The big contests keep on coming in the NFL and Week 14 served up some real treats on Sunday night, including what was clearly the game of the year as the San Francisco 49ers recorded a breathtaking 48-46 win over the New Orleans Saints. And that's where this Pick Six will begin...Jimmy G comes up huge for the Niners The perception from our Sky Sports analysts in the studio on Sunday - and among many pundits and sage minds on the other side of the Atlantic - is that the San Francisco 49ers are beatable if you make Jimmy Garoppolo the one to try to beat you. That may sound harsh on Jimmy G but I don't think it's meant as a way to suggest he is a bad quarterback. I feel it is more of a reflection on how he is still growing as a passer, while the San Francisco running game and defense is proving to be top notch week in and week out. But Sunday night's win was a big, big moment for Garoppolo as he threw for 349 yards and four touchdowns. And he came up massive on a fourth down play … [Read more...] about Pick Six: The game of the year, the Jameis Winston Experience and why New England can be written off
England strikers 80s
Romelu Lukaku: How ex-Manchester United striker got back to his goalscoring best at Inter
Romelu Lukaku has been Serie A's poster man so far, but how is Antonio Conte getting the best out of him at Inter? The 26-year-old has hit the ground running since joining from Manchester United in the summer, scoring 10 goals in 15 Serie A appearances which fired the Milan club to a shot at a first domestic title in 10 years.Lukaku has been revitalised by coach Conte, who has relieved him of the pressure of playing as a lone striker and employed him alongside Lautaro Martinez to form one of the most prolific strike duos in Europe with 24 goals so far. Inter have the chance to secure qualification to the knockout stages of the Champions League for the first time in eight years when they face Barcelona at the San Siro on Tuesday night.Here, we examine how the Belgian striker got back to his goalscoring best since his Old Trafford departure...Lukaku's first Italian monthsLukaku was lovingly embraced by the Inter fanbase ever since he first set foot at Milan Malpensa airport in August. … [Read more...] about Romelu Lukaku: How ex-Manchester United striker got back to his goalscoring best at Inter
Is this the best New Zealand Test side of all time?
3:53 PM GMTSidharth MongaFacebookTwitterFacebook MessengerPinterestEmailprintIn 2009, ESPNcricinfo asked a 10-man jury made up of veteran journalists, cricket historians and administrators to pick an all-time New Zealand Test XI. You might accuse the jury of an anti-recency bias, but you still probably would have struggled to add more than one to the two players picked who played primarily after 1990: Daniel Vettori and Shane Bond. Ten years on, New Zealand's Test cricket has thrown up seven bona fide contenders: two all-timers in batsmen Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor, two wicketkeepers in Brendon McCullum and BJ Watling, and three of the top-seven wicket-takers for New Zealand in Trent Boult, Tim Southee and Neil Wagner.That this group of players has been able to put up these big numbers is down in no insignificant part to the number of Tests they have managed to play. Six teams have played more Tests than New Zealand in this decade, but they still have two representatives each in … [Read more...] about Is this the best New Zealand Test side of all time?
PSG eye Sadio Mane if Neymar leaves – European Paper Talk
The January transfer window opens in less than a month's time and clubs across Europe will be busy identifying targets, holding talks with agents, and putting in place future deals. As a result, the rumour mill never stops. So we asked our friends at Football Whispers to round up all the latest news, views and gossip from across the continent.Transfer CentreJanuary transfer window - key datesFranceParis Saint-Germain could launch a move for Liverpool forward Sadio Mane next summer if Neymar leaves the club for either Real Madrid or Barcelona. (France Football) The Ligue 1 champions will also attempt to sign Rennes wonderkid Eduardo Camavinga who starred against them earlier in the season despite being just 16 years old. (France Football)SpainParis Saint-Germain are prepared to let Neymar leave the club next summer for around £150m. The Ligue 1 side will allow the Brazil forward to depart in order to fund a new lucrative long-term contract for Kylian Mbappe. (Marca)Manchester … [Read more...] about PSG eye Sadio Mane if Neymar leaves – European Paper Talk
NFL Super Bowl and Conference Futures: 49ers Sitting at #3
There is a very large 23.9% difference between the Ravens and the Patriots. The New England Patriots at 24.4% trails the Baltimore Ravens at 48.2%. The difference between these teams is widening as the Patriots chances are down from 49.7 percent. As far as teams fighting for the final playoff spots go, there is a very small difference in projected wins between the teams with the #5 best record and the team with the #7 best record. There is not a lot of parity and power is concentrated at the top of the conference with just 3 teams having at least a 4% chance of winning it. Visit Sportsline to get the latest game forecasts, picks against the spread, totals and moneylines by the computer and top Vegas handicappers. We also have the best player projections for Season Long and Daily Fantasy players. AFC FUTURES PROJ WINS WIN DIV PLAYOFF WIN CONF ODDS WIN CONF SIM Baltimore Ravens 13.4 99.7% 100.0% 10/11 (52.4%) 48.2% New England Patriots 12.4 97.4% 100.0% 5/2 (28.6%) … [Read more...] about NFL Super Bowl and Conference Futures: 49ers Sitting at #3