Keen to dive into some betting this weekend but not sure which events offer the best opportunities? Then look no further because we’ve gone deep into the world of sports and come up with a handful of the best bets to make this weekend. From tennis through to golf, boxing, UFC and even eSports, we’ve got a range of different wagers for you to consider the next few days.
Whether it’s a dark horse punt, or a slightly more conservative bet on the favourite, we’ve broken down odds from bookmaker Pinnacle and come up with 10 expert predictions over the next seven days. Read on to see why we say backing Novak Djokovic to win the Rome Masters is a great idea, and how Jessica McCaskill could land you a four-fold return this weekend.
Our Tennis Predictions This Weekend
There’s a bit going on in the tennis world this week, as the road to Roland-Garros enters its final stretch. The second major of the year is just over a fortnight away, and the last significant pitstop along the way begins this week with the Rome Masters. Both the ATP and WTA Tours will be in action, and here are our top tennis predictions this week.
Novak Djokovic Will Win the ATP Rome Masters
Our first tennis prediction is that Novak Djokovic will return to his winning ways in Rome. The Serbian has had a quiet year by his standards, competing in only three events and failing to win any. Some would say he’s even been in the shadow of Jannik Sinner in 2024.
However, anyone who has followed the ATP Tour in any detail will know that Djokovic takes some time to get going on clay. The world number one classically performs poorly in Monte-Carlo and Madrid (by his standards) as he adjusts to the new surface and cardio requirements. By this stage of the clay court swing, the cobwebs are gone and Djokovic is at his lethal best.
There’s a reason the 24-time Grand Slam champion has won the Rome Masters six times and made the final here on another six occasions. It’s the most similar conditions to Roland-Garros, which is what he’ll be focusing on with his preparations. This alone should be enough to justify a bet on Djokovic–let alone the fact that there’s an incredible stripped back field this year.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: May 8th, 12:30 P.M. (GMT)
Bookmaker Pinnacle has Djokovic as a heavy, heavy favourite heading into the Rome Masters. He’s virtually even odds with the rest of the field, returning 2.77 to win the tournament. The next best is Stefanos Tsitsipas on 11.87, followed closely by Alexander Zverev (12.05), Casper Ruud (13.05) and Holger Rune (15.06). Back him to win, and bank the 2.77 return when he lifts the trophy next weekend.
Elena Rybakina Will Win the WTA Rome Masters
While the men’s event is shaping up to be fairly one-sided in Rome, it couldn’t be more different for the WTA Italian Open. The trend of Iga Swiatek, Elena Rybakina and Aryna Sabalenka battling it out at the top of the women’s game continues, with some fascinating results unfolding over the last month.
Swiatek is the most recent winner, having overcome Sabalenka in an epic Madrid final last weekend. However, the week before in Stuttgart, the world number one fell to Elena Rybakina. We say betting on the Kazakh to prevail again in Rome is the best bet.
Rybakina has been playing some brilliant tennis in 2024. The 24-year-old won Stuttgart and only lost in a deciding set tiebreak in the Madrid semi-finals last week. Prior, she’d made the final of the WTA 1000s in Miami and Qatar, plus won in Abu Dhabi and Adelaide. Oh, and did we mention she’s the defending champion here in Rome?
Her form, plus the fact that Swiatek is unlikely to have back-to-back WTA 1000 titles in her ahead of Roland-Garros, makes us high on a Rybakina title in Rome this week.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: May 8th, 12:30 P.M. (GMT)
Bookmaker Pinnacle is offering a juicy return for this bet, with Rybakina paying a healthy 7.00 to win the Italian Open. She trails betting favourite Iga Swiatek, who is at 2.35, and Madrid finalist Aryna Sabalenka, who pays 5.50. Behind these three, as usual, the odds drop significantly. Coco Gauff and Danielle Collins are the next best contenders for the title, with odds of 13.00 and 15.00 respectively.
Get in quick for both of these tennis bets because the outright betting odds will shift as the tournament progresses. This market is only available outside of play hours at the Rome Masters, and as the field becomes smaller, the odds will diminish too. Bet today though, and you’ll secure the best odds.
Our Golf Predictions This Weekend
It’s a busy week on the PGA Tour this week as well, with twin events taking place in the United States. Rory McIlroy leads the field at the Wells Fargo Championship in North Carolina, while just down the coast, a less stacked yet equally competitive group lines up to compete in the maiden Myrtle Beach Classic. What are the best golf bets this week? Read on, as we’ve found some brilliant odds from bookmaker Pinnacle ahead of the first tee.
