Looking to bank easy returns with some calculated sports predictions this weekend? Even for a sports betting veteran, a bit of extra help never hurts. We’ve done the legwork and come up with 10 hand-picked predictions, combining odds offered by bookmaker Pinnacle.
Join us as we introduce you to some unbelievable sports betting opportunities that await us next week. From football to basketball, UFC to rugby, our insights and predictions will help you figure out just where to stake your bets this coming week.
Our Football Predictions This Weekend
Football fans have been looking forward to June all year, with the Euro 2024 and Copa America 2024 both about to start this month. As both of these continental tournaments draw nearer, participating teams are finishing up their prep with some friendly kickabouts. On June 6th, the iconic De Kuip Stadium in Rotterdam will host an international friendly between the Netherlands and Canada that will feature teams in the Euros and Copa America, respectively.
Both Teams to Score and Netherlands Takes the Win
Ronald Koeman’s Dutch side had been riding a brilliant run of form, winning four straight games without conceding a single goal. However, that streak came crashing down in a 2-1 loss to their German rivals last month, a humbling result that abruptly halted their momentum.
Koeman knows improvements are needed if his team is to make a good run at Euro 2024. France, Austria, and Poland await in a group-stage draw, putting extra pressure on these final preparatory matches. A confidence-boosting performance against Canada could be just what the doctor ordered ahead of the showpiece event on German soil.
The Canadians will step into somewhat of an unknown territory as matches against European opponents have been few and far between since their 2022 World Cup appearance. Under their new head coach Jesse Marsch, the former Leeds United boss, Canada will look to make a genuine international statement before starting their Copa America mission.
It’s been 30 years since these two nations last met, with the Netherlands claiming a 3-0 victory in 1994. On paper, the Dutch are significant favourites, but Canada will undoubtedly relish the opportunity to measure themselves against one of the Euro 2024 powerhouses.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: June 4th, 8:00 P.M. (GMT)
Bookmaker Pinnacle gives excellent odds at 3.06 for both teams to score and Netherlands to secure the win. This might seem to be a risky wager considering the Oranje have kept clean sheets in four of their last five matches.
Canada, however, have scored in all of their last five. Their prolific front-line will face a sterner test against the Dutch back-line. That said, Jesse Marsch is well-known for his fearless brand of football. So, expect the net to bulge at least once behind the Netherlands goalkeeper.
Our UFC Predictions This Weekend
UFC Fight Night returns this Saturday in the KFC Yum! Centre at Louisville, Kentucky after more than a decade. The main event of the night sees Jared Cannonier make his return against Nassourdine Imavov. Bettors get your wallets ready for an exciting night full of intense bouts and lucrative odds.
UFC Fight Night Main Event: Jared Cannonier to Win
After a knee injury that kept Jared Cannonier out of action since last June, the 40-year-old power hitter will be looking to build on his 7-2 run at the 185 pound weight category when he takes on Nassourdine Imavov.
Cannonier remains a top dog in the middleweight division who owns a victory over the former title holder Sean Strickland. His only losses in recent years were against elites such as Robert Whittaker and Israel Adesanya.
The 29-year-old Frenchman, Nassourdine Imavov, isn’t going to go down without a fight by any means. Nicknamed “Russian Sniper”, Imavov excels at precision strikes with plenty of power to boot. With five victories in the Octagon, the young fighter should be able to hold his own against Cannonnier.
However, while Imavov was picked apart by Strickland, Cannonier made short work of the former champ with his reach and power strikes. Although the age difference between the two fighters does put Imavov at an advantage, we believe “The Killa Gorilla” is going to be the undisputed victor in this main event.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: June 4th, 8:00 P.M. (GMT)
The odds at bookmaker Pinnacle are close for both fighters, meaning you’ll get a good return regardless of where you put your money. It’s certainly going to be a close bout, but we believe his experience on the Octagon will play a role in favour of Jared Cannonier.
Imavov should be able to hold out against Cannonier preventing a knockout win, but we think Canonier will win via decision. Cannonier is at 2.05 to claim the bragging rights.
Reyes to Beat Jacoby in the UFC Fight Night Co-Main Event
The co-main event of the night will feature a light heavyweight bout between Dominic Reyes and Dustin Jacoby. Both fighters are looking to get back on track and build some positive momentum.
Once thought of as the next big thing in the 205-pound weight class, Reyes ripped off 12 straight wins to start his pro career. His flawless run in the Octagon earned him a fair shot at the title against Jon Jones. While the fans believe Reyes did enough, the judges ruled otherwise.
