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<p>Making on a bet on this NHL game featuring the Sabres versus the Penguins? The puck drops at 7:00 ET, and you can watch it all unfold on ESPN+. The game will be played at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA. The over/under for this Eastern conference contest is set at 6.5 goals, with the Penguins being the favored team playing at home against the Sabres.</p><h3>BUFFALO SABRES VS PITTSBURGH PENGUINS BETTING PICK</h3><p>The Pick: Pittsburgh Penguins -1.5</p><p>This game will be played at PPG Paints Arena at 7:00 ET on Saturday, January 6th.</p><h3>WHY BET THE PITTSBURGH PENGUINS:</h3><ul><li>Even though they are considered 1.5-goal underdogs, our projection points to a 4-3 win for the Sabres.</li><li>We like the Sabres on the moneyline (+141)</li><li>The Sabres are also our pick on the spread at +1.5</li></ul><h3>Does Buffalo Have What it Takes on the Road?</h3><p>Currently, the Sabres hold an overall record of 16-19-4 for the season. On the road, Buffalo has a 8-10-3 record, while they are 8-9-1 at their home venue. At the moment, they hold the 7th spot in the Eastern Atlantic division and are ranked 14th in the Eastern conference.</p><p>Against the puck line, Buffalo is 19-20. Their road puck line record so far is 13-8 while sitting 6-12 at home against the puckline. This season, Buffalo's games have an average of 6.4 goals per game. The average over/under number for the season is 6.5. The Sabres come in with an over/under performance of 17-21-1.</p><p>When looking at their past three road matchups, Buffalo has an puck line record of 2-1 while averaging 3 per game. The team went 1-2 overall in these games.</p><p>The Sabres come into the game scoring an average of 3 goals per game, putting them 18th in the NHL. Regarding shots targeted at the goal per game, they are 8th in the league. Buffalo's offense is currently ranked 27th in power play goals. When it comes to shorthanded goals, they are 19th in the league.</p><p>Buffalo will be looking for a good game from Jeff Skinner who leads the team in scoring with 16 goals, ranking 26th in the NHL. Skinner also comes into the game with 15 assists.</p><p>In terms of defense, the Penguins head into the game ranked 17th in goals allowed. On average, opponents are taking 30.4 shots per game against Pittsburgh. So far, they are 1st in shutouts, achieving 5 shutouts.</p><p>Goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen comes into the game having made 15 starts this season. So far, his record is 7-8 and he has a save percentage of 0.6078431372549019%.</p><h3>Is a Home Win Possible for the Penguins?</h3><p>As they head into their game vs. the Sabres, the Penguins have a 19-14-4 record thus far. While playing at home, their record stands at 10-7-1, and they have a 9-7-3 mark on the road. They are currently positioned 6th in the Eastern Metropolitan division and 10th in the Eastern conference.</p><p>Analyzing their performance against the puck line, Pittsburgh has a 18-19 record. On the road they are 9-10 against the puck line, while their overall home performance is9-9. For the season, Pittsburgh's games have finished with an average of 5.9 goals per game. Their average over/under line for the season is 6.4. Overall, the Penguins have an over/under record of 15-19-3.</p><p>Pittsburgh has played well in their previous three home games, going 2-1 straight up. In this stretch, they averaged 5 goals per game while allowing 3. The team also performed well vs the puck line at 3-0.</p><p>In terms of their offensive performance, the Penguins are averaging 3.1 goals per game this season, putting them in the 21st spot in the NHL. When it comes to shots on goal per game, they are ranked 6th in the league. So far this year, the Penguins are 12-8 in games they have had more shots on goal than their opponent. They are 6-6 in games with fewer shots on goal.</p><p>Pittsburgh's leading scorer is Sidney Crosby. So far, he has 22 goals which is 7th in the NHL. Along with his scoring, he has come up with 19 assists so far.</p><p>Defensively, the Penguins are currently 17th in goals allowed. On average, opponents are taking 30.4 shots per game against Pittsburgh. They also are 1st in shutouts, coming in with 5 shutouts.</p><p>Goalie Tristan Jarry gets the start and has made 25 starts this season. His record at this point is 11-11, and his save percentage is 0.8529411764705882%.</p>

