Odjick led the NHL in penalty minutes during the 1996-97 season.
Former National Hockey League (NHL) veteran player Gino Odjick died of a heart attack at a Vancouver hospital on Sunday, where he was going to get leg bandages. He was 52 years old.
In 2014, Odjick was diagnosed with amyloidosis, a disease that attacks the organs and the heart.
Following the news of his death, three out of the four teams that Odjick used to play for sent their condolences.
New York Islanders wrote on their Twitter page,
“The New York Islanders are deeply saddened to learn the passing of former family member, Gino Odjick. The team extends our condolences to the Odjick family and friends.”
Odjick played for 12 years in the NHL for the Vancouver Canucks, New York Islanders, Philadelphia Flyers, and Montreal Canadiens, between 1990 and 2002.
Gino Odjick playing for the Vancouver Canucks
In the history of the Canucks, Gino holds the record for minutes spent in the penalty box with 2,127.
For the 1996-97 campaign, Odjick led the league in penalty minutes at 371.
The chairman and governor of the Canucks, Francisco Aquilini said in a statement: “Gino was a fan-favourite from the moment he joined the organization, putting his heart and soul into every shift on and off the ice. He inspired many and embodied what it means to be a Canuck. Personally, he was a close friend and confidant, someone I could lean on for advice and support. He will be deeply missed.”
Chicago Fire striker Jhon Durán was signed for $22m by Aston Villa after a massive breakthrough season in Major League Soccer.
Durán is leaving Major League Soccer for the Premier League.
The signing deal hinged on the Colombian teenager gaining a visa and passing a medical test in England.
Premier League’s Aston Villa have signed Colombia International Jhon Durán from Major League Soccer club Chicago Fire in a deal worth almost $22 million.
Before Villa drafted him, some other Europe clubs like Chelsea and Liverpool were hoping to get the striker who scored eight goals in 27 games for Fire last season. But he was scouted by Aston Villa, earning him his first cap for Colombia.
Durán had already played thrice for Colombia and is now the second Chicago Fire teen to leave the MLS for the EPL, following in Gabriela Slonina’s footsteps. Slonina joined Chelsea for $15m last August.
Chicago Fire Striker Jhon DuránGabriel Slonina
ESPN reports that the deal to take Jhon to Birmingham, England is worth $18m, with $4m for performance-related add-ons.
Colombian club Envigado, where Durán started his career, is also entitled to a percentage of the transfer fee.
When confirming the move, Aston Villa said, ‘the deal is subject to the player passing a medical, agreeing personal terms, and obtaining the necessary work visa.’
Jhon Durán in actionAston Villa Boss Unai Emery
If the deal is finalized without any hitches, Durán’s move would be one of the three biggest in MLS history.
His $22m transfer would match the amount Bayern Munich paid Vancouver Whitecaps for full-back Alphonso Davies. But it would rank behind the $26m Newcastle United paid to sign Miguel Almiron from Atlanta United back in 2019.
Before now, Durán’s career has been watched with great interest by a number of English Premier League clubs, like Manchester United, Liverpool, and Chelsea.
According to reports out of Colombia, Liverpool in the past, sent the same scout that discovered Luis Diaz at Porto before he joined the Reds, to watch Durán.
Portuguese club Benfica was also said to be scouting the Fire striker, he appeared on the front page of Record, a newspaper in Portugal, back in December as teams’ interests in him grew.
Jhon Durán in front of Record Newspaper
Chicago Fire coach Ezra Hendrickson, when speaking on Durán said, ‘He is a player that, once he gets it all together, he can be a really really special player. He has all the tools.’
In January 2021, Fire sporting director Georg Heitz defined Durán as being “really gifted”.
“He is not only physically interesting especially if you consider his age, but also technically, he’s really good in front of the goal, he’s good in the box, he’s smart, he’s quick with his feet. A raw talent, but really gifted,’ Heitz told the Athletic.
Durán is currently away with the Colombian national team as part of the 2023 South American Under – 20 Championships.
Montreal will play a game on the road, as they face off with New York at Madison Square Garden in the New York Rangers VS Montreal Canadiens game.
NHL Scores show that the Canadiens has a 17-22-3 record, while the Rangers have a 24-12-7 record. Both teams have played each other once this season, with New York, winning the matchup.
