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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, MLB, WNBA, and EPL Previews and Odds - 05/19/26

by Big Al Staff

Tuesday, May 19, 2026

The Tuesday sports card features NBA, MLB, WNBA, and EPL action.The National Basketball Association continues its playoff season with Game 1 in the Eastern Conference finals. The New York Knicks host the Cleveland Cavaliers on ESPN at 8:10 p.m. ET as a 7.5-point favorite with the total set at 217.5 (all odds from DraftKings). Major League Baseball has 15 games scheduled. The Atlanta Braves travel to Miami to play the Marlins at 4:10 p.m. ET as a -136 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. Three MLB games throw out the first pitch at 6:40 p.m. ET. The Tampa Bay Rays play at home against the Baltimore Orioles as a -122 money-line favorite with a total of 7.5. The Cleveland Guardians play in Detroit against the Tigers on FS1 as a -122 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8. The Philadelphia Phillies are at home to play the Cincinnati Reds as a -136 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The New York Mets are on the road in Washington to take on the Nationals at 6:45 p.m. ET as a -156 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 9. The New York Yankees host the Toronto Blue Jays at 7:05 p.m. ET as a -143 money-line favorite with a total of 9. Three more  MLB games start at 7:40 p.m. ET. The Milwaukee Brewers visit Chicago to play the Cubs as a -117 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8. The Minnesota Twins play at home against the Houston Astros as a -143 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The Boston Red Sox play in Kansas City to battle the Royals as a -129 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8. The Pittsburgh Pirates are on the road in St. Louis to go against the Cardinals at 7:45 p.m. ET with both teams priced as -110 money-line favorites with a total of 8.The Texas Rangers travel to Colorado to challenge the Rockies at 8:40 p.m. ET. The Los Angeles Angels are at home to play the Athletics at 9:38 p.m. ET as a -131 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9. Three more games conclude the MLB card at 9:40 p.m. ET. The Arizona Diamondbacks host the San Francisco Giants on Peacock as a -122 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The Seattle Mariners play at home against the Chicago White Sox as a -149 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7.5. The Los Angeles Dodgers play in San Diego against the Padres as a -156 money-line road favorite with a total of 8.5.The WNBA has one game on tap. The Phoenix Mercury are at home to take on the Toronto Tempo at 10:00 p.m. ET as an 8.5-point favorite with an over/under of 171.5. Matchweek 37 in the English Premier League concludes with two matches. Manchester City is on the road to face Bournemouth on the USA Network at 3:15 p.m. ET as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with a total of 3.5. Chelsea hosts Tottenham at 3:15 p.m. ET as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5.

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WNBA Notebook: Surprising ATS Starts

by Vegas Writer

Monday, May 18, 2026

While we know who the top teams in the WNBA will be, or at least assume who they'll be, this is a good time to identify which team or teams are the ones to watch with a value price on their heads.Enter the Washington Mystics and Chicago Sky.Both teams, which entered the season with little to no expectations, have been two of the top teams at the betting window through the first two weeks of the season.The Mystics come into the week with a perfect 3-0 ATS mark while winning two of three straight-up. Impressively, the two wins came on the road, including a 104-102 overtime victory in Indianapolis over Caitlin Clark and the Fever. It was the Mystics' second straight overtime clash, after they took the preseason-favored New York Liberty to extra time.The Mystics continued their four-game road trip in Dallas on Monday, and will close out the junket with two winnable games in Seattle. They return home to close out May with a Friday night clash against the Los Angeles Sparks, and then open June at home with the Sky in what could be a battle of the league's top two most profitable teams.As for the new-look Sky, who shipped Angel Reese to the Atlanta Dream during the offseason, they opened the season winning and covering three of their first four games - all of them away from Chi-town.After a couple of days off, the Sky will open the home portion of their schedule on Wednesday against Paige Bueckers and the Dallas Wings, the start of a four-game homestand, which will also bring in Minnesota, Toronto and Minnesota again.If you're looking for early-season value with perceived underdog numbers, keep an eye on the Mystics and Sky.PROP WATCH OF THE WEEKIn three games last week, Toronto veteran BRITTNEY SYKES averaged 29.0 points per game and hit 64.4% of her shot attempts. And that included back-to-back games in Los Angeles, where she helped the Tempo to split against the Sparks. With two more left on the road trip, coach Sandy Brondello could lean on Sykes with games in Phoenix and Minneapolis. The 10-year veteran owns a career average of 13.9 points versus the Mercury and 9.4 against the Lynx. The latter doesn't reflect her best performances, but with Minnesota experiencing a bit of a struggling start this season, and still without Napheesa Collier, it wouldn't surprise me to see Sykes get a couple of good warm-ups before the Tempo close the week with an expansion showdown against the Portland Fire in Toronto on Saturday.GAME OF THE WEEKThursday, 8 pm eastern, GOLDEN STATE at NEW YORK: The VW No. 2 Liberty host the No. 3 Valkyries in an early-season clash of two of the best teams in the league. The question is whether or not coach Natalie Nakase's squad will arrive in Brooklyn with rust after being off for more than a week. The Valkyries haven't played since losing at home to the Chicago Sky, 69-63, at home. It was quite different than when the Valks opened the season with 91 points in an 11-point win at Seattle and 95 points in their 16-point home-opening win. The Liberty, meanwhile, return home after playing three straight road games, the last two in Portland, where they split a pair against the expansion Fire. It'll be the start of a seven-game homestand for the Liberty, and they'll be looking to make a statement.WEEKLY RANKINGS:1. Las Vegas Aces - A'ja Wilson for MVP and Chennedy Carter for 6th Player of the Year.2. New York Liberty - Sabrina Ionescu can't return quickly enough to spark this offense.3. Golden State Valkyries - Janelle Salaün is coming off the bench to lead the team with 15.7 points per game.4. Atlanta Dream - Angel Reese is off and running with a double-double average of 10.7 points and 12.7 rebounds per game.5. Washington Mystics - If there were a Sophomore of the Year Award, then Sonia Citron would be the leading candidate, as she leads the team with 24.3 points per game.6. Minnesota Lynx - I don't expect to see the true version of coach Cheryl Reeve's bunch until Napheesa Collier is back from injury.7. Chicago Sky - Huge blow to the team when Rickea Jackson left Sunday's game against the Lynx with an injury, as she leads the team with 18.0 points per game.8. Phoenix Mercury - Five players are scoring double figures, but the surprise has been Jovana Nogić, who has scored at least 16 in three of the first four games of her career.9. Indiana Fever - While most will clamor about Caitlin Clark's team-leading 24.3 points per game, her fans should be more concerned with her 5.0 turnovers per contest.10. Toronto Tempo - As Kiki Rice continues to improve, this team has a built-in leader who blends nicely with the veterans on this team.11. Dallas Wings - Coach Jose Fernandez should look in the mirror before calling out one of the best players on his team (Maddy Siegrist).12. Portland Fire - The staple mark win over the New York Liberty should help provide a spark when this team needs a reminder of how to win.13. Los Angeles Sparks - When Rae Burrell starts taking over games, this team will raise its danger zone.14. Seattle Storm - Coach Sonia Raman can't hold a candle to Noelle Quinn. This will be a long year for the Storm.15. Connecticut Sun - These ladies have one foot out the door and on their way to Houston.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, MLB, WNBA and EPL Previews and Odds - 05/18/26

