Articles

Understanding Betting Systems

by Wayne Root

Tuesday, Aug 25, 2026

Principles of Effective Betting Systems To be effective, a sports betting system should be built on clear principles that help you stay disciplined, control risk, and make decisions based on evidence rather than impulse. Reminder that there’s a huge difference between “principles” and “systems”.   1. Statistical Foundation A strong betting system is grounded in statistics or a mathematical model. Many successful approaches use patterns related to progression, probability, or odds. Instead of relying on gut feeling, bettors use data and analysis to guide wagers. Our gut feelings or instincts is applied after we research a game. Base bets on data, not emotion: Use statistics, research, team performance, recent form, and relevant factors (like injuries) rather than personal bias. We can help you with this as it is built into the games we put out.  Use a betting log: Record every bet, including why you placed it and the result. This lets you evaluate whether your strategy is actually working over time. This is one thing that players hate to do.  Example: Before betting an NFL game, review team stats, injury reports, and recent trends instead of betting simply because you prefer one team. Injuries: college injury information is not used as much as in the NFL.  2. Bankroll Management Bankroll management is a core part of any betting system. It sets rules for how much money to risk per wager so you don’t expose yourself to excessive losses—especially during losing streaks. The emphasis on this could be stated before every game and the reminder will be of no use. It’s that amazing   Set betting limits: Decide in advance how much you can afford to lose. For example, if your bankroll is $5000 you might risk only 1–2% per bet. Avoid chasing losses: Don’t increase your stake after a loss to “make it back.” Stick to your planned bet size and never exceed what you can afford. If you don’t know the importance of discipline is; you will not win.  Example: A bettor may cap NFL wagers at $500 per game regardless of how confident they feel, helping protect their bankroll through streaks. 3. Consistency A betting system is designed to create consistency. When you follow a structured plan, you’re less likely to make emotional changes—like increasing bets after wins or losses (often called “chasing”). Consistency reduces the influence of short-term results and supports long-term stability. Stick to the system: After choosing your approach, remain disciplined even during short-term downturns. Emotional betting can quickly lead to financial trouble. RE; Betting on your alma mater or your favorite team will lead to a huge disaster. Set time limits: Decide how long you’ll bet in a session to avoid boredom, frustration, or rushed decisions.  Example: With a flat betting system, you place the same bet size on every NFL game, regardless of recent outcomes. This helps you avoid impulsive adjustments based on temporary results. At this point, let’s advise to avoid parlays.  4. Understanding Variance Even well-structured betting systems go through variance—periods where bets win and lose in streaks. No system can guarantee constant profits, and variance is normal in sports betting. Embrace variance: Accept that losing streaks happen. Your job is to manage them responsibly within your limits. Patience and long-term thinking are key. Avoid “get rich quick” systems: Be cautious of strategies promising guaranteed profit or rapid success. Sustainable results come from responsible, long-term decision-making—not unrealistic promises.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: MLB and WNBA Previews and Odds - 08/25/26

by Big Al Staff

Tuesday, Aug 25, 2026

The Tuesday sports card features MLB and WNBA action. Major League Baseball has 15 games scheduled. Two MLB games throw out the first pitch at 6:40 p.m. ET. The Tampa Bay Rays travel to Detroit to play the Tigers as a -136 money-line road favorite with the total set at 7.5 (all odds from DraftKings). The Boston Red Sox play on the road in Miami against the Marlins. The Washington Nationals host the Colorado Rockies at 6:45 p.m. ET as a -156 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The New York Yankees play at home against the Houston Astros at 7:05 p.m. ET as a -149 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The Toronto Blue Jays are at home to face the Kansas City Royals at 7:07 p.m. ET as a -131 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Milwaukee Brewers are on the road in New York to take on the Mets at 7:10 p.m. ET as a -167 money-line road favorite with a total of 7.5. The Los Angeles Dodgers visit Atlanta to battle the Braves on TBS at 7:15 p.m. ET. The Dodgers send Tyler Glasnow to the mound in his return from the injured list to duel against the Braves’ Bryce Elder. Los Angeles is a -157 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Texas Rangers play in Chicago against the White Sox at 7:40 p.m. ET as a -114 money-line road favorite with a total of 8. The St. Louis Cardinals host the Baltimore Orioles at 7:45 p.m. ET as a -126 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9. The Cleveland Guardians are on the road in Los Angeles to challenge the Angels at 9:38 p.m. ET as a -142 money-line road favorite with a total of 7.5. Four more MLB games start at 9:40 p.m. ET. The Seattle Mariners play at home against the Philadelphia Phillies as a -120 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. The Minnesota Twins travel on the road to take on the Athletics as a -156 money-line road favorite with a total of 9.5. The San Diego Padres are at home to face the Pittsburgh Pirates as a -120 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7.5. Arizona hosts Chicago with Brandon Pfaadt taking the ball for the Diamondbacks to duel against Clay Holmes for the Cubs on Peacock. The Diamondbacks are a -106 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The San Francisco Giants play at home against the Cincinnati Reds at 9:45 p.m. ET as a -114 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. The WNBA has three games on tap. The Chicago Sky play on the road against the Connecticut Sun at 7:00 p.m. ET as a 5.5-point road favorite with a total of 168.5. The Dallas Tempo are at home to battle the Portland Fire at 8:00 p.m. ET as an 8.5-point favorite with an over/under of 176.5. The Washington Mystics are on the road in Phoenix to play the Mercury at 10:00 p.m. ET as a 2.5-point road favorite with a total of 167.5. 

