Boxing Picks 2020- Daniel Dubois vs Joe Joyce (November 28th)

While the casual Boxing fan may be most excited about the return of 'Iron' Mike Tyson in an exhibition bout against Roy Jones Jr, the real feeling is that this fight is twenty years too late to be one of real importance.

I credit both Tyson and Jones Jr for wanting to still get out there and display their skills for charity, but real Boxing fans have to be much more excited about the bout in London between Daniel Dubois and Joe Joyce which may be setting up the next big challenger in the Division.

The loser of that fight between two unbeaten Boxers can come back, but the winner may be on the brink of challenging for a World Title in 2021 as the Number 2 Ranked fighter in the WBO Rankings, the one title that is most likely to be vacated by Anthony Joshua assuming he can make a deal with Tyson Fury for a Unification.

We also have a decent looking Matchroom USA card on Friday and Tony Yoka, another big Heavyweight prospect, is in action before looking to move onto bigger and better things in 2021.

I give a lot of credit to the Boxers and promoters that are still putting together some brilliant bouts during a difficult time and it looks a very strong end to the calendar year as well as the Ryan Garcia vs Luke Campbell bout scheduled for the first weekend in January.

We are being spoiled so enjoy it.

Tony Yoka vs Christian Hammer

Boxing is as much about making a statement on the way up the World Rankings as it is about winning and that is why so many veterans do get these opportunities to become 'gate-keepers' to any Division.

Christian Hammer would probably not be too impressed if he was ever to read himself described that way, but he has long looked like a Boxer who is very good to a point but who has struggled to push past the best fighters he has been in the ring with. Tyson Fury stopped him in the Eighth Round, but he has gone the distance in losing comfortable Decisions to Alexander Povetkin and Luis Ortiz.

A then unbeaten Marius Wach stopped him in Six Rounds and if someone asked me what is the best win on the Hammer resume I would likely say either Erkan Teper or David Price.

Those are decent enough wins, but Olympic Gold Medal Winner Tony Yoka will feel he can go further than both Teper and Price.

The Frenchman destroyed compatriot Johann Duhaupas in a single Round in September and that is an impressive win considering the kind of company Duhaupas has kept in the past. However it is clear his better days are behind him and early wins over Alexander Dimitrenko and Michael Wallisch are decent enough from Tony Yoka although neither of those wins will have put a lot of fear through others in the Division.

Stopping Christian Hammer will at least get people to take some notice and I do think Tony Yoka will be able to do that even if the underdog decides he is going to try and get to the final bell.

I think Yoka may hit harder than Ortiz and Povetkin and his size will mean it will be difficult for Christian Hammer to keep him off him throughout the Ten Rounds. Christian Hammer has shown toughness though so I would be surprised if this is an early night for Tony Yoka like his recent fights have been and instead he may have to grind down Hammer like he did to David Allen.

Only two of the eight professional fights Tony Yoka has had have ended past the Fifth Round, but I think this is going to be another as he has to take his time and wear down a tough and game opponent. I do think Christian Hammer's best days are now behind him and he has had a single Round in over eighteen months which could mean he could get caught cold, but I think he holds himself together before being stopped in the Seventh or Eighth Round.

Daniyar Yeleussinov vs Julius Indongo

A lot of people are quite high on Daniyar Yeleussinov, including promoter Eddie Hearn, and he has a chance to continue increasing the stature of his name when placed as the main support bout on the Daniel Jacobs card in the United States.

Eddie Hearn has made it clear that to really start putting bums on seats you have to be more exciting and that has to happen early in the career before going in with the big names at 147 when Yeleussinov can display his Boxing skills against the better opponents he faces.

I do think this is something that has been taken on board by the Kazakhstan fighter and he has stopped his last two opponents having needed the cards in four of his first seven wins. Now he gets to try and showcase his power and skills in facing a former 140 pound Champion who is moving up to 147 for this bout.

Julius Indongo is well known to British fight fans for beating Ricky Burns on the cards in an upset in April 2017, but he has found the next level very, very difficult. In his next bout he was stopped by Terence Crawford in Three Rounds in a Unification and then was able to fight for the vacant WBC Light-Welterweight Title when the American moved up in weight.

Unfortunately for Indongo he was then stopped in Two Rounds by Regis Prograis and this will be the first time we see him in a ring since August 2019.

Daniyar Yeleussinov has fought twice since then and he is the naturally bigger man who will have a chance to make a statement by following Crawford and Prograis by putting Julius Indongo down in this one too. I do think he is going to stand in the pocket and look to trade with an opponent who has shown he is someone who may not be able to take the shot on the whiskers like he would want.

Being a little ring rusty may also see Julius Indongo struggle to keep his opponent off him and I think we will see a big performance from the favourite to show he is ready to go with anyone in the Division. There are some huge names in the Division, but fans will only clamour for Yeleussinov to be in with them if he does put a third stoppage in a row on his resume and against a former Champion with the easy comparison made to two big American names.

It is up to Daniyar Yeleussinov to show he should be amongst those big names and I expect a relatively early night for the Kazakh who has not been past Five Rounds in either of his last two fights.

Daniel Jacobs vs Gabriel Rosado

He may be suggesting that Gabriel Rosado has not earned a fight with him, but has talked himself into this one, but that doesn't mean anything for Daniel Jacobs unless he looks really good on Friday.

Better than expected efforts in losing to Gennady Golovkin and Canelo Alvarez has raised the Jacobs stock, but he is looking to get back into contention for a World Title shot as Jacobs has moved up and operating at the Super Middleweight level.

The win over Julio Cesar Chavez Jr was controversial if only because the Mexican retired on his stool without really being troubled by Jacobs and the fans were quick to blame both Boxers on the night. A Split Decision against Sergey Derevyanchenko and Unanimous Decisions over Luis Arias and Maciej Sulecki have not really gotten the fans going and so it is up to Jacobs to put on a more entertaining performance here.

Some have suggested that Daniel Jacobs is not convinced about his own chin which means he won't take unnecessary risks to finish off opponents, but Gabriel Rosado looks made for a big win for the favourite.

That is not taking anything away from Rosado who is better than his record would indicate, but he has only won two of his last six bouts. You know you won't get a backward step from Gabriel Rosado, but he has hit the canvas many times in his career and there is a feeling that his skin is now a little cut vulnerable which makes this a tough fight for him.

As I said, I think he is made for a big win for Danny Jacobs and I do think he will be able to put enough shots together as long as this one lasts to eventually not need the cards.

It may mean a cut preventing Gabriel Rosado from really getting motoring and it may see the corner or the referee having to call it a day. Daniel Jacobs has to know another Decision win is not going to be something the fans will be looking for and he has to show there is a lot left in the tank by getting on the front foot and finishing off a fighter when he is on top.

I would not be surprised to see this one being competitive through the first half of the bout, but Daniel Jacobs should take control by then and force a stoppage in and around the Championship Rounds.

David Adeleye vs Danny Whitaker

The main event of the show might be a blockbuster Heavyweight bout, but David Adeleye will soon want to be headlining a card like this one himself.

The 3-0 Heavyweight has had a decent amateur background and has sparred with the likes of Daniel Dubois and Tyson Fury and many are tipping up Adeleye as a future World Champion.

At 24 years old there is still some learning to do, but I think he can continue his devastating start to his pro career as he looks for a fourth win and a fourth stoppage. You can't ignore the fact that David Adeleye has needed One, Two and then Three Rounds to win his first three fights so this Six Rounder may go a little longer than the layers believe, although I tend to think the bookmakers have got it right with this undercard bout.

Danny Whitaker has scheduled this fight and then faces Kash Ali in mid-December and his defeat against a rebuilding Nick Webb might show the kind of limitations 'Big Dawg' will have in the professional ranks.

A 4-1 record is decent enough without delving into the level of opponents Danny Whitaker has faced and you do have to be worried about the fact he has not stopped any previous opponent. That suggests he won't have the power to worry David Adeleye who will be looking to showcase his talents to a wider audience and I do think he should be good enough to steamroll Whitaker who was down once and then stopped by Nick Webb in the First Round last December.

Not many have gotten Phil Williams out of there, but David Adeleye managed to stop him in the same Round as the rapidly improving Fabian Wardley and I do think the Londoner will be able to hurt Danny Whitaker quickly in this bout.

I would be very surprised if this one hears the bell for the Third Round.

Daniel Dubois vs Joe Joyce

When this fight was first spoken about I was a little sceptical that either fighter would really want to take it on.

My thinking was that Daniel Dubois was on a path up the World Rankings where this one doesn't really push him on as he may have wanted, while Joe Joyce has decided to turn professional very late and so would surely be positioned to try and get to the top in the shortest way possible.

While the two were unbeaten I did feel their paths would not cross despite being under the same promotional banner, but I have been pleasantly surprised that we have gotten to where we are on Saturday.

