Boxing Picks 2024- Canelo Alvarez vs Edgar Berlanga (Saturday 14th September)

It has been a quiet time in the Boxing world in terms of level of fight cards being shown, but the quality level should pick up through the final quarter of the 2024 calendar year.

The last time Canelo Alvarez will be going out is always going to be a big occasion, although fans may have hoped that he would have faced someone with a lot more potential threat. You never know in Boxing, but this looks a mismatch and the only hope is that Canelo is ready to take on opponents with stronger resumes next year.

Of course he has done so much in the sport already that it is really up to Canelo what Canelo does.

Even the big money offered by Saudi Arabia is not distracting Canelo from his own plans, much to their frustration, and we should perhaps just enjoy seeing this legendary fighter while he is still willing to put it all on the line.

Any Pay-Per-View involving Canelo Alvarez is going to have a few big names on the undercard and this one is no different. It is going up against a big UFC event on the same night, in the same City, but Canelo remains a massive draw and there will be plenty of eyes on this one.

And we are now one week away from the big Riyadh Season card at Wembley Stadium headlined by Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois.

Canelo Alvarez vs Edgar Berlanga

Some fans may disagree, but Canelo Alvarez remains the King at Super Middleweight and he will be defending two of the World Titles that he has retained after dropping the IBF.

There is still a massive clamour to see Alvarez take on David Benavidez, but that fight seemingly holds little interest for the Mexican.

It is not a 'duck', but Canelo is clearly at a time of his career where he wants to fight who HE wants and not what the fans want. Those who support him still turn up in big numbers to any fight night headlined by Canelo and he is a huge favourite to make it five straight wins since losing to Dmitry Bivol in his attempt to win the Light Heavyweight World Title.

This feels like a mismatch and Edgar Berlanga is perhaps fortune to get the call.

You cannot blame him for taking the fight and Berlanga is young enough to recover, but the excitement around this Boxer has dropped considerably since he was stringing a long run of First Round Knock Outs together.

There is nothing on his resume to suggest Berlanga is going to have the qualities to cause an upset and the only question is whether he is going to be willing to go through the fire to try and turn things around. Recent Canelo opponents have looked happy enough to reach the cards and see that as something of a victory, but Edgar Berlanga and his team have been speaking about the desire to put it all on the line.

Once in the ring, plans can change very quickly, but the hope is that Berlanga will be true to his word.

In reality, he is not winning this fight without taking the risks and he is the naturally bigger man and has to try and impose that on this contest. He is not going to win this one on the cards, but pushing forward may just give Canelo an opportunity to end his run without a Stoppage victory.

The output from Canelo has certainly dipped, which is not a surprise at this stage of his career, but he still has the power to have Knocked Down each of his last three opponents. Pushing through the gears to find the Stoppage has been missing, but the hope is that Edgar Berlanga will not lose his intensity if he is put down and it may lead to Canelo showing the massive gap in levels between the fighters.

There are some big names on the undercard, although some of those Boxers are most certainly on the backend of their careers.

Erislandy Lara is still performing at a decent level though and he should have enough to keep Danny Garcia at arm's length in their chief support bout. The latter has had a very good career, but has been massively inactive, is going up in weight and might just have the pride left to reach the cards.

MY PICKS: Canelo Alvarez to Win Between 5-8 @ 3.20 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)

Erislandy Lara to Win by Decision/Technical Decision @ 2.37 Paddy Power (1 Unit)

Boxing 2024: 25-43, + 10.41 Units (92 Units Staked, + 11.32% Yield)

College Football Week 3 Picks 2024 (Saturday 14th September)

An expanded College Football PlayOff is being played for the first time at the end of the 2024 season and so there is some uncertainty as to how things will shake up and what the PlayOff Committee will be looking for in terms of records.

The main feeling is that they will be willing to forgive a loss, but two losses might be much more difficult to ignore.

After results in Week 2, the likes of Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Michigan Wolverines have seen their scope for error narrow significantly. Out of the two teams, Notre Dame will definitely be feeling more of the pressure having lost to an opponent that had been given a four Touchdown start on the handicap.

Michigan's home blowout loss to the Texas Longhorns will hurt, but if Texas are as good as advertised, that could be a defeat that does not hurt the defending Champions as much as it might have done in previous years.

Having a bit more room for error does not mean teams are going to be less focused though and this is a Week 3 slate of games where some of the best teams will be looking to make statements before moving into Conference play. Big games are a bit more regular than previously at this time of the season and there are some 'rivalry games' to play as those lower down the Rankings look to play spoiler and this should be another good week of College Football to be played through Saturday.

A good return in Week 1 was followed by a disappointing Week 2.

It is a little frustrating, but at this stage of the season, teams are figuring things out and so are we as fans.

The hope is that a bounce back Week 3 can be found to get things back on track with the selections below.

Alabama Crimson Tide @ Wisconsin Badgers Pick: The new College Football PlayOff format was always going to leave a little more room for error than we have seen previously, while the Power 5 dropping into the Power 4 Conferences also makes it easier to bounce back from a defeat.

With that in mind, two unbeaten teams are preparing for a big non-Conference showdown and both the Alabama Crimson Tide (2-0) and Wisconsin Badgers (2-0) will be targeting a spot in the PlayOff come the end of the season.

A quick look at the upcoming games for both of these teams will underline the importance of maintaining the strong starts, although both can focus on this game knowing they are about to embark on a Bye Week to prepare for big tests. For the Alabama Crimson Tide that big test is another game against the Georgia Bulldogs, while the Wisconsin Badgers will be heading out on the road to face the USC Trojans, a new member of the Big Ten as Conference play gets underway for both teams.

The Nick Saban era may be over at Alabama, but the Crimson Tide have looked more impressive than the Badgers early in the season. However, this is a true road game and that is going be the first significant test faced by new Head Coach Kalen DeBoer and he will be well aware as to how quickly the knives will sharpen if the Crimson Tide are not able to reach the levels of standard set in the Saban era.

A talented team has been left for DeBoer and Alabama have a Quarter Back with a lot of experience in Jalen Milroe, especially after going through the ups and downs of 2023. The strong end to the season shows what Milroe is about, but overcoming the negatives is probably a bigger part of his development and the Quarter Back will be ready to show how far he has come against the best Defensive unit faced so far this season.

96 years have passed since Alabama last played in Madison, but they will be heading to town with a good looking Offensive Line and that is going to be key to their Offensive successes. In previous years the Badgers Defensive Line will have felt they can compete with any Offensive Line they face, but the two weaker opponents faced have managed to secure 4 yards per carry and the Crimson Tide will be looking to surpass that number.

Moving the ball ahead of the chains will make things that much more comfortable for Jalen Milroe, especially if the crowd noise can be taken out of the occasion and Alabama should believe they can have success on this side of the ball.

They will also feel pretty good Defensively as Wisconsin continue to try and find the consistency behind new Quarter Back Tyler Van Dyke.

There was a lot of excitement about bringing Van Dyke in as a transfer from the Miami Hurricanes, but he has not exactly been lighting things up through the first two games and this is going to be a huge step up in terms of the quality of Defensive unit he is facing. Tyler Van Dyke is yet to throw an Interception, but he has only a single Touchdown pass and it will become difficult for the Quarter Back if the Badgers are to become a little one-dimensional.

Running the ball against the Crimson Tide is not going to be easy for a Badgers Offensive Line which has only opened the door for 4.2 yards per carry against much lesser opponents. There is always a turnover with teams of the quality of Alabama as players move onto the NFL, but this Defensive Line looks to be coming together nicely and the Crimson Tide may be able to rattle Tyler Van Dyke when chasing him from third and long spots.

Winning on the road is never easy, especially not against other Power 4 Conference teams, but Alabama look very good and they can make a real statement ahead of the latest big clash with the Georgia Bulldogs. Having a Bye Week means Alabama can focus and they simply look much stronger than this Wisconsin Badgers team.

