Monthly Archives: March 2022

On Sunday, March 15, 2020, I carefully crafted a post for Facebook and for a sign to print on the door of our business.

"In the interest of being the best neighbors possible..." it began, and I wrote that given the news and the virus that was rapidly spreading across the country which had forced the suspension of the NBA season a few days earlier, among other things we'd be closing for the next two weeks.

We never re-opened.

As I write this, the United States is creeping toward 1 million COVID-19 deaths, a staggering number that it seems we've all grown numb to, particularly given that about 23 months ago even 100,000 was frightening and unacceptable.

My immediate family has thankfully been good in terms of health, though a loved one lost his father and other friends and associates were sick from the disease.

There's certainly no comparison to loss of life, yet all of us have lost something, often more than one thing. Students lost multiple athletics seasons or a chance at prom or a traditional graduation. Maybe your favorite takeout place couldn't survive or your wedding had to be seriously pared down or you had to give birth in a hospital without your significant other to comfort you.

Maybe you lost your business, like my husband Marcus and I lost ours. Though in a weird way, it might have been for the best for us.

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Let's back up a bit. In 2019 I'd grown restless with my work. I loved working at Yahoo Sports, as it provided me a decent income when I decided to leave the Boston Globe after the birth of our third daughter a few years earlier. I'd grown weary of the grind of being a New England Patriots beat writer after almost a decade, and when our second and third girls came in less than 18 months, I left.

Fortunately for me, I wasn't without a job for long, as Yahoo hired me as an NFL blogger. It allowed me to work from home with our little ones and the flexibility to watch my older daughter's school events.

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But by the time our youngest was preparing to start school, spending most of my work hours aggregating the latest roster transactions had gotten boring. Surveying the sports journalism landscape wasn't encouraging; I had no interest of returning to beat reporting again nor uprooting our oldest midway through high school or having my husband leave a job he enjoys, and there didn't seem to be many other options.

So I settled on an idea: The younger girls had loved visiting an indoor playground about 30 minutes from our house, but there was only one within Boston city limits, meaning there was certainly room for a second. It seemed like a foolproof business idea given the weather situation eight months out of the year here. And when I discovered that the one in Boston was for sale, it just seemed like kismet.

I emptied my seriously modest 401(k) to buy Kids Fun Stop, which had been operating for about 15 years, and after a couple of weeks for a new paint job and some other minor fixes, we opened as new owners on Sept. 4, 2019. It was a roughly 4,000-square foot space with play structures you'd usually find at your local park, but inside was featured a tall spiral slide, a fire truck on massive springs for pretend play and a climbing cave. It also had a huge playhouse, big enough that even at almost 5-foot-10 I could stand upright.

Open play was available every day for a modest fee, but the business was really sustained off private birthday parties, when families could rent out the whole facility for two hours.

The truth is, I thought I was going to leave journalism entirely. Even though it was the only thing I'd ever done, I couldn't see a path to stay in the business and stay where my family was geographically. But my husband and I struck a deal: I had to keep writing for Yahoo for a year, until we got a sense of how much money I'd be able to pay myself and if it would be enough that it wouldn't hurt us financially.

That's what I did for those first months. I packed my laptop every day and wrote from the old metal desk that had been left behind, writing blog posts in between fielding phone calls and emails and tending to the needs of kids and caregivers who were visiting for some play time. I was at KFS almost 10 hours a day, six days a week, and Marcus was there on Sundays because I had to be home for to write on NFL game day.

As any small business owners can attest, it was hard. Working seven days a week, even when it's for yourself, isn't easy. And even if writing isn't physically strenuous, I was working two full-time jobs.

Our family business, a kids' indoor playground, had to shut its doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But it might have ended up being for the best. (Getty Images)

We were doing pretty well financially, bringing in more than the previous owner had, in part because word got out among local nannies that we had bought new toys and were serious about keeping everything clean. Little people like to put their mouths on everything.

