Boxing Picks 2026- Oleksandr Usyk vs Rico Verhoeven (Saturday 23rd May)

The Heavyweight Division produced a classic for those tuning into Fabio Wardley vs Daniel Dubois earlier this month and, once again, the latter came through to become WBO World Champion.

Some have questioned Oleksandr Usyk and a potential desire to face Daniel Dubois for a third time, but that is a fight that will have little appetite from the fans, while Wardley-Dubois II is also much more likely.

Instead Usyk has already stated that he feels he has done enough in Boxing to make his own decisions and one of those has led to this headline fight against the 'King of Kickboxing', but a fighter in Rico Verhoeven having just his second professional Boxing contest.

That is the fight that will headline the latest showing from Riyadh Season under Turki Alalshikh, although the rumours around a growing disinterest in sport from those in Saudi Arabia cannot be ignored.

Other sports have already been impacted with LIV Golf looking like it is struggling, while the Snooker Saudi Masters has come and gone already.

Add to that the reports that the Newcastle United investment is looking to be cut by 25% and you do have to wonder how many more of these standout Riyadh Season events we are going to be getting in the coming months and years?

Perhaps the idea is to eventually navigate all fighters to Zuffa Boxing once they are signed on some poor terms, but that is something we will have to keep an eye on.

Oleksandr Uysk vs Rico Verhoeven

No one is going to doubt the credentials of Rico Verhoeven as a combatant, but you do have to make this a huge mismatch as far as a Boxing contest goes.

The 'King of Kickboxing' has had one professional Boxing bout back in 2014 against an opponent who had lost all five previous professional contests.

Suffice to say that this is a huge step upwards.

Some will point to Frances Ngannou and his efforts against Tyson Fury, but Anthony Joshua made short work of the MMA powerhouse.

Oleksandr Usyk is unlikely to put anyone down with the first big punch thrown, and especially not against someone of the size and stature of Rico Verhoeven, but the Undisputed Heavyweight Champion can do what he does best and that is sure to wear out his opponent.

Taking punches from awkward angles may take a bit of getting used to, but Usyk is a supreme Boxer with fantastic footwork and that is likely going to be mean it will take something very, very special for Rico Verhoeven to find the punches to hurt the Champion who has been in with some monster hitters.

You have to expect the Promoters to be talking up Rico Verhoeven's chances, but even some of those have admitted there is a very small chance the Dutchman can win this fight.

The early part of the contest could be fun with Verhoeven likely going to want to use his size and strength to push Oleksandr Usyk backwards, but the Champion is going to be wearing him down mentally and physically.

That should pay dividends in the middle of this Twelve Round fight and Oleksandr Usyk has enough pop to force the Stoppage at that kind of stage.

As mentioned, this is not the same kind of undercard that fans have become accustomed to seeing at these Riyadh Season events, but there is some intrigue and an opportunity for fighters to take the next step in their careers.

Both Jack Catterall and Shakhram Giyasov are hoping to get into the mix with the World Champions in a wide open Welterweight Division and the winner should be in line for a shot at a World Title by winning this one.

Picking a winner is not easy, although Catterall has been in with the higher level of opponent, which is perhaps why he has been set as the favourite.

The main event involves the Undisputed Heavyweight king, but there is an opportunity for Richard Torrez Jr to move up alongside Moses Itauma as one of the young guns looking to take over when Oleksandr Usyk chooses to call it a day.

As with any fighter developing, Torrez Jr is taking another step in his career by taking on once beaten Frank Sanchez, although there are serious doubts about the health of the latter.

The Cuban has fought once in the last two years since losing to Agit Kabayel in a contest where his knee gave way- surgery and rehabilitation have been completed, but there is a real uncertainty about whether Sanchez has the movement needed with the knee.

The contest is scheduled over Twelve Rounds and Richard Torrez Jr is capable of closing the show within the time allotted to make a statement to his rivals.

Hamzah Sheeraz has long been a favourite of the Riyadh organisers and he should be able to pick up the vacant WBO World Super Middleweight Title.

There would have been a real hope that Sheeraz could have been out much more quickly after crushing Edgar Berlanga last July, but he has had to wait for this opportunity and should have far too much for unbeaten Alem Begic.

The 39 year old has not fought in thirteen months and this does not feel like a fighter who deserves a shot at the WBO World Title, even if it is a vacant Belt.

The Super Middleweight Division looks pretty weak right now though and that gives Begic this chance, but Hamzah Sheeraz should have far, far too much for him.

MY PICKS: Oleksandr Usyk to Win Between 5-8 @ 2.87 Paddy Power (1 Unit)

Richard Torrez Jr to Win by KO/TKO/Disqualification @ 2.05 Bet Fred (2 Units)

Hamzah Sheeraz to Win Between 1-6 @ 1.61 Ladbrokes (2 Units)

Boxing 2026: 14-29, - 13.18 Units (64 Units Staked, - 20.59% Yield)

European Tour 7- International Darts Open Day 2 Picks 2026 (Saturday 23rd May)

The tournament in Riese is a popular one for the players and the Seeded players will be ready to join the party on Saturday when the Second Round is played across two Sessions.

There are some really good looking matches on deck and some are pretty tough to read, but the selections from the day's play can be read below.

Kevin Doets & Rob Cross double: These two players are up against quality opponents in Luke Woodhouse and Mike De Dekker, but both Kevin Doets and Rob Cross may have enough to edge past the Seeded opponents.

Kevin Doets has continued to play at a really high level and it feels a matter of time before the Dutchman is being asked to begin his European Tour events on Saturday rather than Friday.

However, that is not the case in this event and Doets should be comfortable going up on the stage.

He is facing a Luke Woodhouse who won the Players Championship event to pick up a maiden title and that will have given an improving player a huge boost in confidence.

Luke Woodhouse will be dangerous with that win behind him, but Kevin Doets can score with more consistency and that may give him the chances needed to find a way past the English player.

Doubling him up with Rob Cross to beat Mike De Dekker offers up a decent price out of a tough Afternoon Session.

The former World Champion has not been at his consistent best of late, but the way he battled through the First Round here will have done him the world of good.

And despite the poor overall recent form, Rob Cross is certainly playing with more authority than Mike De Dekker, while a similar scoring day as Friday should be enough to give Voltage the opportunities needed.

Josh Rock to win & most 180s v Cameron Menzies: There is no doubt that Cameron Menzies is fortunate to be playing in the Second Round, but he can be a very dangerous player at his best and that has to be respected.

He should challenge Josh Rock, but the Northern Irishman won the last European Tour event and there have been enough signs in the latter stages of the Premier League to believe he is approaching his best form again.

Josh Rock can be a very strong maximum hitter and he may do just enough to edge past Cameron Menzies on that front.

The expectation is that Menzies will be better than Friday, but Josh Rock may still have enough to secure a narrow win and a place in the Third Round.

