From the fast-paced world of esports to the gritty realm of MMA and the global stage of football, this week’s sports betting preview has it all. Join us as we reveal our expert picks for the upcoming week of sporting action, with the latest odds from bookmaker Pinnacle.
Best MMA Predictions This Week
The UFC heads to Edmonton this week with a stacked Fight Night card. We have identified three value bets in the preliminary card lineup.
Victor Henry vs. Charles Jourdain – Henry to Win @ 2.100
Charles Jourdain is making a bold shift down to the bantamweight division, where he’ll be tested straight away this weekend by the skilled and seasoned Victor Henry. Known for his explosive style and fearlessness, Jourdain carved out a respectable 6-6-1 record across 13 fights at featherweight.
However, he often faced a size disadvantage in the division, which perhaps impacted his recent performances. Now, he’s looking for a fresh start in the 135-pound category following a pair of tough losses.
Henry, meanwhile, has been making steady progress since joining the UFC. The savvy veteran has posted a 3-1 record with one no-contest to kick start his journey. His most recent outing saw him secure a third-round TKO victory over Brazilian grappler Rani Yahya in April, a fight that highlighted his relentless approach and finishing ability.
Henry’s well-rounded game and tenacity make him a formidable first opponent for Jourdain, who will need to adapt quickly to the bantamweight ranks if he hopes to get back to winning ways.
While Henry is a newcomer in the UFC, he definitely knows his way around the bantamweight division. His overall fight history stretches to 31 fights across UFC, Rizin, Pancrase and other organisations.
Jourdain will be making a 10-pound drop to take on Henry, which could take away one of his biggest strengths. The Canadian was hailed for his agility during his featherweight days, but he might not be the fastest one inside the cage against Henry. The weight drop could impact his speed and accuracy against such an experienced bantamweight fighter.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: October 30th, 12:00 AM (GMT)
We believe Henry offers a more well-rounded skill set compared to Jourdain. With stronger striking and grappling abilities, he may have the edge in this match-up. Also, Jourdain has struggled with consistency throughout his career. While he’s claimed victories over some tough opponents, he’s also dropped a few winnable fights along the way.
Therefore, we’ll be taking bookmaker Pinnacle’s offer of 2.100 odds on a Henry victory in this bout.
Rodrigo Nascimento vs. Alexandr Romanov – Nascimento to Win @ 1.833
UFC Edmonton viewers will also get to enjoy some heavyweight fireworks with Alexandr Romanov facing off against Rodrigo Nascimento.
Romanov, once hailed as a fast-rising contender, burst into the UFC with five consecutive victories, showing a blend of power and grappling skill rarely seen in the heavyweight division. However, the Moldovan has hit a rough patch recently, going 1-3 in his last four fights. His most recent outing ended in disappointment, as he was submitted by Brazilian powerhouse Jailton Almeida at UFC 302 in June.
Nascimento, meanwhile, arrives in Canada looking to get back on track after a setback of his own. The Brazilian had been riding high on a three-fight winning streak, showing promise as he climbed the ranks. But his momentum was halted in May when he met Derrick Lewis in a main event bout, where he suffered a decisive defeat.
This clash pits two heavyweights with a lot to prove against one another. Romanov will be looking to regain his confidence and return to the form that initially made him one to watch, while Nascimento is hungry to reestablish himself as a rising force in the division. With both fighters eager to make a statement, fans can expect a high-stakes showdown that could end at any moment.
In terms of fighting style and strengths, both fighters are quite similar. We’re set to see two skilled grapplers with below-average striking power go head-to-head. It will be as if they’re fighting their mirror images.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: October 30th, 12:00 AM (GMT)
So, who will be the last one standing? We’re inclined to back Nascimento. Romanov may come out all guns blazing, but if the fight extends beyond the first round, he could find himself in troubled waters.
Romanov has struggled to maintain his stamina in recent bouts, with only four of his last 10 fights making it past the first round. His gas tank tends to deplete quickly as the fight wears on, which is why we’re backing Nascimento to secure victory in the later stages. In doing so, we expect to get a handy 1.83x return from bookmaker Pinnacle.
