Another action-packed week in the sporting world awaits, and we have all the best bets to make over the next seven days.
For starters, Saudi Arabia will host one of the best boxing events of all time with six mouthwatering fights. Adding to this, ice hockey might not be the hottest game internationally, but the rising tensions between USA and Canada should make the 4 Nations Face-Off final a fun watch.
In this week’s preview, we have explored both events and also looked at some other betting opportunities. Overall, we are confident that this week’s picks are among the most exciting ones we’ve made in recent times. We have collaborated with bookmaker Pinnacle to bring you the best wagers of the week.
Best Boxing Predictions This Week
The Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia continues its bid to become the new Mecca of boxing with another stacked card this weekend. Here are our betting picks for three fights of the night.
Carlos Adames vs. Hamzah Sheeraz – Under 10.5 Rounds @ 1.917
Carlos Adames and Hamzah Sheeraz is one of the half a dozen title fights we will get to see on Saturday night at the Kingdom Arena. Adames will bring the WBC world middleweight strap to the ring, while Sheeraz seeks recognition for his impressive form with a crowning achievement.
Adames has been steadily making his mark in the middleweight division. In June, he dominated Terrel Gausha en route to a unanimous decision win. Before that, he halted former world champion Julian Williams in the ninth round to successfully defend the WBC interim belt he had won eight months earlier with a ruthless third-round stoppage of Juan Macias Montiel.
Sheeraz, in the meantime, stopped Tyler Denny in the second round to keep his Commonwealth and WBC Silver Middleweight belts and add the EBU European Belt to his collection. The 25-year-old now has a brilliant 21-0 record, with 17 knockouts wins. He has held the Commonwealth and WBC belts since 2022.
Adames’ record stands at 24-1 ahead of the bout, with 18 KOs. He is on a five-fight winning run since losing to Patrick Teixeira in 2019 for the WBO interim light middleweight title. The Dominican Republic boxer has not fought many high-profile boxers other than Teixeira, Gausha, and Williams. But, his opponent does not have much experience in this regard either.
Sheeraz is yet to trade blows with the division’s elites and Adames comes as the biggest step-up in his career so far. He has beaten the likes of Austin Williams, Liam Williams and Bradley Skeete, but Adames poses a more significant threat. Also, a world title is on the line, so the stakes are higher than ever.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: February 19th, 12:00 AM (GMT)
Adames and Sheeraz are both heavy hitters. The WBC world middleweight champion has knocked out seven of his last 10 opponents. Sheeraz has an even more impressive record as he will be looking to extend his streak of KO wins to 16.
Whichever way this fight eventually goes, we believe this is going to end early. So, we are putting our money on the under 10.5 rounds market.
Israil Madrimov vs. Vergil Ortiz Jr – Ortiz Jr to Win @ 1.840
Israil Madrimov and Vergil Ortiz Jr are set to make history by becoming the first boxers to take part in a WBC super welterweight title fight in Saudi Arabia. Ortiz will look to prove his credentials against a former world champion. Madrimov, meanwhile, will attempt to relive the glory of owning a world title strap.
Overcoming knockdowns in the first and eighth rounds to edge out Serhii Bohachuk by a dubious majority decision, Vergil Ortiz Jr. faced adversity in a fight full of drama to earn the interim belt in August.
Israil Madrimov had an equally difficult challenge that same month. He pushed Terence Crawford all the way but finally failed by dropping to a close unanimous decision. His effort to claim the WBO interim junior middleweight title fell agonisingly short and resulted in the first blemish on his professional record.
The Uzbek fighter now has a 10-1-1 record, including seven KOs, and will be looking to return to winning ways with a statement victory against Ortiz. Before taking on Crawford, Madrimov fought Magomed Kurbanov for the vacant WBA light middleweight title. The Russian could not survive Madrimov’s onslaught for more than five rounds.
Ortiz has established himself as one of the most exciting youngsters in boxing. Although the 26-year-old’s flawless 22-0 record is remarkable, his knockout power really distinguishes him—21 of his wins have come inside the distance, resulting in an amazing 95.4% knockout ratio.
