by Zak Drapeau and Matt Hylen Sportz Nation - 6/19/2026 Graphic Credit to UFC via f4wonline.com In our UFC Freedom Predictions, which you can find here: Zak went 4-3 in picks with 2 method for 6 points. Matt went 3-4 in picks with 1 method right for 4 points. Points To Date: Zak: 105 (72-45) Matt: 104 (69-48) All odds courtesy of Caesar's Sportsbook on 6/18 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 2Manel Kape vs 5Kyoji Horguchi (Kape -155) Zak Drapeau - This is a terrific matchup tha

by Joel Piton Sportz Nation - 6/19/2026 Photo: Jesse Cumberland-Getty Come one, come all, to our next installment of 2026 NBA Mock Drafts. With draft night rapidly approaching and all 30 teams preparing to make the most important selections of the year, it’s time to take another look at how the first round could end up. From bona fide NCAA superstars at the top to potential steals waiting later in the night, here are the 30 prospects we expect to hear called—and where we beli

by Zak Drapeau Sportz Nation - 6/19/2026 Graphic Credits to clutchpoints.com USA is set to take on the Australia National team in the 2nd game of Group D in the World Cup today at 3 pm EST from Seattle's Safeco Field. The BIG NEWS ahead of this fight is the United States star Forward Christian Pulisic's injured left calf which has made him DOUBTFUL but a game time decision for today's big game. The United States is a -176 favorite to win this match according to Caesar's Sport

by William Gilhooly Sportz Nation - 6/18/2026 Photo Credits to Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images The Cubs center fielder’s incredible June has vaulted him into the National League MVP conversation. On Monday night, Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong received a thunderous ovation from the Wrigley Field crowd after completing the cycle. Chants of "MVPete" echoed throughout the ballpark as fans celebrated one of the most memorable performances of his young career. The

by Zak Drapeau Sportz Nation - 6/18/2026 Photo Credits to Chris Brunskill/ Fantasia via Getty images Group A Mexico 3 South Korea 3 Czechia 0 South Africa 0 Game Recaps After the first round of games, Group A played out how we expected it to with Mexico and South Korea the victors. Mexico is not only the strongest side of the group but has homefield advantage as well and that was clear in the Cup's opening match against South Africa. South Korea would have a closer, 2-1 vic

by Zak Drapeau Sportz Nation - 6/17/2026 Photo Credits to Kent Nishimura-Pool via Getty Images White House Setting and Atmosphere First things first, for all the hype that was surrounding this event from the fact that a lot of people considered it ludicrous, unpatriotic and a tax payer's worst nightmare... This will not only be 2026's Fight Card of the year but one of the best of all time. The event started off in considerable panic when around 6:00 pm EST, (or 2 hour before

by Zak Drapeau Sportz Nation - 6/17/2026 Photo Credits to Hans Lucas via AFP via Getty images 1. Washington Wizards A.J. Dybantsa, SF, BYU 6'9" - 210 lbs Dybantsa is the no doubt, number 1 pick this year in the same way Cooper Flagg was last year. A tall and long player who can score from all three levels and has the athleticism to be a solid defender too, Dybantsa will definitely be the Wizards pick even if other players such as Peterson might be a slightly better fit. _ _

by Zak Drapeau Sportz Nation - 6/16/2026 Photo Credits to Robert Gauthier via Getty Images Nation GP Pts GF GA United States 1 3 4 1 Australia 1 3 2 0 Turkiye 1 0 0 2 Paraguay 1 0 1 4 United States Looking Good The United States stormed into the 2026 World Cup on Friday with a dominant 4-1 victory against Paraguay. The match took place in California in front of a raucous United States crowd and the Americans took full advantage of their home field with goal after goal incl

by Zak Drapeau and Matt Hylen Sportz Nation Photo Credits to Chris Unger via Zuffa LLC Justin Gaethje vs Arman Tsarukyan Zak Drapeau - Captain America Justin Gaethje just had what some fans would honestly call, the greatest moment in UFC history. One of the most beloved and exciting fighters in UFC history finally became Undisputed Champion after putting on one of the overall best fights of the year and maybe in UFC history. Gaethje’s moment and era of UFC Champion is already

by Joel Piton Sportz Nation - 6/16/2026 Photo: Jared Slizewski-Getty With the NBA Finals officially wrapped, the league has wasted no time turning the page toward the future. The offseason is here, and with it comes one of the most unpredictable stretches on the basketball calendar: free agency. Every summer brings the same questions. Who is staying home? Who is chasing a bigger role? Who is ready to join a contender? And which team is willing to hand over the contract that c

