Dav Aulak's Sports

Boxing Picks 2026- Joshua Buatsi vs Willy Hutchinson II (Saturday 7th November)

2026-11-07T14:54:03.339+00:00

Despite the security issues in Saudi Arabia and Riyadh in particular, one of the biggest names in the Boxing world returned to the ring last weekend for what was hoped to be one more big run.

Canelo Alvarez showed all of his veteran knowledge and some of the skills that helped him reach the top of the sport and he was a very comfortable winner against Christian Mbilli.

He was expected to be win, but Mbilli was hoping to give Canelo a lot more problems than he managed and Canelo Alvarez is back in a position where he can take on the big money fights in 2027.

Where can he go next? There has to be a real feeling within his camp that a rematch with Terence Crawford to avenge one of the losses suffered would be the target and Bud seems to be teasing a return. There are some questions about how much money the Saudis are still willing to invest in the sport, but Canelo remains one of the very biggest names in the Boxing world and that likely means they will be willing to push the boat a little further.

Others also impressed on the card, but it was all about Canelo Alvarez and the Boxing headlines were dominated by the Mexican legend.

The one surprise last Saturday was the card is not being run on United States timing with the main event starting in the early afternoon for those on the East Coast and lunchtime on the West Coast.

British Boxing fans will be a little intrigued by that fact considering Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua is still operating as an event that will be run with an early hours of the morning ring walk for the main event. That is partly down to the broadcaster with the card last weekend operating under the DAZN banner and Fury-AJ being backed by Netflix, but it still made little sense when you factor in Canelo Alvarez being a much bigger name in North America compared with the two British Heavyweights.

Joshua Buatsi vs Willy Hutchinson II

A little over two years have passed since Joshua Buatsi and Willy Hutchinson met in a fight that was won by the former thanks to two Knock Downs and eventually winning a Split Decision.

Both have 'only' had two fights in the time between the first bout and this rematch, but Joshua Buatsi has split his two, while Willy Hutchinson has won both.

Some believe that momentum will give Willy Hutchinson the chance to earn revenge, while picking up the vacant WBC World Title in this Light Heavyweight Division.

However, it is perhaps overlooking the fact that Joshua Buatsi has been in with Callum Smith (loss) and Zach Parker (win), while Willy Hutchinson has beaten both Mark Jeffers and Ezra Taylor. If you switched the fighters around and had them face the opponent the other has, you could make a real case for Joshua Buatsi being unbeaten and Willy Hutchinson have a split record, at best, and that has to be factored in.

Joshua Buatsi has more miles on the clock having been in tougher fights and he did not look that impressive in the win over Zach Parker.

It was a close fight that may have gone another way, but motivation to win a World Title has to inspire Buatsi, who may not have this opportunity again.

That is not to say that Willy Hutchinson is not motivated, but at 28 years old, you'd feel he would have another chance, although losing to Buatsi for a second time may also suggest he has found his ceiling in the professional game.

Joshua Buatsi did look a little short of his very best in the narrow win over Parker and he will need to be better, but you have to believe there is one more big night in his as he looks to become a full World Champion. He will know he has the power to hurt Willy Hutchinson, which can give any fighter confidence, and Joshua Buatsi may feel this is a drop down a level from the likes of Callum Smith.

Having a bit more time to move past the huge battle he had with Smith could help and Joshua Buatsi may be worth backing as the underdog.

Willy Hutchinson should be respected and may feel he has learned plenty from that first fight with Buatsi, but he has not been operating at the same level and that may yet show up in the main event in Manchester on Saturday night.

There is a very solid support card for the night at the AO Arena and Jack Rafferty is ready to continue pushing his career up to the World level.

The IBO World Title is on the line when he faces Hovhannes Martirosyan, but winning is all about improving the Ranking with some of the bigger organisations in what is a loaded Welterweight Division.

Later in the year two of the World Titles will be Unified, but Jack Rafferty is 31 years old and needs to start making a real move.

His opponent is older and was Stopped by Pierce O'Leary when he fought as an unbeaten fighter in March 2024, but he is coming up in weight and Jack Rafferty can follow the Stoppage win over Ekow Essuman by giving the home fans something to celebrate.

Another local fighter, Bradley Rea, would have seen the blueprint from Willy Hutchinson as to how to get the better of Ezra Taylor and can do the same.

And at Featherweight, the British Title is on the line- it should be a defence for Gully Powar, but he was not given the deserved Decision in Wales earlier in the year.

He is the away fighter again, this time against once beaten Zak Miller, but the 29 year old has been out of the ring for more than a year and is going to be pushed to his limit by a relentless Powar.

That may be enough after what should be a competitive first half of the fight, but Gully Powar can maintain his level of output and Zak Miller is almost certainly going to tire having been out of the ring for as long as he has.

Sadly for UK fight fans, a decision has to be made whether to watch that card in Manchester or the latest Zuffa Boxing offering in London.

The main event between Chris Billam-Smith and Cheavon Clarke has leaned on the amateur history between the pair, but the former has reached a much higher level as a professional and that should show.

These two had two very good fights on the same card in Bournemouth in June and they could pick up from where they left off in this Ten Rounder.

Chris Billam-Smith has always been quite easy to find, while Cheavon Clarke showed his resiliency by getting off the floor twice and then Stopping Jack Massey.

They should gel well, but Billam-Smith may have seen some cracks in the Clarke resistance and he has the power to make through he goes through the gears and forces the Stoppage.

The previously mentioned Zach Parker is on the undercard and is an underdog when facing Umar Dzambekov, but that looks a closer contest to call and the British fighter may earn the upset.

There has been some controversy in Denzel Bentley's decision to sign with Zuffa Boxing, especially as he had to drop his WBO World Title.

His first outing under a new promoter is taking on Shane Mosley Jr and the struggles to make weight makes it difficult to believe in the 35 year old.

An upset win over Serhii Bohachuk has given Mosley Jr this opportunity, and Denzel Bentley has to be a little careful if he is going to mark his debut with a win.

MY PICKS: Joshua Buatsi to Win @ 2.25 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

Jack Rafferty to Win Between 5-8 @ 2.87 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Bradley Rea to Win by Decision/Technical Decision @ 3.10 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Chris Billam-Smith to Win By KO/TKO/Disqualification @ 2.25 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

Boxing 2026: 29-49, - 11.93 Units (124 Units Staked, - 9.62% Yield)

College Football Week 10 Picks 2026 (Saturday 7th November)

2026-11-07T01:18:43.719+00:00

Week 9 proved to be a solid one for the College Football Picks, but that is hopefully the start of a positive run and not an exception to a season long rule.

Big games are scheduled across the board in Week 10 of the season after the College Football Rankings were released and the jockeying towards the Playoff Bracket begins.

November is always a massive month in College Football and 2026 is proving to be no different as the big Conference games begin to separate the contenders from the pretenders.

Iowa State Cyclones @ Baylor Bears Pick: Five of the Big 12 have been given a top twenty-five Ranking, but it is very difficult to make a case for more than one team from this Conference being invited into the College Football Playoff Bracket.

After nine weeks of College Football action, only one of the Big 12 teams has an unbeaten record, and teams like the Baylor Bears (5-3) are almost certainly eliminated from contention. The Bears have a 3-2 record within the Conference and the motivation has to be trying to push past a number of rivals and earn a spot in the Championship Game, while they are also a win away from earning Bowl eligibility even that is not going to be in the Playoffs.

Back to back losses and finishing with a losing record in three of the last four years meant Baylor decided to fire Head Coach Dave Aranda after a Week 8 defeat. There would have been some concerns that the team may lose focus, but the crushing win over the UCF Knights last time out has give Baylor some momentum as they return home.

This week the Bears are facing the Iowa State Cyclones (4-4) who are 2-3 in the Big 12 in Head Coach Jimmy Rogers' first season after long-time Head Coach Matt Campbell departed for Penn State.

Matt Campbell has raised the levels at Iowa State and they finished with winning records in eight of the last nine seasons, which clearly impressed bigger schools. Last season the Cyclones finished with an 8-4 record, while they won narrowly in Week 9 to keep them on track for another winning season having previously lost three of four games.

They are unsurprisingly a work in progress under a new Head Coach and the Cyclones may not match up very well with the Baylor Bears on either side of the ball in this Big 12 game.

The Cyclones would love to lean on the Offensive Line and pound the ball, which in turn will keep the stronger Baylor Offensive unit on the sidelines. However, the Bears Defensive Line have prided themselves by playing the run as they have all season and they will certainly look to force the road team to look to the air behind the arm of Jaylen Raynor.

The Quarter Back did have over 300 passing yards with 3 Touchdowns in the win over the Oklahoma State Cowboys and that will give him confidence, but Jaylen Raynor has been inconsistent. If he can use the momentum from last week, Raynor should have success throwing against this Baylor Secondary, although he will also need to be aware of the ability of the Defensive Backs to step up front of throws.

Playing from behind the chains would also mean Jaylen Raynor will need the Offensive Line to find a way to cool what has been a fierce Baylor pass rush, one that has helped force mistakes that the Secondary have exploited.

Running the ball should be more comfortable for the Baylor Bears if you are solely focused on the performance of the Cyclones Defensive Line, but it should be stated that Baylor have simply not been able to run the ball well all season. So while you would expect them to have one of their better games up front, the reality is that the Bears will go as far as Quarter Back DJ Lagway can take them.

It did not quite work out for Lagway with the Florida Gators, but he has been comfortable playing in a Conference where Quarter Backs have tended to pile up big numbers. In his two seasons with the Gators, DJ Lagway did have 28 passing Touchdowns, but added 23 Interceptions, and that makes the season he is putting together feel like a big uptick from previous form.

DJ Lagway has 16 passing Touchdowns for the Bears and just 4 Interceptions, and his recent form suggests the Quarter Back is about to become the latest to attack this Iowa State Secondary with real success. The Cyclones have been allowing far too many passing yards, while the lack of pass rush pressure has allowed the opposition Quarter Back the time needed to make the throws wherever they want.

This should be a game in which Baylor are capable of moving the ball with some consistency and that should put them in a position where they can snap a two game losing run to Iowa State.

The last two road games played by Iowa State have ended in blowout defeats and this has the makings of being another in Week 10 of the 2026 season.

Cincinnati Bearcats @ Houston Cougars Pick: They have been given a Number 17 Ranking by the College Football Playoff Committee and that means the Houston Cougars (6-2) can return from the Bye Week with plenty to play for. The Big 12 is unlikely to be sending multiple teams to the College Football Playoff, but the Houston Cougars have a 3-2 record in the Conference and that means they are on track to at least earn a spot in the Championship Game and give themselves an opportunity to impress the decision makers.

Conference losses to the Utah Utes and Texas Tech Red Raiders means the Cougars have to overcome some tie-breaker issues, but the team have been able to reset and winning games is all that matters.

Two weeks ago they were being beaten by the Utah Utes and that is something that the Cincinnati Bearcats (5-3) will understand having dropped to 2-3 in Big 12 games after being blown away by the aforementioned Utes in Week 9.

The second half performance will have given the Bearcats some momentum, but they have to find a solution to fix some of the Defensive issues that have been causing problems all season. Both road games have ended in defeat, in different fashion, but Cincinnati can take some belief out of their own Offensive capabilities in their bid for the upset.

As long as they can avoid falling into the hole they dug for themselves in the loss to the Utah Utes, the Bearcats will feel they can retain some balance Offensively and that will give them a chance to keep the chains moving.

Earlier this season the Cougars Defensive Line had played the run really well, but they headed into the Bye Week with some work to do up front and that is where this cover of the spread could be won and lost in Week 10. If the two week break has allowed Houston to fix some problems, they could potentially have more success controlling the Line of Scrimmage and, in turn, find a way to at least make the Bearcats have to pass out of third and long spots.

JC French IV has continued to show off his talent at Quarter Back with another game ending with more than 250 passing yards, but he was baited into a mistake by the Utes last week. Avoiding those will be easier from third and manageable spots, but French IV will need to be aware of this Houston Secondary that has allowed some big passing numbers, but who have also found a consistent ability to step in front of throws and turn the ball over.

Extra possessions can be crucial in these Big 12 games and Houston may feel they can earn those, which will put them in a position to pull away from the Bearcats.

Houston are expected to have a lot of balance in their play-calling with the Bearcats struggling to stop the run and the pass and Conner Weigman is plenty experienced at Quarter Back.

It will start with the run as the Cougars look to keep themselves in front of the chains, but Conner Weigman will be really confident he can dissect this Cincinnati Secondary. Running the ball will mean Weigman can step back and expect to get some time to throw the ball and his season so far has seen the Quarter Back thrown 20 Touchdowns with just 2 Interceptions.

If he can come out of the Bye Week and maintain those standards, Houston should be able to avoid the same mistakes that may blight the Cincinnati Offense and that, ultimately, will give the Cougars a chance to make a statement with a big win.

The Bearcats have won five in a row in this series with an opponent that moved across from the American Conference to the Big 12 and Cincinnati blew out Houston two years ago. Plenty will have changed in College Football in the two years since the teams last played, but you have to imagine Cougars fans have not forgotten and Houston can snap the losing streak in the most emphatic of manners.

Alabama Crimson Tide @ LSU Tigers Pick: The SEC has moved to a nine game Conference schedule and that meant putting teams together who could play 'rivalry games' every year over the next few seasons.

To the surprise of many, the Alabama Crimson Tide (6-2) and LSU Tigers (6-2) were not paired together and the annual meeting that has been played every year since 1964 will not take place in 2027.

That does mean there is more focus on this game in 2026, which is played after both teams had a Bye Week, and the Crimson Tide have a 4-2 record in the SEC, while the Tigers are 3-2. There is plenty on the line with both teams Ranked inside the top 14, but also very much aware that another defeat is going to be very difficult to overcome in their bid to reach the College Football Playoff having already suffered a couple of defeats.

Out of the two teams, the LSU Tigers may feel they have been involved in more competitive defeats and Head Coach Lane Kiffin has to be confident with what his team have shown on both sides of the ball, despite the record.

Both teams will know that the Line of Scrimmage is all important having both struggled to run the ball as expected.

The fact is that the Crimson Tide and Tigers are going to be facing Defensive Lines that will believe they have the edge and all of that points to this game coming down to which of the Quarter Backs has been prepared well enough to help their team win.

You have to give Sam Leavitt the edge over Keelon Russell and that is where the home team can do what is needed to win and, potentially, cover.

Keelon Russell has been playing well enough, but a Quarter Back can only be as good as the Offensive Line allows and there is little doubt that the pass rush pressure has managed to collapse the pocket. This has seen Russell hit often and that has led to mistakes in the passing game, which could be crucial in a game where both Offensive units may not have the consistency, but who could benefit from field position and extra possessions.

The Crimson Tide Offensive Line is going to be under immense pressure to keep the LSU pass rush from out of the backfield and it is going to be difficult for Alabama to move the ball in this big SEC game.

Things feel very different on the other side of the ball where Sam Leavitt may be given a bit more time, even in third and long spots, and that will give the LSU Quarter Back an opportunity to make the plays that are needed. Sam Leavitt has almost 2200 passing yards and has 17 Touchdown passes, but the 8 Interceptions have been the issue, but the Quarter Back has 7 Touchdown passes without a single Interception in the last couple of games since the upset loss to the Kentucky Wildcats.

Respect has to be given to this Crimson Tide Secondary who have been able to make big plays against the pass, but LSU have got to be confident that their experienced Quarter Back can do what is necessary to help his team earn the edge.

It is the Crimson Tide who have won the last three in the series, but the LSU Tigers look ready to turn the tables in front of the home fans.

Georgia Bulldogs @ Mississippi Rebels Pick: There are a cluster of SEC teams who have been Ranked pretty highly in the opening release from the College Football Playoff Committee, but the reality is that these teams will begin to separate out as the weeks tick by heading towards the Championship Game.

The Georgia Bulldogs (7-1) are given the Number 2 Ranking and they are 5-1 in the SEC, but they have a chance to prove they are deserving of the position when visiting the Number 10 Ranked Mississippi Rebels (6-2) who are 4-2 in the Conference.

Another loss could be really damaging for the Rebels and they will have to be aware that they are facing a Georgia team who will not have forgotten losing in the Sugar Bowl Quarter Final last season. That is going to give the Bulldogs motivation after crushing the Florida Gators in Week 9, but playing on the road is always much more challenging and this is a significant challenge for Georgia.

It is the Bulldogs Offensive Line who will be looking to set the standard- they have run the ball effectively all season, but they will also note that they are facing a Mississippi Defensive Line that has been stout up front and particularly strong at home. Recent games has seen the Rebels improve in their ability to slow down the opponent rushing attack and Mississippi have to make sure they can at least stall some drives.

Gunner Stockton did not play well enough in the loss to Auburn before the Georgia Bye Week and he only managed 101 passing yards in the win over the Gators on the return to action. The Quarter Back has had a very good season, but he will hope to be playing out of third and manageable spots on the field instead of having to get the ball moving down the field under pressure from this Rebels pass rush.