The game between Rangers and Canadiens will happen today at 14:00, so ahead of the game, MatchPlug has brought you some reliable NHL Predictions Today you can use to inform yourself before the start of the game.
Predictions and Betting Preview for New York Rangers VS Montreal Canadiens
Canadiens VS Rangers
Where: Madison Square Garden, New York
When: Sunday, January 15, 2023
Time: 14:00 GMT
Teams to play: New York Rangers and Montreal Canadiens
New York Rangers And Montreal Canadiens Prediction
These are some expert NHL predictions surrounding today’s game between the Rangers and Capitals.
New York Rangers Win 5 Out Of Their Last 6 Games
New York Rangers
Season Record: 24-12-7
BetMGM Spread: -1.5
BetMGM Moneyline:1.35
BetMGM Over/Under: Under 6
1XBet Spread: -1.5
1XBet Moneyline: 1.645
1XBet Over/Under: Under 5.5
The Rangers were a -130 favourite in their last game and they beat the Dallas Stars 2-1 in overtime. Adam Fox scored the overtime winner and he had an assist. K’ Andre Miller scored a goal, and Igor Shesterkin blocked 24 out of 25 shots from their opponents.
New York’s offense has been playing well recently, they scored 4 goals or more in 5 out of their last 9 games. Rangers rank 16th in goals per game and 9th in shots per game.
Artemi Panarin leads with 46 points and Mika Zibanejad is next with 45 points. Mika and Chris Kreider both lead the Rangers with 19 goals. Vincent Trocheck has 31 points and Kreider has 30 points.
The Rangers’ defense and goaltending have been good too this season. The team ranks 6th in goals against per game and 7th in shots against per game. Igor Shesterkin’s record is 20-6-6 with a 2.4 GAA and .917 SV%. Jaroslav Halak has a record of 4-6-1 with a 2.85 GAA and .896 SV%.
Adam Fox on the other hand has 44 points, he is 3rd in points, 4th in goals, and third in assists amongst all the defensemen in the league. Fox is on a six-game point steak. K’Andre Miller has 23 points and is on a five-game point streak.
Montreal Canadiens Play Back To Back On The Road
Montreal Canadiens
Season Record: 17-22-3
BetMGM Spread: +1.5
BetMGM Moneyline: 3.25
BetMGM Over/Under: Over 6
1XBet Spread: +1.5
1XBet Moneyline: 4.62
1XBet Over/Under: Over 5.5
The Montreal Canadiens are on the back end of continuous back-to-back road games. Their offense has been poor. Montreal ranks 29th in goals per game and 30th in shots per game. They scored two or fewer goals in 7 of their last 10 games.
Nick Suzuki leads the team with 35 points, and Cole Caufield follows with 25 goals and ranks 8th in goals in the NHL. Kirby Dach has 26 points this year.
In addition to their defense faltering, the Canadiens’ defense and goaltending have both been poor too. They rank 29th in goals per game and 28th in shots against per game. Jake Allen’s record reads 10-16-1 with a 3.52 GAA. While Sam Montembeault has a record of 7-6-2 with a 3.39 GAA and .902 SV%.
MatchPlug Prediction
New York has been playing really well lately, winning 5 of their last 6 games. Their offense works too, they have scored 4 or more goals in 5 of the last 9 games. The Rangers’ defense and goaltending have been very good too this season.
Rangers rank 6th in goals scored against per game and 7th in shots against per game. Igor Shesterkin’s 20-6-6 with a 2.4 GAA and .917 SV% record shines through.
In the past too, New York has won 4 out of the last 5 games with Montreal, and also defeated them on January 5th this season with a 4-1 score.
On their own part, the Canadiens have been bad recently, losing 8 out of their last 10 games. Offense, defense, and goaltending have all been awful for them this season. They rank 29th in goals per game, 30th in shots per game, 29th in goals against per game, and 28th in shots against per game.
With the Rangers playing at home, and the Canadiens playing road games back-to-back, New York will win this match by two or more goals.
Final Prediction: New York Rangers against the Spread.
San Antonio Spurs VS Sacramento Kings feature two teams with opposite goals. Kings want to keep adding to its winning streak and stay in the playoffs, while Spurs are fighting to avoid last position in the West.
MatchPlug brings you the best of American Sports preview, including NBA predictions and betting information. On that note, here are Betting Tips Today for the Spurs and Kings matchup.
