Trusted Since 1992

Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, MLB and UCL Previews and Odds - 04/16/2024

The Tuesday sports card features NBA, NHL, MLB, and UCL action.The National Basketball Association begins its Play-In Tournament with two games on the docket on TNT. The New Orleans Pelicans host the Los Angeles Lakers at 7:40 p.m. ET as a 1-point favorite, with the total set at 223.5 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). The Golden State Warriors travel to Sacramento to play the Kings at 10:10 p.m. ET as a 2.5-point road favorite, with an over/under of 224. The National Hockey League has eight games on its slate. Four NHL games drop the puck at 7:07 p.m. ET. The Detroit Red Wings play in Montreal against the Canadiens as a -162 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The Philadelphia Flyers play at home against the Washington Capitals as a -135 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Boston Bruins are at home against the Ottawa Senators as a -225 money-line favorite with a total of 6. The Carolina Hurricanes are in Columbus to play the Blue Jackets as a -285 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Florida Panthers host the Toronto Maple Leafs on ESPN at 7:37 p.m. ET as a -135 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Winnipeg Jets play at home against the Seattle Kraken at 8:07 p.m. ET as a -205 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. Two more NHL games drop the puck at 10:07 p.m. ET. The Vegas Golden Knights are at home against the Chicago Blackhawks as a -345 money-line favorite with a total of 6. The Vancouver Canucks host the Calgary Flames as a -205 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5.The Tuesday card in Major League Baseball has 15 games on its schedule. The Texas Rangers visit Detroit to play the Tigers at 1:10 p.m. ET as a -122 money-line road favorite with a total of 8.5. The Baltimore Orioles play at home against the Minnesota Twins at 6:35 p.m. ET as a -170 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. Two more MLB games throw out the first pitch at 6:40 p.m. ET. The Philadelphia Phillies are at home against the Colorado Rockies as a -238 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The San Francisco Giants play in Miami against the Marlins as a -135 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8. The Tampa Bay Rays host the Los Angeles Angels at 6:50 p.m. ET as a -155 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The New York Yankees are in Toronto to play the Blue Jays at 7:07 p.m. ET as a -115 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5. Two more MLB games start at 7:10 p.m. ET. The Boston Red Sox play at home against the Cleveland Guardians as a -115 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The New York Mets are at home against the Pittsburgh Pirates as a -130 money-line favorite with a total of 7.5. Two more MLB games begin at 7:40 p.m. ET. The Kansas City Royals travel to Chicago to play the White Sox as a -175 money-in road favorite with an over/under of 8. The San Diego Padres play in Milwaukee to play the Brewers as a -125 money-line road favorite with a total of 8.5. The Atlanta Braves are in Houston to play the Astros on TBS at 8:10 p.m. ET as a -115 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 10. Three MLB games start at 9:40 p.m. ET. The Arizona Diamondbacks host the Chicago Cubs as a -130 money-line favorite with a total of 10. The Seattle Mariners play at home against the Cincinnati Reds as a -130 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7. The St. Louis Cardinals visit Oakland to play the A’s as a -148 money-line road favorite with a total of 8. The Los Angeles Dodgers are at home against the Washington Nationals at 10:10 p.m. ET. The knockout stage of the UEFA Champions League continues with the first two legs in the second round of the quarterfinals at 3 p.m. ET. Barcelona hosts Paris Saint-Germain on CBS as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 3 (all soccer odds from BetMGM). Borussia Dortmund plays at home against Atletico Madrid as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 3.

Breaking Down The Play In

This year’s NBA Play In tournament features plenty of star power – LeBron James, Steph Curry, MVP Joel Embiid, Zion Williamson. And the potential exists for four marquee franchises (Lakers, Warriors, Heat, 76ers) to make it into the playoff proper in what looks like a wide-open post-season for the Association. A look at the Play In:WESTLos Angeles Lakers (8) at New Orleans (7)Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. ETPelicans -1The only thing that prevented a Lakers-Warriors elimination game was Sacramento’s late-season slump – 6 losses in their final 10 games dropped them to the 9 seed in the West. LA has been forced to play LeBron James big minutes in the last week, and that will continue for one (or two) Play In games. But that’s a must if the Lakers are going to make another long playoff run. Had the Pelicans been able to take care of business against lowly San Antonio (111-109 loss) a few weeks ago, they would have been the 6 seed and avoided this play-in business. And getting spanked by the Lakers at home after four straight wins has to make them question things.Golden State (10) at Sacramento (9)Tuesday, 10 p.m. ETWarriors -1.5One last bite of the apple for the NBA’s most recent dynasty? It’s probably too much to expect Steph Curry and Klay Thompson to turn back the clock through the Play In and two or three 7-game series. But for one game, sure. Especially since Sacramento seems to be treading water at best. The teams have seen a lot of each other in the post-season. They met last year in the first round, with Golden State winning in seven. Sacramento, which seems to be on the receiving end of tough officials calls in big games, will no doubt be wary of bad whistles in this one.EASTMiami (8) at Philadelphia (7)Wednesday, 7 p.m. ET76ers -4.5Catching a Sixers team with a returning (from injury) Joel Embiid was a nightmare for several Eastern Conference teams, and the Heat have drawn the short straw. Embiid will have had four days of rest when he attempts to wreak havoc on Miami’s front line. The winner gets the 7 seed and some rest before facing New York in the first round. Philly has plenty of momentum, winning 8 of its last 10, and Embiid has only 39 regular season games on his legs entering the post-season. Whether he has the wind to play 35 minutes a game in the playoffs is the question, as he has been gassed late in playoff games in the recent past. As for Miami, can the Heat make a second straight run to the Finals after embarrassing Boston in the Eastern finals a year ago? And will we see Playoff Jimmy Butler again, at age 34?Atlanta (10) at Chicago (9)Wednesday, 9 p.m. ETBulls -3.5Chicago started the season 5-14 and was left for dead before rallying somewhat and settling into the No. 9 spot in the East, which is where they’ve been since mid-January. The most notable thing about the Bulls’ season was the injury to Zach Lavine, which made it impossible to trade him and his contract. Other than that, few highlights. This is Trae Young’s third straight trip to the Play In, and could be his second straight first-round battle against the Celtics. Last year Atlanta played Boston tough in a 6-game first-round series, which no doubt affected the Celtics when they lost to Miami in the EC finals. The loser of this game is no doubt headed for a rebuild.