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2026 Travers Stakes Preview

by Al McMordie

Tuesday, Aug 25, 2026

The 157th edition of the Travers Stakes (Grade 1) -- also known as the mid-summer Derby -- will take place this Saturday at Saratoga Race Course.  To say this is a weak group of three-year-olds is stating the obvious -- and it seems like we're saying that every year now.  But this crop especially, even when comparing them to last year's 3YOs, seems particularly lacking as there are no Sovereigntys in here.  But having said that, you don't need a ton of talent to have a compelling and competitive horse race, and it seems like we certainly will have that at 6:35 PM ET on Saturday (race 13 of 14 races) when 10 horses go to the post.  Here is a preview of the field (by post position with morning line odds):   1) Emerging Market 15-1: This Chad Brown trained son of Candy Ride is one of two that the meet's leading conditioner has in the race (with #7 Sea Strike being the other).  Brown has never won the Travers (in fact never even finished second in this race).  Emerging Market has had three chances to show he belongs among the top of the 3YO crop since winning the Louisiana Derby in his second start.  Unfortunately, he hasn't stood out against many of the same runners that he will be facing today and in fact in his last race, he couldn't even win an Allowance tune-up here at Saratoga on July 25th (finished 2nd).  He's hard to back coming off of that one and the rail post doesn't help his chances.  Regular rider (and leading jockey) Flavien Prat opted for Sea Strike over this one so Ricardo Santana will ride.   2) Leading Change 12-1:  This son of Gun Runner has raced only twice and won both times, most recently prevailing by a neck as the 1-2 favorite in the 1 1/16-mile Indiana Derby (G3) on July 11. Trainer Brad Cox won the 2021 Travers with Essential Quality and jockey Manny Franco won the COVID-year Travers with Tiz the Law (2020).  Franco replaces regular rider Irad Ortiz Jr. who is out with a foot injury.  It's a big step up for this lightly raced colt but if anyone knows how to win in these situations it's Cox.   3) Napoleon Solo 8-1: The Preakness winner chose the Haskell Stakes path this summer and he performed well in that race at Monmouth on July 18, finishing a hard-fought 2nd to Baby Vino.  The son of Liam's Map is trained by Chad Summers who is having a tough Saratoga meet so far, but all that could be erased with a win by Napoleon Solo here.  He's a well-traveled colt, having already raced at Aqueduct, Gulfstream Park, Laurel Park, Monmouth, and here at Saratoga where he won his very first race as a maiden.  A jockey change from Paco Lopez to three-time Travers winner John Velazquez certainly doesn't hurt.   4) The Puma 8-1:  Gustavo Delgado won the 2023 Kentucky Derby with Mage and was hoping for a repeat just three years later with this son of Essential Quality.  But The Puma had to be scratched right before the big race due to a skin infection and he finally made his comeback at the Haskell on July 18, finishing 4th with a solid speed rating.  If the Puma can improve on that and return to the form he had in winning the Tampa Bay Derby and finishing a close 2nd in the Florida Derby, he can be a major factor today.   Regular rider Javier Castellano returns for the mount and Castellano is having a fantastic Saratoga meet so far.   5) Renegade 3-1:  This Todd Pletcher-trained son of leading sire Into Mischief is the second choice today after Derby and Belmont winner Golden Tempo.  Pletcher has teamed with owner Mike Repole to win this race twice before -- in 2011 with Stay Thirsty and more recently in 2024 with Fierceness.  Renegade won the local tune-up, the August 1 Jim Dandy Stakes, impressively and he equaled his best speed rating in doing so.  If the extended time off for Golden Tempo results in his not being at his best today, then Renegade is the obvious choice.  Tyler Gaffalione replaces regular rider Irad Ortiz, who, if healthy, likely would have chosen Renegade over #2, Leading Change.   6) Ocelli 20-1:  Everyone's favorite maiden is back to try again in a Grade 1 race.  This son of Connect has now tried 10 times to get a victory with no success.  One has to wonder why the owners and trainer D. Whitworth Beckman haven't simply put him in a maiden race at Saratoga where his chances of winning would be very high.  He could then go on with his stakes schedule if they wanted, but that is not the path they are choosing for some reason.  What's particularly head-scratching about their decision to try the deep waters of the Travers is that Ocelli is coming off of arguably his worst race as he finished a well-beaten 7th in the Haskell Stakes.  Edgard Zayas replaces Gaffalione in the saddle today.   7) Sea Strike 5-1:  The "other" Chad Brown horse in the race is actually much more of a buzz horse than Emerging Market, who has already lost to many of the runners in here.  This son of Midshipman was ultra-impressive in winning the Curlin Stakes here at Saratoga on August 2, trouncing the well-regarded Derby runner, Chief Wallabee.  But this is a big step up and historically, winners of the Curlin who then try the Travers have not fared well.  A big positive for him however is the fact that Flavien Prat chose him over the aforementioned Emerging Market.  But you would need considerably higher than 5-1 on Sea Strike in order for it to be fair odds for the victory today.   8) Baby Vino 10-1:  Here is perhaps the most intriguing of the 10 runners in the field.  This son of Vino Rosso was sent off at odds of 28-1 in the Haskell but a rail-skimming ride by unheralded local NJ jockey Jorge Vargas and a valiant stretch duel with Napoleon Solo resulted in a huge upset win for Baby Vino and trainer Lindsay Shultz.  Can they do it again on an even bigger stage?  Not only won't you get 28-1 to find out, but you likely also won't get 10-1 as Baby Vino will probably be bet down below his morning line odds.  Apparently Schultz and the owners felt compelled to go with a jockey switch even though Vargas produced that Haskell win, so Paco Lopez gets the mount.   9) Golden Tempo 5-2:  The obvious favorite after winning both the Kentucky Derby and Belmont in exciting last-to-first finishes, Golden Tempo finally returns to action for trainer Cherie DeVaux and owners Phipps Stable and St. Elias Stable.  An illness later in June caused this son of Curlin to miss training and skip the Jim Dandy and the big question today will be whether he can return to form without having any prep race.  He's beaten most of the others in here before but 3YO colts mature quite a bit over the summer so it will be interesting to see if any of the others -- including the new shooters -- will be able to keep Golden Tempo out of the winners circle.  5-2 or 2-1 odds likely won't be enough to persuade folks to bet their mortgage on him.  Leading rider Jose Ortiz returns for the mount.   10) Silent Tactic 10-1:  Mark Casse would love to add the Travers Stakes to his ever-growing Hall-of-Fame resume.  The 65-year-old conditioner will send out this son of Tacitus in what might be his best chance ever to win this prestigious race.  Silent Tactic makes his second start off a four-month layoff when he finished third in the Jim Dandy here at Saratoga.  A bruised foot took Silent Tactic off the Triple Crown trail, but he's back and looking to improve off of that solid Jim Dandy effort.  Like Golden Tempo, Silent Tactic is a come-from-behind type who will need a solid pace up front, but the #10 post shouldn't bother him at all.  Two-time Travers winner Luis Sáez will have the mount.   Good luck, as always,Al McMordie