By William Gilhooly Sportz Nation - 6/16/2026 Photo Credits to Jeff Roberson/AP Photo On a chilly April afternoon in Denver, with the Colorado Rockies looking to complete a sweep of the Houston Astros, one fan decided to take matters into his own hands. Shirtless and waving his jersey above his head from Section 329 at Coors Field, the fan launched what has become one of baseball's most unexpected fan-driven movements, “Tarps Off”. The tradition traces its roots to an Oklahom

by Zak Drapeau Sportz Nation - 6/14/2026 Photo Credits to Eric Hartline via Imagn Images 80. Jalen Hurts Eagles Quarterback Last Year's Rank: 35 The Eagles offense is under transition after the departure of A.J. Brown and the replacement of Kevin Patullo for the new OC Sean Mannion. Hurts had a statistical better season in passing the ball but all around some what of a disappointment as the team's offense severely regressed from the 2024 Super Bowl group. Hurts has shown tha

By William Gilhooly Sportz Nation - 6/13/2026 Photo Credits to Brandon Sloter/Getty Images As summer begins to heat up, the MLB trade deadline stove is getting hotter. This year could be especially active, with back‑to‑back American League Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal potentially on the block. Skubal opened the 2026 season strong, posting a 2.70 ERA in seven starts before being shut down because of a loose body in his left elbow. He underwent surgery May sixth and is se

Photo: Jesse D. Garrabrant-Getty The New York Knicks are one win away from history. After taking a commanding 3-1 lead over the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals, New York enters Game 5 with a chance to do what no Knicks team has done since 1973: bring a championship back to Madison Square Garden. For a franchise that has spent decades chasing ghosts, enduring several season tanks and patiently waiting for the right group to finally break through, this team now stands on th

by Zak Drapeau and Matt Hylen Sportz Nation - 6/12/2026 Graphic Credits to UFC via mmamania.com In our FN Muhammad v Bonfim, which you can find here: Zak went 3-3 in picks with 2 method for 5 points. Matt went 2-4 in picks with 1 methods right for 3 points. Points To Date: Zak: 99 (68-42) Matt: 100 (66-44) All odds courtesy of Caesar's Sportsbook on 6/10 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ CIlia Topuria vs ICJustin Gaethje Lightweight Championship (Topuria -600) Zak Dra

by Zak Drapeau 1. Favorites Part 1 Spain France Portugal England Photo Credits to Irina R. Hipolito/Europa Press via Getty Images I decided to split the "Favorites" group into two parts to show the teams I full expect to be competing for a spot in the Finals in Part 1, and the teams that are among the best squads in the world but I see having a hiccup somewhere along the way. All of the teams in "Part 1" are the top teams in terms of odds to win the World Cup. Spain is the co

by Zak Drapeau, Matt Hylen, Joel Piton and Will Gilhooly Sportz Nation - 6/10/2026 Photo Credits to ESPN Illustrations Zak Drapeau - So if you've seen my World Cup Group Stage Predictions article, you know I am extremely high on a few teams. Those teams include France, England, Spain, Portugal, and Japan. I believe they'll all walk out of the Group Stages as their group's winner and move on to the knockout stage, where the real fun begins. The 2026 edition of the World Cup kn

by Zak Drapeau Sportz Nation - 6/10/2026 Strongest Groups 1. Group K Portugal, Columbia, Uzbekistan, DR Congo Photo Credits to Octavio Passos via Getty Images No other group in the World Cup has 2 stronger sides than Group K and Portugal and Colombia. Both teams could be considered Top-15 in the entire tournament with high hopes of going far including Portugal having the 4th best odds to win it all. Uzbekistan and DR Congo are clearly the weaker sides of the group but neither

by Zak Drapeau Sportz Nation - 6/10/2026 Photo by Nam Y. Huh via Associated Press The United States soccer team has never been one of the World's powers and the 2026 edition of the World Cup tournament is no different. Being one of the home countries will give them a lot of coverage and hopefully some game time heroism but overall, the Americans are not expected to be one of the last teams standing. That doesn't mean we can't hope the boys have a good showing. Group Stage The

by Zak Drapeau and Matt Hylen Sportz Nation - 6/9/2026 Photo by Chris Unger/ Zuffa LLC Gabriel Bonfim vs Michael Morales Matt Hylen - If this were to happen, it would be must-see TV. With Gabriel Bonfim’s win over Belal Muhammad, it propels him right into that top-7 range that could definitely warrant a fight against a legit contender. With the welterweight division so crowded at the top, it is safe to say that both Bonfim and Michael Morales need one more fight before making