Pedro Munhoz vs. Aiemann Zahabi – Zahabi to Win @ 1.952
Capping off the UFC Edmonton preliminary card is an enticing bantamweight showdown as Pedro Munhoz and Aiemann Zahabi share the Octagon. This technical showcase is shaping up to be an evenly matched contest that could go either way.
Zahabi, riding high on the best streak of his UFC career, enters this bout with four consecutive victories under his belt. His recent run has been excellent, including a statement win over Javid Basharat, where he handed the rising talent his first career loss.
Across the cage stands Pedro Munhoz, a battle-tested veteran who’s consistently held a spot in the bantamweight top 15. Munhoz arrives in Edmonton eager to reverse his fortunes after two consecutive decision losses, first to the ever-dangerous Marlon “Chito” Vera and then to Kyler Phillips.
Despite a seemingly modest record, Pedro Munhoz has been a perennial contender in the bantamweight division. The former Resurrection Fighting Alliance champion will be eager to remind fans of his bantamweight legacy with his impressive durability and striking. So, Zahabi has a formidable challenge ahead of him.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: October 30th, 12:00 AM (GMT)
Zahabi has sharpened his skills under the guidance of his brother, renowned coach Firas Zahabi, and it’s showing in his recent performances. His defensive game, in particular, has seen improvement, especially against guillotines and triangle attempts.
So, Zahabi will be a tough nut to crack for Munhoz, who will need to bring his best to find openings against such a well-prepared opponent. Munhoz might also struggle to land his shots against an opponent as agile as Zahabi. We’re, therefore, backing Zahabi to secure a statement victory, with bookmaker Pinnacle offering odds of 1.952 on his success.
Best Boxing Prediction This Week
O’Shaquie Foster will feel he has unfinished business to settle when he takes on Robson Conceicao in New York on Saturday. Can he avenge his controversial defeat to the Brazilian, or is it going to be back-to-back wins for Conceicao? Here is our prediction for the highly anticipated fight.
Robson Conceicao vs. O’Shaquie Foster – Conceicao to Win @ 3.950
Foster steps through the ropes with a solid record of 22 wins, three losses, and 12 knockouts, having fought 158 rounds since turning pro in 2012.
Before falling to Conceicao in July, Foster’s previous two losses came against Samuel Teah by unanimous decision in 2015 and Rolando Chinea by split decision in 2016. Among his nearly two dozen victims, the names of Miguel Roman, Rey Vargas, and Muhammadkhuja Yaqubov stand out.
Foster became the WBC Super Featherweight title by beating Vargas in Texas last year. After successful defences against Eduardo Hernandez and Abraham Nova, he lost the belt to Conceicao a few months back. However, he is getting a quick chance to redeem himself and take the belt back.
Conceicao had the last laugh in New Jersey when the two boxers first clashed three months ago. However, the former Olympic gold medallist’s split-decision victory was shrouded in controversy. Many believed Foster was the rightful winner, but the judges saw it differently.
The Brazilian has fought a total of 23 times, emerging victorious on 19 occasions. He has suffered two losses, recorded one draw, and one fight ended in a no contest.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: October 30th, 12:00 AM (GMT)
Before the fight, the markets have been overwhelmingly in favour of a Foster win. We believe Conceicao fought much better in the last time than he is given credit for.
Foster has been salty since losing the fight and might choose to adopt an overly aggressive approach. This could open up early windows of opportunities for Conceicao to exploit. Despite the general consensus, we anticipate another win for the Brazilian.
Best eSport Prediction This Week
The iconic O2 Arena in London will host the biggest League of Legends match of the year this weekend. T1 and Bilibili Gaming will renew hostilities at the Worlds 2024 Grand Final on Saturday, so let’s find out our betting prediction for the epic battle. Other than that, we will look at the potential winner of the 2024 Clash Royale World Finals.