Ryan Searle & Gian van Veen double: Both of these players are Seeded and favoured to win, although neither Charlie Manby nor Connor Scutt are expected to be rolled over.

However, Ryan Searle has the kind of scoring to keep Manby under pressure and a few wins at Players Championship 17 earlier this week will have given him a boost.

You cannot ignore Gian van Veen's recent form since his health issue, but the Dutchman is facing an opponent who can be a little up and down.

Connor Scutt was comfortable in the First Round, but this is a considerable step upwards and he has lost a number of deciders against Gian van Veen, which may give the top Seed the confidence to fight through.

Stephen Bunting to win & over 3.5 match 180s v Kryzsztof Ratajski: The defending Champion could not have arrived at the tournament in better mood having won the last Night of the Premier League on Thursday.

Stephen Bunting was in fine form in Sheffield and he can carry that into an event he won last year and so should feel very happy in the setting.

He may have hoped for an easier Second Round match than facing Krzysztof Ratajski, but Bunting beat the Pole earlier this month on the floor and has won four in a row against this opponent.

Both players are capable of getting into the maximum hitting and they combined for six in that floor match, while it should be Stephen Bunting finding a way through to the Third Round.

MY PICKS: Kevin Doets & Rob Cross @ 2.54 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

Josh Rock to Win & Most 180s @ 2.75 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Ryan Searle & Gian van Veen @ 2.27 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

Stephen Bunting to Win & Over 3.5 Match 180s @ 2.20 Bet365 (1 Unit)

International Darts Open: 1-4, - 2.70 Units (5 Units Staked, - 54% Yield)

NBA PlayOffs Conference Finals Picks 2023- Games 1-4 (May 16-23)

NBA PlayOffs Conference Finals Picks- Games 1-4

Three years ago most people believed the NBA Bubble was not a true reflection of how the NBA PlayOffs would have shaped up with all of the games played without fans and on neutral courts.

Travelling and having to win games in tough road environments makes and breaks teams and most look back dismissively on that time.

You can understand why, but in 2023 the same four teams that played and competed in the Conference Finals inside the NBA Bubble are back in the final four with the Boston Celtics, Miami Heat, Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Lakers making it through the first two Rounds of the post-season.

I credit all four teams and I think the successes the Heat and Lakers have had will intensify the Play In Tournament going forward after both have become the first teams to come through that new feature of the post-season and win one, and now two, Series in the PlayOffs.

As a New York Knicks fan I am disappointed that an opportunity has been missed to reach the Conference Finals, but these four teams deserve the spotlight and should make for a couple of solid Series to be played before the NBA Finals begin on June 1st.

The Western Conference will get to go first and the first four games of both Series will be featured in this thread.

It has been a very productive NBA PlayOffs for the Picks this season and I will be looking to build on that in the days left with the 2023 winding down.

Tuesday 16th May

Los Angeles Lakers @ Denver Nuggets Game 1 Pick: Revenge will be spoken about around the Denver Nuggets who were beaten by the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Bubble in what was the Western Conference Finals in 2020. That is not on the mind of the players, even though four of that roster are still with the Nuggets, but instead the focus is still to help the Denver Nuggets reach their first ever NBA Finals and then a first ever NBA Championship.

There is so much to like about the construction of this Denver roster with the depth that will be tough for any team to overcome over a best of seven Series. They have largely been pretty comfortable during the first two Rounds of the PlayOffs and the Nuggets will feel that earning the Number 1 Seed in the Conference has been a huge boost considering how good they have been at home all season.

These teams have split four games in the regular season, but Denver have been quick to point out that the Los Angeles Lakers are a much changed team now.

LeBron James and Anthony Davis are still around from the 2020 Championship team, but this is a considerably different roster make up compared with the one the Nuggets saw in their last meeting with the Lakers in January. Since the trades were made, the Los Angeles Lakers have been much better than their Number 7 Seed and having to come through the Play In Tournament would suggest and upset wins over the Memphis Grizzlies and Golden State Warriors means they are afforded a lot of respect.

The key to those Series wins has been winning Game 1 on the road and then holding serve when those Series have shifted back to Los Angeles. There is no doubt that the Lakers will feel they can win one of the two tough games to open up in Denver, but the Nuggets are well rested and they have been very strong at home throughout this PlayOff run.

I do like the way Denver can match up with Los Angeles and they are much more balanced Offensively than the Grizzlies and Warriors. Jamal Murray has been listed as Questionable for the home team, but I would be surprised if he is not suited up and this is a Nuggets team that is capable of lighting up the scoreboard both inside the paint and from the distance.

The battle between Nikola Jokic and Anthony Davis on both ends of the court are going to be key, but the Lakers, like the Phoenix Suns, are not a team that will have the same kind of impact from the three point range as the Denver Nuggets. The Lakers do have more depth than the Suns, or so it feels like, but this Denver team have to be given a lot more respect than I have seen so far this season and the Number 1 Seed can make a statement.

Home teams have tended to open the Conference Finals in strong form and they are 5-1 against the spread in the last six tries in Game 1. This is a big spread considering the stage we have reached in the NBA PlayOffs, but the Nuggets have shown they can cover the mark, while the Lakers have tended to be well beaten when they have dropped games in the post-season.

Again, I hate opposing LeBron James and what he can do and this is a player who will be looking to cement his legacy as perhaps the best player of all time if he can help take this Lakers team to the Championship. The pressure is on the Denver Nuggets as they have made it clear that it is Championship or bust as far as their own expectations are concerned, but the Nuggets have shown they can handle that so far and I do think the depth of their team will be key.

The role players have really been good at home in this post-season run and I will back the Denver Nuggets to maintain the recent trend of home teams in Game 1 of the Conference Finals and to win and cover.

Number 1 Seeds have tended to prove their worth when asked to cover big marks in the Conference Finals in recent years and I think the Denver Nuggets will do that to open the Western Conference Finals in 2023.

Wednesday 17th May

Miami Heat @ Boston Celtics Game 1 Pick: Getting through tough spots has become the norm for this Boston Celtics team and winning a Game 7 in the PlayOffs is something this team has done three times over the last two seasons. The latest was in the Conference Semi Final Series against the Philadelphia 76ers as the Boston Celtics recovered from dropping Game 5 at home to win two straight and move through in seven games.

For the third time in four seasons, the Boston Celtics are facing the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals after the latter beat the New York Knicks in six games and earned themselves a couple of extra days of rest.

These could be important with Jimmy Butler banged up in the Conference Semi Final Series and with the Miami Heat already short-handed through injury. The Heat won the Conference Finals played against the Boston Celtics in the NBA Bubble in six games, but the Celtics were able to get the better of Miami in seven games twelve months ago.

Most will have Boston down as a strong favourite to win this Series as the Number 2 Seed in the Eastern Conference compared with the Miami Heat, who are the first Number 8 Seed to reach the Conference Finals since 1999 when the New York Knicks were able to do that.

