Tennis Picks 2026 (Wednesday 15th April)

The clay court season has gotten underway earlier this month, but a decision was made to skip making any Tennis Picks at the Monte Carlo Masters.

There are plenty of big events to be completed before we get to the French Open at the end of the month and there are three 500 level events this week in Barcelona, Munich and Stuttgart with some big names on both the ATP and WTA Tour in action.

It should be remembered that there are still plenty of clay court specialists out there and those have to be respected, while some top names are much more comfortable on the faster surfaces rather than the red dirt.

We have already seen another meltdown from Daniil Medvedev last week in Monte Carlo, while some of the top American names are skipping some of this part of the season knowing they are much more dangerous when it comes to the hard or grass courts. Others that are playing become vulnerable to the upsets that the layers may not always price up as they should and so there is a lot of consideration given to a number of factors that can change the selection.

Taking note of the kind of clay court tournaments coming up is also important- the Madrid Masters plays very different to the other clay events and the French Open and tends to throw up many more upsets than most events at this time of the season. Conditions tend to see the ball fly that much quicker through the air and the surface so that may be another event which needs to be watched, rather than having multiple selections made, but that is something to consider when the tournament comes around next week.

A decent start to the season took a knock in March with the Indian Wells and Miami Masters both getting the better of the selections.

Overall we have to be happy with where the numbers currently stand, but building momentum towards the French Open is important and that is the focus over the next six weeks until the second Grand Slam of the season gets underway.

Rafael Jodar - 4.5 games v Camilo Ugo Carabelli: After the retirement of Rafael Nadal, Carlos Alcaraz has become the poster boy for Spanish Tennis, but there is another Rafael making his way up the World Rankings.

19 year old Rafael Jodar may not have made the early waves of Alcaraz, but he is operating at a career best World Number 55 after winning the title in Marrakech earlier this month. A Wild Card has been handed to him to take his place in this ATP 500 event in Barcelona and the same can be expected at the ATP 1000 event in Madrid and Rafael Jodar could make significant leaps in the World Rankings right through the French Open.

He has played well on the hard courts as well as the more natural clay and that makes this teenager someone to keep an eye on.

Veteran Jaume Munar was dismissed in the First Round very comfortably and Rafael Jodar is a pretty significant favourite in this match up against Camilo Ugo Carabelli.

The 26 year old Argentinian is the World Number 43 and like many of his compatriots, Camilo Ugo Carabelli is very comfortable on the red dirt. Earlier this season he won a Challenger event in Argentina and later reached the Quarter Final at the ATP 250 tournament held in Buenos Aires.

Early losses in Rio de Janeiro and Santiago will have been a disappointment during the South American Golden Swing, but Camilo Ugo Carabeli reached the Semi Final in Marrakech to boost confidence.

That run was ended by Rafael Jodar as they prepare to meet for a second time on the clay this month, and the real test for Camilo Ugo Carabelli is whether he can find a way to get his teeth into the Jodar serve. It was a problem in Marrakech with Ugo Carabelli creating just 2 Break Points in a straight sets defeat as he struggled to make an impact on either the first or second serve return.

While only a small sample, Rafael Jodar's serving in his six clay courts matches in 2026 has been really impressive and he has backed that up by keeping the pressure on opponents with his return.

If Camilo Ugo Carabelli can get his first serve rhythm going, he can be dangerous and put some pressure on the younger player. However, the second serve can be a real weakness and Ugo Carabelli was broken four times when these players met in Morocco.

Winning just three games again is unlikely, but Camilo Ugo Carabelli may struggle to still cover this spread set for the Second Round match in Barcelona.

MY PICKS: Rafael Jodar - 4.5 Games @ 1.91 Bet Fred (1 Unit)

Season 2026: 93-80, + 9.20 Units (238 Units Staked, + 3.87% Yield)

Boxing Picks 2023- Joe Joyce vs Zhilei Zhang (April 15th)

This may be one of the quieter weekends for Boxing fans during an intense time when plenty of big names and big fights are set, but it will be loud for those watching The Juggernaut and Big Bang face each other in the Heavyweight Division in London.

An interim World Title is on the line and, more importantly, the mandatory position in the WBO Rankings with the winner of this one likely going to want to push through that shot against Oleksandr Usyk (or Daniel Dubois) later this year.

Once this weekend is in the books, all eyes will turn to the Super Fight between Gervonta Davis and Ryan Garcia, which is now just coming up over the horizon. There are some top fights scheduled for next weekend and reports indicate that Showtime may announce more on the Davis-Garcia bill with the long-awaited Errol Spence Jr vs Terence Crawford Undisputed Welterweight fight inching closer and closer to coming together and being made official.

It was a difficult weekend for the Boxing Picks- Shakur Stevenson earned the Stoppage I felt he could get, but it came a Round too early, while Jesse Magdaleno was dropped twice but managed to hear the final bell in survival mode against Raymond Ford.

Those small moments would have produced a massive swing in favour of the selections, but I just have to dust myself off and go again having recovered from a poor start to the year.

Joe Joyce vs Zhilei Zhang

We are all waiting to hear news as to how the Champions in the Heavyweight Division are going to move through 2023, although Oleksandr Usyk's first fight is almost certainly going to be against Daniel Dubois this summer.

Some may feel the Division is being held up by the two fighters holding the four belts, but Joe Joyce doesn't seem to care too much and the interim WBO World Champion is going to make sure he does not allow his career to stagnate.

I think he is taking on a pretty tough challenger in Zhilei Zhang who impressed in his last outing against Filip Hrgovic and was incredibly hard done by in a Decision loss. I thought 'Big Bang' had done more than enough to win having hurt Hrgovic a number of times, while Zhilei Zhang showed he had plenty in the gas tank after struggling to maintain his output in a controversial Draw with Jerry Forrest.

He is going to need all that and more to stick with The Juggernaut who has come in surprisingly light for this big fight on Saturday evening in East London. There are more than 20 pounds between the two former Olympic Silver Medalists, and it will be interesting to see if Joe Joyce has lost much of his ability to absorb a punch at this lower weight than expected.

Joe Joyce weighed the exact same number for his win over Bryant Jennings, the only person to reach the cards against the British fighter. It was also a bout in which Joyce had looked a little stunned and I do think the chin is going to be checked by Zhang who has fast hands for a Boxer of his size and who is very dangerous early on.

My feeling is the game-plan from Joe Joyce is going to be try and tire out Zhilei Zhang like Jerry Forrest did when the 39 year old was around the weight that Joyce is going to be in this fight. Carrying more than 20 pounds than that fight with Forrest is much harder on the body and I think Filip Hrgovic was really poor on the night rather than Zhilei Zhang being really special in that bout in Saudi Arabia last August.

Like many of his previous fights, I do think Joe Joyce is going to be hit hard and he is going to have to weather an early storm, but he has shown tremendous endurance and his work-rate may be the key to the outcome of this one.

Getting through the first Four Rounds will be key, but I think Joe Joyce will begin to really break down his opponent from there.

Looking back at my prediction for the Zhilei Zhang fight with Filip Hrgovic, I did think the latter would be able to wear down a gassed opponent in the middle of the fight. That didn't happen, but, again, I think that was more down to Hrgovic having a bad night and Joe Joyce doesn't seem to be dealing with the personal issues the Croatian had been (losing his father was a body blow to Filip Hrgovic).