He’s secured impressive victories over a formidable list of opponents, including Bohachuk, Thomas Dulorme, Fredrick Lawson, Michael McKinson, Egidijus Kavaliauskas, Maurice Hooker, Samuel Vargas, Brad Solomon, Antonio Orozco, and Mauricio Herrera. Notably, he was the first to stop Herrera.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: February 19th, 12:00 AM (GMT)
Both Madrimov and Ortiz carry power, but Madrimov was too hesitant in his loss to Crawford last year. Ortiz, meanwhile, was far more aggressive in his all-out war with Bohachuk. If Madrimov starts cautiously, this could unfold as a slow-burning chess match.
But with their skills so evenly matched, the deciding factors will likely be their chins and sheer desire to win. Ortiz’s high-pressure style gives him a slight advantage if he can turn it into a firefight. So, we predict Ortiz as the likely winner of this bout.
Dmitry Bivol vs. Artur Beterbiev – Bivol to Win @ 1.970
Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev will be the headline act of the night in Riyadh. The duo fought in this arena just four months ago to decide the undisputed light heavyweight king. Bivol gets the chance to have another shot at the crown and Beterbiev will try to retain his throne with back-to-back victories against the former WBA champion.
Last October, Beterbiev and Bivol’s first meeting was as close as it gets. Many felt it deserved a draw, but Beterbiev claimed Bivol’s WBA strap, gave him his first pro loss, and stayed undefeated. The triumph confirmed Beterbiev as the indisputable light-heavyweight champion; now, in the much awaited rematch, he aims to extend his reign.
In October, Bivol produced a near-flawless display—his defensive work was outstanding, making him the first man to avoid being stopped by Beterbiev. However, the concern for Bivol is that Beterbiev still has another level to reach, despite winning the first fight.
Beterbiev improved in their first meeting as the fight progressed until finally he tipped the odds in his favour. He has a great chance of winning once more if he finds his groove earlier in the rematch. While Bivol could require more than just another outstanding defensive performance, he will need judges who really value his approach since it seemed unfair that none gave him the nod last time.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: February 19th, 12:00 AM (GMT)
However, we do believe Bivol can avenge his loss this time around. He showed great courage to take the fight to Beterbiev in the first fight, and we don’t think he hit the ceiling of his abilities. Bivol will look to frustrate Beterbiev with his swift in-ring movement and make the most of the openings he gets.
As we said, Beterbiev has room for improvement as well, but that seems a bit more unlikely considering he is not getting any younger. He celebrated his 40th birthday last month, and there were subtle signs of decline in the previous fight. Beterbiev remains a brutal boxer, but a drop off by minimal margins could take the fight away against someone like Bivol.
Best Ice Hockey Predictions This Week
The 4 Nations Face-Off championship game will pair up Canada and USA less than a week after their feisty battle in Montreal. We’ll share our prediction for the match, along with two crucial NHL futures betting picks that are approaching their deadlines.
USA vs Canada – USA to Win in Regulation Time @ 2.500
The Bell Centre in Montreal became a fiery battleground when the USA met Canada for their 4 Nations Face-Off pool stage match. With tensions running high between the two nations, the US national anthem was met with loud boos from the passionate home crowd.
The animosity spilled into the rink as three fights broke out between players before the clock hit the ten second mark. A Jake Guentzel brace and a Dylan Larkin goal helped the away side to ignore the hostilities and pick up a vital 3-1 win. Canada punched their ticket to the final by beating Finland on Monday.
With both Matthew and Brady Tkachuk struggling and Auston Matthews missing from the last round-robin game against Sweden, USA might be feeling the weight of injuries. Still, the Americans came agonisingly close to scoring a point, striking the post five times in a 2-1 loss that eventually had little bearing.
The USA will be under pressure playing in Boston, especially since the players have compared this event to the Olympics or Stanley Cup Final. But Canada also bears the extra weight of having won five straight events on North American territory since 1996 and three consecutive best-on- best trophies.
