Betting sign up offers and free bets are available from betting sites for signing up and betting online.
At The Independent, our experts have used their impartial and detailed analysis to find new and existing customers the best betting sign up offers and free bets on the market.
We have stringent criteria when it comes to picking our top betting offers available. Our experts focus on accessibility, flexibility, fairness, key terms and conditions and regularity when selecting the best options out there.
Every betting site that we recommend is licensed and regulated by United Kingdom Gambling Commission, ensuring that new and existing customers are using a reputable betting operator.
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Free bets can be claimed from betting sites by new and existing customers, allowing bettors to bet without risking their own money.
Terms and conditions are attached to free bets and betting offers. Usually, bettors must deposit or stake a qualifying amount to claim a free bet, which can be used on selected sports and events.
Wagering requirements can be attached to free bet offers, which means winnings must be played through a set number of times before you can withdraw funds as cash, but this is more common on casino sites.
Types of free bets
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Bet & Get: The most common betting sign-up offer, bet a minimum amount, meet the T&Cs and receive a free bet bonus.
Moneyback specials: Typically an ongoing free bet promo, whereby punters get their money back as a free bet if there’s an underwhelming outcome such as a 0-0 draw.
Free bet clubs: Loyalty reward schemes aimed at those who bet regularly with one bookmaker in particular.
Enhanced odds with free bet winnings: A bookmaker offers a wildly inflated price on a popular market, such as 40/1 on Man City to win, with winnings paid out as free bets.
No deposit free bets: These are rare, but can be obtained via free-to-play prediction games on several online bookmakers.
Free bets are straightforward to use for customers, although the way they can be deployed may differ depending on your chosen bookmaker.
Usually, betting sites will have a box or toggle on your bet slip that users can tick or move to confirm free bets on their bet.
An important note. If your bet wins, you only keep the profit, the free bet stake itself isn’t returned.
Bookmakers may require you to use free bets in precise portions, such as £5 or £10, while others will allow you to bet with amounts of your choosing until you’ve used up your balance.
Here are the latest betting sign up offers and free bets available for this week’s major sporting events.
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William Hill: Wales World Cup Epic Boost
William Hill are offering an Epic Boost price for Wales to qualify for the World Cup play-off final on Thursday.
Customers can claim the Epic Boost price of evens boosted from 2/5 for Wales to advance from their World Cup play-off semi-final clash against Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Qualifying bets must be placed before kick-off and customers are limited to a maximum £10 stake.
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Paddy Power: Free Bet Builder Czech Republic vs Republic of Ireland
Paddy Power are offering customers a free bet builder for users that place a qualifying bet builder on Czech Republic vs Republic of Ireland on Thursday.
To qualify, customers must opt-in on the free bet offer before placing a £2 bet builder on the World Cup play-off clash with three selections or more and odds of evens or greater.
Once the qualifying bet has settled, customers will receive a free bet builder worth £2 to use on football. Free bet builder expires within seven days.
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Bet365: Bet Builder Boost 25% World Cup Playoffs
Bet365 are offering 25 per cent bet builder boosts on select games for tonight’s round of World Cup play-off matches.
Customers can claim the betting offer for matches including Italy vs Northern Ireland, Wales vs Bosnia-Herzegovina and Czech Republic vs Northern Ireland.
Qualifying bet builders must include three selections or more and odds of evens or greater, with users selecting the bet builder boost option in their bet slip.
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Winning bet builders will be paid out with the 25 per cent boost.
Betting Site
Offer Type
Min. Bet
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Free Bet Value
Best For
Coral
Welcome bonus
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£5
£30
Low-stake sign up value
Betano
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Welcome bonus
£10
£50
Football free bets
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Tote
Welcome bonus
£10
£30
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Horse racing free bets
Bet365
Moneyback special
£10
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£10
Ongoing money-back as free bet offers
Virgin Bet
Free Bet Club
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£20
£5 weekly
Ongoing rewards for regular bettors
Free bets value for money (Independent)
Here are the standout betting offers on the market for users broken down into strength of category.
Coral – Best low-stake betting sign up offer
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Coral offer the best low stake betting sign up offer allowing new customers to secure £30 in free bets after signing up and betting just £5 on any sports bet of their choice.
There’s plenty of flexibility over where users can place their qualifying bet. Customers can choose any sport with odds of 1/2 odds or greater, only Bet365 has a lower threshold among welcome offers, but their value is not as high as Coral’s.
