Marvel Stadium will play host to Saturday’s
Round 3 AFL game between Essendon Bombers and
North Melbourne Kangaroos. The game kicks off at 7:35 pm with North Melbourne Kangaroos heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the Essendon Bombers vs.
North Melbourne Kangaroos
game and give you our free tips and bets.

When: Saturday March 28, 2026 at 7:35 pm

Where: Marvel Stadium

Bet 💰: Bet On This Match HERE

Essendon Bombers vs North Melbourne Kangaroos Odds

Essendon Bombers vs North Melbourne Kangaroos Preview

Essendon and North Melbourne meet in a high-pressure clash, with both sides seeking to arrest concerning form. The Bombers are under intense scrutiny following a heavy loss to Port Adelaide, extending their losing streak to 15 matches. North Melbourne’s struggles continued after surrendering a sizable lead to West Coast. Despite their form, the Kangaroos have historically struggled against Essendon, losing their past 12 meetings. Recent encounters have been closely contested, suggesting another tight battle. With both teams desperate for a response, this looms as a defining early-season fixture.

The ninth-seeded Iowa Hawkeyes take on the fourth-seeded Nebraska Cornhuskers in a 2026 NCAA Tournament South Region Sweet 16 matchup on Thursday. Iowa is coming off a 73-72 last-second victory over defending national champion Florida on Sunday in the second round, while Nebraska defeated Vanderbilt 74-72 on Saturday. The Hawkeyes (23-12), who finished ninth in the Big Ten Conference at 10-10, have won two in a row. The Cornhuskers (28-6), who tied for second in the Big Ten at 15-5, have won six of eight.

Tip-off from Toyota Center in Houston is set for 7:30 p.m. ET. The teams split their two regular-season matchups, with the home team winning each. The Cornhuskers are 1.5-point favorites in the latest Iowa vs. Nebraska odds, while the over/under for total points scored is 131.5. The Cornhuskers are at -129 on the money line (risk $129 to win $100). Before making any Nebraska vs. Iowa picks, check out the Iowa vs. Nebraska predictions from the SportsLine Projection Model.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every college basketball game 10,000 times. It entered the 2026 Sweet 16 on a sizzling 11-1 run on its top-rated over/under college basketball picks dating back to last season, and is on a 28-22 run on top-rated CBB side picks.

Now, the model has simulated Iowa vs. Nebraska 10,000 times and just revealed its college basketball picks and predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model’s picks. Here are several college basketball odds and college basketball lines for Nebraska vs. Iowa:

Top Iowa vs. Nebraska predictions

After 10,000 simulations of Iowa vs. Nebraska, SportsLine’s model is going Over on the total (131.5 points). The Over has hit in seven of the last 10 head-to-head meetings. The Over has also hit in three of the last five Iowa games. Iowa is 5-5 against the spread in its last 10 games. Nebraska, meanwhile, is 6-4 ATS in its last 10.

The model projects the Hawkeyes to have three players score 9.8 points or more, including Bennett Stirtz, who is projected to score 19.8 points. The Cornhuskers are projected to have four players score 10.9 points or more, led by Pryce Sandfort, who is projected to score 18.6 points. The model is projecting 146 combined points as the Over clears in 68% of simulations in an A-rated pick. You can get the spread pick at SportsLine.

How to make Nebraska vs. Iowa picks

Now, the model simulated every possession of Nebraska vs. Iowa 10,000 times and says one side of the spread hits in over 50% of simulations. You can only see that pick at SportsLine.

So who wins Nebraska vs. Iowa, and which side of the spread hits over 50% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Iowa vs. Nebraska spread to back, all from the advanced model that just simulated this game 10,000 times, and find out.

Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes, the reigning NL Cy Young Award winner, couldn’t have had a more disastrous start to the 2026 MLB season after not making it out of the first inning against the New York Mets.

Pirates manager Don Kelly took a stroll out to the Citi Field mound to pull Skenes after the Mets put together a five-run first inning that wasn’t all on the phenom right-hander.

But some soft contact, inconsistent accuracy, and two bad plays in center field by O’Neil Cruz had Skenes’ final line read just two-thirds of an inning, five runs allowed on four hits and two walks, and he’ll have to look at an inflated 67.50 ERA to start the year on the wrong foot. 

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Paul Skenes of the Pittsburgh Pirates pitches against the Mets on opening day at Citi Field on March 26, 2026, in Queens, New York City. (Ishika Samant/Getty Images)

The five runs earned tied a career high allowed for Skenes, who found himself in early trouble when Juan Soto’s single allowed Francisco Lindor, who walked to start the bottom of the first inning, to get to third base. 