Once they can just become a little accustomed to the noise and begin to take the crowd out of things, Alabama should be able to pull away behind a strong Defensive effort. The only concern is that the Offense can be a little hit or miss, but Alabama should be able to establish the run and that should just open things up for Jalen Milroe to show he is ready for another outing against the impressive Bulldogs Defensive unit.

Oregon Ducks @ Oregon State Beavers Pick: The Pac-12 was left devastated after ten of the schools decided to move on, but there has to be some credit given to the likes of the Oregon State Beavers (2-0) and the Oregon Ducks (2-0) in insisting that their rivalry was not going to fall by the wayside. This may be the first non-Conference meeting between the Beavers and Ducks in a little over sixty years, but they will be playing for the 128th time and that is important to fans of both schools.

Some things have changed now that Oregon State remain a member of the Pac-12, which has just added four schools to their League, while the Oregon Ducks are now a Big Ten Conference member. One of those is that this is the earliest this rivalry game will have ever been played, while it is the first time the Beavers and Ducks are playing before November since 1945.

In saying all that, make no mistake this game still matters plenty as the two unbeaten teams meet in Week 3 of the College Football season.

Oregon will be meeting a familiar name when they open their Conference play in two weeks time, but the focus is going to be on this one with an upcoming Bye Week meaning there are no distractions. The Ducks have not really impressed through their first two wins, but Head Coach Dan Lanning may also have been glad to see some of the character of his players to find a way to put wins on the board.

Dillon Gabriel does have to carry some big expectations on his shoulders and Oregon have already dropped a few places in the Rankings despite winning both games. One of the keys for Gabriel is that the Ducks Offensive Line is able to come together and find a way to open up consistent running lanes, although that is going to be challenging this week against this Beavers Defensive Line which has given up just 3 yards per carry.

They came into the season believing the Defensive unit is the real strength of the team and Oregon State have not let anyone down on this side of the ball. They will feel they can clamp down on the run in this one, and that should allow a fierce pass rush to pin back their ears and get after Dillon Gabriel at Quarter Back.

One of the other early issues with the Oregon Offensive Line has been the struggles to protect Gabriel when he drops back to throw and this is something that the Beavers can exploit as they look to come through as the big home underdog.

Controlling the clock will also be key for the Oregon State Beavers and you have to expect to see a lot of handoffs in this one, especially with the new look Oregon Defensive Line struggling to stop the run. Despite the level of opponent faced, Oregon have allowed 5.1 yards per carry and the Oregon State Beavers will feel they have the power up front to bully their rivals and make sure they stay in front of the chains.

Over the coming years, Oregon State's Offensive identity may change, but the power football approach looks like it could work in this rivalry game. New Head Coach Trent Bray has stated the importance of being able to run the ball and his Beavers team will certainly believe they can get the better of the Ducks Defensive Line to ensure they are throwing the ball out of manageable distance.

It should also be important to negate the Oregon pass rush and give Quarter Back Gevani McCoy an opportunity to make plays with his arm. Moving up from the FCS level is always going to be challenging, so McCoy will likely lean on the running game as the Beavers look for the upset.

All in all it feels like a big spread, especially if the Beavers can play up to the level expected Defensively. The Ducks should have the qualities to win with the experience at Quarter Back, but they have been beaten in their last two road games at Oregon State and it would be a real surprise if the road team is able to produce a blowout on the day.

The favourite has covered in three in a row in this rivalry series, including Oregon State winning as a home favourite two years ago, but this time the Beavers can make use of a three score handicap lead to ensure they remain competitive.

Texas A&M Aggies @ Florida Gators Pick: The Week 1 loss to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish certainly did not age well for the Texas A&M Aggies (1-1), but new Head Coach Mike Elko will be given time at the helm after back to back winning seasons with the Duke Blue Devils. He will know Texas A&M well and the demands this school have after being a Defensive Co-Ordinator here under Jimbo Fisher who was dismissed last year.

Time will be on his side, but the same cannot be said for the Head Coach prowling the other sideline.

Billy Napier had a strong end to his tenure as Head Coach of the Louisiana Ragin Cajuns, but back to back losing seasons with the Florida Gators (1-1) has put him on the hot seat. A Week 1 blowout defeat to in-State rivals Miami Hurricanes has only increased the pressure on Napier and an opening loss in Conference play may already have Florida making moves to identify a replacement.

Much is going to depend on the big Quarter Back decision coming up for Billy Napier and the Florida Gators.

Graham Mertz is the experienced Quarter Back, but did not excel in the loss to the Hurricanes before having to miss Week 2 with a concussion. In his place, DJ Lagway, the freshman, had 456 passing yards and 3 Touchdowns in the blowout win over Samford, albeit an overmatched opponent.

Fans won't care though and going back to Mertz and losing may prove to be enough is enough as far as the Billy Napier era as Head Coach goes. That is where the pressure is on the Head Coach to make the right decision as the SEC play gets underway, especially as whoever is playing at Quarter Back is going up against a decent Texas A&M Secondary.

The experience that the Aggies now have in the Secondary has helped, but the Gators may be encouraged to lean on the running game to just alleviate pressure on their Quarter Back, whoever gets the call. That will feel especially the case if they do go with the inexperience of Lagway, but there is a real hope that the Gators Offensive Line can help establish the run against an Aggies line that is allowing 5.2 yards per carry.

It has been a surprising underperformance early in the season and the lack of Sacks is a real problem for Texas A&M to address. Doing that here will be tough and the home underdog can certainly produce enough on this side of the ball to feel they can be very competitive.

The really poor Defensive efforts at the end of last season has sparked big moves in the off-season for the Florida Gators and there are some encouraging signs early in 2023. Everything begins up front and it will be strength vs strength with the Aggies trying to establish the run against what has looked a much better Gators Defensive Line.

It is a small sample of just two games and the Gators will feel this is the best run blocking Offensive Line they will have seen early in 2024, but the signs are encouraging enough. Containing the run, or at least containing it as far as possible, will force the Aggies to try and find the pass protection for Connor Weigman, who struggled massively in the defeat to the Fighting Irish.

This time Weigman will be throwing into a Secondary that has allowed some big yards through the air, but he will have to deal with the pass rush pressure that the Gators have been able to bring. Any time he is in third and long, Florida will feel they can rattle this Quarter Back and try and force a mistake that proved to be costly for the Aggies in the defeat to Notre Dame.

Games between these SEC rivals have been competitive and the last three have seen the underdog cover each time.

In fact the underdog has won all three of those games outright, including a Florida blowout on the road two seasons ago when they last met. That snapped a two game losing run in the series and having more than a key number of points in this one certainly makes the home underdog look the play.

Even a Field Goal loss would lead to a winning for the Pick and the feeling is that the Florida Gators can just cool down the hot seat under Billy Napier with strong play in the trenches on both sides of the ball.

UTSA Roadrunners @ Texas Longhorns Pick: Backing a team to cover a very big spread after a statement producing win is not ideal, but the Texas Longhorns (2-0) will want to build momentum towards their debut game in the SEC. Another non-Conference opponent is on deck so the Longhorns can return home without being too distracted having crushed the defending National Champions on the road in Week 2.

That comes after an impressive Week 1 performance and there will be plenty of fans out there that are highly encouraged by the balance shown by the Longhorns through two games. It is only two games, but beating up the Colorado State Rams and Michigan Wolverines will have gotten others to take notice and this is a huge test for the USTA Roadrunners (1-1).

Head Coach Jeff Traylor has done a fine job with the USTA Roadrunners and has compiled a 39-14 record at the helm over the last four years. They finished a really respectable third in the American Athletic Conference in 2023 having put together a 7-1 Conference record and the Roadrunners only just missed out on a third year in a row with double digit wins.

The reality in 2024 is that this going to be a tough season for USTA having lost so many key parts of the Offensive unit that impressed in 2023, while top players on the Defensive side of the ball also departed. The blowout loss to the Texas State Bobcats might just have served as a timely reminder of the challenges this team is going to face across the next few months and it might be a really tough day in the office for all in Week 3.