by Big Al Staff

Monday, May 18, 2026

The Monday sports card features NBA, NHL, MLB, WNBA, and EPL action.The National Basketball Association continues its playoff season with Game 1 in the Western Conference finals. The Oklahoma City Thunder hosts the San Antonio Spurs on NBC/Peacock at 8:40 p.m. ET as a 6.5-point favorite with the total set at 219.5 (all odds from DraftKings). The National Hockey League playoffs continue with a Game 7 in the Eastern Conference semifinals. The Buffalo Sabres play at home against the Montreal Canadiens on ESPN at 7:40 p.m. ET as a -122 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5.Major League Baseball has 15 games scheduled. Four MLB games throw out the first pitch at 6:40 p.m. ET. The Tampa Bay Rays are at home to play against the Baltimore Orioles as a -155 money-line favorite with a total of 7.5. The Detroit Tigers host the Cleveland Guardians on FS1 as a -149 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Miami Marlins play at home against the Atlanta Braves as a -112 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The Philadelphia Phillies are at home to take on the Cincinnati Reds as a -125 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9.5. The New York Mets travel to Washington to play the Nationals at 6:45 p.m. ET as a -143 money-line road favorite with a total of 10. The New York Yankees host the Toronto Blue Jays at 7:05 p.m. ET as a -167 money-line favorite with an over/under of 10.5. Three more MLB games start at 7:40 p.m. ET. The Chicago Cubs play at home against the Milwaukee Brewers as a -167 money-line favorite with a total of 10.5. The Boston Red Sox play in Kansas City against the Royals as a -112 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 9. The Minnesota Twins are home to face the Houston Astros as a -114 money-line favorite with a total of 9.5. The Texas Rangers are on the road to challenge the Colorado Rockies at 8:40 p.m. ET as a -149 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 10. The Athletics visit Los Angeles to battle the Angels at 9:38 p.m. ET as a -131 money-line road favorite with a total of 9. Three more games conclude the MLB card at 9:40 p.m. ET. The Arizona Diamondbacks host the San Francisco Giants on Peacock as a -143 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9. The Seattle Mariners play at home against the Chicago White Sox as a -175 money-line favorite with a total of 7. The Los Angeles Dodgers play in San Diego against the Padres as a -157 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 7.5.The WNBA has four games on tap. The Dallas Wings are at home to play the Washington Mystics on Peacock/NBC Sports Network at 8:00 p.m. ET as a 4.5-point favorite with a total of 170.5. The Portland Fire hosts the Connecticut Sun at 10:00 p.m. ET as a 3.5-point favorite with an over/under of 173.5.Matchweek 37 in the English Premier League continues with one match. Arsenal plays at home against Burnley on the USA Network at 3:00 p.m. ET as a 2.5-point goal-line favorite with a total of 3.5. 

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ASA's NFL Strength of Schedule Ratings

by ASA, Inc.

