Month: October 2024

The pirate ship was supposed to sink to the bottom of the NFC in the wake of Tom Brady’s retirement, but the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were extremely buoyant for NFL bettors, finishing the 2023 season 9-8 SU and 11-6 ATS.

Unlike last year, this season carries expectations after another NFC South title and strong postseason showing, including the reboot of Baker Mayfield. NFL odds have Tampa Bay’s win total at 7.5 (Over -150) and the look-ahead lines install the Bucs as point-spread favorites nine times.

Preseason prognostications vary for the Buccaneers. NFC South futures put them behind the new-look Falcons (+320 vs. -120), who are garnering overwhelming support to win the division by futures bettors (topping ticket and handle count). Yet, preview mags…

Erik ten Hag wants to topple Manchester City and turn Manchester United into the Premier League’s best once again. The Dutchman takes his side to the Etihad on Sunday 15 points behind their neighbours but believes United have the quality to be champions.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the club’s new minority owner, says his ambition is to knock City “off their perch” in the next three years but United have a lot of catching up to do. “We have to show ambition, we want to be the best. That is what United stands for,” Ten Hag said. “But at the same time, we know where we are now. We’ve also seen that there are moments where we go toe-to-toe, so that’s the belief we have as a team.

Jim Ratcliffe sets United’s stakes high for first M…

It was a strange and crazy baseball season, and one might wonder if any of this was worth it. Maybe it was, if you’re a San Diego Padres fan, or you just like seeing the Yankees tee off for 5 or 6 home runs a night. But for some guys, the 2020 coronavirus-shortened baseball season was a miserable failure. Here’s a list of guys who would have been better off had they just cancelled the whole thing. Jose Altuve credits: | source: Getty Images Altuve was on a clear path for Cooperstown, winning three batting titles and putting up four straight 200-hit seasons, making him a solid candidate to reach 3,000 hits. He stole bases, hit home runs and won a Gold Glove and an MVP. Then the Astros’ sign-stealing scandal rocked baseball, and then 2020 happened. He hit .219 with an OPS+ of 7…

The prospect of Sunday’s Euro 2020 final between England and Italy is a “tragic situation”, according to a priest at the Italian church in London. With a pained expression, he says: “I’m Italian, but I live in England and love English people, but now you have become our foes.”

The priest is so troubled by the upcoming game that he refuses to give his name. Speaking after giving a mass at St Peter’s church, in the heart of Little Italy in Clerkenwell, he adds: “England is the only team we don’t want to face. If we win, you’ll be sad and I don’t want the English people to be sad. If you win, I’ll be sad and you can’t console me.”

Lots of Italians in Little Italy are similarly torn. Giovanna…

Serie A leaders Napoli eased to a 3-0 home win over bottom side Cremonese, claiming their sixth consecutive league win.

Napoli took the lead in the 21st minute through winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia who kept the ball from going off the pitch and went on to finish his solo effort with a low shot into the bottom right corner. Victor Osimhen doubled their advantage shortly after the hour mark from close range, scoring in his sixth league game in a row to make it eight goals in 2023.

Vinícius Júnior and Marco Asensio steer Real Madrid past ValenciaRead more

Eljif Elmas sealed the win 11 minutes from time, after he was set up by Giovanni Di Lorenzo. Napoli are 16 points above second-placed Internazionale, who travel to Sa…

Forest clip Liverpool’s wings

A lot of the focus was on how Nottingham Forest clogged the midfield to frustrate Liverpool before bringing on two wingers to change the game for their first victory at Anfield in 55 years. What might have gone unnoticed were the performances of their full-backs Ola Aina and Àlex Moreno. Neither are household names, the former a free transfer from Torino and the latter on loan after underwhelming at Aston Villa. They were both excellent at Anfield against some of the Premier League’s finest wide players; Aina kept Luis Díaz quiet on the left and Cody Gakpo had no impact after replacing the Colombian, while Mohamed Salah up against Moreno put in one of his most und…

The Dallas Cowboys finally parted ways with Ezekiel Elliott at the beginning of the offseason, and he’s sitting on the open market available for any team in need of a veteran running back. Halfway through June, the free agent market dried up quickly on Elliott. There have been whispers about a potential return to Dallas at a much lower salary, but now those rumblings are getting louder. Were it up to most Cowboys players, Zeke would have never been cut from the roster. So they’d undoubtedly welcome him back with open arms. Aside from that, Big D might be Elliott’s most realistic option right now. Another realistic outcome for Elliott is that he might sit in the free agency pool until closer to the start of the season. He could be signed before training camps begin in late July, b…

The Miami Hurricanes, who have struggled to stay healthy lately, are set to host the Pittsburgh Panthers on Saturday afternoon in an Atlantic Coast Conference matchup. Miami (13-6, 4-4 ACC) has played several games in which at least one starter has been either limping or out. Wooga Poplar and Nijel Pack have missed two games each. Norchad Omier has missed one and Matthew Cleveland could not finish Miami's 73-61 win at Notre Dame on Wednesday. Cleveland, who is averaging 14.8 points and 5.8 rebounds, has yet to miss a game this season. But he is questionable for Saturday due to a lower-body injury. Miami is 9-2 at home, but the Hurricanes have lost two straight at its arena (against Louisville and Florida State). Miami hasn't won a home game since beating Clemson on Jan. 3. P…