NFL Week 7 Picks 2026 (Thursday 22nd October-Monday 26th October)

The NFL continues surging towards the halfway mark of the 2026 season and that means we are firmly into the Bye portion of the season.

It also means there is beginning to be a separation between the contenders and those already looking forward to the NFL Draft and the 2027 season.

Divisional games are coming up thick and fast and there is also another International Series game in Week 7, although this time the NFL will be playing in Paris for the first time.

New Orleans Saints vs Pittsburgh Steelers Pick: The latest International Series game from the NFL is played at a new venue with the League hosting a game in Paris for the first time, even in the midst of some huge riots taking place in the French capital as well as the rest of the country. There were some suggestions this game could be moved, but the New Orleans Saints (2-4) and Pittsburgh Steelers (4-2) have arrived in Europe and will be looking to give those in attendance something to enjoy.

There are likely going to be outside factors that have an impact, but the Steelers and Saints are looking to build on Week 6 wins.

New Orleans play in a weak Division and they are still firmly in contention even with a losing record, while the Pittsburgh Steelers are well aware of how tough the AFC North can be with three teams sharing the same 4-2 record. Two wins in a row have given Pittsburgh some momentum and they do look to be playing well enough on both sides of the ball to believe they can win this game before returning home with the momentum needed when facing the Cleveland Browns in Week 8.

The focus has to be on this game for now having arrived later in the week, while the Saints flew over to Paris after the Week 6 win over the New York Giants. As the 'host', there are more responsibilities for the Saints to be over in Paris and help fans see their presence, but New Orleans need a good game plan if they are going upset the Steelers.

Running the ball has been really challenging for New Orleans and it is very difficult to imagine they have a lot of consistent success pounding the rock against this Steelers Defensive Line. It may not be as strong as some of those that Pittsburgh have run out in the past, but the Steelers have been stout up front early in the season and will be looking to force Tyler Shough to beat them through the air from third and long spots.

The Quarter Back has been given some protection when he has dropped back to throw, but Shough has been inconsistent in recent weeks.

Since the blowout loss to the Atlanta Falcons, Tyler Shough has just thrown 240 yards in the last two games and his 3 Touchdown passes and 2 Interceptions in that time highlights the issues. He did have a clean game against the New York Giants last week, but Tyler Shough is going to have a tough time finding much room against this Pittsburgh Defensive unit and will need his own Defense to step up to help.

A problem for the New Orleans Saints is that they have lost some balance Defensively in recent games and they are now facing Aaron Rodgers looking more like his old self at Quarter Back.

Things have been made easier by the fact that this Steelers Offensive Line have been run blocking very well and they are expected to open up some serious holes for Jaylen Warren and company to keep the team in third and manageable spots. In recent games, the Saints Defensive Line have allowed some big runs to get through and Aaron Rodgers is a much different player when throwing out of third and manageable spots with his ability to release the ball very quickly keeping Defensive Backs guessing.

Aaron Rodgers has not been protected as well as he may have liked, although that may be partly down to an older Quarter Back not having the same scrambling skills as previously, but that has not stopped him from throwing 8 Touchdown passes with 3 Interceptions in the last three games. This should be a more comfortable match up than most and Rodgers is set to have a big outing on the international stage to lead his team to an important third win in a row.

A big game is on deck for the Steelers, but they will know they cannot afford to drop winnable games like this one as it will come back to haunt them in a tough Division. It is a non-Conference outing, but the Steelers won on the road against a team from the NFC South last week and they can win this 'road' game in Week 7 of the season.

Miami Dolphins @ New York Jets Pick: The Miami Dolphins (0-5) return from a Bye Week and will be hoping the two week gap between games has given them a chance to just reset.

They have suffered a couple of competitive losses before the Bye Week, but the Dolphins are lacking a bit of depth and injuries to the best players left on the roster and they are likely going to be the underdog in every game they play this season.

This is the case when returning to face the New York Jets (2-4), a Divisional rival hoping that they have been able to get healthier over the last week to try and build up some momentum. The next two weeks feel very important for the Jets who will then be facing the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills and getting back up to 0.500 for the season is the ambition.

Breece Hall could be returning this week, while Adonai Mitchell has been cleared and that will give the Jets a boost, but Geno Smith and company need to find some consistency on this side of the ball.

For all of the issues that Miami have had this season, the Dolphins Defensive Line have been pretty stout at the Line of Scrimmage and make teams work for everything they earn on the ground. The Dolphins will certainly feel they have a unit that can make things difficult for the New York Offensive Line, even with a potentially returning Hall, and that will give Miami a chance to try and stall drives.

One of the big issues that will need to have been resolved is generating a pass rush to back up the strong work at the Line of Scrimmage.

They are up against a Jets Offensive Line that has struggled to keep Geno Smith upright, although the veteran has been smart with his decision making and that has meant keeping Interceptions to a minimum in recent games. He did throw one last week, but Smith has been taking Sacks rather than throwing under pressure, and this may be a week in which he has a bit more time to try and attack this Dolphins Secondary.

Having Mitchell back should open up the passing game, but the Miami Dolphins may feel they can at least prevent the Jets from overpowering them on this side of the ball and that may set them up to have opportunities to earn the upset.

Much will depend on the Offensive unit, which has been led by Malik Willis who has struggled as the starting Quarter Back.

However, this is a game in which the Dolphins can lean on the Offensive Line who have opened up some strong running lanes, even in the absence of De'Von Achane. The likes of Ollie Gordon have made use of the opportunities handed to him and Willis is more capable moving the chains with his legs rather than his arm.

Both players should help the Dolphins establish the run as long as Miami are competitive in the contest and they can extend drives to control the clock. It will also be important to put Malik Willis in a position to make some short throws to the Receivers and see if the Dolphins can get into a position to earn an upset on the road.

