Boxing Picks 2026- Subriel Matias vs Dalton Smith (Saturday 10th January)

It may not have been a memorable year for the Boxing Picks, but it was another strong one for the fans.

However, there is a feeling that 2026 can be a much stronger year all around with more of the top names looking to face one another for the biggest prizes in the sport.

There will be some changes coming- Dana White officially enters the promotional game in this combat sport and is looking to push a UFC style model on Boxing... Being backed by Turki Alalshikh certainly helps, although Riyadh Season is not ready to dump the other promoters and big name fighters in the sport for the short-term.

For British Boxing fans, the lack of World Champions has left a void at the top of the sport, but that can begin to change as soon as mid-January before some of the leading new names head out into the ring in the weeks and months ahead.

Hopefully some of the nights set for the first six months of the 2026 season will be announced before the next set of Boxing Picks, but I will also have some more thoughts written about what we could come to see in the twelve months ahead.

Subriel Matias vs Dalton Smith

Let's face facts, no one can be very comfortable with the failed tests Subriel Matias produced a couple of months ago.

Instead of a potential suspension and being stripped of his WBC Light Welterweight World Title, the Champion was backed by the organisation and it has been stated that the amount of PEDs in the system were below the required level to force a suspension.

This still doesn't sit well, although it is ironic that Dalton Smith's Promoter, Eddie Hearn, has been as vocal as he has been considering some of those on his books that had much clearer failures that he expected everyone to ignore.

Dalton Smith has to put all of this to the back of the mind and try and take the next step in his career.

There has been plenty to like about his development, but Smith has been out of the ring for nine months- you could perhaps criticise the resume and suggest there has not really been the bridge between those he has beaten to then facing a genuine World Champion with huge power.

However, Dalton Smith should be well aware that Subriel Matias can be out-boxed and we have seen that in his two previous defeats, while he struggled to pin down Alberto Puello, although earning a somewhat controversial Decision.

If he is allowed to set his feet, Subriel Matias becomes very dangerous, but he can be pushed into awkward positions and the footwork is not as quick as you may expect from an elite World Champion. And so while there is plenty of respect afforded to the Champion, you can also see a pathway towards a successful night for Dalton Smith.

This is a big test for the Sheffield fighter, but he is unbeaten and that will give Dalton Smith confidence in what is likely to be a crowd very much behind the World Champion.

You have to expect Subriel Matias to bring the pressure all night, which is going to make it very difficult for Dalton Smith in a Twelve Round contest.

However, there is a blueprint to beat Matias that Dalton Smith can follow as he looks to take the next step in his career and become another British World Champion.

It will be an upset if Smith is able to win, but there is enough about this British fighter to beat someone who will give him problems at times, but who can be outboxed.

Dalton Smith is unlikely to want to put himself in a position where he is trading punches and so backing him to find a way to win this one on the cards looks a decent opening play to the 2026 season.

Earlier on the same day, Agit Kabayel is back in action as the Heavyweight headlines in Germany.

He has been upgraded to WBC Interim World Champion, but Agit Kabayel has also admitted he thought he might have asked to be a part of a card in Riyadh after putting together a strong run of wins.

An almost twelve month layoff has perhaps slowed some of the momentum, but 2026 is promising to be another big year for one of the top contenders behind Oleksandr Usyk within this Division.

He will be expected to begin with a bang, even against an undefeated opponent.

Damian Knyba has not really fought at this level, but he has fought on big cards and that should help.

The Polish fighter is the bigger man, but Agit Kabayel has chopped down big men in the last several outings and the body work is about as good as anyone in the Division and that could be key to this fight.

The Interim World Champion starts quickly and he should be able to moving in this one as he looks to avoid any drama before making a call to Riyadh and asking to be put on one of the big cards being organised. The last three opponents have all looked levels above Damian Knyba and none were able to hear the bell for the Eighth Round and Agit Kabayel can finish this one without getting into the second half of the contest.

On the undercard, Jadier Herrera is expected to find a way to break down Ricardo Nunez for the WBC Interim Lightweight World Championship.

At 32 years old, Nunez has likely seen his best days and dealing with a power punching youngster may be beyond him.

In his career Ricardo Nunez has shown plenty of resilience, but there have been plenty of early defeats too and Jadier Herrera tends to begin very quickly.

The potential for another firefight exists here and one that ends with the youngster able to produce a relatively early finish.

MY PICKS: Dalton Smith to Win by Decision/Technical Decision @ 4.00 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

Agit Kabayel to Win Between 1-6 @ 2.87 Bet365 (2 Units)

Jadier Herrera to Win Between 1-6 @ 1.61 Ladbrokes (2 Units)

College Football Picks 2022- National Championship Game 2021 (January 10th 2022)

The College Football season comes to a conclusion on Monday with two SEC teams competing for the right to be called National Champions.

Four of the last seven Champions have come out of the SEC and this is going to be the second time two from the same Conference are competing for the National honours (the only other time in the PlayOff era was also competed between the Bulldogs and Crimson Tide).

It has been a relatively successful season for the College Football Picks, although one more win in the National Championship Game would make it a good season. Coming away from a season with a profit can't be ignored, but there is a big difference between a winning and losing end to the 2021 season and that will be determined by the National Championship Game on Monday 10th January.

Georgia Bulldogs vs Alabama Crimson Tide Pick: The SEC Championship Game featured the same two teams that dominated the College Football PlayOff games in December and a rematch is set between the Georgia Bulldogs (13-1) and the Alabama Crimson Tide (13-1). Both teams won their Semi Final games without really feeling much pressure thanks to strong Defensive outings, and the familiarity with one another should make this a fascinating rematch.

Since the introduction of the College Football four team PlayOff, this is only the second time two teams from the same Conference will be facing each other for the National Championship title. The last time was in the 2017 season when the Bulldogs and Crimson Tide faced one another too, but on that occasion the teams had not played one another in the SEC Championship Game before meeting in the National Championship Game too.

This time the rematch is taking place less than a month since the teams met in Atlanta in a Championship Game that saw the Alabama Crimson Tide pull away for the upset win. The Bulldogs led early as the relatively big favourite, but the Crimson Tide dominated the middle of the SEC Championship Game, although the layers still have Georgia down as the favourite in this National Championship Game too.

We have crossed one key number since the last game between these two SEC rivals, but the Alabama Crimson Tide are still receiving as much as a Field Goal start and that looks important. They have dominated the Georgia Bulldogs in recent times and Kirby Smart has yet to get the better of Nick Saban in his seven seasons as Head Coach in Athens.

That has to be playing a factor in this National Championship Game considering the experience Nick Saban has in winning these big games, although you do have to imagine that the Bulldogs players have learned plenty when losing the SEC Championship Game. That was a chance for Georgia to not only pick up the Conference Championship, but it might also have been enough to eliminate the Crimson Tide before the PlayOff teams were selected and the Bulldogs may have missed a trick.

Georgia will need to get more out of the Offensive unit if they are going to win this National Championship- they struggled to find consistency running the ball agains the Crimson Tide in the first meeting and I think that is going to be a huge challenge for them considering how well the Alabama Defensive Line have played down the stretch.

It puts a lot of pressure on Stetson Bennett at Quarter Back and his two Interceptions thrown in the SEC Championship Game defeat to the Crimson Tide was a big factor in the loss. The Quarter Back was under pressure from the Alabama pass rush on that day too thanks to the inability to find consistent running lanes and I think Bennett could be facing something similar in this National Championship Game too.