There will be some belief Georgia can have success on this side of the ball, but the Defensive unit have something to prove.

You cannot really criticise them for their performances in 2026, but Georgia's team will know they allowed 69 points in two games against the Mississippi Rebels last season and once again will be facing Quarter Back Trinidad Chambliss.

Trinidad Chambliss has piled up the passing yards, but it was the 3 Interceptions thrown against the Texas Longhorns that led to a recent Ole Miss loss and he cannot afford to do that here.

The Rebels have to look to keep the balance Offensively and they will be confident in the performances produced by the Offensive Line when it comes to establishing the run, but most will expect the game to come down to how Trinidad Chambliss handles the Bulldogs once again,

He will note that the Bulldogs Secondary have allowed some Quarter Backs to have considerable success in recent games, and Chambliss has to be happy with the protection that has been offered to him by the Offensive Line. Staying in front of the chains will at least force the Bulldogs pass rush to slow down slightly and that will mean Trinidad Chambliss could have success against this opponent once again.

Avoiding turnovers will be key, but if Trinidad Chambliss can do that, the Mississippi Rebels can keep this one close on the scoreboard in an important game where they can prove to the College Football Playoff Committee that they should be considered for a spot in the Bracket again this season.

MY PICKS: Baylor Bears - 9.5 Points @ 1.81 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Houston Cougars - 10.5 Points @ 1.86 Bet365 (1 Unit)

LSU Tigers - 5.5 Points @ 1.80 William Hill (1 Unit)

Mississippi Rebels + 3.5 Points @ 1.86 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Duke Blue Devils - 4.5 Points @ 1.86 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Louisville Cardinals - 14.5 Points @ 1.86 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Texas Tech Red Raiders - 16.5 Points @ 1.91 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)

Week 9: 6-3, + 2.13 Units (9 Units Staked, + 23.67% Yield)

Week 8: 2-3, - 1.20 Units (5 Units Staked, - 24% Yield)

Week 7: 3-3, - 0.63 Units (6 Units Staked, - 10.5% Yield)

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)

English Football Premier League Picks Game Week 10 2026/27 (Friday 6th November 2026-Sunday 8th November 2026)

2026-11-06T13:59:03.029+00:00

The international breaks have long been considered a time when top flight clubs will choose to make big decisions in relation to the current management team, but the slight change to the calendar in 2026/27 has perhaps led to a little more patience from boardroom members up and down the country.

It has perhaps also meant that managers cannot now rely upon only having a small sample of results to justify, especially not as we approach the November international break.

There now looks to be genuine pressure on three names- Pierre Sage, Regis Le Bris and Michael Carrick.

All three will be leading teams into home games on Sunday after mixed results in European competition over the last few days and reports suggest that Crystal Palace, Sunderland and Manchester United are perhaps sounding out other options behind the scenes.

A big weekend begins on Friday and fans may also have a second international break dominated by Manchester City's issues off the field with some suggesting the Premier League will be announcing sanctions for the the guilty charge given to the club. That would be a surprise until the appeal process has been exhausted, but fans, and rival clubs, have to be looking for some clarity about the Manchester City situation sooner rather than later.

Some may feel it is harsh to say, but it is a surprise that Michael Carrick is still in charge at Old Trafford after some of the recent results he has overseen for Manchester United.

On Tuesday it felt like the line was over for Carrick as United trailed 0-2 against Roma in the Champions League with the fans ready to revolt.

However, the manager and the team got a bit of luck in the second half when Bruno Fernandes was given a chance to retake a penalty he missed to halve the deficit and Manchester United rode the momentum to somehow turn things around beat the Italian club.

Michael Carrick will need the players to pick up from where they left off on Tuesday, but Aston Villa pose a big test and injuries have piled up in the home squad.

It should be a positive Old Trafford after the last result, but Manchester United need to start much better than they did on Tuesday and another win may give the board something to think about as far as the direction they feel Michael Carrick is travelling.

Nothing is going to be easy on Sunday and Manchester United have to defend with much more authority than they have over the last several weeks if they are going to avoid ending up in the bottom three during this November international break.

Everton vs Coventry City: Playing on Monday Night Football and then being asked to open the Premier League weekend on a Friday feels harsh on Everton, but the players have real momentum following back to back wins over Newcastle United.

While the squad are avoiding injuries, David Moyes will feel his team have enough to earn another three points on Friday and in the main Everton have been confident at home.

They may only have beaten Ipswich Town 1-0, but Everton had more than enough chances to double or triple that tally and they produced a wasteful display in the 0-1 win at Newcastle United earlier this week. That will have to change if Everton are to achieve all they want to achieve over the coming weeks and months, but you have to expect the home team to dominate the chances in this fixture.

Coventry City have had a very good couple of months as they have picked up 3 League wins, including beating Sunderland 3-1 last week.

However, Frank Lampard's team are not all that convincing at the back and that can be exploited by The Toffees.

Fantasy: He was clearly the best player on the pitch on Monday and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall continues to be a pivotal player in the Everton attack.

With a bit more support from those around him, Dewsbury-Hall would have picked up a goal involvement in the last game and he can make up for that here.

Leeds United vs Tottenham Hotspur: Three wins in a row have dragged Tottenham Hotspur back up the Premier League table and everyone associated with the club will be feeling much better about themselves.

Roberto De Zerbi will tell anyone that his team have deserved these results having had solid performances without reward earlier in the season.

Making it four in a row will not be easy against a Leeds United team who have been tough to beat all season, even if Spurs have won the last 3 games at this Stadium.

Daniel Farke does have some injuries to deal with in the squad, but Leeds United have not given much away at the back.

A bigger issue is that Leeds United have not been as clinical in the final third and this Tottenham Hotspur team have shown some real resiliency of late, which suggests we could have a low-scoring game in the early Saturday afternoon broadcast spot.

Fantasy: Any fixture that is anticipated to be low-scoring will shift the focus onto defenders and that is the case for this one.

Arsenal vs Hull City: Mikel Arteta was not very happy with his team's second half performance in Prague and that is the kind of standard he is setting for Arsenal.

Winning that Champions League game is not enough to satisfy the manager and so the players will have to prove to Arteta that they are still hungry.

Facing Hull City at the Emirates Stadium should give Arsenal an opportunity to put together a much more confident overall display and they are likely going to limit the chances the visitors are going to be able to create.

Some defensive changes may need to be made because of injuries, but Arsenal should manage the threat in a winning effort.

Fantasy: There will be plenty wondering whether they should look to double the points by placing a Captaincy on an Arsenal defender and that cannot be overlooked as an option this weekend.

However, Arsenal will be looking to win the game and that may allow someone like Martin Odegaard to get back into the headlines by influencing a successful task of picking up the three points.

Fulham vs Newcastle United: In the first portion of this thread, three managers were picked out as being very much under threat of losing their jobs in the upcoming international break.

Matthias Jaissle may be another under pressure if he cannot help Newcastle United pick up a positive result in West London.

Fans are beginning to turn on the new manager already, while the players have not quite understood what is expected from them with inconsistent performances being produced. Injuries have made Newcastle United a vulnerable defensive team and Fulham may have enough about them to exploit those issues.

Alvaro Arbeloa's eased the pressure that was weighing on him by helping Fulham pick up some important Premier League points and his team have been looking dangerous going forward. There is an inconsistency in the forward line, which is holding Fulham back, but they have won the last 2 at Craven Cottage when hosting Newcastle United and can extend that successful run.

Fantasy: Newcastle United have conceded 11 goals in the last 4 away games played and the likes of Josh King and Oscar Bobb could be best placed to become the latest players to hurt them in the final third.

Nottingham Forest vs Manchester City: More defensive mistakes almost proved costly for Manchester City, but the 2-3 win in Leipzig will have given the team a shot in the arm.

Back to back Premier League defeats has seen Arsenal take over at the top of the table, but Manchester City will be looking to bounce back before the two week break.

Giving away goals has been a problem, but Manchester City have largely kept opponents at arm's length and that has meant restricting efforts on goal.

Enzo Maresca will believe his team can do the same against a Nottingham Forest team that have yet to score a home goal and who have been challenged by manager Oliver Glasner to find their confidence in the final third.

An impatient owner means Glasner is aware that results have to improve really quickly, but Nottingham Forest have been lacking belief in the final third even as the chances have been created. You'd eventually expect a bit of luck to break through the fog for the Nottingham Forest attackers and they could motor once that happens, but this is a game where they are going to be focusing on making things tough for Manchester City.

It could mean there is not quite the same focus in the final third and Nottingham Forest may struggle to find four shots on target.

Fantasy: Teams have not found it easy to break down Nottingham Forest at the City Ground, but wide players have made the difference for Coventry City and Arsenal.

Jeremy Doku is likely going to be restored to the starting lineup for Manchester City and the Belgian may create or score the big chance that makes the difference for the team.

Brighton vs Brentford: On the form that has been produced over the last month, Brighton deserve to be favourites on Sunday afternoon when hosting Brentford.

However, these matches tend to be very competitive, partly in thanks to the rivalries in the boardroom, and it is rare for either team to win comfortably.

In the main, Brighton have had the edge, but they are travelling back from Spain after another Conference League outing, while Brentford have been resting and preparing and that makes the visitors dangerous.

You cannot ignore how tough Brentford have been to beat under Keith Andrews and all of the away games played this season have ended in draws, which makes that worthy of a small interest.

Fantasy: The squad depth at Brighton makes it hard to identify an attacker, although plenty will stick with Pascal Gross as the best option.

Instead it could be someone like Maxim De Cuyper who continues to return points with his position meaning he is capable of producing at both ends of the pitch.

Igor Thiago has found a bit of form for Brentford and the striker could be the key to any away positive result.

Crystal Palace vs Liverpool: There has to be a big concern in the home stands that the squad have given up on Pierre Sage, but the supporters cannot be that surprised seeing as their own patience has been running out for a couple of weeks.

If there is a feeling that Sage is going to be sacked imminently, the home players could struggle to find the intensity needed to get the better of Liverpool for a second season in a row.

They will need that with Liverpool expected to restore key attacking players that missed out in Istanbul on Wednesday and this is a team who have been more comfortable in away Premier League games than when playing at Anfield.

With the firepower available and Crystal Palace's defensive struggles, you have to believe this could be a tough day for the home fans in South London.

Fantasy: He did not get on the scoreboard at home last Sunday, but Alexander Isak came off the bench to score against Fenerbahce. The Swedish striker has found his feet in a Liverpool shirt and could be the key to the three points on Sunday afternoon.

Ipswich Town vs Bournemouth: The challenge for Bournemouth is to recover from a trip to Prague and bring their best form into a Premier League fixture just a couple of days later.

This is a new experience for most in the squad, but the win in the Czechia capital means the momentum is firmly behind Bournemouth and they have shown the qualities in the final third that will make them very dangerous.

Marco Rose will be pleased with the goals being scored and they can punish Ipswich Town where the likes of Fulham and Nottingham Forest have been unable to do.

Gary O'Neil's team have shown resilience and composure to fight back for points from tough situations, but Liverpool scored twice early at Portman Road and that was enough to earn the win here. Both Fulham and Nottingham Forest will feel they did not capitalise on leads, but Bournemouth scored three at Old Trafford in the last away Premier League game played and they can secure a win here.

Fantasy: There are some quality performers for Bournemouth who will all feel they can make an impact, but Rayan could be operating in a position where Ipswich Town have been hurt this season and could be involved in most of the attacking play.

Evanilson has been in great form and will believe he can add to his goals if given the same opportunities Alexander Isak and Liam Delap were afforded at Portman Road.

Sunderland vs Chelsea: Fans are hoping to see a change in the managerial dugout at the Stadium of Light as Regis Le Bris continues to struggle to get the best out of Sunderland.

They appreciate the work the manager has done over the last two seasons, but Sunderland are bottom of the table and the confidence is draining from the players.

Regis Le Bris needs something on Sunday to give himself a chance to turn things around and he will be confident his Sunderland team will have opportunities, although they have been lacking composure in the final third. There is also an element of lacking a bit of fortune, but they are facing a Chelsea team who have struggled defensively.

The Blues are favourites, and short priced favourites, but Chelsea have not been as convincing away from Stamford Bridge and the absence of Joao Pedro is a blow.

Sunderland beat Chelsea here in May to earn a spot in the Europa League, and they are likely going to give it a go on Sunday even if they are not quite able to secure a result that will keep Regis Le Bris in his job.

However, they should be able to test the Chelsea goalkeeper at least four times on recent form and Sunderland will be given some encouragement by the defending produced by the away team.

Fantasy: There are not a lot of great options- Morgan Rogers is leading the line for Chelsea, but Pedro Neto looked the most threatening player against Manchester United, at least on a consistent basis.

He scored twice at Hill Dickinson Stadium last month and could be a key to any success Chelsea have in the final third.

Manchester United vs Aston Villa: Michael Carrick remains in charge and he will be desperate to see his players ride the momentum of the comeback win over Roma to secure three points here.

Whether that is enough to keep Carrick in his role as manager of Manchester United is another thing, but the Old Trafford crowd will support the former player as long as he is in charge.

Injuries to key defensive players, and suspensions, leaves Manchester United a little short and Aston Villa are playing well enough to believe they can exploit gaps.

However, Unai Emery's team are still a work in progress defensively and Manchester United's best form of defence may be attacking relentlessly.

It could develop into an exciting fixture with chances at both ends and it is no surprise that the prices on the goals market have shortened in the build up to this fixture.

Fantasy: Bruno Fernandes and Matheus Cunha provided the goals to help Manchester United beat Roma on Tuesday, but Bryan Mbeumo continues to be the most threatening of the attackers as he continues to lead the line.

Nicolas Jackson continues to show off his goalscoring form and will have chances against this United defence.

MY PICKS: Everton to Win & Over 1 Total Goal @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit) Early Payout if Two Up

Leeds United-Tottenham Hotspur Under 2.5 Goals @ 1.95 Bet Victor (1 Unit)

Arsenal Win to Nil @ 1.77 Bet Victor (1 Unit)

Fulham @ 2.00 Bet365 (1 Unit) Early Payout if Two Up

Nottingham Forest Under 3.5 Shots on Target @ 1.83 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Brighton-Brentford Draw @ 4.00 Bet Fred (1 Unit)

Liverpool to Win & Over 1 Total Goals @ 1.74 Bet365 (1 Unit) Early Payout if Two Up

Bournemouth @ 1.95 Coral (1 Unit)

Sunderland Over 3.5 Shots on Target @ 1.80 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Manchester United-Aston Villa Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.57 Coral (1 Unit)

Premier League 26/27: 20-36-1, - 10.58 Units (56 Units Staked, - 18.89% Yield)

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

NFL Week 9 Picks 2026 (Thursday 5th November-Monday 9th November)

2026-11-05T17:21:13.704+00:00

The start to this 2026 NFL season had followed a disappointing pattern that saw the 2025 season end with a negative number for the Picks for the first time in a few seasons.

However, there have been some positive signs over the last two weeks thanks to an 8-3 run, although the first six weeks of the season continue to pull back on the overall numbers.

There is still a long way to go before the end of this season, but it is up to us to reevaluate teams from their preseason expectations, especially as injuries have piled up once again.

Teams like the Los Angeles Chargers have completely collapsed after being a rival to the Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC West, while the Houston Texans have work to do.

Injuries to Quarter Backs in Philadelphia and Baltimore leave both of those teams struggling to get back on track, while the Los Angeles Rams look like one of those teams who can overcome a slow start and move into contention in the NFC West and the Conference as a whole.

For most teams we will be reaching the halfway mark of the regular season and that means there is still so much Football to be played.

And just before we get into the NFL Picks from Week 9 of the season, thoughts are out there for Jack Campbell of the Detroit Lions with the hope that he is able to make a full recovery as soon as possible.

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Baltimore Ravens Pick: A big decision is going to have to be made in the offseason after Lamar Jackson's latest injury, one that could see the Quarter Back miss the entirety of the 2026 season. The most immediate concern for the Baltimore Ravens (4-4) is snapping a three game losing run that has seen them fall into the basement of the AFC North and it is far from ideal that they are playing on a short week in Week 9 having been crushed at the Buffalo Bills.

Lamar Jackson's return did not even last an entire series, but things got even worse for Baltimore thanks to an injury suffered by Tyler Huntley and that meant Joe Fagnano had to play the majority of the game.

It was a debut for Joe Fagnano in the NFL and he is set to earn the start on Thursday Night Football, but the Ravens are making plans to bring some experience into the Quarter Back room with a trade being set up for Jacoby Brissett. The latter would likely be up to speed by the time the Baltimore Ravens are back out, but the rest of the roster are going to have to rally if they are going to move back above 0.500 by beating the Jacksonville Jaguars (5-2).

