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Big Al's Daily Angle: NFL, NCAAF, NHL and MLB Previews and Odds - 10/15/26

by Big Al Staff

Thursday, Oct 15, 2026

The Thursday sports card features NFL, NCAAF, MLB, and NHL action. Week 6 in the National Football League kicks off with one game. The Seattle Seahawks travel to Denver to play the Broncos on Amazon Prime at 8:15 p.m. ET as a 2.5-point road favorite with the total set at 40.5 (all odds from DraftKings). Week 7 in NCAAF college football continues with three games between FBS opponents. Two NCAAF games kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET. Georgia Southern plays at Old Dominion on ESPN2 as a 3.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 47.5. East Carolina is on the road to take on UAB on ESPN as a 5.5-point road favorite with a total of 47.5. Texas State hosts Colorado State on the CBS Sports Network at 8:00 p.m. ET as a 14.5-point favorite with a total of 70.5. The Major League Baseball postseason continues with two games. The Cleveland Guardians play at home against the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 3 of the American League Championship Series on TBS/truTV/HBO Max at 1:00 p.m. ET. The Rays evened this best-of-seven series at 1-1 with their 3-1 win at home on Tuesday. The Guardians send out Gavin Williams to pitch against Tampa Bay’s Griffin Jax. Cleveland is a -134 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Los Angeles Dodgers are at home to face the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 4 of the National League Championship on FS1 at 8:00 p.m. ET. The Brewers took a 3-0 lead in this best-of-seven series with a 6-2 victory on the road on Wednesday. Tyler Glasnow gets the ball for the Dodgers to duel against a starting pitcher yet to be named for Milwaukee. Los Angeles is a -161 money-line favorite with a total of 7.5. The National Hockey League has 11 games on its slate. Five NHL games drop the puck at 7:10 p.m. ET. The Tampa Bay Lightning host the Seattle Kraken as a -258 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Florida Panthers play at home against the Vancouver Canucks as a -298 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Ottawa Senators are at home to challenge the New York Islanders as a -166 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The New Jersey Devils host the New York Rangers as a -148 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Toronto Maple Leafs play at home against the Buffalo Sabres as a -118 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Detroit Red Wings are at home to battle the Philadelphia Flyers at 7:40 p.m. ET as a -142 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. Three more NHL games start at 8:10 p.m. ET. The Winnipeg Jets visit Chicago to play the Blackhawks as a -135 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Nashville Predators host the San Jose Sharks as a -148 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Minnesota Wild play at home against the St. Louis Blues as a -148 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Edmonton Oilers are at home to face the Utah Mammoth at 9:10 p.m. ET as a -130 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Vegas Golden Knights host the Calgary Flames at 10:10 p.m. ET as a -305 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. 

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College Football Week 7 Top 10

by Wayne Root

Wednesday, Oct 14, 2026

Chaos in the SEC was the headline in Week 6 of the 2026 college football season, while the marquee matchup of Alabama and Georgia lived up to the hype in a tight game that was decided by a late field goal.When the dust settled on Saturday's action, Texas, LSU and Florida had all suffered upset losses to shake up the SEC picture, while ACC contenders Pittsburgh and Duke both took their first losses of the season to open up multiple spots at the bottom of the rankings. 1. GeorgiaIn a battle between the SEC’s two biggest powerhouses over the last decade, Georgia looked fully composed on the road. Kirby Smart’s squad always seems ready to rise to the occasion, and Saturday was no different.Georgia battled in a back-and-forth game, but it inched ahead late and then leaned on the defense to do the rest. There are never gimmes in the SEC, but a home date with Auburn next weekend should be manageable. 2. Notre Dame Notre Dame faced an overmatched Stanford team and made relatively short work of it. The Fighting Irish led 37-0 by halftime and made sure there was never any drama whatsoever. The Fighting Irish have continued to creep up the AP Top 25 poll. Next week will be a big judgment game for Notre Dame, which doesn’t have a ton of them on the schedule. It’s a road trip to BYU on tap.3. Miami Miami benefited from its bye week as Texas lost. Sometimes that’s all it comes down to really, win each week and survive. The Hurricanes have done that quite well to start the season.With an offensive cast that features two Heisman Trophy hopefuls, Miami has been clicking at a high level all year long. Up next is a rivalry game against a Florida State team with some issues, but that matchup can always prove tricky.4. Ohio State Ohio State has rebounded quite nicely from the loss to Texas earlier this season, and Saturday continued that trend. It was a stress-free Saturday against Maryland, even with a pick-six from Julian Sayin.Now comes a game that could determine the direction of the rest of the season for the Buckeyes. With one loss the margin for error is already thin, and a road trip to Indiana could decide how real a contender Ohio State really is.5. Indiana This year’s Indiana team hasn’t been quite as dominant as last year’s was, at least by season’s end. But the Hoosiers have still been plenty good overall. Saturday provided a close win at Nebraska.Josh Hoover hit a 44-yard touchdown pass to Nick Marsh to provide the difference in the game. Now Indiana gets ready for the big one against Ohio State. Curt Cignetti has been excellent in these kind of games.6. Alabama Alabama doesn’t tumble far in the rankings after losing to a top-ranked Georgia team. The Crimson Tide were right in the thick of it against the Bulldogs until the bitter end, a few plays away from a different outcome.There won’t be a whole lot of time to sulk for Alabama, though. Up next is the Third Saturday in October matchup against Tennessee. That one is on the road in one of college football’s most hostile venues.7. TexasTexas’ offensive operation hadn’t been firing on all cylinders, but it hadn’t yet proven costly. Until Saturday, that is. Arch Manning made some absolutely killer mistakes and Oklahoma took full advantage of them.Ultimately, everything is still out there to play for for the Longhorns. Next they’ll look to exact some revenge on a Florida team that pulled a stunner in the matchup a year ago, effectively killing Texas’ playoff chances.8. BYUBYU played on Friday night, which could improve important to the next one against Notre Dame. The Cougars will be on one day’s extra rest when the two meet up with a metric ton at stake.As for this week, BYU knocked off Iowa State. Bear Bachmeier was terrific from start to finish, throwing for 329 yards and two scores while rushing for 109 yards.9. Ole MissWeather was a potential concern with Hurricane Isaias rolling through the south, but it didn’t prove problematic on Saturday. And Ole Miss took advantage of that by putting together a complete game against Vanderbilt.Trinidad Chambliss threw for three touchdowns and the ground game provided three more as Ole Miss routed Vanderbilt 52-17. Up next for Ole Miss is a matchup against a Top 25 Missouri team.10. UCLABob Chesney’s incredible start continued on Saturday in dramatic fashion with a 17-15 upset of Oregon on the road. The Bruins stopped a two-point conversion late to help secure the win.Of note, quarterback Nico Iamaleava left the game with what was described as a leg injury. He did not return in the second half, so his status will certainly bear monitoring going forward as the Bruins look to stay unbeaten. The Bruins host have a great rushing group so the quarterback won’t be as misses as the media thinks as they host Wisconsin. 

