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The Miami Dolphins (but not Tua) Continue to Struggle in Cold Weather

by Team Del Genio

Saturday, Nov 30, 2024

The Miami Dolphins have developed the well-earned reputation of struggling when playing in cold weather, yet the oddsmaker only installed them as a field goal underdog in their Monday night game in the chilly temperatures in Lambeau Field against the Green Bay Packers on the last Thursday Night Football game in November.The Dolphins hit rock bottom with their 30-27 loss at Buffalo earlier in the month lowered their record to 2-6 on the season. They had since won three games in a row to raise their record to 5-6 and keep their postseason hopes alive. Yet the Packers were the best team they had played since losing to the Bills. They followed that up with a win in Los Angeles against the Rams before returning home where they beat Las Vegas and then New England, 34-15, the previous week. The Dolphins had covered the point spread once in their last five games on the road after winning at home in their previous game. Against teams with a winning, they had covered the point spread just twice in their last eight games. In their last six games on the road against winning teams, they had covered the point spread only once. Now Miami travels to Green Bay where it was going to be very cold. Temperatures were expected to drop into the 20s. The Dolphins had an 11-28 record in their franchise history when playing at 32 degrees or lower, and they are on a nine-game losing streak in those games. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa had lost all four of his career starts when the temperature was under 40 degrees. The Dolphins had covered the point spread in only one of those four games, and they have been beaten by the point spread by an average of 18 points in those four games. Yet it’s just not in cold weather where Miami with Tagovailoa has not played as well. In stand-alone games, the Dolphins had a 6-10 record with Tagovailoa as their starting quarterback while covering the point spread in just five of those sixteen games. When playing at night, Miami had a 5-8 record with Tagovailoa, covering the point spread in four of those thirteen games. When playing at night against a winning team with Tagovailoa as their starting quarterback, they had a 3-6 record with only three-point spread covers in those nine games. If those winning teams had a winning percentage of 60% or better, then the Dolphins are winless in those five-night games with Tagovailoa with only one point spread cover. Miami had covered the point spread in three of their eleven games when the oddsmakers installed them as an underdog. They had covered the point spread in four of their last eleven games on the road when the oddsmakers installed the over/under from 42.5 to 49.Sure enough, the Dolphins, bundled in their heavy jackets and crowding around their portal warmers, started slowly in this game. Green Bay went into halftime with a 24-3 lead. They later took a 30-11 lead midway late in the fourth quarter before Miami scored a late touchdown in a 30-17 loss. The Dolphins offense did gain 375 yards, and Tagovailoa’s stat line was good. He completed 37 of 36 passes for 365 yards with two touchdown passes and no interceptions. It’s hard to argue with that performance. Yet the Dolphins were still not competitive in these conditions. They made special teams mistakes. Their defense gave up 388 yards. They fumbled the ball twice. These miscues were not the fault of Tagovailoa. Miami plays in cold weather in their final two games of the season in Cleveland against the Browns and then in New York against the Jets in their last game of the regular season. Tagovailoa’s now 0-5 record in games played below 40 degrees will be mentioned frequently. Yet it would probably be unfair to put the blame on him for that record given his performance in Green Bay against the Packers on the last Thursday night game of the month. Good luck - Team Del Genio.

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Be Careful About Taking Los Angeles Chargers Unders

by Team Del Genio

Saturday, Nov 30, 2024

The conventional wisdom regarding Jim Harbaugh’s arrival as the head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers is that he has transformed the Justin Herbert-led offense into a run-first attack. It is true that Harbaugh is asking less of Herbert so far this season. After playing in five games last year where he threw 40 or more passes, he has yet to do that this season. The Chargers had not played a game this season that had more than 44 combined points scored before their thrilling 34-27 victory against Cincinnati in week 11 on November 17th. Yet the oddsmakers still installed the over/under for the Monday night “Harbaugh Bowl” against the Baltimore Ravens on November 25th in the high 40s, and it was then bet up into the 50s. It may look easy to take the under given the Chargers' commitment to run the football and play strong defense under head coach Jim Harbaugh, yet we concluded in taking the over that those assumptions may be faulty. Herbert did not throw more than 27 times in his first four games. Yet remember that he was slowed by an ankle injury early in the season that kept him from playing in the preseason. Since their bye week after those first four games, Herbert had thrown the ball 32 or more times in four of his six games. In the shootout the previous week with the Bengals, Herbert completed 17 of 36 passes for 297 yards with two touchdown passes. He had also been more willing to tuck the ball and run lately. He rushed for 65 yards the previous week. In his previous four games, Herbert had run for 148 yards and averaged 7 yards per carry. His ankle seems better. The Chargers have scored 26 or more points in four straight games. Harbaugh is known for pivoting his offensive game plan in big games. As the Michigan head coach, he would often flip the script with his run-first approach by passing the ball more in their annual showdowns with Ohio State or against Alabama in the college football playoff semifinals. Against a Ravens defense that was holding their opponents to 87 rushing yards per game and 3.6 yards per carry, Harbaugh may lean on his quarterback who he declared as already one of the best ever earlier in the week. Baltimore is allowing 312 passing yards per game and 7.8 yards per attempt. A pass-heavy game plan made sense going into that game.The Chargers scored a touchdown on their first drive and took a 10-0 lead early in the second quarter. The Ravens then got their offense going and went into halftime with a 14-13 lead with the game pace on track to finish over the number. Our over became in doubt when both teams only traded field goals in the third quarter. Yet Baltimore scored two touchdowns early in the fourth quarter to take a 30-16 lead. The Chargers scored a late touchdown to pull within seven points, securing our over with 53 combined points scored. Herbert completed 21 of 36 passes for 218 yards. He added another 29 yards on the ground. That game was the fifth time in their last six games that the Chargers threw more passes than they ran the football. That is a stark change from their first five games when Los Angeles only had one game where they passed the ball more than they ran it.The Chargers have played seven of their eleven games this season under the number. Yet they have played their last three games over the total. So while Harbaugh is not asking Herbert to carry the offense like he had been in the past, the commitment to run the football early in the season may had more to do with his injured ankle rather than Harbaugh wanting to run the 1980s offense he operated for the Chicago Bears with Mike Ditka as their head coach. Bettors assuming the Chargers are a good team to play the under should consider the evolution of their play-calling.Good luck - TDG.