Zhilei Zhang is well rounded, has good hands and will look to trade, but I do think Joe Joyce will be the more fluid Boxer in the ring when it comes to the movement. After Four Rounds I expect Zhang to be a much more stationary target and Joyce has shown he can break down his opponents and eventually crack through them.

The British fighter has shown he needs to just work through the gears and break his opponents down and I think that is likely to be the case in this one too. I have a lot of respect for Zhilei Zhang and he is a good fighter, but the way the gas tank emptied against Jerry Forrest is a concern.

He is expected to have opportunities early and I think it will be very tough for Zhang to re-energise after the first three or four Rounds are in the books and that is where Joe Joyce will take over. Howard Foster is the referee, much to the irritation of the Zhang team, and I would not be surprised if he is calling this one off in the mid-Rounds on Saturday after a heavy hitting Heavyweight contest sees Joyce take over with a number of unanswered responses from his opponent.

The undercard was supposed to have a chief support featuring Mikaela Mayer, but the BBBoC have refused to clear her opponent (despite doing that when Christina Linardatou fought Katie Taylor).

That is a real shame for Mayer who was looking to make a statement in a new Division before chasing bigger names, while the Board need to ask themselves why they haven't made a decision about Linardatou's medical condition before fight week (especially having cleared her once before).

Lucy Wildheart is now based in the United Kingdom and has stepped in at short notice, but Mikaela Mayer should have a largely comfortable night.

The rest of the card will feature some younger names and it is a chance for Moses Itauma and Sam Noakes to continue their development.

Moses Itauma wants to be the youngest Heavyweight Champion of all time after turning professional and is out for his third fight in 2023. The first two have not lasted very long, but he is expected to need more ring time to beat Kostiantyn Dovbyschchenko.

The opponent has never been Stopped despite losing twelve times and will give it a go having produced nine wins with six inside the distance.

However, I think Itauma is special and he can still close the show on this one inside the first half of the scheduled Six Rounds and likely be put on another Queensbury show very soon.

I also expect Sam Noakes to maintain his unbeaten run and secure an eleventh Stoppage in eleven professional fights. He defends his Commonwealth Lightweight Title against Karthik Sathish Kumar, who also has a 10-0 record, but who has not fought anyone of this level before.

The top Ranked Indian fighter in the weight class has fought outside of his own country before, but this is a big step up and I do think Kumar could struggle with the power Sam Noakes carries.

Only two fighters have made it out of the Fourth Round against Sam Noakes and I don't think that is likely to be the case in this one.

Saturday will also see the return of Denzel Bentley after coming up a little short in his World Title bid in Las Vegas at the end of 2022 against Janibek Alimkhanuly.

The stock has risen after the efforts and Bentley is looking to get back in contention to face the top names in the Middleweight Division as soon as possible. He defends his British Middleweight Title against Kieran Smith and I think the heavy hands of Denzel Bentley will be far too much for an opponent who was Stopped in the Sixth Round by Troy Williamson.

Kieran Smith has been down before in his career and I am not sure he has the pop to keep Denzel Bentley from getting on top in this fight and it that could begin very early too.

MY PICKS: Joe Joyce to Win Between 5-8 @ 2.87 Sky Bet (2 Units)

Moses Itauma to Win Between 1-3 @ 2.62 Sky Bet (2 Units)

Sam Noakes to Win Between 1-4 @ 1.66 Bet365 (2 Units)

Denzel Bentley to Win Between 1-6 @ 2.60 Coral (2 Units)

Boxing 2023: 14-24, - 7.98 Units (71 Units Staked, - 11.24% Yield)

Monte Carlo Masters Tennis Picks 2022 (April 15th)

Another disappointing day for the Tennis Picks at the Monte Carlo Masters, but it was one filled with some frustration considering the level produced by those I selected.

The underdogs had strong showings throughout the day, but it is Quarter Final day on Friday and I do like a number of players to perform well enough to move through to the tennis this weekend.

We also have Billie Jean King Cup action over this weekend and any Picks from those matches on Friday will be added to this thread.

Alejandro Davidovich Fokina v Taylor Fritz: After spending a relatively short time on the court to win in straight sets, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina and Taylor Fritz have to be feeling pretty good about their chances of earning a spot in the Monte Carlo Masters Semi Final.

The top half of the draw looks very open and that means the two players will have a chance to put up some significant Ranking points. Taylor Fritz not only reached the Final of the Indian Wells Masters, but he won the title there so there may be confidence in his tennis which will be hard to contain, although the American is still a work in progress on the clay courts.

Winning matches is always a plus, but Taylor Fritz is still trying to figure out how to get the best out of his return on the clay courts. He has also benefited from an extremely kind draw which has meant Taylor Fritz has yet to beat anyone Ranked in the top 20 and he faces another opponent who is not within that mark.

However, Taylor Fritz is playing someone who is very comfortable on the clay courts and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina has produced a strong tournament. The win over Novak Djokovic is the stand out, but the Spaniard has also beaten David Goffin who won the title in Marrakech last week and his numbers have been more impressive than the ones that Taylor Fritz has been able to manage.

Tougher opponents make the numbers more impressive, and it is the Davidovich Fokina return which could be the key to determine the outcome of this Quarter Final match.

Their previous two matches were split on the clay courts, but Taylor Fritz won the match in Madrid on a court that has traditionally been a much quicker clay court than the others in Europe. Three years ago it was Alejandro Davidovich Fokina who beat Fritz in Estoril in what was a tight match and I think he is going to be able to dig in and edge to another win over the American here in Monte Carlo.

Alexander Zverev - 3.5 games v Jannik Sinner: Over the next few years, this is a match that is likely going to be at the business end of many of the big tournaments being played on the Tour and especially when the likes of Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic call time on their careers.

At almost 25 years old, Alexander Zverev is considerably further along in his overall development compared with the 21 year old Italian Jannik Sinner and the numbers being produced by the higher Ranked player are at a superior level.

That is taking nothing away from Jannik Sinner who has been very impressive as soon as he made his breakthrough on the Tour. There is no doubting the talent and I do think Jannik Sinner is going to be a multiple time Grand Slam Champion, but he is still developing his game and to beat someone like Alexander Zverev is going to be a big challenge for him.

Jannik Sinner has played well in Monte Carlo, and his return has been a huge weapon for him. However, Sinner will be the first to admit that he is going to have to find a way to look after his serve more effectively than he has in the tournament so far with just 62% of points won behind this shot and holding 78% of his service games played.

While the return of serve has helped Jannik Sinner win his three matches here, Alexander Zverev's serve has been a potent weapon for him throughout this event. The German has had to win one less match after receiving a Bye in the First Round, but he has been dominant in those wins and Alexander Zverev has actually broken serve in 51% of his return games played.

He is winning a higher percentage of points behind serve compared with Sinner too and I do think Alexander Zverev will have the edge in this Quarter Final.

Jannik Sinner did upset Alexander Zverev at the French Open in 2020 during his epic run, but it is Alexander Zverev who has won their last two matches. Both of those have been on the hard courts, but Alexander Zverev has a serve that can be very effective on the clay courts as well as the faster surfaces and I think he will find the breaks he needs to earn a narrow edge in each set played and ultimately move through with a cover.

Stefanos Tsitsipas - 3.5 games v Diego Sebastian Schwartzman: There is plenty of respect for Diego Sebastian Schwartzman who has gotten every ounce out of his talent on the Tour and proved to be a pretty respectable player on all surfaces.

