Boxing Picks 2026- Joshua Buatsi vs Willy Hutchinson II (Saturday 7th November)

Despite the security issues in Saudi Arabia and Riyadh in particular, one of the biggest names in the Boxing world returned to the ring last weekend for what was hoped to be one more big run.

Canelo Alvarez showed all of his veteran knowledge and some of the skills that helped him reach the top of the sport and he was a very comfortable winner against Christian Mbilli.

He was expected to be win, but Mbilli was hoping to give Canelo a lot more problems than he managed and Canelo Alvarez is back in a position where he can take on the big money fights in 2027.

Where can he go next? There has to be a real feeling within his camp that a rematch with Terence Crawford to avenge one of the losses suffered would be the target and Bud seems to be teasing a return. There are some questions about how much money the Saudis are still willing to invest in the sport, but Canelo remains one of the very biggest names in the Boxing world and that likely means they will be willing to push the boat a little further.

Others also impressed on the card, but it was all about Canelo Alvarez and the Boxing headlines were dominated by the Mexican legend.

The one surprise last Saturday was the card is not being run on United States timing with the main event starting in the early afternoon for those on the East Coast and lunchtime on the West Coast.

British Boxing fans will be a little intrigued by that fact considering Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua is still operating as an event that will be run with an early hours of the morning ring walk for the main event. That is partly down to the broadcaster with the card last weekend operating under the DAZN banner and Fury-AJ being backed by Netflix, but it still made little sense when you factor in Canelo Alvarez being a much bigger name in North America compared with the two British Heavyweights.

Joshua Buatsi vs Willy Hutchinson II

A little over two years have passed since Joshua Buatsi and Willy Hutchinson met in a fight that was won by the former thanks to two Knock Downs and eventually winning a Split Decision.

Both have 'only' had two fights in the time between the first bout and this rematch, but Joshua Buatsi has split his two, while Willy Hutchinson has won both.

Some believe that momentum will give Willy Hutchinson the chance to earn revenge, while picking up the vacant WBC World Title in this Light Heavyweight Division.

However, it is perhaps overlooking the fact that Joshua Buatsi has been in with Callum Smith (loss) and Zach Parker (win), while Willy Hutchinson has beaten both Mark Jeffers and Ezra Taylor. If you switched the fighters around and had them face the opponent the other has, you could make a real case for Joshua Buatsi being unbeaten and Willy Hutchinson have a split record, at best, and that has to be factored in.

Joshua Buatsi has more miles on the clock having been in tougher fights and he did not look that impressive in the win over Zach Parker.

It was a close fight that may have gone another way, but motivation to win a World Title has to inspire Buatsi, who may not have this opportunity again.

That is not to say that Willy Hutchinson is not motivated, but at 28 years old, you'd feel he would have another chance, although losing to Buatsi for a second time may also suggest he has found his ceiling in the professional game.

Joshua Buatsi did look a little short of his very best in the narrow win over Parker and he will need to be better, but you have to believe there is one more big night in his as he looks to become a full World Champion. He will know he has the power to hurt Willy Hutchinson, which can give any fighter confidence, and Joshua Buatsi may feel this is a drop down a level from the likes of Callum Smith.

Having a bit more time to move past the huge battle he had with Smith could help and Joshua Buatsi may be worth backing as the underdog.

Willy Hutchinson should be respected and may feel he has learned plenty from that first fight with Buatsi, but he has not been operating at the same level and that may yet show up in the main event in Manchester on Saturday night.

There is a very solid support card for the night at the AO Arena and Jack Rafferty is ready to continue pushing his career up to the World level.

The IBO World Title is on the line when he faces Hovhannes Martirosyan, but winning is all about improving the Ranking with some of the bigger organisations in what is a loaded Welterweight Division.

Later in the year two of the World Titles will be Unified, but Jack Rafferty is 31 years old and needs to start making a real move.

His opponent is older and was Stopped by Pierce O'Leary when he fought as an unbeaten fighter in March 2024, but he is coming up in weight and Jack Rafferty can follow the Stoppage win over Ekow Essuman by giving the home fans something to celebrate.

Another local fighter, Bradley Rea, would have seen the blueprint from Willy Hutchinson as to how to get the better of Ezra Taylor and can do the same.

And at Featherweight, the British Title is on the line- it should be a defence for Gully Powar, but he was not given the deserved Decision in Wales earlier in the year.

He is the away fighter again, this time against once beaten Zak Miller, but the 29 year old has been out of the ring for more than a year and is going to be pushed to his limit by a relentless Powar.

That may be enough after what should be a competitive first half of the fight, but Gully Powar can maintain his level of output and Zak Miller is almost certainly going to tire having been out of the ring for as long as he has.

Sadly for UK fight fans, a decision has to be made whether to watch that card in Manchester or the latest Zuffa Boxing offering in London.

The main event between Chris Billam-Smith and Cheavon Clarke has leaned on the amateur history between the pair, but the former has reached a much higher level as a professional and that should show.

These two had two very good fights on the same card in Bournemouth in June and they could pick up from where they left off in this Ten Rounder.

Chris Billam-Smith has always been quite easy to find, while Cheavon Clarke showed his resiliency by getting off the floor twice and then Stopping Jack Massey.

They should gel well, but Billam-Smith may have seen some cracks in the Clarke resistance and he has the power to make through he goes through the gears and forces the Stoppage.

The previously mentioned Zach Parker is on the undercard and is an underdog when facing Umar Dzambekov, but that looks a closer contest to call and the British fighter may earn the upset.

There has been some controversy in Denzel Bentley's decision to sign with Zuffa Boxing, especially as he had to drop his WBO World Title.

His first outing under a new promoter is taking on Shane Mosley Jr and the struggles to make weight makes it difficult to believe in the 35 year old.

An upset win over Serhii Bohachuk has given Mosley Jr this opportunity, and Denzel Bentley has to be a little careful if he is going to mark his debut with a win. 

MY PICKS: Joshua Buatsi to Win @ 2.25 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

Jack Rafferty to Win Between 5-8 @ 2.87 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Bradley Rea to Win by Decision/Technical Decision @ 3.10 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Chris Billam-Smith to Win By KO/TKO/Disqualification @ 2.25 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

Boxing 2026: 29-49, - 11.93 Units (124 Units Staked, - 9.62% Yield)

College Football Week 10 Picks 2026 (Saturday 7th November)

Week 9 proved to be a solid one for the College Football Picks, but that is hopefully the start of a positive run and not an exception to a season long rule.

Big games are scheduled across the board in Week 10 of the season after the College Football Rankings were released and the jockeying towards the Playoff Bracket begins.

November is always a massive month in College Football and 2026 is proving to be no different as the big Conference games begin to separate the contenders from the pretenders.

Iowa State Cyclones @ Baylor Bears Pick: Five of the Big 12 have been given a top twenty-five Ranking, but it is very difficult to make a case for more than one team from this Conference being invited into the College Football Playoff Bracket.

After nine weeks of College Football action, only one of the Big 12 teams has an unbeaten record, and teams like the Baylor Bears (5-3) are almost certainly eliminated from contention. The Bears have a 3-2 record within the Conference and the motivation has to be trying to push past a number of rivals and earn a spot in the Championship Game, while they are also a win away from earning Bowl eligibility even that is not going to be in the Playoffs.

Back to back losses and finishing with a losing record in three of the last four years meant Baylor decided to fire Head Coach Dave Aranda after a Week 8 defeat. There would have been some concerns that the team may lose focus, but the crushing win over the UCF Knights last time out has give Baylor some momentum as they return home.

This week the Bears are facing the Iowa State Cyclones (4-4) who are 2-3 in the Big 12 in Head Coach Jimmy Rogers' first season after long-time Head Coach Matt Campbell departed for Penn State.

Matt Campbell has raised the levels at Iowa State and they finished with winning records in eight of the last nine seasons, which clearly impressed bigger schools. Last season the Cyclones finished with an 8-4 record, while they won narrowly in Week 9 to keep them on track for another winning season having previously lost three of four games.