Bilibili vs. T1 – Bilibili 2-3 T1 @ 5.110
T1 will be aiming to win back-to-back titles as they prepare to take on Bilibili at the English capital. The LPL giants, on the other hand, will be playing their first Worlds championship match after making a semi-final run last year.
Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok and company squared off against arch-rivals Gen.G in the semi-finals and after a fierce battle they booked their Worlds Grand Final berth for the third time in a row. Gen.G and T1’s intense rivalry has been a defining feature of the LCK since 2020. Since 2022, however, it has been mostly a one-sided affair. T1’s 3-1 victory against Gen.G last week is their first win against their LCK rivals in 11 matches.
In the first semi-final, Bilibili and Weibo Gaming faced off in a Chinese derby. However, Weibo struggled to put up much resistance as Liu ‘Knight’ Yuxiang and Zhao ‘Elk’ Jia-Hao led Bilibili to a dominant 3-0 sweep. After a challenging Swiss Stage, Bilibili found their form in the knockouts and now look primed for the title-deciding match.
Bilibili now seeks to break new ground with a roster that is yet to taste Worlds glory, but they must overcome a team that has taken the trophy home a record four times.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: October 30th, 12:00 AM (GMT)
T1 and Bilibili Gaming enter the World Championship Final with a balanced 3-3 head-to-head record. But T1’s storied history in Finals, marked by four titles and only two defeats, gives them a psychological edge. As the most successful team in Worlds history, T1 will be eager to add another chapter to their legacy.
The Korean powerhouse has an impeccable record against Chinese oppositions in the tournament. No team from China has managed to beat T1 in a Worlds knockout series till now.
While Bilibili has shown remarkable progress recently, we believe they still lack the finesse needed to overcome T1 in a match of this magnitude. Nonetheless, they should put up a strong fight against the defending champions, and we’re predicting a 3-2 victory for T1. Bookmaker Pinnacle is offering enticing odds of 5.110 for this scoreline.
Lucas to Win Clash Royale World Finals @ 12.140
The 2024 CRL season has seen fierce competition among the world’s best Clash Royale players. Through intense Monthly Competitions and Community Tournaments, eight players have earned their spot in the World Finals. Now, the final test awaits as they battle for the coveted title of World Champion.
The 2024 World Finals will be a three-day double-elimination tournament, held at SuperFEST from November 1-3. The Clash Royale World Finals will be the centrepiece of a weekend-long esports extravaganza, sandwiched by the Clash of Clans and Brawl Stars World Championships.
Mohamed Light had a brilliant start to the season as he went to win all of the first three Golden Ticket events. Light won in April, May, and June, before Lucas brought his incredible winning streak to an end in July.
Light is the bookies’ favourite to wear the crown this year, but the 2022 champion had a disastrous campaign last year. While defending champion Mugi is not in the mix this year round, the path to the title will not be easy for Light.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: October 30th, 12:00 AM (GMT)
The Egyptian could not sustain the electric form he had shown in the early stages of the season, plus the odds of 1.699 of backing him doesn’t look much rewarding. So, we were prompted to look elsewhere to find better value.
Taa is the second favourite with odds of 3.550. The Japanese player is a solid contender indeed, but he could not win any of the monthly finals leading up to the big event.
Lucas’s recent form suggests he’s a fantastic choice for punters. Although the Brazilian has yet to claim an S-tier trophy, his victory over Light in July shows he has what it takes to challenge the elite once again. We’re backing Lucas to become the new Clash Royale world champion, eyeing a sweet 12x return at bookmaker Pinnacle.
Best American Football Prediction This Week
Two teams with contrasting levels of morale are set to clash in a Thursday night NFL affair at the MetLife Stadium. The New York Jets will be hoping to give their fans something to cheer for when they welcome the Houston Texans. Let’s check out our prediction for the game.
Houston Texans vs. New York Jets – Aaron Rodgers Over 1.5 Touchdown Passes @ 2.200
The New York Jets’ season is on life support. Sitting at 2-6, their playoff hopes are hanging by a thread after a disheartening week-eight loss to the struggling New England Patriots. Now, if they want even a glimmer of hope in the postseason race, a win on Thursday Night Football against the Houston Texans in week nine is non-negotiable.
