Fancy some sports betting this weekend but not quite sure where to place your wagers? Since we are all too familiar with the dilemma, let us help you out with the research. Join us as we take a deep dive into the world of sports and unearth a selection of the best bets for the coming days. From football to cricket, rugby, boxing, and even eSports, we’ve got a variety of options to consider.
Bookmakers William Hill and Pinnacle both have great odds that we’ve used to come up with 10 predictions for this weekend. Discover why we think backing Manchester United to score against City is a shrewd move, and how Luke Littler could bank you a sizable return for your investment this week.
Our Football Predictions This Weekend
The Bundesliga and Premier League seasons have just wrapped up, but there’s still a fair bit going on in the world of football. The final matches for LaLiga and Serie A are yet to come. Looking stateside for some football, there are a wide selection of MLS games to choose from. Read on as we focus on two Cup finals, a domestic and a European one, as well as a fascinating LaLiga matchup.
Both Teams to Score in the FA Cup Final and Over 2.5 Goals to Be Scored
Manchester United and Manchester City will reignite their rivalry on Saturday at one of the grandest stages of English football, the FA Cup final. This will be a rematch of the 2023 final, in which an Ilkay Gundogan brace helped the Citizens condemn their neighbours to a 2-1 defeat.
Are we expecting a different outcome this time around? Not really! Manchester United have finished eighth in the recently concluded Premier League season, while Pep Guardiola’s men have achieved a historic fourth consecutive title.
The FA Cup is the only avenue to European football still open for Manchester United. Erik ten Hag, who has been under severe pressure lately for United’s subpar performances, will be eager to find some breathing space with a great Wembley evening.
That appears to be a daunting task, however. Manchester City have been ruthless, not losing a match in regular time since December 7th, when they fell to Unai Emery’s Aston Villa. Given the contrasting morales of both sides heading into the tie, we don’t see much room for optimism from an United perspective.
That said, don’t expect this to be a completely one-sided affair either. Manchester United can trouble City with their swift counter-attacking football and breach their defence. While we expect City to take the trophy, they should concede as well.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: May 20th, 12:00 P.M. (GMT)
Bookmaker Pinnacle provides the odds for both teams to score over 2.5 goals at 2.01. With Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford back in the fold, the Red Devils could give the City backline a run for their money. Since the United rearguard has been leaky as well, the best bet to make on football this week is for both teams to score, and more than 2.5 goals to be scored.
Villarreal to Beat Osasuna
Villarreal and Osasuna will play their final La Liga match of the season when the Yellow Submarines drop by the El Sadar Stadium on Saturday.
Raul Garcia notched a brace, one in each half, as Osasuna secured their first victory at Atletico Madrid since 2009. They thumped the hosts 4-1 in La Liga in their last match, inflicting Atletico’s second home defeat of the league season.
After a seven-game winless run, Osasuna moved to 11th place in the league with this statement victory. They now have 44 points from 37 matches. It was Jagoba Arrasate’s final away match in charge of Los Rojillos. The tactician would love to sign out on a high with a win against Villarreal in his final match in front of the Osasuna faithful. That, however, will be no walk in the park.
Villarreal striker Alexander Sorloth bagged four goals in a remarkable 17-minute spell, dragging his side back from the brink to steal a dramatic 4-4 home draw against champions Real Madrid on Sunday. The Norway international’s scoring spree sees him crowned La Liga’s top scorer.
Marcelino’s men currently sit eighth on the table, thanks to a late resurgence that saw them win six of their last 10 LaLiga matches and two draws. They have scored 13 goals in their last five outings in the Spanish top-flight, which does not bode well for an Osasuna defence that is statistically the fourth-worst in the division.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: May 20th, 12:00 P.M. (GMT)
The latest odds from bookmaker Pinnacle place both teams close to each other, which makes this an interesting betting prospect. An Osasuna victory is favoured at 2.78, while the visitors are marginal favourites at 2.46. Despite the close odds, we’re confident that Villarreal will claim the spoils in this one.
Fiorentina to Win the Conference League
Fiorentina will get a chance to right their wrongs as they head into consecutive UEFA Conference League finals. La Viola had lost to West Ham last season in the final, and this time, Olympiakos stand in their way at the OPAP Arena. The Greek side will have the locals cheering for them, but can they fend off a Fiorentina side hungry for European glory?
Fiorentina have not tasted defeat in their last 13 European matches (W7 D6), their longest run in any European competition. They’re also the third team to reach the Europa Conference League final undefeated (W6 D6), following Feyenoord in 2021-22 and West Ham last season.
Remarkably, Cristiano Biraghi and company are only the third team in history to reach consecutive major European finals. AC Milan achieved this feat in 1992/93 and 1993/94 (Champions League), as did Valencia in 1999/00 and 2000/01 (also Champions League).
