By Richard Eden for The Daily Mail

Published: 7:19 PM EDT, March 22, 2024 | Updated: 7:25 PM EDT, March 22, 2024

Please note: Offers are accurate at date of publication, March 20, 2024, but are subject to change.

We all try to be ‘there’. Luckily, the Amazon Big Spring Sale has made it a lot easier (and a lot cheaper!). From March 20 to March 25, many of our favorite ultra-trendy, reviewer-loved classics will be on sale, including some that have never been on sale before. It’s exciting to say the least! And we’re not talking about small deals either: some of these are over 84% off.

Whether you’re looking for a new air fryer, sunscreen, vacuum cleaner or even a handbag, we’ve found the best deals on the hottest home economics, technology, beauty and fashion products. During this Big Spring Sale we have all kinds of offers, so don’t forget to check out the Shop with us page whenever you’re on the web (which should be often, because this sale is kind of a big deal!).

Best House Deals

Our absolute favorite: Pets, dirt, children: the house doesn’t stay clean for long. This TurboClean vacuum cleaner is designed to… tidy after pets, remove stains and clean hard-to-reach places (stairs, upholstery, etc.)

Best tech deals

Our absolute favorite: Reviewers are obsessed with it waterproof earplugs – it’s no secret why! They last eight hours, remove background noise for clear conversations and have smart touch functions.

Best Beauty Deals

Our absolute favorite: Summer is just around the corner and that means plenty of time in the sun. Go forward and grab this lightweight, non-greasy bestseller for everyday use!

Best fashion deals

Our absolute favorite: Puff sleeves, yes completely hip straight away. This top is available in 45 different colors and fun patterns, so you’re sure to find one that suits your wardrobe and style!

(Editor’s note: This is part of the Bracket Central Series, an inside look at the run-up to the men’s and women’s NCAA Tournaments, along with analysis and picks during the tournaments.)

Since Florida repeated as national champs in 2007, no defending champion has advanced past the Sweet 16. That ends this year.

 

Connecticut is the most complete team in college basketball, and it’s going to end that streak and repeat as national champions. That was my pre-bracket prediction and I’m sticking with it, but the selection committee really has me uneasy about that prediction. The Huskies received no favors as the top overall seed. You could argue that UConn has the toughest path to Phoenix as any of the top seeds. Iowa State has the best defense in college basketball. Illinois has one of the best offenses and was a team pre-bracket that I was pretty sure I would push through to the Final Four, and Auburn is the candidate to be this season’s UConn.

My other pre-bracket rule: Fade the Big 12. The league is the most physical in the country and its teams, outside of Iowa State, are entering the NCAA Tournament bruised and battered. And if you look through the all-conference teams in the Big 12, the talent is not comparable to past years. There aren’t a lot of pros, and the talent is down. There are still a lot of good teams, but for most of the year it felt like Houston was the only great one. And Houston is a shell of itself right now.

Sometimes it’s a curse to watch a lot of college basketball because it leads to going too chalky. Last season, that would have gotten you in real trouble. This year the top is stronger. It’s not just the eye test. Adjusted efficiency margins at KenPom.com suggest this as well. For instance, last season’s No. 1 entering the tournament (Houston) would be this season’s No. 3. Last season’s No. 2 (UCLA) would fall to No. 6 this year. The numbers a year ago were hinting at possible chaos. This year we could get a more chalky Final Four.

Now, maybe you’ve come here for help with your bracket. My advice: If you’re convinced that UConn is the best team, then pick the Huskies. But if you’re not, there’s a lot of value in picking Purdue. The Boilermakers have been one of the best two teams in the country all season, but a lot of people are going to pick an early upset because Matt Painter’s team has lost in the first round in two of the last three tournaments — including No. 16 seed Fairleigh Dickinson last year. This is not the same Purdue team. That one featured freshmen guards who were wearing down. Now Braden Smith and Fletcher Loyer are sophomores, and Smith, in particular, has made a big leap and is one of the best point guards in the country. He also has playmaking help in Southern Illinois transfer guard Lance Jones.

I’m sticking with UConn, but I’ve got Purdue in the championship game.

Let’s get to the nitty gritty now. Here is a region-by-region breakdown.

East Region

• The second round is the first possible pothole for UConn. Northwestern took Purdue to overtime twice this season and has one of the best-scoring guards in America in Boo Buie. His ability to punish drop coverage is why I’m hesitant to take Florida Atlantic in the first round. FAU’s defense is designed to give up jump shots in the mid-range. Buie doesn’t take a lot of mid-range jumpers, but he’s one of the best pick-and-roll scorers in the country and has an effective field-goal percentage of 58.6 on shots off the dribble, per Synergy.