Time is also on your side using Coral. Customers can take up to 14 days after sign up to make their first bet and still qualify for the betting sign up offer.
Coral rewards customers with £30 in free bets for betting just £5 online (The Independent)
Payout is also prompt as soon as your qualifying bet settles. Coral will credit your account with £30 in free bets within 24 hours. These free bets are paid out in 6 x £5 free bets, giving customers plenty of scope to use their funds.
These free bets are fairly flexible as 4 x £5 free bets available to use on any sport on Coral, while the remaining £10 free bet balance is reserved for 1 x £5 football bet builder and a 1x £5 horse racing bet builder.
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It’s arguaaly the best £5 deposit betting site around as customers secure a 600% return from their first deposit and bet. For first-time bettors it’s a perfect betting sign up offer for value.
Betano – Best football betting sign up offer
Betano is the best option for punters looking for free bets at leading football betting sites, with the Betano sign up offer providing £50 in free bets with an initial wager of just £10 (an excellent return for a low entry stake).
The offer includes a straightforward qualifying bet with minimum odds of evens and no accumulator required, while the 30-day expiry on free bets gives users flexibility, with plenty of time to use bonuses.
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Newcomers can get £50 in free bets after an initial £10 bet (iStock/The Independent)
This new betting site provides great variety on its football markets – from match odds and BTTS to goalscorers, correct scores and much more – and users will also find regular offers and promotions once signed up to the site.
Tote – Best for horse racing free bets
The Tote betting sign up offer is an excellent choice for horse racing fans, with a £10 bet returning £30 in racing value – a strong 3x reward for such a low qualifying stake.
The offer provides £20 in Tote Credit for horse racing – which is ideal for pools, exotics, and Tote-only markets – as well as £10 in free bets to use on the sportsbook, offering plenty of flexibility for new customers.
The Tote website performs equally well on mobile and desktop (iStock/The Independent)
The qualifying bet simply need to be a £10 wager on any sport (with some exclusions, though win, place, or pool bets all count) at odds of evens or greater, and winnings are fully withdrawable, with Tote Credit profits available to be cashed out, keeping risk low.
Tote also guarantee boosts payouts paid at SP or better, adding an extra upside for horse racing bettors and making Tote the best choice among horse racing betting sites.
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Bet365 – Best for moneyback as a free bet
Bet365 have recently launched its moneyback specials across a number of sports, including football and horse racing, as well as a range of major events.
Customers can wager up to £10 and will receive their stake back in free bets if their bet fails. The system is simple for claiming the betting offer, with users ticking the ‘Money Back As Free Bets’ box on their bet slip to qualify.
Free bets are usually credited within a matter of hours, but it can take up to 24 hours. Free bet credits can be used anywhere on one of the best betting sites in the business with no limit on where and how your credits can be spent.
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Bet365 customers can get up to £10 back as a free bet on losing racing and football bets (iStock/The Independent)
Bet365 moneyback specials are most common on football, and notably the Premier League where the highlight games of the week are covered with a moneyback special notably on Saturday and Sunday evenings, although Champions League and Europa League midweek games have also featured this betting offer.
The nuts and bolts of the requirements are as follows. Customers must place a qualifying bet builder on the eligible game or event, with bet builders needing only evens (2.0) or higher odds.
Bet365 also attaches its Sub Play On feature on football bet builders in conjunction with the moneyback special, which keeps bets alive even if a player is subbed.
Virgin Bet – Best free bet club
Existing customers can use the weekly Virgin Bet rewards club to claim £5 in free bets for placing qualifying accas.
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Users only need to opt-in on the promotion before placing four £5 accas with odds of 2/1 or greater between Monday to Sunday, making these qualifying stakes smaller than most rival free bet clubs.
Virgin Bet have an extremely low minimum odds requirement to use your free bet at 1/100.
Claim £5 in free bets for placing qualifying accas on Virgin Bet (iStock/The Independent)
You’re spoiled for choice, and better yet, there are no restrictions where you can use your bonus.
In addition, the seven-day expiry gives plenty of time to use the bonus, meaning the free bet club offers huge flexibility.
After the qualifying bets have settled, Virgin Bet pays out the £5 free acca bet into your account and to activate the free bet offer, simply use the toggle on your bet slip to use up the credits.