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NCAAF, MLB, NHL, and UEFA Champions League Previews and Odds - 10/14/26

by Big Al Staff

Wednesday, Oct 14, 2026

The Wednesday sports card features NCAAF, MLB, NHL, and UEFA Champions League action. Week 7 in NCAAF college football continues with two games between FBS opponents. Kennesaw State travels on the road to play Missouri State on the CBS Sports Network at 7:30 p.m. ET. The Owls are on a four-game losing streak after their 27-26 loss at home against Jacksonville State as a 2.5-point underdog last Wednesday. The Bears are on a three-game losing streak after a 34-13 upset loss at Western Kentucky as a 1.5-point favorite on Thursday. Kennesaw State is a 3-point road favorite with the total set at 52.5 (all odds from DraftKings). Western Kentucky plays at Sam Houston on ESPN2 at 8:00 p.m. ET. The Hilltoppers won for the second time in their last three games with a 34-13 upset victory against Missouri State as a 1.5-point underdog last Thursday. The Bearkats have lost four of their five games this season after a 35-3 loss at Liberty as a 13.5-point underdog on Thursday. Western Kentucky is a 1.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 52.5. The Major League Baseball postseason continues with Game 3 in the National League Championship Series. The Los Angeles Dodgers host the Milwaukee Brewers on FS1 at 8:00 p.m. ET. The Dodgers trail 2-0 in this best-of-seven series after their 7-4 loss on the road in Milwaukee on Monday. The Dodgers turn to Blake Snell to pitch against the Brewers’ Robert Gasser. Los Angeles is a -185 money-line favorite with a total of 7.5. The National Hockey League has two games on its slate. The Washington Capitals host the Montreal Canadiens at 7:40 p.m. ET as a -135 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Colorado Avalanche play at home against the Dallas Stars at 8:40 p.m. ET as a -142 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. Matchday 2 in the UEFA Champions League concludes with nine league phase matches. Two games start at 12:45 p.m. ET. Como is on the road to take on Feyenoord Rotterdam as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with an over/under of 3.5. Liverpool visits LASK Linz as a -1.5 goal-line road favorite with a total of 3.5. Seven matches conclude the UEFA Champions League card at 3 p.m. ET. Real Madrid plays on the road at AS Roma as a -0.5 road favorite with an over/under of 3.5. Borussia Dortmund is on the road to take on Bodo Glimt as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with a total of 3.5. Manchester City plays at home against Paris Saint-Germain as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 3.5. Real Betis is at home to challenge FC Porto as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5. Aston Villa hosts Fenerbahce as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5. AEK Athens travels to Shakhtar Donetsk as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Stuttgart plays at Slovan Bratislava as a -1.5 goal-line road favorite with a total of 3.5. All nine Champions League matches are available on Paramount+.

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WNBA Finals Matchup Preview: Atlanta Dream vs. Golden State Valkyries

