Category: fanduel

Brescia vs Cosenza prediction, odds, pick, how to watch – 6/1/2023

June 1, 2023

Brescia and Cosenza meet in the Serie B! Catch the Serie B odds series here, featuring our Brescia-Cosenza prediction, odds, pick, and guide on how to watch.

Brescia finished in 16th place in Italy’s second division. Their 9-13-16 record is equal with today’s visitors, but they have a better record on goals scored. La Leonessa will not want to be relegated to Serie C alongside Perguia, SPAL, and Benevento.

Cosenza ended in 17th place after 38 league matches in Serie B. A 1-0 victory in the first leg ended the Wolves’ seven-game winless run. Cosenza will definitely impose itself to stay in  Serie B, alongside newly-promoted teams from Serie C.

Here are the Brescia-Cosenza soccer odds, courtesy of FanDuel. 

Serie B Odds: Brescia-Cosenza Odds

Brescia Calcio: +100

Cosenza Calcio: +260

Draw: +230

Over 2.5 Goals: +120

Under 2.5 Goals: -168

How to Watch Brescia vs. Cosenza

TV: N/A

Stream: Bet365, Onefootball

Time: 2:30 PM ET / 11:30 AM PT

*Watch soccer LIVE with fuboTV (click for a free trial)*

Why Brescia Can Beat Cosenza

Brescia’s Serie B status is in limbo when they play host to Cosenza Calcio in Thursday’s relegation playoff final at Stadio Mario Rigamonti. The Little Swallows were defeated 1-0 in the first leg, and they face demotion to the third tier if they do not reverse the deficit.

Having ended 16th in Serie B, Italian coach Daniele Gastaldello was aware of the challenge facing him over both encounters with Cosenza, who finished the regular season in 17th place.  Since his appointment in February, Gastaldello intended the team to veer away from relegation, but the 39-year-old has led the Little Swallows to three victories in 14 league games in the regular season. Now, Brescia’s home record of 6-6-7 with 17 goals scored will be tested in this do-or-die game.

Six of the last nine meetings between the clubs at Brescia have been victories for the hosts, giving the Little Swallows the psychological edge. Florian Aye will be looking to add to his tally of eight goals; the same is true with Falvio Bianchi (4) and Giacomo Olzer (3). Dimitri Bisoli is also looking to add to his record of three goals and four assists.

Massimo Bertagnoli, Federico Pace, Andrea Papetti, and Alexander Jallow are absent from this game for their injuries. Federico Viviani is also out as he serves his suspension. Brescia will need to match their season averages of 11.7 total shots, 1.4 big chances, 4.5 corner kicks,

Why Cosenza Can Beat Brescia

Cosenza is aware of their poor run at Thursday’s opponents, even though they landed the first punch after a 1-0 win over the side they visit. Cosenza, however, will need to suit up in their travel, as their 2-6-11 road record is the worst in Serie B and will be tested in this match.

Italian coach William Viali took charge of the Wolves in November, acquiring slightly better points per game than Gastaldello. With two wins on the road all season, Viali’s team has their work cut out to get a result at Brescia due to statistically having the competition’s worst away record. Cosenza has only scored 10 goals in 19 away games.

Cosenza’s first win in the last nine face-offs with Brescia came in the first leg. Despite a 43% ball possession rate, Cosenza took advantage of their 11 total shots and three corner kicks to produce the only goal of the game. Marco Nasti’s effort in the 70th minute put the Rossoblu ahead of one goal in the two legs.

Lupi is not fancied to come out on top on Thursday, having lost on their recent visit to Brescia — a 2-1 loss in early May. However, the Silani can look back at their 2022 fixtures with Brescia, where they forced deadlocks with the Lions.

Only Mauro Zarate is absent for Cosenza, who is dealing with a ruptured cruciate ligament. Viali will be looking toward the squad’s forwards and midfielders to lead the offense. Marcos Nasti leads the team with five goals. Christian D’Urso leads with four goals and five assists. Marco Brescianni and Manuel Marras each have four goal involvements while Aldo Florenzi has three goal contributions.

Cosenza would need to match or exceed their league averages of 10.4 total shots, 1.2 big chances, 6.2 successful dribbles, and 4.7 corner kicks. They would need to improve in ball possession (46%) and duels won (48.1%) while lessening their lost possessions (138.7), offsides (1.8), fouls (13.8), and yellow cards (2.6).

Final Brescia-Cosenza Prediction & Pick

Brescia and Cosenza are equally matched in Serie B, but only one of them will remain in this league. Brescia’s home record far outweighs Cosenza’s road record. A one-goal deficit will surely be overturned and the Lions will get the win over the Wolves.

Final Brescia-Cosenza Prediction & Pick: Brescia (+100), Over 2.5 goals (+120)

The post Brescia vs Cosenza prediction, odds, pick, how to watch – 6/1/2023 appeared first on ClutchPoints.

VfB Stuttgart vs Hamburger SV prediction, odds, pick, how to watch – 6/1/2023

June 1, 2023

Stuttgart and Hamburger meet in the Bundesliga relegation/promotion playoffs! Catch the Bundesliga odds series here, featuring our Stuttgart-Hamburger prediction, odds, pick, and guide on how to watch.

Stuttgart finished the Bundesliga with a 7-12-15 record, occupying the 16th spot in Germany’s top flight. Stuttgart went ahead of FC Schalke 04 and Hertha Berlin, who are now relegated to the second division.

