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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

College Football Week 8 Picks 2025 (Saturday 18th October)

The twelve team format of the Playoffs in College Football does mean the season will continue for some time over the months ahead, but the regular season is a little over a month away from being concluded.

Games are becoming that much more important and the margin for error becomes narrower and narrower as teams jockey for places in the Championship Game and then being invited into the Playoff.

One loss is not fatal, although depending which team hands that out, but two losses becomes problematic, although this season feels much different than those we have seen over the last fifteen to twenty years.

In an era of the transfer portal, many people are suggesting that the top teams are pretty tightly bunched these days and historically successful schools are being challenged by 'up-starts' wherever you look.

If the ACC Championship Game was played this weekend, it would be between Georgia Tech and Virginia, while the SEC Championship Game would be Mississippi against Texas A&M. The Indiana Hoosiers surprised everyone last year by making the Playoff, but this is a school on the up and the upset win over the Oregon Ducks means they are leading the way in the Big Ten.

So much can change between now and the end of Thanksgiving Weekend, but it does feel like teams with two losses are likely to be involved in the Playoff.

The likes of Notre Dame and Texas may feel they have little more room for error having suffered two defeats already, but they are right in the mix, while an improving Clemson Tigers team already has three losses, but are slowing climbing the ranks in the ACC.

The way things are panning out, there are going to be some controversial decisions that may be needed to be made by the College Football Playoff Committee once all the Championships have been handed out.

And anyone who needs to sign up to play, you can use the links for Bet365, Bodog and Bovada to do so.

Texas A&M Aggies @ Arkansas Razorbacks Pick: Only two teams remain unbeaten that are playing in the SEC and the Texas A&M Aggies (6-0) are going to have that challenged in the next four weeks. They will be playing three consecutive road games in that stretch, with one Bye Week ahead of Week 11.

Two of those three teams to be faced have a single loss each, but first the Texas A&M Aggies play a second road game of the season at the Arkansas Razorbacks (2-4).

This is the first SEC road game following a win over the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in South Bend earlier in the season and the Aggies are down as significant favourites having compiled a 3-0 start in the Conference.

However, they will have noted the fight that the Arkansas Razorbacks produced in the loss at Tennessee last week and so nothing can be taken for granted.

A new Head Coach search continues for the Razorbacks, and they are 0-2 in the SEC this season, but they showed against the Volunteers that this is a team that will not give up easily. Being motivated at home is much easier too and there is not a lot wrong with an Offensive unit that is well balanced and capable of moving the chains consistently.

That does make the Arkansas Razorbacks a team that has to be respected, although they are facing a Texas A&M Defensive unit that have thrived on this side of the ball.

It all begins up front for the Aggies with a Defensive Line that will feel they can find a way to slow down an Arkansas team picking up 6.1 yards per carry. Even as the competition has ramped up, the Razorbacks have continued to impress with the way they have been able to move the ball on the ground, and this is going to be a key part of the game.

The Aggies will believe that winning up front will make it tough for the Razorbacks to make the plays through the air against this Secondary- the other side of the coin is that Arkansas may feel that being ahead of the chains may just open the door for Taylen Green to get the ball out of his hands quickly and make the passes needed to keep the Offensive unit chugging.

A narrow lean has to be with the Aggies, who will then look for the pass rush to really rattle this Quarter Back, while turnovers are always important. Unfortunately for the Razorbacks, ball security has been a real issue for them in recent games and extra possessions for the road team will feel like a serious edge for the favourite.

As good as the Razorbacks have been with the ball in hand, they have been tremendously poor Defensively and that is where those extra possessions can really hurt.

It is very difficult too see how Arkansas can make any kind of consistent stop when they have been allowing teams to run and throw the ball with efficiency. In recent games teams have ripped off huge gains on the ground and that is almost certainly going to be the case for the Texas A&M Offensive Line, which in turn will make things very comfortable for Marcel Reed at Quarter Back.

He will have seen the huge passing numbers being allowed by this Secondary, while Reed is not expected to face much in terms of pass rush pressure when he does drop back to throw.

Avoiding turnovers will give Texas A&M a huge edge in this contest and there is every chance they can beat the Razorbacks for a fourth time in a row.