Miami have won six of the last seven games in this Divisional rivalry, but that may be a run that is not extended this week.

Winning outright may not happen, but the Dolphins look to be receiving plenty of points in this one and the Bye Week work may see the road team make this a competitive loss at the very worst in Week 7 of the 2026 season.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Carolina Panthers Pick: In recent seasons, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-5) had dominated the NFC South, but the Carolina Panthers (3-2) broke their hold on the Division in 2025. Once again it is Carolina leading the way through the early part of the 2026 season, but it has been a really disappointing opening for Tampa Bay who need this win to just give themselves a realistic hope of getting back into the mix.

This is the first Divisional game of the season for the Buccaneers, but they would not want to fall five games below 0.500 with over a third of the regular season schedule completed. They will also be aware that the Panthers are already 1-0 in NFC South games in 2026 and so the return of Baker Mayfield could not have come at a better time for the road team.

Baker Mayfield has missed three games in a row and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers need a spark on the Offensive side of the ball, but this may not be as comfortable a match up as it may have felt before his injury.

Over the last three games, the Carolina Defensive unit have toughened up and that has all begun at the Line of Scrimmage where they have looked to make things more difficult for teams trying to run the ball against them. This has been a problem for the Panthers earlier in the season, but they will feel they can at least slow down the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Bucky Irving and that will give the Panthers some real belief if they are able to do that.

Tampa Bay's Offensive Line have been strong when it comes to the run blocking, but they have not been as comfortable keeping a Quarter Back upright, even though Jalon Daniels has been able to use his legs to move the pocket around. The Buccaneers may feel the experience of Baker Mayfield is key though and he is going to be throwing into a Secondary that has given up some big plays, although injuries in the Receiving corps will make things that much more difficult.

The Buccaneers and Mayfield struggled in a road loss here last season and they are facing a Carolina Panthers team that have looked more confident in 2026 having played in the post-season at the end of 2025.

Everything has come down to the development of Bryce Young who is now an established starter at Quarter Back and who can pick up from where he left off in the win over the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 6.

Carolina will want to stay balanced and run the ball, although they are facing a Buccaneers Defensive Line that has been pretty strong at the Line of Scrimmage. That will not see the Panthers change the plan and Bryce Young is capable of tucking the ball and running for First Down markers himself, and it is important to give the Quarter Back the open playbook to attack this Tampa Bay Secondary.

If the Panthers can at least keep Tampa Bay thinking about the run, Bryce Young and company should be able to make some big plays against this Secondary and that should give them the edge in this contest. There has been some problems for Tampa Bay against the pass in recent weeks and Carolina should be able to exploit that in their bid to beat this Divisional rival.

Bryce Young may get a little longer in the pocket than he has been used to in recent outings, and that should allow the Panthers to move the ball with some consistency.

A returning Baker Mayfield will give the Buccaneers a boost, but they may also struggle to lift themselves after some recent disappointments and the Carolina Panthers are good enough to win and cover.

Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions Pick: These two teams may be sitting in third and fourth place in the NFC North, but the Green Bay Packers (4-2) have won three in a row, while the Detroit Lions (3-2) are playing after a Bye Week as they moved above 0.500 for the season in Week 5.

This is looking like being another hugely competitive season in this Division and it would not be a surprise if at least three of the four teams playing in the NFC North are able to secure Playoff spots at the end of the season. Both the Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears have already produced five wins this season and so games between the Divisional rivals all have added meaning attached to them.

The Packers are 1-1 in the NFC North, while the Detroit Lions have yet to face one of those rivals within this Division.

Being at home after a Bye Week is an advantage, but the Lions will have had things to work on, especially on the Defensive side of the ball. They will have noted how well the Green Bay Packers have been playing and so this is going to be a test for Detroit inside the dome.

There have been areas in which the Lions will be feeling confident in what they can achieve and those are at the Line of Scrimmage on this side of the ball- the Detroit Defensive Line has been pretty stout up front and Green Bay have struggled to push the ball on the ground all season.

However, the Packers will be really pleased with the upturn in form produced by Jordan Love at Quarter Back and he will be throwing against a Detroit Secondary that have allowed huge amounts of passing yards... And that is despite the strength they have shown at the Line of Scrimmage.

There has been a consistent pass rush pressure produced by the Lions, but the Green Bay Offensive Line has been better at giving Jordan Love time to throw down the field and there are some big gaps to exploit. Green Bay will have a lot of belief in the Wide Receivers and their ability to get open to help the Quarter Back and the Packers can produce a big game on this side of the ball.

It has been a big reason for the Packers putting a three game winning run together, but the Defensive unit have also stepped up their level and they will feel they can give this Detroit Lions team some questions to answer.

Everything begins at the Line of Scrimmage and the Packers Defensive Line will be looking to win up front and force Jared Goff to have to beat them with his arm, although the Quarter Back is more than capable in doing that.

Jared Goff will be throwing into a Secondary that has allowed fewer than 185 passing yards per game in the last three wins, although the Lions have found confidence in the passing game and will be enjoying playing in the indoor conditions.

Turnovers could be key to the final outcome and credit has to be given to Jared Goff for avoiding big mistakes in the passing game, although that still does not necessarily mean the Lions can cover.

Having the hook over the key number 3 is important here and the Packers are capable of securing a backdoor cover at the very least. They are throwing the ball with enough authority to give the Defensive unit an opportunity to carry the team over the line and Green Bay can keep this close on the scoreboard, if not secure the outright upset.

MY PICKS: Pittsburgh Steelers - 3 Points @ 1.91 Paddy Power (1 Unit)

Miami Dolphins + 4.5 Points @ 2.00 Paddy Power (1 Unit)

Carolina Panthers - 2.5 Points @ 1.83 Bet Fred (1 Unit)

Green Bay Packers + 3.5 Points @ 1.91 Paddy Power (1 Unit)

Week 6: 2-4, - 1.95 Units (6 Units Staked, - 32.50% Yield)

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

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

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

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

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

College Football Week 8 Picks 2026 (Saturday 24th October)

We move forward into Week 8 after more and more upsets at the very top of the College Football Rankings.