Hamburger SV ended the 2. Bundesliga with a 20-6-8 record, which puts the team in third place. Hamburger has a chance to be promoted alongside FC Heidenheim and Darmstadt 98, who both finished with 67 points.

Here are the Stuttgart-Hamburger soccer odds, courtesy of FanDuel. 

Bundesliga Odds: Stuttgart-Hamburger Odds

Vfb Stuttgart: -170

Hamburger SV: +380

Draw: +300

Over 2.5 Goals: -180

Under 2.5 Goals: +128

How to Watch Stuttgart vs. Hamburger

TV: N/A

Stream: ESPN+, Onefootball

Time: 2:45 PM ET / 11:45 AM PT

*Watch soccer LIVE with fuboTV (click for a free trial)*

Why Stuttgart Can Beat Hamburger

Stuttgart dropped to third from bottom in the top flight after a 1-1 draw with Hoffenheim on the final day. VFL Bochum secured a 3-0 win against Bayer Leverkusen to secure 14th place while FC Augsburg was fortunate to stay in 15th place despite a 2-0 loss to Borussia Monchengladbach.

Given Die Schwaben were propping up the rest of the table when Sebastian Hoeneß was brought in to replace Bruno Labbadia as head coach with eight games remaining, it is a lifeline they can probably just about live with. Stuttgart has only lost once since and is unbeaten in four home matches under the former Bayern Munich reserves boss. Stuttgart only has seven wins and 12 draws in 34 Bundesliga matches, where they scored 45 goals and earned 33 points.

Stuttgart will be also looking to find inspiration in their deep run in the DFB Pokal. Stuttgart battled Dynamo Dresden, Arminia Bielefeld, Paderborn, and Nurnberg before losing to Eintracht Frankfurt in the semifinals. With the first leg to be hosted at home, Stuttgart will be trying to build from their 5-6-6 home record at the Mercedes Benz Arena, where they have scored 23 goals yet hold a +1 goal differential.

The personnel concerns ahead of the play-off first leg for Stuttgart are Thomas Kastanaras and Dan-Axel Zagadou. Fabian Bredlow is also in a doubtful status.

Serhou Guirassy has scored five times on Hoeneß’s management, making it 11 league goals since his return to German football, and will lead the line a day after making his loan deal from Rennes permanent. Tiago Tomas, who has three goals and three assists, could be rotated into the attack. Wataru Endo, Chris Fuhrich, and Silas Katompa Mvumpa will also be looking to add to each of their five-goal tallies. Borna Sosa remains the top assist-maker for Stuttgart with seven.

Why Hamburger Can Beat Stuttgart

The Dinosaurs looked destined for automatic promotion on the final matchday of the Bundesliga 2 season, having beaten Sandhausen 1-0 to go second, with Heidenheim trailing in their game at Jahn Regensburg. However, two injury-time Heidenheim goals dashed those HSV hopes long after the full-time whistle in Sandhausen, dropping them back to third.

The Dinos, who have been fighting it out in the second tier since being relegated for the first time in 2018, are contesting their second straight playoff. They won the first leg away to Hertha Berlin 1-0 this time last year, before suffering a decisive 2-0 loss at the Volksparkstadion.

HSV finished third in the 2 Bundesliga with a 20-6-8 record, leading the league with 70 goals. Hamburger also made 52 assists and had a +25 goal differential after tallying 14.9 total shots, 5.3 corner kicks, and 2.1 goals per game on 58.6% ball possession. The Dinosaurs have the best road record in the league, posting a 9-3-5 tally and scoring 32 away goals.

Head coach Tim Walter – also a former Bayern reserves boss – will be putting his best XI on the field without several key players. Noah Katterbach, Laszlo Benes, Andras Nemeth, and Omar Megeed are out as they are dealing with their injuries, while Mario Vuskovic remains suspended for his doping ban.

Robert Glatzel will be key to the Red Shorts’ prospects of securing a promotion at this time, after scoring a team-leading 19 goals across the regular Bundesliga 2 campaign. HSV can also count on midfielder Ludovit Reis and forward Bakery Jatta, who have combined for 13 goals and seven assists. Ransford Yeboah Konigsdorffer has eight goals in the league while Jean-Luc Dompe leads the team with 10 assists.

The return leg at HSV’s Volksparkstadion is on Monday, 5 June. HSV will be trying to match their averages of 16.0 tackles, 7.9 interceptions, 16.5 clearances, and 3.3 goalkeeper saves which led to 10 clean sheets to make this match competitive.

Final Stuttgart-Hamburger Prediction & Pick

Stuttgart does have a decent record when playing at home, but the HSV has been hungry for promotion and will be looking to pull an upset. A high-scoring game is expected but HSV will impose their dominant road record.

Final Stuttgart-Hamburger Prediction & Pick: Hamburger SV (+380), Over 2.5 goals (-180)

The post VfB Stuttgart vs Hamburger SV prediction, odds, pick, how to watch – 6/1/2023 appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Seattle Sounders vs SJ Earthquakes prediction, odds, pick, how to watch – 5/31/2023

June 1, 2023

The Sounders and the Earthquakes meet in the MLS! Catch the MLS odds series here, featuring our Sounders-Earthquakes prediction, odds, pick, and guide on how to watch.

The Seattle Sounders (8-2-5) ranks in the top four of USA’s Major League Soccer, but they had just two wins in the past seven games in all tournaments. Seattle will be looking to bounce back at home and build on their 1-0 win against New York Red Bulls.