In my mind Daniel Dubois looks like he is destined to go very far as a professional and at 23 years old he is only going to improve. We have all heard the rumours about how he fared with Anthony Joshua in sparring, but Dubois has also shown his punching power in winning fifteen fights in a row and fourteen of them through stoppages.

The win over Nathan Gorman is the most impressive one Daniel Dubois has managed so far and it is going to be very interesting to see how Joe Joyce reacts when faced with this kind of hitting.

Daniel Dubois won't have to look too far to get a chance to have a crack at Joyce who was a decent amateur and controversially missed out on an Olympic Gold Medal. Joe Joyce is twelve years older than Dubois, but he has only had eleven professional fights and will instead look to use his vast amateur experience to upset the odds in this one.

As I have mentioned, Joe Joyce has been fast-tracked thanks to his late decision to turn professional and so it can be argued that he may have fewer pro fights than Daniel Dubois, but the competition has been much better. Joe Joyce has wins over Bermane Stiverne, a former World Champion, and Bryant Jennings, who challenge for World Titles a couple of times and the demolition of Alexander Ustinov also impressed.

A high work rate and punching output has made Joyce dangerous and able to wear down his opponents, although he has also shown he hits plenty hard enough to put them over. However I don't think Joyce is the fastest Heavyweight out there and his tactics do mean he takes more shots than he needs to.

So far that has not been an issue, but I do think there is Dynamite in the hands of Daniel Dubois and being where he expects you be is very dangerous for Joe Joyce. Daniel Dubois is also quite clever in setting up his shots behind the jab and we will find out all we need to about Joyce very early in this one.

I have to say I was really impressed with the way Joe Joyce looked on the scales and he was only slightly heavier than when he beat Jennings. He might be looking to match the speed of Daniel Dubois who can be explosive, but I wouldn't be surprised to see Joyce trying to put the pressure on and perhaps walking into something very, very big.

Most are of the belief that either Dubois wins early or Joe Joyce could drown him in deep waters late, but I do think Daniel Dubois wins at the end of the night. I do think Joyce is going to be there for Dubois to hit and no one has really been able to stand up to the power of the young man aside from a very durable Kevin Johnson.

Maybe Joe Joyce is as resilient as that, but I think his style is perhaps tailor-made for Daniel Dubois. A few weeks ago an early stoppage was a big price, but it has come in now although not far enough as far as I am concerned.

Badou Jack vs Blake McKernan

It has been over three years since Badou Jack last won a fight, but he remains amongst the top names in the Light Heavyweight Division even though this bout is taking place at a catchweight.

Losses to Marcus Browne and Jean Pascal in his last two suggests the 37 year old has seen his best days, but the latter was a Split Decision and he had Pascal down in the Twelfth Round.

I like Jack and I do think he is a decent Boxer who has made the most from his talent, while I expect he will be going into a rematch with Pascal in the first half of 2021. All of those plans won't mean anything if the Swede is beaten on the Mike Tyson-Roy Jones Jr undercard in Los Angeles this Saturday.

On paper it looks a tough test against American Blake McKernan who is unbeaten in thirteen fights and who has been operating at a heavier weight class. However he is going to be at his lowest weight on Saturday and a quick look through the McKernan record shows he has yet to really step outside a very comfortable level.

The last three wins have been against fighters with winning records, but Blake McKernan has never come close to facing someone who has long operated at World level like Badou Jack. While the American is talking a good game, Badou Jack has only been able to laugh and smile at the suggestions this will be his toughest fight.

A new trainer means Badou Jack should be looking to make a statement and there are some serious level differences between these two. He has long been considered a slow starter, but I don't think it will take Jack as long to warm up to the task in this one and if he is going to be sitting down on his shots to try and steal the show then this could and perhaps should be a very early night for him.

The record shows Badou Jack has some serious power, but he has not stopped anyone inside Four Rounds in seven years. However I do think a look at the names he has fought in that time suggest it is down to the level of opponents he has taken on and this time Badou Jack looks to be in a more routine bout before pushing on for bigger and better things in 2021.

Blake McKernan is likely to be game as an unbeaten fighter who has some amateur experience, but this is a big step up and I am not sure he will be there for too long.

MY PICKS: Tony Yoka to Win Between 6-10 @ 2.75 Sky Bet (2 Units)

Daniyar Yeleussinov to Win Between 1-5 @ 3.00 Sky Bet (2 Units)

Danny Jacobs to Win Between 7-12 @ 2.80 Paddy Power (2 Units)

David Adeleye to Win Between 1-2 @ 1.80 Sky Bet (2 Units)

Daniel Dubois to Win Between 1-6 @ 2.25 William Hill (2 Units)

Badou Jack to Win Between 1-4 @ 2.75 Sky Bet (2 Units)

Weekend Football Picks and Fantasy Football 2020 (November 27-30)

Games keep coming thick and fast for all those clubs involved in European Football and it is up to the rest of the Premier League to take advantage of any fatigue that those top teams are feeling.

Qualification for the Knock Out Rounds of those European competitions have been confirmed for a number of the Premier League clubs this past week which should mean more of a chance to rotate squads and ensure players are going into the next month in the best physical shape as possible.

Managers may bemoan the schedule, but the Premier League has sold itself to the broadcasters and so any complaints should be with their own clubs rather than those paying the big bucks which in turn gives the managers and the players the kind of money that they are on.

Over the coming weeks the Fantasy Football deadlines are going to be at weird times so it is something to make a note of- this week and the next Game Week are both set for a 6:30pm deadline on a Friday, but things will get more awkward as the festive period games come around.

I'll have a few words about the Fantasy Football plans for GW10 below- first let's get on with my views about the Premier League games to come over the next four days.

Crystal Palace v Newcastle United Pick: The Friday night offering from the Premier League may not be the most appealing for the neutrals as Crystal Palace and Newcastle United meet and that may be especially the case if Wilfred Zaha and Callum Wilson miss out.

The former is expected to be absent for Crystal Palace, but Wilson looks set to return for Newcastle United and that should at least give Steve Bruce's men a little more threat.

Both Bruce and Roy Hodgson are likely to set their teams up to be cautious defensively and I do think it is going to be a fixture where chances and goals are going to be limited.

It is perhaps no surprise that the recent meetings between these clubs have been tight and competitive and there have been seven total goals scored in the last seven between them. Both games last season ended 1-0 in favour of the home team and I can't ignore the likelihood of that being the scoreline again on Friday.

A clean sheet for one or both clubs can't be ruled out either, although Crystal Palace are not defending as well as Roy Hodgson would like. Even then I am not sure Newcastle United are going to be able to take advantage, while the home team are clearly not the same threat going forward without Wilfred Zaha.

6 of the last 7 between the clubs have seen at least one of the teams fail to find the back of the net and that looks the most likely outcome of this fixture too.

Brighton v Liverpool Pick: The late Wednesday evening kick off followed by the early Saturday lunchtime kick off has been bothering managers of clubs involved in European competition all season. This time it is Jurgen Klopp who will have to face that fixture having heard Ole Gunnar Solskjaer complain about the same situation earlier this season.

Ultimately they can't be annoyed at the broadcasters- the Premier League has been made the wealthiest League in the world by the money accepted from the broadcasters and so they have to dance to the tune being set by them too.

The players can't allow manager's complaints to affect their own performances and so there will be no excuses for Liverpool if they can't win on the south coast this weekend. They played at home on Wednesday so tiredness should not be a factor, while rotations were made to keep some key players fit to play.

Liverpool will have their attacking players ready to go and that is important against a Brighton team who have played better than their results would indicate.

For large portions of the season it has been the lack of goals holding Brighton back rather than their defensive organisation, but it is hard to believe they can contain Liverpool. With that in mind the best defence may be attack and Brighton have pushed both Chelsea and Manchester United in League games here already this season.

Graham Potter will recognise that the Liverpool defence is vulnerable and he has his attacking options available now Leandro Trossard is back from a knock. They should get forward and cause one or two problems for their visitors, and I do feel this could be enterprising game of football from both teams.

Liverpool have not been at their very best away from home this season, but the fixture list has not been that kind either. Draws at Everton and Manchester City will be seen as positive results and I do think they will have enough in the final third on Saturday to earn the points.

The approach from the home manager should mean Brighton are doing a lot more than simply trying to contain Liverpool and so the most likely outcome is an away win in a game that features at least two goals.

Manchester City v Burnley Pick: We have yet to really see Manchester City at their very best in front of goal, but that won't be much comfort to Burnley.

Pep Guardiola insisted the goals will come for his team after a narrow win at Olympiacos when Manchester City were wasteful in front of goal, but he may only have been saying that knowing Burnley were next up for his team.

That is no disrespect to Burnley, but they have been clearly second best when facing Manchester City in recent seasons. They have already lost 0-3 at home against this opponent in the 2020/21 season and Manchester Cit have beaten them 5-0 in 3 straight at the Etihad Stadium.