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College Football: Two Season Win Total Under Wagers

by Kyle Hunter

Monday, Aug 24, 2026

College football is here! Week zero is this coming weekend. I am a big fan of the season win total markets, and I have had a lot of success on these wagers in the long run. Let’s take a look at two season win under wagers I have made for the upcoming season. North Texas under 5.5 (+110) You won’t find a bigger power ratings downgrade than North Texas from last season to the start of this season. The people who try to handicap based off of last year are in deep trouble here. Morris and Mestemaker are at Oklahoma State. Neal Brown steps in here. North Texas had the 137th rated recruiting class out of 138 teams this year. They tried to do their work in the portal, but they didn’t get enough high end guys. A huge drop off is coming.The North Texas offensive line looks a massive weakness and there are a lot of defensive fronts on their schedule who will take advantage of that weakness. North Texas wants to run the football with White in the backfield, but the offensive line is likely to make that a difficult task.I have North Texas as an underdog of more than 3 points in seven games. I have them favored by more than a touchdown just three times all season. I think it is likely they start 0-3. 4-8 looks more likely than 6-6. I’ll take the under here at plus money.  Illinois under 4.5 conference wins (-115) Note that this is Big Ten conference games only, not the full season. Luke Altmeyer did a tremendous job taking care of the ball and bailing Illinois out of a lot of bad situations. His scrambling ability was underrated. I like Katin Houser pretty well, but he is a downgrade from Altmeyer. Illinois was long thought of as a strong team in the trenches under Bret Bielema. This offensive line is now a clear weakness. They averaged just 3.9 YPC last year. They are less experienced this year and the running backs behind them are below average for a Big Ten team. The Illini have had a great defensive line the last couple years. That is no longer the case. Gabe Jacas was a huge loss. They’ll be much worse against the run this season.What is the identity of this team? I’m not sure. They are no longer a smashmouth strong in the trenches team and they lost their star QB. The defense is way down from a few years ago as well.Schedule- at Ohio State and home against Oregon are huge underdog roles for Illinois. I like UCLA and I think at UCLA is a likely loss. Purdue at home is the only real “free” win I see here.I took conference winds under 4.5 to save the juice rather than taking under 7.5 at -160 though I do think they will stay under the 7.5 as well.