Inexperienced Quarter Back play is going to make things tough for the Roadrunners, while the Offensive Line is using a number of new faces and that has shown already. Little running room has been found for the most experienced players on this side of the ball and the USTA Offensive Line is going to find it very tough to push this Longhorns Defensive Line around.

It means pressure on either Owen McCown or Eddie Lee Marburger at Quarter Back, especially with a pocket that has been collapsing around them. For all of the early Texas successes, Sacks have not been forthcoming, but that could be resolved this week by keeping the Roadrunners in third and long spots and forcing the young Quarter Backs to hold onto the ball longer than they would want.

Decent yards have been piled up through the air by the Roadrunners, but those have been against much weaker units than the one they face this week. Once the backups come into the game, USTA may have more success throwing the ball, but even then the Longhorns are going to be a threat to turn the ball over as they look to back up the big win in The Big House.

The one uncertainty for the Texas Longhorns coming into the season was whether it would take Quarter Back Quinn Ewers a bit of time to find the chemistry with the Receivers that arrived in the transfer portal. One of the leading contenders for the Heisman Trophy, Quinn Ewers has shown he is very confident in his new playmakers, while the experienced Offensive Line will give their Quarter Back all of the time he needs.

We should see another big game from Ewers, while the Longhorns Offensive Line should also be able to find some seams up front for the running game to be established. Early form produced by the Roadrunners Defensive Line is encouraging, but facing the Texas Longhorns is a challenge like they have not been faced with and that should see the home team and one of the leading National Championship contenders dominate.

Even when Quinn Ewers is pulled from the game, Archie Manning can come in and keep the chains moving and it may lead to a huge win for the Longhorns.

This is a spread that will always allow the opportunity for a backdoor cover, but the Longhorns should be focused after being pushed by the Roadrunners two years ago in a 21 point win. In 2024, the Longhorns look stronger and the step backwards taken by the UTSA Roadrunners could lead to a much more convincing victory for Texas.

Colorado Buffaloes @ Colorado State Rams Pick: Some may feel that the Colorado Buffaloes (1-1) receive far too much attention for a team that has lost seven of their last eight games. The big loss at the Nebraska Cornhuskers dropped the Buffaloes to 1-1 last week, but as long as their Head Coach is Deion Sanders, people are going to be interested.

There are some genuine NFL stars in the making on the roster, but the second year in charge of the Buffaloes is still going to be a work in progress for the Head Coach. They finished with a 4-8 record in his first season and a 1-8 record in the Pac-12, while the move to the Big 12 is going present plenty of challenges of its own.

The Baylor Bears will be the first Conference opponent for the Buffaloes in Week 4, but this is a rivalry game and there were plenty of headlines made before the teams met in 2023.

In recent years, games between the Buffaloes and the Colorado State Rams (1-1) have been played away from the home of the latter. This time they will be hosting this rivalry game for the first time in almost thirty years and the Rams will not have forgotten the very close defeat to Colorado from last year.

A blowout loss to the Texas Longhorns in Week 1 would have stung, but the Longhorns look like a potential National Champion and the Colorado State Rams are not playing a team of that level in this rivalry. Bouncing back with a win in Week 2 will have been a jolt of confidence for the players, and it can only be a good thing that the Rams have as much experience on the Offensive side of the ball.

Running the ball is going to be important to this Colorado State team and the overall experience on the Offensive side of the ball is going to be important as the Rams look to control the clock. They will note that the Buffaloes Secondary can be attacked and being in front of the chains will give the Rams an opportunity to take a few more risks when going at Colorado.

There is also plenty of experience on the Colorado State Defense, which is important having faced the Buffaloes last year and knowing a bit more about what to expect. They are going up against a couple of Colorado players that are likely to be very high First Round NFL Draft Picks in Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter, who continues to play both sides of the ball.

Shedeur Sanders has the talent to play at the next level, but the Quarter Back can only be as good as the Offensive Line and he needs to be protected. The Buffaloes Offensive Line have struggled to open up running lanes, which means they are under pressure when it comes to the pass protection from obvious passing down and distance.

There is no doubt that the Offensive Line is struggling, but the question for the Colorado State Rams is whether they can find the pass rush to rattle Sanders at Quarter Back. His numbers are decent considering he is throwing under duress almost every time he drops back, but neither Head Coach nor Quarter Back wants to take 56 Sacks like they did in 2023.

The start is not very encouraging, but if Sanders is given any time, he should be able to make plays against this Rams Secondary. That is perhaps the reason the Buffaloes have been set as the road favourites, but Colorado State may just feel their own experienced group on both sides of the ball can still be a big factor.

Last season the rivalry game was very closely contested and this is looking like it will be another one.

You cannot be overly excited about backing the Colorado Buffaloes to cover this many points when you think of their recent run of results and with the Colorado State Rams playing with revenge on their mind. The blowout loss to the Longhorns will have hurt, but the Colorado State Rams are not facing an opponent of that level and they can keep this one very competitive throughout with every chance of securing the upset outright.

Georgia Bulldogs @ Kentucky Wildcats Pick: SEC play gets underway for the Georgia Bulldogs (2-0) in Week 3 of the 2024 season and this is clearly a team with plenty to prove. One defeat prevented them from earning a spot in the College Football PlayOff last season and the Bulldogs look like a team that wants to prove it was a mistake to do that and stop this season from winning a third National Championship in succession.

This is a team that has looked strong on both sides of the ball and the Georgia Bulldogs have really enjoyed facing the Kentucky Wildcats (1-1) in recent years.

The Wildcats have already begun Conference play, but the embarrassing defeat to the South Carolina Gamecocks will have dented confidence. Losing by 25 points is tough in any situation, but Kentucky had been almost a double digit favourite on the spread markets, but fell way below par on the day.

Motivation to beat one of the top teams in the Conference and a leading National Championship contender should serve as inspiration for the Wildcats, but this is a very tough game for the hosts. They are going to be led at the Quarter Back position by Brock Vandagriff, a former Georgia Bulldogs player who transferred to Kentucky having failed to make the grade with Georgia.

That is going to give the Quarter Back plenty of reason to find his best football, but it has been a struggle for Vandagriff through the first two games. He really had a hard time against the Gamecocks in Week 2, and this is going to be a considerably tougher challenge against a team that has given up just SIX points all season.

One of the big problems that many felt the Wildcats would face this season was the Line work on both sides of the ball. We have seen the issues with the Offensive Line that has struggled to get their run blocking together, while offering Brock Vandagriff little protection and time in the pocket when the Quarter Back has dropped back to throw the ball.

Neither team that has played Georgia have been able to put up more than 142 passing yards and the Bulldogs are likely going to have their way with one of their former team-mates. Brock Vandagriff will be well aware of the kind of talent that will step up for Georgia this season and it could be another tough day in the office for a Quarter Back who had been recruited in College Football as a top prospect.

The key for the Wildcats is going to be how well their Defensive unit can stand up to this Georgia Offense.

The Defensive Line is where things all start for the Wildcats and they have been playing the run well in the firs two games, although there is also going to be a huge amount of respect for the team they are facing in Week 3. The experience of the Georgia Offensive Line could be key in helping the team at least keep Carson Beck and the Bulldogs in third and manageable spots on the field and that should give the favourite an edge.

This experience is also key in dealing with the Wildcats pass rush, while Carson Beck is considered one of the top NFL Draft options at Quarter Back. His decision to return to the Georgia Bulldogs was something of a surprise, but Beck is clearly focused and has already thrown 7 Touchdown passes.

Facing this Kentucky Secondary will not be easy, but Georgia have plenty of top play-making options for Carson Beck to target.

With a dominant record against the Wildcats, Georgia may come through this tough opening SEC road test with a very big win. They are capable of scoring plenty of their own points, but the importance as far as the spread is concerned is whether Kentucky can score enough points to remain in touch, which feels unlikely.