That point is underlined over the last twelve months with similar levels of numbers being produced on hard courts, clay courts and grass courts. It means Diego Sebastian Schwartzman has to be respected and he is an opponent that can be very difficult to beat if you are not playing your best tennis.

The return has been a big weapon for Diego Sebastian Schwartzman in Monte Carlo and he has needed to be at his best on this side of his tennis. It is largely down to the return that a player who has held just 67% of service games played has worked his way into the Quarter Final, although Diego Sebastian Schwartzman has bounced back from dropping the first set in two of his three matches to underline the kind of belief he has in his own game.

Stefanos Tsitsipas is expected to provide a much tougher test as one of the improving clay courters on the Tour. This may feel like his favourite surface and Stefanos Tsitsipas is still the defending Champion in Monte Carlo, while his two wins in the tournament have been behind some impressive numbers.

Of course this is a much tougher test than Fabio Fognini or Laslo Djere can offer, but Stefanos Tsitsipas has been serving well and it has allowed him to free up his arm and break in 31% of return games played. That is not a number that compares with Diego Sebastian Schwartzman's 50% mark, but I do think Stefanos Tsitsipas is going to believe he will have enough chances to break down the Argentine's serve as long as he looks after his own.

Over the last twelve months, Stefanos Tstisipas has put together the stronger performances on the clay courts of the two players and he can earn revenge for a defeat to Diego Sebastian Schwartzman on the hard courts at the ATP Cup in January. Diego Sebastian Schwartzman was much the better player that day, but Stefanos Tsitsipas has won their sole previous match on the clay courts and I think he will have enough big serving to get out of some tight spots and eventually pull clear of this tough opponent.

MY PICKS: Alejandro Davidovich Fokina @ 2.00 Bet365 (2 Units)

Alexander Zverev - 3.5 Games @ 2.10 Bet Fred (2 Units)

Stefanos Tsitsipas - 3.5 Games @ 1.83 Bet365 (2 Units)

Monte Carlo Update: 9-11, - 5.46 Units (40 Units Staked, - 13.65% Yield)

NBA Play In Tournament Picks 2022 (April 12-15)

The NBA regular season has come to a close and that means we know the identity of the twenty teams that will make up the PlayOffs and the Play In Tournament.

Four of those teams are only going to be experiencing the Play In Tournament this week, but this is the time of the season when the big stars tend to show off all of their talent.

Some will be missing- LeBron James, Anthony Davis and the Los Angeles Lakers failed to make the top ten in the Western Conference and have a big off-season ahead, while my New York Knicks returned to type after a strong 2020/21 season.

But that doesn't mean the next two months are not going to be filled with some top quality Basketball. There is every chance we are going to get some big time First Round Series and I am looking forward to seeing how the PlayOffs shake up.

If I was asked to pick a potential NBA Final now I think my lean would be with the Phoenix Suns returning to the Finals to represent the Western Conference. The Eastern Conference looks wide open, but the Brooklyn Nets may just be coming together at the right time, although they will have to negotiate the Play In Tournament as well as the Boston Celtics or Miami Heat in the First Round.

The Nets may actually benefit by losing on Tuesday and then earning their way into the PlayOffs as the Number 8 Seed rather than the Number 7, but teams won't be thinking about that now and it is all about making sure you win each time you step on the court.

I will have all of the NBA Play In Tournament Picks in this thread and will then open a new thread for Games 1 through 4 of the First Round of the PlayOffs, which begins on Saturday.

Getting the PlayOffs off to a good start is the key this week before the First Round begins and there are some good games to get the post-season kicked off.

Tuesday 12th April

Cleveland Cavaliers @ Brooklyn Nets Pick: These teams both finished with the same record in the regular season, but a win for the Brooklyn Nets earlier this month was enough to win the tiebreaker over the Cleveland Cavaliers. That meant finishing the season in the Number 7 spot in the Eastern Conference and earning the right to host this opening Play In Tournament game.

With two shots to reach the PlayOffs, the Brooklyn Nets will feel they are in a strong position to make the First Round of the post-season. It has not been the season they would have wanted, but the Nets know the PlayOffs is almost a reset on the year they've had so far and the likes of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving have previously played on NBA Championship teams to give Brooklyn plenty of experience to call upon.

A disappointing end to the regular season should not cloud how well the Cleveland Cavaliers have done to return this kind of level. It should be said that a few weeks ago they looked sure things to finish in the top six in the Eastern Conference, but an injury to Jarrett Allen seemed to spark a downturn in form and now the Cavaliers have to find a way to win one of a potential two games this week to earn their First Round Series.

Jarrett Allen has missed the end of the regular season, but he was practicing on Sunday before the final game and there is a feeling that he is trending towards being back in the rotation. However, the question for the Cavaliers is whether they want to bring Jarrett Allen back for this game or whether they should give him a few more days rest for a potential 'win or go home' game.

The Cavaliers are a pretty big underdog so it would make some sense, but this is also a team who have looked very vulnerable Defensively ever since Jarrett Allen went down. Having him back in the rotation may give them an opportunity to try and slow down the high-powered Brooklyn Offense which helped the team rally in the Fourth Quarter to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers by 11 points last week.

On the Offensive side of the court, the Cavaliers will feel they can at least push the Brooklyn Nets, but I have a lean that the latter having the best two players on the court can use that experience to pull clear of their visitors. The Nets will be facing a team that have struggled to stop the three ball and Brooklyn also look like they have an edge when it comes to the rebounding numbers.

I do think that will help the Brooklyn Nets pull clear of the Cleveland Cavaliers and both home wins over them in the regular season have come by at least ten points.

Over the course of the season the Nets have been over-rated by the layers and that has seen them struggle to cover big spreads, but they did manage to cover this same line in the last regular season game between these two teams last week.

Some of the betting trends are really going against the Brooklyn Nets, but they are facing a Cleveland Cavaliers team that is just 1-5 against the spread in their last six as the road underdog.

Like many of the home fans, I do think the likes of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving were signed by Brooklyn to win these kind of games and I expect their scoring to help the team pull clear. The season may not have been the one that was expected, but Brooklyn can change that narrative very quickly and one of the most dangerous Play In teams could earn the Number 7 Seed in the Eastern Conference on Tuesday with a strong win.

Los Angeles Clippers @ Minnesota Timberwolves Pick: For a number of weeks the Los Angeles Clippers have been locked into the Number 8 Seed in the Western Conference and that does mean having two chances to make the First Round of the PlayOffs. While their City rivals have unexpectedly failed to even finish in the top ten of the Western Conference, the Clippers have to be given credit to have finished as high as they have considering they have been without Kawhi Leonard for the entirety of the season and Paul George for a large majority.

Paul George has returned to the rotation and he has been playing at a really good level, while the Clippers have ended the season with six wins from their last seven games to build some momentum.

This game to decide the Number 7 Seed in the Western Conference is going to be hosted by the Minnesota Timberwolves who just fell short of the top six by 2 games in the regular season. A couple of months ago it looked like the high-powered Offensive Minnesota team were going to be able to push into those positions, but they have lost four of their last seven games and will have to dig in to make sure they secure their place in the First Round.

Winning this game would also mean facing the Memphis Grizzlies rather than having to play another game for the right to meet the Phoenix Suns in the First Round in a loaded Western Conference.

