EPL Round 5 - Tottenham vs. Liverpool (Saturday 9:30pm AEST)
This week's Premier League action kicks off with an absolute belter and I am tipping that the Reds will go five-for-five to start the season.
Liverpool are one of three teams to have gone perfect through the opening month of the season (along with Watford and Chelsea) and can join the Newcastle team of 1994-95 as the only teams to go 5-0 in the Premier League era if they get maximum points here.
The Reds haven't had the best of fortunes against Spurs of late, winning just once in their past five clashes along with three draws and a 4-1 loss last season. That defeat was at Wembley Stadium; which Liverpool will want to erase from their memory.
The teams did play again in late 2017 at Anfield where it appeared Mohamed Salah snatched a win in injury time, but a late penalty to Harry Kane saw the match finish 2-2.
Tottenham have enjoyed a solid start to their campaign but did lose to Watford last time out.
When you break it down though I feel as though Liverpool are slightly ahead of Tottenham at this point of the season. They have scored nine goals and conceded just one, and that was because new goalkeeper Alisson had his pants pulled down after a comical error against Leicester City.
Take the Reds to win and Salah to score the first goal as he has bagged goals in each of his past three games against Mauricio Pochettino's men.
Tip: Liverpool to defeat Tottenham at $2.40
Tip: Mohamed Salah to score the first goal at $4.50
NFL Week 2 - Atlanta Falcons vs. Carolina Panthers (Monday 3am AEST)
Stifling defence was the key to success last week for the Carolina Panthers, and they will be hoping to produce that once again when they face the Atlanta Falcons -- an NFC South rival -- at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
The fortunes of the Panthers generally hinge on the form of quarterback Cam Newton. However, if the defence that relentlessly harassed Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott last week does the same to Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan, Newton might not have to shoulder such a heavy burden.
Carolina prevailed 16-8 at home in their opening game against Dallas with the defence -- led superbly by linebacker Luke Kuechly -- sacking Prescott on six occasions, forcing a fumble, and limiting an impotent Cowboys offence to 232 total yards. With the defence playing strongly, Newton was efficient at quarterback throwing for 161 yards and rushing for 58 yards.
For the Falcons, it was a sense of déjà vu against the Philadelphia Eagles. In last season's Divisional Round playoff game in Philadelphia, the Falcons couldn't convert a late redzone opportunity and fell 15-10. Last Thursday night in the season opener, Atlanta failed in a similar manner to take advantage of a chance to win with time winding down and lost 18-12 in Philadelphia.
Considering how well Carolina's defence played last week -- albeit in one game -- and the sinking feeling Atlanta must have endured on the trip back from Philadelphia, the $3 on offer for Carolina to surprise the Falcons (only 5-3 at home last season) appears inviting.
Tip: Carolina to upstage Atlanta as $3 outsiders
NFL Week 2 - New Orleans Saints vs. Cleveland Browns (Monday 3am AEST)
The New Orleans Saints were humbled last week by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the biggest upset of the opening week, and they will be determined to avoid the same fate again when they face the Cleveland Browns at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.
Perhaps the Saints took the Buccaneers too lightly last week. That's the logical explanation of how New Orleans succumbed 48-40 to Tampa Bay, who were being guided by backup quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. The veteran shredded the Saints' defence for 417 passing yards, four touchdown passes and one rushing touchdown. It was a major surprise considering that New Orleans' defence improved markedly last season.
New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees certainly didn't play poorly, going 37-of-45 for 439 passing yards and three touchdown passes. If Brees plays in a similar manner along with assistance from running back Alvin Kamara, who ran for two touchdowns, then the Saints should rebound.
The Browns -- winless last season and 1-15 the previous campaign -- almost stunned the Pittsburgh Steelers at home last week before finishing in a 21-21 tie. Cleveland forced six turnovers but were still unable to capitalise on Pittsburgh's mistakes. Now, they face another playoff team from last season desperate to avenge a poor Week 1 showing.
After last week's shock loss at home, the Saints -- who were 8-1 last season at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome -- should be eager to account for the Browns who haven't won an away game since Week 5 in the 2015 season.
Tip: New Orleans to defeat Cleveland by nine points or more at $1.80