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Below, we’ve provided some detail on common traps that users can fall into when claiming free bets:
Stake not returned on free bets
Not all free bet offers return the original stake if your bet wins. For example, a £10 free bet at 3/1 pays £30 profit, not £40; always factor this in when comparing headline free bet amounts.
Short expiry windows
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Free bets usually expire within 5-7 days of being credited, and occasionally less. Unused free bets are removed automatically once they expire, so casual or infrequent bettors can lose value this way.
Remember to always check the expiry date as soon as the free bet is added.
Bet builder or market restrictions
Some free bets are limited to certain types of use. For example, some are football bet builders only, accumulator bets or bets fixed to specific sports, leagues or events. These restrictions reduce flexibility and can increase risk.
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Bet builder-only free bets often require multiple selections to win, meaning long odds, and it is the same with accas. Remember to check eligible markets before placing your qualifying bet.
Minimum odds requirements
Betting offers may require minimum odds on either the qualifying bet or the free bet itself, and sometimes both. Higher odds thresholds can push bettors toward riskier selections, while a smaller free bet with low odds requirements can offer better value.
Cash-Out and In-Play exclusions
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Remember that cashing out a qualifying bet often voids eligibility for the offer. Some free bets also cannot be used on in-play markets.
These exclusions are commonly hidden in the T&Cs, so avoid cashing out unless you’re sure it won’t affect the promotion.
Wagering requirements and bonus conditions
Wagering is uncommon on free bets, but it is not unheard of. Some promotions attach extra conditions to winnings or follow-on bonuses instead.
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Offers requiring winnings to be wagered multiple times reduce real value, while simpler “bet and get” free bets are usually the safest option.
Before a bookmaker makes our list of free bet offers, they must meet key criteria to ensure a high-quality betting experience.
1. Licensing
Only sites with a valid UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) licence are considered on our list of recommended operators.
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The UKGC ensures fair play and consumer protection, working alongside independent testing agencies like eCOGRA. If a bookmaker isn’t regulated, it’s not safe – anyone can verify a licence via the UKGC register.
2. Security
Every bookmaker we recommend must implement high-quality security measures such as SSL encryption and two-factor authentication to protect customer data.
3. Reputation
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Reputation also plays a role – established brands like Betfred, William Hill and Bet365 consistently rank highly with us, but we also highlight new, reputable operators such as BetMGM when their free bet offers meet our expectations.
4. Mobile
With most bets now placed on phones and tablets, mobile betting functionality is essential.
Bookmakers with dedicated betting apps that mirror the desktop experience are given preference, and we also consider user app reviews from the Apple and Google Play stores.
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5. Experience
The customer experience is equally crucial – we rigorously test bookmaker support channels, favouring those that provide fast, effective resolutions.
Ultimately, our rankings focus on the quality of the free bet offers, but we also take into account matters including odds restrictions, timeframe to both unlock free bet offers and use your bonus funds, wagering requirements and available payment methods.
6. Value
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Operators that provide valuable betting sign up offers, competitive terms, and ongoing free bet promotions for returning customers get the highest ratings.
Why trust us?
Chris Wilson is a betting content producer and sports reporter who has been working at The Independent since 2023.
He writes betting tips across a range of sporting events as well as reviewing dozens of betting sites and casino sites across the UK.
Chris has extensively tested and reviewed offers from established operators and new betting sites to find the best free bet offers for readers of The Independent.
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Responsible gambling is always at the forefront of his research, ensuring customers have a fair and secure experience claiming and using betting offers online.
If you decide to engage with any of the online betting sites highlighted on this page, remember to gamble responsibly, even when using free bets and betting sign up offers.
When betting, always assume you’ll lose and therefore, only bet what you can afford to lose. Even free bets still involve a level of risk.
Make sure you use the responsible gambling tools offered by betting companies such as deposit limits, reality checks, loss limits and time outs. These can stop gambling from getting out of hand.
If you have gambling-related concerns, then seek independent help. There are several UK charities and institutions that offer support, advice and information, with a few listed below:
Are free bets withdrawable?
No, it is not possible to withdraw a free bet. It must be used according to the terms and conditions of the free bet offer or it will be forfeited.
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Can you cash out free bets?
In most cases, bookmakers will not allow punters to cash out a free bet before the bet has run its course, so you will likely have to wait for your bet to settle before receiving any winnings.
