Rory McIlroy, fresh off his win last year at the Masters, walked into the press room and said he wanted flip roles to start the session. He had a question.
“What are we all going to talk about next year?” McIlroy said.
He laughed. Others did. The question referenced his long pursuit of a green jacket, and now that was finished.
But it’s not as if the Masters was done. They’re playing it again starting Thursday. So here goes, a subject entering this year’s event at Augusta National:
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Is McIlroy going to repeat?
No one, of course, knows that answer ahead of Sunday. But below are themes that’ll come into play for him — and for you, being that this is a prognostication piece.
McIlroy’s form: Entering this week, McIlroy has played four events this year on the PGA Tour and two on the DP World Tour. Here are his finishes:
–Dubai Invitational: tied for third
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–Hero Dubai Desert Classic: tied for 33rd
–AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am: tied for 14th
–Genesis Invitational: tied for second
–Arnold Palmer Invitational: withdrew before the third round
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–Players Championship: tied for 46th
McIlroy’s back: About that withdrawal at the Arnold Palmer. A back injury, McIlroy said, forced it, and he returned the following week at the Players. But will it be an issue this week? On Sunday at the Players, McIlroy said he was encouraged by what he saw after 72 holes of play, and it’s worth noting that McIlroy will have gone four weeks without tournament play when the Masters starts, meaning he’ll be well rested.
“Happy I got through four days and my body feels good,” McIlroy said after the Players final round. “I feel like my game sort of progressively got a little bit better as the week went on, even though the scores probably didn’t reflect it over the weekend. I hit the ball well. I just didn’t make anything on the greens.
“Happy to come through four rounds and feel like my body held up well. A couple little things to work on, but overall, not the week that I wanted. Just trying to take the positives.”
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McIlroy’s inspiration: What does happen when you cross the finish line? McIlroy has said he’s been fighting that since last April. Maybe he’s found motivation this week. Maybe he’s still searching.
“You know, I think mentally, I have to be comfortable with maybe this is going to be my best year ever,” McIlroy told RTE last year after being named the RTE Sportsperson of the Year. “Who knows? I hope it’s not, you know. I hope I still have many more great years ahead of me. But you know, no matter what I do going forward, I’m only ever going to be able to win my first Masters once. And I really enjoyed that.
“And I’ve relished the opportunity to bring the green jacket around the world and show it off. It’s been a wonderful year, but I still think that I’ve got a lot more to achieve. So I’m still ambitious.”
With that, members of our staff have each made to-win and sleeper selections to assist you with your own weekly picks, whether those are for a low-stakes office fantasy league, or (legal!) big-bucks bets with a sportsbook. It’s an enjoyable endeavor for us. Deploy it as you wish.
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On to our analysis.
PGA Tour golfers aren’t the only ones who can make some 💰 starting next Thursday. You can too! Here are a few tips. https://t.co/uldLYRZvRh
To-win: Patrick Reed, +3,300. Easy to forget no player on the planet had a hotter late-January-into-early February than Reed, who in three consecutive starts in the Middle East won twice and finished runner-up in a playoff, all in the midst of his LIV Golf departure. He cooled off in two South Africa starts since then, but I still expect him to be a major threat at ANGC, where since 2018 all he’s done is win once and record four more top-10s.
Sleeper pick: Min Woo Lee, +4,000. Might be unfair to call the 25th-ranked player in the world a “dark horse,” but I don’t hear a lot of pundits talking up MWL as a green-jacket threat. He’s been excellent on Tour this season with seven cuts made in seven starts and three top-10s, and he’s made the weekend in three of his four Masters starts. This year, I expect him to contend on the weekend.
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Josh Berhow
To-win: Patrick Reed, +3,300. Hardly anyone plays better at Augusta National than Patrick Reed, who you probably forgot finished third last year. He hasn’t finished outside the top 40 in his seven starts there since he won in 2018, and four of those were top 10s. His past three starts at the Masters: 3rd, T12, T4. Throw in the success he had overseas a couple of months ago, and I like Patrick’s chances. (He’s my pick over a surging Matt Fitzpatrick.)