With runners on the corners, Bo Bichette’s first at-bat with the Mets wound up a sacrifice fly to get New York on the board, making it a 2-1 ball game. 

MLB STAR PAUL SKENES SET TO REP TEAM USA AT WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC: ‘I LOVE AMERICA’

Things started to unravel for Skenes after that. Jorge Polanco’s first Mets at-bat was a swinging bunt, as he reached first base with no throw. Then, after a hard-fought at-bat by Luis Robert Jr. ended with a walk, Skenes found the bases loaded and one out. 

Brett Baty came to the plate for the Mets with the opportunity to take the lead with a base knock, not just tie the game at two apiece. He caught a changeup from Skenes and hit it hard to center field, but the ball appeared playable for Cruz. 

That is until Cruz’s first step was in, and he stopped moving, as he looked up into the sky. When he realized his error, he started to sprint backwards and the ball landed over his head and rolled to the deep center field wall. The misplay allowed all three Mets baserunners to score, making it a 5-2 game as Skenes looked exasperated on the mound. 

Paul Skenes of the Pittsburgh Pirates during the game against the Mets at Citi Field on Thursday, March 26, 2026, in New York. (Dustin Satloff/MLB Photos)

The next at-bat was Marcus Semien who, like his other new teammates in blue and orange, got a timely hit, but it should’ve been caught if not for Cruz’s second blunder. He lost the pop up to center field in the sun, fighting it with his glove before the ball landed next to him, as Baty scored from third to make it 5-2.

Skenes would last only two more batters, hitting catcher Francisco Alvarez in the arm. Kelly came out of the dugout after that, pulling his ace after 37 pitches. 

During an in-game interview with NBC, he said the early exit was “pitch count related,” as it isn’t very rare for a single frame to get higher than 30 pitches. Being that it’s the start of the season, and Skenes had a full workload during the World Baseball Classic, which saw him over 70 pitches in his semifinal start against the Dominican Republic, the Pirates made sure to be cautious.

Paul Skenes of the Pittsburgh Pirates walks off the field after being taken out of the game against the Mets on March 26, 2026, in New York City. (Ishika Samant/Getty Images)

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The 23-year-old Skenes came into this season with a career 1.96 ERA across 55 starts for the Pirates (320.2 innings), as he’s quickly asserted himself among the best pitchers in the game. 

But even the best have their off days, and a combination of all the things that could go wrong resulted in an opening day start to forget in Queens.

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The New York Mets season began Thursday night on quite a hilarious note — because why wouldn’t it for the Mets?

After the Mets and Pittsburgh Pirates‘ 2026 rosters were announced, Tony Award winner Chris Jackson, who played George Washington in “Hamilton,” was brought onto the field for the national anthem.

Things got off without a hitch until he moved onto the fourth line of the “Star-Spangled Banner.”

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Bo Bichette, Juan Soto, and Francisco Lindor, of the New York Mets look on during the national anthem prior to the game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the New York Mets at Citi Field on Thursday, March 26, 2026, in New York, New York. (Dustin Satloff/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

Jackson was supposed to sing “O’er the ramparts we watched,” but instead went in reverse and repeated, “What so proudly we hailed” before moving on to the rest of the anthem.

The mishap started off as a bad omen for the Amazin’s, who choked away the best record in the major leagues on June 13 last year and missed the postseason, as they fell to a 2-0 hole with new ace Freddy Peralta on the mound before recording an out.

A general view of the field prior to the first inning between the New York Mets and the Pittsburgh Pirates on Opening Day at Citi Field on March 26, 2026, in the Queens borough of New York City. (Ishika Samant/Getty Images)

BASEBALL HALL OF FAME PITCHER GOES IN DEPTH HOW ABS SYSTEM WILL IMPROVE OFFENSE, HOW ARMS HAVE TO ADJUST

However, they stepped up with a five-run first inning, with the help of shoddy Pirates defense, and stunningly knocked reigning Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes out of the game. It was the first time Skenes had failed to get out of the first inning in his career, having always thrown at least two frames in his previous 55 starts.

Jackson also played “Benny” in Lin-Manuel Miranda’s “In the Heights.” He made his Broadway debut in 1997 in “The Lion King” as Simba. In an ironic twist, Jackson also played Derek Jeter in the former Broadway show, “Bronx Bombers,” that lasted less than a month.