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College Football: Two Season Win Total Over Selections

by Kyle Hunter

Monday, Aug 24, 2026

College football is here! Week zero is this coming weekend. I am a big fan of the season win total markets, and I have had a lot of success on these wagers in the long run. Let’s take a look at two season win total overs that I like for this year. Marshall over 7.5 (+105) Marshall played better than their final record from last season would indicate. They also found a star quarterback in Del Rio Wilson. In the offseason the Thundering Herd brought in a new offensive coordinator (Rod Smith) to run a hyper fast paced offense. I think Del Rio Wilson can thrive in this system, especially with this deep group of wide receivers. On the other side of the ball, Marshall has a defensive-minded head coach who had another year to get his type of players into the program. The secondary appears much stronger than it was a year ago. Gibson is a good coach, and I expect some clear improvement from this defense. My power ratings have Marshall as a favorite of more than a touchdown eight times this season! That means the Thundering Herd just need to take care of business to get us past this win total which also happens to be plus money.I only have Marshall as an underdog of more than 7 points once this year (first game at Penn State). Marshall has a very realistic chance of winning at least nine games, so I’m happy to take over 7.5 here. Fresno State over 6.5 wins (-140) *Make sure you bet this at a book that is including all 12 games including their flex week on 11/28*Matt Entz is a great head coach. This is a guy who knows how to win from his days leading North Dakota State! Entz is all about having a strong team in the trenches.The offensive line only allowed 19 sacks last year. The run game will be really good this year. Luke is the main guy, but I think 4 guys will see quite a few carries because of their depth at RB. On defense Fresno State is amazing on the defensive line. I think Fresno is a top 30 or so defensive line nationally. They will dominate a bunch of the offensive fronts in this new Pac 12. They are top notch in the secondary as well. I think the Bulldogs will be very difficult to score on this season! The special teams at Fresno should be the best in the conference, and that will get them an extra win at some point. They should only be an underdog of more than a touchdown once this season (at USC in game one). Fresno State’s strength in the trenches makes me really like this team. I’m on the over.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: MLB, WNBA and EPL Previews and Odds - 08/24/26

by Big Al Staff

Monday, Aug 24, 2026

The Monday sports card features MLB, WNBA, and EPL action. Major League Baseball has 10 games scheduled. Two MLB games throw out the first pitch at 6:40 p.m. ET. Boston travels to Miami with the Red Sox sending out Ranger Suarez to pitch against the Marlins’ Sandy Alcantara. The Red Sox are a -137 money-line road favorite with the total set at 7.5 (all odds from DraftKings). Tampa Bay plays in Detroit on FS1 with Drew Rasmussen taking the mound for the Rays to face Framber Valdez for the Tigers. The Rays are a -144 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 7.5. The Washington Nationals host the Colorado Rockies at 6:45 p.m. ET. The Nationals turn to Cade Cavalli to take on the Rockies’ Ryan Feltner. Washington is a -197 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The Chicago White Sox play at home against the Texas Rangers at 7:45 p.m. ET. Jose Urquidy gets the ball for the White Sox to duel against Kumar Rocker for the Rangers. Chicago is a -131 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Cleveland Guardians are on the road in Los Angeles to battle the Angels at 9:38 p.m. ET. The Guardians turn to Parker Messick to take the mound to challenge the Angels’ George Klassen. Cleveland is a -160 money-line road favorite with a total of 8. Four MLB games start at 9:40 p.m. ET. Chicago visits Arizona with Kevin Gausman taking the starting pitcher assignment for the Cubs to pitch against Merrill Kelly for the Diamondbacks. The Cubs are a -150 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 9. Philadelphia plays in Seattle with the Phillies tapping Zack Wheeler to duel against the Mariners’ Logan Gilbert. The Phillies are a -123 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. Minnesota is on the road to face the Athletics, with Zebby Matthews getting the ball for the Twins to battle against Jeffrey Springs. The Twins are a -156 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 10.5. Pittsburgh travels to San Diego with the Pirates sending out Braxton Ashcraft to take on the Padres’ Robbie Ray. The Pirates are a -111 money-line favorite with a total of 7.5. The Cincinnati Reds play in San Francisco against the Giants on FS1 at 9:45 p.m. ET. Chase Burns takes the hill for the Reds to face Carson Whisenhunt for the Giants. Cincinnati is a -150 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 7.5.The WNBA has two games on tap. The Minnesota Lynx are at home to play the Golden State Valkyries on the USA Network at 8:00 p.m. ET as a 4.5-point favorite with a total of 159.5. The Atlanta Dream are on the road in Los Angeles to face the Sparks on Peacock and the NBC Sports Network at 10:00 p.m. ET as a 9.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 183.5.Matchweek 1 of the English Premier League season concludes with one match. Chelsea visits Fulham on the USA Network at 3:00 p.m. ET as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with a total of 2.5. 