Picks can be read below.

Texas Tech Red Raiders @ Cincinnati Bearcats Pick: There would have been plenty of tension around this Big 12 game if Brandon Sorsby had not been caught up in a gambling scandal in the same off-season where he chose to transfer from the Cincinnati Bearcats (4-2) to the Texas Tech Red Raiders (6-0).

Both teams will likely play down that situation with Sorsby ineligible to play in 2026, but this is still a big game with the Red Raiders looking to improve to 4-0 within the Conference.

Back to back defeats means the Cincinnati Bearcats are 1-2 in the Big 12, but they are hosting an opponent that have filled some of the void that had been left when the Oklahoma Sooners and Texas Longhorns left the Conference to join the SEC. The game is one that many would have circled before the season began and that should mean a motivated Cincinnati team enters the field.

They are facing a Red Raiders team that have had a winning record in each of the last five seasons and who finished with a 12-2 record in 2025, which included competing in the College Football Playoff. Texas Tech won the Big 12 Championship with a dominant win over the BYU Cougars to earn a spot in the Quarter Final of the Playoffs, although the Red Raiders were well beaten in that game.

A perfect start to the season will give the Red Raiders a lot of confidence and they do look to have the balance on the Offensive side of the ball that makes them very dangerous.

The Red Raiders Offensive Line have helped the team open up some huge running lanes, which has eased any pressure that may have been felt by Quarter Back Will Hammond who may not have been expected to be the starting player in that position. You have to expect the Red Raiders are going to be able to establish the run very effectively against this Cincinnati Defensive Line, while Hammond has done enough at Quarter Back to force teams to respect the passing game and not sell out at the Line of Scrimmage.

Will Hammond will feel he can carve up a Bearcats Secondary that has been struggling to stop the pass, especially from third and manageable spots and with the protection offered by his Offensive Line. The only aspect the Quarter Back needs to control is looking after the ball and avoiding Interceptions should see Texas Tech have a lot of success with the ball in hand.

Cincinnati will feel they can at least keep up on the scoreboard with their own Offensive game plan working well in recent games, but they did only score 7 points in a loss to the Arizona Wildcats earlier this month.

There has been a pretty strong balance on the Offensive side of the ball, but the Bearcats test will be at the Line of Scrimmage and trying to establish the run against this Red Raiders Defensive Line. If they can do that, JC French IV can have a solid game from the Quarter Back position to give his team an opportunity to earn an upset, but third and long spots are always that much more difficult to convert.

Even if the Bearcats are in that third and long spot, French IV has shown he can expose a Red Raiders Secondary that have given up plenty of yards through the air.

Where Texas Tech would win is that they could unleash the powerful pass rush to put JC French IV under pressure and see if they can force any mistakes from a Quarter Back that has simply not made many this season. In recent games, the Red Raiders have forced a number of turnovers through the air that have swung momentum in their favour and that may be the key to the outcome of this one.

A real road test is going to be challenging, but the Red Raiders have a couple of solid wins away from home this season and they can do enough to win and cover in this Big 12 contest.

LSU Tigers @ Auburn Tigers Pick: The two Tigers of the SEC meet in a big game in Week 8 and both the LSU Tigers (5-2) and Auburn Tigers (4-2) are 2-2 in the Conference.

Both of the LSU defeats have been on the road in the Conference at the Ole Miss Rebels and Kentucky Wildcats, while Auburn have split a couple of home games having followed the defeat to the Florida Gators by beating struggling Vanderbilt Commodores.

However, Auburn come into this game having created a big upset in winning at the Georgia Bulldogs last time out and both Head Coaches have spoken about the challenges of getting players to be able to lift the level after such an emotional performance.

In the United States it is described as 'relief syndrome' and Auburn have to find a way to use that momentum from the win over one of the top teams in the Conference.

Last week the Auburn Tigers finished with over 80 yards fewer than the Bulldogs, but they picked up three turnovers and that proved to be the key to the outcome of the game. They are once again going into a game where they will struggle for consistency on the Offensive side of the ball, but Auburn will look to use the momentum to start as fast as possible.

Running the ball against the LSU Defensive Line will not be easy but Auburn have to keep trying knowing the passing game is going to have another tough time moving the ball without being in third and manageable spots. In recent games the Defensive Line work completed by LSU has not been completely stout against the run, although they will still feel they have the edge at the Line of Scrimmage and that will give them the belief to force drives to stall.

Byrum Brown is likely going to have to deal with some pass rush pressure, but he should be credited for avoiding making mistakes in the win over Georgia. However, Brown has been guilty of throwing a few too many Interceptions with 7 already this season and the LSU Secondary will be well aware of that fact.

The LSU Tigers are not expected to have it much easier when they have the ball in their hands, but there is a bit more balance Offensively and they should have a touch more belief in Sam Leavitt at Quarter Back.

He has not had a stellar season, but Sam Leavitt has thrown 8 Touchdown passes with just 2 Interceptions in the last three SEC games played and LSU are going to be confident they can have enough success running the ball to put the Quarter Back in a comfortable position. The Auburn Secondary allowed 272 passing yards to Gunner Stockton last week, but they are able to create turnovers and 2 Interceptions gave them the edge in a narrow win.

This is the one concern for Sam Leavitt in another big road game.

However, if the LSU Tigers come out and put Auburn under early pressure, they are the team who can move above 0.500 within the Conference and they may have enough big plays in them Defensively to lead to a cover of this spread set.

