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Orlando Pride, Ally Watt Agree to Deal Through 2024 Season

NWSL Editor
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Orlando Pride, Ally Watt Agree to Deal Through 2024 Season

Watt re-signs after joining in middle of the 2022 seaso

ORLANDO, Fla. – Orlando Pride has signed forward Ally Watt to a new contract extending through the 2024 season, it was announced today. Watt joined the Pride on August 15 after a trade with OL Reign in exchange for $125,000 in Allocation Money. 

“Ally is an exciting young player and we’re happy to have her continue with us after acquiring her earlier this year,” Head Coach Seb Hines said. “She’s a player that is well-traveled and we’re happy that Orlando is a place she’ll be for the foreseeable future. We think she is someone who fits very well in what we’re trying to build here at the Pride and we look forward to having her back with us in 2023.”  

“I’ve really enjoyed my time in Orlando and I’m excited to continue as part of this organization,” Watt said. “I’m happy to be with a great group of girls and I’m very excited for the future of this team and the organization. I can’t wait to get started in 2023.”

The Colorado Springs native went on to appear in six games for the Pride, making an instant impact by scoring the game-winning goal in a 2-1 victory over NJ/NY Gotham FC in her debut for the Club. Watt entered the match in the 64th minute as a substitute and scored just nine minutes later following a strong team effort, in what served as her lone Pride goal of the season. 

The former first round draft pick was selected No. 6 overall by the North Carolina Courage in the 2020 NWSL Draft. Prior to joining the Courage, Watt made her professional debut in Australia’s W-League with Melbourne City where she played a role in helping the Club win the 2019-20 Grand Final. Watt returned to the U.S. and made her NWSL debut in the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup, but unfortunately suffered a season-ending ACL injury just minutes into her first match. 

Watt was later acquired by the Reign via trade at the end of 2020 season and would go on to make five appearances in 2021 after returning from her injury. Before Watt joined the Pride in 2022, she appeared in 21 of 22 possible matches across all competitions for the Reign and recorded one goal and one assist. 

TRANSACTION: Orlando Pride signs Ally Watt to a two-year contract through the 2024 season. 

Orlando Pride Announces 2022 End-of-Season Contract Statuses

NWSL Editor
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Orlando Pride Announces 2022 End-of-Season Contract Statuses

Pride enter first offseason under newly-appointed Head Coach Seb Hines

ORLANDO, Fla. — Following the conclusion of the 2022 National Women’s Soccer League season, the Orlando Pride have announced roster statuses for its complete roster. The Pride enter their first offseason under newly-announced Head Coach Seb Hines, who was promoted to the position last week after five years on the team’s assistant coaching staff. 

Orlando currently has 12 players under contract in forwards Haley Bugeja, Darian Jenkins, Leah Pruitt and Ally Watt; midfielder Mikayla Cluff; defenders Kerry Abello, Caitlin Cosme, Haley Hanson and Megan Montefusco; as well as goalkeepers Kaylie Collins, Erin McLeod and Anna Moorhouse. 

The Club has mutually exercised the options of three players, forward Julie Doyle, midfielder Gunny Jónsdóttir and defender Kylie Strom. 

New contract offers have been extended to midfielders Jordyn Listro and Viviana Villacorta, as well as defenders Celia, Carrie Lawrence and Courtney Petersen. Midfielders Thais Reiss, Parker Roberts and Chelsee Washington will enter the waiver wire, with Roberts waived while Reiss and Washington are out of contract and have not been offered a new deal. 

The Pride enter the offseason with four players eligible for free agency for the first time in NWSL history in Meggie Dougherty Howard, Toni Pressley, Erika Tymrak and Marta. The Club remains in discussions with all four regarding a potential return in 2023. 

A complete, player-by-player breakdown can be found below. 