The AFC South leaders just put a beatdown on rivals Indianapolis Colts as they returned from a Bye Week after splitting two games played in London.

Short weeks on the road are never easy to manage, but the Jacksonville Jaguars would have taken the foot off the pedal in the blowout win over the Colts.

It was not all good news on Sunday and the likelihood is that the Jaguars will be without one of their key Offensive players in Bhayshul Tuten who has not been in practice early in the week. Running the ball against the Ravens Defensive Line would have been challenging even with Tuten available, but that becomes that much tougher for the Jacksonville Jaguars by moving down the depth on the roster.

Despite that, Trevor Lawrence has admitted he might be playing the most consistent football of his career and the Quarter Back should be able to exploit what has been a vulnerable Baltimore Secondary. Some of that is perhaps down to players losing their confidence with the Offensive unit struggling as much as they have been, but Trevor Lawrence will also be given a bit of time by the Jacksonville Offensive Line and it should mean being able to move the ball down the field.

Plenty of credit has to be given to Lawrence and company, but the real strength of this Jacksonville team is on the other side of the ball and you do have to wonder how much success Baltimore can have with a third string Quarter Back leading the way.

No one will be surprised by a plan to feed Derrick Henry over and over again to try and keep Joe Fagnano in positive down and distance, but the Ravens Offensive Line have been struggling at the Line of Scrimmage to aid the veteran Running Back. Some of that is down to the fact that teams have not respected the Ravens passing game, but this Jacksonville Defensive Line have been priding themselves in stopping the run all season and that makes this a tough match up for the Baltimore Ravens.

They have scored 10, 13 and 10 points in the last three games and now they face a Defensive unit giving up the fewest points in the AFC, which is going to make things very tough for the home team.

Baltimore's Offensive Line have struggled in pass protection and the Quarter Back has averaged just 164 passing yards per game during this three game losing run.

Not only does Joe Fagnano have a tough match up, but he will have to be careful he does not make the mistakes that have been exploited by the Jacksonville Secondary.

Additional possessions will give the Jaguars the momentum to win the game, but turning the ball over in Baltimore territory may give Jacksonville the impetus to push clear of this spread.

Covering a number like this one the road is not going to be easy, but the Ravens have suffered back to back blowouts at the hands of two teams with high tempo Offensive units. The Jaguars may not be quite up to the level of Buffalo or Cincinnati Offensively, but they just crushed the Indianapolis Colts and have scored at least 31 points in more than half of the seven games played in 2026.

These two teams may have felt they would be potential rivals in the Playoffs, but Baltimore have a lot of issues to address to get back on track and the upcoming 'mini-break' is important for them.

Unfortunately for Baltimore, that could begin after another chastening night on the field.

Atlanta Falcons vs Cincinnati Bengals Pick: The NFL International Series moves back to Spain in Week 9 of the season having played here for the first time last season and two teams who are very much in contention within their respective Divisions will be facing one another.

The Cincinnati Bengals (5-2) do have a solid winning record in the AFC North, but the Atlanta Falcons (3-5) are in the NFC South where all four teams have losing records and a Division in which a losing record has been good enough to earn a spot in the Playoffs.

However, the Falcons will travel to Spain having become the first time in over fifty years that has lost a game where the opponent has not had to complete a pass.

This has to force the team to have a positive reaction to prove that they are far better than what was produced in the defeat to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Falcons cannot expect this high-powered Cincinnati Offensive unit to keep them in the game for as long as Tampa Bay allowed.

Over the course of the season, the Falcons Offensive Line has shown enough to believe they can establish the run, which is all important if they are going to win games. Recent games have been more disappointing with Atlanta averaging just 3.5 yards per carry, but they have to be confident in moving the ball on the ground against this Bengals Defensive Line, which has struggled for consistency up front all season.

If the Falcons can keep Michael Penix Jr in third and manageable spots, the Atlanta Falcons have to believe it will spark a passing game that has been struggling. Errors from the Quarter Back proved fatal in the defeat to the Buccaneers, and Penix Jr has to be aware of the ball-hawking abilities of this Cincinnati Secondary, but making quicker throws and allowing the skill players to work the yards after catch is that much more manageable when playing in front of the chains.

A reaction is expected on this side of the ball, but the bigger one may have to come from the Atlanta Defensive Line- they have just allowed the Buccaneers to run the ball 56 times and pick up 5.8 yards per carry!

This week they are facing a Cincinnati team who are much more known for the passing attack, but this may be an opportunity for the Bengals to have one of their better games running the ball. The Offensive Line has not been able to open the lanes that would be expected when you think Cincinnati have Joe Burrow and Wide Receivers like Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins who command such respect, but the Bengals should be able to push the ball on the ground in this game.

Any success on the ground is going to make Cincinnati that much more dangerous in the passing game- even without much support, there is no doubt that the Bengals are 5-2 thanks to the quality they have when going to the air.

Joe Burrow has been pretty well protected when dropping back to throw, which is more impressive without the kind of running game that the Bengals would like. This has given him time to make the plays down the field and this Falcons Secondary cannot expect to be faced with the same plan as the one the Buccaneers put together in the blowout win last week.

Instead, the Bengals will attack through the air and that may give them the edge in the contest, especially if they can turn the ball over a couple of times when Michael Penix Jr drops back to throw.

A big game is coming up for the Bengals against the Pittsburgh Steelers, but this international setting may keep them focused on the matter at hand and that could lead to a solid win for Cincinnati in Spain.

New York Giants @ Philadelphia Eagles Pick: You could have made a case for any of the other three NFC East teams to be leading the Division in Week 9 of the season, but the injury to Quarter Back Jaxson Dart looked to be a bitter pill for the New York Giants (4-2-1) to swallow.

Of they are now being Coached by John Harbaugh, which means a new standard has been set for the team, including a mentality of next man up and not allowing a setback to dominate the thinking for days, weeks or months to come.

Instead, the Giants are the only team in the NFC East with a winning record and they have a chance to take a stranglehold of the Division with the next two games being against Divisional rivals. They are coming out of a Bye Week, where Harbaugh thrived when Coaching the Baltimore Ravens, and the New York Giants will feel much more confident than the injury hit Philadelphia Eagles (2-6).

Winning the opening two games of the season feels a long time ago for the Eagles who have lost six in a row, while the injury to Quarter Back Jalen Hurts is yet another blow to a team who have been without key players in all levels of the Offensive unit. They are making another change at Quarter Back after Tanner McKee's struggles, but Joe Milton III is going to be under pressure to spark a team that could be without Saquon Barkley as well as some top Receiving options.

Everything has been a struggle for the Eagles on this side of the ball, but they may take some confidence from the fact the Giants Defensive Line had struggled to stop the run in the lead up to the Bye Week. Allowing Dexter Lawrence to be traded to the Cincinnati Bengals in the off-season was always going to impact the Giants up front, but the Defensive Line are facing a makeshift Philadelphia Offensive Line and may not respect the Quarter Back enough to fail to load the box.

Joe Milton III has had some backup experience in the NFL from his time with the New England Patriots and Dallas Cowboys, but he has had just 53 pass attempts in the pro ranks and that means there is a huge amount of developing to do on the fly.

While the Giants have had some issues stopping the run, the Secondary have played well enough to believe the can contain much of what Milton III and the Eagles are going to bring to the field and that gives them the edge in the bid to end the long losing run in Philadelphia.

JJ McCarthy is the third Quarter Back to start for the Giants in 2026 having taken over from Jameis Winston, who had the first shot at replacing Jaxson Dart.

In his two appearances for the Giants so far, JJ McCarthy has piled up plenty of yards through the air, but has a single Touchdown and a single Interception to show for that. That is partly down to the fact that John Harbaugh and the New York Offensive Line have created gaping holes when they have run the ball and that has been a quick, painless way into the End Zone and we can expect to see plenty more of that.

New York may not have Cam Skattebo available, but they will believe that is not going to impact the ability to run the ball against this Eagles Defensive Line and just ease any pressure that may be felt by a Quarter Back looking to prove he can be a factor in the NFL. The Giants are expected to have success on the ground and that should mean McCarthy is given time when he does drop back to throw, while also opening up play-action shots down the field.

The Eagles have struggled to stop the pass with teams moving into third and manageable spots, while the pass rush has yet to ramp up, which makes it tough to believe they can exploit some of the holes New York's Offensive Line have had in protection. It will help that JJ McCarthy is a better mover than Winston, and it should mean the Giants are able to move the ball with success throughout this game.

A poor record in this Stadium cannot be ignored, but John Harbaugh has been one of those Head Coaches that effectively uses the Bye Week so well that you can almost write down 1-0 in the next game.

You cannot help but worry about the way the Eagles have seemingly dropped their heads in recent games as injuries have piled up and that may be a concern for them in Week 9.

Detroit Lions @ Miami Dolphins Pick: Prayers up for Jack Campbell.

An unfortunate situation developed in the Detroit Lions (5-2) win over the Minnesota Vikings when Linebacker Jack Campbell made a tackle that left him unable to move on the turf. He has indicated that there is now some feeling in the lower half of the body, but work to do in order to get the upper half of the body back up to 100% and that will have impacted the players all week.

Head Coach Dan Campbell addressed Jack Campbell's situation during the week, but also made it clear that the team have to rally for their fallen colleague, who would insist it is about winning games and making sure the Lions are focusing on trying to reach the Super Bowl at the end of the season.

The Lions will travel to the Miami Dolphins (1-6) in Week 9 after beating the Vikings and ending the last unbeaten record in the NFL in 2026. The win also means Detroit are only a game behind Minnesota in the powerful NFC North and former interim Miami Head Coach Dan Campbell will be reminding his players how quickly momentum can be lost if they are not focused.

Playing on the road in South Florida in November is tough with conditions different to what most teams would come to expect, but the Lions are the much better team.

Credit has to be given to the Dolphins for the competitive spirit they have been able to produce and they are not going to finish with a winless season to be the absolute antithesis to the only team to ever complete an unbeaten season in the NFL.

The last three defeats suffered by the Miami Dolphins have been by 7 points or less and they have a win in between those defeats, which also has to be respected. Despite the injuries that have been suffered to important players, Miami are doing the fundamentals right and that will always give a team an opportunity to win games, no matter the difference in talent.

De'Von Achane has gone down to a season ending injury, but the Miami Offensive Line have still been creating solid running lanes and that has helped the Offensive unit move the chains. However, the challenge will be running the ball against a Detroit team that have been much improved at the Line of Scrimmage all season and who have been thriving on stopping the run in recent wins.

You have to imagine Detroit are almost going to be daring Miami to beat them through the air, even with the issues the Lions have had in the Secondary. They just stymied the Minnesota Vikings though and Malik Willis has not been very consistent with his passing game, which is also influenced by the absence of the kind of Receivers Miami fans have been watching in recent seasons.

It has also meant some indecisiveness in the passing game and Malik Willis is going to be feeling the heat of the Detroit pass rush, which could lead to mistakes.

The Lions have been well balanced Offensively and that is likely to continue in South Florida.

The running game is now largely powered by Jahmyr Gibbs behind one of the more impressive Offensive Lines in the NFL and recent games have seen Detroit power the Offensive unit on the ground. They will respect how well Miami's Defensive Line has played, which is again a testament to some of the character within the locker room, but the Lions will feel they can stay ahead of the chains and especially with the threat of the pass from Quarter Back Jared Goff.

Amon-Ra St Brown is a doubt for this game having been listed as Questionable following a big hit suffered last week, but Jared Goff should have time in the pocket and that can see him have success throwing into this Secondary. The Quarter Back has been looking after the ball pretty well this season and that will also keep the Lions in a confident mood as they look to produce a positive performance for Jack Campbell.

The scheduling spot is not ideal after a tough run of games, but the Lions have momentum and they may be able to follow Cincinnati by winning this one on the road by just enough to cover the line set.

MY PICKS: Jacksonville Jaguars - 9.5 Points @ 1.84 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Cincinnati Bengals - 3.5 Points @ 2.00 William Hill (1 Unit)

New York Giants - 3.5 Points @ 2.05 Bet Fred (1 Unit)

Detroit Lions - 6.5 Points @ 1.91 Paddy Power (1 Unit)

Week 8: 4-2, + 1.72 Units (6 Units Staked, + 28.67% Yield)

Week 7: 4-1, + 2.73 Units (5 Units Staked, + 54.60% Yield)

Week 6: 2-4, - 1.95 Units (6 Units Staked, - 32.50% Yield)

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)

College Football Week 9 Picks 2026 (Saturday 31st October)

2026-10-31T02:44:13.363+00:00

Some big decisions are going to have to be made by the Playoff Committee when it comes to putting together the bracket for the post-season and things could get very awkward for the decision-makers if we continue to see upset after upset.

The SEC does not have a single unbeaten team, but it is also a very competitive Conference which has been supplying multiple Playoff teams over the last couple of years.

However, this season there are more and more teams trending towards three losses and it would be harder to make the case for the involvement of those teams without winning a SEC Championship.

Other Conferences may not be given the same kind of respect and so we close into November with a lot of high pressured games to be played.

Michigan Wolverines @ Rutgers Scarlet Knights Pick: They lost just three games in the final three seasons under Head Coach Jim Harbaugh and that run concluded with the Michigan Wolverines (4-3) winning the National Championship as an unbeaten team in 2023.

Jim Harbaugh decided to head back into the NFL with the Los Angeles Chargers and the Michigan Wolverines are onto their second permanent Head Coach since that departure. The last two seasons have seen the Wolverines lose seven games and they have already suffered three defeats this season with all of those coming in the Big Ten where the team are 1-3.

Head Coach Kyle Whittingham will be given time, but he is well aware that his team needs an Offensive spark if they are going to try and finish this season with some momentum. The hopes of returning to the Playoffs look to have ended after that third Big Ten defeat last week against the Indiana Hoosiers, but there is still plenty for Michigan to play for and that is especially the case for Quarter Back Tommy Carr who has shown more than the opening starter Bryce Underwood.

Giving Tommy Carr the rest of the season may help in the development and have the Wolverines challenging much higher in the Big Ten in twelve months time and he is reportedly going to have the chance to play on the road for the first time.

It is the Rutgers Scarlet Knights (2-5) who will host and they also have a 1-3 record in the Big Ten, but some of the Defensive problems that have been evident all season will give Michigan plenty of encouragement.

In the four Big Ten games played, Rutgers have allowed opponents to score at least 30 points, but that number becomes at least 42 points when only focusing on the three defeats.

The question is whether the Michigan Wolverines can exploit the problems in the same way as so many of the Conference rivals have been able to do and that all begins on the Line of Scrimmage. The Scarlet Knights have been bullied on this side of the ball, but Michigan's Offensive Line have not been very productive all season, which has put additional pressure on the Quarter Back regardless of who has been standing behind Center.

Assuming Tommy Carr will be given the opportunity, he will note that this Rutgers Secondary have struggled to make plays in recent games, while the lack of a pass rush should mean there is more time to go through his reads. This should be a benefit for the Wolverines as they look to show they can play with some confidence on this side of the ball.

However, the main reason the Wolverines have been competitive in games is the Defensive unit and they will be looking to aid the Offense by finding some turnovers or dominate the field position.

As the Scarlet Knights have moved into the Conference play, the Offensive output has diminished and they cannot expect to have a lot of change from this Wolverines team. The Michigan Defensive Line will make Rutgers have to scratch and claw for every yard gained, and that can wear down teams, while the Wolverines Secondary have only allowed an average of 161 passing yards per game even during a run of games where they have finished 1-2.

It is a Secondary that have found turnovers and that does not bode well for the Rutgers passing game that will be run by a backup Quarter Back after Dylan Lonergan was ruled out.

The last time Michigan and Rutgers met one another on the football field was back in 2023 and it was the Wolverines who won easily, while the year before they blew out the Scarlet Knights on the road.

This is a big spread when you think of the Wolverines Offensive woes, but the match up is about as good as Michigan could hope for and you can expect this Defensive unit to step up and make enough plays to give the team a chance of covering.

Arizona State Sun Devils @ BYU Cougars Pick: There are some Conferences where the Playoff Committee will overlook a loss, or perhaps two, but the Big 12 has not been one of those in the last couple of years, even as the Playoff field has been expanded to twelve teams.

Last season the blowout loss to the Texas Tech Red Raiders in the Big 12 Championship Game prevented the BYU Cougars (6-1) from taking part in the Playoffs, but the team have looked capable of going one better this time around. However, the Cougars are under pressure to bounce back from a very disappointing road loss to the UCF Knights in Week 8, which came just after BYU had upset the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

Two seasons ago the Arizona State Sun Devils (4-3) won the Big 12 Championship and played in the Quarter Final of the Playoffs where they were eventually beaten in Second Overtime. They look unlikely to repeat the feat in 2026 as the Sun Devils are already 2-2 in Big 12 play, but they did beat the Kansas State Wildcats last week and that snapped a run of consecutive defeats in the Conference where Arizona State had been struggling massively as a Defensive unit.

