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SAINT PAUL, Minn. - 16th-ranked and fourth-seeded Michigan State women's soccer opens postseason play on Saturday, Nov. 2 against fifth-seeded Rutgers in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals. Kickoff is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. ET at the University of Minnesota's Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium.

All tournament quarterfinal matches will stream on B1G+.

FIRST TOUCH
MSU (12-1-5, 7-1-3 B1G) wrapped up the regular season with a 3-1 home win over Purdue last week, finishing in fourth place in the final league standings. It marked MSU's fourth-straight top-four Big Ten finish since head coach Jeff Hosler's arrival in 2021. Prior to Hosler's arrival, MSU had not finished in the top five since 2011.

Graduate forward Mackenzie Anthony notched a first-half goal against Purdue, while freshman midfielder Kaleigh McPherson and graduate forward Meg Hughes tallied second-half scores. Hughes' goal was her team-leading seventh of the season, which also brought her 2024 point total to a team-leading 19. McPherson's goal was the first of her career. She was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week on Tuesday this week.

SCOUTING RUTGERS
Rutgers is 10-3-4 this season and finished with a 6-2-3 record in the Big Ten to finish in a tie for fifth in the final league standings. The Scarlet Knights ended regular-season play with a 1-1 home draw with Maryland on Oct. 27. Senior defender Emily Mason scored the lone Rutgers goal in that contest.

Senior forward Riley Tiernan leads the Scarlet Knights in scoring with 17 points this season from a team-leading four goals and nine assists. Shaela Bradley, Allie Post and Ashley Baran also have scored four goals this season. In goal, redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Olivia Bodmer holds a 0.826 save percentage and 0.71 goals-against average.

Saturday's meeting between the two schools will be the 13th all-time and second this season. Rutgers holds a 9-2-1 edge in the series, which dates back to 2004. MSU and Rutgers have never met in the Big Ten Tournament.

The Spartans and Scarlet Knights played to a 1-1 draw in East Lansing on Sept. 29 this season. After a defensive battle through the first 80 minutes, Anthony finally broke the ice with 10 minutes to go to give MSU a 1-0 lead. In the 86th minute, a handball by the Spartans in the box awarded Rutgers a penalty kick that was slotted home by freshman Gabriela Gil to seal the 1-1 result.

MSU IN THE B1G TOURNAMENT
MSU is playing in their fourth B1G tournament in as many years this weekend. Head coach Jeff Hosler has guided the Spartans to the conference tournament in every year of his tenure so far. Saturday will be MSU's 16th all-time B1G tournament appearance since the tournament's inception in 1994. Before Hosler's arrival in 2021, MSU had not qualified to the tournament since 2011.

The Spartans are 4-15-2 all-time in the tournament. MSU has advanced to the semifinals five times - twice on penalty kicks (2008, 2011) and three times with quarterfinal round wins (1994, 2005, 2022). MSU has only made the championship game once, which came in 2022, where MSU was defeated by Penn State, 3-2.

Last season, MSU dropped its quarterfinal match to eventual champion Iowa, 2-1, in East Lansing.

UP NEXT
The Big Ten semifinals and championship are scheduled for Nov. 7 and Nov. 10, respectively, at CITYPARK in St. Louis. The winner of Saturday's quarterfinal will play the winner of B1G champion and top-seeded USC and either No. 8 Wisconsin or No. 9 Ohio State in the semifinals.

Preview courtesy of MSU Athletics.

Sure thy are undefeated with some high scoring impressive wins. BUT look at their schedule. They have not played against any of the big boys in the conference. I think we have a very good chance to beat them if we can improve red zone efficiency

Michigan State recently extended an offer to 2026 OLB Braxton Lindsey (Rogers, AR).

Lindsey discusses what the offer means to him, how he is building a relationship with co-special teams coordinator and rush ends coach Chad Wilt, and future visit plans:

Michigan State head coach Jonathan Smith has named true freshman offensive lineman Charlton Luniewski, true freshman quarterback Ryland Jessee, true freshman walk-on defensive lineman Luke DeJager, redshirt freshman walk-on wide receiver Grant Calcagno and redshirt sophomore defensive back Shawn Smith as the Scout Team Players of the Week ahead of the Indiana game.