Orlando Pride Contract Statuses (As of Nov. 15, 2022):
Kerry Abello: Under Contract Through 2023 
Haley Bugeja^: Under Contract Through 2023 
Mikayla Cluff: Under Contract Through 2023 
Kaylie Collins: Under Contract Through 2023 
Caitlin Cosme: Under Contract Through 2023 
Meggie Dougherty Howard*: Out of Contract
Julie Doyle: Option Exercised
Haley Hanson: Under Contract Through 2024
Darian Jenkins: Under Contract Through 2023 
Celia Jiménez Delgado: New Contract Extended
Gunny Jónsdóttir: Option Exercised
Carrie Lawrence: New Contract Extended
Jordyn Listro: New Contract Extended
Erin McLeod: Under Contract Through 2023 
Megan Montefusco: Under Contract Through 2023 with 2024 option
Anna Moorhouse^: Under Contract Through 2023 
Courtney Petersen: New Contract Extended
Toni Pressley*: Out of Contract
Leah Pruitt: Under Contract Through 2023 
Thais Reiss^: Rights Waived
Parker Roberts: Waived
Kylie Strom: Option Exercised
Erika Tymrak*: Out of Contract
Marta Vieira da Silva*: Out of Contract
Viviana Villacorta: New Contract Extended
Chelsee Washington: Rights Waived
Ally Watt: Under Contract Through 2024

*Indicates Free Agent
^Indicates International Player

Houston Dash announce 2022 roster decisions

NWSL Editor
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Houston Dash announce 2022 roster decisions

NEED TO KNOW: 

  • Houston exercise contract options on two players
  • Eleven players are out of contract and two players are free agents
  • Houston enters the NWSL offseason with 15 players under contract for the 2023 year

HOUSTON – The Houston Dash have announced their roster decisions following the 2022 NWSL regular season, the team announced today.

The Dash exercised the contract options for GK Ella Dederick and MF Marisa Viggiano. The Dash exercised the option to purchase the contract and make forward Paulina Gramaglia’s transfer permanent, who was on loan from Argentinian club UAI Urquiza.

The contract option for FW Valerie Gauvin was not exercised. Midfielder Elizabeth Eddy and Cali Farquharson are free agents.

Forwards Michelle Alozie and Michaela Abam; midfielders Makamae Gomera-Stevens, Kelcie Hedge, Emily Ogle; and defenders Ally Prisock, Annika Schmidt and Natalie Jacobs are out of contract. Goalkeeper Lindsey Harris and defender Tierrny Wiltshire and midfielder Bri Visalli are out of contract and will not return to the team in 2023. The team is currently in talks with select players about returning for the 2023 season.

The team has an additional 12 players under contract for the 2023 season.

“Each player on this roster played a key role in the club’s most successful season to date,” general manager Alex Singer said. “I want to commend and thank each of the players for their contributions, and we wish those that won’t continue with us good luck with their next opportunities. Looking forward, the goal is to retain our core and continue our momentum, building into 2023.”

Houston enters the offseason with the following players under contract: forward Joelle Anderson, defender Julia Ashley, goalkeeper Jane Campbell, defender Allysha Chapman, defender Caprice Dydasco, forward Ryan Gareis, midfielder Shea Groom, defender Katie Naughton, forward Nichelle Prince, midfielder Sophie Schmidt, forward Ebony Salmon and forward Maria Sanchez.

The current Houston Dash roster can be found listed below in alphabetical order and by position:

Goalkeepers (2): Jane Campbell, Ella Dederick

Defenders (4): Julia Ashley, Allysha Chapman, Caprice Dydasco, Katie Naughton

Midfielders (3): Shea Groom, Sophie Schmidt, Marisa Viggiano

Forwards (6): Joelle Anderson, Ryan Gareis, Paulina Gramaglia, Nichelle Prince, Ebony Salmon, Maria Sanchez

NWSL Announces 2023 Schedule Footprint

NWSL Editor
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NWSL Announces 2023 Schedule Footprint

2023 plans feature 176-match schedule, reconfigured UKG NWSL Challenge Cu

NEW YORK – The National Women’s Soccer League today announced the competition framework for its 11th season, featuring a 176-game schedule including the fourth installment of the newly reformatted UKG NWSL Challenge Cup.   

“Reaching our historic 10th season of play was a landmark moment for women’s professional soccer and the greater women’s sports community,” said NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman. “The growth of the NWSL is a testament to the league’s incredible athletes as well as the steadfast support of its fans, owners and stakeholders, and we look forward to building off last season’s momentum with another exciting season in 2023. I’m confident next year will provide an experience worthy of the world’s premier professional women’s soccer league.” 

The CBA and NWSL rules allow teams flexibility to hold a 6-8 week preseason camp opening as early as January 23 but no later than February 6 ahead of the 2023 regular season kickoff on Saturday, March 25, followed by the commencement of the 2023 UKG NWSL Challenge Cup in April. 