Texas A&M Aggies @ Alabama Crimson Tide Pick: It is the first time in almost twenty years that the Alabama Crimson Tide (5-2) have lost consecutive games in the regular season and they have been dropped to 3-2 in the SEC. These defeats to the Georgia Bulldogs and Tennessee Volunteers are not fatal to their hopes of making the College Football Playoff, but the Crimson Tide are also well aware that they can ill-afford another defeat.

They will be going into a Bye Week following this game against the Texas A&M Aggies (4-3) who effectively were in a Bye last week when playing against an overmatched opponent.

The Aggies won, but they are just 1-3 in the SEC games played this season and they are in danger of failing to secure a winning record for the first time since 2022, while the defeats in the Conference means Texas A&M are unlikely to reach the College Football Playoff this season having secured a spot in 2025.

Marcel Reed was expected to display plenty of improvement in 2026 having put together a solid 2025 season, but the Quarter Back has struggled in 2026 and that has been one of the reasons the Aggies have had big issues on this side of the ball.

Running the ball to keep the pressure away from Reed is going to be tough for the Aggies against this Crimson Tide Defensive Line and that means it will be up to the Quarter Back to make his plays out of third and long spots. Some encouragement can be taken from the fact that the Alabama Secondary have run out of gas as they have been forced to spend a lot of time on the field and so Marcel Reed can make some big throws, although he will also need to be aware of the turnovers that can bee created by the Crimson Tide.

Texas A&M will want to see a bit more from the Offensive unit and the same can be said for the Crimson Tide who have scored twenty-seven points in the consecutive losses to the Bulldogs and Volunteers. Keelon Russell has struggled at Quarter Back, but he may feel this is a match up that is more favourable to Alabama as long as the Offensive Line can dig in and establish the run.

The Offensive Line struggled in run blocking against Georgia and Tennessee, but the Aggies Defensive Line have not been as consistently stout as those two teams and that is something the Alabama Crimson Tide will be looking to exploit. Ensuring Russell is in third and manageable spots will give Alabama a chance to bounce back from the consecutive defeats as they return to Tuscaloosa.

It is also important for the run to be established to help the Offensive Line in pass protection as they have allowed Keelon Russell to be harassed relentlessly in the last couple of games.

Making plays from third and manageable spots will give the Crimson Tide an opportunity to keep the chains moving, even against an Aggies Secondary that have played at a decent level all season.

This is a big spread for a team that may be lacking some confidence to cover, but the Texas A&M Aggies have suffered a couple of blowouts on the road at the LSU Tigers and Missouri Tigers. If Marcel Reed is not able to look after the ball, this could end up being another game that gets away from the Aggies in the second half and the Number 13 Ranked Alabama Crimson Tide can get back on track.

MY PICKS: Texas Tech Red Raiders - 11.5 Points @ 1.85 William Hill (1 Unit)

LSU Tigers - 7.5 Points @ 1.93 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Alabama Crimson Tide - 13.5 Points @ 1.87 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Tennessee Volunteers + 2.5 Points @ 1.86 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Kansas State Wildcats - 1.5 Points @ 1.91 William Hill (1 Unit)

Boxing Picks 2026- Dalton Smith vs Alberto Puello (Saturday 24th October)

It is another big weekend of Boxing and the return of Dalton Smith to defend his World Title for the first time is making the headlines in the United Kingdom.

He has not gone in with a 'gimme' to give the home crowd something to celebrate, but a win for Smith could propel his career in the Light-Welterweight Division.

We also have a top fight over in the United States featuring two Super Featherweights who believe they are the very best in the Division and the winner is going to leave with three of the four World Titles.

Dalton Smith vs Alberto Puello

It would have been really easy for Dalton Smith to decide to have something of a homecoming fight before taking on a former World Champion in the first defence of his WBC Light-Welterweight World Title, but it has been a year of inactivity thanks to injury and Smith is looking to march forward.

He is unbeaten and Dalton Smith ripped the World Title from the boogeyman of the Division when Stopping Subriel Matias in the Fifth Round in New York City.

Seeing off this mandatory challenger may allow Dalton Smith to target one of the other two World Champions in a Unification bid, while the domestic fight with Adam Azim could become a big one in 2027 if the latter can move forward and win the currently vacant IBF World Title as one of the top Ranked fighters with that organisation.

Looking too far ahead would be a mistake and Smith will know that.

Alberto Puello lost the WBC World Title to the aforementioned Matias in what was a very competitive and close fight.

That remains the only defeat on the record, but Puello had won the previous two contests on Split Decisions and you do have to wonder if he is active enough in Twelve Round fights to earn one on the road.

Dalton Smith has power, but is also a better Boxer than some may think and he may have the gas tank to overwhelm Alberto Puello, although Stopping the Challenger may be tough.

The power was evident in the win over Subriel Matias back in January, and a late Stoppage cannot be ruled out here if the referee is perhaps as cautious as some of the officials have become. We have seen them make some bad decisions to step in when not warranted and Dalton Smith is going to be pressing the fight, but Alberto Puello has shown he is a tough enough fighter to see the cards in a defeat on Saturday night.

There are some prospects on the undercard, but the chief support should see Giorgio Visioli continue his progress at the expense of veteran Maxi Hughes.

The later deserves respect, but Hughes was Stopped earlier this year and at 36 years old he is dropping back a Division, which is far from ideal.

Giorgio Visioli is still a developing fighter, but he may have enough to force an end to the contest before the final bell is heard at the end of the Tenth Round.

Over in the United States, Emanuel Navarrete vs O'Shaquie Foster is worthy of the main event status it is getting this weekend.

They hold three of the four World Titles in the Super Featherweight Division and this really does feel like a fifty-fifty fight.

Both have been in decent form- Emanuel Navarrete has looked back to his old self when returning to this Division having suffered a defeat at Lightweight, while O'Shaquie Foster has a couple of rock solid wins over Stephen Fulton and Raymond Ford ahead of this one.

