Week 7 NFL Trend Report: Another Avalanche of Unders?

When I was putting this article together last week, I had an internal debate as to whether or not I had too many Under trends. I like to mix it up a little bit in terms of providing different interesting trends, so I settled on just four… and all four of those Unders hit, as it did in 12 of the 15 Week 6 games.

I guess the whole point of this piece is to provide NFL betting trends that are actionable as opposed to just big sexy numbers, so there will no longer be any internal debates as to whether or not I have too much of one specific type of trend – who needs variety anyway!

This week’s article once again contains a handful of Under trends as some teams just keep going under the number, and the market isn’t really reacting.

Fo…

NFL Best Bets and Player Props for Week 18: Mike Evans Scores (At Least) One More Touchdown

An entire regular season of sifting through NFL player props, and the roller coaster of emotions that comes with it, is in the rearview mirror as we’ve arrived at betting on Week 18 odds.

Hey, look at us. Who woulda thought? Not me.

However, there is still one problem with betting this final week of full NFL odds: It’s utter chaos.

Half of the games don’t matter. Then half of that remaining half only matters for one side. Teams with nothing to gain (contract incentives and statistical milestones excluded) can opt to sit stars out — or play them at a preseason level of action — while teams already looking ahead to next year won’t exactly be upset about one more L.

This causes prop markets to be delayed, as nobody knows who’s even suiti…

NFL Week 3 Weather & Odds: Hot and Rainy

Coincidently, the first day of fall coincides with the bulk of NFL games in Week 3. We bid goodbye to summer on Sunday, ushering in autumn and all of its crazy weather. 

As temperatures drop over the next few weeks, winds pick up and present the most disruptive element to the NFL odds and outcomes. What does that have in store for Week 3 NFL picks? Honestly, not that much.

I look at the extended forecasts for this week’s NFL venues and highlight how you should handicap the Week 3 NFL odds in my NFL Week 3 weather report.

Olivier Giroud: ‘My body is ready to play a few more years at the best level’

Olivier Giroud is a man making up for lost time. Six months ago the Chelsea striker was out in the cold and fretting about losing his place in the France squad before Euro 2020. Opportunities to impress Frank Lampard with his unselfish hold-up play had dried up and Giroud, a target for Bordeaux, Internazionale, Lazio and Tottenham, was desperate for a move.

When the January transfer window closed with Giroud still at Chelsea, Lampard promised him a fresh start. Tammy Abraham was struggling with an ankle injury and Michy Batshuayi had disappointed. Giroud, who had made two league starts all season, was back. Scoring on his return to the side against Tottenham in February was a good start, and he was in his element by the time he pitched in wi…

‘So much more than football’: Matildas midfielder Aivi Luik shaves head for brain tumour research

The full-time whistle had long been blown on the Matildas’ win over New Zealand when the emotion of Tuesday night reached its peak.

On an empty pitch at Canberra’s GIO Stadium, players from both teams watched on in support as midfielder Aivi Luik’s head was shaved as part of a fundraising effort for brain tumour research.

The 37-year-old had promised to go under the razor if she reached her target of $30,000 to honour her younger brother Noah Kerwick, 27, who was recently diagnosed with brain cancer.

Sam Kerr at the double as Matildas go back to back against New ZealandRead more

Having exceeded that amount after four days, she remained true to her word following Australia’s 3-1 win, …

Liverpool’s Luis Díaz begs for release of kidnapped father after scoring key goal

The Colombian footballer Luis Díaz has begged for the release of his father, who was kidnapped at gunpoint last month.

“Every second, every minute our anxiety grows,” the 26-year-old, who plays for Liverpool, said in a statement on Sunday. “My mother, my brothers and I are desperate, anxious and have no words to describe what we are feeling. This suffering will only end when we have him home with us.”

After scoring for his club at Luton on Sunday afternoon, Díaz lifted his shirt to reveal the words “freedom for papa” in Spanish.

The player’s parents were seized by leftwing guerrillas of the National Liberation Army (ELN) in their home town of Barrancas on 28 October.

Colo…

Scottie Scheffler collects fifth win of 2024 at Memorial

Scottie Scheffler won another tournament and solidified his No. 1 world ranking by shooting 2-over-par 74 on Sunday to win the Memorial Tournament in Dublin, Ohio. Scheffler held on to the lead despite challenges in tough final-round scoring conditions at Muirfield Village Golf Club. His 8-under 280 tournament total was good for a one-shot advantage on Collin Morikawa, who posted 71 on Sunday. It's Scheffler's fifth PGA Tour win this year, all since the beginning of March. The tournaments he's won are a sampling of the most prestigious on the PGA Tour: the Masters, the Players Championship and three signature events. The 27-year-old Texan will be one of the favorites at the U.S. Open this coming week at Pinehurst No. 2 in North Carolina. Canada's Adam Hadwin shot 7…

Chiefs rule out G Joe Thuney (pec), WR Skyy Moore (knee)

The Kansas City Chiefs ruled out All-Pro left guard Joe Thuney and wide receiver Skyy Moore for Sunday's AFC Championship Game against the Baltimore Ravens. Coach Andy Reid confirmed Friday that Thuney (pectoral), Moore (knee), nose tackle Derrick Nnadi (triceps) and reserve offensive lineman Prince Tega Wanogho (quad) will not play. Running back Isiah Pacheco (toe, ankle), safety Mike Edwards (concussion), linebacker Willie Gay (neck) and wide receiver Kadarius Toney (hip) are questionable for the game in Baltimore. Pacheco practiced Friday for the first time this week. Gay missed Friday's practice due to a neck spasm. Thuney, 31, was injured during last Sunday's 27-24 divisional playoff win at Buffalo. Moore, 23, has not played since Dec. 17. He was designated to r…

Presenting The 2019 Name Of The Year Bracket 

Regardless of whether the NET (NCAA Evaluation Tool) is actually better than the RPI (Rating Percentage Index), its intention is clear: to create a bracket with fewer surprises. “This will prevent the outliers,” said Gonzaga coach Mark Few, who served as a consultant during NET’s development, “There were teams and leagues that were able to trick the RPI, either intentionally or unintentionally. We have all the technology and analytics, and it was silly not to use it.” What does this have to do with names? While that other bracket tries to use data to mitigate its trademark Madness, we at the Name of the Year pledge to continue to do the opposite. We will seed the NOTY Tournament field based on impulse and gut feeling. We will not develop a NOTY Evaluation Tool. Will our bias s…

Why Your Team Sucks 2016: Minnesota Vikings

Some people are fans of the Minnesota Vikings. But many, many more people are NOT fans of the Minnesota Vikings. This 2016 Deadspin NFL team preview is for those in the latter group. Read all the previews so far here. And buy Drew’s new book here. Your team: Blair missed the kick. Your 2015 record: I don’t even remember because Blair missed the kick. Here… I don’t… Ugh, just… Look man, shit like this only happens when God wants to fuck you. This is the part where I disclose to you that I am a Vikings fan. That means no matter what I say on this website about any other team, or any other fans, or any other city, you can go right ahead and throw this goddamn kick right back in my face and I will be unable to respond. I am a deer in headlights when confronted with the absol…