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EFL (Carabao) Cup Futures 2024/25 Season

by Amedeus Mastrangelo

Saturday, Nov 30, 2024

The EFL Cup is entering the Quarterfinals with the 1st match taking place on December 18. There have been some quality teams that made it through, but there have also been a few surprises as well. With the competition now getting down to the final 8 teams, it is time to see who has the best chance at lifting the Carabao Cup this season.  To Win Outright Arsenal +250: Arsenal is the team with the best chance at lifting the trophy this season according to the oddsmakers. Arsenal has been a dominant club over the last 2 seasons, but this year they have been struggling more as they currently sit at 5th in the Premier League table entering December. They are starting to get back into good form now, but they also have Champions League which has been taking away a lot of their focus as well. They have been one of the dominant teams in the league the last 2 seasons, but they always fell short and did not have the squad depth to make a run in European competition either. Now with their early struggles in the league and still with Champions League to focus on, this competition is not going to be very high on their list of priorities. They are up against Crystal Palace in the Quarterfinals, but they have not really played any quality teams in this competition with their last 2 wins coming against Preston and Bolton in the previous rounds. They will also have to match up with the winner of Tottenham/Man Utd in the next round so neither of those teams are going to be an easy pass either. This is not a competition that Arsenal has had success in either, winning just 2 EFL Cups in their club history, the last one coming in 1993. Arsenal does not have a lot of value to lift the trophy at this price.  Liverpool +275: Liverpool is the team with the next best chance at lifting the trophy this season according to the oddsmakers. Liverpool has been a dominant team in the Premier League for years, but recently they have been coming up short over the last few seasons. Klopp decided to leave the team before the season as he was looking for a break from the sport, but their new manager has them going in the right direction. The quality has not changed much from last season, but the team itself sure has as they are currently leading the Premier League entering December and they have a large lead as well. They have the best defense in the league right now as they are the only team that has not conceded 10 goals this season, and they also have one of the better attacks. They also have Champions League to worry about, but they have been dominant in that competition as well and after playing 2nd fiddle to Man City the last few years, they are going to be focused on winning the Treble this year as they have a real chance to clean house in a all of these competitions. The quality is there as well as the depth and this team has not shown any signs of slowing down with their new manager. This is also a competition they have had a lot of success in as Liverpool actually has the most EFL Cups in the history of the competition. They have won 10 EFL Cups in their club history and they are also the defending champions from last season, winning it twice in the last 3 years. Liverpool is the best team in England right now and might even be the best team in Europe. There is a lot of value in Liverpool to lift the trophy this season as it is their competition to lose.  Newcastle +450: Newcastle is the team with the next best chance at lifting the trophy this season according to the oddsmakers. Newcastle has been struggling in the Premier League this season as they currently sit in the middle of the table entering December and have never been the same as that team that went to Champions League seasons ago. They have quality in their squad but injuries have been an ongoing problem for the club over the years and it has affected their depth in these competitions. They do not have any European competitions to worry about this season so they will have more energy to focus on this, but they are not doing so well in the Premier League either so that is also a priority to them, finishing high in the table to be in European competition for next season. They have been very inconsistent this season and also have one of the weaker attacks in the league. They have had a tough path to get here as they did get through Nottingham Forest and Chelsea, but Brentford is also a bit of a wild card like Newcastle so they are not going to be an easy out in this round. Even if Newcastle gets through Brentford, they could have a date with Liverpool in the next round and that is no easy match to get through either. Newcastle does not have the quality to compete with some of the better teams in the competition right now and they have been too inconsistent to be trusted to make a deep run. This is not a competition they have had success in either as they have never won the EFL Cup and have only been to the Final twice, losing to Man Utd in 2023 and the other appearance being in 1976. Newcastle really should not be the 3rd best option to lift this trophy, there is no real value in them at this price.  Tottenham +500: Tottenham is the team with the next best chance at lifting the trophy this season according to the oddsmakers. Tottenham is not having a great season as they currently sit in the middle of the table entering December. They do have one of the better attacks in the Premier League this season as well as having a good defense too, but they have been inconsistent in their matches with other competitions like Europa League to worry about as well. The team has a lot of quality and they have made strides over the last 2 seasons with their newer manager Postecoglou, but they have also been very erratic on defense with their high line coming back to bite them at times. Even in their recent matches going into December, they have fallen out of form a bit with their defense starting to concede more goals. They did have a tough challenge in the last round as they kicked out Man City, but Man Utd is not going to be an easier opponent as they have found new life under their new manager and also have a very good record in this competition. The next round could see a date with Arsenal as well so Tottenham does not have an easy path to the Final and it will take a toll on them with the other competitions taking away focus as well. Tottenham is 6th on the all-time list with 4 EFL Cups as well as being runners up 5 times, but the last time they actually won this competition was back in 2008. Tottenham has a good team but they are too inconsistent so there is no real value in them to lift the trophy at this price.  Manchester United +600: Manchester United is the team with the next best chance at lifting the trophy this season according to the oddsmakers. Man Utd has been struggling a lot this season as they currently sit in the bottom half of the table entering December. They are in Europa League as well so they have that competition taking focus away, but Europa League is also not as big of a priority as a competition like Champions League would be for a club like Man Utd. They have a lot of quality on their team as well, but they have not been performing and it has been an ongoing problem going back to last season. They have finally fixed the issue though, sacking their manager a few weeks ago, and now they have been in great form since the sacking. They have played 6 matches under their new manager with 4 wins and no losses in that span. Their attack has been flowing much better in these matches which is key since they have a lot of quality attackers in their squad, but the defense has also tightened up as well. Everything is moving in the right direction for Man Utd and this new manager, and this is a great morale booster to try and win this competition and show the results to the players which will help them buy into the new methods. Man Utd has had a very easy path in this competition so far and now have to play Tottenham in the Quarterfinals, but Man Utd is playing like the more stable team right now and they have a lot more depth than Tottenham as well. They could see Arsenal in the next round which will not be easy, but they have the talent to beat a club like that and this new manager could be exactly what they need to push themselves over the line. Either way, this is a great competition for the new manager to focus on, and it is a competition they have had a lot of success in as well. Man Utd is 3rd on the all-time list with 6 EFL Cups with their most recent one coming just 2 seasons ago in 2023. They have also won 2 EFL Cups in the last 8 seasons as well. Man Utd is on the right path with their new manager and they very well could be a dark horse in this competition. There is some good value in Man Utd to lift the trophy at this price.  RecommendationThere are some quality teams left in this competition, but a lot of external factors can also affect how teams play in this competition and apply their focus on it. Out of all the teams left, there is 1 team that is clearly on a roll right now and has been the best team in the league all season by far. Liverpool at +275 is the best option to lift this trophy with the form they have been in all season, but Man Utd at +600 is also a good option with their new manager boost. Man Utd makes a good dark horse as well since they can end up in the final with Liverpool. The best options here for a team to lift the EFL Cup this season are Liverpool at +275 and Manchester United at +600.