I can understand why the Boston Celtics are favoured considering they have shown more consistency than the Miami Heat on both sides of the court through the season, but the PlayOffs are a different beat. Add in the fact that the regular season series was split two each with both winning one game on the road and I do think the Miami Heat have to be respected, especially as they are plenty experienced of playing in these big games and as much as the Boston Celtics.

However, over the course of seven games I would think the Celtics have the depth and the three point shooting that will ultimately see them prevail.

Game 1 may offer the Miami Heat the best chance to steal home court advantage from the Celtics though and that is because teams playing after a Game 7 win in a PlayOff Series have continued to struggle in the opening of the next Series. The Golden State Warriors were beaten in that situation in the Conference Semi Final Series and I do think the Miami Heat are perhaps being disrespected with the opening line and will have certainly been using that to motivate them.

I am backing the Denver Nuggets as a big home favourite, one of more than 5 points, but those teams have struggled to cover in the Conference Finals and this time I am opposing the Celtics who are laying 8 points.

Overall Boston are the superior team in my opinion, but the Miami Heat could cover in a losing effort with the amount of points they are being given and they are 13-5 against the spread in their last eighteen games in Boston. The Heat covered as a home favourite to open the Eastern Conference Finals last year against the Boston Celtics, but this time I am looking for the Heat to produce enough Offensively to stay with an opponent who have invested a lot of effort to win two games in a row to reach the Conference Finals for a second year in succession.

Thursday 18th May

Los Angeles Lakers @ Denver Nuggets Game 2 Pick: The Denver Nuggets have taken Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals so will clearly be pleased with how the opening game went, but the Los Angeles Lakers may have taken something positive from the second half performance. Adjustments made saw the Lakers fight back from a 21 point deficit and actually come very close to stealing Game 1 on the road, although ultimately they did come up slightly short in a game where they led just once when scoring the first bucket of the Finals.

The positive second half will give the Lakers something to hold onto, although LeBron James made it clear that they cannot afford to fall into a big hole as they did in Game 1. Moving Anthony Davis away from guarding Nikola Jokic seemed to help stiffen the Lakers Defensive unit and I expect the move to a bigger line up to occur very quickly in Game 2 starts as the first one did.

In fact it may be an adjustment that sees the Lakers begin with a new starting five, although they will also have to accept the fact that they may not be able to improve Offensively. In Game 1 the Lakers hit 55% of their field goals, and were an impressive 46% from the three point range, but that is a number which is considerably higher than what would be expected from them.

Lonnie Walker IV, Dennis Schroeder and Austin Reaves combined for 9/15 from the three point range and that is a mark that will be difficult to replicate on the road for a second game in a row. Add in the fact that some of the Nuggets were struggling with fouls piling up and I think those players were afforded a bit more space than expected and Game 2 might see those role players slow down.

The Nuggets may also be expected to have a step back in terms of their shooting having also shot 55% from the field and 47% from the three point arc. However, they have shown throughout this PlayOffs run that they are very good at home and I certainly think Denver can maintain their edge on the boards, which should see them beat the Lakers for a second time in this Western Conference Finals.

Thanks to their Fourth Quarter push, the Lakers lost Game 1 by just 6 points, but close losses have not made for good opportunities to bounce back and cover in the next game in the Conference Finals, especially when teams are playing on the road. Those losing by 10 or fewer points and then playing on the road are on a poor 4-9 run against the spread, while the Denver Nuggets will want to back up the fact that teams that won Game 1 at home are 6-4 against the spread in Game 2.

Los Angeles have won Game 1 on the road in both of the previous two PlayOff Series, but they have been blown out in Game 2 and I think the Denver Nuggets have a more consistent approach at home which sees them cover in this one.

Friday 19th May

Miami Heat @ Boston Celtics Game 2 Pick: After building a decent lead at the end of the first half, the Boston Celtics looked to be making a mockery of the long trend of how much Game 7 winners have struggled in the opening game of the next Series in the NBA PlayOffs.

Some will suggest it was complacency, others may suggest a bit of mental fatigue, but for whatever reason, the Boston Celtics played a shocking Third Quarter and ultimately were not able to turn the momentum back in their favour.

It means dropping Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals and Head Coach Joe Mazzulla will have had to accept the criticisms of his team, even if he has not completely agreed with it. The Coach is right when he says Boston won three of the four Quarters played, but the Celtics were so bad in the Third Quarter that they dug themselves into a deep hole and one they were not able to escape.

Adjustments will be made by the Celtics who have been a big three point shooting team, but who only threw up the deep ball twenty-nine times in Game 1. They dominated the points in the paint in the first half to build a big lead, but the Celtics are a team that have a number of quality three point shooters and this has been the successful plan, while I am sure the team will be looking to get Jayson Tatum going after their star player failed to have any sort of positive impact in the Fourth Quarter.

A lot of the focus has been on the Boston Celtics as the higher Seed, but it remains clear that the Miami Heat feel disrespected and are using that to fuel them in the post-season. I have no doubt that the Heat players will have checked the lines set for the opening two games of the Eastern Conference Finals and will be looking to make a point with their hard nose basketball and veteran experience.

Jimmy Butler has been a consistent Offensive player in the post-season, but you do have to wonder if Miami can be as efficient shooting the three ball as they were in Game 1. In stealing home court, the Heat hit 52% of their three pointers, but this is a team that have averaged just 34% from that distance over the course of the season and you have to believe the role players will not be as hot from the field when going into Game 2.

Miami have shown energy and have rarely gone away easily, which makes this line feel a wide one, but I do think the Boston Celtics will have a reaction and I expect more out of Jayson Tatum and the bench.

The Heat do have a very good record in Boston in recent years as I mentioned in the Game 1 Pick, but the zigzag theory has been one that has been plenty successful in the NBA Conference Finals.

I backed the Heat a couple of days ago, but I am expecting the Boston Celtics to have a much stronger day from the three point line. At some stage the Miami Heat may feel they have already achieved what they have wanted by splitting the first two games in Boston and they could just lose some of the intensity before heading back home this weekend and I am going to back the Celtics to bounce back with a big win.

Saturday 20th May

Denver Nuggets @ Los Angeles Lakers Game 3 Pick: The narrative after Game 1 was about how the Los Angeles Lakers had found a good system to deal with the Denver Nuggets and that clearly did not sit very well with the Number 1 Seed in the Western Conference.

The late rally saw the Lakers recover from a big hole, but they still fell short and ultimately dropped to 0-1 in the Series.

Some will have felt justified in believing the Lakers had found a good formula when they led in Game 2, but this time the Denver Nuggets were the team who fought back in the Fourth Quarter. The big difference- the Nuggets won Game 2 to take a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference Finals and it was clear that all of the talk of the previous two days had bothered Denver Head Coach Michael Malone.

A 2-0 lead is a good lead, but this is not a decisive won and I think the Los Angeles Lakers have to feel confident when returning home where they have been very strong in the NBA PlayOffs.

However, I do have to wonder if the schedule is going to work against the Lakers with the veteran stars Anthony Davis and LeBron James looking a little tired at times in Game 2. It was Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura who combined for 16/29 in Game 2 and they were 6/11 from the three point range in Game 2, but the Lakers will need more from their top two players if they are going to find a way to get back into the Western Conference Finals.

The Nuggets did not get a good game out of Jamal Murray in Game 2, but some late buckets might have rebuilt his confidence and the depth of the Denver team is hard to ignore.

At the same time I do think their role players have struggled to make the same impact on the road as they have at home and that should be encouraging for the Lakers as Game 3 is played in the City of Angels.

However, I do think that depth and some of the efforts that the Lakers have already put into this Series will mean another close game between these teams.

Teams that are 0-2 down in the Conference Finals are on a very good run of covering in Game 3, but I was anticipating the Lakers being a much smaller favourite than they are for this one.

The oddsmakers know the money will come down on Los Angeles, especially in their desperate position, but I think the Denver Nuggets will find enough scoring to keep this one close.

A 3-8 record against the spread for teams leading 2-0 in the Conference Finals is a concern, but the Nuggets have shown they have the consistency to not only stay with the Lakers, but to beat them. Winning in Game 3 won't be easy, but the Nuggets can avoid the blowout at the very least and this could be another game in this Series that comes down to the final two minutes of the Fourth Quarter.

Sunday 21st May

Boston Celtics @ Miami Heat Game 3 Pick: Poor decision making and key players being far too quiet in the Fourth Quarter have put the Boston Celtics in an unenviable position in the Eastern Conference Finals. Losing Game 1 would have hurt, but they blew a couple of big leads and allowed Jimmy Butler to take over the final six minutes of the Fourth Quarter in Game 2 and that means the Celtics have dropped both home games to the Miami Heat.

Even now the Boston Celtics are considered favourites to come out of this Series, but there is a lot of pressure on the shoulders of the players.

Some will want to blame Grant Williams for talking trash to Jimmy Butler which seemed to intensify the performance of the latter, but I think much more needs to be made of Jayson Tatum's failure to have an impact in the Fourth Quarter for a second game in a row. There has to be a worry that he left something on the court when producing a big Fourth Quarter in Game 6 and then a huge Game 7 in the Second Round win over the Philadelphia 76ers, but the Celtics know they need Tatum if they are going to beat this hard nosed Miami team.

It is somewhat surprising to see the Celtics down as the road favourite, especially as the Miami Heat have beaten them in a couple of different ways- Game 1 was about the efficiency of the shooting, but Game 2 saw the Heat dominate the boards and that was good enough to earn enough second chance points to make up for the drop off in the three point shooting percentages.

A big problem for Boston has been the struggles with their own three point shooting. They will also know that Jayson Tatum has to do more in the Fourth Quarter even if his overall numbers have been steady enough in the first two games.

He would be helped if some of the role players can improve their own output, but nothing is going to come easy against this Miami Heat team that look to be playing with a confidence that will be very difficult to shake.

Being back at home is a big help for the Miami Heat who have won all five PlayOff games here and largely in blowout fashion.

They have also won four in a row against the Boston Celtics this season and I won't be that surprised to see people taking the points with the home team.

Road favourites of less than 5 points have not had a very good record at covering the spread in the Conference Finals and that is the situation facing Boston, although it should be noted that those teams were 2-0 against the spread last season.

More importantly is that teams in a 2-0 lead in the Conference Finals are just 3-8 against the spread in the last eleven occasions where that situation has been played out. The Nuggets are in the same boat on Saturday and I have looked for them to cover, but I think the Miami Heat have not dominated the first two games and you have to believe more is to come from the Boston Celtics.

This is a big moment for the Celtics, who should have won at least one of the first two games and might even believe they should be the team with a 2-0 lead. They are an experienced group who know what needs to be done if they are going become NBA Champions and I think we see a reaction to the drama around them as the Celtics get back into the Eastern Conference Finals.

Monday 22nd May

Denver Nuggets @ Los Angeles Lakers Game 4 Pick: You have to feel that the back of the Western Conference Finals has been broken with the Denver Nuggets moving into a 3-0 lead against the Los Angeles Lakers. There have been moments from the Lakers, who have shown fight and desire, but the depth of the Denver Nuggets is proving too much and their spacing with Nikola Jokic means the three point shooters are finding open looks and knocking them down.

It wasn't The Joker who should be credited for the Game 3 win, but Jamal Murray stepped up to pile up 37 points and make up for what he felt was a below par effort in Game 2.

Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray are the keys for the Nuggets as they are on the brink of making their first ever appearance in the NBA Finals, but the role players and the bench have made timely impacts throughout the PlayOffs run and this Denver team is going to be very difficult shake off.

No one is giving it up on the Los Angeles Lakers side, but you do have to wonder how much they have left having looked clearly second best in the Western Conference Finals. Austin Reaves has to be given a lot of credit for giving the Lakers a third option alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis, but Los Angeles cannot make enough Defensive stops and ultimately have not found enough from the likes of D'Angelo Russell and Jarred Vanderbilt.

Game 4 is on their home court and you have to believe the Lakers are going to put in a big effort to try and at least force the Denver Nuggets to close the Series at home.

However, it should be noted that teams facing elimination this early in the Conference Finals are just 2-4 outright and 2-3-1 against the spread in the last six when in this situation. It has to be a worry for Lakers backers as the home favourite considering how they have just struggled to keep up with the depth of the Nuggets and I would lean with taking the points in Game 4, although the spread has come down a couple of points from where the layers had left the mark in Game 3.

One trend that has been evident in elimination games at this stage of the Conference Finals is that teams facing the end of the season have allowed an average of 118 points per game in the last five when in this situation. This is a Series that has seen two of the three games played finish above the total points mark set and I do think the Los Angeles Lakers are going to have to hoist up plenty of three pointers to keep up with the Denver Nuggets.

The road team hit seventeen from the distance in Game 3 and at a 41% clip, and Denver have managed at least fourteen from beyond the three point mark in each game of the Western Conference Finals. Los Angeles were very efficient from the three point mark in Game 1, but have hoisted up at least thirty in the last two games without the same level of success and I do think the formula to extend this Series is finding someone to get going from the distance.

LeBron James has really struggled to do that, but the Lakers need scoring if they are going to find a way to win this one and I think that will encourage another high-scoring game with both teams expected to combine to cover the line set.

Tuesday 23rd May

Boston Celtics @ Miami Heat Game 4 Pick: There are going to be plenty of incriminations thrown around at the end of the Eastern Conference Finals with the Boston Celtics wondering how things have gone as wrong as they have. Despite the money flooding on the Celtics in Game 3, the Boston players seemingly thought they were just going through the motions of a regular season game as they offered a listless display that has left them in a 3-0 hole.

