It’s been 31 years since the Cincinnati Bengals last won a game in the NFL Playoffs, but they are favorites to end that drought when they face off against the Las Vegas Raiders in the AFC Wild Card tonight. 

That’s because the Bengals have something they didn’t have the last 31 years this time around – quarterback Joe Burrow. The second-year man made a huge leap in his sophomore season, but will he and a dynamic Cincinnati offense be enough to cover against a feisty Las Vegas Raiders team led by Derek Carr?

Find out in our free NFL picks and predictions for Raiders vs. Bengals on Saturday, January 15.

…

The final regular season week of NFL betting picks and predictions is always a wild one, as handicappers scour the news wires for any inclination of a team’s Week 18 plans — be it a club resting starters, pushing for a postseason spot, or wrapping up a losing campaign.

And, for what it’s worth, the last week of the schedule has gone to the dogs in recent years. 

Since 2015, point-spread underdog picks are 59-49-4 ATS in Week 17/18, covering at a near 55% clip. That includes a 27-19-2 ATS mark for dogs in those finales since 2019 (58.7%) and a 10-6 ATS count for point spread pups in the inaugural Week 18 last season.

I’m hoping underdogs keep their bite in this weekend’s closing contests as I’ve been trying to get…

A 34-0 win would normally be enough to win over the NFL betting markets, but the New Orleans Saints and their Week 6 odds aren’t drawing action ahead of a non-conference clash with the Houston Texans.

NFL odds opened New Orleans as big as a 2.5-point road favorite following their one-sided win over New England in Week 5, but the early money has been on host Houston. That’s slimmed this spread to as low as NOLA -1 at some sportsbooks.

I dig into the adjustment for the spread and Over/Under total for this Sunday showdown and give my best free NFL picks and predictions for Saints at Texans on October 15.

Saints vs Texans odds

Saints vs Texans predictions

Texans second-year running back Dameon Pie…

All of a sudden, the Pittsburgh Steelers have pulled themselves out of the bottom of the AFC standings and have a real shot at the playoffs if a few things go their way. First and foremost, however, Mike Tomlin and Co. will need to take care of a Baltimore Ravens team that’s resting its starters.

The only reason the Steelers are even in this position is thanks to Mason Rudolph igniting a stale offense and utilizing the plethora of talented playmakers around him. Chief among them has been George Pickens.

You can see how I’m betting on the George Pickens odds as we dive into the Week 18 NFL odds in my free NFL picks below.

For more Saturday NFL coverage, check out our Steelers vs. Ravens predictions and our Steelers vs. Ravens props.

…

Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears head to NRG Stadium to face off against the Houston Texas for Sunday Night Football betting.

Williams struggled last week, and my favorite player props for this game expect the rookie pivot’s rough season to continue.

See why I’m fading Williams and Texans franchise QB C.J. Stroud with my best free NFL picks for this Week 2 clash. 

…

France international Bacary Sagna has revealed he is still very upset about losing the Euro 2016 final 1-0 to Portugal.

Eder s extra-time goal handed the title to Portugal after the hosts struggled to break Cristiano Ronaldo s side down at the Stade de France.

Sagna, who is still on holiday after the European Championship, said he still thinks about the final regularly.

I m very upset, Sagna was quoted by the Sun as telling reporters in Romania.

I m thinking about it every day. But that s football. You have to accept losing. I cried after the final because it was a big chance for me to win the competition with my country.

Portugal won despite their captain and talisman Ronaldo limping off in the first half and Sagna said he felt bad for the R…

Rodri has suggested Arsenal s mentality cost them the Premier League title, after Manchester City became the first team to win four straight English top-flight crowns.

City edged out Arsenal by two points on the final day of the season, their 3-1 win over West Ham ensuring the Gunners comeback victory over Everton was immaterial.

Rodri scored the crucial third goal just before the hour mark to settle nerves at the Etihad Stadium, after Mohammed Kudus had drawn West Ham within one goal.

City finished the season with nine straight wins after playing out a 0-0 draw with Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium in late March, while the Gunners dropped three points in a 2-0 home defeat to Aston Villa in April.

Reflecting on that goalless draw, Rodri accused Arsenal of se…

Juventus forward Paulo Dybala and Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski are among the big names to have missed out on the 2018 Ballon d Or after the announcement of the 30-strong list of nominees.

Both players were in contention for the 2017 award after title-winning seasons with their respective clubs, but, despite retaining those crowns and enjoying fine campaigns, they were overlooked by the journalists and national team coaches and captains who took part in France Football s 2018 vote.

While the likes of Karim Benzema, who scored just five league goals in 32 appearances for Real Madrid last season, are in the running for this year s award, some of Europe s finest talents know that they will not be named the world s best player in December.

Here are 10 of t…

Can ANYONE stop Bayern from making it an unprecedented fifth straight Bundesliga titles this May? (Photo: Eurosport)

With a six week hiatus, the Bundesliga arguably takes the longest break out of any of Europe s Big 5 leagues. As such, German football fans are left without football featuring their favorite stars and teams for well over a month. Hopefully, those supporters fancy a Premier League outfit, as the English top tier never stops, but in any case, there were plenty of talking points in the Bundesliga to consider as we count down the last 72 hours of 2016.

Let s take a look at five of them.

Age really ain t nothing but a number especially if you re Julian Naglesmann

Last season, Julian Naglesmann made history as the youngest ever manager to take charge o…

Erik ten Hag insists Manchester United are going to make a success of the season , despite their difficult start to the 2024-25 campaign.

United are 12th in the Premier League, having collected just seven points; their joint-fewest after the first six games in a single season (matching their total from 2013-14 and 2020-21).

Sunday s 3-0 defeat by Tottenham at Old Trafford provided their latest setback, while increasing the pressure on Ten Hag, whose side face Porto in the Europa League on Thursday before returning to Premier League action against Aston Villa three days later.

Against Spurs, United conceded in the first three minutes of both halves in a single Premier League game for only the second time, while allowing their third-highest xG (4.59) by an opponent…