Some will believe this is a Matador vs The Bull contest with Foster the technical Boxer and Navarrete looking to get forward and unleash bombs, but the latter is far from orthodox and the angles he finds breaks opponents down.

That could be the key here and the narrow underdog from Mexico may do just enough to edge past O'Shaquie Foster in what should be a very good fight to watch.

MY PICKS: Dalton Smith to Win by Decision/Technical Decision @ 2.20 William Hill (1 Unit)

Giorgio Vasioli to Win by KO/TKO/Disqualification @ 2.37 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Emanuel Navarrete @ 2.50 William Hill (1 Unit)

Boxing 2026: 28-47, - 11.13 Units (121 Units Staked, - 9.20% Yield)

European Championship Darts Day 3 Picks 2026 (Saturday 24th October)

The German crowd refused to play the part of a pantomime villain as some expected them to do and that made for another really strong Session at the European Championships on Friday.

The action on Saturday should be very good across two Sessions when the entire Second Round is played- the format has moved from best of eleven to a best of nineteen Leg setting and that means more breaks of momentum within matches.

Quality matches can be found wherever you look in the draw and so it should be a fun day of Darts as the Quarter Final lineup comes together.

Ross Smith to win & over 4.5 180s v Damon Heta: The top Seed in the draw was not at his best in the First Round, but Ross Smith found another big scoring to edge out Karel Sedlacek.

Ross Smith admitted to feeling some nerves so that win in the First Round should have settled him down.

Building on that will not be easy against Damon Heta, who edged out James Wade, although the Australian will also be pretty clear that his level needs to improve if he is going to get into the last eight.

When The Heat is on fire, he can be very tough to stop, but Ross Smith has the power scoring to make sure the Number 1 Seed continues marching forward. The format should give Ross Smith enough time to reach at least five maximums in a winning effort against Damon Heta.

Luke Littler to win & over 6.5 180s v Nathan Aspinall: They have played some close matches this season and in this kind of longer format, but Luke Littler has edged past Nathan Aspinall and has the mental advantage.

There had been a concern as to how the German crowd would treat him in Dortmund, but Luke Littler's level impressed all and that may be the case again in the Second Round.

Nathan Aspinall is a fan favourite and will enjoy the majority of the support and he is more than capable of producing some high level darts, which will see him pick up Legs.

You just have to wonder if The Asp has the mental belief to win a match against Luke Littler on a big stage and the World Number 1 can come out and pepper the treble 20 bed on his way to another win over this opponent.

Josh Rock most 180s v Jonny Clayton: These two players are familiar to one another and they should enjoy the pace that the other offers, which should lead to a really good Second Round match.

Jonny Clayton has been in superior recent form and is a narrow favourite, but Josh Rock impressed in the First Round on Friday.

Picking a winner is not easy, but Rocky should have the edge when it comes to hitting the maximums.

Even in defeats to Clayton in the Premier League, Josh Rock showed off his maximum hitting power and he may secure more of those than Welshman even if Jonny Clayton comes through the match.

MY PICKS: Ross Smith to Win & Over 4.5 180s @ 2.05 Bet365 (1 Unit)

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

Josh Rock Most 180s @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

European Championship Update: 4-3, + 1.55 Units (7 Units Staked, + 22.14% Yield)

English Football Premier League Picks Game Week 8 2026/27 (Friday 23rd October 2026-Sunday 25th October 2026)

It has been a difficult start to the season for Michael Carrick and his Manchester United team, but it does go to show that sometimes the data has to be used next to the results and with the eye test.

Even at the back end of last season, there was no doubt Manchester United were benefiting from having a lot more time between games than the majority of their rivals, but Carrick's team also ended up on the right side of a number of fortunate results.

This time those results have swung the other way- instead of being fortunate to find a late goal to win a game or earn a draw, Manchester United have conceded late goals to drop points against Everton and Tottenham Hotspur, while blowing leads at Leeds United and having an incredibly controversial goal awarded against them in the derby.

It is an example of results returning to the mean and Michael Carrick has seemingly lost the faith of the dressing room after comments made by Lisandro Martinez and Bruno Fernandes following defeats in the Champions League at Atletico Madrid and Como.

The loss in Italy during the week has been particularly bruising and it has made the fixture against Bournemouth to be played this Sunday feel like a pivotal one.

Dropping points may spark a managerial change, even if the reports are that the club would like to get into the next international break before making any decisions, but that does mean another three Premier League games and another Champions League game to be played.

Once again there is a feeling around the fanbase that Manchester United could be fighting at the wrong end of the Premier League table, while the two Champions League defeats means they are in danger of becoming the first English club to fail to make the Knock Out Rounds from the new Group Stage format of that competition.

Just when you think things cannot get any worse, Manchester United find a way.

Make no mistake, almost all of the problems comes down to the ownership with the hugely disliked Glazer family still in control, while Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his INEOS team have somehow battered the morale of the supporters even more.

For all of their many faults, the Glazers chose not to take aim at the main core of the supporter base, but INEOS seem to have relished that fight and it just creates a 'toxic' environment much like the one that Erik ten Hag left a couple of years ago.

Ipswich Town vs Nottingham Forest: Stormy weather is battering the United Kingdom this weekend and this is an important game that could be played in heavy rain and windy conditions.

There is still a feeling that both Ipswich Town and Nottingham Forest can offer more going forward than defensively, especially in this home/away situation.

Oliver Glasner's team have yet to get going at the City Ground, but have been creating a lot of chances in the three away League games played and that will give them confidence. Morgan Gibbs-White could be back to offer them a boost and they can give the home team trouble, although the defensive numbers in the 3-1 loss at Crystal Palace suggests Ipswich Town can more than play their part in the contest.

Fantasy: There are a number of players that can make an impact, including the aforementioned Gibbs-White.

However, it may be wiser to select someone like Dan Ndoye who has a couple of away goals to his name already.