What does money back in free bets mean?
This means you can get a refund on your stake, but not as withdrawable cash – only as a free bet, meaning you have to stake the same cash again on a different bet.
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What is the best betting sign up offer available now?
In the Independent’s view, Coral provides the best betting sign up offer on the market at present. New customers need only sign up and deposit £5 before betting £5 on any sports market with odds of 1/2 or greater to unlock £30 in free bets.
What betting sites give free bets without a deposit?
Few bookmakers hand out free bets for nothing, but you can earn free bets by entering free-to-play prediction games on Bet365, BetVictor, NetBet, Betway, Betfred, Ladbrokes, Coral and BetMGM.
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We may earn commission from some of the links in this article, but we never allow this to influence our content. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.
The setting was New Orleans but it could have been the Borscht Belt when Keith Mitchell and Brandt Snedeker took to the podium on Tuesday in advance of this week’s Zurich Classic.
Partners in the team event at TPC Louisiana in Avondale, the two veteran Tour pros and close friends paired up in what amounted to a slapstick routine, smiling as they fielded questions while ribbing each other about their games.
The gist their jokes: Mitchell can’t putt, and Snedeker can’t keep it on the planet with his driver.
“We’re close enough to where we’re not going to offend each other this week,” Snedeker said. “We can’t hurt each other’s feelings.”
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But because things are only funny until someone three-jacks, the conversation took a more earnest turn when Snedeker was asked about a serious topic: grain.
Ah, yes, grain. The hobgoblin of golfers on the Southern Swing, blamed for every lip-out and poor lag putt from Florida to Louisiana and beyond. Or so you’d think when you tune into TV coverage of PGA Tour events.
“Was it the grain that got him, Johnny?” (Or Bones. Or Dottie.) The phrase gets used so often, it could be the basis of a drinking game.
But how influential is grain, really?
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Ask some superintendents, and they’ll tell you that its impact is overstated. Grass varietals have been bred so well, the argument goes, and greens are mown so tight — especially for elite events — that grain is practically non-existent. Or, rather, it exists more in the player’s mind than it does on the putting surface.
Snedeker has sure given it a lot of thought. Like his buddy, Mitchell, he grew up in Tennessee. Unlike Mitchell, he became one of the greatest putters of his generation, honing his distinctive pop-stroke on grabby Bermuda grass.
So, how does Snedeker contend with grain?
“I think grain is a really difficult thing to quantify,” Snedeker said. There’s no formula for it, no metric that tells you how many inches of break to add per feet of putt when the grain is growing left or right.
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“You kind of have to have more of a feel,” Snedeker said. And developing feel takes time and practice, “getting out on the greens and getting comfortable with them,” Snedeker continued. “It’s one of those things, like, hey, if you see a putt is pretty straight and the grain is going to the right, hey, man, let’s play this thing inside left just because the grain might pull it a little bit.”
The bottom line is that cross-grain putts can be frustrating head-scratchers, no matter how experienced or skilled you are. Some days, you’ve got the feel. Some days, you don’t.
“If you’re off a little bit, you are going to be hitting a lot of right-edge or left-edge putts and driving yourself crazy,” Snedeker said.
To preserve his sanity and his score, Snedeker doesn’t get too granular with grain, at least not when it comes to its influence on break. He finds it more productive to focus on pace.
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“The biggest account is more into grain, down grain,” he said. “Into the grain is going to be really slow. Down grain is going to be really fast. Those are the things you really pay attention to.”
And if all else fails, you go back to razzing your partner. “We’re not shy about giving each other a needle out here,” Snedeker said. “So I think having a partner where you have somebody you’re comfortable with, can kind of give you a need and have some fun with it about how bad a shot they hit that day.”
Mitchell agreed.
“Hopefully, he doesn’t putt like me, and hopefully I don’t drive it like him and we’ll be in good shape,” he said.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander wins Clutch Player of the Year
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been named the 2025–26 NBA Clutch Player of the Year.
The Oklahoma City Thunder guard led the league in clutch scoring, finishing with 175 total points and averaging 6.5 points per game in those moments. He also made a league high 16 go-ahead field goals in clutch time.
In the voting, Gilgeous-Alexander received 96 first-place votes and finished with 484 points. Jamal Murray and Anthony Edwards placed second and third.