A Quarter Back with something to prove to a former team does make the Wildcats perhaps a little more dangerous, but they need to come on leaps and bounds from what we have seen so far this season. It could happen, but recent history between these SEC teams makes it unlikely and the Bulldogs can produce another big win before all focus turns to the game against the Alabama Crimson Tide.

MY PICKS: Alabama Crimson Tide - 15.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Oregon State Beavers + 16 Points @ 1.91 Paddy Power (1 Unit)

Florida Gators + 4 Points @ 1.85 Bet Victor (1 Unit)

Texas Longhorns - 35.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Colorado State Rams + 7 Points @ 1.91 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)

Georgia Bulldogs - 20.5 Points @ 1.83 Bet Victor (1 Unit)

North Texas Mean Green + 10 Points @ 1.91 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)

Ole Miss Rebels - 20.5 Points @ 1.83 Paddy Power (1 Unit)

Week 2: 2-4, - 2.26 Units (6 Units Staked, - 37.67% Yield)

Week 1: 4-2, + 1.64 Units (6 Units Staked, + 27.33% Yield)

NFL Week 2 Picks 2024 (Thursday 12th September-Monday 16th September)

Looking back at the Week 1 write up from 2023 and there were plenty of positives to take about the teams identified as potential Super Bowl Champions.

Of course the Kansas City Chiefs-San Francisco 49ers match up would have been one that many had tipped up anyway and it really would not be a surprise to see both there or thereabouts again.

A couple of dud teams that were highlighted ended up being the New York Jets, which is not a surprise considering what happened to Aaron Rodgers after just four Offensive snaps, while the other were the very disappointing Denver Broncos.

However, the Detroit Lions and Cleveland Browns both were able to make the post-season and so it was largely a positive.

Of course it was written in the Week 1 Picks thread for the 2024 season that the 'preview' of the season would have to wait until Week 2 because of timing issues.

The first thing to point out is that there will be a couple of teams here that have begun the season very disappointingly, although the longer-term prospects remain high and an overreaction to Week 1 results is not necessary.

No one should be surprised that the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers impressed as much as they did and these two Super Bowl teams from the 2023 season will be setting the bar for others as long as they can stay healthy.

You have to feel good about where the Detroit Lions stand right now and their window to finally reach a Super Bowl is very much open- they should have beaten the 49ers in the PlayOffs last season and Dan Campbell will be convinced his team can go a little better.

The belief is that teams like the Green Bay Packers and Los Angeles Rams can build on their runs last season, although the former have lost Jordan Love for at least a month. That is a bitter blow, but the Packers are playing in a Division where they should dominate along with the Lions, while the Rams have a nice looking balance to their roster even after Aaron Donald moved into retirement.

The team that may be looking to show the most improvement in the NFC has to be the Philadelphia Eagles after a tremendous collapse at the end of last season. There is a feeling that Nick Siriano is lucky to keep his job as Head Coach, but both him and Jalen Hurts will be on the hot seat as Eagles fans think Super Bowl or bust.

The NFC does look a little deeper this time around, and a few more challengers can come up to face the San Francisco 49ers, but it feels like a Conference where the post-season teams from last season will be expecting improvement to go again.

It may be a bit different in the AFC and the likes of the Cincinnati Bengals will feel a healthier year for Joe Burrow could be important as they look for one more shot to win a Super Bowl before key players need big money contracts.

Losing to the New England Patriots in Week 1 is a disappointment, but the Baltimore Ravens are set to take a step back in the AFC North and the Bengals may yet be ready to pounce on that.

Another long-time contender Buffalo Bills have something to prove too with a number of changes made to a roster that were narrowly beaten by Kansas City Chiefs yet again. Both the Miami Dolphins and New York Jets will be looking to give the Bills a run for their money and end their dominance of the AFC East and one of the two representatives in the PlayOffs from this Division in 2023 may miss out in 2024.

Two top teams slipping backwards may give younger Quarter Backs leading the Jacksonville Jaguars and Houston Texans an opportunity for a deep post-season run, while Jim Harbaugh is back in the NFL with the Los Angeles Chargers and has a history of turning around a teams fortunes very quickly.

This year may be too soon for Harbaugh to have the impact he wants, but the AFC looks pretty wide open behind the Kansas City Chiefs, who have to be considered the favourites to return to the Super Bowl and really nail down their place as a dynasty.

2023 proved to be a very good year for the NFL Picks with a 56% hit rate- an 80-58-4 record produced just shy of 17 units of profit and an 11.23% Yield.

Anything like that in 2024 would be seen as a positive and the Week 1 start was a good one, although it is only a start.

The key in Week 2 is to not make too many overreactions to a single week of action- teams are not nearly as good as some may have looked and not nearly as bad as others felt, but it is still important to try and find the right angles to back up the Week 1 results.

Last year I noted that the first four weeks were tough with two winning weeks and two that ended on the losing side, so stakes are likely to be kept to a minimum this week too.

Buffalo Bills @ Miami Dolphins Pick: Thursday Night Football looks a really good one in Week 2 as two of the leading contenders in the AFC East meet very early on in the new season.

Both the Miami Dolphins (1-0) and Buffalo Bills (1-0) had to show some character and resiliency in fighting back to win opening games after making slow starts and that should mean there is some momentum to take into the short week.

Obviously one of the bigger issues with playing on a short week is that players do not have the time to recover as they usually would and Raheem Mostert has already been ruled out for the Miami Dolphins. His Running Back partner De'Von Achane has been left as a game time decision, while the Buffalo Bills will start Josh Allen at Quarter Back despite having his left hand banged up against the Arizona Cardinals.

Excuses cannot be used as far as the fans go and the Miami Dolphins are under some pressure to show they can get the better of this AFC East rival.

Since Drafting Josh Allen, the Bills have dominated the Dolphins and they have actually won eleven of the last twelve between the teams, including a Week 18 victory last season which saw Buffalo win another AFC East Divisional title and push Miami into the Wild Card Round of the post-season.

The 2022 season had ended with a PlayOff defeat to Buffalo and being swept by the Bills cost Miami a Divisional title in 2023 so there is plenty of redemption and revenge fuelling the home team. Conditions are perhaps not so strong in favour of Miami as it would have been if this game had been set to play during the day rather than 8:15pm local time, and you have to agree with Tua Tagovailoa who stated that people won't really begin to believe in the Miami Dolphins until they start beating Buffalo consistently.

Offensive Line issues may make it difficult for the Dolphins to run the ball and that would have been the case if both Running Backs were fully healthy too. That means the pressure is on Tua Tagovailoa to show that he is ready to beat the Bills and there are some passing lanes that can be exploited if the Quarter Back is given time.

It was something of a struggle to earn that time against the Jacksonville Jaguars and this Bills team do get pressure up front, which is going to be key to stopping the Miami speedsters from getting away from their Defenders. If the Dolphins are playing from third and long, Buffalo can rush Tagovailoa and that may lead to one or two mistakes.

At least Tyreek Hill and a couple of the other Miami players will hopefully have an easier journey to the Stadium than they did on Sunday- the police officer footage of pulling over Hill has been embarrassing and continues to be a big story heading into Week 2 as the Dolphins demand proper action is taken.

This is something that the Buffalo Bills will not concern themselves with and the only focus for this team is to build on the win in Week 1.

Changes have had to be made and Stefon Diggs is no longer with the Bills, but Josh Allen is and there are still enough pieces to believe this is a team capable of breaking through and reaching a Super Bowl. The banged up hand is a concern, but at least it is not his throwing hand, while the comfort Allen has in facing the Miami Dolphins is hard to dismiss.

Last week the Miami Defensive Line had one or two issues shutting down the run and that was without Trevor Lawrence attempting to move the ball with his legs. Things might be that much more difficult with a dual-threat like Josh Allen in front of them and that should also mean an opportunity for James Cook to play a key part in the game.