USA can match the calibre of the Canadian team on ice even with the injury and illness obstacles, including Charlie McAvoy’s absence as shutdown defenseman. The Americans have the upper hand in goal, as Connor Hellebuyck, a Vezina Trophy contender, outshines Jordan Binnington, whose shaky tournament performance has resulted in a .892 save percentage and a 2.60 GAA.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: February 19th, 12:00 AM (GMT)
Hellebuyck was at his best in the first meeting between these teams, and after Conor McDavid scored the opener on Saturday night, nothing got past the USA netminder. He will play an important role in the final, as we expect the Americans to produce another defensive masterclass and win the title.
Tampa Bay Lightning to Win the NHL Atlantic Division @ 6.610
Florida Panthers currently lead the NHL Atlantic Division with 71 points to their name after 57 matches. The Panthers are the safest pick since they have taken home two of the last three division titles and have featured in the last two Stanley Cups. They also have one of the finest defences in the league. However, we see value elsewhere.
Tampa Bay Lightning trail Panthers by five points, but they have two matches in hand. They have scored more (197-192) than the Panthers, but have conceded less (153-165). When the season kicked off, the Lightning were largely ignored, but now they sit third in the division standings.
Even if some bettors would still overlook Tampa Bay in the title chase, there are strong arguments to give it some thought. Though they lost Steven Stamkos in free agency, the Lightning still boasts one of the best teams in the league. They signed former Penguin and Hurricane Jake Guentzel in his place, who amassed an amazing 77 points last season for both sides.
Let’s not forget, the Lightning still have key stars like Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point, and Victor Hedman on their squad. Kucherov, Point, Guentzel, and Brandon Hagel have each scored at least 21 goals this season. Goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy remains one of the top netminders in the NHL.
Averaging 3.67 goals per game, the Lightning are the top-scoring team in the NHL. After a 7-6-1 start, Tampa Bay has gone 16-10-2. Though they suffered a run of six losses in nine games from late December to mid-January, the Lightning are unquestionably among the best teams in the Atlantic Division and the NHL.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: February 19th, 12:00 AM (GMT)
If the Lightning can steer clear of injuries and find consistency, they have a legitimate opportunity to overtake Toronto and Florida in the Atlantic Division. Tampa Bay still has four crucial games—two each against the Maple Leafs and Panthers—that could ultimately determine their position in the standings.
We, however, have faith in the back-to-back Stanley Cup champions of 2020 and 2021. So, we will back the Lightning to win the Atlantic Division.
Winnipeg Jets to Win the Western Conference @ 6.060
Winnipeg Jets occupy the top spot in the NHL Western Conference. They have amassed 81 points in 56 outings. The Jets have a healthy nine point lead over the second placed Dallas Stars in the Central Division, who have a game in hand. No Pacific Division team is near them either, with Edmonton Oilers and Golden Knights also trailing them by nine points.
The Winnipeg Jets have started the 2024-25 NHL season strong, leading the Central Division for much of the campaign with a blend of veteran experience and young talent. With Kyle Connor and Mark Scheifele leading the charge, the Jets attack has been nearly unstoppable. Connor has been particularly exceptional; he ranks among the top 10 scorers in the NHL having scored 26 goals and 60 points in 48 games.
His partner in crime, Schiefele, has also been one of the best NHL attackers this season. He has bagged 27 goals and 54 points for the Jets and also commanded a place in the NHL top 10 scorer’s chart. Combined with the offensive contributions of Gabriel Vilardi, Josh Morrissey, and Nikolaj Ehlers, Winnipeg boasts one of the most formidable attacks in the league.
A much-improved defence makes the 24-25 Jets unit more formidable than the ones we have seen in recent seasons. Josh Morrissey, a former Norris Trophy winner, anchors the blue line, while goaltender Connor Hellebuyck—arguably the NHL’s best—has been a game-changer between the pipes.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: February 19th, 12:00 AM (GMT)
Hellebuyck dominates the NHL’s goaltending stats, leading in goals-against average (2.02), save percentage (.927), and wins (29). His stellar play has been key to Winnipeg’s success, as the Jets kicked off the campaign with eight consecutive wins. Even a 6-4 defeat to division-leading Toronto couldn’t slow them down—they responded with another seven consecutive victories.
