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Big Al's Daily Angle: NHL, NBA, NCAAB, and NCAAF Previews and Odds - 11/08/2024

by Big Al Staff

Friday, Nov 08, 2024

The Friday sports card features NCAAF, NBA, NHL, and NCAAB action. Week 10 in NCAAF college football continues with four games between FBS opponents. California travels to Wake Forest at 8:00 p.m. ET. The Golden Bears ended a four-game losing streak with their 44-7 victory against Oregon State as a 13-point favorite two Saturdays ago on October 26th. California is a 7.5-point road favorite with the total set at 55 (all odds from DraftKings).Two NCAAF games kick off at 9:00 p.m. ET. Memphis hosts Rice on ESPN2. The Tigers had won four games in a row before their 44-36 upset loss at UTSA as a 7-point favorite last Saturday. The Owls ended their two-game losing streak with a 24-10 upset victory against Navy as a 13-point underdog. Memphis is an 8-point favorite with an over/under of 50.5. Iowa plays at UCLA on Fox at 9:00 p.m. ET. The Hawkeyes won for the third time in their last four games with their 42-10 victory against Wisconsin as a 2.5-point favorite last Saturday. The Bruins won for the second straight time on Saturday with a 27-20 upset victory as a 7.5-point underdog on Saturday. Iowa is a 6.5-point road favorite with a total of 44.5. San Diego State plays at home against New Mexico on FS1 at 10:30 p.m. ET. The Aztecs are on a two-game losing streak after their 56-24 loss at Boise State as a 24-point underdog last Friday. The Lobos are on a two-game losing streak after their 49-45 upset loss against Wyoming as a 9-point favorite on Saturday. San Diego State is a 2.5-point favorite with an over/under of 65.5. The National Basketball Association has 13 games on its docket. Three NBA games tip off at 7:10 p.m. ET. The Orlando Magic are home against the New Orleans Pelicans as a 4.5-point favorite with a total of 213.5. The Indiana Pacers are in Charlotte to play the Hornets as a 7-point road favorite with an over/under of 234. The Detroit Pistons host the Atlanta Hawks as a 1-point favorite with a total of 228. Four NBA games start at 7:40 p.m. ET. The Cleveland Cavaliers play at home against the Golden State Warriors as a 4.5-point favorite with an over/under of 231.5. The New York Knicks are home against the Milwaukee Bucks as a 7.5-point favorite with a total of 226.5. The Boston Celtics host the Brooklyn Nets as a 13.5-point favorite with an over/under of 225.5. The Dallas Mavericks play at home against the Phoenix Suns on ESPN as a 3-point favorite with a total of 230.5. Two NBA games begin at 8:10 p.m. ET. The Oklahoma City Thunder are home against the Houston Rockets as an 8.5-point favorite with an over/under of 218.5. The Memphis Grizzlies host the Washington Wizards as a 5-point favorite with a total of 227.5. Two NBA games start at 9:10 p.m. ET. The Denver Nuggets play at home against the Miami Heat as a 4-point favorite with an over/under of 218.5. The Minnesota Timberwolves are home against the Portland Trail Blazers as a 12-point favorite with a total of 221.5. Two games conclude the NBA card at 10:10 p.m. ET. The Sacramento Kings host the Los Angeles Clippers as a 6-point favorite with an over/under of 224.5. The Los Angeles Lakers play at home against the Philadelphia 76ers on ESPN as an 8-point favorite with a total of 221.5. The National Hockey League has four games on its slate. The Toronto Maple Leafs are home against the Detroit Red Wings at 7:07 p.m. ET as a -185 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Washington Capitals host the Pittsburgh Penguins at 7:37 p.m. ET as a -166 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. Two more games conclude the NHL card at 10:07 p.m. ET. The Minnesota Wild visit Anaheim to play the Ducks as a -180 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6. The Vegas Golden Knights play in Seattle against the Kraken as a -142 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.The college basketball schedule has four games on major national television. Virginia Commonwealth faces Boston College on the CBS Network at 6:00 p.m. ET in the Veterans Classic at Alumni Hall in Annapolis, Maryland. The Rams are a 10.5-point favorite with an over/under of 142.5. Kansas plays at home against North Carolina on ESPN2 as a 7.5-point favorite with a total of 158.5. Navy is home against Harvard in the Veterans Classic at 8:30 p.m. ET on the CBS Sports Network. The Midshipmen are a 1.5-point favorite with an over/under of 150.5. UCLA battles New Mexico on the CBS Sports Network at 11:00 p.m. ET at Lee’s Family Forum in Henderson, Nevada. The Bruins are a 5.5-point favorite with a total of 150.5.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NFL, NCAAF, NBA, NHL and NCAAB Previews and Odds - 11/07/2024