Games between the rivals have usually been sent to neutral field in recent years, but Texas A&M have a chance to really make a statement by winning this one in a true road setting.

A couple of key stops and perhaps a turnover or two will be important as far as this spread goes, but the Aggies are capable of creating those and they may be able to win this one with something to spare.

Michigan State Spartans @ Indiana Hoosiers Pick: Two years ago, the Indiana Hoosiers (6-0) finished with a 3-9 record and Head Coach Tom Allen was fired after his seventh year at the helm.

In came Curt Cignetti and even the biggest, most optimistic fan could not have foreseen what was to come.

Last year the Hoosiers finished with an 11-2 record and had been invited into the College Football Playoff and there was a concern that they would struggle to match those heights again. Instead, Indiana have not only begun this season unbeaten, but they are 3-0 in the Big Ten and have just produced an incredibly important win at the home of the Oregon Ducks.

Suffice to say, the Hoosiers are now favourites to reach the Big Ten Conference Championship Game and return to the Playoff.

With Penn State capitulating and hit by key injuries, the Indiana Hoosiers have a clear path to win out, but the Head Coach will be reminding his players to focus. He has underlined his commitment to Indiana by signing a big contract extension and Curt Cignetti has stated he is not going anywhere after being linked with a now vacant role with the Nittany Lions.

The fans are going to be ready to get right behind this team and Head Coach.

Standing in the way is the Michigan State Spartans (3-3) who have lost all three Big Ten games played this season.

The Spartans were 7 point favourites last time out, but you would not have guessed that as they were crushed at home by the UCLA Bruins and it is hard to imagine them being very competitive here, as the spread set for the game makes clear.

The Line of Scrimmage is so, so important in any American Football game and the Michigan State Offensive Line have really had problems opening up running lanes all season. That has been very true as they have moved into Big Ten play and they are not going to get any change out of this Hoosiers Defensive Line and so the pressure is immediately on Aidan Chiles and the Spartans passing game.

Well it would be on Aidan Chiles, but the Quarter Back has to be seen as a major doubt for the road team, which would mean Alessio Milivojevic is given the start. This would be a huge issue for the Spartans with the inexperience of Milivojevic, and especially if the Quarter Back is being asked to do more with the team playing behind the chains.

He will be faced up by a fierce and productive Indiana pass rush, while the Hoosiers Secondary have stepped up another level as the competition has ramped up.

With all that said, the big question is whether the Indiana Hoosiers focus for long enough to earn the blowout, or do they begin to look ahead to Week 9 and a game against a UCLA team that have won two in a row.

The expectation has to be that the extension signed by Curt Cignetti and the team returning home after consecutive road wins will have the fans right behind the Hoosiers and push them to secure a big win.

The last time Indiana played here, they beat Illinois by 53 points and they are going to be very comfortable calling plays with the ball in hand.

Michigan State's Defensive Line have struggled to stop the run and this should see the Indiana Hoosiers constantly playing in front of the chains and will allow Quarter Back Fernando Mendoza to continue to enhance his reputation at the position. Running the ball efficiently means opening up the playbook in the passing game and Mendoza will certainly feel his Receivers can win out and find spaces in this Spartans Secondary.

There is no doubt that this is a big number, but the Hoosiers look a team on a mission and it may be difficult for Michigan State to find anything consistently Offensively. That should mean field position is in favour of the Hoosiers, while there is also the chance that an inexperienced Quarter Back makes mistakes to offer up those extra possessions to allow Indiana to pull clear.

Indiana are more than capable of crushing teams here, as they have shown in the home wins secured so far this season, and the Spartans could be the latest to be shown how improved this Hoosiers program is under Curt Cignetti.

Texas Longhorns @ Kentucky Wildcats Pick: Losses to the Ohio State Buckeyes and Florida Gators have put the pre-season Number 1 Ranked team, the Texas Longhorns (4-2) in a difficult position. They will have taken a lot of confidence out of the fact that they were able to win the Red River Rivalry game against previously unbeaten Oklahoma Sooners and that means the Longhorns are 1-1 in SEC play.

The Playoff Committee are almost certainly going to forgive Texas for the loss to the Buckeyes, but the defeat to the Gators is more damaging.

It all means that Texas are likely going to need to win out to earn an invite into the College Football Playoff and they have to build on the momentum from beating Oklahoma.