For the first time since its inception in 2020, the UKG NWSL Challenge Cup will now run concurrently with the regular season. Consisting of a six-week tournament from April to September, the Cup will feature three groups of four teams playing double round-robin matches for a total of six contests. Following group play, four teams will square off in semifinal matches on Wednesday, September 6 ahead of the UKG NWSL Challenge Cup Final on Saturday, September 9. The 2023 UKG NWSL Challenge Cup will also be the first-ever women’s professional soccer tournament to achieve pay equity with its U.S. peers in the men’s game. This is the result of the historic partnership between NWSL and UKG, a leading provider of HR, payroll, and workforce management solutions for all people.  

Comprised of a balanced 22-game schedule, the 132-game regular season will be played over 22 weeks, eliminating mid-week matches to minimize schedule congestion for player safety and optimal performance. The schedule has been formatted to limit the number of regular season games staged during the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup to ensure the league’s top players are able to compete for both club and country with minimal conflicts.

In total, each team will play 28 matches between the regular season and the UKG NWSL Challenge Cup, 14 games at home and 14 games on the road.

The full league schedule and broadcast details will be released at a later date.

Six teams will qualify for the NWSL playoffs set to begin in late October with the top two seeds receiving a first-round bye. The quarterfinal round will be played on October 22, followed by the semifinal round, set for November 4.

The 2023 campaign will conclude with the NWSL Championship on November 11.

Nevada starts Nugget Classic against Milwaukee Friday

NCAABB Editor
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Nevada starts Nugget Classic against Milwaukee Friday

Nevada women’s basketball begins the 2022 Nugget Classic on Friday at the Lawlor Events Center, taking on Milwaukee at 2 p.m.

Larry Burnett will have the call on 94.1 FM and 1450 AM, with a 20 minute pregame show prior to tipoff. Fans can also listen live online through the Varsity Network. The game will be available to watch on Mountain West Network and live stats can be accessed through Sidearm.

Fans are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance online. Youth tickets start at just $3 while adult general admission start at $5 online. Tickets can be purchased at the Lawlor Events Center on Sunday for $12.

With the holiday season right around the corner, Nevada Athletics and Pack Provisions have collaborated to host an on-campus food drive during the Nugget Classic. Individuals who participate in the food drive on Nov. 25 and Nov. 27 at Lawlor Events Center will receive discounted admission at the ticket office window for any goods they bring in. All donations will directly benefit Pack Provisions and students on campus.

Nevada will host the Nugget Classic for the 16th time at the Lawlor Events Center and hold a 17-14 all-time record in the event. The Pack have won three out of their last five games in the Nugget Classic and are currently on a two-game winning streak in the Thanksgiving weekend showcase.

Freshman forward Kennedy Lee has proven she can make an immediate impact, averaging 13 points per game. She scored a career-high 18 points and grabbed a career-high eight rebounds on Nov. 20 against Stanislaus State.
This year’s Nevada women’s basketball team ranks 10th in the nation and second in the Mountain West in steals per game with a 14.7 mark. Redshirt junior Alyssa Jimenez became the seventh player since 2013 to record 100 career steals. She is the fastest player since 2013 to reach that mark.

SCOUTING MILWAUKEE
Milwaukee is off to a 1-3 start and the Nugget Classic will be the Panthers’ first game in a week. The Panthers are a young team, with three of its starters sophomores or younger. Milwaukee, however, ranks in the top 50 in the nation in free throw percentage (79.7, 20th) and blocks per game (5.2, 40th)

Emma Wittmershaus leads the Panthers with a 9.8 points per game average while coming down with 5.5 rebounds per game. Grace Crowley has added some key production off the bench, scoring 8.3 points per game and grabbing 5.5 rebounds per game that is good for second on the team.

Blue Bombers extend contract of CFL all-star offensive lineman Pat Neufeld

CFL Editor
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Blue Bombers extend contract of CFL all-star offensive lineman Pat Neufeld

WINNIPEG, MB., – The Winnipeg Blue Bombers today announce the club has agreed to terms on a one-year contract extension with CFL all-star offensive lineman Pat Neufeld.

Neufeld (6-6, 307, Saskatchewan; born: December 26, 1988, in Regina, SK) returns to the Blue Bombers for what will be his 12th Canadian Football League season and ninth with Winnipeg. A versatile lineman who has made starts at both guard and tackle over his career in Winnipeg, Neufeld is coming off his second-consecutive all-star season, having been named to both the West Division and CFL All-Star teams in 2021 and 2022.