They are unsurprisingly a work in progress under a new Head Coach and the Cyclones may not match up very well with the Baylor Bears on either side of the ball in this Big 12 game.

The Cyclones would love to lean on the Offensive Line and pound the ball, which in turn will keep the stronger Baylor Offensive unit on the sidelines. However, the Bears Defensive Line have prided themselves by playing the run as they have all season and they will certainly look to force the road team to look to the air behind the arm of Jaylen Raynor.

The Quarter Back did have over 300 passing yards with 3 Touchdowns in the win over the Oklahoma State Cowboys and that will give him confidence, but Jaylen Raynor has been inconsistent. If he can use the momentum from last week, Raynor should have success throwing against this Baylor Secondary, although he will also need to be aware of the ability of the Defensive Backs to step up front of throws.

Playing from behind the chains would also mean Jaylen Raynor will need the Offensive Line to find a way to cool what has been a fierce Baylor pass rush, one that has helped force mistakes that the Secondary have exploited.

Running the ball should be more comfortable for the Baylor Bears if you are solely focused on the performance of the Cyclones Defensive Line, but it should be stated that Baylor have simply not been able to run the ball well all season. So while you would expect them to have one of their better games up front, the reality is that the Bears will go as far as Quarter Back DJ Lagway can take them.

It did not quite work out for Lagway with the Florida Gators, but he has been comfortable playing in a Conference where Quarter Backs have tended to pile up big numbers. In his two seasons with the Gators, DJ Lagway did have 28 passing Touchdowns, but added 23 Interceptions, and that makes the season he is putting together feel like a big uptick from previous form.

DJ Lagway has 16 passing Touchdowns for the Bears and just 4 Interceptions, and his recent form suggests the Quarter Back is about to become the latest to attack this Iowa State Secondary with real success. The Cyclones have been allowing far too many passing yards, while the lack of pass rush pressure has allowed the opposition Quarter Back the time needed to make the throws wherever they want.

This should be a game in which Baylor are capable of moving the ball with some consistency and that should put them in a position where they can snap a two game losing run to Iowa State.

The last two road games played by Iowa State have ended in blowout defeats and this has the makings of being another in Week 10 of the 2026 season.

Cincinnati Bearcats @ Houston Cougars Pick: They have been given a Number 17 Ranking by the College Football Playoff Committee and that means the Houston Cougars (6-2) can return from the Bye Week with plenty to play for. The Big 12 is unlikely to be sending multiple teams to the College Football Playoff, but the Houston Cougars have a 3-2 record in the Conference and that means they are on track to at least earn a spot in the Championship Game and give themselves an opportunity to impress the decision makers.

Conference losses to the Utah Utes and Texas Tech Red Raiders means the Cougars have to overcome some tie-breaker issues, but the team have been able to reset and winning games is all that matters.

Two weeks ago they were being beaten by the Utah Utes and that is something that the Cincinnati Bearcats (5-3) will understand having dropped to 2-3 in Big 12 games after being blown away by the aforementioned Utes in Week 9.

The second half performance will have given the Bearcats some momentum, but they have to find a solution to fix some of the Defensive issues that have been causing problems all season. Both road games have ended in defeat, in different fashion, but Cincinnati can take some belief out of their own Offensive capabilities in their bid for the upset.

As long as they can avoid falling into the hole they dug for themselves in the loss to the Utah Utes, the Bearcats will feel they can retain some balance Offensively and that will give them a chance to keep the chains moving.

Earlier this season the Cougars Defensive Line had played the run really well, but they headed into the Bye Week with some work to do up front and that is where this cover of the spread could be won and lost in Week 10. If the two week break has allowed Houston to fix some problems, they could potentially have more success controlling the Line of Scrimmage and, in turn, find a way to at least make the Bearcats have to pass out of third and long spots.

JC French IV has continued to show off his talent at Quarter Back with another game ending with more than 250 passing yards, but he was baited into a mistake by the Utes last week. Avoiding those will be easier from third and manageable spots, but French IV will need to be aware of this Houston Secondary that has allowed some big passing numbers, but who have also found a consistent ability to step in front of throws and turn the ball over.

Extra possessions can be crucial in these Big 12 games and Houston may feel they can earn those, which will put them in a position to pull away from the Bearcats.

Houston are expected to have a lot of balance in their play-calling with the Bearcats struggling to stop the run and the pass and Conner Weigman is plenty experienced at Quarter Back.

It will start with the run as the Cougars look to keep themselves in front of the chains, but Conner Weigman will be really confident he can dissect this Cincinnati Secondary. Running the ball will mean Weigman can step back and expect to get some time to throw the ball and his season so far has seen the Quarter Back thrown 20 Touchdowns with just 2 Interceptions.

If he can come out of the Bye Week and maintain those standards, Houston should be able to avoid the same mistakes that may blight the Cincinnati Offense and that, ultimately, will give the Cougars a chance to make a statement with a big win.

The Bearcats have won five in a row in this series with an opponent that moved across from the American Conference to the Big 12 and Cincinnati blew out Houston two years ago. Plenty will have changed in College Football in the two years since the teams last played, but you have to imagine Cougars fans have not forgotten and Houston can snap the losing streak in the most emphatic of manners.

Alabama Crimson Tide @ LSU Tigers Pick: The SEC has moved to a nine game Conference schedule and that meant putting teams together who could play 'rivalry games' every year over the next few seasons.

To the surprise of many, the Alabama Crimson Tide (6-2) and LSU Tigers (6-2) were not paired together and the annual meeting that has been played every year since 1964 will not take place in 2027.

That does mean there is more focus on this game in 2026, which is played after both teams had a Bye Week, and the Crimson Tide have a 4-2 record in the SEC, while the Tigers are 3-2. There is plenty on the line with both teams Ranked inside the top 14, but also very much aware that another defeat is going to be very difficult to overcome in their bid to reach the College Football Playoff having already suffered a couple of defeats.

Out of the two teams, the LSU Tigers may feel they have been involved in more competitive defeats and Head Coach Lane Kiffin has to be confident with what his team have shown on both sides of the ball, despite the record.

Both teams will know that the Line of Scrimmage is all important having both struggled to run the ball as expected.

The fact is that the Crimson Tide and Tigers are going to be facing Defensive Lines that will believe they have the edge and all of that points to this game coming down to which of the Quarter Backs has been prepared well enough to help their team win.

You have to give Sam Leavitt the edge over Keelon Russell and that is where the home team can do what is needed to win and, potentially, cover.

Keelon Russell has been playing well enough, but a Quarter Back can only be as good as the Offensive Line allows and there is little doubt that the pass rush pressure has managed to collapse the pocket. This has seen Russell hit often and that has led to mistakes in the passing game, which could be crucial in a game where both Offensive units may not have the consistency, but who could benefit from field position and extra possessions.

The Crimson Tide Offensive Line is going to be under immense pressure to keep the LSU pass rush from out of the backfield and it is going to be difficult for Alabama to move the ball in this big SEC game.

Things feel very different on the other side of the ball where Sam Leavitt may be given a bit more time, even in third and long spots, and that will give the LSU Quarter Back an opportunity to make the plays that are needed. Sam Leavitt has almost 2200 passing yards and has 17 Touchdown passes, but the 8 Interceptions have been the issue, but the Quarter Back has 7 Touchdown passes without a single Interception in the last couple of games since the upset loss to the Kentucky Wildcats.

Respect has to be given to this Crimson Tide Secondary who have been able to make big plays against the pass, but LSU have got to be confident that their experienced Quarter Back can do what is necessary to help his team earn the edge.

It is the Crimson Tide who have won the last three in the series, but the LSU Tigers look ready to turn the tables in front of the home fans.

Georgia Bulldogs @ Mississippi Rebels Pick: There are a cluster of SEC teams who have been Ranked pretty highly in the opening release from the College Football Playoff Committee, but the reality is that these teams will begin to separate out as the weeks tick by heading towards the Championship Game.

