The latest DraftKings promo code gives new users $150 in bonus bets after making a first wager of $5 or more. Saturday features a seven-game NFL slate to wrap up Week 1 of the preseason, and the timing lines up so that after the NFL action is complete, the main event of UFC 330 will likely take place with Islam Makhachev vs. Ian Machado Garry for the welterweight title on Paramount+. Plus, Saturday night features a potential NLCS preview with Dodgers vs. Brewers. 

The SportsLine Projection Model and the SportsLine team of experts have locked in their Saturday best bets from these contests, and more. SportsLine expert Matt Severance is backing the Ravens to cover as 3.5-point underdogs in Ravens vs. Eagles as part of Saturday NFL best bets at DraftKings. SportsLine MMA expert Daniel Vithlani has locked in his pick for Makhachev vs. Machado Garry, and the model has made its pick on Dodgers vs. Brewers. Claim the latest DraftKings promo code, where new users get $150 in bonus bets after your first $5 wager: 

Check out our DraftKings promo code review for full details.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every MLB game 10,000 times and entered Week 21 of the MLB season on a sizzling 45-30 run on all top-rated MLB picks. It also excelled at making home run prop picks in 2025, returning nearly 30 units of profit. Anyone following its MLB betting picks at sportsbook promos and on betting apps could have seen strong returns. 

Saturday best bets at DraftKings Sportsbook

• Ravens (+3.5) vs. Eagles (-108)
• Dodgers (+111) to defeat Brewers
• Islam Makhachev to defeat Ian Machado Garry by decision (+120)

Combining the three picks into a Saturday parlay at DraftKings would result in a payout of +823 (risk $100 to profit $823, odds subject to change). Claim $150 in bonus bets after your first $5 wager at DraftKings here:

Ravens (+3.5) vs. Eagles (-108)

“It’s a potential Super Bowl preview at 7 p.m. ET Saturday as Philadelphia visits Baltimore, and the Ravens are starting the post-John Harbaugh era with ex-Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter making his head coaching debut,” SportsLine expert Matt Severance said. “I like backing teams with first-year head coaches. Maybe it’s simply ingrained in the Ravens to try in the preseason with all the success they had in exhibition games under Harbaugh (28-4 in past 10 preseasons). Lamar Jackson and most starters won’t play, but that’s expected to be the case on the other side, too. Not really sure why the Eagles are giving 3.5 points on the road. Philadelphia is 5-8-2 straight up (6-8-1 ATS) in the preseason under coach Nick Sirianni. QB Jalen Hurts hasn’t played in an exhibition game since 2022.” Bet the Ravens at DraftKings here and claim $150 in bonus bets after your first $5 wager as a new user: 

Dodgers (+111) to defeat Brewers

It’s certainly not often you have a chance to get plus-money odds on the Dodgers on the money line, but this situation is largely due to the pitching matchup. The Brewers are starting NL Cy Young favorite Jacob Misiorowski against Los Angeles’ struggling Justin Wrobleski. However, the Dodgers still have their potent, deep offense, featuring Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts, Kyle Tucker, and more. Wrobleski has a 3.44 ERA this season despite allowing 15 earned runs over his last three starts, so he has the potential to pitch a gem as well. The model projects the Dodgers to win in 54% of simulations despite facing Misiorowski. Bet on the Dodgers at DraftKings here and claim $150 in bonus bets after your first $5 wager as a new user:

Islam Makhachev to defeat Ian Machado Garry by decision (+120)

“The pound-for-pound king Makhachev will look to make his second welterweight title defense and break Anderson Silva’s record of 16 consecutive wins,” SportsLine MMA expert Daniel Vithlani said. “Under the tutelage of coach and mentor Khabib Nurmagomedov, Makhachev has become one of the greatest fighters in UFC history. His Dagestani-style wrestling is in a league of its own, and his southpaw kickboxing skills remain underrated. Ian Machado Garry is defensively sound and has great balance, so I think Makhachev could struggle to take him down initially. However, once Makhachev inevitably gets the fight to the floor, I see him dominating with control. I expect Garry to be competitive in a highly technical fight that goes the distance, but I can’t see how he overcomes Makhachev’s world-class grappling.” Bet on Makhachev at DraftKings here and claim $150 in bonus bets after your first $5 wager as a new user:

Want more NFL, MLB, UFC 300 picks for Saturday?