Turnovers are bound to be key in this game and it was a clean game from Bryce Young in the SEC Championship Game that underlined the strong performance from the Quarter Back on the day. Like the Bulldogs, Alabama struggled to find consistency running the ball, but Bryce Young was very good at Quarter Back as he piled up 421 yards with three passing Touchdowns.

I think there is an opportunity for Bryce Young to back up that performance after seeing one or two holes in the Georgia Secondary in their last few games, holes he exposed really well in the SEC Championship Game. Bryce Young is someone who I believe can handle the pressure that comes with facing a pass rush more effectively than Stetson Bennett and I think the Crimson Tide will be highly motivated by being set as the underdog again.

The underdog is now 7-1 against the spread in the last eight games between these teams.

Alabama are also 5-1 against the spread in their last six games as the underdog and I do think the team will look at the odds and wonder why they are not being given more respect having won the SEC Championship Game as handily as they did.

Kirby Smart has a very strong record against the spread when Coaching with revenge as Georgia will have after losing last month to Alabama. They blew out Florida with revenge earlier this season, but the rematch with Alabama last month was also a revenge setting for the Bulldogs and there is the pressure of being a favourite in this one which may just weigh heavy on the Georgia sidelines.

MY PICK: Alabama Crimson Tide + 3 Points @ 1.91 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

Bowl Games: 13-11, + 1.66 Units (24 Units Staked, + 6.92% Yield)

Week 14: 4-5, - 1.52 Units (9 Units Staked, - 16.89% Yield)

Week 13: 4-5, - 1.36 Units (9 Units Staked, - 15.11% Yield)

Week 12: 6-2, + 3.46 Units (8 Units Staked, + 43.25% Yield)

Week 11: 5-4, + 0.73 Units (9 Units Staked, + 8.11% Yield)

Week 10: 4-5, - 1.36 Units (9 Units Staked, - 15.11% Yield)

Week 9: 5-3, + 1.25 Units (8 Units Staked, + 15.63% Yield)

Week 8: 3-5, - 2.57 Units (8 Units Staked, - 32.13% Yield)

Week 7: 5-4, + 0.59 Units (9 Units Staked, + 6.56% Yield)

Week 6: 3-3, - 0.27 Units (6 Units Staked, - 4.50% Yield)

Week 5: 5-6, - 1.41 Units (11 Units Staked, - 12.82% Yield)

Week 4: 4-3, + 0.56 Units (7 Units Staked, + 8% Yield)

Week 3: 5-3, + 1.44 Units (8 Units Staked, + 18% Yield)

Week 2: 7-3, + 3.45 Units (10 Units Staked, + 34.50% Yield)

Week 1: 5-6-1, - 1.45 Units (12 Units Staked, - 12.08% Yield)

2021 Season: 78-68-1, + 3.20 Units (147 Units Staked, + 2.18% Yield)

Midweek Football Picks 2018 (January 9-10)

The calendar has slowed down for teams in January despite the hectic FA Cup Third Round being played last weekend and most now have a few days to get their bearings right before getting back into League action.

For those who have exited the FA Cup in the top flight, things could not look much clearer in January meaning only three League games are set in the month, while most 'only' have to deal with four matches in this month.

Of course it is slightly different for the likes of Manchester City and Chelsea who have to continue to negotiate a difficult path thanks to their progression in all four tournaments they have entered. At least Manchester City have avoided a FA Cup Third Round Replay like the one Chelsea have to play next week and that means the latter are going to continue to play two games per week through January as the did in December.

Manchester City will have a few days off in the middle of the month to just gather their breath, but they have also received the more favourable draw in the League Cup Semi Final compared with Chelsea. The First Legs of the League Cup Semi Finals are played this week and that means the midweek football picks are only covering a couple of games.


Manchester City v Bristol City Pick: They may have ridden their luck to come through a couple of penalty shoot outs to reach the League Cup Semi Final, but Pep Guardiola has played decent teams in the competition. There is little doubt that winning silverware, all silverware, is at the forefront of Guardiola's mind and he would be very pleased with the League Cup Semi Final draw.

Guardiola won't say that outwardly as he won't want to disrespect Bristol City, but Manchester City can make a few changes and should still be too strong for their Championship opponents. The 4-1 win over Burnley in the FA Cup on Saturday shows what Manchester City can do to teams and I think a strong team will be picked with Guardiola's ambition to try and finish this tie in the First Leg likely to be the key to the selection.

That doesn't bode well for Bristol City who have won 1 of their last 5 games since beating Manchester United in the League Cup Quarter Final.

A bigger worry has to be the manner of their 5-0 loss at Aston Villa followed by a 3-0 defeat at Watford in the FA Cup Third Round. You would think Lee Johnson is going to try and set his side up to remain in the tie ahead of the Second Leg at Ashton Gate, but it does look a tall task for The Robins who have hit a poor patch of form.

Bristol City can't make as many changes to freshen their starting eleven as Manchester City and I am expecting a strong home team to win this fixture fairly comfortably on the evening. The next game against Liverpool isn't played until Sunday and I think the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Leroy Sane and Sergio Aguero could all be picked and I would think they are going to help Manchester City win comfortably.

The visitors have surprised in this competition all season, but this is a bridge too far and I am going to back Manchester City to cover the Asian Handicap.


Chelsea v Arsenal Pick: Both Chelsea and Arsenal had disappointing results in the FA Cup Third Round this weekend as they travelled to Championship sides, but at least Chelsea can say they are still in the competition. The Arsenal loss would have really hurt Arsene Wenger and the fans have continued to show their frustration with the direction of the club.

It does mean the League Cup has added importance for Wenger and a Semi Final loss to Chelsea will not go down too well by those sitting in the stands. Wenger himself will be with them having been given a touchline ban for comments made about officials in recent weeks, and it is imperative that Arsenal are still in this tie when they host Chelsea in the Second Leg in two weeks time.

I don't imagine this tie will be over after the First Leg as I am expecting two tight contests, but that is also second guessing the two managers. I would expect both Wenger and Antonio Conte to pick strong teams in both Legs knowing how close they are to having a chance to play for silverware and the teams picked in the FA Cup Third Round suggested the managers did have this fixture in mind.

It feels like the game will be a tight one with both having their chances, but Conte may feel his Chelsea team are the stronger after their showing at the Emirates Stadium in the Premier League last week. The Blues had enough chances to win two games on that day, although they also needed a big performance from Thibaut Courtois to earn a point and I am giving Chelsea the edge in this First Leg at home.

In recent years they have been better than Arsenal at Stamford Bridge and I have more faith in Conte playing a really strong team than I do in Wenger. The latter believes he can rotate in this competition, although I imagine his feeling has changed after the FA Cup exit, and home advantage for Chelsea should be a key in this First Leg.

This should be a tie with everything to play for when they meet in two weeks time in the Second Leg, but I would expect Chelsea to hold a narrow advantage when they do reconvene.

MY PICKS: Manchester City - 2.5 Asian Handicap @ 1.76 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Chelsea @ 1.75 William Hill (2 Units)

Tennis Picks 2017 (January 11th)

It was announced on Tuesday that Maria Sharapova would be making her return to the Tour at the tournament in Stuttgart in April despite that event beginning two days before the ban is officially over. The organisers have bent over backwards to say Sharapova's First Round match will be played on the Wednesday when her ban comes to a close and she will be invited back with open arms to the Tour despite the shady manner in which Sharapova has decided to accept no blame for her part in the ban she has been handed out back in January 2016.