The Georgia Bulldogs (7-1) are given the Number 2 Ranking and they are 5-1 in the SEC, but they have a chance to prove they are deserving of the position when visiting the Number 10 Ranked Mississippi Rebels (6-2) who are 4-2 in the Conference.

Another loss could be really damaging for the Rebels and they will have to be aware that they are facing a Georgia team who will not have forgotten losing in the Sugar Bowl Quarter Final last season. That is going to give the Bulldogs motivation after crushing the Florida Gators in Week 9, but playing on the road is always much more challenging and this is a significant challenge for Georgia.

It is the Bulldogs Offensive Line who will be looking to set the standard- they have run the ball effectively all season, but they will also note that they are facing a Mississippi Defensive Line that has been stout up front and particularly strong at home. Recent games has seen the Rebels improve in their ability to slow down the opponent rushing attack and Mississippi have to make sure they can at least stall some drives.

Gunner Stockton did not play well enough in the loss to Auburn before the Georgia Bye Week and he only managed 101 passing yards in the win over the Gators on the return to action. The Quarter Back has had a very good season, but he will hope to be playing out of third and manageable spots on the field instead of having to get the ball moving down the field under pressure from this Rebels pass rush.

There will be some belief Georgia can have success on this side of the ball, but the Defensive unit have something to prove.

You cannot really criticise them for their performances in 2026, but Georgia's team will know they allowed 69 points in two games against the Mississippi Rebels last season and once again will be facing Quarter Back Trinidad Chambliss.

Trinidad Chambliss has piled up the passing yards, but it was the 3 Interceptions thrown against the Texas Longhorns that led to a recent Ole Miss loss and he cannot afford to do that here.

The Rebels have to look to keep the balance Offensively and they will be confident in the performances produced by the Offensive Line when it comes to establishing the run, but most will expect the game to come down to how Trinidad Chambliss handles the Bulldogs once again,

He will note that the Bulldogs Secondary have allowed some Quarter Backs to have considerable success in recent games, and Chambliss has to be happy with the protection that has been offered to him by the Offensive Line. Staying in front of the chains will at least force the Bulldogs pass rush to slow down slightly and that will mean Trinidad Chambliss could have success against this opponent once again.

Avoiding turnovers will be key, but if Trinidad Chambliss can do that, the Mississippi Rebels can keep this one close on the scoreboard in an important game where they can prove to the College Football Playoff Committee that they should be considered for a spot in the Bracket again this season.

MY PICKS: Baylor Bears - 9.5 Points @ 1.81 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Houston Cougars - 10.5 Points @ 1.86 Bet365 (1 Unit)

LSU Tigers - 5.5 Points @ 1.80 William Hill (1 Unit)

Mississippi Rebels + 3.5 Points @ 1.86 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Duke Blue Devils - 4.5 Points @ 1.86 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Louisville Cardinals - 14.5 Points @ 1.86 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Texas Tech Red Raiders - 16.5 Points @ 1.91 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)

Week 9: 6-3, + 2.13 Units (9 Units Staked, + 23.67% Yield)

Week 8: 2-3, - 1.20 Units (5 Units Staked, - 24% Yield)

Week 7: 3-3, - 0.63 Units (6 Units Staked, - 10.5% Yield)

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)

English Football Premier League Picks Game Week 10 2026/27 (Friday 6th November 2026-Sunday 8th November 2026)

The international breaks have long been considered a time when top flight clubs will choose to make big decisions in relation to the current management team, but the slight change to the calendar in 2026/27 has perhaps led to a little more patience from boardroom members up and down the country.

It has perhaps also meant that managers cannot now rely upon only having a small sample of results to justify, especially not as we approach the November international break.

There now looks to be genuine pressure on three names- Pierre Sage, Regis Le Bris and Michael Carrick.

All three will be leading teams into home games on Sunday after mixed results in European competition over the last few days and reports suggest that Crystal Palace, Sunderland and Manchester United are perhaps sounding out other options behind the scenes.

A big weekend begins on Friday and fans may also have a second international break dominated by Manchester City's issues off the field with some suggesting the Premier League will be announcing sanctions for the the guilty charge given to the club. That would be a surprise until the appeal process has been exhausted, but fans, and rival clubs, have to be looking for some clarity about the Manchester City situation sooner rather than later.

Some may feel it is harsh to say, but it is a surprise that Michael Carrick is still in charge at Old Trafford after some of the recent results he has overseen for Manchester United.

On Tuesday it felt like the line was over for Carrick as United trailed 0-2 against Roma in the Champions League with the fans ready to revolt.

However, the manager and the team got a bit of luck in the second half when Bruno Fernandes was given a chance to retake a penalty he missed to halve the deficit and Manchester United rode the momentum to somehow turn things around beat the Italian club.

Michael Carrick will need the players to pick up from where they left off on Tuesday, but Aston Villa pose a big test and injuries have piled up in the home squad.

It should be a positive Old Trafford after the last result, but Manchester United need to start much better than they did on Tuesday and another win may give the board something to think about as far as the direction they feel Michael Carrick is travelling.

Nothing is going to be easy on Sunday and Manchester United have to defend with much more authority than they have over the last several weeks if they are going to avoid ending up in the bottom three during this November international break.

Everton vs Coventry City: Playing on Monday Night Football and then being asked to open the Premier League weekend on a Friday feels harsh on Everton, but the players have real momentum following back to back wins over Newcastle United.

While the squad are avoiding injuries, David Moyes will feel his team have enough to earn another three points on Friday and in the main Everton have been confident at home.

They may only have beaten Ipswich Town 1-0, but Everton had more than enough chances to double or triple that tally and they produced a wasteful display in the 0-1 win at Newcastle United earlier this week. That will have to change if Everton are to achieve all they want to achieve over the coming weeks and months, but you have to expect the home team to dominate the chances in this fixture.

Coventry City have had a very good couple of months as they have picked up 3 League wins, including beating Sunderland 3-1 last week.

However, Frank Lampard's team are not all that convincing at the back and that can be exploited by The Toffees.

Fantasy: He was clearly the best player on the pitch on Monday and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall continues to be a pivotal player in the Everton attack.

With a bit more support from those around him, Dewsbury-Hall would have picked up a goal involvement in the last game and he can make up for that here.

Leeds United vs Tottenham Hotspur: Three wins in a row have dragged Tottenham Hotspur back up the Premier League table and everyone associated with the club will be feeling much better about themselves.

Roberto De Zerbi will tell anyone that his team have deserved these results having had solid performances without reward earlier in the season.

Making it four in a row will not be easy against a Leeds United team who have been tough to beat all season, even if Spurs have won the last 3 games at this Stadium.

Daniel Farke does have some injuries to deal with in the squad, but Leeds United have not given much away at the back.

A bigger issue is that Leeds United have not been as clinical in the final third and this Tottenham Hotspur team have shown some real resiliency of late, which suggests we could have a low-scoring game in the early Saturday afternoon broadcast spot.

Fantasy: Any fixture that is anticipated to be low-scoring will shift the focus onto defenders and that is the case for this one.

Arsenal vs Hull City: Mikel Arteta was not very happy with his team's second half performance in Prague and that is the kind of standard he is setting for Arsenal.

Winning that Champions League game is not enough to satisfy the manager and so the players will have to prove to Arteta that they are still hungry.

Facing Hull City at the Emirates Stadium should give Arsenal an opportunity to put together a much more confident overall display and they are likely going to limit the chances the visitors are going to be able to create.

Some defensive changes may need to be made because of injuries, but Arsenal should manage the threat in a winning effort.

Fantasy: There will be plenty wondering whether they should look to double the points by placing a Captaincy on an Arsenal defender and that cannot be overlooked as an option this weekend.

However, Arsenal will be looking to win the game and that may allow someone like Martin Odegaard to get back into the headlines by influencing a successful task of picking up the three points.

Fulham vs Newcastle United: In the first portion of this thread, three managers were picked out as being very much under threat of losing their jobs in the upcoming international break.

Matthias Jaissle may be another under pressure if he cannot help Newcastle United pick up a positive result in West London.

