10:07 p.m. ET as a -120 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5.

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NFL Week 7 Observations: Unbeatens Fall, Bears Rise and Raiders’ Problems Deepen

by Vegas Writer

Tuesday, Oct 27, 2026

Seven weeks into the NFL season, the most revealing developments involve the conditions under which teams succeed—and what happens when opponents take those conditions away.Seattle dismantled Kansas City’s previously productive offense. Atlanta punished San Francisco’s mistakes. Chicago kept building a more dangerous passing game, while the Giants showed that a quarterback change works better when the running game provides meaningful support.Dallas closed the week Monday with another example of that balance, defeating Philadelphia behind its strongest rushing performance of the season. Elsewhere, Cincinnati’s extraordinary second half exposed a recurring Baltimore weakness, and the Raiders’ latest defeat revealed problems extending beyond their inability to finish close games.These are five observations from Week 7, played Oct. 22-26. Each examines a performance in the context of an emerging pattern, separating what one result establishes from what still requires proof as the season approaches its midpoint.1. Seattle and Atlanta exposed different vulnerabilities in the unbeaten teamsKansas City and San Francisco suffered their first losses Sunday, but the explanations were substantially different.Seattle’s 20-3 win over the Chiefs systematically disrupted an established offensive identity. Kansas City entered averaging a league-leading 414 yards and 28 points per game. The Seahawks held the Chiefs to 213 yards, 11 first downs and no red-zone possessions—the first time a Patrick Mahomes-led offense had failed to reach that area in 153 starts, including postseason games.Kenneth Walker III managed 36 rushing yards after entering as the NFL’s leading rusher. Losing that production forced Kansas City to find another answer, and its passing game couldn't compensate.Atlanta’s 29-20 victory over San Francisco followed a different formula. The Falcons were outgained 400-295 but won the turnover battle 4-0. San Francisco limited Atlanta to 82 rushing yards on 29 attempts, showing its defense did its job.The distinction matters as we look ahead.Kansas City must examine how Seattle prevented its preferred offensive approaches from functioning. San Francisco must address possessions surrendered despite enough productive football to remain competitive.Neither defeat invalidates the victories preceding it. Both identify a pressure point future opponents will study: Kansas City’s response when its running game stalls, and San Francisco’s ability to keep mistakes from erasing its offensive production.2. Chicago’s passing game is developing beyond isolated quarterback highlightsChicago’s 30-24 win over New England Thursday showed an offense becoming harder to defend over an entire game.Caleb Williams completed eight passes gaining at least 20 yards. Luther Burden III accounted for four of those plays, finishing with 130 yards on four catches, all before halftime. Rome Odunze supplied three 21-yard receptions, while Colston Loveland added another explosive gain.That distribution matters. A defense cannot solve Chicago’s passing game by focusing on one receiver or one type of route.The Bears also connected their explosive production with scoring efficiency. Four consecutive possessions from the first to the third quarter reached New England’s red zone, producing three touchdowns and a field goal. D’Andre Swift’s rushing touchdown was his seventh through Chicago’s first seven games.The result moved the Bears to 5-2, but their growing ability to retain control was just as significant. Chicago hasn't trailed in its last two games against Atlanta and New England. Odunze’s late third-and-9 reception helped preserve possession before Cairo Santos delivered a career-long 58-yard field goal.Chicago still had to withstand a competitive finish. That prevents Thursday from becoming evidence of complete dominance.It does establish a broader offensive foundation: multiple receivers generating substantial gains, a productive scoring back, and enough late execution to protect an advantage. Williams’ development becomes more consequential when those pieces function together.3. The Giants and Cowboys showed how rushing support changes a quarterback’s assignmentThe Giants introduced their third starting quarterback of the season Sunday. Dallas relied on its established veteran Monday. Both benefited from offenses that could advance the ball without repeatedly forcing difficult throws.J.J. McCarthy