NFL fans, the International Series is back for another year. With four exciting games set to take place at Wembley Stadium and the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, American football fans will be looking forward to getting their gridiron fix.

Starting with the Oakland Raiders taking on the Chicago Bears this weekend, viewers may be treated to some of the greatest moments in NFL UK history. Without further ado, let’s take a look back at the five most exciting International Series games.

 

New York Giants at Miami Dolphins (2007)

The first ever International Series game to take place in the UK, over 81,000 NFL supporters flocked to Wembley Stadium to witness NFL action on British shores. It wasn’t the greatest game in NFL history but it deserves a place on this list based on that fact alone.

Eli Manning threw for just 59 yards in a scrappy affair but the Giants quarterback scored a rare rushing touchdown to give New York some breathing room. The Dolphins threatened a late comeback but Miami kicked out of bounds from the restart and the Giants held on.

The Wembley arch has seen better games since that day in October 2007 but this was the moment that convinced UK NFL fans that the sport would thrive on this side of the Atlantic Ocean.

Final score: Giants 13-10 Dolphins

Pittsburgh Steelers at Minnesota Vikings (2013)

2013 marked the first year of multiple International Series games in the UK and fans with tickets to this encounter were treated to an incredible contest. Le’Veon Bell was making his NFL debut but a certain Minnesota running back was about to steal the headlines.

Adrian Peterson was one of the biggest names in the NFL at the time and he lived up to his reputation with a sublime performance. The Vikings running back notched 140 yards on 23 carries while also scoring two touchdowns – the Steelers couldn’t live with him.

Minnesota were 34-17 up heading into the fourth quarter but Pittsburgh reduced the deficit in the final period. Unfortunately for the Steelers, they ran out of time as the Vikings closed out the game to secure a famous win in front of 83,518 fans at Wembley Stadium.

Final score: Steelers 27-34 Vikings

 

Buffalo Bills at Jacksonville Jaguars (2015)

This game had everything. Looking at the final score, you might’ve assumed that the game had turned into a bit of a shootout. In fact, it was quite the opposite with six touchdowns scored by defensive players – the Wembley crowd were thrilled to say the least.

Having said that, the Bills and Jaguars still combined for 670 offensive yards; which suggests that it wasn’t totally defensive minded. Allen Hurns caught the decisive touchdown pass late in the fourth quarter to give Jacksonville a hard-fought but much-needed win.

Still the highest scoring game to this day, fans went home overjoyed after a topsy-turvy contest. In their third fixture since agreeing a London ‘residency’, the Jaguars finally clinched their first victory in the UK. Will Jacksonville add another win to their tally in 2019?

Final score: Bills 31-34 Jaguars

Washington Redskins at Cincinnati Bengals (2016)

Kirk Cousins outshone Andy Dalton at the quarterback position but it wasn’t enough for the Redskins as Cincinnati rallied to earn a tie. The Bengals are due to face the Los Angeles Rams at Wembley Stadium this year and the AFC North side will be hoping to go one better.

Dustin Hopkins held his nerve to slot a 40-yard field goal with just over a minute remaining in the fourth quarter and that is the way it stayed in overtime. Should the overtime rules change? That is a debate for another day.

Ties are rare in the NFL so to see a stalemate in London is something rather special. Yes, it isn’t the ideal outcome for the teams but fans got to see an NFL contest go the distance. You would get good NFL betting odds on one of the 2019 UK games ending a draw.

Final score: Redskins 27-27 Bengals

 

Tennessee Titans at Los Angeles Chargers (2018)

In terms of drama, you’ll be hard pressed to find an International Series game to rival this one. Tennessee scored a field goal to bag an early lead but the Chargers responded and took control for most of the contest.

With less than one minute on the clock, the Titans scored a touchdown to reduce the deficit to just one point with the PAT to follow. Surely Tennessee were going to take the game to overtime? Nope, Mike Vrabel was thinking about the win and the win only.

In a dramatic twist, the Titans decided to go for two in an attempt to win the game outright. A penalty gave Marcus Mariota another bite at the cherry but Tennessee failed in their two-point conversion attempt and the Chargers held on for a famous London triumph.

