With Drew Brees jumping into the red-hot pickleball space and retired head coach Sean Payton putting his feet up (before picking out homes in Dallas), no one would have blamed the New Orleans Saints for tearing down the Mardi Gras float in 2022.

But, with veteran defensive coordinator Dennis Allen taking over the head coaching reigns and long-time Payton staffer Pete Carmichael calling the offense, it’s business as usual in the Big Easy. That means pushing for a postseason spot. 

The Saints’ NFL odds are split on the success of NOLA this season, with a break-even win total and the playoff props projecting a fight to the finish for New Orleans. Can the good times continue to roll in the Crescent City? We find out with our New Orleans Saints 202…

It hasn’t been pretty but the Baltimore Ravens are 8-3 and lead the AFC North. The Ravens will play their second divisional game in a row as they travel to Heinz Field to take on the Pittsburgh Steelers whose best result over their last three games was a tie versus the Detroit Lions. 

Can Lamar Jackson rebound after a four-interception game? Can the Ravens continue to ride lady luck to victory? Can the Steelers stop this freefall after getting blown out by the Bengals last week? Find out in our free picks and predictions between the Ravens vs. Steelers.

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The NFL’s international schedule continues in Week 5, with the somehow 3-1 New York Giants and the more understandably 3-1 Green Bay Packers meeting at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Green Bay and Aaron Rodgers are 7.5-point favorites in London, with oddsmakers tipping their hand as far as their feelings about New York in the NFL betting market. 

Our NFL player prop picks for the Giants vs. Packers check in on a pair of Green Bay skill position players, and a resurgent talent in New York’s backfield. 

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It’s undoubtedly the game of the week with the Miami Dolphins in Buffalo to take on the Bills.

This will be the stiffest test of the season so far for each of the division rivals as Miami looks to stake its claim as the new king of the AFC East, while Buffalo wants to prove it’s still the team to beat. NFL odds have the Bills short 2.5-point favorites while this game has the highest total of the week at 53.5.

The Fins came close to beating the Bills twice in Buffalo last season — losing by three in mid-December and three once again in a wild-card game where Skylar Thompson was the starter. Miami hasn’t had much success in Buffalo recently, winning just once in its last ten trips. 

Let’s dig into what: Here are my free NFL picks fo…

The Detroit Lions head to Soldier Field to face off against the Chicago Bears in NFL Week 14 odds on Sunday. The 9-3 Lions will look to build on their three-game lead atop the NFC North while the Bears are at the bottom of the division at 4-8. 

NFL odds for this divisional showdown have seen plenty of movement with the Over/Under opening at 45.5 before plummeting to 40.5 and then ticking back up to 43.5. Should you consider the volatile total or find another angle? I let you know with my best free NFL picks for Lions vs. Bears on Sunday, December 10.

Lions vs Bears odds

Lions vs Bears predictions

NFL weather reports on Tuesday projected messy weather for this contest with temperatures approaching zero…

This Saturday we have the Bears vs Bills. The Bears beat the Texans in the Hall of Fame game and come into this preseason game on the back of that win, however, this will be the first time we see the Bills.

Don’t miss my NFL picks Bears vs Bills predictions for Saturday, August 10. 

Bears vs Bills prediction

My best betBears moneyline (+105 at BetMGM)

My analysisAs always with preseason things are complicated and we need to see through coach speak and depth charts, in order to find out how things will shake out in each game. Ahead of this game, we know more about where the Bears are, than the Bills, having seen them beat the Texans 21-17 in the Hall of Fame game.

The most important thing in any preseason game is …

Media politics could not be more niche in Australia’s complex football landscape – and the message hardly muddier. For those operating in the comparatively small local scene, one currently battling sliding TV ratings and crowds, that can be both a blessing and a curse.

One striking advantage for journalists is the capacity to build close, trusting relationships with players, coaches, officials and other stakeholders. It is the kind of access about which counterparts working in the grand-scale, cut-throat world game in other countries can only dream.

Perth Glory reach agreement with blockchain trading firm over club’s saleRead more

Undercutting this severely under-utilised benefit (more on that later) is a slightl…

Lauren Hemp believes Manchester City have transformed since the turn of the year and Sunday’s visit of Chelsea to the Academy Stadium offers the chance to show the progress made since back-to-back defeats at the start of the season which have seen City fly under the radar in the Women’s Super League title race.

“You’ve seen a different side to Man City, too,” the forward says. “A more dominating side. We’ve beaten Arsenal, which shows that we are capable of [beating the top teams] and it’s important that we carry that on. It did take a little while for those coming in to get used to everyone, to get used to the style of play, to find different connections and work well together. That has grown over the season. And it’s a pe…

this is one of the most eagerly anticipated games of any season, and this year is no exception, with only one point separating the two teams. Arsene Wenger will be hoping Ferguson s men are both physically and mentally exhausted after their high profile victory over Man City, while Sir Alex Ferguson will also hope Wengers men are lacking in confidence after their shock defeat to Stoke in midweek.

Arsene Wenger will know a lot rests on this game the sort of game where fans and pundits alike tend to write off your season if a loss comes your way. There will be confidence in the Arsenal camp though, with many believing Arsenal to have their most gifted squad for years. There are a few injury problems, with Van Persie some way off a return, and the latest victim being the almost ev…

River Plate (Argentina) and Flamengo (Brazil) will collide in the 2019 Copa Libertadores final. For the first time ever, the decisive match will be hosted in a one-legged tie on a neutral venue. After years of two-legged finals, the Copa Libertadores will replicate the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Europa League system. This year, the venue will Estadio Nacional Julio Martinez Pradanos in Santiago, Chile.

First, let’s a dive into the history of both sides in the tournament, as well as their head-to-head record in CONMEBOL competitions. The first thing we must take into account is that both sides already know what it feels to lift South America’s biggest club trophy.

Los Millonarios have won it four times – in 1986, 1996, 2015 and 2017. In fact, River Plate wi…