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Coppa Italia Futures 2024/25 Season

by Amedeus Mastrangelo

Saturday, Nov 30, 2024

The Coppa Italia Round of 16 is approaching with the first matches starting on Tuesday, December 3. There are a lot of quality teams left in the final 16 with a lot of rich history in this competition, but there are also quite a few teams that do not have the quality or depth to go the distance. With the Round of 16 just around the corner now, it is time to see who has the best chance at lifting the trophy this year.  To Win Outright Inter Milan +200: Inter Milan is the team with the best chance at lifting the trophy this season according to the oddsmakers. Inter Milan has been in great form entering December, but they are currently sitting 3rd place in the Serie A table. The league title is always the 1st priority for this club followed by Champions League and since Inter Milan is not dominating the league right out of the gate like they have in the past, that could take a toll on them in this competition. They are playing Udinese in this round and it will be their 1st round in the competition as they had byes until now, but they are also on the harder side of the bracket by far. The next round would see them play the winner of Lazio/Napoli and that will be no easy match, especially if it is Napoli who they play against as Napoli is currently leading the league and has no other competitions to focus on either. The new Champions League format also has them playing 2 extra matches which can take a toll on them, so between that and the closer race at the top of the league now, they are not going to be so focused on the Coppa Italia. They have one of the better attacks in the league this season, but there are some very good defenses in the league right now that can match them and Inter has already struggled in a few of their matches this season against top clubs in the league. Inter is tied for 2nd on the all-time list with 9 Coppa Italias and they have won 2 in the last 3 years as well, but they are not the defending champions. Those are also the only 2 they have won in the last 13 years so they have not been that dominant in this competition over the last decade and they are on the harder side of the bracket as well. There could be some value in Inter at a better price, but right now as the current favorite there is no real value with all things considered.  Juventus +350: Juventus is the team with the next best chance at lifting the trophy this season according to the oddsmakers. Juventus has not been in the best form entering December, but they are currently sitting in 6th place of the league table and they are the only team in Serie A that does not have a loss this season. They have the best defense in the league with only 7 goals allowed in their 13 league matches and they have been a very tough team to beat all year in all competitions. They have struggled in the league in recent years, but their biggest focus this season will be on Champions League as that is a competition they missed last season. This is also a competition they are usually focused on as they are the defending champions from last year, but they have also had the most success in the competitions history. Juventus has won 15 Coppa Italias, winning 2 in the last 4 years, and they have also won 6 in the last 10 years. They are playing Cagliari in the Round of 16 after getting byes until now, but they have also been dropped on the easier side of the bracket. They would have to play the winner of Fiorentina/Empoli in the next round which will not cause too many problems for them, and the only other teams that could really challenge them before the final would be Bologna and Atalanta. Atalanta could be a tricky team for them, but it is still better than the teams they could see on the other side of the bracket, and Bologna is just a shell of the team they were last season as well. Juventus is always a true threat to win this competition and at this price with them not being the favorite either, there is some good value in Juventus here.  AC Milan +600: AC Milan is the team with the next best chance at lifting the trophy this season according to the oddsmakers. AC Milan has been in great form entering December, but they are currently sitting in 7th place in the league table and have still been very inconsistent this season. AC Milan is the kind of team that is always a bridesmaid and never a bride, whether it be in Serie A, Champions League, or this competition, they always find a way to do well and just come up short. They have won 5 Coppa Italias in their club history, but that only puts them tied for 7th place on the all-time list. They have not had any recent success either with their last win coming in 2003. They are playing against Sassuolo in the Round of 16, but they are also on the much harder side of the bracket with teams like Roma, Lazio, Napoli, and Inter Milan who they have struggled with a lot in recent years. AC Milan has quality in their squad, but they have been too inconsistent for years and always come up short in these competitions. They are the kind of team that, until they prove they can win, there is no real value in taking them to lift a trophy.  Napoli +600: Napoli is the team with the next best chance at lifting the trophy this season according to the oddsmakers. Napoli has been in great form entering December as they currently sit atop the Serie A table. They are 9-2-2 this season and they have the 2nd best defense in the league with just 9 goals allowed in 13 matches. Antonio Conte is in his 1st season as the manager, but already he has flipped this team on its head. Conte has them headed in the right direction and he is also a proven manager in Serie A from his days at Inter Milan. This is actually a competition that he never won in his tenure at Inter Milan, but this is the perfect season for him to go for it since Napoli is not in any European competitions and has nothing else to worry about except the league. Napoli has to play Lazio in the Round of 16, but they actually played in the last round as well so they will be ready for this match. They are on the stronger side of the bracket and it will not be easy for them to make the final, but they already have wins against AC Milan and Roma this season as well as a draw with Inter Milan so there is nobody on their side of the bracket who they will be afraid of. Napoli has a lot of quality in their squad and Conte has them playing with a lot more confidence this season after their old manager left them. With no other competitions to focus on this season besides the league, and the fact that Conte never won the Coppa Italia in his tenure at Inter Milan, this will certainly be a competition that Napoli is focused on winning. There is some nice value here in Napoli to lift the trophy as a dark horse. Atalanta +1200: Atalanta is the team with the next best chance at lifting the trophy this season according to the oddsmakers. Atalanta has been in great form entering December as they currently sit in 2nd place of the league table. They have been playing well in Champions League too, but right now they are in the title race for Serie A and that is something that does not happen often for them. As long as they are near the top of the table, they will be focused on the league to try and win their 1st ever Serie A Title since they have never done so. They are also playing well in Champions League and were the Europa League champions last season so Champions League is also going to be high on their list of priorities. With Atalanta being more focused on those 2 bigger competitions, this is a competition they could see themselves fizzle out in, especially since they do not have a good history in the competition either. The only Coppa Italia that Atalanta has ever won came back in 1963, over 60 years ago. They have been the runners up 5 times which includes last season and twice in the last 4 years, but they always come up short. Atalanta has a lot of quality on their side, but this is not going to be a competition they are fully focused on and they do not have the depth to make a deep run here with more important competitions to worry about. They have come close to winning the Coppa Italia in recent years, but this is not going to be one of those seasons. There is no real value in Atalanta to win this competition with the other ones taking focus away.  RecommendationThis competition has been very straightforward over the last few seasons as it has generally been dominated by a handful of teams with a few exceptions here and there. It is usually the same group of teams that are always a threat in this competition, but only 1 club can win it all and there are external factors that affect each team's focus and motivation. This season, Juventus at +350 has the best value for a team to lift the trophy as they are the most dominant club in the competition and have yet to lose a match this season making them a very difficult out in competitions like this where a team must advance. Napoli at +600 is also a great dark horse though since the motivation is going to be there with the new manager and they do not have any other competitions to play in that will take their focus away, allowing them to put out the best lineup for these matches. Juventus at +350 and Napoli at +600 are the 2 best options for teams to lift the Coppa Italia this season, and it is possible that both of these clubs face each other in the Final due to the bracket.