The Owls have performed their best coming off their lowest points, and losing to Temple in the AAC tournament was a low. Dusty May’s team will be motivated and also potentially a scary matchup for UConn, as the Owls also play their best against top competition — they knocked off Arizona in Las Vegas just before Christmas.

• Auburn is way underseeded if you’re a believer in metrics. The Tigers rank No. 4 at KenPom.com, and as stated earlier, they’re a good candidate to be the UConn of this tournament. UConn was also No. 4 at KenPom going into last year’s bracket and also was a No. 4 seed with the defending national champs (Kansas) as its No. 1 seed in its region.

The Tigers have double-digit wins in 26 of their 27 wins. Last season, UConn had double-digit wins in 19 of its 25 victories heading into the NCAA Tournament and then won all of its tourney games by double digits. This is potential pothole No. 2 for the Huskies, assuming Auburn can get past Yale (Ivy League was one of the best mid-major leagues this year) and San Diego State, which has one of college basketball’s best scoring bigs in Jaedon LeDee.

• One smart upset pick in this region could be Duquesne over BYU. The Dukes hold their opponents to 31.7 percent 3-point shooting, and BYU lives and dies by the 3. Dayton is probably the closest equivalent to BYU on Duquesne’s schedule; Duquesne got swept by Dayton in the regular season but just upset the Flyers in the A-10 tournament.

• Drake will be a popular 10-7 upset pick because it’ll have the best player on the floor in Tucker DeVries, who will be looking for tourney redemption. Last season, Drake led Miami by eight with under five minutes to go and ended up blowing the late lead, and DeVries scored three points on 1-of-13 shooting in that game. Washington State relies a lot on scoring inside the arc and was the second-best offensive-rebounding team in the Pac-12. Drake’s 2-point defense — allowing 51.9 percent — is not great, but it is the best defensive-rebounding team in the country.

Iowa State will have the best homecourt advantage the opening weekend. Iowa State fans love to travel to see their Cyclones, and it’s a short drive to Omaha. They just took over the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City.

• Illinois has won seven of eight games entering the tournament, with that one loss coming to Purdue. The Illini have the positional size to match up with UConn. Their defense — 91st at KenPom — is suspect, but it doesn’t make a lot of sense when you look at the roster. Terrence Shannon Jr. can be a lockdown defender on the perimeter when he wants to be, and Coleman Hawkins is one of the most versatile defenders in the country. Shannon is averaging 31.8 points over his last four games, and he might be the toughest wing in college basketball to defend. (It’s him or Dalton Knecht.)

I’m not sure Illinois has the defensive discipline to handle all of the movement and off-ball screening action from UConn, but I was tempted to make this upset pick. If UConn ends up repeating, the Final Four could end up an easier two games than the second weekend. UConn doesn’t play through Donovan Clingan in the post a lot, but this could be a game to give him the ball a lot, as he has a size and strength advantage on Hawkins. (The Illini do have behemoth Dain Dainja off the bench.) Clingan’s rim protection will also be important, as Shannon and Marcus Domask both live in the paint.

South Region

• Nebraska has never won a NCAA Tournament game, but this is the year! The key will be trying to keep Texas A&M off the offensive glass. The Aggies are the best offensive-rebounding team in the country. Nebraska ranks 223rd in defensive rebounding rate. Whoever wins this game is a good candidate to upset Houston.

• Houston is the most vulnerable No. 1 seed with J’Wan Roberts getting injured in the Big 12 tournament. Roberts, who hurt his shin in the semis, did play in the final but lasted only 13 minutes. The Cougars are also missing their two best bench players, and Kelvin Sampson doesn’t have a lot of confidence in his reserves right now.

One of the best weapons to have against Houston’s ball-screen defense is a pick-and-pop, playmaking five and Nebraska has that in Rienk Mast. If it’s Texas A&M advancing in the first round, the Aggies can match Houston’s physicality. And while Houston’s a great offensive-rebounding team, it’s not great right now on the defensive glass, especially since losing backup center Joseph Tugler. The Aggies struggled shooting the ball most of the season, but they’re averaging 83 points and are 5-1 since inserting Manny Obaseki into the starting lineup.

I’ve gone back and forth on who will win Nebraska-A&M. My initial gut pick was Nebraska, but I’m wavering and would probably change my pick if I hadn’t already submitted my bracket! But forgot the wavering. The Huskers are not only going to win their first tourney game in school history; they’re making the Sweet 16.

• Wisconsin and Duke have tricky first-round matchups, and Vermont or James Madison would be worthwhile upset picks. I was hesitant because I’ve got Houston losing and feel like this is a strong 4-5 region. My logic for picking Wisconsin is that Duke’s interior defense is soft. Wisconsin’s Steven Crowl is playing well and will be a matchup problem for Duke in the post. Wisconsin is 15-6 when he scores in double figures.