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The award recognises the player who performs best late in close games, defined as situations within five points in the final five minutes of the fourth quarter or overtime.
This is the fourth year of the award, and Gilgeous-Alexander becomes the fourth different winner.
New York Yankees players went to the front office and requested that they be allowed to start wearing alternate uniforms, at least on occasion, during road games, according to The Athletic. Major League Baseball approved the team’s navy blue batting practice jersey for game use prior to last season, per MLB.com, so those are ready to go if the team decided to wear them.
“I’m all about tradition, but we’ve got a (advertising) patch on our sleeves,” Yankees captain Aaron Judge said Wednesday (via MLB.com). “… I think we’ll always wear the pinstripes at home. I don’t think that’ll change. We’ve changed our road jersey other years. So I guess if we wear the blues, we’ll wear the blues on the road.”
With 41 pennants and 27 World Series titles, the Yankees have long been the most decorated franchise in baseball. Of course, from ownership on down, it’s also long been the one that takes itself the most seriously, to the point that sometimes it feels too uptight. From the rules on hair length and the facial hair ban to the uniforms, the Yankees rarely stray from the status quo. They are even the only team without last names on the backs of both the home and road uniforms.
The Yankees are the only team in baseball with just two uniforms: one home and one road. They are one of two teams to have not (yet?) taken part in having City Connect uniforms (there are eight teams with new ones this season), with the other being the vagabond Athletics — and if there’s no true home city, you can’t really have a City Connect uniform.
“I think we should do that too,” Giancarlo Stanton said about a City Connect (via MLB.com). “There’s a lot of tradition here. The most iconic jersey there is in sports, pretty much. But that doesn’t mean that every once in a while you can’t change something up.”
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The navy blue batting practice tops say “NEW YORK” across the chest and are already available at the MLB Shop online. The Yankees also wear those jerseys during spring training road games. It is not yet know if they will wear them in games.
In recent years, the Yankees have loosened up a bit, by their standards, in relaxing the facial hair policy and even added a jersey sponsor.
Mike and mic loomed as a natural fit after the talkative Mike Tomlin resigned as Pittsburgh Steelers coach in January.
As with his Steelers teams of 19 seasons, Tomlin doesn’t figure to have a losing record as a TV studio analyst, either.
A report Tuesday from The Athletic cemented Tomlin’s long-anticipated transition. He’ll join the NBC “Sunday Night Football” pregame show “Football Night in America” beginning this season.
Surely, video editors and social media managers already have their popcorn ready.
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That’s “popcorn” as in the salty snack, not the alternative definition Tomlin once served up during a press conference.
“You know, there’s been popcorn,” Tomlin said. “It hasn’t been any one man specifically; it’s been popcorn. But you can’t have popcorn.”
Asked to expound, Tomlin explained “popcorn” as: “A splattering of incidences. One here. One there. One there.”
That’s some tasty imagery, indeed.
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Sustained coaching success boosted Tomlin’s profile as a would-be analyst. He guided Pittsburgh to a 193-114-2 regular-season record, while his 8-12 postseason mark included a 1-1 record in the Super Bowl.
His unique turns of phrase, however, set him apart. In a broadcast climate rife with programs and platforms for former players and coaches to fill, Tomlin, 54, should climb seamlessly into the mix at “FNIA,” a leading national brand.
“I think Mike is great at painting pictures, and those sayings, those Tomlinisms, they can immediately have a context,” Tony Dungy, Pro Football Hall of Fame coach and Tomlin’s mentor, told NFL Films in 2021.
Per The Athletic, Fox also coveted Tomlin as a replacement for Jimmy Johnson, who’s retiring from its “Fox NFL Sunday” show.
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At NBC, Tomlin will fill a void left by Dungy, who NBC did not retain for an 18th season. While various reports have stated that the “FNIA” lineup could undergo further shuffling, host Maria Taylor and analysts Jason Garrett and Devin McCourty are expected back.
In late 2015, “FNIA” explored Tomlin’s well-documented physical resemblance to actor Omar Epps, showing photos of either man and asking Steelers fans and Tomlin’s wife, Kiya, whether it was Tomlin.
Tomlin never should be confused with Epps’ Darnell Jefferson, the cocky freshman running back from 1993’s “The Program.” That character aimed to impress college coed Halle Berry with a forced, hyperintelligent vocabulary that indubitably would make Tomlin roll his eyes.