Buffalo Sabres vs Pittsburgh Penguins Betting Pick & Prediction 1/6/24

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<p>Betting on today's Sabres and Sharks game? Catch the action at SAP Center in San Jose, CA, as the Sharks hosts this showdown at 8:00 ET on NBCS. The Sabres come into this non-conference matchup favored by -1.5 goals. The over/under line currently sits at 6 goals.</p><h3>BUFFALO SABRES VS SAN JOSE SHARKS BETTING PICK</h3><p>The Pick: San Jose Sharks +1.5</p><p>This game will be played at SAP Center at 8:00 ET on Saturday, November 23rd.</p><h3>WHY BET THE SAN JOSE SHARKS:</h3><ul><li>The Sabres enter this game as 1.5-goal favorites and in our projections and we anticipate them winning by a score of 4-3.</li><li>Take the Sabres on the moneyline</li><li>On the puck line, we like Sharks (+1.5)</li></ul><h3>Taking a Look at the Sabres Chances on the Road</h3><p>After a 2-1 loss to the Red Wings, the Sabres’ record stands at 10-9-1. Buffalo’s defense held Detroit scoreless in the first period, but the Red Wings responded with two power-play goals in the second to secure the win.</p> 

<p>The total for the game was set at 6.5 goals, but the teams combined for just 3. As underdogs on the puck line, the Sabres failed to cover. Buffalo’s only goal came from Alex Tuch, who scored short-handed in the first period.</p><p>Buffalo's offense struggled in their 2-1 loss to Detroit, with Alex Tuch scoring the only goal, his 5th of the season. Tuch's goal came shorthanded at 8:21 in the first period.</p> <p>The Sabres fired 32 shots on goal but were held scoreless after the first period. They recorded 13 giveaways in the game.</p><p>Buffalo's defense will look to bounce back after giving up two power-play goals in their last game against the Red Wings. Both goals came in the second period, with the first at the 7:49 mark and the second at 14:38. Despite those setbacks, the Sabres' defense held strong in the third period, not allowing a goal. Goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 21 saves with a 91.3% save percentage, while the defense recorded 5 takeaways and 17 hits.</p><h3>Will the Sharks Come Through as Home Underdogs?</h3><p>The Sharks fell to 6-12-5 after a 3-2 loss to the Canucks. San Jose, as underdogs on the puck line, kept the game under the total of 6.5 goals. The Sharks held a lead twice in the game, but Vancouver scored the winning goal with just 26 seconds left in regulation.</p> 

<p>Nico Sturm opened the scoring at 2:37 in the second period, but the Canucks responded with a goal at 5:19 in the same period. San Jose took the lead again in the third period with a goal from Mikael Granlund at 18:43, but Vancouver tied it up and then scored the game-winner at 19:34.</p><p>San Jose's offense was held to just two goals in their 3-2 loss to Vancouver. Mikael Granlund netted his 6th goal of the season, while Nico Sturm opened the scoring for the Sharks with his 2nd goal, 2:37 into the second period.</p> <p>San Jose recorded 23 shots on goal but struggled with giveaways, committing 16. William Eklund earned his 7th assist on Granlund’s goal, and Tyler Toffoli picked up his 5th assist.</p><p>Defensively, the Sharks will be looking to bounce back after giving up a late goal with just 26 seconds left in the 3rd period, leading to a 3-2 loss against the Canucks. Mackenzie Blackwood made 25 saves, posting a save percentage of 89.3%. The Sharks' defense also recorded 6 takeaways and 21 hits.</p>