That means both Conference Finals could be concluded as soon as the 23rd May, meaning we will have two full weeks before the NBA Finals are set to start.

The Denver Nuggets will be looking to close the show on Monday when playing Game 4 against the Los Angeles Lakers, but they are on the road and the Miami Heat are at home.

A lot of people have suggested this is the most even NBA season we have seen in a long time and the Miami Heat reaching the Eastern Conference Finals and moving to the brink of the NBA Finals have backed up those who have believed that to be the case. The Number 8 Seed in the East needed some big buckets deep into the Fourth Quarter of their win over the Chicago Bulls in the final Play In Tournament game, but the Heat have dominated the top two Seeds in the East in the PlayOffs and have won seven of the eight games played against the Celtics and the Milwaukee Bucks.

An experienced team that reached the NBA Finals in 2020, the Miami Heat have dominated this Series and led from whistle to whistle in Game 3. In saying that, the Boston Celtics did have their chances in the first two games, although those opportunities missed seem to have deflated the players and it is going to take a monumental effort to bring this one home.

As I have mentioned in the Denver Game 4 preview, teams facing elimination this early in the Conference Finals have tended to lose and it is hard to make a case for the Boston Celtics after what we saw a couple of nights ago. They cannot make stops Defensively, while the Offensive game plan has looked messy to say the least and it has meant Boston are going to need to make NBA history by becoming the first team to win a best of seven Series from 0-3 down.

It has happened in the other US Sports that have these PlayOff Series to decide the Champion at the end of the season, but the NBA has been the exception and I do think Boston are lost.

Miami will continue doing what they are- even double teaming Jimmy Butler is unlikely to work as we saw in Game 3 with the Miami shooters playing with a confidence that will be tough to contain.

Instead of picking a side with the Heat favoured for the first time in the Eastern Conference Finals, I will go back to the same trend that I mentioned for the Nuggets-Lakers Game 4 and that is how porous teams facing elimination have been.

The team in a 3-0 lead have averaged 118 points per game in Game 4 of the Conference Finals in recent times in this situation and the Celtics have allowed Miami to do what they want Offensively.

It has led to the Heat averaging 120 points per game in the Eastern Conference Finals, while the Boston Celtics have hit triple digits in all three games too.

With the total line where it is, I will look for Game 4 to surpass the number set with both teams likely to put up strong Offensive stats again.

MY PICKS: 16/05 Denver Nuggets - 6 Points @ 1.91 Paddy Power (1 Unit)

17/05 Miami Heat + 8 Points @ 1.91 William Hill (1 Unit)

18/05 Denver Nuggets - 5.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

19/05 Boston Celtics - 9 Points @ 2.00 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

20/05 Denver Nuggets + 5.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

21/05 Boston Celtics - 3 Points @ 1.91 William Hill (1 Unit)

22/05 Los Angeles Lakers-Denver Nuggets Over 224.5 Points @ 1.91 Coral (1 Unit)

23/05 Miami Heat-Boston Celtics Over 216 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Conference Finals Update: 2-5-1, - 3.18 Units (8 Units Staked, - 39.75% Yield)

Semi Final: 14-8-1, + 4.90 Units (23 Units Staked, + 21.30% Yield)

First Round: 22-9, + 11.04 Units (31 Units Staked, + 35.61% Yield)

PlayOffs 2023: 36-17-1, + 15.94 Units (54 Units Staked, + 29.52% Yield)

French Open Tennis Day 2 Picks 2022 (May 23rd)

The weather in Paris had been pretty good in the week leading up to the French Open, but wet conditions are expected on Monday and it could mean a number of matches have to pushed over until Tuesday when the First Round is expected to be completed.

It feels like it is going to be the worst day of the tournament in terms of the weather conditions, but you can see the selections from the matches scheduled for the day below.

After a mixed start to the tournament, I am looking for much stronger results all around.

Stan Wawrinka - 1.5 sets v Corentin Moutet: Injury has forced Stan Wawrinka to undergo some serious rehabilitation and he has spent a considerable amount of time away from the Tour. For some players, those injuries may have been too much to deal with at 37 years old, but the former multiple time Grand Slam Champion still believes there is something left in the tank and has been playing in a number of clay court events in the build to the French Open.

Unsurprisingly, Stan Wawrinka struggled early with his timing and rhythm not quite in sync, while match rustiness meant he was always going to have some difficulty in dealing with the pivotal moments within matches.

After losing his opening match in a Challenger tournament played in Marbella and at the Monte Carlo Masters, Stan Wawrinka did win a couple of matches at the Rome Masters before losing to eventual Champion Novak Djokovic. Those wins over Reilly Opelka and Laslo Djere will have given the Swiss player a huge amount of confidence, especially as Stan Wawrinka needed three sets to win both of those matches and has shown he can come through potentially long and gruelling matches.

He is going to have to deal with the crowd getting behind his opponent as Frenchman Corentin Moutet stands across the net from Wawrinka in the First Round in Paris.

Like Stan Wawrinka, Corentin Moutet has been dealing with injury and the left hander has dropped outside the top 100 in the World Rankings, while a 1-2 record on the clay courts in 2022 is not very encouraging. All three matches have been against players lower down the World Rankings, while Corentin Moutet also lost his last five matches on the clay courts in 2021.

I do think Corentin Moutet may be the more consistent return player of the two, but the Frenchman also has a much more vulnerable serve. With little match practice behind him, Corentin Moutet looks like he could struggle to stay with Stan Wawrinka in this First Round match at Roland Garros and I think the former French Open Champion can win this one in three or four sets.

Richard Gasquet - 1.5 sets v Lloyd Harris: There are a number of veterans scattered through the French Open draw who have had their better days behind them, but I do think Richard Gasquet can do enough to move past Lloyd Harris in his home Grand Slam

In preparing for the latest French Open in his career, Richard Gasquet reached the Semi Final in Geneva last week and he has also managed to progress to the Quarter Final in another couple of clay court tournaments. This is the latter stages of his career and that has led to Gasquet having some disappointing results mixed in too with the consistency not what it once was, but early losses in the last couple of French Open appearances are largely down to the poor draws he has been handed.

Richard Gasquet has not been at his best on the clay courts this season, but he has shown his veteran ability to play the big points efficiently and put some wins together. The serve is not as potent as it once was, but the Frenchman is returning pretty well and will need all of that to beat Lloyd Harris.

The South African has long shown a dislike to playing on the red dirt and the results in 2021 have not been impressive either.

Lloyd Harris has really struggled with his return of serve and having the patience to build his way into rallies and find the openings, but the serve can be a dangerous weapon when at his best. However, I do think the pressure that is built up by his poor returning numbers has caught with Lloyd Harris on the clay courts, while he has lost his last four matches on the surface ahead of the opening match at the French Open.