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I should be getting the full list ofMichigan State visitors for this weekend's game versus Indiana soon, but I wanted to get it started with the names we currently have.

More names will be added as we get them, but here are the visitors for Indiana versus Michigan State on Saturday, Nov. 2.

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Read thoughts from Keith Bhonapha, Aidan Chiles and Jack Velling regarding the loss to Michigan and how they’re moving on to Indiana.

Michigan State women’s tennis welcomes six teams for their second home tournament of the season.​

EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State women's tennis is back with home action this weekend, hosting their second tournament this fall, the Spartan Invite. The tournament spans from Friday-Sunday, Nov. 1-3 at the MSU Indoor Tennis Center, with all matches beginning at 9 a.m. each day.

The Green & White welcomes Butler, DePaul, Eastern Michigan, Iowa, Northwestern and Ohio State for the weekend, with all schools sending multiple players to participate in rounds of singles and doubles.

While the rosters for the other schools vary, nine out of the 10 Spartans will partake in the action. This is the first full-team appearance this season.

Over 40 players will be placed into a randomized compass bracket for singles, while doubles will have a round-round pod play.

Fans can follow the Spartan Invite Tournament Central for updated schedule information as well as results and watch live links.

Preview courtesy of MSU Athletics.

EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State wrestling opens its 2024-25 campaign this weekend traveling to the nation's capital for a 1:00 p.m. dual at American University on Saturday, November 2. Saturday's dual will be streamed on ESPN+ ($).
"Looking forward to watching this team get into their first dual of the year and seeing how they have grown in competition since last season," said Michigan State head coach Roger Chandler. "There are a lot of new young faces this season and I look forward to watching them make their mark on Spartan Wrestling."

Michigan State opens its season with a dual for the first time since 2015-16, with Saturday marking the third time in the last three seasons that the Spartans have met American for a non-conference dual. MSU is 2-0 all-time against American, winning 33-0 on Nov. 18, 2022 and 28-12 on Jan. 5, 2024.



The First Whistle
Michigan State returns one NCAA qualifier and five other wrestlers that started in 10 or more duals for the Spartans last season. Redshirt senior Tristan Lujan is MSU's returning NCAA qualifier and is joined by redshirt junior Andy Hampton, redshirt sophomore Braden Stauffenberg, redshirt senior DJ Shannon, redshirt sophomore Kael Wisler and redshirt sophomore Josh Terrill as a returning starter.

Returning to the lineup is redshirt sophomore Cesar Garza at 174 pounds, who started in 10 duals as a true freshman in 2022-23 before redshirting during the 2023-24 campaign. Redshirt sophomores Wisler and Terrill aim to earn their first NCAA Tournament qualifications this season after coming up just short a year ago. Terrill was 25-15 in his first season as a starter and Wisler finished 26-14 as a redshirt freshman.

Michigan State will be one of the younger teams in the B1G this season, with nine wrestlers in the opening weekend probables listed as a redshirt sophomore or younger.

MSU went 8-0 against non-conference opponents in 2023 and was won 22 straight non-con duals dating back to 2/21/20 at Central Michigan (L, 21-15).

First Look: American
American University has strong leadership headed by fourth-year head coach Jason Borrelli, the 2021 Dan Gable National Coach of the Year. AU won eight duals for the second straight season a year ago, matching the most dual wins in the past 13 years for the program.

Maximilian Leete placed fifth at the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (EIWA) Championships at 133 pounds to earn an automatic big to the NCAA Tournament. Jack Maida, Jack Nies and Will Jarrell are also former EIWA placewinners. Maida took fifth at 133 in 2023 and Nies placed sixth at 157. Jarrell was the ninth-place finisher at 285 in 2024.

Maida qualified for the NCAA Tournament at 133 in 2023 to mark Borelli's first qualifier at American. Maida, who competed at 125 in 2024, will bump back up this season but to 141 pounds. At 125, Maida pulled an upset over Virginia Techís 2023 All-American Eddie Ventresca.