San Antonio Spurs have suffered three consecutive losses, including two against the Memphis Grizzlies by 121-113 and a 135-129 score. The worst part is that Spurs’ play isn’t bad, they just don’t know how to maintain leverage and how to win.
The year has been a learning experience for San Antonio because they actually have a good team to play with. Gregg Popovich is not sure about his team and has made decisions too late in games, a few times. Just when the Spurs are about to recover, it’s already too late and they end up losing the game.
Tre Jones is singled out as the best player in the squad. This season, Jones averaged 13.5 points and 6.4 assists per game. He has raised his productivity to 15.9 points and 5.6 assists over the last 10 games he played. The problem with Jones, however, is that he doesn’t always get the help he needs, because most of the team is still finding its rhythm.
Betting On The Sacramento Kings
Sacramento Kings
Season Record: 22-18
BetMGM Spread: -7.5
BetMGM Moneyline: 1.34
BetMGM Over/Under: Over 244.5
1XBet Spread: -7.5
1XBet Moneyline: 1.41
1XBet Over/Under: Over 244.5
Sacramento Kings have already secured two victories in a row against Orlando Magic 136-115 and against Houston Rockets 135-115, but its performance is still a bit inconsistent and that may be because of its defense.
Kings only have Domantas Sabonis rebounding, and although he is one of the best in the NBA, his skills are not enough. Sabonis does almost everything on his own and gets no assistance from Harrison Barnes and Keegan Murray, who have only 8 rebounds between the two, and have not blocked even once.
Most analysts believe that Barnes and Murray attack well, but their defense is poor and that is why Sabonis seems to be everywhere at once on the court.
Malik Monk, on the other hand, has made merit to be a starter for Kings. In the match against Houston, he scored 11 points, pulled down 3 boards and served 3 assists. But, Monk seems to have two moods; when he’s having a bad day, his impact won’t be felt, but if he has a good day he can score 30 points.
MatchPlug Prediction
In the Kings VS Spurs match, Sacramento will count on Sabonis, even if their defense still doesn’t perform well. San Antonio on their own part, can’t stop Sabonis, who will surely have an excellent game again to give his team the win.
The Spurs will have a low blow, mostly because they are still figuring out their parts in the team. Yet, since the season has been constant, their efforts won’t do much.
Of course, this will be a low blow for the Spurs, more so because they are slowly starting to find their rhythm. Still, as it has been a constant season, their efforts will not be enough.
Final Prediction: Sacramento Kings’ Moneyline
You can find more expert odds for this game on 1XBet and BetMGM.
The Portland Trail Blazers VS Dallas Mavericks game is the second meeting of the series between these teams. This matchup is a great chance for both teams, as the two of them are in the playoffs.
While the Trail Blazers need to win tonight’s game to get into Play-In, however, just one game stops them from getting in. Will this be the game?
MatchPlug is a trusted platform for all things NBA predictions and information, so this is our take on the NBA Predictions Tonight for the Trail Blazers and Mavericks matchup.
Portland is having a difficult time getting back on its feet. They’ve lost 5 games consecutively, and their last defeat was against the Cleveland Cavaliers which was in a game that ended with a 119-113 score.
Their defense is poor and they can’t seem to utilize the moment Damian Lillard is having, so he just does what he can.
Lillard only scored 50 points and has an average of 28.0 points over the last 10 games he played. He is one of the team’s best players, and even though his team is currently fighting for a spot in Play-In, is stuck and can’t move on.
The Trail Blazers are one game behind the Timberwolves, but to catch up with them, they’d have to win tonight’s game. For a greater part of their entire game with the Phoenix Suns, they were winning and seemed to be getting on track, only for them to fumble again.
Betting On The Dallas Mavericks
Luka Doncic
Season Record: 24 – 19
BetMGM Spread: +1.5
BetMGM Moneyline: 2.05
BetMGM Over/Under: Over 224.5
1XBet Spread: +1.5
1XBet Moneyline: 2.245
1XBet Over/Under: Over 224.5
Having Luka Doncic in the Dallas squad is like the team using a cheat code to play. Doncic has averaged 39.1 points, 11 rebounds, and 9.1 assists in 10 games. Watching him play is a real privilege.