Olympiacos have also made history by reaching their first ever major European final. They’re also only the second Greek team to touch this milestone, following the footsteps of Panathinaikos who were runners-up in the 1971 European Cup final against Ajax at Wembley.
The Greek outfit will be the first team to contest a major European final on home soil since Marseille hosted the 2018 Europa League final. The Thrylos camp, however, won’t be thrilled to learn that all last four teams enjoying home advantage in a UEFA final had to stay content with silver medals.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: May 20th, 12:00 P.M. (GMT)
Odds from bookmaker William Hill grant Fiorentina the favourites label at 2.25 to win the tie in 90 minutes. They are backing a regular time draw at 3.20, while an Olympiakos victory has been given odds of 2.90.
Our Darts Predictions This Weekend
Darts fans will be preparing to enjoy one of the biggest darts events on the calendar this week. The Premier League Darts playoff phase is about to begin, which will drop the curtain on the ongoing season that has delivered no less than 16 weeks of intense action. With some of the biggest names involved, let’s find out who can steal the crown.
Luke Littler to Win the 2024 Premier League Darts
The Premier League Darts play-offs are set, with Luke Littler, Luke Humphries, Michael van Gerwen, and Michael Smith securing their spots. Teenager Littler, making his Premier League debut, has enjoyed a phenomenal season, topping the table with an impressive 40 points.
Littler’s opponent in the semi-finals will be none other than the 2023 world champion, Smith, who secured his place with a victory in Sheffield on the final night of the league stage. Smith has dominated their head-to-head meetings this season, leading 5-2 after seven Premier League clashes.
Smith booked his place in the Premier League Darts play-offs, capping off a triumphant night in Sheffield. The Bully Boy secured his qualification with a convincing 6-3 victory over Nathan Aspinall in the quarter-finals. He followed up with victories over Littler and current world champion Humphries to conquer the night.
We, however, have plenty of belief in Littler’s abilities. On the closing league stage night, his name went down in history as the first-ever player to win Premier League nights on five separate occasions.
Littler’s been lighting up the Premier League with his high-scoring displays in his debut season. His rapid-fire throwing style could well trouble Smith. This promises to be a tight semi-final, but Littler’s momentum could see him edge past the reigning champion and take a crucial step towards Premier League glory.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: May 20th, 12:00 P.M. (GMT)
Luke Littler is the second favourite to win the Premier League Darts. He is at 2.75, according to bookmaker William Hill, while Humphries leads the race at 2.62. Michael van Gerwen’s title defence is backed at 4.50 and Michael Smith is favoured at 6.50.
Our Boxing Predictions This Weekend
After a hugely contentious split-decision verdict in February 2022, Josh Taylor and Jack Catterall are set to settle the score in a highly anticipated rematch this week. This welterweight clash is the undisputed highlight of this week’s boxing schedule. Let’s find out how you can earn some good money from the Taylor vs. Catterall fight.
Jack Catterall to Win
Two mercurial British talents collide with a massive four world title haul on the line. Add in a spicy Scotland-England rivalry and you’ve got a guaranteed electric atmosphere in a sold-out arena, with millions more tuning in worldwide. This one has all the makings of an absolute classic. If you are in the mood for some fireworks, this is the match to tune into this Saturday.
Edinburgh’s Taylor faces a fiery challenge from Lancashire’s Catterall in a fight with everything on the line. Can Taylor retain his world titles in front of a raucous Glasgow crowd, or will Catterall pull off a shock victory and send the home fans into raptures?
The February 2022 clash for the undisputed super-lightweight title between these two was just the opening act in this simmering rivalry. Back then, champion Taylor held onto his belts by a thread, a controversial split decision that left a bitter taste. Now, after months of buildup, the rematch is finally here, promising a fiery encounter to settle the score once and for all.
While Taylor boasts an impressive list of past victories, questions surround his current form. The Tartan Tornado has not been as ruthless lately as he used to be in his peak. Fighting only once a year since 2019 has raised concerns about ring rust.
His most recent dominant performance came in 2021, and both the close encounter with Catterall and the fight against Lopez suggest a potential decline. This rematch offers Catterall a prime opportunity to capitalise, making him a strong contender for a redeeming victory against the Scotsman.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: May 20th, 12:00 P.M. (GMT)
The odds are evenly split for this bout. No matter which fighter you bet on, you are guaranteed to get a 1.91 return. Expect a Catterall victory at the OVO Hydro. A draw promises a stunning 17-fold return, but while this is going to be a close one, we don’t think the bout will end undecided.