Neufeld appeared in 17 regular season games this year at right guard as well as in both the Western Final and Grey Cup, helping the Blue Bombers offence finish second in points, sacks surrendered and rushing yards and first in touchdowns, while running back Brady Oliveira posted the first 1,000-yard rushing season of his career.

Neufeld was originally selected by the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the fifth round of the 2010 CFL Draft and was acquired by the Bombers in a trade in 2013 for DE Alex Hall and a second-round pick in the 2014 draft.

He has appeared in 136 regular season games including 99 with the Blue Bombers, and last year was named the winner of the Cal Murphy Heart of a Legend Award presented to the player who has shown ‘outstanding sportsmanship and dedication to the Canadian Football League and the community.’

World Cup Fevered Pitch Could Benefit Sportsbook Operators

Agate Editor
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World Cup Fevered Pitch Could Benefit Sportsbook Operators

The 2022 World Cup kicked off earlier this week. This is the first edition of the most prestigious soccer tournament with a significant portion of the US population having access to regulated sports wagering.

During the 2018 edition of the tournament, only Delaware, Nevada, and New Jersey offered sports wagering. Today, 31 states and Washington, DC, permit sports betting in some form. Plus, the US is participating in this year’s tournament after failing to qualify in 2018. In other words, the stars are aligned for sportsbook operators to benefit from this year’s tournament.

Predictably, estimates for global World Cup handle vary wildly. But even some of the more modest projections indicate the event could be a boon for domestic gaming companies.

In terms of betting through licensed sportsbooks, H2 Gambling Capital forecasts that ~$35 billion will be wagered on the tournament, an increase of 65% over their estimate of ~$21 billion generated on the 2018 World Cup, based on an average $400 million being bet on each group stage match,” wrote Macquarie analyst Chad Beynon in a report out Tuesday.

The analyst points out $1 billion is expected to be bet on each knock-out stage match, and $2.5 billion will be wagered on the final.

The ‘Other Football’ Could Be Meaningful
In the US, American football is the most wagered sport, followed by basketball. Soccer, or football to most of the rest of the world, is much further down the list.

However, there are tangible benefits for gaming companies in marquee events such as the Olympics and World Cup. As Macquarie’s Beynon points out, the World Cup is an opportunity for gaming companies to boost brand awareness, improve customer engagement, and to expand client acquisition.

“Flagship events/tournaments such as the World Cup drive broad engagement and draw in first-time and infrequent players, similar to how large jackpots increase lottery play,” said the analyst. “While the total 2022 World Cup wagering tally will ultimately hinge on the performance of certain countries in the tournament, we believe this will be a positive branding, engagement, and user acquisition event for operators.”

On the other hand, it’s possible the impact from the 2022 World Cup will be muted. Relative to ebullient expectations, the tournament is taking place while at the height of American football season and while the NBA and college basketball are ramping up.

Typically, the tournament is played in June. But with Qatar hosting, the event had to be moved to later in the year to avoid treacherous temperatures.

How Sportsbook Operators Can Keep US Bettors Engaged
While estimates indicate Americans are enthusiastic about wagering on the World Cup, it remains to be seen for how long that enthusiasm will last if the US doesn’t advance beyond the group stage — a real possibility following Monday’s draw against Wales.

That means there could be some burden on gaming companies to keep American bettors engaged, and that effort could boil down to leveraging marquee teams, such as Argentina, Brazil, and England, among others.

“Bookmakers have posted Brazil, Argentina, and defending champion France as the top three favorites, with odds of 3/1, 5.5/1, and 7.5/1, respectively. England, Spain, and Germany are the next three, with the US sitting at 18th, between Mexico and Poland,” concluded Beynon.

NHL Morning Skate – Nov. 24, 2022

NHL Editor
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NHL Morning Skate – Nov. 24, 2022

* A busy 15-game night ahead of Thanksgiving in the U.S. was highlighted by an eight-goal outburst by the Kraken, who sailed into second place in the Pacific Division.

* The Sabres, Panthers and Maple Leafs all acted as streak stoppers Wednesday, halting the Devils’ 13-game run and handing both the Bruins and Blues their first loss in seven contests.

* Jason Robertson’s buzzworthy start to 2022-23 continued as he extended his point streak to 13 games, tied Connor McDavid and Bo Horvat for the NHL lead in goals and helped his club become the first team to earn a three-goal, third-period comeback win this season.