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NFL, MLB, WNBA, CFL and EPL Previews and Odds - 08/23/26

by Big Al Staff

Sunday, Aug 23, 2026

The Sunday sports card features NFLX, MLB, WNBA, CFL, and EPL action. The NFLX preseason concludes Week 2 with one game. The Tennessee Titans host the Seattle Seahawks on Fox at 8:00 p.m. ET as a 4.5-point favorite with the total set at 37.5 (all odds from DraftKings). Major League Baseball has 15 games scheduled. Three MLB games throw out the first pitch at 1:35 p.m. ET. The New York Yankees play at home against the Toronto Blue Jays as a -134 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7.5. The Tampa Bay Rays travels to Baltimore to play the Orioles on Peacock as a -109 money-line road favorite with a total of 8.5. The Philadelphia Phillies are at home to take on the St. Louis Cardinals as a -210 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7.5. The Miami Marlins host the Washington Nationals at 1:40 p.m. ET as a -157 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. Three MLB games start at 2:10 p.m. ET. The New York Mets play in Chicago against the White Sox as a -114 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8. The Houston Astros play at home against the Athletics as a -186 money-line favorite with a total of 9. The Detroit Tigers are on the road in Kansas City to take on the Royals as a -112 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Texas Rangers are at home to face the Los Angeles Angels at 2:35 p.m. ET as a -163 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The Cleveland Guardians visit Colorado to play the Rockies at 3:10 p.m. ET as a -175 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 11. The Boston Red Sox host the San Francisco Giants on NBC/Peacock at 3:15 p.m ET as a -231 money-line favorite with a total of 8. Three MLB games begin at 4:10 p.m. ET. The Los Angeles Dodgers play at home against the Pittsburgh Pirates as a -301 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Chicago Cubs play in Seattle against the Mariners as a -112 money-line road favorite with a total of 7.5. The San Diego Padres are at home to battle the Minnesota Twins as a -144 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Arizona Diamondbacks host the Cincinnati Reds on Peacock/NBC Sports Network at 4:15 p.m. ET as a -135 money-line favorite with the over/under at 8.5. Sunday Night Baseball has the Little League Classic with the Milwaukee Brewers battling the Atlanta Braves in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, on ESPN/ESPN2 at 7:10 p.m. ET. The Brewers are a -130 money-line favorite with a total of 7.5. The WNBA has four games on tap. The Dallas Wings play at home against the Seattle Storm at 4:00 p.m. ET as an 8.5-point favorite with an over/under of 171.5. Three more WNBA games tip off at 7:00 p.m. ET. The Las Vegas Aces are on the road to challenge the Toronto Tempo as a 14.5-point road favorite with a total of 180.5. The Indiana Fever visit the Chicago Sky on NBC as a 4.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 186.5. The Washington Mystics play on the road in Portland against the Fire as a 4.5-point road favorite with a total of 166.5.Week 12 in the Canadian Football League concludes with one game. The British Columbia Lions play at home against the Saskatchewan Rough Riders at 7:00 p.m. ET as a 2.5-point favorite with an over/under of 62.5. Matchweek 1 of the English Premier League season continues with three matches. Two EPL matches begin at 9:00 a.m. ET. Brighton and Hove Albion are at home to face Aston Villa as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5. Manchester City hosts Bournemouth on the USA Network as a -1.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 3.5. Liverpool is on the road against Newcastle United on the USA Network at 11:30 a.m. ET as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with a total of 3.5.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NFL, WNBA, CFL, MLB and EPL Previews and Odds - 08/22/26