“I don’t think a lot about the things that I say, to be honest with you,” Tomlin once said when asked about the origins of his oft-celebrated, “The standard is the standard.”
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He continued: “I’m just trying to use words to vividly capture the imagination of our guys so that they can remember the messages so they can somehow be ingrained in their mind so they can somehow make it come alive inside stadiums on the grass. By whatever means we get that done, I’m for it.”
Substitute “inside stadiums on the grass” with “on sofas across the nation,” and there’s Tomlin’s value to any network suitor.
NBC doesn’t want viewers to leave their couches, of course. But with Tomlin aboard, they may well leap from them – or at least sit up – while hanging on every word.
LSG suffer shocking 40-run defeat to RR (BCCI Photo)
NEW DELHI: Lucknow Super Giants skipper Rishabh Pant admitted that his team’s batting collapse is becoming the biggest concern after they suffered their fifth defeat in seven matches, a 40-run loss to Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2026.“I think it is difficult to explain. Like it’s definitely our batting is letting us down, but at the same time, we are disappointed as a team, as a group, but at the same time, you’ve got to keep finding ways. You have to look for answers inside, not outside, but that’s how it is as of now,” said Pant after the defeat.
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“See, definitely we could have taken some time while batting and at the same time, you know, not making any excuse out there, like, you know, including myself in that, like we could have taken it a little deeper because I think the bowlers did a fantastic job, especially after the last game. As a batting group, we need to put our hand up and try to finish that job for the bowlers also. “There is still a lot we want to look at the positive side, you know. We all know it’s disappointing for us as a team, but you know, we have to keep our head high and look for answers inside and we surely know that we have enough firepower in our bowling and batting and we can still turn it around. That’s what I believe in.”Pant’s comments came after another top-order failure saw LSG collapse to 119 while chasing 160. Three of the top four batters, including Pant himself, were dismissed for ducks inside the first three overs, putting the chase in disarray.Earlier, Ravindra Jadeja’s unbeaten 43 off 29 balls guided Rajasthan Royals to 159/6 on a tricky surface, after LSG opted to field. Jadeja later also played a key role in breaking the chase by removing Nicholas Pooran.Mitchell Marsh’s fighting 55 was the lone bright spot for LSG, while Jofra Archer (3/20) and Nandre Burger (2/27) led the Rajasthan bowling attack. Jadeja and Shubham Dubey’s late partnership ensured RR finished strongly and moved to second in the table, while LSG slipped further down with just two wins from seven games.
There is still no clear timeline around MS Dhoni’s return as Chennai Super Kings continue to navigate IPL 2026 without their former captain. Dhoni had suffered a calf injury just before the start of the season, and while the franchise initially indicated a two-week recovery period, his absence has now stretched into the fourth week with no confirmed comeback date.There was a brief surge of optimism on Tuesday when Dhoni was seen training at the Wankhede Stadium. The veteran wicketkeeper-batter spent considerable time batting in the nets and also went through wicketkeeping drills, suggesting he could be in contention for CSK’s upcoming clash against the Mumbai Indians. However, those hopes were quickly tempered.Addressing the media ahead of the match, CSK bowling coach Eric Simmons made it clear that there would be no rushed decision on Dhoni’s return.“MS will only play when he feels he is ready to go and the medical team clears him, so I am not going to make any announcement sitting here,” Simmons said.The uncertainty around Dhoni’s availability comes at a time when Chennai Super Kings are already dealing with multiple injury setbacks. Fast bowler Khaleel Ahmed has been ruled out of the tournament with a right quadriceps injury, while top-order batter Ayush Mhatre has also been sidelined for the remainder of the season due to a hamstring issue.The franchise is yet to officially name replacements, though there have been developments behind the scenes. Reports indicate that former Mumbai Indians pacer Akash Madhwal attended CSK’s trials in Hyderabad, while Rajvardhan Hangargekar is also believed to have taken part in a trial session with the team in Mumbai.These disruptions have impacted CSK’s campaign. The five-time champions are currently placed eighth on the points table with two wins from four matches. After losing their opening three fixtures, they managed to revive their season with back-to-back home victories, only to slip again in their most recent game against Sunrisers Hyderabad.Their next opponents, Mumbai Indians, head into the contest with renewed confidence. They sit just above CSK in seventh place and are coming off a dominant 99-run win over Gujarat Titans, giving them momentum ahead of the clash.
