Dav Aulak's Sports

European Tour 15- Dutch Darts Championship Day 3 Picks 2026 (Sunday 18th October)

2026-10-18T01:24:51.045+01:00

Thirty-one of the thirty-two places at the European Championships in Dortmund have been secured after Michael Smith's defeat in the Second Round.

Only Brandon Dolan is in a position to move into the top thirty-two, but he needs a big Sunday as the tournament comes to a conclusion in Maastricht at the Dutch Darts Championship and he will be opening up against one of the home favourites.

Some players may be thinking about the tournament to be played across next weekend, but most involved in this European Tour 15 event will have an opportunity to build momentum into the next big Ranking event on the PDC Tour.

Any selections from the Quarter Final matches will be added to this thread once the Day Session is completed.

Gian van Veen to win & over 2.5 180s v Brandon Dolan: A special performance was produced by Gian van Veen to move through the Second Round at the Dutch Darts Championship.

Backing that up is going to be a huge challenge, but van Veen is going to have the support of the crowd to help give him a big boost.

This should help against a motivated Brandon Dolan who is looking to put some more wins together and try and edge into the top thirty-two and a place at the European Championships.

However, Brandon Dolan will need to lift his level significantly if he is going to continue his winning streak against Gian van Veen as the two players face off for the first time in 2026.

Gian van Veen is building up some real momentum as we fast approach the World Championship, and he has been scoring really well to back up the finishing that he is known for and that gives him an opportunity to secure a solid Third Round win.

Ross Smith to win & over 1.5 180s v Ryan Searle: This has the makings of a very good Third Round match, but the edge has to be with the top European Tour performer of the season.

Ross Smith produced a strong effort to beat Ryan Joyce, but he will have a lot of respect for Ryan Searle and his victory over Dirk van Duijvenbode.

Heavy Metal played really well in that Second Round match and he is more than capable of earning the upset.

However, Ross Smith got the better of Ryan Searle in a European Tour Final in May and he can back that up with another win over this opponent in a match where he can produce a couple of maximums.

Nathan Aspinall to win & over 1.5 180s v Stephen Bunting: Both of these players are very familiar facing one another on a big stage, but it is Nathan Aspinall who is rightly set as the favourite.

The Asp has been picking up his level and is looking for a strong end to the season that may see him return to the Premier League.

His recent level has been very high and Nathan Aspinall has certainly been finding more consistency than Stephen Bunting.

Both had solid Second Round wins that deserve respect, but Nathan Aspinall can earn his spot in the Third Round and he can fire up a couple of maximums, at the very least, in any winning effort.

MY PICKS: Gian van Veen to Win & Over 2.5 180s @ 2.30 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Ross Smith to Win & Over 1.5 180s @ 1.83 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Nathan Aspinall to Win & Over 1.5 180s @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Dutch Darts Championship: 3-5, - 2.10 Units (8 Units Staked, - 26.25% Yield)

Boxing Picks 2026- Daniel Dubois vs Fabio Wardley II (Saturday 17th October)

2026-10-17T16:24:14.454+01:00

This is a well anticipated rematch from an instant classic back in May, although looking back at the first fight, the feeling becomes that much clearer that the Fabio Wardley corner should have intervened much sooner than the referee was forced to do.

It is a weekend that should have also featured the big return of Sebastian Fundora, although the match up that has been put together is a little disappointing for a Champion in a loaded Light Middleweight Division.

Daniel Dubois vs Fabio Wardley II

Looking back at what was written on these pages in May, the backing of Daniel Dubois to find a Stoppage against Fabio Wardley proved to be just about a right analysis of the fight.

Fabio Wardley was Stopped standing, and that will give him some belief, although you do have to winder if the beating that he was taking at the end of the first fight is going to have a lingering effect on this fighter.

We have seen that before when a previously unbeaten and unstoppable Boxer has been beaten and never looked the same- Joe Joyce was Stopped more emphatically in his rematch with Zhilei Zhang than in the first bout and the question here has to be whether Wardley has had enough time to recover from the contest in May.

Adjustments will be made, but it is very difficult to imagine wholesale changes in the Fabio Wardley approach just five months after the first defeat of his career.

Even in winning efforts, Fabio Wardley has taken some big shots and not made many adjustments in his next fight even when most would have hoped to have seen some improvements.

It is a testimony to Fabio Wardley that he has made such a career for himself without the experience so many others can call up0n, but you do have to believe the sustained damage from the first fight is going to leave him far below 100% for the match.

With that said, Fabio Wardley may come out very fast looking to get after Daniel Dubois, who was Knocked Down twice in the first fight. This time he may let his hands go and see if he can cement Dubois to the floor, but you do have to think Daniel Dubois has the confidence from the first fight that sets him up to make things a little easier in this rematch.

This time the Wardley corner may not allow their man to take the long-term punishment he had to absorb in the fight in May, and a small interest is in the defending Champion to win this one at some part of the middle of the scheduled Twelve Rounds is the selection.

There are some intriguing undercard fights, but this is not the loaded card of recent years.

Louie O'Doherty is the naturally bigger man compared with Michael Gomez Jr and he should be able to defend his British Lightweight Title on the cards.

Over in the United States, Sebastian Fundora should be able to remind people why so many have him right at the top of the Light Middleweight Division when moving past his unbeaten Challanger.

Ermal Hadribeaj did have a very good win last time out on the road in Germany, where it is never easy to earn a Decision, but this is a considerable step upwards compared with recent level of opponent.

You have to believe Sebastian Fundora will be able to find his range and eventually break down this Challenger in the middle of the Twelve Rounds scheduled.

MY PICKS: Daniel Dubois to Win Between 5-8 @ 3.60 William Hill (1 Unit)

Louis O'Doherty to Win by Decision/Technical Decision @ 2.50 Coral (1 Unit)

Sebastian Fundora to Win Between 5-8 @ 3.10 William Hill (1 Unit)

Boxing 2026: 28-44, - 8.13 Units (118 Units Staked, - 6.89% Yield)

College Football Week 7 Picks 2026 (Saturday 17th October)

2026-10-17T14:28:38.552+01:00

The 2026 College Football season continues into Week 7 and the selections can be read below.

Northwestern Wildcats @ Michigan State Spartans Pick: The Big Ten has arguably taken over from the SEC as being the best Conference in College Football and the fact the National Champion has resided in this one over the last two years backs that up. A number of Big Ten teams have begun this season unbeaten in the Conference and it is going to be a strong race until the finish to see which of those teams is able to get themselves invited into the College Football Playoff Bracket at the end of the season.

It is unlikely that the Northwestern Wildcats (4-1) or the Michigan State Spartans (2-4) will be involved in the final shake up- the former is 1-1 in the Big Ten this season, while the Spartans have lost all three Conference games played.

Preseason expectations around each school would not have been that great, but the Wildcats can at least say they are well on the way to becoming Bowl eligible as they prepare to face an opponent who have appointed Pat Fitzgerald as Head Coach.

Of course Pat Fitzgerald had been the Head Coach at Northwestern for seventeen years before he was fired back in 2023 and that was amidst a scandal.

Both teams will be downplaying the impact of having Fitzgerald on the sidelines in 2026 and instead the focus is trying to win football games.

There is another connection between the teams and that is Northwestern Quarter Back Aidan Chiles who started twenty games for the Michigan State Spartans in the last two seasons before transferring to the Wildcats. Last season Aidan Chiles threw 10 Touchdown passes with 3 Interceptions as a Spartan, while adding 6 Touchdowns on the ground, but he has begun his time with the Northwestern Wildcats impressively having already thrown over 1100 yards and with 9 Touchdown passes and 0 Interceptions.

As a dual-threat Quarter Back, Aidan Chiles already has 6 Touchdowns on the ground as well, although you have to imagine the Michigan State Coaches have a pretty good idea as to what to expect from him.

Knowing what to expect and stopping what to expect is very different and the problem for Michigan State is that the Defensive Line has not played the run well enough to believe they can put Aidan Chiles in a position where he is throwing from third and long spots on the field. The game plan for the Wildcats is to establish the run and they look to have the edge at the Line of Scrimmage on this side of the ball, which should mean Northwestern are pretty comfortable with the Offensive plan for much of the game.

Playing on the road is difficult, but Aidan Chiles has to be more than aware of what to expect and he should be able to keep the chains moving from a likely third and manageable spot. Play-action becomes a real option, as does any RPO plays and the Northwestern Wildcats should be able to continue the momentum that has been put together in the last two games since the narrow defeat to defending National Champions Indiana Hoosiers.

While it should be expected that the Wildcats will have Offensive successes, the Michigan State Spartans may also feel they can have an impact on this game.

They have not run the ball as well as Northwestern, but the Spartans are facing a Wildcats Defensive Line that have had some issues in slowing the run in recent games and that will be a help for the home team. It has to be questioned whether the Spartans have enough about them to take full advantage as the Offensive Line have struggled to consistently open the running lanes and have also had problems when it comes to pass protection.

Alessio Milivojevic split time at Quarter Back with Aidan Chiles last season and has become the full time starter for Michigan State in 2026- his season has begun with some decent passing numbers in terms of yardage, but 5 Touchdowns with 3 Interceptions is not the kind of ration that will lead to a lot of team success.

Turnovers can be key in games like this and this Northwestern Secondary have allowed some Quarter Backs to have success throwing against them, but have also been able to pick off passes and give the Offensive unit those extra possessions to make the difference.

It may be the case in Week 7 of the 2026 season against the former Head Coach with the three years that have passed since Pat Fitzgerald was fired leading to enough transition for Northwestern to present him something different.

These two Big Ten rivals have not met in five years since Michigan State earned a blowout win on the road, but it is the Wildcats who can earn revenge with a double digit victory in East Lansing on Saturday.

Auburn Tigers @ Georgia Bulldogs Pick: The Georgia Bulldogs (6-0) have beaten the Auburn Tigers (3-2) nine times in a row and they host this game in Athens as a big favourite.

This cannot be a surprise after the Bulldogs beat the Alabama Crimson Tide on the road last week and are now the only team in the SEC with an unbeaten record. However, the Auburn Tigers may feel they are being disrespected as they return after the Bye Week and especially when you think of the the competitive losses they have suffered.

In saying that, the Tigers are 1-2 in the SEC games played in 2026 and this looks a very difficult match up for them on the Offensive side of the ball.

Auburn will be hoping to lean on the Offensive Line and see if they can at least find a way to run the ball and give the unit an opportunity to sustain drives. The Tigers have managed to move the ball on the ground with some efficiency, although they are facing a Georgia Defensive Line that have held opponents to 3.5 yards per carry in recent weeks and continue to be stout up front.

Placing Quarter Back Byrum Brown in third and manageable spots on the field is the key for the road team.

Byrum Brown has produced some solid outings, but he is playing behind an Offensive Line that has struggled to protect him when he has stepped back to throw. In third and long spots, the Bulldogs pass rush is likely to collapse the pocket around the Quarter Back and that could lead to turnovers or stalled drives that allows the Georgia Bulldogs to win the field battle.

The road team are going to believe in their own capabilities, but Auburn may need to rely on the Defensive unit to keep them competitive in this game.

There will be confidence in the Auburn Defense, although they may also accept that this Georgia Bulldogs team may offer the most significant test in the 2026 season.

The Line of Scrimmage will be important on this side of the ball with the Bulldogs looking to run the ball and Auburn heading into the Bye Week having offered some resistance. The edge is with the Georgia Bulldogs to at least keep Gunner Stockton in third and manageable spots and that will allow the experienced Quarter Back to pick his passes and keep the chains moving.

Gunner Stockton will respect this Auburn Secondary, but the numbers may be influenced by the fact the Tigers have faced Vanderbilt and Tennessee in the last couple of SEC games. Neither team has the same kind of experience on the Offensive side of the ball as Gunner Stockton and the Georgia Bulldogs bring into this game and a win at the Line of Scrimmage should give this Quarter Back an opportunity to hurt the Tigers down the field.

The Bulldogs have won both home SEC games by comfortable margins this season and they may be able to move the ball with enough consistency to have an opportunity to cover a big spread.

A turnover or two may prove to be the key and the Bulldogs can find a way to pick those up and ultimately lead to a strong win before heading into the Bye Week.

MY PICKS: Northwestern Wildcats - 6.5 Points @ 1.70 William Hill (1 Unit)

Georgia Bulldogs - 19.5 Points @ 1.86 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Texas Tech Red Raiders - 15.5 Points @ 1.86 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Miami Hurricanes - 20.5 Points @ 1.86 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Utah Utes - 14.5 Points @ 1.86 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Wake Forest - 9.5 Points @ 1.81 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Week 6: 2-4, - 2.16 Units (6 Units Staked, - 36% Yield)

Week 5: 3-3, - 0.14 Units (6 Units Staked, - 2.33% Yield)

Week 4: 4-3, + 0.49 Units (7 Units Staked, + 7% Yield)

Week 3: 1-4, - 3.17 Units (5 Units Staked, - 63.40% Yield)

Week 2: 2-3, - 1.28 Units (5 Units Staked, - 25.60% Yield)

Week 0: 0-3, - 3 Units (3 Units Staked, - 100% Yield)

European Tour 15- Dutch Darts Championship Day 2 Picks 2026 (Saturday 17th October)

2026-10-17T12:48:27.378+01:00

The tournament moves into the Second Round in the Netherlands and there are some very good looking matches to be played across the two Sessions.

Time constraints means only adding the Day 2 selections in this thread.

MY PICKS: Luke Woodhouse to Win & Over 1.5 180s @ 1.72 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Ross Smith to Win & Over 2.5 180s @ 1.95 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Nathan Aspinall-Michael Smith Over 5.5 180s @ 2.00 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

Dutch Darts Championship: 2-3, - 1.05 Units (5 Units Staked, - 21% Yield)

European Tour 15- Dutch Darts Championship Day 1 Picks 2026 (Friday 16th October)

2026-10-16T01:25:42.143+01:00

The long run to Qualify for the European Championships concludes on Sunday when the final European Tour event of the season is played at the Dutch Darts Championship.

A number of players are already secured of top thirty-two spots and ready to travel to Dortmund next week, but others are in a precarious position with some key First Round matches to be played on Day 1.

Winning a big title is also going to provide motivation, but there is some pressure on those wishing to take part in the next big Ranking event and being able to perform under those circumstances is going to be the big challenge.

There are some big names ready to compete in Maastricht, but the majority of those will join in the Second Round as Seeded players.

Max Hopp v Andrew Gilding: It feels like Andrew Gilding has enough of a buffer to earn his spot in Dortmund next week, but he will be keen to avoid going into that tournament behind a fifth straight defeat.

He has been set as the favourite, but will have to be a lot better than he showed in Basel last week when averaging in the low 80s and losing another opening match.

Max Hopp has been in decent enough nick in the last few Players Championship events played, and he has to be credited for Qualifying for this tournament with three straight wins. He played well in those Qualifiers and Max Hopp may have a steady enough level to find a way to beat Goldfinger for a second time in two meetings in 2026.

Dirk van Duijvenbode to win & over 2.5 180s v James Hurrell: The home fans are going to be firmly behind one of the popular players on the Tour and that should inspire Dirk van Duijvenbode.

One of the recent criticisms of the Dutchman is that van Duijvenbode has begun matches very slowly and that can be costly in the a best of eleven Leg format.

He will also be aware that James Hurrell has been able to get the better of him in the last five matches, including at the World Championship last year.

James Hurrell has been in a little bit of mixed form, but has come through the Qualifiers and that always deserves respect. He can be a stubborn player to beat, but Dirk van Duijvenbode can use the crowd, and his power scoring, can finally see him snap a five match losing run against this opponent.

Sebastian Bialecki v Daryl Gurney: Both of these players are just outside of the top thirty-two in the race for a spot at the European Championships and that makes this a very important First Round match.

They have met twice on the Tour in 2026 and both Sebastian Bialecki and Daryl Gurney hold a win over the other.

Much will depend on which of the players can handle the pressure the best and that does give Gurney a slight advantage, but the Northern Irishman has been struggling for any consistency in recent weeks and that has to be a concern with the World Championship fast approaching.

Sebastian Bialecki was beaten early last week in Basel, but it took a big effort from the in-form Karel Sedlacek and a similar level may be enough for Bialecki to beat Daryl Gurney and move into the Saturday Second Round action.

William O'Connor to win & over 1.5 180s v Richard Veenstra: He has put together enough solid runs on the European Tour to be expecting to play at the European Championship next week, but William O'Connor will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing exit in Basel last weekend.

Losing to Ross Smith is not the issue, but William O'Connor will feel he played well enough to win and he is going to have to produce a quality match if he is going to edge past Home Qualifier Richard Veenstra.

The Dutchman won four matches on Thursday and was in good form, but William O'Connor has gotten the better of him in 2026 and Richard Veenstra may come up short if the Irishman brings the form he was producing in Switzerland last weekend.

Michael Smith - 1.5 legs v Stephen Burton: A couple of wins last week in Basel has pushed Michael Smith to the edge of the top thirty-two in the European Tour Rankings and earning him a spot at the European Championship.

Bully Boy needs another good run in the Netherlands if he is going to push past the players ahead of him and the First Round draw looks like one that he should be able to progress from.

It has been a tough year for Stephen Burton and the losses have piled up, although credit has to be given to any player who has won three Qualifiers to earn a spot at this European Tour event. Stephen Burton perhaps benefited from the draw at that event and only once averaged over 85 in those three wins, while Michael Smith won two Qualifying matches and was producing at a much higher level.

These two players have not met in 2026, but Michael Smith has shown a bit of life from recent performances having struggled through much of the year.

He should have the power scoring to put Stephen Burton under pressure and that should see Smith move through to the Second Round and a potential blockbuster against Nathan Aspinall.

MY PICKS: Max Hopp @ 2.30 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Dirk van Duijvenbode to Win & Over 2.5 180s @ 2.05 Bet365 (1 Unit)
Sebastian Bialecki @ 1.80 Bet365 (1 Unit)

William O'Connor to Win & Over 1.5 180s @ 2.15 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Michael Smith - 1.5 Legs @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Darts 2026: 151-180, - 15.80 Units (330 Units Staked, - 4.79% Yield)

NFL Week 6 Picks 2026 (Thursday 15th October-Monday 19th October)

2026-10-15T18:21:33.001+01:00

It has been a difficult start to the season for the NFL Picks, but the same could be said in reality for so many of the teams looking to make an impact across the next several months.