The Quakes (5-4-5) have been one of the biggest surprises this season, currently sixth in the Western Conference. The Quakes are also in bad form, getting only one win in the last seven fixtures. San Jose is looking to build some momentum from their 1-1 draw against FC Dallas.

Here are the Sounders-Earthquakes soccer odds, courtesy of FanDuel. 

MLS Odds: Sounders-Earthquakes Odds

Seattle Sounders FC: -150

San Jose Earthquakes: +370

Draw: +270

Over 2.5 Goals: -122

Under 2.5 Goals: +100

How to Watch Sounders vs. Earthquakes

TV: N/A

Stream: MLS Pass on Apple TV, Bet365

Time: 10:30 PM ET / 7:30 PM PT

*Watch soccer LIVE with fuboTV (click for a free trial)*

Why Sounders Can Beat Earthquakes

Seattle Sounders edged a tight encounter with New York Red Bulls last weekend, with Jordan Morris securing the early goal in 22 minutes from an assist by Leo Chu. The Sounders had eight total shots and seven corner kicks in the game, but the game turned out to be a physical one, as the team committed 19 fouls in the game. Joao Paulo picked up an indirect red card while Cody Bker and Jackson Ragen picked up yellow cards.

The Sounders have now won two of their last seven matches across all competitions while scoring only five goals and conceding eight. With 26 points from 15 matches, Seattle Sounders remain on top of the Western Conference, edging out Saint Louis City and LA FC by just one point, but they have played more games. Seattle currently has the fourth-best record in all teams in the MLS, where their 8-2-5 record saw them blast 21 goals and give up 13. Seattle’s home form stands at 5-1-2, where they scored 13 goals and gave up only four.

The Sounders have just lost five games so far, but three of those defeats came in the last seven fixtures. The hosts will be looking to pick a point or three in this match as they will only have to focus on the US Open Cup. The Sounders defeated San Diego Loyal before losing to LA Galaxy in the Round of 32.

For Brian Schmetzer’s squad, there will be a few absences. Jordan Morris, Cody Baker, and Obed Vargas are out while Cristian Roldan and Ethan Dobbelaere are questionable in this game.

Jordan Morris leads the team with nine goals, but there will be others who will step up in his absence. Raul Ruidiaz and Heber are tied for second with two goals. Leo Chu has picked up five assists, while Nicolas Lodeiro has three dimes. 12 players have picked up a goal or an assist for the Rave Green. Seattle should match or exceed their averages of 12.4 total shots, 5.7 corner kicks, and 1.4 goals per game on a 56.8% ball possession to deliver a win.

Why Earthquakes Can Beat Sounders

The Quakes are having a completely different season after 14 games, earning 19 points to continue on their good start in the MLS. The Quakes rank fifth in the West, trailing Seattle, Saint Louis City, Los Angeles FC, and Dallas. For all their success this season, San Jose still has a -1 goal differential, scoring 18 goals while conceding 19.

Coach Luchi Gonzalez has not only improved this team’s mentality, but he has also gotten his players to employ a highly skillful and successful offensive approach, which has recently paid dividends. In the past seven games, the Quakes shared the spoils with Austin FC (2-2) and FC Dallas (1-1) while getting losses to Real Salt Lake (3-1), LA Galaxy (2-1), and LA FC (2-1). Their only victory in that stretch was a 2-1 win over LA FC, where Cristian Espinoza secured two goals. The Quakes managed to pull off the victory despite getting 40% ball possession and making only three shots on target and four corner kicks.

However, the Quakes are still struggling on the road. Through seven matches in all competitions, they are yet to pick up a road victory, losing five times and conceding in every match. The 15 goals conceded away and -8 goal differential in league play puts them in the worst road record in the MLS. Along with Vancouver, Toronto, New York City, and Houston, the Quakes

Carlos Akapo, Nathan, Jonathan Mensah, Niko Tsakiris, and Cade Cowell are out for the Quakes while Paul Marie is questionable as he deals with a knee issue.

Cristian Espinoza should continue spearheading the attack for the Quakes, as he looks to add to his eight-goal and three-assist tallies. Jeremy Ebobisse is second in the team with five goals while Jamiro Monteiro has two assists. Defender Carlos Akapo has one goal and one assist so far.

Final Sounders-Earthquakes Prediction & Pick

Seattle is back in their home turf and they will be building their winning streak again. San Jose will still find it hard to find their first road victory.

Final Sounders-Earthquakes Prediction & Pick: Seattle Sounders (-150), Over 2.5 goals (-122)

The post Seattle Sounders vs SJ Earthquakes prediction, odds, pick, how to watch – 5/31/2023 appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Vancouver Whitecaps vs Houston Dynamo prediction, odds, pick, how to watch – 5/31/2023

June 1, 2023

Whitecaps and Dynamo meet in the MLS! Catch the MLS odds series here, featuring our Whitecaps-Dynamo prediction, odds, pick, and guide on how to watch.

Vancouver (4-5-5) had its two-game winning streak with clean sheets come to an end at the hands of Saint Louis City. The Canadian team’s quest in the CONCACAF Champions League was ended by LA FC weeks ago. Vancouver remains in contention for the Canadian Championship and the MLS.

The Dynamo (5-3-5) is building on its three-game unbeaten run in all competitions after getting 1-0 defats to Seattle and Minnesota. The Houston-based team is still trying to make a deep run in the US Open Cup while also maintaining a top-nine-or-better record in the Western Conference.

Here are the Whitecaps-Dynamo soccer odds, courtesy of FanDuel. 

