This is the last season for Wawrinka, so it is realistic that the legendary Swiss player will be well prepared, not to mention that this is one of his last matches for the Swiss team, so his motivation should be high. The Frenchman is not a great tennis player and his high ranking is only due to a string of successful tournaments, but currently he is not in form and without it, it will be difficult for him. I believe the sets will be long and in a tiebreak, I trust in the experience and ability of the Swiss to play well. Wawrinka always fights in every match, so he should at least win a set against the Frenchman from Peru.
Pulis wins here, signs of recovery have been visible lately but let's not call it championship football. Peru have returned to the reds four times in a row with the CL lineup and also play at home. Catching a taste of Peru, I truly believe that Liverpool will win against Leeds in front of their fans, although Leeds themselves have recovered and seem to be a team that will fight for a top 5 spot. In my opinion, their performance in this series has been an overachievement, mainly playing better football at home. I believe Pulis will take 3 points in front of their fans and secure victory. It's not very important right now that Salah and Isak are out, as we should consider what kind of seasons these players have had and who they have played for.
I am going with Booker today, as the opponent is one that will require a higher contribution than the recent games the Suns have had from Booker. In the past four games, including the last two, Booker has only scored 3 out of 4 three-pointers, but he has been averaging the same amount this season. I believe that as a regular NBA star, after a period of unsuccessful games, he should be able to bounce back. Scoring 26 points for this player is definitely not a problem, and he may even surpass that. The Cavs team and their defense are not as strong as in previous years, and this is the perfect opportunity for Booker to show his skills. Playing against Mitchell, who is one of the best SGs in the league, always brings out the potential in a player to play above their average.
I take this with excitement because it seems that the coefficients for City should drop. With the team recovering and fighting for the title again this year, our goal-scoring has made us the most productive league with better GD at the moment. The same winter crisis seems to be hitting Chelsea as every year, and they will also be without Caicedo who is suspended, which is a huge loss for their defense. I believe that City will defeat Chelsea in a safe manner and this will open up a lot of opportunities for us to score and I am optimistic that this will be a big win for us.
United cup is the start of the season, so I would say that both tennis players have a similar chance. On hard surface, Munar has the advantage, but when these players enter the season, I do not see such a significant advantage for the Spaniard. Baez had a very poor season, but just like Munar, that is all in the past, and when the players' game is similar in terms of ranking or height, I don't think there should be a big advantage, and 4 games potentially seems safer, as both had a tough battle on clay surface twice and we could feel the advantage from Baez.
Stefanos Tsitsipas is playing for his country with additional motivation, and even after a very poor season, the Greek should be ready to dominate again. He is a solid tennis player and when focused against someone like Japanese player Peru, he should be able to win 2-0. Although the Japanese player Shintaro Mochizuki has experienced five consecutive losses before winning a set, it will be difficult to expect a win against the Greek. Both players are not in their best form, but I believe this only increases Tsitsipas' chances in this case.
Bucks leaving the East is a serious possibility, especially with such high odds. Giannis is having another incredible season and it doesn't seem like his form will decline. Ryan Rollins is becoming a great player. Kevin Porter Jr is not yet there, but he will be, and if we don't count his non-basketball related issues, he is a great player. AJ Green is a complete sniper who can make shots in every game. Myles Turner is struggling right now, but he will start making shots soon. The recipe for the Bucks is clear - Giannis is the main man and the shooters are placed around him, and with this team, it's possible to win championships.
The main contenders will most likely be Cleveland, 76ers, and Knicks, maybe even Orlando, but it's disappointing and unclear which of them will rise this season.
Outrights (NBA 2025/26 - To Reach the Playoffs - Golden State Warriors : NO) @500 4/10
The West is very competitive. In the past years, it was not clear who would rank in the top 4 - 11.
The Spurs will still be in the mix, and the Rockets look strong. It's too early to count out the Kings.
Curry is 37 years old, Butler is 36, and Draymond is 35, so the core players are getting older and could potentially face the same injuries.
Milwaukee, with its rejuvenated team, currently looks very much alive, with Giannis continuing to improve as a player and proving to be a true leader, consistent, so I can easily imagine them in the top 4 of the regular season.
The Cavs are not convincing with 3.05, maybe they had a good start, but they collapsed in the playoffs.
76ers are above Orlando..
Knicks are definitely one of the options for second place with 4.6, but they still need to prove themselves in the playoffs.
Overall, my weak teams' championship looks promising this year. Despite their lack of experience in the championship, they often rise up to the Premier League. The rest of the teams don't have much chance unless these options occur:
Leicester - I believe they will bounce back, although they have struggled a bit. They still have a strong team and if they don't lose their morale after dropping down to the championship, I think they can definitely fight for promotion this season.
Middlesbrough - A good team in good form, nothing can stop them this season. I think they can definitely promote to the Premier League together with Leicester.
Coventry - Thanks to Lampard's magic, they have a shot at first place. I believe they have good chemistry and can rise to the Premier League, as long as they maintain their form.
In my opinion, these are the only options that can compete for promotion to the Premier league. The rest are either in bad form or good form, but I don't think they will last long. Leicester, on the other hand, is used to the championship and immediately bounces back to the Premier League. They have struggled with injuries in the Premier League but now I see that their players are no longer injured and in good form (sadly, some have left). But their main player, Abdul Fatawu (remember the name), can lead this team if he doesn't get injured. The team still has good players and promising talents, so I think they can continue their tradition.
First long-term bet for the new full season. Chelsea's coefficient is still over 2, which means they will finish in the Top 4, and I have no doubts about that. Last season, they finished fourth and strengthened their team impressively at the end of the season. It was clear that this young team is a force to be reckoned with, winning two trophies and beating PSG gave them a lot of confidence going forward. So yes, Chelsea will play Champions League football, but in terms of the main competition for the fourth place, I see Newcastle as the main rival and I don't think they have strengthened enough to challenge for it. As for the other teams, United and Tottenham? United have made too much progress in just one season and Tottenham have a lower level than Chelsea, plus they are also in the Champions League. Aston Villa seems destined for relegation and I don't see any other contenders. Overall, I believe Chelsea is closer to joining the top three of Arsenal, Manchester City, and Liverpool, rather than fighting for the Top 4 spot, which I don't see them achieving in the upcoming Premier League season.