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College Hoops: Winners/Losers from November & Season Predictions

by William Burns

Saturday, Nov 30, 2024

In perhaps the most exciting sport to watch in the world of sports, the 2024-25 College Basketball season commenced earlier this month. We've already seen a bunch of exciting matchups and some very interesting styles of play. The in-season tournaments have been stellar watches and this is just the beginning of what should be an absolutely amazing CBB season. The month of November means more to certain teams that it does to others. Some programs will take games very seriously right now while others are simply just trying to find their legs and hit the ground running. This is the perfect time to see what your team is about, facing top teams and battling it out in style. Here are your winners and losers (known schools) in the month of November.  Winners: 1.) Auburn Tigers (7-0 Record)  The Auburn Tigers have been the most impressive team so far this season in my opinion. They've beaten everyone that's gotten put in front of them and have an amazing group of guys. Already this season, Auburn has won @Houston & has wins against ISU, UNC as well as Memphis in the Maui Invitational. Two of those four wins came by double digits! Now, the SEC is one of, if not the toughest division in College Hoops this season. So, don't be shocked if they pick up the occasional loss in conference play. However, the Tigers are out for revenge this season after being sent home early in last year's March Madness (1st Round Loss to Yale.) Season Prediction: Elite Eight appearance - possible Final Four team. 2.) Oklahoma Sooners (7-0 Record) The Sooners have been great so far this year and their record proves it. They began the season as a mid/low-tier SEC school and have absolutely shaken things up in this highly competitive conference. No, I do not expect them to keep winning every game, especially in the SEC. However, with wins over teams like Providence, Arizona & Louisville in Nassau, Bahamas, and an In-Season Tournament Championship Trophy to show for, they should be flying high on confidence through their first month in a new conference. Season Prediction: Round of 32 appearance 3.) Marquette Golden Eagles (7-0 Record) Just like the first two teams of this list, Marquette has looked excellent and owns a perfect 7-0 record to begin the season. Now, they are in the Big East, which is also a very strong conference as well. Now, even though the Golden Eagles don't have as many strong wins against top teams so far, they've looked dominant in the one's that they've played in. With a win over a 6-1 Maryland team and blowout wins against Purdue & Georgia, it's tough not to put them on this list. They will bump up in the rankings when the next Top 25 is released next week. Expect another title contending season for Marquette. Season Prediction: Sweet Sixteen appearance Losers: 1.) Connecticut Huskies (4-3 Record)  The UCONN Huskies are my top 'Loser' of the opening month of this season. They lost every game in the Maui Invitational in very winnable games where they were sizeable favorites. Those losses were suffered against Memphis, Colorado & Dayton. Now, I don't expect this to hurt UCONN very much as we head into conference play. However, Connecticut will need to shake it off and smarten up. I think that they very much can do so with the likes of Dan Hurley behind the bench coaching them. Look for another big year from the Huskies as they search for their third consecutive. Season Prediction: Final Four Appearance  2.) Arizona Wildcats (3-4 Record)  It has not been a pretty start for the Wildcats of Arizona. They've had a couple of very tough games this season and haven't shown signs of being a very strong contender so far. Losses against all of the tough teams that they've played including Wisconsin, Duke, OU & West Virginia in overtime. Well, what's next for them? They're in one of the top three conferences in CBB in my opinion with tough teams all over the place. Don't get your hopes up this season Arizona fans. If they don't smarten up, this is going to be a very rough season for Arizona. Season Prediction: If they make it (I'll give them an 80% chance right now,) Round of 32 appearance - possible Sweet Sixteen team.  3.) Creighton Blue Jays (4-3 Record) Although just like all of these teams, the Blue Jays still have plenty of time to find their identity, it's been a struggle for them so far. After losing their best player to the NBA in Baylor Scheierman this offseason, they were forced to regroup a bit. Now, they still have great talent in Ryan Kalkbrenner & Steven Ashworth. And they did add Pop Isaacs to the team. But, they've lost three consecutive games in late November against Nebraska, San Diego State & Texas A&M which won't look so good on their resume come the end of the season. I don't think that they'll have much trouble making the Big Dance. But, they could have early problems in that tournament with the lack of early-season success against Non-Conf opponents. They are currently playing Notre Dame to finish off the month with a win. Season Prediction: Round of 32 appearance