MLS Odds: Whitecaps-Dynamo Odds

Vancouver Whitecaps FC: -150

Houston Dynamo FC: +360

Draw: +270

Over 2.5 Goals: -136

Under 2.5 Goals: +112

How to Watch Whitecaps vs. Dynamo

TV: N/A

Stream: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, Bet365, TSN5

Time: 10:30 PM ET / 7:30 PM PT

*Watch soccer LIVE with fuboTV (click for a free trial)*

Why Whitecaps Can Beat Dynamo

Vancouver currently holds the 19th-best record among 29 teams in Major League Soccer. The Whitecaps are in eighth place in the Western Conference, good enough for a spot in the qualification playoffs against Austin FC. The Canadian-based team has a 4-5-5 record, scoring 19 goals and acquiring 17 points in 14 games.

The Whitecaps managed to squeeze two wins out of the last five. Vancouver secured a 2-0 win against Seattle Sounders, courtesy of a Pedro Vite goal and a Stefan Frei own-goal. Vancouver is also set to appear in the Canadian Championship final against CF Montreal after routing York United in the quarterfinals (4-1) and Pacific FC (3-0) in the semifinals. After scoring 7-3 on aggregate against Honduras club Real CD Espana, the Whitecaps have been put out of the CONCACAF Champions League by Los Angeles FC. LA FC scored 3-0 on both legs of the quarterfinals.

However, the Whitecaps also lost to Portland Timbers, FC Dallas, and Saint Louis City in the last five games, scoring once in each game. This brings the Whitecaps’ tally of 17 goals conceded this season, but they still maintain a +2 goal differential, garnering 19 goals and 11 assists.

The Blue-and-White must need to maintain their offensive metrics of 14.8 total shots, 7.0 corners, and 1.4 goals per game on a 52.1% ball possession rate. They should also sharpen up on the defensive end, as they are also making decent matrices of 17.7 tackles, 10.5 interceptions, 16.8 clearances, and 2.8 saves per game along with five clean sheets.

The Village will be without defender Ali Ahmed, who is out with a concussion.

Coach Vanni Sartini should continue relying on Bryan White, who has five goals already. Julian Gressel will be looking to add to his tally of one goal and five assists; the same goes for Simon Becher who has four goals and one assist. 11 players have picked up at least one goal or assist for the Whitecaps. The Whitecaps are looking to improve their 4-2-1 home record at the BC Place, where they have scored 13 goals and surrendered only five goals.

Why Dynamo Can Beat Whitecaps

The Dynamo currently boasts the 18th-best record in the MLS, garnering a 5-3-5 record across 13 games. Aside from the USA’s top flight, the Dynamo remains in the US Open Cup and is set to take Chicago Fire in the quarterfinals.

The Orange Crush is currently on a three-game unbeaten run after a string of 1-0 defeats to Seattle Sounders and Minnesota United. El Naranja forced a 1-1 draw against FC Dallas, wherein Thorleifur Úlfarsson forced a goal to equal Jader Obrian’s effort. The Dynamo took revenge against MUFC after scoring 4-0 in full-time, with Corey Baird delivering a hat-trick and an assist to Ibrahim Aliyu. Houston’s recent home game against Austin FC resulted in a 2-1 win, where  Hector Herrera and Ivan Franco appeared in the scoresheet to outshine Gyasi Zardes’ first goal in 22 minutes.

Houston is currently seventh in the Western Conference, good enough for a placement in the playoffs. The Dynamo’s away form has been horrendous this season, accounting for the second-worst record in the MLS as they have only notched two draws and four defeats in the six games played on the road. To add, they have only scored four goals and surrendered 10.

Ben Olsen will be trying to field his best team but he will do so without some key players. Ifunanyachi Achara, Teenage Hadebe, and Tate Schmitt are out for their injuries while Daniel Steres is questionable as he deals with a hip injury.

Amine Bassi is set to lead the offensive line with five goals, while Hector Herrera looks to add to his tally of three goals and two assists. Daniel Steres has one goal and one assist while Corey Baird has two dimes. Ivan Franco also has two goal involvements. The Dynamo will need to tally 10.6 total shots, 4.5 corner kicks, 10.5 successful dribbles, and 1.0 goals per game, and they remain perfect in the penalty spot (4-4).

Final Whitecaps-Dynamo Prediction & Pick

The Whitecaps have been struggling as of late, but they have been much better in the offensive aspect. The over is expected to be hit but Vancouver will be looking to please its home fans.

Final Whitecaps-Dynamo Prediction & Pick: Vancouver Whitecaps (-150), Over 2.5 goals (-136)

The post Vancouver Whitecaps vs Houston Dynamo prediction, odds, pick, how to watch – 5/31/2023 appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Heat vs. Nuggets Game 1 prediction, odds, pick, how to watch – 6/1/2023

June 1, 2023

The NBA Finals begin Thursday night with the Miami Heat (44-38) visiting the Denver Nuggets (53-29). Game 1 tips off at 8:30 p.m. ET. The eight-seeded Heat represent the Eastern Conference, while the top-seeded Nuggets represent the West. Below we continue our NBA odds series with a Heat-Nuggets Game 1 prediction, pick, and how to watch.