A well rested Manchester City team who have the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Ferran Torres and Sergio Aguero to come into the starting eleven should have too much for Burnley. While not creating as many chances as in previous seasons, Manchester City have been looking good at the back too and I do think they are going to have too much all around for Burnley.

Nick Pope is missing for the visitors which won't help and Burnley have not been scoring enough goals to believe they can threaten this Manchester City team.

A win on Monday would have been a huge boost for Burnley, but it is really difficult to imagine this fixture going any other way than a relatively routine home win.

Burnley have only scored a single goal in 6 against Manchester City and have failed to score in 5 of their last 7 Premier League games. I expect those trends will likely continue here as Manchester City secure an important three points and look to build momentum into the hectic December schedule.

Everton v Leeds United Pick: Carlo Ancelotti and Marcelo Bielsa arrived in England with big reputations and both have been tasked with reviving clubs who have not been reaching the levels that the fans would have been expecting in recent seasons.

Both Everton and Leeds United have been amongst the very best teams in England in recent enough memory and both have potential to at least return amongst the elite.

Leeds United fans might want to temper some of the enthusiasm for a top flight finish and the key for the club is simply consolidating their place back in the Premier League. There has been enough encouragement to believe they can do that, but Leeds United are still struggling for consistency in the final third as far as scoring goals is concerned.

The approach of their veteran manager means Leeds United will leave opportunities to be exploited at the back and the likes of Leicester City and Crystal Palace did that to devastating effect. While Leeds United were better against Arsenal, the visitors had their chances too and I think Everton will feel they can do the same.

Everton have missed some key players in recent weeks which have dented their confidence and their performance levels. They were much better against Fulham and Everton do score goals, although there has to be some concern that they have conceded at least twice in 6 straight Premier League games.

At home they have largely made up for that and I do think there will be opportunities for both teams in this fixture. The layers understand there are likely to be goals, but I would be surprised if they are wrong in this Premier League game between two teams that will want to get forward for much of the ninety minutes played.

West Brom v Sheffield United Pick: There is every chance that the losing manager from this fixture could be out of a job fairly shortly and the importance of the three points won't be lost on either Slaven Bilic or Chris Wilder.

It is hard to really have a good feeling about the direction this match will take- West Brom have struggled at both ends of the field, but the same can be said for Sheffield United and it may be the case of seeing which set of players is still behind their manager which makes the difference on the day.

Sheffield United are perhaps underachieving and arguably have deserved more than they have gotten in the early part of the season. The numbers suggest they will still turn things around, but the poor form has seeped over from the last campaign and I do think they need to 'prove it' rather than pointing at the underlying statistics.

The poor form from the end of last season was also something West Brom are dealing with which is a surprise for any team that is automatically promoted from the Championship. They did back over the line rather than really earn their own place in the Premier League and The Baggies have looked short of the quality needed to survive at this level.

Both clubs will want to get to the January transfer window in a better place and both managers may feel if they are in touch with the teams above them they can then bring in reinforcements to build the second half of the campaign.

At this moment I don't think either team can be trusted to earn a result and this one game I will be looking to analyse after the fixture is played rather than before.

Southampton v Manchester United Pick: Not many would have picked Southampton to be going into this Premier League game against Manchester United in late November sitting higher in the table than the 20 time former Champions.

It is all credit to the work done by Ralph Hasenhuttl, his staff and the players that Southampton have bounced back from a really poor start to the season to sit just outside the top four. They have looked good going forward and found the right blend defensively as Southampton have locked up 3 clean sheets in a row at St Mary's with three 2-0 wins in a row.

That makes them dangerous and Southampton have not missed a step without Danny Ings having beaten Newcastle United and then drawing at Wolves. Che Adams looks more comfortable at this level with a season under his belt and Manchester United could be short of defensive numbers which is something Southampton will look to exploit.

However it would be dangerous to not pay attention to the counter attacking ability Manchester United have and playing away from Old Trafford has seen the players rally for their better performances. Manchester United have won 9 of their last 10 away games in all competitions and have been scoring a lot of goals in those fixtures which makes them a threat to a Southampton team who do offer chances.

The Saints have been better defensively, but they have played West Brom and Newcastle United at home while picking up those clean sheets. They have also kept Everton quiet, but that was a team missing two of their first choice front three and Manchester United are much healthier and stronger than those three teams.

Games between these clubs have been competitive in recent seasons and I think this one will be the same. Goals have generally not been an issue when Southampton and Manchester United face each other with all 4 since Ralph Hasenhuttl took over on the south coast ending with both teams scoring.

3 of those 4 games have finished with at least three goals shared out and I think the attacking players on the field will help produce that here. I feel Manchester United may edge to the points, but it won't be easy and I think there will be goals at both ends of the field in this fixture which should be an attacking one for the ninety minutes.

Chelsea v Tottenham Hotspur Pick: The big game in the Premier League sees the current 3rd placed side take on the leaders on Sunday afternoon and it is the chance for Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur to show they are ready to compete for the title over the coming months.

The win over Manchester City was a very big one for Tottenham Hotspur last week and they have shown they can be perfectly set up to produce the goods on their travels too. Those results will be encouraging to Jose Mourinho and keeping a clean sheet in beating Manchester City will really have him believing his can help Spurs move to the next level after their achievements under Mauricio Pochettino.

I do think Tottenham Hotspur had to ride their luck at times in the win over Manchester City and in recent games they have perhaps had the fortune on their side. It is a positive winning games when perhaps not at your complete best, but Tottenham Hotspur are going to have to be very good to beat this Chelsea team.

Frank Lampard's team are flying at the moment as they continue to score goals but also look a lot more balanced defensively. Injuries are clearing up which is giving the manager plenty of options and they do look like they have goals from many areas which makes Chelsea very, very dangerous.

Unlike Tottenham Hotspur I do think Chelsea have yet to really have a stand out win with their biggest game ending in a home defeat to Liverpool. A draw at Manchester United was a decent result, but Tottenham Hotspur have won at Old Trafford and beaten Manchester City so perhaps will feel they have proved their credentials a little more than their hosts.

I am not sure that is going to matter though and especially not when you think Chelsea did the Premier League double over Chelsea last season as Frank Lampard got the better of Jose Mourinho. It should be a really good game, but my feeling is that Chelsea are perhaps going to be the more positive and that may lead to the points.

Tottenham Hotspur should be very dangerous on the counter attack, but they have lost a key player in Toby Alderweireld and I am not sure they can continue to soak up the pressure and hope teams are not clinical in the final third. As good as Manchester City are, their attacking issues have been well documented in the 2020/21 season but that is not a problem for Chelsea who have been scoring goals for fun over the last month.

I expect this will be a tough, competitive fixture, but my feeling is that Chelsea are going to nick the points at Stamford Bridge. I think they are going to have the better chances and with Timo Werner, Hakim Ziyech, Tammy Abraham, Mason Mount and Kai Havertz likely going to be involved that they won't be as wasteful as the likes of Burnley, West Brom and Manchester City have been against Tottenham Hotspur.

Arsenal v Wolves Pick: The last game on Sunday in the Premier League comes from the Emirates Stadium as mid-table Arsenal and Wolves look for a positive result to take them further up the League standings. Both managers have to be a little disappointed with their current positions, but they will also feel their current teams are a work in progress.

It would be a real surprise if this is a fixture which produces a lot of goals as both Arsenal and Wolves have been struggling for consistency in the final third. Neither is creating a lot of chances and that has meant a lack of goals being scored too.

Arsenal have failed to score in their last 2 Premier League games at home and have ended on the losing side both times. They have improved defensively, but not enough to believe they are going to have a host of clean sheets and I do think that could be an issue for them going forward.

They are simply not getting forward in the manner fans have become accustomed to seeing and so Arsenal always feel a short price to win games for me.

On the other hand Wolves have hardly set the scoreboard alight and they have failed to score in 2 of their last 3 away Premier League games. They were clearly second best against Leicester City and West Ham United which does make it hard to believe in them, but Wolves are a tough team to break down when at their best and I do think the return of Conor Coady is a huge boost for them.

Wolves and Arsenal have played some very competitive games since the former returned to the Premier League and both games at the Emirates Stadium have finished 1-1. Late goals have secured those draws and I do think this one will be another fixture that could easily end with the points shared out.

A well rested Wolves team could potentially make it three wins in a row for the visitors in the Premier League on this ground, and I do feel backing the away team with the start is the way to go. It would be a disappointing result for Wolves to lose and I think they are solid enough to contain a goal-shy Arsenal which should be enough to secure a point at the very least.

Leicester City v Fulham Pick: Those teams involved in the Europa League look to make short work of their Group Stages because they are very likely to be given a Thursday-Monday-Thursday schedule in these Covid-19 times.