* There are no games scheduled for Thursday while the U.S. celebrates Thanksgiving. The NHL returns with a 14-game slate on Black Friday highlighted by a 2022 NHL Thanksgiving Showdown doubleheader on TNT, Sportsnet and TVA Sports that opens with the Penguins visiting the Flyers at 5:30 p.m. ET and concludes with the Lightning hosting the Blues at 8 p.m. ET. 



SEATTLE CRACKS OPEN THE OFFENSE WITH EIGHT-GOAL OUTBURST
Matty Beniers (1-2—3) became the first rookie to record a three-point outing for Seattle en route to taking the League lead in rookie points as the Kraken (11-5-3, 25 points) scored a franchise-best eight goals while climbing past the idle Kings (11-9-2, 24 points) for second place in the Pacific Division.

* Seattle improved to 7-1-1 in November and established a franchise mark for the most wins in a calendar month. Meanwhile, the Kraken’s .833 point percentage in November trails only the Devils (.909) for the highest such total through the month.


THE STREAK STOPS AT THE MAPLE LEAFS, PANTHERS & SABRES
The Maple Leafs, Panthers and Sabres played the role of streak busters Wednesday as they took on the Devils, Bruins and Blues, respectively:

* Mitchell Marner (0-1—1) factored on one of his team’s two goals while Matt Murray made 34 saves as the Maple Leafs snapped the Devils’ 13-game win streak. Marner extended his point streak to a career-high 14 games dating to Oct. 27. Only five players in Maple Leafs history have posted a longer stretch: Eddie Olczyk (18 GP in 1989-90), Darryl Sittler (18 GP in 1977-78), Dave Andreychuk (16 GP in 1993-94), John Anderson (16 GP in 1983-84) and Babe Dye (16 GP in 1921-22).

* Aaron Ekblad (1-2—3)factored on three of Florida’s five goals, includingscoring the 100th of his career, to help the Panthers snap the Bruins’ seven-game win streak. Ekblad became the first defenseman and 12th skater to reach the 100-goal milestone with Florida – among active blue liners, only Erik Karlsson (477 GP) did so faster than Ekblad (563 GP).

* Jeff Skinner (2-0—2) put Buffalo up 1-0 just 18 seconds after the opening face-off and tallied again during the middle frame to help the Sabres snap the Blues’ seven-game winning streak, the longest in NHL history by a team immediately after they suffered losses in eight or more consecutive contests. Skinner, who had 2-3—5 against Montreal on Tuesday including an assist on Rasmus Dahlin’s goal at 0:35 of the first period, became the first Buffalo player with seven points over a two-day span since Pat LaFontaine from Jan. 30-31, 1996 (3-4—7 in 2 GP).



ROBERTSON EXTENDS POINT STREAK AS STARS RALLY TO STUN BLACKHAWKS
Jason Robertson (14-10—24 in 13 GP) opened the scoring to extend his career-high point streak to 13 games and recorded the last of Dallas’ five unanswered third-period goals as the Central Division-leading Stars (12-5-3, 27 points) overcame a 4-1 deficit to defeat the Blackhawks. Dallas won a game in regulation after overcoming a three-goal, third-period deficit for the second time in Stars/North Stars history, following Nov. 29, 1983 (6-4 W vs. PIT).

* Robertson matched the longest point streak in Stars team history (since 1993-94), a mark set by Dave Gagner from Nov. 21 to Dec. 19, 1993 (7-9—16 in 13 GP). Robertson (16-15—31 in 20 GP) reached 16 goals on the season and sits tied with Connor McDavid (16-19—35 in 20 GP) and Bo Horvat (16-6—22 in 20 GP) for the League lead.



IT’S THE CLIMB: OVECHKIN SCORES IN OVERTIME FOR GOAL NO. 790
Alex Ovechkin continued his climb up the NHL’s all-time goals list with his 790th all-time, 25th in overtime and first-ever against Flyers rookie Felix Sandstrom. Philadelphia became the 14th franchise the Capitals captain has recorded an overtime goal against (regular season & playoffs combined); only two players in NHL history have scored against more clubs: Brad Marchand (16) and Jaromir Jagr (15).