The Los Angeles Rams have not begun this season as expected following the latest defeat, while the San Francisco 49ers have perhaps surpassed early expectations and have already beaten the two rivals in the Division that were expected to be the leading contenders for the Super Bowl.

Injuries are once again having an impact on a number of teams, much like they did in an erratic 2025 season, and this is a time where some will be thinking more about potential trades that could change the direction of travel.

We are still far too early in the season to be making long-term projections as to where teams stand, but moving into mid-October means some contenders will begin to separate out from the pack as Bye Weeks and Divisional match ups take place more frequently. The London NFL games are also concluded in Week 6, which is usually a sign that the season is in full swing, although the European slate is yet to begin.

Momentum of the season and momentum of a positive run for the NFL Picks has been missing so far in 2026, but Week 6 offers a new opportunity to get things going.

Picks will begin with Thursday Night Football again and further selections will be added to this thread.

Seattle Seahawks @ Denver Broncos Pick: There will be a real feeling around Colorado that the Denver Broncos (3-2) would have made the Super Bowl to compete against the Seattle Seahawks (3-2) at the end of last season if not for an injury suffered by Bo Nix.

Both teams look capable of returning to the post-season this season, but they will be playing in Week 6 after having very different results against Divisional rivals in Week 5.

While the Denver Broncos were doing just enough to beat the Los Angeles Chargers to move back above 0.500, the Seattle Seahawks were losing to the San Francisco 49ers and now trail this NFC West rival by 2 games.

The 3-2 record that both teams have put together means they are sitting in second place in their respective Divisions and both are chasing unbeaten teams.

Thursday Night Football means preparation time is limited for Denver and Seattle, but this is an important game for both and it looks like a game that will be dominated by the Defensive units.

Sean Payton has taken over play-calling on the Offensive side of the ball to try and spark the Broncos, while Bo Nix has admitted he needs to play without making any mistakes if the Broncos are going to have any success in this one. They do not look like they match up that well with the Seahawks on this side of the ball, but the altitude does give the Broncos an advantage and especially on a short week.

Making use of that will not be easy and one of the issues for Denver has been the struggles at the Line of Scrimmage, which means having problems establishing the run with any kind of consistency. They are not expected to have much more joy trying to pound the rock against this Seahawks Defensive Line and that will only increase the pressure on Bo Nix at Quarter Back if he is having to throw out of third and long spots on the field.

Bo Nix does have 4 Touchdown passes with a single Interception in the last three games played, but he has struggled to be as efficient as he would have hoped and is completing less than 60% of the passes thrown.

Credit has to be given to the Offensive Line for offering Bo Nix plenty of protection, but that Line will be challenged by this Seattle pass rush, while it should also be noted that time has not been enough to get the Receivers to find separation. This is going to be a real challenge for them against this Seattle Secondary that have been important in helping the team produce a winning record in 2026 and who also were instrumental in winning the Super Bowl.

There will be a confidence on this side of the ball and that will give Seattle an opportunity to win this game on the road and bounce back from the disappointing defeat in Week 5.

However, there are going to be some issues to resolve for the Seahawks and it begins in running behind this Offensive Line.

Replacing Kenneth Walker III was always going to be tough, especially after this MVP performance in the Super Bowl, and the Seahawks have been inconsistent when it comes to running the ball in recent weeks. They will take some encouragement from the fact the Denver Defensive Line is still finding its feet against the run, but it is also going to be a pressurised situation for Seattle who will want to put Sam Darnold in a position to have success.

If they can keep the Quarter Back in third and manageable positions, Sam Darnold can exploit some of the holes in the Broncos Secondary and put Seattle in a position to extend drives.

However, third and long situations will be much harder to convert with the Seahawks Offensive Line expected to have a tough time containing the Denver pass rush when in obvious passing situations. Avoiding those will be key for the Seahawks, but they have to believe they can do that little bit more Offensively compared with the Denver Broncos and that can set Seattle up for a road win.

Motivation will not be hard to find after a disagreement between the teams a couple of years ago which had both threatening to put together a lawsuit against the other.

With both chasing unbeaten Division leaders, it is important to try and put some wins together and the Denver Broncos are still having one too many Offensive issues that can give the Seattle Seahawks the edge on Thursday Night Football.

Jacksonville Jaguars vs Houston Texans Pick: The last NFL game to be played in London in the 2026 season features two AFC South teams having very different seasons.

The Jacksonville Jaguars (4-1) have remained in London having narrowly beaten the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 5 thanks to a big Field Goal converted as time was running out. They looked certain to lose, but somehow rallied with less than ten seconds left on the clock and the Jaguars have taken early control of the Division with the other three teams all holding losing records through five weeks of the season.

Next up is a game against the Houston Texans (1-4) who finally got off the mark and who will be looking to build up some momentum after a really poor start to the season.

Making poor starts and being able to rally has become a little too common for the Houston Texans in recent years, but making the Playoffs after a 0-4 start is going to be hugely challenging and games like this one will have to be won.

Houston should travel to London with some confidence they can get the better of the Jacksonville Jaguars having added Marvin Harrison Jr to the Receiving corps.

There has been little wrong with the passing game between the End Zones, but the Houston Texans will be hoping Harrison Jr can give CJ Stroud another target when it comes to converting drives into Touchdowns. The Quarter Back has thrown over 1400 yards, but he has only managed 6 passing Touchdowns in the five games played this season, although CJ Stroud will be happier with the fact he has yet to throw an Interception.

All of the pressure is on the shoulders of CJ Stroud because the Houston Offensive Line has struggled to open up the running lanes and they are not expected to have much consistent success against this Jacksonville Defensive Line. The Texans will not want to ignore the run completely, but they will be aware that the success or failure of the team on the Offensive side of the ball will come down to CJ Stroud and his skill players.

CJ Stroud has been given a bit of time when dropping back to pass, although his ability to move around helps, and the Texans have to be encouraged by some of the yards that have been allowed by the Jacksonville Secondary. The Jaguars have been able to cover up some of the issues by making big plays and turning the ball over, but the Houston Texans should be able to have success on this side of the ball and that will give the Defensive unit something to protect.

Much like their Divisional rival, the Jacksonville Jaguars Offensive Line may have some issues moving the ball on the ground and that is going to mean having to lean on Trevor Lawrence and the arm of the Quarter Back. Not only has the Jaguars Offensive Line had some issues finding consistency in the run blocking, but trying to move the ball on the ground against the Houston Texans has been challenging all season anyway.

Trevor Lawrence will be confident in his ability to attack this Houston Secondary, although his Offensive Line may be missing a starter or two and that does shift things.

The Quarter Back has been under some pressure when he has dropped back to throw, but using backups on the Offensive Line to protect against the Houston pass rush is far from ideal and that is where the underdog may be able to make some big plays. Rushing Trevor Lawrence will give the Houston Secondary a bit more protection and the recent head to head between these AFC South rivals shows the Texans have won four of the last six.

Moving the game from Florida to London does change some of the narratives around the game, but the Houston Texans look like an underdog that could spring the upset if building on the success from Week 5.

Carolina Panthers @ Philadelphia Eagles Pick: One team is travelling back from London and the other is playing after a Bye Week, but the big news of the week is that the Philadelphia Eagles (2-3) are going to be playing without Jalen Hurts. Losing the starting Quarter Back, a couple of the starting Running Backs and having a new look Offensive Line means the next few weeks look potentially challenging for the Philadelphia Eagles and they are pretty big home underdogs in Week 6.

Tanner McKee will be getting the start for the Philadelphia Eagles against the Carolina Panthers (2-2) who lead the NFC South without a winning record.

The Eagles have to go with McKee after it was announced Jalen Hurts has a 'superficial blood clot' and that is going mean the Eagles are going to have to take a patient approach to his recovery. The backup Quarter Back made a single start for the Eagles last year and ended up throwing 1 Touchdown and 1 Interception against the Washington Commanders, but Tanner McKee will know that a start in Week 6 of the regular season is much different than having one at the end of any season.

Philadelphia's changes on the Offensive Line has impacted the ability to run the ball, but they have not been helped by having to go with a third or fourth string Running Back. Those players have perhaps not the holes as confidently as someone like Saquon Barkley and it may not be a game in which the Eagles can exploit the problems Carolina have had when it comes to stopping the run.

If Jalen Hurts was playing at Quarter Back, things would feel different, but the Panthers could choose to load the box and dare Tanner McKee to beat them.

Jalen Hurts would at least offer some threat to throw the ball, but can also have runs designed for him, but Tanner McKee is going to have to try and find a rhythm with a set of Receivers who have been struggling. Doing so from behind the chains will be very difficult and the Carolina Panthers should be well prepared having had the Bye Week following the win over the Detroit Lions.

It isn't that long ago that Bryce Young looked like being a bust in the NFL, but the Carolina Quarter Back has over 1250 passing yards with 9 Touchdown passes and 2 Interceptions this season. He was a key to the Panthers winning the NFC South last year and Young had a solid showing in his first Playoff start, which will have given him motivation to take into the 2026 season as he looks to back up that campaign.

The Panthers will look to run the ball first and foremost, but they won't find that easy against this Eagles Defensive Line and so they will be looking for some more magic out of the Quarter Back position.

However, that looks like a real possibility after recent games in which the Eagles Secondary have really allowed opponents to rack up the yards and so Bryce Young could return with another big game.

Philadelphia are not getting much of a pass rush generated and that has allowed Quarter Backs to hurt them in the Secondary and Bryce Young may be next to have a big game. He will have to be aware of the Interceptions that the Eagles have been able to pick up, but the Carolina Panthers should keep the chains moving with some consistency and that may see them move into a position to cover as the road favourite.

The Panthers do have a Divisional game coming up, but they are coming out of a Bye Week and will be expected to do so with a bit more confidence than they did in the 2025 season.

New York Jets @ New England Patriots Pick: The New York Jets (2-3) earned a win over the Cleveland Browns, but they are going to have a tough time competing in the AFC East which has a couple of teams expecting to be Super Bowl contenders.

One of those is the New England Patriots (3-2) who are looking for a third win in a row as they sit a game behind the Buffalo Bills.

The home team will be looking to use the Offensive Line to establish the run and ease some of the pressure on Quarter Back Drake Maye who has been questioned after some early struggles. No one will argue with the 8 Touchdown passes thrown, but Drake Maye has 7 Interceptions and there are big expectations around a New England team that reached the Super Bowl last season.

Drake Maye has been better in leading the Patriots to back to back wins, while throwing 7 Touchdown passes with a single Interception, and that kind of level will help New England establish the run as teams begin to respect the level shown by the Quarter Back.

Running the ball against the Jets Defensive Line is not easy, but the Patriots will feel they can at least keep the Quarter Back in third and manageable spots and that is the key to this game. If they can do that, Drake Maye should be in a position where he can keep the chains moving and especially if AJ Brown is able to suit up for New England.

Playing from in front of the chains is key for the Patriots to slow the New York pass rush and making sure Drake Maye is throwing without feeling the pocket collapsing around him. The Jets Secondary have played well, which will offer encouragement to the road team, but the Patriots have found a good rhythm over the last two games and that should see them have more Offensive successes.

Confidence will also be taken from the way the Patriots Defensive unit have been playing all season.

The Jets have been able to stay competitive thanks to their performances on the other side of the ball, but the Offensive unit have been struggling and they are not expected to have anything easy in Week 6 of the NFL season. Those problems all begin up front and the Jets Offensive Line are going to have a tough time establishing the run with any kind of consistency, which in turn puts more pressure on Geno Smith at Quarter Back.

Geno Smith has 6 Touchdown passes without throwing an Interception this season, but he has not been pushing the boat out when it comes to making plays with his arm. That is underlined by the fact that Smith has only just surpassed the 1000 yard mark in the passing game, and it is going to be a tough day in the office for Smith to produce more in Foxboro.

One of the issues is that the Offensive Line have broken down when it comes to pass protection, while Geno Smith is going to be facing a New England Secondary that had been a huge part of the run to the Super Bowl last season.

They have come out with a similar level in 2026 and New England will feel they can make enough plays through in the Secondary to slow down this passing attack.

Last season the Patriots had two very strong wins over the New York Jets and they can produce another as long as they do not overlook a Divisional rival to Thursday Night Football when New England travel to Soldier Field. Divisional games are very important and that should see a focused effort from the Patriots, which leads to a strong win on the day.

Arizona Cardinals @ Los Angeles Rams Pick: There was plenty of anger in the Los Angeles Rams (2-3) locker room after blowing an opportunity to beat the Buffalo Bills in Week 5 and that defeat dropped them below 0.500. This means the Rams are already playing catch up in the NFC West where the unbeaten San Francisco 49ers are leading the way and Head Coach Sean McVay will want his time to find their feet very quickly.

The Rams will know they should have won, but they have to make sure they are focused and ready to perform in Week 6 when heading into a Divisional battle against the struggling Arizona Cardinals (1-4).

The Week 1 upset over the Los Angeles Chargers feels a long time ago as far as the Cardinals are concerned- three of the four defeats since then have been by at least 12 points, while Arizona's win over the Chargers has not looked nearly as good as it felt in Week 1.

Injuries have piled up on the Arizona roster and that makes it very difficult to see how they can be a lot more competitive than they were in the blowout loss to the Detroit Lions last time out.

On the Offensive side of the ball, the Cardinals do not look like they match up very well with the Los Angeles Rams- it has been possible to run the ball against the Rams, but the Secondary have played the pass pretty well, while the Arizona Cardinals are a team that have not been very productive on the ground behind the Offensive Line.

Jacoby Brissett has offered some veteran guidance from the Quarter Back position, but he has also thrown up far too many Interceptions and the team have allowed Marvin Harrison Jr to leave for the Houston Texans. That is going to have an impact on the passing game and the Cardinals will be under pressure for much of the day to try and keep the ball moving and the Rams Offensive unit on the sidelines.

Games in this sport are usually won and lost at the Line of Scrimmage and the Los Angeles Offensive Line should be able to push the Cardinals Defensive Line into a position where the run can be established. This is key for the Rams to open up the Offensive playbook and Matthew Stafford should be placed in a position where he can lead his team to a strong win.

Pounding the rock on the ground should mean Matthew Stafford is throwing out of third and manageable spots on the field and the Cardinals Secondary have been exposed in recent outings. Matthew Stafford and the Rams passing numbers suggest they can move the ball with consistency for as long as they want in Week 6, although the veteran needs to take care of the ball a little better.

Turnovers will give the Cardinals an opportunity to make this a competitive game, but if they cannot win in that column, Los Angeles should have too much for Arizona.

Two of the last three games hosted by the Rams against the Arizona Cardinals have been won by the home team by 17 point margins and they have every chance of doing that this week.

Losing that game on Monday Night Football to the Buffalo Bills and in the manner it was lost will have an impact on the Los Angeles Rams, but they should have enough on both sides of the ball to secure another big win over this NFC West rival.

Buffalo Bills @ Las Vegas Raiders Pick: There is no team in the AFC that has more wins than the Buffalo Bills (4-1) after the win in Los Angeles on Monday and they are leading the East Division over the New England Patriots. Playing on the West Coast in Week 5 and also in Week 6 means the Buffalo Bills have decided to stay within this time zone as they prepare to face the Las Vegas Raiders (3-2).

It is a surprise to see the Raiders holding a winning record through a quarter of the regular season, although Las Vegas have lost back to back games.

One of those was a blowout loss at the hands of the New England Patriots and the Raiders will be keen to offer much more resistance in this game, even in the role of a home underdog.

Fernando Mendoza was given his first NFL action in the blowout loss to the Patriots, but the Raiders are expected to stick with Kirk Cousins as the starting Quarter Back for at least one more week. The veteran has played well and given Las Vegas a chance to win games in the 2026 season, and there is little reason to believe Kirk Cousins will not be able to pile up some big numbers in this one.

The pressure will be on Kirk Cousins with the Raiders Offensive Line struggling to set up the run and now having to deal with a Buffalo Defensive Line that has proven to be pretty stout up front.

However, Kirk Cousins and the Raiders will be pretty confident they can expose the holes that have been clear to see in the Buffalo Secondary- some of the problems have come about because the Bills have not been able to generate much of a pass rush and they could have issues trying to get to Cousins before he looks to find his Receivers down the field.

Kirk Cousins has only thrown 2 Interceptions in the last four games and he will have to maintain his discipline with the ball to ensure the Raiders are in a position to push the Buffalo Bills.

Becoming one-dimensional with the play-calling is a concern for the Raiders, but that should not be an issue for the Buffalo Bills.

James Cook was reprimanded by Head Coach Joe Brady for the Fumbles that almost cost the Buffalo Bills on Monday Night Football, but the Bills Offensive Line have opened up some big running lanes, while being helped by having someone like Josh Allen at Quarter Back. The numbers have been pretty impressive when it comes to pounding the rock and the Raiders Defensive Line have been vulnerable to the run, which should be music to the Buffalo ears.

The opportunity to produce a very balanced Offensive game-plan comes from the fact that the Raiders Secondary have struggled as much as the Defensive Line have.

Teams have been able to throw the ball with real success against this Las Vegas Secondary, which is aided by a lack of pass rush up front. It is very hard to get to a Quarter Back when teams are in third and manageable spots on the field and Josh Allen and company should have considerable successes in this one.

Interceptions have been an issue, and the Bills will need to play a much cleaner game if they are going to find a way to move to 5-1 before heading into the Bye Week.

This is not going to be an easy game at all for the Buffalo Bills and playing on Monday Night Football and then having to produce in another road game is a tough test for them.

However, a balanced game-plan should give the Bills a slight advantage and they may be able to make one or two plays in the Secondary to just earn enough of an advantage to win and cover in this Week 6 game.