• Texas Tech is another Big 12 team hurt by injuries. Starting center Warren Washington has missed eight of the last nine games, and he went scoreless in 13 minutes in his one appearance during that stretch. Starting wing Darrion Williams, one of Texas Tech’s most important pieces, also sat out the Houston game with an ankle injury. I’d expect both to play, but NC State is already a tricky matchup with the red-hot DJ Burns. I was going to pick against the Wolfpack in the opening round because I figured they’d be a tired team, but the health of the Red Raiders worries me more.

• Marquette will have a challenging second-round game, whether it’s Florida, Colorado or Boise State. Both the Gators and Buffaloes are talented, and the Broncos went 13-5 in a challenging Mountain West and had the league’s best offense in conference play. Also, there’s the concern of Tyler Kolek and his oblique injury.

But I’ve been high on the Golden Eagles all season, and they’ve felt like a team that will peak in March after getting upset in the second round last season by Michigan State. Usually, when a veteran team has a loss like that and returns most of its core, it’s a safe bet that the team goes on a run. (See 2019 Virginia for the most extreme example.)

• Kentucky and Illini are the two teams in this bracket that give off the most 2023 Miami vibes. Both are electric on offense and suspect on defense. I trust the Illini more because they’re older. If Marquette-Kentucky happens in the Sweet 16, it’ll be super watchable and likely fast-paced. Wish we knew exactly how healthy Kolek will be, but Marquette is a nightmare matchup for Kentucky’s defense. Kentucky’s ball-screen defense has been brutal for much of the season, and Kolek and Oso Ighodaro are one of the best pick-and-roll tandems in the country. Marquette also can guard.

• Shaka Smart is 0-3 against Wisconsin as the coach at Marquette, including a 75-64 loss in Madison this year. That was one of the worst games of the season for Kolek and Ighodaro. The Badgers dared Kolek to shoot and took away Ighodaro on the roll. Ighodaro finished with just five points on five shots, and Kolek went 1-of-5 from distance.

Since Jan. 15, the only two teams to beat Marquette are Creighton and Connecticut. Marquette was not quite in the right headspace early in the season when it lost that game but it’s quietly been one of the best teams in the country the last two months and still played pretty well with Kolek sidelined. Smart is finally going to get a win in this rivalry game, sending Marquette to its first Final Four since 2003.

West Region

This is the region best set up for chaos, so let’s get weird.

• Mississippi State just upset Tennessee in the SEC tournament and has the bodies to throw at North Carolina’s Armando Bacot. Chris Jans is one of the best defensive coaches in the country, and his team is holding opponents to 29.4 percent shooting from deep. He’ll be sure to limit the looks for RJ Davis and Cormac Ryan.

The Bulldogs will tempt Elliot Cadeau into shooting. He’s seen the dork defense before — when teams sag off him on the perimeter — sometimes he’s baited into shooting. He’s made just 8-of-44 3s all season. Jans has one of the hottest scorers in the country too, with freshman guard Josh Hubbard averaging 25.4 points over his last eight. A smart game plan and a hot Hubbard are the difference in the second round. And if it’s Sparty playing the Heels, that’s a core that went on a surprise run last year.

• Grand Canyon has one of the best talents in this region in Tyon Grant-Foster, the former Kansas/DePaul wing who sat out the last two years with a heart problem and returned to the floor this season to average 19.8 points per game. I went to see Grant-Foster play for the first time when he was the top-rated juco recruit at Indian Hills Community College in Iowa. He’s always had the talent, and Bryce Drew has brought out the best of him. This is one of the most heartwarming stories in college basketball. Grand Canyon has a talented roster around him too, but I’m picking this upset with my heart. It’d be cool to see Grant-Foster have his moment on this stage.

• New Mexico was the most talented team in the Mountain West but battled injuries and inconsistent play and finished sixth in the conference standings. But the Lobos got hot this weekend, winning the MWC tournament, and they’re healthy now and metric darlings. They rank No. 23 at KenPom, so that’d suggest they’re underseeded. They have a potential second-round matchup with Baylor, which has an elite offense but has been mediocre defensively the last two seasons.

The Lobos aren’t a great matchup for Arizona in the Sweet 16. When the Wildcats have struggled this year, it’s been against teams that can take advantage of Oumar Ballo in the pick-and-roll. The Lobos P&R handlers finish the second-most possessions of anyone in college hoops, per Synergy. They have one of the best guard trios in the country in Donovan Dent, Jaelen House and Jamal Mashburn Jr. They also have Nelly Junior Joseph, who is big and strong enough to deal with Ballo on the blocks.