This is a second road game to be played in the SEC after that loss in Gainesville, but Texas should be more comfortable against the Kentucky Wildcats (2-3) who have already been beaten in all three SEC games played this season. The most competitive defeat was at home against the Mississippi Rebels, but Kentucky were well beaten in road games at South Carolina and Georgia.

Kentucky have an experienced Head Coach and are coming into this one having been on a Bye Week in Week 7, but Mark Stoops is only 8-14 against the spread with his team having had rest.

One of the big issues that will have needed to be addressed is finding a consistent running attack to just ease the burden on Quarter Back Cutter Boley- the Wildcats Offensive Line have have really begun to struggle as the Conference play has gotten under way and they are not expected to have much success against this Texas Defensive Line.

That will mean Cutter Boley having to make plays from what could be a collapsing pocket around him and the Quarter Back will have noted the Interceptions that Texas have been able to pile up thanks to that pressure up front. The Longhorns Secondary have played the pass well enough to believe they can make stops if they can back up the Wildcats into third and long spots on the field and one of the pre-season favourites have a big edge on this side of the ball.

You cannot completely dismiss Kentucky's chances of making some plays and have some Offensive success, but it is unlikely to be consistent and the potential for turning the ball over is higher than they would like.

The Wildcats Defensive Line are going to have to play well to see if they can give their own Secondary some protection by making sure Texas are stuck in third and long spots. Over the course of the season, Kentucky have been pretty good at playing the run, but they will have some tough moments against this Longhorns Offensive Line.

Any time the Longhorns are in third and manageable spots, they will feel comfortable with much talked about Arch Manning at Quarter Back.

The young player will have time in the pocket considering the lack of pass rush success the Wildcats have had in recent games, and Manning will certainly have noted some of the passing numbers being given up by the home team. Playing on the road is a different test for most at this level and Arch Manning will have to show what he has learned from that defeat at the Florida Gators, but this is an 'easier' match up and Texas should make that clear with the way they manage things.

Texas have not really impressed as much as was hoped in pre-season, but they can keep the positives ticking over after the win over the Oklahoma Sooners. Games against Georgia and Texas A&M in November are going to be huge for the Longhorns, but they have to make sure they are riding a four game winning run when facing the Bulldogs and that means winning here.

With a turnover or two, the Longhorns can surpass the performance of the Mississippi Rebels, who won by 7 points here, and Texas are capable of covering this big line as the road favourite.

Missouri Tigers @ Auburn Tigers Pick: They have won twenty-one games between 2023 and 2024 and the Missouri Tigers (5-1) had made a perfect start to 2025 going into a big 'prove it' game in Week 7 against the Alabama Crimson Tide.

It was a nip and tuck game throughout, but Missouri came up short and they are looking to bounce back in a big road test in the SEC and make sure they keep themselves in contention for a College Football Playoff spot.

The defeat to the Crimson Tide has dropped Missouri to 1-1 in Conference play, but they are facing an Auburn Tigers (3-3) team who will still be wondering how things got away from them in Week 7 against the Georgia Bulldogs. The second half performance has led to some questioning whether a change needs to be made at Quarter Back, while others will point to some questionable first half officiating in the eventual loss to the Bulldogs, and Auburn will go into this game at 0-3 in the SEC.

Another losing season in Auburn is unthinkable, but that is what Head Coach Huge Freeze and the team are facing and fans are not going to be very happy.

A really big problem for the Auburn Tigers has been the inability to establish the run and the Offensive Line are set to face a Missouri team that have been very good up front. Even Alabama failed to average 3 yards per carry against the Missouri Defensive Line and Auburn are not expected to have a lot of joy, which means all eyes will once again be on Quarter Back Jackson Arnold.

He has failed to live up to the expectations and there has been some talk about handing things over to Ashton Daniels, who has started twenty games for Stanford. In that time, Daniels has 21 Touchdown passes, but also 20 Interceptions and so Hugh Freeze has announced he will roll with Jackson Arnold again.

After facing Georgia, this is another very big test for Arnold at Quarter Back and he is likely to be feeling plenty of heat from the Missouri pass rush in this game. The team have not helped by having Jackson Arnold try to pilot the Offense from third and long spots, but he is likely going to have to do that here and Missouri's pressure up front will stall drives.