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NCAAF, NHL, NCAAB and EPL Previews and Odds - 11/30/2024

by Big Al Staff

Saturday, Nov 30, 2024

The Saturday sports card features NCAAF, NBA, NHL, NCAAB, and EPL action.Week 14 in NCAAF college football concludes with 50 games between FBS opponents. Nineteen of these NCAAF games kick off in the opening window between noon ET and 3:00 p.m. ET, with three games starting on major national television at noon ET. Ohio State hosts Michigan on Fox as a 19.5-point favorite with the total set at 42 (all odds from DraftKings). Clemson plays at home against South Carolina on ESPN as a 2.5-point favorite with an over/under of 49. Tennessee travels to Vanderbilt on ABC as a 10.5-point road favorite with a total of 48.5. Nineteen NCAAF games between FBS opponents start in the 3:30 p.m. ET to 6:30 p.m. ET window. Four college football games are on major national television at 3:30 p.m. Notre Dame plays at USC on CBS as a 7.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 52.5. Arizona State is at Arizona on Fox as an 8.5-point road favorite with a total of 53.5. Alabama is home against Auburn on ABC as a 10.5-point favorite with a total of 52.5. Miami (FL) visits Syracuse on ESPN as an 11-point road favorite with an over/under of 67. Ten NCAAF games between FBS opponents begin at 7:00 p.m. ET or later to complete the Saturday football card. LSU hosts Oklahoma on ESPN at 7:00 p.m. ET as a 6-point favorite with a total of 47. Three more NCAAF games on major national television begin at 7:30 p.m. ET. Oregon plays at home against Washington on NBC as an 18-point favorite with an over/under of 51. Texas plays at Texas A&M on ABC as a 5-point road favorite with a total of 48.5. Iowa State is home against Kansas State on Fox as a 2-point favorite with an over/under of 51.5. BYU hosts  Houston on ESPN at 10:15 p.m. ET as a 13-point favorite with a total of 41.The National Basketball Association has five games on its docket, with one game on NBA TV. The Phoenix Suns play at home against the Golden State Warriors at 9:10 p.m. ET as a 3.5-point favorite with an over/under of 230.5. The National Hockey League has 12 games on its slate, with two games on the NHL Network. The New York Rangers are home against the Montreal Canadiens at 1:07 p.m. ET as a -205 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Pittsburgh Penguins host the Calgary Flames at 7:07 p.m. ET as a -120 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6. The college basketball schedule has 62 games between Division I opponents. Four NCAAB games are on major national television in the Players Era Festival at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Creighton battles Notre Dame on truTV at 1:00 p.m. ET as a 5.5-point favorite with a total of 145.5. Texas A&M plays Rutgers on truTV at 3:30 p.m. ET as a 4.5-point favorite with an over/under of 147.5. Houston challenges San Diego State on TNT at 7:00 p.m. ET as a 12.5-point favorite with a total of 129. Alabama faces Oregon on TNT at 9:30 p.m. ET as a 6-point favorite with an over/under of 165.5. Matchweek 13 in the English Premier League continues with five matches, with matches on the USA Network. Nottingham Forest plays at home against Ipswich Town at 10:00 a.m. ET as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5. Arsenal is at West Ham United on the USA Network at 12:30 p.m. ET as a -1.5 goal-line road favorite with an over/under of 2.5.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NFL, NCAAF, NBA, NHL, NCAAB and EPL Previews and Odds - 11/29/2024

by Big Al Staff

Friday, Nov 29, 2024

The Friday sports card features NFL, NCAAF, NBA, NHL, NCAAB, and EPL action. Week 14 in the National Football League continues with one game. The Kansas City Chiefs host the Las Vegas Raiders on Amazon Prime Video at 3:00 p.m. ET as a 13-point favorite, with the total set at 42.5 (all odds from DraftKings)Week 14 in NCAAF college football continues with 14 games between FBS opponents. Four NCAAF games on major national television kick off at noon ET. Boise State plays at home against Oregon State on Fox as an 18-point favorite with an over/under of 57.5. Colorado is home against Oklahoma State on ABC as a 16.5-point favorite with a total of 65. East Carolina hosts Navy on ESPN as a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 55. Minnesota travels to Wisconsin on CBS as a 1-point road favorite with an over/under of 41. Mississippi plays at home against Mississippi State on ABC at 3:30 p.m. ET as a 26-point favorite with a total of 61.5. San Jose State is home against Stanford as a 2.5-point favorite with an over/under of 54.5. Two more NCAAF games start at 7:30 p.m. ET. Iowa hosts Nebraska on NBC as a 3.5-point favorite with a total of 40. Georgia plays at home against Georgia Tech on ABC as an 18.5-point favorite with an over/under of 51.5. Central Florida is home against Utah on Fox at 8:00 p.m. ET as a 10-point favorite with a total of 46.5. The National Basketball Association has 10 games on its docket in the NBA Cup. Two NBA games are featured in a doubleheader on ESPN. The Minnesota Timberwolves host the Los Angeles Clippers at 7:40 p.m. ET as a 5.5-point favorite with an over/under of 215.5. The Los Angeles Lakers play at home against the Oklahoma City Thunder at 10:10 p.m. ET as a 1-point favorite with a total of 230. The National Hockey League has 14 games on its slate. TNT broadcasts two games in a Friday night doubleheader. The Boston Bruins are home against the Pittsburgh Penguins at 6:37 p.m. ET as a -175 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6. The Dallas Stars host the Colorado Avalanche at 9:07 p.m. ET as a -135 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5.  The college basketball schedule has 53 games between Division I opponents. Ten games are on major national television. Indiana battles Providence in the Battle 4 Atlantis at the Imperial Arena at the Atlantis Resort in Nassau, Bahamas, on ESPN2, at 11:00 a.m. ET as a 4.5-point favorite with an over/under of 141.5. Wake Forest plays Minnesota in the ESPN Events Invitational at the State Farm Field in Kissimmee, Florida, on ESPN2 at 1:00 p.m. ET as a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 131.5. TCU challenges Colorado State in the Acrisure Holiday Classic Event at the Acrisure Arena in Palm Springs, California, on truTV as a 3.5-point favorite with an over/under of 143. Arizona faces West Virginia in the Battle 4 Atlantis on ESPN2 at 3:00 p.m. ET as a 5.5-point favorite with a total of 152.5. Florida goes against Wichita State in the ESPN Events Invitational on ESPN at 3:30 p.m. ET as an 8.5-point favorite with a total of 151.5. Louisville challenges Oklahoma in the Battle 4 Atlantis on ESPN at 5:30 p.m. ET as a 3.5-point favorite with an over/under of 148.5. Utah State plays North Texas in the ESPN Events Invitational on ESPN2 at 6:30 p.m. ET as a 5-point favorite with a total of 138. Gonzaga battles Davidson in the Battle 4 Atlantis on ESPN2 at 8:30 p.m. ET as a 20.5-point favorite with an over/under of 153.5. Saint Mary’s faces Arizona State in the Acrisure Holiday Classic Event on truTV at 11:30 p.m. ET.Matchweek 13 in the English Premier League begins with one match. Brighton and Hove Albion plays at home against Southampton at 3:00 p.m. ET as a 1.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 3.5. 