by Big Al Staff

Thursday, Nov 07, 2024

The Thursday sports card features NFL, NCAAF, NBA, NHL, and NCAAB action. Week 10 in the National Football League kicks off with one game. The Baltimore Ravens host the Cincinnati Bengals on Amazon Prime at 8:15 p.m. ET. The Ravens won for the sixth time in their last seven games with their 41-10 victory against Denver as a 9-point favorite last Sunday. The Bengals won for the third time in their last four games with their 41-24 victory against Las Vegas as an 8-point favorite on Sunday. Baltimore is a 6-point favorite with the total set at 53 (all odds from DraftKings).Week 11 in NCAAF college football continues with two games between FBS opponents at 8:00 p.m. ET. East Carolina plays at home against Florida Atlantic on ESPN2. The Pirates ended a two-game losing streak with their 56-34 win against Temple as a 9.5-point favorite on October 26th. The Owls lost for the third straight time in a 44-21 loss to South Florida as a 1.5-point underdog last Friday. East Carolina is a 7.5-point favorite with an over/under of 58. Appalachian State travels to Coastal Carolina on ESPN. The Mountaineers are on a two-game winning streak after their 28-20 upset victory against Old Dominion as a 3-point underdog last Saturday. The Chanticleers lost for the third straight time with their 38-24 upset loss at Troy as a 4-point favorite on Saturday. Appalachian State is a 1-point road favorite with a total of 62.5.The National Basketball Association has three games on its docket that all tip off at 8:10 p.m. ET. The San Antonio Spurs are home against the Portland Trail Blazers as a 4.5-point favorite with an over/under of 217.5. The Minnesota Timberwolves play in Chicago against the Bulls as an 8-point road favorite with a total of 226.5. The Milwaukee Bucks host the Utah Jazz as a 9-point favorite with an over/under of 229.5. The National Hockey League has 12 games on its slate. Six NHL games drop the puck at 7:07 p.m. ET. The Carolina Hurricanes play at home against the Pittsburgh Penguins as a -265 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The New Jersey Devils are home against the Montreal Canadiens as a -298 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The New York Rangers host the Buffalo Sabres as a -205 money-line favorite with a total of 6. The Florida Panthers play at home against the Nashville Predators as a -185 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6. The Boston Bruins are home against the Calgary Flames as a -185 money-line favorite with a total of 6. The Tampa Bay Lightning host the Philadelphia Flyers at 7:37 p.m. ET as a -205 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6. Three more NHL games start at 8:07 p.m. ET. The Winnipeg Jets play at home against the Colorado Avalanche as a -142 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Dallas Stars are home against the Chicago Blackhawks as a -375 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6. The St. Louis Blues host the Utah Hockey Club as a -115 money-line favorite with a total of 6. Two games conclude the NHL card at 10:40 p.m. ET. The Minnesota Wild are in San Jose to play the Sharks as a -265 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6. The Vancouver Canucks visit Los Angeles to play the Kings as a -115 money-line road favorite with a total of 5.5. The college basketball schedule has one game on national television. DePaul plays at home against Prairie View A&M on FS1 at 8:00 p.m. ET as a 14.5-point favorite with an over/under of 149.5. 

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College Football Top 12 Poll - Week 10

by Wayne Root

Wednesday, Nov 06, 2024

In the 12-team expanded playoff, the top four seeds represent the highest-rated conference champions from the Power 4 and Group of Five ranks and receive first-round byes. This is the roadmap for the committee to follow: The committee tries to dig past strictly win-loss records and looks at the strength of opponents' records, location of game and opponent winning percentage as well. Those detailed factors matter and the committee used SportSource Analytics — which provides detailed data evaluations on offense, defense and special teams to dive further — for more than a decade now.There are five auto-bids given to conference winners from within that group. The remaining seven slots will be at-large selections. Expect the Big Ten and SEC to dominate that conversation.The first committee rankings were on November 5th. The No. 1 team is locked in, but the selection committee faces tough decisions beyond that for the inaugural top 25 reveal in the expanded 12-team playoff era.1. Oregon (9-0)The Ducks are the top team in the playoff projections with their undefeated record and noteworthy win over Ohio State. Oregon is currently the projected Big Ten champion. The unanimous No. 1 for the first time in Sunday's Week 11 AP Poll, the Ducks top the first playoff rankings, too. They hold one of the best wins after clipping Ohio State at Autzen Stadium and they seem to be strengthening as the season progresses. With only three games left in the regular season, all against inferior competition, Dan Lanning's squad appears to be on the path to an undefeated season heading into Big Ten Championship.2. Georgia (7-1)Strength of schedule matters. And depending on your preferred metric, the Bulldogs have the toughest in the country. Georgia is the projected SEC champion and will be the No. 2 seed. As of now, they won’t pass Oregon due to a loss to Alabama earlier this season. They won at top-ranked Texas, lost to then-No. 4 Alabama on the road in a thriller and stomped Clemson in the opener. Over the next two weeks, Georgia plays top 15s Tennessee and Ole Miss, so there is room to move up in the rankings even if the Bulldogs begin at No. 3. 3. Ohio State (7-1)If the selection committee goes for drama with their first rankings, Ohio State at No. 4 could certainly garner considerable outrage, but we think Ryan Day's squad will be at No. 3. Ohio State did not panic after it fell behind 10-0 early on the road against Penn State Saturday in a top-five showdown. The Buckeyes eventually prevailed for a 20-13 win to put them back in position for a spot in the Big Ten Championship Game. With the Buckeyes coming off their win at Penn State, that was supposed to be a momentum booster in front of the selection committee. Perhaps it will be. In all, Ohio State has five wins over teams with winning records including a 56-0 drubbing of Western Michigan, which is unbeaten in the MAC. Losing by a point on the road at Oregon is this season's best loss among playoff frontrunners.4. Miami-Florida (9-0)Miami has Heisman candidate Cam Ward running the show at QB so they’ll likely go as far as he’ll take them. The ‘Canes are the big favorite in the ACC with a few weeks left in the season. Offensive firepower through Cam Ward drives Miami's unbeaten record through 10 weeks of the season. The Hurricanes beat up on an ACC schedule with one win over a projected CFP top-25 team (at Louisville). By the time they get to Charlotte without a loss (projected), the Hurricanes should have at least five wins over teams with winning records. The non-conference destructions of Florida and USF were impressive, too.5. Texas (7-1)The Longhorns beat five teams with winning records, including Vanderbilt, Michigan and Colorado State. Texas reached No. 1 in the AP Poll at one point this season before falling at home to Georgia. If you're going to take a loss prior to November, that one's much easier to swallow than an upset scenario. Texas benefitted from a bye and hosts Florida next Saturday in Austin where it hopes to have top wide receiver Isaiah Bond and safety Andrew Mukuba back from injury. The showdown at Texas A&M a few weeks from now could determine placement in the SEC Championship for both teams and has major playoff implications.6. Indiana (9-0)Despite their school record-setting unbeaten start through nine games, the Hoosiers' lack of schedule strength could harm Indiana's initial ranking from the selection committee. That's win No. 6 for the Hoosiers, making them the first team this season to reach bowl-eligibility. The Hoosiers have put up 500 yards of offense in their last three games and possess the nation's third-best scoring offense. That changes if Indiana beats Ohio State. But for now, do not expect the Hoosiers to be as highly-ranked in the committee's first poll as they are in the AP Poll. Indiana has not played a top 25 team.7. BYU (8-0)The unbeaten Cougars handed SMU its only loss on the road in September and torched Kansas State by 31 points a few weeks later. Those are the results that stand out thus far during BYU's magical season. The Cougars are the front runner in the Big 12 and some teams lost a step last weekend. So at this rate, it’s a TBD who will play BYU for the conference title and likely the final bye in the playoffs. If the Cougars can avoid being upset this month, they have a shot at a top-four seed. Several SEC and Big Ten teams hope BYU wins out and enters the playoff unbeaten as the Big 12 champion since that will keep the conference to one playoff bid.8. Notre Dame (7-1)Ranked wins over Texas A&M, Louisville and Navy have Notre Dame well inside the top 10, and rightfully so. Notre Dame has a win over Texas A&M, but that loss to Northern Illinois at home is glaring. That'll keep the Fighting Irish out of the playoffs for now. The Fighting Irish played nearly flawless since the disappointing performance against NIU and get another chance at a banner victory this month against unbeaten Army. If Notre Dame finishes 11-1, Marcus Freeman's squad could be on the verge of the No. 5 or 6-seed in the playoff given its body of work.9. Penn St (7-1)The Nittany Lions beat two teams with winning records (Illinois, Wisconsin), and the road victory at USC is grows weaker with every passing Saturday. The Nittany Lions squandered an early 10-0 lead as their losing streak to the Buckeyes extends to eight games. Franklin is now 1-13 against top-five teams in 11 years as head coach at Penn State. Penn State whiffed on its opportunity at a season-changing win against Ohio State, but should beat two bowl teams in Minnesota and Washington to 11-1 finish. Don't be surprised if Penn State is behind unbeaten Indiana in these initial rankings.10. Tennessee (7-1)Early-season wins over NC State and Oklahoma away from Neyland Stadium looked great at the time, but the Wolfpack and Sooners floundered. Still, those two opponents have winning records, as does Alabama. The victory over the Crimson Tide is the feather in Tennessee's cap at this point. Tennessee overcame a halftime deficit to defeat Kentucky 28-18 Saturday in Neyland Stadium as its defense once again stepped up big. The Volunteers have yet to allow more than 20 points in a game. The Vols would be inside the top five and unbeaten right now had they taken care of business at Arkansas. Swing games await at Georgia and Vanderbilt.11. SMU (8-1)SMU is tied atop the ACC standings after it knocked off previous undefeated Pittsburgh 48-25. The Mustangs have won six-consecutive games. Wins over Louisville and Pittsburgh should have the Mustangs bordering on top-10 placement Tuesday night. Winners of six straight, SMU likely faces Miami in the ACC Championship if this keeps up. The only loss came to unbeaten BYU by three points. 12. Boise State (7-1)Ashton Jeanty continues his Heisman Trophy campaign following another 100-yard rushing performance in a 56-24 win against San Diego State Friday night. Jeanty totaled 149 yards and two touchdowns on the ground The Broncos lost to the only ranked opponent they played this season at Oregon. However, the Ducks are still unbeaten and ranked No. 1, so if there's a quality setback, that's one you want to have if you're Boise State. The win at UNLV holds water.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NCAAF, NBA, NHL, NCAAB and UEFA Champions League Previews and Odds - 11/06/2024

by Big Al Staff

Wednesday, Nov 06, 2024

The Wednesday sports card features NCAAF, NBA, NHL, NCAAB, and UEFA Champions League action.Week 11 in NCAAF college football continues with two games between FBS opponents at 7:00 p.m. ET. Northern Illinois travels to Western Michigan on ESPN2. The Huskies are on a two-game losing streak after their 25-23 upset loss as a 13-point favorite on October 26th. The Golden Flashes won for the fourth straight time with their 52-21 victory against Kent State as an 18.5-point favorite two Saturdays ago. Northern Illinois is a 2-point road favorite with the total set at 52 (all odds from DraftKings). Ohio plays at Kent State on ESPNU. The Bobcats won for the third time in their last four games with their 47-16 victory against Buffalo as a 3.5-point favorite on October 26th. The Golden Flashes have lost their first eight games of the season after their 52-21 loss at Western Michigan as an 18.5-point underdog two Saturdays ago. Ohio is a 19.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 60.5. The National Basketball Association has 12 games on its docket. Two NBA games tip off at 7:10 p.m. ET. The Charlotte Hornets host the Detroit Pistons as a 2-point favorite with a total of 222. The Indiana Pacers play at home against the Orlando Magic as a 7-point favorite with an over/under of 225.5. Two more NBA games start at 7:40 p.m. ET. The Boston Celtics are home against the Golden State Warriors on ESPN as a 7.5-point favorite with a total of 228.5. The New York Knicks are in Atlanta to play the Hawks as a 7-point road favorite with an over/under of 225. Three NBA games start at 8:10 p.m. ET. The Houston Rockets host the San Antonio Spurs as a 6.5-point favorite with a total of 212. The Memphis Grizzlies play at home against the Los Angeles Lakers as a 1-point favorite with an over/under of 229. The Cleveland Cavaliers visit New Orleans to play the Pelicans as a 7.5-point road favorite with a total of 224. The Dallas Mavericks are home against the Chicago Bulls at 8:40 p.m. ET as a 10.5-point favorite with an over/under of 233.5. Two NBA games begin at 9:10 p.m. ET. The Oklahoma City Thunder plays at Denver against the Nuggets as a 6-point road favorite with a total of 225.5. The Phoenix Suns host the Miami Heat as a 5.5-point favorite with an over/under of 223.5. Two more games conclude the NBA card at 10:10 p.m. ET. The Los Angeles Clippers plays at home against the Philadelphia 76ers on ESPN as a 1.5-point favorite with a total of 220.5. The Sacramento Kings are home against Toronto as a 10.5-point favorite with an over/under of 238. The National Hockey League has three games on its slate. The Washington Capitals host the Nashville Predators at 7:07 p.m. ET as a -122 money-line favorite with a total of 6. The Detroit Red Wings is at Chicago against the Blackhawks on TNT at 8:07 p.m. ET as a -125 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Edmonton Oilers play at home against the Vegas Golden Knights at 8:37 p.m. ET with a total of 6.5. The college basketball schedule has four games on national television. Three NCAAB games start at 7:00 p.m. ET.  Georgetown is home against Lehigh on FS2 as a 14-point favorite with an over/under of 150.5 Connecticut hosts Sacred Heart on FS1 as a 34.5-point favorite with a total of 149. Villanova plays at home against Columbia on the CBS Sports Network as a 17-point favorite with an over/under of 144. Creighton is home against UT Rio Grande Valley on FS2 as a 30.5-point favorite with a total of 155.Matchday 4 in the UEFA Champions League concludes with nine matches. Two matches start at 12:45 p.m. ET. Aston Villa travels to Club Brugge as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Shakhtar Donetsk hosts the Young Boys as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5. Seven matches conclude the UCL card at 3:00 p.m. ET. Bayern Munich plays at home against Benfica on the CBS Sports Network as a -1.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 3.5. Paris Saint-Germain is home against Athletico Madrid as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5. Inter Milan hosts Arsenal as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Feyenoord plays at home against Salzburg as a -1.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 3.5. Barcelona plays at Red Star Brigade as a -2.5 goal-line road favorite with an over/under of 3.5. Sparta Prague is home against Brest as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 3.5. Stuttgart hosts Atalanta as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 3.5. All nine Champions League matches are available on Paramount+.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NCAAF, NHL, NCAAB and UEFA Champions League Previews and Odds - 11/05/2024