Final score: Titans 19-20 Chargers

 

*Credit for the main photo belongs to Matt Dunham / AP Photo*

Liverpool are five points clear at the top of the Premier League table, having made it seven wins from seven games last weekend. Jurgen Klopp’s side are playing some fantastic football and it would take a brave man to back against the Reds on current form.

Meanwhile, the likes of Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur have struggled in recent weeks. The race to finish in the top four is wide open this campaign and Leicester City will be quietly confident of breaking into the European places.

Without further ado, it is time to preview this weekend’s biggest fixtures. Punters looking to back our Premier League four-fold can do so at 14/1 with 888sport – fingers crossed for another winning accumulator in 2019/20.

 

Brighton & Hove Albion vs Tottenham Hotspur

Brighton have gone nine home games without a win – a run that stretches back to a 1-0 victory over Huddersfield Town. The Amex Stadium was once regarded as a fortress for the Seagulls but confidence is at an all-time low down on the south coast.

Tottenham’s dismal 2019 continued on Tuesday night as they slumped to an embarrassing 7-2 defeat at home to Bayern Munich. Mauricio Pochettino’s position as manager is under threat and some fans have started to turn on the Spurs boss.

Despite that loss and their poor form this year, I’m giving Tottenham one final chance in my weekly accumulator. 19/20 is almost too good to turn down given the gulf in class between the two sides.

TIP: Tottenham to win (19/20)

 

Liverpool vs Leicester City

Will this finally be Liverpool’s time to lift the Premier League title? Based on their efforts in the early stages of the campaign, the Reds will be right in the mix come the end of May. A win here against high-flying Leicester will certainly help their chances.

Brendan Rodgers deserves plenty of credit for Leicester’s transformation in recent months – the Foxes have picked up the third most Premier League points since his appointment. The 2015/16 champions will be dreaming of a top four finish this season…

Liverpool are looking to preserve their 100% winning record and Klopp’s side should prove too strong for Leicester at Anfield. 19/10 is a very reasonable price for Liverpool to win and both teams to score.

TIP: Liverpool to win and both teams to score (19/10)

 

Manchester City vs Wolverhampton Wanderers

Manchester City are five points behind Liverpool in the race for Premier League supremacy but Pep Guardiola’s men won’t be hitting the panic button just yet. In fact, City rarely panic and that is what makes them so dangerous.

Wolves have been hit and miss this season – Nuno’s side have struggled to cope with the added demands of Europa League football. With Wolves heading to Turkey for a clash with Besiktas on Thursday night, this could be a case of damage limitation for the visitors.

Backing against Manchester City can be foolish but I’m going to do that here. The Premier League champions laboured to a 2-0 victory over Dynamo Zagreb in midweek and another relatively low-scoring game could be on the cards on Sunday afternoon.

TIP: Under 3.5 Man City goals (3/4)

Newcastle United vs Manchester United

Steve Bruce has come under scrutiny after a dreadful run – and who can blame the Newcastle fans for voicing their disappointment? The Magpies let Rafa Benitez leave the club in the summer and a certain Newcastle owner is now more unpopular than ever.

Manchester United are in the middle of their worst start to a Premier League season. Yes, that’s right – Ole Gunnar Solskjaer may be at the wheel but the Red Devils are all over the road; will the Norwegian be at Old Trafford in May? Only time will tell.

Like Tottenham, I’m giving Manchester United one final chance. The Red Devils should be too strong for Newcastle but stranger things have happened of course. 17/20 remains an exceptional price for an away win despite their struggles…

TIP: Man United to win (17/20)

 

*Credit for the main photo belongs to Rui Vieira / AP Photo*

Focus and attention turns back to the Europa League on Thursday night, with five British clubs in action over the course of the evening.

Manchester United, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Rangers feature in the early round of games while Arsenal and Celtic will compete in the later set of matches.

Celtic and Wolves fell short in the opening set of group games but both clubs will be looking to bounce back at the first time of asking.

Without further ado, let’s get down to the top Europa League betting tips. Fingers and toes crossed for a winning four-fold accumulator this week…

 

AZ Alkmaar vs Manchester United

Third in the Dutch Eredivisie table, AZ Alkmaar have enjoyed a positive start to the season. A 2-2 draw away at Partizan Belgrade in the opening round gives AZ the platform to build on and a return to the imposing AFAS Stadion could see the hosts claim three points.