It is something the Cougars will be looking to exploit as they bid to bounce back from an upset loss and BYU should find plenty of balance on this side of the ball to keep the Sun Devils guessing.

The BYU Offensive Line should be able to help the home team establish the run and good things happen from there- the Sun Devils have struggled to stop the run for much of the season and that is likely going to be the same in Week 9, which will keep Bear Bachmeier in positive Down and distance from where the Quarter Back should be able to get something rolling.

Bear Bachmeier has been well protected and giving him time from third and manageable spots should mean an opening of the playbook and the Cougars should be able to keep the chains moving consistently. There are holes in the Arizona State Secondary and this is a team that have not been able to create too many turnovers in recent weeks, which should mean BYU are having another strong Offensive day.

It makes the Cougars favourites, but covering this big spread will depend on the performance of the Defensive unit who have had some mixed outings in the last couple of weeks.

Arizona State may not be able to expose any vulnerabilities as UCF managed to do with this game being on the road, but they will look to at least establish the run and give the team a chance to keep the chains moving. However, pounding the rock with the kind of consistency needed to give the team the confidence to earn the upset is perhaps going to be lacking and it will be up to Mikey Keene and the committee used at Quarter Back to try and keep the Arizona State Offensive unit on the field.

The Sun Devils will take encouragement from some of the successes that recent BYU opponents have had when it comes to throwing the ball against them, but the Offensive Line will be under a bit of pressure to make sure whoever is playing at Quarter Back is given some time in the pocket. The Cougars have not really found a fierce pass rush, but they could have more success against this Arizona State Offensive Line and that gives the home team the chance to stall drives.

Games between these teams have been competitive since both moved into the Big 12, but the Sun Devils have been beaten by 36 points by Baylor and 28 points by Texas Tech and an angry BYU team can secure a big win as well.

Florida Gators vs Georgia Bulldogs Pick: As we enter Week 9 of the 2026 season, not many would have predicted the Kentucky Wildcats would be leading the SEC with a 5-1 record.

The only other SEC team that have lost fewer than two games is the Georgia Bulldogs (6-1) and it should be noted that only two teams have been beaten three times and earned a spot in the College Football Playoff. That may change in 2026, but there is a lot of pressure on a bunch of SEC teams and the Georgia Bulldogs are hoping the Bye Week will have given them the time to recover from the shock of losing to the Auburn Tigers.

Everything looked to be going as planned early in that game in Athens, but poor decisions and sloppy play proved to be costly and the Bulldogs will have taken a serious look in the mirror.

Having to prepare for the 'World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party' will have given the players plenty of motivation, although the game is being played in Atlanta rather than Jacksonville this season.

The Florida Gators (5-2) are also coming out of a Bye Week after beating the Texas Longhorns on the road and that has improved the record to 3-2 within the SEC. However, as mentioned, it does mean there is little room for error if the Gators are going to upset the odds and force their way into the College Football Playoff in Head Coach Jon Sumrall's first season after the team finished 4-8 in 2025.

Prior to the upset in Austin, Florida had lost back to back SEC games in blowout fashion, but they did play the Bulldogs close last season in this rivalry game.

Despite the win, the Gators are giving nothing away when it comes to naming a starting Quarter Back having seen both Tramell Jones Jr and Aaron Philo having plenty of opportunities to lead the team before the Bye Week.

No matter who is going to start, they will hope the Bye Week has given the Florida Offensive Line a chance to work out how they can help establish the run with more consistency than they have been in recent weeks. Running the ball against any SEC Defensive Line is hugely challenging, but the Gators went into the Bye having averaged less than 3 yards per carry as the competition has ramped up and they are not expected to have a lot of room against the Georgie Defensive Line.

Of course an inability to run the ball with any consistency places the Quarter Back under immense pressure and the Gators Offensive Line have not been very good when it comes to offering up solid pass protection. When they are in third and long sports, the Georgia pass rush could have Jones Jr or Philo rushing to make their throws and it will be hard to convert Third Downs over and over again.

Stalling drives and winning the field position will help the Georgia Bulldogs, but the two weeks between games would have been important to get Gunner Stockton to reset at Quarter Back.

Gunner Stockton had two Touchdown passes in the loss to the Auburn Tigers, but he was guilty of throwing a couple of Interceptions and losing a Fumble and that followed an outing against the Alabama Crimson Tide when the Quarter Back had both a single Touchdown and Interception.

He should be supported by the Bulldogs Offensive Line who are expected to be able to run the ball with some efficiency and that should make life that much more comfortable for Gunner Stockton.

The Bulldogs Offensive Line have offered up decent protection for the Quarter Back and Gunner Stockton should be able to exploit the Florida Secondary as Lanoris Sellers and Austin Simmons have done in the SEC this season. Those two Quarter Backs combined for 620 passing yards with six Touchdown passes and no Interceptions when helping Missouri and South Carolina to big wins over the Gators and Gunner Stockton can show how much the Bye Week has been able to allow him to reset by having a strong game.

Rivalry games are usually very competitive and Georgia did only win by 4 points when facing Florida last season.

However, the previous four games all ended in Bulldogs wins by 22, 23, 14 and 13 point margins and Georgia can make a statement by winning and winning well enough to cover.

Virginia Cavaliers @ Wake Forest Demon Deacons Pick: If they had won the ACC Championship Game, the Virginia Cavaliers (4-4) may have had a serious case of earning a spot in the College Football Playoff. The defeat to the Duke Blue Devils meant finishing with a 10-3 record and that allowed the Miami Hurricanes to move past both Duke and the Cavaliers to earn the place in the College Football Playoff Bracket.

It would have been hard to make a case for Virginia after losing the Championship Game, but there will be plenty of people associated with the team who will blame the Wake Forest Demon Deacons (6-1).

The Cavaliers were Ranked in the top 15 when they faced the Demon Deacons, but the upset loss knocked them back and Virginia were not able to recover.

We have yet to see the College Football Playoff Rankings, but this year the Virginia Cavaliers are 2-3 within the Conference and unlikely to be concerned about those, although motivation for revenge will be high. That only increases when noting that the Wake Forest Demon Deacons have begun with a 4-1 record in the Conference and are only behind the Miami Hurricanes and Louisville Cardinals in the current standings.

A 9-4 record in the 2025 in Head Coach Jake Dickert's first season is impressive, although the Demon Deacons were just 4-4 in the ACC. They have already matched that number of Conference wins, but Wake Forest want more and the four game winning run will have given the players a lot of belief.

Coming out of the Bye Week should mean Wake Forest are well prepared, and they will note that this Cavaliers team are still playing hard and they are still confident enough to believe they can produce back to back winning seasons under Head Coach Tony Elliot.

Moving back above 0.500 will depend on whether the Cavaliers can find a way to slow down a Wake Forest Offensive unit that entered the Bye Week with some strong numbers on the board. Quarter Back Gio Lopez has really found his groove and is 53 yards away from already having 2000 passing yards, while Lopez has 17 Touchdown passes and a single Interception on the season.

The Demon Deacons will lean on the Offensive Line, who can help establish the run, and putting Gio Lopez in third and manageable spots will be a big win for Wake Forest. As the competition has ramped up within the Conference, the Cavaliers Secondary have allowed some big passing yards and Lopez should be able to return from the Bye Week and pick up from where he and the Demon Deacons left off.

It is no surprise that most will focus on the Offensive numbers being produced by Wake Forest, but the Defensive unit has to be given a lot of credit for the current position that this team find themselves in. The Demon Deacons have allowed just 24 points across the last three Conference games played and the success has begun at the Line of Scrimmage where they have been able to shut down the run and force opponents to become one-dimensional.

Virginia will not shy away from pounding the rock, but they have been inefficient with the team averaging 4 yards per carry in recent games and they are not expected to have a lot of success against this Defensive Line in front of them.

Beau Pribula is the Quarter Back and he is experienced, but some have suggested the Cavaliers should be thinking to make a change with the poor passing numbers being produced. The experience means Pribula has avoided big mistakes, but he is averaging 138 passing yards per game in the last three played and it is going to be tough to make plays from third and long spots like he may see in Week 9.

If the Demon Deacons can push Virginia behind the chains, they will feel the pass rush can force Beau Pribula to throw under pressure and that should lead to errant passes and potential mistakes, which gives Wake Forest the advantage.

The last two seasons has seen both teams beat the other in tight, competitive games, but the Wake Forest Demon Deacons had won five in a row in this rivalry prior to 2024. Some of those wins had been by wide margins and the 2026 Demon Deacons look capable of both sides of the ball to return from the Bye Week and produce a dominant win.

Utah Utes @ Cincinnati Bearcats Pick: They have just knocked off the defending Big 12 Champions and the Cincinnati Bearcats (5-2) have been able to improve to 2-2 within the Conference, but another big test awaits. Hosting is a big boost for Cincinnati having won both Big 12 games played at Nippert Stadium, but being blown out on the road twice, and the Bearcats will have taken a lot of confidence by taking the unbeaten record away from the Texas Tech Red Raiders.

Only one unbeaten team remains in the Big 12 and that is the visitor in Week 9.

The Utah Utes (7-0) have a perfect 4-0 record in the Conference and this record is more remarkable when you think they are being led by someone other than Kyle Whittingham for the first time since 2004. Morgan Scalley is the Head Coach and he may not have been given this opportunity if it had come up a couple of years ago after historic texts had been released, but he took over for the Bowl Game last year and that does mean Utah are unbeaten in eight games under a Head Coach that has spent his entire career with the Utes both as player and Coach.

Eighteen of the twenty-one years under Kyle Whittingham ended with a winning record and the Utes finished 11-2 in 2025, but some expected them to take a step backwards without a long-term leader.

Instead the Utes have benefited from having a number of players return from last season and Quarter Back Devon Dampier is very experienced.

A third year full time starter, Devon Dampier has 15 Touchdown passes and 6 Interceptions this season and has benefited from the balance that the Utah Utes have found on the Offensive side of the ball. Everything has begun at the Line of Scrimmage where the Utes have been able to pound the rock with real success and make sure that Dampier is throwing from third and manageable spots and Utah are going to be confident in establishing the run against the Cincinnati Defensive Line.

Respect has to be given to the Bearcats Secondary for playing better at home than they have on the road, but over the last three Conference games, Cincinnati have allowed Quarter Backs to have their way with them.

They will take encouragement from the fact Devon Dampier has thrown five of the six Interceptions in the last three games and the Cincinnati Bearcats may feel that is going to be the best way to slow down the Utah Utes. However, the Utes will want to make sure the Quarter Back is in the best position possible and that means avoiding third and long spots, which is where the Offensive Line can set up the Big 12 leaders to have successes.

Fans will be expecting Utah to have Offensive successes and will note that Cincinnati have given up at least 24 points in all four Big 12 games played this season.

However, the Bearcats should take a huge amount of confidence from the 37 points scored against the Red Raiders in Week 8 and the key to this game is going to be at the Line of Scrimmage when they have the ball.

The Cincinnati Offensive Line have paved the way for some big holes to be exploited, but they are facing a Utah Defensive Line that has prided itself in being able to stop the run.

Encouragement will come from the fact the Utah Defensive Line have not been as comfortable stopping the run on the road as they have been at home and that is where the Bearcats will feel they can have successes. It is important to do so and keep JC French IV in front of the chains, despite the 4 Touchdown passes he threw last week against the Red Raiders.

A couple of Interceptions were added to those Touchdown passes and the Utes have a Secondary that have made up for some of the passing yards allowed by making sure they have been able to create turnovers.

Those extra possessions are likely going to be all important to the final outcome of this Week 9 Big 12 game and it is expected to be one in which both teams play with confidence and belief.

Knocking off the Bearcats on the road is not going to be easy, but the Utah Utes may feel they have the Defensive unit that can make the difference at key moments and that may allow them to escape with an unbeaten record against a Cincinnati Bearcats team who have to try and maintain the intensity that was needed to beat the defending Conference Champions last week.

MY PICKS: Michigan Wolverines - 16.5 Points @ 1.89 Bet365 (1 Unit)

BYU Cougars - 16.5 Points @ 1.88 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Georgia Bulldogs - 11.5 Points @ 1.87 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Wake Forest Demon Deacons - 12.5 Points @ 1.85 William Hill (1 Unit)

Utah Utes - 7 Points @ 1.83 Bet365 (1 Unit)

NC State Wolfpack - 8.5 Points @ 1.87 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Illinois Fighting Illini - 2.5 Points @ 1.85 William Hill (1 Unit)

Louisville Cardinals - 22.5 Points @ 1.86 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Nebraska Cornhuskers - 7.5 Points @ 1.88 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Week 8: 2-3, - 1.20 Units (5 Units Staked, - 24% Yield)

Week 7: 3-3, - 0.63 Units (6 Units Staked, - 10.5% Yield)

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)

English Football Premier League Picks Game Week 9 2026/27 (Saturday 31st October 2026-Monday 2nd November 2026)

2026-10-30T21:50:41.676+00:00

After the thumping in Como and the comments from Captain Bruno Fernandes, it was perhaps no surprise that he was dropped by Michael Carrick for the visit of Bournemouth.

The comments just a few days after Lisandro Martinez had also been pretty vocal about upper management suggested a fractured dressing room and Manchester United's performance against Bournemouth and the eventual 0-3 defeat infuriated the Stretford End.

Michael Carrick has largely been absolved of blame, but that is because most fans will feel that he is doing his best and the support around him has seemingly been non-existent. He was not backed as hoped in the last transfer window, while the players are apparently ready to throw the towel in and to the likes of Jason Wilcox, the owners, and then the players had it made clear what the match-going Manchester United fans thought of them.

And then we all waited.

After Michael Carrick's walk around the pitch and the body language on display, an announcement that he had been Sacked as manager felt inevitable.

That it did not come on Sunday was not much of a surprise, but Jason Wilcox and Omar Berrada heading into Carrington on Monday morning and about to embark on a meeting with the owners suggested something would be released later in the day.

The manager came to watch an Under-21 game being played behind closed doors, but Carrick left and there was still no action taken.

Ultimately it sounds like the board and those in upper management are unsure as to what to do with Michael Carrick and less so because they have faith in the current manager, but more because there is no agreement as to who should be appointed next.

Eddie Howe's name was bandied about in the press, but that is one that has not gone down very well with the supporters.

He has a strong supporter in Jason Wilcox, which is ironic seeing as Wilcox is only in the role because everyone in a position of power disagreed with Dan Ashworth who suggested Howe two years ago after Erik ten Hag had been dismissed.

Julian Nagelsmann and Antonio Conte are other available names, while Manchester United have to accept it will be almost impossible to prise away Unai Emery or Fabian Hurzeler from Premier League clubs.

And that leaves Michael Carrick in a tough position after being given a stay of execution and now relying on a group of players who simply could not find enough to avoid heavy defeats against Como and Bournemouth and who have won none of the last eight games played in all competitions.

The lack of decisions made this past week highlights the lack of conviction in anything INEOS have done at the club over the last three years (aside from all being on the same page to make life difficult for supporters) and 'best in class' suggests the likes of Berrada and Wilcox should be removed from current roles if Carrick is to be dismissed.

All eyes will turn to Stamford Bridge for the opening Premier League game of the weekend to see how Manchester United respond, but it is also a critical week in the Champions League and then hosting Aston Villa before the next international break. Results are needed if Michael Carrick is going to be taking charge of United when they visit Anfield in three weeks time, but it is all a big mess at Old Trafford and the biggest hurt of the whole situation is that it is not a surprise that we are here just after the turn of the clocks.

Chelsea vs Manchester United: Both of these clubs were beaten at home without scoring a goal last weekend, while Chelsea also suffered a League Cup exit at Anfield on Wednesday.

Xabi Alonso has stated that Joao Pedro is ruled out and that does hurt Chelsea without a focal point, although the tactical decision to leave Danny Welbeck on the bench against Tottenham Hotspur felt like a mistake.

Danny Welbeck has enjoyed playing Manchester United since leaving the club, while Cole Palmer is well rested.

Injuries in defensive areas will give the away team encouragement, but Manchester United's players have to show they are willing to dig in and fight for the team. We have seen little of that in the last couple of games and Michael Carrick's position is uncertain, to say the least, but you have to believe some pride will kick in and a reaction can be produced.

They rode their luck to win at Stamford Bridge in April, but Manchester United have to find a real balance in their play if they are going to do that here.

Encouragement can be taken from the fact that Chelsea have been inconsistent under Xabi Alonso, but Manchester United have to start faster than they did in Madrid and Como. Chelsea are one of the fastest starting teams in the Premier League in both halves so that is something Manchester United have to prepare for, but getting through the opening 10/15 minutes has seen other teams give Chelsea problems.

Both teams are struggling for consistency and that may end up producing a tighter game than some expect with both teams combining for less than 28 shots over the ninety minutes.