Fans are beginning to turn on the new manager already, while the players have not quite understood what is expected from them with inconsistent performances being produced. Injuries have made Newcastle United a vulnerable defensive team and Fulham may have enough about them to exploit those issues.

Alvaro Arbeloa's eased the pressure that was weighing on him by helping Fulham pick up some important Premier League points and his team have been looking dangerous going forward. There is an inconsistency in the forward line, which is holding Fulham back, but they have won the last 2 at Craven Cottage when hosting Newcastle United and can extend that successful run.

Fantasy: Newcastle United have conceded 11 goals in the last 4 away games played and the likes of Josh King and Oscar Bobb could be best placed to become the latest players to hurt them in the final third.

Nottingham Forest vs Manchester City: More defensive mistakes almost proved costly for Manchester City, but the 2-3 win in Leipzig will have given the team a shot in the arm.

Back to back Premier League defeats has seen Arsenal take over at the top of the table, but Manchester City will be looking to bounce back before the two week break.

Giving away goals has been a problem, but Manchester City have largely kept opponents at arm's length and that has meant restricting efforts on goal.

Enzo Maresca will believe his team can do the same against a Nottingham Forest team that have yet to score a home goal and who have been challenged by manager Oliver Glasner to find their confidence in the final third.

An impatient owner means Glasner is aware that results have to improve really quickly, but Nottingham Forest have been lacking belief in the final third even as the chances have been created. You'd eventually expect a bit of luck to break through the fog for the Nottingham Forest attackers and they could motor once that happens, but this is a game where they are going to be focusing on making things tough for Manchester City.

It could mean there is not quite the same focus in the final third and Nottingham Forest may struggle to find four shots on target.

Fantasy: Teams have not found it easy to break down Nottingham Forest at the City Ground, but wide players have made the difference for Coventry City and Arsenal.

Jeremy Doku is likely going to be restored to the starting lineup for Manchester City and the Belgian may create or score the big chance that makes the difference for the team.

Brighton vs Brentford: On the form that has been produced over the last month, Brighton deserve to be favourites on Sunday afternoon when hosting Brentford.

However, these matches tend to be very competitive, partly in thanks to the rivalries in the boardroom, and it is rare for either team to win comfortably.

In the main, Brighton have had the edge, but they are travelling back from Spain after another Conference League outing, while Brentford have been resting and preparing and that makes the visitors dangerous.

You cannot ignore how tough Brentford have been to beat under Keith Andrews and all of the away games played this season have ended in draws, which makes that worthy of a small interest.

Fantasy: The squad depth at Brighton makes it hard to identify an attacker, although plenty will stick with Pascal Gross as the best option.

Instead it could be someone like Maxim De Cuyper who continues to return points with his position meaning he is capable of producing at both ends of the pitch.

Igor Thiago has found a bit of form for Brentford and the striker could be the key to any away positive result.

Crystal Palace vs Liverpool: There has to be a big concern in the home stands that the squad have given up on Pierre Sage, but the supporters cannot be that surprised seeing as their own patience has been running out for a couple of weeks.

If there is a feeling that Sage is going to be sacked imminently, the home players could struggle to find the intensity needed to get the better of Liverpool for a second season in a row.

They will need that with Liverpool expected to restore key attacking players that missed out in Istanbul on Wednesday and this is a team who have been more comfortable in away Premier League games than when playing at Anfield.

With the firepower available and Crystal Palace's defensive struggles, you have to believe this could be a tough day for the home fans in South London.

Fantasy: He did not get on the scoreboard at home last Sunday, but Alexander Isak came off the bench to score against Fenerbahce. The Swedish striker has found his feet in a Liverpool shirt and could be the key to the three points on Sunday afternoon.

Ipswich Town vs Bournemouth: The challenge for Bournemouth is to recover from a trip to Prague and bring their best form into a Premier League fixture just a couple of days later.

This is a new experience for most in the squad, but the win in the Czechia capital means the momentum is firmly behind Bournemouth and they have shown the qualities in the final third that will make them very dangerous.

Marco Rose will be pleased with the goals being scored and they can punish Ipswich Town where the likes of Fulham and Nottingham Forest have been unable to do.

Gary O'Neil's team have shown resilience and composure to fight back for points from tough situations, but Liverpool scored twice early at Portman Road and that was enough to earn the win here. Both Fulham and Nottingham Forest will feel they did not capitalise on leads, but Bournemouth scored three at Old Trafford in the last away Premier League game played and they can secure a win here.

Fantasy: There are some quality performers for Bournemouth who will all feel they can make an impact, but Rayan could be operating in a position where Ipswich Town have been hurt this season and could be involved in most of the attacking play.

Evanilson has been in great form and will believe he can add to his goals if given the same opportunities Alexander Isak and Liam Delap were afforded at Portman Road.

Sunderland vs Chelsea: Fans are hoping to see a change in the managerial dugout at the Stadium of Light as Regis Le Bris continues to struggle to get the best out of Sunderland.

They appreciate the work the manager has done over the last two seasons, but Sunderland are bottom of the table and the confidence is draining from the players.

Regis Le Bris needs something on Sunday to give himself a chance to turn things around and he will be confident his Sunderland team will have opportunities, although they have been lacking composure in the final third. There is also an element of lacking a bit of fortune, but they are facing a Chelsea team who have struggled defensively.

The Blues are favourites, and short priced favourites, but Chelsea have not been as convincing away from Stamford Bridge and the absence of Joao Pedro is a blow.

Sunderland beat Chelsea here in May to earn a spot in the Europa League, and they are likely going to give it a go on Sunday even if they are not quite able to secure a result that will keep Regis Le Bris in his job.

However, they should be able to test the Chelsea goalkeeper at least four times on recent form and Sunderland will be given some encouragement by the defending produced by the away team.

Fantasy: There are not a lot of great options- Morgan Rogers is leading the line for Chelsea, but Pedro Neto looked the most threatening player against Manchester United, at least on a consistent basis.

He scored twice at Hill Dickinson Stadium last month and could be a key to any success Chelsea have in the final third.

Manchester United vs Aston Villa: Michael Carrick remains in charge and he will be desperate to see his players ride the momentum of the comeback win over Roma to secure three points here.

Whether that is enough to keep Carrick in his role as manager of Manchester United is another thing, but the Old Trafford crowd will support the former player as long as he is in charge.

Injuries to key defensive players, and suspensions, leaves Manchester United a little short and Aston Villa are playing well enough to believe they can exploit gaps.

However, Unai Emery's team are still a work in progress defensively and Manchester United's best form of defence may be attacking relentlessly.

It could develop into an exciting fixture with chances at both ends and it is no surprise that the prices on the goals market have shortened in the build up to this fixture.

Fantasy: Bruno Fernandes and Matheus Cunha provided the goals to help Manchester United beat Roma on Tuesday, but Bryan Mbeumo continues to be the most threatening of the attackers as he continues to lead the line.

Nicolas Jackson continues to show off his goalscoring form and will have chances against this United defence.

MY PICKS: Everton to Win & Over 1 Total Goal @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit) Early Payout if Two Up

Leeds United-Tottenham Hotspur Under 2.5 Goals @ 1.95 Bet Victor (1 Unit)

Arsenal Win to Nil @ 1.77 Bet Victor (1 Unit)

Fulham @ 2.00 Bet365 (1 Unit) Early Payout if Two Up

Nottingham Forest Under 3.5 Shots on Target @ 1.83 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Brighton-Brentford Draw @ 4.00 Bet Fred (1 Unit)

Liverpool to Win & Over 1 Total Goals @ 1.74 Bet365 (1 Unit) Early Payout if Two Up

Bournemouth @ 1.95 Coral (1 Unit)

Sunderland Over 3.5 Shots on Target @ 1.80 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Manchester United-Aston Villa Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.57 Coral (1 Unit)

Premier League 26/27: 20-36-1, - 10.58 Units (56 Units Staked, - 18.89% Yield)

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

NFL Week 9 Picks 2026 (Thursday 5th November-Monday 9th November)

The start to this 2026 NFL season had followed a disappointing pattern that saw the 2025 season end with a negative number for the Picks for the first time in a few seasons.