Patrick Cantlay Will Win the Wells Fargo Championship
The Wells Fargo Championship gets under way this Thursday for its 21st edition, and boy, does it boast a stacked lineup. All but five of the world’s top 30 will be in action at the Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte. Scottie Scheffler, who awaits the birth of his first child, and Ludvig Aberg, who is nursing a knee injury, are the only two notable omissions.
Despite the wildly competitive field, we say it’ll be Patrick Cantlay who comes out on top and grabs some crucial momentum ahead of the PGA Championship later this month. It’s been a minute between titles for the 32-year-old, with Cantlay last lifting silverware in 2022 when he won the BMW Championship in Wilmington. Since then, he’s had a handful of close calls but no titles on the PGA Tour.
We say that all changes this week, as Cantlay follows up another near-miss at the RBC Heritage. A fortnight ago, the American came within a whisker of the title in South Carolina, falling off the pace late and coming in T3 behind Sahith Theegala and Scottie Scheffler.
Last time Cantlay competed in this event, he was a competitive T21. With the PGA Championship just around the corner and his lack of titles recently burning a hole in his pocket, expect a strong showing from Cantlay this week.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: May 8th, 12:30 P.M. (GMT)
Part of the reason why a bet on Cantlay to win is so enticing is because of the lucrative odds being offered for the world number eight. Bookmaker Pinnacle has him fourth favourite at 23.78, behind three-time champion Rory McIlroy (8.98), last year’s runner up Xander Schauffele (12.37) and defending champion Wyndham Clark (18.08). Rounding out the top five favourites behind Cantlay is Max Homa on 24.98.
Ryan Fox Will Win the Myrtle Beach Classic
With virtually all of golf’s best over in North Carolina playing the Wells Fargo Championship, you’d think there’s little betting action to be had elsewhere. Thankfully, the PGA Tour is launching a new event, and it’s wide open, offering some brilliant betting opportunities.
Given the 2024 Myrtle Beach Classic is the first edition of this tournament, there are plenty of unknowns. As a result, we say that backing a veteran like Ryan Fox to navigate the field is a great idea.
Fox is yet to lift a trophy on the PGA Tour, but this could be his best chance. The 37-year-old is no stranger to silverware though, having won four titles on the European Tour across his career. He comes into South Carolina having finished fourth alongside Garrick Higgo in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans in April. Outside of this, form has been patchy, with his best result in 2024 a T14 at the Dubai Invitational.
The Kiwis experience, plus the weaker field here in Myrtle Beach, give us confidence that Fox will be able to get it done and claim the event’s inaugural title on Sunday.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: May 8th, 12:30 P.M. (GMT)
As expected given the volatility of this field, bookmaker Pinnacle is offering high odds for its favourites at the Myrtle Beach Classic. Daniel Berger leads on 24.75, followed by Ben Griffin at 28.40 and Erik van Rooyen on 29.48. Davis Thompson is right behind with odds of 29.82 as well, while Beau Hossler rounds out the betting favourites on 31.18. Our pick, Ryan Fox, sits at ninth favourite on 38.19 to win the tournament.
Our Boxing Predictions This Weekend
Is there ever a quiet weekend in boxing? Certainly not over the last few months, and this coming weekend is no exception. Two big clashes headline the boxing action on Saturday night, with female welterweights Jessica McCaskill and Lauren Price squaring off for the WBA belt, while Vasyl Lomachenko and George Kambosos Jr. compete for the IBF Lightweight World Title. Here are our top boxing bets this weekend, with some lucrative returns to be had for those willing to take a punt.
Jessica McCaskill Will Defeat Lauren Price
Women’s boxing often flies under the radar when there are big bouts occurring in the men’s sport, but this weekend sees an exhilarating match up between Jessica McCaskill and Lauren Price. McCaskill is the woman who has won it all in multiple divisions, while Price is an Olympic gold medalist, looking to cement her legacy with a world title as well.
There’s a lot going on in this fight, but the two key factors to consider are age and venue. McCaskill is a decade older than Price, and at 39 years old, many see her as in the twilight of her career. She’s coming into this bout off the back of a draw and a loss–whether that means she’s in decline or not is another question.
In terms of the venue, Price is fighting in front of a home crowd in Cardiff. While she’s handled the pressure of winning an Olympic gold, competing for a world title with all the pressure and expectation of a home crowd is another thing.
We expect that because of her age, and Price’s skill, McCaskill will try to make this a slug fest. If Price gets carried away with trying to please the local fans and is drawn into this, it could be the end of her. She should have the stamina and skill set to go the distance and win this one on points, but don’t be surprised if it ends prematurely.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: May 8th, 12:30 P.M. (GMT)
Price is a heavy favourite at the bookies heading into this bout, with bookmaker Pinnacle returning 1.18 for the Brit to win. McCaskill is well off the pace at 4.78–making it an enticing wager. In terms of how bookies see this ending, Price on points is by far the most likely result at 1.28. Next is McCaskill by decision at 7.00, then by knockout at 12.00.
Vasyl Lomachenko Will Win by Knockout
The weekend’s other big clash sees Vasyl Lomachenko take on George Kambosos Jr. for the IBF Lightweight World Title. This is another interesting bout, with Kambosos Jr. fighting in front of a raucous Australian crowd as he looks to win Lomachenko’s belt.
We expect Aussie fans to be disappointed, however, as our prediction is a Lomachenko victory. The Ukrainian is widely considered one of the most technical fighters in the industry, and no doubt he will have been spending the last 12 months honing his craft after a loss to Devin Haney. Kambosos Jr. will know how it feels, as he’s lost to Haney twice as well in the past two years.
The technical prowess, and motivation levels from Lomachenko, will be what we believe will make the difference in this clash. Expect the 36-year-old veteran to work his opponent around expertly, making great use of his feet to pick up points and win this one on the judges’ cards.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: May 8th, 12:30 P.M. (GMT)
Bookmaker Pinnacle agrees, with Lomachenko a heavy favourite at 1.12 to win on Saturday night in Perth. Kambosos Jr. is a long shot at 6.09, one that we don’t believe is worth taking. A better bet, for those looking to garner a higher return, would be wagering on Lomachenko to win by knockout. It’s not as likely as points, but the Ukrainian still has 11 of them to his name and could capitalise on a desperate Kambosos Jr. late in the fight.
UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. Nascimento Predictions
Last Saturday saw a fiery card of action at UFC 301 in Brazil, but there’s no slowing down this weekend in the world’s biggest mixed martial arts promotion. UFC Fight Night heads to St. Louis, Missouri, in a few days time, where heavyweights Derrick Lewis and Rodrigo Nascimento will headline a 13-fight card. We see a few betting opportunities on the UFC this weekend, with the following tips being our top three predictions.
Derrick Lewis Will Win By Knockout
If you’ve ever gone down a rabbit hole on YouTube watching UFC knockout highlights, then chances are, you’ve seen plenty of Derrick Lewis in action. The man is a knockout machine and will be hoping to add to his highlights reel against Rodrigo Nascimento on Saturday night.
When it comes to fights involving Lewis, betting is tough. He could almost literally knockout any man on the planet; but equally, there’s a good number of UFC fighters who could beat him on points if they manage to avoid his blows. The Black Beast’s past few fights have yielded little reward, with five losses in his last eight bouts. We say this weekend is where his fortunes turn, however.
Nascimento is yet to fight anyone of real calibre in the UFC, while Lewis has shared the ring with the best of the best. While the Brazilian comes across as the younger, more attractive prospect, Lewis should put him in his place with an early knockout.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: May 8th, 12:30 P.M. (GMT)
Looking at the odds from bookmaker Pinnacle on this main event, Lewis actually holds the edge at 1.64 to 2.35 in the outright betting odds. The most likely method of victory is, understandably, a knockout at the hand of Lewis, followed by Nascimento winning through submission at 4.00. For those who are a little hesitant to bet on Lewis winning, a more conservative wager is available too in the form of this fight finishing under 1.5 rounds. This pays out 1.78 still and allows for a range of different outcomes to unfold.
Robelis Despaigne vs. Waldo Cortes-Acosta Will End Early
The main card of UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. Nascimento is book-ended by heavyweight clashes, with Robelis Despaigne taking on Waldo Cortes-Acosta in the first bout after the prelims. When we say this fight will be explosive, we mean it.
Despaigne is a relative newcomer to the UFC, with just five fights under his belt. Already, the big Cuban has made an impression, with five first round knockouts. That’s right–no one has been able to go the distance with Despaigne yet in the promotion. In fact, across this last four fights, no one has been able to last longer than 18 seconds! His knockouts have come so rapidly, with two bouts even ending in less than five seconds.