Buffalo Sabres vs San Jose Sharks Betting Pick & Prediction 11/23/24

<p>This week 13 college football matchup between the Cincinnati Bearcats and Kansas State Wildcats is set to kick off at 8:00 ET from Bill Snyder Family Stadium in Manhattan. The game will be broadcast on ESPN2, and the Wildcats are favored by -8.5 points. The over/under line is currently 52.5 points. The Bearcats come in with a 5-5 record, while the Wildcats are 7-3 on the season.</p><h3>CINCINNATI BEARCATS VS KANSAS STATE WILDCATS BETTING PICK</h3><p>The Pick: Cincinnati Bearcats +8.5</p><p>This game will be played at Bill Snyder Family Stadium at 8:00 ET on Saturday, November 23rd.</p><h3>WHY BET THE CINCINNATI BEARCATS:</h3><ul><li>We have the Cincinnati Bearcats winning this one by a score of 34 to 25</li><li>Not only do we have the Cincinnati Bearcats winning straight-up, we have them covering the spread at +8.5</li><li>Look for this game to go over the line of 52.5 points</li></ul><h3>Will The Cincinnati Bearcats Pull Off An Upset As Road Underdogs</h3><p>Sitting at 5-5, Cincinnati faces Kansas State in Week 13. They rank 47th in our power rankings, and have a 66.9% chance of becoming bowl-eligible. The Bearcats are 2-2 at home and 2-3 on the road this season.</p> <p></p><p>Cincinnati’s average scoring margin is +4 points per game, and they are 4-4-1 against the spread. They’ve been favored in five games, going 3-2 ATS as the favorite.</p> <p></p><p>Their over/under record is 2-6-1, with an average line of 54.4 points. This week’s line is 52.5 points, and their games have averaged 50.8 points.</p><p>Heading into week 13, Cincinnati's offense is averaging 27.4 points per game, placing them 54th in the nation. However, they rank 26th in our offensive power rankings. Quarterback Brendan Sorsby has thrown for 2,453 yards, with the team averaging 247.8 passing yards per game. They are 38th in passing attempts and 34th in completions. Sorsby has 16 touchdowns and five interceptions, with a passer rating of 99. Cincinnati converts 43% of their third downs.</p> <p></p><p>Corey Kiner leads the rushing attack with 903 yards, averaging 5 yards per carry and scoring three touchdowns. Cincinnati is 49th in rushing attempts, averaging 184.1 yards per game. Xzavier Henderson has 629 receiving yards on 51 catches, scoring four touchdowns.</p><p>Cincinnati's defense will look to bounce back after allowing 34 points in their recent game against Iowa State. The Bearcats gave up 386 total yards, including 152 rushing yards on 34 attempts and 234 passing yards. They also allowed three rushing touchdowns and one passing score in the game.</p><p></p><p>On the season, Cincinnati's defense ranks 44th nationally, giving up 23.4 points per game. Opponents have averaged 154.8 rushing yards per game on 33.7 attempts, while quarterbacks have posted a 96.1 passer rating, completing 63% of their passes for an average of 231.4 yards per game.</p><h3>Are The Kansas State Wildcats Going To Defend Home Field Advantage?</h3><p>Kansas State comes into Week 13 with a 7-3 record, ranked 25th in our power rankings. They are guaranteed to be bowl-eligible, but their chances of winning the Big 12 stand at just 0.8%. The Wildcats have been favored in nine of their ten games this season.</p> <p></p><p>They have a +7.6 average scoring margin but are 3-6 against the spread. At home, they are 3-1, and their ATS record is 2-2.</p> <p></p><p>The over/under line for this week is 52.5 points. Kansas State’s average over/under line is 53.5 points, and their games have averaged 51.4 points, with a 4-5 over/under record this season.</p><p>Kansas State’s offense is ranked 39th in our offensive power rankings heading into week 13. They are 44th in points per game, scoring 29.5. The Wildcats’ strength is their run game, averaging 205.9 yards per game, which ranks 17th nationally.</p> <p></p><p>DJ Giddens leads the rushing attack with 1,128 yards, averaging 6 yards per carry, and has scored five touchdowns. Quarterback Avery Johnson has thrown for 2,150 yards with 17 touchdowns and nine interceptions, giving him a passer rating of 90.</p><p>Despite their recent 24-14 loss to Arizona State, Kansas State's defense held the Sun Devils to 124 rushing yards on 37 attempts, but gave up 275 passing yards and three touchdowns. Arizona State finished with 399 total yards and 24 first downs.</p> <p></p><p>On the season, Kansas State ranks 25th nationally, allowing just 110.8 rushing yards per game. However, their pass defense has struggled, giving up 234.7 yards per game, ranking 110th, with opposing quarterbacks completing 66.1% of their passes.</p>