by Vegas Writer

Wednesday, Oct 14, 2026

The WNBA Finals will produce a first-time champion, with Atlanta and Golden State arriving after semifinal sweeps. The Dream eliminated New York; the Valkyries dethroned Las Vegas. Their best-of-seven series begins Saturday at Chase Center.Golden State swept three regular-season meetings, but two were decided by five points or fewer. Atlanta has grown into a tougher playoff opponent. The matchup comes down to whether the Dream can generate enough offense against Golden State’s defensive pressure without sacrificing their own physical identity.GUARDSJordin Canada and Rhyne Howard give Atlanta a dangerous combination of penetration, perimeter size and playmaking. Canada delivered 19 points and 11 assists in the semifinal clincher, while Howard scored 21. Their ability to create together helps Atlanta survive defensive pressure.Golden State counters with Veronica Burton’s ball pressure, Tiffany Hayes’ downhill aggression and Kaitlyn Chen’s energy. Burton can disrupt Canada’s rhythm, while Hayes supplies offense when possessions stall.Allisha Gray remains day-to-day after a minor procedure on her injured left hand. Her effectiveness could swing this category. Atlanta gets my narrow edge because Canada and Howard are playing with confidence, but without Gray, their workload becomes considerably harder.ADVANTAGE: DREAM, narrowlyFORWARDSAngel Reese and DeWanna Bonner bring rebounding, length and different ways to attack. Reese, the Defensive Player of the Year, forces opponents to work for position and creates extra possessions. Bonner delivered 13 points and 13 rebounds in Atlanta’s series-clinching victory, demonstrating her value when games tighten.Golden State’s Gabby Williams has been its postseason offensive engine, averaging 22.7 points, 4.3 rebounds and four assists entering the Finals. Kayla Thornton complements her with physical defense and perimeter shooting; Janelle Salaün adds another versatile option.Reese is Atlanta’s strongest individual matchup weapon, but Williams’ shot creation and Golden State’s interchangeable defenders give the Valkyries more flexibility across this group.ADVANTAGE: VALKYRIES, narrowly.CENTERSBrionna Jones’ season-ending left leg injury leaves Atlanta without an experienced interior scorer. The Dream must compensate through Reese’s work inside, Naz Hillmon’s activity and their remaining frontcourt options.Kiah Stokes gives Golden State an established defensive anchor. She finished the semifinal clincher with 11 points and 10 rebounds, making all five shots. Against Atlanta in June, she blocked seven shots in one game.Stokes does not need heavy offensive usage to influence the series. Protecting the rim, screening and finishing defensive possessions can be enough. Atlanta must pull her away from the basket or punish help rotations before she gets established.ADVANTAGE: VALKYRIES.COACHINGKarl Smesko deserves credit for adapting Atlanta’s attack and keeping the Dream organized through injuries. Their ability to sweep New York without Gray for most of the series reflects preparation and trust in expanded roles.Natalie Nakase has built Golden State around defensive accountability, depth and collective execution. The Valkyries overcame a 13-point deficit in their semifinal clincher, then outscored Las Vegas 16-6 in overtime.I slightly prefer Nakase because Golden State has shown more ways to change a game defensively. A longer series should reward her ability to adjust assignments and combinations while preserving the team’s identity.ADVANTAGE: VALKYRIES, narrowly.X-FACTORHayes is the player best equipped to change the series outside the primary matchups. Her penetration can force Atlanta’s defense to collapse, opening perimeter opportunities and creating easier finishes for teammates.She scored 21 points in Game 2 against Las Vegas, then supplied 11 in the clincher. That production gives Golden State another creator when Atlanta loads up on Williams.Bonner and Isobel Borlase give Atlanta meaningful answers, but Hayes’ ability to manufacture offense off the bench is especially valuable in a series where clean looks should be difficult to find.ADVANTAGE: VALKYRIES.WHY THE DREAM WINAtlanta wins by controlling the glass, converting turnovers into transition opportunities and keeping Canada aggressive. Reese must turn physical possessions into extra chances, while Howard stretches the defense and Bonner punishes mismatches.A productive Gray return would reduce the burden on everyone. Atlanta also needs an early road victory to change the series’ rhythm. If those pieces come together, the Dream can finish the job at home.DREAM’S WINNING SCENARIO: ATLANTA IN SIX.WHY THE VALKYRIES WINGolden State wins by limiting penetration, making Atlanta score against a set defense and spreading the offensive responsibility. Williams provides the late-possession answer, Stokes protects the paint and Hayes supplies the bench surge.Home-court advantage and defensive versatility give Golden State the stronger foundation.VALKYRIES' WINNING SCENARIO: VALKYRIES IN SIX.

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Breeders Cup Distaff Preview

by Al McMordie

Tuesday, Oct 13, 2026

The Breeders Cup Distaff is set to be contended on Saturday, October 31 as the seventh of the 10 Championship races (race 10 overall on the card) at approximately 4:58 pm ET at Keeneland Race Course.  The Distaff is the female version of the Breeders Cup Classic (in fact it was called the "Ladies Classic" for a few years before re-assuming the more traditional name "Distaff" again).  This race is no less compelling than the Classic, as it appears we will have virtually all of the top older female dirt horses as well as the top 3YO fillies competing.  And it could be a coronation of the great filly Nitrogen, who lost this race last year as a 3YO but who looks determined to avenge that loss and wear the crown in 2026 (or Tiara as the case may be).  Here is a preview of some of the major runners for the 2026 Breeders Cup Distaff:   Nitrogen - This Mark Casse-trained daughter of Medaglia d'Oro was considering taking on the boys in the BC Classic but thankfully for us her connections have decided to run here.  Nitrogen will look to make up for her loss in this race last year at Del Mar as she went off as the second choice but was beaten by Scylla, who has since retired.  Since that loss, Nitrogen has gotten better, winning three Graded Stakes in 2026 and taking on the boys in the Whitney at Saratoga, only to be narrowly defeated by the great Sovereignty.  Most people believe that this year's Distaff is hers to lose.  If she can do it, she will be Hall of Fame Casse's first Distaff Champion.  Regular rider Jose Ortiz should be aboard.   Fully Subscribed - Chad Brown's four-year-old daughter of Tiz the Law is coming in hot, having won her last three races -- all Graded Stakes -- including the Grade 1 Spinster in her last start on October 4 on this dirt track.  Fully subscribed is likely to be the second choice in the race after Nitrogen and it would give leading trainer Brown his first official Distaff victory (he subbed for Bobby Frankel when he was an assistant for him in 2007 and Frankel's brilliant filly Ginger Punch won the Distaff).  Regular rider Flavien Prat will have to choose between her and Splendora.   Eunomia - Like Fully Subscribed, Saffie Joseph's four-year-old filly was also sired by Tiz the Law and she comes into this -- easily the biggest race of her career -- off an upset win in the Grade 1 Clement L. Hirsch at Del Mar race track on August 1.  She beat some quality runners in that one and could be peaking at just the right time.  Joseph has won Breeders Cup races at big prices before -- like two years ago when he captured the Filly and Mare Sprint with longshot Soul of an Angel.  Underrated jockey Micah Husbands should get the call again.   Super Corredora - This filly was the winner of the Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies last year in an upset and her connections may not have been pointing her here until she won the Grade 2 Zenyatta Stakes in her last start at Santa Anita on September 27 in impressive fashion.  This daughter of leading sire Gun Runner is listed as a possible starter in the Distaff as of this writing.  And if they decide to run her in here she will be attempting to become the first filly to win back-to-back Juvenile Fillies and Distaff titles since the brilliant Beholder in 2012-2013   Splendora - What would a big Breeders Cup race be without a runner from Bob Baffert?  At the least, it would be a bit less interesting,.  But in this case, the addition of Splendora potentially changes the way this race will be run.  Baffert's daughter of Frost Giant won the Breeders Cup Filly and Mare Sprint last year in Baffert's home state of California and while a Filly and Mare Sprint-Distaff double is a bit unusual, it is not unheard of.  And in the case of Splendora, she has won her last three races (all Graded Stakes) around two turns, so Baffert and the owners obviously feel comfortable she can handle the 1 1/8 mile Distaff distance.  Flavien Prat will have to choose between this runner and Fully Subscribed.   Immersive - After making the 2024 Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies her fourth win in a row, this Brad Cox-trained daughter of Nyquist looked to be the best 3YO filly heading into 2025 and an early favorite for the Kentucky Oaks.  But Immersive didn't make the Oaks and ran only three times last year, winning just once in a September 20th listed Stakes at Churchill.  After taking last winter off, Immersive punched her ticket to this race by way of the "Win and You're In" Fleur de Lis Stakes (Grade 2) at Churchill on June 27.  But two third-place finishes followed that, so now the question is, can Cox get her back to her best form by October 31st because she will definitely need it.  Bet against Cox at your own risk.Good luck, as always...Al McMordie