by Big Al Staff

Tuesday, Nov 05, 2024

The Tuesday sports card features NCAAF, NHL, NCAAB, and UEFA Champions League action.Week 11 in NCAAF college football starts with two games between FBS opponents. Bowling Green travels to Central Michigan on ESPN2 at 7:30 p.m. ET. The Falcons won for the third time in their last four games after their 41-26 upset win at Toledo as a 1.5-point underdog on October 26th. The Chippewas are on a three-game losing streak after their 46-7 loss at Miami (OH) as a 10.5-point underdog on October 26th. Bowling Green is a 14-point road favorite with the total set at 48 (all odds from DraftKings). Miami (OH) plays at Ball State on ESPN at 8:00 p.m. ET. The Redhawks are on a three-game winning streak after their win against the Chippewas two Saturdays ago. The Cardinals won for the second time in their last three games with their 25-23 upset win against Northern Illinois as a 13-point underdog on October 26th. Miami (OH) is a 12-point road favorite with an over/under of 48. The National Hockey League has 11 games on its slate. Four NHL games drop the puck at 7:07 p.m. ET. The Toronto Maple Leafs host the Boston Bruins as a -155 money-line favorite with a total of 6. The Calgary Flames are in Montreal to play the Canadiens as a -125 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Carolina Hurricanes play at home against the Philadelphia Flyers as a -290 money-line favorite with a total of 6. The Buffalo Sabres are at home against the Ottawa Senators as a -112 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The New  York Islanders host the Pittsburgh Penguins at 7:37 p.m. ET as a -135 money-line favorite with a total of 6. Three NHL games start at 8:07 p.m. ET. The Winnipeg Jets play at home against the Utah Hockey Club as a -205 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6. The Tampa Bay Lightning visit St. Louis to play the Blues as a -166 money-line road favorite with a total of 6. The Minnesota Wild are home against the Los Angeles Kings as a -162 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6. The Colorado Avalanche host the Seattle Kraken at 9:07 p.m. ET as a -185 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Vancouver Canucks play in Anaheim against the Ducks at 10:07 p.m. ET as a -205 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The college basketball schedule has eight games between Division I opponents. None of these games are on major national television.Matchday 4 in the UEFA Champions League begins with nine matches. Two matches start at 12:45 p.m. ET. PSV Eindhoven plays at home against Girona as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5. Dynamo Zagreb is at Slovan Bratislava 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. Real Madrid is home against AC Milan as a -1.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 3.5. Liverpool hosts Bayer Leverkusen as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 3.5. Borussia Dortmund plays at home against Strum Graz as a -2.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 3.5. Manchester City travels to Sporting CP as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Juventus plays at Lille on the CBS Sports Network as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with a total of 2.5. RB Leipzig is at Celtic as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Monaco visits Bologna as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with a total of 2.5. All nine Champions League matches are available on Paramount+.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NFL, NBA, NHL, NCAAB and EPL Previews and Odds - 11/04/2024