The Jets have been the team to beat in the Western Conference all season, and they’re showing no signs of slowing down. With the NHL’s top goaltender and a high-octane offence, betting on Winnipeg to win the division at the current odds presents excellent value.
Best Golf Prediction This Week
Some PGA Tour heavyweights have chosen to skip the 2025 Mexico Open. While that’s bad news for spectators, it opens up more exciting avenues for punters. Here is our 2025 Mexico Open prediction.
Akshay Bhatia to Win @ 14.940
Akshay Bhatia has shown his mettle at the Genesis Invitational, where he finished ninth. He also has fond memories of playing at Vidanta. Bhatia finished fourth here only two years ago, and this year, he could better that by lifting the trophy. He is a fierce competitor for this week’s challenge at Vidanta because of his length off the tee and skill with handling windy conditions.
Bhatia has been consistent this year, finishing inside the top-40 in all five of his starts, with a T9 last week marking his best result. Unlike many of his Torrey Pines competitors who are preparing for the Florida Swing, the two-time PGA Tour champion is chasing his third win this week.
This could be the first time in his career that he looks at the field and realises he is the man to beat. Such a confidence boost can be transformative for a young player, particularly as many of his starts, like last week’s, come against some of the game’s elite.
Considering Bhatia’s success on tropical resort-style courses, it’s hard not to be excited about his chances this week. While we usually refrain from picking the pre-tournament favourites, the top brass has often made the difference in this competition. Jon Rahm and Tony Finau trading the top spots in the first two years of the event validates this argument.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: February 19th, 12:00 AM (GMT)
Double digit odds against a field of this quality makes it nearly impossible not to pick Bhatia here. It might seem like a safe pick, but our intuition tells us that it won’t be a great week for longshots at Vidanta.
Best Football Predictions This Week
The Premier League will be back this weekend with some exciting clashes. With so many options to choose from, we have made these three picks:
Leicester City vs. Brentford – Brentford to Win @ 2.010
Leicester City welcome Brentford, a side which have been mid-table mainstays this season, on Saturday as they attempt to crawl out of the relegation zone.
Leicester City’s fortunes have hardly improved under Ruud van Nistelrooy, as the Foxes remain locked in a relegation scrap with Ipswich Town and Wolverhampton Wanderers. The transfer window did little to lift spirits, as only Wayo Coulibaly arrived from Parma.
Leicester City’s 2-0 defeat to Arsenal last weekend has left them languishing in 19th place in the Premier League. Their leaky defence has been a major issue, with 55 goals conceded—making them the second-worst in the league behind Southampton (57).
Thomas Frank’s Brentford continue to impress, pushing for a top-half finish after a 1-0 victory over London rivals West Ham. The Bees sit 11th in the Premier League with 34 points from 25 matches, backed by an impressive attacking display this season.
Brentford have netted 43 goals this season, with Bryan Mbeumo (14) and Yoane Wissa (11) leading the charge. A win would propel them into the top half, and they’ll be hoping for a repeat of their previous clash, where Kevin Schade’s stunning hat-trick and a Wissa goal secured a 4-1 triumph.
Brentford will feel confident heading into this fixture, not just due to their league position but also their strong recent record against Leicester. The West London outfit are unbeaten in their last three matches against Leicester, with the East Midlands side failing to keep a clean sheet in those games.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: February 19th, 12:00 AM (GMT)
Leicester City have lost their last three matches. Their form at King Power has been far from inspiring as well. Leicester will walk out on the pitch, hoping to avoid a sixth successive home defeat.
For all the reasons stated above, we believe Brentford are set to pick up an easy away win here. Bookmaker Pinnacle is offering more than a twofold return on a Leicester win, and we would recommend taking it.