completed 20 of 28 passes for 252 yards in New York’s 27-21 overtime victory over Houston. Five completions gained at least 20 yards, giving the Giants downfield production alongside their improved running game.Cam Skattebo rushed for 124 yards on 17 carries, and Devin Singletary finished the game with a 30-yard touchdown run. The Giants produced four rushing touchdowns after totaling only two through their first six games. McCarthy could contribute meaningfully without carrying every scoring possession himself.Dallas provided a similar lesson in its 38-21 victory over Philadelphia. Javonte Williams rushed for a career-high 155 yards, helping the Cowboys generate a season-best 204 rushing yards. Dak Prescott threw three touchdown passes, and Dallas committed no turnovers.The implication extends beyond the familiar instruction to establish the run. Effective rushing creates more ways to finish possessions and prevents every serious situation from becoming a test of the quarterback’s arm.Neither performance guarantees the same production against stronger resistance. Both demonstrated a useful balance.For New York, that balance gives a newly installed starter room to develop. For Dallas, it offers a practical way to reduce the burden on Prescott while preserving the threat of its accomplished receivers.4. Baltimore’s second-half failures have become a pattern requiring immediate correctionBaltimore’s 35-13 loss to Cincinnati was more concerning than a typical blown lead because it reinforced a problem that was already visible the previous week.The Ravens led 13-0 at halftime after outgaining Cincinnati 258-59. They converted eight of 11 third downs and possessed the ball for 22:20. The Bengals had only two first downs and had crossed midfield once.Then the game changed completely.Cincinnati generated 298 second-half yards and 19 first downs. After halftime, Joe Burrow completed 16 of 18 passes for 249 yards and four touchdowns, posting a perfect 158.3 passer rating. Baltimore failed to score.Across their past two games, the Ravens have been outscored 48-0 in the second half. They have finished four games this season without a second-half touchdown, including three of their past four.Those numbers indicate a recurring inability to sustain or recover offensive momentum. They also show how quickly the burden increases on a defense facing an opponent capable of explosive passing.Cincinnati deserves credit for executing its response. Tee Higgins finished with 148 receiving yards, and the Bengals’ defense contributed four sacks while shutting out Baltimore after halftime.Baltimore’s quarterback situation provides context, with Tyler Huntley directing the offense again. That doesn't fully explain the collapse on both sides of the ball.The Ravens need a more dependable answer when their opening approach stops working. Otherwise, productive first halves will continue creating advantages the team cannot preserve.5. The Raiders’ problem now includes how games begin, not simply how they endLas Vegas’ recent competitive losses invited discussion about closing games. Sunday’s 35-21 defeat against the Rams required a broader examination.After an opening stop, the Raiders surrendered touchdowns on four consecutive Los Angeles possessions and entered halftime trailing 28-6. Matthew Stafford completed 17 of 19 first-half passes for 148 yards and three touchdowns—more scoring passes than incompletions.The Rams also established the run. Kyren Williams and Blake Corum combined for 192 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 33 carries, averaging 5.8 yards per attempt. Stafford finished with three touchdown passes, reaching a franchise-record 155 and surpassing Roman Gabriel.Those numbers illustrate how difficult it is to defend an offense that stays comfortable in both phases. Las Vegas could neither force enough obvious passing situations nor prevent efficient completions.The most damaging comparison came near the goal line. Los Angeles scored touchdowns on all five red-zone trips. The Raiders scored a touchdown on only one of five.That is a substantial efficiency disadvantage even before considering field position or turnovers.The Raiders’ second-half response demonstrated continued effort, but effort alone cannot reliably overcome an early deficit of that size. Their fourth consecutive defeat dropped them to 3-4 after a 3-0 start.The necessary improvement begins earlier: better tackling, fewer comfortable possessions for opposing quarterbacks and more touchdowns when scoring opportunities arrive. Closing games remains important, but Las Vegas first needs to stop making the closing assignment so difficult.

