International Cup of Champions

Top-seeded Denver will try to punch its first Super Bowl ticket since 2016 with backup Jarrett Stidham under centre after Bo Nix went down with a broken ankle in last week’s win over Buffalo. Stidham faces his former team while New England hits the road for the first time this postseason behind a defence that’s allowed just 39 points over its last 4 games and gone 14-5 ATS on the year. The Patriots have thrived as road favourites, but Denver has quietly been money as an underdog, going 4-1 ATS in that role this season and winning outright twice at home against the Chiefs and Packers. There’s a clear market overreaction to the quarterback switch, and with the Broncos getting points at home, the value sits squarely with Denver.

With just 3 games left in the NFL season, the NFC Championship between the Rams and Seahawks stands out as a razor-thin matchup between familiar rivals meeting for the 3rd time this season. Their first 2 games saw very little between them and underlined how tough this game is to handicap. The key difference comes at quarterback, where Sam Darnold has been excellent in the regular season but remains unproven in the playoffs, having played just twice in the postseason in his career. Last year, he suffered a rough loss to this same Rams defence while under centre for Minnesota, a game in which he endured 9 sacks, a forced fumble, and an interception. Meanwhile, Matthew Stafford and Sean McVay bring championship experience, an MVP-calibre season, and recent success against Seattle, giving LA the edge in this high-stakes matchup.

With just 3 games left in the NFL season, the NFC Championship between the Rams and Seahawks stands out as a razor-thin matchup between familiar rivals meeting for the 3rd time this season. Their first 2 games saw very little between them and underlined how tough this game is to handicap. The key difference comes at quarterback, where Sam Darnold has been excellent in the regular season but remains unproven in the playoffs, having played just twice in the postseason in his career. Last year, he suffered a rough loss to this same Rams defence while under centre for Minnesota, a game in which he endured 9 sacks, a forced fumble, and an interception. Meanwhile, Matthew Stafford and Sean McVay bring championship experience, an MVP-calibre season, and recent success against Seattle, giving LA the edge in this high-stakes matchup.

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.