This week it is Leicester City being asked to do that, but the draw in Portugal on Thursday means they have secured their spot in the Last 32 of the Europa League. They are likely to win the Group and Brendan Rodgers will be pleased he got some rest in for some of his key players.

The goals conceded since the November international break is a concern for Leicester City, but they should not be expecting the same threat from Fulham as Liverpool and Sporting Braga have provided. While Fulham are showing some signs of improvement, they are still struggling for enough goals and they are conceding too many.

Away from home Fulham have shown some stubbornness of late, but Leicester City are a team who can be very dangerous going forward. I expect the home team to have too much in the final third even though they have suffered some disappointing results at home and only have a Penalty scored in 3 at the King Power Stadium in the Premier League.

That has to be a concern for Brendan Rodgers, but a returning James Maddison is the key to unlocking teams and I think that is important for the home team who perhaps rely on the counter attack a little too much.

Leicester City do have 3 clean sheets in a row at home and Fulham have not found a consistency in the final third to suggest they can break that streak for The Foxes. However I do think they have a threat which means Leicester City will have to try and get forward to make sure there is not a late twist in the fixture and that should see them win a game which features at least two goals.

Late goals saw Leicester City beat Fulham 3-1 when these teams last met two seasons ago and I think a late one might be needed to secure the points in this one too.

West Ham United v Aston Villa Pick: The last game of the Premier League weekend has all the makings of a really good one with both West Ham United and Aston Villa overachieving early in the campaign.

West Ham United and Aston Villa are separated by a single place and a single point and I do think this fixture is going to be as closely contested as the two draws they played out last season.

Michail Antonio and Ross Barkley are big misses for both teams and perhaps takes away some of the attacking element they are bringing to the table. However West Ham United have shown they can cope without their talisman and Aston Villa created enough chances against Brighton last week to believe they will be able to cope.

Both teams are looking sharp going forward and they are dangerous from set pieces so I am expecting more goals than we saw when they faced each other in the 2019/20 season. There were chances created in both of those games, but I think West Ham United and Aston Villa have improved this time around which should mean better and more efficient attacking football being on display.

A 1-1 scoreline can't be ruled out, but David Moyes and Dean Smith will be targeting more than that so I don't think either team will settle. In recent games both have been creating plenty, but perhaps not looking completely convincing at the back and their opponents have the talent and quality to expose any issues.

An early goal would certainly get this fixture going and I think there will be at least three goals shared out and not only because I have three or four Fantasy players involved in this one either.

MY PICKS: Crystal Palace-Newcastle United BTTS NO

Liverpool & Over 1.5 Goals

Manchester City Win to Nil

Everton-Leeds United Over 2.5 Goals

Southampton-Manchester United Over 2.5 Goals

Chelsea - 0.25 Asian Handicap

Wolves + 0.5 Asian Handicap

Leicester City & Over 1.5 Goals

West Ham United-Aston Villa Over 2.5 Goals

Fantasy Football GameWeek 10

The Fantasy Football season is still one I am very interested in even though the way the Premier League have decided to broadcast the games continue to irritate me.

I would have much preferred the 3pm slot on a Saturday to feature a number of League games and they could have been broadcasted on the various channels Sky and BT Sport hold, but the one game per time slot does take away some of the enjoyment of the FPL game.

Now you have to really wait and see how the weekend shapes up whereas you could at least have a bit of a feel for any GameWeek on any given Saturday previously. We are going to have to deal with this situation through December as the fans continue to wait to return to Football grounds in any kind of number and my biggest fear is that the Premier League will look to use the Spanish model of scheduling League games going forward.

GameWeek 9 was not the best for my team, but I did mention a short term pain for a long term gain- it did not help that Jack Grealish did nothing as my Captain except get himself booked, but the return could have been a lot worse if not for the Chelsea clean sheet and both Diogo Jota and Che Adams bringing back some decent returns.

But what did I mean by short term pain? I removed Christian Pulisic in favour of Tomas Soucek and that means I have the spare cash to bring in a Manchester City player as I indicated I would last week.

Manchester City have not really played as well as they would have liked going forward, but they are capable of much more and the fixture list looks extremely positive over the coming weeks. Home games against Burnley, Fulham and West Brom can't be ignored and you would think Manchester City are going to get things turned around in the final third.

The bigger issue has to be Pep roulette- can you honestly predict which players will play the majority of minutes in that time? I would have thought Sergio Aguero would have been a good shout, but he is only recently back from an injury and instead the best assets look to be Raheem Sterling and Kevin De Bruyne.

Some have tipped up Joao Cancelo who has been playing well, but Benjamin Mendy and Oleksandr Zinchenko can play at left back so I am not sure about his playing time either!

Last week I suggested it may be time to take the first hit of the season to double up on the Manchester City assets with those fixtures in mind, but I am unconvinced now.

My decision is likely going to come down to KDB or Sterling coming in with Leandro Trossard, but it is one I will think about right up until the 6:30pm deadline. Whoever I pick is likely to go in as my Captain this week and the decision to hold Mohamed Salah last week looks to have been a correct one too.

Even now I won't rule out a hit, but again I will be thinking through the scenarios until the deadline is set to be hit.

College Football Week 13 Picks 2020 (November 27-29)

Week 13 of the normal College Football season is usually a pivotal time of the regular season, but that is not the case in 2020 like so many other things we have taken for granted.

Instead the regular season has been pushed towards mid-December when the Championship Games are also expected to be paid, although you can still make or break a season on Thanksgiving Weekend.

Games have been spread from Thursday through to Sunday this week with rivalry games still on the board and you can see my selections below.

I will be adding to this thread over the next couple of days too.

Nebraska Cornhuskers @ Iowa Hawkeyes Pick: The Big Ten West is firmly in the grip of the Northwestern Wildcats, but that doesn't mean the Iowa Hawkeyes and Nebraska Cornhuskers will be allowed to coast towards the end of the 2020 regular season. The Hawkeyes are still very much in a position to be called up for a Bowl Game next month, while the Cornhuskers have to show they are still behind beleaguered Head Coach Scott Frost who has failed to revitalise this proud school.

A 1-3 record is a big disappointment for Nebraska even if two of those losses have come against the Division leaders in the Big Ten Conference. It is the defeat to the Illinois Fighting Illini which will have really worried the Athletic Director at Nebraska and I do think Frost is very much on the hot seat and will be fired if he is not able to turn things around.

Quarter Back problems continue to blight the Cornhuskers and they are going to announce a starter closer to this game, but whether it is Adrian Martinez or Luke McCaffrey it is going to be a difficult day for Nebraska. They are facing an Iowa team who are motoring with three straight wins behind them to bounce back from a poor 0-2 start to the 2020 season and the one point defeat to Northwestern will have already shown the Hawkeyes that they are amongst the best teams in this Conference.

Usually the Quarter Back could turn around and hand the ball off with the hope that Nebraska would be in front of the chains, but that looks like a tough task against this Hawkeyes Defensive Line that have clamped down on the run. Both Martinez and McCaffrey are able to make some plays scrambling with their legs, but it feels like it is going to be a difficult day running the ball for Nebraska and becoming one-dimensional against this Defensive unit would be a big challenge.

There are one or two holes that teams have exploited against Iowa's Secondary, but it has not been a good year throwing the ball for Nebraska who have been a little loose with their control that has led to turnovers. The pass rush is especially an issue for Nebraska's Offensive Line which has not been able to protect whoever has been behind Center and any time they are behind the chains they have to feel the pressure is coming.

It is going to make it difficult for Nebraska to score a lot of points against this Iowa Defensive unit and that could be a major problem if the Cornhuskers are not able to slow down the run when they are on Defense.

Last week the Fighting Illini ran all over Iowa and there is no doubt that the Hawkeyes are going to be trying to do the same. The Offensive Line has opened up big holes for Mekhi Sargent and Tyler Goodson and both are coming off big performances against the Penn State Nittany Lions so should be able to pick up up from where they left off in Week 12.

They have been strong running the ball in their three game winning run and Iowa are not expected to find a lot of resistance from the Nebraska Defensive Line. For much of this game I imagine Iowa are going to be in front of the chains in down and distance and that should mean play-action throws are available for them if they look to move the ball through the air too.

There has been a limited pass rush being created by Nebraska and I just think they are going to have a tough time stopping their hosts much as they did when facing Illinois last week. Add in the turnover margin that Iowa have and I do think the Hawkeyes will make the plays to cover what looks a big spread on paper.

Iowa are 3-1-1 against the spread in their last five games at home, while Nebraska are 1-6 against the spread in their last seven on the road. The Cornhuskers are also 2-5 against the spread in their last seven as the underdog and I am going to back the home team to cover here.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish @ North Carolina Tar Heels Pick: They are in the foursome that makes up the first College Football PlayOff, but the Notre Dame Fighting Irish will come out of their Bye Week knowing the hard work is still in front of them. The Fighting Irish are the only unbeaten team in the ACC Conference, but they are likely going to have to play the Clemson Tigers with Trevor Lawrence in the Championship Game next month and that will decide which of those two teams will make the PlayOffs.