by Big Al Staff

Monday, Nov 04, 2024

The Monday sports card features NFL, NBA, NHL, NCAAB, and EPL action. Week 9 in the NFL concludes with one game. The Kansas City Chiefs host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on ESPN at 8:15 p.m. ET. The Chiefs moved to 7-0 this season with their 27-20 victory against Las Vegas as an 8.5-point favorite last Sunday. The Buccaneers lost for the third time in their last four games after their 31-26 loss at home against Atlanta as a 1.5-point underdog on Sunday. Kansas City is a 9-point favorite with the total set at 45.5 (all odds from DraftKings). The National Basketball Association has 15 games on its docket. The Cleveland Cavaliers play at home against the Milwaukee Bucks at 7:00 p.m. ET as a 7-point favorite with an over/under of 230. The Golden State Warriors travel to Washington to play the Wizards at 7:15 p.m. ET as a 10-point road favorite with a total of 231.5. The Los Angeles Lakers play in Detroit against the Pistons at 7:30 p.m. ET a a 6.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 225.5. The Boston Celtics are in Atlanta to play the Hawks at 7:45 p.m. ET as a 10-point road favorite with a total of 234.5. The Memphis Grizzlies visit Brooklyn to play the Nets at 8:00 p.m. ET as a 5.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 225.5. The Miami Heat are home against the Sacramento Kings at 8:15 p.m. ET as a 2-point favorite with a total of 226.5. The Chicago Bulls host the Utah Jazz at 8:30 p.m. ET as a 7.5-point favorite with an over/under of 228. The New York Knicks play in Houston against the Rockets at 8:45 p.m. ET as a 3-point road favorite with a total of 219. The Minnesota Timberwolves play at home against the Charlotte Hornets at 9:00 p.m. ET as a 9.5-point favorite with an over/under of 226.5. The Oklahoma City Thunder are home against the Orlando Magic at 9:15 p.m. ET as a 12-point favorite with a total of 215.5. The New Orleans Pelicans host the Portland Trail Blazers at 9:30 p.m. ET as a 2.5-point favorite with an over/under of 223.5. The Dallas Mavericks play at home against the Indiana Pacers at 9:45 p.m. ET as a 5-point favorite with a total of 235.5. The Denver Nuggets are home against the Toronto Raptors at 10:00 p.m. ET as a 9-point favorite with an over/under of 235.5. The Phoenix Suns host the Philadelphia 76ers at 10:15 p.m. ET as a 7.5-point favorite with a total of 227. The Los Angeles Clippers play at home against the Sacramento Kings at 10:30 p.m. ET as a 4-point favorite with an over/under of 218.5. The National Hockey League has two games on its slate. The Nashville Predators are home against the Los Angeles Kings at 8:07 p.m. ET as a -142 money-line favorite with a total of 6. The New Jersey Devils are in Edmonton to play the Oilers at 8:37 p.m. ET as a -115 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The NCAAB college basketball season tips off with four games on national television on its schedule. Two NCAAB games on major national television tip-off at 8:00 p.m. ET. Western Kentucky hosts Wichita State on the CBS Sports Network as a 2-point favorite with a total of 152.5. Alabama plays at home against UNC-Asheville on ESPNU as a 25.5-point favorite with an over/under of 162. Texas faces Ohio State on TNT and truTV at 10:00 pm ET on a neutral court at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, as a 3-point favorite with a total of 146. Gonzaga is home against Baylor on ESPN2 at 11:30 p.m. ET as a 5.5-point favorite with an over/under of 157. Matchweek 10 in the English Premier League concludes with one match on the USA Network. Fulham hosts Brentford at 3:00 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, NBA, NHL, and EPL Previews and Odds - 11/03/2024

by Big Al Staff

Sunday, Nov 03, 2024

The Sunday sports card features NFL, NBA, NHL, and EPL action. Week 9 in the NFL continues with 12 games. Eight NFL games kick off at 1:00 p.m. ET. The Tennessee Titans host the New England Patriots as a 3-point favorite with the total set at 38.5 (all odds from DraftKings). The Los Angeles Chargers travel to Cleveland to play the Browns as a 1-point road favorite with an over/under of 42.5. The Washington Commanders play in New York against the Giants as a 4-point road favorite with a total of 44. The Cincinnati Bengals host the Las Vegas Raiders as a 7-point favorite with an over/under of 45. The New Orleans Saints are in Carolina to play the Panthers as a 7.5-point road favorite with a total of 43.5. The Atlanta Falcons play at home against the Dallas Cowboys as a 3.5-point favorite with an over/under of 52. The Buffalo Bills are home against the Miami Dolphins as a 1-point favorite with a total of 49.5.Four NFL games start during the second window of afternoon games. Two NFL games start at 4:05 p.m. ET. The Philadelphia Eagles host the Jacksonville Jaguars as a 7.5-point favorite as a 7.5-point favorite with an over/under of 46. The Arizona Cardinals play at home against the Chicago Bears as a 2-point favorite with a total of 44.5. Two more NFL games begin at 4:25 p.m. ET. The Detroit Lions visit Green Bay to play the Packers at 4:25 p.m. ET as a 2.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 47.5. The Los Angeles Rams play in Seattle against the Seahawks as a 1.5-point road favorite with a total of 48.The Minnesota Vikings are home to play against the Indianapolis Colts on NBC at 8:20 p.m. ET for Sunday Night Football. The Vikings are a 5-point favorite with an over/under of 46.5.The National Basketball Association has three games on its docket. The Brooklyn Nets host the Detroit Pistons at 3:40 p.m. ET as a 3.5-point favorite with a total of 219.5. The New Orleans Pelicans play at home against the Atlanta Hawks at 7:10 p.m. ET as a 4-point favorite with an over/under of 228.5. The Dallas Mavericks are home against the Orlando Magic at 7:40 p.m. ET as a 7-point favorite with a total of 220.5. The National Hockey League has seven games on its slate. The New York Rangers host the New York Islanders at 1:07 p.m. ET as a -198 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6. The Winnipeg Jets play at home against the Tampa Bay Lightning at 3:07 p.m. ET as a -135 money-line favorite with a total of 6. Two NHL games drop the puck at 5:07 p.m. ET. The Boston Bruins are home against the Seattle Kraken as a -175 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6. The Carolina Hurricanes host the Washington Capitals as a -218 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Minnesota Wild play at home against the Toronto Maple Leafs at 6:07 p.m. ET as a -120 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. Two more games conclude the NHL card at 8:07 p.m. ET. The Edmonton Oilers are in Calgary to play the Flames as a -155 money-line road favorite with a total of 6. The Anaheim Ducks are home against the Chicago Blackhawks as a -142 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6. Matchweek 10 in the English Premier League continues with two matches on the USA Network. Tottenham hosts Aston Villa at 9:00 a.m. ET as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 3.5. Chelsea travels to Manchester United at 11:30 a.m. ET as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with an over/under of 3.5.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, CFL, EPL and NCAAF Previews and Odds - 11/02/2024

