Top 3 bets for Thursday's NFL, Italian football and tennis

Who is playing in the NFL Thursday Night Football game?

It’s a huge game tonight as the unbeaten Arizona Cardinals take on the 6-1 Green Bay Packers, who having lost the season opener, are on a six-match winning streak of their own. The Cardinals have won the past three meetings between these sides, two of them in overtime, and if they make it four straight, they’ll go to 8-0 for the first time in franchise history. This game is being billed as the biggest Thursday Night Football game in Super Bowl era history. It’s the first time two teams with 13 combined wins have met in week 8 or earlier and their combined winning percentage (0.929%) is the highest for a game held in October or later.

Aaron Rodgers QB Performance (97-107)

The Cardinals have one of the best defences in the NFL, especially stopping the pass, but in Aaron Rodgers, the Packers have one of the all-time great quarter-backs and he’ll relish the challenge. The QB Performance market awards 10 points per passing or rushing touchdown, 3 points per completion and 1 point per rushing yard, with -5 per turnover. During Green Bay’s six-game winning streak, Rodgers has thrown 15 touchdowns and only one interception. As ever, the Packers fans have been backing their man, but can he stamp his authority on this game against the unbeaten Cards?

Is there any ‘proper’ football on tonight?

There’s nothing domestically, but there’s a big game in Serie A as Napoli look to go back to the top of the table with a win at home to Bologna. After starting the season with eight straight wins, a combination of their 0-0 draw at Jose Mourinho’s Roma, and Milan beating Torino on Tuesday knocked them off of top spot.

Victor Osimhen Super Mega Minutes 59-69

That 0-0 draw at Roma was only the 2^nd time in his last 9 games that Victor Osimhen has not been on the scoresheet. He scored home and away against Bologna last season, grabbing the only goal of the game away from home, and adding to Lorenzo Insigne’s double in the 3-1 home win. We’ve seen some buying of Super Mega Minutes, which counts all goal minutes for a player, doubling those of a 2^nd goal and trebling those of a 3^rd, from those hoping the Nigerian keeps up that form, but remember he’s coming off a blank at Roma and Napoli boss Luciano Spalletti has plenty of other attacking options if his side are struggling to break down Bologna.

When is Emma Raducanu playing today?

The British number 1 is due on centre court at the Transylvanian Open for her 2^nd round match with Ana Bogdan this afternoon. That match will be 3^rd on today, and should start just after 1.30pm. Raducanu has already stolen the hearts of the locals, doing interviews in Romanian in her father Ian’s homeland, and while crowds are not allowed due to Covid-19 restrictions, progressing in this tournament will mean a lot to the US Open champion and her family.

Total Points (134-139)

Raducanu’s 1^st round win over Polona Hercog was her first since that US Open win, and first ever WTA Tour victory. She looked a little rusty, and still without a coach, may struggle to hit the peaks she managed in New York. The total points in that 1^st round game was 193, and if this match goes the same way, buyers will be making big profits again. Remember though that Raducanu didn’t lose a set the whole week at the US Open, and if she replicates that kind of form then straight sets wins are not good for those hoping for a high number of points to be played.