Chelsea have had fewer than 13 shots in five of the last six games, while Manchester United have not had more than 13 shots in any of the last three away games.

Recent results may suggest these teams have been letting opponents dictate the shots, but Chelsea have allowed more than 14 in one of the last six, while Manchester United have not allowed more than 12 shots in any of the last three away games.

Fantasy: If there is some respect and pride in the Manchester United dressing room, perhaps Bruno Fernandes returns with a big effort to inspire his team to a successful outing at Stamford Bridge.

Both Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers will be leading the way for Chelsea, but Pedro Neto was perhaps offering the most threat in the home loss to Tottenham Hotspur and had a big day against Everton two weeks ago.

Bournemouth vs Leeds United: The recent form shown by Marco Rose's Bournemouth makes them solid favourites to beat Leeds United and you have to favour them with the firepower that has been displayed.

It has been particularly evident at the Vitality Stadium and Bournemouth may have enough to earn the three points.

Nothing has come easy against Leeds United and Daniel Farke's team have had a full week to prepare for this game, which will help.

They do not concede a lot of goals, but Leeds United need more in the final third and the defensive performances at Brighton and Arsenal need to be improved if they are going to earn a positive result on the South Coast.

Fantasy: Everyone is focusing on the Bournemouth assets with a good looking fixture list coming up.

Evanilson continues to lead the line, but he is not the most convincing of goalscorers.

He is a replacement for those looking to move Joao Pedro, but those with a bit more freedom to choose may want to go against the grain and focus on Rayan or Antonio Silva in defensive or midfield positions.

Brentford vs Nottingham Forest Pick: You have to believe that there is going to be an opponent who takes a real thumping from Nottingham Forest sooner rather than later.

They have created some huge chances, especially away from home, and Nottingham Forest have been wasteful or lacking a bit of fortune when those opportunities have been presented to them.

Nottingham Forest will feel they can create chances at the Gtech Community Stadium having won on the previous two visits and this Brentford team have just lost a bit of momentum over the last past few weeks.

Losing at Sunderland in the League Cup Fourth Round is a real blow, while Brentford have been guilty of a few too many draws in the Premier League, including last weekend at Hull City.

Keith Andrews will know his team have been better at home, but they could be tested by Nottingham Forest and the visiting team are good enough to earn a positive result that could drag them out of the bottom three.

Fantasy: A lot of the Nottingham Forest attack goes through Morgan Gibbs-White, but you have to think Liam Delap will be able to take advantage of some of the chances that have been coming his way.

Coventry City vs Sunderland Pick: These two teams are sitting in the bottom three of the Premier League table after failing to score in home games last weekend and there is a little bit of pressure building on Sunderland manager Regis Le Bris.

Patience is going to be shown with Frank Lampard considering the successes he has had as manager of Coventry City, but the experience of Lampard means he knows improvements need to be made at both ends of the field.

Coventry City did not defend too poorly against Fulham last weekend, but the latter showed that Premier League experience and quality when an opportunity came their way.

The home team are unlikely going to leave too many spaces for Sunderland, but The Black Cats can also call upon that Premier League experience to make the difference in this fixture.

Either way, you have to believe the first goal is going to be absolutely crucial in determining the final outcome and the match may be one with limited goalmouth action.

Fantasy: Defenders may come out on top in this one, but Coventry City could be without Bobby Thomas, which would be a blow.

It is a tough game to really want to back any player to take the lead on the day, but any of the defenders could end up being the star performer.

Hull City vs Ipswich Town Pick: Both of these teams were promoted together at the end of last season, but it was Ipswich Town who got the better of Hull City in both League fixtures played in the Championship.

The two both earned 1-1 draws in Game Week 8 to keep the positive points ticking over and this is another fixture in which Hull City and Ipswich Town will be targeting three points, but also very keen on avoiding a damaging defeat.

It could lead to a tight, competitive outing in the Premier League and this is another fixture in which goals may not be free-flowing with another 1-1 scoreline looking a real runner.

Fantasy: Just like the Coventry City vs Sunderland fixture, this is perhaps not the Premier League fixture in which someone would be targeting major Fantasy assets.

Manchester City vs Brighton Pick: These two teams met in the League Cup Fourth Round on Wednesday and it was Manchester City who came through on Penalties.

However, that does mean Brighton are unbeaten in 3 visits to the Etihad Stadium, including twice in the Premier League, and so Manchester City look a little short and a potential acca-buster.

Erling Haaland was not involved on Wednesday, but he will be restored to the starting lineup and has loved playing Brighton.

Not only has he scored in the last four matches against this opponent, but Erling Haaland has opened the scoring in all of those and he may be the player who gets the scoring going in what has the potential to be a high-scoring fixture.

Last weekend Alexander Isak scored against Brighton and Erling Haaland looks like he could open things up on Saturday.

Fantasy: The Norwegian striker remains the standout Fantasy option for Manchester City, but Brighton can play a positive role here too.

Others in the home team are also likely to be influential in what has the potential to be another high-scoring game and it is Jeremy Doku who stands out behind Erling Haaland.

Tottenham Hotspur vs Crystal Palace Pick: Back to back Premier League wins has given Tottenham Hotspur a huge boost, but they have not won consecutive League games at home in two years.

They are facing a struggling opponent in Crystal Palace who have a manager that remains under real pressure, despite a League Cup Fourth Round win at Fulham on Wednesday.

Crystal Palace have simply not found the right balance between attack and defence under Pierre Sage and they have struggled in a lot of aspects of their football.

This is a fixture that will be taking part in a Stadium that does get a little nervy, but Tottenham Hotspur have to have picked up confidence from consecutive wins and James Maddison has seemingly been passed fit. He has been a big influence in the last couple of wins that Spurs have produced and it has been a positive month for the team.

Roberto De Zerbi will be happy with the performances and results and his team may be able to come through with another home win in a game where they can continue to showcase the improvements on the defensive side of the field.

Fantasy: You could make a case for someone like Mohammed Kudus, who has been in positive form since returning from an injury.

However, it is James Maddison who has been the biggest influence in recent Spurs improvements, and he can be the key to any success this weekend.

Aston Villa vs Fulham Pick: Unai Emery has admitted the Premier League is the priority for Aston Villa this season and the League Cup loss at Bournemouth is just another example of an early exit from that competition under the Spaniard.

Key players were rested and that should see Aston Villa pick up from where they left off in the 2-1 win over Manchester City at Villa Park last Saturday.

Three home wins in a row has given Aston Villa real momentum and they will be feeling a little more confident than Alvaro Arbeloa's Fulham.

Wins over Hull City and Coventry City have given Fulham some confidence, but a strong team was beaten by Crystal Palace on Wednesday and there is still some real room for improvement if they are going to continue the climb up the League table.

A poor record at Villa Park suggests it will be difficult to do that on Saturday and Aston Villa's firepower can make the difference.

Fantasy: It sounds like the whole world may be ready to back Nicolas Jackson, especially after scoring twice last weekend and Joao Pedro needing to be replaced.

He looks a leading contender, but it is those operating around the focal point of the attack that have hurt Fulham of late and that means Johan Manzambi or John McGinn having big impacts on the final score.

Liverpool vs Arsenal Pick: The last two English Champions face off in a big Premier League game on Sunday and it could be a tight, competitive contest.

Injuries in attacking areas limits the Arsenal threat, although they are always going to be dangerous from set pieces.

Mikel Arteta's hand may be forced with the injuries, which could mean having a bigger focus on the defensive effort- Arsenal excel there and only conceded to a magical free kick when visiting Anfield last season.

The Gunners will look to make things tough for Liverpool, who have improved, but who also have more room for improvement.

Andoni Iraola will be happy with some of the defensive work, but Liverpool have lacked a bit of consistency in the final third and this suggests another low-scoring fixture to be played out between these two teams.

A single goal was scored in two Premier League games last season and this may be a fixture in which the opening goal could be decisive.

Fantasy: This is a tough game to call, but you have to lean towards Liverpool being the more likely winners with the depth of options available in attacking areas.

If Arsenal are to secure a positive result, Gabriel could be key at both ends of the pitch.

Newcastle United vs Everton Pick: These two teams may be sick of one another after Monday Night Football is concluded and it was a tetchy ending to the League Cup Fourth Round tie at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Thursday.

Everton came through, but Newcastle United had plenty of chances and The Magpies have been better at home and so will be confident they can overturn that result.

Keeping clean sheets has been more challenging for Newcastle United and so this has the makings of another fixture with at least three goals shared out when these two face one another.

The last three fixtures have ended up with 14 goals combined and there is enough from the attacking players to exploit the problems that Everton and Newcastle United have had at the back.

An early goal could spark the game again and that looks the likelihood in front of the television cameras to conclude this game week.

Fantasy: The standout options look to be Harvey Barnes and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall at either end of the pitch.

Models are speaking about Thierno Barry, but he is a little inconsistent and those two players mentioned have the qualities to get into the point scoring from more angles than the Everton striker.

MY PICKS: Chelsea-Manchester United Under 27.5 Match Shots @ 1.83 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Bournemouth @ 2.15 Bet Fred (1 Unit)

Nottingham Forest + 0.5 Asian Handicap @ 1.80 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Coventry City-Sunderland Under 2.5 Goals @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Hull City-Ipswich Town Under 2.5 Goals @ 2.00 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

Erling Haaland First Goalscorer @ 4.00 Paddy Power (0.5 Units)

Tottenham Hotspur to Win & Under 4 Total Goals @ 2.50 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Aston Villa @ 2.00 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

Liverpool-Arsenal Under 2.5 Goals @ 1.95 William Hill (1 Unit)

Newcastle United-Everton Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.72 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Premier League 26/27: 17-29-1, - 7.68 Units (45.50 Units Staked, - 16.88% Yield)

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

NFL Week 8 Picks 2026 (Thursday 29th October-Monday 2nd November)

2026-10-29T18:00:14.516+00:00

The trade deadline is approaching, but unlike sports like Baseball and Basketball, the NFL has tended to be a sport in which the bigger moves are made way in advance of the deadline.

It sounds like the Chicago Bears are all in on 2026 after bringing in Jeffery Simmons from the Tennessee Titans and this is a team that looks very capable of having a big impact as long as they can stay healthy. The Bears are playing in a really competitive Division and you have to expect three of the NFC North to head to the post-season, but this could create a domino effect and it may spark a number of other teams to step up their calls and mould the roster to be ready for January and February.

The North Division is the dominant one early in the AFC as well, at least from one through four positions with all holding winning records.

Things will change in both the AFC North and NFC North when the Divisional games ramp up, but we are approaching the halfway mark of the season when the contenders and pretenders begin to find separation.

Week 7 proved to be the best of the season so far for the NFL Picks, but there is significant work to do to turn things around get the numbers into a position we will all appreciated.

Thursday Night Football is the opening selection and others will be added to this thread.

Carolina Panthers @ Green Bay Packers Pick: Both of these teams suffered disappointing losses in Week 7, although in very different circumstances, and both will be looking to bounce back on a short week and get back on track in the 2026 season.

The Green Bay Packers (4-3) proved to be the only team in the NFC North to suffer a loss in Week 7 and that has dropped them into the basement of the Division, although it should be noted they still have a winning record overall and that keeps them in a position to fight for Wild Card spots later in the year.

Green Bay suffered a tight loss to the Detroit Lions thanks to some problems for the Field Goal team and that will have really hurt.

This week they are hosting the Carolina Panthers (3-3) who were blown out at home by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, although remain the NFC South leaders. All of the other teams in that Division have a losing record, but the Panthers have not taken control following the defeat to the Buccaneers, which has dropped them to 1-1 in the NFC South and with the players all looking for a proper reaction to the awful overall performance on Sunday.

An early Bye Week means the Panthers have to find a way to bounce back very quickly if they are to regain some momentum, while the Defensive unit clearly have to improve at the Line of Scrimmage to make things easier.

Tampa Bay ran all over the Panthers in Week 7, but the Green Bay Packers have not been able to run the ball with any consistency this season and that is the battle that could be a big factor in the final outcome. If the Carolina Defensive Line can win, they will be very confident in their ability to earn the upset on the road at Lambeau Field for the second season in a row, but the script flips significantly if the Green Bay Packers can get something going on the ground.

Josh Jacobs was back in action for the Packers, but he only picked up a little over 3 yards per carry and was a bigger threat catching the ball out of the backfield. He did drop a pass that would have given the Packers a Touchdown lead late in the Fourth Quarter, but Jacobs and the Green Bay Offensive Line will be looking to find a way to at least exploit some of the holes that the Panthers have been leaving up front.

Getting anything going on the ground would certainly help Jordan Love and company and just make things that much easier to plan.

In recent games, Jordan Love has definitely stepped up his level and he should be given the time to hit Receivers down the field and put the Green Bay Packers in a position to win this game. Avoiding becoming one-dimensional Offensively is the key for Green Bay and would also mean Jordan Love can perhaps make a few more clearer decisions in the passing game and limit the turnovers that have been thrown.

The Packers are going to believe they can bounce back Offensively from the last defeat and the same can be said for the Carolina Panthers after an overall disappointing display against a Divisional rival.

Bryce Young will have noted how well Jared Goff played against the Packers Secondary and will be looking to pick up from the Lions left off, while the performance of Jahmyr Gibbs means Carolina can attempt to stay balanced when they have the ball in hands.

In recent games, the Packers Defensive unit had shown encouraging improvements, but that game against the Lions is a reminder there is still work to do and Carolina can have successes.

The key to the Packers is getting enough pass rush pressure to try and force mistakes from the Quarter Back and the Secondary has been able to step in front of passes when that pressure has been applied. Bryce Young has not been protected as well as he would have liked in recent outings and that is where the Packers can have some success, while the Defensive Line has something to prove having been pretty tough up front before the game against the Lions.

Motivation from the home defeat suffered to the Panthers in November 2025 should also get the Packers focused and ready for this game and they may do enough to edge what could be a high-scoring game.

Green Bay have won the last couple of home games in very good fashion against the Chicago Bears and Dallas Cowboys and they may be able to stall a couple of drives and/or force a turnover or two to push the momentum in their own favour. That is key for the Packers and the home crowd will certainly help as Green Bay earn revenge against the Carolina Panthers and secure a win by around a Touchdown mark.

MY PICKS: Green Bay Packers - 3.5 Points @ 1.91 William Hill (1 Unit)

Pittsburgh Steelers - 3.5 Points @ 1.95 Bet Fred (1 Unit)

Buffalo Bills - 3.5 Points @ 2.03 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Dallas Cowboys - 7 Points @ 1.91 Paddy Power (1 Unit)

Jacksonville Jaguars - 9.5 Points @ 1.83 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)

Seattle Seahawks - 2.5 Points @ 1.75 Bet Fred (1 Unit)

Week 7: 4-1, + 2.73 Units (5 Units Staked, + 54.60% Yield)

Week 6: 2-4, - 1.95 Units (6 Units Staked, - 32.50% Yield)

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 Championship Darts Day 4 Picks 2026 (Sunday 25th October)

2026-10-25T10:52:26.652+00:00

There were some high level performances produced by players who have moved into the European Championship Quarter Finals, but the defending Champion is out of the tournament and players like Nathan Aspinall will be disappointed that an average above 105 was not enough to give him a place in the last eight.

Luke Littler got the better of Nathan Aspinall and he is looking to pick up the one Ranking title that eluded him last year and the draw looks like it has opened up for the World Number 1.

You have to believe Jonny Clayton will have something to say about that, but he will have to beat a home favourite to reach the Quarter Final and this is going to be a busy day for whoever is able to pick up the title at the end of the evening.

All four Quarter Final matches are to be played in the Day Session before the Semi Final and Final are played in the Evening Session.

Any selections from those matches in the Evening Session will be added to this thread, but the focus is firstly on the Quarter Final matches that have been scheduled to be played.

Ross Smith-Luke Woodhouse over 11.5 180s: Both of these players were hitting their marks very effectively in the Second Round on Saturday and Ross Smith and Luke Woodhouse had six maximums each in winning efforts.

Calling a winner is difficult on current form with the slight edge perhaps being with Luke Woodhouse in the form shown over the last couple of days.

However, Ross Smith is the Number 1 Seed for a reason and will be desperate to make it through the day and perhaps pick up this Ranking title to enhance his bid to join the Premier League.

Assuming this is a match that will go at least sixteen Legs, there are enough chances for these power scoring players to combine for at least twelve maximums. There is every chance more Legs will be needed and both Ross Smith and Luke Woodhouse are capable of combining for enough maximums to cover this total line set.

Gerwyn Price to win & over 4.5 180s v Stephen Bunting: There is a lot of familiarity between Gerwyn Price and Stephen Bunting having both competed in the Premier League this season.

Gerwyn Price won three of the four matches in the Premier League and has looked in good form again this weekend.