I couldn't quite figure out if I loved KFS. Parts of it I really did pulling up in the mornings and unlocking the door to our business offered a thrill, and getting to know families that became regulars was enjoyable. One family had young twins and I'd see them as much as three times a week, with their nanny on weekdays and their parents on weekends. I watched them quickly go from hesitant walkers to runners in a matter of months. I had a mini-dance party with one child during his first visit, so therefore we had to have one every time he came.

The other stuff? It was a mixed bag. Birthday parties could be fun but some parents were pills, and it was a fight to get some people to follow our basic rules. Everyone had to take their shoes off, and no food on the play floor. Trying to scrub cake frosting out of those floor tiles was close to impossible. It felt like I was always buying something, whether more snacks to sell or boxes of toilet paper or a big expense like new chairs for the party rooms.

Remember, I thought I had one foot out the door when it came to my media career. And yet, when I got a call on Christmas Eve that year telling me that because of a new California law, AB5, going into effect in the new year and my status as a full-time freelancer I'd likely be losing my job with Yahoo, something in me said nope.

It wasn't time to leave journalism, not yet.

Armed with a little bit of knowledge namely, that the few columns I had written to that point were well-received by the higher-ups I summoned all of my courage and emailed Yahoo Sports' editor-in-chief and asked if he'd let me try being a columnist. I laid out myriad reasons why I thought I was perfect for the role, not the least of which was at that time there wasn't another Black woman in North America who was a daily sports columnist and that just couldn't be.

He said yes.

Three weeks before I put that yellow sign on the door at Kids Fun Stop announcing we'd be closing for a little bit until this virus died down, I wrote my first column with my new title.

I loved it. I still love it.

Marcus and I ultimately decided to close KFS for good in July 2020 because there were too many unknowns. The city of Boston was nowhere close to letting businesses in the category we were in open again. And when it did give the green light, we didn't know when or if families would feel comfortable returning; many of the caregivers we saw during the week were grandparents and therefore squarely in the population at highest risk if they got COVID, and they might never return. Back then, obsessively cleaning surfaces was thought to be necessary, and that was timely and expensive. We were months from a vaccine.

It was heartbreaking to close, but comforting knowing it wasn't because of anything we did. It wasn't our failure, it was a once-in-a-century pandemic.

We were out a not-small amount of money since we'd invested my retirement account, but it certainly could have been worse. So many have lost so much more.

Yet in the midst of all of it, I found my true passion as a journalist. It only took 20-plus years and almost losing my job, but I got there.

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I lost my business due to COVID 2 years ago and then found my sports journalism passion - Yahoo Sports

Randy Gregory won't be the only NFL free agent to pull out of a previously reported deal this offseason.

Free agent running back J.D. McKissic, formerly of the Washington Commanders, was reported on Tuesday to be signing a two-year, $7 million deal with the Buffalo Bills. The move seemingly made sense for both sides, with Buffalo adding a versatile pass-catching running back on a cheap deal and McKissic making the move to a contender, which the Commanders obviously are not.

One day later, however, McKissic was reported by ESPN's Adam Schefter to have changed his mind. He will reportedly return to Washington for a contract with the same terms.

The reversal comes just a day after a similar story played out with Washington's rival. The Dallas Cowboys were reported to be re-signing prized pass-rusher Randy Gregory to a five-year, $70 million deal, only to have the player rescind the agreement and agree to a contract with the Denver Broncos.

The reason for the two changes of heart were reportedly very different though. In Gregory's case, he was incensed that the Cowboys tried introducing language into his contract he had not agreed to, while McKissic backed out because Washington offered him a deal only after he agreed to terms with the Bills.

So Washington's chicanery helped it keep a player, while Dallas' drove its target away.

McKissic's move is odd considering it's not every day you see a player go to significant lengths to stay in Washington, where the team sees regular intra-organization feuds, hasn't won a playoff game since 2005 and is inundated with scandals, whereas the Bills are widely expected to compete for the Super Bowl next year.