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NCAAF, MLB, NHL and UEFA Champions League Previews and Odds - 10/13/26

by Big Al Staff

Tuesday, Oct 13, 2026

The Tuesday sports card features NCAAF, MLB, NHL, and UEFA Champions League action. Week 7 in NCAAF college football kicks off with one game between FBS opponents. Delaware travels on the road to play Middle Tennessee on the CBS Sports Network at 7:00 p.m. ET as a 1.5-point road favorite with the total set at 47.5 (all odds from DraftKings). Jacksonville State hosts Florida International on ESPNU at 8:00 p.m. ET as a 3-point favorite with an over/under of 43.5. The Major League Baseball postseason continues with Game 2 in the American League Championship Series. The Tampa Bay Rays play at home against the Cleveland Guardians on TBS/truTV/HBO Max at 8:00 p.m. ET. The Guardians took a 1-0 lead in this best-of-seven series with a 7-3 win on the road last night. The Rays send out Freddy Peralta to pitch against Cleveland’s Parker Messick. Tampa Bay is a -137 money-line favorite with a total of 7. The National Hockey League has 16 games on its slate. The Detroit Red Wings are at home to take on the New Jersey Devils on ESPN at 6:10 p.m. ET as a -115 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Columbus Blue Jackets host the Florida Panthers at 6:25 p.m. ET as a -125 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Montreal Canadiens play at home against the Buffalo Sabres at 6:40 p.m. ET as a -155 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Carolina Hurricanes are at home to face the Washington Capitals at 6:55 p.m. ET as a -162 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Philadelphia Flyers host the Seattle Kraken at 7:10 p.m. ET as a -122 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Tampa Bay Lightning play in New York against the Rangers at 7:25 p.m. ET as a -162 money-line road favorite with a total of 5.5. The Ottawa Senators play at home against the St. Louis Blues at 7:40 p.m. ET as a -120 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The New York Islanders are at home to challenge the Vancouver Canucks at 7:55 p.m. ET as a -218 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Pittsburgh Penguins are on the road in Chicago to battle the Blackhawks at 8:10 p.m. ET as a -142 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Winnipeg Jets host the Minnesota Wild at 8:25 p.m. ET as a -115 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Colorado Avalanche visit Dallas to play the Stars on ESPN at 8:40 p.m. ET as a -115 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Vegas Golden Knights play in Nashville to face the Predators at 8:55 p.m. ET as a -130 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5 .The Utah Mammoth play at home against the Toronto Maple Leafs at 9:10 p.m. ET as a -155 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Anaheim Ducks are at home to take on the Calgary Flames at 9:55 p.m. ET as a -205 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Edmonton Oilers are on the road in Los Angeles to challenge the Kings at 10:40 p.m. ET as a -125 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The San Jose Sharks host the Boston Bruins on ESPN at 11:10 p.m. ET as a -115 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. Matchday 2 in the UEFA Champions League begins with nine league phase matches. Two matches start at 12:45 p.m. ET. Lens plays at home against Sporting CP as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Slavia Prague travel to Sabah FK as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with a total of 2.5. Six matches conclude the UCL card at 3 p.m. ET. Arsenal is at home against Lille as a -1.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 3.5. Atletico Madrid hosts Manchester United as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 3.5. Barcelona plays at Galatasaray as a -1.5 goal-line road favorite with an over/under of 4.5. Inter Milan plays at home against Club Brugge as a  -1.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 3.5. RB Leipzig is at home to battle PSV Eindhoven as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 3.5. Bayern Munich is on the road at Viking FK as a -2.5 goal-line road favorite with a total of 4.5. Villarreal hosts Napoli as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5. All nine Champions League matches are available on Paramount+.