I would have thought that might have at least put some organisers' noses out of joint that they wouldn't be falling over themselves to hand Sharapova a Wild Card to events rather than forcing her to earn her way back up the World Rankings. Instead I think she will be welcomed back as if nothing wrong has happened and I think that does send a wrong message out to casual fans as well as young players who may feel they can cross a line.

Of course Sharapova has a huge name and is going to bring in the spectators and the journalists into every match she plays on her return so the organisers have put any morals behind the financial reward for having her in the draw. That is certainly the case for most tournaments outside of the Grand Slam events, but I would be stunned if either Roland Garros or Wimbledon have not set aside a Wild Card for Sharapova into those events too.

The problem I do have is that Sharapova is not making a dramatic return to the Tour after leaving like Kim Clijsters did, nor is she off a big injury like Juan Martin Del Potro, and the former World Number 1 has not shown remorse for the fact she got caught taking a banned substance. Some humbleness would have been nice, even in the case of a mistake of not realising Meldonium had been moved onto the banned substance list, but instead all the fingers have been pointed at the ITF and no responsibility has been taken.

I can't say I am surprised that Sharapova would be receiving Wild Cards, but it would be nice if some tournaments make a stand and show that failing a drugs test is not going to easy to sweep under the carpet regardless of how a big a name is in the sport. I won't hold my breath on that happening though with a Wild Card given into a tournament before the ban is completed.


It has been a solid first two days of picks from the various tournaments being played and there are plenty of matches to come on Wednesday. We are also now just two days away from the Australian Open draw which takes place on Friday and the excitement for that tournament is building.

While the two top men's players look like they are in form from Doha, the two top women's players are perhaps feeling a bit of pressure with both Angelique Kerber and Serena Williams suffering disappointing losses to open 2017. They might be the players to beat, but the women's draw looks more open than the men's although it will look all the clearer on Friday once the draw has been made.


Ryan Harrison + 3.5 games v Jack Sock: Receiving a bye in the First Round means Jack Sock will be playing for World Ranking points for the first time in 2017 as he looks to make a big impact as a Singles player this season. Sock is so focused that he has admitted he is going to schedule fewer Doubles tournaments to keep himself fresh and ready to compete despite being in the top 25 of the World Rankings as both a Singles and Doubles player.

A solid performance in the Hopman Cup will have given Sock some confidence, although I do think he needs to show he is now much better conditioned and ready to handle the heat of the summer in New Zealand and Australia. It has affected his performances in the past, but Sock will come in with some confidence.

This is a challenge for him against Ryan Harrison who won two Qualifiers before crushing an out of form Guillermo Garcia-Lopez in the First Round to feel very good in the conditions in Auckland. The serve has been working very well for Harrison and he has to feel that gives him a chance to put some pressure on Sock whose backhand can be attacked with heavy shots into that wing.

The Harrison backhand is not a potent weapon though and Sock has a big serve and heavy forehand that can make life easy for him at times. His success on the Doubles court means he will be able to get to the net and put away points when necessary, but I do think Harrison is playing with some confidence too and that can make this a tight match.

We could see a deciding set needed to separate these players and I think the games being given to Harrison on the handicap can keep him close in this one.

MY PICKS: Ryan Harrison + 3.5 Games @ 1.80 Bet Victor (2 Units)

Weekly Update: 4-1, + 5.20 Units (10 Units Staked, + 52% Yield)

Midweek Football Picks 2017 (January 10-11)

January has opened very tough for the picks but this is a quieter week for the teams who've just come off a really busy December and early part of this month.

It's a quieter week for most teams, but not for the four who are involved in the English Football League Cup Semi Finals which have their First Legs scheduled for this week. First up is Manchester United who host Hull City on the Tuesday before Liverpool head to Southampton on Wednesday and both Manchester United and Liverpool will also have one eye on a huge Premier League game between the clubs which is going to be played on Sunday.

However at this stage of the League Cup, teams will be not be looking ahead to a Premier League game which is going to be played in a few days time, but will be looking to put themselves in a position to make the Second Leg a more comfortable outing and then earn a place at Wembley Stadium for the first piece of domestic silverware at the end of February.


Manchester United v Hull City Pick: The Manchester United form in the Cup competitions has been very good for most of the season and they have begun to take that momentum into the Premier League. Confidence feels like it is higher than any time since Sir Alex Ferguson retired as manager in May 2013 and Jose Mourinho is going to pick a strong line up to keep the run of wins going.

None of the fans would want to lose that momentum prior to the huge Premier League game on Sunday when Manchester United host Liverpool. A 4-0 win over Reading kept the run going on Saturday and Manchester United will have a much stronger starting eleven for this League Cup Semi Final First Leg than they played on Saturday.

Ringing the changes is not really something Marco Silva can do at Hull City who have been battered by injuries to an already stretched squad. They could head into this First Leg with the likes of Jake Livermore and Tom Huddlestone having to play at centre half and it does not make for ideal preparation for this big game.

Goals have not been a problem for Manchester United in the Cup games this season and the four scored against Reading means they have reached that number in 4 of the 6 Cup games played at Old Trafford this season. This Hull City team have conceded at least three times in 3 of their last 5 away games and I do think Manchester United are going to come out to put themselves in a really strong position before the Second Leg in two weeks time.

I think Manchester United can do that here with the line ups that are expected and I think Marco Silva can be given a rude awakening to the challenges he faces as the new Hull City manager. I will back the home team to win by a big margin here and I will back them to cover the Asian Handicap.


Southampton v Liverpool Pick: The neutrals and the television companies would have already decided which two teams they would love to see compete for the League Cup Final in February, but the two other clubs in the competition won't take that lying down.

This is a huge moment for Southampton who have to feel they need to take a lead to Anfield in two weeks time for the Second Leg if they have a genuine chance of making it through to the Final next month. Last season Stoke City were beaten 0-1 at home by Liverpool and did recover that deficit at Anfield, but Liverpool are improved since then and it would be a huge test for Southampton to get back from behind without away goals counting double until the end of extra time.

Goals have been a problem for Southampton since Charlie Austin suffered a long-term injury and I think that might be a real issue for them in this League Cup Semi Final. Despite Sadio Mane being away at the African Cup of Nations, Liverpool do present a goal threat and so it is up to The Saints to find some rhythm in the final third.

A concern for Claude Puel has to be the amount of goals Southampton have been conceding of late and that is the angle I am looking to exploit in this League Cup Semi Final First Leg. While the layers feel it could be a tight game, I think Southampton will have to be a little more open than in a League game and that can contribute to opportunities at both ends.

Liverpool certainly have the firepower to create chances and score goals, while Southampton are a threat from set pieces against which defending has been a chore for Liverpool. They have played out a goalless draw earlier this season, but there were chances in that game and a first half goal could really open this one up.

The two previous games at St Mary's had both featured at least three goals and I have to think Southampton will give this a go on Wednesday with a Second Leg to come at Anfield. At odds against I will back there being three goals in this one.

MY PICKS: Manchester United - 2 Asian Handicap @ 1.76 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Southampton-Liverpool Over 2.5 Goals @ 2.00 Paddy Power (2 Units)

January Update: 6-13, - 13.50 Units (38 Units Staked, - 35.53% Yield)

December Final: 38-40, - 7.93 Units (153 Units Staked, - 5.18% Yield)

November Final: 40-38-3, + 5.76 Units (159 Units Staked, + 3.62% Yield)
October Final: 29-41-2, - 21.23 Units (139 Units Staked, - 15.27% Yield)

September Final: 43-28-1, + 35.17 Units (133 Units Staked, + 26.44% Yield)

August Final: 31-38-2, - 9 Units (124 Units Staked, - 7.26% Yield)

Season 2016/17: 180-185-8, + 2.77 Units (708 Units Staked, + 0% Yield)

Season 2015/16: 133-174-2, + 0.89 Units (669 Units Staked, + 0% Yield)

Season 2014/15: 159-208-5, - 20.22 Units (647 Units Staked, - 3.13% Yield)

Season 2013/14: 164-185-3, + 15.84 Units (577 Units Staked, + 2.75% Yield

Season 2012/13: + 4.42 Units (415 Units Staked, + 1.07% Yield)

Tennis Picks 2017 (January 10th)

The early part of most weeks on the Tennis Tour tend to be a little quieter as the slow build into the tournaments is the usual formula applied. However there are a few weeks when the matches come thick and fast earlier in the week to make sure these events are completed ahead of the Grand Slams and give the participants time to head off to the next venues.

On Tuesday there are a lot of matches to be played across the four different draws and I have picks from some of those after Jiri Vesely got the week off to a solid start with a battling win on Monday.


Ryan Harrison - 3.5 games v Guillermo Garcia-Lopez: The poor end to the 2016 season has overrun into 2017 for Guillermo Garcia-Lopez and I do wonder how his confidence would not have been knocked. It is now seven straight losses for Garcia-Lopez and the veteran has now won just three matches from the last twelve tournaments he has competed in.

All of that adds up and Garcia-Lopez has won one of the last thirteen sets in which he has competed and the layers have set Ryan Harrison as a pretty strong favourite in this one. The American had a disappointing loss in Brisbane last week, but he is back inside the top 100 in the World Rankings and he has won two Qualifiers in Auckland which means he should be very tuned up to the conditions here.

The poor form of Garcia-Lopez has obviously contributed to the price in this match and it has been added to by the fact that Harrison has won their previous three matches. That includes a solid straight sets win in Shenzhen in the final quarter of the 2016 season and I do think Harrison can back up his wins so far this week to move into the Second Round.

Harrison has a decent serve when he has found some confidence and I expect that to at least put in a position to increase the pressure on Garcia-Lopez to keep holding his own service games. That has been an issue for Garcia-Lopez through his career and only becomes more difficult in his current state of mind and I think Harrison earns a break more in each set to come through with a 64, 64 win.


Svetlana Kuznetsova - 3.5 games v Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova: The WTA tournament in Sydney is loaded with some of the top names on that Tour and those who may be considered amongst the favourites at Melbourne Park in the next fortnight. That means many of the Second Round matches are already very competitive looking and this one of three picks I am making from Sydney.

Svetlana Kuznetsova is still the face of Russian women's tennis having had a really good 2016 which saw her reach the WTA Finals and come close to actually winning the tournament. The confidence would have really given Kuznetsova a shot in the arm in the latter stages of her career and she has begun 2017 in decent form.

Losing out to Garbine Muguruza in Brisbane last week is no disgrace and Kuznetsova will be confident she can get the better of Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova who had a mixed 2016. Pavlyuchenkova has the tools to get much higher in the World Rankings, but she has a few vulnerabilities that the top players expose, while the mental aspect of trying to beat a compatriot who has been one of the best players in the nation has had an effect on her.

Pavlyuchenkova can cause problems if she is playing as well as she was when seeing off Samantha Stosur in the First Round, but she has to raise her level again to match Kuznetsova. A strong serving display would give Pavlyuchenkova a chance, but I think Kuznetsova can get her moving around and break her down and I like the veteran Russian to come through with a 64, 63 win.


Barbora Strycova - 2.5 games v Roberta Vinci: The head to head might read that Roberta Vinci has a 4-3 lead over Barbora Strycova, but most of those wins came before the latter made a real impact as a Singles player on the Tour. In fact it is Strycova who has won the last three matches between these players that have been played since March 2014 and you can see why the layers have made her the favourite in this Second Round match.

Both players have to work hard for the points they win on the court with both having decent enough first serves but weak second serves that tend to be vulnerable. It would be no surprise at all to see Strycova and Vinci share out a few breaks of serve in this one, but I do think Strycova has a little more consistency in her game to earn a couple more than her Italian opponent.

The backhand wing is where Strycova should be able to exert more pressure around the court than Vinci and I expect that to be a difference maker in a close match.

At this stage of their careers I would expect Strycova to have the considerably stronger movement around the court and able to get herself into better positions in the rallies. There will be plenty of long rallies and both players can have their moments in this one, but I think Strycova can come through with a 75, 64 win in this match.


Agnieszka Radwanska - 5.5 games v Christina McHale: I am not the biggest fan of the Agnieszka Radwanska game, or at least nothing like close to what commentators seem to be, but I do think she can be backed to cover a big number in this Second Round match. She faces the American Christina McHale who Radwanska has been able to wear down and beat in all four previous matches.

None of those sets has see McHale win more than three games against Radwanska as she finds it tough to get over the mental obstacle of breaking down the defensive work that the Pole gets around on the court. With McHale always looking to be aggressive, being asked to play one more ball than she is accustomed to leads to mistakes and that is partly the reason I think Radwanska usually gets the better of her so comfortably.

Radwanska wasn't in great form in Shenzhen last week, but McHale was on the wrong end of a heavy loss to Alize Cornet in Brisbane and I think Radwanska can move through this match in relative comfort.

The first set might be a little more competitive, but I can see McHale just struggling to stay in this one from a mental point of view if she does fall behind. It could lead to another one sided win for Radwanska against this opponent and I will back her to cover this handicap.

MY PICKS: Ryan Harrison - 3.5 Games @ 2.00 Bet Fred (2 Units)
Svetlana Kuznetsova - 3.5 Games @ 1.80 Paddy Power (2 Units)
Barbora Strycova - 2.5 Games @ 1.80 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Agnieszka Radwanska - 5.5 Games @ 1.80 Bet Fred (2 Units)

Weekly Update: 1-0, + 2 Units (2 Units Staked, + 100% Yield)

NFL Wild Card Round Play Off Picks 2016 (January 9-10)

It is hard to imagine that a seventeen week regular season in the NFL has whizzed past us, but that is certainly the case as we have reached the Play Offs.

There are just twelve teams left that will fight it out to become the final two to compete in the Super Bowl which is played next month. On current form, I think the NFC West is likely going to provide the NFC representative with both the Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks looking the teams to beat, especially with the way the Seeding has come out.

In fact I wouldn't be at all surprised if there is a repeat of Week 17 with the Seahawks visiting the Cardinals, but this time for the NFC Championship Game.

The AFC picture looks a little more scrambled, but I think I am perhaps leaning towards the New England Patriots as the team that can get back to the Super Bowl to defend the trophy they won last season. The Patriots are getting healthier Offensively and I think there is a real chance they will host the AFC Championship Game with the Denver Broncos looking a vulnerable Number 1 Seed in the Conference.