Sunday, May 17, 2026

ASA’s 2026 NFL STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE RATINGS Most Difficult Schedules 1)      ARIZONA CARDINALS (team win total is 4.5) – The Cardinals finished just 3-14 last year and then get stuck with one of the most difficult schedules in 2026.  Not great with a QB rotation of Jacoby Brissett, Gardner Mishew, and Carson Beck.  Arizona’s opponents in 2026 won 55% of their games last season (most in the NFL) and have an average win total projection this year of 9.3 games (most in the NFL).  They face a whopping 10 teams (out of 17 games) vs teams projected to win 10+ games and only 6 games vs teams projected to win less than 9 games.  They play 13 straight games before their bye week and they start the season with 5 of their first 6 games vs teams projected to win more than 10 games.  Brutal.  2)      MIAMI DOLPHINS (team win total is 4.5) – The Fins play 9 playoff teams from last year and close out the season with 6 straight facing Denver, Chicago, Green Bay, LA Chargers, Buffalo, and New England.  Their opponents won over 54% of their games last season (2nd most) and those opponents are projected to win 155 games this year (average opponent win projecting of 9.1 games) which is the 2nd highest of any team this season.  The Dolphins have a net rest differential of -6.5 (6th worst in the NFL) and they have 2 stretches this year where they play 3 road games in a 4 week span (9 road games this year).  Tough for team breaking in new QB (Willis) and new HC (Hafley). 3)      LA CHARGERS (team win total is 10.5) – The Chargers have one of the worst net rest differentials for any team in the last 20 years (-24).  A big factor in that stat is the fact LA faces 4 teams coming off byes this year which is the most in the NFL tied with Philadelphia.  They start the season on a light note facing Arizona and Las Vegas at home but 5 of their 6 games following that are vs teams that made the playoffs last year and KC is their only opponent during that stretch that didn’t make last year’s post season.  LAC’s opponents won almost 53% of their games last season (9th most) and their road slate is really tough having to travel to Buffalo, Seattle, KC, LA Rams, Baltimore, and Denver.    Easiest Schedules 1)      CLEVELAND BROWNS (team win total is 6.5) – The Browns face 13 teams this season that finished with a losing record last year while facing only 4 games vs teams that made the playoffs.  The backend of their schedule should give them a chance to build some momentum late.  Following their bye week on November 22nd, Cleveland doesn’t face a single team that made the playoffs last year (7 games).  If we take out their games vs their own division (AFC North), out of their other 11 games, the Browns face 5 opponents that are projected to finish last in their division (per projected win totals).  They do have a rare 3 game road trip mid-season (one of only 3 teams that have that situation) but despite that, their overall schedule is still one of the easiest in the league. 2)      DETROIT LIONS (team win total is 10.5) – The Lions missed the playoffs last year with a 9-8 record and are projected to bounce back to double digit wins in 2026.  Part of that positivity is due to their weak schedule this season.  The NFC North should be one of the best divisions again in the NFL (all 4 teams finished above .500 last year), however if we remove those 6 games, Detroit’s slate is ridiculously weak.  Some of their non-division opponents include Saints, Jets, Panthers, Cardinals, Dolphins, Falcons, Titans, and Giants.  They only face 2 teams outside of the NFC North that finished last year with winning records (Patriots and Bills) and the combined record of their 11 non-divisional opponent’s last year was 76-111.  The average projected win total of Detroit’s opponents this year is 7.9 which is the lowest in the league. 3)      NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (team win total is 7.5) – The Saints play in the weakest division in the NFL (NFC South) which obviously plays into this strength of schedule rating.  All 4 teams in the NFC South finished with losing records last year and none are projected to win more than 9 games in 2026.  Only 3 of their 17 games this season are vs a team that made the playoffs last year.  Saints opponents this season won only 43% of their games last year (2nd worst) and are projected to average just 8 wins this year (2nd worst).  New Orleans faces only 2 teams that won more than 9 games last season (Chicago & Pittsburgh) but they do have a difficult “scheduling” stretch in starting in late November with 4 road games in 5 weeks.  Still a very light schedule this year for the Saints.   

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, MLB, WNBA and EPL Previews and Odds - 05/17/26