However, not everything is good in the Dallas camp. Player injuries have thrown them off their game a bit. But, they’ve mustered 7 consecutive wins at one point in the season, making it one of the best winning streaks for the club in recent years. Now, their powers are no longer at full capacity because of those injuries.
Furthermore, while Doncic is a cheat code, he is not the solution to all of Dallas’ problems. He can’t do everything and gets help only from Dorian Finney-Smith and Josh Green, who is not healthy and whose absences have struck a fatal blow to the team.
The transfer window is ending soon, and if the Mavericks don’t strengthen their squad, they’ll suffer later in the season.
MatchPlug Prediction
Betting Tips Today predicts that the matchup between Portland and Dallas will be very even. The Mavericks can’t find their footing and the Trail Blazers do their best to stay afloat but mess up every good moment they get.
Luck might be in the cards for Dallas, but NBA Expert Picks have already picked Luka Doncic and his Trail Blazers to take the win at home.
Final Prediction: Portland Trail Blazers Spread.
Bettors can find more expert odds surrounding this game on 1XBet and BetMGM.
The NFC Wild Card second game for the 2023 NFL postseason is Minnesota Vikings VS New York Giants which will happen on Sunday. This game is a meeting between two evenly matched-teams.
After their five-campaign absence and attaining the NFC’s second wild card, the New York has returned to the postseason. Minnesota on the other hand finished as champion of the NFC North and fought until the last weeks to attain the best record in the National Conference.
These teams played during the regular round, resulting in a 24-27 victory for Minnesota.
Regular Season Record: 13-4 (NFC North Champion – 3rd seed NFC)
BetMGM Spread: -3
BetMGM Moneyline: 1.62
BetMGM Over/Under: Under 48
1XBet Spread: -1.5
1XBet Moneyline: 1.64
1XBet Over/Under: Under 48.5
Minnesota Vikings started the campaign as the major favourites to sack the Greenbay Packers in the NFC North, and they really did do it. Securing 8 wins in the first 9 games, including the first week’s game versus Greenbay, the Vikings made their way to the top of the group.
For the postseason, expectations for this team are divided because while they have a strong aerial offense, their defense finished the regular season as one of the worst in the championship. They were defeated by the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys in the playoffs.
Minnesota finally allowed 427 points to its opponents, which is the 3rd highest total in the league, and 6,608 total yards were the 2nd highest total yards allowed by any of the NFL defenses.
The Vikings were performing poorly in both passes and rushes, finishing in the top 5 worst defenses against the pass, and in the top 10 worst teams in stopping opposing runs. They were also the second team with the most penalties (111), tied with the Giants.
On Minnesota’s offensive side, things changed rapidly. The Vikings reached the postseason because of the aerial display developed by Kirk Cousings, Justin Jefferson, and Adam Thielen. The team was 3rd in attempted passes (672), 4th in aerial touchdowns (30), and 6th in total yards through passes (4.484). They also ranked 8th in points scored and in red zone efficiency too.
The New York Giants making it to the postseason is considered one of the pleasant surprises of the NFL regular round. This is so because New York finished last year with only four wins with Brian Daboll a head coach who had lots of talent but was experiencing his first time in this position.
In spite of this, the Giants didn’t falter in a complicated NFC East, that at some point had all four teams in the playoffs. Even with a lack of impressive numbers, these players found a way to win their games. 8 of their 9 wins were accomplished by 8 points or lower.
New York’s offensive side improved by one main factor which was Daniel Jones’ development. Jones had his best season yet since joining the NFL in 2019. He led the team to have the second-lowest amount of turnovers with just 16.
But, the heart and soul of this team’s offense is the ground game led by Saquon Barkley, who helped Giants finish 4th in total rushing yards (2,519) and touchdowns (21). They also finished 5th in average yards per carry (4.8).
A look at New York’s defense and their team records shows why most of their games were tightly contested. By conceding 371 points, the Giants ranked 17th in the league. Yet, they were positioned 5th as the best team defending on third downs and inside the red zone with 35.1% and 49.2% efficiencies, respectively.
To get some good results, the Giants’ secondary must have a good game, because they were one of the circuit’s worst teams in terms of stopping ground attacks. They also conceded the second-highest average of yards per carry in the NFL and the sixth-highest total rushing yards. In defending the pass, they ranked 14th in total yards per carry, and the 21 TDs conceded were the ninth-best total in the league.