However, there have been some positive signs over the last two weeks thanks to an 8-3 run, although the first six weeks of the season continue to pull back on the overall numbers.

There is still a long way to go before the end of this season, but it is up to us to reevaluate teams from their preseason expectations, especially as injuries have piled up once again.

Teams like the Los Angeles Chargers have completely collapsed after being a rival to the Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC West, while the Houston Texans have work to do.

Injuries to Quarter Backs in Philadelphia and Baltimore leave both of those teams struggling to get back on track, while the Los Angeles Rams look like one of those teams who can overcome a slow start and move into contention in the NFC West and the Conference as a whole.

For most teams we will be reaching the halfway mark of the regular season and that means there is still so much Football to be played.

And just before we get into the NFL Picks from Week 9 of the season, thoughts are out there for Jack Campbell of the Detroit Lions with the hope that he is able to make a full recovery as soon as possible.

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Baltimore Ravens Pick: A big decision is going to have to be made in the offseason after Lamar Jackson's latest injury, one that could see the Quarter Back miss the entirety of the 2026 season. The most immediate concern for the Baltimore Ravens (4-4) is snapping a three game losing run that has seen them fall into the basement of the AFC North and it is far from ideal that they are playing on a short week in Week 9 having been crushed at the Buffalo Bills.

Lamar Jackson's return did not even last an entire series, but things got even worse for Baltimore thanks to an injury suffered by Tyler Huntley and that meant Joe Fagnano had to play the majority of the game.

It was a debut for Joe Fagnano in the NFL and he is set to earn the start on Thursday Night Football, but the Ravens are making plans to bring some experience into the Quarter Back room with a trade being set up for Jacoby Brissett. The latter would likely be up to speed by the time the Baltimore Ravens are back out, but the rest of the roster are going to have to rally if they are going to move back above 0.500 by beating the Jacksonville Jaguars (5-2).

The AFC South leaders just put a beatdown on rivals Indianapolis Colts as they returned from a Bye Week after splitting two games played in London.

Short weeks on the road are never easy to manage, but the Jacksonville Jaguars would have taken the foot off the pedal in the blowout win over the Colts.

It was not all good news on Sunday and the likelihood is that the Jaguars will be without one of their key Offensive players in Bhayshul Tuten who has not been in practice early in the week. Running the ball against the Ravens Defensive Line would have been challenging even with Tuten available, but that becomes that much tougher for the Jacksonville Jaguars by moving down the depth on the roster.

Despite that, Trevor Lawrence has admitted he might be playing the most consistent football of his career and the Quarter Back should be able to exploit what has been a vulnerable Baltimore Secondary. Some of that is perhaps down to players losing their confidence with the Offensive unit struggling as much as they have been, but Trevor Lawrence will also be given a bit of time by the Jacksonville Offensive Line and it should mean being able to move the ball down the field.

Plenty of credit has to be given to Lawrence and company, but the real strength of this Jacksonville team is on the other side of the ball and you do have to wonder how much success Baltimore can have with a third string Quarter Back leading the way.

No one will be surprised by a plan to feed Derrick Henry over and over again to try and keep Joe Fagnano in positive down and distance, but the Ravens Offensive Line have been struggling at the Line of Scrimmage to aid the veteran Running Back. Some of that is down to the fact that teams have not respected the Ravens passing game, but this Jacksonville Defensive Line have been priding themselves in stopping the run all season and that makes this a tough match up for the Baltimore Ravens.

They have scored 10, 13 and 10 points in the last three games and now they face a Defensive unit giving up the fewest points in the AFC, which is going to make things very tough for the home team.

Baltimore's Offensive Line have struggled in pass protection and the Quarter Back has averaged just 164 passing yards per game during this three game losing run.

Not only does Joe Fagnano have a tough match up, but he will have to be careful he does not make the mistakes that have been exploited by the Jacksonville Secondary.

Additional possessions will give the Jaguars the momentum to win the game, but turning the ball over in Baltimore territory may give Jacksonville the impetus to push clear of this spread.

Covering a number like this one the road is not going to be easy, but the Ravens have suffered back to back blowouts at the hands of two teams with high tempo Offensive units. The Jaguars may not be quite up to the level of Buffalo or Cincinnati Offensively, but they just crushed the Indianapolis Colts and have scored at least 31 points in more than half of the seven games played in 2026.

These two teams may have felt they would be potential rivals in the Playoffs, but Baltimore have a lot of issues to address to get back on track and the upcoming 'mini-break' is important for them.

Unfortunately for Baltimore, that could begin after another chastening night on the field.

Atlanta Falcons vs Cincinnati Bengals Pick: The NFL International Series moves back to Spain in Week 9 of the season having played here for the first time last season and two teams who are very much in contention within their respective Divisions will be facing one another.

The Cincinnati Bengals (5-2) do have a solid winning record in the AFC North, but the Atlanta Falcons (3-5) are in the NFC South where all four teams have losing records and a Division in which a losing record has been good enough to earn a spot in the Playoffs.

However, the Falcons will travel to Spain having become the first time in over fifty years that has lost a game where the opponent has not had to complete a pass.

This has to force the team to have a positive reaction to prove that they are far better than what was produced in the defeat to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Falcons cannot expect this high-powered Cincinnati Offensive unit to keep them in the game for as long as Tampa Bay allowed.

Over the course of the season, the Falcons Offensive Line has shown enough to believe they can establish the run, which is all important if they are going to win games. Recent games have been more disappointing with Atlanta averaging just 3.5 yards per carry, but they have to be confident in moving the ball on the ground against this Bengals Defensive Line, which has struggled for consistency up front all season.

If the Falcons can keep Michael Penix Jr in third and manageable spots, the Atlanta Falcons have to believe it will spark a passing game that has been struggling. Errors from the Quarter Back proved fatal in the defeat to the Buccaneers, and Penix Jr has to be aware of the ball-hawking abilities of this Cincinnati Secondary, but making quicker throws and allowing the skill players to work the yards after catch is that much more manageable when playing in front of the chains.

A reaction is expected on this side of the ball, but the bigger one may have to come from the Atlanta Defensive Line- they have just allowed the Buccaneers to run the ball 56 times and pick up 5.8 yards per carry!

This week they are facing a Cincinnati team who are much more known for the passing attack, but this may be an opportunity for the Bengals to have one of their better games running the ball. The Offensive Line has not been able to open the lanes that would be expected when you think Cincinnati have Joe Burrow and Wide Receivers like Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins who command such respect, but the Bengals should be able to push the ball on the ground in this game.

Any success on the ground is going to make Cincinnati that much more dangerous in the passing game- even without much support, there is no doubt that the Bengals are 5-2 thanks to the quality they have when going to the air.

Joe Burrow has been pretty well protected when dropping back to throw, which is more impressive without the kind of running game that the Bengals would like. This has given him time to make the plays down the field and this Falcons Secondary cannot expect to be faced with the same plan as the one the Buccaneers put together in the blowout win last week.

Instead, the Bengals will attack through the air and that may give them the edge in the contest, especially if they can turn the ball over a couple of times when Michael Penix Jr drops back to throw.

A big game is coming up for the Bengals against the Pittsburgh Steelers, but this international setting may keep them focused on the matter at hand and that could lead to a solid win for Cincinnati in Spain.

New York Giants @ Philadelphia Eagles Pick: You could have made a case for any of the other three NFC East teams to be leading the Division in Week 9 of the season, but the injury to Quarter Back Jaxson Dart looked to be a bitter pill for the New York Giants (4-2-1) to swallow.

Of they are now being Coached by John Harbaugh, which means a new standard has been set for the team, including a mentality of next man up and not allowing a setback to dominate the thinking for days, weeks or months to come.