Sleeper pick: Russell Henley, +5,500. Henley very quietly finished top 10 in each of his past two major starts, and he’s had four top 10s in his past six major starts after just one in the previous 38. The point? He’s getting better on the big stage, and his game is in a good spot — top 20s in five of his seven starts this year and ranks 31st in SG: Approach and 14th in SG: Putting.
James Colgan
To-win: Akshay Bhatia, +5,500. It feels like we’re due for an out-of-left-field green jacket winner, especially after our past five Masters gifted us the murderer’s row of Hideki-Scottie-Rahm-Scottie-Rory as winners. Akshay would be a reasonable choice to these ends — he’s played three months of impressively steady golf to start the year and is a lefty at Augusta National. Major no. 1 arrives for Akshay in 2026.
Sleeper pick: Keegan Bradley, +15,000. It feels like the golf gods owe him one after the way the Ryder Cup knocked him down in September. A Bradley win after all he’s been through over the past six months would be one of the best comeback stories in the sport.
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Connor Federico
Sleeper pick: Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen, +25,000. Which of this year’s Masters rookies is most likely to succeed? The winner at Australia’s Augusta National feels like a good bet. Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen makes his first Masters start via a thrilling win in December’s Australian Open. The Dane vaulted into contention with his understanding of angles and strategy at Royal Melbourne, another Alister Mackenzie masterpiece, where every hole requires elite shotmaking and focus. The success Neergaard found at this World Top 10 course will help him again at another this April. Understanding is one thing, but execution is most important. With a crowd of 30,000-plus Aussies pulling for Cam Smith, Neergaard delivered an unlikely up-and-down to secure the biggest win of his career. He’s got what it takes in the big moments, but at the very least, I’ll be taking him to make the cut in his first Masters appearance.
Alex Gelman
To-win: Jon Rahm, +1,100. Rahm is going to win his second green jacket at the Masters. He’s playing some of the best golf of his career and seems to be in a great space mentally. Trust Rahm, take the Sun Devil and enjoy your winnings Sunday evening.
Sleeper pick: Fifa Laopakdee, +100,000. Yes, it’s a massive long shot but don’t sleep on the junior from Arizona State. He punched his ticket to the Masters after winning the 2025 Asia-Pacific Amateur. He started his career at ASU by winning his first tournament and already has four collegiate wins, including a win three weeks ago at the Desimone Classic.
Jack Hirsh
To win: Tommy Fleetwood, +2,200. Fleetwood just needs the putter to heat up, and he’ll pick up where he left off in 2025. He’s placed in the top 10 in four of five events this season, and his performance with the new alignment aid seems to be going well in San Antonio. Now put him on perfect greens. I like where this is going.
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Sleeper pick: Si Woo Kim, +6,600. His game sets up really well for Augusta, where lots of run-out should help equalize his length disadvantage. His game has been trending all year, and he’s missed just one cut in eight Masters appearances.
To-win: Bryson DeChambeau, +1,000. I’m going to take a break from choosing Scottie to win and add a little variety to my picks. I was also thinking about Brooks Koepka, but no — it’s gotta be Bryson, who has two things going for him this week: Momentum, after winning in back-to-back weeks on LIV; and positive playing history, with two top-6 finishes in his past two appearances. It feels like it could be Bryson’s time.
Sleeper pick: Jason Day, +6,600. Not only does Day have two top-6 finishes this season (including a runner-up at the American Express), he’s also played well many times at the Masters, with five career top-10 finishes.
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Zephyr Melton
To-win: Ludvig Aberg, +1,600. He’s played great at Augusta in his first two Masters starts (second, seventh) and is in fine form with two top-fives in March and a third already in April. It wouldn’t surprise me at all to see Ludvig don the green jacket come Sunday evening.
Sleeper pick: Maverick McNealy, +10,000. Mav has played some steady golf this year, missing just one cut and finishing in the top 30 in every other event but one. He finished middle of the pack in his debut last year, but he’s got the game to stay in it over the weekend.
Nick Piastowski
To-win: Brooks Koepka, +3,300. I love a good story line, and this is certainly that. But he’s been outstanding this year in Strokes Gained: Approach the Green, which is critical for Augusta.