• I’m not sure there’s a team I feel comfortable picking in the Final Four in this region. This is the region where it feels like the selection committee messed up. UNC and Arizona have the easier paths to the Elite Eight, and I’m probably dumb not picking either to get there. But, again, this feels like the spot for chaos. And the team that could benefit is Alabama, which had the hottest offense in college basketball for about the first seven weeks of the calendar year.

The Crimson Tide shoot a ton of 3s, and with that can come some variance. They also have a crummy defense. And they’re in that Kentucky/Illini category of electric offense and suspect defense. Put Illinois in this region and I’d feel great putting the Illini in the Final Four. I’m not so comfortable going with the Crimson Tide, but it’s a team that is probably better than its record. Most will see 11 losses and get scared. Most will see losers of four of their final six and get scared. But the tournament is often a reset, and teams that play unique styles are often good candidates to go on runs. Think some of Jim Boeheim’s mediocre Syracuse teams of the past.

Midwest Region

• Gonzaga and Kansas are both going to be popular Round 1 upset picks. McNeese State is 30-3 and coached by former LSU coach Will Wade. I was tempted. The Cowboys dominated the Southland, but that’s one of the worst leagues in college basketball. Mark Few hasn’t lost in the first round since 2008 and his team has a major size advantage.

Kansas has a confidence problem and has been the second-worst 3-point shooting team in college basketball the last six weeks. But Samford is actually a good matchup for the Jayhawks in their vulnerable state. Because the Bulldogs press, it’ll allow Kansas to get out in the open floor. That’s where Dajuan Harris Jr., Kevin McCullar Jr., KJ Adams and Johnny Furphy thrive. A fast-paced game will be a welcome change from the sometimes slog of the Big 12.

• Oregon coach Dana Altman is one of the best postseason coaches. The Ducks have made the Sweet 16 as a No. 7 and a No. 12 in their last two tourney appearances. Altman is known for mixing defenses and confusing opponents in the postseason, and center N’Faly Dante, who missed the first half of the season, is playing his best ball of the year. South Carolina coach Lamont Paris will be coaching in only his second NCAA Tournament game. The Gamecocks are also No. 49 at KenPom, so this will likely be close to a coin flip in Vegas. Feels like a good spot to pick an upset.

• Tennessee has one of the easiest second-round matchups no matter if it’s Virginia, Colorado State or Texas. That first weekend should help the Vols get their swagger back after losing two straight coming into the tournament. The key for Tennessee will be getting some offense from someone in addition to Dalton Knecht and Zakai Zeigler. Both Josiah-Jordan James and Santiago Vescovi are in major slumps.

Creighton-Tennessee could be a great Sweet 16 game, but here’s betting the Vols look like themselves again the first weekend and ride that confidence to the Elite Eight. That’s where it gets tricky if they play Purdue, who beat them 71-67 in the opening round of the Maui Invitational in a game where neither team played that great. That was before Zeigler, coming off offseason knee surgery, looked like himself, but Zach Edey dominated. Not sure the Vols have an answer for slowing Edey, and the Vols couldn’t beat Purdue with Braden Smith having one of his worst games (six points, one assist, three turnovers). Purdue could end up reliving Honolulu, beating Tennessee and Marquette on its way to the national title game.

• Purdue has the easiest path to the Elite Eight of all the No. 1 seeds, and for that reason it might be a smart champion pick. In my bracket, we get the national championship between the two teams who have been at the top of the rankings for most of the year and a game I’ve wanted to see. If it happens, UConn has the big in Clingan to slow Edey, and UConn has better talent around its star big man. I don’t love UConn’s path, but if we get this game, the Huskies are the more complete team. Purdue relies a ton on Smith and Edey, but all five of UConn’s starters could go for 20-plus any given night.

More NCAA Tournament Coverage

The Bracket Central series is part of a partnership with E*TRADE.

The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Partners have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process and do not review stories before publication.

(Photo of Donovan Clingan: Sarah Stier / Getty Images)

Welcome back to Bracket Breakers! We know you missed us, and we can’t wait to wow you with our unique take on NCAA Tournaments, powered by our proprietary statistical model, Slingshot. Hopefully you have been following our work for years. But if you’re new to Bracket Breakers, here’s the latest explanation of who we are, what we do, and the state of Slingshot.

In the coming days, we’ll be offering in-depth regional previews of every first-round matchup that qualifies as a Bracket Breaker game (meaning there must be a difference of at least five seeds). We will also provide the upset odds for every possible second round match on Wednesday. You don’t want to fill out a bracket or place a moneyline bet without checking out that piece!