Instead, the Giants are the only team in the NFC East with a winning record and they have a chance to take a stranglehold of the Division with the next two games being against Divisional rivals. They are coming out of a Bye Week, where Harbaugh thrived when Coaching the Baltimore Ravens, and the New York Giants will feel much more confident than the injury hit Philadelphia Eagles (2-6).

Winning the opening two games of the season feels a long time ago for the Eagles who have lost six in a row, while the injury to Quarter Back Jalen Hurts is yet another blow to a team who have been without key players in all levels of the Offensive unit. They are making another change at Quarter Back after Tanner McKee's struggles, but Joe Milton III is going to be under pressure to spark a team that could be without Saquon Barkley as well as some top Receiving options.

Everything has been a struggle for the Eagles on this side of the ball, but they may take some confidence from the fact the Giants Defensive Line had struggled to stop the run in the lead up to the Bye Week. Allowing Dexter Lawrence to be traded to the Cincinnati Bengals in the off-season was always going to impact the Giants up front, but the Defensive Line are facing a makeshift Philadelphia Offensive Line and may not respect the Quarter Back enough to fail to load the box.

Joe Milton III has had some backup experience in the NFL from his time with the New England Patriots and Dallas Cowboys, but he has had just 53 pass attempts in the pro ranks and that means there is a huge amount of developing to do on the fly.

While the Giants have had some issues stopping the run, the Secondary have played well enough to believe the can contain much of what Milton III and the Eagles are going to bring to the field and that gives them the edge in the bid to end the long losing run in Philadelphia.

JJ McCarthy is the third Quarter Back to start for the Giants in 2026 having taken over from Jameis Winston, who had the first shot at replacing Jaxson Dart.

In his two appearances for the Giants so far, JJ McCarthy has piled up plenty of yards through the air, but has a single Touchdown and a single Interception to show for that. That is partly down to the fact that John Harbaugh and the New York Offensive Line have created gaping holes when they have run the ball and that has been a quick, painless way into the End Zone and we can expect to see plenty more of that.

New York may not have Cam Skattebo available, but they will believe that is not going to impact the ability to run the ball against this Eagles Defensive Line and just ease any pressure that may be felt by a Quarter Back looking to prove he can be a factor in the NFL. The Giants are expected to have success on the ground and that should mean McCarthy is given time when he does drop back to throw, while also opening up play-action shots down the field.

The Eagles have struggled to stop the pass with teams moving into third and manageable spots, while the pass rush has yet to ramp up, which makes it tough to believe they can exploit some of the holes New York's Offensive Line have had in protection. It will help that JJ McCarthy is a better mover than Winston, and it should mean the Giants are able to move the ball with success throughout this game.

A poor record in this Stadium cannot be ignored, but John Harbaugh has been one of those Head Coaches that effectively uses the Bye Week so well that you can almost write down 1-0 in the next game.

You cannot help but worry about the way the Eagles have seemingly dropped their heads in recent games as injuries have piled up and that may be a concern for them in Week 9.

Detroit Lions @ Miami Dolphins Pick: Prayers up for Jack Campbell.

An unfortunate situation developed in the Detroit Lions (5-2) win over the Minnesota Vikings when Linebacker Jack Campbell made a tackle that left him unable to move on the turf. He has indicated that there is now some feeling in the lower half of the body, but work to do in order to get the upper half of the body back up to 100% and that will have impacted the players all week.

Head Coach Dan Campbell addressed Jack Campbell's situation during the week, but also made it clear that the team have to rally for their fallen colleague, who would insist it is about winning games and making sure the Lions are focusing on trying to reach the Super Bowl at the end of the season.

The Lions will travel to the Miami Dolphins (1-6) in Week 9 after beating the Vikings and ending the last unbeaten record in the NFL in 2026. The win also means Detroit are only a game behind Minnesota in the powerful NFC North and former interim Miami Head Coach Dan Campbell will be reminding his players how quickly momentum can be lost if they are not focused.

Playing on the road in South Florida in November is tough with conditions different to what most teams would come to expect, but the Lions are the much better team.

Credit has to be given to the Dolphins for the competitive spirit they have been able to produce and they are not going to finish with a winless season to be the absolute antithesis to the only team to ever complete an unbeaten season in the NFL.

The last three defeats suffered by the Miami Dolphins have been by 7 points or less and they have a win in between those defeats, which also has to be respected. Despite the injuries that have been suffered to important players, Miami are doing the fundamentals right and that will always give a team an opportunity to win games, no matter the difference in talent.

De'Von Achane has gone down to a season ending injury, but the Miami Offensive Line have still been creating solid running lanes and that has helped the Offensive unit move the chains. However, the challenge will be running the ball against a Detroit team that have been much improved at the Line of Scrimmage all season and who have been thriving on stopping the run in recent wins.

You have to imagine Detroit are almost going to be daring Miami to beat them through the air, even with the issues the Lions have had in the Secondary. They just stymied the Minnesota Vikings though and Malik Willis has not been very consistent with his passing game, which is also influenced by the absence of the kind of Receivers Miami fans have been watching in recent seasons.

It has also meant some indecisiveness in the passing game and Malik Willis is going to be feeling the heat of the Detroit pass rush, which could lead to mistakes.

The Lions have been well balanced Offensively and that is likely to continue in South Florida.

The running game is now largely powered by Jahmyr Gibbs behind one of the more impressive Offensive Lines in the NFL and recent games have seen Detroit power the Offensive unit on the ground. They will respect how well Miami's Defensive Line has played, which is again a testament to some of the character within the locker room, but the Lions will feel they can stay ahead of the chains and especially with the threat of the pass from Quarter Back Jared Goff.

Amon-Ra St Brown is a doubt for this game having been listed as Questionable following a big hit suffered last week, but Jared Goff should have time in the pocket and that can see him have success throwing into this Secondary. The Quarter Back has been looking after the ball pretty well this season and that will also keep the Lions in a confident mood as they look to produce a positive performance for Jack Campbell.

The scheduling spot is not ideal after a tough run of games, but the Lions have momentum and they may be able to follow Cincinnati by winning this one on the road by just enough to cover the line set.

MY PICKS: Jacksonville Jaguars - 9.5 Points @ 1.84 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Cincinnati Bengals - 3.5 Points @ 2.00 William Hill (1 Unit)

New York Giants - 3.5 Points @ 2.05 Bet Fred (1 Unit)

Detroit Lions - 6.5 Points @ 1.91 Paddy Power (1 Unit)

Week 8: 4-2, + 1.72 Units (6 Units Staked, + 28.67% Yield)

Week 7: 4-1, + 2.73 Units (5 Units Staked, + 54.60% Yield)

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 9 Picks 2026 (Saturday 31st October)

Some big decisions are going to have to be made by the Playoff Committee when it comes to putting together the bracket for the post-season and things could get very awkward for the decision-makers if we continue to see upset after upset.

The SEC does not have a single unbeaten team, but it is also a very competitive Conference which has been supplying multiple Playoff teams over the last couple of years.

However, this season there are more and more teams trending towards three losses and it would be harder to make the case for the involvement of those teams without winning a SEC Championship.

Other Conferences may not be given the same kind of respect and so we close into November with a lot of high pressured games to be played.

Michigan Wolverines @ Rutgers Scarlet Knights Pick: They lost just three games in the final three seasons under Head Coach Jim Harbaugh and that run concluded with the Michigan Wolverines (4-3) winning the National Championship as an unbeaten team in 2023.

Jim Harbaugh decided to head back into the NFL with the Los Angeles Chargers and the Michigan Wolverines are onto their second permanent Head Coach since that departure. The last two seasons have seen the Wolverines lose seven games and they have already suffered three defeats this season with all of those coming in the Big Ten where the team are 1-3.

Head Coach Kyle Whittingham will be given time, but he is well aware that his team needs an Offensive spark if they are going to try and finish this season with some momentum. The hopes of returning to the Playoffs look to have ended after that third Big Ten defeat last week against the Indiana Hoosiers, but there is still plenty for Michigan to play for and that is especially the case for Quarter Back Tommy Carr who has shown more than the opening starter Bryce Underwood.

