Cleveland has picked it up lately, but not enough to warrant me backing them against the best team in the East. Especially not with Cade Cunningham playing like an MVP candidate. Don’t be surprised if the Pistons win this one outright.

Despite the long losing streak, Indiana almost beat Orlando just 4 days ago when the two teams met in their arena. The venue now shifts to Orlando, the Pacers have covered in 14 of 19 visits there, is it time they finally ended the losing streak? I have them at least keeping close here.

Don’t expect to see a lot of defense here, regardless if Giannis plays for the Bucks or LaVine plays for the Kings. The over has cashed in 18 of 20 meetings, the 10 most recent games between the Kings and Bucks have seen over 250 points scored on average.

It’s the 2nd night of a so called baseball series between the Lakers and Grizz. LA won the first meeting on Friday to go up 2-0 in the regular season series, this is Memphis’s last chance to avoid the sweep. They’ve kept both games close, I cannot trust the Lakers defense here, take Memphis.

Despite the long losing streak, Indiana almost beat Orlando just 4 days ago when the two teams met in their arena. The venue now shifts to Orlando, the Pacers have covered in 14 of 19 visits there, is it time they finally ended the losing streak? I have them at least keeping close here.

Despite the long losing streak, Indiana almost beat Orlando just 4 days ago when the two teams met in their arena. The venue now shifts to Orlando, the Pacers have covered in 14 of 19 visits there, is it time they finally ended the losing streak? I have them at least keeping close here.

It’s the 2nd night of a so called baseball series between the Lakers and Grizz. LA won the first meeting on Friday to go up 2-0 in the regular season series, this is Memphis’s last chance to avoid the sweep. They’ve kept both games close, I cannot trust the Lakers defense here, take Memphis.

A year after Detroit ruled the NFC North and Chicago finished last, the Bears have flipped the script by clinching the 2025 division title at 11-5 behind new head coach Ben Johnson, while the Lions sit at 8-8 and are out of the playoff hunt. Chicago remains motivated despite a 42-38 loss at San Francisco, whereas Detroit has dropped three straight, gone 1-4 in division play, and hasn’t won on the road since Week 10. With playoff seeding on the line for the Bears and the Lions eliminated and unreliable as underdogs, it’s difficult to trust this Detroit squad.

Week 18 closes the 2025 season with a matchup between the Chiefs and Raiders, two AFC West teams going nowhere, but Las Vegas looks like a full-on fade after shutting down key players and getting blown out by the Giants last week in a battle for the #1 draft pick. Kansas City’s season has been ugly, especially with Patrick Mahomes sidelined, yet the Chiefs are still competing, coming off a respectable loss to Denver and benefiting from extra prep time under Andy Reid. Given the Raiders’ apparent lack of effort and Kansas City’s willingness to play it straight, KC should win and cover as road favorites to end their season somewhat on a high.

The line move tied to Josh Allen potentially missing this game has gone too far, as the Jets have completely unraveled, allowing massive scores and losing their last four games by at least 23 points. Even without Allen, Buffalo should be able to dominate a collapsing New York defense, especially at Highmark Stadium, where Mitch Trubisky is more than capable of steering a touchdown-plus win. With seeding still at stake for the Bills and the Jets struggling to score or create turnovers, this matchup strongly favors Buffalo to win by margin.

Baltimore vs Pittsburgh on SNF is as bruising and meaningful as ever, with recent meetings deciding playoff fates and the Ravens winning last year’s Wild Card while the Steelers stole Week 18 in each of the two seasons prior. Pittsburgh comes off an ugly loss in Cleveland, but this kind of spot is where Mike Tomlin thrives, especially as a home underdog, and the potential return of TJ Watt offsets recent offensive struggles without DK Metcalf. Baltimore gashed Green Bay on the ground behind a massive Derrick Henry performance, but with Lamar Jackson banged up and inconsistent, this feels like a spot where the market overvalues the Ravens and gives value on the Steelers catching over a field goal at home.

A year after Detroit ruled the NFC North and Chicago finished last, the Bears have flipped the script by clinching the 2025 division title at 11-5 behind new head coach Ben Johnson, while the Lions sit at 8-8 and are out of the playoff hunt. Chicago remains motivated despite a 42-38 loss at San Francisco, whereas Detroit has dropped three straight, gone 1-4 in division play, and hasn’t won on the road since Week 10. With playoff seeding on the line for the Bears and the Lions eliminated and unreliable as underdogs, it’s difficult to trust this Detroit squad.

Week 18 closes the 2025 season with a matchup between the Chiefs and Raiders, two AFC West teams going nowhere, but Las Vegas looks like a full-on fade after shutting down key players and getting blown out by the Giants last week in a battle for the #1 draft pick. Kansas City’s season has been ugly, especially with Patrick Mahomes sidelined, yet the Chiefs are still competing, coming off a respectable loss to Denver and benefiting from extra prep time under Andy Reid. Given the Raiders’ apparent lack of effort and Kansas City’s willingness to play it straight, KC should win and cover as road favorites to end their season somewhat on a high.

