Man Utd play Tottenham in the Premier League on Saturday and Michael Carrick explained his team selection.

Michael Carrick has reiterated Benjamin Sesko is important at Manchester United after again naming the striker on the bench. United won 3-2 against Fulham last weekend and Carrick has made no changes following that result.

Sesko scored a late matchwinner against Fulham, but he has been named on the bench to face Tottenham, with Carrick sticking by the players who performed at Old Trafford last weekend.

Carrick has enjoyed a dream start to his interim role, winning against Manchester City, Arsenal and Fulham, and the 44-year-old is hoping to extend that sequence against Spurs.

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Speaking to TNT Sports about the decision to stick with Sesko on the bench, Carrick said: “Ben’s been fantastic. He’s going to be a big player for us and everything I’ve seen from him is really encouraging. Today was just a decision I’ve made but Ben will come on and make a big difference for us again.”

Asked about the game plan, he said: “I’ve not had to pass an awful lot on. They’ve been fantastic, there’s been little pieces about taking the ball up the pitch but it’s mainly about trusting them to express themselves.”

Carrick also discussed the partnership between Casemiro and Kobbie Mainoo, saying: “I haven’t really had to pass any tips onto him yet. Case and Kobbie have been fantastic. “I’ve given them little bits of advice and trusting them on finding their way and expressing themselves.”

Tottenham are unbeaten in their last eight meetings with United in all competitions (W5 D3), which is their longest ever run without defeat against the Reds. However, United are fourth in the Premier League table after three wins on the bounce.

Teams looking to get back on track clash when the Houston Rockets take on the Oklahoma City Thunder in a key Western Conference matchup on Saturday. Houston is coming off a 109-99 loss to Charlotte on Thursday, while Oklahoma City dropped a 116-106 decision at San Antonio on Wednesday. The Rockets (31-19), who are second in the Southwest Division, are 14-13 on the road this season. The Thunder (40-12), who are the top seed in the West and first in the Northwest Division, are 22-4 on their home floor. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (abdominal strain) and Jalen Williams (hamstring) are out for OKC. 

Tipoff from Paycom Center in Oklahoma City is set for 3:30 p.m. ET. The Thunder lead the all-time series 126-119, including wins in each of the two meetings this season. Oklahoma City is a 2.5-point favorite in the latest Rockets vs. Thunder odds from DraftKings Sportsbook, while the over/under for total points scored is 211.5. Before making any Thunder vs. Rockets picks, check out the NBA predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model.

New users can target the DraftKings promo code, which offers $300 in bonus bets if your $5+ bet wins:

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 enters Week 16 of the 2025-26 NBA season on a sizzling 38-16 roll on top-rated NBA spread picks dating back to last season. Anyone following its NBA betting advice at sportsbooks and on betting apps could have seen huge returns.   

Now, the model has simulated Rockets vs. Thunder 10,000 times and just revealed its coveted NBA picks and betting predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model’s picks. Here are several NBA odds and NBA betting lines for Thunder vs. Rockets:

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How to make Rockets vs. Thunder picks

After 10,000 simulations of Rockets vs. Thunder, SportsLine’s model is going Over on the total (211.5). The Over has hit in seven of the last 10 head-to-head meetings. The Over has also hit in seven of the last 10 Oklahoma City games. 

The SportsLine model is projecting Houston’s Kevin Durant to score 22.8 points on average and be one of six Rockets players to score 10.6 or more points. Oklahoma City’s Chet Holmgren is one of six players for OKC to score in double figures as he leads the way with 19.5 projected points. The model is projecting 221 combined points as the Over clears 62% of the time.

It has also generated an against-the-spread pick that hits in nearly 60% of simulations. You can head to SportsLine to see the model’s NBA picks. 

So who wins Thunder vs. Rockets, and which side of the spread hits nearly 60% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Rockets vs. Thunder spread to back, all from the model that has returned well over $10,000 on top-rated NBA picks, and find out.

Many fans view Oleksandr Usyk as one of the best heavyweights of all time but it seems one Hall of Fame inductee doesn’t agree.

Usyk is a two-time undisputed heavyweight champion, having twice defeated Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois during his career.

He also became undisputed cruiserweight champion and won a gold medal at the 2012 Olympics in London, with his incredible achievements clear to see for everyone.

One boxing legend isn’t that impressed though, as three-weight world champion James Toney told Fight Hub TV that he doesn’t rank Usyk as highly as others.

“He’s [Usyk] average but he’s not great. None of these fighters are all time greats. It’s not [like] my era, they don’t fight nobody. The only way you become great is by fighting people who are great.”

Toney’s era saw him compete at the highest level during the 1990s and 2000s, claiming world honours at middleweight, super middleweight and cruiserweight, beating fighters such as Mike McCallum and Iran Barkley along the way.

He also fought at heavyweight where he defeated Evander Holyfield and then won the WBA heavyweight title with a victory over John Ruiz, but it was later ruled a no contest after he failed a drugs test.

While Toney may not rate Usyk as a great, the Ukrainian still remains the WBC, WBA and IBF heavyweight champion so could yet change the Hall of Famer’s mind with any future performances, but that may not come in his next bout after a surprise rumoured next opponent.

WWE SmackDown after Royal Rumble 2026 concluded with Randy Orton’s victory. The Legend Killer defeated Solo Sikoa and Aleister Black in a Triple Threat Match.

Now, The Viper has become the first star to be officially confirmed as an entrant in the Elimination Chamber match. In this article, we will discuss three reasons why Randy Orton won the Elimination Chamber qualifying match on the blue brand show.

#3. Randy Orton is set to make history

The veteran star previously participated several times in the Men’s Elimination Chamber matches. He was part of some of the most iconic Chamber matches, and this year, Randy Orton is set to make history. It will be Orton’s 10th Elimination Chamber match, thus holding the record for most appearances in the history of Elimination Chamber matches.

So, to hold this major record, Randy Orton qualified for the Men’s Chamber match and secured the victory on this week’s SmackDown.

#2. To add much-needed star power

WWE Elimination Chamber 2026 is set to stream live on February 28, 2026, from the United Center in Chicago. It will be the final PLE stop on the road to WrestleMania 42.

Considering this, WWE needed some star power in the Elimination Chamber traditional match, as it escalates the match hype and generates more buzz. Orton is one of the most popular stars and the only active talent from the generation of John Cena, Triple H, The Rock, Stone Cold, and others. His inclusion could be done to add star power to the showdown.

#1. To set up a match with Cody Rhodes at WWE WrestleMania

Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre’s feud is still unfinished on SmackDown. During this week’s show, The American Nightmare warned the Undisputed WWE Champion that he will not enter Mania as the titleholder.

This suggests that, despite Rhodes and Jacob being part of the Men’s Elimination Chamber qualifying match, a title showdown may happen before this year’s Showcase of the Immortals. This scenario sparks the chances of Cody winning the Undisputed Title before Mania.

If that happens, then the sports entertainment juggernaut could be planning for a match between Cody and Orton, which could be the reason behind The Viper’s victory. It’s been a long time since fans have been anticipating a match between these two real-life friends.

If Rhodes wins the Undisputed Championship before Mania and Randy wins the Chamber match, it will finally set up the dream feud at The Grandest Stage of Them All. Rest assured, it will be interesting to see how the storyline will unfold and what plans WWE has in store for us.