Giving Tommy Carr the rest of the season may help in the development and have the Wolverines challenging much higher in the Big Ten in twelve months time and he is reportedly going to have the chance to play on the road for the first time.

It is the Rutgers Scarlet Knights (2-5) who will host and they also have a 1-3 record in the Big Ten, but some of the Defensive problems that have been evident all season will give Michigan plenty of encouragement.

In the four Big Ten games played, Rutgers have allowed opponents to score at least 30 points, but that number becomes at least 42 points when only focusing on the three defeats.

The question is whether the Michigan Wolverines can exploit the problems in the same way as so many of the Conference rivals have been able to do and that all begins on the Line of Scrimmage. The Scarlet Knights have been bullied on this side of the ball, but Michigan's Offensive Line have not been very productive all season, which has put additional pressure on the Quarter Back regardless of who has been standing behind Center.

Assuming Tommy Carr will be given the opportunity, he will note that this Rutgers Secondary have struggled to make plays in recent games, while the lack of a pass rush should mean there is more time to go through his reads. This should be a benefit for the Wolverines as they look to show they can play with some confidence on this side of the ball.

However, the main reason the Wolverines have been competitive in games is the Defensive unit and they will be looking to aid the Offense by finding some turnovers or dominate the field position.

As the Scarlet Knights have moved into the Conference play, the Offensive output has diminished and they cannot expect to have a lot of change from this Wolverines team. The Michigan Defensive Line will make Rutgers have to scratch and claw for every yard gained, and that can wear down teams, while the Wolverines Secondary have only allowed an average of 161 passing yards per game even during a run of games where they have finished 1-2.

It is a Secondary that have found turnovers and that does not bode well for the Rutgers passing game that will be run by a backup Quarter Back after Dylan Lonergan was ruled out.

The last time Michigan and Rutgers met one another on the football field was back in 2023 and it was the Wolverines who won easily, while the year before they blew out the Scarlet Knights on the road.

This is a big spread when you think of the Wolverines Offensive woes, but the match up is about as good as Michigan could hope for and you can expect this Defensive unit to step up and make enough plays to give the team a chance of covering.

Arizona State Sun Devils @ BYU Cougars Pick: There are some Conferences where the Playoff Committee will overlook a loss, or perhaps two, but the Big 12 has not been one of those in the last couple of years, even as the Playoff field has been expanded to twelve teams.

Last season the blowout loss to the Texas Tech Red Raiders in the Big 12 Championship Game prevented the BYU Cougars (6-1) from taking part in the Playoffs, but the team have looked capable of going one better this time around. However, the Cougars are under pressure to bounce back from a very disappointing road loss to the UCF Knights in Week 8, which came just after BYU had upset the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

Two seasons ago the Arizona State Sun Devils (4-3) won the Big 12 Championship and played in the Quarter Final of the Playoffs where they were eventually beaten in Second Overtime. They look unlikely to repeat the feat in 2026 as the Sun Devils are already 2-2 in Big 12 play, but they did beat the Kansas State Wildcats last week and that snapped a run of consecutive defeats in the Conference where Arizona State had been struggling massively as a Defensive unit.

It is something the Cougars will be looking to exploit as they bid to bounce back from an upset loss and BYU should find plenty of balance on this side of the ball to keep the Sun Devils guessing.

The BYU Offensive Line should be able to help the home team establish the run and good things happen from there- the Sun Devils have struggled to stop the run for much of the season and that is likely going to be the same in Week 9, which will keep Bear Bachmeier in positive Down and distance from where the Quarter Back should be able to get something rolling.

Bear Bachmeier has been well protected and giving him time from third and manageable spots should mean an opening of the playbook and the Cougars should be able to keep the chains moving consistently. There are holes in the Arizona State Secondary and this is a team that have not been able to create too many turnovers in recent weeks, which should mean BYU are having another strong Offensive day.

It makes the Cougars favourites, but covering this big spread will depend on the performance of the Defensive unit who have had some mixed outings in the last couple of weeks.

Arizona State may not be able to expose any vulnerabilities as UCF managed to do with this game being on the road, but they will look to at least establish the run and give the team a chance to keep the chains moving. However, pounding the rock with the kind of consistency needed to give the team the confidence to earn the upset is perhaps going to be lacking and it will be up to Mikey Keene and the committee used at Quarter Back to try and keep the Arizona State Offensive unit on the field.

The Sun Devils will take encouragement from some of the successes that recent BYU opponents have had when it comes to throwing the ball against them, but the Offensive Line will be under a bit of pressure to make sure whoever is playing at Quarter Back is given some time in the pocket. The Cougars have not really found a fierce pass rush, but they could have more success against this Arizona State Offensive Line and that gives the home team the chance to stall drives.

Games between these teams have been competitive since both moved into the Big 12, but the Sun Devils have been beaten by 36 points by Baylor and 28 points by Texas Tech and an angry BYU team can secure a big win as well.

Florida Gators vs Georgia Bulldogs Pick: As we enter Week 9 of the 2026 season, not many would have predicted the Kentucky Wildcats would be leading the SEC with a 5-1 record.

The only other SEC team that have lost fewer than two games is the Georgia Bulldogs (6-1) and it should be noted that only two teams have been beaten three times and earned a spot in the College Football Playoff. That may change in 2026, but there is a lot of pressure on a bunch of SEC teams and the Georgia Bulldogs are hoping the Bye Week will have given them the time to recover from the shock of losing to the Auburn Tigers.

Everything looked to be going as planned early in that game in Athens, but poor decisions and sloppy play proved to be costly and the Bulldogs will have taken a serious look in the mirror.

Having to prepare for the 'World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party' will have given the players plenty of motivation, although the game is being played in Atlanta rather than Jacksonville this season.

The Florida Gators (5-2) are also coming out of a Bye Week after beating the Texas Longhorns on the road and that has improved the record to 3-2 within the SEC. However, as mentioned, it does mean there is little room for error if the Gators are going to upset the odds and force their way into the College Football Playoff in Head Coach Jon Sumrall's first season after the team finished 4-8 in 2025.

Prior to the upset in Austin, Florida had lost back to back SEC games in blowout fashion, but they did play the Bulldogs close last season in this rivalry game.

Despite the win, the Gators are giving nothing away when it comes to naming a starting Quarter Back having seen both Tramell Jones Jr and Aaron Philo having plenty of opportunities to lead the team before the Bye Week.

No matter who is going to start, they will hope the Bye Week has given the Florida Offensive Line a chance to work out how they can help establish the run with more consistency than they have been in recent weeks. Running the ball against any SEC Defensive Line is hugely challenging, but the Gators went into the Bye having averaged less than 3 yards per carry as the competition has ramped up and they are not expected to have a lot of room against the Georgie Defensive Line.

Of course an inability to run the ball with any consistency places the Quarter Back under immense pressure and the Gators Offensive Line have not been very good when it comes to offering up solid pass protection. When they are in third and long sports, the Georgia pass rush could have Jones Jr or Philo rushing to make their throws and it will be hard to convert Third Downs over and over again.

Stalling drives and winning the field position will help the Georgia Bulldogs, but the two weeks between games would have been important to get Gunner Stockton to reset at Quarter Back.

Gunner Stockton had two Touchdown passes in the loss to the Auburn Tigers, but he was guilty of throwing a couple of Interceptions and losing a Fumble and that followed an outing against the Alabama Crimson Tide when the Quarter Back had both a single Touchdown and Interception.

He should be supported by the Bulldogs Offensive Line who are expected to be able to run the ball with some efficiency and that should make life that much more comfortable for Gunner Stockton.

The Bulldogs Offensive Line have offered up decent protection for the Quarter Back and Gunner Stockton should be able to exploit the Florida Secondary as Lanoris Sellers and Austin Simmons have done in the SEC this season. Those two Quarter Backs combined for 620 passing yards with six Touchdown passes and no Interceptions when helping Missouri and South Carolina to big wins over the Gators and Gunner Stockton can show how much the Bye Week has been able to allow him to reset by having a strong game.