by Big Al Staff

Sunday, May 17, 2026

The Sunday sports card features NBA, MLB, WNBA, and EPL action.The National Basketball Association continues its playoff season with Game 7 in the Eastern Conference semifinals between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Detroit Pistons on Amazon Prime Video at 8:10 p.m. ET. Detroit is a 4.5-point home favorite with the total set at 206.5 (all odds from DraftKings). Major League Baseball has 15 games scheduled. The Tampa Bay Rays play at home against the Miami Marlins on Peacock at 12:15 p.m. ET as a -156 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7.5. Three more MLB games throw out the first pitch at 1:35 p.m. ET. The Pittsburgh Pirates are home to take on the Philadelphia Phillies as a -137 money-line favorite with a total of 7. The Atlanta Braves host the Boston Red Sox as a -156 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Baltimore Orioles travel to Washington to play the Nationals as a -132 money-line road favorite with a total of 10.5. Three MLB games start at 1:40 p.m. ET. The New York Yankees play across town against the New York Mets as a -113 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8. The Cleveland Guardians play at home against the Cincinnati Reds as a -170 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The Toronto Blue Jays are on the road in Detroit against the Tigers as a -136 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8. Three MLB games begin at 2:10 p.m. ET. The Texas Rangers visit Houston to face the Astros as a -120 money-line road favorite with a total of 8.5. The Chicago Cubs play across town against the Chicago White Sox as a -143 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Milwaukee Brewers are on the road to battle the Minnesota  Twins as a -120 money-line road favorite with a total of 8. The St. Louis Cardinals are at home to challenge the Kansas  City Royals at 2:15 p.m. ET as a -115 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9. The Arizona Diamondbacks travel to Colorado to play the Rockies at 3:10 p.m. ET as a -156 money-line road favorite with a total of 10.5. The Athletics host the San Francisco Giants at 4:05 p.m. ET as a -149 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9.5. The Los Angeles Dodgers play across town in Los Angeles against the Angels on Peacock at 4:07 p.m. ET as a -143 money-line road favorite with a total of 9. Sunday Night Baseball on NBC has the Seattle Mariners playing at home against the San Diego Padres at 7:20 p.m. ET as a -163 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7.5. The WNBA has four games on tap. The Las Vegas Aces are on the road to face the Atlanta Dream on NBC at 1:30 p.m. ET as a 2.5-point road favorite with a total of 172.5. The  Indiana Fever are at home to take on the Seattle Storm on Peacock at 6:00 p.m. ET as a 10.5-point favorite with an over/under of 176.5.Two games conclude the WNBA card at 7:00 p.m. ET. The Minnesota Lynx host the Chicago Sky as a 4.5-point favorite with a total of 169.5. The Los Angeles Sparks play at home against the Toronto Tempo as a 7.5-point favorite with an over/under of 175.5. Matchweek 37 in the English Premier League continues with six matches. Manchester United is at home against Nottingham Forest on the USA Network at 7:30 a.m. ET as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5. Four more EPL matches begin at 10:00 a.m. ET. Brentford hosts Crystal Palace as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Everton plays at home against Sunderland as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5. Brighton and Hove Albion visits Leeds United on the USA Network as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Fulham plays at Wolverhampton as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with a total of 2.5. Newcastle United is at home against West Ham United on the USA Network at 12:30 p.m. ET as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 3.5. 

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Three NFL Teams Going Over Their 2026 Win Total

by Jazz Ray

Saturday, May 16, 2026

If you like wagering on the NFL and don't mind tying up a small portion of your bankroll for a few months, then betting on team's season win totals is one of the most popular options for betting fans. In this article I'm going to highlight three teams that I believe show value on the over as far as their projected win total is concerned (Odds in parenthesis from DraftKings Sportsbook)Chicago Bears over 9.5 (+110)I think the Bears are worth a "second look" to exceed their 2026 win total of 9.5, which pays plus-money odds. The Bears almost earned the No. 1 NFC seed last year and they return most of their core players. Ben Johnson continues to help Caleb Williams evolve into a legitimate MVP candidate, and the NFC North would appear "winnable." A couple of months ago, I was "down" on the Bears' outlook, but have since started to change my view. Chicago's schedule features what I believe to be several different favorable matchups. The Bears have addressed some defensive issues and along with their core continuity carrying over, I believe 11 or 12 wins is the most likely outcome. Chicago appears primed to make another run for the division title, and a minimum of 10 wins appears very attainable to me. The +110 price may not stick around long, though, as the plus-money price reflects market skepticism, with a possible correction imminent.New York Jets over 5.5 (-115)Not much is expected of the Jets this season, but with a favorable schedule and revamped roster, everything points to some minor improvement in 2026, in my opinion. Last year's major setbacks were mostly due to instability at the quarterback position, and major defensive lapses. Enter veteran quarterback Geno Smith, who will bring that much-needed stability under center, albeit on the back-half of his career. David Bailey, Kenyon Sadiq, and Omar Cooper Jr. are all interesting draft additions that should be able to contribute almost immediately. Scheduling does indeed play a part in this wager, with weak opponents like the Dolphins, Raiders, Browns and Titans already circled on the calendar. I think the veteran talent brought in at key positions, along with the new talented additions, will combine to help the Jets comfortably clear six or seven wins. New York will still be a bottom-feeder regardless, but a slightly better bottom-feeder than it was last season!Tennessee Titans over 6.5 (-110)Like the Jets, the Titans were a disappointment last year, but they also show potential for improvement in 2026. Robert Saleh has a knack of maximizing potential with limited rosters (especially on the defensive side). Cam Ward enters his second year and should be able to take the "next step" with new weapons to utilize (plus a year's experience under his belt). The AFC South appears to potentially be competitive this season, but Tennessee has a legitimate shot at competing for the division title, in my opinion. The Titans also benefit from a favorable schedule, with many "winnable" games that Saleh will look to take advantage of with the experience he brings to the table. The roster and coaching has been upgraded and the starting quarterback appears ready for further progression; 7 or 8 wins appears very attainable to me. Manageable schedules, coaching upgrades, and talent gains make these three overs (Bears at +110, the Jets close to even and the Titans at -110), my three strongest picks to go over their posted win totals for the 2026 campaign. Of course, futures carry risk, and you always have to consider whether you can afford to, or even want to, tie up a portion of your bankroll for the entire season. That said, if you enjoy making these types of wagers, I think these three selections offer positive edge for disciplined bettors. Also, please remember to shop around and bet responsibly.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NHL and MLB Previews and Odds - 05/16/26

