Month: October 2024

One of the social media themes easily detected after members of the media and fans alike thoroughly enjoyed themselves at a wonderful World Cup in Russia was the what was all the fuss about? post.

Travellers from western Europe headed to Russia fully versed in tales of hooliganism and against a news backdrop of Vladimir Putin s regime being linked to sinister acts from chemical attacks to electoral medalling.

A heavy police and security presence, along with the vetting allowed by FIFA s Fan ID system, meant football violence was never likely to stain the tournament, leaving fans from around the world to take in the imposing grandeur of Moscow, the elegance of St Petersburg and a nationwide party with a warm and welcoming public.

The fear for those pushing to tack…

This clash sees high flying Arsenal visit Villa Park, with three points likely to propel them to the top of the league. Villa will be looking to pick up three points themselves to continue their push this season for european football.

Aston Villa had a storming start to the season, but recent weeks has seen mixed form from the Villains. Martin O neill will hope his highly compact squad can continie performing in the second half of the season Villa fans will remember their stuttering form from the second half of last season only too well. Scholars of the game point to several new recruits who should mean Villa have that little bit more strength in depth this season, and the form and fitness of the likes of Stewart Downing will be critical in the coming months. James Milner score…

Roberto Mancini has overseen arguably one of the all-time great transformations in international football, not only turning Italy into a team that has a clear and fresh identity, but also a side that is successful.

When they lost 1-0 to Portugal on September 10, 2018 in the Nations League, who d have thought that by the next time they suffered defeat they d have won the European Championship? The fact that s the case despite Euro 2020 being delayed for 12 months is all the more impressive.

While the Azzurri required a penalty shoot-out against England in Sunday s final at Wembley, it s fair to say Italy were worthy victors in the end, with their hosts caution only taking them so far.

In fact, England s pragmatism was arguably akin to the philosophy historically…

Lionel Messi s uncanny ability to create history continued with a record-breaking sixth Ballon d Or on Monday.

The decade-long monopoly on football s most prestigious individual prize held by the Barcelona great and Cristiano Ronaldo was broken a year ago by Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric.

But once again it was Messi s name on the prize as he added to the Ballons d Or he won in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2015.

Below, with the help of Opta data, we have scrutinised the numbers behind each of the years Messi has been named the world s best.

2009

Could there really have been any other winner in a year in which Messi swept every major honour? There were six collective titles in total as Pep Guardiola s star-studded class won La Liga, the Copa del…

Favourites Brazil and Argentina were both on the receiving end of shock eliminations in the quarter final stage of this year’s Copa America tournament overnight, leaving the race for the 2011 title well and truly open.

Brazil failed in their quest to break down a resolute Paraguayan outfit that were inspired by their goalkeeper Justo Villar, with the match ending 0-0 after the allotted 120 minutes. Incredibly, the five time World Cup winners missed all four of their spot kicks in the shoot out, sealing their fate on the night.

Meanwhile, the Argentine hosts were the better side in their respective quarter final against Uruguay, but failed to capitalise on their opportunities, going down 5-4 on penalties, with Carlos Tevez missing the decisive shot.

Chile and C…

All the Minnesota Vikings needed was a little home cooking to crack the win column for the first time in 2021. Minnesota roughed up Seattle 30-17 in its home opener last Sunday and stays inside U.S. Bank Stadium in Week 4, hosting the Cleveland Browns.

The Vikings are slim 2.5-point home underdogs for the second straight week and that’s fine with Minny bettors. The Vikes are 9-3 ATS as home underdogs since Mike Zimmer grabbed the clipboard in 2014.

Check out our NFL free picks and predictions for Browns at Vikings on October 3. 

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In what seemed like a possible Super Bowl matchup a month ago, the sliding Buffalo Bills will head south to take on the Tampa Buccaneers and face a familiar foe in Tom Brady as 3-point road dogs in Week 14.

Can Sean McDermott finally beat Brady, who is 6-0 SU versus the Bills’ head coach, and 32-3 SU versus Buffalo over his career? Can the Bills shake off a 3-4 SU stretch and stay in the playoff race? Find out in our Bills vs. Buccaneers free NFL picks and predictions for Sunday, December 12.

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Sunday should be another fun day of NFL action, and the Kansas City Chiefs vs. San Francisco 49ers has to be the best game on the Week 7 slate. What better way to end the afternoon than a contest between two teams with gobs of offensive talent and a 48.5-point total?

Will Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce have big nights against one of the best defenses in the game, or will 49ers wideout Deebo Samuel steal the spotlight away from the dynamic duo?

Don’t miss our NFL prop picks for the Chiefs vs. 49ers. 

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Last week, I was singing the tales of woe about how desolate the running back market was for betting NFL player props.

Fast forward a week, and the Week 5 odds appear bountiful for betting on running backs, with a couple of RBs seemingly in line for more touches… against terrible run defenses.

So my favorite NFL picks for Week 5’s Sunday slate, I’m betting on the NFL odds for three running backs, plus a couple of pass catchers… and then also a quarterback that you’ve probably heard of. 

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The 6-6 Atlanta Falcons will try and hold onto their slim lead in the NFC South on Sunday when they host the 5-7 Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a 2.5-point home favorite in Week 14. The Falcons took the first meeting 16-13 in Tampa back on Week 7 as a 3-point road dog. 

This is going to be a tight playoff-style game with so much on the line, which might have some leaning on taking the points, but the injuries that Tampa has on defense coupled with a lack of run game has me reaching for the Birds. 

I break down the NFL odds and offer my free NFL picks for the Buccaneers vs. Falcons on Sunday, December 10. 

Buccaneers vs Falcons odds

Buccaneers vs Falcons predictions

There was nothing pretty a…