Boxing Picks 2026- Johnny Fisher vs Michael Pirotton (Saturday 26th September)

After the back and forth over a number of weeks and months, an announcement was made that Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua would finally be meeting in the ring in Cardiff on December 11th.

However, just like the journey to get the two best British Heavyweights of their generation signed to fight has had many twists and turns, yet another one may put a kibosh on everything.

In the immediate aftermath of the announcement, Eddie Hearn made it pretty clear that the 'collaboration' with Dana White was against what was written in the Anthony Joshua contract and it was a situation that had to be cleared up.

Reports leading into the weekend suggest the main event is still very much in doubt with Hearn and Joshua digging in to have Dana White's association removed from the event, at least as far as the main event is concerned.

With Zuffa Boxing having an event in London this weekend, Dana White is likely going to be asked by the media to clear things up, but something is going to have to give and even now there is a serious doubt that the long awaited Fury vs AJ fight goes ahead.

It has been another busy month for Boxing fans with some big nights in the books, but there are still plenty of good looking events coming up between now and the conclusion of the calendar year.

This weekend is perhaps not the most appealing to the casual fan, but a couple of solid cards in the United Kingdom will be followed by the latest offering from Japan on Sunday.

Over the last couple of years, those events held in Japan have featured some very strong fighters in the lower weight classes, headed up by Naoya Inoue.

It is brother Takuma defending his World Titles this weekend when facing Tenshin Nasukawa for a second time after a very good main event between the two last year and it should be very interesting to see how both have developed having won big fights in the time since the first fight in November 2025.

Zuffa Boxing 11 and a solid Queensberry card make up the Saturday night action first and then we have a run of fight nights that should appeal to the hardcore and the more casual supporters over the weeks ahead.

Johnny Fisher vs Michael Pirotton

The first fight against David Allen may officially go down as a draw, but most felt Johnny Fisher had been beaten that day before an emphatic defeat to the same opponent put a ceiling on where many believe The Romford Bull can go in the sport.

He has a pretty good fanbase and is likeable, which means being marketable, and Johnny Fisher has been given a healthy paycheque to leave Matchroom and sign with Zuffa Boxing.

Much like the deal to sign Conor Benn, it feels this has been a move designed to irritate Eddie Hearn as much as it has been about building up Fisher under a new promoter.

Regardless, he fights for the second time since the Knock Out loss to David Allen and Johnny Fisher is expected to be too quick for Michael Pirotton.

The Belgian has not really stepped up his level, not even to the one that Johnny Fisher represents.

He does have a big opportunity- if Michael Pirotton can upset the home fighter, he will likely sign up with Zuffa Boxing and earn the fights that have been reported to have been readied for Johnny Fisher if he can win this one.

That should motivate Michael Pirotton, but Johnny Fisher can come out firing very early and he has the power and speed to bulldoze past this opponent before the bell for the Sixth Round is sounded.

Over in Birmingham, Liam Davies and Nathaniel Collins face off for the European Title in the Featherweight Division and it feels like something of a crossroads fight.

The winner can look to move towards a World Title opportunity, but the loser will take a significant step backwards and that raises the stakes.

Nathaniel Collins came up short when trying to win the European Title, but Liam Davies made no mistake when his own opportunity came up and these two fighters are expected to gel together very effectively.

Both have shown they can put the power punches together to finish an opponent inside the distance, but fans of Nathaniel Collins have to be a little concerned about his last two performances. He looked to be running out of steam and not having the same output as we have been accustomed to seeing and you do have to wonder if that is going to change in this bout.

If it doesn't, Nathaniel Collins will be giving Liam Davies the edge and the local fighter may not have to look too hard to find a home for his punches.

A Stoppage is possible for Liam Davies if he can build up some momentum, although Collins will make this a fun contest for however long it lasts.

On the undercard, Luke McCormack is expected to be fresh enough and fighting with the momentum to pick up the British Title in the Light-Welterweight Division.

The less experienced fighter may want to be getting out more than twice per year, but he is facing Kay Prospere who has fought once since December 2024 and can be outworked.

Credit has to be given to Prospere for only having two losses on the record and one of those was against Sandor Martin, but 'Special K' is perhaps fortunate to be in a position to fight for this vacant British Title and Luke McCormack can wear him down for a late Stoppage.

Bradley Goldsmith can also earn a Stoppage to back up the solid win over Brad Pauls and he is going to be the naturally bigger man when stepping into the ring with once beaten Amir Abubaker.

The latter has earned plenty of Knock Out wins, but was Stopped in the Light-Middleweight Division and the step up may be one too far in this contest.

Last November, Takuma Inoue beat Tenshin Nasukawa to earn the WBC World Bantamweight Title.

After both have wins over veterans with solid names, they meet again on Sunday and Inoue looks capable of making sure repeat, rather than revenge, is what is spoken about.

He does not have the power of brother Naoya, but Takuma Inoue has solid fundamentals and it would take a huge improvement from Tenshin Nasukawa to win this World Title.

The impressive win over veteran Juan Francisco Estrada will have given Tenshin a lot of confidence, but the Mexican looked a faded force before being put down for good as he retired on his stool.

This is a much tougher fight and Takuma Inoue looks capable of doing what is necessary on the cards again.

The Japanese cards always try and put a solid undercard together and it is no different this weekend.

The standout fight looks to be Sam Goodman taking on home hope Ryosuke Nishida with the Interim IBF World Title on the line.

Winning could see that fighter leap to the front of the queue to take on Naoya Inoue, who is the king in the Bantamweight Division.

Being at home gives Nishida the edge, but he is moving up in weight class, while Sam Goodman is coming back down.