by Big Al Staff

Saturday, May 16, 2026

The Saturday sports card features NHL and MLB action.The 151st running of the Preakness Stakes headlines the sporting events of the day. The second leg of the Triple Crown is the 13th race at the Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland, with an approximate start time of 7:01 p.m. ET.The National Hockey League playoffs continue with one game in the Eastern Conference semifinals on ABC. The Montreal Canadiens host the Buffalo Sabres with a 3-2 series lead and opportunity to close out this best-of-seven series at 8:10 p.m. ET as a -175 money-line favorite with the total set at 6.5 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). Major League Baseball has 15 games scheduled. The Detroit Tigers play at home against the Toronto Blue Jays at 1:10 p.m. ET as a -125 money-line favorite at BetOnline with an over/under of 8.5. The St. Louis Cardinals are at home to take on the Kansas City Royals on Peacock at 2:15 p.m. ET as a -120 money-line favorite with a total of 9. The Arizona Cardinals travel to Colorado to face the Rockies at 3:10 p.m. ET as a -143 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 11.5. Two MLB games throw out the first pitch at 4:05 p.m. ET. The Philadelphia Phillies play in Pittsburgh against the Pirates as a -175 money-line road favorite with a total of 8. The Baltimore Orioles are on the road against the Washington Nationals on FS1, with both teams priced as -110 money-line favorites with an over/under of 10. The Tampa Bay Rays host the Miami Marlins at 4:10 p.m. ET as a -143 money-line favorite with a total of 7.5.The Cleveland Guardians play at home against the Cincinnati Reds at 6:10 p.m. ET as a -181 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. Three more MLB games start at 7:10 p.m. ET. The Texas Rangers visit Houston to challenge the Rangers as a -143 money-line road favorite with a total of 7.5. The Chicago Cubs play across town against the Chicago White Sox, with both teams priced as -110 money-line favorites with an over/under of 8.5. The Milwaukee Brewers are on the road in Minnesota to battle the Twins as a -126 money-line road favorite with a total of 8.5. Three MLB games begin at 7:15 p.m. ET. The Atlanta Braves are at home to face the Boston Red Sox as a -149 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. Two MLB games are featured on Fox’s regional coverage. The New York Yankees play across town against the New York Mets. The Seattle Mariners host the San Diego Padres as a -160 money-line favorite at BetOnline with a total of 7. The Los Angeles Dodgers visit across town against the Los Angeles Angels at 9:38 p.m. ET as a -143 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Athletics play at home against the San Francisco Giants at 9:40 p.m. ET as a -131 money-line favorite with a total of 10. 

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, MLB, WNBA, and EPL Previews and Odds - 05/15/26

by Big Al Staff

Friday, May 15, 2026

The Friday sports card features NBA, MLB, WNBA, and EPL action. The National Basketball Association continues its playoff season with two Game 6s on Amazon Prime Video in the conference semifinals. The Cleveland Cavaliers host the Detroit Pistons at 7:10 p.m. ET with an opportunity to close out this series as a 3.5-point favorite with the total set at 210.5 (all odds from DraftKings). The San Antonio Spurs travel to Minnesota to play the Timberwolves and close out this series at 9:40 p.m. ET as a 5.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 218.5. Major League Baseball has 15 games scheduled. The Pittsburgh Pirates play at home against the Philadelphia Phillies at 6:40 p.m. ET as a -132 money-line favorite with a total of 8. Two MLB games throw out the first pitch at 6:45 p.m. ET. The Toronto Blue Jays play in Detroit against the Tigers on Apple TV+ as a -131 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8. The Baltimore Orioles are on the road in Washington to take on the Nationals as a -143 money-line road favorite with a total of 9.5. Three MLB games start at 7:10 p.m. ET. The Minnesota Twins are home to face the Milwaukee Brewers. The Cleveland Guardians host the Cincinnati Reds as a -137 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. The Tampa Bay Rays play at home against the Miami Marlins as a -117 money-line favorite with a total of 8. Two more MLB games begin at 7:15 p.m. ET. The New York Yankees go crosstown to play on the road against the New York Mets on Apple TV+ as a -156 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 7. The Atlanta Braves are home to battle the Boston Red Sox as a -149 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The Chicago Cubs play on the road crosstown against the White Sox at 7:40 pm. ET as a -155 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Texas Rangers visit Houston to challenge the Astros, with both teams priced as -110 money line favorites with a total of 8.5. The St. Louis Cardinals host the Kansas City Royals as a -114 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Arizona Diamondbacks play in Colorado against the Rockies at 8:40 p.m. ET as a -131 money-line road favorite with a total of 12. The Los Angeles Dodgers are on the road, crosstown against the Los Angeles Angels at 9:38 p.m. ET as a -240 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 9. Two more games conclude the MLB card at 9:40 p.m. ET. The Seattle Mariners play at home against the San Diego Padres as a -143 money-line favorite with a total of 7.5. The Athletics are home to play the San Francisco Giants as a -137 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9.5. The WNBA has four games on tap. Two WNBA games tip off at 7:00 p.m. ET. The Las Vegas Aces travel to Connecticut to play the Suns as a 14.5-point road favorite with a total of 170.5. The Indiana Fever hosts the Washington Mystics as a 9.5-point favorite with an over/under of 170.5. Two more games complete the WNBA card at 10:00 p.m. ET. The Phoenix Mercury play at home against the Chicago Sky as a 4.5-point favorite with a total of 166.5. The Los Angeles Sparks are home to face the Toronto Tempo as a 7.5-point favorite with an over/under of 166.5.  