Our eSports Predictions This Weekend
Let’s turn our attention to the silicon battlefields of eSports from real-life arenas. IEM Dallas, which brings together 16 world class Counter-Strike 2 teams from different parts of the world, is set to begin on May 27th. It’s the biggest eSports event scheduled to take place this week, so let’s find out how the results are likely to unfold.
MOUZ to Win IEM Dallas
IEM Dallas is set to be a powerhouse clash, featuring the usual elite names in Counter-Strike.
FaZe Clan, who have enjoyed tremendous success in the CS2 era, will be one of the biggest contenders in Dallas. They won the IEM Sydney 2023, which was the first S-tier CS2 competition. FaZe followed up with three more titles, with IEM Chengdu 2024 being their most recent conquest.
They made it to the final of the first CS2 Major as well, but Natus Vincere stole the show in Copenhagen and went down in history as the first CS2 Major champions. They, however, could not continue the momentum and suffered a premature exit from the ESL Pro League Season 19.
Many would feel tempted to bet on FaZe Clan for IEM Dallas glory. They have missed only one but all CS2 Grand Finals in the tournaments they have played in and look in excellent shape ahead of the showdown in Dallas as well.
We, however, find MOUZ as a more lucrative prospect.
The international combine have reached the grand finals in the last three tournaments, winning two of them. After losing the IEM Chengdu 2024 final to FaZe, they bounced back with back-to-back wins in the ESL Pro League Season 19 final and BetBoom Dacha Belgrade 2024 final. Their confidence heading into this tournament, therefore, should be incredibly high.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: May 20th, 12:00 P.M. (GMT)
FaZe Clan, Team Spirit, Team Vitality, and Natus Vincere are ahead in the IEM Dallas 2024 title race, according to the latest odds from bookmaker William Hill. Finn “karrigan” Andersen and company lead the chart at 3.75. Danil “donk” Kryshkovets’ Team Spirit come in second at 4.00, while Vitality and NAVI are at 4.40 and 6.00, respectively. MOUZ, our chosen pick, offers a juicy return at 7.00.
Our NRL Predictions This Week
Here’s something exotic for Northern Hemisphere sports punters to consider: the NRL. The Australian premier rugby league competition offers some great betting opportunities this week. Not familiar with the competition? Don’t worry, we’ve got detailed breakdowns of two NRL matchups to bet on.
The Sharks to Win Both Halves Against the Panthers
The Sharks are flying high after their statement win over the mighty Roosters last weekend. But the wounded Panthers are a dangerous beast, eager to bounce back from a close defeat against the Warriors. This heavyweight showdown promises to be the match of the round, with both teams eyeing up victory.
With a dominant 9-1 record, the Sharks are making a serious statement in 2024. They’ve silenced doubters by taking down both the Storm and Roosters, debunking the myth that they can’t compete with the NRL’s elite.
That said, the hosts will not be eager to relive their last encounter with the Panthers. Ivan Cleary’s men ran riot at BlueBet Stadium as they cruised to an effortless 28-0 victory. The Sharks, therefore, will feel the urge of proving that they have come a long way since then.
One encouraging stat for the Cronulla outfit is that the Panthers don’t have a great record at PointsBet Stadium. The current NRL champions have not won there in 12 years. As things stand, it will be difficult for them to break that curse this time around.
The Sharks have emerged as a robust defensive unit under Craig Fitzgibbon. They are currently at the top of the NRL standings, with their defensive resilience playing a key part in their recent success.
The Panthers’ previously undefeated run came crashing down after a mistake-riddled performance against the Warriors. A combination of 11 errors and a staggering 39 missed tackles proved costly against the Warriors. Penrith will be looking for a rapid improvement to get their title charge back on track.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: May 20th, 12:00 P.M. (GMT)
We are confident of a Sharks win in this match, but the odds don’t seem too rewarding in that market. The -4.0 handicap market does make matters more interesting, but we say there’s better value to be had in the double result market. Our recommended pick would be to back Cronulla Sharks to win both halves. Bookmaker William Hill offers odds of 2.15 for that particular outcome.
Melbourne Storm to Win (1-12) Against the Sea Eagles
Friday night NRL sees the Sea Eagles back on home soil at 4 Pines Park, desperate to halt their three-match losing streak against a formidable Storm outfit.
Although they clawed their way back from a seemingly insurmountable deficit last weekend, the Sea Eagles ultimately fell short. However, now there is a chance for redemption against Melbourne. Playing at home could be the key to unlocking their potential and securing a morale-boosting victory over a formidable opponent.