Here are the Heat-Nuggets NBA odds, courtesy of FanDuel

NBA Playoffs Odds: Heat-Nuggets Odds

Miami Heat: +9 (-110)

Denver Nuggets: -9 (-110)

Over: 219.5 (-108)

Under: 219.5 (-112)

How To Watch Heat vs. Nuggets

TV: ABC, ESPN, ESPN Deportes

Stream: ESPN+

Time: ET/PT

*See how to watch Heat-Nuggets LIVE with fuboTV (click for a free trial)*

Why The Heat Could Cover The Spread

Miami has been the single-biggest story of the postseason. With their Game 7 win against the Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals, the Heat not only became just the second No. 8 seed to make the Finals but they avoided becoming the first team to blow a 3-0 lead in playoff history. Miami completely flipped the script this postseason – going 12-5 against the spread after they had the worst cover rate in the regular season. That said, if they want to cover in Game 1 they’re going to need more of what got them here: defense, three-point shooting, and star play.

Miami featured a strong defense all season long as they ranked second in points allowed. While their points allowed are up slightly, they’ve still allowed just 107.4 PPG thus far. They’ve been especially stingy when defending the three – allowing just 12.3 made threes per game at a 32.5% clip. On the flip side, Miami has shot the three incredibly well themselves. Their 39% clip is the highest of any team in the postseason, while their 13.1 threes per game rank fifth. With four players averaging at least 2.1 threes per game, the Heat spread the floor and consistently put pressure on the opposing defense.

Perhaps the single-biggest reason Miami is here in the first place is Jimmy Butler. The six-time All-Star has taken his game up a level this postseason – averaging 28.5 PPG, 7.0 RPG, and 5.7 APG. While fatigue looked to slow him down towards the end of the Eastern Conference Finals, Butler’s playoff track record makes him incredibly difficult to bet against.

Looking at some of the trends, the Heat look to have a strong chance to cover given the large spread. Over the last 32 years, 7-9 point underdogs in the NBA Finals hold a strong 18-9-1 record against the spread. This pairs nicely with Denver’s recent struggles covering large spreads. Over their last 12 games, the Nuggets are just 4-8 against the spread when favorited by more than seven points.

Why The Nuggets Could Cover The Spread

Despite entering the playoffs as the Western Conference’s No. 1 seed, the Nuggets making the Finals was something of an upset. They entered with the sixth-best odds to win it all despite cruising through the regular season. Denver has faced little opposition thus far and is the overwhelming favorite to win both the series and Game 1. While the Heat pose a tough matchup, Nikola Jokic hasn’t lost against them over the last three seasons – compiling a 6-0 record.

While the Nuggets have a multitude of options to rely on, they will go where Nikola Jokic and Jamaal Murray take them. Both have been incredible this postseason – with Jokic leading the way with 29.9 PPG, 13.3 RPG, and 10.3 APG. The two-time MVP currently holds -340 odds to win Finals MVP – the biggest favorite in the past 20 years. His partner in crime, Murray, has been their biggest X-factor, however, and will play a major role in any potential cover in Game 1. He quickly erased any post-injury concerns and has averaged 27.7 PPG and 6.1 APG while shooting a blistering 40% from deep.

If you’re looking to bet on Finals’ trends, home teams are 21-11 against the speed and 25-7 straight up in Game 1 over the last 32 years. Since 2013, home favorites of 4.5 or more points in the Finals are 21-6 straight up and 18-8-1 against the spread.

Final Heat-Nuggets Prediction & Pick

The public money will likely come in heavily for the Heat given the large spread and casual sentiment for the underdog. However, we can’t ignore the significant rest difference these teams have. Denver will have nine days of rest in between their games… compared to Miami’s two days of rest. The Heat historically will face an uphill battle given that teams coming off a Game 7 into a Game 1 are 33-53 (38%) all-time. Additionally, teams with a 5+ day rest advantage in their first home game are 8-1 all-time – with the lone loss coming at the hands of Michael Jordan.

While trends aren’t the end-all, be-all, the Nuggets are also just a better team than the Heat and haven’t had any trouble with them in the Jokic era. Consequently, I’m all over the Nuggets in Game 1 despite the intimidating spread.

Final Heat-Nuggets Prediction & Pick: Denver Nuggets -9 (-110)

The post Heat vs. Nuggets Game 1 prediction, odds, pick, how to watch – 6/1/2023 appeared first on ClutchPoints.

MLB Odds: Yankees vs. Mariners prediction, odds, pick, how to watch – 5/31/2023

May 31, 2023

The New York Yankees take on the Seattle Mariners. Our MLB odds series has our Yankees Mariners prediction and pick. Find out how to watch Yankees Mariners.

The tide is no longer flowing against the New York Yankees. The Yankees were in last place in April, even though they did not have a terrible record. The reality for the Yankees and the rest of the American League East is that it’s a battle for survival in what is clearly the toughest division in this 2023 Major League Baseball campaign. Teams in the East are going to get knocked around by competitors because the division is so deep and tough. The Yankees took their punches early, but they knew they still had five full months of baseball left at the end of April. At the end of May, things look a whole lot better. The Yankees are solidly in third place in the East, which might not seem like a big deal, but it certainly is. Finishing third in the East, if achieved, will almost certainly put the Yankees in the playoffs. New York is getting MVP-level play from Aaron Judge once again. This week in Seattle, he has homered in each game against the Mariners. Monday night, he robbed the M’s of a home run with his big frame in right field, leaping up to make a catch a smaller outfield would not havew been able to pull off. The Yankees have to feel good where they are after winning the first two games of this series. They have been beating up on teams from the West Coast, having won a series against the San Diego Padres over the weekend before flying to Seattle and mopping up the Mariners.

Here are the Yankees-Mariners MLB odds, courtesy of FanDuel. 