Everton vs. Manchester United – Everton to Win @ 2.610
Manchester United continue its transition period under Ruben Amorim with an away trip to Goodison Park this Saturday. Everton are under new management as well, but their recent results have been the exact opposite of those of Man United’s. David Moyes has sparked a resurgence after taking charge of the Toffees mid-season. Now, he prepares to face one of his former employers at their most vulnerable state.
Moyes had taken charge of Man United after Sir Alex Ferguson had retired. The Chosen One’s tenure was short-lived, however, as he failed to meet the lofty expectations of the Old Trafford faithful.
Manchester United can hardly argue that they managed to reach the highs of the Ferguson-era ever since. Even though they finished second twice since their talismanic manager left, they never felt like challenging for the title. Their struggles have worsened in recent years, despite a few domestic cup victories.
Right now, Manchester United are 15th in the league with 29 points under their belt. Everton sit a place above with one more point.
Top four seemed within reach when Amorim had taken the reins. The Red Devils were only four points away from a guaranteed Champions League spot, but now the gap has widened to 15 points.
Amorim’s men come to this match following back-to-back defeats to Tottenham and Crystal Palace. They failed to score on both occasions. Everton, meanwhile, won four of their last five matches. In the only match they failed to win in this run, Everton forced title-chasing Liverpool into sharing the spoils.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: February 19th, 12:00 AM (GMT)
Everton are the favourites to win this match, and we believe betting on them would be a smart move.
Bournemouth vs. Wolves – Both Teams to Score & Bournemouth to Win @ 3.250
Bournemouth will look to consolidate their place in the Premier League top five with a comfortable home win against Wolves. Bournemouth have been one of the most impressive teams in the English top-flight. A 2-0 loss against Liverpool ended their 12-match unbeaten run across all competition, but Andoni Iraola’s men gave the league leaders a run for their money.
The Cherries returned to winning ways by beating Liverpool’s Merseyside rivals Everton in the FA Cup 4th round. They followed it up with a 3-1 win at St. Mary’s against Southampton. And now, Bournemouth looks to rebuild the momentum with another bottom-placed team. But it might not be a walk in the park.
Vitor Pereira became the new Wolverhampton Wanderers coach in mid-December. Since his arrival, he has made Wolves a trickier side to face. But, their resilience could not propel them far away from the danger zone. Wolves are now 17th in the table, with only two points separating them from 18th placed Ipswich.
Pereira’s men would consider themselves unlucky to return empty-handed from Anfield last week. Arne Slot’s men took a 2-0 lead in the first half, but Wolves dominated the second half and created several opportunities to level the game. Matheus Cunha beat Alisson with a marvelous long-range strike to cut the deficit, but the equalising goal remained out of reach.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: February 19th, 12:00 AM (GMT)
Wolves should be able to breach the Bournemouth defence if they can replicate their last match’s performances. However, we don’t believe it would be enough to snatch away points from Vitality Stadium.
The Best Bets to Make This Week
Make sure to go through our betting picks of the week once again before you put in your bets. Here they are:
- Carlos Adames vs. Hamzah Sheeraz – under 10.5 @ 1.917
- Israil Madrimov vs. Vergil Ortiz Jr – Ortiz Jr to win @ 1.840
- Dmitry Bivol vs. Artur Beterbiev – Bivol to win @ 1.970
- USA vs Canada – USA to win in regulation time @ 2.500
- Tampa Bay Lightning to win the NHL Atlantic Division @ 6.610
- Winnipeg Jets to win the NHL Western Conference @ 6.060
- Akshay Bhatia to win 2025 Mexico Open @ 14.940
- Leicester City vs. Brentford – Brentford to win @ 2.010
- Everton vs. Manchester United – Everton to win @ 2.610
- Bournemouth vs. Wolves – both teams to score & Bournemouth to win @ 3.250
Bhatia winning the Mexico Open and Jets winning the NHL Western Conference both appear to be the most undervalued bets of the picks we made. These two promises hefty returns at relatively low risk.