Credit has to be given to Jackson Arnold for the fact that despite that pressure being faced, he has yet to throw an Interception and Punting is not always a bad thing, even if the fans are going to voice their frustrations around that.

This could develop into a battle of field position and so keeping things clean is key for the home team and especially as Missouri are out on the road for the first time in 2025.

Missouri's Offensive Line did give the team a chance in the loss to Alabama last week and they were able to run the ball with some effectiveness, even if Ahmad Hardy was not able to reach the levels he had prior to the game with the Crimson Tide. With a dual-threat ability from the Quarter Back position, Missouri should feel they can run the ball with some success, even against this tough Auburn Defensvie Line, and that will be important in a tough road environment.

Quarter Back Beau Pribula has been keeping his running numbers down earlier in the season, but made an impact with his legs against South Carolina and Alabama. That will be needed again to keep him out of third and long spots, especially having thrown 5 Interceptions already this season.

Two of those were thrown in the loss to Alabama and it is vital for the Missouri Quarter Back to avoid mistakes in this one. He should be playing with a relatively clean pocket, which will certainly help, and using the legs is important, while also being reminded that a Punt is not a detrimental situation to be in.

Eliah Drinkwitz has proven himself to be a solid Head Coach and his Missouri Tigers are 12-7 against the spread following a loss, while they won't be concerned about being set as road favourites having produced a 6-0 record against the spread in that spot since 2023.

Playing after a big test against Alabama is difficult, but Auburn were battling Georgia in Week 7 and invested plenty themselves to come up short again in the SEC.

Hugh Freeze is 6-3 against the spread playing with revenge with Auburn, but Missouri can do just enough to win this one and maintain their place amongst the top teams in the Conference. They could be the team with a bit more consistency Offensively, and that can show up in this Conference game, although one that will likely go down to the wire.

Utah Utes @ BYU Cougars Pick: There is a real rivalry between these teams and this year the 'Holy War' will be used to separate some of the top teams in the Big 12 Conference.

The BYU Cougars (6-0) are unbeaten and 3-0 in Conference play, while the Utah Utes (5-1) are 2-1 in the Big 12- last year the top of the Conference came down to tie-breakers and so this is game that could give the fans bragging rights, but also perhaps offer one a route into the College Football Playoff in December.

All credit has to be given to the Utes for bouncing back from a thumping against Texas Tech Red Raiders and they have won two in a row. Not only have they won those games, but the Red Raiders have completely dominated West Virginia and Arizona State and that is perhaps why they have been set as the favourite.

They also play with revenge having lost to the Cougars last year, and Utah are going to want to lean on the Offensive Line and see if they can bully BYU in the trenches. Doing that would put the Utes in a really good position Offensively, especially as the Cougars Secondary have been playing at a strong level.

Devon Dampier will likely be operating with plenty of protection and that will give him a chance to make some big plays as he looks to help Utah push themselves into a position to move past this rival in the standings.

However, the Cougars Offensive Line are also going to be pretty confident that they can establish the run and that will give the home underdog every chance of keeping this competitive and perhaps even earn the upset.

Just as is the case on the other side of the ball, BYU understand and appreciate the importance of having plenty of success on the ground to keep the team in front of the chains. The Utah Secondary is playing very well and they do get a bit more a push up front when Quarter Backs have stepped back to throw, which will cause problems if the Cougars are stuck behind the chains.

BYU have won two in a row in this rivalry and they do look worthy of being backed with the points to keep things tight on the scoreboard with a Field Goal win either way being likely.

MY PICKS: Texas A&M Aggies - 7.5 Points @ 1.95 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)

Indiana Hoosiers - 27.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Texas Longhorns - 12.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Missouri Tigers - 1.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

BYU Cougars + 3.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Week 7: 4-1, + 2.62 Units (5 Units Staked, + 52.40% Yield)

Week 6: 2-4, - 2.22 Units (6 Units Staked, - 37% Yield)

Week 5: 1-5, - 4.20 Units (6 Units Staked, - 70% Yield)

Week 4: 2-4, - 2.14 Units (6 Units Staked, - 35.67% Yield)

Week 3: 4-4, - 0.36 (8 Units Staked, - 4.50% Yield)

Week 1: 1-4, - 3.14 Units (5 Units Staked, - 62.80% Yield)

Week 0: 2-1, + 0.75 Units (3 Units Staked, + 25% Yield)

Weekend Football Picks and Fantasy Football 2020 (October 17-19)

The international break is over and that means the return of the Premier League and Fantasy Football.