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A Wolf In Sheep's Clothing?!

by AAA Sports

Friday, Nov 29, 2024

In any NBA season, maybe 10 teams go after it hard and shell out enough capital – in salary and draft choices – to make a deep run and maybe catch enough breaks to get to The Finals.10 to 15 more are hanging around, maybe can figure out enough things to get into the second round of playoffs before water seeks its own level and they go home for the late spring and summer.The rest may or may not be in complete tank mode, but they know that unless personnel changes drastically, they are who they are, and hopefully enough fans will be fooled for the team to turn a profit.Amid that mish-mash, there are opportunities for bettors. Perhaps find teams that don’t have the talent to win a title, but on any given night play hard enough to cover generous numbers. Here are a few:BROOKLYN NETS  (9-10 SU, 13-5-1 ATS) – It seems only yesterday that Kyrie Irving was declaring himself the co-coach with Steve Nash after Irving and his BFF Kevin Durant had fired Kenny Atkinson. Irving, KD and James Harden were the new Big Three, and ready to take over the NBA. Not quite. Things quickly imploded, Harden begged out, and the Nets decided to start over. Good move. Although under .500 heading toward December, the re-tooled starting lineup including Dennis Schroeder produced back-to-back-back road wins at Sacramento, Golden State and Phoenix. The win over the Warriors came after Brooklyn – which entered the game as a 13.5-point underdog -- had fallen behind by 18 and won by outscoring Golden State 70-53 in the second half when it would have been easy to cash it in and blamed tired legs.TORONTO RAPTORS (5-14 SU, 13-6 ATS) – When you lose your opener, at home, by 30 points as the Raptors did, you have a pretty good idea of which direction your team is headed. There are no illusions in Toronto, where the Raptors are still existing on the goodwill generated by their only title in 2019, made possible by renting Kawhi Leonard. The current group still plays hard, even if contending is a long way off. Half of their losses have been by six points or fewer, and even playing short-handed they were one decent two-minute overtime stretch away from beating the defending champion Celtics in Boston. The business model of late has been to deal away talent (VanVleet, Lowry, Siakam) before they age out and/or demand too much money. No one seems certain if that will continue if no real progress is made.PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS (7-12 SU, 11-7-1) – Yeah, the sample size is not great, but the Blazers appear to be better than last year. They seem to be somewhat of an afterthought since trading away Damian Lillard (and then Jrue Holiday, who came over – briefly – in the Lillard deal). But there are small signs that Portland might be climbing out of a steep hole. They own back-to-back wins over Minnesota (no small feat), and they have shown that they will play hard and compete on the road, something not all sub .500 teams are willing to do. Yes, the team is young, and the learning curve is still substantial. But, Scott Henderson is showing signs that he is figuring things out, and Shaedon Sharpe and Donovan Clingan have been impressive. They also are hoping center Robert Williams can stay healthy for a change. The Blazers are probably too good to have any more than a puncher’s chance at winning the lottery and getting Cooper Flagg, but the arrow is finally pointing upwards again for a change. 

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NBA In the Paint: November 28th

by Sean Murphy

Thursday, Nov 28, 2024

With December right around the corner, now is a good time to take stock of the current state of the Association. Here's a look at five teams as we get set to emerge from the brief Thanksgiving break.Magic Soaring The Orlando Magic are continuing their impressive rise with a 13-7 record, showing growth that isn’t too surprising considering they finished fifth in the Eastern Conference last season. Led by a mix of young talent and solid team play, the Magic have become one of the more exciting teams in the East. Their defense ranks among the league's best, helping them keep games competitive even against some of the top teams. Orlando's ability to play both sides of the ball and control tempo has been key to their success. With Paolo Banchero getting closer to returning from injury, the Magic seem to be headed in the right direction for sustained success. If they continue this momentum, they should remain firmly in the playoff race, possibly even pushing for a top-six seed. Jazz Facing Challenges The Utah Jazz are in a rough patch with a 4-14 record, reflecting a steep fall even from last season’s disappointing performance. Despite building a reputation as a scrappy, competitive team with a strong home court advantage - even in down years - they have struggled mightily on both ends of the floor this season. Offensively, they've had difficulty finding consistent scoring options, while defensively, they've failed to contain opposing teams, ranking 30th in the league in defensive rating. Their defensive struggles are compounded by turnovers, which have led to easy fast-break points for opponents. Utah’s young core has shown flashes of potential, but they’ll need to find more cohesion and execution to climb out of the bottom of the West. With a lack of standout performances and no true superstar to carry the team, the Jazz will need to rework their strategy and focus on improving defensively if they want to avoid a lengthy rebuilding process. Warriors' Recent Woes The Golden State Warriors, sitting at 12-6, have endured a middling stretch of play despite their solid overall record. While their offense remains potent, ranking in the top-10 in points per game, they have struggled defensively at times. Their inability to stop teams in transition and their inconsistent perimeter defense in recent contests have been glaring issues. Injuries and rest have kept their key players in and out of the lineup, but when healthy, the Warriors still have one of the most potent offensive attacks in the league. They are relying heavily on their championship experience to weather this period, but for them to remain in the upper echelon of the West, they will need to get back to their defensive roots, as we saw earlier in the campaign. Nuggets Holding Steady The Denver Nuggets, currently 10-7, have played well overall but haven't quite recaptured the same level of dominance they displayed in recent years. The team is still solid on both sides of the ball, ranking highly in offensive efficiency, but they’ve shown vulnerability in key matchups. Their defense, while still solid, hasn’t been at the elite level it was previously, at times allowing opponents to score at will (they currently rank 18th in the league in defensive rating). On the road, they’ve been more consistent with a 5-3 record, but their home court struggles, reflected by a 5-4 mark, are something to keep an eye on. The Nuggets have looked more vulnerable than expected, especially with the tight competition in the West. To stay near the top of the conference, they need to find more consistency on the defensive end while continuing to rely on their MVP-level player to carry them offensively. Suns in a Slump The Phoenix Suns, once one of the most promising teams in the West, have faced a significant slump in recent games. After a strong start to the season, they have faltered, losing several key games and showing a lack of consistency both offensively and defensively. Their defense, which was once a strength, has been porous in recent contests, allowing too many easy points and not getting key stops in crunch time. While the Suns have a strong roster on paper, they’ve struggled with injuries, and the team’s chemistry has been off. Despite flashes of brilliance, Phoenix has lacked the cohesion necessary to compete against the top-tier teams in the West. The Suns are at a crossroads: they need to find their rhythm quickly, or they risk falling too far behind in an ultra-competitive conference.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NFL, NCAAF, and NCAAB Previews and Odds - 11/28/2024