MY PICKS: Seattle Seahawks - 2.5 Points @ 1.91 Paddy Power (1 Unit)

Houston Texans + 2.5 Points @ 2.00 William Hill (1 Unit)

Carolina Panthers - 3.5 Points @ 2.05 Bet Fred (1 Unit)

New England Patriots - 7.5 Points @ 2.00 William Hill (1 Unit)

Los Angeles Rams - 12.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet Fred (1 Unit)

Buffalo Bills - 4.5 Points @ 1.91 William Hill (1 Unit)

Week 5: 2-2, - 0.14 Units (4 Units Staked, - 3.50% Yield)

Week 4: 4-4, - 0.52 Units (8 Units Staked, - 6.50% Yield)

Week 3: 2-5, - 3.09 Units (7 Units Staked, - 44.14% Yield)

Week 2: 3-4, - 1.31 Units (7 Units Staked, - 18.71% Yield)

Week 1: 2-4-1, - 2.23 Units (7 Units Staked, - 31.86% Yield)

European Tour 14- Swiss Darts Trophy Day 3 Picks 2026 (Sunday 11th October)

2026-10-11T04:28:29.224+01:00

The final day of the penultimate European Tour event is to be played on Sunday with an early start for the Day Session as the Third Round is concluded.

Any selections from the Quarter Final matches will be added to this thread once the final eight lineup is completed.

Jonny Clayton to win & over 3.5 match 180s v Rob Cross: This looks like being one of the better Third Round matches to be completed on Sunday afternoon in Basel and both players have been in confident mood.

Rob Cross is not quite at the level he produced to become World Champion, but this has been a solid bounce back year for Voltage.

Recent results have not been the most consistent, but Rob Cross is going to be tough to beat if he plays as well as he has over the last couple of days.

However, Jonny Clayton will be feeling pretty happy with his own level and looks like someone who could have a big impact at the next World Championship. He was a dominant Second Round winner and Jonny Clayton may have the superior finishing capabilities that gives him the edge in this contest.

It should be a Third Round match that goes at least nine Legs on current form of both players and that should mean plenty of maximums are produced as well.

Gian van Veen to win & over 2.5 180s v Tom Bissell: A dominant Second Round performance saw Gian van Veen showcase his qualities in all areas of a darts match.

That level proved too much for Niko Springer who was brushed aside without winning a Leg and it is going to be hugely challenging for Tom Bissell to push the Dutchman.

Credit has to be given to Tom Bissell for not only winning two matches, but beating the likes of Joe Cullen and Martin Schindler at this event.

He will not want to roll over easily, but Gian van Veen may be able to overpower Tom Bissell when all is said and done.

MY PICKS: Jonny Clayton to Win & Over 3.5 Match 180s @ 2.05 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Gian van Veen & Over 2.5 180s @ 2.50 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Swiss Darts Trophy: 3-5, - 2.03 Units (8 Units Staked, - 25.38% Yield)

College Football Week 6 Picks 2026 (Saturday 10th October)

2026-10-10T15:17:26.586+01:00

There are some big Conference games to be played in Week 6 of the College Football season, but the weather could create havoc in the some parts of the nation, especially in the Alabama vs Georgia game that is the standout on paper.

It is the time of the season where you want to avoid unnecessary defeats if Playoff ambitions are to be realised, but doing so is not going to be easy as teams move through the Conference portion of the schedule.

This feels very much the case in the SEC and Big Ten Conferences, which have taken the lead in College Football, but teams cannot look for excuses and instead have to execute game plans as well as they would hope.

Texas Longhorns vs Oklahoma Sooners Pick: The Red River Rivalry has moved from the Big 12 into the SEC and it is the Texas Longhorns (4-0) who have won both games played in this Conference.

Both teams are coming out of a Bye Week, but the Texas Longhorns will be much more comfortable with the start made to the season compared with the Oklahoma Sooners (2-2) and you have to feel the latter could be one more loss away from being eliminated from Playoff consideration.

That does bring a pressure onto the field for the Sooners who will have spent the last two weeks trying to work out how they can turn things around on the Offensive side of the ball. They were blown out by the Georgia Bulldogs two weeks ago, but the Sooners have also been beaten by the Michigan Wolverines and it is a real problem that they have not scored more than 14 points in any of the last three games since crushing UTEP to open this season.

John Mateer is experienced at Quarter Back, but he has thrown 4 Interceptions to go with the 8 Touchdown passes and he has struggled as the competition has ramped up.

This feels like it is going to be a real problem for the Sooners when trying to move the ball with any consistency against the Texas Defense, although it is not solely down to Mateer's struggles.

Fingers can be pointed at the Offensive Line which has helped Oklahoma pick up just 99 yards per game at 2.9 yards per carry and those numbers are inflated by the performance in the Week 1 win against an overmatched opponent. Since then, the Sooners are averaging 75 yards per game on the ground and at 2.4 yards per carry and it is very difficult for any Quarter Back to perform out of third and long spots consistently.

It also means Defensive players can pin back their ears and get after John Mateer in obvious passing situations and that could be really problematic against this Longhorns pass rush. The Texas Defensive Line is going to be very confident they can pick up where others have left off and effectively shut down the run game and that will allow them to put Mateer under immense pressure throughout this contest.

The Sooners have struggled to compete with the Longhorns over the last couple of years because of the Offensive difficulties and this looks to be another tough outing for them, barring some massive improvements being made in the Bye Week.

Despite the record, the Longhorns will also know there are improvements to be made and that is largely on the Offensive side of the ball as well.

They have managed to run the ball a little more effectively than the Oklahoma Sooners, but you would not really describe Texas as a power running team right now and that is something the Offensive Line will want to improve. The Longhorns have averaged close to 150 yards per game on the ground, but they have not been very efficient and that will need to change to help Arch Manning and the passing game.

It is the Sooners Defensive unit that has given them an opportunity to win games having restricted the first three opponents to less than 18 points each time, although Georgia bust through the doors last time out. Oklahoma fans will feel this Texas Offensive unit is not operating at nearly the same level as the Bulldogs, but the Longhorns do seem to have a couple of edges that may allow them to pull away for a solid win.

One is that while they have not run the ball as effectively as hoped, they have been able to run the ball with some success and certainly superior to what the Sooners have been able to put together.

Turnovers may also play a big part in the final outcome and Arch Manning may be able to take care of the ball better than John Mateer.

In the last couple of seasons, Texas have restricted Oklahoma to 3 and 6 points and keeping them at 10 or below in 2026 is a possibility, which may also be enough to help the Longhorns find enough Offensive plays to produce a cover of this spread.

Tennessee Volunteers @ Arkansas Razorbacks Pick: Any young Quarter Back making a first start in a true road game within the Conference is going to have to weather the storm both inside and outside of the head. It becomes that much more tougher when the Quarter Back is going to be moved into a starter role for the first time, but that is what Tennessee Volunteers (4-1) have planned for Week 6 of the College Football season.

Faizon Brandon may have been part of a team that has begun the season with some strong results, but the Quarter Back had not really been good enough. He does have 7 Touchdown passes with a single Interception, but Brandon has not been very efficient and he suffered an injury in the Week 5 win over the Auburn Tigers and that has opened the door for George MacIntyre to earn the spot.

The first Interception of the season came in that win over Auburn, and it was George MacIntyre who came into the game and produced a solid 8/10 line for 86 yards.

The Volunteers will be hoping the change can spark the Offensive unit, although it may not be a game in which they need to lean on the Quarter Back making a host of plays.

Instead, the Tennessee Offensive Line are going to look to dominate the Line of Scrimmage against the Arkansas Razorbacks (2-3) who have dropped to 0-2 in Conference play. The Razorbacks have struggled in a lot of aspects in the SEC defeats to Georgia and Texas A&M and that has begun on the Defensive side of the ball by showing an inability to stop the run.

You have to expect the Volunteers will be leaning on the Offensive Line to set the standard for the game and to make sure MacIntyre is placed in third and manageable spots when they do ask the inexperienced Quarter Back to make some throws. This should also be key to helping the Offensive Line pass block better than they did for Faizon Brandon and keeping George MacIntyre upright can see Tennessee move the chains with some consistency.

Playing on the road is tough, but it has been difficult for the Arkansas Razorbacks no matter where they have played. They have won games they would have expected, but blowout losses to the Utah Utes as well as the two SEC teams mentioned have underlined the work that needs to be done to change the fortunes of this team in the years ahead.

On the Offensive side of the ball, the Razorbacks have struggled at the Line of Scrimmage as much as they have done on the Defensive side, and that makes things very difficult. The Arkansas Offensive Line have not been able to help the team establish the run and they are not expected to have much joy trying to get things going against the Volunteers.

It has added to the pressure on KJ Jackson at Quarter Back who has thrown for over 1000 yards, but added 6 Touchdowns to go with 4 Interceptions.

Those numbers have not been good enough when only considering the games played against fellow Power 4 Conference opponents and Jackson is likely going to be feeling the heat from the Tennessee pass rush whenever he is behind the chains. That means throwing into a Secondary under pressure and it would not be a big surprise if the Volunteers can create a turnover or two in order to really bring the momentum behind them in this SEC game.

Games between these two schools have been competitive in recent years, which has to be respected, but Tennessee might have too much for the Arkansas Razorbacks when all is said and done. If they can win the turnover battle as expected and Tennessee dominate at the Line of Scrimmage on both sides of the ball, this could be one of those rare occasions when a team is capable of blowing past the other.

LSU Tigers @ Kentucky Wildcats Pick: An extra SEC game for every team in the Conference is going to make it very challenging for those who are looking to earn a spot in the College Football Playoff Bracket later in the year. The LSU Tigers (4-1) have dropped a game at the Mississippi Rebels, but bounced back to beat the Texas A&M Aggies within the Conference and had a virtual Bye Week when crushing a weak opponent last time out.

The one true road game has ended in a defeat and the Tigers will be looking for much better when travelling to take on the Kentucky Wildcats (4-1).

Preseason expectations had not been very high for Kentucky, who have had back to back losing records, but the start to this season will have given new Head Coach Will Stein a huge boost. The Wildcats are 2-1 in the SEC and have won road games at the Texas A&M Aggies and South Carolina Gamecocks, although Kentucky's sole setback ended in a blowout loss at home to the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Kentucky will be well aware that they are going to be facing a very strong LSU Defensive unit and perhaps the toughest since the defeat to the Crimson Tide.

The battle at the Line of Scrimmage is going to be a big part of the final outcome with the Wildcats looking to establish the run against a Tigers Defensive Line that have been stout up front all season. Keeping Quarter Back Kenny Minchey in front of the chains is important, although the relatively inexperienced player has been in strong form to open this season and was instrumental in the come from behind win over the South Carolina Gamecocks.

Kenny Minchey had 3 Touchdown passes without throwing an Interception in the win over the Gamecocks and had over 280 passing yards, but playing out of third and long spots would make things that much more challenging. Sacks have been a problem and keeping the Tigers pass rush from collapsing the pocket will be a tough test for this Offensive Line, and in turn that makes it tough for Minchey when it comes to attacking this solid LSU Secondary.

A bigger test for the Tigers is whether they can find a bit more consistency on the Offensive side of the ball as they prepare to play three Conference games in succession before the Bye Week at the end of the month.

Head Coach Lane Kiffin has spoken about the injuries that have been hurting the LSU Tigers, while he will be looking for Quarter Back Sam Leavitt to find a way to overcome some of the issues he has been dealing with. This has meant Leavitt has thrown for over 1200 yards this season, but with 8 Touchdown passes and 7 Interceptions blighting the numbers.

The Quarter Back can take some encouragement from the way the Tigers have been able to run the ball and especially when they prepare to face a Wildcats Defensive Line that has been struggling. The Tigers will be trying to ease the pressure on the Quarter Back and they can keep the team in third and manageable spots behind this Offensive Line, and that could be key to putting themselves in a position to earn a solid win.

Sam Leavitt has to make better decisions when he throws, but he should have holes to exploit in this one if he can keep himself focused.

The Kentucky pass rush is unlikely to concern Sam Leavitt if the Tigers are moving the ball on the ground and this is a good opportunity for LSU to secure a solid road win against a Conference rival.

These schools are meeting for the first time since 2021 when Kentucky crushed the Tigers at home, but the Wildcats were favoured that day and LSU can earn revenge in confident fashion.

MY PICKS: Texas Longhorns - 7.5 Points @ 1.95 Bet Fred (1 Unit)

Tennessee Volunteers - 13.5 Points @ 1.86 Bet Victor (1 Unit)

LSU Tigers - 8.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet Fred (1 Unit)

Wake Forest Demon Deacons - 3.5 Points @ 1.95 Bet Fred (1 Unit)

Notre Dame Fighting Irish - 39.5 Points @ 1.89 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Oregon Ducks - 10.5 Points @ 1.95 Bet Fred (1 Unit)

Week 5: 3-3, - 0.14 Units (6 Units Staked, - 2.33% Yield)

Week 4: 4-3, + 0.49 Units (7 Units Staked, + 7% Yield)

Week 3: 1-4, - 3.17 Units (5 Units Staked, - 63.40% Yield)

Week 2: 2-3, - 1.28 Units (5 Units Staked, - 25.60% Yield)

Week 0: 0-3, - 3 Units (3 Units Staked, - 100% Yield)

European Tour 14- Swiss Darts Trophy Day 2 Picks 2026 (Saturday 10th October)

2026-10-10T03:42:20.805+01:00

The latest European Tour event moves into the Second Round and the introduction of the top Seeded players that have travelled to Basel.

There were some very good performances on Friday and the fight for places at the European Championships will only ramp up from here.

Sixteen Second Round matches are scheduled for the Swiss Darts Trophy on Saturday with the play split across two Sessions.

Ross Smith to win & over 2.5 180s v William O'Connor: It was a comfortable win for William O'Connor in the First Round, but he will be the first to admit that another level will need to be found if he is going to beat the top performer on the European Tour in 2026.

Ross Smith will be disappointed with his performance at the World Grand Prix, but he won a big title at the World Series of Darts Finals and this is a player that looks to be heading towards a peak.

He has enjoyed playing on the European stage and Ross Smith has the kind of darts that will make him dangerous at every big event yet to be played in the calendar year.

Maximum hitting is always an important part of his game, but Ross Smith has been backing hat up with strong Doubles and he should have enough to complete both parts of this selection.

Chris Dobey-Bradley Brooks both over 2.5 180s: Ten Legs were played in Bradley Brooks' First Round win over Niels Zonneveld and the two players combined for thirteen maximums.

Bradley Brooks had six of those maximums and he can add at least three more in a match that may need at least nine Legs to be played.

Recent results suggest Bradley Brooks will struggle to reproduce the form shown on Friday, but he is someone who can find a good rhythm around the treble 20 bed.

Next up is a match against Seeded Chris Dobey who had two strong runs at Players Championship 29 and 30 and this is a player that has continued to be one of the best maximum hitters on the Tour.

He is more than capable of producing at least three 180s here and this could be the best Second Round match of a good looking Day Session.

Josh Rock to win & most 180s v Dave Chisnall: It has been a year in which Dave Chisnall has produced too many performances like the one he put together in the First Round, although he has not been able to get through too many of those matches.

Alan Soutar missed too many chances in the First Round, but Dave Chisnall will need to improve his scoring if he is going to give Josh Rock a run for his money.

The Northern Irishman has lot three matches in a row and Josh Rock will have been disappointed with his early defeat at the World Grand Prix.

2026 has not been a great year for Josh Rock and not the one expected, but he is still capable of stringing the run of Legs together and Rocky can pummel the treble 20 bed when he finds his rhythm.

Josh Rock can win the match and he should have the power scoring to edge Dave Chisnall in the maximum hitting market.

Jonny Clayton to win & over 2.5 180s v Maik Kuivenhoven: He looks in a decent position to reach the European Championships, but Jonny Clayton will arrive in Basel looking for a couple more wins to secure his place.

His runs at the World Series of Darts Finals and World Grand Prix were both ended by Gerwyn Price, but Jonny Clayton did beat Maik Kuivenhoven in the first of those Ranking tournaments.

Maik Kuivenhoven beat Raymond van Barneveld in the First Round, but will need to improve his level a little more if he is going to upset a player who competed in the Premier League earlier this season.

When they played in Amsterdam at the World Series of Darts Finals, Jonny Clayton did manage to put four maximums on the board and he can get to at least three in a winning effort on Saturday.

MY PICKS: Ross Smith to Win & Over 2.5 180s @ 2.00 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Chris Dobey & Bradley Brooks Both Over 2.5 180s @ 2.45 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Josh Rock to Win & Most 180s @ 2.37 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Jonny Clayton to Win & Over 2.5 180s @ 2.25 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Swiss Darts Trophy: 2-2, - 0.40 Units (4 Units Staked, - 10% Yield)

English Football Premier League Picks Game Week 6 2026/27 (Saturday 10th October 2026-Monday 12th October 2026)

2026-10-10T01:51:57.822+01:00

The three week extended international break has not been appreciated by fans or, seemingly, managers of top flight clubs, but it was far from the usual slow period of the season for club supporters.

English Football was rocked by the announcement that Manchester City had been found guilty in the majority of charges they had faced since 2023, although the appeal process means any sanctions have yet to be made clear.

It is of course something that everything suspected about Manchester City, but it would have been almost impossible to prove without the work of Rui Pinto who had managed to hack into the emails that exposed the truth.

Unsurprisingly Manchester City have chose to fight and delay as long as possible, but that may also have become a detriment to them with the majority now looking for a serious punishment to be handed out.

The story has yet to be concluded with the appeal that is in process, but the likelihood is that the decision will be confirmed at some point and then the Premier League will have big decisions to make about how far they wish to punish a club that has not only failed to play by the rules, but who have made things very awkward throughout the hearing and who cannot be seen to have 'gotten away with it'.

Rivals have not really been able to agree with what they believe would be a suitable punishment, although we are still some way away from having that decision made- some believe multiple years with deducted points would be better than one big deduction that would likely mean Manchester City spending only one year out of the Premier League.

It is very difficult to believe the owners can carry on, but once a club is State-owned like Manchester City, those decisions to expel either the club or owner becomes that much more difficult with the political implications- that should not be the case, but there is a real worry that the current UK Prime Minister is compromised through his dealings with the Manchester City ownership group from his time as Mayor of Manchester and comments made about the case can be considered ill-advised at the least.

The Premier League will return this weekend, but the Manchester City cloud is going to darken the Division until a final decision has been handed out.

The concern is that there is a huge amount of damage being done to the product, which will frustrate all of the clubs about the manner in which Manchester City have dealt with the charges.

Players have to try and focus, but it is harder for supporters with the feeling that much of what we are watching could end up being pretty meaningless in three months time.