Cincinnati Bearcats vs Kansas State Wildcats Betting Pick & Prediction 11/23/24

<p>At 7:00 ET, the Orlando Magic (-468) will host the Detroit Pistons (+357) in an Eastern Conference matchup. The Magic are currently favored by 10 points, and the over/under line is set at 206.5 points.</p>

<p>Orlando is 10-7 on the season and sits 4th in the Eastern Conference. Detroit, on the other hand, is 7-10 and currently holds the 8th spot in the East. The Pistons have lost two straight games coming into tonight's matchup.</p><h3>DETROIT PISTONS VS ORLANDO MAGIC BETTING PICK</h3><p>The Pick: Detroit Pistons +10</p><p>This game will be played at Kia Center at 7:00 ET on Saturday, November 23rd.</p><h3>WHY BET THE DETROIT PISTONS:</h3><ul><li>We have this one finishing with a projected score of 112-101 in favor of the Pistons.</li><li>Our projections have Jaden Ivey finishing with 17 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists.</li><li>From the field, we have the Pistons finishing with a field goal percentage of 46.2% and knocking down 13 threes.</li></ul><h3>Can the Pistons Lock in a Win at Orlando?</h3><p>The Pistons fell to 7-10 this season after a 123-121 loss to the Hornets on Thursday. Detroit, favored by 2.5 points, not only lost the game but failed to cover the spread. The total score of 244 points exceeded the O/U line of 222.</p> <p>Charlotte went on a 12-0 run, stretching their lead from 66-61 to 78-61. Detroit responded by outscoring the Hornets 30-16 in the 4th quarter but couldn’t complete the comeback.</p><p>The Pistons connected on 17 threes in their loss to the Hornets, shooting 35.4% from deep and 42.4% overall. Cade Cunningham led the way with 27 points and 10 assists, despite shooting just 34.6% from the field and 22.2% from three.</p> <p>Tobias Harris added 26 points, hitting 6 threes at a 66.7% clip. Malik Beasley contributed 16 points, knocking down 4 threes. Jaden Ivey scored 7 of his 11 points in overtime.</p><p>Defensively, the Pistons struggled early, giving up 33 points in the 1st quarter and 30 in both the 2nd and 3rd. However, they tightened up in the 4th, allowing just 16 points. Overall, they allowed the Hornets to shoot 47% from the field.</p> <p>From beyond the arc, the Pistons had a tough night, giving up 20 threes on 45% shooting. They sent the Hornets to the line 21 times, where they made 15 free throws. Detroit finished with 35 defensive rebounds, while allowing 11 offensive boards, and recorded 8 steals and 3 blocks.</p><h3>Can the Magic Lock in a Home Win?</h3><p>The Magic improved to 10-7 on the season with a 119-118 road win over the Lakers on Thursday. Orlando, who entered the game as +5.5 point underdogs, not only pulled off the upset but also covered the spread.</p> <p>Orlando trailed 67-60 at halftime but turned things around with a strong 3rd quarter, outscoring the Lakers 29-21. They entered the 4th quarter with an 89-88 lead, and both teams scored 30 points in the final period. The total points for the game exceeded the O/U line of 216.5 by 20.5 points.</p><p>Franz Wagner's 37-point, 11-assist performance, including 15 points in the 4th quarter, helped the Magic edge the Lakers. Jalen Suggs added 23 points, hitting 5 threes, while Moritz Wagner contributed 19 points.</p> <p>Orlando connected on 15 threes at a 37.5% rate, shooting 47.3% overall. Suggs made 5 threes, and Franz Wagner hit 4, shooting 40% from deep.</p><p>Despite a rough start, giving up 38 points in the 1st quarter, the Magic tightened up defensively in the 3rd, allowing just 21 points, which helped them secure a 119-118 win over the Lakers. Orlando sent Los Angeles to the line 26 times, where they made 17 free throws.</p> <p>The Magic allowed the Lakers to shoot 50% from the field and 41% from three, with Los Angeles hitting 13 threes. Orlando finished with 33 defensive rebounds, gave up 9 offensive boards, and recorded 8 steals and 5 blocks.</p>