by Big Al Staff

Thursday, Nov 28, 2024

The Thursday Thanksgiving sports card features NFL, NCAAF, and NCAAB action.Week 13 in the National Football League kicks off with three games. The Detroit Lions host the Chicago Bears on CBS at 1:00 p.m. ET. The Lions are on a nine-game winning streak after their 24-6 victory at Indianapolis as a 7-point favorite last Sunday. The Bears are on a five-game losing streak after their 30-27 loss in overtime as a 3-point underdog on Sunday. Detroit is a 9.5-point favorite with the total set at 48 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). The Dallas Cowboys play at home against the New York Giants on Fox at 4:30 p.m. ET. The Cowboys ended a five-game losing streak with a 34-26 upset victory at Washington as an 11-point underdog last Sunday. The Giants are on a six-game losing streak after their 30-7 loss against Tampa Bay as a 6-point underdog on Sunday. Dallas is a 3.5-point favorite with an over/under of 37.5. The Green Bay Packers are home against the Miami Dolphins on NBC at 8:20 p.m. ET. The Packers won for the sixth time in their last seven games in a 38-10 victory at home against San Francisco as a 6-point favorite last Sunday. The Dolphins are on a three-game winning streak after their 34-15 win against New Orleans as a 7.5-point favorite on Sunday. Green Bay is a 3.5-point favorite with a total of 47.5. Week 14 in NCAAF college football continues with one game between FBS opponents. Tulane hosts Memphis on ESPN at 7:30 p.m. ET. The Green Wave have won eight games in a row after their 35-0 win at Navy on November 16th as a 7-point favorite. The Tigers won for the sixth time in their last seven games in a 53-18 victory against UAB as a 16-point favorite two Saturdays ago. Tulane is a 13.5-point favorite with an over/under of 55.The college basketball schedule has 21 games between Division I opponents. Seven games are on major national television. Two NCAAB games on major national television tip-off at noon ET. Louisville battles West Virginia in the Battle 4 Atlantis at the Imperial Arena at the Atlantis Resort in Nassau, Bahamas, on ESPN, as a 2-point favorite with a total of 151.5. Wichita State faces Minnesota in the ESPN Events Invitational at the State Farm Field in Kissimmee, Florida, on ESPN2 as a 2-point favorite with an over/under of 137. Two NCAAB games start at 2:30 p.m. ET. Florida challenges Wake Forest in the ESPN Events Invitational on ESPN as a 5.5-point favorite with a total of 157. Gonzaga goes against Indiana in the Battle 4 Atlantis on ESPN2 as a 9.5-point favorite with a total of 156.5. Illinois plays Arkansas in the Turkey Throwdown at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on CBS at 4:00 p.m. ET as a 2-point favorite with an over/under of 154. Arizona faces Oklahoma in the Battle 4 Atlantis on ESPN at 5:00 p.m. ET as a 5.5-point favorite at BetMGM with a total of 155.5. Utah State plays St. Bonaventure in the ESPN Events Invitational on ESPN2 at 5:30 p.m. ET as a 7.5-point favorite with an over/under of 149.5. Providence battles Davidson in the Battle 4 Atlantis on ESPN2 at 7:30 p.m. ET as a 5.5-point favorite at BetMGM with a total of 137.5.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NCAAF, NBA, NHL, NCAAB and UEFA Champions League Previews and Odds - 11/27/2024