But now that you’re starting to digest the bracket, we wanted to provide a quick list of the 10 most likely first-round upsets. We swear we have nothing against the Palmetto State — Furman professors Liz Bouzarth, John Harris and Kevin Hutson provide the math behind Slingshot, after all — but our model is certainly not bullish on South Carolina’s two power conference teams. .

As always, Slingshot looks at teams separated by at least five seeds, estimates their base strengths, adjusts those power ratings based on how well each team fits the statistical profiles of previous Davids or Goliaths, and then readjusts them to account for matchups . This year we upgraded our cluster analysis. And without further ado, the top results.

For more Underdogs, listen to Peter and Jordan’s podcast.

10 most likely upsets in the first round

1. No. 6 Clemson Tigers vs. No. 11 New Mexico Lobos

Chance of upset: 57.8 percent

2. No. No. 6 South Carolina Gamecocks vs. No. 11 Oregon Ducks

Chance of upset: 43.2 percent

3. No. 6 Texas Tech Red Raiders vs. No. 11 NC State Wolfpack

Chance of upset: 38.2 percent

4. No. No. 5 Gonzaga Bulldogs vs. No. 12 McNeese Cowboys

Chance of upset: 30.8 percent

5. No. 5 Saint Mary’s Gaels vs. No. 12 Grand Canyon Lopes

Chance of upset: 30.4 percent

6. No. 4 Kansas Jayhawks vs. No. 13 Samford Bulldogs

Chance of upset: 30.1 percent

7. No. 5 San Diego State Aztecs vs. No. 12 UAB Blazers

Chance of upset: 27.8 percent

8. No. No. 6 BYU Cougars vs. No. 11 Duquesne Dukes

Chance of upset: 24.8 percent

9. No. 5 Wisconsin Badgers vs. No. 12 James Madison Dukes

Chance of upset: 24.4 percent

10. No. No. 3 Creighton Bluejays vs. No. 14 Akron Zips

Chance of upset: 20.4 percent

Thanks to John Harris, Kevin Hutson, and Liz Bouzarth of Furman University for research assistance.

(Illustration: Dan Goldfarb / The Athletics; Photo of Jaelen House in New Mexico: Ian Maule/Getty Images; Photo of Gabe McGlothan from the Grand Canyon: Ian Maule / AP)

CONOR McGREGOR has sensationally opened the door to the fight against Jake Paul, KSI and Tommy Fury – by dubbing the trio ‘NERDS’.

McGregor has been called out by all three boxing stars, but the UFC legend has always distanced himself from the crossover fights.

3

But now it seems he has had a change of heart when asked to return to boxing and picked KSI as the best of the bunch to fight.

He told SneekPeakTV: “Yeah, you know, the YouTube nerds might say, I would consider that a nixer.

‘Your uncle’s friend needs a radiator in his house, so you take on a part-time job and get some extra income.

“I would consider them nixers. If I had to pick one I would say KSI, he has a big name in the UK”

The term “nixer” is Irish slang for a side job.

And McGregor put his MMA career aside in 2017 to switch to boxing and take on American icon Floyd Mayweather, who lost in ten rounds.

But due to his current UFC contract – which still has two fights remaining – the Irishman is banned from switching boxing again.

Although that has not stopped Paul – who returns against 57-year-old Mike Tyson on July 20 – from continuing to abuse McGregor.

CHELTENHAM BETTING OFFERS – BEST FREE BETTS FOR THE FESTIVAL

Meanwhile, Fury – who has defeated both Paul and KSI – became the latest to challenge the MMA great following news of Tyson’s shock comeback.

And McGregor, 35, said in response: “The Pauls – that Tyson fight is just strange to me, I hope Tyson takes his nose off.

‘I’m sure, at some point [I’ll end up fighting one of them]I’m sure, at some point. You know, we’ll go through all these guys.

“Fury called me yesterday, and he beat Jake and fought KSI, so it’s like a different little world, right?”

McGregor has yet to fight since July 2021, when he broke his leg in the early rounds of his fight with 35-year-old Dustin Poirier.

But he remains linked with a return against 37-year-old Michael Chandler despite growing frustrated as talks drag on.

And now McGregor has further teased another attempt at boxing as he concluded: ‘I’m open to it. I will never say no, I will never say no.”

3

3

I’ve dreamed of owning a designer handbag all my life, but I’m still far from being able to afford one. Fortunately, more and more affordable brands are coming out with high-quality bags that match the look and feel of designer bags, for a fraction of the price. In fact, there are dozens of options under $100 that can fool even the most highly educated designer connoisseur. I’ve put together 12 beautiful handbags, crossbodies, and totes that are all available on Amazon. With any of these you could walk down Rodeo Drive and fit right in with the multi-millionaires and their Birkins!