Teofimo Lopez is looking to bounce back after suffering a second career defeat and an immediate world title shot on the cards.
Having become a unified lightweight champion, Lopez moved up super-lightweight in 2022 and dethroned Josh Taylor to become the WBO titleholder the following year. Up at 140lbs, he made three defences of his title before losing it to Shakur Stevenson in January of this year.
However, should he choose to remain at super-lightweight, he could land an immediate title shot, after being invited by the IBF to negotiate a vacant title bout against Lindolfo Delgado, following Richardson Hitchins vacating the belt in order to move up.
Delgado is rated as the number one contender in the division and had been Hitchins’ mandatory challenger, with that fight being ordered back in February.
Told that this is not true. The IBF has requested the availability of Lindolfo Delgado and Teofimo Lopez to fight for the vacant title, rather than ordering the matchup. https://t.co/y0jsviH9Kx
— EverythingBoxing | Darshan Desai (@EverythingBoxi2) April 21, 2026
Currently, there is no #2 in the IBF’s super-lightweight rankings and Oscar Duarte and Keyshawn Davis, who are respectively rated at #3 and #4, both have fights scheduled, meaning that they are unavailable. Duarte has also stated his plans of pursuing the WBC world title, likely due to the fact that he and Delgado have the same trainer.
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Lopez sits at #5 but, should he deliver on his welterweight promies, Canada’s Arthur Biyarslanov (#6) will be next in line to be invited for negotiations.
The top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder will look to take a 2-0 series lead against the eighth-seeded Phoenix Suns when they meet in Game 2 of their Western Conference first-round matchup on Wednesday in the 2026 NBA playoffs. OKC blew out Phoenix 119-84 in the series opener on Sunday. The Suns (46-39), who have lost three of their last five games, are 20-21 on the road this season. The Thunder (65-18), who have won three of their last five games, are 34-7 on their home court this season. Grayson Allen (hamstring), Jordan Goodwin (calf) and Mark Williams (foot) are all questionable for Phoenix.
Tipoff from the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City is set for 9:30 p.m. ET. OKC is the 17.5-point favorite in the latest Suns vs. Thunder odds from FanDuel Sportsbook, while the over/under for total points scored is 216.5. Before making any Thunder vs. Suns picks, check out the Suns vs. Thunder predictions from the SportsLine Projection Model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in betting profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past eight-plus seasons. The model entered the first full week of the 2026 NBA playoffs on a sizzling 24-9 roll (73%) on top-rated NBA spread picks this season. Anyone following its NBA betting advice at sportsbooks and on betting apps could have seen huge returns.
After 10,000 simulations of Suns vs. Thunder, SportsLine’s model is going Under on the total (216.5). The Under hit in the last matchup between these two teams, and 58% of the Suns’ games went Under the total this season. When the total is between 213-216, the Under has hit 66% of the time for the Thunder.
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Burnley‘s loss to Manchester City meant they joined Wolves in having their relegation from the Premier League confirmed.
For the past couple of weeks, it has looked like being four teams – Leeds, Nottingham Forest, West Ham and Tottenham – scrapping it out to avoid the remaining spot in the drop zone.
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But, following Sean Longstaff’s dramatic late equaliser at Bournemouth, Leeds have taken seven points from three games to reach the magical 40-point mark, and many will be starting to exclude them from any relegation conversations.
“I am experienced long enough in this world, we will celebrate when it’s mathematically done. It’s too early,” Leeds boss Daniel Farke told BBC Match of the Day.
“We are on 40 points, seven games unbeaten in all competitions, so I am confident. Why should we lose the last four games?”
Victory over Championship-bound Burnley at Elland Road might be enough to make Leeds mathematically safe.
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Until then, there is still work to do before Farke will let himself celebrate and – certainly for the other three sides in the mix – it could go down to the wire…
[Reuters]
Spurs more likely to go down than not – Opta
Big celebrations after a 97th-minute equaliser are usually to be expected but, for the Leeds players at the Vitality Stadium, it was about more than just the point.
That draw takes them nine points clear of Tottenham in 18th and, with so few games remaining, that gap will almost certainly be enough to keep them in the top flight.