Brian Kelly is not going to worry too much about the long-term implications of a Championship Game, but he will be well aware that a defeat before that game will put Notre Dame in a difficult position to be invited into the PlayOffs. Their best bet is to remain unbeaten in the regular season and then hope even a defeat is not costly in the Championship Game with other Conferences perhaps struggling to put up better teams.

On paper this looks to be the most difficult game left for the Fighting Irish in the regular season. They are visiting the North Carolina Tar Heels who have a 6-2 record and may yet feel they could push into the Championship Game consideration in this Conference as long as they are able to win this game.

Mack Brown has to be really pleased with the way his Tar Heels have performed on the Offensive side, but he will also be well aware that his team have to have improved Defensively during the Bye Week to earn the upset.

Slowing down Ian Book won't be easy with the Quarter Back coming on leaps and bounds for Notre Dame in the 2020 regular season. He has been aided by a strong running game and the Fighting Irish have found a perfect balance Offensively which makes it very difficult to believe the Tar Heels will have improved enough to be able to slow them down.

One element which could be a factor is that the Notre Dame Offensive Line may be missing a couple of starters which may just weaken them in this one. At least they have had some time to try and bring the replacements up to task, but the Fighting Irish have to be aware of the North Carolina pass rush which has been very productive.

The full strength Offensive Line may have been able to protect Ian Book, but the replacements could have a tougher day and that will give the Tar Heels some chance to slow down drives. However it may be clutching at straws as the Fighting Irish are expected to be able to run the ball and then look for Book to make the throws which has raised his stock in College Football throughout 2020.

North Carolina will be trying to keep up behind Quarter Back Sam Howell who has been a huge part of the successes the Tar Heels have had this season. He has been helping the Tar Heels average over 550 yards of Offense per game in 2020 and the Tar Heels will believe they can at least test the Fighting Irish as Clemson did in the high-scoring defeat the Tigers suffered.

I do think Howell will make some big plays for the home team, but the key to the outcome of this game will be the line of scrimmage and whether North Carolina can impose their running game on this Notre Dame Fighting Irish Defensive Line. All season the Fighting Irish have been able to clamp down on the run and force teams to become a little one-dimensional which leads to a fierce pass rush getting to the Quarter Back and turnovers to be created.

The Tar Heels have been very good on the ground and their Quarter Back is able to scramble with his legs too, but I do really like this Notre Dame Defensive Line. Even though they won't completely shut down North Carolina, I do think they can make enough plays to put the home team in obvious passing down and distance and that would be a big win for the road favourites.

As good as the North Carolina Offensive Line has been when it comes to opening up holes for the running game, they are not as effective when it comes to pass protection. It is an area where the Fighting Irish can get some joy to either force Field Goals or Punts and that could be the key to Notre Dame winning this game and covering the mark.

The road team has covered in the last four games in this series.

Notre Dame are 5-1 against the spread in their last six as the road favourite. You have to respect the fact that the Tar Heels have a 4-1 record against the spread in their last five as a home underdog, but I can't help feel that they are going to struggle to stop Notre Dame Offensively and not be able to keep up on the scoreboard despite the powerful Offense run by North Carolina in 2020.

Maryland Terrapins @ Indiana Hoosiers Pick: Covid-19 issues have meant the Maryland Terrapins have not been able to play a game for almost a month and cancelling the game against the Ohio State Buckeyes means they are not in control of their own destiny in the Big Ten East. The Terrapins are 2-1 in the Conference and they did bounce back from the shellacking handed out by the Northwestern Wildcats, but there has to be a slight concern that they are not battle ready to take on an opponent like the one they face in Wee 13.

Wins over the Minnesota Golden Gophers and Penn State Nittany Lions means Maryland have beaten teams with a combined 2-8 record, but the Indiana Hoosiers are 4-1 in the 2020 season.

In Week 12 a poor start meant Indiana were playing catch up against the Ohio State Buckeyes and while they made a game of things, it was a hole that was too difficult to overcome. There is still so much to like about the Hoosiers in 2020 and Head Coach Tom Allen has made it clear to the players that there is still so much to play for if they can secure a strong end to the season even if the Big Ten Championship is beyond them.

The Hoosiers are back home this weekend having played their last two games at Michigan State and Ohio State. There has been much to like about them this season, but Tom Allen would love to see the Offensive unit produce a little more balance in their play rather than relying on the arm of Michael Penix Jr as much as they have, even though the Quarter Back has stood up in the face of all challenges faced.

They have simply not been able to run the ball with any consistency which has meant looking for Penix Jr to step back and throw the ball down the field. There is a feeling that Indiana can find one or two more holes up front against this Maryland Defensive Line, but they have shown they can be hard to stop through the air anyway and I expect Michael Penix Jr to have another very big game.

He is coming off a career best 491 passing yards and there are some big holes in the Maryland Secondary that Michael Penix Jr will be expecting to exploit. The Offensive Line may not have opened big holes for the run, but they have given their Quarter Back the time he needs to hit his Receivers and I think that will be something we see in Week 13 as Indiana look to score at least 35 points for the fifth time in six games in 2020.

The Indiana Hoosiers should be able to have success Offensively, but I do think Maryland will have their own positives even though we cannot be exactly sure of how the Terrapins have been dealing with all the adversity they are facing off the field. I do think Maryland will have the chance to establish the run in this one, especially with the dual-threat from Quarter Back, although the Hoosiers Defensive Line is arguably the strength of the team this side of the ball.

Taulia Tagovailoa, Tua's brother, is running the show for Maryland and he has shown he can scramble for First Downs as well as throw for them. Over the course of the season Indiana's Secondary have played pretty well, but they have been exposed for some big plays in their more recent games although that might be partly down to the fact that the Hoosiers have played a better level of competition.

With that in mind I do think Tagovailoa is going to make some big throws in this one, but he has to be aware of the Indiana pass rush which is likely going to get the better of the Maryland Offensive Line. If the Terrapins fall behind the chains it could be difficult for the Quarter Back, although Taulia Tagovailoa has put together a two game stretch where he has the most passing yards in over twenty years.

Even though I do think Maryland will have some very good drives, I do think the Indiana Hoosiers can bounce back from their Week 12 loss at Ohio State and show they are one of the better teams in the Conference. The home team is 4-0 against the spread in the last four in this series and the Hoosiers can keep that trend going.

Indiana have covered in their last six games as the home favourite and Maryland have not played that well when set as the road underdog. The Terrapins won in Happy Valley earlier this month, but they were blown out by the Northwestern Wildcats and I think the Indiana Hoosiers will be able to make enough plays to cover this mark.

Mississippi State Bulldogs @ Mississippi Rebels Pick: These two teams are out of contention in the SEC West, but that won't mean the rivalry game between the Mississippi Rebels and Mississippi State Bulldogs has any less intensity to it. The Egg Bowl has been won by the Bulldogs in the last two seasons, the 2019 win coming in controversial fashion, and two first year Head Coaches will be looking to make a real mark for the fans to savour.

The Mississippi Rebels have won two games in a row and have scored 113 points in those wins over the Vanderbilt Commodores and South Carolina Gamecocks. Those wins have moved the Rebels to 3-4 for the 2020 season and they will have been buzzing during the Bye Week as they get set to host their rivals.

Mike Leach has not has the early impact he would have wanted with Mississippi State, but the Air Raid Offense took a bit of time to become established in his last job with the Washington State Cougars and the same will be the case in the SEC. They might have a 2-5 record, but outside of the blow out loss to the Alabama Crimson Tide this has been a fairly competitive team and that makes the points being offered to them look appealing.

A part of the reason for the spread is clearly the last two wins for the Rebels which has seen them score points at will. Those have to be respected, but they were big favourites in both games and have done what was largely expected of them.

The Rebels should be able to continue piling up the points in this one, although they might find their Offense looking a little one-dimensional if Mississippi can't get things moving on the ground. They have managed to do that for much of the season, but the Mississippi State Defensive Line have been able to clamp down on the run and that will mean the home team will have to take to the air.

It is likely to be a successful approach because the Bulldogs Secondary have not been able to slow down any opponent and Mississippi have been piling up the numbers. Matt Corral has been well protected by his Offensive Line and I do think he will find some big holes in the Secondary which he can exploit as he continues to help the team average over 350 passing yards per game in 2020.

Avoiding turnovers will be a key for Corral if the Rebels are going to win this one easily, but as poor as the Mississippi State Secondary have been they have been able to force Interceptions and extra possessions could be so important in this rivalry.

Mike Leach is looking for his team to simply show some improvement in each passing week this season with the belief that the Bulldogs will be much better for it in 2021. He has been largely pleased with what he has seen and even the close loss to the Georgia Bulldogs did not dent his spirit.

