Birmingham proved they are not quite on the beach just yet when beating Burton 2-1 on Easter Monday and a run of just one loss in 17 away games suggests they should have far too much for Stevenage, who have accumulated just 15 points from their last 15 league games.

Bologna were 3-0 winners in the first leg and are fancied to follow up with another win to nil over an Empoli side who have failed to find the net in five of their last seven games.

Rayo Vallecano have scored in recent away games against Real Madrid and Athletic Bilbao, although only once each time. They can get on the board against an Atletico Madrid side have kept only two clean sheets in their last six La Liga home games too. But Atletico have the firepower to win this.

Real Betis are fighting for Champions League qualification and they should have far too much for doomed Valladolid, who have lost 15 of their 16 trips in La Liga. Three of Betis’ last five wins have been by two or more goals, while Valladolid have shipped 48 goals in 16 away games so the hosts can win with some room to spare.

These sides played out a 2-2 draw last time they met and anotjer high-scoring affair could be on the cards. Both teams are in form as Brugge have won their last five, scoring 14 goals in total, and Union SG have won their last four, scoring 12 goals across those games. With both attacks in form, these teams can combine for at least four goals.

The Cavs topped the Eastern Conference, putting up impressive numbers against the NBA’s strongest sides. They finished the season with the league’s best offensive rating, while they boast contenders for Defensive Player of the Year and Coach of the Year. The Cavs have a talented roster, which looks more cohesive under Kenny Atkinson’s watch. They head into the playoffs having put together three win streaks of 12 games or more this term, making this a standout price.

Damian Lillard’s looming return has increased this number, as he adds to the Bucks’ scoring options while giving them another headache defensively. The Pacers cruised to a Game 1 win after a brilliant first half, so there’s room for both sides to improve offensively in the second encounter.

Minnesota had 22 games decided by three points or fewer this season, which was the highest number across the NBA. They won half of those matches, which suggests they can handle themselves in a tight game and keep this close. The Timberwolves’ strong shooting in Game 1 isn’t likely to repeat itself, but they limited the Lakers defensively so back them to stay within reach.

Game 1 saw 221 points, continuing a trend of high scoring games between these two teams. Fatigue caught up with Miami in the 4th quarter of that game, I expect to see a much better performance on Wednesday after two full days of rest. Still, the Cavaliers will prove to be too much offensively, they’re the NBA’s top offense during the regular season averaging 121 points per 100 possessions.

The first meeting finished 95-85 to the Warriors, but they needed some incredible shooting from Steph Curry to produce that win. If he or Butler have an off-night, it’s easy to see a game in this series fail to crack 180 points thanks to the Rockets’ lack of offensive options, so a line of 204.5 for the rematch is worth opposing.

Game 1 saw 221 points, continuing a trend of high scoring games between these two teams. Fatigue caught up with Miami in the 4th quarter of that game, I expect to see a much better performance on Wednesday after two full days of rest. Still, the Cavaliers will prove to be too much offensively, they’re the NBA’s top offense during the regular season averaging 121 points per 100 possessions.

Game 1 saw 221 points, continuing a trend of high scoring games between these two teams. Fatigue caught up with Miami in the 4th quarter of that game, I expect to see a much better performance on Wednesday after two full days of rest. Still, the Cavaliers will prove to be too much offensively, they’re the NBA’s top offense during the regular season averaging 121 points per 100 possessions.

The first meeting finished 95-85 to the Warriors, but they needed some incredible shooting from Steph Curry to produce that win. If he or Butler have an off-night, it’s easy to see a game in this series fail to crack 180 points thanks to the Rockets’ lack of offensive options, so a line of 204.5 for the rematch is worth opposing.

Justin Thomas has struggled in his last two Masters starts – no surprise given the downturn in his form generally – but he ended 2024 by finishing second and third in his last two events. He’s well suited to Augusta, where his approach play and scrambling ability are huge assets.

Rory McIlroy’s first PGA Tour title came at the Charlotte venue in 2010 and he’s gone on to win the Wells Fargo Championship at the course on a further three occasions. He is comfortable at Quail Hollow and looks an obvious title threat if he can hold it together mentally.

A runner-up in 2022 and third in 2023, the exacting test which the US Open usually provides should prove to be ideal for such a marvellous ball-striker as Scottie Scheffler.

Tommy Fleetwood is one of the best exponents of links golf in the world, finishing in the top 12 in four of the last six Opens. Expect him to make another bold run at the Claret Jug come July.

Aryna Sabalenka dominated the hard courts on the WTA tour last year, winning 40 of her 49 matches on the surface, and she claimed both the Australian Open and US Open titles. She can be devastating in Melbourne, winning 27 of her last 28 matches at the Grand Slam in the last three seasons.

Iga Swiatek remains the undisputed queen of clay on the WTA tour. The Pole has won the title at Roland Garros three seasons running as well as in 2020 and she has lost just twice in 37 matches at the clay-court Grand Slam.

Last season’s ATP Tour was pretty much dominated by Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, who each won two of the four Grand Slam titles, and between them it should be another stellar year. Alcaraz reigned supreme at Wimbledon, making it back-to-back titles at the All England Club, and Novak Djokovic’s obvious decline at 37 years of age makes the Spaniard a worthy favourite to rack up the hat-trick.

