The sporting calendar gets busier as we enter the second week of the year. Join us as we bring you the best sports bets of the week across a diverse range of disciplines, with bookmaker Pinnacle providing the odds. Whether it’s MMA, football, cricket or golf, we’ve got predictions for you over the next seven days.
Best MMA Predictions
With a strong 14-fight bill at the Apex headed by a riveting rematch between Mackenzie Dern and Amanda Ribas, the UFC makes its post-Christmas comeback this Saturday. Here are our three top betting tips for UFC Vegas 101.
Amanda Ribas vs. Mackenzie Dern @ Dern to Win @ 2.660
Ribas and Dern will renew hostilities five years after their first meeting. Both shared the Octagon as the most promising prospects in the UFC strawweight division back then. Now, with so much time passing, this will be a battle between two seasoned professionals.
Ranked sixth, Dern enters 2025 with a victory over Loopy Godinez in Abu Dhabi last August. Her place in the division still hangs in the balance nevertheless. She has a history of eliminating lesser-ranked opponents, but she has faltered against those ahead of her. A real title run depends on reversing this trend for the Brazilian and right now is the ideal starting point for that road.
Ribas, on the other hand, is one of just two fighters currently ranked in two weight classes. She returns to the 115-pound division following a flyweight main event loss to Rose Namajunas in March 2024, her only fight of the year. Although she has participated in both classes, Ribas has found more success at strawweight, compiling an outstanding 5-1 record against a 2-3 record in her five fights at flyweight.
Ribas won a clean-sweep on the scorecards in the first fight. Although both fighters have developed significantly since then, the interesting question is whether those developments will generate a fresh dynamic in the rematch or whether history is destined to repeat itself.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: January 8th, 12:00 AM (GMT)
Dern failed to make the most of her excellent grappling skills against Ribas in Tampa. However, the former Brazilian jiu-jitsu champion is much improved now. Her ground game is as brilliant as ever and she has become a far more effective striker.
Dern certainly exhibits some of her old flaws, but Ribas is not in the best position to take advantage of those right now. Her jumping back and forth between divisions did not help very much. She has been largely inconsistent lately, so we think backing the underdog in this fight is well worth the risk.
Carlston Harris vs. Santiago Ponzinibbio – Harris to Win @ 2.060
Santiago Ponzinibbio and Carlston Harris square off in a showdown of seasoned welterweight veterans in Saturday’s co-main event. Although a bout between two fighters in their late 30s might not seem enticing at first glance, it carries significant betting value.
38-year-old Ponzinibbio shows up in Las Vegas driven to break away from a two-fight losing run now in his 12th year under the UFC brand. ‘The Argentine Dagger’ has struggled to recover consistency since returning from a career-threatening leg injury and later infection. He has a 2-5 record since his return, with three of those losses being extremely close split decisions.
Harris quietly evolved throughout his first three years in the UFC into one of the most fascinating under-the-radar stories of the promotion. With his one loss at the hands of Shavkat Rakhmonov, the Guyanese fighter compiled an outstanding 4-1 record ahead of 2024, secured three finishes, and earned two post-fight bonuses. But Harris just had one appearance last year, falling victim to a first-round knockout against Khaos Williams in mid-May.
Injuries have plagued Ponzinibbio throughout his career, and he doesn’t quite look like the fighter he used to be. Though he remains a threat with his power, his once-fluid movement now seems hampered. His big shots aren’t connecting with the same frequency as they did during his impressive seven-fight winning run from late 2015 to late 2018. It can be a normal outcome of aging, or maybe the injuries have left their mark.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: January 8th, 12:00 AM (GMT)
Harris excels on the mat and with reasonable wrestling ability, thereby offering a flexible skill set to the cage. He has many assets to draw on even if his chin is dubious and his endurance remains a concern. That said, he won’t have a significant age advantage, as he’s set to turn 38 in July.
In other circumstances, we would have gone for a Ponzinibbio victory in a heartbeat. But, his recent form makes it difficult to retain faith in him. So, we will go for an underdog pick in this fight as well.
Abdul Razak Alhassan vs. Cesar Almeida – Under 1.5 @ 2.300
Two middleweights renowned for getting the job done quickly will meet in the heart of this weekend’s main card, as Cesar Almeida takes on Abdul Razak Alhassan.
Almeida had a setback dropping a decision to Roman Kopylov in his second UFC outing after receiving a Performance of the Night bonus for his first win against Dylan Budka last April. He recovered, though, with a hard-fought victory against Ihor Potieria at UFC 307, boosting his record to 6-1 and finishing his first year with the organisation on a positive note.