Ever since that defeat, Reyes’s career has been on a downhill slope, dropping four consecutive fights. But we believe now is the time when he makes a statement and revives his career.
Dustin Jacoby, after his seven-fight win streak, proved that he belonged in the upper echelon of the UFC. But the 32-year-old fighter is struggling as of late, winning only one bout out of his last four appearances.
Both fighters are at a crossroads in their career. For Reyes, it’s his one final shot at proving that he still has the potential to make a title run down the road. As for Jacoby, he’ll be eager to arrest the slump and heave a sigh of relief with a win.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: June 4th, 8:00 P.M. (GMT)
Pinnacle puts Dominick Reyes at 2.90 to win, while Dustin Jacoby stands at 1.44. However, we believe this will be Reyes’s night, where he will reignite the passion that we all saw at the start of his career. Regardless, the bout should be one of the most exciting ones in recent history, with both fighters attempting to rejuvenate their career.
Zach Reese to Win vs. Julian Marquez
Speaking of reinventing their career, the middleweight showdown between Zach Reese and fan favourite Julian Marquez presents another lucrative betting opportunity for MMA punters.
It’s been over a year since Marquez’s last appearance in the Octagon after his two-fight skid. Once considered one of the rising stars, the fighter has struggled lately suffering two knockout losses in his last appearances. He’s looking to break that streak as evident from his training with John Crouch alongside Jared Cannonier.
Zach Reese who earned his UFC contract with a 74-second submission win last season on the Contender Series will be his opponent. Reese holds a pro record of 6-0 with all his wins coming in the opening round. However, the streak derailed quickly when he got his promotional debut last December against Cody Brundage.
It’s a battle to make a statement for both fighters on June 9th. Who will come out on top? Who will get the final word? We believe it will be Reese who steps up and proves that he belongs in the big leagues.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: June 4th, 8:00 P.M. (GMT)
While Julian Marquez is the clear favourite in the bout, we believe Zach Reese at a lucrative 2.13 odds is worth taking a chance. Both fighters have looked far from their best lately. Marquez has been training hard to get back to his best, but we still think Reese will come out on top in the coming clash.
Our Canadian Football Predictions This Weekend
The 2024 Canadian Football League season is only days away. Here are two CFL fixtures that appears the most promising to us, from a punter’s point of view.
Winnipeg Blue Bombers to Win and Cover -7 Spread
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers head into the 2024 CFL season with renewed determination after coming up short in the Grey Cup two times in a row. They’ll certainly get their chance at a quick redemption as they host the defending champs, Montreal Alouettes, in week one of the season.
Despite their recent setbacks in the Grey Cup, the Blue Bombers have always been consistent, reaching the title game four seasons in a row. Zach Collaros, their veteran quarterback, will back donning the Blue and Gold alongside the likes of Brady Oliveira and Dalton Schoen.
Winnipeg’s defence did take some hits, losing the likes of Ricky Walker and Jackson Jeffcoat. However, under the leadership of Adam Bighill, the linebacker unit remains as one of the most experienced in the CFL.
As for Montreal, they overcame a slow start last year to finish 8-0 down the stretch, including upsets of Winnipeg and Toronto to claim the cup. The loss of two of their star players, Austin Mack and William Stanback, does mean their offensive line will be compromised. However, the experienced Cody Fajardo will spearhead the offence this season.
Playing at home where they held an impressive 8-1 record last season, the stage is perfectly set for an early Winnipeg statement. The bitter taste of defeat from last year still fresh on their lips, the Blue Bombers are highly motivated to give it their all.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: June 4th, 8:00 P.M. (GMT)
The -7.0 point spread for the home side is pretty manageable for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. They are on a mission this year and it starts with a decisive win in this rematch.
Hamilton Tiger-Cats to Win and Cover -1 Spread
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats will hit the road for their season opener against the Calgary Stampeders this Friday night. The match-up presents the perfect opportunity for Hamilton to start their bounce-back season on a high note, with a decisive win.
Coming off a disappointing 8-11 performance and a below-average performance from their offseason acquisition quarterback, Bo Levi Mitchell, last year, the Tiger-Cats have high expectations this year.
We expect Mitchell to perform better now that he has had some time with his new team. With one of the best receivers in the league Tim White and running back James Butler playing for the team, they expect to have a strong offensive line. The addition of Barlow Hendrix, Jordan Williams, and Jamal Peters also makes their defence tight.
The Calgary Stampeders, on the other hand, are coming off a nightmarish 6-13 season, their worst performance to date since 2007. A big part of their poor run were injuries, but even if they have a cleaner bill of health this season, we do not think they are a strong contender for the Grey Cup.