I will have a few words about GW5 once I put down a few thoughts about the fixtures to be played this weekend.

Everton v Liverpool Pick: Both clubs from Merseyside had made a very strong start to the Premier League season before the final set of games ahead of the October international break.

While Everton have kept their winning run going, Liverpool were being thumped 7-2 at Aston Villa in one of the more staggering results you will see for some time.

The lack of crowds have not helped some of the fixtures and that was the argument made to excuse the Liverpool performance, but it is not the first time since the resumption of play that the defensive levels have not been good enough. They earned a clean sheet at Chelsea, but that came against ten men for the entirety of the second half and even then Liverpool needed their hosts to miss a penalty.

They are giving up some big chances and I think the pressure only increases tenfold knowing Alisson is not between the sticks behind them.

Everton have not beaten Liverpool at Goodison Park since October 17th 2010, but ten years to the day later they look to have as good a chance as ever. They are playing with confidence and Carlo Ancelotti will have some key players back from injury, while Everton have been creating chances for fun in their games this season.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin is a striker in form and Everton will feel they can get at this Liverpool backline which has been surprisingly nervous at times throughout this season.

They might not have beaten them here, but Everton don't lose many games to Liverpool at Goodison Park which is underlined by the fact that 7 of the last 8 here have ended in draws. When they met here in June it was only some poor home finishing which prevented Everton taking the full three points and I think this current squad are playing considerably better than they were back then.

Everton look stronger all around and I would be surprised if they are beaten by Liverpool, despite the fact that the latter should be fuming and desperate to put things right after their embarrassing capitulation at Villa Park.

We should see a really strong Liverpool performance, but defensively they have more questions than answers at the moment and I think Everton are able to avoid defeat at the least.

Chelsea v Southampton Pick: This is the first ever PPV Football game being played in the Premier League and I am looking forward to seeing what kind of numbers the television companies pick up for these fixtures.

Personally I not only find it embarrassing that the Premier League has decided this is the best way to deal with the fact that fans are not allowed inside the Stadiums, but the actual cost is beyond a joke.

Neither the Chelsea or Southampton players will be worrying about that as they look to keep some momentum behind them following positive home wins in the final set of games before the international break.

Both clubs have been playing some strong attacking football, but Frank Lampard and Ralph Hasenhuttl will be more pleased with the clean sheets earned. Southampton in particular have looked much more solid at the back following the 2-5 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur, although those games have been against Burnley and West Brom and this Chelsea team have a lot more attacking threat than those two clubs.

Frank Lampard has perhaps not been allowing his Chelsea team play as freely as they were at the end of last season, although I do think injuries have been partly to blame. There shouldn't be any excuses this weekend with the likes of Christian Pulisic back and possibly starting and I do think Chelsea will find spaces against this Southampton team who do like to get on the front foot themselves.

In recent seasons Chelsea have not had it easy against Southampton and I do think this will be a difficult test days before the Champions League begins. However, I also think Chelsea have been playing well at Stamford Bridge for some time and they have the pace and quality in the final third to eventually break down Southampton.

The visitors will cause problems, but I think their attacking intent will eventually be their downfall in this one.

Manchester City v Arsenal Pick: This is a big game in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon and Mikel Arteta is going to be confident he can find the right system to get the better of Pep Guardiola for the second time in the space of a few months.

Arsenal have not really enjoyed playing Manchester City in recent years, but they did enough to beat them in the FA Cup Semi Final in July and there will be a confidence about the team. They have made a strong start to the 2020/21 season and Arsenal will believe their pace in the final third is going to give them every chance to expose a Manchester City defence which has not been watertight at all.

I do expect Manchester City to be better the longer Ruben Dias and Aymeric Laporte have to play with each other, but in the early part of the season there might be some teething problems. We saw some of those when Leeds United got forward against them, but Manchester City have also shown an attacking cutting edge that will give them a chance in this and any match they play.

