by Zak Drapeau Sportz Nation - 5/21/2026 *All odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook TM as of 5/21 Most Valueable Player Photo by Michael Owens via Getty Images Joe Burrow (+950) 2026 is Burrow's year I can feel it. The Bengals' investments on defense seem to have paid off with one of the better rosters on paper heading into the season. We've seen what Joe Burrow can do with an average roster but this may be the first time we get to see what he can do surrounded by a pretty good

by Zak Drapeau Sportz Nation - 5/18/2026 Photo by NFL via draftcountdown.com Quarterback Joe Burrow - CIN Let's get the big one out of the way first; IF JOE BURROW CAN STAY HEALTHY, I believe he can have the best season of any QB in the league. Flanked by Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Chase Brown and a much improve offensive line, Burrow could easily throw for 5,000 yards and 40 TDs. Burrow has been a Top-3 thrower in the league for years now but hampered by injuries and bad O-

by Zak Drapeau and Matt Hylen Sportz Nation - 5/18/2026 Photo by Ed Mulholland via Zuffa LLC 7Arnold Allen vs 10Kevin Vallejos Matt Hylen - Sure, it might be weird to see Arnold Allen not getting a fight up the rankings, but with the top so clogged, a win against one of the best prospects in the entire UFC might do just as much for him. Allen looked fantastic on Saturday. He completely shut down Costa's striking and controlled him on the ground for most of the fight. So, whil

by Zak Drapeau Sportz Nation - 5/19/2026 Photo by Ken Blaze via Imagn Images Overview Different from the Western Conference Finals, the final Series out of the East won't feature either of it's Top 2 seeds. The Knicks come into the series as the 3-seed and winners of their last 7 games in a row. Meanwhile, the Cavaliers are entering their first ECF without Lebron since 1992 and have already been through 2 grueling, 7-game series this postseason. The series will start tonight

by Zak Drapeau Sportz Nation - 5/18/2026 Photo by Daniel Dunn via Imagn Images 1Thunder vs 2Spurs (Thunder -250) Overview Before the NBA Playoffs even started, we all looked at this hypothetical matchup as the "Real Finals Series" and it's not hypothetical anymore. Ready to start tonight at 8:30 ET, this series will pit the bet two regular season teams and players this season. Shai may have won his 2nd MVP award this season but Wembanyama was arguably just as worthy and led h

by Zak Drapeau and Matt Hylen Sportz Nation - 5/15/2026 Graphic by UFC via UFC.com In our UFC 328 Predictions which you can find here, Zak went 3-3 in picks with 2 method for 5 points. Matt went 2-4 in picks with 0 methods for 2 points. Points To Date: Zak: 85 (58-35) Matt: 89 (58-35) *All odds courtesy of Caesar's Sportsbook on 5/11 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 8Arnold Allen vs 12Melquizael Costa (Allen -140) Zak Drapeau - Costa is taller, younger, has a bigg

by Zak Drapeau Sportz Nation - 5/15/2026 Quarterback Fernando Mendoza - LV This one's easy, Mendoza may not get the start until a few weeks into the season but either way he'll easily be the #1 Quarterback in the class' first year and possibly the only one that sees actual playing time HM: Carson Beck - ARI Running Backs Jeremiyah Love - ARI Jadarian Price - SEA Photo by Mark J. Rebilas via Imagn Images Another group that was easy for me, Love is the only Day 1 starter I see

by Zak Drapeau Sportz Nation - 5/13/2026 Photo by Chris Schwegler via Getty Images/ NBAE 1. Washington Wizards Darryn Peterson, Kansas, Guard So pick #1 and I'm already making waves but not only do I think Peterson is a much better fit in Washington than A.J. but has as much potential too. Peterson has been scrutinized because he "lost explosiveness in college" but I see it as a minor setback year for an amazing athlete who can get a bucket anywhere. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

by Zak Drapeau Sportz Nation - 5/12/2026 Photo by Katie Morrison via MassLive Since becoming interim Manager of the Boston Red Sox on April 25th, Chad Tracy has brought the Red Sox to a 7-6 record including a series sweep of the Detroit Tigers. After a day off on Monday and a series against the Phillies in Boston about to begin, It's time to examine the brief but telling stint of Chad Tracy as Red Sox Manager and what impact he's had in the wake of Cora's firing. Alex Cora is

by Zak Drapeau and Matt Hylen Sportz Nation - 5/11/2026 Photo by Ishika Samant via Getty Images Sean Strickland vs 2Nassourdine Imavov Zak Drapeau - Strickland has defied the odds again and become only the 2nd two-time Middleweight champion. There are a number of fighters who could challenge Strickland first, including the former champion Du Plessis, who beat Strickland twice, but I think I'm giving Imavov the shot first. In a would-be rematch three years in the making, Nasso