Concerns about the drop in weight have been raised after Goodman's team asked for an earlier weigh in on the day of the fight as per IBF rules. However, the home fighter's representatives are demanding the usual time is kept with the feeling that it will prevent the Australian from rehydrating to make the size and strength count.

It has the makings of a fascinating fight, but Sam Goodman looks a little overpriced to find a way to win his first bout outside of Australia.

His power could be the difference on the night and Sam Goodman has enough skill about him to edge to a victory.

MY PICKS: Johnny Fisher to Win Between 1-5 @ 1.91 Coral (2 Units)

Liam Davies to Win by KO/TKO/Disqualification @ 3.10 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

Luke McCormack to Win Between 7-12 @ 3.25 Coral (1 Unit)

Bradley Goldsmith to Win Between 1-5 @ 3.25 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

Takuma Inoue to Win by Decision/Technical Decision @ 1.95 Bet Victor (2 Units)

Sam Goodman to Win @ 2.62 Bet Victor (1 Unit)

Boxing 2026: 24-42, - 13.76 Units (104 Units Staked, - 13.23% Yield)

College Football Week 4 Picks 2026 (Saturday 26th September)

The expanded College Football Playoff gives a few more teams an opportunity to overcome a loss or two, but in the years ahead, the field is likely to be expanded and that should ensure strong schedules are played.

Head Coaches have made it clear that the Playoff Committee should not be punishing those who take on big opponents in non-Conference games.

Losing to the Ohio State Buckeyes hurt the Texas Longhorns last year, although they did have a couple of other losses on the record which ultimately impacted their hopes of earning a spot in the twelve team Playoff field.

This time around it is the Buckeyes who will be needing to win some big games if they are going to overcome the second half capitulation that cost them the chance to beat the Texas Longhorns again.

Conference play has gotten underway already and the final round of games in September will see plenty of those games on the schedule.

Games are of such importance in Week 4 that the President of the United States will be attending one of those- Tennessee hosting Texas has plenty of storylines attached to it already and President Trump expected to be on campus is another one.

Big games mean big headlines are ready to be made and it is also a chance to finally begin bouncing back from what has been a difficult start to the 2026 season for the College Football Picks.

Texas Longhorns @ Tennessee Volunteers Pick: Two teams who have begun the season at 3-0 will now move into SEC play and with President Trump expected to be in attendance.

It would have been a big game anyway when the Texas Longhorns (3-0) visited Knoxville to face the Tennessee Volunteers (3-0) with Arch Manning set to Quarter Back the road team on a campus where Uncle Peyton was a former College star for the Volunteers before having a very successful career in the NFL with the Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos.

Bigger expectations are on the shoulders of the Texas Longhorns when these unbeaten teams open Conference play in 2026 and the come from behind win over the Ohio State Buckeyes has already placed a strong victory in the record books. There are going to be some significant challenges to meet in the SEC and the Texas Longhorns will be well aware of the test that is facing them when playing the first road game of the season.

The Tennessee Volunteers do have a road win over the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, and they will have taken great pleasure in beating a historical rival, but two home wins against overmatched opponents won't mean a great deal before facing one of the top teams in the SEC.

Some will already be backing Arch Manning to be the top Draft Pick for the NFL next year, but the Volunteers will be going into this game with a much more inexperienced Quarter Back.

Faizon Brandon has made a positive start to his College career, and there are huge expectations as to how he will grow into a top Quarter Back at this level and then beyond, and all credit has to be given to the Volunteers for being able to recruit him. He has been able to throw 6 Touchdown passes without an Interception and Faizon Brandon has added three more Touchdowns on the ground, but facing the likes of Furman, Georgia Tech and Kennesaw State is one thing and facing the Texas Longhorns is another.

The Longhorns Defensive Line have begun the season looking pretty sharp in the trenches and they have been able to slow the run, which is always a key approach for any team at any level to adopt. Stop the run and making the Offensive game-plan one-dimensional will put the Longhorns in a position to try and bait the young Quarter Back into a mistake or two, while the Secondary have used that advantage up front to make big plays when the ball is thrown against them.

Trying to put it altogether on the road can be a test, but the Longhorns have to be confident in their ability on this side of the ball and that may give them the edge.

Stopping the run has been more of a test for the Volunteers Defensive Line and you just know the Texas plan will be to see if they can find the push at the Line of Scrimmage that will keep Arch Manning in third and manageable spots on the field. That is so important on the road, even for a Quarter Back with some serious College experience, and the Longhorns have looked strong enough to believe they can establish the run with some success.

Arch Manning should then be given the time he needs to find his playmakers and it should also mean he is not having to hold onto the ball for long enough to allow the Volunteers to ramp up the pass rush.

Pressure up front has certainly helped the Secondary early in the season, but the Volunteers have not come up against any Offensive Line like the one the Longhorns will be running out onto the field and that gives the road team any advantage.

Moving the ball up and down the field is never going to be easy on the road in the SEC environment, at least not with any consistency.

However, the Longhorns do have enough about them to win at the Line of Scrimmage on both sides of the ball and the extra experience of Arch Manning should see him outperform Faizon Brandon and lead Texas to an important road win in Knoxville.

Illinois Fighting Illini @ Ohio State Buckeyes Pick: A loss to the Ohio State Buckeyes (2-1) was part of the reason the Texas Longhorns were the 'first team out' of the College Football Playoff in 2025.

This season it is the Buckeyes who were beaten by the Longhorns by a single point and that means Ohio State are going to have to move through a difficult schedule without too many more setbacks.

They open the Big Ten portion of the schedule with a home game against the Illinois Fighting Illini (2-1) who are also playing the first Conference game of the season. Much like the Buckeyes, Illinois have beaten a couple of overmatched opponents, but been beaten by a Power 4 opponent on the road in a narrow defeat, although the defeat to the Duke Blue Devils is against a significantly weaker opponent than the Texas Longhorns.