With United struggling in the Premier League, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer could use the Europa League as the catalyst for success. Three points here will put the Red Devils in control at the top of Group L and it would take a brave man to back against the visitors here.

The Dutch side will be encouraged by United’s lacklustre start to the campaign but Solskjaer will have his troops fired up for the short trip to Holland. 18/5 for United to win with both teams scoring could be the way to go on Thursday night.

TIP: Man United to win and both teams to score (18/5)

Young Boys vs Rangers

Currently second in the Swiss Super League, Young Boys are the only Swiss team left to taste defeat this campaign. Rangers will have their work cut out to slow Young Boys down – the hosts will fancy their chances of securing another big victory on Thursday night.

The 3/1 available for Rangers to win is a massive price but the Scottish giants may settle for a point in this one. Having secured a hard-fought win over Feyenoord in the opening round, Rangers will be looking to avoid defeat for the second Europa League game in a row.

Instead, punters should consider the 3/5 for both teams to score. Rangers will see chances fall their way and Steven Gerrard’s side have the attacking nous to take full advantage. At the other end, Young Boys carry a real threat and the selection looks very well priced.

TIP: Both teams to score (3/5)

 

Arsenal vs Standard Liege

Unai Emery’s side earned a point at Old Trafford on Monday night and Arsenal will be trying to build on that result. On paper, the 2018/19 Europa League finalists are a class above and Arsenal could prove too strong for their opponents at the Emirates Stadium.

Write Standard Liege off at your peril. The Belgian side are second in the domestic table and Liege have scored 21 goals in nine First Division A matches this campaign. Expect the visitors to put Arsenal under pressure at some stage on Thursday evening.

The Gunners will want to get off to a fast start and 3/4 for Arsenal to lead at half-time isn’t the worst price in the world. An early goal for the hosts could see the floodgates open and it wouldn’t be a huge surprise to see Arsenal dominate.

TIP: Arsenal to lead at half-time (3/4)

Celtic vs CFR Cluj

Celtic have been simply sublime in the Scottish Premiership, dropping just two points in seven league games. Neil Lennon’s side will be looking to claim victory here – defeat will put Celtic on the back foot in their bid to qualify for the Europa League knockout stages.

Meanwhile, Cluj are tricky opponents in European competition and they have already won against Celtic this season. However, with the Scottish giants now up to speed after a slow start to the campaign, it would be foolish to expect a similar effort from the visitors.

Punters expecting a Celtic backlash should consider the 41/50 for over 1.5 home goals here. The visitors knocked Celtic out of the Champions League in the qualifying rounds and this is the ideal chance for the Scottish side to get revenge.

TIP: Over 1.5 Celtic goals (41/50)

 

*Credit for the main photo belongs to Dave Thompson / AP Photo*

The Prix De L’Arc De Triomphe is run over a distance of 1 mile and 4 furlongs at Longchamp in Paris and it takes place this Sunday.

The race is certainly the highest quality Group 1 middle distance event on the European racing calendar and is arguably the best race of this type in the world.

Some true greats have won the race over the past twenty years including Montjeu, Sinndar, Dalakhani, Zarkava, the renowned Sea The Stars and the wonderful Trêve.

The John Gosden-trained Enable is aiming for an unprecedented third victory in the race. She is already the only horse in history to win the Arc at two different courses and she would also give Frankie Dettori his seventh Arc success.

Here is your runner-by-runner guide to the horse racing betting contenders this year:

French King

Sixth in the Listed Grand Prix de Nantes last autumn, the Henri-Alex Pantall-trained French King has had one hell of a season, winning four races on the spin.

The last of those wins was in the Grosser Preis von Berlin, formerly known as the Deutschland-Preis, one of Germany’s most prestigious races Group One races.

 

Sottsass

Sottsass put in a devastating performance in the Prix du Jockey Club, beating Andre Fabre’s classy Persian King.

Arguably he got lucky in the Prix Niel, having found trouble up against the rail, but he managed to get out and showed a blistering turn of foot to land the spoils.

That turn of foot may just see him through here.

 

Nagano Gold

Czech star Nagano Gold has shown that he can mix it with some of the best horses in Europe and he looks well overpriced in the betting.

He almost pulled off a big shock in the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot and would probably need a few things to go wrong in-running for the market principals to scoop this pot.