Rivalry games are usually very competitive and Georgia did only win by 4 points when facing Florida last season.

However, the previous four games all ended in Bulldogs wins by 22, 23, 14 and 13 point margins and Georgia can make a statement by winning and winning well enough to cover.

Virginia Cavaliers @ Wake Forest Demon Deacons Pick: If they had won the ACC Championship Game, the Virginia Cavaliers (4-4) may have had a serious case of earning a spot in the College Football Playoff. The defeat to the Duke Blue Devils meant finishing with a 10-3 record and that allowed the Miami Hurricanes to move past both Duke and the Cavaliers to earn the place in the College Football Playoff Bracket.

It would have been hard to make a case for Virginia after losing the Championship Game, but there will be plenty of people associated with the team who will blame the Wake Forest Demon Deacons (6-1).

The Cavaliers were Ranked in the top 15 when they faced the Demon Deacons, but the upset loss knocked them back and Virginia were not able to recover.

We have yet to see the College Football Playoff Rankings, but this year the Virginia Cavaliers are 2-3 within the Conference and unlikely to be concerned about those, although motivation for revenge will be high. That only increases when noting that the Wake Forest Demon Deacons have begun with a 4-1 record in the Conference and are only behind the Miami Hurricanes and Louisville Cardinals in the current standings.

A 9-4 record in the 2025 in Head Coach Jake Dickert's first season is impressive, although the Demon Deacons were just 4-4 in the ACC. They have already matched that number of Conference wins, but Wake Forest want more and the four game winning run will have given the players a lot of belief.

Coming out of the Bye Week should mean Wake Forest are well prepared, and they will note that this Cavaliers team are still playing hard and they are still confident enough to believe they can produce back to back winning seasons under Head Coach Tony Elliot.

Moving back above 0.500 will depend on whether the Cavaliers can find a way to slow down a Wake Forest Offensive unit that entered the Bye Week with some strong numbers on the board. Quarter Back Gio Lopez has really found his groove and is 53 yards away from already having 2000 passing yards, while Lopez has 17 Touchdown passes and a single Interception on the season.

The Demon Deacons will lean on the Offensive Line, who can help establish the run, and putting Gio Lopez in third and manageable spots will be a big win for Wake Forest. As the competition has ramped up within the Conference, the Cavaliers Secondary have allowed some big passing yards and Lopez should be able to return from the Bye Week and pick up from where he and the Demon Deacons left off.

It is no surprise that most will focus on the Offensive numbers being produced by Wake Forest, but the Defensive unit has to be given a lot of credit for the current position that this team find themselves in. The Demon Deacons have allowed just 24 points across the last three Conference games played and the success has begun at the Line of Scrimmage where they have been able to shut down the run and force opponents to become one-dimensional.

Virginia will not shy away from pounding the rock, but they have been inefficient with the team averaging 4 yards per carry in recent games and they are not expected to have a lot of success against this Defensive Line in front of them.

Beau Pribula is the Quarter Back and he is experienced, but some have suggested the Cavaliers should be thinking to make a change with the poor passing numbers being produced. The experience means Pribula has avoided big mistakes, but he is averaging 138 passing yards per game in the last three played and it is going to be tough to make plays from third and long spots like he may see in Week 9.

If the Demon Deacons can push Virginia behind the chains, they will feel the pass rush can force Beau Pribula to throw under pressure and that should lead to errant passes and potential mistakes, which gives Wake Forest the advantage.

The last two seasons has seen both teams beat the other in tight, competitive games, but the Wake Forest Demon Deacons had won five in a row in this rivalry prior to 2024. Some of those wins had been by wide margins and the 2026 Demon Deacons look capable of both sides of the ball to return from the Bye Week and produce a dominant win.

Utah Utes @ Cincinnati Bearcats Pick: They have just knocked off the defending Big 12 Champions and the Cincinnati Bearcats (5-2) have been able to improve to 2-2 within the Conference, but another big test awaits. Hosting is a big boost for Cincinnati having won both Big 12 games played at Nippert Stadium, but being blown out on the road twice, and the Bearcats will have taken a lot of confidence by taking the unbeaten record away from the Texas Tech Red Raiders.

Only one unbeaten team remains in the Big 12 and that is the visitor in Week 9.

The Utah Utes (7-0) have a perfect 4-0 record in the Conference and this record is more remarkable when you think they are being led by someone other than Kyle Whittingham for the first time since 2004. Morgan Scalley is the Head Coach and he may not have been given this opportunity if it had come up a couple of years ago after historic texts had been released, but he took over for the Bowl Game last year and that does mean Utah are unbeaten in eight games under a Head Coach that has spent his entire career with the Utes both as player and Coach.

Eighteen of the twenty-one years under Kyle Whittingham ended with a winning record and the Utes finished 11-2 in 2025, but some expected them to take a step backwards without a long-term leader.

Instead the Utes have benefited from having a number of players return from last season and Quarter Back Devon Dampier is very experienced.

A third year full time starter, Devon Dampier has 15 Touchdown passes and 6 Interceptions this season and has benefited from the balance that the Utah Utes have found on the Offensive side of the ball. Everything has begun at the Line of Scrimmage where the Utes have been able to pound the rock with real success and make sure that Dampier is throwing from third and manageable spots and Utah are going to be confident in establishing the run against the Cincinnati Defensive Line.

Respect has to be given to the Bearcats Secondary for playing better at home than they have on the road, but over the last three Conference games, Cincinnati have allowed Quarter Backs to have their way with them.

They will take encouragement from the fact Devon Dampier has thrown five of the six Interceptions in the last three games and the Cincinnati Bearcats may feel that is going to be the best way to slow down the Utah Utes. However, the Utes will want to make sure the Quarter Back is in the best position possible and that means avoiding third and long spots, which is where the Offensive Line can set up the Big 12 leaders to have successes.

Fans will be expecting Utah to have Offensive successes and will note that Cincinnati have given up at least 24 points in all four Big 12 games played this season.

However, the Bearcats should take a huge amount of confidence from the 37 points scored against the Red Raiders in Week 8 and the key to this game is going to be at the Line of Scrimmage when they have the ball.

The Cincinnati Offensive Line have paved the way for some big holes to be exploited, but they are facing a Utah Defensive Line that has prided itself in being able to stop the run.

Encouragement will come from the fact the Utah Defensive Line have not been as comfortable stopping the run on the road as they have been at home and that is where the Bearcats will feel they can have successes. It is important to do so and keep JC French IV in front of the chains, despite the 4 Touchdown passes he threw last week against the Red Raiders.

A couple of Interceptions were added to those Touchdown passes and the Utes have a Secondary that have made up for some of the passing yards allowed by making sure they have been able to create turnovers.

Those extra possessions are likely going to be all important to the final outcome of this Week 9 Big 12 game and it is expected to be one in which both teams play with confidence and belief.

Knocking off the Bearcats on the road is not going to be easy, but the Utah Utes may feel they have the Defensive unit that can make the difference at key moments and that may allow them to escape with an unbeaten record against a Cincinnati Bearcats team who have to try and maintain the intensity that was needed to beat the defending Conference Champions last week.

MY PICKS: Michigan Wolverines - 16.5 Points @ 1.89 Bet365 (1 Unit)

BYU Cougars - 16.5 Points @ 1.88 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Georgia Bulldogs - 11.5 Points @ 1.87 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Wake Forest Demon Deacons - 12.5 Points @ 1.85 William Hill (1 Unit)

Utah Utes - 7 Points @ 1.83 Bet365 (1 Unit)

NC State Wolfpack - 8.5 Points @ 1.87 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Illinois Fighting Illini - 2.5 Points @ 1.85 William Hill (1 Unit)

Louisville Cardinals - 22.5 Points @ 1.86 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Nebraska Cornhuskers - 7.5 Points @ 1.88 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Week 8: 2-3, - 1.20 Units (5 Units Staked, - 24% Yield)

Week 7: 3-3, - 0.63 Units (6 Units Staked, - 10.5% Yield)

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)