Last Meeting - Jan. 5, 2024 in East Lansing
Michigan State 28, American 12
133 | Maximillian Leete (AU) fall over Andy Hampton (MSU) 1:50 | AU 6-0
141 | Jordan Hamdan (MSU) dec. Raymond Lopez (AU) 8-4 | AU 6-3
149 | Braden Stauffenberg (MSU) dec. Ethan Szerencsits (AU) 5-2 | Tied 6-6
157 | Chase Saldate (MSU) fall over Devon Capatao (AU) 6:08 | MSU 12-6
165 | Caleb Fish (MSU) major dec. Breon Phifer (AU) 8-0 | MSU 16-6
174 | Lucas White (AU) dec. Marty Larkin (MSU) 3-2 | MSU 16-9
184 | Layne Malczewski (MSU) major dec. Connor Bourne (AU) | MSU 20-9
197 | Kael Wisler (MSU) tech fall over Liam Volk-Klos (AU) 17-2 | MSU 25-9
285 | Josh Terrill (MSU) sudden victory – 1 Will Jarrell (AU) 6-3 | MSU 28-9
125 | Jack Maida (AU) dec. Tristan Lujan (MSU) 2-1 | 28-12

Up Next
MSU returns to East Lansing next weekend for the annual Michigan State Open hosted inside historic Jenison Field House. The MSU Open has been a staple at Michigan State for decades, with action getting underway at 9:30 a.m.

Preview courtesy of MSU Athletics.

On a personal side note, my spouse works for AU and attends law school there part-time as well.

QUICK STRIKES FOR THE WEEK AHEAD ...

• Michigan State heads to Bloomington on Friday to take on Indiana in the Big Ten and regular-season finale for both squads.

• MSU split its final weekend of home games last weekend. MSU got a goal and an assist from Maddie Lawlor and the OT winner from freshman Carmen Pucheta in the 2-1 win over Iowa on Friday, and then a 17-save performance by Lyra Gavino on Sunday in a setback to No. 1 Northwestern.

• Kayla Bashore is in her sixth season as the head coach at Indiana. The Hoosiers are 8-8 on the season with Big Ten overtime victories over Rutgers and Iowa, and an upset win over Michigan last weekend in Ann Arbor. Ines Garcia Prado leads the squad in goals (8) and points (17), with Yip van Wonderen ranking second in both categories (6-2-14). Freshman Sadie Canelli ownds a 1.38 GAA and .768 save percentage.

• Michigan State has played a program-record seven overtime games this season, which ties the 2000 and 2014 squads with the most requiring extra time. The Spartans are now to 3-4 in overtime games this season, with three going to a second OT period and one advancing to a penalty shootout. The 2000 squad was 2-5 in extra time, and the 2014 team was 4-3.

• The Spartans have doubled their win total from a year ago (4) and have scored 33 goals through 17 games in 2024. The 2023 offensively-challenged Spartans scored 17 goals in 16 games combined.

• Two of the Big Ten's weekly honorees will be minding the goalcages in Friday's contest - Defensive Player of the Week Lyra Gavino, and Freshman of the Week, IU's Sadie Canelli.
: : :&nbsp:Gavino made 10 saves in the Spartans' overtime win over Iowa last Friday, and then matched her career best of 17 saves against No. 1-ranked Northwestern on Sunday. Gavino has twice had 17 saves in a game this season, the highest total by a keeper in the B1G this season.
: : :&nbsp:Canelli made five saves (and five more in the penalty shootout) in a penalty shootout loss to No. 3 Ohio State on Friday, and then made three saves in IU's upset of No. 7 Michigan on Sunday.

• With six players boasting double-digit points, it is the second-most in the last 10 years for MSU - the 2022 team had seven with 10 points or more. MSU has seven returning players who have established new career highs in goals, assists AND points (all three categories). Six players have either four or five goals.

• Sophomore keeper Lyra Gavino has three straight double-digit save performances - a 10-save performance in the 2-1 OT win over Iowa between a pair of 17-save outings against No. 16 Penn State and No. 1 Northwestern. She previously had 10 saves in an OT win against Miami on Oct. 1. Her 17 stops is tied for 10th most in a game this season among all Division I players and the most by a Big Ten keeper this season.