MLB Odds: Yankees-Mariners Odds

New York Yankees: +1.5 (-178)

Seattle Mariners: -1.5 (+146)

Over: 7.5 (-114)

Under: 7.5 (-106)

How To Watch Yankees vs. Mariners

TV: YES Network (Yankees) / Root Sports (Mariners) / MLB Extra Innings

Stream: MLB.tv

Time: 9:40 p.m. ET/6:40 p.m. PT

*Watch Yankees-Mariners LIVE on fuboTV (click for a free trial)*

Why The Yankees Could Cover The Spread

The Yankees are a good play here for a number of reasons. First, they’re simply a better team than the Mariners. They hit better, they have better players. They’re experienced. They know what it takes to win. Second, they’re a hotter team. They have roared through the first two games of this series and put Seattle on its heels. The Mariners swept four games from the Oakland A’s last week to move up in the standings, but they can’t play Oakland all the time.

The Yankees should cover because they can stack runs in a hurry, and also because they can get to Seattle starter George Kirby, who is generally solid but who doesn’t always have command of his fastball. New York can get to him.

Why The Mariners Could Cover The Spread

The Mariners are going to put up a fight here. They do not want to get swept on their home field. There is too much talent on this team to get swept at home. With George Kirby going against New York starter Clarke Schmidt, the Mariners have to feel they have the pitching advantage and can turn that into not just a win, but a multi-run win, over a New York team which is bound to regress to a certain extent.

Final Yankees-Mariners Prediction & Pick

The Yankees are the better team, getting a run and a half. Simple.

Final Yankees-Mariners Prediction & Pick: Yankees +1.5 

The post MLB Odds: Yankees vs. Mariners prediction, odds, pick, how to watch – 5/31/2023 appeared first on ClutchPoints.

MLB Odds: Rockies vs. Diamondbacks prediction, odds, pick, how to watch – 5/31/2023

May 31, 2023

The Colorado Rockies take on the Arizona Diamondbacks. Our MLB odds series has our Rockies Diamondbacks prediction and pick. Find out how to watch Rockies Diamondbacks.

The Arizona Diamondbacks have restored order, and they continue to show a trait every playoff-worthy baseball team must regularly display over the course of a 162-game season: resilience. This team bounces back whenever it gets knocked around. The D-Backs go through rough patches just like every other MLB team, but unlike some of the weaker teams in baseball or the more disappointing clubs in the sport, they regroup. They have an answer.

Whereas the San Diego Padres and Cleveland Guardians, just to name a few teams, are hugely disappointing through the first third of the MLB season (roughly 54 games have been played out of 162), the Diamondbacks are not several games under .500. They’re almost 10 games over .500, which puts them clearly in first place among all National League wild card teams. Why have the Diamondbacks done so much better than the Padres, and the St. Louis Cardinals, and the New York Mets, and the Philadelphia Phillies, all playoff teams from last year? They don’t go into tailspins. They minimize the damage.

The Diamondbacks lost in Philadelphia last week and then lost twice to the Boston Red Sox over the weekend, but then they beat Boston on Sunday to avoid getting swept. That’s an example of damage control right there. Then they won two straight from the Colorado Rockies in this current series. Ace Zac Gallen was typically brilliant on the mound on Tuesday in a comfortable win. That’s why Arizona has the top wild card spot in the National League.

Here are the Rockies-Diamondbacks MLB odds, courtesy of FanDuel. 

MLB Odds: Rockies-Diamondbacks Odds

Colorado Rockies: +1.5 (-134)

Arizona Diamondbacks: -1.5 (+112)

Over: 10 (-106)

Under: 10 (-114)

How To Watch Rockies vs. Diamondbacks

TV: AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain (Rockies) / Bally Sports Arizona (Diamondbacks) / MLB Extra Innings

Stream: MLB.tv

Time: 9:40 p.m. ET/6:40 p.m. PT

*Watch Rockies-Diamondbacks LIVE on fuboTV (click for a free trial)*

Why The Rockies Could Cover The Spread

The Diamondbacks will send starter Tommy Henry to the mound. If you’re going to beat the Diamondbacks in 2023, you do not want to face Gallen or Merrill Kelly. You do want to face Tommy Henry. He’s a serviceable and competent pitcher, but he’s not elite the way Gallen is, and he doesn’t command the strike zone the way Kelly does when at his best. There is a definite gap in quality between Henry and the top Arizona starters. Colorado can strike early and often and grab a win in this series.

Why The Diamondbacks Could Cover The Spread

The Diamondbacks keep remaining in place as the top National League wild card team. We keep waiting for a week or a 10-day period in which this team unravels and exposes itself as being too young, too unsteady, too unsure of itself. That stretch hasn’t happened yet. The Diamondbacks aren’t a juggernaut, but they do score a lot of runs. They’re in the top five of the National League. Corbin Carroll looks like the favorite to be the 2023 National League Rookie of the Year. This team does a lot of things well, and when things go bad, this team recovers. Consider the Monday game in this series in Phoenix. The D-Backs quickly fell behind by four runs but then answered with five runs, including a Pavin Smith three-run homer. That response — in what eventually became a 7-5 win — typifies how the D-Backs have gone about their business this season. They’re a much better team than the Rockies, and they won’t get rattled.

Final Rockies-Diamondbacks Prediction & Pick

The Diamondbacks are a good team, but expecting them to sweep Colorado might be tricky. Lean Arizona for sure, but don’t put too much of an investment into this one.