Up against Despaigne is Cortes-Acosta, who’s also fighting his sixth UFC bout on the weekend. Unlike his opponent, only one of Cortes-Acosta’s fights have ended in a knockout, with three decisions going his way and one against.
Putting these two fighters in the ring together, it’s hard to see this clash going much longer than any of Despaigne’s other bouts. We expect the Cuban to win by knockout, but backing the fight to simply be under 1.5 rounds is a smart wager.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: May 8th, 12:30 P.M. (GMT)
Bookmaker Pinnacle has Despaigne as the favourite here, with odds of 1.47 for the 35-year-old to win. Cortes-Acosta trails at 2.77, while our recommended bet of under 1.5 rounds will pay out a handy 1.42 return.
Chase Hooper Will Defeat Viacheslav Borshchev
It’s not often the bookies get odds wrong in the UFC, but we believe there’s been a mistake made ahead of Chase Hooper vs. Viacheslav Borshchev, the last of the prelim fights on Saturday night. Hooper is a solid underdog in a fight that he has a very strong chance of winning.
These two lightweights couldn’t be more opposite. Borshchev is a striker, while Hooper loves the mat. Neither have much prowess the other way around though. However, there’s one detail that we believe swings this clash in the American’s favour, and that’s Hooper’s reach. He holds a 13 centimetre advantage, which should see him able to hold his own in striking exchanges.
Eventually, Hooper will have an opening to get Borshchev down, and once he does, the fight is all but over.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: May 8th, 12:30 P.M. (GMT)
Odds for this fight favour Borshchev at 1.71 compared to 2.22 at bookmaker Pinnacle. This makes what would already be our prediction in this bout a much more lucrative wager. Back Hooper for the victory and take the 2.22 return.
Next Week’s eSports Predictions
For those who just can’t get enough of betting, the action doesn’t stop here. Looking just beyond this coming weekend, there’s some great eSports betting to be had early next week. The Counter Strike community is alive and well following the game’s switch to CS2, and one of the eSport’s biggest tournaments is on the horizon this Tuesday. Here’s our top prediction for BetBoom Dacha Belgrade.
FaZe Clan Will Win BetBoom Dacha Belgrade
Since the shift from CS:GO to CS2, one team has emerged as the major force to be reckoned with in the Counter Strike world: FaZe Clan. Of the past four S-tier events, FaZe have won two (the BLAST Premier Spring Groups 2024 and IEM Changdu 2024) and finished runner up in the remaining two (PGL Major Copenhagen 2024 and IEM Katowice 2024).
Outside of this year’s S-tier events, FaZe rounded out 2023 incredibly strongly too. They won three majors in a row across October and November, before grabbing two runner-up finishes to wrap up the season as well. Something about the outfit has clicked with the new CS2 format, and they’ve made sure that they’re in the conversation for every big title at the moment.
No other team has been nearly as successful or consistent as FaZe, which is why we believe they’re the smartest bet to come out on top in Belgrade next week. It’s a rapid paced shoot out, with just eight teams participating over six days, but we say the format suits FaZe perfectly. Regardless of how the ESL Pro League Season 19 pans out over the coming days, expect FaZe to arrive motivated and locked in come May 14th when BetBoom Dacha Belgrade begins.
Odds for this event aren’t out yet, and won’t be until a day or two before the event. Expect FaZe Clan to be betting favourites, given the form that ‘rain’ and ‘broky’ are in at the moment. We say backing them for the outright victory is the smartest bet, regardless of how low bookies set their odds to win in Belgrade.
The Best Bets This Weekend
This weekend is a punter’s paradise. Whether it’s tennis, boxing, eSports, or UFC, the betting opportunities are abound. Here’s a summary of our best bets this weekend:
- Djokovic to win the ATP Rome Masters @ 2.77
- Rybakina to win the WTA Rome Masters @ 7.00
- Cantlay to win the Wells Fargo Championship @ 23.78
- Fox to win the Myrtle Beach Classic @ 38.19
- McCaskill to defeat Price @ 4.78
- Lomachenko to win by knockout @ 3.40
- Lewis to win by knockout @ 1.72
- Despaigne vs. Cortes-Acosta under 1.5 rounds @ 1.42
- Hooper to defeat Borshchev @ 2.22
- FaZe to win BetBoom Dacha Belgrade @ odds TBC
We say backing the likes of Novak Djokovic, Patrick Cantlay and Derrick Lewis is the way to go to make some good money over the coming days – particularly with some of the great betting markets we’ve identified. If you agree, make sure to get in quickly and confirm your bets before the odds shift.