You’ve seen some of the model’s and SportsLine team of experts’ Saturday best bets. Now, get against the spread, total and money-line picks for all games, including NFL, MLB, UFC, and more, all from the SportsLine Projection Model, which has simulated every game 10,000 times. 

Former world champion Oleksandr Gvozdyk has been left between a rock and a hard place afterhis promotional contract with Zuffa Boxing has been terminated.

The Ukrainian dethroned long-reigning light-heavyweight champion Adonis Stevenson in 2018, scoring an 11th-round stoppage that left his opponent with a brain injury.

Gvozdyk then made a WBC title defence before losing to Artur Beterbiev, who extended his ruthless surge with a 10th-round finish in their 2019 encounter.

Since that defeat, ‘The Nail’ suffered a unanimous decision loss to David Benavidez in 2024, before entering a perceived 50/50 contest against Radivoje ‘Hot Rod’ Kalajdzic in February.

With both making their Zuffa debut, the two veterans delivered a thrilling battle in which Gvozdyk scored two knockdowns and had built a sizable lead.

In round seven, though, the 39-year-old found himself on the canvas and was ultimately stopped on his feet after getting dropped a second time.

Given his overall performance, one would suspect he had done enough to justify another meaningful opportunity, yet Gvozdyk has since told vRINGe that he will no longer be fighting under the Zuffa banner.

“They terminated the contract in February after a loss. That is, every promoter has the option that if a boxer loses, they have the right to terminate the contract. That’s exactly what they did. After the fight, everyone was saying how great it was. That everything was great. I rested. I started preparing as planned – somewhere around May. And then, around April, they told me I’d received an email terminating the contract.”

Meanwhile, Kalajdzic’s next outing with Dana White’s promotional outfit is confirmed for September 26 against Craig Richards.

As for Gvozdyk, it is difficult to predict what will come next but, at the age of 39, one would suspect that he is close to hanging up the gloves.

Still, he could hardly have been happy to part ways with Zuffa, which also terminated its contract with Robert Meriwether following his defeat to Tony Hirsch Jr in April.

Connections are eyeing the Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington during the Melbourne Cup week as a prime objective for a talented three-year-old.

Trainer Danny O’Brien and the ownership group of Closer To Free are no different. If the colt’s form progression warrants it, the Group 1 event for three-year-olds over 1200 metres on the opening day of the Melbourne Cup carnival is their desired destination.

Closer To Free showcased exceptional ability in three starts during a brief autumn campaign as a two-year-old and is set to commence his three-year-old season in the Group 3 Vain Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on Saturday.

“It looks the right kick-off for him,” O’Brien stated.

“He won over the course and distance in the autumn in the Blue Diamond Prelude and he’s had a good build-up over the winter. He’s had a quiet trial and then they ran a pretty quick time down the straight in his second one and he should be forward enough to run well first-up.”

Closer To Free achieved a commanding debut victory on February 7, subsequently finishing second in the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield two weeks later.

The colt concluded his juvenile campaign by finishing second last in the Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill the following month.

“Like all these horses, you want to see where they are at with their first run or two,” O’Brien commented.

“If everything fell into place, you would love to think that he would get to the Coolmore, but he has to put his hand up to show us that he’s made that progression. The main thing is have they got the improvement in them from two to three to still be at the top level. All the signs are good. He’s a beautiful colt and done everything right and I’m looking forward to running him again.”

Closer To Free’s second trial leading into his Saturday first-up run was held over 800 metres down the straight at Flemington on August 3.

O’Brien suggested that, provided all goes smoothly, Closer To Free would participate in the Group 3 Poseidon Stakes (1100m) at Flemington on September 12, offering him vital race experience on the straight track ahead of the Coolmore Stud Stakes.

“He’s had a trial down the straight so if we decide to go down that straight track path, he’s had some experience,” O’Brien explained. “There’s a race there on Makybe Diva Stakes Day that may suit, and then he’ll have race experience before the Coolmore if we head there.”

Interested in the racing betting markets for Closer To Free’s potential upcoming races? Check out the latest offerings at online bookmakers.

There’s a new highest-paid cornerback in the NFL, as Devon Witherspoon and the Seattle Seahawks have agreed to a four-year, $132 million extension that includes $101 million guaranteed, per ESPN. The contract averages $33 million per year, surpassing the $31.1 million average Denzel Ward of the Cleveland Browns secured last month.