Of course this weekend will clear the picture up somewhat with four of the twelve teams eliminated and I am looking forward to the Play Offs which are some of the best games you will see in any sporting environment.


Saturday 9th January
The first two Play Off games are both coming from the AFC side of things and both will be played on Saturday.

Kansas City Chiefs @ Houston Texans Pick: Two of the hottest teams in the NFL come into the first game of the Play Offs knowing a streak will come to an end and one of their seasons will be over. The Houston Texans were not expected to come through the AFC South, but they took advantage of the injuries suffered by the Indianapolis Colts to win that Division and have the opportunity to host this Wild Card game.

Their three game winning run to end the season and seven wins from their last nine are nothing compared with the Kansas City Chiefs who looked down and out at 1-5. However, they won their last ten games to end the season at 11-5 and take away the Number 5 Seed in the AFC and also make them the favourites to win this game.

The public seem to think it is simply printing money to back the Kansas City Chiefs in this game and Vegas is reporting huge amount of bets focusing on the Chiefs covering the spread. However, the oddsmakers have removed to move this spread above the key number it opened with in fear of getting the 'wise guys' backing the Texans and you can understand the thinking.

One of the key indicators I look to in games is whether the yardage battle is being won consistently, regardless of the final score. That hasn't been the case for Kansas City who have been outgained in four of their last six games, while the Houston Texans have actually earned more yards than their opponents in eight of their last nine games.

That is partly down to the big improvements the Houston Defensive unit have made in recent games and JJ Watt is now back to his full capabilities with the cast off his hand. Watt was dominant for much of the season, but his supporting cast is now helping and they have been particularly strong against the run which is key to stopping the Kansas City Offense from picking up speed.

Even without Jamaal Charles, Kansas City have found a way to run the ball effectively which is a key to keeping the Offense in third and manageable spots to keep the chains moving. However, the Texans have allowed just 2.5 yards per carry in their last three games and should be able to limit the damage the Chiefs can do on the ground and force the pressure onto Alex Smith and the passing game.

Smith is a mobile Quarter Back that can pick up yards with his legs so Houston have to be aware of that, but his passing is very much looking for the short routes that his Receivers can potentially turn into big gains. However, Smith needs the Offense to be in third and manageable if they are going to move the chains, especially with the pressure that Houston can get from their pass rush which should surround the Quarter Back.

That pressure has seen the Secondary take advantage by earning some turnovers and I really think the Texans are playing well enough Defensively to give the Chiefs plenty of problems when it comes to moving the chains.

Brian Hoyer is making his first start in the post-season for Houston which has to be a concern, but he has plenty of experience of being around teams that reach the Play Offs. That should help Hoyer who is also going to be reliant on his running game to help the team move the chains consistently.

The Kansas City Secondary has played well and they have a ball-hawking crew that can turn the ball over, which will also make it tough for DeAndre Hopkins to find separation. However Hoyer will throw the ball up for Hopkins who has shown he can make the tough catches through the course of the season, although Houston know the key to the game is making sure they are running the ball effectively.

There is a real chance for the Texans to establish the run because the Chiefs have struggled in recent games in that regards. In fact Kansas City are allowing 5.2 yards per carry in their last three games which haven't come against recognised Running Backs and so a Houston team missing Arian Foster will feel they can do the same.

It will ensure that Hoyer is in a position to make quick throws to keep the chains moving and prevent a fierce pass rush from Kansas City taking the Quarter Back out of his rhythm. Duante Brown is out at Left Tackle meaning Houston have to find a way to get the running game over else Hoyer is being protected by an inexperienced player on his blind side which will potentially lead to turnovers and short fields for Kansas City to work with.

I like the Texans here with the points as I think they are playing well enough Defensively to keep this close. I also think they can establish the run Offensively which is going to be a key for Brian Hoyer and the Texans Offense, but some may point out the Chiefs' Week 1 win here.

However, teams that won a regular season game against a non-Divisional opponent are just 14-29-1 against the spread in the Play Off game when playing in the same venue as the regular season game over the last fifteen years. Also you can't ignore the trend that a team that has won seven or more straight going into the Play Offs are 0-7 against the spread in their first Play Off game.

I haven't really bought into the Kansas City hype through the season and I am not willing to start here with Houston looking like a team that can match up well with them. They might have lost by seven at home in Week 1, but I can see Houston potentially winning this outright, but I will take the points on offer.


Pittsburgh Steelers @ Cincinnati Bengals Pick: There is no love lost between two Divisional rivals from the AFC North and this looks like it is potentially the best Wild Card game of the weekend. Both the Cincinnati Bengals and Pittsburgh Steelers would have hoped to have come in healthier than they are, but that won't matter when the game kicks off and the teams take to the field.

The bragging rights of the next few months are on the line, but I also think both teams have genuine belief they are good enough to win it all this season.

Cincinnati were hoping that Andy Dalton would recover in time to take his place at Quarter Back for the Bengals, but that is not the case. AJ McCarron will be the Quarter Back for the Bengals and he has plenty of experience having played in National Championship games, and won them, for the Alabama Crimson Tide, while he will also be more prepared than when he had to come in as relief for Cincinnati in the second of the games with Pittsburgh.

The Steelers are no less banged up as Le'Veon Bell went down earlier in the season, ironically in the first game against Cincinnati. DeAngelo Williams had really been playing well in relief at Running Back, but he too has been ruled out for the game which is a big blow to the Pittsburgh Offense.

The injuries in the two Divisional games played against one another has increased some of the dislike between the teams. Both Head Coaches will be looking for calm from their players to prevent anything really getting too emotional, but it is hard to take that away from a game where the winner moves on and the loser looks back on what might have been.

McCarron might have experience from his College days with the Crimson Tide, but a first Play Off game is always a difficult test for a player. He will be under some pressure, but he has seen the Pittsburgh Defense before and that will certainly help the Quarter Back.

A lot of this game is going to be on his shoulders as the new look Steel Curtain has played well through the season. It is hard to imagine Jeremy Hill and Giovani Bernard ripping off some big gains on the ground against a Defensive Line giving up just 3.8 yards per carry and that will mean McCarron has to make some big plays with his arm.

I expect he will be able to do that because the Pittsburgh Secondary has been terrible for long periods and they won't have a lot of answers for AJ Green, Muhammed Sanu and Marvis Jones. However, one big difference between Dalton and McCarron at Quarter Back is the speed of the decision making which has suddenly seen McCarron take a lot of Sacks.

That is another area Pittsburgh have excelled and I think they will get in the face of McCarron and hope to rattle the inexperienced McCarron into making a couple of key mistakes.

A few weeks ago I would have said the Pittsburgh Offense has too many weapons for the Bengals to cope with, but the injuries at Running Back have changed that somewhat. That does mean it will be difficult for Ben Roethlisberger and the passing game to be in anything but third and long at times especially as the Bengals have played the run very effectively themselves.

Big Ben still has Antonio Brown, Martavis Bryant and Markus Wheaton in the passing game that are huge threats for Cincinnati to deal with. The Cincinnati Secondary have given up almost 275 passing yards per game in their last three games and that has to be a concern against Roethlisberger and this Pittsburgh passing game, although the road team has to be concerned with the turnovers coming out of Big Ben's arm.