by Big Al Staff

Saturday, Aug 22, 2026

The Saturday sports card features NFLX, MLB, WNBA, CFL, and EPL action. The NFLX preseason continues Week 2 with 10 games. The Detroit Lions host the Washington Commanders at noon ET as a 1.5-point favorite with the total set at 36.5 (all odds from DraftKings). Three NFLX preseason games kick off at 1:00 p.m. ET. The Minnesota Vikings play at home against the Baltimore Ravens as a 3.5-point favorite with an over/under of 36.5. The Cleveland Browns are at home to take on the Buffalo Bills on the NFL Network as a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 37.5. The Indianapolis Colts host the Atlanta Falcons as a 3.5-point favorite with an over/under of 36.5. Two NFLX preseason games start at 4:00 p.m. ET. The New York Giants travel to Miami to play the Dolphins at 4:00 p.m. ET on the NFL Network as a 3-point road favorite with a total of 36.5. The New Orleans Saints play in Los Angeles against the Rams as a 1.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 37.5. Two NFLX preseason games begin at 7:00 p.m. ET. The Philadelphia Eagles are on the road in New England to play the Patriots on the NFL Network as a 1.5-point road favorite with a total of 36.5. The Chicago Bears visit Cincinnati to face the Bears at 7:00 p.m. ET as a 1.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 36.5. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers play at home against the Kansas City Chiefs at 7:30 p.m. ET as a 5.5-point favorite with a total of 37.5. The Arizona Cardinals are at home to challenge the Dallas Cowboys on the NFL Network at 10:00 p.m. ET as a 1.5-point favorite with an over/under of 37.5. Major League Baseball has 15 games scheduled. The New York Yankees host the Toronto Blue Jays at 1:35 p.m. ET as a -118 money-line favorite with a total of 7. The Milwaukee Brewers play at home against the Atlanta Braves at 2:10 p.m. ET as a -168 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. The Miami Marlins are at home to face the Washington Nationals on FS1 at 4:10 p.m. ET as a -186 money-line favorite with a total of 7.5. The Philadelphia Phillies host the St. Louis Cardinals at 6:05 p.m. ET as a -136 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9. Two MLB games throw out the first pitch at 7:05 p.m. ET. The Tampa Bay Rays play in Baltimore against the Orioles as a -131 money-line road favorite with a total of 8. The Texas Rangers play at home against the Los Angeles Angels as a -175 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. Two more MLB games start at 7:10 p.m. ET. The Chicago White Sox are at home to battle the New York Mets as a -119 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The Houston Astros host the Athletics as a -246 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. Four MLB games begin at 7:15 p.m. ET. The Los Angeles Dodgers play at home against the Pittsburgh Pirates as a -267 money-line favorite with a total of 7.5. The Kansas City Royals are at home to play the Detroit Tigers as a -112 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. Two more MLB games are featured on Fox’s regional coverage. The Seattle Mariners host the Chicago Cubs as a -118 money-line favorite with a total of 7.5. The Boston Red Sox play at home against the San Francisco Giants as a -163 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. Two MLB games start at 8:10 p.m. ET. The Arizona Diamondbacks are at home to take on the Cincinnati Reds as a -163 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The Cleveland Guardians are on the road to face the Colorado Rockies as a -143 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 11. The San Diego Padres host the Minnesota Twins at 8:40 p.m. ET as a 8 as a -164 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The WNBA has three games on tap. The New York Liberty play at home against the Indiana Fever on Amazon Prime Video at 7:00 p.m. ET as a 2.5-point favorite with an over/under of 186.5. The Los Angeles Sparks are at home to challenge the Connecticut Sun on Amazon Prime Video at 9:00 p.m. ET as a 3.5-point favorite with a total of 168.5. The Atlanta Dream travel to Phoenix to battle the Mercury at 10:00 p.m. ET as a 5.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 176.5. Week 12 in the Canadian Football League continues with one game. The Toronto Argonauts host the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on the CBS Sports Network at 7:00 p.m. ET as a 3.5-point favorite with a total of 60.5.Matchweek 1 of the English Premier League season continues with five matches. Manchester United plays on the road at Hull City on the USA Network at 7:30 a.m. ET as a 1.5-goal-line road favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Three more EPL matches start at 10:00 a.m. ET. Everton plays at home against Crystal Palace on the USA Network as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5. Sunderland is on the road to challenge Ipswich Town as a -0.5 road favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Nottingham Forest is at home to play Leeds United as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5. Brentford hosts Tottenham on NBC at 12:30 p.m. ET as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5. 

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NFL, MLB, WNBA, CFL and EPL Previews and Odds - 08/21/26