McKissic has clearly enjoyed his two seasons with the Commanders, in which he has posted 986 receiving yards, 577 rushing yards and seven touchdowns. He'll be working with a new quarterback this upcoming season after the team acquired Carson Wentz from the Indianapolis Colts.

J.D. McKissic wants to stay in Washington. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

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J.D. McKissic backs out of two-year, $7 million Bills deal to re-sign with Commanders - Yahoo Sports

Generally, casual bettors like betting favorites. And March Madness brings in as many casual bettors as any event.

Given that, this won't surprise you much: For just about every game in the first round of the NCAA tournament, the point spreads at BetMGM have been inflated a bit toward the favorite.

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Just about any college basketball fan by now understands that KenPom.com is a valuable resource and oddsmakers have taken to checking out the site too before posting lines. KenPom is the most popular projection site there is.

And in almost every single case for Thursday and Friday games at the NCAA tournament, the odds have been shaded toward the favorite. That means if you bet favorites, you'll be laying at least an extra half point in just about every bet, if you trust KenPom's projections.

There are 28 first-round games with a point spread. There are no lines yet for the games that involve a First Four opponent. Let's eliminate the four games in which the KenPom favorite and the betting favorite differ (for the record, the four teams that are favored by KenPom but not at BetMGM: Boise State, Michigan, San Francisco, Loyola Chicago).

That leaves 24 games. And when comparing the KenPom projection and the BetMGM odds, the line was moved toward the favorite 23 times. The only game in which the line moved toward the underdog is San Diego State vs. Creighton. San Diego State is favored by 3 points at KenPom and just 2.5 points at BetMGM.

Among the other 23 games, the line only moved a half-point toward the favorite nine times. That might seem insignificant, but you've seen the NCAA tournament before. It's not that crazy to see a game finish within a half-point of the spread. It only takes one half-point loss on a big bet to understand how important the difference can be.

There are 14 games in which the betting line is shaded by more than a point, compared to KenPom. For one example, Duke is projected to beat Cal State Fullerton 79-65 at KenPom. But at BetMGM, Duke is favored by 18.5 points, not 14 like KenPom projects. Duke, of course, is a brand name and easy for casual bettors to take in the first round. They'll pay a tax for it.

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The public likes betting favorites like the Duke Blue Devils in March Madness. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

For most bettors who might just bet big events like the Super Bowl and March Madness, the difference in half points doesn't really matter. Regular bettors can obsess over those small edges.

KenPom isn't a betting site, but one that calculates efficiency per possession and comes up with a projected score for any matchup. There's more to analyzing games than following a strict mathematical equation. But this trend from oddsmakers is a bit telling.

What does it mean that oddsmakers have made the decision to shade 23 of 24 games toward the favorite? The most logical conclusion is that March Madness is a huge betting event, the public likes favorites, and maybe those extra half points mean some extra wins for the house. More than $3 billion is expected to be bet on the NCAA tournament this year, and even a few half-point wins has a huge impact on a sportsbook's bottom line. Over the last 10 tournaments the better seed (which is usually the favored team) is 145-167-7 (46.5%) against the spread in the first round, according to Matt Eisenberg's tournament guide. Underdogs usually do pretty well covering spreads in the first round of the tournament. One reason is the spreads are often shaded a bit against them. It adds up.

That information might not stop anyone from betting Duke if he or she believes the Blue Devils are about to blow out Cal State Fullerton, or taking any other favorite. Just understand you're likely laying a little bit extra on that favorite you like.

Excerpt from:

March Madness betting: Beware that if you bet favorites, the spreads are inflated - Yahoo Sports

Steph Curry missed the second half of Golden State's defeat against Boston after suffering a left foot injury in a collision with the Celtics' Marcus Smart.