Being in third and long spots without much of a running game will mean Roethlisberger is put under pressure by the Bengals pass rush. That is another concern, but Roethlisberger has encouraged to get more out of his Receivers and has the power to escape trouble and still make big plays downfield.

That difference at Quarter Back is the reason I think the Pittsburgh Steelers will win their second road game at the Bengals this season and move into the Divisional Round of the Play Offs. I can see this being close but the pressure from the Steelers forcing a big mistake from McCarron which makes the difference and I am expecting both teams to put up plenty of points.

Pittsburgh have a 13-2-1 against the spread in their last sixteen games at Cincinnati and I think they cover the small spread here.


Sunday 10th January
The NFC takes centre stage on Sunday as the Wild Card Weekend of the Play Offs are completed.

Seattle Seahawks @ Minnesota Vikings Pick: The Minnesota Vikings won the NFC North last weekend but I am not sure they would have wanted the prize of taking on the Seattle Seahawks in the Wild Card Round of the Play Offs. They do have the benefit of hosting the game, but the Vikings were blown out here by Seattle last month and it is a big task in front of them.

Being at home and no longer playing under the Dome means Minnesota will be playing in some frigid conditions this week, easily the coldest of the weekend. That is going to be a factor with the ball being that much harder to catch for both teams and might just be an equaliser in the contest between two teams where Seattle are much the favoured.

The revenge factor is in play for Minnesota after they were embarrassed in their first loss to Seattle, but they have some factors going in their favour this time. First of the Defensive unit looks to be at full strength and the second is that the Seattle Seahawks are missing both Marshawn Lynch and Thomas Rawls at Running Back in conditions that will be tough to negotiate.

That hasn't had a big affect on the Seattle performances in recent weeks and the huge blow out of the Arizona Cardinals on the road has made them a team no one really wants to run into. It is the reason so many thought the Vikings winning in Green Bay might be detrimental to them, especially as the Seattle Defensive unit have really picked up their play in the second half of the regular season.

Adrian Peterson has to be expected to have more carries this time than he did the first time Minnesota hosted Seattle. The rushing Champion was highly critical of the game plan after that game and will be given more than the eight carries that he received last time, although it also depends on how his back is feeling.

Peterson versus the Seattle rushing Defense is going to be a huge part of this entire game and could determine the winner or loser. While he has helped the Vikings move the chains on the ground, recent games against Chicago, New York Giants and Green Bay won't have prepared Peterson for facing Seattle who have held teams to 3.6 yards per carry through the season.

Being left in third and long will be very difficult for Teddy Bridgewater and the Minnesota Offense to get going. The second year Quarter Back has had a difficult time through much of the season being little more than a game manager and that might not cut it against the Legion of Boom. Minnesota haven't been as strong in pass protection as run blocking so Seattle could give Bridgewater some problems when the rush is on and it might be difficult to move the chains with any consistency.

It is almost certainly going to be difficult for Seattle too without their first two Running Backs on the field and with the conditions as they are. I still think the Seahawks can establish the run against Minnesota, but they are weakened without Lynch and Rawls and it might be up to Russell Wilson to make sure he can scramble for a few first downs to keep the pressure off of him.

Russell Wilson has been throwing the ball very effectively in recent games, but a lack of a running game would mean the Offensive Line having season long issues come out. They have struggled to protect Wilson at times and Minnesota have been getting plenty out of their pass rush that has helped their Secondary.

However the ability Wilson has in moving away from pressure and hitting Receivers downfield on the run is hard to ignore and that could be a key to this game. Wilson has made some big plays with his arm in the last few weeks, but it might be a little more difficult with the extreme cold that will be in Minnesota which is a concern for me.

The experience Seattle have at this time of the season lessens those concerns though and I think they can break the trend I have mentioned about winning teams in same venue rematches in the Play Offs against non-Divisional opponents.

Teams that did win as an underdog in Week 17 have a poor covering rate in the Wild Card Round of the Play Offs which goes against Minnesota this week. I don't think this match up works too good for the Vikings either and I think the Seahawks will use all of their experience to come through with another win on the road at the Vikings.


Green Bay Packers @ Washington Redskins Pick: The most intriguing game of Wild Card Weekend is arguably the last one of the Weekend as the Green Bay Packers travel to the Washington Redskins. Not many would have predicted that the Redskins might be the team in form ahead of the Packers come January, but that looks to be the case although it would be a big surprise if either is able to go all the way to the Super Bowl.

You never know at this stage of the season, but this looks like a match up that will determine which of the teams will lose in Arizona in the Divisional Round (assuming Seattle win as I expect them to do in Minnesota).

It has been a really strange season for the Green Bay Packers who started off incredibly hot, but who finished as one of the Wild Card teams after a home loss to Minnesota in Week 17. The Offensive unit have been so out of sync as to what we expect from the Packers, but Aaron Rodgers is yet to be completely concerned despite those issues.

Rodgers has not had the support from his Receivers that he would have liked as they have failed to win their match ups regularly. It says a lot that James Jones has returned to become the 'go to' Receiver since Jordy Nelson went down in pre-season but he is not a top Receiver and has also had his issues earning separation from man to man coverage in the Secondary.

This might be the kind of game the Packers need to get their Offense back in sync though and Rodgers should have a chance to make some big plays if he can get the time in the pocket. The Offensive Line has struggled to protect Rodgers in recent games, but David Bakhtiari could potentially be back at Left Tackle which would be huge against the Washington Redskins pass rush who have dominated up front.

If, and it is a big IF at the moment, Aaron Rodgers gets time, the Redskins Secondary is pretty beaten up and his Receivers might finally win their battle. The pass rush might also be slowed if Green Bay can run the ball effectively which looks a definite chance of happening as Washington have allowed 6.1 yards per carry in their last three games.

Wth Rodgers having some difficulties in the passing game, it might be a big surprise to hear that Kirk Cousins is the more 'in form' Quarter Back of the two taking to the field. Cousins has been brilliant for much of the season, but confidence is really high in recent games as the Quarter Back has thrown for over 300 yards per game in the last three.

The challenge does come against a Green Bay Secondary that have played well and have been able to turn the ball over, but Cousins might have more support from the running game than he has had recently. The Packers have really had a hard time stopping the run in recent games and that might see both Alfred Morris and Matt Jones have a chance of establishing the ground game for Washington, something that hasn't happened enough through the course of the season.

Establishing the ground Offense will only make things easier for Cousins who has played extremely well while limiting his own mistakes in recent games. Turnovers could be a key to the game, but Washington have a real chance of not just coming out of the poor NFC East, but also getting into the Divisional Round of the Play Offs.

However, I like the road underdog here especially as teams in this Wild Card Round who lost as the favourite in Week 17 have a strong covering record. I think the Green Bay Offense will have a chance to finally get on track this week against this Defensive unit, while Washington have been outgained in terms of yardage in four of their last five games but have still gone 4-1 straight up.

Green Bay have not been at their best down the stretch, but I can't remove the Washington home loss to Dallas from my mind. I think the Packers will find a way to get this done and move into the Divisional Round in a close game on the road so will take the points on offer.