Detroit Pistons vs Orlando Magic Betting Pick & Prediction 11/23/24

<p>The NBA betting continues Thursday, March 24, with the marquee Western Conference showdown from Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado, so we have prepared the best Suns vs. Nuggets betting pick along with the latest odds update on <a href="https://www.bangthebook.com/sportsbooks/mybookie/">MyBookie Sportsbook</a>.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Phoenix and Denver wrap up their three-game regular-season series, looking to decide the winner. The Nuggets beat the Suns 110-98 as 6-point road dogs in October, while the reigning vice-champs responded with a 126-97 thrashing of Denver as 11-point home favorites in November.</p>



<h2>The Suns play without rest             </h2>



<p>The Phoenix Suns will face off against the Nuggets on the second night of a back-to-back. They were looking to extend their winning streak to six games on Wednesday night, as the Suns visited Minnesota as small 1.5-point favorites.</p>



<p>During that win streak, Phoenix has covered the spread four times. The Suns have recorded the highest offensive rating in the league through those five outings, tallying a whopping 129.1 points per 100 possessions on a 61.8 effective field goal percentage.</p>



<p>Devin Booker continues to lead the way for the Suns in Chris Paul’s absence. He’s posted 28.1 points and 6.6 assists per game in his last seven outings while shooting 54.3% from the field and 43.4% from beyond the arc.</p>



<h2>The Nuggets beat LA to get back on the right track            </h2>



<p>After losing at Cleveland 119-116 in overtime as 2.5-point road dogs and to Boston 124-104 as 3-point home dogs, the Denver Nuggets (43-30; 34-39 ATS) returned to winning ways last Tuesday. They outlasted the Los Angeles Clippers 127-115 and easily covered a 6.5-point spread on the home floor.</p>



<p>The Nuggets’ offense looked good against LA. Denver shot 54.2% from the field and 50.0% from beyond the 3-point line (16-for-32). Furthermore, the Nuggets handed out 31 assists, while seven guys scored in double figures. Nikola Jokic posted 30 points to go with 14 rebounds, six dimes, three blocks, and a couple of steals.</p>



<p>Denver is No. 6 seed in the West, one game ahead of Minnesota and 1.5 games behind Dallas. The Nuggets are 3-2 SU and ATS over their last five outings, tallying 119.5 points per 100 possessions (6<sup>th</sup> in the NBA) and yielding 117.3 to their opponents (20<sup>th</sup>).</p>



<h2 id="h-phoenix-suns-vs-denver-nuggets-pick">Phoenix Suns vs. Denver Nuggets Pick</h2>



<p>The Suns routed the Nuggets last time they met, but Denver missed Nikola Jokic due to a wrist injury. Back in October, The Joker tortured the Suns for 27 points and 13 rebounds, and the reigning MVP will look to dominate the Suns once more.</p>



<p>Jokic needs help from his teammates, and I’m expecting them to deliver in this tough matchup with the reigning Western Conference champions. The Nuggets have a lot to prove, and their offense is certainly capable of dealing with one of the best defensive units in the league.</p>



<p>Also, I’m looking for the Nuggets to play with more energy than the Suns, who’ll have to deal with fatigue on the second day of a back-to-back set. The Suns are the No. 1 seed in the West and can already look to the future. They won’t blow a nine-game lead.</p>



<p><strong>Pick: Take Denver Nuggets&nbsp;</strong></p>



<p><strong>The Total:</strong></p>



<p>The over is 5-0-1 in the Nuggets’ last six outings. I’ve mentioned their prolific offense, but the Nuggets are not a great defensive team. They’ve yielded 110 or more points in each but one of their previous seven games overall.</p>



<p>On the other side, the over is 5-1 in the Suns’ last six outings, excluding their Wednesday night’s clash against the Timberwolves. During that six-game stretch, the Suns have scored 128.0 points a night. I would ride those betting trends, but the totals are a tricky wager because of Phoenix’s back-to-back set.</p>