Arsenal vs Leeds United: The 3-0 defeat at the Amex Stadium is a reminder to Arsenal fans that they are not going to have everything go their own way in the 2026/27 season.

It is a setback, but not one that is expected to lead to a prolonged slump, and Arsenal are back at home where they have been very strong over the last couple of years.

The international break has been frustrating with a few players returning with injury, but Arsenal's squad depth should see them cover those who are absent.

Leeds United are much improved team from the one that were beaten 5-0 at the Emirates Stadium in August 2025, but that did not prevent them from being hammered 0-4 at home later in the campaign.

Daniel Farke's team have made a positive start to the season, but Arsenal's qualities in the final third should see them do enough to win by a couple of goals in the return to top flight action.

Fantasy: You can make the case for any Arsenal defender in any week, but this feels like a fixture where Viktor Gyokeres could take advantage of the injury suffered by Kai Havertz.

He scored twice at home in the 5-0 win over Leeds United and can remind Mikel Arteta of the qualities he does have after good performances for Sweden in this last international break.

Aston Villa vs Brentford: If you want to know how well Brentford have started the season, the fact they are almost the favourites to win at Villa Park is telling.

That is also partly down to the slow start made by Aston Villa, but there were signs that Unai Emery's team were finding their feet before the international break. 4 of the last 5 games played ended in a win, while the exception saw Aston Villa concede late in a 1-2 defeat to Nottingham Forest.

It does mean Aston Villa have lost both Premier League games at Villa Park, but they perhaps deserved more than they have gotten, while Brentford are not quite as effective away from the Gtech Community Stadium.

The Bees are stubborn though and they can at least avoid a defeat with the draw looking a real runner.

Fantasy: The signing of Johan Manzambi looks a smart piece of business for Aston Villa, but Nicolas Jackson remains the focal point of the attack and can build on the goals scored against Club Brugge and Tottenham Hotspur.

Chelsea vs Bournemouth: The injury suffered by Alex Scott is a real blow for Bournemouth and Marco Rose is going to have a real think as to how his team can best replace someone of that influence in the engine room.

This is a tough fixture for Bournemouth, but they will take great encouragement from the way Chelsea have defended and those issues at the back makes it hard to trust the hosts at short odds.

Moises Caicedo and Joao Pedro are expected to be back in the lineup, which is a boost for Chelsea after the really disappointing 3-0 defeat at Brentford, but this has been a tough match up for them and Bournemouth can give The Blues plenty to think about.

Fantasy: Any success for Chelsea is going to come through the front three and Morgan Rogers, Cole Palmer and Joao Pedro are expected to start.

Rayan has yet to spark for Bournemouth this season, but will be encouraged by the spaces Chelsea have left at the back which have been exposed by wide players.

Ipswich Town vs Fulham: The 1-1 scoreline stands out at first glance, but neither Ipswich Town nor Fulham have defended that well this season.

Both have flashed at times in the final third and the two managers both want their respective teams to play on the front foot, which could lead to an entertaining game at Portman Road.

The three week international break will have done little for the momentum and rhythm, but Fulham had been looking a little better in recent outings after a slow start under Alvaro Arbeloa. Gary O'Neil's Ipswich Town have continued to create chances, but have given up plenty of good looks to opponents as well and a 2-1 scoreline either way would not be a big surprise.

Fantasy: Three weeks ago, Josh King was identified as a player that could make a big impact for Fulham against Manchester United and he did force one fine save from Senne Lammens.

He is going to be important again, while David Affengruber has made a positive start to his Fulham career and can earn defensive contribution points, while also being a threat from set pieces.

Sunderland vs Brighton: You have to respect the fight and character within the Sunderland squad, but losing Dan Ballard and Brian Brobbey to injury during the international break is a real blow.

Regis Le Bris has to find a way to help the squad balance domestic and European commitments and Sunderland fans will be keen to see some of the recent performances show up in terms of positive results.

Sunderland have been given a tough early season fixture list and they have another challenging fixture right out of the gate following this extended international break.

One of the early season success stories has been Brighton and the 3-0 win over Champions Arsenal has underlined the quality of the start made.

Fabian Hurzeler's men also play in Europe, but the Conference League is 'easier' to balance compared with the Europa League and the three week break has enabled a number of players to return to action. The depth makes Brighton dangerous and they can win at the Stadium of Light for a second season in a row.

Fantasy: Three weeks ago, Pascal Gross was identified as a key player for Brighton in the game against Arsenal and did not disappoint.

Some will want to stick with him, but Maxim De Cuyper continues to play higher up the pitch and can offer up points at both ends.

Manchester United vs Tottenham Hotspur: This feels like a huge game for both Michael Carrick and Roberto De Zerbi and neither can make excuses about injuries with fans expecting positive results.

Both need a big result for Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur respectively and there will be some tension in the performance.

Manchester United have perhaps been the victim of some of the numbers returning to the mean- in the short time with Carrick as manager last season, United picked up some big results even when they were perhaps fortunate to do so, but this season the narrow margins have worked agaisnt them.

They are still creating chances and Manchester United have tended to be much better at Old Trafford, which will give them an edge, but Tottenham Hotspur may also feel they are playing better than the results are suggesting.

The first goal is going to be very important, but Manchester United did find a way to beat Spurs here last season and should have won in North London too. With the qualities in the final third, Manchester United can do enough to edge this one, although the defence looks incapable of earning a clean sheet right now.

Fantasy: He has not really had the impact in fantasy terms that most would have expected, but Bruno Fernandes can influence a win for Manchester United this weekend.

Crystal Palace vs Nottingham Forest: Both teams failed to score in the last Premier League game played, but Nottingham Forest were beaten at home and Crystal Palace earned a point at Elland Road.

Oliver Glasner returns to Selhurst Park with his new team and his knowledge of the Crystal Palace squad has to have an impact on the game.

However, Nottingham Forest are still a work in progress under the new manager and games between these two clubs have tended to be very competitive with draws standing out.

The last 5 at Selhurst Park have all ended that way and another on Sunday cannot be ruled out.

Fantasy: Both teams play a system where the wing backs are hugely influential and it would not be a surprise if one of those has the biggest impact on the fixture.

Hull City vs Everton: Over the last fifteen months, Hull City have made a mockery of the underlying numbers having earned promotion back to the Premier League and picking up 8 points from a possible 15 in the top flight.

There is so much to like about the performances, but Everton are expected to pose a tough challenge for the hosts.

Hull City have beaten Manchester United here and drawn with Aston Villa and both of those fixtures have ended with clean sheets, but wasteful finishing from the visiting sides stand out.

Everton are not exactly clinical in the final third, but they are also dangerous from set pieces and this is the kind of fixture that David Moyes and his team will find a way to win even when many would not expect them to.

Fantasy: Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall had so many chances to score or assist in the win over Ipswich Town, but did not quite get the breaks he may have needed.

He remains the key to most of the attacking output produced by Everton and looks the player to back to make the difference if you do believe Everton can win here, much like the writer does.

Liverpool vs Manchester City: Everyone is going to be anticipating a huge atmosphere at Anfield as Liverpool host Manchester City on Sunday.

This is the first outing for Manchester City since being found guilty of effectively cheating and at a time when it would have been having a huge impact on Liverpool's seasons.

All eyes will be on the Manchester City players as to how they handle the atmosphere and the occasion, but they are a squad filled with experience which should help.

Enzo Maresca is not going to throw caution to the wind, but he should be confident that Manchester City can contain a Liverpool attack that will be without Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo. Both have been influential for Liverpool early in the season, and the absences leaves the hosts looking a little short.

Before it was announced both would be missing, this felt like a game that may have plenty of tension attached to it, but one where the attackers may struggle to have the kind of impact expected. That is even more of the case with the hosts missing the two stand out attackers of the 2026/27 season and it may not be the high-scoring game anticipated.

Fantasy: There are some key attackers missing for both players, but someone is going to need to step up to make the difference.

Dominic Szoboszlai opened the scoring with a special free kick last season and set pieces could be really important again.

Virgil van Dijk and Marc Guehi have shown they can produce big headers when they have been needed and perhaps one of the centre halves produces where the attackers are not quite able to do so.

Coventry City vs Newcastle United: Frank Lampard would have loved to have taken Coventry City into the next Premier League game soon after the 0-1 win at Nottingham Forest, but over three weeks have passed since that victory.

It is still an important one and Lampard will now be looking for a big performance at The CBS Arena.

Coventry City have really struggled here this season and Newcastle United have the pace and quality in the final third to hurt the hosts.

However, it feels like Newcastle United are still working through some early season inconsistencies and they are not as strong away from St James' Park. In the last away game, Newcastle United were getting thumped at Leeds United and they were fortunate to hold onto a home win over Hull City last time out.

Both teams have room for improvement, but Newcastle United are a short priced favourite here and Coventry City might have enough to secure their first home Premier League points in twenty-five years.

Fantasy: It has not quite happened for him yet, but Jack Rudoni has been getting closer and closer to having a big impact on a game and Monday night could be the evening for him.

MY PICKS: Arsenal - 1.25 Asian Handicap @ 1.97 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Aston Villa-Brentford Draw @ 3.60 Bet Victor (0.5 Units)

Bournemouth + 1 Asian Handicap @ 1.70 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Ipswich-Fulham Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.72 Bet Fred (1 Unit)

Brighton - 0.25 Asian Handicap @ 2.00 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Manchester United to Win & Over 1 Total Goals @ 1.83 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Crystal Palace-Nottingham Forest Draw @ 3.40 Bet Fred (0.5 Units)

Everton @ 2.10 William Hill (1 Unit)

Liverpool-Manchester City Under 2.5 Goals @ 2.40 Paddy Power (1 Unit)

Coventry City + 0.5 Asian Handicap @ 1.75 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Premier League 26/27: 12-17-1, - 4.20 Units (28 Units Staked, - 15% Yield)

2026 World Cup: 57-45-1, + 8.63 Units (103 Units Staked, + 8.38% Yield)

European Tour 14- Swiss Darts Trophy Day 1 Picks 2026 (Friday 9th October)

2026-10-09T02:54:46.049+01:00

Two European Tour events remain on the calendar and those chasing a spot at the 2026 European Championship have little time left to book their places.

Some of the big names on the Tour are already assured of playing in Dortmund later this month, but that has not stopped a solid field coming together in Basel for the fourteenth of the fifteen European Tour events scheduled for 2026.

Next week the European Championship field will be confirmed after the Dutch Darts Championship is played.

There are some big First Round matches to be played on Day 1 at the Swiss Darts Trophy before the Seeded players join the action on Saturday.

Picks from the Day and Evening Sessions in Basel can be read below.

William O'Connor to win & most 180s v Jani Haavisto: An early loss at the World Grand Prix would have been a disappointment, but William O'Connor did reach the Semi Final of a recent Players Championship event on the floor.

The experience on the stage gives him another edge and Jani Haavisto has come through a Nordic & Baltic Qualifier to earn a return to this level.

Earlier this season, Jani Haavisto did push Niels Zonneveld in a 6-4 loss on the European Tour and he is expected to come up short again.

William O'Connor can be very strong on the maximums when at his best and he can score more of those than his opponent on his way through to the Second Round.

Cameron Menzies v Cristo Reyes: This has all of the makings of a good match and there is plenty on the line for both players as they cling onto a top thirty-two Ranking that would mean participating in the European Championships.

Cameron Menzies recently won a Players Championship title and that means he is coming into this match with a bit more consistency compared with Cristo Reyes.

When at his best, Cameron Menzies is a very difficult player to beat, but the Scot can get down on himself, which makes it hard to trust him.

However, he looks a decent underdog to back in this match considering the amount of losses Cristo Reyes has suffered in recent weeks. He is much better than the World Number 71 Ranking may suggest, but Reyes may have hit a slight wall at the back end of this season and Cameron Menzies can exploit that.

Dirk van Duijvenbode to win & over 2.5 180s v Bruno Stockli: Four matches were won in the Home Qualifiers and that has earned Bruno Stockli an opportunity at the Swiss Darts Trophy.

However, he will be aware that the level needs to be improved if he is going to upset Dirk van Duijvenbode.

The Dutchman will be much happier playing in a more normal format after underperforming at the World Grand Prix and his scoring power should see him progress into the Second Round.

You do have to wonder if the opponent will not help Dirk van Duijvenbode bring the intensity he usually has on the stage and that may affect his maximum hitting.

In saying that, van Duijvenbode remains one of the bigger maximum hitters on the Tour and he can produce at least three in this First Round match.

Kevin Doets to win & over 2.5 180s v Nick Kenny: There are very few players outside of the absolute elite that have had a consistent season as strong as the one Kevin Doets has been able to put together.

He is inside the top 30 of the World Rankings, but strong performances at the remaining big tournaments could see Kevin Doets moving quickly into the top 16.

A narrow defeat to Nathan Aspinall at the World Grand Prix will have hurt, but Kevin Doets had been playing well on the floor in the build up to that tournament. The Double In format can be tough for any player to understand, but this match is in a normal format and Kevin Doets will feel his stronger scoring gives him the edge over Nick Kenny.

The Welshman has lost four of his last five matches, and it has been a year in which Nick Kenny has struggled to find his consistency.

This should come together in the First Round and Kevin Doets can add at least three maximums to a winning effort.

MY PICKS: William O'Connor to Win & Most 180s @ 1.95 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Cameron Menzies @ 2.00 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Dirk van Duijvenbode to Win & Over 2.5 180s @ 1.80 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Kevin Doets to Win & Over 2.5 180s @ 1.80 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Darts 2026: 146-175, - 16.32 Units (320 Units Staked, - 5.10% Yield)

NFL Week 5 Picks 2026 (Thursday 8th October-Monday 12th October)

2026-10-08T17:43:10.465+01:00

After Week 5 is concluded, the majority of teams in the NFL will have played more than a quarter of the regular season and that will be a time to assess how well, or poorly, the opening games have gone.

Week 4 is the first of the Bye Weeks with the Kansas City Chiefs and Carolina Panthers having the earliest of rests possible and both are leading their respective Divisions, albeit with the former being at 4-0 and the latter at 2-2.

The NFC North looks like it could be one of the stronger Divisions out there with all four teams being at 0.500 or better, while the NFC West has three teams that look capable of deep runs into the post-season.

Injuries are already having an early impact on how teams feel about themselves and there has to be a real concern for the Philadelphia Eagles fans that the upper management have potentially given up on the season already. At 2-2 the Eagles players won't feel that way, but an unexpected retirement and then an unexpected trade has hurt the Offensive Line and Philadelphia have not been a very convincing 2-2 before that anyway.

The tag of being considered the most disappointing team of the season has to be shared by the Houston Texans and Los Angeles Chargers who have both begun with four straight defeats after being considered Super Bowl contenders before Week 1 of the season. This is already a huge hold to climb out of and they are not helped by playing in strong Divisions.

You'd have to consider the Cleveland Browns as being the biggest surprise early in the season as they have bounced back from an opening Week beatdown to win three games in a row and top the AFC North. Desahun Watson looked to have played his best Football when a member of the Texans, but Browns fans have to like what they have seen from him this season and Cleveland go into New York to face the Jets and keep the momentum behind them.

The second London game of three is played in Week 5, although it does not look as strong on paper as it did when the Eagles-Jaguars game was announced earlier in the year.

Teams will be looking to get on track moving towards the first half of the regular season and the same can be said for the NFL Picks, which have made a very slow start to 2026 after the disappointing 2025.

Picks this week will begin with the Thursday Night Football game and others will be added to this thread through to the conclusion of Week 5 of the 2026 season.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Dallas Cowboys Pick: Injuries to key players have hurt the New York Giants and Washington Commanders, while the Philadelphia Eagles have made a couple of moves over the last few days that suggests they do not think they are capable of winning the Super Bowl this season.

It is the Giants who lead the NFC East, but the Dallas Cowboys (2-2) have to be the favourites to win the Division and return to the Playoffs having missed out in each of the last two seasons. After three consecutive 12-5 finishes, the Cowboys have had back to back losing seasons and there is some pressure on this roster to finally make a big impact in the post-season.

They rallied to beat the Houston Texans in Week 4 and the Dallas Cowboys are big favourites when playing on Thursday Night Football when Week 5 gets underway. Bouncing back from the defeat in Brazil to the Baltimore Ravens has pulled the Cowboys back up to 0.500, but the fans will be expecting the team to have a winning record by the end of this game.

The Cowboys have big road games at the Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles coming up, but it would be a big mistake to overlook the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-4) even if the NFC South team have begun this season in poor form.

Like many other teams, the Buccaneers have suffered an injury in the starting Quarter Back position, although Baker Mayfield had not been playing that well before sitting out. It does mean the Buccaneers have to play on a short week with rookie Jalon Daniels at Quarter Back and it is a big ask for any inexperienced player to perform on a short week, never mind one who was Undrafted.

Tampa Bay would have hoped Jalon Daniels could have been a project, but he was thrown into the deep end in Week 4 after Baker Mayfield was forced to sit out, and he did have issues throwing the ball. Jalon Daniels provides a dual-threat out of the Quarter Back position as he showed against the Green Bay Packers, but he had just 148 passing yards and produced a single Touchdown pass with a couple of Interceptions.

It is really important for the Buccaneers to lean on the Offensive Line who have been able to open some running lanes and they will note that the Dallas Cowboys have had some problems trying to stop the run. As long as they are in this game, Tampa Bay can try and keep the pressure away from the rookie Quarter Back, while Daniels may have a bit more time when stepping back to throw down the field considering the lack of Sacks produced by the Cowboys.

Pounding the rock and bleeding the clock will be the main plan for the Buccaneers to put themselves in the best position to win- keeping the powerful Cowboys on the sidelines for long periods is the only way Tampa Bay can hope to be successful.

Slowing down the Cowboys on the field will be much more challenging considering the way Dak Prescott and company have begun the 2026 season.

Dallas have played with some balance on this side of the ball, but they are going to be tested when it comes to trying to establish the run. Like they have for many years, the Buccaneers have looked be stout up front and they have been restricting opponents to 3.2 yards per carry to open this season, which will offer Tampa Bay some encouragement.

However, Tampa Bay have struggled to generate much of a pass rush and giving Dak Prescott time is only going to lead to the Cowboys moving the chains with some consistency.