AROUND THE RINKS: THE NHL’S SECOND 15-GAME DAY IN LESS THAN A WEEK

* Filip Hronek had 1-1—2 and Ville Husso turned aside all 26 shots faced as the Red Wings improved to 3-0-0 in their last three games. Hronek (5-3—8 in 5 GP) became the first Detroit defenseman with five goals in a five-game span since Nicklas Lidstrom from Dec. 15-23, 2010 (5-1—6 in 5 GP).

* Evgeni Malkin was honored in a pre-game ceremony to celebrate his 1,000-game milestone and later scored the shootout-deciding goal to earn his 500th regular-season win alongside teammate Sidney Crosby. While they are the first set of Penguins teammates to combine for the feat, four other active teammates have won 500 together: Alex Ovechkin–Nicklas Backstrom (603), Jonathan Toews–Patrick Kane (529), Anze Kopitar–Drew Doughty (508) and Ovechkin-John Carlson (506). 



* Ilya Sorokin made 49 saves for his 12th career shutout and Jean-Gabriel Pageau became the seventh Islanders player to score a shorthanded and power-play goal in a five-minute span as New York blanked Edmonton for the third time in the regular season in franchise history. Sorokin’s 49-save performance is the third most in a shutout by an Islanders goaltender behind Glenn Healy (51 on Jan. 16, 1990) and Jaroslav Halak (50 on Feb. 15, 2018).

* Artemi Panarin (192-400—592 in 529 GP) became the only active undrafted player to hit the 400-assist milestone and required the fifth-fewest games in NHL history to do so among undrafted skaters, behind Wayne Gretzky (290 GP), Peter Stastny (411 GP), Bobby Orr (437 GP) and Adam Oates (471 GP).  




QUICK CLICKS

* Thursday’s edition of #NHLStats: Live Updates
* Hurricanes sign goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov to four-year deal

* Wild acquire Ryan Reaves in trade with Rangers

* Maple Leafs acquire Conor Timmins in trade with Coyotes

* Hockey Fights Cancer Night carries extra meaning for Alex Pietrangelo



SERVING UP A THANKSGIVING SHOWDOWN
After a one-day hiatus, NHL action will resume Friday for the 2022 Thanksgiving Showdown when 28 teams will be in action, starting with a 1 p.m. ET matinee between the Hurricanes and Bruins when Boston will put its 11-game home winning streak on the line.

World Cup Preview: Brazil at Serbia

Agate Editor
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World Cup Preview: Brazil at Serbia

We believe Brazil vs Serbia is going to be a real thriller with plenty of goal chances from both ends. We also believe the players will turn some of those chances into goals. But which players? Those playing for Brazil, Serbia, or both? To learn the answer, just keep on reading this World Cup preview!

Brazil vs Serbia Odds
Match-Winner
Brazil -200
Draw +320
Serbia +550
Goals Over/Under
Over 3.5 +200
Under 3.5 -250
*Odds taken from Sports Odds Direct on Tuesday, November 22.

When, Where, and How to Watch?
Place: Lusail Iconic Stadium in Lusail, Qatar
Date: Thursday, November 24, 2022
Time: 2:00 PM ET
How to Watch: FOX/Telemundo

World Cup #1 Favorite Does Have Some Weaknesses
Brazil is the no.1 favorite to win the 2022 World Cup, which is no surprise as this team is undefeated since summer 2021. This team’s strongest weapon is its attack, which is packed with superstars – Neymar, Vinicius Junior, Anthony, Richarlison, Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli, and others.

With these players on the roster, Brazil looks capable of scoring (and perhaps, outscoring) every single team on the planet. The problem is that other parts of Brazil’s national team aren’t as strong as its offensive unit.

For instance, coach Tite decided to bring only six proper midfielders with him to Qatar. Excluding Newcastle’s Bruno Guimaraes (and Man United’s Casemiro to some extent), those guys haven’t been playing at an elite level since the start of the 2022-23 season.

It’s a similar story when it comes to Brazil’s full-backs – Danilo, Alex Sandro, Dani Alves, and Alex Telles. They simply aren’t great. Brazil’s center-backs, on the other hand, are really good, although they do have their own weaknesses.

For instance, Thiago Silva and Marquinhos – the two center-backs who are expected to start against Serbia – are both shorter than 6 feet. The reason why this is important is that Serbia’s team has the highest average height in the 2022 World Cup – 6’1.

Serbia Expected to Attack on Thursday
One would think that the best way to play against Brazil is to “park the bus” in front of the goal. However, we think Serbia will do just the opposite. Dragan Stojkovic’s team is expected to play an attacking-minded 3-4-3 formation. Why do we think that? Because they did it in each of their previous 10 matches.