<p><strong>Pick: Go over</strong></p>

Phoenix Suns vs. Denver Nuggets Odds, Pick, Prediction 3/24/22

College Football

Western Kentucky Hilltoppers vs Liberty Flames Betting Pick & Prediction 11/23/24

BYU Cougars vs Arizona State Sun Devils Betting Pick & Prediction 11/23/24

UCF Knights vs West Virginia Mountaineers Betting Pick & Prediction 11/23/24

Arizona Wildcats vs TCU Horned Frogs Betting Pick & Prediction 11/23/24

Iowa State Cyclones vs Utah Utes Betting Pick & Prediction 11/23/24

Baylor Bears vs Houston Cougars Betting Pick & Prediction 11/23/24

Colorado Buffaloes vs Kansas Jayhawks Betting Pick & Prediction 11/23/24

Texas Tech Red Raiders vs Oklahoma State Cowboys Betting Pick & Prediction 11/23/24

Pittsburgh Panthers vs Louisville Cardinals Betting Pick & Prediction 11/23/24

<p>Betting on today's Warriors and Bulldogs game? Catch the action at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, IN, as the Bulldogs hosts this showdown at 7:00 ET on FS2. The over/under for this game is set at 134.5 points, and Butler is favored by -11.5 against Merrimack College in a non-conference matchup.</p><h3>MERRIMACK COLLEGE WARRIORS VS BUTLER BULLDOGS BETTING PICK</h3><p>The Pick: Butler Bulldogs -11.5</p><p>This game will be played at Hinkle Fieldhouse at 7:00 ET on Friday, November 22nd.</p><h3>WHY BET THE BUTLER BULLDOGS:</h3><ul><li>We have this one finishing with a projected score of 88-61 in favor of the Bulldogs.</li><li>Not only will Butler pick up the win, but look for them to cover at -11.5.</li><li>The over/under is currently sitting at 134.5 points, and we like the over with a projected 149 points.</li></ul><h3>Can the Merrimack College Offense Score Enough on the Road?</h3><p>Merrimack College fell 74-63 to Rutgers on Wednesday, November 20th. The Warriors, who were +19.5 point underdogs, kept the game closer than expected. The total points for the game reached 137, just over the 134.5 O/U line.</p> <p>Merrimack trailed 37-30 at halftime and scored 33 points in the 2nd half, while allowing 37. Despite the loss, the Warriors' performance against a strong Rutgers team was better than anticipated.</p><p>Merrimack's offense put up 63 points in their last game, shooting 40.6% from the field. Their effective field goal percentage was 43.8%, with a strong 55% shooting on two-pointers but struggling from beyond the arc, hitting just 4 of 24 threes (16.7%).</p> <p>At the free-throw line, they were perfect, going 7 for 7. Ace Bailey and Adam Clark led the way, with Bailey scoring 23 points and grabbing 10 rebounds, while Clark added 22 points and 6 assists. Dylan Harper chipped in 14 points and 8 rebounds.</p><p>Despite Merrimack's defensive efforts, they allowed 74 points on 41% shooting from the field. The Warriors gave up 18 two-point baskets on 43 attempts, also at a 41% clip.</p> <p>From beyond the arc, Merrimack's opponents hit 7 of 17 threes, shooting 41%. They also sent them to the line 23 times, where they converted 17 free throws, or 73%. Merrimack allowed 15 offensive rebounds in the game.</p><h3>Do the Bulldogs Have What it Takes to Win as Home Favorites?</h3><h3>Butler Bulldogs Recent Game/Games</h3> 

<p>Butler picked up an 81-70 win over SMU on Friday, November 15th. The Bulldogs were +1.5 point underdogs going into the game, but they not only won, they also covered the spread.</p> 