According the Opta Supercomputer, the chances of Farke’s side being relegated from this position are a mere 0.21%.
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Still mathematically possible, as the Leeds manager said, but barring the most remarkable turn of events the Whites have done enough.
It is good news, too, for Forest. Following their win over Burnley at the weekend, Opta gives them just a 4.27% chance of being relegated.
As far as the supercomputer is concerned then, it is between West Ham and Tottenham for that unwanted 18th place.
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The Hammers are given a 38.58% of ending the season in the bottom three, while it is seen as more likely than not that Spurs will go down for the first time since 1977.
Roberto de Zerbi’s side are the 56.93% favourites to be relegated from here.
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What does the form suggest?
Tottenham boss De Zerbi was bullish about his side’s chances of staying up after Saturday’s draw with Brighton, claiming they are “able to win five games in a row” to end the season.
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But for all De Zerbi’s faith in his players’ capabilities, the evidence of this season does not suggest a team capable of such a feat.
Spurs have not won any of their past 15 league games, meaning they are without a top-flight victory in 2026 and have managed only two since 26 October.
They must beat bottom side Wolves on Saturday to avoid equalling the club’s worst winless league run – set some 91 years ago, between 1934 and 1935.
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By contrast, the form of Spurs’ relegation rivals has been picking up.
Nottingham Forest have two wins in their past three games and are unbeaten in five, and West Ham have won two of their past five.
Zoom out a little further and the Hammers have taken 19 points from their past 12 games, Forest have 18 from their past 13 and for Leeds it is 19 from 15.
Since beating Crystal Palace on 28 December, Spurs have taken six points from 15 matches.
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The run-in
Every year when the fixtures are announced you hear the familiar refrain that “it doesn’t matter, you play everyone twice”.
But there is no doubt that when you face a certain team can make a big difference across a 10-month campaign.
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With five games remaining Spurs will definitely think their run-in, at least on paper, gives them every chance of staying up.
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Next up is a trip to Wolves, whose relegation to the Championship was confirmed on Monday.
A home match against Leeds on 11 May is another Tottenham will view as an opportunity, especially if Farke’s side have ensured their safety by then.
Even a tricky-looking match at Champions League-chasing Aston Villa on 3 May comes at a good time for Spurs, as it falls between the two legs of the Europa League semi-final for Unai Emery’s men.
A visit to rivals Chelsea before hosting Everton on the final day is not a straightforward way to finish, given both teams seem likely to be fighting for European places.
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But, given how tight things are, that is something all the relegation candidates will have to deal with.
West Ham host Everton on Saturday before an away game at Brentford – and it only gets tougher with title-chasing Arsenal the visitors to London Stadium on 10 May.
Even with Newcastle enduring a disappointing season, an away game at St James’ Park on the penultimate weekend is far from simple and there could be plenty riding on the home match against Leeds on the last day.
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Forest arguably face the toughest last five with away games at Chelsea and Manchester United in May – the former coming just three days before the second leg of the Reds’ Europa League semi-final against Villa.
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Home games against Newcastle and Bournemouth, on the last day, could be crucial but getting a result at Sunderland on Friday would help alleviate a lot of stress for Vitor Pereira’s side before the remainder of the run-in.
What do the stats say?
It is 49 years since Spurs found themselves in the relegation zone after 33 league games and, in that 1976-77 season, they were unable to save themselves.
Given only Sheffield Wednesday, already relegated from the Championship, have a worse home record than Spurs’ two wins in England’s top four tiers this term, significant improvements will be required.
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The numbers don’t get any more encouraging for De Zerbi’s side with only Derby (18) in 2007-08 and Sunderland (17) in 2002-03 having longer winless runs to start a calendar year than Spurs’ current streak of 15 – and both were relegated in those years.
Forest can take some comfort from the fact 36 points has been enough to survive in every Premier League season since 2015-16.
Even more encouragingly for the Whites, only six teams have been relegated with 39 points or more in a 38-game season and not in the past 14 seasons – since Birmingham and Blackpool both went down on 39 points.
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This year might be one in which the traditional claim of 40 points being required for safety proves true, but West Ham know that sometimes even that is not enough.
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The Hammers hold the unwanted record of the most points achieved by a relegated side – the 42 they mustered in 2002-03 was not enough to spare them from the drop.
No wonder Farke and Leeds are taken nothing for granted just yet.
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