Aston Villa vs Manchester City: Enzo Maresca will look to do something that escaped Pep Guardiola while in charge of Manchester City and that is beat Unai Emery's Aston Villa at Villa Park.

Last season Aston Villa won both games against Manchester City, but this is a transitioning team and one that is still searching for the consistency that could see them make rapid moves up the League table.

Recent results have been better, but the potential absence of Johan Manzambi is a big blow and may give Manchester City the edge.

In saying that, it is very difficult to ignore how well Emery's team have matched up with Manchester City and Aston Villa have not been blown away since the 4-0 away defeat at Brighton to open the campaign. Strong results out of the international break will give the home team encouragement and they can be backed with a full goal start on the Asian Handicap.

Fantasy: You'd like Johan Manzambi if he had not picked up an injury, but the big danger for the home team may be Phil Foden who has proven to be a streaky player with his goalscoring.

He has four goals in the last week and may be a key to any Manchester City success.

Arsenal vs Everton: This has been a fixture that has proven to be difficult for Arsenal, but one in which the quality eventually finds a breakthrough.

Bukayo Saka and Christos Tzolis are both missing, but there is enough depth here to believe Arsenal can do enough to beat Everton once again.

A poor performance resulted in a first Premier League defeat of the season for Everton last week, but they should offer more all around after working with David Moyes for a number of days in preparation for this fixture. There is a threat that Everton offer from set pieces, but Arsenal's focus may be doubled on the defensive side of the field in order to give their own attackers an opportunity or two to earn the three points.

Fantasy: The defenders are all going to be worth selecting when you think Arsenal have conceded once in the last four at home against Everton.

Coventry City vs Fulham: This is another game that looks like it could be played in the middle of the worst off the weather on Saturday afternoon and that may impact the quality on display.

Both Coventry City and Fulham have earned important points in recent weeks, but they are coming into this one behind very different results.

Frank Lampard will always expect a reaction at home, but Fulham have shown they can create chances and this may be a fixture where both teams can get on the scoreboard and then push for an important winner.

Fantasy: Players like Bobby Thomas have shown they can provide fantasy points from their defensive work, but he is also a threat in the final third from set pieces.

Two weeks ago, Jack Rudoni was selected on these pages and has scored twice in a row and looks to be a big threat for the home team.

A Fulham pick, Josh King, has yet to return as expected, but he has been getting into good positions and remains an influential threat in the away ranks.

Chelsea vs Tottenham Hotspur: This is a London derby where there is no love lost between the two clubs, but games at Stamford Bridge have tended to end in a Chelsea win over Tottenham Hotspur.

Roberto De Zerbi will be relieved his team won last Monday, but it may have come at a cost and opening goalscorer James Maddison is a doubt.

The manager will also need Tottenham Hotspur to show a bit more resiliency defensively if they are going to contain this Chelsea attack and Xabi Alonso's men have looked tougher all around since Moises Caicedo returned to action.

Fantasy: Most will have at least two of the three top Chelsea attackers and it may be Cole Palmer's time to shine.

Crystal Palace vs Newcastle United: Pierre Sage is under some pressure, but there is something about this Crystal Palace team that suggests the manager deserves some patience.

He could do with a positive result or two before the next international break and the fans will be expecting a big reaction to the 5-0 loss at Brighton last Sunday.

It is a surprise that Crystal Palace are underdogs, despite that result, and that is because Newcastle United are having some problems getting to grips with what Matthias Jaissle wants to see from his team.

Back to back 4-1 away defeats at Leeds United and Coventry City offers little encouragement and The Magpies look short.

Fantasy: Jean-Philippe Mateta is back for Crystal Palace and that is a big boost, but it is Yeremy Pino who has been providing a lot of the threat in the final third and the Spaniard could be key again.

Hull City vs Brentford: Injuries are beginning to clear up at Hull City, but they cannot afford too many more performances like the one produced at Craven Cottage last weekend.

They offered little bite in the final third and the 1-0 loss was flattering and now Hull City have to deal with a Brentford team who have begun this season in strong form.

Keith Andrews will have been upset as to how they were beaten last weekend by Liverpool in West London and he is also keen to have Brentford begin to pick up more points away from home. So far Brentford have been tough to beat, but they have the qualities to do a little more in this part of Yorkshire and that means finding the goals in the final third to send Hull City to a first home defeat of the season.

Fantasy: We have yet to see the best of Igor Thiago this season, but he will take heart from the goal Thierno Barry scored here earlier this month and can kickstart his season at the MKM Stadium.

Liverpool vs Brighton: There is a fear that the weather could worsen around Anfield ahead of this Sunday Premier League fixture, but the likelihood is that this will not be a victim to the conditions and the game will kick off as planned.

Both Liverpool and Brighton are managed by men who want to see the team get forward and create problems for the other, but the weather may make that more difficult.

Brighton look like a team that will take some chances with their shooting and that could see them rack up at least four Shots on Target, although whether that is enough to secure a positive result is another question.

Liverpool have enjoyed hosting Brighton and found a way to win matches that they have perhaps not deserved to win, which makes them dangerous, but Fabian Hurzeler's men should contribute to the fixture with plenty of attacking threat posed.

Fantasy: There are a number of players on both sides of the pitch that will feel they can impact this fixture and that makes Fantasy decisions harder to call.

Alexander Isak looks to have found his feet in a Liverpool shirt and could be the main threat for the hosts, while Diego Gomez is well rested after scoring what could be the goal of the season last weekend.

Manchester United vs Bournemouth: Before the European games were played this week, Manchester United were odds on to win this fixture, but that price has been drifting since the embarrassing loss to Como.

Making matters worse are the comments made by Bruno Fernandes in the aftermath of the 4-1 defeat in Italy and Michael Carrick is under immense pressure.