Even through their inconsistent finish to the season, the Timberwolves have continued to be very productive on the Offensive side of the court. Karl-Anthony Towns was rested in their last regular season game and the Timberwolves will be hoping D'Angelo Russell is also able to overcome Covid and take his place in the line up. The Timberwolves will need Russell to round out the scoring power of the rotation, especially as they will be facing a Los Angeles Clippers Defensive scheme that has powered them into the Play In Tournament.

They have perhaps benefited from the schedule down the stretch, but the Clippers could only beat what was in front of them and they have to be given credit for that. The Defensive strength is coupled with an ability to win the battle on the boards and I think that could be enough for the Clippers to keep this one close.

Los Angeles will also benefit from the fact that the Minnesota Timberwolves have allowed teams to average over 53% from the field in their last five games and the return of Paul George has helped spark the Clippers Offense. They have been particularly effective from the three point range and it could be the key for the underdog as they look to become the first Number 8 Seed to beat the Number 7 Seed in the second season of the Play In Tournament.

Norman Powell is another who helps a pretty good rotation that has been successful even when the likes of Paul George were sitting on the sidelines. That could be very important for the Los Angeles Clippers as they look to avoid having to play again this week before the First Round Series begin in the PlayOffs and I do think the underdog may have enough to win this game outright.

Both teams have struggled in their recent roles as the road underdog/home favourite, but the Clippers rounded out the regular season in strong form rather than the inconsistency that the Minnesota Timberwolves displayed and Los Angeles could make the points being given to them count.

Wednesday 13th April

That was a pretty ridiculous start to the Play In Tournament Picks.

Brooklyn led by 22 points in the Third Quarter and the Clippers led by 10 points in the Fourth Quarter with their hosts in deep foul trouble.

Quite shockingly, both teams failed to cover by a combined four points- that is pretty sickening.

Things hopefully won't be as ridiculous for a second night in a row. You are never going to get every Pick right, but I am looking for teams to not move into massively strong positions where they are covering by 13 plus points, as both were last night in the second half, and then blow it late.

Charlotte Hornets @ Atlanta Hawks Pick: The winning team will be heading to the Cleveland Cavaliers later this week to try and earn the Number 8 Seed in the Eastern Conference, but there is plenty of pressure on both the Atlanta Hawks and Charlotte Hornets. Both have looked like they were set for a Play In Tournament appearance for some time, but they will feel they put in plenty in the last couple of weeks of the regular season to have deserved a higher Seeding and two shots to make the PlayOffs.

Nothing will change that now and there is plenty of pressure that is going to be felt by both of these teams heading into this 'win or go home' game.

The Atlanta Hawks may be dealing with a bit more pressure than the Charlotte Hornets- they reached the Eastern Conference Finals last season so missing out completely on the First Round of the PlayOffs would be a huge underachievement. On the other hand, Charlotte are a team that are building for the future, but who have taken huge steps this season to finish with a winning record and a team that ended the regular season feeling pretty good about their chances of upsetting their way into the First Round of the post-season.

They finished with the same record as the Hawks, while three wins in a row will give the Hornets plenty of confidence.

Charlotte have a team that have shown plenty of firepower on the Offensive side of the board and even the absence of Gordon Hayward for large stretches of the season have not slowed them down. Gordon Hayward will be missing for the Play In Tournament, but the Hornets have averaged 53% from the field in their last five games and they can challenge an Atlanta Defensive scheme that has been a touch inconsistent.

However, the Hawks have Trae Young and they have been scoring pretty well themselves. They also have to be encouraged by the fact that the Hornets have been as porous Defensively as they have been productive on the Offensive side of the court and that is where Atlanta can make enough plays to get on top of this big game.

A couple of factors suggest the Hawks will be too strong in this important game.

The PlayOff experience cannot be discounted at this stage of the season, while second chance points could also be an area the Hawks can beat out the Hornets with their size and intensity around the boards. And you absolutely have to factor in home court where Atlanta have been much stronger this season compared with their performances on the road.

These teams split their four regular season games and they each won once on the court as the visiting team. I have little doubt this is going to be another intense battle with the Hornets and Hawks capable of getting very hot from the field and able to take the game away from an opponent, but the stronger Atlanta Defensive performances in recent games could see them win this Play In game.

I have a huge amount of respect for what Charlotte have done to get into the position they are in, but they are facing an Atlanta team that have been performing well as the favourite.

Atlanta also won eight of their last ten games to end the regular season with the sole losses on the road at Toronto and Miami, two teams already into the First Round of the PlayOffs. The Hawks won their last four home games and all by at least 7 points and I think the experience of last season will see one big Fourth Quarter effort and a place in the final Play In Tournament game in the Eastern Conference.

San Antonio Spurs @ New Orleans Pelicans Pick: Three losses in a row have slowed any momentum the Number 10 Seeded San Antonio Spurs may feel they had going into the Play In Tournament, and all of those were suffered against teams that finished above them in the standings. On Wednesday they have to face another one of those when they go up against the New Orleans Pelicans who have also lost two in a row ahead of this vital must win game.

A trip to Los Angeles will await the winner and it is the San Antonio Spurs who won the regular season between these two teams, including winning both games played in New Orleans.

That has to give the Spurs a mental edge ahead of this Play In game, but the post-season pressures are very different and neither one of these teams is blessed with a lot of experience. And while the New Orleans Pelicans will know they were beaten in both home games against the Spurs, there is no doubt how important the home fans can be in these pressurised environments and it is no surprise the road teams have struggled in the early runnings of the Play In Tournament.

It is something that is a concern, but I do think the San Antonio Spurs can make the points count in this one.

Brandon Ingram also looks set to return for the New Orleans Pelicans and I do think his availability is very important for the home team. They closed the season with some inconsistent form on the Offensive side of the court, and now the Pelicans have to deal with the San Antonio Defensive unit that have played with plenty of intensity despite a difficult run in to close the regular season.

The Spurs are lacking star power these days, but they have been shooting the ball efficiently and I think that is going to be important for them in this one. I do think the Spurs will have considerable success against the New Orleans Defense which has allowed teams to average 53% from the field in their last five games and that is where the Spurs should be able to keep this one close.

San Antonio have covered in their last seven as the underdog overall and they have also covered in their last six as the road underdog. Gregg Popovich has had a bit more time to prepare the team for this Play In Tournament and he has been a Head Coach who has made use of the additional time with the Spurs going 11-4 against the spread in their last fifteen when they have had two days rest between games.

You cannot ignore how well the New Orleans Pelicans have played as the home favourite in recent weeks, but I would be surprised if they are able to blow out the San Antonio Spurs and this looks enough points to back the underdog.

Friday 15th April

It has been a favourites Play In Tournament so far with those teams going 3-1 against the spread and all four higher Seeds winning their opening games.

That may be challenged when the two games for the Number 8 Seed in the Eastern and Western Conference are played on Friday. Once again we have relatively narrow favourites, although for the first time one of those will be playing on the road.

It is different to the PlayOffs and the best of seven game series that have to be played and there will be tension as teams face elimination on Friday. However, it does mean that all will be put on the line and players will be asked to dig as deep as possible in order to earn a First Round Series, although the winners of the two games could be vulnerable Game 1 teams.

Atlanta Hawks @ Cleveland Cavaliers Pick: At one point it looked like the Cleveland Cavaliers were not only looking to reach the First Round of the PlayOffs, but pushing for a top four finish in the Eastern Conference. They unfortunately slid down the standings over the last couple of months of the regular season and you can virtually pinpoint the moment of that slide coinciding with the injury suffered by Jarrett Allen.