Sleeper pick: Jacob Bridgeman, +8,000. Let’s go back to the strokes gained stats, where we’ll find Jacob Bridgeman among the leaders in the putting category. The winner must navigate Augusta’s sloping putting surfaces.
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Josh Schrock
To-win: Justin Rose +3,300. It’s time for Rose to get it over the line at Augusta National. He has led or co-led the Masters nine times after the first three rounds, which ranks third after Arnie and Jack. Over the past 10 Masters, he is seventh in score to par at 18 under. Five of the other six have won at least one Masters in that time period. He’s playing well, has increased his ball speed, and the iron play remains immaculate. It’s time.
Sleeper pick: Adam Scott, +6,600. Due to the small field, there aren’t a ton of good “sleeper” options. I’d probably take Rickie Fowler if he was in the field, but, alas, he’s not. So we’ll go with Scott, who played well at Riviera and has great course history at Augusta. Honorable mention to Jason Day.
Josh Sens
To-win: Xander Schauffele, +1,400. In his eight Masters appearances, Schauffele has five top 10s. He doesn’t miss cuts, and he’s built for majors. Even last year, when his game slipped a gear, he finished eighth at Augusta. This year, he’s been showing steadily growing signs of life, with a third at the Players and a T4 at the Valspar in his past two events. Bottom line: An elite player and proven major winner is rounding into form, just at the right time.
Sleeper pick: Jason Day, +6,600. Yeah, I know. A past major winner at 66-to-1 isn’t exactly a sleeper. But I don’t see the point of going much lower on the board at the Masters, where long shots have about as good a chance of winning as I do of earning an overnight in the Crow’s Nest. A true dark horse simply isn’t going to come out on top at Augusta so I’m not going to waste a wager on one. As I see it, Day is as far down on the betting board as anyone with an outside chance at the green jacket. He’s got a strong track record here, including a T8 last year, and a T6 last week on a tough course was another good showing in what has been a decent season so far.
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Johnny Wunder
To-win: Jon Rahm, +1,100. Rahm has played the best golf in the world over the past nine months and he’s already established he can win here. His hitting stats are out of this world and if the putter is even relatively serviceable, I don’t see a scenario where he’s not in the final group and putting on the jacket again.
Sean Zak
To-win: Jon Rahm, +1,100. Rahm is going to win. He’s playing as good of golf as he’s played at any point in his life. And the last time he was this good, he won the Masters.
Sleeper pick: Jake Knapp, +6,600. Knapp has been flying less under the radar recently, but he’s been one of the five or six best golfers in 2026.
WWE Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley is among the most popular stars on the roster. She reunited with a fellow babyface last week.
The Eradicator spent a lot of time with Damian Priest in The Judgment Day. They were both ousted from the faction at WWE SummerSlam 2024. The two parted ways a couple of months later to focus on their respective singles careers.
Thanks for the submission!
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Despite The Archer of Infamy’s move to SmackDown in January 2025, The Terror Twins crossed paths on several occasions in the past 12 months. After winning the Women’s Elimination Chamber Match earlier this year, Ripley also joined the blue brand to feud with the then WWE Women’s Champion, Jade Cargill.
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Rhea Ripley recently reunited with Damian Priest backstage. Earlier today, R-Truth posted a picture featuring himself, Priest, and Rhea posing with their respective title belts, recreating an iconic movement from two years ago.
“🙌🏾 Groundhog Day 👀 @RheaRipley_WWE @ArcherOfInfamy,” Truth wrote.
You can check out the tweet below:
While Rhea Ripley defeated Jade Cargill to win the WWE Women’s Championship at WrestleMania 42, Damian Priest and R-Truth scored a surprising win over The MFTs’ Tama Tonga and JC Mateo on the March 20 edition of Monday Night RAW to become the new WWE Tag Team Champions.
Popular WWE star hinted at potential match against Rhea Ripley
Former WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton was shockingly left off the WrestleMania 42 card. She addressed her absence from the PLE in a recent interview with Joey Karni.
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The Buff Barbie noted that the surprising WrestleMania absence could set her up for bigger opportunities at SummerSlam, competing for the WWE Women’s Championship or main eventing WrestleMania 43.