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NHL, MLB and WNBA Previews and Odds - 05/14/26

by Big Al Staff

Thursday, May 14, 2026

The Thursday sports card features NHL, MLB, and WNBA action. The National Hockey League playoffs continue with two games in the conference semifinals on TNT/truTV/HBO Max. The Buffalo Sabres host the Montreal Canadiens at 7:10 p.m. ET. The Sabres evened this best-of-seven series at 2-2 on Tuesday with a 3-2 victory on the road. Buffalo is a -122 money-line favorite with the total set at 5.5 (all odds from DraftKings). The Vegas Golden Knights travel to Anaheim to play the Ducks at 9:40 p.m. ET. The Golden Knights took a 3-2 series lead on Tuesday with a 3-2 win in overtime on their home ice. Vegas is a -112 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. Major League Baseball has 11 games scheduled. The Pittsburgh Pirates play at home against the Colorado Rockies at 12:35 p.m. ET. The Pirates send out Carmen Mlodzinski to pitch against the Rockies’ Chase Dollander. Pittsburgh is a -181 money-line favorite with a total of 7.5. The Cincinnati Reds are home to take on the Washington Nationals at 12:40 p.m. ET. Chase Burns takes the mound for the Reds to duel against Foster Griffin for the Pirates. Cincinnati is a -163 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. The New York Mets host the Detroit Tigers at 1:10 p.m. ET. The Mets tap Nolan McLean to challenge the Tigers’ Keider Montero. New York is a -175 money-line favorite with a total of 7.5. Two MLB games throw out the first pitch at 1:40 p.m. ET. The Minnesota Twins play at home against the Miami Marlins. The Twins have yet to name the starting pitcher who will face the Marlins’ Braxton Garrett. Minnesota is a -126 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Milwaukee Brewers are home to battle the San Diego Padres. Kyle Harrison gets the ball for the Brewers to face Griffin Canning for the Padres. Milwaukee is a -149 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The Seattle Mariners play in Houston against the Astros at 2:10 p.m. ET. The Mariners turn to Luis Castillo to take the ball to pitch against the Astros’ Mike Burrows. Seattle is a -131 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 9. The Athletics host the St. Louis Cardinals at 3:05 p.m. ET. Jacob Lopez gets the starting pitcher assignment for the Athletics to go against Michael McGreevy for the Cardinals. The Athletics are a -117 money-line favorite with a total of 9.5.  The Philadelphia Phillies are on the road to take on the Boston Red Sox on Peacock at 7:15 p.m. ET. Jesus Luzardo takes the hill for the Phillies to take on Ranger Suarez for the Red Sox. Philadelphia is a -114 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 7.5. The Atlanta Braves play at home against the Chicago Cubs on Peacock at 7:15 p.m. ET. The Braves send out Chris Sale to challenge the Cubs’ Ben Brown. Atlanta is a -163 money-line favorite with a total of 7.5. The Kansas City Royals visit Chicago to play the White Sox at 7:40 p.m.  ET. Kris Bubic gets the ball for the Royals to take on Anthony Kay for the White Sox. Kansas City is a -136 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Los Angeles Dodgers are home to battle the San Francisco Giants at 10:10 p.m. ET. The Dodgers turn to Emmet Sheehan to duel against the Giants’ Landen Roupp. Los Angeles is a -175 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The WNBA has two games on tap on Amazon Prime Video. The Dallas Wings host the Minnesota Lynx at 8:00 p.m. ET as a 3.5-point favorite with an over/under of 177.5. The New York Liberty play in Phoenix against the Mercury at 10:00 p.m. ET as an 11.5-point road favorite with a total of 176.5. 

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NHL, MLB, NBA and WNBA Previews and Odds - 05/13/26