Controlling the Line of Scrimmage is going to be important for the Fighting Illini as they bid to find a way to establish the run against the toughest Defensive Line they will have faced so far. This always the approach that Head Coach Bret Bielema wants from his team with the hope the run game can then open up the passing lanes, and he will want to see the Fighting Illini stay in front of the chains.

Katin Houser is the Illinois Quarter Back and has begun his career with the team with a solid three game run, but the challenge will be that much greater if the Buckeyes Defensive Line wins up front. Even if they don't, Houser will be throwing into a Secondary that have started this season in really strong form and this is likely going to be a tough road environment for the Illinois Fighting Illini to find consistency Offensively.

Establishing an Offensive game-plan should be all the more comfortable for the Ohio State Buckeyes who have should have a comfortable balance on this side of the ball.

The Offensive Line are still working through the early issues, but the Buckeyes should be able to have some success running the ball and that should make things pretty easy for Julian Sayin at the Quarter Back position.

Ohio State have a lot of talent in the passing game, although Head Coach Ryan Day has admitted his team need to find some consistency on this side of the ball ahead of the start of Conference play. Being at home should help and the Buckeyes look strong enough on both sides of the ball to eventually be able to overwhelm the Fighting Illini.

Last season the Buckeyes won by 18 points on the road against this opponent, but a couple of key Defensive plays could help them add another ten points to that gap and cover this line.

Oklahoma Sooners @ Georgia Bulldogs Pick: A comfortable road win saw the Georgia Bulldogs (3-0) open the SEC play in the manner they would have expected, but the Arkansas Razorbacks may be the weakest team in the Conference. There is little doubt that the Oklahoma Sooners (2-1) represent a much tougher challenge, although the Sooners will arrive in Athens with plenty to prove having already suffered a loss to the Michigan Wolverines.

The Sooners will be going into a Bye Week before facing the Texas Longhorns in Week 6 and they are going to need to find some Offense to go with the strong Defensive performances that have been produced.

All of the questions are being asked of John Mateer at Quarter Back who had entered the College ranks without the same kind of reputation that had been built up in his first full season with the Washington State Cougars. A transfer to Oklahoma saw John Mateer help the team to a spot in the College Football Playoff, although the 14 Touchdown passes and 11 Interceptions suggested the team overcame the play of the Quarter Back.

In 2026, John Mateer has thrown for 652 yards with 6 Touchdowns and 3 Interceptions and the team have scored just 24 points in the last two games.

It simply has not helped that the Sooners Offensive Line have not been able to establish the run and this looks unlikely to change in Week 4 of the season. While the Georgia Bulldogs have yet to be tested, they have been very strong on the Defensive Line and forcing John Mateer to win this game out of third and long spots for much of the game is going to be the minimum expectation from the watching home fans.

Placing any Quarter Back in third and long spots consistently will see the pressure build on them, but John Mateer will also be dealing with a solid Georgia pass rush and a Secondary that will certainly feel they can force a turnover or two. His personal level has not been good enough to give the Sooners fans a lot of hope, but Oklahoma are always dangerous and the Georgia Bulldogs cannot afford to overlook them.

The road team will certainly believe the quality on the Defensive side of the ball will allow them to remain competitive and this is the toughest team that the Georgia Bulldogs will have faced.

David Stone is a doubt for this Week 4 game and that would be a bitter blow for the Oklahoma Defensive Line, which has been stout against the run and ahead of a big test against the Bulldogs Offensive Line. He is a disruptor that can get into the backfield, but any time missed by Stone will give Georgia an opportunity to establish the run and ease the pressure on Gunner Stockton.

After throwing for almost 3000 yards in 2025, Gunner Stockton has been leading the Bulldogs up and down the field in his time on the field in 2026. He has 9 Touchdown passes and has yet to throw an Interception, but Stockton will want to be in front of the chains if only to see the Sooners pass rush slowed down.

The Sooners Secondary have opened the season in fine form, but there are some talented playmakers around Gunner Stockton and the Bulldogs will feel they can do enough to keep drives moving.

It is a big spread set for the game, but Georgia look capable of shutting down the Oklahoma Offensive unit.

This could be key to set up some short fields and Gunner Stockton has begun the season looking very efficient.

If the Sooners are without David Stone, the Defensive Line takes a serious hit and that may be enough for the Georgia Bulldogs to produce at least three Touchdowns, which may be enough to secure a cover.

Utah Utes @ Iowa State Cyclones Pick: Winning games on the road is tough no matter what, but doing that in Conference play is always hugely challenging, regardless of how strong a team believes itself to be.

The Utah Utes (3-0) were considered a team that could perhaps challenge for the Big 12 Championship and earn a spot in the Playoff, and the three wins to open this season makes it nine in a row going back to the end of 2025. However, all three wins have been at home and, despite dominating, this is another test as Big 12 action gets underway.

The Iowa State Cyclones (2-1) are not unbeaten moving into the Conference, but they were only narrowly beaten by rivals Iowa Hawkeyes and have since bounced back with another win. Preseason expectations have been pretty low around the Cyclones who have had to replace Head Coach Matt Campbell with Jimmy Rogers, especially as that transition can take a bit of time, but there has been enough to like about them early on to believe they can surpass those expectations.

It is quite clear what the Cyclones have to do on the Offensive side of the ball, but whether they can do it is another matter.

Everything begins and ends with the running game and the Offensive Line have begun this season by helping open up big lanes that have been exploited by Aiden Flora. However, they are facing a Utah Defensive Line that have prided themselves about how they go about their business in the trenches and how effective Iowa State can be will be based around which of these teams wins up front.