MY PICKS: Houston Texans + 3 Points @ 2.00 Ladbrokes (2 Units)
Pittsburgh Steelers - 2.5 Points @ 1.91 Sky Bet (2 Units)
Seattle Seahawks - 3.5 Points @ 2.00 Paddy Power (2 Units)
Green Bay Packers + 1 Point @ 1.91 Bet Victor (2 Units)

Weekend Football Picks 2015 (January 10-11)

After the hectic festive period and the FA Cup Third Round taking over last weekend, the Premier League is back in action along with a couple of the big European Leagues following on from their 'Winter Break'.

The opening of the January transfer window means teams are looking to do the business that will either put them over the edge when it comes to winning big trophies or avoiding the drop from the Premier League. The money involved in the top flight means most are desperate to prolong their stay and that also resulted in the likes of Neil Warnock and Alan Irvine losing their jobs at Crystal Palace and West Brom respectively.

The appointment of Tony Pulis looks a good one for West Brom to maintain their status as a Premier League club, although he needs to work his magic over the next three weeks to ensure the Baggies have enough quality about them. A goalscorer will be high on the list of targets for Pulis as well as Alan Pardew, the new boss at Selhurst Park, and the likes of Leicester City. The latter have already completed the signing of Andrej Kramaric in a bid to rectify their issues in front of goal, although they have to wait for a work permit before he can make his debut for the Foxes.


Steven Gerrard also announced that he is definitely leaving Liverpool at the end of his contract and that he has signed with the Los Angeles Galaxy (signed as in put pen to paper and not what Frank Lampard hasn't done with the New York City team that he was on 'loan' from at Manchester City).

That means Gerrard, who gave me the highlight of 2014 by slipping up and costing Liverpool the Premier League title, is unlikely to ever win the one trophy he coveted most at Anfield.

However, if I was take off the Manchester United glasses for just a second, I was surprised by some of the comments that people were making about the player I would definitely have partnering Roy Keane if putting together my personal 'best team from the Premier League era'.

There are those that have criticised his inability to defend properly, but Gerrard was someone you wanted thirty yards from the opponent's goal, not thirty yards from his own, and he was not a terrible player that was constantly out of position as some suggested. As good as Paul Scholes, Patrick Vieira and Frank Lampard have been over the last twenty seasons, Gerrard was above them in my opinion and only comes second to Roy Keane in the midfield ranks since the Premier League was formed.

He might not have produced for England, but did produce plenty for Liverpool and was amongst the best midfielders of his generation throughout Europe.


United glasses back on- I'll always be thankful to Gerrard for that memory he gave me back in April 2014!


After the rush of games through December when it seemed like the Premier League was on every other day to the complaints of the players, January is a much quieter month with the League games broken up by the domestic Cup competitions. In two weeks time the FA Cup Fourth Round will be played, although the draw was once again a little bit of anti-climax.

However, that does mean that the Cup is likely to produce some big games as the teams are thinned out which may play into Manchester United's hands once the other clubs are back in European action next month. I've said it before, but I'll say it again- I'd fancy United's chances of beating any team at Old Trafford, even Chelsea and Manchester City if those clubs are concentrating on Champions League football, and the long wait for the FA Cup trophy to return to Old Trafford has every chance of ending this season.


The New Year's Day picks had a pretty horrific time of things but it was just a strange day all around when you consider how the picks I made played out.

Stoke City and Manchester United shared two goals in the first half hour of their game but neither could push on for the winner (Over 2.5 Goals Pick).

Liverpool were 2-0 up, but Leicester City fought back for the draw (Liverpool - 1.5 Asian Handicap Pick).

Queens Park Rangers conceded a last minute equaliser to ten man Swansea (QPR to Win Pick).

Southampton beat Arsenal 2-0, but it could have easily been 3 or 4 on another day while Arsenal also had a few chances their way (Over 2.5 Goals Pick).

West Ham United drew 1-1 with West Brom, but that was probably the fair result (West Ham United to Win Pick).

Tottenham Hotspur crushed Chelsea 5-3 (Over 2.5 Goals Pick).

Hopefully there will be a little more fortune sprinkled on the picks over the next set of fixtures and weeks beyond as that seems to be a key reason for a remarkably poor season after back to back profitable seasons.


Sunderland v Liverpool Pick: The first live game of the Premier League weekend looks certain to be a tight affair when Sunderland host Liverpool, especially after the latter lost the creativity of Adam Lallana and are still awaiting the return of Daniel Sturridge.

In recent weeks, Brendan Rodgers has seemed to have found the right formula for his Liverpool team, especially away from home where they have won 4 of their last 5 games in all competitions and have won 3 in a row. However there remain some real vulnerabilities in the mental outlook of Liverpool and Leicester City became the latest team to take advantage by coming from two goals down to earn a 2-2 draw at Anfield on New Year's Day.

It is going to be a tough game for Liverpool at the Stadium of Light where Sunderland have been difficult to beat for the most part. They would have been largely disappointed with the 1-3 loss to Hull City in their most recent home game in the Premier League, but Sunderland are a team that don't concede a lot of goals at the Stadium of Light usually.

Liverpool will find it tough to break down Sunderland as Chelsea found a few weeks ago and there is always a chance the home side can force a mistake from this back three/four that have struggled for clean sheets. That almost has me leaning towards backing Sunderland to earn a surprising three points and move a little clearer of the bottom three, but I am not at all confident that a team with just 1 home League win all season is a big enough price here.

The away team have either won or lost away from home in the Premier League this season, but Sunderland are the draw specialists of the Division and don't have a lot of goals in the side. That could be a problem for them in trying to turn draws into wins unless rectified in the January transfer window and this game could easily see the points shared.


Chelsea v Newcastle United Pick: It was no surprise to see Chelsea respond to their shocking 5-3 loss at Tottenham Hotspur by beating Watford comfortably in the FA Cup Third Round, but I still think Jose Mourinho will have been getting on top of his players over the last ten days. Mourinho looked shell-shocked by what he was seeing at White Hart Lane and I expect he will be demanding another strong performance at Stamford Bridge to put memories of that result in the past.

He might not have asked for a much better opponent than a Newcastle United side that has just lost their manager and whose fans have already begun to turn on temporary replacement John Carver. There are so many injuries and suspensions in the away side's dressing room that they could see heads drop if they fall behind in this one, especially as Newcastle have lost their last 4 away games.

Prior to the loss at Leicester City in the FA Cup Third Round, Newcastle had conceded 11 goals in 3 games at Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United and some of the defending doesn't bode well for their trip to Chelsea. This is a team that has scored at least twice in 11 straight games at home in all competitions and handily dismissed Newcastle United at home last season and it is hard to see any other result in this game.

Most of the top stars for Chelsea got a rest during the win over Watford in the FA Cup which means they should be raring to go on Saturday in this Premier League game. Compared with December, January is a month where games are spread much more thinly so I expect Jose Mourinho to put out a strong side that will want to get the job done against Newcastle United in impressive manner to right the wrongs of the result at Spurs.

Covering 2 goals won't be straight-forward, but this Newcastle United side have conceded plenty of goals away from home recently and Chelsea can match the margins that Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur both achieved. A win by exactly 2 goals returns stakes, but I like Chelsea to go the extra step and cover this with another comfortable day in the office at home.


Swansea v West Ham United Pick: Andy Carroll should return to the West Ham United squad for this game, but there are some decent strikers that won't be in action with Diafra Sakho a doubt and Wilfried Bony at the African Cup of Nations ahead of a potential move to Manchester City.