Losing Diggs and Gabe Davis does mean the Bills may not be as keen to test this Miami Secondary through the air, but moving the ball on the ground will open up some of the play-action opportunities. The feeling is that Buffalo may have enough success on the ground to give Josh Allen a chance to continue his dominance of this AFC East rival and the Bills do look an appealing underdog.

Miami will scheme things up to try and exploit some of the vulnerable spots in this Buffalo Defensive unit, but it will be tough if they cannot run the ball. Being behind the chains is tough for any Offensive team and there is also plenty for Miami to prove this season having come up short against the stronger teams they faced time after time last season.

If this spread moves up to a full Field Goal margin it would be worth additional units, but a small interest on the Buffalo Bills with the start is still the play in this big Week 2 opener.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Detroit Lions Pick: After getting the better of one opponent looking for revenge after a PlayOff defeat in their home Stadium, the Detroit Lions (1-0) will be hoping to hold onto dominance over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-0) in Week 2. The Lions won both games played against Tampa Bay in the 2023 season and they are clearly one of the favourites to reach the Super Bowl thanks to the quality of player they have on both sides of the ball.

The Jordan Love injury for the Green Bay Packers may have opened a door for Detroit to take an early grip of this Division, although much will depend on how much time the Quarter Back misses. Even if he was healthy, there are plenty of people very bullish on the chances of the Lions to go at least one better than last season when they were narrowly beaten in the NFC Championship Game.

It took Overtime to finally get the better of former Quarter Back Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams, but the victory maintains the strong performance level with Jared Goff at the helm in the indoor conditions of Ford Field.

Detroit ran the ball pretty well against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the PlayOff game having struggled to move the ball on the ground when the teams met in the regular season. With the tandem at Running Back, the Lions can certainly pick up from where they left off in the win over the Los Angeles Rams and both David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs will be given opportunities both from hand-offs and also as pass catchers coming out of the backfield.

It feels like it will be challenging for the Buccaneers to contain the Lions on the ground, especially if the Offensive Line is at full health and so it is wise to keep an eye on the status of Penei Sewell who has missed practice this week. He should suit up to keep the Lions Offensive Line as the dominant team in the trenches and putting Jared Goff in third and manageable will make it very tough to stop this unit.

Jared Goff has the Receivers to really give Tampa Bay problems and the Buccaneers are not facing a rookie this week. Antoine Winfield Jr could be missing in the Secondary and it will be tough to contain Detroit, even from what they have learned about one of the top NFC contenders in the two meetings last season.

Head Coach Todd Bowles prides himself on his Defensive knowhow, but stopping Detroit is going to be tough in their own Stadium.

However, there has to be some confidence that Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Offensive unit can at least challenge the Lions on the scoreboard and potentially keep the game very competitive. In the PlayOff game, the Buccaneers had more yards than Detroit, but two Mayfield Interceptions proved costly in an 8 point loss and the Quarter Back will know he has to be smarter with the ball.

Taking over from Tom Brady, Baker Mayfield played well enough in 2023 to earn a big extension and he still has some top Receivers around him to make the plays that make him look good. Much is going to depend on Mayfield and his arm with the Buccaneers unlikely to have a lot of success running the ball against this Detroit Defensive Line and the game could be won or lost depending on how effectively the Buccaneers Offensive Line can give their Quarter Back time.

With time, Baker Mayfield should be able to make some big plays into the Detroit Secondary, especially one that is likely to be learning on the job early in the season. Passing has been tough for NFL Quarter Backs in Week 1 of the 2024 season, but Baker Mayfield was one of the better performers in the position and he can find Mike Evans and Chris Godwin for some big plays to keep this one competitive.

Opposing Detroit inside Ford Field has proven to be very costly over the last couple of years under Dan Campbell and they cam through with a win and cover on Sunday Night Football in Week 1. However, this feels like a game in which Tampa Bay may have the qualities in the passing game to keep up on the scoreboard and potentially even score late on to secure a backdoor cover.

Motivation is with the Buccaneers and the Lions did put in a considerable effort in coming through in Overtime in their Week 1 win. The expectation is that Detroit will win, but the Buccaneers are receiving plenty of points and can do just enough to stay within the number set for this big game.

Los Angeles Chargers @ Carolina Panthers Pick: The sharps have been backing the Carolina Panthers (0-1) despite the horrific Week 1 performance that saw them lose by 37 points at the home of Divisional rivals New Orleans Saints. They are trying to get Bryce Young all of the support he needs at Quarter Back and that is by signing a Receiver like Diontae Johnson and hiring David Canales as Head Coach.

It all went wrong in Week 1, but the sharps may feel an overreaction to one loss has provided them a number with which they can feel comfortable backing the Panthers as a home underdog.

While there has to be a slight feeling about this being something of a 'trap' line, the Los Angeles Chargers (1-0) may still be the right team to back, even if they have already been heavily supported by the public.

Beating the Las Vegas Raiders in Jim Harbaugh's first game as Head Coach will have given the Chargers a boost, although it was a tight, competitive game that was in the balance until deep into the Fourth Quarter when a decision made by Raiders Head Coach Antonio Pierce backfired. Instead of going for a 4th & 1, Pierce punted the ball away and the Chargers embarked on a drive that ultimately secured the victory.

This is a team that is going to feel like a work in progress, despite some obvious talent.

Justin Herbert did have over 3000 passing yards to go with his 20 Touchdown passes in 2023, but he is perhaps not fully healthy having missed the end of the season. Even with that in mind, the Harbaugh approach is going to be on making sure his team can grind things out on the ground and then rely on strong Defensive play to push the team forward and the Chargers showed what they are about in the win over the Raiders.

With JK Dobbins and Gus Edwards sharing the workload, the Chargers Offensive Line may be ready to find a way to burst open some big running lanes in this one. They will certainly be helped by the fact that Carolina's Defensive Line have lost Derrick Brown and it was tough for the Panthers to stop New Orleans moving the ball on the ground last week.

This could seep into this contest and that should keep Justin Herbert in a position to make plays when needed, even if he has lost a couple of key Receivers. Last week the focus was to make sure Herbert took care of the ball in a tight battle, but being in front of the chains should give the Quarter Back an opportunity and the Chargers should be able to have Offensive success in the first of two games to be played in the early Eastern Time Zone.

It is perhaps the biggest challenge for the Chargers in Week 2 with the long trip and the early kick off far from ideal for any team coming out of the West Coast. And ultimately a bit of tiredness and fatigue may be the best chance for the Carolina Panthers to play this one close and potentially earn the upset.

Bryce Young is going to have to be a lot better than Week 1 and prove that his rookie season is not going to cloud over his whole NFL career. The pressure is on having been selected as the Number 1 Pick in the 2023 Draft, which was before CJ Stroud and Anthony Richardson and the performances of those two players has certainly been showing a lot more potential than Young.

The Panthers have given up a lot of Draft Capital to bring in Young so they will want to give him time to develop, but the fans may lack the same patience. Big money was invested into the Panthers Offensive Line to give Bryce Young a bit more time than he had last season, while the Panthers would have hoped they could offer support with a more consistent rushing attack.

None of that was in evidence in the blowout in Week 1 and the Chargers Defensive Line are coming in behind a strong performance when containing the Las Vegas rush. If they can keep Bryce Young behind the chains, the Chargers have the kind of pass rush that should give Carolina fits and ultimately it may lead to one or two mistakes from the sophomore Quarter Back who is struggling with his confidence.

Carolina do have a positive recent history against the Chargers, but the last meeting was back in 2020 and the Panthers have slipped signiicantly.

Going against the sharps is never fun, but Jim Harbaugh's team can grind down Carolina on the ground and avoiding mistakes will give Los Angeles an advantage in this game. The spread has dropped below a key number over the last couple of days and the Chargers may have enough to secure a solid road win to keep the positive vibes going behind their new Head Coach.