<p>Butler led 36-33 at halftime and outscored SMU 45-37 in the 2nd half. The O/U line was set at 157.5, but the teams combined for 151 points, falling just under the total.</p><p>Butler's offense put up 81 points in their last game, shooting 41% from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 50.8%. They hit 46.2% from beyond the arc, connecting on 12 of 26 attempts, and were strong at the free-throw line, making 19 of 24 for 79.2%.</p> <p>Chuck Harris led the way with 21 points, hitting 4 of 5 from three, while Kolby King was perfect from deep, going 4 for 4 and finishing with 14 points on 5 of 6 shooting overall. Jahmyl Telfort added 19 points and 6 rebounds, and Boopie Miller contributed 17 points and 4 assists.</p><p>Butler's defense gave up 70 points, with their opponents shooting 41% from the field. They held them to 37% on two-point attempts, as the other team made 13 of 35 shots.</p> <p>From beyond the arc, Butler allowed 12 threes on 26 attempts, a 46% shooting rate. They also sent their opponents to the line 24 times, where they hit 19 free throws, shooting 79%. Butler gave up 14 offensive rebounds in the game.</p>

Merrimack College Warriors vs Butler Bulldogs NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 11/22/24

After a stunning finish to UFC 241, we all needed a week to breathe. We got that because UFC decided to take a weekend off. That break was short-lived, as we have another event to handicap for the August 31 weekend. A women’s title fight in the strawweight division will headline UFC Fight Night 157 aka UFC on ESPN+ 15 between Jessica Andrade and Weili Zhang in Shenzhen, China.

We’ll take a look at the 11 fights on the card, with some extra attention paid to the main card bouts.

A lot of unfamiliar fighters are on this card in China. There are always going to be some travel problems internationally, but UFC also likes to allow local fighters the opportunity to be fill-ins for the prelims, so we have some of those and also a lot of newcomers.

This fight card gets an early morning start in the US, as Karol Rosa (-120) takes on Lara Procopio in the women’s bantamweight division. We’ll also see Heili Alateng (-115) against Batgerel Danaa in another fight of lesser-known combatants.

Thiago Moises is more of a known name with two UFC fights and an appearance on Dana White’s Contender Series. Moises is 1-1 in official UFC fights and 2-1 under Dana White’s watchful eyes. He lost to Beneil Dairush and went the distance in a win over Kurt Holobaugh. Damir Ismagulov (-190) is a big favorite after being a titleholder in M-1. He is also 2-0 in his UFC career with wins over Alex Gorgees and Joel Alvarez by decision. Laying the -190 is preferable to the over 2.5 (-335).

Two more UFC newcomers meet in a matchup of Da Un Jung and Khadis Ibragimov. Jung is 11-2 and most recently bested four straight opponents on the regional Heat promotion circuit. Ibragimov (-270) is 8-0 in his career and will make the leap from M-1, where he went 4-0 with three finishes, including a title win. This looks like a discount on Ibragimov.

Su Madaerji and Andre Soukhamthath both have UFC experience, but Soukhamthath has a lot more of it. This will be Mudaerji’s second UFC win following a submission loss to Louis Smolka back in November. His ground defense is a concern here against the more experienced Soukhamthath, who was a strap holder in CES. Soukhamthath is only the -145 favorite here, which is telling given some of the other favorite prices.

Let’s see if Anthony Hernandez (-155) can right the ship. The former LFA champ took on Jordan Wright at DWNTCS Season 2, Week 2 and impressed enough to get a shot on a fight night card the following February. He lost to Markus Perez by second-round sub. Jun Yong Park has been fighting on local circuits and has a strong 10-3 record, including eight finishes, but this should be a step up in class. On the other hand, the Korean fighter is fighting much closer to home than Hernandez and should be a live dog for Korean Top Team against the 35-year-old Hernandez.

&nbsp;

<strong>Wu Yanan (+125) vs. Mizuki Inoue (-145); Total: 2.5 (-360/270)</strong>

It looks like the judges will be needed for this women’s flyweight fight between Wu Yanan and Mizuki Inoue. This is the UFC debut for Inoue, who has fought in Invicta and had a title shot 17 months ago against Virna Jandiroba. She is 13-5 in her career.

Yanan is 1-1 in her UFC career and 10-2 overall. Her first loss came against Yana Kunitskaya, who has gone on to have a fine career as a UFC fixture and an Invicta titleholder, in Fightspirit. Her other loss came against Gina Mazany in her UFC debut. She’s fighting at home again here and has lost to two very strong opponents. Inoue is solid, but doesn’t have the same ceiling at Kunitskaya or Mazany.