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NHL Off the Post: October 27th

by Sean Murphy

Tuesday, Oct 27, 2026

As we get deeper into the opening stages of the NHL season, here's a look at some news and notes from around the league to assist with your daily hockey handicapping.Flames of glory It looked like Calgary was headed for another long season after a miserable start to the campaign, but the Flames are suddenly playing some of their best hockey in recent memory. They've won four straight games following Monday's impressive 5-2 victory over Toronto, with youngster Matvei Gridin leading the way with two goals and an assist. Devin Cooley turned aside 26 shots as Calgary continued to show signs of life after struggling to generate much momentum early on. While the Flames are still sitting near the bottom of the Pacific Division, this recent run suggests they're not quite ready to throw in the towel. Of course, it's important not to get carried away with a four-game winning streak, particularly when dealing with a team that has struggled so badly defensively. Still, Calgary is worth keeping an eye on as long as the price remains reasonable. The bigger question is whether the Flames can maintain this level of play once the schedule gets tougher.  Broadway blues The Rangers were nearly unbeatable at Madison Square Garden to start the season, but that home-ice advantage took a serious hit Monday night. Los Angeles rolled into New York and handed the Blueshirts a convincing 6-3 defeat, ending their season-opening six-game home winning streak. The bigger concern is that New York has now dropped three straight games while allowing 18 goals during that stretch. That's not exactly the defensive profile you want to see from a team that was optimistic that it could compete in the Eastern Conference. The goaltending situation, without Igor Shesterkin for the season, is also worth monitoring after James Reimer was pulled in his Rangers debut, allowing three goals on just eight shots before Dylan Garand took over. New York still has enough offensive talent to put up goals in bunches, but until it gets things sorted out defensively, backing the Rangers at a premium price is going to be difficult to justify. The home record remains impressive, but the recent slide is a reminder that early-season trends can change in a hurry.  Oil change Edmonton continues to look like one of the more dangerous offensive teams in the league, but Monday's shootout loss to Detroit was a reminder that even the best teams can be vulnerable when games get tight. The Oilers fell 4-3 after surrendering a late tying goal to Dylan Larkin before rookie goaltender Michal Postava stopped all three Edmonton attempts in the shootout. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl were unable to find a way past Postava in the deciding frame, while Detroit came away with an impressive road victory. Despite the setback, Edmonton remains near the top of the Pacific Division with an 8-2-2 record and has been scoring at an excellent clip. The concern, as usual, is whether the defensive play and goaltending will hold up when the games matter most. Zach Hyman also left Monday's contest after hitting his head against the glass, so his status is worth watching before considering Edmonton in its next outing. The Oilers remain capable of beating anyone, but you have be careful about paying too much for a team that can still be vulnerable defensively.  Devils in the details New Jersey has made a major move between the pipes by acquiring Connor Hellebuyck from Winnipeg, and the Devils are hoping the veteran netminder can help turn them into a legitimate Stanley Cup contender. Hellebuyck has indicated he's ready to play and could make his debut during the club's current road trip, which includes matchups against Dallas, Colorado and Vegas. That's hardly the easiest way to ease into a new situation, but his arrival could have a significant impact on New Jersey's outlook moving forward. The Devils have been competitive early in the season, but adding a proven goaltender gives them a much-needed boost at the most important position on the ice. From a handicapping standpoint, the key will be determining how quickly Hellebuyck settles in with his new teammates and whether the market immediately overvalues New Jersey following the acquisition. A goaltender of his caliber can make a substantial difference, but chemistry and defensive structure still matter. I'd be inclined to give the Devils a little time to establish themselves before automatically treating them as one of the league's elite teams.Hurricane force Defending Stanley Cup champion Carolina continues to look like one of the teams to beat in the Eastern Conference, sitting atop the Metropolitan Division with a 9-2-2 record after a strong opening stretch. The Hurricanes have been getting contributions throughout the lineup, and the recent return of Taylor Hall gives them another experienced forward to work with as they look to maintain their early momentum. Carolina's balanced attack and ability to pressure opponents make it a difficult team to face, particularly when it gets its forecheck going and forces mistakes in the defensive zone. The challenge from a betting standpoint is that the Hurricanes are unlikely to fly under the radar for long, meaning the value will often depend on the price rather than simply backing the team because it's winning. Their road record has been particularly impressive, and that's a trend worth keeping in mind when evaluating upcoming matchups. With the season still in its early stages, there will inevitably be some regression along the way, but Carolina has done enough to establish itself as a legitimate contender. The trick will be identifying the right spots to back the Hurricanes rather than blindly riding their hot streak. 

