The biggest live event on the spring calendar is less than a week away.
With the rest of the sports world shut down due to COVID-19, the anticipation continues to build towards the 2020 NFL Draft, which runs virtually April 23-25, with the first round going Thursday night starting at 8 p.m. ET and running until 11:30 p.m.
By this point, most football fans have already read their fair share of mock drafts.
However, even the best NFL Draft experts will admit how difficult it is to navigate the unpredictability of the league’s 32 general managers.
It’s easy to understand why it’s so tough to project how the selection process will unfold.
Perspective is important, which led us to this question:
What would the 2020 NFL Draft look like if the picks were dictated by the betting odds we see in the prop markets?
We took the time to build a mock draft based primarily on that information.
Here is a look at the top 10 picks for the 2020 NFL Draft as dictated by the sports betting odds posted by Bodog.
1. Cincinnati Bengals: QB Joe Burrow, LSU
Burrow is the first overall pick.
The Bengals can’t pass on the opportunity to hit the reset button with a legitimate franchise quarterback.
Coming off one of the best college football seasons ever at the position, Burrows is listed at -10000 to go first overall.
2. Washington Redskins: DE Chase Young, Ohio State
Young is listed at -1400 to be drafted second overall.
There is always the possibility a team attempts to trade up to No. 2 if they become enamored enough with a quarterback prospect.
However, the fact that this line has already shifted from -1200 to -1400 over the past couple of days seems to reaffirm the position that Young’s ceiling is too high for Washington to pass on with this pick.
3. Detroit Lions: CB Jeffrey Okudah, Ohio State
Bodog considers the trifecta of Burrow, Young, Okudah the most likely exact outcome of the first three picks at -125 odds.
Detroit is listed at -600 to use its top pick on a defender.
Okudah is the betting favourite to go third overall at -110 odds.
This pick has been a popular trade target in mock drafts that feature teams that want to move up to select a quarterback.
However, with the draft position over/under prop bets for Tua Tagovailoa and Justin Herbert set at 4.5 and 5.5 respectively, the odds dictate that the Lions stay put and take Okudah third overall.
4. New York Giants: OT Tristian Wirfs, Iowa
This pick is where things get interesting from a betting perspective.
Earlier this week, Bodog had Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa as the betting favourite to be the second offensive player drafted after Burrows at +150 odds.
Since then, Tagovailoa has dropped to +235 to be the second offensive player drafted, while teammate Jedrick Wills Jr. has emerged as the betting favourite at +200.
The Giants are listed at -220 to select an offensive player and they need help at tackle so Wills would make sense at fourth overall.
However, when we look at the draft prop for the first offensive lineman drafted, it is Wirfs listed as the favourite at -140 compared to Wills at +165.
Also, Bodog’s “Who Will Be Drafted First” prop bet lists Wirfs at -170 versus Wills at +130 in a head-to-head matchup.
All things considered, Wirfs makes the most sense at fourth overall.
5. Miami Dolphins: QB Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama
Trades are the most unpredictable aspect of the NFL Draft.
While the betting odds initially dictated the Dolphins would have to trade up in order to select Tagovailoa, the latest update has them staying put and landing their franchise quarterback at fifth overall.
Nobody will be shocked if a team trades up to draft Tagovailoa.
However, his prop bet draft position is set at over 4.5 -240.
There has been a lot of talk about Herbert being the second quarterback off the board.
Bodog has Miami at EVEN money to take either one of Tagovailoa and Herbert.
Still, Tagovailoa at least temporarily remains the slight favourite over Herbert in Bodog’s “Who Will Be Drafted First” prop bet at -135 to -105, so he gets the edge at this pick.
6. Los Angeles Chargers: QB Justin Herbert, Oregon
Another interesting note from Bodog: L.A. is listed at +110 to be the team that drafts Herbert compared to +150 to be the team that gets Tagovailoa.
While they might be tempted to grab one of the top defensive prospects still on the board, the Chargers are listed at -550 to go offence with their first draft pick.
Herbert remains the betting favourite to be the third quarterback off the board at -115.
This pick also lines up with Herbert’s draft position over/under prop at 5.5.
7. Carolina Panthers: LB Isaiah Simmons, Clemson
Carolina is listed at -550 to draft a defensive player with its first pick.
The Panthers get an absolute gift here with Simmons – an ideal replacement for the retired Luke Kuechly.
Simmons is listed at -4500 to be the first linebacker off the board.
The Clemson linebacker’s draft position over/under is set at 6.5.
8. Arizona Cardinals: OT Jedrick Wills Jr., Alabama
Acquiring DeAndre Hopkins without spending a first-round pick means Arizona can address another immediate need with a tackle at No. 8.
This pick also lines up with Wills’ draft position over/under at 8.5.
9. Jacksonville Jaguars: DL Derrick Brown, Auburn
This was another interesting pick since Jacksonville is the betting favourite to draft Utah State quarterback Jordan Love at +300 odds.
While they could still be in the market for a quarterback, Bodog has the Jaguars listed at -200 to use their first pick on a defender.
The betting favourite to be the second defensive lineman drafted at -450, this selection also lines up with Brown’s draft position over/under at 8.5.
10. Cleveland Browns: OT Mekhi Becton, Louisville
This pick also checks the boxes for a team that needs protection help.
Cleveland is listed at -600 to spend its first selection on offence.
Becton fills a significant void as the best remaining tackle on the board.
Becton’s draft position prop has been bet to over 8.5 -190.