Relying on Jaylen Raynor at Quarter Back to make enough plays with his arm could make it a long night in the office for the Cyclones on this side of the ball. Being able to run the ball has given Raynor time, but he has not been very efficient and will be under some duress from the Utes pass rush if left in third and long spots on the field.

There will be challenges for the Utah Utes when they have the ball, although they have shown a lot more Offensive balance than the Cyclones.

Much like the home team, Utah's Offensive Line have been able to open up some big running lanes and that has kept the team in front of the chains, but they are facing an Iowa State Defensive Line that have been pretty stout up front. That is likely to be the case, but the difference between the teams is that Utah can look to Devon Dampier at Quarter Back to continue his strong start to the season and keep the chains moving with his arm.

In three games, Dampier already has 7 Touchdowns with a single Interception, although plenty of respect has to be given to this Cyclones Secondary, even if they have not been as tested as they could have been. That will at least give Utah pause for thought, but the balance is the key to breaking this game open and the Utes can earn revenge for a home loss to Iowa State a couple of years ago.

Covering will not be easy, but Utah do look capable of largely controlling the ability of the Cyclones to move the chains with the same type of consistency as they can manage on the day. That may lead to a win in the field position battle through much of the contest and the Utes may end up pulling away for a double digit win on the road to show they can be huge contenders in the Big 12 in the weeks and months ahead.

MY PICKS: Texas Longhorns - 4.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet Fred (1 Unit)

Ohio State Buckeyes - 26.5 Points @ 1.95 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Georgia Bulldogs - 13.5 Points @ 1.86 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Utah Utes - 7.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet Fred (1 Unit)

Nebraska Cornhuskers - 5.5 Points @ 1.86 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Penn State Nittany Lions - 10.5 Points @ 2.00 Bet Fred (1 Unit)

Baylor Bears - 9.5 Points @ 1.86 Bet Fred (1 Unit)

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)

World Series of Darts Finals Day 4 Picks 2026 (Sunday 20th September)

The title will be handed out in Amsterdam on Sunday and that means the Quarter Finals are played in the Afternoon Session before the Semi Final and Final is played later in the day.

Eight players are still competing and all will believe they have what it takes to win this event and use the momentum to kick onto the big Ranking events coming up.

However, Luke Littler remains the player to beat after sneaking through the Second Round with a final Leg decider win over Nathan Aspinall.

Any selections from the Semi Final matches will be added to this thread.

Ross Smith-Josh Rock both over 4.5 180s: This looks a really good Quarter Final on the form shown over the last couple of days, although it is no surprise that Ross Smith has been placed as the favourite.

His form has been stronger for some time compared with Josh Rock, although the latter is a Premier League participant and looks to be peaking as we get into the final quarter of the season.

This should make for a very competitive contest and two big maximum hitters can both produce at least five each on the day.

All players will want to keep something in the tank for the remainder of the tournament to be completed later, but these two are capable of pushing one another and that could lead to a high quality match.

James Wade v Gerwyn Price: We all know how good Gerwyn Price is and the layers will never underestimate him, but it is James Wade who has gotten the better of the 2026 meetings.

A couple of those wins have been across a longer format and the Englishman looks a good underdog to back considering his recent form.

Gerwyn Price may feel he can outscore James Wade, but the latter sticks around and the superior finishing can see him swing this Quarter Final in his favour.

Nothing ever comes easy against either of these players, but Wade looks an underdog who can show his bite is just as effective as his bark.

Luke Littler to win & over 6.5 180s v Jonny Clayton: Scraping through the Second Round makes Luke Littler that much more dangerous as the World Series of Darts Finals wind down on Sunday.

Once again Littler has shown he can produce under intense pressure, while opponents have perhaps not had the belief they need in order to upset the World Number 1.

Jonny Clayton may have more than most having picked up wins over Luke Littler in the Premier League, but the more recent head to head has swung back in favour of the youngster.

It is incredibly difficult to beat Luke Littler over the longer formats and he can do enough to secure both parts of this double put together.

MY PICKS: Ross Smith & Josh Rock Over 4.5 180s Each @ 2.00 Bet365 (1 Unit)

James Wade @ 2.20 Bet Fred (1 Unit)

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

World Series Finals: 7-6, + 0.73 Units (13 Units Staked, + 5.62% Yield)

College Football Week 3 Picks 2026 (Saturday 19th September)

The start of Conference play gets earlier and earlier every season and the expansion from eight to nine games in the SEC means that is another that will pit together teams very early in the season.

Revenge games are also on deck in Week 3 of the College Football season, but it is the Conference game between the Mississippi Rebels and LSU Tigers that ticks all the boxes and fireworks are expected.

Georgia Bulldogs @ Arkansas Razorbacks Pick: Beating up on non-Conference opponents, but especially those outside of the Power 4 Conferences, is not going to do anything for anyone when it comes to analysing how good a team like the Georgia Bulldogs (2-0) could be. Even concerns about the temperatures around those games are not going to matter, but all of that changes in Week 3 when the SEC gets underway.

Preseason expectations around the Bulldogs remain sky high, which is no surprise considering the successes they have had in recent years, and 2026 is seen as a year in which they will bounce back from a disappointing Quarter Final defeat in the Playoffs.

There is clearly a lot to like about the Bulldogs, but they will be well aware that every road game in the SEC can be very challenging and it does not matter what the preseason rankings may have stated.

With that in mind, Georgia have to travel to the Arkansas Razorbacks (1-1) with the right attitude and that is not expecting to turn up and win the game.

Instead they will have to put some hard work on the field to try and contain the crowd and then show the superiority of the roster constructed for the season.

The Razorbacks have another new Head Coach as they look to find the right formula to get back amongst the very best teams in the Conference, but Ryan Silverfield will be well aware of the challenges in front of him. Any first year Head Coach is going to have to suffer through some teething problems, especially when taking over at a struggling, underachieving school, and Ryan Silverfield got a first hand look at the issues in the blowout loss to the Utah Utes in Week 2.

It was a defeat on the road and playing an opening Conference game at home should mean playing in an intense atmosphere and one that could spook the road team.

Arkansas have to take advantage of that, although they are starting an inexperienced Quarter Back in KJ Jackson who had a very tough time throwing the ball against the Utah Secondary.

KJ Jackson can expect another tough afternoon, although he will be given the time and patience needed to build up experiences that will see him develop at the position. That does not mean the Razorbacks have nothing to lose, but it does allow Jackson to try and settle into the role he won over the summer and 2026 was always going to be something of a transitional season.

A bigger problem than the Quarter Back has been the Offensive Line play as Arkansas have struggled both to run the ball and to give KJ Jackson any time in the pocket. The early rushing numbers are very concerning ahead of the step up into the SEC level and the Razorbacks are unlikely to find a lot of room up front against this Bulldogs Defensive Line.

Not only does that make it very difficult for any Quarter Back to complete throws consistently out of obvious passing situations, but Jackson is likely to be faced with Georgia players flooding into the backfield and moving the ball is going to be very difficult for Arkansas throughout this game.

You can only expect things to be much more comfortable for Gunner Stockton, even if he is not expected to continue his early season success of scoring a Touchdown on every drive he has begun. Those previous drives have been against much weaker opponents than the one facing Stockton on Saturday, although he will still be pretty confident he can keep Georgia in positive situations throughout his time on the field.

The Bulldogs will be confident they can establish the run with a lot more consistency than the Arkansas Razorbacks and keeping Gunner Stockton in third and manageable spots should make life pretty comfortable for the Quarter Back. He will have noted that the Razorbacks Secondary are still learning what is expected from them and Gunner Stockton can put the Bulldogs in a position to cover a very big spread for any SEC road team in a Conference game.

Nothing will be easy for Georgia, but they will want to maintain the early season momentum and this may be the weakest opponent they will face in the SEC this season.

That means they will have an opportunity to lay down an early marker and the Bulldogs are capable of doing enough on both sides of the ball to do that.

Florida State Seminoles @ Alabama Crimson Tide Pick: Last year the Alabama Crimson Tide (2-0) were beaten by the Florida State Seminoles (1-1) on the road and it was a defeat that hung over their heads all season. They still snuck into the Playoff, although the Crimson Tide were beaten in the Quarter Final and the 2026 squad are going to do well to make the final twelve this time around.

Revenge is going to be a big motivator for the Alabama Crimson Tide as they prepare for to host the Florida State Seminoles and they will be heading into the game behind a big road win over the Kentucky Wildcats. It is a victory that will have given all associated with the Crimson Tide a huge boost in confidence, and that makes them dangerous added to the motivation to get one over the Seminoles.

Florida State have had two weeks to prepare for this game, which will help, but they were beaten by the SMU Mustangs in the last outing and the Head Coach Mike Norvell is sitting on an incredibly hot seat.

Having key supporters being removed from their positions only adds to the pressure on the Head Coach and another season with a losing record is not going to be accepted.

The Seminoles are going to be challenged when they have the ball in hand and that all begins at the Line of Scrimmage.

Florida State's Offensive Line have opened the season by putting some solid numbers on the board, but running the ball against the Alabama Defensive Line is going to be a different kind of test for them. There may be some successes, but the Crimson Tide should be able to force Florida State behind the chains and that gives the home team a big edge in the contest.

Ashton Daniels struggled in the loss to the Mustangs, and he is likely going to be put under pressure by the Alabama pass rush if the Quarter Back is operating from behind the chains. That could lead to mistakes, but it is very likely going to lead to stalled drives and that gives Alabama a big edge.

This is still a big line for the home team to cover and that means questioning whether Alabama can score enough points to clear the number set.

There are definitely some encouraging signs for the Crimson Tide as the Offensive Line have been able to at least keep the team in third and manageable spots, while Quarter Back Keelon Russell continues to grow into the role.

Keeping Russell in front of the chains is important, but Alabama have to be excited about the way the Quarter Back handled himself after a very difficult first half in the win over the Kentucky Wildcats last week. There have been some holes in the Florida State Secondary that have been exploited and the Alabama Crimson Tide can move the chains with confidence, which should see them placed in a position where a cover is very possible.

There is no escaping the fact that the Crimson Tide are unlikely to take their foot off the gas in this one after being upset by the Seminoles in 2025.

They have every chance of a statement performance in the revenge effort and Alabama can back up the big win over the Kentucky Wildcats by securing another here.

MY PICKS: Georgia Bulldogs - 24.5 Points @ 1.83 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Alabama Crimson Tide - 20.5 Points @ 1.86 Bet365 (1 Unit)

USC Trojans - 23.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet Fred (1 Unit)

LSU Tigers - 3 Points @ 1.85 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)

South Carolina Gamecocks - 3.5 Points @ 1.85 William Hill (1 Unit)

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

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

World Series of Darts Finals Day 3 Picks 2026 (Saturday 19th September)

The format moves into a best of nineteen Leg Second Round at the World Series of Darts Finals in Amsterdam and that means the eight matches to be played on Saturday are going to be split across two Sessions.

It is a busy day, but one that should produce plenty of high quality darts for fans to enjoy.

Josh Rock v Ryan Searle: This has been set as a pick 'em contest in the Second Round after the odds had opened up with Josh Rock as a narrow underdog.