There is no doubt that he has been a huge miss for the Cavaliers and the home fans will be hoping Jarrett Allen is able to suit up in this last Play In Tournament game. Even if he does, you have to wonder if there will be some rustiness on his part and that does not bode well against the Atlanta Hawks who blew out the Charlotte Hornets in their first Play In game and who finished the regular season with a lot more confidence.

Injuries have also hurt the Hawks and they are almost certainly going to without John Collins again, but Trae Young has found support from his role players and that has helped the Hawks down the stretch. They have beaten plenty of quality opponents and narrow losses to some of the best teams in the East won't have dented the belief of a team that reached the Eastern Conference Finals last season and who will look to make a real impact in the post-season as long as they can get into the First Round of the NBA PlayOffs.

Being at home should be an advantage for the Cleveland Cavaliers and that should make this a closer game than some anticipate, despite all of the momentum being against the Cavaliers.

The two teams have both been pretty confident with the way they have been shooting the ball and that also makes this a close game as far as I am concerned. In the NBA, any team that can hit the three pointers at the kind of clips that the Cleveland Cavaliers and Atlanta Hawks do are going to be dangerous if they get their eye in early.

A difference between the two is that in recent games the Hawks Defensive schemes have been a little more consistent and the feeling is that they are the team that can make the critical stops when they need to. Having Jarrett Allen back will help the Cavaliers, but they are also allowing teams to find open shooters beyond the arc and that is where I believe the experienced Atlanta Hawks can just do enough.

The return of Jarrett Allen will block up the paint and help the Cavaliers with their rebounding, but I do think his minutes may be limited as he rebuilds his fitness. It should mean the Hawks are able to take advantage when Allen is on the bench, my assumption being he will suit up for this game, and I think Atlanta's momentum over the last month will carry them into the PlayOffs.

Further momentum has to be taken from the fact that the Hawks won the last three regular season games between these teams- as poor as their road record has been, one of those was also here in Cleveland, while the 24 point win at the end of March won't be far from the mind of either set of players.

The Cavaliers do have an extra day to prepare for this game, while they have a strong record against the spread when being set as the home underdog. However, the Hawks are 4-1 against the spread in their last five as the road favourite, and they blew out the Hornets which means the players should be ready to compete even with the slightly shorter rest period.

I am never a fan of backing a public team like the Hawks are for this game, but I will lay the points with the team with momentum as they look to secure a First Round Series with the Number 1 Seeded Miami Heat.

New Orleans Pelicans @ Los Angeles Clippers Pick: The big question for the Los Angeles Clippers is how much they have emotionally suffered from blowing a big lead in the Fourth Quarter of their Play In Tournament defeat to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Some players will feel they should already be in the First Round of the PlayOffs, but the Clippers have to pick themselves up and go again as they host this 'win or go home' game on Friday.

The momentum will feel like it is with the New Orleans Pelicans who won their opening Play In Tournament game against the San Antonio Spurs, but that was at home and it is a much different challenge playing in this atmosphere on the road. So far the home teams have dominated the Play In Tournament, but there is plenty of pressure on the Clippers too.

A mental edge is the fact they have won three of the four regular season games against the Pelicans, especially as they blew them out at home earlier this month,

Paul George has to pick up his efficiency if the Clippers are to have a real chance of winning, but he is also well supported by a team that grew without him and Kawhi Leonard for much of the season. However, cold spells proved to be costly for the Clippers in their loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves and they cannot afford to do that against the New Orleans Pelicans.

A benefit for the Clippers is that they are facing a Pelicans team that have struggled Defensively and I do think Los Angeles will be able to have their success from the three point range as well as when they get into the paint.

It does put the pressure on the Pelicans to find an Offensive response of their own, but they are going to be confident after beating the San Antonio Spurs and seeing a strong effort from CJ McCollum. The player traded from the Portland Trail Blazers for moments like these was clearly inspired by his effort and believes something big will happen for the Pelicans, although even a win in this game means facing the Phoenix Suns in the First Round of the PlayOffs.

New Orleans have been pretty efficient shooting the ball, but they are facing a Clippers team who have based their run towards the post-season on being able to play strong Defense. The poor outing against the Timberwolves will hurt, but it was more to do with the Offense going cold than the Defensive schemes breaking down and I think the Los Angeles Clippers will be able to do enough to beat this opponent again.

The Pelicans have been a strong road underdog, but Los Angeles have been strong when facing a team with a losing record like the one New Orleans have. The Clippers are also 4-1 against the spread in their last five as the home favourite and I think home advantage can also help the team to bounce back from the loss earlier this week and make their way into the First Round of the PlayOffs.

MY PICKS: 12/04 Brooklyn Nets - 9.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet Victor (1 Unit)

12/04 Los Angeles Clippers + 3.5 Points @ 1.91 Coral (1 Unit)

13/04 Atlanta Hawks - 5 Points @ 1.91 Bet Fred (1 Unit)

13/04 San Antonio Spurs + 5.5 Points @ 1.91 William Hill (1 Unit)

15/04 Atlanta Hawks - 2 Points @ 2.00 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

15/04 Los Angeles Clippers - 4 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Play In Update: 2-4, - 2.09 Units (6 Units Staked, - 34.83% Yield)

Monte Carlo Tennis Day 6 Picks 2021 (April 15th)

Any time you come away with a winning day from the Tennis Picks you have to be happy, but I do feel I have left some successes out there on Day 5 at Monte Carlo when the remainder of the Second Round was completed.

That is a shame in one way, but I also think it was the right decision to take a more cautious approach to the day and we are now down to the Third Round of the tournament.

On Thursday all eight Third Round matches will be played through the day, but the majority of those feel like they should be left alone as data building for further down the line across a long clay court season. There are some close matches and I do think it will be important to plug the information in and hope it proves valuable with big events still to come.

There are some selections from the matches set to be played in Monte Carlo though and I am looking for those to build on the Wednesday performances.

Cristian Garin + 4.5 games v Stefanos Tsitsipas: A relatively comfortable Second Round win for a player Ranked inside the top 5 in the world is always going to have the bookmakers running scared, but I can't help think Stefanos Tsitsipas is being a touch over-rated in this Third Round match.

Before I get into my reasons, I am going to be the first to admit that this is a surface that has long been a favourite for Stefanos Tsitsipas and his numbers over the last few months have been impressive. He was a Semi Finalist at Roland Garros before being undone in the fifth set by Novak Djokovic, and Tsitsipas was always in control of his win over the in-form Aslan Karatsev in the last Round.

Strong serving and a consistent return game has made the Greek player a real danger on the clay courts, although the feeling is that there are at least two players who will get the better of him on this surface. Now I am not suggesting that one of those is Cristian Garin, at least not on a consistent basis, but the Chilean is a specialist on the surface and has the kind of game that will make him competitive even if he is not able to get over the line for the upset.

He won a title in his home tournament played in Santiago, and Cristian Garin has beaten both Felix Auger Aliassime and John Millman in his two matches in Monte Carlo to keep his clay court winning run going. The two wins have been behind very impressive performances from Garin, although he will be the first to admit that this is another step up in level for him.

The serve has not been quite as good as the level that Stefanos Tsitsipas can produce on the clay, but Cristian Garin will be encouraged by slightly stronger return numbers. It suggests we will see a close Third Round match and their last meeting came in Hamburg on the clay courts and needed three sets to determine a winner on the day.