• Gavino owns a 2.00 GAA and .707 save percentage, both career bests. The sophomore ranks first among all Big Ten keepers in shots faced (252) and saves (97), and second overall in minutes played (997). Her 6.06 saves per game ranks 16th nationally.
: : :&nbsp:In Conference games only, her league-leading 67 saves is nearly double Northwestern's Annabel Skubisz, who is second with 38. Her .779 save percentage in Conference games ranks third, and her shots faced (155) in B1G play is more than one-third more than Iowa's Mia Magnotta's 105.

• Emma O'Neill maintains the team's scoring lead (5-11-16, 13th B1G), with classmate Ellie Rutherford (4-6-14. T-18th) right behind. Rutherford leads the team in assists, while O'Neill shares the team's goal-scoring lead with classmate Maddie Lawlor (5-3-13) and sophomore Bianca Pizano. Those are career bests in all those categories for these Spartans.

• Freshmen Carmen Pucheta and Lilian Knorr are tied for fifth on the team in scoring, each with four goals and a pair of assists. Pucheta had goals against both Penn State and Iowa, with her goal against the Hawkeyes coming in OT to earn the win for MSU. MSU's eight game-winning goals this season have all come from different players.

Preview courtesy of MSU Athletics.

Big Ten Championships
Date: Friday, Nov. 1
Time: Women's 6k Race - 11:35 a.m. ET
Men's 8k Race - 12:35 p.m. ET
All time Eastern
Location: Orange and Blue Golf Course (Savoy, Ill.)
Live Results

EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State's cross country teams will travel to Savoy, Illinois for the 2024 Big Ten Cross Country Championships, hosted by the University of Illinois.

The women's 6k race will begin at 11:35 a.m. ET, while the men's 8k race will start at 12:35 p.m. ET.

This will be the first Big Ten Championships with the four new B1G schools Oregon, UCLA, USC and Washington. All 18 teams will have women's teams in competition, while 15 teams will have men's teams running.

The Big Ten has gotten even more competitive with the addition of the new schools, as Washington is currently ranked No. 2 in the women's rankings, while Oregon is No. 17. Michigan State is currently ranked No. 26. On the men's side, Wisconsin is the top Big Ten team in the rankings, standing ninth. Washington is No. 18, while the Spartans are receiving votes.

The women's team has won the last two Big Ten championships and have captured four of the last five titles. Last season, the Spartans had a veteran group led by Makenna Veen who finished third, while Katie Osika finished fourth to capture first-team All-Big Ten honors.

The Spartan will field a much younger squad this season. Eleanor Kendall, who finished 17th last season, returns for MSU this year, along with Sarah Forsyth, Kaitlyn Hynes and Kate Stewart-Barnett. Freshman standout Rachel Forsyth will be making her Big Ten Championship debut.

Last season, the men finished third, their best finish in the conference championship race since 2017. Andrew Nolan earned first-team All-Big Ten recognition with a sixth-place finish in the race. Alexander Penski also collected second-team All-Big Ten honors after finishing in the top 14. Both Nolan and Penski are back this season to lead an experienced men's group. New to the B1G Championships this season are Moses Osterink and Michael Hegarty.

The race will be broadcast live on the Big Ten Network.

Preview courtesy of MSU Athletics.

EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State volleyball returns home this weekend hosting No. 15-ranked Minnesota on Friday night and Ohio State on Sunday afternoon. First serve between the Spartans and the Golden Gophers is set for 6:00 p.m. inside the Breslin Center, with Sunday's match against the Buckeyes starting at 12:00 p.m.

Both matches will stream live on B1G+. Fans can listen in via the Spartan Media Network for both matches where John Kreger will call the action in his 20th season of coverage.

ABOUT #15 MINNESOTA​

Led by second-year head coach Keegan Cook, No. 15-ranked Minnesota arrives in East Lansing with a record of 14-6 (7-3 B1G). The Golden Gophers are ranked No. 30 in the latest NCAA RPI with quad one victories over Texas and Wisconsin. All six of Minnesota's losses have come to Top 25 RPI teams, including USC.

Minnesota ranks No. 12 nationally in blocks/set (2.79), No. 37 in opponent hitting percentage (.172), No. 5 in hitting percentage (.245), No. 96 in digs/set (15.25), No. 167 in kills/set (12.56), No. 194 in aces/set (1.47) and No. 210 in assists/set (11.30).