Their quarterback Jake Maier is still struggling with consistency issues as he had 15 interceptions last year. Malik Henry has recovered from his injuries and looks to make a return to lead the receivers unit. However, outside of that, they don’t have any real play-makers in the team.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: June 4th, 8:00 P.M. (GMT)
Bookmaker Pinnacle puts Hamilton Tiger-Cats at lucrative 2.02 odds for a -1.0 spread, which we think is very reasonable. They went 2-0 against the Stampeders last year, and with Calgary projected for another below-average season, we will back Hamilton to make a victory statement this weekend.
Our Rugby Union Predictions This Weekend
The Gallagher Premiership Rugby final takes place this June 8th that presents another excellent betting opportunity for prospective punters. Bath look the strongest they’ve looked since nine years ago as they face up against the Northampton Saints. Here’s our prediction for the grand final clash.
Bath to Win vs. Northampton Saints
Bath Rugby is on the cusp of a long-awaited return to the summit of English rugby. After going through a nine-year drought from the Premiership final, the Somerset outfit has roared back to life under Johann van Graan this season. Now, they stand just 80 minutes away from a seventh league title on June 8th.
The Blue, Black, and Whites weren’t given much hope of making a sustained title challenge after some lean years. However, van Graan has quickly reignited the battling spirit that made Bath such a powerhouse in the late 20th century, when they won six titles in eight seasons.
Bath have been a team reborn in the closing weeks, bulldozing their way through the playoffs. First, they demolished league leaders Northampton 43-12 at the Rec to book a home semi-final. Then, after falling behind early to Sale, Bath showed their championship mettle by battling back for a 31-23 victory.
In that semi-final win, the influential halfback pairing of Finn Russell and Ben Spencer pulled the strings magnificently. Russell’s incredible goal-kicking proved crucial, while Spencer’s piercing runs from the back kept the Sale’s defence on its toes. With that duo firing, Bath’s potent back-line was able to shine.
Up front, the forward pack has rediscovered its legendary firepower. South African import Jasper Wiese and homegrown star Josh Bayliss have brought a degree of physicality and work rate that can overwhelm the opponents down the stretch.
Now they get a shot at redemption against Northampton, who ended Bath’s playoff hopes last season. The Saints topped the table but have shown vulnerabilities lately that Bath can expose with their confident, attacking style.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: June 4th, 8:00 P.M. (GMT)
At 2.56 odds, we feel comfortable backing Bath to complete their resurgence by outgunning the Northampton Saints. Van Graan has plenty of weapons to hurt the Saints from all sides and his mastery at motivating his players will bring out the best for his team.
Our Basketball Predictions this Weekend
The NBA Finals get underway with the Dallas Mavericks heading up to Boston to take on the Celtics. While the Celtics are the favourites playing on their home court, the Mavericks have shown their ability to keep the games competitive throughout the NBA Playoffs. Keep reading to find our best value bet for the NBA Finals Game 1 between Dallas Mavericks and Boston Celtics.
NBA Finals Game 1 Dallas Mavericks to Cover +6.5 Spread
Dallas has become a formidable team formed around the superstar Luka Doncic. Forward P.J. Washington, acquired at the trade deadline, has provided a big spark. The smooth-shooting 25-year-old is averaging 13.6 points and 6.7 rebounds this postseason while knocking down over 36% of his three-point attempts.
Derrick Jones Jr. is another x-factor, using his elite athletic capabilities to make plays above the rim while also spotting up reliably from three-point range. The energetic forward is putting up 9.8 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game in the playoffs.
If secondary scorers like Washington and Jones Jr. take some of the pressure off of Doncic, it allows the Mavericks’ offensive execution to flow more freely against Boston’s stingy defence.
The Celtics will look to counter by leaning on their own superstar, Jayson Tatum. The dynamic wing has stuffed the stat sheet this postseason, averaging 26 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 5.9 assists while making a strong case for Finals MVP if Boston wins.
Though Tatum and the home team are rightly favoured, the Mavericks have shown they can keep games tight by making teams pay for over-committing to stop Doncic. With a spread of just +6.5 points, back Dallas’ complementary weapons to do just enough damage to keep it closer than expected.
The Mavs have been impressive underdogs throughout these playoffs. We expect another gritty, high-effort performance from Dallas in the final series opener.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: June 4th, 8:00 P.M. (GMT)
Pinnacle places the Mavericks +6.5 spread line at a nice price of 1.934 odds, which frankly is quite achievable for the Dallas team. The Boston Celtics are certainly the stronger team on the court, but the Mavericks have found their stride. While it might not be enough to carry them to victory, they can definitely make it close.