Any Quarter Back that is given time to scan the field is going to have success and the Dallas Cowboys should be able to expose some of the vulnerabilities in the Buccaneers Secondary.

With the troubles that the Buccaneers have had in scoring enough points, the Dallas Cowboys are expected to have too much for Tampa Bay and especially on a short week.

This is a big spread, but the Dallas Cowboys could be tough to drag back if they get into a lead and force Tampa Bay to try and keep up by throwing the ball and the NFC East team can cover at home.

Philadelphia Eagles vs Jacksonville Jaguars Pick: You don't want to make big statements about any team four games into the season and especially one that does not have a losing record.

However, the Philadelphia Eagles (2-2) are flying to London with a decimated roster and you do have to wonder if they can keep things ticking forward until some of those issues clear up. The unexpected announcement from Lane Johnson about an immediate retirement was quickly followed by a decision to trade away Cam Jurgens and there is no doubt that the Offensive Line is now going to feel like a work in progress.

Some may still have expected the likes of Saquon Barkley to produce and make them look stronger than perhaps they are, but the Eagles are without this Running Back and Tank Bigsby, while they are also missing key Receivers.

All of that adds up to a tough day in the office for Jalen Hurts at Quarter Back, but even more so when you think of the Defensive unit they are about to face.

The Jacksonville Jaguars (3-1) are leading the AFC South early in the season and this is mainly thanks to the level being produced by the Defensive unit, who are going to be very confident when facing this makeshift Philadelphia Offense.

Everything begins up front for the Jaguars and it is a tough game for the new look Philadelphia Offensive Line to try and have an impact like the Quarter Back and the team will need. Opponents have struggled to run the ball against the Jaguars all season and that is likely going to be the case in London in Week 5, which puts additional pressure on Jalen Hurts and what has been a dysfunctional passing game.

Being without some of the stronger Receivers on the roster only adds to the difficulties for the Philadelphia Eagles and it is hard to imagine them exploiting the holes that have been evident in the Jacksonville Secondary. One of the big positives of this Jaguars Secondary is the ability to turn the ball over and avoiding that is going to be the challenge for the Eagles when Jalen Hurts does have to drop back to throw.

As impressive as Jacksonville have been at the Line of Scrimmage on the Defensive side of the ball, there is a lot of room for improvement Offensively if this team is going to have a big impact in January and, perhaps, February. The Offensive Line has been able to help establish the run, but Trevor Lawrence and the passing game has not been up to the level that may have been expected, although that could be partly down to the game plan.

When leading, teams are not going to want to throw the ball and instead pound the rock and the Jaguars have done a lot of leading this.

They are facing an Eagles Defensive unit that have kept the team competitive even when the Offense has struggled, but the travel to London and perhaps the time that is going to need to be spent on the field does work against Philadelphia.

All Jacksonville will want to do is keep the team in third and manageable spots and that should give Trevor Lawrence the opportunity to keep the chains moving. The Quarter Back should have a largely clean pocket and the weather conditions in London suggest Trevor Lawrence should be able to find the passing lanes to keep the Jaguar moving forward and getting into a position where they can win and cover the spread.

Turnovers could be key to securing what may work out to be a win by double digits and the Jaguars can create those by making the Eagles one-dimensional Offensively and taking advantage of any mistakes made by Receivers backing up for the bigger names that are not expected to be involved.

Indianapolis Colts @ Pittsburgh Steelers Pick: The Indianapolis Colts (2-2) returned from a positive business trip to London and they have been able to pull the record back up to 0.500 for the season, but this is a tough spot for them. Not only are they are returning from a trip across the pond, but the Colts are set to play a road game without a Bye Week and this is something the NFL have tried to avoid.

The Dallas Cowboys won in that position earlier in the season when beating Houston on the road after losing in Brazil, but the time zone Rio operates in is much closer to that of the United States compared with London in the United Kingdom.

Only four teams have been in the situation that Indianapolis will face and the first two times it happened did not go so well for that road team.

Making excuses will not be acceptable to the Indianapolis fanbase as they look to keep themselves competing behind the Jacksonville Jaguars, but nothing will come easy at the home of the Pittsburgh Steelers (2-2).

Week 4 was a big disappointment for the Pittsburgh Steelers as they were beaten in frustrating fashion at the Cleveland Browns and it was a game in which the players and Head Coach made it clear that they were struggling to deal with the manner in which they were beaten. There has been time to fix the mistakes considering the Steelers played on Thursday Night Football in Week 4, but the team need to come out with better intensity and to maintain that throughout this game.

The match up looks like one that the Steelers can exploit on the Offensive side of the ball and they have bounced back the previous time they were beaten this season.

The Steelers Offensive Line has been able to establish the run and that is important to put Aaron Rodgers in a strong position on the field. The veteran Quarter Back is not as strong as he was in his prime, but Rodgers has weapons around him that can help him and it all begins with the Offensive Line and the running game keeping him in third and manageable spots.

Pittsburgh should be able to find some push at the Line of Scrimmage against this Colts Defensive Line and that should also mean Aaron Rodgers is given a little more time in the pocket. The Offensive Line have been stronger in run blocking than pass protection, but Aaron Rodgers is not someone that will want to hold onto the ball too long in third and manageable spots and that puts the Steelers in a good position.

There are holes in this Indianapolis Secondary that can exploited and Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers can move the ball with some consistency.

At the same time, the Indianapolis Colts have to be encouraged by the last couple of performances that they have produced Offensively and they will certainly believe Jonathan Taylor can pick up from where he left off in London. The Colts Offensive Line have not played at a great level, but Taylor can make big plays even when room looks limited and he will be encouraged by the recent struggles of the Pittsburgh Defensive Line.

Daniel Jones will need to find some improvements if there are any issues in the running game, but he has been inconsistent and the Quarter Back needs to avoid turnovers.

Once again, the match up looks pretty good on paper, but the Colts have a number of injuries in the Receiving areas that has made it tougher for Daniel Jones.

The scheduling of this game is not ideal for the Indianapolis Colts and that may end up being a real factor in determining the final outcome.

With the extra rest between games, the Pittsburgh Steelers may be able to stall one or two Indianapolis drives in the second half and that may end up giving the hosts the edge and they can move back above 0.500 for the 2026 season.

Detroit Lions @ Arizona Cardinals Pick: Both teams are trying to bounce back from disappointing defeats in Week 4 of the 2026 season, but the Arizona Cardinals (1-3) have now dropped three in a row after the opening Week upset.

They are hosting the Detroit Lions (2-2) who have made a mixed start to the season and that is thanks to an underperforming Defensive unit.

There are aspects of the Lions Defense that is to be liked, but this is a team that have so many injuries to deal with right now and that has meant it has become that much tougher to stall drives. Every team that has faced Detroit this season has scored at least 24 points and the Arizona Cardinals may feel they can do the same.

It will mean making an improvement on this side of the ball, but the Cardinals will be going into Week 5 with Marvin Harrison Jr inactive as they look to finalise a trade for the Wide Receiver. That will be a blow to the Offensive unit, although Harrison Jr has not been playing as well as the Cardinals would have hoped.

Jacoby Brissett will continue to lead the Cardinals from the Quarter Back position, but he will be hoping the team can remain competitive enough to be able to lean on the run game. The Offensive Line have opened up some decent holes up front and the Cardinals will take encouragement from the way the Lions have performed at the Line of Scrimmage on this side of the ball.

Moving the ball on the ground and keeping the team in front of the chains will cool down the Detroit pass rush, but any time the Cardinals are in third and long spots, the Lions will be looking to get after Jacoby Brissett.

Arizona fans will note that there is room for improvement in the passing game in general, but they will be aided by the performances produced by the Detroit Secondary. If they are in third and manageable spots on the field, Jacoby Brissett will be able to make some big throws down the field, although the key is managing the mistakes and avoiding turnovers that may allow the Detroit Lions to build up some real momentum.

The Lions should have consistent success on the Offensive side of the ball, although they are going to be looking for a bit more balance.

This will begin with the Offensive Line being able to perform with a bit more authority at the Line of Scrimmage and try and get the run game producing at a more efficient level. Doing so will ease the pressure on Jared Goff at Quarter Back, who has been playing well, but, like any Quarter Back, does not want to be operating a one-dimensional attack.

He should get some time when he steps back to throw the ball considering the lack of a pass rush that the Cardinals have produced, and Jared Goff should be able to find some big plays down the field. Doing so with a running game to back him up is the key to any sustainable success, but in this game, Detroit should be able to score enough points to cover the handicap set.

Nothing ever comes easily when your own Defensive unit is struggling like Detroit's has been, but Arizona have lost their way a little bit since the opening week upset and that could allow the Lions to force a win by a Touchdown mark.

MY PICKS: Dallas Cowboys - 8.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet Fred (1 Unit)

Jacksonville Jaguars - 7.5 Points @ 1.91 Paddy Power (1 Unit)

Pittsburgh Steelers - 2.5 Points @ 1.91 Paddy Power (1 Unit)

Detroit Lions - 5.5 Points @ 1.95 Bet Fred (1 Unit)

Week 4: 4-4, - 0.52 Units (8 Units Staked, - 6.50% Yield)

Week 3: 2-5, - 3.09 Units (7 Units Staked, - 44.14% Yield)

Week 2: 3-4, - 1.31 Units (7 Units Staked, - 18.71% Yield)

Week 1: 2-4-1, - 2.23 Units (7 Units Staked, - 31.86% Yield)

World Grand Prix Darts Day 7 Pick 2026- Final (Sunday 4th October)

2026-10-04T14:08:49.901+01:00

The next Ranking Title will be handed out on Sunday evening when the World Grand Prix comes to a close and the big events will continue through to the World Championships.

Over the next two weeks, the final two European Tour events are played before the European Championship, while the lineup for the Players Championship Finals will also be put together by the end of the month. Most of the top names will be thinking about those two Finals events rather than the European Tour events in Switzerland and the Netherlands and the floor tournaments to be completed, but there is also an opportunity to build up some momentum, especially if some of those top names have not had the same competitive action as others.

First things first, the World Grand Prix Final looks a very good one and the selection to complete this tournament can be found below.

Luke Humphries to win & over 7.5 180s v Gerwyn Price: Both of these players produced strong form in the Semi Final win over dangerous opponents and there should be a real confidence behind both Luke Humphries and Gerwyn Price seeing as both are former Winners of the World Grand Prix.

The expectation is that this best of eleven Set format is going to be a battle, but Luke Humphries may be peaking at the right time having produced his best performance of the week to see off James Wade.

It was the heavy dose of maximum hitting that turned the Semi Final in his favour and that may be the case in the Final.

Of course you know Gerwyn Price is going to produce plenty of power scoring of his own and his Doubling was the key to seeing off Nathan Aspinall.

When at his best, Price can be very difficult to stop, but the longer format can be something of an issue for him in the last couple of years and you do wonder if he has the stamina to last as long as may be needed.

Gerwyn Price will push and make things awkward, but Luke Humphries has won the last couple of meetings against The Ice Man and can put together at least eight maximums to swing the momentum behind him in earning this Ranking Title.

MY PICKS: Luke Humphries to Win & Over 7.5 180s @ 2.20 Bet365 (1 Unit)

World Grand Prix Update: 9-5, + 4.18 Units (14 Units Staked, + 29.86% Yield)

NFL Week 4 Picks 2026 (Thursday 1st October-Monday 5th October)

2026-10-04T13:54:35.247+01:00

It has been one of those weeks where getting everything in order has been just beyond my capabilities, while another busy month is in the offing.

However, the thread for the Week 5 NFL Picks will have more reasoning written down than this Week 4, although the selections from the Sunday and Monday games can be seen below.

MY PICKS: Houston Texans - 2.5 Points @ 1.83 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Los Angeles Rams - 3.5 Points @ 1.91 William Hill (1 Unit)

Chicago Bears - 3.5 Points @ 1.95 Bet Fred (1 Unit)

Buffalo Bills - 6.5 Points @ 1.86 Bet Fred (1 Unit)

Green Bay Packers - 2.5 Points @ 1.76 Bet Fred (1 Unit)

Minnesota Vikings - 9.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

San Francisco 49ers - 2.5 Points @ 1.86 Bet Fred (1 Unit)

Kansas City Chiefs - 4.5 Points @ 1.91 William Hill (1 Unit)

Week 3: 2-5, - 3.09 Units (7 Units Staked, - 44.14% Yield)

Week 2: 3-4, - 1.31 Units (7 Units Staked, - 18.71% Yield)

Week 1: 2-4-1, - 2.23 Units (7 Units Staked, - 31.86% Yield)

World Grand Prix Darts Day 6 Picks 2026 (Saturday 3rd October)

2026-10-03T16:39:29.901+01:00

Fans who have bought tickets for the World Grand Prix Semi Final session will certainly be happy with the final four lineup, even without Luke Littler being involved after his early exit.

Nathan Aspinall and James Wade impressed more than Gerwyn Price and Luke Humphries in the Quarter Final matches played on Friday, but Saturday is a new day and the format moves from a best of five to a best of nine Set one.

This does give players more time to recover, but we have seen how quickly matches can get away if the Doubling is not right and Price and Humphries will need to improve if they are going to get through the matches to come.

All four of the players will be confident enough as they remain active in this Ranking tournament, but the importance of matches increases the pressure and both Semi Finals look like they could be very closely contested.

Nathan Aspinall v Gerwyn Price: You never want to rule out someone with the qualities of Gerwyn Price and the layers obviously feel the same with the Welshman down as the favourite.

However, no one has been performing at the level of Nathan Aspinall this past few days and he will be massively motivated by being set as the underdog in this Semi Final.

The Quarter Final performance is about as good as anything anyone has produced in the World Grand Prix and it is almost impossible to think Nathan Aspinall can reproduce that again and especially not in the longer format of this Semi Final. Regardless, he will feel he can put together enough bursts to keep on top of Gerwyn Price and especially if the favourite is as slow getting out of the starting gate as he was in the win over Jonny Clayton.

Unlike The Ferret, Nathan Aspinall has been peppering the treble 20 all week and that power scoring coupled with his own Doubling gives him the edge.

At the prices on offer, Nathan Aspinall has to be the selection even if we all know what Gerwyn Price is capable of doing once he gets into a roll.

Luke Humphries to win & most 180s v James Wade: It has been a really strong year from James Wade and he has clearly been motivated by what he felt was a snub when it came to the Premier League Darts selection.

Winning a World Ranking event while holding a top six Ranking mark will make it very difficult to ignore him next year, but James Wade has a tough test in front of him in the Semi Final.

He has not been completely happy with his form over the past week, but Wade is playing well enough to win this match if Luke Humphries cannot find some consistency.

You do have to wonder if Humphries is holding something in reserve.

The World Number 2 has done what is needed to beat Dave Chisnall and Niels Zonneveld and perhaps felt comfortable enough, but Luke Humphries was much better in the win over Jermaine Wattimena. It can be argued that the last of those names was the most dangerous, or at least as far as Humphries may have been concerned, and that may have influenced the kind of performances he has produced in his run to the Semi Final.

Maximum hitting has not been as frequent as may have been expected, but Luke Humphries is very capable of finding his groove in the treble 20 bed and he can complete the Match Double on the way through to the Final.

MY PICKS: Nathan Aspinall @ 2.50 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Luke Humphries to Win & Most 180s @ 2.40 Bet365 (1 Unit)

World Grand Prix Update: 8-4, + 3.78 Units (12 Units Staked, + 31.50% Yield)

Boxing Picks 2026- Ben Whittaker vs Conor Wallace (Saturday 3rd October)

2026-10-03T14:35:06.569+01:00

The first Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua presser lacked a bit of life, but that fight is still over a couple of months away from taking place in Cardiff and there may be something of an early lull before peaking in intensity as we get closer and closer to the first bell.

Things will be put on the back-burner for a while and instead the focus in the weeks ahead is on a number of very good looking nights that have been arranged.

That includes seeing the rematch between Daniel Dubois and Fabio Wardley, while we also see the return of Canelo and another good looking rematch when Joshua Buatsi faces Willy Hutchinson.

All of these cards are set for the next month of action, and there are other main events not mentioned that look like they could determine the top of respective Divisions. More announcements could be made for beyond the middle of November, but Boxing fans are in for a good run on both sides of the Atlantic.

Ben Whittaker vs Conor Wallace

Take away the two full Champions and throw in Artur Beterbiev and Callum Smith and the rest of the Light Heavyweight Division looks pretty wide open.

It is perhaps the real reason that Ben Whittaker and Conor Wallace are in a position to be fighting for the Number 1 contender spot in the IBF World Rankings on Saturday evening.

Both are pretty highly Ranked across the four main Boxing organisations, although you could argue that neither Ben Whittaker nor Conor Wallace has a resume worthy of that kind of spot.

Ben Whittaker's almost year with Matchroom has been a bit of a disappointment, although he will let everyone know that the quality of opponent has looked poorer than it is thanks to his own improvements. None of the three opponents have heard the bell for the Third Round, and the records they brought to the ring looked better on paper than with any scrutiny made of how those records had been put together.

This should be a tougher test against an Australian who was born in Northern Ireland, but Conor Wallace is not only stepping out of his comfort zone by travelling for the fight, but also moving up a number of levels.

You can expect some durability from the B side fighter, but Ben Whittaker should be far too sharp and too quick for what looks a limited Wallace and he can finish this off before halfway and can then call out the winner of Dmitry Bivol vs Callum Smith, which is rumoured to take place before the end of the year.

There should be a couple of Stoppages on the undercard as well on this night in Birmingham.

Bilal Fawaz is trying to make up for lost time and will be defending his British Light Middleweight Title for the third time before moving onto the world stage.

He is responsible for slowing the momentum of Junaid Bostan and then earned a tough Decision against Ishmael Davis before being given an 'easier' opponent for his second defence of this British Title. This is a step up from last time, but Fawaz has the skills to put it on Eithan James and eventually wear down an opponent whose both previous defeats have been before the final bell has been heard.

Sean Bruce will be defending his British Flyweight Title for the first time, but all of the momentum is with Hamza Uddin and the unbeaten 23 year old can continue marching forward.

Fans want to see excitement from fighters and the promoters also have an easier job if someone is willing to move through the gears to end contests, which is something Hamza Uddin has clearly taken on board.

The last three wins have all been inside the distance and Hamza Uddin can secure another against a Champion who has been down multiple times in his career.