One aspect that the Head Coach would love to see an improvement from is the running game, but they have struggled to get anything going on the ground all season. As poor as the Mississippi Defensive Line has been when it comes to stopping the run, it is hard to trust a Bulldogs team averaging a ridiculously poor 21 yards per game on the ground on average this season.

KJ Costello and Will Rogers have both had time at Quarter Back for the Bulldogs and it would not be a surprise to see both playing their part in this one. The Offensive Line has been a little weak when it comes to pass protection too, but I am not sure Mississippi have the pass rush to really get to the Quarter Back and it should be a big day throwing the ball.

The Rebels have a Secondary which has given up big plays through the season too, but they may be looking to take advantage of any mistakes that either Costello or Rogers make. In recent games the Bulldogs have been taking care of the ball much better than they were earlier in 2020 and that should mean they have a chance to score plenty of points too.

I would have loved to have gotten double digit points in this one, but I am still happy enough with the amount of points being offered to Mississippi State.

The underdog is now 6-2 against the spread in the last eight Egg Bowls and the road team have gone 4-1 against the spread in the last five. Mississippi State have some poor trends as the underdog which is a concern, but I will look for them to keep this one close with their ability to make enough plays through the air to stay with the hot scoring Rebels.

MY PICKS: Iowa Hawkeyes - 13.5 Points @ 2.00 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Notre Dame Fighting Irish - 5.5 Points @ 1.91 William Hill (1 Unit)

Indiana Hoosiers - 12 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Mississippi State Bulldogs + 9.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet Fred (1 Unit)

Rutgers Scarlet Knights + 11 Points @ 1.91 William Hill (1 Unit)

Duke Blue Devils - 1 Point @ 1.95 Bet365 (1 Unit)

NFL Week 12 Picks 2020 (November 26-30)

It's that time of the year for turkey and for Football, although the 2020 Thanksgiving Day schedule is one game lighter than we have become used to seeing.

The AFC North battle between the Steelers and the Ravens has been moved to Sunday, although at this point there is no guarantee the game will even be played then. A Covid-19 outbreak in the Baltimore camp has meant the prime time showing on Thanksgiving Day will be empty, although the bigger questions that will be answered in the coming days will be how the game would be re-scheduled IF the Sunday slot doesn't work either.

Before that we do have a couple of traditional Thanksgiving hosts taking to the field beginning in Detroit and then heading to Dallas. Both games look to be competitive ones on paper and the layers are not taking too many chances with the lines.

You can read my selections from Thanksgiving Day below and the remainder of the Week 12 selections will be posted later this week.

Houston Texans @ Detroit Lions Pick: The traditional Thanksgiving Day NFL opener comes from Detroit where the Lions are looking to bounce back from a horrible Week 11 showing. Losing to the Carolina Panthers without Teddy Bridgewater or Christian McCaffrey would have been a disappointment anyway, but failing to score a single point has really warmed up the hot seat underneath Matt Patricia with Detroit struggling at 4-6.

They actually have the chance to host a team with a worse record on Thanksgiving Day as the Lions host the Houston Texans. However the latter are coming in off a win to move to 3-7 and while the season looks to be a lost one, the Texans are looking for a strong end to the season and have something to build upon going into 2021.

As a Miami Dolphins fan I want to see nothing but Houston losses with their first two Draft Picks in 2021 heading to South Florida. But it feels like a game that the Texans can back up their win over the New England Patriots even if it doesn't feel great thinking about backing Houston as a road underdog.

Deshaun Watson was spectacular in Week 11 and he has every chance of keeping the good times rolling against a Detroit Secondary which has struggled in pass coverage. The Lions are getting very little pressure up front and it feels like a tough day is coming up for them with Watson likely to move away from any he does see and make sure he is making some huge plays down the field.

It may be all down to Watson and his arm, but he is capable of keeping Detroit off-balance with an ability to scramble down the field when things open up for him. Duke Johnson should also be able to make one or two big plays running against a porous Detroit Defensive Line, although the main chunk plays will come from Deshaun Watson who has some strong Receivers ready to make the catches for him.

In usual circumstances I would think the Detroit Lions are the right play as the home underdog, but coming off the showing in Week 11 I do wonder if they have enough time to make adjustments and whether the players are still behind the Head Coach. The biggest factor may actually be Matthew Stafford who really struggled in Week 11 as his thumb injury continues to affect his level of play.

Matthew Stafford is missing a couple of key Receivers and the issues with the thumb do make it difficult to believe the Quarter Back can expose some of the issues that Houston have had in the Secondary. The Offensive Line has not really protected Stafford as well as they would have liked either so there may be an opportunity for the likes of JJ Watt to slow the passing game by getting to Stafford too.

There is a potential return for D'Andre Swift this week and that is a huge boost for the Detroit Lions and may ease the game for Matthew Stafford. The Running Back has shown more than flashes of his ability from the backfield and he looks to be in a favourable match up against the Houston Defensive Line giving up 144 yards per game on the ground across their last three games at 4.7 yards per carry.

Keeping Matthew Stafford in front of the chains will help and I expect Swift to have a big game from scrimmage, although at some point Houston may force the Quarter Back to have to beat them through the air. If they can force Detroit to have to throw to stay with them, it could be a long day for the hosts with the injury Stafford is dealing with.

The Texans do have some poor trends as the favourite in recent times, but they are 5-2-2 against the spread in their last nine against a team with a losing record at home. Detroit are 2-5 against the spread in their last seven as the home underdog and they have lost their last three Thanksgiving Day games.

While the spread has not crossed the key number 3 I do think the road favourite can be backed here to cover.

Washington Football Team @ Dallas Cowboys Pick: Does anyone want to win the NFC East? At least one of the four teams are going to be hosting a PlayOff Game in January, but all four teams have won three games this season which leaves the Division wide open with six weeks of the regular season remaining.

With that in mind every Divisional game left is absolutely massive and the one on Thanksgiving Day could be pivotal for the Washington Football Team and the Dallas Cowboys. Both come into the game at 3-7 which leaves them half a game behind the Philadelphia Eagles, but the winner will move to the top of the NFC East and that is going to bring plenty of motivation to the field.

Injuries have hurt both teams but particularly the Dallas Cowboys, although signs over the last two weeks is that they are finally moving past those and focusing on their performances on the field. The win in Week 11 at Minnesota has snapped a four game losing run, while Washington also come in with some confidence having won for the second time in four games when knocking off the Cincinnati Bengals a few days ago.

The Football Team have turned to veteran Alex Smith at Quarter Back and he has played well enough without taking too many risks that produced costly turnovers in the loss to the New York Giants. This is not going to be an easy game for Smith with the Cowboys Defensive unit showing improvement in recent weeks as they finally begin to understand the new schemes that have been brought in by the Coaching staff, although Smith has to take advantage of the injuries in the Secondary if Washington are to win this game.

Ron Rivera will game plan to lean on the running game through JD McKissic and Antonio Gibson and earlier in the season it may have been a plan that was guaranteed to work. However one of the big improvements from the Dallas Defensive Line has been finding a way to clamp down on the run as injuries have cleared up a Linebacker and it may mean those two players are actually bigger threats catching short passes from the Quarter Back and trying to make plays in open space.

Both McKissic and Gibson are capable of doing that, but Washington will continue to pound the ball on the ground and look to keep the Cowboys thinking. Alex Smith is not someone who is going to take a lot of deep shots down the field, but he has been getting the passing game going and has playmakers who can cause problems for the Cowboys if he can avoid the increasingly productive Dallas pass rush and get the ball to them.

Effectively Alex Smith is a game manager who will be looking to give Washington a chance and Dallas have someone similar running things at Quarter Back at the moment too. Andy Dalton is a big upgrade on the backups that have had to start while he gets through the concussion protocol and the Quarter Back will have a point to prove having suffered that hit against the Football Team in the nation's capital a few weeks ago.

Like his counterpart, Dalton is likely going to lean on the running game to give himself a chance to keep the chains moving and Ezekiel Elliot and Tony Pollard look to have a very good match up here. With the Offensive Line getting a couple of more secure players back, Dallas have begun to run the ball efficiently and both Elliot and Pollard should have a big impact on the game on the ground.

Tony Pollard in particularly should also give Andy Dalton a safety blanket when he seeps out of the backfield and it is an important facet of the game for Dallas as they look to slow down the much vaunted Washington pass rush. That pass rush has been able to get to the Quarter Back time after time and they are very effective when Washington have a lead, but running the ball and quick passes will slow them down a touch.

It has also been a key reason Washington have strong passing numbers in 2020, but Dallas do have some very talented Receivers who will believe they can win their battles outside and make plays for their Quarter Back too. Andy Dalton was solid throwing the ball in the win over Minnesota, although I don't think Dallas will want to lean on him having to win the game.