by Big Al Staff

Wednesday, Nov 27, 2024

The Wednesday sports card features NCAAF, NBA, NHL, NCAAB, and UEFA Champions League action. The National Basketball Association has 14 games on its docket. Six NBA games tip off at 7:10 p.m. ET. The Houston Rockets travel to Philadelphia to play against the 76ers as a 5-point road favorite with the total set at 214.5 (all odds from DraftKings). The Indiana Pacers host the Portland Trail Blazers as a 10.5-point favorite with an over/under of 231. The Orlando Magic play at home against the Chicago Bulls as a 10.5-point favorite with a total of 223.5. The Miami Heat play in Charlotte to face the Hornets as a 4-point road favorite with an over/under of 217. The Los Angeles Clippers are in Washington to take on the Wizards as a 10-point road favorite with a total of 225.5. The Cleveland Cavaliers are home against the Atlanta Hawks as a 12-point favorite with an over/under of 239. The New York Knicks visit Dallas to play the Mavericks on ESPN at 7:40 p.m. ET as a 3.5-point road favorite with a total of 234. Three more NBA games start at 8:10 p.m. ET. The New Orleans Pelicans host the Toronto Raptors as a 3.5-point favorite with an over/under of 222.5. The Memphis Grizzlies play at home against the Detroit Pistons as a 9-point favorite with a total of 226.5. The Minnesota Timberwolves are home against the Sacramento Kings as a 4.5-point favorite with an over/under of 222. The Los Angeles Lakers play in San Antonio against the Spurs at 8:40 p.m. ET as a 2.5-point road favorite with a total of 227.5. Two more NBA games begin at 9:10 p.m. ET. The Phoenix Suns host the Brooklyn Nets as an 8.5-point favorite with an over/under of 221. The Denver Nuggets are in Utah to play the Jazz as a 9-point road favorite with a total of 233. The Oklahoma City Thunder travel to Golden State to play the Warriors on ESPN at 10:10 p.m. ET as a 2-point road favorite with an over/under of 228.5. The National Hockey League has 15 games on its slate. Three NHL games drop the puck at 7:07 p.m. ET. The Minnesota Wild play in Buffalo against the Sabres as a -135 money-line road favorite with a total of 6. The Carolina Hurricanes play at home against the New York Rangers as a -155 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The New Jersey Devils are home against the St. Louis Blues as a -238 money-line favorite with a total of 6. Six NHL games start at 7:37 p.m. ET. The New York Islanders host the Boston Bruins as a -130 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Columbus Blue Jackets play at home against the Montreal Canadiens as a -155 money-line favorite with a total of  6.5. The Florida Panthers are home against the Toronto Maple Leafs as a -142 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6. The Detroit Red Wings host the Calgary Flames as a -112 money-line favorite with a total of 6. The Vancouver Canucks are in Pittsburgh to play the Penguins as a -125 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Tampa Bay Lightning play at home against the Washington Capitals on TNT as a -148 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Nashville Predators are home against the Philadelphia Flyers at 8:07 p.m. ET as a -185 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Dallas Stars visit Chicago to play the Blackhawks at 8:37 p.m. ET as a -250 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.Three NHL games begin at 10:07 p.m. ET. The Colorado Avalanche host the Vegas Golden Knights on TNT at 10:07 p.m. ET as a -155 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Winnipeg Jets play in Los Angeles against the Kings as a -120 money-line road favorite with a total of 5.5. The Seattle Kraken play at home against the Anaheim Ducks as a -205 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Ottawa Senators are in San Jose to play the Sharks at 10:37 p.m. ET as a -218 money-line road favorite with a total of 6. The college basketball schedule has 61 games between Division I opponents. Nine games are on major national television. Indiana battles Louisville in the Battle 4 Atlantis at the Imperial Arena at the Atlantis Resort in Nassau, Bahamas, on ESPN at noon ET as a 3-point favorite with an over/under of 154. Iowa State challenges Colorado in the Maui Jim Maui Invitational at the Lahaina Civic Center in Lahaina, Hawaii, on ESPN2. Two more nationally televised NCAAB games start at 5:00 p.m. ET. Memphis plays Auburn in the Maui Jim Maui Invitational on ESPN. Oklahoma faces Providence in the Battle 4 Atlantis on ESPN2 as a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 135. Arizona plays Davidson in the Maui Jim Maui Invitational on ESPN2 at 7:30 p.m. ET as a 15.5-point favorite with an over/under of 154.5. North Carolina battles Michigan State in the Maui Jim Maui Invitational on ESPN2 at 9:30 p.m. ET. Alabama faces Rutgers in the Players Era Festival at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on TBS at 10:00 p.m. ET. UConn challenges Dayton in the Maui Jim Maui Invitational on ESPN2 at 12:00 a.m. ET. Houston goes against Notre Dame in the Players Era Festival on TBS at 12:30 a.m. ET. Matchday 5 in the UEFA Champions League concludes with nine matches. Two matches start at 12:45 p.m. ET. Stuttgart travels to the Red Star Brigade as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with a total of 2.5. Girona plays at Sturm Graz as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Seven matches conclude the UCL card at 3:00 p.m. ET. Liverpool is home against Real Madrid as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 3.5. PSV Eindhoven hosts Shakhtar Donetsk as a -1.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 3.5. Borussia Dortmund is at Dinamo Zagreb on the CBS Sports Network as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with a total of 3.5. Celtic plays at home against Club Brugge as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Monaco is home against Benfica as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5. Aston Villa is at home against Juventus as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Bologna hosts Lille 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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Week 14 NCAA Football Top 12 Poll

by Wayne Root

Wednesday, Nov 27, 2024

Where things would stand in the BCS top 25 college football rankings as we move into the final weekend of the 2024 regular season.The rivalry aspect and essence of what makes college football so exciting to follow. This week is where a season of dreams come to die. The upsets will be harsh. As expected, there was some notable movement around the top 25 college football rankings after a consequential weekend around the country that saw eight ranked teams lose their games.There were some games that caused serious movement, with three previous top-10 teams losing over the weekend. That will throw a wrench into the exact zone where teams are jockeying for the final spots.1. Oregon. The Ducks stayed undefeated the best way you can, by not playing. But they close against Washington having already clinched a place in Indy. As a 19 point favorite, nothing is expected to change 2. Ohio State. An important statement for the Buckeyes as they roundly beat undefeated Indiana and now just need to end that nasty three-game skid against rival Michigan to get to the Big Ten title game and get a chance at revenge against Oregon, which handed OSU its only loss. Laying -21 in a rival game is an oxymoron.  3. Texas. Win against Texas A&M in this highly-anticipated rivalry game, and the Longhorns will face Georgia in Atlanta in a rematch they badly want after losing their only game of the year to the Bulldogs, at home when they were No. 1 in the country.Texas needs to be very careful playing at College Station. 4. Penn State. Still technically alive in the Big Ten title race, the Nittany Lions need Ohio State to lose, but otherwise playoff selection is a virtual certainty anyway. They have a gimmie playing Maryland and laying 24 points. 5. Notre Dame. Once again, the Irish humiliated an undefeated service academy after trouncing Army at Yankee Stadium, weeks after dishing out the same treatment to Navy. Could the Irish go down as they travel to LA to face USC? 6. Georgia. There’s a game against Georgia Tech and the SEC title bout to play for the Bulldogs; win both, and they have a first-round bye in the playoff. The Bulldogs get their game on Friday and are favored by 19.5.7. Miami. Still the favorite for the ACC Championship by the committee’s view, the Hurricanes play some of the nation’s best offense, but some concerning defense at times. Syracuse can score and they’re playing at home. The Hurricanes better be ready. 8. SMU. A nice jump for the Mustangs this week, who stayed undefeated in ACC play and have clinched a place in Charlotte with playoff selection so close they can taste it. Their Saturday opponent is California; good luck figuring them out. 9. Indiana. An ugly first loss of the season at Ohio State could have the Hoosiers’ playoff hopes in peril, but other prominent losses could help this team stay in the bracket. They get to go thru the motions this week laying 30 against Purdue. 10. Tennessee. Likely still in the College Football Playoff field this week despite having two losses, the Vols close out against an improved Vanderbilt team. Vanderbilt might be a huge headache for Tennessee. 11. Boise State. Ashton Jeanty had another day as the Broncos got past Wyoming and now just play Oregon State, but have already clinched a Mountain West title game spot and are the consensus Group of Five favorite in the committee room. Watch Boise jack up Jeanty’s stats in his Heisman race.  12. Clemson. Still in the ACC title picture, but the Tigers need to not just beat South Carolina but also for Miami to lose against Syracuse in the finale. As stated above, Miami could lose at Syracuse and South Carolina could upset Clemson to really upset the Committee. 

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