Best affordable handbags

1. Better than Hermes? When a Birkin Is Out of Budget (Relatable) this Dasein bag looks eerily similar with its square shape and handles at the top. Plus, you can choose from 30 color options: $71, now just $50!

2. Two in one: Certainly, this vegan leather handbag it looks like it came straight out of a Ralph Lauren catalog, but I’m obsessed with the fact that it comes with a matching wallet – only $50!

3. Cupboard Staple: Do you need a reliable all-purpose wallet that matches every outfit? This little shoulder bag (which happens to be an Amazon bestseller) lives up to expectations and costs less than $20 – just $16!

4. Patent leather moment: You can complete your outfit for a special night out this striking patent leather handbag that comes complete with gold hardware? No one will believe it costs less than $500 – just $50!

Best Affordable Crossbody Bags

5. Fan Favorite: More than 10,000 Amazon shoppers love it this padded crossbody from Lola Mae for its high-quality construction and spacious interior – only $22!

6. Bling Bling: To rescue this SG Sugu bag for your date night or a night out on the town – the long gold chain really dresses up the bag, making it ideal for special occasions – only $22!

7. Designer alert! A real designer bag for less than €100? Michael Kors knew exactly what he was doing when he designed this travel-friendly crossbody – only $74!

8. Sporty Spices: With a comfortable nylon shoulder strap, this UTO crossbody is built for all kinds of adventures, but it doesn’t skimp on that high quality with its vegan leather exterior, gold hardware, and removable mini pouch — just $26!

Best Affordable Tote Bags

9. Your new favorite work bag: Fly to the office in style with this beautifully designed leather bag that seamlessly fits your laptop, water bottle, and a pair of shoes if necessary – just $47!

10. Never Ending Bag: The long bucket style of this Montana West bag is super roomy and can even be used as a weekend bag for short weekend getaways — just $40!

11. Designer for Less: Is this the new Loewe bag? No, but with the unique marbled leather, this Kattee bag could easily pass for it – was $88, now only $54!

12. Viral Sensation: Everyone loves Marc Jacobs’ iconic tote bag…but that price is a little stressful. You can emulate the same energy with this Cosets bag that’s a fraction of the cost – only $31!

MICAH RICHARDS told Roy Keane he would “eat him for lunch” after Anthony Joshua picked who would win a boxing fight between the pair.

The much-loved football pundit duo were together this afternoon for Sky Sports’ coverage of the Manchester Derby.

2

2

After Man City’s 3-1 win over United at the Etihad, the conversation quickly turned to boxing.

Two-time world heavyweight champion Joshua prepares to face Francis Ngannou in Saudi Arabia on Friday.

But the 34-year-old British star, who came face to face with WBC titleholder Tyson Fury’s father John this week, took time out to make a special brief appearance on the show.

And he was asked directly who would come out on top in a boxing fight between ex-United captain Keane, 52, and former City defender Richards, 35.

“That’s a great question,” Joshua replied. Let’s look at the story of the tape.

“You’ve got Micah Richards, a big guy who looks like a natural heavyweight, solid.

‘But then you’re talking about Roy Keane, the one and only.

“The man when you talk about that smoke and life, I think he had a little bit of amateur experience…”

CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS

Joshua then concluded: “If I was to flip a coin I’d probably say it would probably land on Micah, but you know, if a coin bounces and flips a few times, it’s going to land back on Roy Keane.

“I think Roy Keane will do the job.”

The footage then cut back to the studio, where Keane and Richards sat next to each other, chuckling.

The pair shook hands before Irishman Keane said: ‘I wish I could believe what he said. I think Micah would take me very, very easily.

Richards then asked his friend what he weighed, revealing he had tipped the scales at 16.5.

Keane said he weighed 12.5st, to which Richards said: “I’d eat you for lunch!”

The ex-midfielder then acknowledged that the former full-back “would be favourite” before the pair amicably agreed that they would both happily accept a draw.

ANTHONY JOSHUA VS FRANCIS NGANNOU: ALL THE DETAILS YOU NEED FOR A HUGE CROSSOVER CASE

RIO FERDINAND included himself in a combined Manchester United and City XI.

Ahead of tomorrow’s derby, the 45-year-old was asked to put together a dream team from players who have played in the game since 2000.

5

5

5

Starting between the sticks, Ferdinand chose Edwin van der Sar over David De Gea.

He explained his decision to the FIVE podcast: “De Gea probably had more special moments than Van der Sar, I think, but he had that calming influence.

“He was one of the first goalkeepers of that generation who was also great with his feet. So I think I’ll take him as a package.”