He will respect Stephen Bunting and what The Bullet is capable of producing at his best, but Price will also know that his current level is going to make it very difficult for anyone to beat him.

If he is going to win the title, The Iceman is going to have to win three matches in a single day in a long format and that may end up being beyond him. However, Gerwyn Price can force his way into the Semi Final later in the day and behind a performance in which he adds at least five maximums.

Luke Littler to win & over 6.5 180s v Krzysztof Ratajski: The odds are heavily skewed in favour of Luke Littler, which is not a surprise in normal circumstances, but this is especially the case on the form shown this weekend.

Luke Littler has been hammering the treble 20 bed and he is clearly motivated to win the European Championship.

Even the German crowd have not been able to bother Luke Littler and it is hard to make a case for Krzysztof Ratajski.

The Polish Eagle has his qualities, but matching the power scoring of the World Number 1 looks to be beyond him and Luke Littler should be able to secure both sides of this selection.

MY PICKS: Ross Smith-Luke Woodhouse Over 11.5 180s @ 2.00 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Gerwyn Price to Win & Over 4.5 180s @ 2.00 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Luke Littler to Win & Over 6.5 180s @ 1.86 Bet365 (1 Unit)

SEMI FINAL PICKS: Ross Smith-Gerwyn Price Over 11.5 180s & 2+ 100+ Checkouts @ 2.25 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Martin Schindler to Win & Over 3.5 180s @ 2.25 Bet365 (1 Unit)

European Championship Update: 7-3, + 4.31 Units (10 Units Staked, + 43.10% Yield)

NFL Week 7 Picks 2026 (Thursday 22nd October-Monday 26th October)

2026-10-25T01:03:48.592+01:00

The NFL continues surging towards the halfway mark of the 2026 season and that means we are firmly into the Bye portion of the season.

It also means there is beginning to be a separation between the contenders and those already looking forward to the NFL Draft and the 2027 season.

Divisional games are coming up thick and fast and there is also another International Series game in Week 7, although this time the NFL will be playing in Paris for the first time.

New Orleans Saints vs Pittsburgh Steelers Pick: The latest International Series game from the NFL is played at a new venue with the League hosting a game in Paris for the first time, even in the midst of some huge riots taking place in the French capital as well as the rest of the country. There were some suggestions this game could be moved, but the New Orleans Saints (2-4) and Pittsburgh Steelers (4-2) have arrived in Europe and will be looking to give those in attendance something to enjoy.

There are likely going to be outside factors that have an impact, but the Steelers and Saints are looking to build on Week 6 wins.

New Orleans play in a weak Division and they are still firmly in contention even with a losing record, while the Pittsburgh Steelers are well aware of how tough the AFC North can be with three teams sharing the same 4-2 record. Two wins in a row have given Pittsburgh some momentum and they do look to be playing well enough on both sides of the ball to believe they can win this game before returning home with the momentum needed when facing the Cleveland Browns in Week 8.

The focus has to be on this game for now having arrived later in the week, while the Saints flew over to Paris after the Week 6 win over the New York Giants. As the 'host', there are more responsibilities for the Saints to be over in Paris and help fans see their presence, but New Orleans need a good game plan if they are going upset the Steelers.

Running the ball has been really challenging for New Orleans and it is very difficult to imagine they have a lot of consistent success pounding the rock against this Steelers Defensive Line. It may not be as strong as some of those that Pittsburgh have run out in the past, but the Steelers have been stout up front early in the season and will be looking to force Tyler Shough to beat them through the air from third and long spots.

The Quarter Back has been given some protection when he has dropped back to throw, but Shough has been inconsistent in recent weeks.

Since the blowout loss to the Atlanta Falcons, Tyler Shough has just thrown 240 yards in the last two games and his 3 Touchdown passes and 2 Interceptions in that time highlights the issues. He did have a clean game against the New York Giants last week, but Tyler Shough is going to have a tough time finding much room against this Pittsburgh Defensive unit and will need his own Defense to step up to help.

A problem for the New Orleans Saints is that they have lost some balance Defensively in recent games and they are now facing Aaron Rodgers looking more like his old self at Quarter Back.

Things have been made easier by the fact that this Steelers Offensive Line have been run blocking very well and they are expected to open up some serious holes for Jaylen Warren and company to keep the team in third and manageable spots. In recent games, the Saints Defensive Line have allowed some big runs to get through and Aaron Rodgers is a much different player when throwing out of third and manageable spots with his ability to release the ball very quickly keeping Defensive Backs guessing.

Aaron Rodgers has not been protected as well as he may have liked, although that may be partly down to an older Quarter Back not having the same scrambling skills as previously, but that has not stopped him from throwing 8 Touchdown passes with 3 Interceptions in the last three games. This should be a more comfortable match up than most and Rodgers is set to have a big outing on the international stage to lead his team to an important third win in a row.

A big game is on deck for the Steelers, but they will know they cannot afford to drop winnable games like this one as it will come back to haunt them in a tough Division. It is a non-Conference outing, but the Steelers won on the road against a team from the NFC South last week and they can win this 'road' game in Week 7 of the season.

Miami Dolphins @ New York Jets Pick: The Miami Dolphins (0-5) return from a Bye Week and will be hoping the two week gap between games has given them a chance to just reset.

They have suffered a couple of competitive losses before the Bye Week, but the Dolphins are lacking a bit of depth and injuries to the best players left on the roster and they are likely going to be the underdog in every game they play this season.

This is the case when returning to face the New York Jets (2-4), a Divisional rival hoping that they have been able to get healthier over the last week to try and build up some momentum. The next two weeks feel very important for the Jets who will then be facing the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills and getting back up to 0.500 for the season is the ambition.

Breece Hall could be returning this week, while Adonai Mitchell has been cleared and that will give the Jets a boost, but Geno Smith and company need to find some consistency on this side of the ball.

For all of the issues that Miami have had this season, the Dolphins Defensive Line have been pretty stout at the Line of Scrimmage and make teams work for everything they earn on the ground. The Dolphins will certainly feel they have a unit that can make things difficult for the New York Offensive Line, even with a potentially returning Hall, and that will give Miami a chance to try and stall drives.

One of the big issues that will need to have been resolved is generating a pass rush to back up the strong work at the Line of Scrimmage.

They are up against a Jets Offensive Line that has struggled to keep Geno Smith upright, although the veteran has been smart with his decision making and that has meant keeping Interceptions to a minimum in recent games. He did throw one last week, but Smith has been taking Sacks rather than throwing under pressure, and this may be a week in which he has a bit more time to try and attack this Dolphins Secondary.

Having Mitchell back should open up the passing game, but the Miami Dolphins may feel they can at least prevent the Jets from overpowering them on this side of the ball and that may set them up to have opportunities to earn the upset.

Much will depend on the Offensive unit, which has been led by Malik Willis who has struggled as the starting Quarter Back.

However, this is a game in which the Dolphins can lean on the Offensive Line who have opened up some strong running lanes, even in the absence of De'Von Achane. The likes of Ollie Gordon have made use of the opportunities handed to him and Willis is more capable moving the chains with his legs rather than his arm.

Both players should help the Dolphins establish the run as long as Miami are competitive in the contest and they can extend drives to control the clock. It will also be important to put Malik Willis in a position to make some short throws to the Receivers and see if the Dolphins can get into a position to earn an upset on the road.

Miami have won six of the last seven games in this Divisional rivalry, but that may be a run that is not extended this week.

Winning outright may not happen, but the Dolphins look to be receiving plenty of points in this one and the Bye Week work may see the road team make this a competitive loss at the very worst in Week 7 of the 2026 season.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Carolina Panthers Pick: In recent seasons, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-5) had dominated the NFC South, but the Carolina Panthers (3-2) broke their hold on the Division in 2025. Once again it is Carolina leading the way through the early part of the 2026 season, but it has been a really disappointing opening for Tampa Bay who need this win to just give themselves a realistic hope of getting back into the mix.

This is the first Divisional game of the season for the Buccaneers, but they would not want to fall five games below 0.500 with over a third of the regular season schedule completed. They will also be aware that the Panthers are already 1-0 in NFC South games in 2026 and so the return of Baker Mayfield could not have come at a better time for the road team.

Baker Mayfield has missed three games in a row and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers need a spark on the Offensive side of the ball, but this may not be as comfortable a match up as it may have felt before his injury.

Over the last three games, the Carolina Defensive unit have toughened up and that has all begun at the Line of Scrimmage where they have looked to make things more difficult for teams trying to run the ball against them. This has been a problem for the Panthers earlier in the season, but they will feel they can at least slow down the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Bucky Irving and that will give the Panthers some real belief if they are able to do that.

Tampa Bay's Offensive Line have been strong when it comes to the run blocking, but they have not been as comfortable keeping a Quarter Back upright, even though Jalon Daniels has been able to use his legs to move the pocket around. The Buccaneers may feel the experience of Baker Mayfield is key though and he is going to be throwing into a Secondary that has given up some big plays, although injuries in the Receiving corps will make things that much more difficult.

The Buccaneers and Mayfield struggled in a road loss here last season and they are facing a Carolina Panthers team that have looked more confident in 2026 having played in the post-season at the end of 2025.

Everything has come down to the development of Bryce Young who is now an established starter at Quarter Back and who can pick up from where he left off in the win over the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 6.

Carolina will want to stay balanced and run the ball, although they are facing a Buccaneers Defensive Line that has been pretty strong at the Line of Scrimmage. That will not see the Panthers change the plan and Bryce Young is capable of tucking the ball and running for First Down markers himself, and it is important to give the Quarter Back the open playbook to attack this Tampa Bay Secondary.

If the Panthers can at least keep Tampa Bay thinking about the run, Bryce Young and company should be able to make some big plays against this Secondary and that should give them the edge in this contest. There has been some problems for Tampa Bay against the pass in recent weeks and Carolina should be able to exploit that in their bid to beat this Divisional rival.

Bryce Young may get a little longer in the pocket than he has been used to in recent outings, and that should allow the Panthers to move the ball with some consistency.

A returning Baker Mayfield will give the Buccaneers a boost, but they may also struggle to lift themselves after some recent disappointments and the Carolina Panthers are good enough to win and cover.

Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions Pick: These two teams may be sitting in third and fourth place in the NFC North, but the Green Bay Packers (4-2) have won three in a row, while the Detroit Lions (3-2) are playing after a Bye Week as they moved above 0.500 for the season in Week 5.

This is looking like being another hugely competitive season in this Division and it would not be a surprise if at least three of the four teams playing in the NFC North are able to secure Playoff spots at the end of the season. Both the Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears have already produced five wins this season and so games between the Divisional rivals all have added meaning attached to them.

The Packers are 1-1 in the NFC North, while the Detroit Lions have yet to face one of those rivals within this Division.

Being at home after a Bye Week is an advantage, but the Lions will have had things to work on, especially on the Defensive side of the ball. They will have noted how well the Green Bay Packers have been playing and so this is going to be a test for Detroit inside the dome.

There have been areas in which the Lions will be feeling confident in what they can achieve and those are at the Line of Scrimmage on this side of the ball- the Detroit Defensive Line has been pretty stout up front and Green Bay have struggled to push the ball on the ground all season.

However, the Packers will be really pleased with the upturn in form produced by Jordan Love at Quarter Back and he will be throwing against a Detroit Secondary that have allowed huge amounts of passing yards... And that is despite the strength they have shown at the Line of Scrimmage.

There has been a consistent pass rush pressure produced by the Lions, but the Green Bay Offensive Line has been better at giving Jordan Love time to throw down the field and there are some big gaps to exploit. Green Bay will have a lot of belief in the Wide Receivers and their ability to get open to help the Quarter Back and the Packers can produce a big game on this side of the ball.

It has been a big reason for the Packers putting a three game winning run together, but the Defensive unit have also stepped up their level and they will feel they can give this Detroit Lions team some questions to answer.

Everything begins at the Line of Scrimmage and the Packers Defensive Line will be looking to win up front and force Jared Goff to have to beat them with his arm, although the Quarter Back is more than capable in doing that.

Jared Goff will be throwing into a Secondary that has allowed fewer than 185 passing yards per game in the last three wins, although the Lions have found confidence in the passing game and will be enjoying playing in the indoor conditions.

Turnovers could be key to the final outcome and credit has to be given to Jared Goff for avoiding big mistakes in the passing game, although that still does not necessarily mean the Lions can cover.

Having the hook over the key number 3 is important here and the Packers are capable of securing a backdoor cover at the very least. They are throwing the ball with enough authority to give the Defensive unit an opportunity to carry the team over the line and Green Bay can keep this close on the scoreboard, if not secure the outright upset.

Dallas Cowboys @ Philadelphia Eagles Pick: Monday Night Football would have felt very different if the Philadelphia Eagles (2-4) had not been hit with the kind of injuries they have suffered, which in turn has led to four losses in a row. The injuries are significant and that means the Eagles are home underdogs against the Dallas Cowboys (2-4) who have lost two in a row and have put themselves under significant pressure to begin turning things around.

The NFC East was once seen as the top Division in the NFL, but those days are gone now and it says something that that even a Washington Commanders team with a 1-4-1 record are going to feel they are in contention.

The winner of this one will hope to begin to chase down the New York Giants, who are surprisingly leading the Division despite losing the starting Quarter Back to a serious injury.

Dallas had scored at least 31 points in three straight games, but the consecutive losses are largely down to the Offensive ineptitude of the last two weeks. This is clearly something the team have discussed and the Cowboys know they need a lot more on this side of the ball if they are going to force their way to the top of the NFC East.

A big problem for the Cowboys is that they have been pretty predictable on this side of the ball and that is because the Offensive Line have struggled to help the team establish the run. This is something that is unlikely to change against the Philadelphia Defensive Line, who remain strong in that part of the unit, but Dak Prescott and company may be able to exploit the big holes that have been evident in the Eagles Secondary.

It has been particularly the case during the four game skid and the Eagles have struggled to get a lot of pressure onto Quarter Backs, which has enabled the signal caller to find the time and patience to hurt them down the field. Interceptions had been lacking, but the Eagles found a way to bait Bryce Young into some bad throws last week and they will note that Dak Prescott is seemingly never that far away from turning the ball over too.

However, it is going to be a test for the Eagles Defensive Backs to stop the Cowboys from having their successes in the passing game and that puts pressure on the home team when they do have the ball in hand.

After the Offensive Line were hit hard by an unexpected immediate retirement and the decision to trade away another important piece, the Eagles lost star Running Back Saquon Barkley to an injury. He is getting closer to a return, but Week 7 may be too early, and the Eagles have since lost Jalen Hurts as starting Quarter Back for the entirety of the season.

Tanner McKee had some good moments last week in his stead, but this is a Quarter Back learning on the job and the Eagles need him to pick things up quickly.

It really does not help that key Receivers have been missing, while the new look Offensive Line have not been able to help the Eagles from picking up significant yards on the ground. That has placed an extra burden on the Quarter Back and Tanner McKee's lack of experience is going to be a factor that likely works against the Eagles.

Having said that, McKee cannot have asked for too many better opponents than a Dallas Secondary that have not been very effective at stopping the pass, while the Cowboys Defensive Line have been pushed around at times. This may allow the Philadelphia Eagles to get something going Offensively as they look to protect a four game winning run at home against this Divisional rival.

You can always rely on Dak Prescott to perhaps put in an underwhelming display in a big spot, but all of the edges are still with the Cowboys and he should be able to outplay Tanner McKee with the support players on the Dallas roster.

Winning on the road is never easy, and especially not in a Divisional game, but the Cowboys have the edges to produce a big win on Monday Night Football as the road favourite.

MY PICKS: Pittsburgh Steelers - 3 Points @ 1.91 Paddy Power (1 Unit)

Miami Dolphins + 4.5 Points @ 2.00 Paddy Power (1 Unit)

Carolina Panthers - 2.5 Points @ 1.83 Bet Fred (1 Unit)

Green Bay Packers + 3.5 Points @ 1.91 Paddy Power (1 Unit)

Dallas Cowboys - 4.5 Points @ 1.91 William Hill (1 Unit)

Week 6: 2-4, - 1.95 Units (6 Units Staked, - 32.50% Yield)

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)

College Football Week 8 Picks 2026 (Saturday 24th October)

2026-10-24T15:38:55.289+01:00

We move forward into Week 8 after more and more upsets at the very top of the College Football Rankings.

Picks can be read below.

Texas Tech Red Raiders @ Cincinnati Bearcats Pick: There would have been plenty of tension around this Big 12 game if Brandon Sorsby had not been caught up in a gambling scandal in the same off-season where he chose to transfer from the Cincinnati Bearcats (4-2) to the Texas Tech Red Raiders (6-0).

Both teams will likely play down that situation with Sorsby ineligible to play in 2026, but this is still a big game with the Red Raiders looking to improve to 4-0 within the Conference.