Note: Part 2 of this two-part series on NFL Draft prop bets will run during the evening of Monday, April 20 at TSN.ca
*All Betting Information appears as listed by Bodog on Friday, April 17, 2020.
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.
“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”
Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.
The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.
Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.
“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”
Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.
“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”
The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.
“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”
Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.
“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.
Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.
The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.
The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.
Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.
Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.
Inter Milan winger Tajon Buchanan, recovered from a broken leg suffered in training at this summer’s Copa America, is back in Jesse Marsch’s Canada squad for the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal against Suriname.
The 25-year-old from Brampton, Ont., underwent surgery July 3 to repair a fractured tibia in Texas.
Canada, ranked 35th in the world, plays No. 136 Suriname on Nov. 15 in Paramaribo. The second leg of the aggregate series is four days later at Toronto’s BMO Field.
There is also a return for veteran winger Junior Hoilett, who last played for Canada in June in a 4-0 loss to the Netherlands in Marsch’s debut at the Canadian helm. The 34-year-old from Brampton, now with Scotland’s Hibernian, has 15 goals in 63 senior appearances for Canada.
Midfielder Ismael Kone, recovered from an ankle injury sustained on club duty with France’s Marseille, also returns. He missed Canada’s last three matches since the fourth-place Copa America loss to Uruguay in July.
But Canada will be without centre back Derek Cornelius, who exited Marseille’s win Sunday over Nantes on a stretcher after suffering an apparent rib injury.
The Canadian men will prepare for Suriname next week at a camp in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
“We are looking forward to getting the group together again with the mindset that there is a trophy on the line,” Marsch said in a statement. “We want to end 2024 the right way with two excellent performances against a competitive Suriname squad and continue building on our tremendous growth this past summer.”
The quarterfinal winners advance to the Nations League Finals at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., with the two semifinals scheduled for March 20 and the final and third-place playoff March 23, and qualify for the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Thirteen of the 23 players on the Canadian roster are 25 or younger, with 19-year-old defender Jamie Knight-Lebel, currently playing for England’s Crewe Alexandra on loan from Bristol City, the youngest.
Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies captains the side with Stephen Eustaquio, Jonathan Osorio, Richie Laryea, Alistair Johnston and Kamal Miller adding veteran support.
Jonathan David, Cyle Larin and Theo Bair are joined in attack by Minnesota United’s Tani Oluwaseyi.
Niko Sigur, a 21-year-old midfielder with Croatia’s Hadjuk Split, continues in the squad after making his debut in the September friendly against Mexico.
Suriname made it to the Nations League quarterfinals by finishing second to Costa Rica in Group A of the Nations League, ahead of No. 104 Guatemala, No. 161 Guyana and unranked Martinique and Guadeloupe.
“A good team,” Osorio said of Suriname. “These games are always tricky and they’re not easy at all … Suriname is a (former) Dutch colony and they’ll have Dutch players playing at high levels.”
“They won’t be someone we overlook at all,” added the Toronto FC captain, who has 81 Canada caps to his credit.
Located on the northeast coast of South America between Guyana and French Guiana, Suriname was granted independence in 1975 by the Netherlands.
Canada has faced Suriname twice before, both in World Cup qualifying play, winning 4-0 in suburban Chicago in June 2021 and 2-1 in Mexico City in October 1977.
The Canadian men, along with Mexico, the United States and Panama, received a bye into the final eight of the CONCACAF Nations League.
Canada, No. 2 in the CONCACAF rankings, drew Suriname as the best-placed runner-up from League A play.
Canada lost to Jamaica in last year’s Nations League quarterfinal, ousted on the away-goals rule after the series ended in a 4-4 draw. The Canadians lost 2-0 to the U.S. in the final of the 2022-23 tournament and finished fifth in 2019-20.
Canada defeated Panama 2-1 last time out, in an Oct. 15 friendly in Toronto.
Goalkeepers Maxime Crepeau and Jonathan Sirois, defenders Joel Waterman, Laryea and Miller and Osorio took part in a pre-camp this week in Toronto for North America-based players.
Canada Roster
Goalkeepers: Maxime Crepeau, Portland Timbers (MLS); Jonathan Sirois, CF Montreal (MLS); Dayne St. Clair, Minnesota United FC (MLS).
Defenders: Moise Bombito, OGC Nice (France); Alphonso Davies, Bayern Munich (Germany); Richie Laryea, Toronto FC (MLS); Alistair Johnston, Celtic (Scotland); Jamie Knight-Lebel. Crewe Alexandra, on loan from Bristol City (England); Kamal Miller, Portland Timbers (MLS); Joel Waterman, CF Montreal (MLS).
Midfielders: Ali Ahmed. Vancouver Whitecaps (MLS); Tajon Buchanan, Inter Milan (Italy); Mathieu Choiniere, Grasshopper Zurich (Switzerland); Stephen Eustaquio, FC Porto (Portugal); Junior Hoilett, Hibernian FC (Scotland); Ismael Kone, Olympique Marseille (France); Jonathan Osorio, Toronto FC (MLS); Jacob Shaffelburg, Nashville SC (MLS); Niko Sigur, Hadjuk Split (Croatia).
Forwards: Theo Bair, AJ Auxerre (France); Jonathan David, LOSC Lille (France); Cyle Larin, RCD Mallorca (Spain); Tani Oluwaseyi, Minnesota United (MLS).
—
Follow @NeilMDavidson on X platform
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.