Baltimore vs Pittsburgh on SNF is as bruising and meaningful as ever, with recent meetings deciding playoff fates and the Ravens winning last year’s Wild Card while the Steelers stole Week 18 in each of the two seasons prior. Pittsburgh comes off an ugly loss in Cleveland, but this kind of spot is where Mike Tomlin thrives, especially as a home underdog, and the potential return of TJ Watt offsets recent offensive struggles without DK Metcalf. Baltimore gashed Green Bay on the ground behind a massive Derrick Henry performance, but with Lamar Jackson banged up and inconsistent, this feels like a spot where the market overvalues the Ravens and gives value on the Steelers catching over a field goal at home.

Manchester City have scored 25 goals across their last eight home league games, winning each of them. The hosts have scored three or more goals in seven of those eight games, while they meet a Chelsea side who will be without the suspended Moises Caicedo after conceding twice in three straight league outings.

South Africa have only lost one of their last 14 matches and look a more settled side than Cameroon, who have impressed at the tournament after a chaotic build up but have injury concerns surrounding captain Nouhou Tolo. Cameroon scored in all three of their group games and can continue that run, but it is Bafana Bafana that should edge to victory and they can replicate the 2-1 success they enjoyed over Angola during the group stage.

PSG are clearly a few levels above their city rivals and they should be able to continue their unbeaten home run in Ligue 1 (W6, D1) with another victory. Paris FC can at least strike in defeat, however, as they have a good scoring record in their travels – finding the back of the net in seven of their last eight trips – and they should be motivated for this derby day.

Atletico Madrid have won 11 of their last 13 games across all competitions, while they’ve won seven of their first nine meetings with bottom-half teams. They head to a Real Sociedad side who are 16th, having lost half of their home games so far. The hosts have lost four of their five clashes with the top six, with BTTS landing in each.

Bologna are unbeaten in three against Inter and going back further they have just one loss in the last seven meetings. Bologna edged out the Nerazzurri in the Super Cup last month and are unbeaten in their last eight away games, they can take at least a point at the league leaders on Sunday.

Alverca have lost three straight matches, but Famalicao have won just one of their last six and look a short price in their bid to get back to winning ways. The visitors were on the wrong side of a 3-2 thriller against Estrela last time, and both teams to score looks a more solid option again here.

PSG are clearly a few levels above their city rivals and they should be able to continue their unbeaten home run in Ligue 1 (W6, D1) with another victory. Paris FC can at least strike in defeat, however, as they have a good scoring record in their travels – finding the back of the net in seven of their last eight trips – and they should be motivated for this derby day.

Atletico Madrid have won 11 of their last 13 games across all competitions, while they’ve won seven of their first nine meetings with bottom-half teams. They head to a Real Sociedad side who are 16th, having lost half of their home games so far. The hosts have lost four of their five clashes with the top six, so back an away win.

PSG have enough quality to win comfortably even if they do concede and a 4-1 home win has a chance. PSG are in fine scoring form at home with 13 goals scored across their last three games at this venue.

Each of Sociedad’s four home defeats have come by a single goal, as have seven of their eight La Liga losses this term. Atletico Madrird are backed to edge this one 2-1, a socreline which has landed in two of Sociedad’s eight home matches.

Auckland are top of the A-League table, but their defeat to Newcastle Jets last time out made it two losses from their last five games, and they face a Macarthur side in fine form, with four wins and two draws from their last six outings.

Nigeria have already sealed passage through to the Africa Cup of Nations knockout stages, but they can make it three wins from three against bottom-placed Uganda on Tuesday.The underdogs have lost three of their last five ties and face a Super Eagles side that have scored five goals in their two group games so far, including putting three past the Tunisia outfit that beat Uganda 3-1 in their opener.

Gabon’s second defeat of the Africa Cup of Nations saw them eliminated with a game to spare, and they may end their time in the competition with zero points against holders Ivory Coast on Wednesday.The Elephants were held to a draw against Cameroon, leaving them tied at the top of Group F and needing a win to guarantee qualification to the knockout stage. With motivation and form on their side, expect Emerse Fae’s side to take the points.

After a miserable autumn period, Liverpool have rediscovered their form this month and can start 2026 on a high note against Leeds on Thursday.Arne Slot’s side have won four games on the spin and haven’t lost since November, while the Whites’ only away win of the season came against rock-bottom Wolves and they have lost four of their last six trips.

