The Fourth of July is usually filled with parades, picnics and plenty of action from the wide world of sports. We’ve got you covered with everything you need to watch and what you can bet on to make this holiday weekend one to remember.
Things kick off on Saturday afternoon when Stefanos Tsitsipas and Nick Kyrgios square off at Wimbledon in a highly anticipated matchup. Then the WNBA gets into the action when Skylar Diggins-Smith and the Phoenix Mercury take on Candace Parker and the Chicago Sky.. For a nightcap, we have a stacked UFC 276 card featuring middleweight champion Israel Adesanya facing Jared Cannonier and the epic featherweight trilogy championship bout between Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway.
Got it? Good. Here’s everything you need to know to bet this weekend.
This file will be updated throughout the weekend with the latest odds and picks.
What to watch, What to bet this weekend
Wimbledon third round, Tsitsipas vs. Kyrgios, 12:10 p.m. ET on ESPN+
WNBA: Phoenix Mercury @ Chicago Sky , 1:00 p.m. ET on ESPN
UFC 276: Adesanya vs. Cannonier, 10 p.m. ET on ESPN+
Sunday’s schedule
Wimbledon third round, 6:25 a.m. ET on ESPN+
British Grand Prix, 10:00 a.m. ET on ESPN
WNBA: Washington Mystics vs. Connecticut Sun, 1:00 p.m. ET on ESPN
St. Louis Cardinals vs. Philadelphia Phillies, 7:00 p.m. ET, on ESPN
Monday’s schedule
Wimbledon Round of 16, 6:25 a.m. ET on ESPN
Nathans Hot Dog Eating Contest, 12 p.m. ET on ESPN
WNBA: Phoenix Mercury vs. Los Angeles Sparks, 7:00 p.m. ET
Wimbledon third round
6:25 a.m., All England Club, Wimbledon, England, ESPN+
Men’s favorites: Novak Djokovic (-190), Rafael Nadal (+450), Carlos Alcaraz (+800), Nick Kyrgios (+1400), Stefanos Tsitsipas (+1400), Taylor Fritz (+3500)
Women’s favorites: Iga Swiatek (+175), Ons Jabeur (+330), Jelena Ostapenko (+750), Coco Gauff (+900), Simona Halep (+900), Petra Kvitova (+1200)
Andre Snellings: Stefanos Tsitsipas vs. Nick Kyrgios has the potential to be the match of the tournament thus far. Kyrgios, when focused, has the game to beat any player on the tour and could be favored against just about anyone short of Djokovic and Nadal. But, his effort level and focus are so volatile that it’s very difficult to predict what you’ll get from him on a given day. Tsitsipas is the highest non-Djokovic/Nadal seed left, but he’s historically had difficulties on grass. But, Tsitsipas has played much better on grass this season than in years past, and I think he’s the better bet to play at his highest level on a more consistent basis. Since Kyrgios is the slight favorite, I’ll take the extra 1.5 games and bet on the big man from Greece.
Pick: Stefanos Tsitsipas +1.5 games over Nick Kyrgios
Phoenix Mercury @ Chicago Sky
1:00 p.m., Wintrust Arena, Chicago
Line: Sky (-9.0)
Moneyline: Sky (-480), Mercury (+360)
Over/Under: 169.5 points
Eric Moody: While the Mercury have played better recently, Phoenix’s defense remains a problem. This matchup has the potential to be high scoring. The totals have gone over in six of the Sky’s last nine games at home. I recommend betting on the over.
Best bet: Over 169.5
UFC 276: Alexander Volkanovski vs. Max Holloway III
11:30 p.m., T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, ESPN+
Ian Parker: Max Holloway’s last six fights have gone the distance and he lost the first two fights against Alexander Volkanovski by decision. Holloway has excellent cardio and what he believes to be the best boxing in the UFC. I expect him to keep an eye on Volkanovski’s calf kicks and utilize his boxing to keep the champ at a distance. Volkanovski has won four of his last five fights by decision with two wins over Holloway. Due to the unpredictable odds and both fights so being close, especially the second one, I believe this fight yet again will go the distance. However, there are three ways to play this co-main event. Both fighters are plus money to win, so if the fight reaches the final bell you can put the same amount of money on both to win by decision and guarantee a profit.