MatchPlug Prediction
The Minnesota Vikings have a disastrous defense, but the good thing is that the New York Giants’ defense is not very powerful, and they can be inconsistent sometimes.
This fact is vital when you note that Minnesota scores lots of points. The team scored fewer than 23 points only 3 times this campaign, and in their first game against the Giants, they gained over 350 total yards.
Another advantage the Vikings have is that they are basically unbeatable at home. This year, they only lost one game out of the nine games they played, and it was to the Dallas Cowboys.
New York, scored a 3-4 record playing as visitors, including two losses in their past two away games.
The National Football League’s AFC Wild Card week of the 2023 NFL postseason features matchups between two teams in the same division, and of those matches is Buffalo Bills VS Miami Dolphins which is happening on Sunday.
Miami in a close matchup, defeated the New York Jets, while the New England Patriots lost to the Buffalo Bills. The Dolphins advanced as the third wild card to the American Conference. While Buffalo brought together its title as AFC East Champion with seven consecutive wins.
To get you started off and show you what to expect, these are some NFL Predictions this week for the Bills and Dolphins, brought to you by MatchPlug.
Season Record: 13-3 (AFC East Champion – 2nd seed AFC)
BetMGM Spread: -13.5
BetMGM Moneyline: 1.10
BetMGM Over/Under: Under 43.5
1XBet Spread: -13.5
1XBet Moneyline: 1.11
1XBet Over/Under: Under 43.5
Buffalo entered the postseason as AFC East champions for the third consecutive campaign and this time they did so as one of the top 3 favourites to win the Super Bowl.
No matter, that they had a rough start, the Bills concluded the regular season with a 13-3 record on the strength of 8 consecutive wins and the weight of not playing against the Bengals because of Damar Hamlin’s accident. Hamlin’s accident prevented them from securing the first place in the American Conference that they had held up until the accident.
The Bills’ offense’s main weapon is Josh Allen’s aerial game. This was the same play that led them to second position in points scored (455), first downs gained (367) and touchdown passes completed (35). On the ground, they have 5.2 yards per rush, which is the second-best number in the entire circuit, which makes them more dangerous than Miami.
Buffalo’s defense is equally as strong as their offense. As a matter of fact, their 286 points conceded are the second-fewest in the NFL, and they were second in the league for opponent touchdowns allowed in the red zone with just 44.9% of opportunities.
One area, however, that the Bills might need improvement on before their game with the Dolphins is their pass defense. Here, they managed to finish as the top 15 in the league in total yards and touchdowns allowed. They were also one of the top 7 teams against their ground attack and fourth in recovered fumbles with 27.
Betting On The Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
Season record: 9-8 (3rd wild card – 7th AFC seed)
BetMGM Spread: +13.5
BetMGM Moneyline: 7.25
BetMGM Over/Under: Over 43.5
1XBet Spread: +13.5
1XBet Moneyline: 6.6
1XBet Over/Under: Over 43.5
The Dolphins fought their way to the postseason after doing so well in the first half of the season and later performing poorly in the second half with five consecutive losses.
Due to multiple injuries to Tua Tagovailoa and Teddy Bridgewater, Miami’s powerful offense, couldn’t get on track for many defining moments. One such moment was in three of the last 6 games of the season when they couldn’t score past 17 points. But, thanks to their impressive early records, the Dolphins finished the year 4th in total yards (3,992) and TD passes (27) in the league.
For Sunday’s game, it is important that Miami’s attack route is effective. It is vital to note that they were the 8th team with the fewest yards gained on the ground and scored only 12 rushing touchdowns. The main issue is that they might depend solely on running backs, as it isn’t clear if Tagovailoa will be cleared to play against Buffalo or if Bridgewater’s right-hand finger soreness will be fully healed.
On the defense side, things are looking up, since the Dolphins’ ground defense is great; however, they are one of the worst in the NFL regarding passes. This is bad news for a secondary that forfeited the 6th most passing yards (3,992) and the 7th most touchdown passes (27) and now must be tested against one of the best quarterbacks in the league.
Regarding the ground game, Miami’s 103.1 yards allowed per game and 4.1 allowed per carry were the NFL’s 4th best figures. Similarly, they allowed only 15 touchdowns, while the opponent scored 98 first downs, this is the 6th lowest number in the whole circuit.