 

Kiseki

A third-placed effort in the Prix Foy last month hardly had punters rushing in to back this Japanese-trained Arc hopeful.

Admittedly he did run lazily that day but he will have to sharpen up his game to figure on Sunday.

 

Anthony Van Dyck

According to his trainer Aidan O’Brien, Derby winner Anthony Van Dyck will only line up if the ground is good or better so the prospects of seeing him on Sunday appear pretty slim.

 

Fierement

Currently the most fancied of the Japanese triumvirate, Fierement won the Tenno Sho (Grade 1), before coming third to rival Blast Onepiece, in Japan’s traditional warm up race for the Arc – the Sapporo Kinen.

He is owned by the same connections as Orfèvre who was twice runner-up in the Arc.

 

Blast Onepiece

He was the winner of the Sapporo Kinen but is surprisingly weaker in the betting at the moment than Fierement.

A son of Harbinger, Blast Onepiece scored at the highest level in the Grade 1 Arima Kinen last December and his connections believe he will appreciate the step up in trip.

 

Japan

Japan has slowly come to the boil since his Dante fourth back in May and is a really serious contender. He had an unlucky passage in the Derby, but since then has done nothing wrong.

A King Edward VII Stakes romp was followed up by successes in the Grand Prix De Paris and the Juddmonte International, the latter race showing off his battling spirit and dogged determination.

 

Waldgeist

The Andre Fabre-trained Waldgeist is sure to have plenty of home support but Fabre is well aware that his five-year-old will have to be at his very best if he is to improve on last year’s fourth.

The winner again of the Prix Foy, Waldgeist has gone down the exact same tried and tested route as last season.

He does however need to find some improvement from somewhere if he is to reverse the beatings he received from both Enable and Magical over the summer.

 

Magical

Magical’s win in the Irish Champion Stakes puts her right up there in the mix and she has followed the very same path that Aidan O’Brien plotted for Found when she won the Arc.

Magical has finished second to Enable a couple of times this season but a new jockey on her back may bring about a new result this weekend. It’s a great opportunity for 21-year-old Donnacha O’Brien to improve upon his two previous Arc rides (fourth and fifth).

 

Ghaiyyath

The Godolphin-owned four-year-old stormed into the Arc picture when scoring by a wide margin in the 147th Longines Grosser Preis von Baden in Germany.

That was Ghaiyyath’s first race since he was soundly beaten at odds-on in the Prix Ganay in April, but his trainer Charlie Appleby always believed that he would relish a step up in distance.

Carroll House, Marienbard and Danedream all went on to take the Arc after winning the Grosser Preis von Baden so he cannot be discounted, especially if history repeats itself.

 

Enable

She definitely needs no introduction being as she is already a ten time Group 1 winning mare, a 128 rated horse and a dual Arc winner, who also stands one step away from being a history maker.

After her victory in the Yorkshire Oaks she went to the top of the world’s best racehorse rankings.

Her three victories this season in reverse order have been a 2 3/4 lengths beating of Magical at York, a neck verdict over Crystal Ocean in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes and a three-quarters of a length win over Magical in the Coral-Eclipse.

Enable and Frankie Dettori are undefeated in 12 races together and it is going to take some almighty effort by one of these rivals to knock them off their pedestal.

 

Conclusion: Who Wins?

As much as I want to witness in person Enable creating history on Sunday afternoon at ParisLongchamp, from a punting point of view I believe the percentage call in the race is an each-way wager on Sottsass.

If your heart is currently ruling your head then this could be the perfect bet for you.

888Sport: Sottsass (e/w).

 

*Credit for the main photo belongs to Francois Mori / AP Photo*

The NBA season is no more than a few weeks away. With preseason getting underway, and James Harden inventing another new shot, there’s a sense of optimism about the 2019/20 NBA campaign that hasn’t existed in several seasons.

As reflected in the NBA odds, it’s wide open. There are at least eight teams who harbour realistic title ambitions, a stark contrast to the previous years of Golden State and Cleveland (prior to last year) supremacy.

More players moved teams this offseason than any other in NBA history. The balance of power altered drastically, with multiple All-NBA players pulling on different threads this coming season.

There’s uncertainty, particularly in the Western Conference, and there are narratives galore. Here are five players to keep an eye out for…

 

Zion Williamson

You knew Zion Williamson was appearing on this list, didn’t you? Well instead of leaving him further down, let’s get the most obvious selection of all out the way.

