The Hornets are rightfully a heavy favorite here. Charlotte has elevated its game all throughout 2026 and they have shown to be effective and methodical on both ends of the floor. Indiana meanwhile doesn’t have the wherewithal to keep up with the Hornets. This isn’t a dress rehearsal for Charlotte either. If the Hornets get up big, they’ll keep hammering. Lay the points.

The San Antonio Spurs enter in strong form, averaging over 115 points per game recently and playing improved defense while pushing the pace. Meanwhile, the Brooklyn Nets have failed to cover in five straight games and have struggled badly as large underdogs. With momentum and motivation on their side, San Antonio is positioned to control the game.

Houston is playing on a 2nd night of a back-to-back, they’re just 3-5 SU in 8 such games this season. The Magic return home after a successful road trip where they won 3 of 4 games, including back-to-back over the Lakers and Clippers. Jalen Suggs also returns from injury, his elite defense should help them contain the likes of Durant and co. here. I have the Magic winning this one at home.

The New Orleans Pelicans are averaging nearly 117 points per game over their last 10, with Zion Williamson leading an efficient, balanced offense. Meanwhile, the Utah Jazz have dropped seven of their last 10 and are allowing over 116 points per game during that stretch. Defensive struggles and rebounding issues give New Orleans the edge.

The San Antonio Spurs enter in strong form, averaging over 115 points per game recently and playing improved defense while pushing the pace. Meanwhile, the Brooklyn Nets have failed to cover in five straight games and have struggled badly as large underdogs. With momentum and motivation on their side, San Antonio is positioned to control the game.

The San Antonio Spurs enter in strong form, averaging over 115 points per game recently and playing improved defense while pushing the pace. Meanwhile, the Brooklyn Nets have failed to cover in five straight games and have struggled badly as large underdogs. With momentum and motivation on their side, San Antonio is positioned to control the game.

The New Orleans Pelicans are averaging nearly 117 points per game over their last 10, with Zion Williamson leading an efficient, balanced offense. Meanwhile, the Utah Jazz have dropped seven of their last 10 and are allowing over 116 points per game during that stretch. Defensive struggles and rebounding issues give New Orleans the edge.

FEBRUARY –  The Texans’ suffocating defence has been the key to their eight-game winning run and with the AFC looking the less competitive conference this season after the demise of the Kansas City Chiefs, they have the talent to go a long way. Quarterback CJ Stroud is fully fit again and can look for an elite wide receiver in Nico Collins while former first-round picks Will Anderson Jr. and Derek Stingley Jr. are just two of their many defensive stars.

JULY – Elena Rybakina looks a bet in her bid to repeat her 2022 triumph at the All England Club. The Kazakhstani has had a tough couple of years, due in the main to off-court issues, but she finished last year on a high with victory at the WTA Finals. She’s a superb grass-court player who is as good as Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek when she’s on her game.

JULY – Alex Noren enjoyed a resurgence in his career in 2025, winning twice on the DP World Tour, and 2026 could finally be the year he ends his long wait for a maiden Major. The Swede has an affinity for links golf, evidenced by his victory at the 2016 Scottish Open and his two top-10 Open finishes, he could go all the way and land the Claret Jug in 2026.

DECEMBER – Mercedes may have botched the ground-effect era, but the Silver Arrows have a strong record of responding well to rule changes, and the sweeping regulation shift coming in 2026 should bring the title back into play. Their power unit has already come under, and been cleared, of scrutiny, suggesting it is likely to be among the strongest engines on the grid, and they have the driver lineup to win the consistent points necessary to land the constructor crown.

Celta have beaten PAOK twice this season and can complete a hat-trick by ending this tie with a victory on Thursday. PAOK did score in both previous meetings between these side and they scored in all their league phase trips. The visitors have to go for it as they bid to recover a deficit and they can get on the scoresheet, that should lead to a high-scoring game and over 3.5 goals has a strong chance at the Balaidos.

Genk won the first leg 3-1 and with home advantage they can see off Dinamo Zagreb with another victory. The Smurfs have won five of their last six games, while Dinamo struggled on their travels in the league phase and have lost their last two trips in Europe. Genk have struggled for clean sheets at home but they have an opportunity for a shut-out here. Dinamo have failed to score in two of their last three trips and in their last two European away days.

Noah won the first leg 1-0 but with home advantage AZ can strike back. The Dutch side have suffered just two defeats at this venue all season and Noah failed to win any of their league phase trips. The visitors can get on the scoresheet, however, as they showed they can compete with their hosts in the first meeting and AZ have conceded in five consecutive home games.

Crystal Palace were unable to find a way past Zrinjski in last week’s first leg, but they responded by beating Wolves 1-0 on Sunday, their first home success since November. Zrinjski failed to win any of their away games in the Conference League and they were also unable to trouble the scoresheet.