Being without Gabriel Jesus and Sergio Aguero has been difficult and both are edging closer to a return, but unlikely to be involved this weekend. It is important that both Raheem Sterling and Kevin De Bruyne are fit to play a part because this is going to be a difficult enough game and without them I don't think I would fancy Manchester City's chances at all.

However, if both Sterling and De Bruyne are available there is enough of an attacking push from Manchester City to be able to cause this Arsenal team some problems. The Gunners are far from the walkover they have been in recent seasons and they will challenge Manchester City, but I do think the home team will have the better of the opportunities over the ninety minutes.

Even in the games played so far this season, Arteta seems to be capable of getting results from fixtures where his team have not been at their best. Both West Ham United and Liverpool created some big chances against Arsenal and you have to feel if they are going to allow Manchester City to do the same that the home team will have a little too much in the locker for them.

Arsenal do find a way to hang around in matches which will make them dangerous, but Manchester City should be able to finish off the chances they are likely to create in this one. Even without their top two strikers, Manchester City have been scoring goals and I think they will find a way to edge past Arsenal with perhaps a late goal sealing the deal like Liverpool did when they met The Gunners last month.

Newcastle United v Manchester United Pick: Rumours have been flying over the last couple of weeks after Manchester United's hammering at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur- the majority of those are about the manager and whether he will be given much more time, but most fans are also furious about the poor recruitment strategy at Old Trafford which continues to blight the club.

More panicky decisions were made as the transfer deadline hit and Manchester United are now heading into a big month.

It doesn't help that some have been suggesting that Bruno Fernandes had a major falling out with team-mates and with the manager at half time of the defeat to Spurs.

All in all Manchester United will have plenty of eyes on them to see how they react to the devastating defeat to Tottenham Hotspur. The players have to show they have more pride playing for the shirt than they did two weeks ago, but the challenge is finding the right system to deal without Anthony Martial and Edinson Cavani.

Manchester United will also be travelling to St James' Park this weekend where they have a poor recent record having won 1 of their last 4 visits. Last season they were beaten 1-0 here and Newcastle United have made a positive start to the season which will make them feel pretty good about their chances of earning an upset.

Steve Bruce will be looking to set his team up to be hard to beat and he could have a number of first team defenders back for this fixture having entered the international break with a lot of injuries to deal with. Restricting space and trying to hit Manchester United on the counter attack will be the game plan for the home team and it is a plan that Brighton almost executed perfectly in the last away Premier League game played by the visitors.

Manchester United have won 7 away games in all competitions in succession and they have been scoring goals for fun in those fixtures. However being without Martial is a blow to their chances here and I do think there is something not right at the club at the moment which makes them vulnerable.

The manager could find himself under huge pressure on Saturday evening if Manchester United were to lose again, but either way it does feel like a very difficult game for the visitors to win easily. Big games will come thick and fast for Manchester United after this one, but that puts pressure on them to earn a result in this fixtures to build some momentum towards bigger tests.

It just feels like a tough ask at a ground on which Manchester United have experienced some hardship in recent times. Add in the dent in confidence the players suffered, the missing strikers and Newcastle United's own decent start to the season and this feels like a very short price for Manchester United to get back to winning ways.

Sheffield United v Fulham Pick: Two teams who could not have asked for more disappointing opening month of the Premier League season meet on Sunday in what is a very important game for both Sheffield United and Fulham.

Second season syndrome has been a problem for many clubs in the top flight over the last thirty years, but Chris Wilder will be most concerned that his Sheffield United team have lost 7 Premier League games in a row. That includes 3 losses from the end of last season which suggests the Sheffield United slump is more prolonged than merely the players being worked out in their second season at this level.

A lack of goals is an issue, but Sheffield United have been creating chances. At some point I do think they will be better in front of goal, but the bigger issue may be the fact that The Blades have lost some of their toughness defensively which means they will need a lot more goals to get anywhere near the kind of level produced last season.

Injuries have hurt Sheffield United as has the decision of Dean Henderson to return to Manchester United, but Wilder will know this fixture represents a good chance to get the first points on the board.

Scott Parker did really well in helping Fulham return to the top flight, but his team have struggled on their return to the Premier League. Defensively they have been a mess and new signings have been made to try and improve on that side of their game, while Fulham are also a team who have struggled to score enough goals with none being managed in their last 3 games in all competitions.