What’s interesting is that rather than putting some defense-conscious players in the midfield four, Stojkovic tends to put a couple of attacking midfielders there.

If he goes with the same strategy on Thursday, we expect to see Lazio playmaker Sergej Milinkovic-Savic in the midfield, along with Juventus’ winger Filip Kostic, and PAOK’s right forward Andrija Zivkovic there. The only defensive midfielder who’ll probably start for Serbia is Sevilla’s Nemanja Gudelj.

Over in the offense, we expect to see Serbia’s captain Dusan Tadic (Ajax), together with Dusan Vlahovic from Juventus and Fulham’s Aleksandar Mitrovic.

Brazil vs Serbia Prediction
We think it’s gonna be raining goals at Lusail Iconic Stadium on Thursday. Brazil vs Serbia will likely see three or more goals, with each team putting at least one or two in the net. That said, we do think Brazil will score more than Serbia in the end.

World Cup Preview: England vs USMNT

Agate Editor
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World Cup Preview: England vs USMNT

England vs United States is the final game of the day and the only one that’s scheduled for the afternoon (Eastern Time) on Friday, November 25. We think the game is really worth a watch, even if you’re not a fan of either of these selections.

The reason why we think this is going to be a real barnburner is that England players started their World Cup campaign in top gear. They destroyed Iran 6-2 in Round 1 and are determined to do something similar in the second round. The USMNT, however, mustn’t let that happen.

After failing to beat Wales, Team US’s chance of making the playoffs has reduced. Winning point(s) against favored England, however, would put them in a great situation. So, can they pull it off?

England vs United States Odds
Match-Winner
England -175
Draw +320
United States +450
Goals Over/Under
Over 2.5 -114
Under 2.5 +102
*Odds taken from Sports Odds Direct on Wednesday, November 23.

When, Where, and How to Watch?
Place: Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar
Date: Friday, November 25, 2022
Time: 2:00 PM ET
How to Watch: FOX/Telemundo

Is It Really Coming Home This Time?
After witnessing their boys demolish Iran 6-2, England fans started singing “football’s coming home.” But is it too early for celebrations? Even though the runners-up of the 2021 Euros aren’t seen as the no.1 favorites to win the trophy in Qatar, there are several things going in their favor.

First of all, Gareth Southgate’s tactics seem to work. That’s no brainer, knowing that the Three Lions have an exceptional roster in 2022. They got at least one elite player for every role on the field.

Another reason why we think they’re gonna go far is that the 2022 World Cup bracket goes in their favor. If they win Group B, they’re gonna play against the second-placed team from Group A, which is almost certainly going to be either Ecuador or Senegal.

They’re stronger than both of those teams. If they beat Ecuador/Senegal in the Round of 16, their most likely opponent in the quarterfinal is going to be France. Given the fact that the reigning world champions are missing a number of key players – Karim Benzema, N’golo Kante, Paul Pogba, etc. – England would stand a chance against them.

Then, in the semifinal, they’re likely to play against one of the following three teams – Belgium, Portugal, or Germany. At this point, we think that England are better than each of those.

That said, England have an open road to the final, albeit only if they win Group B. So far, they’re on the good road to achieving that. In fact, beating the USMNT on Friday would get them very close to securing the no.1 spot.

USMNT Needs a Good Result
Even if they lose to England on Friday, the USMNT would still have a chance to qualify for the knockout stage. It’s because Wales too are likely to lose to England. The Welsh, however, are expected to beat Iran.

The US plays Iran in the final round and we assume the Americans will win as well. That said, a very likely scenario is that at the end of the group phase, the USMNT and Wales will have the same number of points. So, which team will finish in the no.2 spot in Group B, thus getting the ticket to the knockouts?

The answer is: the team with the better score differential. What this means is that the USMNT need to do all in their power not to get blown out by England on November 25. Can they do it?

England vs USMNT Prediction
We really doubt the USMNT can keep England’s offense from scoring on Friday. In fact, we’re sure the Three Lions will put away at least a couple of goals. America’s chance of getting a good result lies in fighting back.

With players like Christian Pulisic and Timothy Weah, Team US does have the quality to score against England. Further, England’s Achille’s heel might be the defense, as evident from the fact that they conceded twice against Iran last Monday.

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