Big Al's Daily Angle: NHL, MLB, and EPL Previews and Odds - 04/15/2024

The Monday sports card features NHL, MLB, and EPL action. The National Hockey League has eight games on its slate. Five NHL games drop the puck at 7:07 p.m. ET. The Detroit Red Wings host the Montreal Canadiens as a -205 money-line favorite, with the total set at 6.5 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). The New York Islanders travel to New Jersey to play the Devils as a -112 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6. The Pittsburgh Penguins play at home against the Nashville Predators as a -130 money-line favorite with a total of 6. The Tampa Bay Lightning are at home against the Buffalo Sabres as a -170 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6. The Boston Bruins play in Washington against the Capitals as a -155 money-line road favorite with a total of 5.5.    The New York Rangers host the Ottawa Senators at 7:37 p.m. ET as a -238 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6. Two more games conclude the NHL card at 9:37 p.m. ET. The Los Angeles Kings play at home against the Minnesota Wild on ESPN as a -170 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Edmonton Oilers are at home against the San Jose Sharks as a -455 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6. The Monday card in Major League Baseball has 15 games on its schedule. The Boston Red Sox host the Cleveland Guardians at 11:10 a.m. ET as a -130 money-line favorite with a total of 9. The Baltimore Orioles play at home against the Minnesota Twins at 6:35 p.m. ET as a -155 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9. Three MLB games throw out the first pitch at 6:40 p.m. ET. The Philadelphia Phillies are at home against the Colorado Rockies as a -205 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The San Francisco Giants are in Miami to play the Marlins as a -120 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8. The Texas Rangers visit Detroit to play the Tigers as a -120 money-line road favorite with a total of 9. The Tampa Bay Rays host the Los Angeles Angels at 6:50 p.m. ET as a -162 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. The Toronto Blue Jays play at home against the New York Yankees at 7:07 p.m. ET as a -115 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The New York Mets are at home against the Pittsburgh Pirates at 7:10 p.m. ET as a -125 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. Two more MLB games start at 7:40 p.m. ET. The Kansas City Royals play in Chicago against the White Sox as a -192 money-line road favorite with a total of 9. The San Diego Padres are in Milwaukee to play the Brewers as a -125 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5.  The Atlanta Braves travel to Houston to play the Astros at 8:10 p.m. ET as a -165 money-line road favorite at BetMGM with a total of 9.5. Two MLB games begin at 9:40 p.m. ET. The Arizona Diamondbacks host the Chicago Cubs as a -142 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The St. Louis Cardinals play in Oakland against the A’s as a -175 money-line road favorite with a total of 8. The Seattle Mariners play at home against the Cincinnati Reds at 9:42 p.m. ET as a -148 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7.5. The Los Angeles Dodgers are at home against the Washington Nationals at 10:10 p.m. ET as a -360 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5.Matchweek 33 in the English Premier League concludes with one match. Chelsea hosts Everton on the USA Network at 3:00 p.m. ET as a -0.5 goal-line favorite at BetMGM with an over/under of 3.

Atlanta Braves vs Houston Astros Prediction, Preview and Odds - 04/16/2024

Washington Capitals vs Philadelphia Flyers Prediction, Preview and Odds - 04/16/2024

Toronto Maple Leafs vs Florida Panthers Prediction, Preview and Odds - 04/16/2024

Los Angeles Lakers vs New Orleans Pelicans Prediction, Preview and Odds - 04/16/2024

Golden State Warriors vs Sacramento Kings Prediction, Preview and Odds - 04/16/2024

Miami Heat vs Philadelphia 76ers Prediction, Preview and Odds - 04/17/2024