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Five Defining NFL Observations Through Week 5

by Vegas Writer

Tuesday, Oct 13, 2026

Five weeks cannot settle an NFL season, but they can expose the difference between a promising start and a sustainable identity.Minnesota and San Francisco reached 5-0 through different formulas. Jacksonville continued taking away opponents’ running games. New England reminded us that September struggles need not become October limitations.The primetime games reinforced a familiar lesson: winning takes more than a quarterback who can produce highlights. Baltimore survived without Lamar Jackson, while Buffalo needed a decisive special teams play to finish Monday night.Here are five observations supported by the performances and patterns emerging through Week 5.1. Minnesota’s defense gives its offense room to growThe Vikings’ unbeaten start becomes more convincing as their offense begins to complement the defense.Minnesota beat New Orleans 23-13 while holding the Saints to 142 total yards. Tyler Shough completed 16 of 25 passes for just 96 yards and threw two interceptions. Brian Flores’ defense consistently denied New Orleans the production needed to sustain an offense.The pressure explains much of that frustration. Minnesota blitzed on 61.5% of Shough’s dropbacks and generated pressure on 50% of plays. A defense does not need a large sack total to control a game when it keeps forcing hurried decisions and short completions.Meanwhile, Kyler Murray completed 24 of 30 passes for 229 yards and a touchdown. Minnesota finally has an offensive performance to build upon alongside its defensive consistency.That combination matters. The Vikings have already demonstrated they can win while their offense develops. If Murray gets more comfortable, Minnesota can ask less of its defense without losing the strength that gave it an early advantage.2. San Francisco can win when the game stops following its scriptThe 49ers’ 32-29 victory at Seattle offered a useful test of their unbeaten record: could they finish a divisional road game after surrendering control?San Francisco produced four takeaways and five sacks, yet still entered the fourth quarter trailing 26-21. Creating opportunities was only half the job. The offense needed to respond when the Seahawks had put themselves in position to win.Brock Purdy answered with a 12-play, 74-yard touchdown drive, finding Brandin Cooks before completing the two-point conversion to Mike Evans. After Seattle tied the game, another sustained possession produced Eddy Piñeiro’s winning 44-yard field goal. Malik Mustapha then stopped Cooper Kupp short of the marker on Seattle’s final fourth-down attempt.My takeaway is that San Francisco’s strongest quality is its range of answers. The defense created chances, the offense handled late possessions, and the final stop protected the result.Close victories still reveal weaknesses worth correcting. But winning through several different contributors gives the 49ers a more credible foundation than a record built entirely on one dominant unit.3. Jacksonville’s run defense deserves as much attention as its dramatic finishCam Little’s winning kick will remain the defining image of Jacksonville’s 19-17 victory over Philadelphia. The Jaguars’ defensive pattern may tell us more about their season.Through five games, Jacksonville has not allowed an opposing player to rush for 40 yards. The only other team in the Super Bowl era to accomplish that was the 1969 Dallas Cowboys. The Jaguars also allowed just 23 team rushing yards in Week 4 and 22 in Week 5.Taking away the run changes an opponent’s choices. It makes manageable second downs harder to find and increases the burden on pass protection and quarterback execution.Jacksonville still has substantial cleanup work. Against Philadelphia, the Jaguars committed 13 penalties for 100 yards and twice reached the Eagles’ 1-yard line without scoring. Those failures nearly wasted the defensive effort.The observation is encouraging but measured: Jacksonville has a repeatable defensive strength supporting its 4-1 record. Better discipline and short-yardage execution would give the Jaguars a better chance to turn that strength into wins that require fewer last-second escapes.4. New England’s turnaround exposes the danger of freezing an early opinionThe Patriots’ 45-17 victory over Las Vegas demands a reassessment of both teams.Drake Maye completed 26 of 34 passes for 374 yards and four touchdowns, posted a 150.9 passer rating and added a rushing score. It followed another game with at least three touchdown passes, giving New England its first consecutive performances of that kind since Tom Brady in 2018.For the Raiders, the concern extends beyond encountering a hot quarterback. Las Vegas allowed 536 yards, committed eight penalties for 101 yards and received just 27 rushing yards from Ashton Jeanty. Problems appeared across the roster rather than in one isolated matchup.My assessment is that New England has earned a fresh evaluation, while Las Vegas must demonstrate that its early success can survive without favorable turnover swings.Neither team should be defined entirely by Sunday. But the Patriots’ improving quarterback play and the Raiders’ persistent rushing problems are meaningful evidence. Those developments deserve more weight than reputations established during the first three weeks.5. Primetime rewarded teams that could find one more answerBaltimore and Buffalo won overtime games through very different quarterback circumstances, but both victories demonstrated the value of contributions beyond the passing game.Without Lamar Jackson, the Ravens beat Atlanta 30-23 behind Tyler Huntley and a running game that produced 208 yards. Huntley delivered a late touchdown pass, Derrick Henry supplied the tying two-point conversion, and Kyle Hamilton’s interception ended Atlanta’s overtime response.Buffalo’s 37-34 win at Los Angeles required similar help around its star. Josh Allen threw for 210 yards and ran for 121, but James Cook’s overtime fumble gave the Rams a chance to win. Greg Rousseau blocked their field-goal attempt, and Tyler Bass eventually converted from 45 yards.The lesson is about how teams survive imperfect nights. Baltimore retained enough offensive structure to win with its backup. Buffalo had a special teams answer after a potentially decisive turnover.Quarterback play remains central to contention. Week 5 showed why the teams around those quarterbacks must also be able to rescue a game.

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ASA's College Football Notes

by ASA, Inc.