Iago Aspas should be handed a Celta start after scoring twice from the bench in the win over Mallorca at the weekend. Aspas has also scored in both previous meetings with PAOK and the 38-year-old can terrorise the Thessaloniki outfit once again.

Noah won the first leg 1-0 but with home advantage AZ can strike back. The Dutch side have suffered just two defeats at this venue all season and Noah failed to win any of their league phase trips. The visitors can get on the scoresheet, however, as they showed they can compete with their hosts in the first meeting and AZ have conceded in five consecutive home games.

Genk won the first leg 3-1 and with home advantage they can see off Dinamo Zagreb with another victory. The Smurfs have won five of their last six games, while Dinamo struggled on their travels in the league phase and have lost their last two trips in Europe. Genk have struggled for clean sheets at home but they did claim a 2-0 success over Anderlecht at this venue earlier this month and will focus on defence as they bid to protect their lead. Dinamo have failed to score in two of their last three trips and in their last two European away days, so a 2-0 home win has a chance.

Celta have beaten PAOK twice this season and can complete a hat-trick by ending this tie with a victory on Thursday. The La Liga outfit have won five of their last six home games, while the Greek visitors have six defeats and no wins in eight previous visits to Spain.

Forest cruised to a 3-0 victory in the first leg against their Turkish opponents and they were minutes away from securing a draw against Liverpool at the weekend. Fenerbahce won only won of their away games in the League Phase of the Europa League and should fall short once again.

This tie is poised at 1-1 but with home advantage Lausanne should be able to overcome Sigma Olomouc in Switzerland. Lausanne have just one defeat in nine at home and beat Italy’s Fiorentina at this venue during the league phase, while the Czech visitors have four defeats in their last five away – including a loss to Lincoln in Gibraltar.

Genk won the first leg 3-1 and with home advantage they can see off Dinamo Zagreb with another victory. The Smurfs have won five of their last six games, while Dinamo struggled on their travels in the league phase and have lost their last two trips in Europe. Genk have struggled for clean sheets at home but they did claim a 2-0 success over Anderlecht at this venue earlier this month and will focus on defence as they bid to protect their lead. Dinamo have failed to score in two of their last three trips and in their last two European away days, so a 2-0 home win has a chance.

Celta have beaten PAOK twice this season and can complete a hat-trick by ending this tie with a victory on Thursday. PAOK did score in both previous meetings between these side and they scored in all their league phase trips. The visitors have to go for it as they bid to recover a deficit and they can get on the scoresheet, but a Celta win is expected. Celta have scored at least twice in five of their last six home games and a bold play on a 4-1 home win is the pick here, potentially with a couple of goals for the hosts late on as PAOK may need to simply throw everyone forward and that should allow Celta to kill the tie off on the counter.

Genk won the first leg 3-1 and with home advantage they can see off Dinamo Zagreb with another victory. The Smurfs have won five of their last six games, while Dinamo struggled on their travels in the league phase and have lost their last two trips in Europe.

River Plate are favourites here, but they are winless in four Argentina Liga Profesional games and have lost the last three. Banfield have won two of their last four and have only lost one of their last three meetings with River Plate.

River Plate are favourites here, but they are winless in four Argentina Liga Profesional games and have lost the last three. Banfield have won two of their last four and have only lost one of their last three meetings with River Plate.

Millonarios have won two of their last three league games and each of their last two at home, while Pereira are yet to win this season and, looking back to last season, haven’t won a Colombia Primera A game in 12 attempts.

Melbourne Victory lag two points behind Adelaide United and they have dropped points in two of their last three home games, while Adelaide United are unbeaten in their last four on the road, taking ten points from a possible 12.

Liverpool look like the best value pick, with the Reds putting their struggles behind them with an eight-game unbeaten run. The Reds have the fourth-best Expected Goals record across the first six Champions League gameweeks, while they’ve recorded back-to-back 1-0 wins over Real Madrid and Inter Milan in Europe. Arne Slot’s side have a kind double-header in January, leaving them primed for a top-eight finish. With the Premier League coasting towards a fifth Champions League berth, the Reds should be in a good position to focus on European success in the spring.

Spain have some incredibly talented individuals, Lamine Yamal being the prime example, but are strong in all areas and don’t have any particular weaknesses. They won Euro 2024 with relative ease and they should be too good for their continental rivals at the World Cup. They also look a level above South American heavyweights Argentina and Brazil, suggesting they will be the team to beat at the World Cup this summer.

Crvena Zvezda have beaten Lille twice already this season and have a 1-0 lead to defend in this second leg. The Serbian club are on a six-game winning streak, and can make home advantage count against Lille – who have three defeats and just one win in their last five trips.