Las Vegas Raiders @ Baltimore Ravens Pick: Both of these teams are playing behind road defeats from Week 1 of the 2024 NFL season, but the Baltimore Ravens (0-1) were a team that finished with the Number 1 Seed in the AFC last season and so have big expectations. They have also had an additional few days to prepare for their home opener in Week 2 having begun the season at the home of the Super Bowl Champions on Thursday, and that makes this long trip for the Las Vegas Raiders (0-1) feel challenging.

Antonio Pierce was given the permanent Head Coaching role with Las Vegas after guiding them to a strong end to the season. The players are clearly happy playing for Pierce and so a decision was made to not look outside of the building to replace Josh McDaniels, but the Head Coach had to face some criticism for punting the ball away from a 4th & 1 spot in the Fourth Quarter of the eventual defeat to the Los Angeles Chargers.

He was adamant that he had made the right decision, but Pierce may internally be looking to show improvement on his clock management and analytical calls.

The decision was seen as a cautious one in Week 1 and Antonio Pierce cannot afford to be careful when trying to win at the home of the Baltimore Ravens.

His team struggled to run the ball in the defeat to the Chargers and there is not going to be a lot of holes to exploit against this Ravens Defensive Line, but Las Vegas should be able to move the ball a little more efficiently than they did in the defeat in Week 1. Gardner Minshew will be hoping to be given a little more protection from the Raiders Offensive Line, but this is a Quarter Back who has been given a couple of very good Receiving options and will be throwing into a Secondary that allowed Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs to make some big plays through the air.

Of course Gardner Minshew is not Mahomes and the Raiders are not the Chiefs, but the likes of Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers are big playmakers and that should see Las Vegas have success. Turnovers have perhaps been the biggest hindrance to Minshew becoming a more consistent starter at Quarter Back and that is perhaps the biggest threat to the Raiders having some successes in this one.

Becoming one-dimensional would mean mistakes are more likely to be made, while the Baltimore pass rush is going to rush the Raiders Quarter Back too.

Extra time is important for the Baltimore Ravens as they bid to bounce back from the very close defeat to the Kansas City Chiefs when a toenail prevented them having the chance to go for two and the victory.

Frustrations aside, the Ravens will know it is a long season and one in which they will still feel they are a leading AFC contender.

Lamar Jackson is the key for Baltimore, but this is a team that is making a considerable effort to find balance in their Offensive play in order to keep opponents off-balance. Last week the Ravens were able to establish the run, but they are not going to give Derrick Henry a heavy workload and instead will also continue to use Jackson's dual-threat as a way to move the ball on the ground.

After seeing a couple of former Ravens rip through the Raiders Defensive Line after wearing them down, Baltimore's current group may be able keep the team in front of the chains, which is going to be key for their chances of putting a first win on the board. This will also be important to try and slow down the Raiders pass rush led by Maxx Crosby, and should open up the play-action for Lamar Jackson to connect with his underrated Receiving options.

The Raiders Secondary is not a bad one and they will feel they can make some big plays, as they did against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 1. If Baltimore are in front of the chains, Lamar Jackson should have the time to find one of his Receivers down the field and the Ravens may just have a bit too much for the Raiders to keep up.

This is a big spread, but this is a long journey for the Raiders and the early start is not ideal. Las Vegas did win the last time they played Baltimore, but that was at home and they were blown out when last visiting here in 2018.

Last season Las Vegas were very competitive after Antonio Pierce took over as Head Coach, but the schedule was dominated by home games.

It is a spread that is wide enough to offer Las Vegas a backdoor cover opportunity, but the feeling is that Gardner Minshew may push to get his team back into the contest and that could lead to a backbreaking turnover that allows the hosts to cover.

Ultimately it may lead to a double digit win for the Ravens and they can be backed to cover the spread set.

New Orleans Saints @ Dallas Cowboys Pick: The most eye-catching scoreline from Week 1 was produced by the New Orleans Saints (1-0) who completely crushed Divisional rivals Carolina Panthers at home. They will now head out on the road to show that this is not simply beating up on one of the poorest teams in the NFL and any team that can win a pro game by 37 points has to be respected.

The Saints will be travelling to take on the Dallas Cowboys (1-0) in Week 2, a team that won convincingly on the road, despite being the underdog when the game kicked off at the Cleveland Browns.

The win was just hours after it was announced that Dak Prescott has signed a new contract with the Dallas Cowboys to be the face of the franchise for a few more years, although that will not have erased some of the criticisms that people have of the Quarter Back. The Cowboys and Prescott know that his new deal will be judged on whether he can take Dallas through to the Super Bowl at the very least, but it has been a long time since the Cowboys were the dominant force in the NFC.

Dak Prescott is under pressure, but Head Coach Mike McCarthy is under a lot more and anything less than a Super Bowl may see a change with some big name Coaches being linked with any vacancy that may need to be filled. The win at the Cleveland Browns will be encouraging, but the entire season will be judged on results in January and winning a third Divisional title in four years would certainly help.

33 points were scored in the win over the Browns, but the Offensive unit did not have any mind-blowing numbers. The Cowboys were facing a very good Defensive team, but Prescott will be looking to show off a lot more than 163 passing yards, while they only put up 102 yards on the ground, and it may benefit facing a New Orleans team that were perhaps made to look a lot better than they actually are.

We do know that the Cowboys Offensive Line is not as strong as it once was, and the Running Back corps is led by Ezekiel Elliot who has had his best days. They may not be able to run the ball as they once did, but Dallas should have some success on the ground against this New Orleans Defensive Line which is perhaps a little too experienced and thus worn.

The pass rush was working very well for the Saints in their win over Carolina, but it is a hard game to judge this team considering how badly Carolina performed. Naturally you have to expect a lot more from the Dallas Cowboys and Dak Prescott does have a couple of top Receivers that can make plays for him when he airs it out.

Throwing against this New Orleans Secondary will be a test for the Quarter Back with a new contract in the pocket, but Prescott should be able to put Dallas in a position to win.

Questions will be asked about Prescott, but the same can be said for Derek Carr as the New Orleans Quarter Back, while Dennis Allen has to be a on a short leash as Head Coach. Last season the Saints felt like a team that could beat those they expected to, but who would struggle when facing the better teams on the schedule and this Week 2 game is a big test to see if much has changed.

They ran the ball very well last week and the Saints may feel their Offensive Line can have some success opening running lanes again as long as this game is close. The Browns were able to rip off some solid runs against the Cowboys in Week 1, even behind a banged up Offensive Line, but Alvin Kamara has a lot of miles on the clock and whether he can pick up from where he left off against Carolina is another question.

And the biggest test for this New Orleans Offensive Line may be when they are sat behind the chains- in that case they are going to be dealing with a strong Dallas pass rush, which will rush Derek Carr into throwing against the Cowboys Secondary that will be looking to pick off passes. Interceptions turned the game against the Cleveland Browns and the Cowboys could force a mistake or two from Derek Carr, which may lead to a solid home win for Dallas.

Head Coach Dennis Allen will be under some pressure to show things have changed under his watch- his Saints team are 4-10-1 against the spread when playing after a win, while those teams that had a blowout win of over 28 points in Week 1 have followed up with a 16-24-3 record against the spread in Week 2.

With a new contract in his hand, Dak Prescott will want to show something to the home fans and he does have a record of 21-9 against the spread when set as a favourite of at least 6 points. It does feel like the Cowboys have a more sustainable path to backing up their Week 1 win over Cleveland than the New Orleans Saints and being at home should see Dallas come away with a solid win to remain unbeaten.

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Denver Broncos Pick: This Week 2 game would have been circled by Russell Wilson and there would have been a lot of interest in Pittsburgh Steelers (1-0) playing the Denver Broncos (0-1). Some of the excitement will have been reduced by the fact that Wilson is unlikely to suit up and instead it will be Justin Fields leading the Steelers into battle, but it is the Denver home opener and that is big for Head Coach Sean Payton and his rookie Quarter Back Bo Nix.

