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The sports world showed us that the coronavirus is not going away when top-ranked tennis star Novak Djokovic and his wife announced today that they have tested positive for the virus. He was playing a series of exhibition matches in Croatia and Serbia without practicing any social distancing. He is the fourth tennis player to test positive for the illness.
Djokovic has been in the news throughout this pandemic for complaining about things like lockdown rules and the U.S. Tennis Association’s plan’s to protect people during the U.S. Open. Croatia had only 2,336 reported cases of the virus and Djokovic and other players spent this exhibition tournament interacting with fans, hugging each other, and partying in nightclubs. The lesson, as always, pandemic doctors know more than you about this thing, even if you are the top-ranked tennis player in the world. Wear a mask.
The MLB is set to return after the long stand-off between players and owners that ultimately went nowhere. The league has set their opening day for around July 24th with a spring training starting in the team’s home stadiums on July 1st. It will be an intense season with the season ending on September 27th and then an expanded playoffs starting. Of course, there is still the whole matter of the coronavirus to contend with. Places like Florida and Texas, states with multiple MLB teams, have seen huge outbreaks and there is still the matter of safety protocols and testing to figure out.
We’re still about a month away from these major sports returning and while it seems like we are on schedule for their return, the situation is changing every day and I’d have the odds at about -110 for everything returning as currently planned.
Today I have soccer tips for June 24th. Soccer is going to be our saving grace until the time when those other sports return so let’s dig in.
EPL Betting Tips:
Manchester United vs. Sheffield United: Manchester United looks like a good pick here with a dominant home record in recent matches. I know that home field isn’t quite the same as it has been prior to the lockdown, but it’s a stat we have to at least give some consideration to. Sheffield United is coming off a thrashing at the hands of Newcastle and will be without John Egan who was sent off in that last match. This feels like a match that Manchester United should win and I think Sheffield United will struggle to score against them.
Bet Manchester United -1, -1½ +100
Newcastle United vs. Aston Villa: It’s going to be a hot one here and that should keep this one relatively quiet. The last eight matches between these teams have seen two or fewer goals scored and that, combined with the heat, should lead to a low scoring game here. Neither team has a particularly strong attack which isn’t going to help matters either and I’m honestly surprised the odds on this under are as favorable as they are.