Stuttgart were good value for their 4-1 win in the first leg and with Celtic potentially set to rest players with one eye on their crucial Scottish Premiership clash against Rangers on Sunday, Die Roten are fancied for another comfortable success. Take the hosts to overcome a goal deficit on the handicap.

The first leg finished 2-2 and with home advantage Plzen can claim the win and seal a last 16 spot on Thursday. The Czech outfit remain unbeaten in this competition and are unbeaten in six at home, while Panathinaikos have won just two of their last seven away games – losing three.

This will be the third meeting between these sides this season and over 2.5 goals has landed in each of the previous two, and both teams scored on each occasion. Over 2.5 goals has been a winning bet in Ferencvaros’ last five games and in four of Ludogorets’ last five.

Fenerbache have to throw everything at Forest in this second leg and they have scored in seven of their nine games in the competition so far. Forest have only lost one of their last five matches at home and they scored two or more in each of their four games at the City Ground in the League Phase. Forest won the first leg 3-0 but goals at both ends looks likely in the return fixture.

Genk won the first leg 3-1 and with home advantage they can see off Dinamo Zagreb with another victory. The Smurfs have won five of their last six games, while Dinamo struggled on their travels in the league phase and have lost their last two trips in Europe. Dinamo lost 2-0 at Mudtjylland and 4-0 at Lille during the league phase, they could be picked apart by Genk and the hosts look capable of winning with some room to spare. 

Celta have beaten PAOK twice this season and can complete a hat-trick by ending this tie with a victory on Thursday. PAOK did score in both previous meetings between these side and they scored in all their league phase trips. The visitors have to go for it as they bid to recover a deficit and they can get on the scoresheet, but a Celta win is expected.

Bologna won the first leg 1-0 and should be able to win the tie, but Brann can at least get on the scoresheet. Brann’s season ends if they are eliminated and they should throw everything at Bologna. The hosts have just one clean sheet in their last 13 home games and Brann scored at PAOK and Lille during the league phase, but Bologna are on a three-game winning streak and the Italian side have more than enough quality to win even if they do concede.

Crvena Zvezda have beaten Lille twice already this season and have a 1-0 lead to defend in this second leg. The Serbian club are on a six-game winning streak, and can make home advantage count against Lille – who have three defeats and just one win in their last five trips.

Stuttgart were good value for their 4-1 win in the first leg and with Celtic potentially set to rest players with one eye on their crucial Scottish Premiership clash against Rangers on Sunday, Die Roten are fancied for another comfortable success. Take the hosts to overcome a goal deficit on the handicap.

The first leg finished 2-2 and with home advantage Plzen can claim the win and seal a last 16 spot on Thursday. The Czech outfit remain unbeaten in this competition and are unbeaten in six at home, while Panathinaikos have won just two of their last seven away games – losing three.

Rijeka hold a 1-0 lead after the first leg and this tie could spring into life in Croatia. Omonia have scored in seven of their last eight away games, hitting 20 goals themselves during that period, while both teams have scored in three of Rijeka’s last four at home.

Both teams scored in the first leg and goals at both ends could be on the cards again. Celtic have scored and conceded in five consecutive games, while both teams have scored in each of Stuttgart’s last four.

Rijeka hold a 1-0 lead after the first leg and this tie could spring into life in Croatia. Omonia have scored in seven of their last eight away games, hitting 20 goals themselves during that period, while both teams have scored in three of Rijeka’s last four at home.

Celje won the first leg 3-2 and another entertaining tie could be on the cards. Both teams have scored in all five of Celje’s games since the Slovenian winter break, while Drita have scored in each of their last seven games.

This will be the third meeting between these sides this season and over 2.5 goals has landed in each of the previous two, and both teams scored on each occasion. Over 2.5 goals has been a winning bet in Ferencvaros’ last five games and in four of Ludogorets’ last five.

Stuttgart won 4-1 in Glasgow last week and should be able to score at least three when they host Celtic on Thursday. VfB have scored at least three goals in six of their last eight games, while the Bhoys have shipped at least two in three consecutive games.

Samsunspor won the first leg 1-0 but we should see a bit more action in the return fixture, as Skendija arrive knowing they need a win. There have been at least three goals scored in two of the visitors’ last three games and they have scored eight goals themselves across their last four, while over 2.5 goals has been a winning bet in three of Samsunspor’s last six home assignments.

Fiorentina secured a hefty 3-0 advantage in this Conference League playoff away from home last week, and they should have few problems finishing the job back in Florence on Thursday. All three goals came in the second half of last Thursday’s contest in Poland, and La Viola are fancied to keep a clean sheet and extend their winning run to four matches.

Crystal Palace were unable to find a way past Zrinjski in last week’s first leg, but they responded by beating Wolves 1-0 on Sunday, their first home success since November. Zrinjski failed to win any of their away games in the Conference League and they were also unable to trouble the scoresheet.