Back to back defeats means the Cincinnati Bearcats are 1-2 in the Big 12, but they are hosting an opponent that have filled some of the void that had been left when the Oklahoma Sooners and Texas Longhorns left the Conference to join the SEC. The game is one that many would have circled before the season began and that should mean a motivated Cincinnati team enters the field.

They are facing a Red Raiders team that have had a winning record in each of the last five seasons and who finished with a 12-2 record in 2025, which included competing in the College Football Playoff. Texas Tech won the Big 12 Championship with a dominant win over the BYU Cougars to earn a spot in the Quarter Final of the Playoffs, although the Red Raiders were well beaten in that game.

A perfect start to the season will give the Red Raiders a lot of confidence and they do look to have the balance on the Offensive side of the ball that makes them very dangerous.

The Red Raiders Offensive Line have helped the team open up some huge running lanes, which has eased any pressure that may have been felt by Quarter Back Will Hammond who may not have been expected to be the starting player in that position. You have to expect the Red Raiders are going to be able to establish the run very effectively against this Cincinnati Defensive Line, while Hammond has done enough at Quarter Back to force teams to respect the passing game and not sell out at the Line of Scrimmage.

Will Hammond will feel he can carve up a Bearcats Secondary that has been struggling to stop the pass, especially from third and manageable spots and with the protection offered by his Offensive Line. The only aspect the Quarter Back needs to control is looking after the ball and avoiding Interceptions should see Texas Tech have a lot of success with the ball in hand.

Cincinnati will feel they can at least keep up on the scoreboard with their own Offensive game plan working well in recent games, but they did only score 7 points in a loss to the Arizona Wildcats earlier this month.

There has been a pretty strong balance on the Offensive side of the ball, but the Bearcats test will be at the Line of Scrimmage and trying to establish the run against this Red Raiders Defensive Line. If they can do that, JC French IV can have a solid game from the Quarter Back position to give his team an opportunity to earn an upset, but third and long spots are always that much more difficult to convert.

Even if the Bearcats are in that third and long spot, French IV has shown he can expose a Red Raiders Secondary that have given up plenty of yards through the air.

Where Texas Tech would win is that they could unleash the powerful pass rush to put JC French IV under pressure and see if they can force any mistakes from a Quarter Back that has simply not made many this season. In recent games, the Red Raiders have forced a number of turnovers through the air that have swung momentum in their favour and that may be the key to the outcome of this one.

A real road test is going to be challenging, but the Red Raiders have a couple of solid wins away from home this season and they can do enough to win and cover in this Big 12 contest.

LSU Tigers @ Auburn Tigers Pick: The two Tigers of the SEC meet in a big game in Week 8 and both the LSU Tigers (5-2) and Auburn Tigers (4-2) are 2-2 in the Conference.

Both of the LSU defeats have been on the road in the Conference at the Ole Miss Rebels and Kentucky Wildcats, while Auburn have split a couple of home games having followed the defeat to the Florida Gators by beating struggling Vanderbilt Commodores.

However, Auburn come into this game having created a big upset in winning at the Georgia Bulldogs last time out and both Head Coaches have spoken about the challenges of getting players to be able to lift the level after such an emotional performance.

In the United States it is described as 'relief syndrome' and Auburn have to find a way to use that momentum from the win over one of the top teams in the Conference.

Last week the Auburn Tigers finished with over 80 yards fewer than the Bulldogs, but they picked up three turnovers and that proved to be the key to the outcome of the game. They are once again going into a game where they will struggle for consistency on the Offensive side of the ball, but Auburn will look to use the momentum to start as fast as possible.

Running the ball against the LSU Defensive Line will not be easy but Auburn have to keep trying knowing the passing game is going to have another tough time moving the ball without being in third and manageable spots. In recent games the Defensive Line work completed by LSU has not been completely stout against the run, although they will still feel they have the edge at the Line of Scrimmage and that will give them the belief to force drives to stall.

Byrum Brown is likely going to have to deal with some pass rush pressure, but he should be credited for avoiding making mistakes in the win over Georgia. However, Brown has been guilty of throwing a few too many Interceptions with 7 already this season and the LSU Secondary will be well aware of that fact.

The LSU Tigers are not expected to have it much easier when they have the ball in their hands, but there is a bit more balance Offensively and they should have a touch more belief in Sam Leavitt at Quarter Back.

He has not had a stellar season, but Sam Leavitt has thrown 8 Touchdown passes with just 2 Interceptions in the last three SEC games played and LSU are going to be confident they can have enough success running the ball to put the Quarter Back in a comfortable position. The Auburn Secondary allowed 272 passing yards to Gunner Stockton last week, but they are able to create turnovers and 2 Interceptions gave them the edge in a narrow win.

This is the one concern for Sam Leavitt in another big road game.

However, if the LSU Tigers come out and put Auburn under early pressure, they are the team who can move above 0.500 within the Conference and they may have enough big plays in them Defensively to lead to a cover of this spread set.

Texas A&M Aggies @ Alabama Crimson Tide Pick: It is the first time in almost twenty years that the Alabama Crimson Tide (5-2) have lost consecutive games in the regular season and they have been dropped to 3-2 in the SEC. These defeats to the Georgia Bulldogs and Tennessee Volunteers are not fatal to their hopes of making the College Football Playoff, but the Crimson Tide are also well aware that they can ill-afford another defeat.

They will be going into a Bye Week following this game against the Texas A&M Aggies (4-3) who effectively were in a Bye last week when playing against an overmatched opponent.

The Aggies won, but they are just 1-3 in the SEC games played this season and they are in danger of failing to secure a winning record for the first time since 2022, while the defeats in the Conference means Texas A&M are unlikely to reach the College Football Playoff this season having secured a spot in 2025.

Marcel Reed was expected to display plenty of improvement in 2026 having put together a solid 2025 season, but the Quarter Back has struggled in 2026 and that has been one of the reasons the Aggies have had big issues on this side of the ball.

Running the ball to keep the pressure away from Reed is going to be tough for the Aggies against this Crimson Tide Defensive Line and that means it will be up to the Quarter Back to make his plays out of third and long spots. Some encouragement can be taken from the fact that the Alabama Secondary have run out of gas as they have been forced to spend a lot of time on the field and so Marcel Reed can make some big throws, although he will also need to be aware of the turnovers that can bee created by the Crimson Tide.

Texas A&M will want to see a bit more from the Offensive unit and the same can be said for the Crimson Tide who have scored twenty-seven points in the consecutive losses to the Bulldogs and Volunteers. Keelon Russell has struggled at Quarter Back, but he may feel this is a match up that is more favourable to Alabama as long as the Offensive Line can dig in and establish the run.

The Offensive Line struggled in run blocking against Georgia and Tennessee, but the Aggies Defensive Line have not been as consistently stout as those two teams and that is something the Alabama Crimson Tide will be looking to exploit. Ensuring Russell is in third and manageable spots will give Alabama a chance to bounce back from the consecutive defeats as they return to Tuscaloosa.

It is also important for the run to be established to help the Offensive Line in pass protection as they have allowed Keelon Russell to be harassed relentlessly in the last couple of games.

Making plays from third and manageable spots will give the Crimson Tide an opportunity to keep the chains moving, even against an Aggies Secondary that have played at a decent level all season.

This is a big spread for a team that may be lacking some confidence to cover, but the Texas A&M Aggies have suffered a couple of blowouts on the road at the LSU Tigers and Missouri Tigers. If Marcel Reed is not able to look after the ball, this could end up being another game that gets away from the Aggies in the second half and the Number 13 Ranked Alabama Crimson Tide can get back on track.

MY PICKS: Texas Tech Red Raiders - 11.5 Points @ 1.85 William Hill (1 Unit)

LSU Tigers - 7.5 Points @ 1.93 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Alabama Crimson Tide - 13.5 Points @ 1.87 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Tennessee Volunteers + 2.5 Points @ 1.86 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Kansas State Wildcats - 1.5 Points @ 1.91 William Hill (1 Unit)

Boxing Picks 2026- Dalton Smith vs Alberto Puello (Saturday 24th October)

2026-10-24T13:52:03.569+01:00

It is another big weekend of Boxing and the return of Dalton Smith to defend his World Title for the first time is making the headlines in the United Kingdom.

He has not gone in with a 'gimme' to give the home crowd something to celebrate, but a win for Smith could propel his career in the Light-Welterweight Division.

We also have a top fight over in the United States featuring two Super Featherweights who believe they are the very best in the Division and the winner is going to leave with three of the four World Titles.

Dalton Smith vs Alberto Puello

It would have been really easy for Dalton Smith to decide to have something of a homecoming fight before taking on a former World Champion in the first defence of his WBC Light-Welterweight World Title, but it has been a year of inactivity thanks to injury and Smith is looking to march forward.

He is unbeaten and Dalton Smith ripped the World Title from the boogeyman of the Division when Stopping Subriel Matias in the Fifth Round in New York City.

Seeing off this mandatory challenger may allow Dalton Smith to target one of the other two World Champions in a Unification bid, while the domestic fight with Adam Azim could become a big one in 2027 if the latter can move forward and win the currently vacant IBF World Title as one of the top Ranked fighters with that organisation.

Looking too far ahead would be a mistake and Smith will know that.

Alberto Puello lost the WBC World Title to the aforementioned Matias in what was a very competitive and close fight.

That remains the only defeat on the record, but Puello had won the previous two contests on Split Decisions and you do have to wonder if he is active enough in Twelve Round fights to earn one on the road.

Dalton Smith has power, but is also a better Boxer than some may think and he may have the gas tank to overwhelm Alberto Puello, although Stopping the Challenger may be tough.

The power was evident in the win over Subriel Matias back in January, and a late Stoppage cannot be ruled out here if the referee is perhaps as cautious as some of the officials have become. We have seen them make some bad decisions to step in when not warranted and Dalton Smith is going to be pressing the fight, but Alberto Puello has shown he is a tough enough fighter to see the cards in a defeat on Saturday night.

There are some prospects on the undercard, but the chief support should see Giorgio Visioli continue his progress at the expense of veteran Maxi Hughes.

The later deserves respect, but Hughes was Stopped earlier this year and at 36 years old he is dropping back a Division, which is far from ideal.

Giorgio Visioli is still a developing fighter, but he may have enough to force an end to the contest before the final bell is heard at the end of the Tenth Round.

Over in the United States, Emanuel Navarrete vs O'Shaquie Foster is worthy of the main event status it is getting this weekend.

They hold three of the four World Titles in the Super Featherweight Division and this really does feel like a fifty-fifty fight.

Both have been in decent form- Emanuel Navarrete has looked back to his old self when returning to this Division having suffered a defeat at Lightweight, while O'Shaquie Foster has a couple of rock solid wins over Stephen Fulton and Raymond Ford ahead of this one.

Some will believe this is a Matador vs The Bull contest with Foster the technical Boxer and Navarrete looking to get forward and unleash bombs, but the latter is far from orthodox and the angles he finds breaks opponents down.

That could be the key here and the narrow underdog from Mexico may do just enough to edge past O'Shaquie Foster in what should be a very good fight to watch.

MY PICKS: Dalton Smith to Win by Decision/Technical Decision @ 2.20 William Hill (1 Unit)

Giorgio Vasioli to Win by KO/TKO/Disqualification @ 2.37 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Emanuel Navarrete @ 2.50 William Hill (1 Unit)

Boxing 2026: 28-47, - 11.13 Units (121 Units Staked, - 9.20% Yield)

European Championship Darts Day 3 Picks 2026 (Saturday 24th October)

2026-10-24T03:07:01.522+01:00

The German crowd refused to play the part of a pantomime villain as some expected them to do and that made for another really strong Session at the European Championships on Friday.

The action on Saturday should be very good across two Sessions when the entire Second Round is played- the format has moved from best of eleven to a best of nineteen Leg setting and that means more breaks of momentum within matches.

Quality matches can be found wherever you look in the draw and so it should be a fun day of Darts as the Quarter Final lineup comes together.

Ross Smith to win & over 4.5 180s v Damon Heta: The top Seed in the draw was not at his best in the First Round, but Ross Smith found another big scoring to edge out Karel Sedlacek.

Ross Smith admitted to feeling some nerves so that win in the First Round should have settled him down.

Building on that will not be easy against Damon Heta, who edged out James Wade, although the Australian will also be pretty clear that his level needs to improve if he is going to get into the last eight.

When The Heat is on fire, he can be very tough to stop, but Ross Smith has the power scoring to make sure the Number 1 Seed continues marching forward. The format should give Ross Smith enough time to reach at least five maximums in a winning effort against Damon Heta.

Luke Littler to win & over 6.5 180s v Nathan Aspinall: They have played some close matches this season and in this kind of longer format, but Luke Littler has edged past Nathan Aspinall and has the mental advantage.

There had been a concern as to how the German crowd would treat him in Dortmund, but Luke Littler's level impressed all and that may be the case again in the Second Round.

Nathan Aspinall is a fan favourite and will enjoy the majority of the support and he is more than capable of producing some high level darts, which will see him pick up Legs.

You just have to wonder if The Asp has the mental belief to win a match against Luke Littler on a big stage and the World Number 1 can come out and pepper the treble 20 bed on his way to another win over this opponent.

Josh Rock most 180s v Jonny Clayton: These two players are familiar to one another and they should enjoy the pace that the other offers, which should lead to a really good Second Round match.

Jonny Clayton has been in superior recent form and is a narrow favourite, but Josh Rock impressed in the First Round on Friday.

Picking a winner is not easy, but Rocky should have the edge when it comes to hitting the maximums.

Even in defeats to Clayton in the Premier League, Josh Rock showed off his maximum hitting power and he may secure more of those than Welshman even if Jonny Clayton comes through the match.

MY PICKS: Ross Smith to Win & Over 4.5 180s @ 2.05 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Luke Littler to Win & Over 6.5 180s @ 1.80 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Josh Rock Most 180s @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

European Championship Update: 4-3, + 1.55 Units (7 Units Staked, + 22.14% Yield)

English Football Premier League Picks Game Week 8 2026/27 (Friday 23rd October 2026-Sunday 25th October 2026)

2026-10-23T18:15:08.611+01:00

It has been a difficult start to the season for Michael Carrick and his Manchester United team, but it does go to show that sometimes the data has to be used next to the results and with the eye test.

Even at the back end of last season, there was no doubt Manchester United were benefiting from having a lot more time between games than the majority of their rivals, but Carrick's team also ended up on the right side of a number of fortunate results.

This time those results have swung the other way- instead of being fortunate to find a late goal to win a game or earn a draw, Manchester United have conceded late goals to drop points against Everton and Tottenham Hotspur, while blowing leads at Leeds United and having an incredibly controversial goal awarded against them in the derby.

It is an example of results returning to the mean and Michael Carrick has seemingly lost the faith of the dressing room after comments made by Lisandro Martinez and Bruno Fernandes following defeats in the Champions League at Atletico Madrid and Como.

The loss in Italy during the week has been particularly bruising and it has made the fixture against Bournemouth to be played this Sunday feel like a pivotal one.

Dropping points may spark a managerial change, even if the reports are that the club would like to get into the next international break before making any decisions, but that does mean another three Premier League games and another Champions League game to be played.

Once again there is a feeling around the fanbase that Manchester United could be fighting at the wrong end of the Premier League table, while the two Champions League defeats means they are in danger of becoming the first English club to fail to make the Knock Out Rounds from the new Group Stage format of that competition.

Just when you think things cannot get any worse, Manchester United find a way.

Make no mistake, almost all of the problems comes down to the ownership with the hugely disliked Glazer family still in control, while Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his INEOS team have somehow battered the morale of the supporters even more.

For all of their many faults, the Glazers chose not to take aim at the main core of the supporter base, but INEOS seem to have relished that fight and it just creates a 'toxic' environment much like the one that Erik ten Hag left a couple of years ago.

Ipswich Town vs Nottingham Forest: Stormy weather is battering the United Kingdom this weekend and this is an important game that could be played in heavy rain and windy conditions.

There is still a feeling that both Ipswich Town and Nottingham Forest can offer more going forward than defensively, especially in this home/away situation.

Oliver Glasner's team have yet to get going at the City Ground, but have been creating a lot of chances in the three away League games played and that will give them confidence. Morgan Gibbs-White could be back to offer them a boost and they can give the home team trouble, although the defensive numbers in the 3-1 loss at Crystal Palace suggests Ipswich Town can more than play their part in the contest.

Fantasy: There are a number of players that can make an impact, including the aforementioned Gibbs-White.

However, it may be wiser to select someone like Dan Ndoye who has a couple of away goals to his name already.

Aston Villa vs Manchester City: Enzo Maresca will look to do something that escaped Pep Guardiola while in charge of Manchester City and that is beat Unai Emery's Aston Villa at Villa Park.

Last season Aston Villa won both games against Manchester City, but this is a transitioning team and one that is still searching for the consistency that could see them make rapid moves up the League table.

Recent results have been better, but the potential absence of Johan Manzambi is a big blow and may give Manchester City the edge.