This feels like a good match up and I certainly think it will be a lot closer than the Washington blow out of Dallas in Week 7 when I backed the Football Team as a narrow home underdog. Dallas have to be playing with something to prove this time and I think they are definitely improving with a real belief they can win the NFC East and with a better balance Offensively the Cowboys should be more capable of winning.

However I do think the Washington Football Team have the tools to at least slow down Dallas Offensively in a better manner than the Minnesota Vikings were able to do. As long as Alex Smith avoids the big turnovers Washington should be able to move the chains and if they can get in front the pass rush should be able to rattle Andy Dalton.

It feels close as I said so taking the road team with the start that will give us a push with a Field Goal defeat is the play. The underdog has long held a strong edge in the against the spread market in this Divisional series and Washington are 9-4 against the spread in their last thirteen visits to Dallas.

The Football Team do not have a good recent record as a road underdog, but Dallas have not covered as a favourite in five attempts so taking the points feels good enough for me.

Markus Paul sadly passed away this week which should motivate the Dallas Cowboys to honour their Head Strength & Conditioning Coach.

New York Giants @ Cincinnati Bengals Pick: There will have been plenty inside the organisation who feel the Cincinnati Bengals have found their franchise Quarter Back in Joe Burrow and they would have been really worried to see him go down with a serious looking injury in Week 11. The rookie is expected back in 2021, although there is no telling whether he will miss any regular season time next season.

For now the Bengals are just focusing on completing their regular season as healthy as possible, but Burrow is out and Joe Mixon is set to miss the remainder of the year too. When you are at 2-7-1 for the season the injuries to your best players will likely see the rest of the team perhaps calling time on the amount of effort they want to put in.

That is especially the case in these non-Conference games left and the Bengals will not be pushed along by a full house in the stands either.

In saying that it is not easy to back the 3-7 New York Giants to win as a big road favourite, although they are in a position to move to the top of the Division with a win on Sunday. The Giants have won back to back games and they are looking for a three game winning run for the first time in four years which is quite staggering to think.

Recent games have seen the Giants look like they are getting in some kind of rhythm and that will be encouraging to a franchise that must see the PlayOffs as a real possibility at the end of the season. Daniel Jones might not have been the most efficient Quarter Back this season, but he has been looking after the ball better than he was and that could be key for the Giants as they look to join the Washington Football Team on four wins for the season.

Daniel Jones should be able to have a decent game, although it won't be all down to the Quarter Back with the Giants Offensive Line coming together and opening some solid holes up front. They are facing a Cincinnati Defensive Line which has not been able to contain the run throughout the season and so the Giants should be in front of the chains and that should make life easier for Daniel Jones.

The Offensive Line have not always been the best in pass protection, but New York are not expected to be challenged by the Cincinnati pass rush which may mean Daniel Jones has time to expose the holes that have existed in the Secondary with an improving Receiving corps.

If Joe Burrow was playing I do think the Bengals would have made this a really competitive game, but Brandon Allen will be going at Quarter Back and that should make the game plan a little easier for the Giants. Brandon Allen does have starting experience in the NFL, but he averaged just over 170 passing yards per game in the three starts with the Denver Broncos and the key for the road team is making sure they shut down the run.

It has been an issue for the Giants Defensive Line at times this season, but they are not facing Joe Mixon which should make it easier for them to shut down the line of scrimmage. That will be what they are aiming to do and make Allen beat them through the air.

There are definitely opportunities for Allen to make plays down the field, but I do have to wonder how he will cope with the pass rush pressure that the Giants are likely to bring to the field. The Bengals should have their successes when the ball is in their hands, but I do think relying on these back ups in key skill positions Offensively will make it a big challenge to keep up on the scoreboard.

The game is definitely more important for the Giants than the Bengals and that motivation is likely to show up.

I am a little worried about backing the Giants as a road favourite, but they are 5-2 against the spread in their last seven in that spot. They are also 15-5-1 against the spread in the last twenty-one against a team with a losing record and I like the New York Giants here.

Tennessee Titans @ Indianapolis Colts Pick: Two weeks ago these two AFC South Divisional rivals met for the first time this season and both are coming off impressive Week 11 wins to go into this Week 12 game at 7-3. The Indianapolis Colts got the better of the Tennessee Titans in Week 10 and they are a favourite to see off their Divisional rivals in this one, although you can never underestimate the difficulty of not only beating a team twice in the same season, but also the motivation that the Titans will have in earning revenge.

The Colts deserved to win their first game although many will point to a blocked punt being the turning point in favour of Indianapolis.

Tennessee have to play a much cleaner game, but they have to be very confident having knocked off the Baltimore Ravens on the road. That win came in Overtime on the same day the Indianapolis Colts had to recover from being in a big hole to eventually knock off the Green Bay Packers.

The winning team will go into the final five weeks of the season with a big edge in terms of the Divisional race, although it feels more important for Tennessee to win this game. They can't really afford to go into those five weeks being a game behind in terms of their record and also losing the tie-breaker with the Colts.

As they do most weeks, the Titans will look to be carried on the shoulders of Derrick Henry and he is a Running Back that will never worry about the reputation of Defensive Lines that he is facing. Derrick Henry did have over 100 yards against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 10, but those were hard yards he had to earn and the Colts Defensive Line have been one that have played the run very well all season.

Last week they clamped down on Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams despite having to worry about the ability Aaron Rodgers has throwing the ball and that will offer the Indianapolis Defensive Line encouragement that they can at least contain Henry in this one too. Doing that will shift the pressure onto Ryan Tannehill who has just lot a bit of rhythm when throwing the ball to his Receivers in recent games.

Ryan Tannehill is likely to have some time as he is largely well protected by his Offensive Line and he is now facing a relatively pedestrian pass rush. In their previous meeting Tannehill was only put down once, but the Colts Secondary don't really lose focus on their schemes and I do think the Titans may have some issues Offensively as they did in Week 10.

Running the ball may be more of an issue for Indianapolis who have Jonathan Taylor missing out this week, although it was Nyhiem Hines who was the most effective Back in their first meeting. That should mean Indianapolis are still able to have some success on the ground, although Tennessee's Defensive Line have been tough in recent games and so Hines may instead be a big threat catching the ball out of the backfield.

Injuries in the Tennessee Secondary have made them vulnerable to the pass and I do think Philip Rivers is able to take advantage of that. He might have only had one Touchdown, but Rivers threw for over 300 yards against the Titans and I very much expect the veteran to have another very good game here.

Ultimately Rivers should have all the time he needs to hit his Receivers down the field because the Titans are missing their best pass rusher and have simply not been able to get any consistent pressure up front all season. That time has seen the Titans Secondary struggle to contain the pass and I do think the Colts are going to have too much firepower for them in this big Divisional game.

The road team has covered the spread in the last four in this series, but the favourite is 13-3 against the spread in the last sixteen in this Divisional rivalry. The Colts are also 7-2 against the spread in the last nine at home against Tennessee.

Indianapolis are also 5-2 against the spread in their last seven as the home favourite overall, while the Titans are 1-4 against the spread in the last five on the road. I would have loved this spread to be under the key number 3, but even where it is I do like the Indianapolis Colts to take control of the AFC South.

Las Vegas Raiders @ Atlanta Falcons Pick: This is not really an ideal spot for either of these teams who are coming off tough Divisional losses in Week 11, although the Las Vegas Raiders have to be more motivated than the Atlanta Falcons. While the Raiders are at 6-4 and firmly in the PlayOff race, the Falcons are at 3-7 which leaves them in the basement of the NFC South and planning for 2021 must already have begun.

There is also the chance that the Falcons are not concerning themselves with the Las Vegas Raiders knowing they get a second crack at the New Orleans Saints in Week 13 and would love to play spoiler against them.

With that in mind I would not be that surprised if some of the key players that have been limited in practice this week are not risked in a bid to get them back on the field for the game against the Saints. One of the major names that is in doubt is Julio Jones and that would be a huge loss for Matt Ryan and the Atlanta Offensive unit.

It presents a problem for the Falcons because they have been struggling to run the ball and are not likely to get a lot of joy from the Raiders Defensive Line which has been strong at controlling the line of scrimmage. That will likely mean Ryan is having to throw from third and long and missing someone as talented at getting open and making plays as Julio Jones would be a big blow.

I still think Matt Ryan can have some success against a young Las Vegas Secondary that are still learning their trade at this level and who have been exposed through the air. A late drive from the Kansas City Chiefs beat the Raiders in Week 11 and it was a fairly easy one for Patrick Mahomes- Matt Ryan isn't as good as Mahomes but Calvin Ridley gives him options and he should make some plays in this one to give the Falcons a chance.

Even then, Matt Ryan has to be careful that he is not holding the ball for too long as his Offensive Line continues to struggle to offer him passing protection. The Raiders might not be the most productive team at getting to the Quarter Back, but if the Falcons are in obvious passing down and distance Las Vegas could have some success in getting to Ryan and bringing him down.