by Big Al Staff

Friday, Aug 21, 2026

The Friday sports card features NFLX, MLB, WNBA, CFL, and EPL action. The NFLX preseason continues Week 2 with three games. The New York Jets travel to Pittsburgh to play the Steelers at 7:00 p.m. ET as a 1.5-point road favorite with the total set at 37.5 (all odds from DraftKings, unless indicated otherwise). The Carolina Panthers play in Jacksonville against the Jaguars at 7:30 p.m. ET as a 1.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 36.5. The Denver Broncos host the Green Bay Packers on the NFL Network at 9:00 p.m. ET as a 6-point favorite with a total of 40.5. Major League Baseball has 15 games scheduled. The Milwaukee Brewers play at home against the Atlanta Braves at 4:10 p.m. ET as a -149 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6. The Philadelphia Phillies are at home to take on the St. Louis Cardinals on Peacock at 6:40 p.m. ET as a -220 money-line favorite at BetOnline with a total of 8.5. The New York Yankees host the Toronto Blue Jays at 7:05 p.m. ET as a -245 money-line favorite at BetOnline with an over/under of 7.5. Two MLB games throw out the first pitch at 7:10 p.m. ET. The Boston Red Sox play at home against the San Francisco Giants as a -186 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The Miami Marlins are at home to take on the Washington Nationals as a -150 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Baltimore Orioles host the Tampa Bay Rays on Apple TV+ at 7:15 p.m. ET as a -135 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The Chicago White Sox play at home against the New York Mets at 7:40 p.m. ET as a -150 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. Two MLB games start at 8:10 p.m. ET. The Houston Astros are at home to face the Athletics as a -198 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The Detroit Tigers are on the road in Kansas City to challenge the Royals as a -122 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Texas Rangers host the Los Angeles Angels on Apple TV+ at 8:15 p.m. ET as a -149 money-line favorite with a total of 7.5. The Cleveland Guardians travel to Colorado to challenge the Rockies at 8:40 p.m. ET as a -157 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 11. Two MLB games begin at 9:40 p.m. ET. The Arizona Diamondbacks play at home against the Cincinnati Reds as a -156 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The San Diego Padres are at home to play the Minnesota Twins. Two more games conclude the MLB card at 10:10 p.m. ET. The Los Angeles Dodgers host the Pittsburgh Pirates on Peacock as a -245 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. The Seattle Mariners play at home against the Chicago Cubs as a -112 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The WNBA has three games on tap. Two WNBA games tip off at 7:30 p.m. ET. The Minnesota Lynx play in Washington against the Mystics as a 3.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 162.5. The Golden State Valkyries are on the road in Chicago to face the Sky as a 6.5-point road favorite with a total of 161.5. The Portland Fire travel to Toronto to take on the Tempo at 10:00 p.m. ET as a 2.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 183.5. Week 12 in the Canadian Football League continues with one game. The Edmonton Elks are at home to battle the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on the CBS Sports Network at 9:30 p.m. ET as a 4.5-point favorite with a total of 59.5.Matchweek 1 of the 2025-26 English Premier League season begins with one match on the USA Network at 3 PM ET. Arsenal hosts Coventry City as a -1.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. 

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NFL System of the Week - 08/20/26

by Al McMordie

Thursday, Aug 20, 2026

The NFL Preseason is entering its 2nd week, and has two games on Thursday, three games on Friday, 10 games on Saturday, and one game on Sunday.  Last week, the line moves were horrible (which is not unusual in the Preseason).  There were eight sides that moved at least 1.5 points from the Open at DraftKings to the Close, and ALL EIGHT teams that moved 1.5 points (or more) lost against the point spread.Over the last three seasons, teams with this magnitude of a point spread move have gone 27-51 ATS.  Let's take a look at the Week 2 schedule of games, with the Opening number and the Current point spread, at the time of this writing (2:00 pm, Thursday):August 20Raiders (Opened -1.5; Currently -1.5) vs Texans, 8:00 pmChargers (Opened -1.5; Currently +1.5) vs 49ers, 10:00 pmAugust 21Steelers (Opened -3; Currently +1.5) vs Jets, 7:00 pmJaguars (Opened -2.5; Currently +1.5) vs Panthers, 7:30 pmBroncos (Opened -3.5; Currently -6) vs Packers, 9:00 pmAugust 22Lions (Opened -2.5; Currently -1.5) vs Commanders, NoonColts (Opened -1.5; Currently -3.5) vs Falcons, 1:00 pmVikings (Opened -2.5; Currently -3.5) vs Ravens, 1:00 pmBrowns (Opened -1.5; Currently -3) vs Bills, 1:00 pmSaints (Opened -1.5; Currently -3) vs Rams, 4:00 pmGiants (Opened -1.5; Currently -3.5) vs Dolphins, 4:00 pmPatriots (Opened -1.5; Currently +2.5) vs Eagles, 7:00 pmBengals (Opened -1.5; Currently +1.5) vs Bears, 7:00 pmChiefs (Opened -1.5; Currently +5.5) vs Buccaneers, 7:30 pmCardinals (Opened -1.5; Currently -1.5) vs Cowboys, 10:00 pmAugust 23Titans (Opened -1.5; Currently -4.5) vs Seahawks, 8:00 pmOur NFL System of the Week is to play on any team in the Preseason which is getting 1.5 points more on the CLOSING line than it did at the Opening number.  This system requires a bettor to check the DraftKings lines around 5 minutes before Game Time to confirm the line has moved the requisite 1.5 points.  For convenience, I have highlighted in BOLD the teams that would qualify under this system right now.  But I also need to emphasize that things could change.[EDITOR'S NOTE:  There will be 0 plays on Thursday, as the Chargers swung back to a favorite of -1.5 points at 8:34 pm.  Friday update:  There will be 2 Friday plays, as the Steelers closed as the favorite, at -2.5.  The Jaguars and Packers qualified.  Saturday update:  There ended up being 6 plays.  The Bills/Browns and Rams/Saints game turned out to not be plays, while the Cardinals went from -1.5 to +2 and became a play.  Overall, the line moves went 2-4 on Saturday, so betting AGAINST the move was a solid 4-2 ATS, with wins on Falcons, Patriots, Bengals and Chiefs, and losses on the Dolphins and Cardinals.  Sunday Update:  the Titans closed at -3, so the Seahawks qualified and pushed the closing number of +3.  Betting AGAINST the move is now 13-3 ATS this season, and 56-30 ATS since 2024.]Good luck, as always,Al McMordie