Alhassan has maintained an impeccable 100-percent finishing rate across his 12 career victories, but heads into Saturday’s fight looking for his first win since January 2023. His bout in July with Cody Brundage ended in a no contest just 37 seconds in, after Alhassan inadvertently landed an elbow to the back of Brundage’s head, rendering him unable to continue. Then, his October clash with Josh Fremd was cancelled after Fremd missed weight and was hospitalised. It’s clear that Alhassan is eager to return to action.
Given his 2-5 (1NC) record in his last eight outings, it is fairly surprising that the Ghanaian is still on the roster. Alhassan is about six months away from his 40th birthday, so it can be said that his UFC days are numbered. He wouldn’t have been looking forward to fighting someone like Almeida right now. From a stylistic sense, this clash seems far from an ideal fit for him.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: January 8th, 12:00 AM (GMT)
Alhassan and Almeida both have penchants for the spectacular. Since two knockout artists are set to collide, we expect this fight to end soon. Therefore, we will take up bookmaker Pinnacle’s under 1.5 market odds of 2.300 for this fight.
Best Cricket Prediction This Week
This week’s cricket betting serves up some fantastic options, with several tantalising predictions ahead. Read on for the best betting tip on the upcoming Super Smash match between Canterbury Kings and Auckland Aces.
Canterbury Kings vs. Auckland Aces – Kings to Win @ 2.010
Canterbury Kings and Auckland Aces will reconvene a week after their first clash of the season. The bottom-placed Kings will be desperate to arrest their losing slump as they host the third-placed Aces at the Hagley Oval.
Bevon Jacobs produced a man of the match display when the teams last played at Eden Park. Helping his club to a 13-run victory, the Aces’ batsman struck a quick 33-ball 53 and grabbed a catch certain to be in the running for catch of the summer.
Canterbury was on target to knock down Auckland’s score of 185-8, but in the last stages they lost six wickets for only nine runs, ending up all out for 172.
The loss stretched Cole McConchie and company’s wait for their first win of the season to three matches, after rain washed out their opening two games. As a result, the five-time champions will be hoping to pick back-to-back wins against the struggling Kings to make up for the lost points.
They were bowled out for only 106 runs against Otago Volts, but rain came to their rescue and brought them valuable two points. Against the Kings, they delivered a much improved batting performance and put 185 runs on the board.
Canterbury, on the other hand, lost twice to Otago and once to Auckland. In their latest outing, they amassed a respectable total of 169, thanks to knocks from Matthew Boyle (81 not out off 51 balls) and Henry Shipley (40 off 17 balls). But, it proved insufficient with Dale Phillips (45 off 28) and Dean Foxcroft (60 not out off 38 balls) leading a rather comfortable chase for Otago.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: January 8th, 12:00 AM (GMT)
We must say that the Auckland Aces have had a fair share of luck to be where they are now. They could have lost against Otago had rain not intervened. In the other match, they benefited from a late Canterbury batting collapse.
The Kings still have nothing to show for their three outings, but in two of those matches, they came close to victory. We believe their run of near-misses will end here, and they will secure a much-needed win against the Auckland Aces to earn their first points of the season.
Best Golf Prediction This Week
The Sony Open is the first full-field event of the year as the PGA Tour heads from Kapalua to Honolulu, Hawaii. Let’s have a look at our betting prediction for the competition.
Russell Henley to Win @ 20.340
Kapalua had a star-studded field, but only half of them will make the trip to Honolulu for this tournament. Therefore, most of the 144 players will be making their first official appearance of the year. Course history suggests that the ones who did not play yet this season, might find it a bit difficult to get adjusted to the conditions. Given Waialae is among the most predictive courses on the Tour, past performance in the course is also quite relevant here.
With 20 of the top 50 in the Official World Golf Rankings participating, the Sony Open still has one of its strongest fields ever, but not quite as star-packed as the Kapalua event. Notable names include previous week’s winner and a former Sony Open champion Hideki Matsuyama, Robert Macintyre, Russell Henley, Tom Kim, and Sahith Theegala.
As a previous winner of this event, Henley looks to offer good value here, with the Sony Open in Hawaii being the ideal setting for him to rediscover his form. The American pulled off the rare achievement of winning on his PGA Tour debut when he claimed the title back in 2013.
Four PGA Tour victories is still an outstanding record that distinguishes him from practically everyone in this competition, even though he hasn’t exactly lived up to the high standards expected of him following his remarkable breakthrough. Henley’s last title came two years ago at the 2022 World Wide Technology Championship. The course was a short one, like Waialae, which indicates that the Sony Open provides the perfect opportunity for him to flourish.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: January 8th, 12:00 AM (GMT)
Henley has always demonstrated his quality at Waialae; he was fourth last year and second three years ago when he was five strokes clear into the last round and finally lost in a playoff.