It was Stefanos Tsitsipas who came through that match and I think he is likely going to edge past Cristian Garin again, although this looks a lot of games for the underdog to be given.

In that match in Hamburg, it was Tsitsipas' slightly better serving numbers that proved to be decisive in a very close match and I do think this match is likely to move in a similar pattern. However it was Cristian Garin who earned more break points in the match and he actually had opportunities to break in five games compared with the three in which Stefanos Tsitsipas got into that position and I think the form of the two players is pointing to a close match with very little between them on the scoreboard and in the statistics.

Alexander Zverev - 3.5 games v David Goffin: You don't want to make sweeping judgements about players and how they are going to be performing on a new surface after just a couple of days, but David Goffin will be very pleased with the two wins he has produced here in Monte Carlo. The Belgian had lost both clay court matches played in 2020 and he finished at 6-6 in 2019 so it was important for Goffin to make sure there were no lingering concerns about the clay court season in his own mind at the very least.

Wins over Marin Cilic and Marco Cecchinato are solid results with both decent clay courters, but David Goffin is going to have to be stronger when facing Alexander Zverev. The numbers produced by Goffin have been impressive, but again it is hard to make a big judgement on a couple of matches and especially when you think the general play on the clay has been at a considerable level below where Goffin has been this week.

Facing Alexander Zverev will be a challenge for Goffin who is the underdog in this Third Round match. I can't really argue with that considering the solid performances Zverev has had on the clay courts throughout his career, although I do think the German was not playing anywhere near his best in beating Lorenzo Sonego in the Second Round.

That performance has to be a concern especially after the early exit at the Miami Masters, but I do think the focus is likely going to be that much greater knowing how good David Goffin can be on his day. And as much as Alexander Zverev will see his room for improvement, he was seeing the ball pretty big on the return of serve and has to feel he can at least put his opponent under some real pressure on that side of the match.

There hasn't been much between the players in the past with both holding two wins over the other, although Zverev's wins have both come on the clay courts. The last of those did come three years ago so I am not sure it is very relevant, but in those two previous clay court matches it was the Alexander Zverev return which had been the more productive of the two players and I think that is likely to be the case again in this Third Round match.

The spread will not be an easy one to overcome, but Zverev should be better with a match under his belt here in Monte Carlo and I think he is the better clay court player. If he just improves the way he backs up his serve compared with the Second Round, I think the German player will have enough to get the better of David Goffin despite how well the latter has played so far here this week.

MY PICKS: Cristian Garin + 4.5 Games @ 1.72 Bet365 (2 Units)

Alexander Zverev - 3.5 Games @ 2.00 Bet Fred (2 Units)

Monte Carlo Masters Update: 5-6, - 3.28 Units (22 Units Staked, - 14.91% Yield)

Monte Carlo Masters Tennis Picks 2019 (April 15th)

There were reasons for only having six selections from the Tennis tournaments played through last week, but I do think the clay court season really gets underway when the Monte Carlo Masters is played.

This may not be a compulsory Masters event any more, but a lot of the big name players going for the French Open title in June will be involved at the tournament. Both Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal are playing here this week and a number of the rest of the top ten in the World Rankings are also going to be involved in what should be a strong start to the clay court season with players looking to lay down a marker for the next two months.


It is one of the Masters tournaments which begins on Sunday, but I did not have the time to look through the First Round matches that were being played on that day and so my selections will begin from the matches scheduled for Monday. There is a full schedule being played on Monday with four courts being used and I am looking for a good start to the week after a slightly disappointing one last week.

You can read my thoughts below on the matches I am selecting as I look for a positive return for the day to get this week going in the right direction.


Marton Fucsovics v Nikoloz Bashilashvili: The slight underdog in this First Round match looks to be in a surprising position to me and I think Marton Fucsovics can earn a place in the Second Round at the expense of Nikoloz Basilashvili.

It is Fucsovics who leads the head to head 3-1, but none of those matches were played on the clay courts and only one of them has been played since 2015. They did meet on the indoor courts in Rotterdam in February which resulted in the latest of the wins Fucsovics has earned over Bashilashvili, but for the most part the head to head is irrelevant.

You can be forgiven for finding it tough to want to oppose Bashilashvili who is remarkably up at Number 17 in the World Rankings. That is despite some pretty average numbers over the last twelve months and I do think the Georgian is someone that will find it difficult to sustain his current World Ranking barring a significant improvement of his performances on the court.

Bashilashvili may be playing someone lower down the World Rankings, but Marton Fucsovics reached a career high Ranking just last month and has been producing better numbers over the last twelve months. I can see him going past Bashilasvili in the weeks and months ahead, while Fucsovics also has produced the better clay court numbers overall.

The edge on the serve and return makes it tough to see Fucsovics as the underdog in this match. His numbers may only be slightly better than Bashilasvili, but that is all it takes to determine how matches will go, while the mentality of winning matches against this opponent may help in those crucial moments.

This match is essentially a pick 'em on the day, but I think Fucsovics will make better hay at the critical moments of this match and he can beat his higher Ranked opponent.


Marco Cecchinato - 4.5 games v Damir Dzumhur: Over the next couple of months it is going to be interesting to see where Marco Cecchinato's Ranking stands considering the amount of points he needs to defend. The run to the French Open Semi Final has been a huge foundation of his current Number 16 World Ranking, but the Italian has to be feeling confident going into the clay court season.

He has already won a title on the clay courts during the South American Golden Swing and last season he won two ATP events on this surface. One of those came in Umag a couple of months after his run at the French Open and I do think Cecchinato can come through this First Round match.

In the last fourteen months Marco Cecchinato has had considerable success on the clay courts thanks to a very good serve. He has been tough to break on the clay courts and has then been able to take a few chances on the return of serve and that has been crucial for the Italian to put his wins together.

On Monday Cecchinato faces Damir Dzumhur who has not had a lot of success on the clay courts in the last couple of seasons and is playing his first match on the surface in 2019. The numbers have not been really bad from Dzumhur, but he has to rely on his return of serve with his own serve being vulnerable on most surfaces and especially so on the clay courts.

A poor record against Marco Cecchinato does not help and it was Cecchinato who beat Dzumhur twice on the red dirt last season. One of those wins came here in Monte Carlo as Cecchinato dominated Dzumhur by getting after the return of serve and I think that is going to be key for him to secure a good looking win on Monday too.

The handicap should be one that Cecchinato can cover despite it looking fairly big for a best of three set match. The fact that he has broken the Dzumhur serve in 62.5% of the return games played between these two on the clay courts in 2018 and the overall poor service numbers of the Bosnian is enough for me to be swayed and look for Marco Cecchinato to put a solid win on the board.


David Goffin - 3.5 games v Guido Andreozzi: Any time someone comes through the Qualifiers I have given them due respect for making the main draw, but the one I want to oppose on Monday is Guido Andreozzi. Getting into the Masters main draw means he has won two quality matches already in Monte Carlo, but Andreozzi has yet to find the consistency he would have liked in main Tour matches.

Last week he was being crushed by Gilles Simon in the Second Round in Marrakech, but that did come after the Argentinian had upset Albert Ramos-Vinolas in the First Round. That victory is the only Andreozzi has had in main ATP Tour matches on the clay courts in five matches completed in 2019 and he has generally not really performed at the level required to beat players of the quality you find in these tournaments.

The serve has been particularly vulnerable and Andreozzi has to know he is going to be tested by David Goffin despite a fairly low-key beginning to 2019.