In saying that, it is very difficult to ignore how well Emery's team have matched up with Manchester City and Aston Villa have not been blown away since the 4-0 away defeat at Brighton to open the campaign. Strong results out of the international break will give the home team encouragement and they can be backed with a full goal start on the Asian Handicap.

Fantasy: You'd like Johan Manzambi if he had not picked up an injury, but the big danger for the home team may be Phil Foden who has proven to be a streaky player with his goalscoring.

He has four goals in the last week and may be a key to any Manchester City success.

Arsenal vs Everton: This has been a fixture that has proven to be difficult for Arsenal, but one in which the quality eventually finds a breakthrough.

Bukayo Saka and Christos Tzolis are both missing, but there is enough depth here to believe Arsenal can do enough to beat Everton once again.

A poor performance resulted in a first Premier League defeat of the season for Everton last week, but they should offer more all around after working with David Moyes for a number of days in preparation for this fixture. There is a threat that Everton offer from set pieces, but Arsenal's focus may be doubled on the defensive side of the field in order to give their own attackers an opportunity or two to earn the three points.

Fantasy: The defenders are all going to be worth selecting when you think Arsenal have conceded once in the last four at home against Everton.

Coventry City vs Fulham: This is another game that looks like it could be played in the middle of the worst off the weather on Saturday afternoon and that may impact the quality on display.

Both Coventry City and Fulham have earned important points in recent weeks, but they are coming into this one behind very different results.

Frank Lampard will always expect a reaction at home, but Fulham have shown they can create chances and this may be a fixture where both teams can get on the scoreboard and then push for an important winner.

Fantasy: Players like Bobby Thomas have shown they can provide fantasy points from their defensive work, but he is also a threat in the final third from set pieces.

Two weeks ago, Jack Rudoni was selected on these pages and has scored twice in a row and looks to be a big threat for the home team.

A Fulham pick, Josh King, has yet to return as expected, but he has been getting into good positions and remains an influential threat in the away ranks.

Chelsea vs Tottenham Hotspur: This is a London derby where there is no love lost between the two clubs, but games at Stamford Bridge have tended to end in a Chelsea win over Tottenham Hotspur.

Roberto De Zerbi will be relieved his team won last Monday, but it may have come at a cost and opening goalscorer James Maddison is a doubt.

The manager will also need Tottenham Hotspur to show a bit more resiliency defensively if they are going to contain this Chelsea attack and Xabi Alonso's men have looked tougher all around since Moises Caicedo returned to action.

Fantasy: Most will have at least two of the three top Chelsea attackers and it may be Cole Palmer's time to shine.

Crystal Palace vs Newcastle United: Pierre Sage is under some pressure, but there is something about this Crystal Palace team that suggests the manager deserves some patience.

He could do with a positive result or two before the next international break and the fans will be expecting a big reaction to the 5-0 loss at Brighton last Sunday.

It is a surprise that Crystal Palace are underdogs, despite that result, and that is because Newcastle United are having some problems getting to grips with what Matthias Jaissle wants to see from his team.

Back to back 4-1 away defeats at Leeds United and Coventry City offers little encouragement and The Magpies look short.

Fantasy: Jean-Philippe Mateta is back for Crystal Palace and that is a big boost, but it is Yeremy Pino who has been providing a lot of the threat in the final third and the Spaniard could be key again.

Hull City vs Brentford: Injuries are beginning to clear up at Hull City, but they cannot afford too many more performances like the one produced at Craven Cottage last weekend.

They offered little bite in the final third and the 1-0 loss was flattering and now Hull City have to deal with a Brentford team who have begun this season in strong form.

Keith Andrews will have been upset as to how they were beaten last weekend by Liverpool in West London and he is also keen to have Brentford begin to pick up more points away from home. So far Brentford have been tough to beat, but they have the qualities to do a little more in this part of Yorkshire and that means finding the goals in the final third to send Hull City to a first home defeat of the season.

Fantasy: We have yet to see the best of Igor Thiago this season, but he will take heart from the goal Thierno Barry scored here earlier this month and can kickstart his season at the MKM Stadium.

Liverpool vs Brighton: There is a fear that the weather could worsen around Anfield ahead of this Sunday Premier League fixture, but the likelihood is that this will not be a victim to the conditions and the game will kick off as planned.

Both Liverpool and Brighton are managed by men who want to see the team get forward and create problems for the other, but the weather may make that more difficult.

Brighton look like a team that will take some chances with their shooting and that could see them rack up at least four Shots on Target, although whether that is enough to secure a positive result is another question.

Liverpool have enjoyed hosting Brighton and found a way to win matches that they have perhaps not deserved to win, which makes them dangerous, but Fabian Hurzeler's men should contribute to the fixture with plenty of attacking threat posed.

Fantasy: There are a number of players on both sides of the pitch that will feel they can impact this fixture and that makes Fantasy decisions harder to call.

Alexander Isak looks to have found his feet in a Liverpool shirt and could be the main threat for the hosts, while Diego Gomez is well rested after scoring what could be the goal of the season last weekend.

Manchester United vs Bournemouth: Before the European games were played this week, Manchester United were odds on to win this fixture, but that price has been drifting since the embarrassing loss to Como.

Making matters worse are the comments made by Bruno Fernandes in the aftermath of the 4-1 defeat in Italy and Michael Carrick is under immense pressure.

Will the players try for the manager? Most likely, but Manchester United have not enjoyed playing Bournemouth in recent seasons and they are unlikely to snap a 6 game winless run against this opponent.

The real worry is that Bournemouth win for a third time in four visits to Old Trafford and leave Michael Carrick with nowhere to go.

Fantasy: Bryan Mbeumo has been the biggest Manchester United contributor in recent weeks, but they look vulnerable and Evanilson is in the form to capitalise.

Sunderland vs Leeds United: The pressure is building on Regis Le Bris, but Sunderland may be facing Leeds United at a good time after Daniel Farke suggested his first choice attacking players could all miss out.

However, Leeds United have shown plenty of resilience and they have the qualities to make life awkward for the hosts.

Sunderland rested some important players in the 1-1 draw at Lech Poznan in the Europa League on Thursday, but they are finding it tough to find the balance between the Premier League and those new European commitments. It has been a factor in the poor start to the season and it may just be a game in which Sunderland look to snap a poor run of form.

Four losses in a row has seen them slide to the bottom of the table, but the last two between Sunderland and Leeds United at the Stadium of Light have both ended in draws and this could be another.

Fantasy: With the injuries in the Leeds United camp, the fantasy options look limited from a game that could easily end 1-1.

MY PICKS: Ipswich Town-Nottingham Forest Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.72 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Aston Villa + 1 Asian Handicap @ 1.80 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Arsenal Win to Nil @ 2.30 William Hill (1 Unit)

Coventry City-Fulham Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.75 William Hill (1 Unit)

Chelsea to Win & Over 1 Total Goal @ 1.86 Bet365 (1 Unit) Early Payout if Two Up

Crystal Palace + 0.25 Asian Handicap @ 1.85 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Brentford to Win & Over 1 Goal @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit) Early Payout if Two Up

Brighton Over 3.5 Shots on Target @ 1.66 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Sunderland-Leeds United Draw @ 3.30 Bet Fred (0.5 Units)

Premier League 26/27: 14-23-1, - 5.43 Units (37 Units Staked, - 14.68% Yield)

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

European Championship Darts Day 2 Picks 2026 (Friday 23rd October)

2026-10-23T12:01:37.657+01:00

A Nine Darter being hit in the first match at the European Championship in Dortmund has set the standard and it was a good first Session of the tournament as half of the First Round was completed.

The bottom half gets underway on Friday and then all of the players will be on a similar schedule through the remainder of the tournament.

Just before we get into the Day 2 Picks, it would be wrong to skip past the 'Beat Luke Littler' show that Netflix have commissioned- the theory sounded like a lot of fun with amateurs playing at their local club getting a shot at the World Number 1 with the opportunity to win a life-changing amount of money.

Instead it is clearly a show where the organisers had already determined the kind of players they wanted to compete and it is genuinely one in which where the the interest will have dropped significantly since the announcement of the contenders had been released to the public.

Luke Littler will get paid and it would not be a surprise if someone does beat him over one Leg, but it's a concept that has missed the opportunity it was supposed to offer, at least in theory and how the televised show sounded when first announced. The punters will likely show up to see Littler, but this all feels like a bit of money grab for all involved and not something that particularly interests this writer.

But each to their own I suppose.

Nathan Aspinall to win & over 2.5 180s v Cristo Reyes: You have to imagine Nathan Aspinall was pretty disappointed with his relatively early exit at the Dutch Darts Championship and especially as it leaves on yet another early collision course with World Number 1 Luke Littler.

The Asp cannot think too far ahead and has to focus on the task at hand and that is facing Cristo Reyes in the First Round in Dortmund.

Credit has to be given to the World Number 71 for the level he has produced in 2026 and Cristo Reyes will be expecting to move up those Rankings in 2027. He played really well at the European Tour 14 stop in Basel earlier this month and Reyes is a very dangerous opponent at his best.

With that said, this is looking like it could develop into a very fun First Round match considering the kind of form Nathan Aspinall has been able to produce more often than not.

Both should hit plenty of maximums during the contest, but Nathan Aspinall may find a bit more at key moments in the First Round match and that may see him edge through having contributed at least three 180s on the night.

Wessel Nijman to win & over 4.5 match 180s v Martin Schindler: This has not been the kind of year that Martin Schindler would have expected, but there have been some recent signs that he is getting back to his best.

He was beaten by Damon Heta in a high quality match last weekend in the Netherlands, but Martin Schindler was competitive and he will certainly believe he can use the home crowd to motivate him in Dortmund.

Wessel Nijman played some stunning darts in the first half of 2026, but his recent results have been a little more inconsistent.

The Dutchman has moved into the World Number 12 spot, but that also meant having to play some of the elite players on the Tour in early Rounds at the big Ranking events. So far Wessel Nijman has struggled to just find the consistency at big moments to turn those matches in his favour more often than not, but the level of his performances remain high.

Both players are capable of scoring plenty of maximums and this looks match that may need at least nine Legs, which could be enough for the two players to combine for at least five maximums.

The edge is still with Wessel Nijman and he can be backed to move through to the Second Round on Saturday.

Chris Dobey to win & over 1.5 180s v Josh Rock: Both of these players are looking for a significant run in one of the Ranking events coming up before the World Championships in a bid to boost confidence.

Both Chris Dobey and Josh Rock have been losing a lot of matches recently, but there is a feeling that they have been on the wrong end of some quality performances from opponents.

That was the case for Chris Dobey in his loss to Cristo Reyes last weekend in the Netherlands, although his own missed Doubles proved costly when losing to Bradley Brooks in Basel at the European Tour 14 event. Cleaning up the Doubles is key considering how well Dobey has continued to score and that may give him the edge in this First Round match.

Josh Rock is a power scorer at his best, but he has lost four of the last five matches played.

The Northern Irishman has had a couple of weeks off since last averaging 82 and losign to Karel Sedlacek and that may have just given Josh Rock an opportunity to reset.

Maximums should be flowing in a match featuring these two players, but the edge overall is with Chris Dobey even if that means having confidence in him clearing up the problems he has had in closing Legs.

MY PICKS: Nathan Aspinall to Win & Over 2.5 180s @ 2.20 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Wessel Nijman to Win & Over 4.5 Match 180s @ 2.05 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Chris Dobey to Win & Over 1.5 180s @ 2.00 Bet365 (1 Unit)

European Championship Update: 3-1, + 2.35 Units (4 Units Staked, + 58.75% Yield)

European Championship Darts Day 1 Picks 2026 (Thursday 22nd October)

2026-10-22T17:18:02.536+01:00

We are now fast approaching the end of the 2026 PDC season, but this is the time of the year when the big tournaments seem to be played every week.

The last European Tour event of the season was concluded in the Netherlands and that means the field for the European Championship has been confirmed with the draw ready to get underway on Thursday.

Sadly Luke Humphries is not going to be able to travel to take his Seeded spot in the draw, but this should mean he has time to get over the illness that has forced his withdrawal and be ready to go when the Grand Slam of Darts gets underway in November. That Ranking tournament is concluded the weekend before the Players Championship Finals is played in Minehead and then all attention will turn to the World Championships that are now less than two months away from getting underway.

It does mean there is an opportunity for players to lay down a marker about their ambitions in December through to early January and the three Ranking events left all offer chances for those competing.

Luke Littler is the favourite of course, but he had drifted into odds against quotes before the announcement from Luke Humphries was made.

Players in the top half of the draw will feel things have opened up without the World Grand Prix Champion being involved in Dortmund, while all may feel Littler is vulnerable playing in front of the German crowds he dislikes so much. That has not prevented him winning titles in Germany, but Luke Littler can be rattled and his recent form has not been all that impressive, at least comparatively to what we have come to expect from the World Number 1.

First Round action gets underway in Dortmund on Thursday and the Round is completed on Friday.

We then have two Sessions of Second Round matches to be concluded on Saturday before the Quarter Finals are played in the Day Session on Sunday.

The Semi Final and Final is then played in the Evening Session to conclude the European portion of the Tour barring a couple of Players Championship events, and this should be a fun weekend of Darts for those watching at home and at the venue.

Niels Zonneveld - 1.5 legs v Cameron Menzies: You can just never be sure what you are going to get from Cameron Menzies when he heads onto the oche, but recent form has been disappointing.

He struggled in the Netherlands last week and Cameron Menzies made Stephen Bunting barely break into a sweat to move past him in the Second Round.

It is a defeat that means Cameron Menzies has lost four of his last five matches and now he has to take on an opponent who has to be buzzing having picked up the Dutch Darts Championship title last week.

Niels Zonneveld put together a very solid tournament to win that big title and he has to be feeling pretty confident going into the European Championship.

There is a concern that he may not be as focused or ready to compete just days after winning such an important title for his own career, but Niels Zonneveld has the quality and confidence to progress past Cameron Menzies before this gets to a deciding Leg.

Gerwyn Price to win & over 3.5 match 180s v Rob Cross: Two former World Champions meet in the First Round in Dortmund and it has all the makings of being a very competitive match.

Both Gerwyn Price and Rob Cross will be happy with the recent form shown on the Tour, although it is the former who has found a way to win matches even when not at his absolute best.

There is no doubt that the second half of the 2026 season has been more positive for Rob Cross than the first as he moves through some personal issues, but the whole year has been a strong one for Gerwyn Price.

Only a big Ranking title is missing, but Price may be the favourite to come out of the top half of the draw in the absence of Luke Humphries and he may edge what should be a quality First Round match.

Kim Huybrechts-Ryan Searle over 5.5 180s: He takes his place in the draw at the European Championship after Luke Humphries was forced to withdraw and Kim Huybrechts is a potentially dangerous opponent for all he faces.

At his best, Huybrechts has the scoring power to make things very awkward for anyone he faces and Ryan Searle will be well aware of that.

However, Heavy Metal has beaten him twice on the European Tour this season and that should give him the confidence to do so again, which is also what the layers are anticipating having priced Ryan Searle as a pretty strong favourite.

Both players looked to be peppering the treble 20 bed with real authority last week in the Netherlands and they are capable of combining for at least six in the First Round in Dortmund.

Two previous meetings have been pretty different in terms of the maximums hit- the first of those saw both produce plenty in just seven Legs, but the second match last nine Legs and ended with just three maximums shared out as both Huybrechts and Searle struggled to find their best.

If they can pick up from where they left off in Maastricht, these two players are capable of plenty of big scoring and the total 180s line can be surpassed.

Ross Smith to win & over 2.5 180s v Karel Sedlacek: He won a floor title in September and has used the confidence from that win to put some solid perfomances on the stage at the European Tour events over the last few weeks.

That is all well and good for Karel Sedlacek, but beating the top Seed on the European Tour at the European Championship is going to be a big ask.

Ross Smith was beaten relatively early in Maastricht last week, but has recently won a big Ranking title at the World Series of Darts Finals. He has loved playing on the European Tour all season and Smudger looks like someone capable of having a big run at the World Championship with the right draw in front of him.

There is no doubt that there will be a respect for the level that Karel Sedlacek has been able to produce in recent weeks, but Ross Smith has to believe his best will be enough to get through to the Second Round on Saturday.

Strong scoring has propelled Ross Smith and he can throw at least three maximums in what should be a match that goes at least nine Legs.

MY PICKS: Niels Zonneveld - 1.5 Legs @ 2.20 William Hill (1 Unit)

Gerwyn Price to Win & Over 3.5 Match 180s @ 1.95 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Kim Huybrechts-Ryan Searle Over 5.5 180s @ 2.25 William Hill (1 Unit)

Ross Smith to Win & Over 2.5 180s @ 2.15 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Darts 2026: 154-188, - 20.90 Units (341 Units Staked, - 6.13% Yield)

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)