At right-back, Gary Neville was dismissed for Kyle Walker, who was dubbed the “best in the history of the Premier League”, and Patrice Evra was on the other flank.

Vincent Kompany, John Stones and Ruben Dias were all options at center back for Ferdinand.

However, he went with a Man Utd combination of himself and Nemanja Vidic.

About himself, Ferdinand explained: “I’m very confident in what I was, looking at the defenders today, put my clips up against any of these guys.

“That’s just how I feel and that’s how I was able to play at my level.

HOW TO GET FREE BETTS ON FOOTBALL

5

“I couldn’t say, ‘He’s better than me.’

I went to play a game, looked across the board and thought, ‘I’m better than all of them.’

“And I still feel that way now. I don’t know why I can’t lose it.”

In midfield, legendary United captain Roy Keane’s place was taken by Man City star Rodri.

Ferdinand explained: “Rodri, what he is doing now, is the best defensive midfielder in the world.

“Buy goals. He’s mean. He controls the pace. In terms of influence on the team, I can’t stray far from that.”

“If he doesn’t play, City lose. Facts. He is the only player in their team where the level of the team drops if he is left out – dramatically.”

Kevin De Bruyne and Paul Scholes were picked to accompany Rodri in the three-man midfield.

The six-time Premier League champions were desperate to slot Wayne Rooney into the XI and brought him in on the right flank, allowing Cristiano Ronaldo to play from the left.

Sergio Aguero earned the number 9 shirt and was one of the “toughest” Ferdinand ever played against.

5

ROY KEANE took aim at Manchester United’s ‘terrified’ stars and named Harry Maguire as the reason why they cannot make inroads.

The Irishman, 52, spent 12 years as a player at Old Trafford and led them to great success under Sir Alex Ferguson.

2

2

Nowadays, the former midfielder regularly looks at Erik ten Hag’s side as an expert and never shies away from giving his opinion.

However, it was fellow Sky Sports star Jamie Carragher who made headlines this week after criticizing United for their disjointed setup and lack of pace in midfield following the 2-1 home defeat to Fulham on Saturday.

That led to Ten Hag firing back at the Liverpool legend, but now Keane has chimed in and revealed why he believes centre-back Maguire is at the root of his old team’s problems.

And it’s all because he says United are ‘terrified’ he could be caught with a ball over the top.

Speaking about the Stick to football podcast, brought to you by Sky bet, he said: “They don’t push. I don’t want to put it all on Maguire, but there is always that worry of Maguire coming forward and squeezing the field like all the other top teams do.

“There are constant concerns with him – there are gaps there. They’re terrified of coming all the way up because they think, “If he did something over the top, he’d get in trouble.”

The ex-United captain then highlighted both Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes as he explained the different playing styles at the Red Devils and those who don’t agree with an energetic defensive format.

Keane said: “Manchester United don’t have the players for that [press].

BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS

“Fernandes is not going to do it. Rashford won’t do it. They might do it for five or ten minutes, so if you have a team that’s not going to push – we’re talking leopards and spots.

“Man United will never be really good in that pressing side.”

Carragher then expanded on his criticism of the show last weekend.

He said: “Teams now press from the front, press high and everyone is on the halfway line.

“Man United are trying to do two different things; the front six went man-to-man under pressure [against Fulham], and the rear four were miles behind them. You are one or the other.”

That was after his damning analysis last weekend following the last-ditch defeat to Fulham.

He said: “They have no pace at the back and they have a lack of legs in midfield. Another big problem for them is when they have the ball.

“These players cannot receive the ball in the positions they occupy, so actually there is a huge problem for Manchester United when they have the ball.”

MAN UTD NEWS LIVE: All the latest news from Old Trafford

Brittany Cartwright and her estranged husband Jax Taylor were seen reuniting for the first time since announcing their shock separation after four years of marriage on their joint podcast When Reality Hits.

Following her recent move out of their marital home in Sherman Oaks to a $15K-a-month rental property, just 12 minutes away from her ex, the father-of-one, 44, paid a visit to the 35-year-old reality star’s new digs as he picked up their son for some quality time. 

While the former SUR waitress lent a hand loading their little one into his car seat, an eyewitness told DailyMail.com that the former couple ‘appeared tense’ and ‘were not very chatty with each other.’ 

The insider described their exchange as brief and ‘business-like.’ 

When Taylor first arrived, Cartwright was seen taking out her trash while rocking a black denim jacket over a white and brown flannel shirt, black pants and white sneakers. 

Meanwhile, Taylor was dressed in merchandise promoting his Studio City bar, Jax’s, for the occasion.

His trip was short, as he only went inside the house for a half hour before emerging with Cartwright to load their son into a white Jeep. 