“I fully believe everything happens for a reason. Me not being on this year’s Mania is setting me up for something bigger. Whether that’s SummerSlam in Minnesota this year and fighting for the WWE Women’s Championship or main eventing next year’s WrestleMania, I fully believe everything happens for a reason,” Stratton added.
On the latest edition of Friday Night SmackDown, Tiffany Stratton defeated Giulia to become the new WWE Women’s United States Champion. After her win, it is likely that The Buff Barbie will cross paths with The Nightmare anytime soon.
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Shakur Stevenson has pumped the brakes following a report that he is in preliminary talks to face Devin Haney.
The two elite Americans each have a claim for pound-for-pound status, both boast undefeated records and are considered amongst the most defensively skilled operators of the modern era.
A weight class or two has always separated them, however, and Haney’s recent move to welterweight – a division which Stevenson says he may arrive at but is in no rush – seemed to make the match-up less likely.
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For it to happen, Stevenson said he would want Haney to agree to a catchweight of 144lbs, the same limit he met when beating Jose Ramirez in 2025.
However, Stevenson has now responded to Coppinger’s claim, saying on X that there has been no contact between the teams.
“I know fans like to get excited and they could play with y’all heads and manipulate y’all easily, but that rumour is cap for the 2nd time. I haven’t heard one word about that, [I don’t know] what they [trying to] cover up or disguise, but for me and my team we haven’t heard s**t.”
Royal Challengers Bengaluru sent shivers down Delhi Capitals’ spine in their IPL 2026 clash on Monday. In the worst Powerplay display ever, Delhi Capitals scored just 13/6. At one point, DC were reduced to 8/6. The first six wickets were shared between Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood. In the first two overs, DC lost three wickets. Bhuvneshwar Kumar scalped Sahil Parakh (0) on the second ball of the first over, which started the downfall. In the next over, bowled by Josh Hazlewood, KL Rahul (1) and Sameer Rizvi (0) departed. Then, in the third over, Bhuvneshwar came back to dismiss Tristan Stubbs (5) and Axar Patel (0). In the fourth over, Nitish Rana was picked off by Josh Hazlewood. The scorecard then read 8/6 in 3.5 overs. DC ultimately scored 13/6 in Powerplay, and were all out for 75 in 16.3 overs.
Scorching powerplay spells from Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar helped defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) bundle out hosts Delhi Capitals (DC) for just 75 runs in 16.3 overs at Arun Jaitley Stadium on Monday.
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DC was down and out at 8/6 within the first four overs. But it was a valuable knock from Abishek Porel (30 in 33 balls, with three fours) and brief cameos from David Miller (19) and Kyle Jamieson (12) that gave the score some respectability as DC managed to go past their opponent’s record of the lowest IPL total ever (49).
Putting DC to bat first, Bhuvneshwar Kumar got RCB off to a dream start, uprooting debutant Sahil Parakh’s middle-stump for a two-ball duck. DC was 0/1 in 0.2 overs.
In the next over, Josh Hazlewood started by getting the crucial wicket of KL Rahul, who top-edged a pull attempt into the hands of Jitesh Sharma for just one, while Sameer Rizvi also nicked one to Jitesh on first ball itself. DC was 2/3 in 1.2 overs.
Tristan Stubbs released some pressure with a four. However, in next over, he poked at a Bhuvneshwar outswinger, caught by Devdutt Padikkal at slips for a three-ball five. Skipper Axar Patel was also adjudged to be caught behind by Jitesh for a three-ball duck. DC had an absolute horror movie of a start, at 7/5 in 2.4 overs.
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Hazlewood got his third in the third over, as Nitish Rana tried avoiding a bumper, but the ball got some glove on it and went into Padikkal’s hands at gully. DC was 9/6 in 3.5 overs, engulfed by a tsunami of wickets.
At the end of the power play, DC was 13/6, with David Miller and Abishek Porel at the crease. This was only the second instance of a team losing six wickets within the powerplay in IPL history, after Kochi Tuskers Kerala slumped to 29/6 against Deccan Chargers back in the 2011 edition, as per a stat from CricViz.
Miller and Porel started to build a partnership, getting four each against Rasikh Salam Dar in the seventh over. In the ninth over, Miller tried to dominate the young pacer with two fours, but Rasikh managed to have the last laugh, getting Miller’s toe-end of the bat and the ball landed safely in Jitesh’s hands again. Miller was gone for an 18-ball 19. DC was 43/7 in nine overs.
At the end of 10 overs, DC was 46/7, with Porel (18*) and Kyle Jamieson (1*) unbeaten.
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A six sailing over deep square leg by Kyle Jamieson helped DC bring the 50-run mark in 10.2 overs and he scored a four too. However, he became Krunal’s victim for a 13-ball 12, trapped lbw, with DC at 62/8 in 12.3 overs.
Suyash Sharma bowled Kuldeep Yadav through the gates for 10-ball three, with DC down to 71/9 in 15.4 overs. Hazlewood ended Porel’s resistance at 33-ball 30, cleaning up DC for 75 in 16.3 overs.
Hazlewood’s 4/12 in 3.3 overs and Bhuvneshwar’s 3/5 in three overs were the highlights, while Krunal, Rasikh and Suyash also got a wicket each.
With ANI inputs
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IPL 2026 | Delhi Capitals Wins By 6 Wickets Against Mumbai Indians: Redemption For Sameer Rizvi
Finnish forward Miikka Muurinen announced his commitment to John Calipari’s Arkansas on Monday. The five-star prospect’s commitment sent the Razorbacks’ 2026 recruiting class to No. 1 nationally, per ESPN.
The 19-year-old plays for Partizan Belgrade in Serbia after spending time in multiple high schools in the US. His announcement triggered reactions from fans, many of whom took to X to post their comments.
@JoeTipton Pure bag chase kid, doesn’t care if team wins or loses
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“Pure bag chase kid, doesn’t care if team wins or loses,” wrote Jtacosh.
@JoeTipton Pure bag chase kid, doesn’t care if team wins or loses
“One of the worst players I’ve ever seen,” wrote The Kentucky Network.
“Cal won’t know how to use him. His offense is the simple form of the dribble drive motion offense. May get to the sweet 16 tho.”
“How could anyone get excited about Calipari’s roster? He could literally pick 5 of WHOEVER HE WANTS… and find a way to make them underachievers,” John Coy commented.
“It’s another final four or bust year for Coach Cal with this roster. If he doesn’t make it I’m sure the fan base will still be excited.”
Tracing Miikka Muurinen’s recruitment by Arkansas
Miikka Muurinen had taken an official visit to Arkansas in the fall of 2024 before leaving for Europe. He noted the Razorbacks have consistently maintained interest in him since the visit over a year ago.
“Since my visit a year and a half ago, they’ve been consistent and committed to recruiting me,” he said. “They’ve always shown interest. They’ve been very consistent, and they’ve gotten to know me as a person. That’s been very important to me.
“When I left my Arkansas visit, I was not only excited about the program but also about the people, and I said to myself, those are the type of people I want to be around on a daily basis.”
Although his absence from the US means he’s unranked, an ESPN report estimated his scouting grade of 95 would have put him in the top-five.
Miikka Muurinen has earned appearances for Partizan this season, including six in EuroLeague. He has played for the Finland senior team in 15 games, including eight in the FIBA EuroBasket last summer where he averaged 6.6 points.
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Muurinen played this month’s Nike Hoop Summit on the World Team, scoring 10 points and grabbing eight rebounds.
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Dawn Staley, Geno Auriemma, or Kim Mulkey – who is NCAAW’s highest-paid coach? Find out here
The most decorated American Olympian in athletics, Felix won her only solo gold in the 200m at London in 2012, but also topped the 4x400m relay podium at every Games between 2008 and the delayed 2020 Tokyo Games.
She also won 4x100m relay titles in 2012 and 2016, and took 200m silver in 2004 and 2008, along with 400m silver and bronze in Rio and Tokyo respectively.
The LA native also won a record 20 medals at the World Championships, the most for any woman or man, including 14 titles.
Felix, who also has a daughter born in 2018, attended the 2024 Paris Olympics as a spectator and said she experienced “mixed emotions”.
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“There were moments where I was like, ‘Oh, this is so great. It’s so exciting to be in the stands and on the other side,’” Felix told Time magazine, external.
“And then there were moments where I was, ‘You know, I miss this feeling’.”
Felix, a member of the athletes commission for the 2028 LA Olympic organising committee, said she is realistic about her comeback.
“I know, at 40, I am not at my peak. I have no illusions about that,” she added. “I’m very clear in what it is and what I want to see. And so I hope it’s seen that way.
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“When I was competing, you just heard this roar for host-country athletes at the Olympics. I would love to experience that.
“I would probably be upset at myself if I just didn’t give it a try. However it turns out, I’ll still be there with my kids, hanging out and cheering everybody on.”
Cruzeiro will invite Boca Juniors to Mineirão in the group stage of the Copa Libertadores on Tuesday. Boca have won their two games thus far, while the hosts have a win and a defeat to their name.
Raposa are unbeaten in their last three games, recording two wins. They met Remo in the Brazilian Serie A last week and secured a 1-0 away win. Keny Arroyo scored the only goal of the match in the 34th minute. In their previous Libertadores match, they lost 2-1 at home to Universidad Católica.
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Xeneize have enjoyed a great run of form and are unbeaten in their last 14 games in all competitions. They extended their winning streak to three games last week, recording a 4-0 away triumph over Defensa y Justicia in the Argentine Primera División. Milton Giménez scored in the first half, while Alan Velasco, Miguel Merentiel, and Adam Bareiro added goals after the break.
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Cruzeiro vs Boca Juniors Head-to-Head and Key Numbers
The two teams have crossed paths 15 times in competitive games. The visitors have the lead in the head-to-head record with seven wins. Raposa are not far behind with six wins, and two games have ended in draws.
They last met in the Copa Sudamericana round of 16 in 2024, and the hosts secured a win on penalties after the score ended 2-2 on aggregate.
Cruzeiro have scored at least two goals in four of their last six home games in all competitions.
Xeneize have kept clean sheets in their last three games in all competitions.
The visitors are on a four-game winning streak in away games, keeping three clean sheets in that period.
Cruzeiro vs Boca Juniors Prediction
Raposa have lost just one of their last six games in all competitions, with that defeat coming at home in the Libertadores. Notably, they have suffered just one defeat at home against the visitors.
Xeneize have been in great touch recently, winning six of their last seven across all competitions. They have the second-best attacking record in the Libertadores this season, scoring five goals in two games.
Considering the visitors’ current form and goalscoring record, we back them to register a win.
Prediction: Cruzeiro 1-2 Boca Juniors
Cruzeiro vs Boca Juniors Betting Tips
Tip 1: Result – Boca Juniors to win
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Tip 2: Goals – Over/Under 2.5 Goals – Over 2.5 goals
Tip 3: Both teams to score – Yes
Tip 4: At least one goal to be scored in the second half – Yes
Four days after declaring for the 2026 NBA draft, AJ Dybantsa penned a message for Cougar Nation.
Dybantsa reflected on and expressed gratitude for his time at BYU in a LinkedIn post Monday.
“When I committed to BYU, I knew I was signing up for something bigger than basketball. A lot of people questioned the decision. For me, the choice was simple. I wanted to go to the place that would best develop me as a basketball player and as a person. BYU was the program that gave me the clearest path to both.”
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Dybantsa said he knew he made the right decision “the moment I stepped on campus.”
“This school welcomed me in, raised the standard for me, and made me a better person every single day I was there. From the coaching staff to the professors to the fans walking across campus, this is a community unlike any other in college sports,” he said.
Dybantsa then thanked BYU basketball head coach Kevin Young and his teammates.
“Coach Young, thank you for trusting me with the keys to your program. You came to BYU with an NBA mind and a deep belief in what this place could become. You pushed me harder than I’ve ever been pushed, and you cared about me as a person before you cared about me as a player. I’ll carry the lessons you taught me for the rest of my life,” he said.