Picks: Fight to go the distance (-225), Holloway by decision (+230) or Volkanovski by decision (+110)
Sunday’s schedule
Wimbledon third round
6:25 a.m., All England Club, Wimbledon, England, ESPN+
Men’s favorites: Novak Djokovic (-190), Rafael Nadal (+400), Carlos Alcaraz (+800), Nick Kyrgios (+800)
Women’s favorites: Ons Jabeur (+200), Simona Halep (+400) Jelena Ostapenko (+550)
Andre Snellings: Djokovic has been the best player in the world, particularly on grass, for several years. And he’s been playing like it this tournament, winning his last two matches in straight sets by 11 games each. Van Rijthoven is playing well, fresh off consecutive wins over seeded opponents, but no one anywhere near Djokovic’s level. Djokovic is the heavy favorite to win the match, and the likelihood is that it will be another easy victory for the three-time defending champion.
Pick: Djokovic -7.5 games (-105) over Tim Van Rijthoven (11:45 a.m. ET)
Formula One: British Grand Prix
10:00 a.m., Silverstone Circuit, England, ESPN
Race favorites: Max Verstappen (-140), Charles Leclerc (+400), Carlos Sainz (+450), Lewis Hamilton (+1200), Sergio Perez (+1600)
Play: Formula One Racing Pick’em
Mike Clay: The British Grand Prix is setting up to be one of the most closely contested races of the season. Lewis Hamilton (+1200), who has won seven of the last nine races at this track, is the fastest he’s been all season, as evidenced by his second place showing in P2. Carlos Sainz (+450) was fastest in practice and Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc (+400) is always a threat to win. And then there’s Verstappen (-140), who has won six of the seven races he’s finished this season. The defending series champion won this race in 2020 and showed respectable speed in P2 (fourth fastest). It’s far from bold, but it feels foolish to pick against Verstappen right now.
Pick: Verstappen to win (-140)
Washington Mystics vs. Connecticut Sun
1:00 p.m., Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, CT, ESPN
Line: TBD
Moneyline: TBD
Total: TBD
St. Louis Cardinals vs. Philadelphia Phillies
7:00 p.m., Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, ESPN
Line: Cardinals (+158), Phillies (-135)
Run line: Cardinals +1.5 (-178), Phillies -1.4 (+150)
Over/Under: 7.5 (-115/+105)
Monday’s schedule
Wimbledon round of 16
6:25 a.m., All England Club, Wimbledon, England, ESPN
Men’s favorites: Novak Djokovic (-190), Rafael Nadal (+450), Carlos Alcaraz (+800), Nick Kyrgios (+1400), Stefanos Tsitsipas (+1400), Taylor Fritz (+3500)
Women’s favorites: Iga Swiatek (+175), Ons Jabeur (+330), Jelena Ostapenko (+750), Coco Gauff (+900), Simona Halep (+900), Petra Kvitova (+1200)
Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest
12 p.m., Coney Island, New York, ESPN
Favorites: Joey Chestnut (-3000), Field (+1100)
Over/Under: 74.5 hot dogs
Jason Fitz: There’s no way Joey will be challenged by anyone other than himself. Last year he told me leading in to the contest that he didn’t feel as ready as he needed to be — but he still set a new world record. Why? Adrenaline. He said to me afterwards that when he started to feel like he was slowing down the rush of having a crowd back in his face propelled him. This year, the contest is back at its old stomping grounds on the corner of Surf and Stillwell. With the return of a mammoth crowd, I think Joey absolutely feels the push from the chaos and makes history again. I’m hammering the over on this one.
Pick: Over 74.5
Phoenix Mercury vs. Los Angeles Sparks
7:00 p.m., Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, ESPN
Line: TBD
Moneyline: TBD
Total: TBD
Source: www.espn.com