MY PICKS: Ben Whittaker to Win Between 1-6 @ 2.50 Sky Bet (2 Units)

Bilal Fawaz to Win by KO/TKO/Disqualification @ 1.72 Sky Bet (2 Units)

Hamza Uddin to Win by KO/TKO/Disqualification @ 1.66 Sky Bet (2 Units)

Boxing 2026: 28-44, - 8.89 Units (112 Units Staked, - 7.94% Yield)

College Football Week 5 Picks 2026 (Saturday 3rd October)

2026-10-03T12:36:59.169+01:00

The next month is going to be featuring some very big games or that is at least the way it looks after the first third of the season is in the books.

Teams cannot afford to overlook those they are facing before the pivotal games are played and that means a number of unbeaten teams will be putting their record on the line in Week 5 of the College Football season.

Conference games that will begin to separate the contenders and the pretenders are on the schedule for this week and there are six selections from the games to be played.

Alabama Crimson Tide @ Mississippi State Bulldogs Pick: Any team that has a 4-0 record through the opening weeks of the season has to be respected, but the Mississippi State Bulldogs (4-0) will have picked up further confidence from having won two SEC games already this season. One of those was on the road, although beating both the South Carolina Gamecocks and Missouri Tigers will be considered victories over teams that are expected to finish in the bottom half of the Conference.

That is not the case in Week 5 when the Bulldogs host the Alabama Crimson Tide (4-0) who have also produced a 2-0 record in SEC play and who have to be careful about overlooking this opponent to the big game with the Georgia Bulldogs in Week 6.

The Crimson Tide have looked pretty good on both sides of the ball, although the win over South Carolina last week feels like the most complete performance after Alabama started very quickly. Other wins this season have been behind strong second half performances and the Crimson Tide will recognise the importance of beginning this game in the right manner to try and dampen a confident home team and what is expected to be an enthusiastic crowd.

Keelon Russell is very much growing into his role as the starting Quarter Back for Alabama, but Russell is also going to appreciate the strong balance that has been provided for him on this side of the ball.

It is important for the Crimson Tide's Offensive Line to try and establish the run and make sure the Quarter Back is in third and manageable spots on the field.

They will have noted how well the Bulldogs Defensive Line has played early this season and that was clear to see in the way Mississippi State were able to slow down the Gamecocks in that win on the road. It was more of the same when the Bulldogs showed their strength at the Line of Scrimmage in the win over Missouri, although Mississippi State fans will be well aware that the Alabama Offensive Line is the toughest they would have faced so far this season.

However, there is definitely reason to believe the Bulldogs can at least limit the Crimson Tide ability on the ground and that will shift some pressure on Keelon Russell, even if the young Quarter Back has been playing with confidence of late.

Being placed in third and long spots will mean Keelon Russell is going to be feel the heat from the Bulldogs pass rush, although there are holes in this Secondary that can be exploited. Keelon Russell has been efficient when he has dropped back to pass and that will be important in his bid to avoid mistakes that may hand the momentum and impetus to the unbeaten hosts.

Mississippi State will be encouraged by the success South Carolina had when running the ball against Alabama last week, but the Line of Scrimmage on this side of the ball is going to be another battle.

Despite allowing 5.4 yards per carry in the win over South Carolina, Alabama have been pretty stout on the Defensive Line and they will be looking to find a way to slow down what has been a productive Bulldogs rushing attack in 2026. This could also come down to how much Alabama respect Kamario Taylor at Quarter Back for the Bulldogs, although they should respect a player that continues to grow very quickly in the position.

Kamario Taylor will feel he can make some plays against this Crimson Tide Secondary, but playing out of third and manageable is the key with the Alabama Defensive Backs making big plays to turn the ball over.

Turnovers feel like they could be the big factor in the outcome of this SEC game, while the Mississippi State Bulldogs are still in 'prove it' mode, despite the 4-0 start to the season.

Head Coach Jeff Lebby is already on course to help the Bulldogs finish with the first winning season since 2022, while an improvement has been shown in each year under his guidance. However, the Alabama Crimson Tide have shown they have a Defensive unit capable of backing up an improving Offense and ultimately that may see them prevail and cover in a difficult environment on the road.

Michigan Wolverines @ Minnesota Golden Gophers Pick: A loss as time expired will have really hurt, but the Michigan Wolverines (3-1) know there is a lot of Football to be played between now and the College Football Playoff. The walk off loss to the Iowa Hawkeyes has dropped the Wolverines to 0-1 within the Big Ten, but the schedule will offer them plenty of opportunity to earn redemption and that has to begin in Week 5.

As heartbreaking as the defeat will have been for the Wolverines to absorb, the Minnesota Golden Gophers (3-1) were edging to a win over the Washington Huskies on the road to improve to 1-0 in the Big Ten on the same day.

This will have given the Golden Gophers a boost to take into this big home game, but they are still a significant underdog and that is largely down to having an inconsistent Offensive unit going up against a very tough Michigan Defense.

Earlier this season, the Golden Gophers were blown out by the Mississippi State Bulldogs and they are going to have a tough day in the office when it comes to moving the ball with any consistency in this one. The problems begin at the Line of Scrimmage with Minnesota's Offensive Line only helping the team pick up 4 yards per carry on the season and they are not expected to have a lot of room against the Wolverines Defensive Line that has allowed an average of 87 yards per game.

Everything good for the Wolverines begins with the ability to shut down the run and that allows them to unleash what has been a productive pass rush, which in turn has helped the Secondary. No team has managed to score more than 20 points against the Wolverines, but that number has only been reached by the Iowa Hawkeyes with a late play pushing them past the 17 points Michigan had allowed as a season-high in the previous week.

Drake Lindsey has begun the season with positive numbers for the Golden Gophers at Quarter Back, but he will be the first to admit that this is a big challenge coming up and the Wolverines may give themselves a big advantage by continuing to play at their current level on this side of the ball.

Doing so will help an improving Bryce Underwood and Michigan Offensive unit and that may see the road team do enough to win and cover this spread set.

Like the Golden Gophers, the Michigan Wolverines may not be that convinced that they are going to get a lot of joy when it comes to pounding the rock against the opponent's Defensive Line. And like the home team, that will mean there is more pressure on the Quarter Back to make the plays needed to keep the chains moving, although performances in the last two games suggest Bryce Underwood is getting comfortable with what is being asked of him.

The key will be the Offensive Line giving Underwood enough time to make his reads down the field, while the Quarter Back has been a bit more composed in the last couple of games that may give the Michigan Wolverines the confidence to get the job done and by at least a Touchdown lead.

Nothing is ever easy against a PJ Fleck Coached team, but the Wolverines may be able to largely close down what the Minnesota Golden Gophers want to do Offensively and that may open the door for Bryce Underwood and Michigan to bounce back in the best way possible after the Week 4 defeat.

Florida Gators @ Missouri Tigers Pick: Five SEC teams have opened the season with a 4-0 record and it will be something of a surprise that the Florida Gators (4-0) are one of those teams.

One winning season in the last five played has seen the Gators drop away from the top of the SEC, but they have a new Head Coach in place now and Jon Sumrall arrives having put four winning seasons together at the Troy Trojans and Tulane Green Wave. Stepping up into the SEC was expected to be another challenge for the Head Coach, but Florida have won both Conference games played, including blowing out the Mississippi Rebels last time out.

They have also scored 44 points in a row win at the Auburn Tigers and so Florida will be travelling with real confidence.

Next up is a trip to the Missouri Tigers (3-1) who were beaten by the Mississippi State Bulldogs to end the unbeaten start to the season and also drop them to 0-1 in the SEC.

Both of these teams were expected to be bottom half finishers in the SEC in the preseason expectations, but there is a feeling growing around the Florida Gators that they have been underestimated.

It is very important for the Tigers Defensive Line to show much more composure in the tackles when they are facing the Gators having struggled to slow the Bulldogs last week. This time they are facing a Florida Offensive Line that have opened up big holes for Running Back Jadan Baugh and failure to win at the Line of Scrimmage or preventing yards after contact to be racked up is going to put Missouri in a very tough spot in this game.

There is power in the Florida Offensive Line, but the balance on this side of the ball has been a key part of the 4-0 start to the season.

Quarter Back Aaron Philo may not be putting up gaudy numbers, but he knows relying on the Offensive Line and then producing efficiently will put the Gators in a very good position to win games and that is what he has been doing. In the two SEC games played, Aaron Philo has 400 yards with 2 Touchdowns and an Interception, while completing over 68% of his passes to help keep the chains moving when needed.

The Secondary he will be facing in Week 5 is one that can be exploited if the Gators are running the ball as they have been and it could make for another tough day for Missouri and one in which they need their own Offensive playmakers to step up.

Austin Simmons is the Missouri Quarter Back and has experience playing with the Mississippi Rebels before being beaten out for the starting role there and transferring to Missouri. There has been nothing wrong with his performances for the Tigers having thrown 11 Touchdown passes without an Interception, but Simmons will be well aware that this Florida team may be the toughest he has faced in 2026 and he may have to perform without a consistent rushing attack.

It is one thing operating in front of the chains, but Austin Simmons may have to allow some passing routes to develop a little longer than usual and that may see him put under pressure by what has been a strong Florida pass rush.

In saying that, Simmons will note that the Gators Secondary is still a work in progress and he should give the Tigers opportunities to score points, although avoiding becoming one-dimensional with the play-calling is going to be key when the Tigers have the ball. This is going to be a big game for the Quarter Back who struggled in a performance against the Kentucky Wildcats last year and the Gators will believe they are stronger than the Mississippi State Bulldogs against whom Austin Simmons played pretty well last week.

The Florida Secondary have shown they can step in front of throws and turn the ball over and that may end up being the key to the outcome of this Week 5 SEC game.

Missouri will make this tough, but a turnover may be enough to give the Gators an extra possession or two and that may end up being a key reason that Florida are not only able to improve to 5-0, but to do that behind a cover as the road favourite.

MY PICKS: Alabama Crimson Tide - 5.5 Points @ 1.95 Bet Fred (1 Unit)

Michigan Wolverines - 5.5 Points @ 1.86 Bet Fred (1 Unit)

Florida Gators - 5.5 Points @ 1.95 Bet Fred (1 Unit)

Iowa State Cyclones - 3.5 Points @ 2.00 William Hill (1 Unit)

Nebraska Cornhuskers - 14.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet Fred (1 Unit)

Illinois Fighting Illini - 9.5 Points @ 1.83 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Week 4: 4-3, + 0.49 Units (7 Units Staked, + 7% Yield)

Week 3: 1-4, - 3.17 Units (5 Units Staked, - 63.40% Yield)

Week 2: 2-3, - 1.28 Units (5 Units Staked, - 25.60% Yield)

Week 0: 0-3, - 3 Units (3 Units Staked, - 100% Yield)

World Grand Prix Darts Day 5 Picks 2026 (Friday 2nd October)

2026-10-02T14:19:17.417+01:00

The last eight remain at the World Grand Prix and there are some top matches to look forward to as we move into the Quarter Final Round of this last World Ranking event.

Picking up big titles is a surefire way of bringing some momentum into the World Championships, which begin in a little over two months from now.

Of course that means having to get through a number of testing weeks, but the relatively early losses for Luke Littler at the last two Ranking events can only give the rest of the field real hope of becoming the first World Champion of the 2027 calendar year.

The tournament does conclude in early January, but the World Championship has always felt like the end of the season rather than opening up a new one and focus will soon turn to that event.

For now, the players remaining in this tournament can only be thinking about picking up a big title on Sunday and that means needing to play some top darts over this weekend.

The averages produced by some of those remaining will have impressed, but this format is all about making sure you hut the Doubles at the right time and it is those Checkout numbers that will mean most.

Nathan Aspinall to win & over 3.5 180s v Ryan Joyce: Two years ago, Ryan Joyce came through a tough match at the World Grand Prix against Nathan Aspinall and he is arguably more dangerous now.

There can be nothing but respect for Relentless, especially in this format, and Nathan Aspinall will know that he can ill afford a poor day at the Doubles.

However, The Asp can take a lot of confidence from the way he has been performing through the opening two matches at the 2026 World Grand Prix and the removal of Luke Littler from his section of the draw is something that Aspinall will want to exploit.

Big scoring saw him overwhelm Luke Woodhouse in the Second Round and that is going to be key for Nathan Aspinall again, although Ryan Joyce is not going to make anything easy.

You have to expect Joyce to get away almost immediately in every Leg, which builds pressure, while his finishing is as good as almost anyone on the Tour. The format does prevent players from overwhelming him with their scoring power, at least right out of the gate, and that makes Ryan Joyce tough to beat, but Nathan Aspinall has shown enough this week to believe he can turn the tables on that 2024 defeat and perhaps come through a decider himself.

Gerwyn Price-Jonny Clayton over 7.5 180s & 1+ 100+ checkout: These two good friends will put that to one side as they bid to make it through to the Semi Final at the World Grand Prix.

Both have come through a difficult moment or two, but also continue to play at a high level and that makes it tough to separate Gerwyn Price and Jonny Clayton.

You have to expect a few maximums will be shared out in a match that is unlikely to be won easily by either, although Price deserves to be favourite having won the 'bigger' matches through the course of 2026.

Jonny Clayton had been on a really poor run against his compatriot and so any wins he is producing over Gerwyn Price will have given him a boost, but the latter has just edged the consistency.

A Leg or two could be turned by a big Checkout, which may turn the momentum of the match and this Match Double looks the way to go in this last eight clash.

Luke Humphries to win & over 2.5 180s & 1+ 100+ checkout v Niels Zonneveld: A strong run at Players Championship 30 has carried over into the World Grand Prix and the two wins produced by Niels Zonneveld will have given him a lot of cofidence.

It may be an unfamiliar format, but Zonneveld has played with a lot of belief and two solid victories means he will need to be respected.

However, Luke Humphries looked a different player in the Second Round compared with the one that came through the First and he has thrived at the World Grand Prix over the last three years.

Luke Humphries is capable of finding a big Checkout or two to keep the pressure on the Dutchman and he did throw three maximums in the fourteen Legs played in the Second Round. This is not quite to the usual standard, but Humphries is capable of at least reaching that mark again in a win and he can add another 100+ Checkout to the two already produced at the 2026 World Grand Prix.

MY PICKS: Nathan Aspinall to Win & Over 3.5 180s @ 2.05 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Gerwyn Price-Jonny Clayton Over 7.5 180s & 1+ 100+ Checkout @ 2.05 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Luke Humphries to Win & Over 2.5 180s & 1+ 100+ Checkout @ 2.10 Bet365 (1 Unit)

World Grand Prix Update: 6-3, + 2.68 Units (9 Units Staked, + 29.78% Yield)

World Grand Prix Darts Day 4 Picks 2026 (Thursday 1st October)

2026-10-01T18:31:58.291+01:00

The World Grand Prix Darts continue with the conclusion of the Second Round matches on Thursday and that does mean there are some good looking matches to be played.

Picks from two of the four Second Round matches can be read below.

Luke Humphries - 1.5 sets v Jermaine Wattimena: An admittance that the exit of Luke Littler has heaped more pressure on his shoulders is a concern for Luke Humphries fans.

However, getting through the First Round will have helped and Luke Humphries has enjoyed playing at the World Grand Prix in recent years.

He will have to be a lot better than the First Round if he is going to move through the Rounds to another Final, but Luke Humphries should have settled down by the time Thursday rolls around.

Jermaine Wattimena was not really pushed by Chris Dobey, but a lack of experience of the format has to be an issue.

Two solid runs at the Players Championship 29 and 30 events will have given Jermaine Wattimena a lot of confidence, but Luke Humphries showed he can handle what the Dutchman can throw at him at the World Series of Darts Finals. His Doubling will need to be better than in the First Round, but Humphries is capable and may lift his level against a dangerous opponent, which can lead to a win without getting into a deciding Set.

Gian van Veen - 1.5 sets v Ryan Searle: The Doubling power of Gian van Veen makes him a real threat at the World Grand Prix and that may be enough to see off Heavy Metal in a good looking Second Round match.

Gian van Veen backs up his finishing, and perhaps starting, with some heavy scoring as well and he has produced some very good looking numbers at the World Grand Prix in previous tournaments.

He did not need to be as impressive in the First Round here after Dirk van Duijvenbode began far too slowly, but Gian van Veen was solid enough and it may be enough to edge out Ryan Searle in this Set format.

Ryan Searle is perhaps fortunate to have gotten through the opening Round and so will need to be a lot better, but his recent record in the World Grand Prix has been pretty disappointing.

It is tough to see that change for Ryan Searle against a quality operator like Gian van Veen and that may end up showing up on the final scoreboard.

MY PICKS: Luke Humphries - 1.5 Sets @ 1.66 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Gian van Veen - 1.5 Sets @ 2.00 Bet365 (1 Unit)

World Grand Prix Update: 5-2, + 3.02 Units (7 Units Staked, + 43.14% Yield)

World Grand Prix Darts Day 3 Picks 2026 (Wednesday 30th September)

2026-09-30T17:45:28.448+01:00

The World Grand Prix moves into the Second Round and that means the format moves into a best of five Sets situation compared with the best of three opening Round matches.

It should give players a bit more time to warm into a match, but the Double In, Double Out format continues to throw up a number of surprises and that could be the case over the next few days.

Four matches are scheduled for Day 3 and the remaining Second Round matches will be completed on Thursday as all of the players left will be looking to take advantage of the exit of Luke Littler, even if some like Luke Humphries have been speaking about the extra pressure that can be placed on their shoulders.

Despite that, players have to recognise the opportunity that has come up for them with Littler being dumped out and winning a big Ranking event a couple of months before the World Championships begin can only be a positive.

Danny Noppert to win & over 1.5 180s v Ryan Joyce: All respect has to be given to Ryan Joyce and his level of performances on the Tour over the course of the season, while he is also someone who should be very familiar with the format.

The ability to hit Doubles always makes Ryan Joyce tough to beat and so the Double In, Double Out format should suit him.

It really helps that he comes from a part of England where the format is used much more than in other places and Ryan Joyce upset Michael van Gerwen in the First Round to underline how dangerous he can be.

The format should mean he is not overpowered on the scoring as can sometimes be the case, but Danny Noppert reached the Semi Final at the World Grand Prix last year and has a solid win under his belt.