The Storm have been one of the standout teams in the ongoing NRL season. The upcoming trip to 4 Pines Park, however, could be a tricky away day for Craig Bellamy’s men. They have returned empty handed from the Sydney stadium in each of their last two visits. Manly will be confident of returning to winning ways with their third successive home win against the Storm.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: May 20th, 12:00 P.M. (GMT)
Odds from bookmaker William Hill paint the visitors as the favourites. They are at 1.80 to upset the hosts, while a Sea Eagles win will result in a two-fold return for their backers. After watching Storm dominate the Eels in their most recent outing at Suncorp Stadium, we feel that it would be an uphill battle for Sea Eagles to stop this side.
We do expect the teams to fight toe-to-toe, however. The Sea Eagles’ last match was a low scoring one, but we say both teams will score big in this win. A narrow victory for the visiting side seems the most probable outcome here, so pick the Storm winning this 1-12 at 3.40.
Our Cricket Predictions This Week
With the T20 World Cup just around the corner, the international cricket scene is heating up with a flurry of T20 warm-up matches. We’ll also be keeping a close eye on the thrilling conclusion of the IPL this week – expect a high-octane IPL finale before the global showpiece kicks off! Here are our cricket picks of the week.
Phil Salt Highest Scoring English Batsman Against Pakistan
Pakistan and England both featured in the ICC Men’s 2022 World Cup final. Ahead of the next edition of the tournament, the two teams have decided to put the finishing touch to their preparations together with a three match T20 series. The first of these will take place at the Yorkshire Cricket Ground in Headingley, Leeds on Thursday.
This isn’t the first time these two sides have clashed at this stadium. Back in 2021, England, led by Jos Buttler, posted a formidable 200 runs batting first. Pakistan, however, fell short in their chase, mustering only 155 runs. Fun fact, it remains the only T20 international played in the venue before the two teams step onto the field this week.
Pakistan are fresh off a 2-1 series win over Ireland, while the Three Lions will be playing in this format for the first time in 2024. Don’t expect the English stars to be rusty, however, as a lot of them have been playing in the Indian Premier League.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: May 20th, 12:00 P.M. (GMT)
Pakistan have a solid T20I record on English soil. They’ve won four, lost four, with one undecided. Pakistan winning this at 2.37 is an enticing bet. We, however, have our eyes set on a different market.
Phil Salt had an incredible IPL campaign with Kolkata Knight Riders. He is the highest scorer for the IPL title hopefuls with 435 runs at an average of 39.55 and a blistering 182.01 strike rate. With William Hill offering tempting odds of 3.90, we will back him to score the highest runs in this fixture among the English batsmen.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru to Reach the IPL Final
We have already given our verdict on who will win the IPL trophy in last week’s prediction article. We think it will be Royal Challengers Bengaluru, who join Kolkata Knight Riders at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on May 26.
At one point, RCB seemed destined to drop out of the league stages. After a shaky start, they delivered an incredible finish to their league stage campaign, which brought them to the playoffs.
In their last six matches, Bengaluru had little to no room for error if they were to keep their playoff hopes alive. After their narrow defeat to KKR, they went on to defeat Sunrisers Hyderabad, Gujarat Titans, Punjab Kings, Delhi Capitals, and last year’s champions Chennai Super Kings.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: May 20th, 12:00 P.M. (GMT)
Sunrisers Hyderabad are at 1.36 to reach the final. Bengaluru is sandwiched between Hyderabad and Rajasthan at 2.87. The Royals are at 3.40 to make it to the title match on Sunday.
Based on current form, we cannot confidently back any team other than RCB to make it to the final and face KKR. They will need to beat Rajasthan in the eliminator first, which they should be able to do with ease. The Royals have been in a slump lately, and we don’t see them bouncing back against a red-hot RCB.
In the second qualifier, they will face Hyderabad. Virat Kohli and company have already defeated them in the run-in, so we expect them to do so again.
The Best Bets This Weekend
There is a lot going on in the sports world this weekend, with endless opportunities for sports punters to make some quick money. To minimise risk and maximise your chance of a lucrative return, we recommend the following picks:
- Both teams to score in the FA Cup final and over 2.5 goals to be scored @ 2.01
- Villarreal to beat Osasuna @ 2.46
- Fiorentina to win the Conference League @ 2.30
- Luke Littler to win Premier League Darts @ 2.75
- Jack Catterall to win @ 1.91
- MOUZ to win IEM Dallas @ 7.00
- The Sharks to win both halves against the Panthers @ 2.15
- Storm to win (1-12) against the Sea Eagles @ 2.90
- Phil Salt highest scoring English batsman against Pakistan @ 3.90
- Royal Challengers Bengaluru to reach the IPL final @ 2.87
As you can see, you will rake in handsome payouts if you place any of these wagers and they come through. Football tips this week are the most lucrative, with low-risk bets based on the trends we have seen this season. MOUZ lifting the IEM Dallas trophy is the most tempting pick in terms of odds, however, and their recent hot streak suggests victory is a very real possibility.
