Sport: Five events to watch this week
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It’s that time of the week where we look ahead to what sporting action we have coming your way over the next seven days. You can call the shots in the Carabao Cup, FA Cup, Snooker, Big Bash and more with us.
Whether you’re cheering on the underdog in the FA Cup, fancy catching the cricket down under or head over stateside for the NFL Wild Card playoffs – it’s all lined up ready and waiting right here…
Carabao Cup
The semi-finals of the Carabao Cup get underway with the last four teams battling it out for a place in April’s final at Wembley.
On Tuesday, Tottenham host Brentford and will kick-off as 2/9 favourites to reach the final and move a step closer to the first piece of silverware of the season. The Bees are 29/10 to qualify and cause an upset against a rotated Spurs side.
On Wednesday, Manchester United v Manchester City lock horns at Old Trafford in a tasty local derby with a place in the final up for grabs.
Reigning champions Manchester City are evens to win the match in 90 minutes and 1/2 to reach the final. The Red Devils are 7/5 to qualify on home soil and 3/1 to win the Carabao Cup outright.
Cricket
It’s full steam ahead in the Big Bash with some of the biggest names in Australian T20 Cricket clearing the boundary ropes and lighting up the stumps.
We’ve got Big Bash action each day, featuring a double-header on Thursday with high-flying Hobart Hurricanes hosting Sydney Thunder, who are on a five-game winning run. Thunder are 4/5 favourites to extend their winning streak.
If you fancy swapping the bright lights of the Big Bash you can tune into Australia v India in the third test match from the Sydney Cricket Ground.
The series is evenly poised at 1-1 heading into the penultimate test. Tim Paine’s Aussies are 4/6 to take a series lead with India 11/4 outsiders to win the match. A draw is 7/2.
NFL
All eyes will be in the NFL Wild Card playoffs at the weekend with twelve teams battling it out in the opening weekend of fixtures.
The action gets underway with Indianapolis Colts v Buffalo Bills on Saturday with the visitors 1/3 favourites to win the match. Elsewhere, Seattle Seahawks (1/2) welcome Los Angeles Rams (17/10) to CenturyLink Field and Tampa Bay Buccaneers play Washington Football Team.
On Sunday, Tennessee Titans host Baltimore Ravens and second-seed New Orleans Saints go head-to-head with the Chicago Bears. Cleveland Browns also travel to Pittsburgh to take on the Stealers in the final playoff match this week.
FA Cup
Will there be a big FA Cup upset this weekend? The third round gets underway on Friday night with Aston Villa v Liverpool and Wolves v Crystal Palace to whet the appetite for a thrilling weekend of cup action.
FA Cup holders Arsenal host Newcastle United in another all-Premier League clash, plus Manchester United versus Watford at Old Trafford with the Hornets 17/2 to leave a sting in the tail against the twelve-time winners.
Elsewhere, there could be a few upsets on the cards with Everton v Rotherham, Crawley v Leeds and non-league Marine v Tottenham Hotspur worth keeping tabs on.
The Masters Snooker
On Sunday, the Masters begins in Milton Keynes as the top sixteen players in the world compete for the second Triple Crown event of the season.
Stuart Bingham is a 22/1 outsider to defend his Masters title with the likes of Judd Trump (9/4), Ronnie O’Sullivan (4/1) and Neil Robertson (9/2) amongst the favourites to win the tournament.
All odds and markets correct as of date of publication