The sole previous match between these players came on a hard court and was won by Richard Gasquet- it was back in February 2020 before the pandemic and I do think Gasquet has slipped from that time, although the win over Harris came on a surface that the latter enjoys much more than the clay courts.

With the home crowd behind him to inspire and help push through the difficult moments, I think Richard Gasquet wins this one in three or four sets.

MY PICKS: Stan Wawrinka - 1.5 Sets @ 2.25 Paddy Power (2 Units)

Richard Gasquet - 1.5 Sets @ 2.00 Paddy Power (2 Units)

Reilly Opelka - 1.5 Games @ 1.80 Bet365 (2 Units)

Brandon Nakashima @ 2.10 Bet Fred (2 Units)

Alex Molcan - 1.5 Sets @ 2.00 Paddy Power (2 Units)

Arthur Rinderknech - 1.5 Sets @ 2.00 Paddy Power (2 Units)

Amanda Anisimova - 2.5 Games @ 1.80 Bet365 (2 Units)

Emma Raducanu - 3.5 Games @ 1.72 Bet365 (2 Units)

Angelique Kerber - 3.5 Games @ 1.80 Bet365 (2 Units)

Madison Keys - 4.5 Games @ 2.10 Paddy Power (2 Units)

French Open Update: 7-7, - 1.68 Units (28 Units Staked, - 6% Yield)

Weekend Football Picks and Fantasy Football 2021 (May 23rd)

The final weekend of the 2020/21 Premier League season is upon us and that means the end of the Fantasy Football season, which has been a difficult one for so many.

Best of all is that the supporters are back and that should mean we no longer have the ten Premier League games played in individual slots around a weekend- for me that has ruined some of the enjoyment of the Fantasy game and I am looking forward to a more 'normal' schedule from August even if we have to still accept 'Sky Jackings' for match going fans.

For Fantasy players there are still Mini-Leagues to be won this weekend, but in reality there is very little to be settled in the Premier League.

The main focus is on the race for the final two Champions League places and confirming 7th place, which is going to see a club entering the newly created Conference League Tournament, but the majority of the teams can begin to look ahead to a well deserved break. Some players will be ready to join their international squads in preparation for the Euro 2020 Tournament beginning in less than a month, but for most it will be a break after a difficult season and the chance to prepare much more efficiently for the new Premier League season which will get back underway on August 14th.

Arsenal v Brighton Pick: The final day of the Premier League season looked like being a largely dead rubber game between both Arsenal and Brighton.

The home team looked to be short of the top seven, while Brighton were safe from the drop, but results have gone in favour of Arsenal over the last two weeks.

A late show at Selhurst Park secured a fourth victory in a row for Arsenal in the Premier League and they are now arguably favourites to finish in the top seven and a return to European Football. While Arsenal have this winnable home game, the two teams immediately above them in 7th and 8th are playing away games at teams inside the top five of the Premier League table.

It is not beyond the realms of possibility that Tottenham Hotspur and Everton will both drop points and that would open the door for an Arsenal win to take them into the top seven. That would be a huge achievement for Mikel Arteta considering where Arsenal were at the beginning of the month, and may also mean management will stick with the manager who has not had a great season.

The layers know the importance of this fixture for Arsenal and they are taking no chances with the price despite the team perhaps overperforming in recent games. West Brom, Chelsea and Crystal Palace will feel aggrieved in their defeats to Arsenal and Brighton have nothing to lose.

My only worry for Brighton is that they are coming off a tough and emotional win over Manchester City in their final home game. Graham Potter's team came from 0-2 down to beat the ten man Champions, but they have lost Danny Welbeck to an injury and are also without Neal Maupay.

Lewis Dunk is back to offer some better defensive resiliency and Brighton do create chances, while they have enjoyed their recent visits to the Emirates Stadium. A poor recent away record is a concern, but Brighton deserved more at Sheffield United and were winning at Wolves before Dunk was sent off when the game turned around.

Arsenal are finding a way to win games and will have the fans to help support them, but they still look plenty short in this fixture. They do 'need' to win and have been scoring plenty of goals, but defensively there are some holes that Brighton can exploit if near their best and I think the visitors can make life difficult for the hosts who have all the expectations and pressure to deal with.

Aston Villa v Chelsea Pick: There is plenty of pressure on Chelsea to complete the job and secure a top four finish in the Premier League and a return to the Champions League.

The victory over Leicester City has put Chelsea in command of one of the places behind Manchester City and Manchester United, but the pressure is that any dropped points could be capitalised on by both Leicester City and Liverpool.

Ultimately Thomas Tuchel will be demanding his players focus on what they can control and that is their own performance at Villa Park where Chelsea will secure a top four berth as long as they win. That won't be easy if Aston Villa's win at Tottenham Hotspur is anything to go by, but Dean Smith's team have been struggling for consistency over the last few months and that has ensured that they will be finishing 11th in the Premier League table.

Aston Villa have lost 2 of their last 4 at Villa Park and were perhaps a little fortunate to earn a draw with Everton in the last game here. Defensively they have been struggling, but there will be fans inside the Stadium and that could give Aston Villa a potential boost as they look to throw a spanner in the works for their visitors.

Jack Grealish's creativity and the pace in the final third will make Aston Villa dangerous, but they were given a huge helping hand by poor Tottenham Hotspur defending in the 1-2 win in North East London on Wednesday. Under their current manager Chelsea have not been giving up many big chances, but this is a team that has rarely blown opponents away with some inconsistency in the final third.

Another close win feels the most likely outcome for Chelsea and I do think they are experienced enough to avoid a slip up here. It will be far from easy and there may be some tense moments, but I think Chelsea end up breaking down an Aston Villa team who have recently lost to both Manchester clubs at Villa Park.

Expect some nerves for Chelsea fans, but I think they earn the victory in what is a relatively low-scoring game.

Fulham v Newcastle United Pick: Two seasons ago an already relegated Fulham were crushed by Newcastle United on the final day of the campaign.

The visitors look a big price to do the same again on Sunday, but they are without Callum Wilson and Fulham did show some heart in their 1-1 draw with Manchester United on Tuesday.

However, Fulham do lack goals and I think they are vulnerable defensively which makes them hard to trust as the favourite. I think Newcastle United have looked pretty good going forward in their most recent fixtures, but they can be hit and miss away from home and I think this is going to be a close game.

Ultimately I do think Newcastle United are being a touch disrespected as the underdog and they can contain Fulham for long enough to earn a positive result. Speed and creativity in the final third will make Newcastle United dangerous even without Callum Wilson and I think they will avoid a defeat at Craven Cottage.

Leeds United v West Brom Pick: Both of these teams may have come up from the Championship together last season, but it is Leeds United who will be extending their stay in the Premier League.

Leeds United have really impressed for the most part and Marcelo Bielsa's team are finishing up very strongly with 3 Premier League wins in a row and scoring goals for fun. They create plenty of chances and Leeds United have scored 9 goals in those victories, although they will also be looking forward to seeing a better pitch laid at Elland Road for the next campaign.