Final Rockies-Diamondbacks Prediction & Pick: Diamondbacks -1.5 

The post MLB Odds: Rockies vs. Diamondbacks prediction, odds, pick, how to watch – 5/31/2023 appeared first on ClutchPoints.

3 reasons why the Nuggets have the best odds to win 2023 NBA Finals

May 31, 2023

The Denver Nuggets will officially be partaking in their first-ever NBA Finals on Thursday with the entire basketball watching! Join us for our NBA odds series, where our three reasons why the Nuggets have the best odds to win the 2023 NBA Finals prediction and pick will be made.

In 47 years of existence within the NBA, the Denver Nuggets have never made it this far in the postseasons UNTIL now. After taking care of business as advertised against the Minnesota Timberwolves, overcoming the depthless Phoenix Suns, and sweeping the “media-favorite” Los Angeles Lakers, the Nuggets have officially arrived with a championship in the horizon. With that being said, what do the Nuggets need to accomplish in order to reach the mountaintop of professional basketball?

Here are the NBA odds, courtesy of FanDuel

Miami Heat: +350

Denver Nuggets: -460

Nikola Jokic, Nikola Jokic, and some more Nikola Jokic

It’s basically as simple as that. Over the course of the playoff gauntlet that Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets have had to square off with, Jokic has made easy work with matchups against Rudy Gobert, Deandre Ayton, and even Anthony Davis to name a few, and it shouldn’t be expected that he is going to slow down anytime soon.

While most of the media like to poke fun at the fact that Jokic couldn’t jump onto a curb, his game certainly doesn’t require jumping out of the gym or even being athletic. Similar to Peyton Manning during his football playing days, Nikola Jokic’s overall IQ on the basketball court is second to none. Although Bam Adebayo is an excellent player, he will prove to be no match for Jokic’s masterful play. Simply put, Miami has nobody that can match up down low with the crafty Serbian who not to mention is in the middle of a historic playoff stretch.

A Home-Court Advantage Unlike any Other/Extended Rest

At first glance, the Denver Nuggets have been hands down one of the toughest teams to defeat on their home floor. Not only does the high altitude of the “Mile High City” at 5,280 feet above sea level truly test an individual’s lung capacity, but Denver is an astounding 42-7 and are also undefeated at Ball Arena.

In addition, the Heat could be in for a rude awakening after having played just three days prior to the NBA Finals in a Game Seven victory on the road in Boston. For Denver, the Nuggets haven’t played in nine days since sweeping the Los Angeles Lakers on May 22nd. Combine the fact that Miami may be gasping for air in the high altitude and coming off of short rest is the perfect recipe for Denver to tire out the Heat as this series marches along.

Reliable Shooting

The third and final reason why the Denver Nuggets have the best odds to win the NBA Finals by a long shot will be thanks to their blistering shooting ways from anywhere on the floor. Believe it or not, but the Nuggets have quickly made a name for themselves in this postseason with their red-hot shooting prowess where they have shot 38% from three-point range. Even more so, Denver is extremely efficient from inside the paint as well as they’ve connected on 49% of attempts. Although Miami has also been insanely hot from beyond the arc and on the floor, banking on the Nuggets to cool down is most likely not a good thing to put your hopes in if you’re the Heat.

Alas, combined with their sturdy and reliable depth, be on the lookout for Denver’s role players to come up clutch offensively. While the Joker is converting a lights-out 47% from deep, Jamal Murray, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and Michael Porter Jr. are all shooting above 40% in lethal fashion. Not to mention, the Nuggets even have stepped up their game in these playoffs from the charity stripe with an overall 82% mark. To put it concisely, there are no weak points that exist within the high-powered nature of the Denver Nuggets offense.

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MLB Odds: Twins vs Astros prediction, odds, pick, how to watch – 5/31/2023

May 31, 2023

The Minnesota Twins take on the Houston Astros. Our MLB odds series has our Twins Astros prediction and pick. Find out how to watch Twins Astros.

The Minnesota Twins and Houston Astros have split the first two games of this series. The Astros, after a slow start in April, have produced an excellent month of May in which they have risen to second place in the American League West and established a solid (though imperfect) position in the American League postseason picture. The Astros hovered near .500 for the first several weeks of the season. Now they’re 10 games over .500. They haven’t overtaken the first-place Texas Rangers in their division, but if they keep playing the way they did in May, they’ll be fine. They will return to their familiar perch atop the West, likely heading for home-field advantage in the American League Division Series. Jose Altuve is back in the lineup, a big reason Houston is back on track. The team has suffered some pitching injuries, however. It needs the back end of the rotation to continue to deliver solid starts. Hunter Brown gets the call in this game, as the Astros try to solidify their position even more.

Here are the Twins-Astros MLB odds, courtesy of FanDuel. 

MLB Odds: Twins-Astros Odds

Minnesota Twins: +1.5 (-138)

Houston Astros: -1.5 (+115)

Over: 8 (-114)

Under: 8 (-106)

How To Watch Twins vs. Astros

TV: Bally Sports North (Twins) / AT&T SportsNet Houston (Astros) / MLB Extra Innings

Stream: MLB.tv

Time: 8:10 p.m. ET/5:10 p.m. PT

*Watch Twins-Astros LIVE on fuboTV (click for a free trial)*

Why The Twins Could Cover The Spread

Minnesota has battled Houston on even terms in the first two games of this series. Minnesota took an early lead in the first game on Monday. Houston took an early lead in the second game on Tuesday. Minnesota lost its early lead on Monday but rallied late to win. The Twins have shown some backbone, which they will need a lot more of this season. Hunter Brown is a good pitcher for Houston, but no one would put him in the same class with Cristian Javier or Framber Valdez. This is a pitcher Minnesota’s inconsistent offense can score against. It’s a real opportunity for the Twins to get a road win versus a quality opponent and fend off the second-place Detroit Tigers in the American League Central.