MatchPlug Prediction
Although the Dolphins shared honours with the Bills this season, losing only three points in the match they lost, it is likely that this Sunday might be the first time they’ll face Buffalo without Tua Tagovailoa.
That quarterback is the major factor why Miami ranked as one of the circuit’s best passing offenses, and without him leading the squad, the match looks uneven.
In the last game, Buffalo finished with 446 total yards and 32 points against a weak Dolphins secondary, as Miami only stayed in the game because of Tua’s passion. Without him, the Bills’ defense should have a peaceful game.
On this note, it can also be added that Miami left a 3-6 record on the road, while Buffalo finished with a 6-1 record at home. The Dolphins have a 3-7-1 record playing against the spread in their last 11 meetings in Buffalo.
Jacksonville Jaguars VS Los Angeles Chargers is a game that features two of the 2023 NFL postseason pleasant surprises, who will be facing off in the first Wild Card game of the American Conference.
After a challenging first half, the Chargers won five of their last 7 games to earn the AFC Wild Card, while the Jaguars made an epic comeback by winning 7 of their last 9 games to lead the AFC South.
Season Record: 9-8 (AFC South Champion – 4th seed AFC)
BetMGM Spread: +2.5
BetMGM Moneyline: 2.20
BetMGM Over/Under: Under 47.5
1XBet Spread: +2.5
1XBet Moneyline: 2.1
1XBet Over/Under: Under 47.5
The Jacksonville Jaguars qualified for first place in the AFC South after securing 5 straight victories. Doug Pederson gracing the Jaguars’ bench might have signified a before and after in the team’s history and this feat may the first of Pederson’s legacies.
Jacksonville hoped to escape being last place in their division after entering their “bye week” with a 3-7 record after losing to Kansas City Chiefs in Week 10. But, the team reversed their negative trend thanks to quarterback Trevor Lawrence and running back Travis Etienne for guiding a balanced offense.
This team ended the campaign with an average of 5.7 yards gainerd per play, 7th best in the league, and its offensive line had the 5th fewest quarterback sacks with only 28. Furthermore, they ranked among the top 15 offenses regarding total rushing and passing yards, including rushing and passing touchdowns.
In terms of defense, the Jaguars also balanced and in the past three weeks, their opponents only scored 22 points against team. They are strong on the field and have a knack for inflicting losses on opponents; despite often struggling with passes, which is not good if they are playing Justin Herbert.
For this season’s campaign, they emerged as 4th in turnovers with 22 and second in fumbles recovered with 13; one was last Saturday against the Titans in the fourth period, when they went all the way to the end zone to win the match.
Betting On The Los Angeles Chargers
sCharger
Season record: 10 -7 (1st wild card – 5th AFC seed)
BetMGM Spread: -2.5
BetMGM Moneyline: 1.70
BetMGM Over/Under: Over 47.5
1XBet Spread: -2.5
1XBet Moneyline: 1.75
1XBet Over/Under: Over 47.5
During the season’s second half, the Los Angeles Chargers put their inconsistencies aside and became the first wild card in the American Conference, and one of the hottest teams towards the end of regular round.
Supported by quarterback Justin Herbert’s aerial display, Los Angeles finished the season with just a game under 200 total passing yards and were third in the league with 4,584 on the campaign.
These statistics, plus the 26 touchdown passes by Herbert, were the remedy the Chargers needed to rise above the problems that affected their ground game through out the year. Those problems placed them as second to last in average yards per rush (3.8) and total rushing yards (1,524).
For defense, Los Angeles still has some issues to deal with, but an improvement in this area led them to their outcome this season. Before their 28-31 loss to the Denver Broncos, this team did not allow any opponent to score over 17 points during their four-game winning streak. This was impressive especially since they were 11th in points allowed with 384.
Chargers being second-fewest penalities team in the circuit with only 80, also boosted this team’s performance. As did them being top 10 in the red zone by allowing touchdowns on only 52.1% of visits.
But, when defending on the ground, Los Angeles in one of the worst in the league, as they allowed the most yards per rush than other teams with 5.4. Also, their 2,478 rushing yards allowed was the 5th highers figure in the circuit.
MatchPlug Prediction
Jacksonville Jaguars VS Los Angeles Chargers will be a play off on each other’s strengths and weaknesses, which makes this game the closest one of Wild Card week.