Curry underwent an MRI exam after hobbling off the court and the results weren't announced Thursday evening. The Warriors' Draymond Green told reporters postgame that he didn't expect Curry to be in the lineup Sunday against the San Antonio Spurs.

Warriors head coach Steve Kerr took issue with Smart over the play, where in a scramble for a loose ball, Smart rolled on Curry's leg.

Kerr had a discussion with Smart on the court, expressing his displeasure over the play. After the 110-88 home loss, Kerr said, via ESPN, "I thought it was a dangerous play. I thought Marcus dove into Steph, and that's what I was upset about. A lot of respect for Marcus. He's a hell of a player, a gamer, a competitor. I coached him in the World Cup a few summers ago. We talked after the game and we're good. But I thought it was a dangerous play."

Green saw it differently.

"I'd expect Marcus Smart to make that play," Green said. "He plays hard. I can't call that a dirty play."

Smart didn't sound like the discussion he had with Kerr was going to elevate into a big issue. "He's doing what any coach, any player, any person would do, and that's backing up his guy," Smart told MassLiveNews. ... At the end of the conversation, he told me, 'You're one of the guys I want on my team.'"

Now the Warriors (47-23) await the test results of Curry's sore foot.

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Steph Curry suffers foot injury and Steve Kerr isn't happy about the reason why a collision with Marcus Smart - Yahoo Sports

After spending the last 24 hours crafting a bracket built to withstand the chaos that awaits us on Thursday, bettors get their first taste of the NCAA Tournament on Tuesday night. The First Four provides a way to start the tournament with a few wins under our belt, but it's important to realize that we aren't limited to those single-game markets. Now that you have finalized your bracket and analyzed all 32 matchups, it's the perfect time to focus on March Madness futures.

The majority of the betting conversations revolve around which teams will make the Final Four or which team will be this year's Cinderella. As much as we love a Cinderella story, those underdogs usually meet their fates before escaping their region. Their story still has value, and you can capitalize on their run by targeting the Sweet Sixteen market. It's one of my favorite bets for several reasons.

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By betting teams to reach the Sweet Sixteen, it allows you to get decent value on schools that are underrated and have an advantageous path without having to bank on them winning four or five games in a row. There are only a few teams that are built to win consecutive games against the country's elite, but there are plenty of teams that can make some noise. I looked at four teams that include a mix of conservative bets at close to even money and two more aggressive plays at longer odds. BetMGM offers odds on every single team to make the Sweet 16, so grab your bracket and let's find some winners.

All lines via BetMGM.

Arkansas and coach Eric Musselman could be primed for an NCAA tournament run. (Photo by Peter Joneleit/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Arkansas (+110)

The Razorbacks finished the season on a 15-3 run that included wins against the SEC's toughest competition. They should handle business pretty easily against Vermont, leaving a potential showdown with UConn in the second round. The Huskies' length can be a challenge for any offense, but I'm confident in the Hogs' ability to get to the line. Arkansas guard J.D. Notae wants the ball in his hands at the end of the game and with a swarming defense backing him, the Razorbacks are a solid bet to advance to Sweet 16.

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Houston (+115)

The biggest knock on Houston is always the level of competition, but last year's Final Four run shows it is built for tournament success. The Cougars are one of two teams (along with Gonzaga) that rank in the top 12 of KenPom's efficiency metrics in both offense and defense. Coach Kelvin Sampson's team might win ugly, but it's a style of play bettors can count on. Houston's path looks tough on paper, but Illinois has struggled at times against strong, defensive teams that play physically. Houston at +115 makes a lot of sense.

Loyola Chicago (+400)

The story of Sister Jean lives on! I am betting there is one more run left in Loyola Chicago's tank as it gets the perfect opponent to open the tournament. We know the Ramblers will do their job defending, but the Buckeyes' defensive struggles really open the door for an upset. Ohio State ranks 131st in defensive efficiency and has lost four of its last five games heading into the tournament. To get to the Sweet 16, the real test will come in the second round against No. 2 seed Villanova. If the Ramblers lock down Collin Gillespie and force Nova to use its secondary scorers, they may have a shot.

