Betting Picks

It was back in the first week of the NFL season when the Saints traveled to Minnesota and were humbled 29-19 by the Vikings, but how much stock should you put into that outcome? Sam Bradford was at quarterback for the Vikings in that victory, and former Vikings superstar Adrian Peterson was at running back for the Saints. Both are no longer filling those roles on either team.

Of all the games in the NFL Divisional Playoff round, none arrives with the intrigue of this game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Jacksonville Jaguars. In Week 5 of the regular season, the Jags hammered the Steelers 30-9 right in Pittsburgh's Heinz Field. In 2007, Jacksonville won in Pittsburgh during the regular season and again in the divisional playoffs, and history does have a way of repeating itself.

One of two races this weekend offering Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the top four finishers, the (G3) LeComte Stakes is set to go on Saturday from Fair Grounds Race course in New Orleans. The LeComte has drawn a full field of 14 to race one mile and 70 yards for a purse of $200,000.

The same two players who clashed in the Australian Open men's singles final a year ago are slated to do so again this year, according to the form charts. Rafael Nadal, last year's losing finalist, comes in as the top seed, while defending champion Roger Federer is the No. 2 seed. But that's a big step up the ladder from last year, when he opened as 17th seed.

To say that Tom Brady has owned the Tennessee Titans is a bit of an understatement. The New England Patriots quarterback is 6-1 lifetime against Tennessee and has beaten the Titans in their last six meetings. Factor in the Patriots' impressive 20-4 home playoff record, and that they haven't lost at home in postseason play since 2012, and it doesn't take a rocket scientist to pick the winner here.

No team in the NFL playoffs was performing better down the stretch than the Atlanta Falcons. The defending NFC champions are 7-2 in their last nine games. They took care of the NFC West champion Los Angeles Rams on the road in the wild card round and will look to do the same to the NFC East champion Philadelphia Eagles in the divisional playoff round, also on the road.

The 2017-18 English Premier League season has reached its 23rd week and it is looking like Manchester City have the title wrapped up. City are 15 points clear at the top of the table, but take on Liverpool this weekend so dropping points is a real possibility.

Continuing to embolden their global initiative, the NBA will contest its eighth game in London, England since 2011 as the Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics get set to do battle. But more than a marketing ploy and a chance to sell NBA products overseas, there's significant implications to this game. Both teams are enjoying very solid seasons and carried lengthy winning streaks with them as they crossed the pond.

The UK's most prestigious distance race on the flat is on the schedule this week in Bovada's future bets. Set to be run on June 21, 2018, the Ascot Gold Cup is open to horses age four and older, tasked with racing just over 2 miles and 3 furlongs on the Royal Ascot turf.