All eyes were on Witherspoon and New England Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez, who were both looking to reset the cornerback market. Seattle beat New England to the punch, and the Patriots will now be forced to raise their offer. Gonzalez has not practiced with the team in recent days due to an injury. 

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Witherspoon has been one of the NFL’s top cornerbacks since the Seahawks selected him with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft out of Illinois. In fact, Witherspoon is just the third defensive back in the last 40 years to make the Pro Bowl in each of his first three seasons, joining Charles Woodson and Patrick Peterson. He recorded 72 tackles, half a sack, seven passes defensed and one interception as the Seahawks went on to win Super Bowl LX.

Witherspoon is a pillar of this new-look “Legion of Boom.” Maybe they’d rather be known as the “Dark Side,” but the bottom line is that this unit boasted the NFL’s top scoring defense last season and finished No. 6 in total defense.

Mike Macdonald’s defense is the backbone of this team, and that was evident in the Super Bowl win over the Patriots. The Seahawks became the first team to allow zero points through three quarters of a Super Bowl since the 1974 Pittsburgh Steelers.

Highest-paid cornerbacks in the NFL

Seahawks take care of their core

This was the final item on Seattle’s offseason to-do list. The Seahawks had to make some tough decisions in recent months, including allowing pass rusher Boye Mafe, safety Coby Bryant, cornerback Tariq Woolen and reigning Super Bowl MVP running back Kenneth Walker III to walk in free agency. However, the Seahawks prioritized other players.

Star wideout Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who earned unanimous first-team All-Pro honors and won Offensive Player of the Year last season, inked a four-year, $168.6 million extension that made him the NFL’s highest-paid wide receiver at $42.15 million per year. JSN caught 119 passes for a league-leading 1,793 yards and 10 touchdowns. He accounted for 44.1% of Seattle’s receiving yards, the highest percentage of any player in the NFL.

Seattle also re-signed trade-deadline addition Rashid Shaheed to a three-year, $51 million deal. Last year, he became the fifth player in NFL history to record 800 yards from scrimmage and three return touchdowns in a season, including the playoffs. Shaheed also became the first player since Tyreek Hill in 2016 to return three touchdowns in a six-game span. He’s more than just a special teams demon, as Shaheed’s 10 catches on passes traveling 40-plus air yards since entering the NFL rank second in the league.

Witherspoon wasn’t the only defensive back Seattle prioritized, either. The Seahawks signed cornerback Josh Jobe to a three-year, $24 million deal. Jobe ranked as CBS Sports’ No. 52 free agent this offseason, and he had a career year with 54 tackles, 12 passes defensed and one interception.

Christian Gonzalez’s price just went up

Witherspoon’s new contract puts even more pressure on Gonzalez and the Patriots, and this situation probably didn’t need any more pressure. Earlier this week, Gonzalez posted a cryptic Instagram story featuring the song “time reveals, be careful what you wish for” by Gunna.

The song begins with, “Should have been done by now.”

“Should have been done by now
But you didn’t know how to handle the feeling
Should have been done by now
But you better go your way, go your way”

Maybe we are looking too much into that, maybe not.

As we mentioned, Gonzalez has been sidelined in recent days. The Boston Sports Journal reported that he suffered a minor injury at the end of Monday’s practice. Those on the scene reported Gonzalez came down hard after defending a pass to wide receiver Romeo Doubs in the corner of the end zone. The injury initially didn’t appear serious, as Gonzalez remained on the field for the rest of practice, though he was reportedly a bit slow getting up.

About a month ago, Patriots owner Robert Kraft publicly stated that the team had made Gonzalez an offer that would make him the highest-paid player at his position.

“We love Christian Gonzalez. We love him as a player, as a person,” Kraft told reporters on July 25. “That’s why we made an offer to him that makes him the highest-paid player ever to play that position in the NFL, and coincidentally it’s the highest contract in the Patriots franchise history.”

However, becoming the highest-paid player could mean several different things. Is that total contract value? Overall guarantees? Was he offered a record-setting AAV with lackluster guarantees? We don’t know. But one thing is clear: Witherspoon’s deal just raised the price.

It is an NFL business fact that when its best players agree to new contracts, they break records as well as the bank. That’s the case with Seattle Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon, who on Saturday became the league’s highest-paid cornerback.