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NCAAF, MLB, NBA and NHL Previews and Odds - 10/27/26

by Big Al Staff

Tuesday, Oct 27, 2026

The Tuesday sports card features NCAAF, MLB, NBA, and NHL action. Week 9 in NCAAF college football kicks off with two games between FBS opponents. Delaware travels to Western Kentucky on the CBS Sports Network at 7:00 p.m. ET as a 1.5-point road favorite with the total set at 57.5 (all odds from DraftKings). Missouri State hosts Sam Houston on ESPN2 at 8:00 p.m. ET as a 5.5-point favorite with an over/under of 50.5.The Major League Baseball postseason continues with Game 4 in the World Series. The Tampa Bay Rays play at home against the Milwaukee Brewers on Fox at 8:00 p.m. ET. The Brewers took a 3-0 lead in this best-of-seven series with their 10-1 victory on the road against the Rays last night. Milwaukee has yet to name their starting pitcher who will pitch against Tampa Bay’s Griffin Jax. The Brewers are a -136 money-line road favorite with a total of 7. The National Basketball Association has four games on its docket. The Boston Celtics are at home to take on the Brooklyn Nets at 7:40 p.m. ET as an 11.5-point favorite with an over/under of 222.5. Two more NBA games tip off at 8:10 p.m. ET. The New York Knicks host the Detroit Pistons on NBC as a 3.5-point favorite with a total of 218.5. The San Antonio Spurs play at home against the Sacramento Kings as an 18.5-point favorite with an over/under of 230.5. The Los Angeles Lakers are at home to face the Portland Trail Blazers on NBC at 11:10 p.m. ET as a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 236.5. The National Hockey League has 11 games on its slate. The Columbus Blue Jackets are on the road in Philadelphia to challenge the Flyers at 7:07 p.m. ET as a -120 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 5.5. Six NHL games drop the puck at 8:07 p.m. ET. The Florida Panthers visit Winnipeg to battle the Jets as a -130 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The St. Louis Blues host the Montreal Canadiens as a -122 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Dallas Stars play at home against the New Jersey Devils as a -125 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Carolina Hurricanes are at home to play the Boston Bruins on ESPN as a -192 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Los Angeles Kings play in Chicago against the Blackhawks as a -122 money-line road favorite with a total of 5.5. The Nashville Predators host the New York Islanders as a -122 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Utah Mammoth play at home against the Minnesota Wild at 9:07 p.m. ET as a -130 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. Two more NHL games start at 10:07 p.m. ET. The Vegas Golden Knights are at home to face the Ottawa Senators as a -155 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Anaheim Ducks host the Vancouver Canucks as a -198 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Buffalo Sabres are on the road in San Jose to challenge the Sharks on ESPN at 10:37 p.m. ET as a -142 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. 

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CBB Deep Dive: Key Players, Top Teams & Future Bets