Henley consistently finished in the top 10 on the PGA Tour in 2024. Although his most recent results—a T19 finish at the Hero World Challenge and a tie for 30th at the Sentry—may not be that strong, we think the University of Georgia alumnus can find his form at a course where he has produced six top-20 finishes.
Best Snooker Prediction This Week
The Masters, the second Triple Crown event of the season, kicks off on Sunday at Alexandra Palace. Here’s our take on how the tournament might unfold.
Luca Brecel to Win @ 32.080
Luca Brecel has struggled to live up to expectations since winning the 2023 World Championship. The Belgian had been largely inconsistent, lost the crown to Kyren Wilson, and not taken home any significant silverware in recent times. So, why give him the benefit of the doubt here? The Masters, after all, is a battle of the snooker elites. How can Brecel contend with the finest in the sport at his current form?
Brecel’s form has suffered since his surprising triumph at the Crucible Theatre; lack of focus and dedication seems to be the culprit. But, his last three tournaments have shown encouraging signs of a turn-around; the partying days seem behind him and a fresh dedication to intense practice is evident.
Though not yet at his best, his performances suggest a slow comeback to the form that made him a world champion. With every outing, his confidence seems to be rising; his finishing is sharper and his scoring consistency is improving. Even though he could not lift the trophy, he made it to the Riyadh Snooker Championship final just before Christmas.
Unquestionably, the bottom part of the draw seems to be less difficult than the other three, providing a more appealing route to the Paul Hunter Trophy. On paper, Brecel has a challenging encounter with Chris Wakelin to take care of early in the tournament.
Wakelin is not to be undervalued; he has developed a reputation for being absolutely consistent. However, his lack of experience on this elite platform could work against him. Should Brecel score an early victory, it will equip him for a strong title charge.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: January 8th, 12:00 AM (GMT)
Should he progress, Brecel’s next test will come from either Kyren Wilson or Zhang Anda, two players he has defeated in the past and most recently at the Saudi Arabian event before Christmas. These elements give Brecel strong grounds to be confident that he will land in the semi-finals.
All things considered, Luca Brecel seems a smart pick for those who want to back a dark horse in the Masters. He offers an enticing 32x return on bookmaker Pinnacle, so if you’re feeling brave, it might be worth a punt.
Best American Football Prediction This Week
The NFL Playoffs begin this weekend, so we will preview the first postseason game of the campaign for our weekly betting preview.
Los Angeles Chargers vs. Houston Texans – Under 42.5 @ 1.917
The Texans arrive into the playoffs on home ground as underdogs for the second straight season. They square off with the Chargers this year.
The Chargers, in their first season under head coach Jim Harbaugh, hope for their first postseason triumph in six seasons. Los Angeles boasts the league’s best scoring defence, conceding only 17.7 points per game and concluded the regular season strongly with three straight wins.
Under coach DeMeco Ryans, the Texans have advanced to the playoffs and kept the AFC South championship for a second straight year. Despite this success, the team is dealing with a wave of injuries, most notably at wide receiver, where Stefon Diggs and Tank Dell have been sidelined for the season.
Los Angeles’s defence under Jim Harbaugh has been exceptional with just 301 points allowed this season. Houston counters with its own defensive stars, including sack leaders Danielle Hunter (12) and second-year sensation Will Anderson Jr. (11). In the secondary, Derek Stingley and Calen Bullock have each recorded five interceptions.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: January 8th, 12:00 AM (GMT)
Los Angeles have gone over the total in four straight games thanks to a more dynamic offensive setup; yet they have just reached the over eight times in 17 games this season. Meanwhile, Houston’s offence has been disappointing, and Tank Dell’s injury further compromises their firepower.
We think the under market provides the best value here since we are expecting a low-scoring affair between these two sides.
Best Football Predictions
Three fantastic football betting tips from three different competitions will round off our betting preview. Make sure to check them out.
Arsenal vs. Manchester United – Arsenal Under 1.5 Goals @ 2.080
Arsenal starts their FA Cup adventure with an exciting third-round game against Manchester United. After losing 2-0 to Newcastle on Tuesday’s opening leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final, the Gunners want a big reaction. A statement victory against the Red Devils will go a long way in soothing the nerves at the Emirates.
On the other hand, United wants to improve on their Sunday’s 2-2 tie with Liverpool. Manager Ruben Amorim voiced annoyance with his team’s lack of regular performance over his tenure. While United were excellent against the Premier League leaders, they are still winless in their last five outings across all competitions.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is under immense pressure at the Emirates. His team is currently second in the Premier League, but are six points behind table toppers Liverpool. There has been frustration in the Arsenal faithful for several missed opportunities to close the gap with Arne Slot’s men. With usual suspects Manchester City seemingly out of the title picture, another trophy-less season will be a hard pill to swallow for the North Londoners.