by Big Al Staff

Saturday, Nov 02, 2024

The Saturday sports card features NCAAF, NBA, NHL, CFL, and EPL action.Week 10 in NCAAF college football continues with 39 games between FBS opponents. Fourteen of these NCAAF games kick off in the opening window between noon ET and 2:00 p.m. ET, with four games starting on major national television at noon ET. Army hosts the Air Force on CBS as a 22-point favorite with the total set at 41. Mississippi travels to Arkansas on ESPN as a 7.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 54. Miami (FL) plays at home against Duke on ABC as a 21-point favorite with a total of 55. Ohio State plays at Penn State on Fox as a 3-point road favorite with an over/under of 47.5.Fourteen NCAAF games between FBS opponents start in the 3:30 p.m. ET to 4:15 p.m. ET window. Four college football games on major national television at 3:30 p.m. Iowa State is at home against Texas Tech on ESPN as a 13.5-point favorite with a total of 56.5. Kansas State plays at Houston on Fox as a 13-point road favorite with an over/under of 46. Georgia challenges Florida on ABC at 3:30 p.m. ET at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville, Florida as a 14.5-point favorite with an over/under of 52. Oregon is at Michigan at CBS as a 14.5-point road favorite with a total of 45. Eleven NCAAF games between FBS opponents begin at 7:00 p.m. ET or later to complete the Saturday football card. Three college football games are on major national television at 7:30 p.m. ET. Clemson hosts Louisville on ESPN as a 10.5-point favorite with an over/under of 62. Iowa plays at home against Wisconsin on NBC as a 3-point favorite with a total of 41.5. Texas A&M is at South Carolina on ABC as a 3-point road favorite with an over/under of 44. The National Basketball Association has four games on its docket. The Boston Celtics visit Charlotte to play the Hornets at 6:10 p.m. ET as an 11-point road favorite with a total of 230.5. Two more NBA games tip off at 7:40 p.m. ET. The Memphis Grizzlies play in Philadelphia against the 76ers as a 2-point road favorite with an over/under of 222. The Sacramento Kings are in Toronto against the Raptors a 6.5-point road favorite with a total of 230. The Houston Rockets are at home against the Golden State Warriors at 8:10 p.m. ET as a 5.5-point favorite with an over/under of 215.5. The National Hockey League has 11 games on its slate. The Dallas Stars travel to Florida to play the Panthers at 12:07 p.m. ET with both teams priced as a -110 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Boston Bruins play at Philadelphia against the Flyers at 1:07 p.m. ET as a -142 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6. The Los Angeles Kings host the Chicago Blackhawks at 4:07 p.m. ET as a -205 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Washington Capitals play at home against the Columbus Blue Jackets at 5:07 p.m. ET as a -230 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5.Four NHL games drop the puck at 7:07 p.m. ET. The Toronto Maple Leafs are in St. Louis to play the Blues as a -198 money-line road favorite with a total of 6. The Ottawa Senators are home against the Seattle Kraken as a -130 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Detroit Red Wings host the Buffalo Sabres as a -120 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Pittsburgh Penguins play at home against the Montreal Canadiens as a -185 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Nashville Predators are at home against the Colorado Avalanche at 8:07 p.m. ET as a -125 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. Two more games conclude the NHL card at 10:07 p.m. ET. The Vancouver Canucks  visit the San Jose Sharks as a -270 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6. The Vegas Golden Knights host the Utah Hockey Club as a -192 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5.The Canadien Football League playoffs begin with two games in the divisional semifinals. The Toronto Argonauts play at home against the Ottawa Senators at 3:00 p.m. ET as a 6.5-point favorite with an over/under of 50.5. The Saskatchewan Roughriders play at home against the British Columbia Lions at 6:30 p.m. ET as a 3.5-point favorite with a total of 50. Matchweek 10 in the English Premier League continues with seven matches. Arsenal plays at Newcastle United on the USA Network at 8:30 a.m. ET as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Five more matches begin at 11:00 a.m. ET. Manchester City is at Bournemouth as a -1.5 goal-line road favorite with a total of 3.5. Ipswich Town is at home against Leicester City as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Liverpool is at home against Brighton and Hove Albion as a -1.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 3.5. Nottingham Forest hosts West Ham United as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Everton visits Southampton as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with a total of 2.5. Wolverhampton hosts Crystal Palace at 1:30 p.m. ET on NBC-TV as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under 2.5. 

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Vegas Writer's NHL Morning Skate

by Vegas Writer

Saturday, Nov 02, 2024

Saturday's edition of the "Morning Skate" recaps Friday's short slate that featured six games, four of them continuing the high-scoring efforts we saw the first month of the season.Let's take a look at the main highlights from Friday: Nikolaj Ehlers (3 goals, 1 assist) notched his fifth career hat trick in Winnipeg's 6-2 win in Columbus, as the Jets (10-1-0) continued their strong play to begin the season. They became the first team to get to 10 wins.Aleksander Barkov (1 goal, 3 assists) led the defending Stanley Cup champion Panthers (8-3-1) to a 6-4 victory over the Dallas Stars in Finland. It was the NHL's highest-scoring regular-season game played outside North America.Kirill Kaprizov (2 goals, 1 assist) extended his multi-point streak to seven games with his 35th career three-point outing while taking the lead of the NHL’s scoring race with 7 goals and 14 assists for 21 points in 10 games played. Minnesota improved to 7-1-2 (16 points) and tied for its second-most points through 10 games of a campaign. Through the first 24 nights:Favorites are 106-64, including a 81-45 run.Overs are 86-70-14, including a 31-17-4 run.Tonight's FEATURED GAME (lines courtesy DraftKings):Toronto (-1' +140) at ST. LOUISPREDICTION: The Toronto Maple Leafs (6-4-1, 13 points) are part of Saturday's Hockey Night in Canada schedule as one of the 22 teams in action on an 11-game slate.John Tavares (5 goals, 6 assists) comes into the day with an active six-game point streak since Oct. 21 (3-= goals, 6 assists), a stretch that has seen the 34-year-old turn in his fourth career hat trick in a Maple Leafs uniform.Now he faces a Blues team he's seen 24 times in his career, during which he's scored eight goals and assisted on five others.The road team has won eight of the last nine meetings, and behind surging Tavares, look for the Leafs to grab this road win with a puck-line cover.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL and NCAAF Previews and Odds - 11/01/2024