Lin-Manuel Miranda performs his final performance as “Alexander Hamilton”  in “Hamilton” on Broadway at The Richard Rogers Theatre on July 9, 2016, in New York City. (Bruce Glikas/Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic)

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It’s a new look for the Mets after last year’s debacle. They moved on from Edwin Diaz, Pete Alonso, Jeff McNeil, and Brandon Nimmo and brought in Peralta, Bo Bichette, Marcus Semien, and Jorge Polanco. Top prospect Carson Benge also made his MLB debut on Thursday.

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India defeat Pakistan in SAFF U20 C’ship opener to secure semi-final spot

India delivered a dominant performance to defeat Pakistan 3-0 in their opening Group B clash of the SAFF U20 Championship on Thursday, sealing a place in the semi-finals with a game to spare. Forward Omang Dodum starred with a second-half brace, finding the net in the 64th and 88th minutes, after Vishal Yadav had put India ahead as early as the third minute. The victory ensured a perfect start for India and confirmed their progression to the knockout stage. Pakistan, meanwhile, were knocked out of the tournament after suffering their second straight defeat, having earlier lost to Bangladesh. India will now take on Bangladesh on Saturday in a match that will determine the Group B toppers. India started aggressively and nearly opened the scoring within two minutes. Vishal Yadav broke down the right flank and sent in a threatening cross for Dodum, but the chance went begging. The opening goal arrived soon after. Gurnaj Singh Grewal spotted Yadav’s run and delivered a lofted ball over the defence. Yadav controlled it well and saw his initial effort blocked, but reacted quickly to slot the rebound home with his left foot at the near post. The early breakthrough boosted India’s confidence, although Pakistan grew into the game and began testing the defence. They came close to levelling the score on two occasions, only to be denied by goalkeeper Suraj Singh Aheibam, who made two crucial saves. India capitalised on those missed chances in the second half, doubling their lead through a swift counter-attack. Samson Ahongshangbam carried the ball forward from defence before switching play to Rishi Singh Ninthoukhongjam. Rishi then set up Dodum, who beat goalkeeper Zulqurnain to the ball and headed it in. With a two-goal advantage, India controlled proceedings while Pakistan searched for a response. The Indian backline remained organised, restricting further threats. In the closing stages, Muhammad Junaid fouled Prashan Jajo inside the box, leading referee Virendha Rai to award a penalty. Dodum stepped up and converted emphatically in the 88th minute to complete his brace and seal the result. The convincing win gives India strong momentum heading into their final group match against Bangladesh.

Arsenal defender Myles Lewis-Skelly has reportedly been added to Manchester United’s summer transfer shortlist.

Manchester United are reportedly showing an interest in Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly. The Gunners academy product shot to prominence last season after establishing himself as the regular starter in the Gunners’ left-back position.

Nevertheless, his playing time has reduced significantly since the summer. He could look for a move away from the Emirates Stadium in search of more regular game time.

Sky Sports has now claimed that, alongside Nathaniel Brown of Frankfurt and Lewis Hall of Newcastle United, Lewis-Skelly is a player appreciated by United. football.london repoerted earlier this month that numerous leading clubs across Europe are tracking the circumstances of Lewis-Skelly

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At United, the pathway remains crowded but more open at left back than at Arsenal, with Patrick Dorgu, who has experienced fitness setbacks, being deployed in a more attacking position.

Despite being a regular in the starting line-up this season, Dorgu’s return to fitness, plus the addition of a new left-back to the squad, could free up Luke Shaw to move on. He is entering the final year of his contract and has been linked with a move to Saudi Arabia.

Tyrell Malacia is also expected to leave the club when his contract expires in the summer. While the club has brought in 18-year-old Diego Leon, who is yet to make his Premier League bow.

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From an Arsenal standpoint, Mikel Arteta has consistently praised Lewis-Skelly but has been candid about the reality of the displays from both Piero Hincapie and Riccardo Calafiori, given the competition in the position.

Speaking earlier this month, he said, “Every season is different. He had very good moments in this season. He had other moments when he hasn’t played in that much.

“So, there are various reasons. Sometimes, as well, the good form of your teammates. There’s a lot of factors that contribute to that. But he’s doing well.”

football.london reports that outgoings are a priority for the club this summer with only a handful of players in the squad regarded as genuinely “unsellable”.

Should the Gunners receive what they consider an offer too tempting to decline for one of their players, it will prove extremely challenging to reject it.

Lewis-Skelly is thought to be one of the potential players who could depart if interest from a club, potentially even a Premier League outfit like United, becomes more concrete.

England’s 2026 World Cup kits

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England and Nike have launched the new home, away and goalkeeper kits to be worn at this summer’s FIFA World Cup. You can get free delivery on all orders with the code: ENGFREEDEL

IPL 2026: File photo of KKR co-owner Shahrukh Khan and Virat Kohli© BCCI