Arteta’s Manchester United counterpart Ruben Amorim faces a different reality. The Mancunians are currently 13th in the Premier League standings and have crashed out of the EFL Cup. The Portuguese has taken charge mid-season and is yet to make any additions to the team. He has inherited a poor team, hence United will have to go through some suffering before recovering their great legacy.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: January 8th, 12:00 AM (GMT)
Arsenal has prevailed in the past four meetings between the two clubs. Amorim’s United lost 2-0 earlier this season and already visited Arsenal at home. Still, they can find motivation in the knowledge that they had prevailed in the FA Cup five years ago when the teams last met in the competition.
We do fancy Arsenal to win, but they might not be able to score more than once. Star winger Bukayo Saka will not be available for the hosts. Promising youngster Ethan Nwaneri has also picked up an injury that will keep him out of action for a few months. So, we think betting on Arsenal to score under 1.5 goals is an undervalued market.
Rayo Vallecano vs. Celta Vigo – Both Teams to Score @ 1.900
Rayo Vallecano and Celta Vigo are set to lock horns in a La Liga mid-table battle at Estadio de Vallecas on Friday night. Vallecano, who are 12th in the standings, will look to leapfrog 11th placed Vigo with a much-needed home win.
Inigo Perez has implemented an entertaining brand of football since becoming the Vallecano boss. His team has shown flair, but he would ask for more finesse from his team to make sure they stay in contention for a European spot.
Los Franjirrojos enjoyed a 3-1 win in their previous match against Racing Ferrol in the Copa del Rey. Perez will look for a similar return against Vigo, but undoubtedly, it would be a much sterner test.
Watching Celta Vigo may also be really fun. In the 18 matches they have participated in the Spanish top-flight this season, there have been 55 goals. For the Galician team, which flirted with relegation for most of last season, a top half finish seems a reasonable aim.
Claudio Gonzalez has made Celta Vigo a formidable side in the division. They travel to Madrid following a thrilling 3-2 win against Racing Santander in the Copa del Rey. Celta Vigo will look to continue their winning run to three matches across all competitions and continue their push for European football.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: January 8th, 12:00 AM (GMT)
This is an incredibly tough match to call since both sides have similar playing styles and also performed similarly. Since this a clash of two attacking two sides, we think the Both Teams to Score market offers the smartest betting opportunity. None of these teams are interested in laying back and defending, so expect plenty of goals in this one on both ends of the pitch.
Bayer Leverkusen vs. Borussia Dortmund – Leverkusen to Win @ 2.500
Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund are set to treat football fans to a mouthwatering Bundesliga display on Friday evening.
Defending champions Leverkusen will want to remain within close proximity to Bayern Munich, the present league leaders. Conversely, Borussia Dortmund will seek to enter the top four with a victory.
Once more, BVB have pressed the reset button at Signal Iduna park, bringing in Nuri Sahin Sahin at the hot seat replacing Edin Terzic. This has been a turbulent campaign for the German powerhouse as they have dropped points in more matches than they have won. That said, they should be feeling confident after dispatching an in-form Wolfsburg side before the mid-season break.
Leverkusen find themselves in the title race once again following a fairy-tale season. Xabi Alonso’s side are only four points behind Bayern Munich and are currently second in the table. They had a tricky start to the season, but Die Werkself have finally been showing the form reminiscent of their last season’s run.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: January 8th, 12:00 AM (GMT)
Borussia Dortmund is somewhat of an unknown entity at the moment. Their game-management is chaotic, and should prove costly against a well-drilled Leverkusen side. We see great value in backing a home win in this match.
The Best Bets to Make This Week
Thanks for staying with us till the end. Let’s have one last look at our betting picks before wrapping up:
- Amanda Ribas vs. Mackenzie Dern – Dern to win @ 2.660
- Carlston Harris vs. Santiago Ponzinibbio – Harris to win @ 2.060
- Abdul Razak Alhassan vs. Cesar Almeida – under 1.5 @ 2.300
- Canterbury Kings vs. Auckland Aces – Kings to Win @ 2.010
- Russell Henley to win the Sony Open @ 20.340
- Luca Brecel to win the Masters @ 32.080
- Los Angeles Chargers vs. Houston Texans – under 42.5 @ 1.917
- Arsenal vs. Manchester United – Arsenal under 1.5 goals @ 2.080
- Rayo Vallecano vs. Celta Vigo – Both Teams to Score @ 1.900
- Bayer Leverkusen vs. Borussia Dortmund – Leverkusen to win @ 2.500
Betting on a Bayer Leverkusen win against Borussia Dortmund seems to be the best value bet this week. The actual possibility of a Leverkusen victory is much higher than the odds indicate, so it’s quite an enticing offer.