Our NRL Predictions This Weekend
The Wests Tigers will be looking to take advantage of their extra week of rest when they battle the St. George Illawarra Dragons at WIN Stadium on Friday night. On the other hand, the South Sydney Rabbitohs will be licking their lips at the chance to extend their dominance over the Gold Coast Titans when the two sides clash at Cbus Super Stadium on Saturday.
Tigers to Cover +7.5 Spread Against Dragons
The Tigers are desperately seeking a chance to hit the reset button after a brutal stretch of eight consecutive losses. Their 28-42 defeat to North Queensland in their last outing was actually an encouraging sign, as it was just their second time eclipsing 20 points all season.
The return of attacking talents Justin Olam and Brent Naden from injury should provide a boost to the Tigers’ sputtering offence. While they remain the lowest-scoring team in the NRL, simply getting a semblance of attacking cohesion could allow them to hang around against St. George’s stingy defence.
The Dragons will likely be short-handed themselves, with Ben Hunt, Zac Lomax, and Jayden Su’A all potentially being rested after their State of Origin exertions. That’s a big blow considering St. George just knocked off Penrith last week, thanks largely to their rep stars’ absences.
Despite their struggles, the Tigers actually out-gained the Dragons statistically in their round six meeting, only to be undone by some untimely errors. If they can play a cleaner game and get any kind of attacking output, they should be able to keep the final margin respectable.
St. George has been vulnerable on the road, getting outscored by 40 points across their last three away games. With no Origin stars and playing on a short week, an upset is very much in play.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: June 4th, 8:00 P.M. (GMT)
Make no mistake, Wests Tigers are definitely the underdogs with clear weaknesses that the Dragons will look to exploit. However, with the return of key players and the Dragon’s injury woes, Tigers should be able to make the contest close enough to cover the 7.5 spread.
Rabbitohs to Win Over Titans
The Rabbitohs have utterly owned this rivalry in recent years, winning their last seven encounters against the Titans and an incredible 10 consecutive games at the Titans’ home ground dating back to 2009.
Souths will be eager to get back in the winner’s circle after a fluke that has seen them drop their last two games against Parramatta and Canberra. Prior to that, they had reeled off six straight victories while looking every bit a genuine premiership contender.
While the Rabbitohs will be without the star power of Latrell Mitchell due to injury, they still possess one of the most potent attacks in the NRL. Wingers Alex Johnston and Keaon Koloamatangi are ready to pounce at the chance to exploit the Titans’ weakness in defending their right edge.
Johnston, in particular, has feasted on Gold Coast, crossing for six tries in his last three games against them. With Cameron Murray and Jai Arrow expected back from Origin duty, the Rabbitohs’ forward pack will be at full strength as well.
On the other side, the Titans are a team in disarray at the moment. They’ve lost five of their last six games, including their last two against Newcastle and Canterbury, leading into their bye week.
Making matters worse, they’ll be without their primary play-maker, Kieran Foran, for a month due to a toe injury. Inconsistency has plagued Gold Coast despite having one of the competition’s most potent attacks. With a leaky defence and their key organiser Foran sidelined, the Titans could be in for a long night against the Rabbitohs.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: June 4th, 8:00 P.M. (GMT)
The oddsmakers at Pinnacle place the South Sydney Rabbitohs at 2.04 odds to win, which seems like a no-brainer bet for most punters. Looking at the past records of the two teams, it’s likely that the Rabbitohs will come out the victor in this clash.
The Best Bets This Weekend
There are plenty of tempting betting opportunities available this weekend in sport if you know where to look. We’ve compiled some of the best ones in this article to help you get an easy payout. Here’s a quick recap:
- Both teams to score in Netherlands vs. Canada and Netherlands to win @ 3.06
- Jared Cannonier to win vs. Nassourdine Imavov @ 2.05
- Reyes to beat Jacoby @ 2.90
- Zach Reese to win vs. Julian Marquez @ 2.13
- Winnipeg Blue Bombers to win and cover -7 spread @ 1.93
- Hamilton Tiger-Cats to win and cover -1 spread @ 2.02
- Bath to win vs. Northampton Saints in the Gallagher Premiership final @ 2.56
- Dallas Mavericks to cover +6.5 spread in NBA Finals Game 1 @ 1.93
- Tigers to cover +7.5 spread vs. Dragons @ 1.80
- Rabbitohs to win vs. Titans @ 2.04
With any of these wagers, bettors can make a quick payday. The International Friendly match-up between the Netherlands and Canada seems to be the most profitable one this weekend. However, the UFC Fight Night at Louisville also presents multiple ways to rake in your profits.