Just two points separate these sides in the La Liga table, and 15th-placed Rayo Vallecano can leapfrog Getafe and move into the top half of the table with a win on Friday.Inigo Perez’s side are unbeaten in seven home matches and have conceded just three goals in this sequence, while Getafe have lost their last three away games by an aggregate scoreline of 9-1.

Lille are just five points adrift of surprise Ligue 1 leaders Lens heading into the new year, and they can maintain the pressure on the rest of the top four by extending their winning streak at Stade Pierre-Mauroy.19 of their 32 points this season have been earned at home and their 1-0 success over Marseille at the start of December made it five successive home wins. Rennes lost 5-0 to PSG in their last away game and were beaten home and away by Lille last season, so expect them to fall short.

13 of Mallorca’s 18 points have come at the Estadi Mallorca Son Moix and they return to action in the midst of a seven-game unbeaten run in front of their own fans.They have beaten Elche, Getafe, and Alaves here, and Girona entered the winter break having lost three of their last four games. The Gironistes’ only away win this season came against relegation-threatened Real Sociedad, and another defeat could be on the cards on Sunday.

Birmingham have scored in all 12 home games, netting 24 times. They meet a Coventry side who have scored a league-high 55 goals this term, but the visitors have shipped 1.1 xG in five consecutive starts. The Blues have conceded in each of their last 11 league games, so back both sides to score.

Both teams have scored in eight of Leeds United’s last nine matches and in each of their last seven at Elland Road, while each of Manchester United’s last seven away games have featured goals at both ends.

Millwall and Swansea City both come into this EFL Championship clash with defensive issues that are hard to ignore. Millwall have failed to keep a clean sheet in four of their last six home league games, while Swansea have gone six straight matches against Millwall without shutting them out. The reverse fixture saw both sides score before half-time, and recent trends suggest neither defence is reliable enough to keep things tight.

Both teams have scored in six of the visitors’ eight away trips, while they’ve only failed to score once on their travels. Real Madrid have conceded in four of their last five games, while they shipped 1.5 xG in a 2-0 win over Sevilla to close out 2025.

Both teams have scored in eight of Leeds United’s last nine matches and in each of their last seven at Elland Road, while each of Manchester United’s last seven away games have featured goals at both ends.

Fulham are fourth in the Premier League form table, while they’ve claimed 10 points from their last four matches. The visitors are on an unbeaten run, but three of their last six league games ahve finished level, while they’ve lost each of their visits to the league’s top 10. The Cottagers have moved up to 11th with their good run, which mirrors a similar spell last season, when they lost only three times between December 1st and the start of March.

Newcastle have scored at least twice in their previous 10 home games, with over 2.5 landing in seven of those. The Magpies have seen three or more goals scored in seven of their nine home league games this term, while Crystal Palace look fatigued – falling to a 4-1 loss at Leeds in their last trip. The hosts are without a clean sheet in 12, and Palace have forward Brennan Johnson included after making him their club record signing.

Manchester City have scored 25 goals across their last eight home league games, winning each of them. The hosts have scored three or more goals in seven of those eight games, while they meet a Chelsea side who will be without the suspended Moises Caicedo after conceding twice in three straight league outings.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s form has seen him emerge as a potential candidate for a spot in England’s World Cup squad. He blanked against Liverpool last time out but has seven goals in his last seven appearances for Leeds.

Wissa has scored in both Newcastle starts this season, and he had four shots in the win at Burnley on Tuesday. He should have done enough to hold on to his starting spot for this clash, and he can trouble a Palace side which has shipped 12 goals in their last six.

Brobbey has 1.1 xG across his last three games for Sunderland, while Tottenham have struggled to contain opposition strikers at home this term, starting with Evanilson’s winner in August and leading up to Liverpool’s two strikers scoring within 10 minutes of each other at the end of last year.

Haaland has scored 11 times in nine home Premier League matches this season, while he’s scored four goals across his last four meetings with Chelsea.

Newcastle have scored at least twice in their previous 10 home games, with over 2.5 landing in seven of those. The Magpies have seen three or more goals scored in seven of their nine home league games this term, while Crystal Palace look fatigued – falling to a 4-1 loss at Leeds in their last trip. The hosts are without a clean sheet in 12, and Palace have forward Brennan Johnson included after making him their club record signing.

Manchester City have scored 25 goals across their last eight home league games, winning each of them. The hosts have scored three or more goals in seven of those eight games, while they meet a Chelsea side who will be without the suspended Moises Caicedo after conceding twice in three straight league outings.

No team has more goals in Ligue 1 this season than Marseille, who have scored 36 times in 16 games. Back over 3.5 goals when Nantes visit Stade Velodrome on Sunday, January 4th, 2026.

Porto have scored three goals or more in six of their 16 Primeira Liga games this season, and over 2.5 goals looks the best bet when they visit Santa Clara at Estadio do Sao Miguel on Sunday.