Why The Astros Could Cover The Spread

The Astros have been one of the best teams in baseball over the past three weeks. Houston had a very rough start to the season but has since kicked things into high gear, powered mostly by Yordan Alvarez but also fueled by the return of Altuve and a resourceful pitching staff which has adjusted well to the loss of starter Luis Garcia. When Houston did start slowly, there was no reason to panic, because this is and has been one of the most proven and reliable teams in baseball over the past six years.

Another reason to pick Houston is that the Twins are part of the American League Central, which certainly looks like the worst division in baseball. The Central has the Kansas City Royals and Chicago White Sox, two of the worst teams in baseball, plus the underachieving Cleveland Guardians and the anything-but-imposing Detroit Tigers. The Twins are exposed when they go outside their division. Houston can and should win this game.

Final Twins-Astros Prediction & Pick

The pitching matchup feels volatile. Stay away from this game and look for a live-betting play.

Final Twins-Astros Prediction & Pick: Astros -1.5

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2023 NBA Finals Odds: Bill Russell MVP Trophy prediction and pick

May 31, 2023

Can you feel the excitement in the air NBA fans? The start of the NBA Finals sits only 24 hours away as the Denver Nuggets and Miami Heat will try to get their hands on the Larry O’Brien trophy. With some big-time names on both rosters heading into the finals, which superstar has the best odds to win Finals MVP? Let’s check out our NBA odds series where our Bill Russell MVP Trophy prediction and pick will be revealed.

A year ago, the Golden State Warriors led by eventual Finals MVP Stephen Curry disposed of the Boston Celtics in six games to capture the franchise’s seventh overall championship. Fast forward to this year, and there is no question that history will be made.  With some of the game’s more historic names like Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and LeBron James all winning Finals MVPs in their respective illustrious careers,

Here are the NBA odds, courtesy of FanDuel

2023 NBA Finals Odds: Bill Russell MVP Trophy 

Nikola Jokic: -340

Jimmy Butler: +430

Jamal Murray: +1200

Bam Adebayo: +4000

Why Nikola Jokic Could Win MVP

The odds on favorite to take home his first-ever Finals MVP and for good reason, Nikola Jokic is in the midst of one of the greatest statistical playoff runs in recent memory. In absurd fashion, “Big Honey” is averaging a 30-point triple-double in 15 playoff games and is putting up numbers that most players could only dream of putting together in the box score. At first glance, Jokic is one of the more fascinating players that the NBA has to offer. He isn’t necessarily fast or boasts great athleticism, but he may be the smartest player in the entire league.

Not to mention, he is arguably the best passing center in the history of the game as he is strictly a pass-first player who thrives on getting his teammates involved offensively. Simply put, if the Nuggets are able to take care of business against the Heat, then it is hard to imagine Jokic won’t win MVP honors.

Why Jimmy Butler Could Win MVP

Also known as “Himmy Butler” or “Jimmy Buckets”, Butler has been the main orchestrator in an epic Cinderella run that has seen the Miami Heat become only the second eight-seed ever to make it to the NBA Finals. Clearly, Jimmy Butler has talked that talk and exuded so much confidence that jokingly rumors have swirled about whether or not the 33-year-old is the son of Michael Jordan. He was sizzling hot in the Heat’s opening-round upset of the Bucks as he averaged 37.6 PPG on a scorching 60% shooting percentage from the field. While he only has recorded one 30-point game since, scoring like he did against Milwaukee could see Miami end up winning the whole enchilada with Butler taking home the MVP.

Why Jamal Murray Could Win MVP

For starters, the media has been quick to call him  “Bubble Murray” whenever the former Kentucky product puts together a historic performance like he did in the 2020 NBA bubble, but it is starting to become evident that Murray’s recent play is the standard whenever he is fully healthy. At first glance, Murray may be one of the more lethal shooters in the NBA when he is hitting on all cylinders. Currently, Murray is averaging an extremely devastating 27.7 PPG while shooting 40% from three and 92% from the free-throw line.

Without question, the pick-and-roll game between Murray and Jokic is also something that cannot be stopped. If Murray can come close to putting up streaks where he can’t miss like he did against the Lakers in Game 4 where he dropped 30 first-half points, then it could be game over for anyone else on this list hoping to be the Most Valuable Player.

Why Bam Adebayo Could Win MVP

While the chances of this happening are close to impossible at +4000, the one way that Bam Adebayo could defy all odds by winning Finals MVP is if he completely shuts down Jokic and puts together some historic performances on the offensive side of the floor. In the last series versus the Celtics, Bam averaged roughly 15 points per game and made his presence felt the most on the defense. Whether it is swatting balls out of thin air or corralling rebounds at a feverish rate, Bam is arguably a baller who has proved his worth up to this point. However, the path to Adebayo winning an unexpected MVP, to say the least will be due to whether or not he can contain Jokic to the point where the Nuggets have no answers offensively.

Final 2023 NBA Finals Bill Russell MVP Trophy Prediction & Pick

With his name included on the NBA Finals Trophy, it is safe to say that Bill Russell will be extremely proud to see a fellow generational center like Nikola Jokic take home the award.

Final 2o23 NBA Finals MVP Prediction & Pick: Nikola Jokic -340

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