The feeling is that Sheffield United have been more productive going forward which could be the key to the outcome of this one. It won't be easy considering the recent form which will have dented the confidence of the players, but Fulham are not exactly firing on all cylinders themselves and I do think The Blades have the cutting edge to eventually begin to take the chances created.

I am not anticipating the highest scoring game of the weekend, but Sheffield United can be the one to earn their first victory of the 2020/21 season.

Crystal Palace v Brighton Pick: Most derby games in England are between clubs that don't have the same kind of distance between them that Crystal Palace and Brighton do, but that has not lessened the intensity between these clubs.

Both teams are likely going to be battling to avoid relegation this season and these games could have extra meaning when it comes to May and the final breakdown of the League table. That won't be lost on the managers and I do think Roy Hodgson and Graham Potter will believe they can still motivate the players who will miss the presence of the fans in fixtures like this one.

On the face of things you would think this is the kind of fixture that would produce a low-scoring, tight, competitive affair. However goals have not been a massive problem when these teams have faced each other and the early form of both Crystal Palace and Brighton suggests we should see chances in this one too.

Crystal Palace have scored in both home games played this season and they have been creating decent chances in some of the fixtures played. They will be aided by the fact they are facing a Brighton team who have conceded 10 goals in their last 3 games in all competitions, albeit against clubs in the 'Big Six' part of the Division.

On the other side, Brighton have actually looked threatening going forward and have scored in every League game played this season and scored at least twice in their last 3 in the Premier League. Before the defeat at Everton they had been unbeaten in 9 away games in all competitions and Brighton have scored at least twice in 4 away games in succession.

Before Crystal Palace's 0-1 win at the Amex Stadium, both teams had hit the net against the other in 5 successive games in all competitions. The injuries in the home team have yet to clear up which could make them vulnerable to an attack minded Brighton team, but Crystal Palace do have some talented forwards that will believe they can expose the soft underbelly of The Seagulls.

Chances are being created in the games these teams have played so far this season and the last 3 at Selhurst Park since Brighton have returned to the top flight have ended with both teams scoring. I think the chances we saw in their two Premier League fixtures last season will be replicated in this one and both teams should find a way to hit the back of the net.

Tottenham Hotspur v West Ham United Pick: This London derby could be a really good one if the early season form of Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United is anything to go by.

Both are coming off very impressive away Premier League wins against teams who finished in the top five last season and I think both Jose Mourinho and David Moyes would have preferred to have avoided a two week break between games.

Tottenham Hotspur have had a tough September with the amount of games they had to negotiate, but Mourinho has helped the squad manage that and the 1-6 win at Manchester United will have given the players a huge boost in confidence. They have earned passage to the Europa League Group Stage and progressed to the League Cup Quarter Final, while Tottenham Hotspur could be boosted by the return of Gareth Bale who is in line for his second debut.

The home form will need improving if Tottenham Hotspur are to return to the Champions League at the end of the campaign, but they were very unfortunate not to have earned more points from their games against Everton and Newcastle United. The latter in particular was a day in which Spurs missed a host of chances before a controversial Penalty cost them three points at the very end of the game.

Now they have to make sure they don't underestimate a West Ham United team who battered Wolves and Leicester City in back to back Premier League games. Those were not undeserved results or The Hammers being more clinical than their opponents, but West Ham United created huge opportunities and have confident players who have taken those chances when they have come up.

Even in the 2-1 defeat at Arsenal, West Ham United dominated large portions of the second half and only slightly better finishing would have perhaps earned them the full three points let alone the just the one from a draw.

David Moyes can sometimes be a little cautious, but the style West Ham United have used in their last 3 Premier League games against top eight opponents suggests he will keep faith in what he has his players doing. The squad is as fit as they have been in months and everyone seems to know their role which means West Ham United can more than just contribute to this fixture.

Both teams scoring would not be a huge surprise, and it would be disappointing if this was not one of the better games to watch this weekend. I anticipate a game where both Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United will go on the attack and look to score goals and it should be one of the higher-scoring games of the weekend.

Leicester City v Aston Villa Pick: There have been some staggering results in the Premier League through the first month of the 2020/21 season and these two clubs have been involved in a number of them.