Middlesbrough are in a far stronger position than Southampton and this looks a good opportunity to turn that advantage into three points in the EFL Championship. Boro sit third and have been far more consistent across the campaign, while Southampton arrive in poor form and leaking goals away from home. The Saints have gone 16 straight away league games without a clean sheet and are winless in five overall, which is a bad mix against a promotion-chasing side that knows how to manage tight matches.

Cardiff took a little while to find their feet in League One this season but they are top of the table now and should add another three points against Wigan. The Bluebirds have won 10 of their 12 home league games this season while the disappointing visitors have won only two of 12 on the road.

Rotherham have lost six in a row including three home defeats in which they conceded eight goals and scored only once. Mansfield have turned things around with three consecutive wins including away successes at Barnsley and Bolton and they can add another road win.

Sunderland have lost only once in seven league games, while Spurs have suffered five defeats in nine home league games, winning only two. The hosts have lost four of their last six home league games, and Sunderland claimed four points from visits to Chelsea and Liverpool this term.

Aaron: Atletico Madrid have won 11 of their last 13 games across all competitions, while they’ve won seven of their first nine meetings with bottom-half teams. They head to a Real Sociedad side who are 16th, having lost half of their home games so far. The hosts have lost four of their five clashes with the top six, with BTTS landing in each.

Jamie: Alaves have an edge at home, where they beat Real Sociedad and Sevilla last month. Oviedo have scored a league-low seven goals this term and lack the firepower to earn anything from a trip to Alaves, who have won three of their last five games. 

Gareth: Plymouth have picked up a solid haul of 11 points from their last six games to move within touching distance of safety. The Brewers have four defeats and just one win in their last seven League One games. Burton have failed to score in five of those seven, so side with the hosts. 

Alex: Sunderland have lost just four games all season, and a stalemate with Manchester City last time out leaves them unbeaten in their last four. Tottenham have managed just three wins from their last 11 games in all competitions, while only two of their seven Premier League wins have come on home soil this term.

Henry: Barnet can take plenty of confidence from back-to-back League Two victories over Bristol Rovers and Crawley. The Bees are one of League Two’s top performing teams and the north Londoners can show their quality when Crewe come to town.

Sunderland have lost only once in seven league games, while Spurs have suffered five defeats in nine home league games, winning only two. The hosts have lost four of their last six home league games, and Sunderland claimed four points from visits to Chelsea and Liverpool this term.

Reading have had a strong run over the holiday period, taking 10 points from their last four games, and they can add three more against a Stockport side who are above them in the table but failed to impress in a drab goalless draw at Northampton on Thursday.

Wrexham look well placed to take advantage of a vulnerable Derby County side at Pride Park in this EFL Championship clash. Derby’s home record has been underwhelming, with only four wins from 13 league games, and defensive issues remain a concern after failing to keep a clean sheet in five of their last six at home. Wrexham arrive in strong form, winning their last three matches and scoring freely, including at least two goals in each of their last three league outings.

South Africa have only lost one of their last 14 matches and look a more settled side than Cameroon, who have impressed at the tournament after a chaotic build up but have injury concerns surrounding captain Nouhou Tolo. It is also worth noting that Bafana Bafana have only lost one of the nine previous meetings between these two sides.

Atletico Madrid have won 11 of their last 13 games across all competitions, while they’ve won seven of their first nine meetings with bottom-half teams. They head to a Real Sociedad side who are 16th, having lost half of their home games so far. The hosts have lost four of their five clashes with the top six, with BTTS landing in each.

Manchester City have scored 25 goals across their last eight home league games, winning each of them. The hosts have scored three or more goals in seven of those eight games, while they meet a Chelsea side who will be without the suspended Moises Caicedo after conceding twice in three straight league outings.

Morocco have grown into this tournament and were comfortable 3-0 winners against Zambia in their final group game. Facing a Tanzania team that only just squeezed into the knockout stages of AFCON for the first time in their history, the Atlas Lions should be able to book their place in the quarter-finals with something to spare.

Ipswich Town look well placed to continue their promotion push with another away victory. They sit second in the Championship and have lost just once in their last eight league games, winning five of the last seven. Confidence is high after Thursday’s 2-1 win over Oxford, a result that made it eight wins from 13 matches as odds-on favourites. Portsmouth remain deep in trouble defensively, failing to keep a clean sheet in ten straight league games, and that ongoing fragility should allow Ipswich to control the contest.

Newcastle have scored at least twice in their previous 10 home games, and they face a Crystal Palace side who lost 4-1 at Leeds in their previous away game. The fatigued visitors have conceded 12 goals in six matches, and they should struggle here.

Barnet have bounced back from a poor run by beating Bristol Rovers and Crawley around the turn of the year but will still be made to work hard by Crewe. Alexandra routed Cheltenham 4-1 on New Year’s Day and have the firepower to net alongside their hosts.