by Big Al Staff

Friday, Nov 01, 2024

The Friday sports card features NCAAF, NBA, and NHL action. Week 10 in NCAAF college football continues with three games between FBS opponents. Connecticut hosts Georgia State on the CBS Sports Network at 7:00 p.m. ET. The Huskies won for the fourth time in their last five games with their 17-10 victory against Rice as a 6.5-point favorite last Saturday. The Panthers are on a four-game losing streak after their 33-26 loss at Appalachian State as a 7.5-point underdog on Saturday. Connecticut is an 8.5-point favorite with the total set at 48 (all odds from DraftKings).South Florida travels to Florida Atlantic on ESPN2 at 7:30 p.m. ET. The Bulls ended a three-game losing streak on October 19th with their 35-25 victory against UAB as a 14-point favorite. The Owls lost for the third time in their last four games with a 38-24 loss at UTSA two Saturdays ago. South Florida is a 2.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 47.Boise State plays at home against San Diego State on FS1 at 8:00 p.m. ET. The Broncos are on a five-game winning streak after a 29-24 victory as a 4-point favorite last Friday. The Aztecs had won two games in a row before their 29-26 loss to Washington State as a 17-point underdog on Saturday. Boise State is a 23.5-point favorite with a total of 57.The National Basketball Association has nine games on its docket. Three NBA games tip off at 7:10 p.m. ET. The Cleveland Cavaliers are home against the Orlando Magic on ESPN as an 8-point favorite with an over/under of 216.5. The New York Knicks play in Detroit against the Pistons as a 6.5-point road favorite with a total of 217.5. The Boston Celtics are in Charlotte to face the Hornets as an 11-point road favorite with an over/under of 231. Three NBA games start at 7:40 p.m. ET. The Sacramento Kings visit Atlanta to play the Hawks as a 7.5-point road favorite with a total of 239. The Los Angeles Lakers play in Toronto against the Raptors as an 8-point road favorite with an over/under of 226.5. The Brooklyn Nets host the Chicago Bulls as a 2-point favorite with a total of 225.5. The Indiana Pacers are in New Orleans to play the Pelicans at 8:10 p.m. ET as a 4-point road favorite with an over/under of 234. The Minnesota Timberwolves play at home against the Denver Nuggets on ESPN at 9:40 p.m. ET as a 4-point favorite with a total of 219.5. The Oklahoma City Thunder travel to Portland to play the Trail Blazers at 10:10 p.m. ET as an 11.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 220.The National Hockey League has six games on its slate. The Dallas Stars are home against the Florida Panthers at 2:07 p.m. ET as a -112 money-line favorite with a total of 6. Three more NHL games begin at 7:07 p.m. ET. The New York Rangers host the Ottawa Senators as a -185 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Buffalo Sabres play at home against the New York Islanders as a -122 money-line favorite with a total of 6. The Winnipeg Jets play in Columbus against the Blue Jackets as a -185 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6. Two more games complete the NHL card at 8:07 p.m. ET. The Minnesota Wild are home against the Tampa Bay Lightning as a -112 money-line favorite with a total of 6. The New Jersey Devils are in Calgary to play the Flames as a -162 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5.

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NCAA Basketball Futures Selections: Duke to Win the 2025 Championship

by Al McMordie

Friday, Nov 01, 2024

The Connecticut Huskies' reign of dominance will likely end this season, as only Alex Karaban returns from last year's starting five.  Still, UConn is ranked #3 in the preseason Associated Press poll.  Besides the Huskies, the AP's Top 10 consists of #1 Kansas, #2 Alabama, #4 Houston, #5 Iowa State, #6 Gonzaga, #7 Duke, #8 Baylor, #9 North Carolina and #10 Arizona.The 2025 Championship odds reflect how wide open this season will be.  Here are the current odds at FanDuel for the leading contenders:Kansas:  10-1Connecticut:  10-1Duke:  10-1Alabama:  13-1Houston:  16-1Gonzaga:  20-1Baylor:  20-1North Carolina:  20-1Auburn:  25-1Iowa State:  30-1Arizona:  30-1Arkansas:  30-1Kentucky:  35-1Creighton:  40-1Tennessee:  50-1UCLA:  50-1BYU:  55-1Purdue:  55-1Indiana:  55-1Rutgers:  55-1Michigan:  55-1St. Johns:  55-1Florida:  55-1Ohio State:  55-1Texas Tech:  55-1Illinois:  55-1I'm going to go with Jon Scheyer's Duke Blue Devils as my preseason pick, at 10-1 odds, to win the 2025 National Championship.  (Last season, my pick (Purdue at 15-1 odds) fell one game short, as it lost to UConn in the title game.)It was always going to be a tough act to follow in legendary coach Mike Krzyzewski's footsteps, but Scheyer has done well, even if he has not won a national title.  His teams have gone 54-18, and reached the Elite Eight round last season, before being eliminated by DJ Burns and the NC State Wolfpack.  This season, Duke will be led by phenom Cooper Flagg, who will likely be the NBA's #1 draft pick next June.  And, beyond Flagg, Scheyer has recruited five other highly-rated freshmen, including sharpshooter Kon Knueppel (currently projected to go as high as #6 in the 2025 NBA Draft) and 7'2" center, Khaman Maluach, the #4 prospect in this year's incoming freshman class (who is projected to be drafted #8). Although there will no doubt be hoopla throughout Flagg's season, the staff at Duke will be able to handle all the distractions.  After all, the players who have called Durham home include the likes of Zion Williamson, Paolo Banchero, Brandon Ingram and Jayson Tatum.  Scheyer will be able to handle the incredible attention that will no doubt come.There are many who will shy away from betting on teams loaded with "one-and-dones" to win the championship.  But I love the talent on this Blue Devils team and believe it will be playing its best basketball toward the end of the season after the freshmen have been able to find their footing.  I also like the veteran players that Scheyer has brought in through the transfer portal, like ex-Purdue Boilermaker, Mason Gillis (6.5 ppg), and ex-Syracuse Orange, Maliq Brown (9.5 ppg, 7.2 rpg), as well as the Duke holdovers in the backcourt, Tyrese Proctor (10.5 ppg, 3.7 apg) and Caleb Foster (7.7 ppg).Take Duke to win the National Championship.Good luck, as always,Al McMordie