Despite that, Leeds United did hammer Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 here in their last fixture played at Elland Road and this time they will be given a huge boost by the fans in attendance. Nothing will change the mindset of the manager and that will mean the players will be asked to put in one more huge shift as they get forward and look to break down what has been a porous West Brom defence.

Sam Allardyce will be leaving The Hawthorns after this fixture is played, but he has been happy with the kind of response he got from his players in his six months in charge. Unfortunately it was not enough to take West Brom out of the bottom three, and this is a team that has not scored enough goals to cover what has been a defence that has struggled to prevent teams creating big chances.

I would not be that surprised if West Brom create chances here, but they have lost their last 2 at Elland Road. Leeds United play one way and they should be able to create some big chances against this West Brom team and with the fans I think they can give them a really strong send off before the next campaign will begin in August.

The goals being scored by Leeds United suggests they can win this game and likely by a couple of goals on the day.

Leicester City v Tottenham Hotspur Pick: Both Leicester City and Tottenham Hotspur suffered 2-1 defeats in their penultimate Premier League fixtures and that means there is some real pressure on both clubs to respond on the final day.

Leicester City have lost control of their own destiny and likely need either Liverpool or Chelsea to drop points if they want to push back into the top four. Brendan Rodgers will likely want his team to ignore scores from other grounds, but the King Power Stadium will have fans in attendance and it may be impossible if either Liverpool or Chelsea fall behind.

Tottenham Hotspur have more control about their immediate future, but will know they likely need to win to secure European Football. The defeat to Aston Villa on Wednesday may not only be costly in terms of playing in Europe, but may have hardened Harry Kane's view that he needs to leave this part of North London in order to achieve what he wants from the remainder of his career.

Playing in the new European Conference League is unlikely to get Kane to change his mind, but Ryan Mason needs a response from his Tottenham Hotspur team. I expect a strong, attacking team to be named, but Spurs have looked really poor defensively and I think Leicester City will be able to expose any vulnerabilities on display.

However, Leicester City have not had the best time at the back without Jonny Evans and I do think this is a fixture that could produce at least three goals. 6 of the last 8 between Leicester City and Tottenham Hotspur have ended in three goals being shared out and I think that will be the case when they meet on Sunday, especially as both clubs are likely going to be chasing a result and goals through much of the ninety minutes to be played.

Some of the intensity of the game may come out of the Leicester City performance if they hear Liverpool and Chelsea are winning comfortably, but Brendan Rodgers has to ask his players to get forward. Spaces should open up as the game develops and I think at least three goals will be shared between these two teams.

Liverpool v Crystal Palace Pick: There may not be a lot of pressure on Crystal Palace this weekend as they look to give manager Roy Hodgson a perfect send off, but injuries have just piled up again.

Losing Eberechi Eze is a big blow, but Christian Benteke has been in fine form and his absence would be another dent in the chances of Crystal Palace causing an upset here. They can cause problems with the pace they have in the wide areas and Crystal Palace will look to take advantage of any set pieces they earn, while they will also believe there could be some nerves in the home dressing room.

Liverpool are in pole position to finish in the Champions League places, but they can't afford to drop any points. In their wins over West Brom and Burnley over the last week there have been opportunities for those teams against Liverpool, but Jurgen Klopp's front three look to have found form at the right time.

With the chances being created and Liverpool showing a touch more clinical finishing, you would have to give them a serious edge, although the layers are taking no chances with the prices for a home win. That is not surprising considering Liverpool 'need' to win to ensure they succeed in their ambitions, but I also think they just have to win and securing a wide win is not the main target of the day.

In saying that, Liverpool have enjoyed playing Crystal Palace in recent seasons and have scored four goals in each of the last 2 at Anfield between these teams. Liverpool also scored seven at Selhurst Park in December and I think they will likely need to score at least two to earn the points here.

They can go one better than that in securing their place back in the Champions League, although I would not be that surprised if Crystal Palace are able to play their part. Ultimately The Eagles have struggled defensively down the stretch with injuries and a more attacking approach meaning there are spaces for teams to exploit against this Crystal Palace team and I think Liverpool will end up becoming the latest to take advantage.

Manchester City v Everton Pick: If you had a look at the home/away form guide of both Manchester City and Everton you could make a case for the visitors earning a positive result on the final day of the Premier League season.

While Manchester City have lost 3 of their last 4 Premier League games at the Etihad Stadium, Everton have secured 4 away clean sheets in succession. A lack of goals has been a major problem for Everton though and they have only scored twice in that time, while the issues at Goodison Park have prevented Everton from going into the final day in the top seven.

They will not only need to better Tottenham Hotspur's result this weekend, but Everton are vulnerable to falling behind Arsenal if they fail to win and could fall behind Leeds United with a defeat. Carlo Ancelotti had made it clear he wanted to take Everton into Europe next season to further the development of the squad and the club in general and that means they are under pressure to get forward and attack the Champions.

Those losses at home will encourage Everton to get after Manchester City, but the fans are back at the Etihad Stadium and that should give the Champions a real boost. They are also trying to bounce back from the 3-2 loss at Brighton and Manchester City's players should be motivated to produce a big performance as they look to start the Champions League Final next weekend.

Manchester City have gotten the better of Everton in recent seasons too and I think they can win this game and likely punish an Everton team that may need to chase a result.

Sheffield United v Burnley Pick: Motivation on the final day of the season can be difficult to factor and especially when two clubs are basically playing out their schedules.

That is the case for Sheffield United and Burnley, although the home team will be given a boost by the fans that are in attendance. Sean Dyche will be trying to lift his Burnley players by asking for one more big effort to avoid their lowest League finish since 2016, but both Sheffield United and their visitors will be looking ahead to an off-season where they can finally get some rest into the legs.

Injuries are hurting Sheffield United which means they will rely on some of the younger members on the squad and I do think they are vulnerable. They don't score enough goals or create a lot of chances, but Sheffield United have been porous defensively and now have to deal with a Burnley team who have won their last 2 away Premier League games.

Burnley were crushed by Leeds United and Liverpool at Turf Moor over the last eight days, but they were not as outclassed as the scoreline on those days would have suggested. They created chances and I do think Burnley have some decent attacking options that can spark their team to one more victory on Sunday.

It should be competitive and the first goal is going to be huge, but I think Burnley show their Premier League quality to get the better of Sheffield United on the final day.

West Ham United v Southampton Pick: Not many would have predicted West Ham United could earn a spot in Europe next season and for that reason David Moyes and his players deserve a lot of credit. The goal difference advantage over Everton should mean West Ham United have essentially wrapped up at least a top seven finish, which means playing some sort of European Football, but results have put them in an even stronger position.