by Big Al Staff

Wednesday, May 13, 2026

The Wednesday sports card features NBA, NHL, MLB, and WNBA action. The National Basketball Association continues its playoff season with a Game 5 in the Eastern Conference semifinals. The Detroit Pistons host the Cleveland Cavaliers in their series, deadlocked at 2-2 on ESPN at 8:10 p.m. ET as a 3.5-point favorite with the total set at 212.5 (all odds from DraftKings).The National Hockey League playoffs continue with a Game 5 in the Western Conference semifinals. The Colorado Avalanche play at home against the Minnesota Wild on TNT/truTV/HBO Max at 8:10 p.m. ET, attempting to close out this series as a -205 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. Major League Baseball has 15 games scheduled. The New York Yankees travel to Baltimore to play the Orioles at 1:05 p.m. ET. The Cleveland Guardians are at home to play the Los Angeles Angels at 1:10 p.m. ET as a -149 money-line favorite with a total of 7. Two MLB games throw out the first pitch at 6:40 p.m. ET. The Pittsburgh Pirates host the Colorado Rockies as a -186 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Cincinnati Reds play at home against the Washington Nationals as a -163 money-line favorite with a total of 9. The Boston Red Sox are home to take on the Philadelphia Phillies at 6:45 p.m. ET as a -136 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9. The Toronto Blue Jays host the Tampa Bay Rays at 7:07 p.m. ET as a -168 money-line favorite with a total of 7.5. The New York Mets play at home against the Detroit Tigers at 7:10 p.m. ET. The Chicago Cubs play in Atlanta against the Braves at 7:15 p.m. ET as a -143 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5. Three MLB games throw out the first pitch at 7:40 p.m. ET. The Kansas City Royals are on the road in Chicago to face the White Sox as a -118 money-line road favorite with a total of 8. The Miami Marlins visit Minnesota to battle the Twins as a -126 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Milwaukee Brewers are home to challenge the San Diego Padres as a -149 money-line favorite with a total of 7. The Texas Rangers host the Arizona Diamondbacks at 8:05 p.m. ET as a -126 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Seattle Mariners play in Houston against the Astros at 8:10 p.m. ET as a -126 money-line road favorite with a total of 9. The Athletics play at home against the St. Louis Cardinals on Peacock at 9:40 p.m. ET as a -149 money-line favorite with an over/under of 10. The Los Angeles Dodgers are home to play the San Francisco Giants at 10:10 p.m. ET as a -246 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The WNBA has four games on tap. The Toronto Tempo hosts the Seattle Storm at 7:00 p.m. ET as a 3.5-point favorite with an over/under of 167.5. The Las Vegas Aces are on the road in Connecticut to challenge the Suns on the USA Network at 8:00 p.m. ET as a 14.5-point road favorite with a total of 170.5. The Golden State Valkyries play at home against the Chicago Sky at 10:00 p.m. ET as a 5.5-point favorite with an over/under of 166.5. The Indiana Fever travel to Los Angeles to face the Sparks on the USA Network at 10:30 p.m. ET as a 1.5-point road favorite with a total of 184.5. 

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2026 Preakness Stakes Preview

by Al McMordie

Tuesday, May 12, 2026

We've recently seen the Kentucky Derby run on a date that wasn't the first Saturday in May.  And even more recently we've seen the Belmont Stakes run on a track that wasn't Belmont Park.  But since 1909 we've never seen the Preakness held anywhere other than Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore.  That's about to change as Pimlico is being rebuilt and for likely the next two years the second jewel of the Triple Crown will be contested at Laurel Park in Laurel, Maryland.  The attendance will be limited and there won't be an infield party, but that shouldn't dampen the mood as a very competitive field is set to contest the Preakness on Saturday at approximately 7:00 pm.  Here is a look at some of the likely Contenders, Pretenders, and Live Longshots this Saturday:   Contenders:    #1 Taj Mahal - Usually the winner of the ungraded "win and you're in" Frederico Tesio Stakes at Laurel is an afterthought in the Preakness.  Not this year.  This son of Nyquist who is owned by the SF Racing partnership would normally be in Bob Baffert's barn, but the group decided he should go east and train with local star Brittany Russell.  As a result, Taj Mahal has had all three of his races right here at Laurel Park and has yet to lose with his most impressive effort being in that Tesio race at 1 1/8 miles on April 18.  He led gate-to-wire in that one and appeared to have plenty left in the tank in earning a gaudy speed figure that says he belongs with this more accomplished group.  Regular local jockey -- and Trainer's husband -- Sheldon Russell will ride and that's another plus as most of the other jockeys are not all that familiar with Laurel.    #9 Iron Honor - This Chad Brown-trained son of Nyquist skipped the Derby after a disappointing seventh place finish in the April 4th Wood Memorial at Aqueduct.  But you can throw out that Wood effort as Iron Honor had an impossible 12th post position from which jockey Manny Franco tried to use his natural speed to go to the lead (he couldn't) and the horse ended up fading badly.  Iron Honor's races prior to the Wood indicate that he belongs with this group.  Brown has named his #1 jockey, Flavien Prat to ride Iron Honor and (with no disrespect) that's a big upgrade from Franco.  Iron Honor has been made the morning line favorite, but you still might get 9-2 on him come Saturday and that would be a great price for this horse and a trainer who knows how to win this race (Brown won it in 2017 and 2022).   Pretenders:    #2 Ocelli - The Whitworth Beckman-trained son of Connect was a deserving 70-1 in the Kentucky Derby and he shocked almost everyone by taking the lead briefly in the stretch before being run down by Golden Tempo and Renegade.  For a moment, it seemed like we might have another Rich Strike situation on our hands (another horse who seemed impossible and who drew into the race at the last minute only to win at 80-1 in 2022).  But because he finished 3rd in that race and is one of only three Derby horses to come to the Preakness, Ocelli will have a relatively short price.  Don't get sucked in.  He is still a maiden (has never won a race) and they paid only $12,000 for him at auction.  Although an up-and-coming young trainer, Beckman has only won at less than 5% of his Graded Stakes entries.     #10 Napoleon Solo - This is a tale of two horses.  The Napoleon Solo that ran as a two-year-old in 2025 looked like he could emerge as one of the top east coast-based Derby Contenders as a three-year-old in 2026.  But both of Napoleon Solo's efforts this year have been dreadful.  The Chad Summers-trained son of Liam's Map went off as one of the favorites in the February 28 Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park only to fade badly and finish 5th.  He ran almost the exact same race in the April 4 Wood Memorial after switching jockeys from Kendrick Carmouche to Paco Lopez.  If he tries to vie for the lead again in this race, it's likely he will be swallowed up by better horses once again and will finish up the track.  He may get some action at the windows from those who think the time off might get him back to his 2025 form.  Save your money.    Live Longshots:   #4 Robusta - Here is one of the other Preakness entrants who ran in the Kentucky Derby.  And yes, he finished 14th in that race (when Ocelli finished 3rd).  And yes, he only has a maiden victory to his credit so far in six races.  But there is something about this Doug O'Neil-trained son of Accelerate that says, "give me one more chance."  If Robusta can get back to his California form where he ran second in the San Felipe -- beating Santa Anita Derby winner So Happy -- then he should have a real shot in today's second jewel at what should be a very big price.  Owner Calumet Farm usually is very conservative with its runners, so the fact that it wants to take a shot with this one in the Preakness says something about his chances.   #5 Talkin - Although this son of Good Magic only has a maiden score to his credit (last Summer at Saratoga) there are several things to like here.  Danny Gargan is an up-and-coming trainer who is no stranger to winning big races (he readied Dornoch for victories in the Belmont and Haskell Stakes in 2024) and Talkin is one of only two horses in this field who has run in four Graded Stakes (the aforementioned Robusta being the other).  Talkin's third place finish in the Blue Grass Stakes was better than it looks on paper and Joel Rosario is a clever, veteran jockey who would very much like to add this race to his Kentucky Derby (2013) and Belmont (2014, 2019) triumphs.  The big question is whether Talkin can be successful around two turns, but you're going to get a very big price to try to find out.   #8 Bull by the Horns - This son of Essential Quality is an improving colt who was being considered for the Peter Pan Stakes at Aqueduct before Saffie Joseph decided to point him here.  He won his last race, the Rushaway Stakes on March 21, on the artificial surface at Turfway Park, in impressive fashion.  Trainer Joseph knows a thing or two about winning big races, so it's a risky endeavor for a handicapper to throw out one of his horses.  Bull by the Horns figures to get a stalking trip and if he is in a good position as they turn for home, he just might be able to spring an upset at what figures to be a HUGE price.  He gets extra points if veteran jock Johnny Velasquez decides to ride him back today (Velasquez was on him in that last race at Turfway).Good luck, as always,Al McMordie