Monday, Oct 12, 2026

ASAWINS CFB NOTES FROM LAST WEEKEND  Indiana (-7.5) @ Nebraska - Hoosiers win 20-17 despite running 39 fewer offensive snaps (83 to 44 in favor of Nebraska). IU averaged 7.5 YPP to just 4.7 YPP for the Huskers. Hoosiers were 1 of 10 on 3rd down and Huskers were 10 of 19, thus all of the extra snaps for Nebraska as they were extending drives.  Indiana opens as a 4 point home dog vs Ohio State this weekend while Nebraska heads to Oregon and the Ducks opened -7.    UCLA @ Oregon (-11.5) – UCLA pulls the upset 17-15 but the Bruins were more dominant than the final score indicated.  UCLA outgained Oregon by 100 yards and had a +1.0 YPP margin.  Ducks back up QB Raiola started the game (Moore injured) and was terrible completing 6 of 19 for 43 yards and 2 interceptions before he was yanked and replaced by Brock Thomas.  Will be interested to see of Raiola gets the start this weekend vs his old team Nebraska or if they go with Thomas (if Moore is still not available).  Arizona (-3.5) @ West Virginia – In one of the stranger box scores you’ll see, WVU ran a ridiculous 104 offensive snaps to just 51 for Arizona and LOST by 21 points (Arizona won 52-31).  The Mountaineers had 76 rushing attempts (never seen that before?) and outrushed the Wildcats 303 to 141 but Arizona had a huge edge in YPP at 9.4 to 5.0 for WVU. Arizona had 4 offensive TD’s of 30 yards or more.  South Carolina @ Florida (-11.5) – The Gators have gone from National Title contender to most likely out of the playoffs in the span of 2 weeks.  Even if they run the table it’s going to be tough with 2 blowout losses.  They were the talk of the town beating Ole Miss 52-28 a few weeks ago to move to 4-0.  They’ve since last back to back games in embarrassing fashion at Missouri 45-17 and at home vs South Carolina 38-19.  Their defense has been really poor allowing 7.0, 8.5, and 5.5 YPP over the last 3 games.  They’ve allowed almost 1,000 total yards in the last 2 games alone.  South Carolina loses at home to Kentucky and then blows out Florida on the road.  Go figure.  San Diego State @ Oregon State (-15.5) – The Beavers offense is exceptional as they roll over the Aztecs 66-14.  After losing their first 2 games vs Houston and Texas Tech, they’ve ripped off 4 straight wins outscoring their opponents 207 to 64 in that 4 game stretch.  They’ve averaged 7.5, 7.9, 8.9, and 7.1 YPP in those games.  What isn’t being talked about is their defense which has been very good.  Oregon State held Texas Tech to just 4.8 YPP and 4 of their last 5 opponents have been held to 4.8 YPP or less.  That includes limiting San Diego State to a season low 3.1 YPP last Saturday.  Florida State @ Louisville (-3) – FSU led 14-0 at the end of the 1st quarter and had 4th and goal from the Cards 2-yard line early in the 2nd quarter.  The Noles went for trying to make the score 21-0 but were held.  1 play later, Louisville scored on a 97 yard TD run making it 14-7 in favor of FSU but it was all downhill from there for the Seminoles.  After getting held at the goal line Florida State was outscored 44-6 from that point on (44-20 Louisville final score).  If we take out running out the clock possessions at the end of the half and game, the Cardinals scored points on 7 of their final 8 possessions.  FSU’s defense allowed a whopping 9.3 YPP for the game and is was the 3rd time in the last 5 games they’ve allowed at least 8.5 YPP.    Houston @ Kansas State (-2.5) – The bloom might be off the KSU rose after they started the season 4-0.  They have since lost 2 straight including a 35-16 home setback vs Houston last Saturday.  A week prior they lost 31-26 vs Cincinnati but the Wildcats were outgained by 3.0 YPP in that game (8.6 YPP allowed and 5.6 YPP gained) but KSU ran 29 more offensive snaps and still lost.  After facing 3 opponents ranked outside the top 90 to start the year, their step up in competition hasn’t gone well.  Their defense has been shredded for 8.6 and 6.5 YPP the last 2 games and what had been their offensive strength has flipped as they’ve been outrushed 504 to 272 in those 2 losses.  This Saturday they host rival Kansas to try and extend their 17 game winning streak over the Jayhawks.  Houston’s only loss on the season was 28-26 vs Texas Tech and this weekend they host Oklahoma State 4-1 record) who is tied for 2nd place in the Big 12 with 4 teams one game behind BYU in the win column.  

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The Green Bay Packers Waited Nine Months for Sweet Revenge