by William Burns

Monday, Oct 26, 2026

Just like the past couple of season's, I'm back with another College Basketball Preview to start the '26-'27 season. Last season was brilliant, and I'm expecting another phenomenal campaign of both watching and picking winners. Here's my "Deep Dive," looking into the different players and best teams for the upcoming season. (Odds via. DraftKings Sportsbook)  Five Players to Watch Out For (Guard-Center) + Honorable Mentions : G - Jeremy Fears Jr (Michigan State)One of the best passers in College Basketball history, Jeremy Fears Jr returns for his senior year this season. During the 2025–26 campaign, Fears led the nation with 9.4 assists pg & 328 total assists. That set a single season Michigan State record. He's also capable of putting the team on his back with this playmaking. I believe that he can create his own buckets quite well as well. He might just be my favorite guard in the country to watch. G - Jordan Smith Jr (Arkansas) Described as a similar player to Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (by HC John Calipari) with his ability to dominate in transition, I believe that Jordan Smith Jr is going to be one of the most dynamic players in the country this year. Last year, the Razorbacks were led by a guard that I'm sure all of you know in Darius Acuff Jr. This time, it could definitely be Jordan Smith Jr. Every single year, Calipari has elite guard play. That will continue this season. F - Thomas Haugh (Florida)Florida's best player a season ago and the #1 team in the country coming into this season (AP Top 25.) I believe that Haugh can improve even more this season. He averaged 17.1 PPG as well as 6.2 RPG a season ago. I expect Haugh to run the offensive and play a bit of point forward again this year., The Gators are loaded and he's the best player on the team. F - J.T. Toppin (Texas Tech) Before tearing his ACL, I was very high on JT Toppin last season. However, he didn't get to prove just how good he was. Back for his senior season, (probably won't play until December sadly) Toppin is expected to have a massive role in this squad once he's back. Cruz Davis at guard should only make him better with Darrion Williams returning as well. JT scores the ball at an excellent rate and he was the Big 12 Player Of The Year two season's ago. C - Motiejus Krivas (Arizona)A season ago, Arizona was one of the most complete teams in College Basketball. A big reason of that was the big men in Motiejus Krivas & Tobe Awaka. Krivas was the starter and now that Awaka departs, I believe that the 7'2' center can dominate both on the glass and with defensive production. He might not be the best scorer of all time. But, his paint presence is nothing short of elite and I think that he's going to make Arizona very strong again. Three Honorable Mentions: 1.) Joseph Tugler (Houston)Last year, I expected Joseph Tugler to have a big season. He wasn't all that great offensively with all of the other talent around him. But, the Cougars' forward has a type of game that everyone in College should appreciate. Tugler is one of the best defensive players in the nation. He's also an extreme pest on the offensive boards (Houston's specialty.) Oh, and I forgot. He's got a 7'6" wingspan. While the Cougars aren't quite as good all-around this year, that's why he remains an honorable mention for me. 2.)  Tyler Tanner (Vanderbilt)Breaking out last season as one of the best guards in the country, I expect Tyler Tanner to have another phenomenal year in 2026-27. He tested waters by declaring for the NBA draft & going through the combines. But, he decided to come back for another year which is very smart in my eyes. Maybe a tad undersized, don't let it deceive you. He will be one of the best guards in the country again this season. 3.) Braden Huff (Gonzaga)Wrapping up my "Honourable Mentions" list is Braden Huff out of Gonzaga. There's so many players to choose from as this season should be absolutely loaded with talent. However, a proven wing from the Zags is more than capable of living up to the hype of being their best player this season. Braden Huff averaged 17.8 PPG last season and paired that with 5.6 rebounds. Expect him to make another leap and possibly average north of 20 PPG this season. Burns' Preseason Top 25 Rankings: 1.) Duke Blue Devils2.) Florida Gators3.) Arizona Wildcats4.) Arkansas Razorbacks5.) Illinois Fighting Illini6.) Louisville Cardinals7.) Virginia Cavaliers8.) Michigan State Spartans9.) Kansas Jayhawks10.) Gonzaga Bulldogs11.) Michigan Wolverines12.) St. John's Big Red 13.) UCONN Huskies14.) Houston Cougars15.) Texas Tech Red Raiders 16.) Miami FL Hurricanes17.) Texas Longhorns18.) Alabama Crimson Tide19.) Missouri Tigers 20.) Tennessee Volunteers21.) Vanderbilt Commodores 22.) UCLA Bruins23.) Iowa State Cyclones24.) Kentucky Wildcats25.) USC Trojans Three Future Bets to Make Before the Season: 1.) Duke Blue Devils to win the National Championships (+550)2.) St. Johns to win the Big East Conference Reg Season (+270)3.) McNeese State to win the Southland Conference Reg Season (-210) 

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