Although Los Angeles is a bit superior to Jacksonville in passes and will be facing an extremely incosistent secondary; the Jaguars’ ground game which supercedes that of the Chargers is still expected to have a smooth game against a lackadasical opposing ground defense.
The Chargers lost the fewest fumbles of the campaign with only 19, the Jaguars matched the New England Patriots this year as the team that had the most points scored after a turnover with 111 points.
That being said, home advantage will play a vital role in today’s matchup. While in 8 out of the past 10 games these teams have played, the Los Angeles team came out on top, this year the Jaguars beat the Chargers 38-10 on the road.
This evening the Jaguars will be hosting the Chargers at home where they have a 5-2 record; their opponent had a 5-4 record on the road.
Final Prediction: Jaguars to win (LA 20 – JAX 24).
The 2023 NFL postseason Wild Card games are kicking off this Saturday afternoon, with an NFC West divisional showdown between the San Francisco 49ers VS Seattle Seahawks.
Seattle stole a last-minute qualification as the third wild card, all thanks to the Los Angeles Rams and Detroit Lions who beat the Greenbay Packers last Sunday night and eliminated them from the competition.
On the other hand, San Francisco put up a good fight till the last minute to secure the best record in the National Conference and finished champion of its division.
Remember, the 49ers and Seahawks are division rivals who met a few times during the regular round. San Francisco won twice.
Without wasting any more time, MatchPlug brings you the best NFL Predictions this week for this intriguing matchup between the 49ers and the Seahawks.
Regular Season Record: 13-4 (NFC West Champion – 2nd seed NFC)
BetMGM Spread: -9.5
BetMGM Moneyline: 1.20
BetMGM Over/Under: Under 42
1XBet Spread: -9.5
1XBet Moneyline: 1.21
1XBet Over/Under: Under 41.5
San Francisco is a force to be reckoned with in the NFL. In addition to having strong talent in their squad, they have proven themselves to be responsive by powering through two painful quarterback injuries to Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo, to become one of the league’s best teams.
On the teams’ offensive side, Christian McCaffrey’s arrival signified a before and after in the championship. Since they had this astounding running back in their lines, the dynamism of their offense has become fearsome. McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel, and George Kittle served as an excellent outlet for Brock Purdy to smoothly take over the leadership of the offense.
The 49ers ranked 6th in points scored, with 450 and 5th in total yards with 6.216. They lost 17 fumbles which is the 3rd lowest number in the league. Using passes, they finished 3rd in average net yards per pass, and 4th in touchdown passes.
On the ground, they also dominated, scoring 20 times, the 5th best figure in the league. San Francisco also ranked 8th in total yards and 10th in average yards per carry.
Besides having an impeccable offensive performance, the 49ers also have the best defense in the NFL.
This team was first in fewest points allowed (277), fewest total yards allowed (5.110) and, most interceptions gained (20).
They finished second in fumbles recovered (30), fewest first downs conceded (291), total rushing yards (1.321), and average yards per carry (3.4). To sum it up, they also received the 5th lowest number of passing touchdowns with 20, and the 9th lowest share of touchdowns with 11.
Seattle can be referred to as the postseason’s biggest surprise, especially after factors like projections and analysis before the regular round positioned them as one of the league’s worst teams, following Russell Wilson and Bobby Wagner’s departure.
The Seahawks’ management made some interesting changes, with the support of Geno Smith who took over as starting quarterback and did not disappoint. In spite of the slip in recent weeks, this team placed themselves as one of the most terrifying offenses in the NFL, and this performance is mainly responsible for their ranking.
Using 407 points, the squad finished as the 9th highest scoring team, their 30 TD passes are the 4th highest total in the NFL. Seahawks also finished as one of the top 10 teams with the best average in total passing yards and net yards gained per pass. On the ground, despite not having much end zone strength, they finished with the 7th best average in yards per carry with 4.8.
Although Seattle’s offense dominated, their defense was a constant source of headache to them. Most of the leverage brought by the offense, where immediately shot down because of the defense’s problems.
This team were the 4th team that gave up the most points during the year with 401 points. On the ground, they allowed 2,455 yards, the third-highest figure in the league, and also 21 touchdowns, the 5th highest amount in the NFL.