Avoiding defeat or Tottenham Hotspur failing to win at Leicester City would mean West Ham United are returning to the Europa League with a spot directly into the Group Stage on offer.

The fans are back in attendance at the London Stadium so you do have to imagine Moyes and his players are looking to focus on themselves and that is to get forward and score the goals to ensure a 6th place finish. West Ham United have lost back to back games here, but they could be facing the right opponent when taking on a Southampton team they have beaten 3 times in a row at home and scored plenty of goals against them.

Southampton have lost 4 away Premier League games in a row and conceded at least twice in each of those defeats. They have conceded 40 away goals this season which is the highest total in the Premier League and West Ham United are likely going to create some solid chances against them here.

Danny Ings will offer a threat and Southampton have a style that does produce chances, which also makes them dangerous, but the defeat to Leeds United on Tuesday will have knocked the confidence. A long season is coming to an end for Southampton, and West Ham United are going to be highly motivated as they look to secure Europa League Football in front of their fans.

Coupled together and with the strong recent history against Southampton, I think West Ham United can produce a solid win on Sunday to round out this successful campaign.

Wolves v Manchester United Pick: There isn't much on the line in terms of Premier League points for Wolves and Manchester United on Sunday.

However, Nuno Espirito Santo is managing Wolves for the last time having completed four successful seasons with the club, while Manchester United are looking for some momentum to take into the Europa League Final.

Injuries have really hurt Wolves who had back to back top seven finishes in the Premier League before this season. They are going to be without some key attacking players this weekend and scoring goals has been a problem for Wolves, although they are facing a Manchester United team that have looked out of sorts at the back over the last two weeks.

Manchester United have been very good away from home though and they do tend to score goals on their travels which will make them dangerous. Breaking down Wolves has been a tough test for Manchester United in the last couple of seasons, but they do have the quality in the final third and the big question is how long those top names will get to play on Sunday.

My feeling is that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is going to select a strong team and look for them to remain sharp before the Europa League Final in Gdansk on Wednesday. I do think some of those bigger players will be taken off in the second half to avoid injuries, but Manchester United should be able to create chances against a Wolves team that have struggled with the change in system they have been using this season.

The first goal is going to be very important and the fans are going to give the Wolves players a boost, but Manchester United should show their extra attacking quality. With key players out for Wolves, Manchester United should have every chance of completing an unbeaten away season in the Premier League and feel good about themselves before taking on Villarreal in the Europa League Final.

MY PICKS: Brighton + 1 Asian Handicap

Chelsea to Win & Under 3.5 Goals

Newcastle United + 0.25 Asian Handicap

Leeds United - 1.25 Asian Handicap

Leicester City-Tottenham Hotspur Over 2.5 Goals

Liverpool Over 2.5 Team Goals

Manchester City - 1.25 Asian Handicap

Burnley 0 Asian Handicap

West Ham United & Over 1.5 Goals

Manchester United 0 Asian Handicap

Fantasy Football GameWeek 38

The final round of fixtures of the Fantasy Premier League game in the 2020/21 season are played this Sunday and that means Mini-Leagues can be won and lost at this late stage.

It has been a largely disappointing season for my team and I am going to need a really big week to crack into the top 100k, which has been my only realistic target for some time now.

My squad looks pretty set to have eleven starters on a weekend when manager's will give fringe players an opportunity and make surprising changes. We have seen that already over the last eight days and it does raise some questions as to what you should do with the remaining transfer, or transfers, you have left.

You don't have to look too deep to guess which teams will be targeted by those making transfers this week- the likes of Leeds United and West Ham United have good looking home games for attacking players, while Liverpool are in form and are another at home.

I am very likely going to have to take one final hit this weekend to just bring in a couple of players that could make the difference for me as I drop two Everton assets with a trip to an angry Manchester City to come. My feeling is that Manchester City will play a strong team with a week to prepare for the Champions League Final and Everton have simply not scored a lot of goals over the last month so there are better options out there to strengthen my eleven for this weekend.

Those three teams are the most likely ones I will target with my final transfers, although I am going to wait until as close to the deadline as possible in case any news is leaked as to who may be given a rest on the final day of the season. You would have to expect the likes of Liverpool, Chelsea, West Ham United and Leicester City to play strong teams with something to play for, but it can be a lot of guesswork at play and I can just wish you luck with your final decisions.

And after all is said and done, there will be a short rest period before attention turns to the Euro 2020 Tournament and a summer of Fantasy Football before we all go again in August.

Tennis Picks 2018 (May 23rd)

The week before any Grand Slam event can be tough to get a real read of because players are going to be focusing on keeping something in the tank for the upcoming Slam.

Of course the majority of those players expecting to challenge for the title at the French Open are not playing this week and it does mean we have some open draws.

I haven't found a lot of options over the first couple of days at the four tournaments with a number of players in the draws that would not normally be playing at this level. As we progress through to the latter stages of the tournaments we should get more familiar match ups and we have reached the Second Round on Wednesday which has produced some options to be backed.


Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova - 2.5 games v Natalia Vikhlyantseva: Two Russian players meet in a bid to find some form before the French Open as both Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and Natalia Vikhlyantseva have struggled on the clay courts.

Out of the two players there does seem to be more room for improvement from Pavlyuchenkova who has previously had some success on this surface.

Pavlyuchenkova has definitely had the tougher draws during the clay court season compared with Vikhlyantseva and the latter has not had the same quality wins as her compatriot has had.

I expect in this match Pavlyuchenkova will have more joy from the return of serve than she has had in her clay court matches so far. That isn't a surprise when facing the quality of servers she has seen, but Vikhlyantseva has not been able to get the best out of her serve on the clay courts and it should mean Pavlyuchenkova has some success.

Her own serve is a little more consistent and I will look for Pavlyuchenkova to win and cover on Wednesday.


Sam Stosur v Daria Gavrilova: This is a virtual pick 'em set by the layers and that says a lot about the declining numbers Sam Stosur has been producing in 2018 overall and on the clay courts.

At one time Stosur was one of the best clay courters on the WTA Tour and she has enjoyed considerable success on the surface, but she has struggled for consistency this season. One of the major issues has been the lack of impact on the return of serve which has put more pressure to get it right when serving and allowed opponents to take control of matches.

The return should have a better outing against the Daria Gavrilova serve which is a vulnerable shot and forces Gavrilova into tough matches regardless of the opponent. She did reach the Final in Strasbourg last season but generally Gavrilova has been a little hard to predict on the clay courts.

That Final ended in a loss to Stosur and Gavrilova had to take another in Prague on the clay courts this season when she couldn't continue after being taken into a deciding set.

There should be a number of breaks in this match, but I do think Stosur may still be the superior clay court player despite the declining form. It will be close and may need a decider but I will look fo the veteran Australian winning this match.

MY PICKS: Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova - 2.5 Games @ 1.85 William Hill (2 Units)
Sam Stosur @ 2.00 Paddy Power (2 Units)