Meanwhile, the Texans are coming into this clash with serious momentum. After a decisive week-eight victory over the Indianapolis Colts, Houston now stands at an impressive 6-2, firmly in control of the AFC South. With their sights set on extending their winning streak, the Texans are eyeing another notch in the win column on Thursday. But this may not be the straightforward game they’re hoping for, and the odds suggest it could be closer than expected.
If the Jets are to get the better of the Texans to keep their playoff hopes alive, their star quarterback Aaron Rodgers must live up to the billing.
In his eight appearances for the New York Jets during the 2024 NFL regular season, Rodgers has amassed 1,896 passing yards and 12 touchdown passes, while also adding 44 rushing yards to round out his performance stats. While there have been some underwhelming performances, Jets boss Jeff Ulbrich will once again rely on Rodgers to anchor the offence.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: October 30th, 12:00 AM (GMT)
While Texans have their impressive defensive record to thank for their current position, they have struggled to contain opposition quarterbacks. If we look at points data for reference, we will see that the Texan defence ranks better than only nine sides in the 32-team division, when it comes to defending against quarterbacks.
So, we believe Rodgers will play a major part on Thursday and set up multiple touchdowns for his teammates. We’ll place our bet on him to deliver over 1.5 touchdown passes, available at 2.200 odds on Pinnacle.
Best Football Predictions This Week
Besides our usual Premier League picks, we also have a tasty Saudi Pro League prediction for you this week. Al Ittihad and Al-Ahli will lock horns in a heated Jeddah derby on Thursday before the Premier League action resumes this weekend.
Al Ittihad vs. Al-Ahli – Ittihad to Win @ 2.210
Aiming to extend their impressive winning streak, Al Ittihad will host Al-Ahli at the King Abdullah Sports City for a Thursday night showdown in the Saudi Pro League. Ittihad is coming off a solid home victory, while Ahli had to settle for a draw in their last outing.
Following their 3-1 loss against a Neymar-less Al-Hilal on September 21, Al Ittihad has experienced a remarkable turnaround, securing six consecutive victories in both the Saudi Pro League and King’s Cup.
On Monday night, Laurent Blanc’s men earned a well-deserved place in the quarter-finals of the King’s Cup by defeating Al-Jandal. Goals from Abdulaziz Al-Bishi and Abdulrahman Al-Obood before the interval paved the way for a comfortable win for the home side at Prince Abdullah al-Faisal Stadium.
Al Ittihad’s impressive start to the 2024-25 season has seen them amass 21 points from their first eight games. Currently second in the Saudi Pro League, they’re hot on the heels of the league leaders Al-Hilal, who are just three points ahead of them.
Al-Ahli have also enjoyed a good run lately. They have been unbeaten in all three post-international break matches they have played. However, the Emperors’ faithful were not happy to see their team sharing the spoils with a struggling Al-Okhood last week.
Al-Ahli, who finished third last season and qualified for the AFC Champions League, are currently out of the continental qualification zone. Despite the recent unbeaten spell, they have only three wins to show for their eight Saudi Pro League matches so far.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: October 30th, 12:00 AM (GMT)
Ivan Toney’s signing has made Ahli a stronger attacking threat, but we are not confident that they will be able to breach the home defence. However, the Englishman has five goal involvements in his six outings for Ahli, so we are not particularly keen on trying the both teams to score markets.
A straightforward win for Al-Ittihad seems like the safest bet to make here. The returns are quite healthy for a team that appears to be in the best position to win this match.
Ipswich Town vs. Leicester City – Leicester to Win @ 3.150
Ipswich Town and Leicester City will meet in a Saturday afternoon Premier League affair. Last season, this fixture took place in the Championship, where both teams ended up sharing the spoils in a 1-1 draw. The reverse match also concluded with the same scoreline. However, this season, both teams will be eager to change the narrative and secure a victory.