At the back end of a gruelling season, the US Open can sometimes throw up strange results and there are often surprises before the September silverware is eventually secured. It could, therefore, be worth going against the head of the market and hard-court specialist Daniil Medvedev ticks plenty of boxes at a nice price.

Ante Budimir is enjoying his most prolific campaign in La Liga with 18 goals, including six strikes in his last nine appearances for Osasuna.

Julian Alvarez has scored in each of Atleti’s last three home La Liga matches. The ex-Manchester City star has bagged eight goals in his last 10 league appearances.

Isco missed a large chunk of the season through injury but is making up for lost time with seven goals and five assists in 16 La Liga games, and he can help Betis outgun Valladolid this week.

Osasuna have failed to win three of their last four home La Liga matches while Sevilla, who have a new coach in charge again, have avoided defeat in five of their last seven away league trips.

Both of these teams are in poor form as Girona are winless in 10 and Leganes are on a six-game run without a victory. Both sides have at least been scoring, however, as both teams to score has been a winning bet in six of the visitors’ last seven games and Leganes have at least scored in five of their last six at home. With both defences looking vulnerable, back goals at both ends.

Real Betis are fighting for Champions League qualification and they should have far too much for doomed Valladolid, who have lost 15 of their 16 trips in La Liga. The visitors have at least scored in eight of their last 10 away games, all defeats, and Betis have conceded in six of their last seven games so back the hosts to win and concede.

Over 2.5 goals has been a winning bet in four of Rayo’s last six games and in two of Atleti’s last three.

Both teams have scored in each of Osasuna’s last three games and in three of Sevilla’s last four.

Both of these teams are in poor form as Girona are winless in 10 and Leganes are on a six-game run without a victory. Both sides have at least been scoring, however, as both teams to score has been a winning bet in six of the visitors’ last seven games and Leganes have at least scored in five of their last six at home. With both defences looking vulnerable, back goals at both ends.

Over 2.5 goals has been a winning bet in four of Rayo’s last six games and in two of Atleti’s last three.

Bologna won the first leg 3-0 and have scored at least twice in nine of their last 11 home games across all competitions, while Empoli have conceded at least twice in three of their last four games.

Over 2.5 goals has been a winning bet in five of Birmingham’s last seven games and in three of Stevenage’s last four at home.

Real Betis are fighting for Champions League qualification and they should have far too much for doomed Valladolid, who have lost 15 of their 16 trips in La Liga. The visitors have at least scored in eight of their last 10 away games, all defeats, and Betis have conceded in six of their last seven games so back the hosts to win and concede.

Atletico Madrid have won nine of their last 12 home league games while Rayo Vallecano have lost three of their last four away trips – all to the other top-four clubs. Atletico Madrid have kept only two clean sheets in their last six La Liga home games.

Birmingham proved they are not quite on the beach just yet when beating Burton 2-1 on Easter Monday and a run of just one loss in 17 away games suggests they should have far too much for Stevenage, who have accumulated just 15 points from their last 15 league games. Both teams scored in Birmingham’s last five away games and each of Stevenage’s last four at home. 

Real Betis are fighting for Champions League qualification and they should have far too much for doomed Valladolid, who have lost 15 of their 16 trips in La Liga. The visitors have at least scored in eight of their last 10 away games, all defeats, and Betis have conceded in six of their last seven games so back the hosts to win and concede. A 3-1 win for Betis has a chance as they struck exactly three goals in recent wins over two other drop candidates, Leganes and Girona, and one goal may be as good as it gets for a Valladolid side who have managed just 23 goals in La Liga this season.

Rayo Vallecano have scored in recent away games against Real Madrid and Athletic Bilbao, although only once each time. They can get on the board against an Atletico Madrid side have kept only two clean sheets in their last six La Liga home games too. But Atletico have the firepower to win this 2-1.

Real Betis are fighting for Champions League qualification and they should have far too much for doomed Valladolid, who have lost 15 of their 16 trips in La Liga. The visitors have at least scored in eight of their last 10 away games, all defeats, and Betis have conceded in six of their last seven games so back the hosts to win and concede.

Olimpia Asuncion have lost both of their group stage games so far, conceding seven goals in the process. Penarol are on a four-game winning run and took a good Velez Sarsfield side close in a 2-1 road defeat in their only away group game so far. The visitors look a level above their Paraguayan hosts and they can leave with the points.

Huracan have made a perfect start to the group stage with six points from two games and they’re in fine form overall, with the Argentine side unbeaten in 14. America De Cali are winless in five and have two defeats in their last three trips.

Both teams have scored in three of Independiente del Valle’s last six home games and they have scored in all of those. River Plate have scored in four of their last five away and with both attacks in form there could be goals at both ends in this fixture.

Vitoria are on a four-game unbeaten run and the Brazilian outfit can make home advantage count against Cerro Largo. The visitors have three defeats in their last four and have lost their last two away from home.

Olimpia Asuncion have lost both of their group stage games so far, conceding seven goals in the process. Penarol are on a four-game winning run and took a good Velez Sarsfield side close in a 2-1 road defeat in their only away group game so far. The visitors look a level above their Paraguayan hosts and they can leave with the points.