Middle blocker Phoebe Awoleye ranks No. 7 nationally and No. 2 in the B1G in blocks/set at 1.56 and her 112 total blocks is No. 13 nationally and No. 3 in the B1G. Julia Hanson leads the team in kills/set at 3.56 and is the reigning B1G Player of the Week. Setter Melani Shaffmaster is posting 8.78 assists/set and libero Zeynep Palabiyik averages 3.79 digs/set.

SERIES HISTORY​

#15 Minnesota

- Michigan State is 19-62 all-time against Minnesota and 11-28 when facing the Golden Gophers in East Lansing.
- Minnesota has won nine straight over the Green & White dating back to 2018, with MSU's last victory coming in 2017 (3-0).
- In 2017, the Spartans took down then No. 1-ranked Minnesota in Minneapolis in the same weekend that they first defeated then No. 5-ranked Wisconsin in Madison.

---

ABOUT OHIO STATE​

Led by fifth-year head coach Jen Flynn-Oldenburg, Ohio State enters the weekend with a record of 8-12 (1-9 B1G). The Buckeyes are ranked No. 86 in the latest NCAA RPI with two quad two victories over Northern Iowa and Miami (Fla.).

Ohio State ranks No. 58 nationally in blocks/set (2.44), No. 157 in assists/set (11.67), No. 162 in aces/set (1.53), No. 178 in opponent hitting percentage (.206), No. 187 in kills/set (12.41), No. 197 in hitting percentage (.200) and No. 228 in digs/set (13.78).

Emily Londot ranks No. 9 nationally and No. 1 in the B1G in attacks/set (12.01), No. 10/1 in points (417.5), No. 10/1 in kills/set (4.59), No. 11/1 in points/set (5.35), No. 13 in total kills (358).

Setter Mia Tuman leads Ohio State with 652 assists at 9.73 assists/set, libero Olivia Hasbrook averages 3.85 digs/set and middle blocker Eloise Brandewie averages 1.13 blocks/set.

SERIES HISTORY​

Ohio State

- Michigan State is 33-53 all-time against Ohio State and 20-21 when facing the Buckeyes in East Lansing.
- Ohio State has won six straight over the Green & White dating back to 2021, with MSU's last victory coming in 2019.
- The Spartans won 7 of 10 meetings against OSU from 2013 through 2019, winning by a combined 23-9.

IN THE B1G RANKINGS
​

Nalani Iosia is #2 in digs/set in the B1G at 4.26 and ranks #2 in total digs with 328.

Iosia is #2 in B1G only matches with 4.08 digs/ set on 151 total digs.

Zuzanna Kulig ranks #3 in the B1G in blocks thus far at 1.45 blocks/set, only behind Purdue's Raven Colvin (1.59) and Minnesota Phoebe Awoleye (1.56).

Kulig's total blocks (106) rank third in the conference behind Colvin's 121 and Awoleye's 112, and her solo blocks (18) are tied for first with Colvin (18).

In B1G only matches Kulig ranks #4 in blocks/ set with 1.41.

Kulig is #9 in the B1G in overall season hitting at .361 (100-18-227).

Last week, Kulig ranked #7 in the B1G in hitting percentage hitting .400 for the week (11-1-25).

Last week, Akasha Anderson was #4 in the B1G in kills/set (4.75) and #5 in points/set (5.50).

Serve specialist Ky Clayton ranked #6 last week in aces/set (.50) following a four ace weekend.

LAST ONE BEST ONE​

Fifth-year libero Nalani Iosia saved her best for last, averaging a career-high 4.26 digs per set. Her previous career-high was 4.16 set in 2023.
If the season ended today, Iosia's 4.26 digs/set would rank No. 8 in the program history book for a single season.
Iosia moved into No. 7 in career digs at MSU and now has 1,278 in a Spartan jersey. Becky Belanger is No. 6 all-time with 1,293 career digs.
Iosia ranks No. 26 in active career dig leaders among all DI players with 1,815.
Iosia is second in the B1G in digs per set (4.26) and total digs (328).
Iosia entered the season ranked second in the B1G in career digs among active players with 1,504 (now 1,832).
Iosia ranked fifth in the B1G last season in digs/set at 4.16.
Iosia was an AVCA All-North Region honorable mention following the conclusion of the 2023 season, the first Spartan to earn a regional honor since 2017 and the first libero since 2014.
Iosia's 483 digs last season ranked No. 8 all-time for a single season at MSU.
Iosia matched her career-high of 27 digs against Washington on Oct. 20, 2024.