Colgate (+2000)

Colgate fits the profile of a long shot that is worth backing. It is an elite 3-point shooting team (40.2%) that has won 19 of its last 20 games. A team playing with confidence without anything to lose is a dangerous combination in March. Colgate's path is what got my attention. It faces a reeling Wisconsin team in Round 1 that is coming off back-to-back losses. If it can get past the Badgers, the winner of Iowa State and LSU stands in the way of the Sweet 16. Three points are worth more than two, and neither of those teams can keep up with Colgate's shooting if it comes out scorching from beyond the arc. A 20 to 1 bet is always going to require a good share of luck, but it's worth a small stake considering the price.

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NCAA tournament: Here are four solid bets to make the Sweet 16 - Yahoo Sports

Welcome to the 2022 NCAA tournament. The tournament tips off in earnest just after noon on Thursday with Colorado State and Michigan. That's the first of 16 games throughout the day as we'll get an awesome 12 hours of basketball that will likely include an upset or three. Here's your viewing guide for the first full day of the 2022 men's tournament. All times are Eastern.

12:15 p.m.: No. 6 Colorado State vs. No. 11 Michigan (CBS)

12:40 p.m.: No. 4 Providence vs. No. 13 South Dakota State (TruTV)

1:45 p.m.: No. 8 Boise State vs. No. 9 Memphis (TNT)

2 p.m.: No. 1 Baylor vs. No. 16 Norfolk State (TBS)

Must-see: After tuning into the first few minutes of Colorado State and Michigan you need to have your attention on South Dakota State and Providence. The Jackrabbits are picked by nearly 30% of Yahoo users to pull the upset and are just 2.5-point underdogs to the Friars. SDSU went undefeated in the Summit League this year while Providence had a bunch of close wins. This could be a great one.

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Must-skip: Baylor should make easy work of Norfolk State. While you may need to spend some time watching this one because its the final game of the early session, itll probably be a blowout by the time you turn it on. The other three games should be much more competitive.

2:45 p.m.: No. 3 Tennessee vs. No. 14 Longwood (CBS)

3:10 p.m.: No. 5 Iowa vs. No. 12 Richmond (TruTV)

4:15 p.m.: No. 1 Gonzaga vs. No. 16 Georgia State (TNT)

4:30 p.m.: No. 8 North Carolina vs. No. 9 Marquette (TBS)

Must-see: North Carolina is favored by 3.5 points over Marquette in a game that could be the only close one of this set of games. The Eagles beat Villanova twice this season while North Carolina beat Duke to end the regular season. Both teams score over 74 points per game so this could be a race to 80.

Must-skip: Check the score on Gonzaga and see how star freshman Chet Holmgren is doing and thats about it. Theres a little more upset potential with Longwood and Richmond, but UNC and Marquette should take most of your attention late in the afternoon.

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North Carolina takes on Marquette in the first round of the NCAA tournament on Thursday. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

6:50 p.m.: No. 5 UConn vs. No. 12 New Mexico State (TNT)

7:10 p.m.: No. 2 Kentucky vs. No. 15 St. Peters (CBS)

7:20 p.m.: No. 5 St. Marys vs. No. 12 Indiana (TBS)

7:27 p.m.: No. 8 San Diego State vs. No. 9 Creighton (TruTV)

Must-see: You know how we said that North Carolina and Marquette could be high-scoring? Thats not going to be the case between San Diego State and Creighton. San Diego State allows 58 points per game and Creighton has allowed 65 points or fewer in each of its last five games. The total for this one is just 119 points. But it should be exceptionally close and dont be surprised if its a one-score game with under a minute left.

Must-skip: Sorry St. Peters, we arent putting much stock in your ability to hang with Kentucky. Indiana is capable of pulling off a 12-5 upset over St. Marys and New Mexico State is just a 6.5-point underdog against UConn. Kentucky should win this one easily and you could be flipping back and forth among the other three games.

9:20 p.m.: No. 4 Arkansas vs. No. 13 Vermont (TNT)

9:40 p.m.: No. 7 Murray State vs. No. 10 San Francisco (CBS)

9:50 p.m.: No. 4 UCLA vs. No. 13 Akron (TBS)

9:57 p.m.: No. 1 Kansas vs. No. 16 Texas Southern (TruTV)

Must-see: If youre a casual college basketball fan you likely havent seen any Murray State or San Francisco games this season. Change that late Thursday night. The Racers are 1.5-point favorites in this one and average nearly 80 points per game. San Francisco has scored 77 per game and shoots a lot of threes. Youll be entertained.

Must-skip: There wont be a UMBC moment on Thursday and all No. 1 seeds should win easily. If youre in the Eastern or Central time zones you can probably head to bed after UCLA and Akron because Kansas should have things under wraps by early in the second half at the latest against Texas Southern.

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2022 men's NCAA tournament viewing guide: What to watch and what to skip on Thursday - Yahoo Sports

Tim Hortons said it will open its first location in India later this year. (Photo by Lin Zejun/VCG via Getty Images)

Tim Hortons is expanding, bringing its double-doubles and Timbits to India as the chain looks to open hundreds of new locations around the world.

The coffee and doughnut chain announced on Tuesday that it has reached an agreement with a joint venture owned by Apparel Group and Gate Partners and will open its first India location in New Delhi later this year. Tim Hortons parent company Restaurant Brands International (QSR)(QSR.TO) says there are plans to open 300 locations in India over the next decade.

"India is one of the world's fastest growing markets for coffee and tea retail chains and Tims is thrilled to be opening there soon," David Shear, president of RBI, said in a statement.

"This launch in India is another critical step in our continuing international expansion plans."

Tim Hortons is in the midst of an aggressive international expansion strategy, with a particular focus on China. The company opened its 400th location in China in January, less than three years after it started its first restaurant in the country.

"We're really excited about the progress we're making in Tims in China," chief executive Jose Cil told analysts on a conference call last month, adding that the brand is gaining traction in other international markets as well, including the Middle East, United Kingdom and Mexico.

"We have a very ambitious long-term target for growth in China and view that as a great path to build Tim's international business throughout the region in Asia and also in other markets around the globe."

India will mark the 14th country that Tim Hortons will operate in. The chain currently has 5,100 locations in 13 countries, including the U.S., Mexico, Spain, the United Kingdom, China, Thailand, the Philippines and across the Middle East.

Alicja Siekierska is a senior reporter at Yahoo Finance Canada. Follow her on Twitter @alicjawithaj.

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Tim Hortons to open first India location as it expands internationally - Yahoo Canada Finance

After taking out Sergey Spivak in the first round in September which earned him his third $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus a humbled Tom Aspinall called out Blagoy Ivanov, who was ranked 12 at the time.

The UFC didnt pay attention to that call-out. Instead, it put Aspinall in with No. 6 Alexander Volkov on Saturday (4 p.m. ET, ESPN+) at The O2 Arena in London, giving him a considerably tougher test.

And Aspinall, who won over so many fans after beating Spivak by showing his humility while talking about his desire to buy his family a home, thought the UFC had the best idea.

So, the hometown boy will meet Volkov in the first UFC card in the United Kingdom in three years with a lot on the line.

After Aspinall watched the Spivak bout, he agreed with the UFCs choice to have him fight Volkov and not Ivanov. Hes become a vastly different fighter.

Anytime you can get a win in the UFC, its impressive, said Aspinall, who is 11-2 overall and 4-0 in the UFC. But when you can get a win and not really be touched in the fight, it just really shows your level. It proves to yourself that what youve been doing is really working. My confidence since that fight has gone to a whole other level. Ive always been confident anyway in my own skills, my own ability, but I feel like now my skill level is very high.

He cringes when he speaks that way, because hes the opposite of a loud-mouth, self-absorbed trash talker. He carries himself with humility and isnt looking for attention or to make a name for himself with anything other than his ability.

In Las Vegas, he was caught on camera crying when he heard news that hed won a $50,000 bonus. He said at the news conference that night hed been saving to buy his family a home.

He took pains to point out that his emotion he showed upon learning hed gotten a bonus was real and hes not trying to manufacture a character.

What you see with Aspinall is what you get, and people are taking to him.

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These answers, theyre not so I come across humble or anything like that, Aspinall told Yahoo Sports. Theyre honest answers. Im not trying to come across any certain way. This is literally my honest answer. I see a lot of people giving these fake answers to try to come across a certain way and I dont like that stuff. Im just trying to be me. Some people yelled at me for tearing up on camera when I got the bonus, but I didnt even know there was a camera there. I had no idea. It was a guy with a phone in his hand. If it was up to me, that video wouldnt have been posted. I dont want to be crying on camera.

But I have bought a house for the family and we are in the house as of two months ago. Its amazing times to be 28 years old with three children and a wife and being able to support everybody. Great times.

Tom Aspinall takes a big step up in competition Saturday when he faces Alexander Volkov (not pictured) in the main event of UFC London. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)

Many fighters who have had success at a young or in a lot of cases, not such a young age wind up getting self-absorbed and many blow their fortunes not long after they get it.

If Aspinall defeats Volkov, hell likely be in or right near the top five of the heavyweight division and thats where the big money will start to come. Aspinall, though, said the money, fame and attention wont change him or see him all of a sudden develop an entourage the size of a small town in northern England.

His father will be a gatekeeper, he said, but its just not in Aspinalls nature to be that way.

[My father] is not just going to let some guy from off the street come in and start sweet-talking me and start taking all of my money, Aspinall said. No way. Theres absolutely no way hes going to let anything like that happen, so I dont even have to worry about it.

What he does have to worry about is Volkov, an elite heavyweight whose losses have come primarily against the best of the best. BetMGM has Aspinall as a -130 favorite, with Volkov at +110.

Aspinall has much respect for Volkov, but his body of work convinced him he was ready for this opponent at this stage of his career.

He brings so many problems, Aspinall said. Hes 6-foot-8 and as you just mentioned, he has so much more experience than me. I was told today that hes got more knockouts than I have fights. Hes got a lot of knockouts. Hes got a lot of five-rounders under his belt. Hes got a lot of three-rounders under his belt, so the experience is there. Hes been fighting at a high level. Hes fought in front of large crowds. Ive never fought in front of a full-capacity crowd before.

On paper, it looks like its a mismatch in his favor. But paper doesnt really mean anything when it comes to stepping into the Octagon and fighting. Nobody really has an idea of what I can do in the Octagon. People think theyve got an idea, but Ive shown minimal, the minimum of my skill set is what Ive shown so far.

Saturday in front of a huge throng cheering his name would be a good time for him to show those skills. And dont be at all surprised if he does, and in a big way.

Excerpt from:

Tom Aspinall's wayward path to UFC spotlight: 'Im just trying to be me' - Yahoo Sports

Viktor Hovland is bettors most popular choice in a solid field at the Valspar Championship.

Five of the worlds top 10 golfers are entered in this weekends tournament at the Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Resort in Palm Harbor, Florida. Hovland, the No. 3 golfer in the world, is the No. 2 favorite for the tournament at +1000 at BetMGM. Hes getting 6% of bets to win the tournament and is the only player getting more than 10% of the money bet on the winner of the tournament.

World No. 1 Jon Rahm isnt entered this week so Collin Morikawa is the top player in the field. Morikawa is the No. 3 favorite in the field at +1100. Hes getting 4% of bets and the second-most money behind Hovland at 9.2% of the handle.