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, and MLB Previews and Odds - 05/12/26

by Big Al Staff

Tuesday, May 12, 2026

The Tuesday sports card features NBA, NHL, and MLB action. The National Basketball Association continues its playoff season with a Game 5 in the Western Conference semifinals. The San Antonio Spurs host the Minnesota Timberwolves on NBC/Peacock at 8:10 p.m. ET as a 10.5-point favorite with the total set at 218.5 (all odds from DraftKings). The National Hockey League playoffs continue with two games on ESPN in the conference semifinals. The Montreal Canadiens play at home against the Buffalo Sabres at 7:10 p.m. ET with a 2-1 series lead as a -135 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Vegas Golden Knights return home to play the Anaheim Ducks at 9:40 p.m. ET in their 2-2 series as a -155 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. Major League Baseball has 15 games scheduled. The Cleveland Guardians host the Los Angeles Angels at 6:10 p.m. ET as a -136 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The New York Yankees travel to play the Baltimore Orioles at 6:35 p.m. ET. Two more MLB games throw out the first pitch at 6:40 p.m. ET. The Pittsburgh Pirates play at home against the Colorado Rockies as a -341 money-line favorite with a total of 7.5. The Cincinnati Reds are home to play the Washington Nationals as a -143 money-line favorite with an over/under of 10. The Philadelphia Phillies play in Boston against the Red Sox at 6:45 p.m. ET as a -149 money-line road favorite with a total of 8. The Tampa Bay Rays are on the road in Toronto against the Blue Jays at 7:07 p.m.  ET as a -118 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8. The New York Mets host the Detroit Tigers on TBS as a -149 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The Atlanta Braves play at home against the Chicago Cubs on truTV at 7:15 p.m. ET as a -131 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. Three MLB games throw out the first pitch at 7:40 p.m. ET. The Kansas City Royals visit the Chicago White Sox as a -126 money-line road favorite with a total of 9. The Minnesota Twins are home take on the Miami Marlins as a -115 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9. The Milwaukee Brewers host the San Diego Padres as a -131 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The Texas Rangers play at home against the Arizona Diamondbacks at 8:10 p.m. ET as a -136 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. The Seattle Mariners play in Houston against the Astros on Peacock at 8:10 p.m. ET as a -156 money-line road favorite with a total of 8.5. The Athletics are at home to challenge the St. Louis Cardinals at 9:40 p.m. ET as a -156 money-line favorite with an over/under of 10. The WNBA has three games on tap. The Atlanta Dream are on the road against the Dallas Wings at 8:00 p.m. ET as a 2.5-point road favorite with a total of 181.5. Two games conclude the WNBA card at 10:00 p.m. ET. The Phoenix Mercury host the Minnesota Lynx as a 3.5-point favorite with an over/under of 171.5. The New York Liberty visit Portland to play the Fire as a 12.5-point road favorite with a total of 173.5. 

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