They tried to fix this problem with passes, but it wasn’t enough to avoid their ranking as the 8th team with the lowest efficiency in the red zone, allowing TDS in 59.6% of the opponent’s visits.
MatchPlug Prediction
While the Seahawks had a good season, their winning this Saturday is dependent on San Francisco fumbling in the matchup. In the two games they played during the regular round, the 49ers’ defense played with Seattle’s impenetrable offense.
In both games, Seattle was not able to pass 280 total yards, and the team scored only 20 points.
Considering the fact that Seahawks’ offense concluded the campaign with lots of problems, and San Francisco’s defense did not allow more than 20 points in 9 out of their last 10 games, Pete Carroll and the rest of the team have their work cut out for them.
The 49ers’ Brock Purdy, on the other hand, will rely heavily on Christian McCaffrey to bring pain to Seattle’s defense, which was one of the worst on rushing, and conceded over 170 rushing yards in the two games it played against San Francisco.
Bettors can head over to BetMGM or 1XBet to view the NFL Picks for free surrounding San Francisco VS Seattle.
Philadelphia Flyers And Washington Capitals Prediction
These are some expert NHL predictions surrounding today’s game between the Flyers and Capitals.
Capitals Have A Potent Offense
Washington Capitals are having a fantastic season with their offence stepping up and scoring 3.36 goals per game, plus 22 goals scored in their last five games.
Left Winger Alexander Ovechkin scored 29 goals and 19 assists, and Dylan Strome and Evgeny Kuznetsov added 14 goals and 53 assists to the top two lines. The rest of the Capitals’ offence has been awesome too.
Connor Sheary, Anthony Mantha and Marcus Johansson have a combined 30 goals and 41 assists, and defensemen Erik Gustafsson and Nick Jensen have added eight goals and 35 assists from the point to open up the defence.
The team’s defence has also shaped up, allowing only 2.70 goals per game with only five goals in the past three games. Gustafsson and Jensen share 4.8 defensive points shares and 124 blocked shots. Trevor Van Riemsdyk, Dmitry Orlov, and Martin Fehervary have a combined 5.9 defensive point shares to add depth to the unit.
Additionally, goaltender Darcy Kuemper has been good with a .920 save percentage and a 2.45 goals-against average on 766 shots.
Flyers’ Defense Has Improved
Philadelphia Flyers are having a forgettable season, particularly because their offence is struggling, scoring only 2.78 goals per game.
Travis Konecny, Kevin Hayes, and Joel Farabee have a combined 40 goals and 62 assists to lead the top two lines, but the rest of the offence is not doing well. Only five Flyers’ skaters have nine goals or more and opposing defences can limit the top-heavy offence due to this.
The Flyers’ offence can’t stay afloat, but the team’s defence is their most recent source of disappointment, allowing 3.22 goals per game.
Travis Sanheim and Ivan Provorov have combined for 3.3 defensive point shares but the rest of the unit is found wanting, allowing the opposition to find open shots on the net at will.
The upside however is the goaltender Carter Hart’s play which is a .908 save percentage and 2.97 goals-against average on 898 shots.
Betting Odds
BetMGM Spread: Philadelphia Flyers (+1.5) | Washington Capitals (-1.5)
BetMGM Total: Philadelphia Flyers U6 | Washington Capitals Over 6
BetMGM Moneyline: Philadelphia Flyers (2.45) | Washington Capitals (1.57)
1XBet Spread: Philadelphia Flyers (+1.5) | Washington Capitals (-1.5)
1XBet Totals: Philadelphia Flyers Under 5.5 | Washington Capitals Over 5.5
1XBet Moneyline: Philadelphia Flyers 3.36 | Washington Capitals 1.97
The Flyers showed promise in their recent games, but the Capitals have the makings of one of the Eastern Conference’s best teams. Washington will try to control this game in the first period.
Washington averages 3.26 goals per game and will seek out the back of the net with Alexander Ovechkin, Dylan Strome, and the rest of the forward unit building a strong offensive zone presence and creating open shots.
With only five goals allowed in the last three games, the Capitals would also limit the Flyers’ offence using Nick Jensen, Dmitry Orlov, and the rest of the defensive unit creating turnovers in the defensive zone and barring shots on the net.
That should allow Kuemper to make saves. The Capitals are expected to win this game with a strong performance on the road.
Final Prediction -Washington Capitals Moneyline road favourites.