They were 'only' beaten by six points in the loss at the Seattle Seahawks, but Payton was not that happy with what he had seen, especially on the Offensive side of the ball.

At least this week the fans will be supporting Bo Nix when he has the ball in his hands, which may help, but it would have been much preferred to be facing a weaker Defense than the one the Steelers will have on the field.

Last week the Broncos were able to have some success on the ground and they will be given a boost if Garrett Bolles is able to take his place on the Offensive Line. The problem for Denver is going to be if Bo Nix continues to struggle to throw the ball as teams will choose to load the box and dare Nix to beat them with his arm.

The Steelers might have enough faith in their Defensive Line to control the trenches and prevent the Broncos from dominating on the ground without extra bodies being needed to contain the run. This is very important for Pittsburgh and they will certainly feel they can disrupt the Denver Offensive game-plan whenever they are behind the chains.

Holding the much talked about Atlanta Offense to less than 150 passing yards will have given the Steelers a huge boost and they may have enough up front to cover up any issues in the Secondary. Better teams may be able to expose those, but this Denver passing game is going to feel like a work in progress and rookie Bo Nix is going up against a well Coached Defensive unit.

Someone will need to step up to make plays for Bo Nix and this will be very different conditions playing at home compared with having to make a debut in the very loud Seattle Seahawks home opener.

Even so, it will be a struggle for the Broncos to find the consistency they want and so there is going to be some real pressure on their own Defense to step up and keep this one close on the scoreboard.

They will be helped by what is looking like a grind it out Pittsburgh Offense that struggled for consistency in the win over the Falcons in Week 1. It is a big win, and Justin Fields did enough to impress, but injuries on the Offensive Line made it a struggle to run the ball efficiently. With a one-two punch in the backfield, Pittsburgh may feel they can have more joy against this Denver Defensive Line that allowed Seattle to pick up 4.4 yards per carry in Week 1.

Last season the Broncos could not contain the run and Pittsburgh may be able to enjoy a better performance on the ground in this game, while also perhaps having a better plan to utilise the Justin Fields legs.

Much like the other side of the ball, Pittsburgh will find it a struggle whenever they are behind the chains and Justin Fields will not want to be throwing with the pocket collapsing and pressure all around him. The Steelers are keen to take their shots downfield, but Fields will do well to remember where Patrick Surtain II is at all times.

Avoiding turnovers could be key to the outcome of the game, while playing consecutive weeks on the road is always going to be challenging. Pittsburgh may be able to overcome the issues with Head Coach Mike Tomlin likely to give a rookie Quarter Back one or two looks that confuse him and the Steelers are capable of using their experience to just edge this one on the road.

The Steelers have lost four straight road games played in Denver, but it does feel like the Broncos need to show a much bigger improvement from Week 1 compared with the AFC North team. It is expected to be a close game until the end, but the bigger plays can be made by the Pittsburgh Steelers and they can cover in a winning effort.

MY PICKS: Buffalo Bills + 2.5 Points @ 1.95 William Hill (1 Unit)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers + 7.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Los Angeles Chargers - 3.5 Points @ 1.85 Bet Victor (1 Unit)

Baltimore Ravens - 8.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Dallas Cowboys - 6 Points @ 1.91 William Hill (1 Unit)

Pittsburgh Steelers - 2.5 Points @ 1.91 Paddy Power (1 Unit)

Week 1: 5-2, + 2.67 Units (7 Units Staked, + 38.14% Yield)

US Open Tennis Day 14 Pick - Men's Final 2024 (Sunday 8th September)

It has been a tough end to the tournament, but the bulk of the US Open went well enough to mean another Grand Slam with a winning record.

Overall it has been a tough year right from the off for the Tennis Picks after a miserable run at the Australian Open, but there are still a couple more tournaments to come at the end of the season before looking for a much stronger 2025.

Aryna Sabalenka was deservedly the US Open Champion and holds two of the four Grand Slams so many will feel she is the player to beat when it comes to all but the clay courts moving into the new season. She missed Wimbledon this year, else Sabalenka would likely be much closer to Iga Swiatek in the World Rankings with 2000 points separating them.

However, the WTA Race is much closer and there is every chance Aryna Sabalenka can close the year as the official World Number 1 if she can maintain her focus on the rest of the calendar year.

A first time US Open Men's Champion will also be crowned at the end of the tournament and the World Number 1 is looking to match Sabalenka by adding the title in New York City to the one won in Melbourne to kick off 2024.

Jannik Sinner has overcome controversy and continued shady comments from his peers, but this is a big opportunity for Taylor Fritz to take the next step in his career and the hope is that we see a competitive Final on Sunday afternoon.

Jannik Sinner-Taylor Fritz over 38.5 games: American fans have been used to home players performing well at the US Open when it comes to the women's tournament, but it has been a long time since the fans arrived at the last day of this Grand Slam with a home player to support.

The last time any American men's player reached the Final of the US Open was all the way back in 2006 when Andy Roddick made it that far, while the search for a home winner of this tournament has now surpassed twenty years. It is Roddick again who holds that last American US Open Winner tag as far as the men go, but that may all change this weekend when Taylor Fritz enters the Arthur Ashe Stadium.

He deservedly got the better of compatriot Frances Tiafoe in the Semi Final on Friday and the five sets played should not have sapped too much energy. The match was played into a fourth hour, but it was not a taxing one and Taylor Fritz is serving well enough to believe he can win the US Open this year.

Standing in his way is the World Number 1 Jannik Sinner who has overcome some off court controversy to work his way into the Final.

A solid win over Jack Draper in the Semi Final will have given Sinner a boost, although the one concern has to be the wrist issue that needed some attention during the match. He cannot afford to be struggling against an opponent who is playing as well as Taylor Fritz is and especially not with the lion's share of the crowd support also likely to be against the Italian.

This is something that will bother Jannik Sinner a lot less than his wrist and the World Number 1 has also found his serving form, which is a key part of any success a player is going to have on the faster surfaces. Without a doubt Sinner will feel he is the more effective return player of the two on the hard courts, which gives the favourite a real edge, but the feeling is that Taylor Fritz will make this very competitive.

Jannik Sinner's Semi Final win was competitive through the first two sets, but Fritz can certainly play the big points a little better than Jack Draper and that may see him at least earn a split of those sets. The British player had his chances in the Semi Final, and Taylor Fritz is a bit more experienced to just knuckle down when those big moments arrive.

Ultimately you have to believe Jannik Sinner will edge the contest, but Taylor Fritz is perhaps being a touch under-rated with the prices and the spread on offer. The American is going to be able to use the crowd support to just propel his tennis and the serving has been strong enough throughout this fortnight to believe Taylor Fritz can win at least a set even in a losing effort.

The total games line looks just appealing enough to be the better play than backing the underdog with a start and the two players can help combine for a memorable US Open Final as the Grand Slam season comes to a close in 2024.

MY PICK: Jannik Sinner-Taylor Fritz Over 38.5 Games @ 1.91 Paddy Power (2 Units)

US Open Update: 26-20, + 4.24 Units (92 Units Staked, + 4.61% Yield)

College Football Week 2 Picks 2024 (Saturday 7th September)

It has been one of those weeks where it has been impossible to sit down and write out some analysis of the College Football Picks for Week 2 of the 2024 season.

Week 1 proved to be a decent start with four winners from the six games selected so backing that up is going to be the only ambition for this early part of the year.

And next week should be a thread with a bit more reasoning behind the selections being made.

MY PICKS: Tennessee Volunteers - 8.5 Points @ 1.83 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)

Notre Dame Fighting Irish - 28 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Washington State Cougars-Texas Tech Red Raiders Over 66.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Nebraska Cornhuskers - 6.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Iowa Hawkeyes - 2.5 Points @ 1.75 Bet Victor (1 Unit)

Maryland Terrapins - 8.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Week 1: 4-2, + 1.64 Units (6 Units Staked, + 27.33% Yield)

US Open Tennis Day 13 Pick 2024- Women's Final (Saturday 7th September)

The tournament had been in a very strong position after the Quarter Final matches had been played, but the Semi Final results have been a blow to the overall numbers.