KULIG AS A CUCUMBER​

Sophomore middle blocker Zuzanna Kulig inserted herself into the conversation as one of the best in the country.
Kulig ranks No. 12 nationally and No. 3 in the B1G in blocks per set (1.45).
Kulig's 106 total blocks rank No. 23 nationally and No. 3 in the B1G.
Kulig posted a new career-high 12 blocks against Illinois on Oct. 12, 2024.
12 blocks in a match is the fourth-most single match blocks in program history and was last accomplished by Alexis Mathews on Nov. 24, 2010 against Michigan.
Kulig's 1.45 blocks/set would rank No. 6 in program history for a single season. No Spartan has posted 1.50 blocks/set since 2001 (Angela Morley (1.55).
Kulig's current career 1.24 blocks/set would rank No. 5 in program history.

KASH MONEY​

Over her last four matches junior outside hitter Akasha Anderson leads MSU with 4.33 kills/set and 4.90 points/set on .278 hitting.

Last weekend in MSU's upset over #16 USC, Anderson tied her career-high in kills with 26 while adding a season-best 13 digs and five blocks.

It was a career-best, 30.5 total points tallied for Anderson against the Women of Troy.

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Preview courtesy of MSU Athletics.

EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State volleyball senior setter Julia Bishop has been named one of 18 recipients of the American Volleyball Coaches Association's (AVCA) Coaches 4 Coaches scholarship. Bishop is the only active undergraduate student-athlete to earn the scholarship, joined by 17 current graduate student or full-time assistant coaches.

Funded by AVCA members, the scholarship program was developed as a way to provide a head start to young coaches and recent college graduates who have interest in coaching volleyball. This year's 18 Coaches 4 Coaches recipients join more than 165 program alums.

"One of the most important qualities of any coach is their adherence to a set of personal values, and Julia has embodied our values of service, growth and honor to the highest degree," said Michigan State head coach Leah Johnson. "Her commitment to serving her teammates, constantly seeking improvement and upholding integrity both on and off the court is a testament to the kind of leader and role model she is."

During the Convention, which will take place Dec. 18-22 in Louisville, Kentucky, scholarship recipients will have the opportunity to network with successful coaches from all levels and take part in educational opportunities.

"On behalf of the committee I would like to congratulate the 2024 scholarship recipients," said Jaime Gordon, AVCA CEO and Coaches 4 Coaches Committee Chair. "There was a tremendous pool of applicants for our 16th year, and that made the committee's work challenging."

In the Summer of 2024 Bishop launched Zone1 Volleyball Training where she attended and coached at interscholastic volleyball camps throughout the state of Michigan.

Bishop, who is in the midst of her senior season at MSU, leads the Spartans with 457 assists on 6.09 assists per set. Since moving to a 5-1 system, Bishop is averaging 8.21 assists/set for Michigan State. Bishops, six double-doubles (assists and digs) lead MSU this season. In an upset of No. 16-ranked USC last weekend Bishop posted a season-best 46 assists, the second most of her career.

Release courtesy of MSU Athletics.

First of all, Happy Halloween!

Historically speaking, Michigan State has performance well against Indiana. In fact, the Spartans have more wins over the Hoosiers (50) than they do over any other school.

But there aren't you daddy's Hoosiers.

Maybe I am just a bit salty and grouchy over the outcome from last weekend and (more importantly) the University of Michigan's continuing campaign against honesty, accountability, integrity, intelligence, and reality, but whatever the reason, I am not at all optimistic about this weekend's game.

To borrow from my Phantom of the Opera theme this time around, the Hoosiers are not just masquerading as a contender. They are a legit contender. Even if MSU plays an A- game, it might not be enough.

Check out my full article and all my betting advice here: