Boxing Picks 2026- Daniel Dubois vs Fabio Wardley II (Saturday 17th October)

This is a well anticipated rematch from an instant classic back in May, although looking back at the first fight, the feeling becomes that much clearer that the Fabio Wardley corner should have intervened much sooner than the referee was forced to do.

It is a weekend that should have also featured the big return of Sebastian Fundora, although the match up that has been put together is a little disappointing for a Champion in a loaded Light Middleweight Division.

Daniel Dubois vs Fabio Wardley II

Looking back at what was written on these pages in May, the backing of Daniel Dubois to find a Stoppage against Fabio Wardley proved to be just about a right analysis of the fight.

Fabio Wardley was Stopped standing, and that will give him some belief, although you do have to winder if the beating that he was taking at the end of the first fight is going to have a lingering effect on this fighter.

We have seen that before when a previously unbeaten and unstoppable Boxer has been beaten and never looked the same- Joe Joyce was Stopped more emphatically in his rematch with Zhilei Zhang than in the first bout and the question here has to be whether Wardley has had enough time to recover from the contest in May.

Adjustments will be made, but it is very difficult to imagine wholesale changes in the Fabio Wardley approach just five months after the first defeat of his career.

Even in winning efforts, Fabio Wardley has taken some big shots and not made many adjustments in his next fight even when most would have hoped to have seen some improvements.

It is a testimony to Fabio Wardley that he has made such a career for himself without the experience so many others can call up0n, but you do have to believe the sustained damage from the first fight is going to leave him far below 100% for the match.

With that said, Fabio Wardley may come out very fast looking to get after Daniel Dubois, who was Knocked Down twice in the first fight. This time he may let his hands go and see if he can cement Dubois to the floor, but you do have to think Daniel Dubois has the confidence from the first fight that sets him up to make things a little easier in this rematch.

This time the Wardley corner may not allow their man to take the long-term punishment he had to absorb in the fight in May, and a small interest is in the defending Champion to win this one at some part of the middle of the scheduled Twelve Rounds is the selection.

There are some intriguing undercard fights, but this is not the loaded card of recent years.

Louie O'Doherty is the naturally bigger man compared with Michael Gomez Jr and he should be able to defend his British Lightweight Title on the cards.

Over in the United States, Sebastian Fundora should be able to remind people why so many have him right at the top of the Light Middleweight Division when moving past his unbeaten Challanger.

Ermal Hadribeaj did have a very good win last time out on the road in Germany, where it is never easy to earn a Decision, but this is a considerable step upwards compared with recent level of opponent.

You have to believe Sebastian Fundora will be able to find his range and eventually break down this Challenger in the middle of the Twelve Rounds scheduled.

MY PICKS: Daniel Dubois to Win Between 5-8 @ 3.60 William Hill (1 Unit)

Louis O'Doherty to Win by Decision/Technical Decision @ 2.50 Coral (1 Unit)

Sebastian Fundora to Win Between 5-8 @ 3.10 William Hill (1 Unit)

Boxing 2026: 28-44, - 8.13 Units (118 Units Staked, - 6.89% Yield)

College Football Week 7 Picks 2026 (Saturday 17th October)

The 2026 College Football season continues into Week 7 and the selections can be read below.

Northwestern Wildcats @ Michigan State Spartans Pick: The Big Ten has arguably taken over from the SEC as being the best Conference in College Football and the fact the National Champion has resided in this one over the last two years backs that up. A number of Big Ten teams have begun this season unbeaten in the Conference and it is going to be a strong race until the finish to see which of those teams is able to get themselves invited into the College Football Playoff Bracket at the end of the season.

It is unlikely that the Northwestern Wildcats (4-1) or the Michigan State Spartans (2-4) will be involved in the final shake up- the former is 1-1 in the Big Ten this season, while the Spartans have lost all three Conference games played.

Preseason expectations around each school would not have been that great, but the Wildcats can at least say they are well on the way to becoming Bowl eligible as they prepare to face an opponent who have appointed Pat Fitzgerald as Head Coach.

Of course Pat Fitzgerald had been the Head Coach at Northwestern for seventeen years before he was fired back in 2023 and that was amidst a scandal.

Both teams will be downplaying the impact of having Fitzgerald on the sidelines in 2026 and instead the focus is trying to win football games.

There is another connection between the teams and that is Northwestern Quarter Back Aidan Chiles who started twenty games for the Michigan State Spartans in the last two seasons before transferring to the Wildcats. Last season Aidan Chiles threw 10 Touchdown passes with 3 Interceptions as a Spartan, while adding 6 Touchdowns on the ground, but he has begun his time with the Northwestern Wildcats impressively having already thrown over 1100 yards and with 9 Touchdown passes and 0 Interceptions.

As a dual-threat Quarter Back, Aidan Chiles already has 6 Touchdowns on the ground as well, although you have to imagine the Michigan State Coaches have a pretty good idea as to what to expect from him.

Knowing what to expect and stopping what to expect is very different and the problem for Michigan State is that the Defensive Line has not played the run well enough to believe they can put Aidan Chiles in a position where he is throwing from third and long spots on the field. The game plan for the Wildcats is to establish the run and they look to have the edge at the Line of Scrimmage on this side of the ball, which should mean Northwestern are pretty comfortable with the Offensive plan for much of the game.

Playing on the road is difficult, but Aidan Chiles has to be more than aware of what to expect and he should be able to keep the chains moving from a likely third and manageable spot. Play-action becomes a real option, as does any RPO plays and the Northwestern Wildcats should be able to continue the momentum that has been put together in the last two games since the narrow defeat to defending National Champions Indiana Hoosiers.

While it should be expected that the Wildcats will have Offensive successes, the Michigan State Spartans may also feel they can have an impact on this game.

They have not run the ball as well as Northwestern, but the Spartans are facing a Wildcats Defensive Line that have had some issues in slowing the run in recent games and that will be a help for the home team. It has to be questioned whether the Spartans have enough about them to take full advantage as the Offensive Line have struggled to consistently open the running lanes and have also had problems when it comes to pass protection.

Alessio Milivojevic split time at Quarter Back with Aidan Chiles last season and has become the full time starter for Michigan State in 2026- his season has begun with some decent passing numbers in terms of yardage, but 5 Touchdowns with 3 Interceptions is not the kind of ration that will lead to a lot of team success.

Turnovers can be key in games like this and this Northwestern Secondary have allowed some Quarter Backs to have success throwing against them, but have also been able to pick off passes and give the Offensive unit those extra possessions to make the difference.

It may be the case in Week 7 of the 2026 season against the former Head Coach with the three years that have passed since Pat Fitzgerald was fired leading to enough transition for Northwestern to present him something different.

These two Big Ten rivals have not met in five years since Michigan State earned a blowout win on the road, but it is the Wildcats who can earn revenge with a double digit victory in East Lansing on Saturday.

Auburn Tigers @ Georgia Bulldogs Pick: The Georgia Bulldogs (6-0) have beaten the Auburn Tigers (3-2) nine times in a row and they host this game in Athens as a big favourite.

This cannot be a surprise after the Bulldogs beat the Alabama Crimson Tide on the road last week and are now the only team in the SEC with an unbeaten record. However, the Auburn Tigers may feel they are being disrespected as they return after the Bye Week and especially when you think of the the competitive losses they have suffered.

In saying that, the Tigers are 1-2 in the SEC games played in 2026 and this looks a very difficult match up for them on the Offensive side of the ball.

Auburn will be hoping to lean on the Offensive Line and see if they can at least find a way to run the ball and give the unit an opportunity to sustain drives. The Tigers have managed to move the ball on the ground with some efficiency, although they are facing a Georgia Defensive Line that have held opponents to 3.5 yards per carry in recent weeks and continue to be stout up front.

Placing Quarter Back Byrum Brown in third and manageable spots on the field is the key for the road team.

Byrum Brown has produced some solid outings, but he is playing behind an Offensive Line that has struggled to protect him when he has stepped back to throw. In third and long spots, the Bulldogs pass rush is likely to collapse the pocket around the Quarter Back and that could lead to turnovers or stalled drives that allows the Georgia Bulldogs to win the field battle.

The road team are going to believe in their own capabilities, but Auburn may need to rely on the Defensive unit to keep them competitive in this game.

There will be confidence in the Auburn Defense, although they may also accept that this Georgia Bulldogs team may offer the most significant test in the 2026 season.

The Line of Scrimmage will be important on this side of the ball with the Bulldogs looking to run the ball and Auburn heading into the Bye Week having offered some resistance. The edge is with the Georgia Bulldogs to at least keep Gunner Stockton in third and manageable spots and that will allow the experienced Quarter Back to pick his passes and keep the chains moving.

Gunner Stockton will respect this Auburn Secondary, but the numbers may be influenced by the fact the Tigers have faced Vanderbilt and Tennessee in the last couple of SEC games. Neither team has the same kind of experience on the Offensive side of the ball as Gunner Stockton and the Georgia Bulldogs bring into this game and a win at the Line of Scrimmage should give this Quarter Back an opportunity to hurt the Tigers down the field.

The Bulldogs have won both home SEC games by comfortable margins this season and they may be able to move the ball with enough consistency to have an opportunity to cover a big spread.

A turnover or two may prove to be the key and the Bulldogs can find a way to pick those up and ultimately lead to a strong win before heading into the Bye Week.

MY PICKS: Northwestern Wildcats - 6.5 Points @ 1.70 William Hill (1 Unit)

Georgia Bulldogs - 19.5 Points @ 1.86 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Texas Tech Red Raiders - 15.5 Points @ 1.86 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Miami Hurricanes - 20.5 Points @ 1.86 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Utah Utes - 14.5 Points @ 1.86 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Wake Forest - 9.5 Points @ 1.81 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Week 6: 2-4, - 2.16 Units (6 Units Staked, - 36% Yield)

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 15- Dutch Darts Championship Day 2 Picks 2026 (Saturday 17th October)

The tournament moves into the Second Round in the Netherlands and there are some very good looking matches to be played across the two Sessions.

Time constraints means only adding the Day 2 selections in this thread.

MY PICKS: Luke Woodhouse to Win & Over 1.5 180s @ 1.72 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Ross Smith to Win & Over 2.5 180s @ 1.95 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Nathan Aspinall-Michael Smith Over 5.5 180s @ 2.00 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

Dutch Darts Championship: 2-3, - 1.05 Units (5 Units Staked, - 21% Yield)

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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)