Later, Cartwright, who changed her clothes and went off to film a project at a studio in Burbank, was seen wearing a sweatshirt with the words ‘better days ahead’ emblazoned on the back. 

The duo met back up at her new rental when Taylor dropped off Cruz.

Cartwright was noticeably still wearing her wedding ring on both sightings.

Earlier in the day, Taylor was seen leaving their Valley Village home and heading to his bar on a red and black golf cart. 

He parked in a no-parking zone for the disabled, despite not appearing to have any injuries or disabilities. 

Taylor and Cartwright announced they currently separated and are ‘taking time apart’ after four years of marriage. 

Brittany announced the news this week on When Reality Hits, confirming: ‘Jax and I are taking time apart and I made the decision to move into another home to take some space for the sake of my mental health.’ 

However, Brittany also later hinted that the ‘split’ could be temporary, as she asked fans to ‘pray for us,’ and added that she believes ‘everything will be just fine.’

Signs of their relationship trouble and marital woes will most likely unfold on their new reality show The Valley, which premieres on March 19. 

The beloved Bravo stars tied the knot in a fairy-tale themed wedding ceremony on June 2019 in Kentucky after a year-long engagement.

But it seems as though the fairy-tale is over, at least for now. 

‘Many of you guys have been asking me about Jax and I and our relationship,’ Brittany said in the podcast episode released Thursday.

The star – who shares a two-year-old son, Cruz, with Jax – added: ‘I just think it’s important to be real and honest with you guys because we’ve shared so much of our lives with you guys.’ 

Brittany then specifically referenced some issues the pair have been having.

‘On my last podcast I alluded to many marriages go through rocky times. Yes, marriages in general are very hard and I’ve had a particularly rough year this past year.

Going on to suggest they’ve now temporarily split, she said: ‘Jax and I are taking time apart and I made the decision to move into another home to take some space for the sake of my mental health.’

Admitting that the split is ‘still very hard to talk about’ she added that she is just ‘taking one day at a time.’

‘I don’t know what the future holds, but right now my focus is on being the best mom to Cruz,’ Brittany added.

Brittany and Jax began dating in 2015 after they met in Las Vegas, and their courtship was featured on their Bravo reality series Vanderpump Rules. 

In 2017, the pair split for awhile after it was publicly revealed that Jax slept with another woman.

He cheated on Cartwright with their co-star Faith Stowers.

While speaking about her decision to forgive him, she stated that she was ‘raised to be a good Christian woman’ and told friends she believed ‘everybody deserves’ a second chance on Vanderpump Rules. 

After reconciling off-camera and and on their Bravo series’ reunion show, Cartwright, who is 10 years his junior, told People they ‘weathered the storm.’ 

‘We’re still going through it … [but] we’re in a great place now — probably better than we’ve ever been,’ he said.

He proposed with a three-carat cushion-cut diamond ring. 

‘We are ENGAGED! What a way to start our summer and season 7!!’ she wrote in their engagement announcement on Instagram. ‘I am so happy, so in love, and so beyond excited for this next chapter of our lives! I can’t wait for all of you to see how he proposed! I am the happiest girl ever right now. Love can win!’ 

In a joint statement, they reflected on how they’ve ‘been through a lot together, the good and the bad — but’ claimed it ‘only brought’ them ‘so much closer together.’ 

‘We’re just so excited for our future together but right now we’re focused on planning everything — first up is our engagement party next month that we’ll be celebrating with our family and close friends!’ they exclaimed. 

Ultimately, they went on to get married in front of 240 guests just two years later. 

Following the birth of their baby boy, Jax gushed that fatherhood ‘changed’ his life.

‘I think becoming parents made us stronger too because I love seeing him as a dad,’ told People. ‘It just makes you love him more.’ 

Over the summer, they even told the outlet they were ‘definitely gonna have more kids.’ 

‘At least one more,’ he said. ‘We’re just really busy right now. It’s been a very busy summer. We’re very blessed.’ 

Jax even raved about his wife for being the ‘rock’ of their family.

‘I love her to death and I don’t know if I’d still be on this planet if it wasn’t for her to be honest. Her and my son, they kind of really saved me after my father died,’ he told the outlet. ‘I really owe my whole life to her.’ 

In March 2023, the couple hinted to some trouble in their relationship as she said they were ‘trucking through.’ 

At the time, Taylor noted their ‘good days’ and ‘bad days’ made their relationship stronger. 

‘I don’t believe in divorce. My parents didn’t get divorced,’ he told People. ‘I don’t believe in that. Marriage is work. I’m not saying every day is amazing.’

He added that he ‘honestly’ couldn’t imagine his ‘life with anybody else’ and assured fans they still had ‘a lot of fun with each other.’