If he had blown the second Set in the manner he did a month ago, Danny Noppert may no thave been able to rally as he did in the decider. He had looked on course to breeze past Niko Springer when winning the opening five Legs, but dropped that second Set before recovering mentally and Danny Noppert can use that to help him through with a couple more maximums added to his total at the tournament.

Nathan Aspinall to win & over 2.5 180s v Luke Woodhouse: Neither Luke Littler nor Luke Woodhouse were at their best in the First Round, but that means the latter deserves so much more credit for digging in and getting the job done.

He may have expected a lot more from Littler, which dragged his own level down, but Luke Woodhouse still had to find some big darts at key times and did come from a Set down in the race to two in order to beat the World Number 1.

Backing it up is the next challenge for Luke Woodhouse, who has enjoyed a strong year on the Tour, but he will need to be better than he was on Monday if he is going to beat Nathan Aspinall.

It looked for all of the world that Aspinall was going out in the First Round after dropping the opening Set and falling 0-2 behind in Legs in the second. Not only did he rally to force a decider, but Nathan Aspinall needed to break throw to stay in the tournament in the final Leg and this will have given him confidence considering the level that was being produced by Kevin Doets.

Everything is point to a keenly contested Second Round match, but the emotions invested by Luke Woodhouse to beat Luke Littler could have drained some of the energy.

Nathan Aspinall has not hit the heights as consistently as Luke Woodhouse this season, but the big match experience is with the former and he continues to nail plenty of maximums and those will be needed in a winning effort in this Second Round contest.

MY PICKS: Danny Noppert to Win & Over 1.5 180s @ 1.72 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Nathan Aspinall to Win & Over 2.5 180s @ 1.95 Bet365 (1 Unit)

World Grand Prix Update: 4-1, + 3.07 Units (5 Units Staked, + 61.40% Yield)

World Grand Prix Darts Day 2 Picks 2026 (Tuesday 29th September)

2026-09-29T15:18:12.190+01:00

The upset suffered by Luke Littler may just have given the rest of the field the confidence to believe that the big Ranking tournaments may not be dominated by the World Number 1 as so many have come to expect.

Luke Littler will go into most tournaments as the strong favourite even after losing to Luke Woodhouse in the First Round at this event, but breaking the aura is important for the players who take on the World Number 1.

It has certainly been an upset that has opened up this event and everyone remaining in the draw is going to be heading to the stage with that much more confidence. The top player is out, but Michael van Gerwen is another who has fallen at the first hurdle and that may put more pressure on those heading out on Day 2 knowing the kind of opportunity that may have come up.

One of those is the World Number 2 Luke Humphries, who finished Runner Up here last year, but the key for the players is to remain focused on the task at hand and that is simply moving through to the Second Round.

James Wade to win & over 1.5 180s v Joe Cullen: Losing at the World Grand Prix against Joe Cullen twelve months ago could play on the James Wade mind, but the higher Ranked player has been in the much stronger form of the two players.

The format is one that can see matches run away from any player if they are not hitting the Doubles, but James Wade should have the superior confidence on the oche.

Joe Cullen has not played since losing another opening match on the European Tour earlier this month, but Rockstar is dangerous when at his best.

He does tend to be inspired when facing the stronger players on the Tour, but Cullen's form coupled with that shown by James Wade suggests revenge is more likely than repeat when these two meet in the First Round in 2026.

Gian van Veen to win & over 3.5 match 180s v Dirk van Duijvenbode: These two compatriots had a very good match at the World Series of Darts Finals last weekend and both are in the kind of form to believe this could be another high quality contest.

The edge here has to be Gian van Veen with his Doubling ability, even if there has been a suggestion from players that Doubling In is much different to Doubling Out.

Gian van Veen has lost in the opening Round in each of the last two seasons at the World Grand Prix, but it has taken huge performances from Ross Smith and Luke Littler to get the better of him.

Another is likely to be needed and Dirk van Duijvenbode has the power scoring to be a threat against anyone.

However, it is the superior Doubling that Gian van Veen produces which may end up being the difference when all is said and done and the higher Ranked Dutchman can move through to the Second Round for the first time.

MY PICKS: James Wade to Win & Over 1.5 180s @ 2.15 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Gian van Veen to Win & Over 3.5 Match 180s @ 2.20 Bet365 (1 Unit)

World Grand Prix Update: 3-0, + 2.92 Units (3 Units Staked, + 97.33% Yield)

World Grand Prix Darts Day 1 Picks 2026 (Monday 28th September)

2026-09-28T13:27:33.224+01:00

The PDC Tour is moving into the final three months of the season and that means there are a lot of big Ranking events to be played before the World Championship begins on Friday 11th December.

This is also going to be a time when those chasing spots in the Premier League will really want to impress the most, while the two year World Ranking approach used by the PDC means there can be big changes made to the positions, which could lead to more opportunities in 2027.

Most of the tournaments have the same kind of format with the length of the match the biggest difference from week to week- the floor events and opening Rounds of the European Tour events are all played in best of eleven Leg format, while there are a couple of tournaments that use Set play rather than Legs to determine winners.

With all that being said, the World Grand Prix is the standalone tournament on the calendar.

It is played in a Set format, but this is also the only tournament that has a 'Double In, Double Out' setting and that does make it very different to the other events played throughout the year.

This does give players more opportunities to try and earn the upsets, although it should also be said that Luke Humphries and Luke Littler have won the World Grand Prix in the last three seasons. The outlier in that time is Mike De Dekker, who has never really reached those heights again, but Rob Thornton and Daryl Gurney are other surprising winners of the tournaments since 2015, while Michael van Gerwen, Jonny Clayton and Gerwyn Price have all won the title pretty recently too.

Luke Littler will always be the strong favourite in any tournament he enters, while the tournament being played in the United Kingdom is another positive for him after dealing with the boo boys at the World Series of Darts Finals.

He has a pretty awkward opening draw, but not many would write off Luke Littler, even if the hopes of sweeping all of the Majors in 2026 ended with the defeat in Amsterdam last week.

You would probably be more comfortable backing Luke Humphries from the bottom half of the draw, but there is so much to like about how Ross Smith has been getting on.

A tough path has to be trodden if Smith is going all of the way, but this is a player in form having won the last Ranking event and who looks a definite contender at the World Championship with the right draw in front of him.

At the World Grand Prix, Ross Smith is expected to be tested right out of the gate, which could make it tough.

Instead there could be some value in backing James Wade for a run- he has not really enjoyed the format in recent years, but that would be ignoring the fact he has won the World Grand Prix twice before, and Wade could be tough to stop if he can earn a revenge victory over Joe Cullen who beat him in the First Round last year.

Danny Noppert to win & both over 0.5 180s v Niko Springer: The 'Double In, Double Out' format does have an impact on the maximum hitting markets, but you would still expect Danny Noppert and Niko Springer to hit one each considering their abilities around the treble 20.

All of the top players know what kind of threat Niko Springer brings to the oche and the German is someone who will step up his level against the better players he faces.

However, Springer has not really brought that form into events played over the last month and so you have to believe Danny Noppert has too much for him.

You would not really say that Noppert is in great form of his own or anything like that, but he did put a few wins together at Players Championship 29 played last week. The 6-4 loss to Luke Littler at the World Series of Darts Finals will have given the Dutchman some belief, while he had a couple of solid wins at a couple of European Tour events played earlier this month.

Danny Noppert had suffered a couple of hard luck losses at the World Grand Prix, but broke through to reach the Semi Final last year and can edge to a victory in the First Round in 2026.

Ross Smith to win & over 1.5 180s & Cameron Menzies over 0.5 180s: These two were set for a big match at the World Matchplay, but it lasted just three Legs before Cameron Menzies felt too ill to continue.

He will be hoping to challenge Ross Smith for much longer than that in the First Round at the World Grand Prix and Cameron Menzies picked up a win at Players Championship 29 to boost confidence ahead of this Ranking event.

Cameron Menzies has plenty of ability and will be dangerous, but Ross Smith should be very familiar with the format and winning the World Series of Darts Finals to add to the considerable success on the floor and on the European Tour Stage will have given Smudger a huge amount of belief.

Ross Smith has simply put in so many wins of late that the confidence will be surging and although his recent record at this event is disappointing, the favourite can add a couple of maximums to go with at least one from his opponent on the way through to the Second Round in 2026.

Wessel Nijman v Rob Cross: There is no doubt that Rob Cross has enjoyed the format at the World Grand Prix and even beat Luke Littler at the event two years ago.

Last year he overcame Wessel Nijman in a three Set battle in the First Round, but Rob Cross will know he needs to be a lot better if he is going to do the same again.

Twelve months on, Wessel Nijman is a much stronger player than he was and he has earned a bit of revenge over Rob Cross by beating him in the final of a European Tour event at the end of June.

Wessel Nijman remains the more consistent scorer, as he was in the loss to Rob Cross here last year, and he can just do enough to edge past the former World Champion and reverse the result from 2025.

MY PICKS: Danny Noppert to Win & Both Players Over 0.5 180s @ 2.10 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Ross Smith to Win & Smith Over 1.5 180s & Cameron Menzies Over 0.5 180s @ 2.10 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Wessel Nijman @ 1.72 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Darts 2026: 136-170, - 21.70 Units (305 Units Staked, - 7.11% Yield)

NFL Week 3 Picks 2026 (Thursday 24th September-Monday 28th September)

2026-09-27T00:51:23.871+01:00

Playing two games out of a seventeen game schedule is not going be a time when you can declare one team a Super Bowl contender nor another being one that is on the brink of elimination, but those starting at 0-2 will be feeling some pressure.

A team like the Miami Dolphins have very low expectations and so the record is not as important as developing young players and then looking to add important names in the next NFL Draft.

However, for others like the Los Angeles Chargers and Houston Texans, the 0-2 start is a big disappointment and there will be some pressure building on them as they have failed to meet the kind of expectations that so many had for them. The Chargers have very few excuses having lost to the Arizona Cardinals and Las Vegas Raiders and something will need to change pretty quickly for a team that plays in the same Division as the Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs.

Injuries will also dictate how fans feel about their team- the Washington Commanders losing Jayden Daniels to another serious looking injury means the 0-2 position feels that much worse.

Much like last season, injuries have dominated the NFL headlines over the last week with a number of starting Quarter Backs expected to miss time, although the defending Champions Seattle Mariners could have Sam Darnold back behind Center in Week 3 having escaped what had the potential of being a serious injury in Week 1.

The key for teams is steering clear of the injuries that can severely disrupt a season, while there have also been plenty of upsets over the first couple of weeks of the season that suggest the 2026 season could potentially play out similar to 2025.

Kansas City Chiefs @ Miami Dolphins Pick: All eyes were on Patrick Mahomes as he returned to action in Week 1 following a serious injury at the end of the 2025 season,

184 passing yards with a couple of Touchdowns and an Interception would not have impressed, but the Quarter Back led the Kansas City Chiefs (2-0) to a win and has followed up by dissecting the Indianapolis Colts to keep his team unbeaten. Patrick Mahomes threw for 382 yards in the Week 2 win over the Colts and added 3 Touchdowns without throwing an Interception and Kansas City did what they had to do to remain unbeaten and looking like one of the real contenders to bounce back and earn a Playoff spot the season after missing out completely.

An early Bye Week is coming up for the Kansas City Chiefs who have opened the 2026 season with two home wins, but now have to play back to back games on the road.

Overlooking the Miami Dolphins (0-2) after coming through an Overtime victory may be the biggest obstacle for the Kansas City Chiefs to overcome- they do have to play the surprising Las Vegas Raiders on the road in Week 4 who are a Divisional rival and one that is also sitting at 2-0. That can be a problem for teams, even this early in the season, but it feels like something drastic will have had to change for both the Chiefs and Dolphins for this to be anything other than a road win.

The layers feel the same with the Chiefs being asked to lay a lot of points on the road, but it cannot be a surprise considering Miami have lost both games by double digits and have looked every bit as bad a team as many anticipated they would be.

The Dolphins have shifted some of the big contracts, but that has meant having to deal with dead money on the salary cap and also a change in philosophy with a young group being asked to try and lift the fanbase. In reality Miami will be targeting a very high selection in the next NFL Draft and the early performances suggest they could be the prime contender to pick up the Number 1 selection.

Malik Willis has been signed to play Quarter Back, but the Offensive Line have really had a hard time making any plays for Willis or for Running Back De'Von Achane and that has made it very tough for the Dolphins all around. Running the ball would have been the main ambition for the Dolphins as they look to make use of the best Offensive player left on the roster, but the Offensive Line have not had much success early and now face a Chiefs Defensive Line that have opened 2026 looking strong up front.

Playing from behind the chains has made things tough for Malik Willis, but it also should be said that he does not have the best supporting cast in the skill positions. This has perhaps been part of the reason Willis has been holding onto the ball longer than would be expected and that has led to the Sacks piling up and the Miami Dolphins showing very little consistency when it comes to moving the chains.

The heat of South Florida can be a leveller and that may help the Dolphins if the pass rush is slowed by increasing fatigue, but it is perhaps asking a lot of this Miami team to pile up enough points to earn the upset, despite the number of those already seen in the NFL.

It will be that much tougher to score enough points if the Kansas City Chiefs pick up from where they left off in Week 2 as a balanced Offensive unit takes to the field.

Kenneth Walker III earned the Super Bowl MVP before leaving Seattle to sign with the Chiefs and he has been part of a team that have been rushing for 5.6 yards per carry early in the season. Two games is a small sample, but the Chiefs are making use of having a Running Back that teams will respect and especially one playing behind a Quarter Back like Patrick Mahomes.

The Quarter Back is capable of moving the ball with his legs too and he will be pretty happy with the early season form shown by the Offensive Line when it comes to pass protection as well as run blocking. Patrick Mahomes is facing a Miami team that have struggled to get any pressure up front, which has exposed the inexperienced Secondary, and you have to believe Kansas City will be able to do what they like when they do have the ball.

The Chiefs beat Miami twice in the 2023 season, including in the Playoffs, while they also won on their last trip to Miami back in December 2020.

Laying this kind of number with a road favourite is never a great position to be in, but Miami could be a team that struggles to win more than once this season and the Kansas City Chiefs have the momentum that could see them pull clear in the second half.

Carolina Panthers @ Cleveland Browns Pick: Both of these teams enter this non-Conference game in Week 3 with the same 1-1 record having bounced back from Week 1 losses.

The Carolina Panthers (1-1) really impressed by going into Atlanta and crushing the NFC South rivals, while the Cleveland Browns (1-1) upset the odds as a big underdog when beating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on the road. These wins are impressive considering the way the Panthers and Browns were beaten in Week 1 and Cleveland will be looking to build on the success in the home opener.

That brings motivation, but the Browns have to make sure they are focused and not thinking to the Week 4 game against AFC North rivals Pittsburgh Steelers, which is set to be played on Thursday Night Football.

Deshaun Watson remains the starter for the Cleveland Browns, but the Quarter Back will be aware that there are plenty of critics ready to call for him to be removed as soon as he hits a rough patch. In the win over the Buccaneers, Watson had almost 240 passing yards to go with the 2 Touchdowns thrown, while avoiding an Interception is a huge positive for the Quarter Back and the Cleveland Browns.

He will be confident heading into the first home game of the 2026 season, but Deshaun Watson will be keen to see the Offensive Line pick up their play and start opening up significant running lanes to keep him in positive field position. An injury on the Line does not help, but Cleveland are facing a Panthers Defensive Line that had been gashed in Week 1 and that will offer them some encouragement.

It will help Deshaun Watson, who is going to be facing a Carolina Secondary that have performed pretty well through the opening two weeks.

They have been helped by the pass rush pressure that the Panthers have been able to generate and the Cleveland Offensive Line have struggled when it comes to giving Watson the time he may need at the Quarter Back position. This is going to be important for the Panthers as they bid to get the ball in the hands of Bryce Young and an Offensive unit that has impressed through the opening two games, even if the record says those games have been split.

Balance is the key for the Carolina Panthers and they have found that Offensively with the team able to run the ball as well as Bryce Young has been able to throw the ball.

The Carolina Offensive Line will believe they can impose themselves on this Browns Defensive Line and keeping the Quarter Back in third and manageable spots will give the Panthers the edge. It will mean slowing down any pass rush that the Cleveland Browns can generate and Bryce Young has shown that he has grown into the system with his own performance in the opening two games having helped the Panthers into the Playoffs last season.

Cleveland could be without a couple of key Secondary performers if they do not want to risk those with issues ahead of a Thursday Night Football, and that should give Bryce Young an opportunity to continue his strong start to the year.

Conditions should be comfortable for the Carolina Panthers and the added balance on the Offensive side of the ball should be the key to giving the road team the edge.

The Panthers have not always been the best on the road with Bryce Young under Center, but the win last week in Atlanta should have given them plenty of momentum and they may do enough Offensively to give Deshaun Watson and the Browns too much to do.

MY PICKS: Kansas City Chiefs - 10.5 Points @ 1.91 William Hill (1 Unit)

Carolina Panthers - 2 Points @ 1.85 Coral (1 Unit)

Houston Texans - 1.5 Points @ 1.91 William Hill (1 Unit)

Buffalo Bills - 7.5 Points @ 2.00 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Seattle Seahawks - 7.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

San Francisco 49ers - 8.5 Points @ 1.95 Bet Fred (1 Unit)

Philadelphia Eagles - 3.5 Points @ 2.00 Bet Fred (1 Unit)

Week 2: 3-4, - 1.31 Units (7 Units Staked, - 18.71% Yield)

Week 1: 2-4-1, - 2.23 Units (7 Units Staked, - 31.86% Yield)

Boxing Picks 2026- Johnny Fisher vs Michael Pirotton (Saturday 26th September)

2026-09-26T13:02:35.755+01:00

After the back and forth over a number of weeks and months, an announcement was made that Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua would finally be meeting in the ring in Cardiff on December 11th.

However, just like the journey to get the two best British Heavyweights of their generation signed to fight has had many twists and turns, yet another one may put a kibosh on everything.

In the immediate aftermath of the announcement, Eddie Hearn made it pretty clear that the 'collaboration' with Dana White was against what was written in the Anthony Joshua contract and it was a situation that had to be cleared up.