Leicester City stunned Manchester City 2-5 at the Etihad Stadium before being battered 0-3 at home by West Ham United before the international break. On the other side Aston Villa hammered Liverpool 7-2 at Villa Park two weeks ago and are one of two teams that have won every Premier League game they have played this season.

That start comes weeks after Aston Villa needed to escape the drop on the last day of the 2019/20 season, while Leicester City's defeat to West Ham United came after they had won their opening 3 Premier League games.

With that in mind it can be difficult to know what to expect from teams on a week to week basis, but I do think Leicester City will bounce back and perform much better this Sunday.

They will need to be a lot better because Aston Villa are playing with confidence and have been a much stronger team this side of the resumption of English Football in June. Defensively there have been improvements, but Aston Villa have also looked better in the final third and I do think that makes them dangerous here.

Leicester City did hammer Aston Villa twice in the League last season, but Aston Villa did earn a 1-1 draw here in the League Cup. As I have said, Aston Villa are much improved since these teams last met in March and Leicester City have certainly not been playing like a top eight club over the last five months.

The Foxes have been better at home which deserves some respect, but they have lost 3 of their last 4 here. Leicester City have conceded at least twice in 4 home games in a row and Aston Villa's attacking revival should mean they are able to keep this one competitive.

West Brom v Burnley Pick: I could really pick a number of different ways this fixture could be played out, but that makes it a tough one for Fantasy purposes.

Neither team has looked great at the back, but both have struggled in the final third too.

With that in mind I think it is likely we could see a clean sheet in this fixture for at least one of the teams, but I am not sure which is going to earn it. The upcoming games for both teams suggests their Fantasy assets are not worth much at the moment either and this one fixture I won't be tuning in to this weekend, especially not at the PPV prices they are selling it at.

Leeds United v Wolves Pick: The final game of the Premier League weekend comes on Monday Night Football when Leeds United and Wolves meet in what looks like a potentially good looking game on paper.

Both teams have some strong attacking talents and the football they are able to play means those players are allowed to express themselves.

At the same time there have been one or two vulnerabilities at the back which have been exposed by opponents and that should mean these teams combine for an entertaining game at Elland Road.

Neither manager is one that is going to be happy to settle for a result, although it might be a better point for Wolves than Leeds United on current form.

It is hard to really get a good read on how the teams are playing because of some of the inconsistencies that have been on display. There are times when Leeds United and Wolves have looked really good, but there have also been stretches within games when they have looked vulnerable and perhaps been pushed to the brink.

Out of the two teams it is the losses that Wolves have suffered and the manner of them which is a concern, but I would be surprised if they are not able to play their part here. The Marcelo Bielsa system means they are going to be exposed to the Wolves counter attack, but should also mean Leeds United are able to test a team that have conceded 7 times to Manchester City and West Ham United combined.

The layers don't really seem to agree with me in that there is a real chance of seeing some goals in this one, but I do think both teams will find a way to hit the back of the net. Neither manager is one to really take the foot off the accelerator and that should keep the fixture open and produce at least three goals on the night.

MY PICKS: Everton + 0.5 Asian Handicap

Chelsea - 1 Asian Handicap

Manchester City - 1 Asian Handicap

Newcastle United + 1 Asian Handicap

Sheffield United - 0.25 Asian Handicap

Crystal Palace-Brighton Both Teams to Score

Tottenham Hotspur-West Ham United Over 2.5 Goals

Aston Villa + 0.75 Asian Handicap

West Brom-Burnley Both Teams to Score- NO

Leeds United-Wolves Over 2.5 Goals

Fantasy Football GameWeek 5

It is simple...

WILDCARD!!

I've had a miserable time in the first four GameWeeks and the final straw was watching my squad lose considerable value all over the place. The XG numbers have been decent enough, but I have not gotten enough positive returns from the Picks I made and I have to accept that I was wrong and now is the time to make changes.

I did mention that I would be looking to activate the Wildcard after the transfer deadline closed and that is where I am at.

Some players won't be moved, others will be restored in the weeks ahead, but I am going to make a number of changes to the squad to give it a better all around feel. Hopefully it will be the right decisions this time and I will reveal the full team when the deadline hits.

You can check that out on my Twitter page on Saturday morning.