by Team Del Genio

Monday, Oct 12, 2026

The Chicago Bears were a definite topic of long conversations for Matt LaFleur and his coaching staff in the offseason. The Packers played the Bears three times in their final six games last year, all in December or January. After beating Chicago at home, 28-21, at Lambeau Field on December 7th, they lost the rematch at Soldier Field, 22-16, on December 20th. Yet it was their 31-27 loss against the Bears in Chicago in the wild card round of the NFC playoffs that stings the most for Green Bay. They had a 21-3 lead in that game before giving up 25 points in the fourth quarter to give away that game. The last time the Packers lost three games in a row to their arch rival Bears was in the 2005-2006 season. They did not cover the point spread in those final two games in Chicago. The last time they did not cover the point spread in three straight games against the Bears was back in the 1997-1999 seasons. Their rematch against Chicago in Week 5 meant a lot to everyone in Green Bay, and they surely have paid attention to the oddsmakers that have installed them as an underdog despite this game being played at Lambeau Field. The last time the oddsmakers installed them as less than a three-point favorite when hosting Chicago was nineteen games ago in 2006. This game was just the third time since 1992 when the oddsmakers did not install the Packers as a favorite of at least a field goal at home against the Bears. Green Bay evened their record at 2-2 the previous week with a 17-14 win at Tampa Bay. Since LaFleur took over the team, the Packers had covered the point spread in twenty-one of their previous thirty-five games after winning on the road. It had been a sluggish start to the season for Green Bay. They blew another big lead in their opening game against Minnesota before getting embarrassed at home against Atlanta for a Thursday Night Football game in Week 3. Yet a victory against the Bears would even their record with them at 3-2. The Packers had covered the point spread in thirty-eight of their previous sixty-two games at home. They were 24-14-1 against the spread when the oddsmakers installed them as an underdog. LaFleur had led Green Bay to twelve victories in their fifteen games against Chicago, and they had covered the point spread in eleven of those games.Chicago improved their record to 3-1 with a 23-12 victory at home against the New York Jets in their previous game. With Caleb Williams still out with his hamstring injury, Tyson Bagent was head coach Ben Johnson’s starting quarterback and completed 25 of 34 passes for 268 yards. The Bears ran the ball 54 times for 232 yards to dominate the Jets. Williams remains out, so Bagent would be under center once again. LaFleur had faced a backup quarterback twenty-two times in his head coaching career with the Packers. Green Bay had won nineteen of those games. A -2 net turnover margin prevented Chicago from pulling away against the Jets, despite outgaining them by 335 yards. After leading the NFL with a +22 net turnover margin last year, the Bears only had a +1 net turnover margin going into this game. If Chicago is not winning the turnover margin, they may not be the same team as they were last year. The Bears had not given up more than 248 yards in three straight games, yet those were against three teams with struggling offenses: Minnesota, Philadelphia, and the Jets. In their opening game, Carolina gained 478 yards against them. Green Bay gained 419 yards against the Vikings in Week 1, a defense that many observers believe is the best in the league. The Bears are only 35-49 against the spread in their previous eighty-four games on the road. Of course, most of those games were without Johnson as their head coach, who has turned this franchise in his second season with the team. Yet while Chicago has a great record against most of the league since he took over, they have won and covered the point spread in just three of their eight games against division opponents that know him best. The oddsmakers installed the Bears as the favorites in four of those games against the NFC North, yet they had only won and covered the point spread in one of those games. Chicago had won twelve of their other fifteen games against non-division opponents with Johnson as their head coach, posting a 12-2-1 against the spread record. The Bears' troubles within their division have been an issue before Johnson arrived. Chicago had covered the point spread in fourteen of their previous forty-three games against their division. The Packers were our NFC North Underdog of the Month, and they dominated the game in a 31-7 victory. They took an early 14-0 lead by the opening moments of the second quarter, and this time they did not let their opponent pull off a fourth quarter comeback. Jordan Love played his best game of the year by completing 25 of 31 passes for 367 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. They gained 428 yards of offense. They also held Ben Johnson’s offense to only 246 yards. The Green Bay defense completely stifled Bagent, who completed only 12 of 21 passes for 87 yards and two interceptions. Johnson eventually benched Bagent for Case Keenum, yet the veteran completed only 11 of his 19 passes for 108 yards and another interception. Chicago had a -5 net turnover margin. Past success in winning the turnover battle is not predictive of future net turnover rates.Good luck - TDG.

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NHL Off the Post: October 12th

by Sean Murphy

Monday, Oct 12, 2026

With the 2026-27 NHL season just getting underway, here's a look at some news and notes from around the league to help with your daily hockey handicapping. Burning up While not much was expected of them this season, the Flames couldn't have asked for a much worse start as they've now dropped five straight games following Saturday's 4-2 loss to Anaheim. In fact, Calgary's opening stretch has been the worst in franchise history, and things aren't likely to get any easier if the team can't find a way to tighten things up defensively. The Flames have already shown some ability to generate offense, but that's of little consolation when they're struggling to keep pucks out of their own net. Dustin Wolf has his work cut out for him, and until this team starts showing some consistency at both ends of the ice, it's difficult to justify backing Calgary at anything other than a generous price and even that might be a stretch. Gale force winds The defending Stanley Cup champions are wasting little time reminding everyone why they're the team to beat as Carolina picked up its fifth straight victory with Sunday's 4-1 win over Philadelphia. Sebastian Aho and Andrei Svechnikov continue to lead the way offensively, while Mark Jankowski has chipped in with goals in four consecutive games. The Hurricanes have been getting contributions throughout the lineup, which is always a good sign for a team looking to repeat as champions. The goaltending situation remains something to monitor, but Carolina is doing a good job of making life easier for whoever is between the pipes. They'll return home to host Washington on Tuesday before heading out on a long five-game road trip that includes four stops in western Canada.Losing sleep in NYC? The Rangers have enjoyed a terrific start on home ice, improving to 4-0-0 at Madison Square Garden after Sunday's convincing 6-2 victory over Vancouver. Unfortunately, the good news comes with a significant caveat as star goaltender Igor Shesterkin has suffered a season-ending injury. That's a massive blow for a team that relies heavily on its goaltending, and it remains to be seen whether Dylan Garand can handle the increased workload or if they'll need to reach into their deep pockets for help. Garand made 19 saves in his first start in Shesterkin's absence, while New York's offense did its part with six goals. A team I was higher than most on entering the season, the Rangers have enough talent to remain competitive, but we'll need to pay close attention to the team's defensive play and goaltending numbers in the coming weeks. A strong start can vanish into a distant memory when a club loses its most important player. Duck season While plenty of attention has been focused on the league's traditional contenders, Anaheim has quietly put together an encouraging start to the campaign. The Ducks improved to four wins in their first five games with Sunday's victory over Calgary, showing an ability to get the job done in a game that was still very much in doubt entering the third period. Ryan Poehling played a key role before leaving with a knee injury, while the Ducks received goals from Frank Vatrano, Jackson LaCombe and Nikita Nesterenko. Goaltender Ville Husso also made 27 saves in his season debut. It's obviously much too early to suggest Anaheim is ready to make a serious run up the Western Conference standings, but this is a team that deserves some respect if it continues to get contributions from throughout the lineup. The injury situation is worth monitoring, particularly with Poehling and Cutter Gauthier both dealing with issues, but the Ducks have certainly done enough early on to warrant a closer look.Streets of Philadelphia It's been a miserable opening stretch for the Flyers, who remain without a win after seven games and are coming off another frustrating loss to Carolina. The latest defeat was particularly concerning because Philadelphia managed just one goal against a Hurricanes club that was in a back-to-back situation. The Flyers have now lost 11 straight games when including the end of last season, and confidence can't be particularly high in the dressing room at the moment. Of course, there is plenty of time to turn things around, but the longer this losing streak continues, the more pressure will mount on the coaching staff and the players to produce results. From a handicapping standpoint, the key will be determining whether Philadelphia is genuinely struggling to compete or simply running into a difficult stretch of opponents (it seems to be a bit of both). Until the Flyers start showing more consistent offensive production and find a way to close out games, there's little reason to rush to back them simply because the price looks appealing.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NFL, MLB, NHL and EPL Previews and Odds - 10/12/26