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2024 Breeders' Cup Preview

by Al McMordie

Friday, Nov 01, 2024

If there's one thing that's become evident when the pre-entries for the 2024 Breeders Cup -- to be held November 1 & 2 at Del Mar Race Track -- were announced, it's that this is finally the international event that many had perhaps envisioned 41 years ago when it began.  Friday and Saturday, there are a total of 80 international horses entered -- 20 more than the previous record last year.  And a record five continents -- Asia, Europe, Africa, and North and South America -- are represented by those 80 entrants.  The Europeans will be closely watched in the Turf (grass) races, but perhaps the biggest spotlight will shine on the Japanese runners this year -- 19 in all.  On the American side of things, there may not be a Cody's Wish this year (there likely will never be another fairy tale like that one) but there are plenty of other stories surrounding the best that the U.S.A. has to offer.  To that end, we present a preview of five of the Breeders Cup races:   Breeders Cup Juvenile (race 9 on Friday)The Juvenile is the year's biggest showcase for the potential Kentucky Derby horses of the following Spring as it's typically contested at 1 1/16 miles on the dirt track.  Because a lot of trainers don't like to ship their young horses too far to compete when they're two years old, the Breeders Cup Juvenile tends to feature horses that have been racing on one coast or the other.  This year is no exception, as the East Coast 2YOs feature three undefeated runners in East Avenue, Chancer McPatrick, and Jonathan's Way facing off against three local contenders courtesy of Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert.  You might think that those three -- Citizens Bull, Gaming, and Getaway Car -- would have a "home field advantage," but that may not be the case this year.  And it's interesting to note that in 2023, when this event was held at nearby Santa Anita just up the road in L.A., the California horses basically got shut out and didn't win a single race.  This year could be more of the same and in the case of the Juvenile, it appears that those three East Coast horses are just faster and have a decided advantage over the rest of the field.  In the past we've seen some big prices in the Juvenile, and for good reason as these are horses with the least amount of racing experience so upsets are common.  But our advice on this occasion is not to get too fancy and stick with likely favorites Chancer McPatrick and East Avenue (and possibly Jonathan's Way if you want a better price) on the win bets and multi-race wagers.     Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf (race 10 on Friday)Here is the European two-year-old horses chance to shine.  This race -- contested at 1 mile on the grass -- usually sees about half of the runners coming from European countries (England, Ireland, and France mostly).  And in many cases, one of those horses beats the best American Juvenile turf runners and at very nice odds.  So it usually doesn't make sense to play one of the favorites in this race.  Give some of the Euros with the more unestablished trainers -- like Hugo Palmer's The Waco Kid -- a look at what could be a very good price.  The European Juveniles typically carry much more weight when they race overseas, and in the case of The Waco Kid, he will have only 122 pounds on his back in this race, vs. close to 130 when he ran in Britain.  There is also an intriguing undefeated Japanese invader named Santono Carnaval but it's probably best to avoid this runner at what will likely be lower odds.  He's a sprinter stretching out for the first time and there's no way to know if he's going to take to the Del Mar turf.  The American runner with the best chance is probably Chad Brown's undefeated colt, Zulu Kingdom.  If you have to bet a domestic horse in this race, Brown's 2YO is a standout but he will be a short price   Breeders Cup Turf Sprint (race 5 on Saturday)This race is always a lot of fun and tends to be dominated by American runners who get to the lead as soon as the gate opens.  U.S. based trainer Wesley Ward has been a fixture with the Turf Sprint recently, winning it in 2021 and winning back-to-back Juvenile versions in 2020 and 2021.  So it's strange to see this race go off without a Ward horse in the starting gate this year.  But it's one of the only races on the two day menu with a clear-cut, odds-on favorite in Steve Asmussen's Cogburn.  The five-year-old has had just three races in 2024 but all three have been lights out and he's won them easily.  This race isn't always run at 5 furlongs but it is at Del Mar and that should increase Cogburn's chances as if he gets out of the gate cleanly and gets to the front, he has proven nearly impossible to run down.  But the race isn't without closers as well and two horses that should be running at Cogburn late are Big Invasion and local favorite Motorious who is a perfect 3 for 3 on this track at this distance.  But if you're looking to take a stand with a single in the multi-race wagers, then Cogburn is probably your best bet   Breeders Cup Classic (race 8 on Saturday)In many ways, this will be a different Classic than we've seen in a long time.  First, there's the fact that for TV purposes, the Breeders Cup agreed to put the marquee event of the two days as the 8th race on Saturday with four additional Breeders Cup races after it.  It will be strange to have the biggest celebration of the day not near the end but that's television for you.  Then there is the amazing variety of runners who will be saddling up this year.  In addition to three extremely talented Japanese runners -- one who almost won the Kentucky Derby back in May -- there's a British star -- City of Troy -- who his very experienced trainer calls the best horse he's ever trained.  Then there's a horse who specializes in races at 1 1/2 miles (and longer) on the dirt and who has won his last six races by a combined total of almost 90 lengths.  Horses like this almost never try the Classic at 1 1/4 miles because it's just too short for them and the quality of early speed in this race usually presents a problem.  But William Cowan, the trainer of Next figures that this is the time to take a shot, and anyone who's interested in storylines for the Classic is glad he did.  But if you want to find a winner, you probably need to look at the three Japanese runners -- Derma Sotogake, Forever Young, and Ushba Tesoro.  While the American Thoroughbred line appears to be getting weaker with each season, the Japanese dirt horses are getting stronger and stronger to the point where they almost won the Derby (Forever Young) and finished second in this race last year (Derma Sotogake).  It's only a matter of time before they're beating us at our own game.  And that time could be now.   Breeders Cup Dirt Mile (race 12 on Saturday)The Dirt Mile is one of the more interesting races in the two day Breeders Cup Menu.  Considered a kind of "baby Classic" the Dirt mile often gets some very talented entrants who would otherwise run in the Classic but for a variety of reasons (the length of the race, the field size, etc.) opt for the shorter one mile distance over the 1 1/4 miles.  Depending on the track, the Dirt Mile might be run around one turn, but in the case of Del Mar, it is a two turn race, and that can pose some problems for horses who specialize more in seven furlong sprints around one turn.  One of the most intriguing horses in this year's installment of the Dirt Mile is the Chilean Import, Mufasa.  A relative newcomer to American racing, he has looked ultra-impressive in his most recent races, both at seven furlongs -- in fact breaking the track record at Colonial Downs in one of those.  The seven furlong races may cause many people to dismiss Mufasa at the windows, but his races in Chile -- all at further distances -- indicate that he should have no problem with the mile or the two turns.  Leading jockey Iran Ortiz should be aboard for the ride.Good luck, as always...Al McMordie

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