Will the players try for the manager? Most likely, but Manchester United have not enjoyed playing Bournemouth in recent seasons and they are unlikely to snap a 6 game winless run against this opponent.

The real worry is that Bournemouth win for a third time in four visits to Old Trafford and leave Michael Carrick with nowhere to go.

Fantasy: Bryan Mbeumo has been the biggest Manchester United contributor in recent weeks, but they look vulnerable and Evanilson is in the form to capitalise.

Sunderland vs Leeds United: The pressure is building on Regis Le Bris, but Sunderland may be facing Leeds United at a good time after Daniel Farke suggested his first choice attacking players could all miss out.

However, Leeds United have shown plenty of resilience and they have the qualities to make life awkward for the hosts.

Sunderland rested some important players in the 1-1 draw at Lech Poznan in the Europa League on Thursday, but they are finding it tough to find the balance between the Premier League and those new European commitments. It has been a factor in the poor start to the season and it may just be a game in which Sunderland look to snap a poor run of form.

Four losses in a row has seen them slide to the bottom of the table, but the last two between Sunderland and Leeds United at the Stadium of Light have both ended in draws and this could be another.

Fantasy: With the injuries in the Leeds United camp, the fantasy options look limited from a game that could easily end 1-1.

MY PICKS: Ipswich Town-Nottingham Forest Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.72 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Aston Villa + 1 Asian Handicap @ 1.80 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Arsenal Win to Nil @ 2.30 William Hill (1 Unit)

Coventry City-Fulham Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.75 William Hill (1 Unit)

Chelsea to Win & Over 1 Total Goal @ 1.86 Bet365 (1 Unit) Early Payout if Two Up

Crystal Palace + 0.25 Asian Handicap @ 1.85 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Brentford to Win & Over 1 Goal @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit) Early Payout if Two Up

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

Sunderland-Leeds United Draw @ 3.30 Bet Fred (0.5 Units)

Premier League 26/27: 14-23-1, - 5.43 Units (37 Units Staked, - 14.68% Yield)

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

European Championship Darts Day 2 Picks 2026 (Friday 23rd October)

A Nine Darter being hit in the first match at the European Championship in Dortmund has set the standard and it was a good first Session of the tournament as half of the First Round was completed.

The bottom half gets underway on Friday and then all of the players will be on a similar schedule through the remainder of the tournament.

Just before we get into the Day 2 Picks, it would be wrong to skip past the 'Beat Luke Littler' show that Netflix have commissioned- the theory sounded like a lot of fun with amateurs playing at their local club getting a shot at the World Number 1 with the opportunity to win a life-changing amount of money.

Instead it is clearly a show where the organisers had already determined the kind of players they wanted to compete and it is genuinely one in which where the the interest will have dropped significantly since the announcement of the contenders had been released to the public.

Luke Littler will get paid and it would not be a surprise if someone does beat him over one Leg, but it's a concept that has missed the opportunity it was supposed to offer, at least in theory and how the televised show sounded when first announced. The punters will likely show up to see Littler, but this all feels like a bit of money grab for all involved and not something that particularly interests this writer.

But each to their own I suppose.

Nathan Aspinall to win & over 2.5 180s v Cristo Reyes: You have to imagine Nathan Aspinall was pretty disappointed with his relatively early exit at the Dutch Darts Championship and especially as it leaves on yet another early collision course with World Number 1 Luke Littler.

The Asp cannot think too far ahead and has to focus on the task at hand and that is facing Cristo Reyes in the First Round in Dortmund.

Credit has to be given to the World Number 71 for the level he has produced in 2026 and Cristo Reyes will be expecting to move up those Rankings in 2027. He played really well at the European Tour 14 stop in Basel earlier this month and Reyes is a very dangerous opponent at his best.

With that said, this is looking like it could develop into a very fun First Round match considering the kind of form Nathan Aspinall has been able to produce more often than not.

Both should hit plenty of maximums during the contest, but Nathan Aspinall may find a bit more at key moments in the First Round match and that may see him edge through having contributed at least three 180s on the night.

Wessel Nijman to win & over 4.5 match 180s v Martin Schindler: This has not been the kind of year that Martin Schindler would have expected, but there have been some recent signs that he is getting back to his best.

He was beaten by Damon Heta in a high quality match last weekend in the Netherlands, but Martin Schindler was competitive and he will certainly believe he can use the home crowd to motivate him in Dortmund.

Wessel Nijman played some stunning darts in the first half of 2026, but his recent results have been a little more inconsistent.

The Dutchman has moved into the World Number 12 spot, but that also meant having to play some of the elite players on the Tour in early Rounds at the big Ranking events. So far Wessel Nijman has struggled to just find the consistency at big moments to turn those matches in his favour more often than not, but the level of his performances remain high.

Both players are capable of scoring plenty of maximums and this looks match that may need at least nine Legs, which could be enough for the two players to combine for at least five maximums.

The edge is still with Wessel Nijman and he can be backed to move through to the Second Round on Saturday.

Chris Dobey to win & over 1.5 180s v Josh Rock: Both of these players are looking for a significant run in one of the Ranking events coming up before the World Championships in a bid to boost confidence.

Both Chris Dobey and Josh Rock have been losing a lot of matches recently, but there is a feeling that they have been on the wrong end of some quality performances from opponents.

That was the case for Chris Dobey in his loss to Cristo Reyes last weekend in the Netherlands, although his own missed Doubles proved costly when losing to Bradley Brooks in Basel at the European Tour 14 event. Cleaning up the Doubles is key considering how well Dobey has continued to score and that may give him the edge in this First Round match.

Josh Rock is a power scorer at his best, but he has lost four of the last five matches played.

The Northern Irishman has had a couple of weeks off since last averaging 82 and losign to Karel Sedlacek and that may have just given Josh Rock an opportunity to reset.