Two more matches are to be played, beginning with the women's Final on Saturday, and a strong end to the US Open would be welcomed.

Aryna Sabalenka - 4.5 games v Jessica Pegula: Both of these players will feel they have overcome some tough challenges and mental obstacles in their run to the US Open Final.

Nerves are going to play a part for both Jessica Pegula and Aryna Sabalenka as they bid to win a maiden US Open title and in the case of Pegula, a maiden Grand Slam title full stop. There have been some criticisms faced by both players after coming up short in the business end of events time and again and that is going to be a test for either player if the winning line draws over the horizon.

We saw some of those nerves from Aryna Sabalenka in her Semi Final win over Emma Navarro having led 6/3, 4/2, but ultimately being dragged into a second set tie-breaker. You would have worried for Sabalenka if she had dropped that set and there is a feeling that the World Number 2 doesn't have the same kind of mental fortitude as other top players of the past, especially when someone is able to stay with her through her hot periods.

That will be the test for the home player who came through in three sets against Karolina Muchova having lost the first set 6/1.

Jessica Pegula was able to fight back in style, but it was a very close match that could have easily gone the other way and the feeling is that she will be the one that needs to raise her tennis levels more than the Belarusian standing across the other side of the net.

It was Aryna Sabalenka who was the stronger of the two players in the Cincinnati Final last month, which was won in straight sets, and that means Sabalenka has won five of the last six between the players. Things have been a bit more even on the hard courts with that victory in the Final meaning Sabalenka and Pegula have both beaten the other twice on this surface, and that should at least give the American some real hope.

Dealing with the nerves of the occasion will be the test for both- we have seen those pressures hindering Sabalenka and Pegula at different times throughout their careers and the New York City crowd can make it tough. You have to feel Aryna Sabalenka has the edge if she can serve near her best and that will put pressure on Pegula to keep up on the scoreboard, which can lead to cracks.

We have seen Jessica Pegula serving well enough to keep her opponent off balance, but the edge has to be with the World Number 2 and she can cover this line as long as the nerves do not get to her as the chance to add to her two Australian Open titles nears.

MY PICK: Aryna Sabalenka - 4.5 Games @ 2.05 William Hill (2 Units)

US Open Update: 26-19, + 6.24 Units (90 Units Staked, + 6.93% Yield)

US Open Tennis Day 12 Picks 2024 (Friday 6th September)

The women's Final was set on Thursday and it is now the turn of the men.

There is no doubt it has been a positive tournament for the home fans with an American player set to compete in both Finals to be played this weekend, although the name of the men's Finalist will be determined on Day 12 at the tournament.

Taylor Fritz - 1.5 sets v Frances Tiafoe: The hard court form of both of these players entering the US Open was far from ideal and expectations for Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe were perhaps not as high as could be.

Both Americans have really performed well in the tournament though and the winner will be the first men's player from the United States to reach a Grand Slam Final since 2009.

It has been a period with the US players have come back to the fore, but they have struggled to get over the line and that carrot is going perhaps play a part in the match. Both are going to be given exceptional support from the New York City crowd and this has the makings of a fascinating match.

Frances Tiafoe showed he was perhaps returning to something like his best in the warm up events for the US Open- he has certainly had the weaker year overall compared with Taylor Fritz, but a run to the Semi Final in Washington and then the Final in Cincinnati will have given Tiafoe a boost in confidence.

He has not shied away from suggesting that his level has seen him lose matches to opponents he feels should not beat him, but this is another tough step for Frances Tiafoe.

We know Taylor Fritz has not played that well on the hard courts since winning the title in Delray Beach, but he did have a solid showing at Wimbledon and his level at the US Open has been impressive. With the likes of Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz out of the draw, there is little doubt that both Fritz and Tiafoe have to feel a big opportunity has been presented to win a maiden Grand Slam.

The mental edge has to be with Taylor Fritz who has won his last six matches against Frances Tiafoe since dropping the first against his compatriot. The last match was in 2023, but the wins include at the Australian Open and a Masters event in Miami and the feeling is that Fritz is playing at a level that should give him the edge in this match.

Of course much is going to come down to which of these players handles the occasion the best- neither have been used to reaching this stage of the Grand Slam events, but even less so facing an opponent they will feel they can beat rather than a Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal or Roger Federer.

This will play a part, but Fritz has really strong numbers against Frances Tiafoe with holds in 85% of service games played compared with 74% for the latter.

Neither is particularly known for their returning qualities, but Taylor Fritz has been producing the bigger serving in this tournament with at least 70% of service points won in each of the five matches played. It means he has only dropped serve on five occasions in the run to the final four, while the Tiafoe serve has been broken ten times.

Frances Tiafoe has found a few more breaks of serve, which have covered those dropped games, but it will be much tougher to recover breaks against someone serving as well as Taylor Fritz has been over this fortnight.

The fans should enjoy the match knowing a home player is going to be representing in the men's Final on Sunday, but the feeling is that Taylor Fritz can continue his dominance of Frances Tiafoe with a strong win.

Jannik Sinner-Jack Draper over 35.5 games: The controversy of the two failed tests that Jannik Sinner was ultimately absolved of any wrong-doing without facing any suspension continues to cast a cloud over the US Open. The World Number 1 is doing his best to let his tennis speak for him, but this is a situation that the sport would have loved to have avoided and commentators and fans will have questions.

His tennis has been very good in the main and Jannik Sinner beat Daniil Medvedev in the Quarter Final to eliminate the only other men's player left that is a previous Grand Slam Champion. It means the Italian is the big favourite to go on and lift this hard court Slam title having already done the same at the Australian Open and there is little doubt his confidence is high.

Ignoring the outside noise has been a huge factor and Jannik Sinner won the Cincinnati Masters title in prepartion for the US Open before embarking on this run to the Semi Final. Big serving has allowed Sinner to take a few more risks when it comes to the return of serve and that is going to be important as he gets set to face a young British player who has really made big headlines back home.

Jack Draper has long been though of as the natural successor to Andy Murray, but even his own team have to be a little surprised by what he has achieved here in New York City. The draw has opened up for him with the very early defeat suffered by Carlos Alcaraz, but Draper still had to take the opportunity and he has yet to drop a set in the tournament after crushing Alex De Minaur in the Quarter Final.

The advantage of having a huge lefty serve has really been put to good use and Draper has only dropped serve three times in the tournament. Being able to roll through service games has allowed the British player to just be a bit more aggressive on the return and ultimately he has worn down the opponents faced during this tournament.

His run to the Semi Final means Jack Draper will be moving into the top 20 of the World Rankings for the first time, but winning this title would take him to the brink of of cracking the top 10. The one previous meeting with Jannik Sinner ended in a straight sets win on the grass courts of Queen's Club back in 2021 when there was 286 Ranking places between the players as Draper secured the upset.

Both are much improved these days and the serving capabilities of both suggests this will be a tighter and more competitive match than the layers may think. The total games line looks very low with that in mind and you would think it will be comfortably surpassed if both players win a set, which they are more than capable of doing in this Semi Final.

Jack Draper did have the need to call out for some medical assistance in his Quarter Final win, but that did not seem to hamper him and the day of rest between matches will do him good. Winning this Semi Final may be a step too far at this stage of his career, but Draper can build his experience level by challenging the World Number 1 in what should be a very good Semi Final.

MY PICKS: Taylor Fritz - 1.5 Sets @ 1.72 Bet Fred (2 Units)

Jannik Sinner-Jack Draper Over 35.5 Games @ 2.00 Paddy Power (2 Units)

US Open Update: 26-17, + 10.24 Units (86 Units Staked, + 11.91% Yield)