The Raiders pass Defense may have let them down in Week 11, but Derek Carr and the Offensive unit were in an impressive rhythm and I do think Las Vegas will be able to move the chains with some consistency in this one. We have yet to see Carr show the consistency at Quarter Back to suggest he can be the franchise player for Las Vegas, but when he has been good he has been very good and the performance against the Kansas City Chiefs gives him something to build upon.

A key for Derek Carr is the balance that the Raiders should be able to set out Offensively- they have been running the ball very well even during Offensive Line injuries, but Las Vegas look to be getting healthier in that department and that is music to the ears of the team. Through the injuries they have been opening holes for Josh Jacobs and Devontae Booker and both should be able to pick up from where they have been in recent weeks against an Atlanta team struggling on the ground.

Derek Carr does have some quality Receiving options and he has been given as much time as he needs to make plays by his Offensive Line. I think he will be able to throw the ball down the field as play-action slows down the Atlanta pass rush, which is not the best, and I really do like the Raiders to win on the road.

The second game with the New Orleans Saints in three weeks sandwiches this game and that has to be a distraction for the Atlanta Falcons in a non-Conference game with the season likely over.

Las Vegas are 6-1 against the spread in the last seven on the road and they are 11-5 against the spread in their last sixteen when looking to bounce back from a defeat. I do have to respect the Falcons who are 10-4 against the spread in their last fourteen as the home underdog, but they may be concentrating on other opponents and I like the Raiders to be the one who can bounce back from a Week 11 Divisional loss.

Miami Dolphins @ New York Jets Pick: It is all change at Quarter Back for both of these AFC East teams going into Week 12 and it may be the final chance for Sam Darnold to show the New York Jets that he can be a franchise Quarter Back for them. He has only recently been the First Round Draft selection of the Jets, but injuries and a really poorly built roster around him and a terrible Head Coach have all been detrimental to Darnold's development.

The problem for Sam Darnold is that if there are sweeping changes made at the Jets in the off-season, the likelihood is that any new General Manager or Head Coach may want their own Quarter Back behind Center and won't want to live or die by choices made by those previously in charge.

The New York Jets are the only team in the NFL who have yet to win a game and they are very much on course to finish with the Number 1 Overall Pick in the 2021 Draft which would likely mean a choice between Trevor Lawrence or Justin Fields. It is the nature of the NFL, but Sam Darnold will be looking to display his talents over the last six games and at least earn another opportunity with a different team even if things don't work out with the Jets.

Sam Darnold will be coming in for veteran Joe Flacco who almost helped the Jets produce a maiden win in his last couple of starts. However Darnold is going up against a very good Miami Dolphins Defense which has been the main reason the team are at 6-4 for the season and on course to challenge for the AFC East as well as a PlayOff spot.

With the Offensive Line banged up, the Dolphins may be able to crack into the backfield and either clamp down on the run or get to Sam Darnold and force errant throws or drop him for Sacks. The Dolphins have not always been strong on the ground, but Frank Gore is unlikely to intimidate this Defensive Line which has some key names back from injuries and illness.

I do feel there is a talented player inside Sam Darnold that would be unlocked in a better environment, but that we are not likely to see that in Week 12. This Miami Secondary is amongst the best in the NFL and the Dolphins have made big play after big play which is going to make it very difficult for Sam Darnold to avoid making a mistake or two that really gives the visiting team the edge.

The Miami Dolphins will be hoping their own young Quarter Back Tua Tagovailoa is able to show he is capable of performing at this level for years to come, but injury looks set to keep him out. Personally I would have kept Tagovailoa on the sidelines and learning for the whole year, but Head Coach Brian Flores brought him in and the Dolphins kept winning until an ugly loss in Week 11 at the Denver Broncos.

Prior to that it was Ryan Fitzpatrick who was leading the Dolphins very successfully and he only just came up short in helping Miami recover from a big deficit in Week 11. The veteran is going back behind Center this week and I do think Fitzpatrick is the better option for Miami for the remainder of the season and certainly encourages me to pick them to win this game.

The AFC East is still up for grabs for the Miami Dolphins and so is the Wild Card places in the AFC so there should be a motivation to bounce back from the disappointing loss last time out. One of the main issues the Dolphins have had Offensively is being able to run the ball with any consistency and they are not likely to have a lot of success in this one either.

However I am more encouraged by the news that Fitzpatrick will be starting at Quarter Back rather than Tagovailoa because I think he is the better player for the Dolphins at this stage of their respective careers. I do think 'Fitz Magic' can expose the New York Secondary which is banged up and giving up some big gains in recent games, while the Miami Offensive Line should give Ryan Fitzpatrick the time he needs to help Miami win this game.

The Dolphins have won five of their last six games against the New York Jets including beating them 24-0 at home earlier this season.

Miami are 5-2-1 against the spread in their last eight games as the favourite and they have covered in their last four games following a loss. The Jets are 5-2 against the spread in their last seven as the home underdog, but I am not sure they can make enough Offensive plays to make up for the weak Secondary performances we have seen and it should see the Dolphins beat the Jets again and cover this mark too.

Seattle Seahawks @ Philadelphia Eagles Pick: These two teams may have contrasting records, but both the Seattle Seahawks and Philadelphia Eagles go into Monday Night Football in Week 12 with a chance to end the evening on top of their Division. The Seahawks have enjoyed the Sunday NFL schedule as their two closest rivals in the NFC West were both beaten, while the Philadelphia Eagles can retake the NFC East lead with a win after seeing the New York Giants and Washington Football Team produce a fourth win of the season.

This feels like a bigger game for the Eagles who have a more difficult remaining schedule than the Seattle Seahawks, but that does not mean Pete Carroll's men are arriving on the east coast of the United States without ambition. They last played on Thursday Night Football in Week 11 and that means Seattle are not only well rested, but they have also gotten some really good injury news that will bolster the team on the Defensive side of the ball.

While the Secondary has not played up to the best level, there have been signs that the overall Seattle Defensive performances have been improving. The Secondary has not been helped by injuries, but they are getting a couple of key players back and that is going to make things difficult for Carson Wentz who has been inconsistent to say the least in the regular season.

He has not been helped by his Offensive Line nor the injuries in the Receiving positions, but that is not an entire excuse for Wentz whose long-term future as the Quarter Back of the Philadelphia Eagles will be beginning to be questioned. In this game his team are going up against a strong Seattle Defensive Line which has not only been able to rattle the Quarter Back, but who have shut down the run and that is only going to increase the challenge for Carson Wentz.

If the Eagles are not able to run the ball there is a real doubt that Wentz will be given the time to try and convert third and long spots and that has regularly seen the Quarter Back push too much and end up making key mistakes. The injuries being cleared up in the Seattle Secondary should mean they are able to make one or two plays that have not been there in the 2020 season and I think it will be very hard for Philadelphia to have consistent Offensive success.

It is the Philadelphia Defensive unit which may be able to keep them in this Monday Night Football game. They have been strong against the run too, although I do think Seattle are going to be able to make one or two plays on the ground with an increasingly healthy Running Back committee that should be music to the ears of Russell Wilson.

The Quarter Back has shown he can make plays on the ground when he is looking to scramble away from trouble and Russell Wilson is going to need all of that if they are going to win this game. While there have been one or two holes exploited in the Secondary, the Philadelphia Defensive Line has been able to really get after the Quarter Back and this Seattle Offensive Line have long been struggling when it comes to protecting Russell Wilson.

Fortunately for Seattle Wilson is one of the premier play-makers on the run and he has some big weapons in the Receiving corps that are able to scramble with him and make space for throws down the field. The pressure up front has meant that the Secondary have been able to make one or two plays, but I am not sure the Eagles will be able to shut down this Seattle passing game with the size and speed they have outside.

Turnovers could really play a big part in this game, but.I do think the Seattle Seahawks have had the time to prepare which will give them a chance of winning this one. They have covered the spread in their last five games at Philadelphia and Seattle won twice in this Stadium last season by the same 17-9 scoreline.

Seattle are 6-2-1 against the spread in their last nine against a team with a losing record at home. The Eagles have won their last two home games, but they are 3-7 against the spread in their last ten here and I will look for the Seattle Seahawks to cover.

MY PICKS: Houston Texans - 2.5 Points @ 1.83 Bet Fred (2 Units)

Washington Football Team + 3 Points @ 1.87 Bet365 (2 Units)

New York Giants - 5.5 Points @ 1.86 Bet Fred (2 Units)

Indianapolis Colts - 3 Points @ 1.86 William Hill (2 Units)

Las Vegas Raiders - 3 Points @ 1.86 William Hill (2 Units)

Miami Dolphins - 6.5 Points @ 1.91 Paddy Power (2 Units)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers + 3.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (2 Units)

Green Bay Packers - 8 Points @ 1.91 William Hill (2 Units)

Seattle Seahawks - 6.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet Fred (2 Units)