Maximums should be flowing in a match featuring these two players, but the edge overall is with Chris Dobey even if that means having confidence in him clearing up the problems he has had in closing Legs.

MY PICKS: Nathan Aspinall to Win & Over 2.5 180s @ 2.20 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Wessel Nijman to Win & Over 4.5 Match 180s @ 2.05 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Chris Dobey to Win & Over 1.5 180s @ 2.00 Bet365 (1 Unit)

European Championship Update: 3-1, + 2.35 Units (4 Units Staked, + 58.75% Yield)

European Championship Darts Day 1 Picks 2026 (Thursday 22nd October)

We are now fast approaching the end of the 2026 PDC season, but this is the time of the year when the big tournaments seem to be played every week.

The last European Tour event of the season was concluded in the Netherlands and that means the field for the European Championship has been confirmed with the draw ready to get underway on Thursday.

Sadly Luke Humphries is not going to be able to travel to take his Seeded spot in the draw, but this should mean he has time to get over the illness that has forced his withdrawal and be ready to go when the Grand Slam of Darts gets underway in November. That Ranking tournament is concluded the weekend before the Players Championship Finals is played in Minehead and then all attention will turn to the World Championships that are now less than two months away from getting underway.

It does mean there is an opportunity for players to lay down a marker about their ambitions in December through to early January and the three Ranking events left all offer chances for those competing.

Luke Littler is the favourite of course, but he had drifted into odds against quotes before the announcement from Luke Humphries was made.

Players in the top half of the draw will feel things have opened up without the World Grand Prix Champion being involved in Dortmund, while all may feel Littler is vulnerable playing in front of the German crowds he dislikes so much. That has not prevented him winning titles in Germany, but Luke Littler can be rattled and his recent form has not been all that impressive, at least comparatively to what we have come to expect from the World Number 1.

First Round action gets underway in Dortmund on Thursday and the Round is completed on Friday.

We then have two Sessions of Second Round matches to be concluded on Saturday before the Quarter Finals are played in the Day Session on Sunday.

The Semi Final and Final is then played in the Evening Session to conclude the European portion of the Tour barring a couple of Players Championship events, and this should be a fun weekend of Darts for those watching at home and at the venue.

Niels Zonneveld - 1.5 legs v Cameron Menzies: You can just never be sure what you are going to get from Cameron Menzies when he heads onto the oche, but recent form has been disappointing.

He struggled in the Netherlands last week and Cameron Menzies made Stephen Bunting barely break into a sweat to move past him in the Second Round.

It is a defeat that means Cameron Menzies has lost four of his last five matches and now he has to take on an opponent who has to be buzzing having picked up the Dutch Darts Championship title last week.

Niels Zonneveld put together a very solid tournament to win that big title and he has to be feeling pretty confident going into the European Championship.

There is a concern that he may not be as focused or ready to compete just days after winning such an important title for his own career, but Niels Zonneveld has the quality and confidence to progress past Cameron Menzies before this gets to a deciding Leg.

Gerwyn Price to win & over 3.5 match 180s v Rob Cross: Two former World Champions meet in the First Round in Dortmund and it has all the makings of being a very competitive match.

Both Gerwyn Price and Rob Cross will be happy with the recent form shown on the Tour, although it is the former who has found a way to win matches even when not at his absolute best.

There is no doubt that the second half of the 2026 season has been more positive for Rob Cross than the first as he moves through some personal issues, but the whole year has been a strong one for Gerwyn Price.

Only a big Ranking title is missing, but Price may be the favourite to come out of the top half of the draw in the absence of Luke Humphries and he may edge what should be a quality First Round match.

Kim Huybrechts-Ryan Searle over 5.5 180s: He takes his place in the draw at the European Championship after Luke Humphries was forced to withdraw and Kim Huybrechts is a potentially dangerous opponent for all he faces.

At his best, Huybrechts has the scoring power to make things very awkward for anyone he faces and Ryan Searle will be well aware of that.

However, Heavy Metal has beaten him twice on the European Tour this season and that should give him the confidence to do so again, which is also what the layers are anticipating having priced Ryan Searle as a pretty strong favourite.

Both players looked to be peppering the treble 20 bed with real authority last week in the Netherlands and they are capable of combining for at least six in the First Round in Dortmund.

Two previous meetings have been pretty different in terms of the maximums hit- the first of those saw both produce plenty in just seven Legs, but the second match last nine Legs and ended with just three maximums shared out as both Huybrechts and Searle struggled to find their best.

If they can pick up from where they left off in Maastricht, these two players are capable of plenty of big scoring and the total 180s line can be surpassed.

Ross Smith to win & over 2.5 180s v Karel Sedlacek: He won a floor title in September and has used the confidence from that win to put some solid perfomances on the stage at the European Tour events over the last few weeks.

That is all well and good for Karel Sedlacek, but beating the top Seed on the European Tour at the European Championship is going to be a big ask.

Ross Smith was beaten relatively early in Maastricht last week, but has recently won a big Ranking title at the World Series of Darts Finals. He has loved playing on the European Tour all season and Smudger looks like someone capable of having a big run at the World Championship with the right draw in front of him.

There is no doubt that there will be a respect for the level that Karel Sedlacek has been able to produce in recent weeks, but Ross Smith has to believe his best will be enough to get through to the Second Round on Saturday.

Strong scoring has propelled Ross Smith and he can throw at least three maximums in what should be a match that goes at least nine Legs.

MY PICKS: Niels Zonneveld - 1.5 Legs @ 2.20 William Hill (1 Unit)

Gerwyn Price to Win & Over 3.5 Match 180s @ 1.95 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Kim Huybrechts-Ryan Searle Over 5.5 180s @ 2.25 William Hill (1 Unit)

Ross Smith to Win & Over 2.5 180s @ 2.15 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Darts 2026: 154-188, - 20.90 Units (341 Units Staked, - 6.13% Yield)