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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Everton @ 2.10 William Hill (1 Unit)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Cameron Menzies @ 2.00 Bet365 (1 Unit)

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

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

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