by Zak Drapeau and Matt Hylen Sportz Nation - 5/8/2026 Graphic by UFC via UFC.com In our Fight Night Della Maddalena vs Prates Predictions which you can find here, Zak went 4-2 in picks with 1 method for 5 points. Matt went 6-0 in picks with 5 methods for 11 points. Points To Date: Zak: 80 (55-32) Matt: 87 (56-31) *All odds courtesy of Caesar's Sportsbook on 5/6 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ CKhamzat Chimaev vs 3Sean Strickland (Chimaev -600) Zak Drapeau - Sean Stric

by Zak Drapeau Sportz Nation - 5/8/2026 Photo by Pamela Smith via Imagn images 1. A.J. Dybantsa Small Forward BYU 6'9" - 210 lbs. Archetype- Very Athletic, Mid Range Forward Anytime I grade a propsect in any sport, it comes down to two things: Upside potential and their potential floor. In my eyes, Dybantsa has the best upside potential of anyone in this class. With an elite frame of a Small Forward, great athleticism, good ball handling and a silky jump shot that could beco

by Zak Drapeau Sportz Nation - 5/6/2026 2Spurs vs 6Timberwolves MIN Lead 1-0 Photo by Ronald Cortes via Getty Images Series Odds: SA -205 Game 2 Odds: SA -10 The series between the Spurs and Timberwolves should be the most exciting of all 4 2nd round matchups. With two of the premier stars of the league in Anthony Edwards and Victor Wembanyama facing off, it should also be the most watched and media covered as well. The Spurs were heavy favorites to win the series and move on

by Zak Drapeau and Matt Hylen Sportz Nation - 5/5/2026 Photo by Ed Mulholland/ Zuffa LLC Carlos Prates vs WINNER of Makhachev vs Garry Matt Hylen - I mean, is Carlos Prates unbelievable or what?! Prates put on a perfect performance against a formidable opponent, making JDM look like an amateur in the octagon. Based on his résumé, finishing streak, and overall elite skill on the feet, Prates deserves nothing less than a title shot at this point. With that said, he will likely

by Zak Drapeau Sportz Nation - 5/5/2026 Photo Credits to NBA via NBA.com staff When is the Draft Lottery? The NBA Draft Lottery will begin at 3:00 pm EST on Sunday, May 10th. The NBA Playoffs will be in full swing as Game 4 between the New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers will start just 30 minutes after Lottery coverage starts. With the NBA Draft's First Round set to start on June 23rd, the Lottery begins NBA Draft season. The Lottery will also be a prelude to the NBA Draf

by Sportz Nation - 5/4/2026 2026 Review The Celtics miraculous 2026 season has come to an end with a Game 7 loss to the 76ers after initially leading the series 3-2. To start the season being predicted to miss the playoffs, then become the #2 seed in the East and Favorite to win the Eastern Conference Finals, all before getting heartbroken in the First Round has been a roller coaster of a year for Boston. And yet, there is still a lot of hope for this team. Photo by Matt Ston

by Zak Drapeau and Matt Hylen Sportz Nation - 5/1/2026 Photo by Ed Mulholland/ Zuffa LLC In our Fight Night Sterling v Zalal Predictions which you can find here, Zak went 3-3 in picks with 1 method for 4 points. Matt went 4-2 in picks with4 methods for 8 points. Points To Date: Zak: 75 (51-30) Matt: 76 (50-31) *All odds courtesy of Caesar's Sportsbook on 4/30 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 1Jack Della Maddelena vs 5Carlos Prates (Prates -120) Zak Drapeau - I am so ready

by Zak Drapeau Sportz Nation - 4/27/2026 Photo by WJ/ Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Caleb Lomu Tackle Utah Pick: #28 Lomu is an athletic Tackle with good size and room to grow even more muscle on his frame. As Utah's Left Tackle for the past two seasons, Lomu was a better pass blocker than run blocker and was also named to the 2024 Academic All-Big 12 team as well. As the Patriots depth chart stands, Campbell and Moses are better off at Tackle in 2026. Lomu is athletic and

by Zak Drapeau Sportz Nation - 4/27/2026 Photo by Sue Ogrocki/ Associated Press 1. New York Jets The Jets and the Giants had the best classes of all to me but I think the Jets just topped their cross-town rivals. With 4 picks in the Top-50, the Jets hit home runs with all of them including filling the 3 biggest needs of the team. David Bailey will be a force on the Edge for years to come. D'Angelo Ponds is a feisty leader on the outside or at slot corner. Then you get two dyn

by Zak Drapeau and Matt Hylen Sportz Nation - 4/27/2026 Photo by Jeff Bottari/ Zuffa LLC Aljamain Sterling vs WINNER of Lopes vs Garcia Zak Drapeau - Aljo has now won 2 in a row and is likely one win away from being in line for a title shot. With Diego Lopes and Steve Garcia being another fight for a Top-5 billing at Featherweight on the White House card, this seems like a fitting opponent for the former champion at 135. With Evloev getting the likely next shot, it would be l