David Goffin has slipped out of the top 20 of the World Rankings, but I think he will be pretty happy getting back onto the clay courts and looking to show his superior tennis in the longer rallies that come out from matches on this surface. He will definitely feel he has too much for Andreozzi on the red dirt when you think of the consistent level he has been producing on the surface over the last three seasons, although a first match back on the clay can be an issue for a lot of the players on the Tour.

It has to be said that Goffin's serve is one that will be attacked by the top players around, but I am not sure Andreozzi is the kind of returner to do that. He may have some chances to break the Goffin serve, but I think it is going to be hard to keep the Belgian from creating plenty of break point opportunities of his own.

I expect the considerable ticks upwards in both the service point and return point percentages won in favour of Goffin to make the difference in this match. The spread is an interesting one, but I am going to back Goffin to cover because I think he will earn at least one break more in each set of a straight sets win over Guido Andreozzi.

MY PICKS: Marton Fucsovics @ 2.00 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Marco Cecchinato - 4.5 Games @ 2.00 William Hill (2 Units)
David Goffin - 3.5 Games @ 1.83 Ladbrokes (2 Units)

Season 2019 Update: + 55.84 Units (555 Units Staked, + 10.06% Yield)

Weekend Football Picks 2018 (April 14-16)

The Champions League and Europa League Quarter Final matches were completed this past week and my fear of Liverpool going on and winning the Champions League is becoming a reality.

They deservedly got through their tie against Manchester City and Liverpool look like they are peaking at the right time with the likes of Bayern Munich and Real Madrid failing to impress in the same way.

Roma may have something to say about that, but I am not convinced about the Italian team who are also battling for a top four spot in Serie A while the other teams left can all rest players in anticipation of Champions League matches.

The Europa League Semi Final line up also looks a decent one as we were treated to more memorable comebacks in that competition after the stunning performances Roma and Juventus had in the Champions League. This time it was Salzburg who were 2-5 down on aggregate against Lazio with 35 minutes left of the Second Leg only for the Austrian Champions to score four unanswered goals to go through.


This weekend we are back to domestic matters around Europe but we are hitting that period of the season when some of the focus can be lost by those teams who have nothing much left to play for.

That can produce some surprise results while others in 'must win' situations see their prices shortened by the layers who know it is human nature to want to behind teams with 'motivational edges'.

You have to be aware of that, but this weekend in the Premier League there are plenty of matches with lots of the line for the teams involved even if the title and top four places look to be set.

The relegation battle could also see some separation this weekend as games begin to run down and this is still an important weekend for the teams involved as we enter the final month of the season in the Premier League.


Southampton v Chelsea Pick: This is a preview of the second FA Cup Semi Final to be played next weekend but for Southampton there is no doubting the more important fixture.

Being relegated from the Premier League would be a big blow for Southampton but they are beginning to feel the pressure of that after losing their third Premier League game in a row last weekend.

For the third time in a row they have also conceded three times in those defeats although Southampton do get to return home this weekend.

They could be facing Chelsea at the right time with the top four chances likely gone and only the FA Cup left to really play for. However that may also mean Chelsea can head to St Mary's without too much pressure and that may see them show a little more composure when the chances do come their way.

With the likes of Eden Hazard and Willian supporting Alvaro Morata, Chelsea will believe they can create plenty of chances against a vulnerable Southampton defence. They were perhaps unfortunate not to score at least another against West Ham United last weekend and a similar level of performance going forward should be good enough for Chelsea.

Southampton have been tough to beat at home as shown by draws with Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur in their last 8 League games here. However a lack of goals has to be a worry for Mark Hughes as he tries to take his new club out of the bottom three and the problems at the other end have underlined those.

Chelsea have won on 3 of their last 4 visits to St Mary's and they visit without the pressure the home side will be feeling this weekend. I think that makes enough of a difference for Chelsea to pick up another victory on this ground and snap their poor recent run of away results.

However with the way Chelsea have been defending themselves, I imagine they will need to score at least twice to win here and backing them to win a match with two or more goals looks an appealing price compared to the odds on quotes for a Chelsea win.


Burnley v Leicester City Pick: This fixture might not have huge ramifications at the top and bottom of the Premier League but it could determine the team which is likely to earn the final Europa League spot next season.

Assuming Southampton don't surprise everyone and win the FA Cup, 7th place in the Premier League will come with a Europa League spot and Burnley have won 4 games in a row to take control of that position.

Avoiding defeat would keep Burnley in a position of strength, but a win would almost certainly mean a 7th place finish for Sean Dyche's men. That will keep the players focused against a Leicester City team who have won back to back away League games at West Brom and Brighton, although they had to ride their luck in the win over Brighton.

Last weekend Leicester City were beaten 1-2 at home by Newcastle United to dent their hopes of a top seven finish and this is a very tough Stadium to visit.

Burnley don't score a lot of goals which will give Leicester City a chance, but I think the home team are in strong form and playing with a little more confidence than The Foxes. That may be enough for the home team to earn the victory, although I will back them on the Asian Handicap which will return the stake in the event of a draw here.


Crystal Palace v Brighton Pick: When you look at the remaining fixtures that Crystal Palace have to play you would think they have enough to earn the points to avoid the drop out of the Premier League.

The recent results may not suggest that is the case, but they have been performing far better than those results have indicated. Late goals being conceded has been a real issue for Crystal Palace who have lost their last 3 home games against teams in the top four with goals conceded in the 84th minute or later.

However Crystal Palace also led against Liverpool and Manchester United which should give the players the belief they can get the better of those teams around them. The 2-2 draw at Bournemouth last weekend is another game in which Crystal Palace led twice and conceded late to drop two points, but they are scoring goals and that may be enough to see off a Brighton team who have not scored a lot of away goals.

Brighton have been tough to beat with Chris Hughton organising them effectively and they will also be keen on securing another win which would almost certainly keep their status as a Premier League club. They have not scored a lot of goals on their travels though and Brighton were not at their best last weekend which should give Crystal Palace the edge in this one.

A rivalry game can be tough to read though and Brighton will feel they can create tension in the Stadium which may see the nerves move into the home players. However I do think Crystal Palace have shown enough in recent weeks to pick up the win in this one and I can see them scoring twice which may be too much for Brighton to earn a result.


Huddersfield Town v Watford Pick: There are five Premier League games left for Huddersfield Town this season and you have to think the next two at home are going to be vital if they are going to avoid the drop back into the Championship.

Back to back home games against teams in mid-table in the Premier League should be an opportunity for Huddersfield Town to pick up some key points and I do think they can begin with a result against Watford.

Goals are a big problem for Huddersfield Town which tempers some of the enthusiasm for them this week, but they should be confident of doing enough against a Watford side that have not been in the best focus in recent games.

There is no doubting that there is some quality in the Watford squad, but they look like a side that want to do the bare minimum to survive and then perhaps lose some of the focus. The away form doesn't make for good reading either with Watford failing to win any of their last 10 away games, losing 9 of those and only scoring twice in that time.

That should encourage Huddersfield Town and I do think The Terriers can win this one even though it will be tough. The performance in Brighton last weekend would have shown the players what they are capable of achieving and I think Huddersfield Town's motivation could also be enough to see off a poor travelling Watford team.

I don't think the away side will roll over, but they may not show a lot of fight if Huddersfield Town are able to take the lead and backing the home team on the Asian Handicap looks the pick. That will return the stake in the event of the draw, but I can see Huddersfield Town just edging out Watford and earning a vital three points towards safety.