That felt out of place after the opening performances of both players, while Ryan Searle has perhaps not kicked on from his run to the World Championship Semi Final as well as he would have hoped.

It has not been the ideal season for Josh Rock, but he looked in really sharp form in the win over Stephen Bunting and can outlast Heavy Metal.

Ross Smith - 2.5 legs v Daryl Gurney: Credit has to be given to Daryl Gurney for rallying and beating home favourite Michael van Gerwen in the First Round, but there is also little doubt that he was let off the hook when trailing 5-3 and having lost five consecutive Legs.

That is unlikely to be the case if he gives Ross Smith the same kind of momentum.

Daryl Gurney will have taken plenty of confidence from beating van Gerwen, but his recent form has been very disappointing and in sharp contrast to the kind of darts that Ross Smith has been throwing.

It will need a real off-day from Smudger for things to change in this Second Round match and the top player on the European Tour in 2026 can win another match on the continent to take his place in the Sunday Quarter Finals.

Dirk van Duijvenbode most 180s v Luke Humphries: The Afternoon Session will conclude with a big match between a home player and the World Number 2 and Dirk van Duijvenbode will not be intimidated by the challenge in front of him.

He has beaten Luke Humphries on the European Tour already this season and the crowd are going to push van Duijvenbode all the way in this Second Round match.

Of course it is no surprise that Humphries is the strong favourite, especially over the best of nineteen Leg format, which will allow him to fight back even if the Dutchman makes a very fast start.

Dirk van Duijvenbode could be lining up the upset if he can get his powerful scoring going and he has had more maximums than Luke Humphries in the last two meetings on the Tour. That is a big part of his game and van Duijvenbode may at least win in that column, even if he is not quite able to cross the line for the victory to take his place on Finals Day.

James Wade-Wessel Nijman over 9.5 180s: This is the penultimate Second Round match to be played in the Evening Session and looks a very good one on paper.

After a blistering start to the 2026 season, Wessel Nijman has come off the boil in recent weeks and that, coupled with the form James Wade has been putting together, means he will be entering this match as a narrow underdog.

However, Nijman is going to be given plenty of support and he looked to be in good form in his First Round win.

James Wade had to overcome a barrage of maximums in his win over Damon Heta, but continues to show how much he wants things on the oche by refusing to wilt under such pressure. His maximum hitting deserted him a little bit on Friday, but this longer format should give Wade and Wessel Nijman plenty of opportunities to pile up the big scores and they can surpass this total set.

Luke Littler to win & over 7.5 180s v Nathan Aspinall: While there have been times when Nathan Aspinall has been able to push Luke Littler, it is hard to say that he has ever looked confident in beating the World Number 1.

Something will have to change drastically for Nathan Aspinall to find that belief, but he is capable of avoiding a complete blowout and that should mean Luke Littler has time to bang in plenty more maximums.

He may be the younger player on the stage, but Luke Littler almost 'big brother's' Nathan Aspinall and the dominant head to head underlines the point.

Getting up to eight maximums in a best of nineteen Leg format is not going to be easy, but Nathan Aspinall can win at least five Legs here and that Littler's maximum hitting rate should mean he has the time to complete both parts of this selection to take his place in the Quarter Final.

MY PICKS: Josh Rock @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Ross Smith - 2.5 Legs @ 1.72 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Dirk van Duijvenbode Most 180s @ 2.10 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

James Wade-Wessel Nijman Over 9.5 180s @ 1.72 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Luke Littler to Win & Over 7.5 180s @ 2.20 Bet365 (1 Unit)

World Series Finals: 4-4, + 0.08 Units (8 Units Staked, + 1% Yield)

English Premier League Football Picks Game Week 5 2026/27 (Friday 18th September 2026-Sunday 20th September 2026)

It has been a tough couple of weeks in the real world and that has meant something had to give on these pages.

With the US Open being played across that time, that tournament was the focus and did mean the Football Picks had to take a backseat for a couple of weeks.

Things are expected to be much clearer by the time the three week international break is completed and that should help in bringing some consistency to the threads being posted.

There are a number of Premier League clubs who will be looking for big results ahead of the upcoming international break- this has always been a time when teams will reassess managers, but a three week break could have some boardrooms feeling that much more tense than they would be in a usual two week gap between fixtures.

Managers like Roberto De Zerbi and Michael Carrick stand out as those needing big performances and both are going to be taking teams into standalone broadcast spots, which can add to the pressure.

Others will be simply looking to round out a positive start to the campaign with another good result as the season is broken up into pieces and it is another big weekend of top flight football coming up.

Brentford vs Chelsea: The opening fixture of the Premier League weekend is a West London derby and there has been a real drift in the Chelsea pricing after news that Joao Pedro is expected to miss out.

He has been a part of a very strong trio of attackers that have given Chelsea fans a lot of confidence, but the team have not defended well enough and that has proven to be costly in the last couple of Premier League games.

Brentford can expose that, although will respect the capabilities of Danny Welbeck coming in to lead the line for Chelsea, and Keith Andrews has to be very pleased with the opening month of the season produced by his team.

They have regularly made it difficult for Chelsea when hosting them and this has the makings of a fixture that could see both teams have plenty of shots on goal.

Fantasy: With the doubts around Joao Pedro, Danny Welbeck could be the player that benefits and has shown his Premier League qualities for many a season. Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers can still supply the passes and Welbeck could be benefit, while Kevin Schade can keep a strong start to his own season moving through to the September international break.

Tottenham Hotspur vs Aston Villa: The opening set of results produced by Tottenham Hotspur makes it very difficult to accept them as a strong favourite to win any football match.

They have really been struggling at home for a long time, where the pressure is that much more intense, and Roberto De Zerbi's men have not found the right solutions in the final third.

Despite injuries at the back, Spurs have actually been pretty resolute in the last couple of Premier League games, which gives them a platform from which to build.

However, they are facing an Aston Villa team who have had a lot of success at this ground and who have scored six goals in winning consecutive away games in the Champions League and League Cup. Unai Emery will accept this will be a much tougher test for his team, who have also made a slow start to the campaign, but Aston Villa are capable of avoiding a defeat.

Fantasy: The expectation is that Aston Villa can get a result, but this does not look a great game for those looking for big fantasy points.

Brighton vs Arsenal: There was no love lost between the managers around a controversial League fixture played at the Amex Stadium last season, but both Fabian Hurzeler and Mikel Arteta insist they have moved forward.

Both managers have to be really happy with the early performances produced by Brighton and Arsenal and the results have also been there for both teams.

Arsenal look a short price to win, but that is a testament to how well they have been playing.

However, Brighton have shown they have goals in the team and they may have enough here to force something against the Champions and ultimately the home team can be backed with a full goal start on the Asian Handicap. That should be a push in the worst case scenario, but Brighton are more than capable of busting a few coupons this weekend.

Fantasy: Pascal Gross has had a big week for Brighton and is likely to be influential in any success the home team have in this fixture.

Everton vs Ipswich Town: A small squad is likely going to hit the wall at some point, but Everton have opened this season in confident mood and that may see them edge past Ipswich Town on Saturday.

Gary O'Neil's men will be extra motivated to perform for the manager after hearing the sad personal news O'Neil received, and Ipswich Town have found a way to goal regularly in the early part of this season.

They can play a part in this fixture, but Everton have started the season sharply in the final third and that may be the key to edging to a win at Hill Dickinson Stadium for the third time in four outings here in the 2026/27 season.

Fantasy: Thierno Barry will receive the majority of focus, but both Jack Grealish and/or Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall look capable of having a big impact in the outcome of this match.

Newcastle United vs Hull City: Like for many, Hull City have to be the surprise package through four games in the Premier League season and they have picked up points in different ways.

Initially it was through the stubborn defensive work, but Hull City showed a different side to their football in the 2-2 draw at Chelsea last weekend and this is a team that has to be respected.

At some point Hull City will hit a tough stretch and that is when they will really be able to show the character and whether they have what it takes to survive in the top flight, but a confident group can make things very tense in this part of the North East.

Newcastle United have been picking up better results than the performances have deserved, but that was not sustainable and they were punished 4-1 at Leeds United on Monday.

Matthias Jaissle will expect a reaction, but Newcastle United could be vulnerable to the counter attack in this one and Hull City can make a full goal start on the Asian Handicap look very valuable when all is said and done.

Fantasy: If The Magpies are going to be able to avoid a defeat, Harvey Barnes could be the player with the most to do with that. Lewis Hall is another shout for those who think Newcastle United will be too strong, while the Hull City defenders stand out for those who believe in The Tigers.

Nottingham Forest vs Coventry City: Frank Lampard is unlikely to be under any pressure from the board or from the stands, but it will be interesting to see how long he is willing to carry on as manager of Coventry City if results do not take a sharp upturn pretty soon.

This has been a really tough week for Coventry City who have conceded eight goals in losing consecutive home games and Lampard will want to take them back to basics.

Making life difficult for Nottingham Forest has to be the approach, but Oliver Glasner's men won for the first time under the new manager last weekend. Recent performances have been very encouraging and The Tricky Trees have the quality in the final third to eventually wear down Coventry City in this late afternoon kick off.

You would really begin to worry for Coventry City if they were to concede early again.

Fantasy: Morgan Gibbs-White continues to shine for Nottingham Forest, but the potential for points at both ends of the pitch makes Daniel Munoz the standout here.

Bournemouth vs Liverpool: Andoni Iraola will get a big response from all corners of the Vitality Stadium and there is every chance that this fixture between his former and current club ends in a draw.

Bournemouth under Iraola were something of a draw specialist last season and both club and manager have continued with that trend in the new season.

The only concern for Bournemouth fans is that the team have just travelled back from Spain on Thursday evening after winning the first every European tie. This is a learning curve for the club in dealing with Thursday-Sunday football and also having to cope with the travelling and this fixture is played in a week when the Champions League was on a break.

Liverpool have had that much more additional time to prepare having played in the League Cup on Tuesday and under Andoni Iraola they have been a team showing more threat in away games than at Anfield.

This could be the case on Sunday and Liverpool can rack up at least six shots on target as they have managed at Newcastle United and Ipswich Town already this season.

Fantasy: Alexander Isak scored twice in his last away game for Liverpool and is likely going to be needed to get on the end of some of the football they play here.

Cody Gakpo should also be back in the starting lineup as he looks to continue his fine start to the season.

Leeds United vs Crystal Palace: The opening fixtures under Pierre Sage has seen Crystal Palace create a lot of attacking opportunities, but the defence is a real work in progress.

With that said, this is a game in which Crystal Palace look very likely to score and concede and that has been a feature of the season so far. They have had a clean sheet in a couple of Cup competitions, but the Premier League has been much more punishing, while Crystal Palace have scored plenty of goals.

Leeds United are coming off a 4-1 win over Newcastle United and will certainly feel they can exploit the defensive issues shown by the visiting team, but keeping Crystal Palace out looks challenging and goals are expected.

Fantasy: After his big performance on Monday, Dominic Calvert-Lewin is the obvious choice, but someone like Yeremy Pino may be ready to steal some of the headlines as a key player in the Crystal Palace attack.

Manchester City vs Sunderland: Picking up points is very important at this stage of the season, but Manchester City still look a work in progress under Enzo Maresca.

That can be speeded up by players winning games and buying into the manager's philosophies and Manchester City have shown enough in defensive areas to believe that can give them every chance of winning football matches.

Like Arsenal, Manchester City will note clean sheets can be the foundation on which they can build with the attacking players likely to score at least once.

Manchester City have been looking more confident away from home, but Sunderland may feel there are going to be opportunities when playing at the Etihad Stadium.

However, the players are facing the first fixture after a Europa League outing and that can take time for things to settle, which may lead to a Manchester City win with another clean sheet attached to it.

Fantasy: Everyone will look at Erling Haaland as the standout Manchester City fantasy option and rightly so... However, Enzo Fernandez has begun the season in some very promising positions (even offside ones that officials look to ignore) and he can perhaps be the key player to help with the breakthrough.

Fulham vs Manchester United: Poor officiating put Michael Carrick in a tough spot after four Premier League games, but Manchester United's collapse against Brighton in the League Cup Third Round has intensified the pressure.

He needs his team to have a positive reaction and give him some breathing room into the international break, but Manchester United are likely going to feel the heat on the banks of the River Thames.

Fulham earned a first Premier League point under Alvaro Arbeloa last weekend as they battled for a draw at Anfield, but this is a team that has attacked with some real confidence in both games played at Craven Cottage. They have been punished for poor defensive efforts, but Fulham have scored twice against both Chelsea and Crystal Palace and this Manchester United defence will hold no fear for them.

Whether they can keep out what is a good looking attack on paper is another matter, but Fulham are likely going to test Senne Lammens throughout the ninety minutes and they will force the Belgian keeper into some kind of action at least four times.

Fantasy: You have to like the chances of all of the Manchester United attackers to have some kind of impact here, but Josh King is going to be a key for Fulham and has been piling up the points at Craven Cottage.

MY PICKS: Brentford-Chelsea Over 9.5 Shots on Target @ 1.83 William Hill (1 Unit)

Aston Villa + 0.5 Asian Handicap @ 1.82 Bet365 (1 Unit)

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

Everton to Win & Over 1 Total Goals @ 2.00 Bet365 (early payout if two goals up)

Hull City + 1 Asian Handicap @ 1.82 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Nottingham Forest to Win & Over 1 Total Goals @ 1.83 Bet365 (early payout if two goals up)

Liverpool Over 5.5 Shots on Target @ 2.20 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Leeds-Crystal Palace Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.72 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Manchester City Win to Nil @ 2.15 Bet Victor (1 Unit)

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

Premier League 26/27: 9-11, - 0.38 Units (18 Units Staked, - 2.11% Yield)

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

World Series of Darts Finals Day 2 Picks 2026 (Friday 18th September)

A couple of the Day 1 selections ended on the wrong side after beginning too slowly or blowing a healthy lead through missed Doubles, but it could have been a worse day and that keeps things ticking forward.

The First Round is going to be completed in Amsterdam on Friday and there are perhaps not as many good looking matches in this half as there are in the half that was completed on Thursday.

It is reflected by having a couple fewer Picks from the Session to be completed through the evening in the Netherlands, although there is still plenty of quality darts for the fans to enjoy.

Nathan Aspinall to win & most 180s v Raymond Smith: There have been some suggestion that Raymond Smith is playing with a concern about his arm, but you would never have guessed that from the performances produced in the New Zealand and Australian World Series tournaments played in August.

He reached the Semi Final in New Zealand having beaten the likes of Stephen Bunting and Adam Leek, while Raymond Smith gave Gian van Veen a scare in Australia.

This should narrow the focus for Nathan Aspinall who has not been as active as he would have liked in what has been a busy personal year for the former Premier League participant.

When he has arrived at tournaments, Aspinall has shown his qualities and can find a way to complete the Match Double in what could be a good First Round match.

James Wade to win & over 1.5 180s v Damon Heta: James Wade has won nine matches in a row since losing in the New Zealand World Series tournament in the Semi Final.

It is a run that saw him pick up the title in Australia and Wade followed up by winning a European Tour title as well.

He was very disappointed to have missed out on playing in the Premier League this season, but James Wade is putting another strong year in the books and might be much harder to ignore in 2027. Rounding out the season with a Ranking title may make it impossible for him to miss out on a tournament he clearly wants to play in, but this is a tough opening match for James Wade.

Damon Heta has not had the kind of 2026 that he may have hoped, but he remains a very tough player to beat and he reached the Semi Final in the European Tour event played last weekend. That run was ended by James Wade, but it was a very good match and this could be another.

It is James Wade who has won the last three between the players and he may just have enough to edge this one as well- Wade has been hitting the treble 20 mark with some regularity in recent weeks and can add two in any winning effort on Friday.

Luke Littler to win & over 3.5 180s v Danny Noppert: Two weeks ago, Luke Littler won a European Tour title and beat Danny Noppert without dropping a Leg in that success.

Last week Danny Noppert was beaten by eventual Winner James Wade without winning a Leg and the home crowd will be hoping to lift the World Number 10 to a more competitive effort.

It is a big ask against the top player in the world and Luke Littler continues to put so much pressure on opponents thanks to his scoring power.

He can find at least four maximums in another win over Danny Noppert and Luke Littler is capable of reaching that mark even in a blowout win.

MY PICKS: Nathan Aspinall to Win & Most 180s @ 2.10 Bet365 (1 Unit)

James Wade to Win & Over 1.5 180s @ 2.00 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Luke Littler to Win & Over 3.5 180s @ 1.83 Bet365 (1 Unit)

World Series Finals: 2-3, - 0.85 Units (5 Units Staked, - 17% Yield)