by Big Al Staff

Monday, Oct 12, 2026

The Monday sports card features NFL, MLB, NHL, and EPL action. Week 5 in the NFL concludes with one game. The Los Angeles Rams host the Buffalo Bills on ABC/ESPN at 8:15 p.m. ET. The Rams have won two of their last three games after their 24-20 win at Philadelphia as a 3.5-point favorite last Sunday. The Bills had won three games in a row before their 29-26 upset loss at home against New England as a 7.5-point favorite last Sunday. Los Angeles is a 3.5-point favorite with the total set at 54.5 (all odds from DraftKings). The Major League Baseball postseason continues with two games in the American and National League Championship Series. The Los Angeles Dodgers travel to Milwaukee to take on the Brewers on Fox at 5:00 p.m. ET. The Brewers took the opening game of this best-of-seven series with their 2-1 victory at home last night. They have won 12 of their last 14 games. The Dodgers send out Yoshinobu Yamamoto to take the hill to pitch against Milwaukee’s Logan Henderson. Los Angeles is a -136 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 7. The Tampa Bay Rays play at home against the Cleveland Guardians in the opening game of their best-of-seven American League Championship Series. The Rays have won five of their previous six games after completing their three-game sweep of the New York Yankees in the ALDS with a 4-3 victory on the road against the Yankees on Thursday. The Guardians have won three games in a row after their 3-2 win at home against the Chicago White Sox in Game Five of that ALDS. Drew Rasmussen gets the ball for Tampa Bay to face Foster Griffin for Cleveland. The Rays are a -172 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The National Hockey League has three games on its slate. The Florida Panthers play in Buffalo against the Sabres at 1:10 p.m. ET as a -112 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6. The New Jersey Devils are at home to take on the Ottawa Senators at 7:10 p.m. ET as a -135 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Minnesota Wild host the Vegas Golden Knights at 8:10 p.m. ET as a -118 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. Matchweek 6 in the English Premier League concludes with one match. Newcastle United are on the road against Coventry City on the USA Network at 3:00 p.m. ET. The Magpies have won two of their last three matches after their 2-1 victory against Hull City on September 19th before the three-week international break. With eight points in EPL play, they are in 11th place on the table. The Sky Blues ended a four-game losing streak with a 1-0 win on the road against Nottingham Forest on September 19th. Their one point in five matches places them in a tie with two other clubs for 17th place on the EPL table. Newcastle United is a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with a total of 2.5. 

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NFL, MLB, NHL and EPL Previews and Odds - 10/11/26

by Big Al Staff

Sunday, Oct 11, 2026

The Sunday sports card features NFL, MLB, NHL, and EPL action. Week 5 in the NFL continues with 13 games. The Jacksonville Jaguars challenge the Philadelphia Eagles at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, England, on the NFL Network at 9:30 a.m. ET. The Jaguars are a 7.5-point favorite, and the total is set at 41.5 (all odds from DraftKings).Eight NFL games kick off at 1:00 p.m. ET. The Chicago Bears travel to Green Bay to play the Packers as a 1.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 46.5. The New England Patriots host the Las Vegas Raiders as a 3.5-point favorite with a total of 45.5. The Cincinnati Bengals play in Miami against the Dolphins as a 7-point road favorite with an over/under of 43.5. The New York Jets are at home to take on the Cleveland Browns as a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 39.5. The Minnesota Vikings are on the road in New Orleans to face the Saints as a 2.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 41.5. The Pittsburgh Steelers host the Indianapolis Colts as a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 43.5. The Washington Commanders play at home against the New York Giants as a 3.5-point favorite with an over/under of 41.5. The Houston Texans visit the Tennessee Titans as a 7-point road favorite with a total of 37.5. Three NFL games start in the second afternoon window. The Denver Broncos play in Los  Angeles against the Chargers at 4:05 p.m. ET as a 3.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 41.5. Two more NFL games begin at 4:25 p.m. ET. The Seattle Seahawks are at home to battle the San Francisco 49ers as a 3-point favorite with a total of 45.5. The Detroit Lions are on the road in Arizona to play the Cardinals as a 5.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 54.5. Sunday Night Football on NBC features the Atlanta Falcons hosting the Baltimore Ravens at 8:20 p.m. ET. The Falcons are a 3-point favorite with a total of 43.5. The Major League Baseball postseason continues with Game 1 in the National League Championship Series. The Milwaukee Brewers play at home against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Fox at 8:00 p.m. ET. The Brewers send out Jacob Misiorowski to duel against the Dodgers’ Tarik Skull. Milwaukee is a -113 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6. The National Hockey League has three games on its slate. The Washington Capitals are at home to take on the Seattle Kraken at 5:10 p.m. ET as a -218 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The New York Rangers host the Vancouver Canucks at 6:10 p.m. ET as a -265 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Carolina Hurricanes travel to Philadelphia to face the Flyers at 7:10 p.m. ET as a -180 money-line road favorite with a total of 5.5. Matchweek 6 in the English Premier League continues with three matches. Two EPL matches begin at 9:00 a.m. ET. Nottingham Forest plays at Crystal Palace on the USA Network as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Everton is on the road at Hull City as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with a total of 2.5. Manchester City is on the road to challenge Liverpool on NBC at 11:30 a.m. ET, as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with an over/under of 2.5. 

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