Swansea City v Everton Pick: We have got to the stage of the season where teams are beginning to become a little desperate for points and Swansea City have to deal with the pressure of expectation as they bid to avoid the drop.

Fixtures like this one will have been circled by Swansea City to earn three points which will give them a huge boost of confidence to take into the remaining five games. That does put some pressure on the players to perform like the manager will want especially in front of the expectant fans too and that is one danger for Swansea City.

However they have been able to cope with pressurised spots since Carlos Carvalhal has taken over as manager of the club and Swansea City have been particularly good at home. They may have been thumped in the FA Cup Quarter Final by Tottenham Hotspur, but Swansea City have won 4 straight League games here and now face a team who don't travel the best.

Sam Allardyce has not managed to win over the Everton fans and they have looked a team short of some confidence despite 1 loss in 4 League games. The side have particularly faced some hardship away from home even though Everton did snap their 6 game losing run on their travels in the 1-2 win at Stoke City last time out.

That win came in a game where Stoke City were reduced to ten men in the first half hour and that obviously had a big impact on the fixture.

In recent seasons Everton have not had a lot of success at Swansea City and I do think the home team can edge them out. Backing Swansea City to keep their run of home wins going looks to be the right side and I will do that on the Asian Handicap which at least returns the stake in the event of a draw.


Liverpool v Bournemouth Pick: Getting through to the Champions League Semi Final was a remarkable achievement for Liverpool and the fans will be hoping they can win the competition for the sixth time in their history.

The draw for the Semi Final will have been made on Friday, but Jurgen Klopp will try and ensure his players are not distracted and can focus on their Premier League campaign. There is still work to be done for Liverpool to confirm their spot in the top four of the Premier League and Klopp will want to earn a vital three points on Saturday to move a step closer to achieving that goal.

Being at Anfield means Liverpool will start this game as a very strong favourite which can't be denied. However Bournemouth will try and play their football and they have shown they can score goals even when visiting the top clubs after beating Chelsea 0-3 at Stamford Bridge.

Bournemouth try and get the ball down on the floor and that can be very pleasing on the eye but also potentially leaves them open for some heavy losses. It is no surprise that Manchester City, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur have all scored four times in wins over The Cherries this season and that has to be a concern for Eddie Howe.

He won't change his style though and Bournemouth may be able to at least get on the scoreboard too as they should be much better rested than Liverpool. Ultimately I still think Liverpool will have too much attacking class for Bournemouth who have conceded plenty of goals in recent weeks and I will back the home side to win a game featuring four or more goals at odds against.


Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester City Pick: I am not entirely sure why the Tottenham Hotspur versus Manchester City Premier League fixture has been picked for Saturday at 7:45pm local time but that is the case for the third live Premier League game of the day.

There isn't as much on the line for the two teams as the television companies would have hoped for when they picked this for live coverage. Manchester City are going to win the Premier League while Tottenham Hotspur look secure for a top four finish, but that doesn't mean this shouldn't be a good game of football.

Both teams play with attacking football on their mind and I think it should be an entertaining game for those tuning in.

It's hard to imagine Manchester City losing four games in a row when you think of how well they have played throughout this season, but that is the potential for this side going into the weekend.

They haven't played badly in any of their defeats, but Manchester City look slightly off the pace as a long season begins to take its toll on the players. It has been hard for Manchester City to maintain the intensity they have used for much of the season and a team like Tottenham Hotspur are more than good enough to take advantage.

Unlike Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur have had a week to prepare for this fixture and they are at Wembley Stadium where they have been very strong this season. Tottenham Hotspur look to be playing with more confidence than Manchester City too and I think they can get at a vulnerable looking Manchester City defence and expose the issues at the back.

As I said before, it is hard to imagine Manchester City losing a fourth straight game in all competitions, but they are facing a tough opponent here.

Backing Tottenham Hotspur on the Asian Handicap will at least return half the stake in the event of a draw. I think Spurs have enough to win this one though with the quality in their starting line up and with Manchester City looking slightly off the pace and I will be behind Tottenham Hotspur in this one.


Newcastle United v Arsenal Pick: You have to say that Arsenal are showing some character in difficult moments in recent weeks but the majority of those have come in matches at the Emirates Stadium.

It is a different test for this team when they play away from home and Arsenal have a difficult game at Newcastle United on Sunday.

While their hosts will have been resting and preparing for this fixture, Arsenal had a tough away tie in Moscow on Thursday and I am expecting Arsene Wenger to make some changes to his starting line up. There is still some real quality in the Arsenal team which makes them dangerous for opponents, but I do wonder about the mental strength away from home in the Premier League considering they have won 3 of 15 away League games.

They may be visiting Newcastle United at a tough time with the home team recording 3 straight home wins in the League. They have kept clean sheets in each of those wins and will be confident of snapping their 10 game losing run to Arsenal.

Newcastle United have lost 4 in a row at home against them, but I do feel this is a good schedule spot for them and I will back The Magpies to take advantage of that.

The home team could be facing an Arsenal team who will be resting key players for more important games in the weeks ahead. The travel from Moscow and little preparation time is a difficult spot for The Gunners too and I will back Newcastle United to find a way to earn a result in this one.


Manchester United v West Brom Pick: There should be a positive atmosphere at Old Trafford after the fans saw Manchester United come from 2-0 down to beat Manchester City 2-3 in the derby at the Etihad Stadium last weekend.

The game this weekend is not as big as that one, but Manchester United will try and pick up where they left off last Saturday and that is getting on the front foot to take the game to West Brom.

The visitors come into this fixture having snapped their 9 game losing run with a 1-1 home draw last week against Swansea City, but they look certain to be relegated from the Premier League. Dave Moore is currently in charge as temporary manager of West Brom following Alan Pardew's departure, but this is a team low on confidence and one that is never too far away from capitulating.

It is going to be very difficult for West Brom to compete with Manchester United who have been in very strong form at Old Trafford, although the fans will be hoping for more consistent attacking from Manchester United. One aspect that can be improved is the number of goals being scored and Manchester United have only scored more than two goals in 1 of their last 10 Premier League games at Old Trafford.

Last weekend they did surpass that number against Manchester City and Manchester United are facing a West Brom team who have lost 4 away games in a row. The Baggies have conceded at least twice in 3 of those 4 losses and I do think their recent strong record at Old Trafford won't count for much here.

With the momentum from last weekend Manchester United should be looking to get on the front foot in this League game and I will back them to win and cover the Asian Handicap here. It would not be a big surprise if West Brom just drop their heads if they fall behind and struggle to compete, and that could see Manchester United produce a comfortable win on Sunday.

MY PICKS: Chelsea Win & Over 1.5 Goals @ 2.30 Bet Fred (2 Units)
Burnley 0 Asian Handicap @ 1.85 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Crystal Palace @ 1.91 Bet Fred (2 Units)
Huddersfield Town 0 Asian Handicap @ 1.90 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Swansea City 0 Asian Handicap @ 1.80 Bet365 (2 Units)
Liverpool Win & Over 3.5 Goals @ 2.25 Ladbrokes (2 Units)
Tottenham Hotspur 0 Asian Handicap @ 2.00 Bet365 (2 Units)
Newcastle United + 0.5 Asian Handicap @ 1.75 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Manchester United - 1.75 Asian Handicap @ 1.83 Bet Victor (2 Units)