<strong>Pick: Wu Yanan (+125)</strong>

&nbsp;

<strong>Derrick Krantz (-115) vs. Kenan Song (-105); Total: 1.5 (-170/140)</strong>

This is a tough spot for Derrick Krantz. He lost his UFC debut to Vicente Luque back in May and will now fight outside of the United States for the first time. Krantz took some abuse in a fight that lasted less than four minutes against Luque. Kenan Song has two knockout wins and a decision loss in his three UFC scraps and will be the native fighter in the one.

Song lost that fight to Alex Morono over 15 minutes, but grabbed a Fight of the Night bonus. He’s aggressive. He attacks. He’s had some back-and-forth fights since he knocked out Bobby Nash in just 15 seconds in his UFC debut.

Song has a height advantage here, though he is giving up a little bit of reach. He wants to stand and throw. If he can, Krantz will be in trouble. If Krantz can get the fight to the canvas, that’s his best hope. My guess is the fight stays upright and Song wins it.

<strong>Pick: Kenan Song (-105)</strong>

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<strong>Mark De La Rosa (+180) vs. Kai Kara-France (-220); Total: 2.5 (-265/205)</strong>

Give credit to Mark De La Rosa. He’s only 24 and already has four UFC fights under his belt. He’s 2-2 in those matches, with a sub win and a sub loss and a decision win and a decision loss. He managed to hang on for 15 minutes against Alex Perez back in March, but he was soundly beaten in that decision.

It felt like it took a long time for Kai Kara-France to get to UFC. He’s only 26, but he fought 24 times in regional promotions to get to this point. He’s 2-0 with a couple of decision wins over Elias Garcia and Raulian Pava. Kara-France is a kickboxer, so he’d like the fight upright. De La Rosa would prefer the ground game, as he only has one knockout in his career.

France will be the aggressor here, as he has consistently moved forward and pressured opponents. De La Rosa had problems with that against Perez last time out.

<strong>Pick: Kai Kara-France (-220)</strong>

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<strong>Li Jingliang (+230) vs. Elizeu Zaleski (-270); Total: 1.5 (-165/135)</strong>

Much to the dismay of the Chinese crowd, Li Jingliang is a big underdog for his fight against Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos. This ends a long layoff for Li, who hasn’t fought since his win over David Zawada back in November. These two were actually supposed to fight in that match, but Zaleski had a knee injury and Jingliang fought Zawada on short notice instead.

Zaleski is on a seven-fight winning streak. His most recent loss came in his UFC debut against Nicolas Dalby in a controversial split decision. He’s not a stoppage artist, but does have two knockouts and a sub in his last three fights. That being said, Li is an upgrade over guys like Sean Strickland and Luigi Vendramini. His win over Curtis Millender was impressive, but he took advantage of Millender’s lackluster takedown defense.

Zaleski is a big favorite for a reason here and that reason is he’s the better fighter all around.

<strong>Pick: Elizeu Zaleski (-270)</strong>

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<strong>Weili Zhang (+150) vs. Jessica Andrade (-170); Total: 4.5 (-110/-120)</strong>

Per the total odds, the championship rounds will be activated for the women’s title fight between Weili Zhang and Jessica Andrade. Andrade is seeking her first title defense since beating Rose Namajunas with a second round KO at UFC 237. This new, aggressive, attacking fighter is dangerous. Her previous four fights were the distance, but she hasn’t come close since.

That means Weili Zhang has to stay out of trouble and hope Andrade tires herself out a bit. Zhang is an aggressor in her own right, though. The striking power from Andrade is the concern here for Zhang, who has gone the distance in two of her three UFC fights. The other was a submission win over Jessica Aguilar back in November.

This one may come down to who has more success swinging high. Both girls use a lot of leg strikes, but Andrade has had more success to the body and to the head. Zhang has a lot of pressure as well, as she gets this fight in China. Andrade, meanwhile, can drown out all of it and focus solely on the fight.

<strong>Pick: Jessica Andrade</strong>

UFC Fight Night 157: Andrade vs. Zhang Betting Odds, Picks & Preview

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