The Tractor Boys’ long-awaited return to the Premier League hasn’t gone as planned. Under Kieran McKenna, they’ve shown resilience, avoiding defeat in four matches. However, their inability to convert draws into wins has left them languishing 18th in the table with a mere four points.
Leicester City have also found it difficult to cope with the level up, but the former Premier League champions have somewhat steadied the ship in recent weeks. While they are coming off a 3-1 thrashing at the King Power Stadium to Nottingham Forest, Leicester have won two of their last three matches. So, they currently have a comfortable five points buffer separating them from the drop zone.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: October 30th, 12:00 AM (GMT)
Even though Ipswich are yet to break their duck, odds from bookmaker Pinnacle suggest they are the favourites to win this tie. We beg to differ, however. Ipswich have conceded 10 goals in their last three matches and the early resilience they had shown seemed to have disappeared after the big defeat against West Ham.
Leicester have a midweek fixture against Manchester United to play, so the hosts will hope to benefit from fresher legs. However, Ipswich’s latest form has been far from inspiring, and the Foxes have already won against a fellow promoted side away from home this season. So, we’ll be putting our money on a Leicester victory.
Nottingham Forest vs. West Ham United – Both Teams to Score and Forest to Win @ 4.260
A high-flying Nottingham Forest will look to extend their winning streak to three matches when they host West Ham United on Saturday. The Hammers come into this match on the back of a 3-1 home victory against Manchester United, a result that ultimately marked the end of Erik ten Hag’s tenure at Old Trafford. However, Julen Lopetegui’s side may feel fortunate, as their performance was somewhat erratic and the result could have easily gone the opposite way.
They will be looking for a more composed performance against the Tricky Trees, but it will be far from a walk in the park, as the hosts’ recent form suggests. Forest currently have 16 points on the board, which puts them in seventh place, ahead of the likes of Tottenham, Newcastle, and Manchester United.
With two wins and a draw in their last four outings, West Ham has only managed to climb to 13th place. Lopetegui is still in the process of stamping his authority on the team. While this transition is ongoing, the Londoners will be looking to deliver a strong performance at City Ground.
His Forest counterpart, Nuno Espirito Santo, has done an outstanding job since succeeding Steve Cooper last December. After steering the team to safety last season, he has instilled a more cohesive style of play this term. While it’s still early in the campaign, aspirations for a European spot at the end of the season don’t seem too far-fetched at this stage.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: October 30th, 12:00 AM (GMT)
Forest have a 100% record in their last three home matches against their Saturday afternoon guests. We expect that record to live on, but the Hammers should be able to take a consolation goal home.
The Best Bets to Make This Week
We’ve curated a varied selection of sports bets to help make your betting efforts more rewarding. Let’s have a look at our picks once again:
- Victor Henry vs. Charles Jourdain – Henry to win @ 2.100
- Rodrigo Nascimento vs. Alexandr Romanov – Nascimento to win @ 1.833
- Pedro Munhoz vs. Aiemann Zahabi – Zahabi to win @ 1.952
- Robson Conceicao vs. O’Shaquie Foster – Conceicao to win @ 3.950
- Bilibili vs. T1 – Bilibili 2-3 T1 @ 5.110
- Lucas to win Clash Royale World Finals @ 12.140
- Houston Texans vs. New York Jets – Aaron Rodgers over 1.5 touchdown passes @ 2.200
- Al Ittihad vs. Al-Ahli – Ittihad to win @ 2.210
- Ipswich Town vs. Leicester City – Leicester to win @ 3.150
- Nottingham Forest vs. West Ham United – Both teams to score and Forest to win @ 4.260
For the best return with the lowest risk profile, we recommend trusting our prediction for the League of Legends Worlds 2024 Grand Final. We believe that while Bilibili will put up a good fight, T1’s championship experience will ultimately prevail, leading to a 3-2 victory for them. You can secure an impressive five-fold return on this bet at bookmaker Pinnacle.