The first overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft was limited to very minimal action in Summer League, but he’s expected to be available throughout preseason for the new-look New Orleans Pelicans.

Williamson’s headline matchup in preseason comes in New Orleans’ final game. They travel to one of the best NBA venues, Madison Square Garden, where Williamson will face his former Duke teammate and third overall pick R.J. Barrett.

Alvin Gentry has a deep roster his disposal after a wild David Griffin-led offseason. Williamson will be a starter, there’s no doubt about that, but the line-ups they run out with him will be interesting.

Floor spacing could be an issue for New Orleans – Gentry may use Williamson and veteran shooter JJ Redick together frequently.

 

D'Angelo Russell

Klay Thompson’s ACL injury suffered in the NBA Finals has split the Splash Brothers.

Steph Curry will be joined by 2018/19 All-Star D’Angelo Russell, the former Los Angeles Laker who arrived in a sign-and-trade that saw Kevin Durant join the Brooklyn Nets alongside Kyrie Irving.

The Warriors’ defence has been underrated in the past few seasons. With no Thompson until at least the All-Star break and Durant having left, they might struggle to be around league average.

Russell and Curry in the backcourt will be vulnerable – Steve Kerr will need to experiment with his line-ups in preseason.

Golden State will still be good this year, but just how competitive they are before Thompson’s return will depend heavily on Russell. Expect to see a lot of pick and roll, particularly when Curry’s resting.

 

Darius Garland

Picked fifth overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers, Darius Garland’s preseason isn’t about setting the tone for a big regular season or the short-term future.

In the post-LeBron Cavaliers world, their draft selections were always going to be key. Garland follows Collin Sexton – selected eighth overall in 2018 – as a high-profile backcourt selection, and the Cavs plan to put the two together in the guard spots.

Comparisons to the Dame Lillard, C.J. McCollum duo in Portland were made on draft night. If they can get anywhere near that level, Cleveland will have done very well to restructure their team after losing LeBron James and Kyrie Irving in quick succession.

Garland, playing in a small market on an uncompetitive team, will be overshadowed by Williamson and Barrett. Keep an eye out for his partnership with Sexton though, as it could be a very real threat in the Eastern Conference before long.

Ben Simmons

Just mentioning ‘Ben Simmons’ and ‘jump shot’ on the same webpage is a cliché at this point. That isn’t to say it’s not worth a reference here, however.

The Philadelphia 76ers were very active throughout last season, trading for Jimmy Butler and Tobias Harris. The offseason was just as hectic.

Harris stayed thanks to a monster contract, Butler went to Miami in a sign-and-trade that brought in Josh Richardson. Al Horford signed from the rival Celtics. Redick departed for New Orleans.

Spacing was a problem at times last season, and the loss of Redick makes it a bigger issue for Brett Brown. While videos of Simmons hitting long-range jumpers have had the internet chattering for months on end, the former first overall pick is yet to attempt them regularly in games.

It’s not an exaggeration to suggest that Simmons’ willingness to shoot is the difference between the Sixers being title contenders or not.

Still an All-Star, still an elite defender, generational passer and superman-esque athlete, Simmons is brilliant as he is, but adding that jumper can make him something else. Maybe that something else is an MVP.

We’re not expecting buzzer beaters, but just trying a few shots in preseason would be a game-changer.

 

Kristaps Porzingis

Returning to NBA action for the first time since tearing his ACL in February 2018, Kristaps Porzingis will likely be eased into preseason.

Fresh off a $158 million contract, Porzingis will be hoping to get back to his All-Star level of before the injury, but durability is a notable concern.

The Dallas Mavericks are in that fringe playoff group with the Sacramento Kings, San Antonio Spurs and New Orleans Pelicans.

Luka Doncic and Porzingis have an immensely high ceiling, but the worries with Porzingis’ health are obvious, and with that long-term contract signed, the Mavericks are in a bit of trouble if he proves to be unreliable.

Preseason won’t reveal everything, as there’s bound to be a bit of rust on that 7’3 frame, but it will give a bit of an insight into how close Porzingis is to the 2017/18 All-Star who averaged 22.7 points per game.

 

*Credit for the main photo belongs to Sean Rayford / AP Photo*