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NFL, MLB, WNBA and CFL Previews and Odds - 08/20/26

by Big Al Staff

Thursday, Aug 20, 2026

The Thursday sports card features NFLX, MLB, WNBA, and CFL action. The NFLX preseason kicks off Week 2 with two games. The Las Vegas Raiders travel to Houston to play the Texans on ESPN at 8:00 p.m. ET as a 1.5-point road favorite with the total set at 37.5 (all odds from DraftKings). The San Francisco 49ers play in Los Angeles against the Chargers on the NFL Network at 10:00 p.m. ET as a 1.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 37.5. Major League Baseball has nine games scheduled. The St. Louis Cardinals are on the road in Cincinnati to take on the Reds at 12:40 p.m. ET. The Cardinals tap Michael McGreevy to duel against the Reds’ Brady Singer. St. Louis is a -118 money-line road favorite with a total of 9. Two more MLB games throw out the first pitch at 1:10 p.m. ET. Cleveland hosts San Francisco with Gavin Williams taking the ball for the Guardians to pitch against Landen Roupp for the Giants. The Guardians are a -191 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7.5. Tampa Bay plays at home against Toronto on Peacock with the Rays tapping Ian Seymour to face the Blue Jays’ Shane Bieber. The Rays are a -166 money-line favorite with a total of 7.5. Three MLB games start at 2:10 p.m. ET. Atlanta visits Chicago with Grant Holmes taking the hill for the Braves to challenge Anthony Kay for the White Sox. The Braves are a -112 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5. Kansas City is at home against the Athletics, with the Royals turning to Randy Dobnak to battle against Gage Jump. The Royals are a -142 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. Milwaukee hosts Seattle with Robert Gasser getting the ball for the Brewers to duel against George Kirby for the Mariners. The Brewers are a -131 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. The New York Yankees play in Baltimore against the Orioles at 6:35 p.m. ET. The Yankees send out Gerrit Cole to take on the Orioles’ Kyle Bradish. New York is a -126 money-line road favorite with a total of 8. The Texas Rangers play at home against the Washington Nationals on FS1-TV at 8:05 p.m. ET. Jacob deGrom gets the starting assignment for the Rangers to battle against Andrew Alvarez for the Nationals. Texas is a -166 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7.5. The Houston Astros are at home to take on the Los Angeles Angels at 8:10 p.m. ET. The Astros tap Peter Lambert to pitch against the Angels’ Grayson Rodriguez. Houston is a -193 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The WNBA has three games on tap. The Indiana Fever are on the road in Dallas to play the Wings on Amazon Prime Video at 8:00 p.m. ET as a 3.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 185.5. Two games conclude the WNBA card at 10:00 p.m. ET. The Atlanta Dream travel to Los Angeles to play the Sparks on Amazon Prime Video as a 7.5-point road favorite with a total of 179.5. The Las Vegas Aces host the Connecticut Sun as a 14.5-point favorite with an over/under of 166.5. Week 12 in the Canadian Football League kicks off with one game. The Montreal Alouettes play at home against the Ottawa Redblacks on the CBS Sports Network at 7:30 p.m. ET as a 13.5-point favorite with a total of 62.5.

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NFL Preseason Betting is Your Road to Build Your Bankroll

by Wayne Root

Wednesday, Aug 19, 2026

I finished Week 1 of the NFL preseason undefeated—on my way to a perfect week.I went 2–0 on Thursday, 1–0 on Friday, and 2–0 on Saturday for a clean 5–0 record. I’m not bragging—I’m sharing what works.Here’s the key: pay attention to the quarterback rotations we post under the articles. In the preseason, that’s the most important information.In the regular season, everyone knows the starting QB, and he plays the whole game. Preseason football is different. I use that to my advantage.I read the coaches’ game plan and factor in the strength of the third- and fourth-string quarterbacks—especially guys with prior experience. Some backup quarterbacks are genuinely solid.Now imagine a strong backup group—plus a mix of first- and second-string players—going against teams that are mostly trying to impress and figure out who their coach will keep. That matchup is money.Most people chase the line moves. The public’s favorite bets are often the biggest line movers—yet the top five line moves went 0–5. The public thinks they’re automatic winners, but more often they’re set up against the betting value.Week 2 is coming, and we’ll be looking at every angle—including early line moves. And as always, we post our daily losses for full transparency.Preseason betting is your friend.

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