With Sakho and Bony absent, some may be looking for a game featuring fewer goals than anticipated, but I think both Swansea and West Ham United will continue playing in the same attacking manner which has made the first half of this season so positive for them. Both teams have scored 15 goals in their home/away games respectively and I think both Garry Monk and Sam Allardyce will consider this a winnable game so are unlikely to ask their players to take a step back.

I am anticipating there will be goals shared by these sides with the way that both have played this season, although I can't ignore the fact that Bony and Sakho are missing. There are still goals in both teams though and neither defence can really point to very strong performances to suggest there won't be chances in this game.

Swansea earned a clean sheet against Aston Villa in their last home game, but anyone who saw the chances the away side had in that game would know that West Ham are more than capable of scoring at least once here. On the other hand, West Ham United are yet to earn a clean sheet away from home and Swansea have only failed to score in one home game so the expectation would be that both teams score at least once.

A high-scoring draw is not out of the question, but a 2-1 result either way could be the outcome of this game on Saturday and I will back there being goals at close to odds against.


Crystal Palace v Tottenham Hotspur Pick: Alan Pardew wouldn't have asked for a much better game to open his reign as manager of Crystal Palace than playing a non-League club in the FA Cup Third Round, and the 0-4 at Dover would have been a welcome reprieve from some of the pressures of the Premier League.

The competition level increases ten-fold this weekend for Crystal Palace as they host a Tottenham Hotspur team that beat Chelsea 5-3 in their last League game and who have only seen Manchester City win more away games than them this season.

Without a doubt Tottenham have rode their luck at times on their travels with wins at Aston Villa and Hull City coming in thanks to late goals against teams trying to defend with ten men, while the victory at Swansea was after being outplayed for much of the game before another late winner. However, they have been winning those games and will be confident they can add to the problems that Crystal Palace have been having.

Crystal Palace haven't won a Premier League game since beating Liverpool 3-1 here back in late November, but the confidence of a new manager could certainly change their fortunes. That might give them the boost to beat this Tottenham Hotspur team that have vulnerabilities defensively, although Palace have to be aware of the attacking threat Spurs pose through an in-form Harry Kane.

Christian Eriksen has been scoring away from home with 3 goals in Spurs' last 4 away Premier League games and all of those have been the winning goal.

The one stand out from Tottenham away games is the feature of the 1-2 win and their 9 games on their travels have averaged 3 goals per game. 4 of the last 6 Crystal Palace home games have also featured at least three goals including their 1-3 home defeat to Southampton in their most recent game at Selhurst Park and the one that effectively cost Neil Warnock his job.

There have been more problems for Palace when it comes to goal-scoring, but they have only failed to find the net in 1 of their last 7 home games in the League and Spurs haven't earned an away clean sheet since the opening day of the season in the Premier League. With Tottenham's ability at the other end of the pitch, I am surprised the layers are dangling odds against quotes on there being at least three goals in this game, the second live TV game on Saturday.


Arsenal v Stoke City Pick: As disappointing as the 2-0 loss at Southampton was, Arsenal have actually been playing some decent attacking football in recent weeks and they have definitely felt more comfortable at the Emirates Stadium. That has shown up with 5 straight wins at home in all competitions and Arsenal have scored 11 goals in that run of games, while a fast start has put them on the front foot in each of those games.

Even the loss to Manchester United featured a very good first half hour for Arsenal and they could easily have been leading in that game by that point too with better finishing. The return of Olivier Giroud from suspension gives them a player that is happy leading the line and also means the likes of Alexis Sanchez, Santi Cazorla and Theo Walcott have someone to play off.

The first thirty minutes are going to be vital for both teams in this one you would feel as Arsenal could be hard to peg back if they get their noses in front, while Stoke City are going to be looking to make life very difficult for them.

In recent seasons Stoke have struggled to really impose themselves against Arsenal away from the Brittania Stadium, but Mark Hughes has certainly got his side playing better on their travels than their fans have been accustomed to seeing. That includes wins at Manchester City and Everton this season and close losses at Liverpool and Manchester United so this could be a more difficult game for Arsenal than some may expect.

However, I think the Gunners have found something of a groove at home in the last six weeks and I am expecting another fast start to pay off for them. If they do score in the first thirty minutes, I would expect Arsenal to use their pace on the counter attack to pick off Stoke City who are missing their own key threats in Mame Diouf and Bojan.

Arsenal should then prove to be too strong and come through with the three points thanks to a win by a couple of goals at least.


Manchester United v Southampton Pick: How many people would have predicted Manchester United versus Southampton would be a top four clash at this stage of the season back in August? Both teams were coming into the season off an intriguing summer of transfer activity which had Southampton as a dark horse for relegation, while a poor start for Manchester United had left them off the pace.

With more than half of the season played, both Manchester United and Southampton are a genuine contender to finish in the top four and a Champions League place that brings, although neither will be expected to chase down Chelsea and Manchester City at the top of the table.

That does mean this game has added importance to build some confidence to take into the final five months of the season, while both Dutch managers will believe they can take advantage of a lack of European football compared with the teams around them.

Sunday should be an interesting game between these teams if the game at St Mary's is anything to go by, although it has to be said that Manchester United have saved their best performances for Old Trafford this season. Defensively they still look vulnerable and the likes of Graziano Pelle are still dangerous despite his lack of goals in the last couple of months.

Pelle scored when these teams met at St Mary's and the likes of Dusan Tadic and Shane Long offer Southampton pace which can pose problems for Manchester United.

On the other hand, I expect Manchester United to cause problems for a team that has kept just 1 clean sheet from their last 9 away games in all competitions and the attacking talent at Louis Van Gaal's disposal have proven to be clinical in front of goal. They have also been scoring plenty of goals at home with 11 in their last 4 Premier League games at Old Trafford and I do think Manchester United will have the edge in this game.

However, United also have just 4 clean sheets at home this season and teams are always likely to have chances against them so backing Manchester United to win a game where both teams score looks a big price.

MY PICKS: Sunderland-Liverpool Draw @ 3.60 Bet Victor (1 Unit)
Chelsea - 2 Asian Handicap @ 2.00 Paddy Power (2 Units)
Swansea-West Ham United Over 2.5 Goals @ 2.05 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Crystal Palace-Tottenham Hotspur Over 2.5 Goals @ 2.15 Coral (2 Units)
Arsenal - 1.25 Asian Handicap @ 2.10 Bet365 (2 Units)
Both Teams to Score and Manchester United to Win @ 4.00 Bet Victor (1 Unit)

January Update: 1-5, - 7.10 Units (11 Units Staked, - 64.5% Yield)

December Final: 25-19-1, + 18.70 Units (81 Units Staked, + 23.09% Yield)
November Final: 17-21, - 0.59 Units (69 Units Staked, - 1% Yield)
October Final: 8-18, - 14.79 Units (47 Units Staked, - 31.47% Yield)
September Final: 12-18, - 2.28 Units (41 Units Staked, - 5.56% Yield)
August Final: 8-22, - 19.92 Units (51 Units Staked, - 39.06% Yield)

Season 2014/15: 70-98-1, - 18.88 Units (289 Units Staked, - 6.53% Yield)
Season 2013/14: 164-185-3, + 15.84 Units (577 Units Staked, + 2.75% Yield)
Season 2012/13: + 4.42 Units (415 Units Staked, + 1.07% Yield)