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The favorite for the weekend is Justin Thomas at +900. Hes getting just over 4% of wagers and under 8% of money wagered.

The second-most popular pick to win is Dustin Johnson at +1400. Hes getting just under 5% of bets, though those bets make up just under 5% of the total money wagered.

The other top-10 player entered in the field is Xander Schauffele. The Tokyo Olympics gold medalist is at +1800 to win and is getting 3% of bets and 2.4% of the money to win the tournament.

The Valspar is the last tournament of the PGA Tours spring Florida swing. The World Golf Championships match play event is next week and will feature dozens of the worlds top players. The Texas Open is the first event of April and is the last full-field event before the Masters which begins on April 7.

Viktor Hovland is the No. 2 favorite ahead of the Valspar Championship. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

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PGA Tour betting: Viktor Hovland is the top pick of bettors ahead of Valspar Championship - Yahoo Sports

We have one night left until the biggest day in college basketball consumes us with 16 games of pure mayhem. For Wednesday night we're looking at the NBA card to give our bankroll another boost before one of the biggest sports betting weekends of the year. All three bets hit from Monday's side, total, and prop, giving us a clean 3-0 sweep on the night. Let's keep the momentum rolling as we dive into Wednesday night's 12-game schedule.

Draymond Green played 20 mins and posted seven rebounds and six assists in his return from injury Monday night. The Warriors cruised to their fourth straight victory and fifth straight cover. Call me a contrarian, but I am not buying everything is perfect again in Dub Nation. I am not saying the Warriors won't be in form by the postseason, but the Boston Celtics are a great litmus test for any team.

Golden State's offense looked outstanding facing one of the worst defenses in the NBA on Monday night. Unfortunately, that level of competition against Washington doesn't provide much predictive value. The Celtics' superior defense travels well, stifling opponents at a rate of 105.7 points per 100 possessions in road games. I think they can bottle up Curry enough and test Golden State's depth. Both defenses will bring maximum effort, making the points with the dog even more valuable. The C's are 6-3 ATS in their last nine on the road and have covered in five of their last six trips to the Bay. I will take the points and bank on Tatum keeping them close.

The Wizards are happy to be home after a winless West Coast road trip in which they allowed more than 122 points per game. Before the Warriors scored 73 points in the first half Monday night, Washington gave up over 120 points per game to three bottom-eight offenses. Their 123.4 defensive rating for the month of March is an embarrassing 29th in the NBA. They are also 29th in their last 15 home games, making it very unlikely the hometown crowd sparks a defensive effort against Denver.

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Nuggets MVP candidate Nikola Jokic should beef up his case in a big way. The Wizards allow the fifth-most points to centers, and Denver will be motivated to catch the Jazz and Mavericks in the Western Conference standings. Washington is on a five-game run to the over and has been a sneaky-good offensive team with Kristaps Porzingis. This is a great situational spot to push the over streak to six.

Philadelphia was the big trade deadline winner but has been losers of late ever since the schedule leveled up. The 76ers have lost three of their last five and are desperate to get their Big 3 back on track and that includes Tyrese Maxey. After averaging over 26 points in his first four games with James Harden, Maxey's scoring production dropped to 13.4 points over the last five games. Philly missed his scoring touch, going 2-3 during his struggles.

The trend is clear that the Sixers need Maxey to be more assertive, and Wednesday night's opponent should give him the confidence to do so. Maxey scorched the Cavs for 33 points on 10-of-15 shooting less than two weeks ago. He gets another opportunity against that same Cavs defense. I expect a big push from Joel Embiid and Harden to get him touches, making me comfortable that the second-year guard delivers.

Stats provided by teamrankings.com, evanalytics.com, and nba.com.

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NBA betting: How to bet Celtics-Warriors on Wednesday night - Yahoo Sports