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“To my teammates, the bond we built this year goes way beyond basketball. The film sessions, the bus rides, the late nights in the gym, the conversations that had nothing to do with the game. Y’all are brothers for life. I’m rooting for every single one of you.”
Dybantsa praised BYU fans, writing “what y’all do for this program is special.”
“The way fans show up for BYU basketball is unlike anything in the country. The kindness I felt walking around campus and the city of Provo, the families who treated me like one of their own, the kids who came up to me everywhere I went. That’s the part of this experience I’ll remember most,” he said.
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The NBA now awaits Dybantsa, the likely No. 1 overall pick, but regardless of where he ends up, he said he is “proud to be a Cougar for life.”
“I am proud to have worn the Y. I’m proud to have represented this university. I’m proud to be a Cougar for life. The next chapter starts now, but BYU will always be a part of who I am. Go Cougs.”
AJ Dybantsa, the nation’s No. 1 basketball recruit, is presented at halftime of the BYU and Fresno State game at the Marriott Center in Provo on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Bhuvneshwar Kumar celebrates after taking a DC wicket. (Pic credit: IPL)
NEW DELHI: Veteran seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar delivered a performance for the ages, not only powering Royal Challengers Bengaluru to a crushing win over Delhi Capitals but also storming to the top of the Purple Cap standings in IPL 2026. His sensational spell of 3 for 5 in three overs marked his 20th three-wicket haul in the IPL, making him only the second pacer after Jasprit Bumrah to achieve the milestone.With this effort, Bhuvneshwar took his tally to 14 wickets from eight matches, drawing level with Chennai Super Kings’ Anshul Kamboj and Sunrisers Hyderabad’s Eshan Malinga. However, his superior economy rate of 7.61 — compared to Kamboj’s 8.56 and Malinga’s 9.44 — helped him snatch the Purple Cap.
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IPL 2026: LSG’s Justin Langer explains where they lost vs KKR
Rajasthan Royals’ Jofra Archer and Lucknow Super Giants’ Prince Yadav follow closely with 13 wickets each.
Latest IPL 2026 Purple Cap standings
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Rank
Player
Wickets
Matches
Overs
Econ.
Ave.
1
Bhuvneshwar Kumar (RCB)
14
8
31.0
7.61
16.85
2
Anshul Kamboj (CSK)
14
8
27.4
8.56
16.92
3
Eshan Malinga (SRH)
14
8
27.0
9.44
18.21
4
Jofra Archer (RR)
13
8
29.0
8.03
17.92
5
Prince Yadav (LSG)
13
8
30.0
8.06
18.61
6
Kagiso Rabada (GT)
13
8
31.0
9.48
22.61
7
Prasidh Krishna (GT)
12
7
26.0
10.34
22.41
8
Ravi Bishnoi (RR)
11
8
24.0
9.54
20.81
9
Mohsin Khan (LSG)
9
4
16.0
6.37
11.33
10
Krunal Pandya (RCB)
9
8
27.0
8.85
26.55
Powerplay carnage sets up emphatic winThe match itself was defined by a brutal new-ball spell as Bhuvneshwar and Josh Hazlewood combined to dismantle DC’s batting line-up. The hosts were left reeling at 13 for 6 in the powerplay, with Bhuvneshwar striking early by castling debutant Sahil Parakh and later removing Tristan Stubbs and skipper Axar Patel.Hazlewood complemented him perfectly, returning with figures of 4 for 12 as DC collapsed to 75 in 16.3 overs.Reflecting on his performance, Bhuvneshwar credited the conditions and early swing. “When the ball swings and you get a few wickets upfront, it makes it easier,” he said, adding that the team was slightly surprised by the assistance on offer but made the most of it. He also joked about not pushing for an extra over due to fatigue, saying he was “happy with three overs” considering the heat.Chasing a modest target, RCB completed the job with ease in just 6.3 overs. Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal ensured there were no hiccups, with Kohli sealing the win in style with consecutive sixes.
Haney has won titles in three weight classes and was undisputed at lightweight. Most recently, he beat Brian Norman Jr for the WBO welterweight world title.