Witherspoon agreed to a four-year deal worth $132 million that includes more than $101 million in guarantees, according to a source. And this:

It not only makes Witherspoon the league’s highest paid player at his position today but also all-time.

PATRICK MAHOMES LEAPS PAST DAK PRESCOTT AS NFL’S HIGHEST-PAID QB WITH RECORD CHIEFS EXTENSION WORTH $504.75M

Quarterback Dak Prescott #4 of the Dallas Cowboys looks to pass as cornerback Devon Witherspoon #21 of the Seattle Seahawks defends during the 1st quarter of the game at AT&T Stadium on November 30, 2023 in Arlington, Texas. (Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)

Witherspoon’s deal will average $33 million per season on an annual average basis which beats the $31 million per season Denzel Ward got from the Cleveland Browns last month.

That’s not all.

Witherspoon, a Pro Bowl selection all three years he’s been in the NFL, is getting paid to stop opposing wide receivers and quarterbacks. And this deal pays him more than many opposing wide receivers and quarterbacks.

Consider that Witherspoon’s deal pays more on an annual average than Aaron Rodgers gets from the Pittsburgh Steelers on an annual average – $22 million.

It pays more than Kirk Cousins gets from the Las Vegas Raiders – $11.3 million.

Illinois defensive back Devon Witherspoon holds a jersey with commissioner Roger Goodell after being drafted in the first round of the NFL Draft on April 27, 2023 at Union Station in Kansas City, MO. (Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

And while it doesn’t eclipse what Baker Mayfield ($33.3 million) gets from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, his total guarantees of $101 million are more than twice Mayfield’s $50 million in total guarantees.

Witherspoon’s deal is in quarterback territory and Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold can attest to that.

Darnold last season signed a deal that averages $33.5 million per season with $55 million in guarantees.

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES LOCK UP JALEN CARTER THROUGH 2031 WITH RECORD $152M CONTRACT EXTENSION

Witherspoon blew the guarantees figure away. And Witherspoon is obviously in the same neighborhood on an annual average.

The business of the NFL is thriving and these deals are proof.

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Christian Gonzalez of the New England Patriots runs on the field before Super Bowl LX against the Seattle Seahawks at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Feb. 8, 2026. (Kathryn Riley/Getty Images)

And it is not likely to stop.

Witherspoon’s deal signals that another, likely bigger, contract is en route for a cornerback across the country.

The New England Patriots and cornerback Christian Gonzalez have been negotiating a new deal for months. Patriots owner Robert Kraft is on record as saying the Patriots were offering to make Gonzalez the highest paid cornerback in the NFL.

It was a race to see whether Gonzalez and the Patriots or Witherspoon and the Seahawks would agree to a contract first.

Witherspoon won that race. And you know what spoils go to the loser?

Gonzalez will now be aiming to surpass Witherspoon’s contract – because for the best of the best in the NFL, the next contract is usually the biggest.

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Marcus Rashford made his first appearance for Man United since December 2024 in Saturday’s pre-season friendly with Ruben Amorim’s AC Milan

Marcus Rashford was cheered by Manchester United fans as his number was shown on the fourth official’s board when he was introduced as a substitute against AC Milan on Saturday.

Rashford was making his first appearance for the club since December 2024 in the friendly. Rashford was cut from the United squad by Amorim and subsequently sent out on loan to Aston Villa.

The academy graduate looked to have played his final game for the club when he was again shipped out on loan last summer, this time to Barcelona, with his temporary move including the option for Barca to make the move permanent for £26m.

With Rashford’s No.10 jersey passed to Matheus Cunha, nobody expected him to make another appearance for the club. Rashford openly admitted he hoped to complete a permanent switch to the Nou Camp, but Barca decided against signing him, and Rashford has instead returned to Old Trafford.

While United are still open to selling Rashford, Michael Carrick has insisted he is happy to welcome him back and stressed he has been in good spirits since his return.

Making his first appearance for United in 20 months, Rashford was cheered as his No.9 – the number he wore on Saturday which is subject to change before the season begins – was displayed on the fourth official’s board, despite some fans still being of the opinion that United should part ways with the forward.

In a poll by the Manchester Evening News earlier this summer, 69% of voters (5,465 votes) said they would rather see the club cut ties. 2,459 voters (31%) said they would be open to the idea of Rashford being handed another chance at Old Trafford.

Follow updates of United’s clash with AC Milan here >>>