Reports leading into the weekend suggest the main event is still very much in doubt with Hearn and Joshua digging in to have Dana White's association removed from the event, at least as far as the main event is concerned.

With Zuffa Boxing having an event in London this weekend, Dana White is likely going to be asked by the media to clear things up, but something is going to have to give and even now there is a serious doubt that the long awaited Fury vs AJ fight goes ahead.

It has been another busy month for Boxing fans with some big nights in the books, but there are still plenty of good looking events coming up between now and the conclusion of the calendar year.

This weekend is perhaps not the most appealing to the casual fan, but a couple of solid cards in the United Kingdom will be followed by the latest offering from Japan on Sunday.

Over the last couple of years, those events held in Japan have featured some very strong fighters in the lower weight classes, headed up by Naoya Inoue.

It is brother Takuma defending his World Titles this weekend when facing Tenshin Nasukawa for a second time after a very good main event between the two last year and it should be very interesting to see how both have developed having won big fights in the time since the first fight in November 2025.

Zuffa Boxing 11 and a solid Queensberry card make up the Saturday night action first and then we have a run of fight nights that should appeal to the hardcore and the more casual supporters over the weeks ahead.

Johnny Fisher vs Michael Pirotton

The first fight against David Allen may officially go down as a draw, but most felt Johnny Fisher had been beaten that day before an emphatic defeat to the same opponent put a ceiling on where many believe The Romford Bull can go in the sport.

He has a pretty good fanbase and is likeable, which means being marketable, and Johnny Fisher has been given a healthy paycheque to leave Matchroom and sign with Zuffa Boxing.

Much like the deal to sign Conor Benn, it feels this has been a move designed to irritate Eddie Hearn as much as it has been about building up Fisher under a new promoter.

Regardless, he fights for the second time since the Knock Out loss to David Allen and Johnny Fisher is expected to be too quick for Michael Pirotton.

The Belgian has not really stepped up his level, not even to the one that Johnny Fisher represents.

He does have a big opportunity- if Michael Pirotton can upset the home fighter, he will likely sign up with Zuffa Boxing and earn the fights that have been reported to have been readied for Johnny Fisher if he can win this one.

That should motivate Michael Pirotton, but Johnny Fisher can come out firing very early and he has the power and speed to bulldoze past this opponent before the bell for the Sixth Round is sounded.

Over in Birmingham, Liam Davies and Nathaniel Collins face off for the European Title in the Featherweight Division and it feels like something of a crossroads fight.

The winner can look to move towards a World Title opportunity, but the loser will take a significant step backwards and that raises the stakes.

Nathaniel Collins came up short when trying to win the European Title, but Liam Davies made no mistake when his own opportunity came up and these two fighters are expected to gel together very effectively.

Both have shown they can put the power punches together to finish an opponent inside the distance, but fans of Nathaniel Collins have to be a little concerned about his last two performances. He looked to be running out of steam and not having the same output as we have been accustomed to seeing and you do have to wonder if that is going to change in this bout.

If it doesn't, Nathaniel Collins will be giving Liam Davies the edge and the local fighter may not have to look too hard to find a home for his punches.

A Stoppage is possible for Liam Davies if he can build up some momentum, although Collins will make this a fun contest for however long it lasts.

On the undercard, Luke McCormack is expected to be fresh enough and fighting with the momentum to pick up the British Title in the Light-Welterweight Division.

The less experienced fighter may want to be getting out more than twice per year, but he is facing Kay Prospere who has fought once since December 2024 and can be outworked.

Credit has to be given to Prospere for only having two losses on the record and one of those was against Sandor Martin, but 'Special K' is perhaps fortunate to be in a position to fight for this vacant British Title and Luke McCormack can wear him down for a late Stoppage.

Bradley Goldsmith can also earn a Stoppage to back up the solid win over Brad Pauls and he is going to be the naturally bigger man when stepping into the ring with once beaten Amir Abubaker.

The latter has earned plenty of Knock Out wins, but was Stopped in the Light-Middleweight Division and the step up may be one too far in this contest.

Last November, Takuma Inoue beat Tenshin Nasukawa to earn the WBC World Bantamweight Title.

After both have wins over veterans with solid names, they meet again on Sunday and Inoue looks capable of making sure repeat, rather than revenge, is what is spoken about.

He does not have the power of brother Naoya, but Takuma Inoue has solid fundamentals and it would take a huge improvement from Tenshin Nasukawa to win this World Title.

The impressive win over veteran Juan Francisco Estrada will have given Tenshin a lot of confidence, but the Mexican looked a faded force before being put down for good as he retired on his stool.

This is a much tougher fight and Takuma Inoue looks capable of doing what is necessary on the cards again.

The Japanese cards always try and put a solid undercard together and it is no different this weekend.

The standout fight looks to be Sam Goodman taking on home hope Ryosuke Nishida with the Interim IBF World Title on the line.

Winning could see that fighter leap to the front of the queue to take on Naoya Inoue, who is the king in the Bantamweight Division.

Being at home gives Nishida the edge, but he is moving up in weight class, while Sam Goodman is coming back down.

Concerns about the drop in weight have been raised after Goodman's team asked for an earlier weigh in on the day of the fight as per IBF rules. However, the home fighter's representatives are demanding the usual time is kept with the feeling that it will prevent the Australian from rehydrating to make the size and strength count.

It has the makings of a fascinating fight, but Sam Goodman looks a little overpriced to find a way to win his first bout outside of Australia.

His power could be the difference on the night and Sam Goodman has enough skill about him to edge to a victory.

MY PICKS: Johnny Fisher to Win Between 1-5 @ 1.91 Coral (2 Units)

Liam Davies to Win by KO/TKO/Disqualification @ 3.10 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

Luke McCormack to Win Between 7-12 @ 3.25 Coral (1 Unit)

Bradley Goldsmith to Win Between 1-5 @ 3.25 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

Takuma Inoue to Win by Decision/Technical Decision @ 1.95 Bet Victor (2 Units)

Sam Goodman to Win @ 2.62 Bet Victor (1 Unit)

Boxing 2026: 24-42, - 13.76 Units (104 Units Staked, - 13.23% Yield)

College Football Week 4 Picks 2026 (Saturday 26th September)

2026-09-26T01:16:38.947+01:00

The expanded College Football Playoff gives a few more teams an opportunity to overcome a loss or two, but in the years ahead, the field is likely to be expanded and that should ensure strong schedules are played.

Head Coaches have made it clear that the Playoff Committee should not be punishing those who take on big opponents in non-Conference games.

Losing to the Ohio State Buckeyes hurt the Texas Longhorns last year, although they did have a couple of other losses on the record which ultimately impacted their hopes of earning a spot in the twelve team Playoff field.

This time around it is the Buckeyes who will be needing to win some big games if they are going to overcome the second half capitulation that cost them the chance to beat the Texas Longhorns again.

Conference play has gotten underway already and the final round of games in September will see plenty of those games on the schedule.

Games are of such importance in Week 4 that the President of the United States will be attending one of those- Tennessee hosting Texas has plenty of storylines attached to it already and President Trump expected to be on campus is another one.

Big games mean big headlines are ready to be made and it is also a chance to finally begin bouncing back from what has been a difficult start to the 2026 season for the College Football Picks.

Texas Longhorns @ Tennessee Volunteers Pick: Two teams who have begun the season at 3-0 will now move into SEC play and with President Trump expected to be in attendance.

It would have been a big game anyway when the Texas Longhorns (3-0) visited Knoxville to face the Tennessee Volunteers (3-0) with Arch Manning set to Quarter Back the road team on a campus where Uncle Peyton was a former College star for the Volunteers before having a very successful career in the NFL with the Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos.

Bigger expectations are on the shoulders of the Texas Longhorns when these unbeaten teams open Conference play in 2026 and the come from behind win over the Ohio State Buckeyes has already placed a strong victory in the record books. There are going to be some significant challenges to meet in the SEC and the Texas Longhorns will be well aware of the test that is facing them when playing the first road game of the season.

The Tennessee Volunteers do have a road win over the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, and they will have taken great pleasure in beating a historical rival, but two home wins against overmatched opponents won't mean a great deal before facing one of the top teams in the SEC.

Some will already be backing Arch Manning to be the top Draft Pick for the NFL next year, but the Volunteers will be going into this game with a much more inexperienced Quarter Back.

Faizon Brandon has made a positive start to his College career, and there are huge expectations as to how he will grow into a top Quarter Back at this level and then beyond, and all credit has to be given to the Volunteers for being able to recruit him. He has been able to throw 6 Touchdown passes without an Interception and Faizon Brandon has added three more Touchdowns on the ground, but facing the likes of Furman, Georgia Tech and Kennesaw State is one thing and facing the Texas Longhorns is another.

The Longhorns Defensive Line have begun the season looking pretty sharp in the trenches and they have been able to slow the run, which is always a key approach for any team at any level to adopt. Stop the run and making the Offensive game-plan one-dimensional will put the Longhorns in a position to try and bait the young Quarter Back into a mistake or two, while the Secondary have used that advantage up front to make big plays when the ball is thrown against them.

Trying to put it altogether on the road can be a test, but the Longhorns have to be confident in their ability on this side of the ball and that may give them the edge.

Stopping the run has been more of a test for the Volunteers Defensive Line and you just know the Texas plan will be to see if they can find the push at the Line of Scrimmage that will keep Arch Manning in third and manageable spots on the field. That is so important on the road, even for a Quarter Back with some serious College experience, and the Longhorns have looked strong enough to believe they can establish the run with some success.

Arch Manning should then be given the time he needs to find his playmakers and it should also mean he is not having to hold onto the ball for long enough to allow the Volunteers to ramp up the pass rush.

Pressure up front has certainly helped the Secondary early in the season, but the Volunteers have not come up against any Offensive Line like the one the Longhorns will be running out onto the field and that gives the road team any advantage.

Moving the ball up and down the field is never going to be easy on the road in the SEC environment, at least not with any consistency.

However, the Longhorns do have enough about them to win at the Line of Scrimmage on both sides of the ball and the extra experience of Arch Manning should see him outperform Faizon Brandon and lead Texas to an important road win in Knoxville.

Illinois Fighting Illini @ Ohio State Buckeyes Pick: A loss to the Ohio State Buckeyes (2-1) was part of the reason the Texas Longhorns were the 'first team out' of the College Football Playoff in 2025.

This season it is the Buckeyes who were beaten by the Longhorns by a single point and that means Ohio State are going to have to move through a difficult schedule without too many more setbacks.

They open the Big Ten portion of the schedule with a home game against the Illinois Fighting Illini (2-1) who are also playing the first Conference game of the season. Much like the Buckeyes, Illinois have beaten a couple of overmatched opponents, but been beaten by a Power 4 opponent on the road in a narrow defeat, although the defeat to the Duke Blue Devils is against a significantly weaker opponent than the Texas Longhorns.

Controlling the Line of Scrimmage is going to be important for the Fighting Illini as they bid to find a way to establish the run against the toughest Defensive Line they will have faced so far. This always the approach that Head Coach Bret Bielema wants from his team with the hope the run game can then open up the passing lanes, and he will want to see the Fighting Illini stay in front of the chains.

Katin Houser is the Illinois Quarter Back and has begun his career with the team with a solid three game run, but the challenge will be that much greater if the Buckeyes Defensive Line wins up front. Even if they don't, Houser will be throwing into a Secondary that have started this season in really strong form and this is likely going to be a tough road environment for the Illinois Fighting Illini to find consistency Offensively.

Establishing an Offensive game-plan should be all the more comfortable for the Ohio State Buckeyes who have should have a comfortable balance on this side of the ball.

The Offensive Line are still working through the early issues, but the Buckeyes should be able to have some success running the ball and that should make things pretty easy for Julian Sayin at the Quarter Back position.

Ohio State have a lot of talent in the passing game, although Head Coach Ryan Day has admitted his team need to find some consistency on this side of the ball ahead of the start of Conference play. Being at home should help and the Buckeyes look strong enough on both sides of the ball to eventually be able to overwhelm the Fighting Illini.

Last season the Buckeyes won by 18 points on the road against this opponent, but a couple of key Defensive plays could help them add another ten points to that gap and cover this line.

Oklahoma Sooners @ Georgia Bulldogs Pick: A comfortable road win saw the Georgia Bulldogs (3-0) open the SEC play in the manner they would have expected, but the Arkansas Razorbacks may be the weakest team in the Conference. There is little doubt that the Oklahoma Sooners (2-1) represent a much tougher challenge, although the Sooners will arrive in Athens with plenty to prove having already suffered a loss to the Michigan Wolverines.

The Sooners will be going into a Bye Week before facing the Texas Longhorns in Week 6 and they are going to need to find some Offense to go with the strong Defensive performances that have been produced.

All of the questions are being asked of John Mateer at Quarter Back who had entered the College ranks without the same kind of reputation that had been built up in his first full season with the Washington State Cougars. A transfer to Oklahoma saw John Mateer help the team to a spot in the College Football Playoff, although the 14 Touchdown passes and 11 Interceptions suggested the team overcame the play of the Quarter Back.

In 2026, John Mateer has thrown for 652 yards with 6 Touchdowns and 3 Interceptions and the team have scored just 24 points in the last two games.

It simply has not helped that the Sooners Offensive Line have not been able to establish the run and this looks unlikely to change in Week 4 of the season. While the Georgia Bulldogs have yet to be tested, they have been very strong on the Defensive Line and forcing John Mateer to win this game out of third and long spots for much of the game is going to be the minimum expectation from the watching home fans.

Placing any Quarter Back in third and long spots consistently will see the pressure build on them, but John Mateer will also be dealing with a solid Georgia pass rush and a Secondary that will certainly feel they can force a turnover or two. His personal level has not been good enough to give the Sooners fans a lot of hope, but Oklahoma are always dangerous and the Georgia Bulldogs cannot afford to overlook them.

The road team will certainly believe the quality on the Defensive side of the ball will allow them to remain competitive and this is the toughest team that the Georgia Bulldogs will have faced.

David Stone is a doubt for this Week 4 game and that would be a bitter blow for the Oklahoma Defensive Line, which has been stout against the run and ahead of a big test against the Bulldogs Offensive Line. He is a disruptor that can get into the backfield, but any time missed by Stone will give Georgia an opportunity to establish the run and ease the pressure on Gunner Stockton.

After throwing for almost 3000 yards in 2025, Gunner Stockton has been leading the Bulldogs up and down the field in his time on the field in 2026. He has 9 Touchdown passes and has yet to throw an Interception, but Stockton will want to be in front of the chains if only to see the Sooners pass rush slowed down.

The Sooners Secondary have opened the season in fine form, but there are some talented playmakers around Gunner Stockton and the Bulldogs will feel they can do enough to keep drives moving.

It is a big spread set for the game, but Georgia look capable of shutting down the Oklahoma Offensive unit.

This could be key to set up some short fields and Gunner Stockton has begun the season looking very efficient.

If the Sooners are without David Stone, the Defensive Line takes a serious hit and that may be enough for the Georgia Bulldogs to produce at least three Touchdowns, which may be enough to secure a cover.

Utah Utes @ Iowa State Cyclones Pick: Winning games on the road is tough no matter what, but doing that in Conference play is always hugely challenging, regardless of how strong a team believes itself to be.

The Utah Utes (3-0) were considered a team that could perhaps challenge for the Big 12 Championship and earn a spot in the Playoff, and the three wins to open this season makes it nine in a row going back to the end of 2025. However, all three wins have been at home and, despite dominating, this is another test as Big 12 action gets underway.

The Iowa State Cyclones (2-1) are not unbeaten moving into the Conference, but they were only narrowly beaten by rivals Iowa Hawkeyes and have since bounced back with another win. Preseason expectations have been pretty low around the Cyclones who have had to replace Head Coach Matt Campbell with Jimmy Rogers, especially as that transition can take a bit of time, but there has been enough to like about them early on to believe they can surpass those expectations.

It is quite clear what the Cyclones have to do on the Offensive side of the ball, but whether they can do it is another matter.

Everything begins and ends with the running game and the Offensive Line have begun this season by helping open up big lanes that have been exploited by Aiden Flora. However, they are facing a Utah Defensive Line that have prided themselves about how they go about their business in the trenches and how effective Iowa State can be will be based around which of these teams wins up front.

Relying on Jaylen Raynor at Quarter Back to make enough plays with his arm could make it a long night in the office for the Cyclones on this side of the ball. Being able to run the ball has given Raynor time, but he has not been very efficient and will be under some duress from the Utes pass rush if left in third and long spots on the field.

There will be challenges for the Utah Utes when they have the ball, although they have shown a lot more Offensive balance than the Cyclones.

Much like the home team, Utah's Offensive Line have been able to open up some big running lanes and that has kept the team in front of the chains, but they are facing an Iowa State Defensive Line that have been pretty stout up front. That is likely to be the case, but the difference between the teams is that Utah can look to Devon Dampier at Quarter Back to continue his strong start to the season and keep the chains moving with his arm.

In three games, Dampier already has 7 Touchdowns with a single Interception, although plenty of respect has to be given to this Cyclones Secondary, even if they have not been as tested as they could have been. That will at least give Utah pause for thought, but the balance is the key to breaking this game open and the Utes can earn revenge for a home loss to Iowa State a couple of years ago.

Covering will not be easy, but Utah do look capable of largely controlling the ability of the Cyclones to move the chains with the same type of consistency as they can manage on the day. That may lead to a win in the field position battle through much of the contest and the Utes may end up pulling away for a double digit win on the road to show they can be huge contenders in the Big 12 in the weeks and months ahead.

MY PICKS: Texas Longhorns - 4.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet Fred (1 Unit)

Ohio State Buckeyes - 26.5 Points @ 1.95 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Georgia Bulldogs - 13.5 Points @ 1.86 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Utah Utes - 7.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet Fred (1 Unit)

Nebraska Cornhuskers - 5.5 Points @ 1.86 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Penn State Nittany Lions - 10.5 Points @ 2.00 Bet Fred (1 Unit)

Baylor Bears - 9.5 Points @ 1.86 Bet Fred (1 Unit)

Week 3: 1-4, - 3.17 Units (5 Units Staked, - 63.40% Yield)

Week 2: 2-3, - 1.28 Units (5 Units Staked, - 25.60% Yield)

Week 0: 0-3, - 3 Units (3 Units Staked, - 100% Yield)