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Both men impressed in their latest victories and are widely regarded as two of the most technically elite fighters in the sport today. A fight between them has long been discussed, and The Ring’s Mike Coppinger reported that it could now become a reality, if one key obstacle – an agreed weight limit – can be overcome.
Devin Haney and Shakur Stevenson are in preliminary talks for a fight, @MikeCoppinger has revealed on @InsideRingShow.
That issue is not easily solved and may prove too big for negotiations to overcome. Haney has said he feels his best at welterweight and looked drained on the scales at super-lightweight. Stevenson’s argument is that his rival faced Jose Ramirez at a 144lb catchweight last year and could do the same again. Though Haney handled the weight well and performed effectively on the night, there is no question he would be at a disadvantage.
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Stevenson, however, would argue he is still a natural lightweight – despite looking comfortable at 140lbs against Lopez – and that meeting below the welterweight limit creates a more even playing field.
Whether that can be agreed behind the scenes remains to be seen. A significant purse may help move things forward, but with undefeated records, pound-for-pound status and the position as the face of American boxing all at stake, both Stevenson and Haney will be careful in what they sign up for.
Impossible has been made possible at the London Marathon. A feat that looked out of reach for at least a few more years has now been achieved, and in truly spectacular fashion. For marathoners around the world, Sabastian Sawe’s feat was an unforgettable moment to witness — the breaking of the two-hour barrier, not once, but twice in a single race. For us, it truly felt like history unfolding in real time.In what I would call a race for the ages, Sawe completed the 42.195 km distance in 1:59:30. Just 11 seconds behind him was Ethiopia’s debutant Yomif Kejelcha, who also ran in under two hours. Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo rounded off the podium with 2:00:28, also going faster than the earlier world record set by the late Kelvin Kiptum in 2023. Performances like these feel surreal and have given athletes like me renewed belief that even the highest benchmarks can be challenged.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Though I didn’t watch the race live, I later went through the full recording and analysed it closely with my coaches. We discussed how such performances are shaping the future of marathon running and what adjustments I can make to improve my own timings. Earlier this month, I clocked 2:11:58 at the Rotterdam Marathon, setting a new national record and breaking a 48-year-old Indian mark. That achievement means a lot to me, but seeing what happened in London motivates me to aim even higher.Several factors contributed to the extraordinary results in London. One major element is the advancement in footwear technology — what we call “super shoes”. These next-generation, ultra-light shoes with energy-returning foam and carbon plates have significantly enhanced performance. The technology and science involved has reduced the human element in modern marathon times. Personally, I have been using ASICS Meta Speed shoes for the past two years, and they have helped me bring down my timings and improve efficiency.
Sawan Barwal
The weather also played a crucial role in London. The wind was favourable and the temperature was ideal for long-distance running. In marathons, even slight environmental changes can influence performance. A headwind could have made a huge difference in the final timings.But, in my mind, the key factor was the role of pacemakers. Pacemakers are central to elite racing – they help maintain rhythm, conserve energy, and structure the race intelligently. At London, the pacemakers executed their strategy perfectly, setting consistent splits and guiding the frontrunners through each phase of the race.I often train at Colorado Springs in the USA, where high-altitude conditions and world-class facilities help improve endurance and oxygen efficiency. Training alongside quality pacemakers there has significantly enhanced my marathon experience.One thing that stood out in London was the race strategy. Sawe completed the second half faster than the first, at just 59:01. If I were to target a 2:08 marathon in the future, which is my goal for the Asian Games, I would break the race into three segments. First, I would target an average pace of 6:07 per km. For the first five kms, I would aim for a 6:10 per km. I’ll then settle into 6:07 per km until 30km and then increase my intensity for the final 12km at 6:05 per km. It’s called the ‘10-10-10’ method.Nutrition and mileage are equally critical. Marathon preparation demands discipline — consistent high mileage, a carefully planned diet, and adequate recovery. I focus on maintaining a light, carb-free, efficient body while ensuring I get the right nutrients to sustain long training sessions before any major event.What happened in London has definitely changed the way we look at marathon running. It has given a marathoner like me a renewed belief that limits are meant to be pushed.(Holder of the National record in marathon, Sawan Barwal spoke to Sabi Hussain)
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