Boxing Picks 2023- Ryan Garcia vs Oscar Duarte (December 2nd)

There is always going to be some criticism of the Boxing model with four separate organisations at the very top who each have their own interests at heart.

However, there is a feeling that it can be an easy target.

2023 has been a very good year for the fans with some excellent fights made, even if some of them have not turned out to be nearly as competitive as we would have hoped. It happens in Boxing, and that has always happened in a violent sport where one punch can really change the entire direction of a fight and, ultimately, a career.

Last week we may not have seen a career ended, but Demetrius Andrade is going to have to drop out of the Super Middleweight Division after being overpowered by David Benavidez.

However, you do have to wonder where Boo Boo goes from here? The Middleweight Division is in a transitional period and missing the star power that will generate the money that Andrade seemingly demands, while he may be too old to drop down to Light Middleweight at this stage of his career. That is going to mean questions to be answered for Andrade who has been far too inactive in recent years as he has hoped the Canelo fight lands in his lap.

The approach has been completely different from David Benavidez- he has decided he will beat all those names around Canelo until the Mexican has no other choice but to fight him next. Wins over Caleb Plant and Andrade has many calling for Canelo vs Benavidez next May, although rumours suggest Jaime Munguuia may be next.

So how has David Benavidez reacted to that? He has called out Jermall Charlo in a bid to knock another contender out of line and keep the pressure on the Undisputed Super Middleweight World Champion.

One more second was needed to get the Pick right from the Benavidez-Andrade fight and it has been a tough year for the Boxing Picks after a strong 2022.

There are some big nights to be enjoyed before the end of the calendar year, the most notable for the casual fan being the Heavyweight night in Saudi Arabia two days before Christmas.

However, it is the Regis Prograis-Devin Haney fight next weekend that looks a standout, as well as Naoya Inoue's bid to become a two weight Undisputed World Champion. Those events will round out a decent year and we already have some good fights signed off through the first couple of months of 2024, which can only be good news for the fans about the year ahead.

Ryan Garcia vs Oscar Duarte

The devastating defeat to Gervonta Davis will have certainly given Ryan Garcia pause for thought, but he returns this weekend and looks to remind those in and around his weight class about his abilities.

It has been far from an ideal build up with Garcia seemingly at odds with his promoters, while making weight has been problematic to the point that this is going to be a catchweight contest.

Ryan Garcia has moved to a new trainer and there are some doubts about how focused he is on his opponent rather than picking fights with Bernard Hopkins and Oscar De La Hoya.

He will quickly find he needs to make sure he is dealing with the threat posed by the fighter coming out of the other corner with Oscar Duarte expected to get forward and try and pressure Ryan Garcia.

Having a single loss on his record and the chance to really change the momentum on his own career will mean there is plenty of motivation in the Oscar Duarte camp. Oscar Duarte has won eleven in a row since his sole defeat, which came by Split Decision, and none of those wins has needed the scorecards.

However, it should be noted that none of those wins have been against a fighter of the quality of Ryan Garcia- he may not be as good as he thinks, but wins over Luke Campbell and Javier Fortuna does mean Garcia has been operating at a higher level than Duarte and the come forward style of the latter may play into the hands of the favourite.

There is no doubting that Ryan Garcia hits hard enough to give Duarte pause for thought, and his fast hands should produce plenty of problems for his opponent. With Twelve Rounds scheduled, you have to believe that there will be a moment where Ryan Garcia breaks through the Oscar Duarte pressure and breaks down and stops his opponent.

He could have had an easier return fight than this one, but Ryan Garcia has an opportunity to show that he is still capable of big things in Boxing with a strong win.

Earlier in the day, DAZN have a card from Belfast featuring the return of Michael Conlan who has joined up with Matchroom and with a new trainer.

The last time we saw Conlan he was getting obliterated by Luis Alberto Lopez and the decision was made to move up in weight class.

Things may have been different for Michael Conlan if he could have stayed on his feet when being stopped in the Twelfth Round by Leigh Wood, but that rematch is potentially on at Super Featherweight.

First he has to show that there is still something left in the tank when taking on Jordan Gill, who is also moving up in weight after a bad loss to Kiko Martinez in October 2022. He has looked plenty worn in his last couple of fights in what is a crossroads moment in his own career and Gill is going to have a hard time in this one.

At least Michael Conlan can say he has been found out at World level- it has been a little above domestic level for Jordan Gill and that can be underlined when they meet with the former expected to put enough punches together to earn a referee or corner intervention.

MY PICKS: Ryan Garcia to Win by KO/TKO/Disqualification @ 1.72 Sky Bet (2 Units)

Michael Conlan to Win by KO/TKO/Disqualification @ 1.66 Paddy Power (2 Units)

Boxing 2023: 57-106, - 40.77 Units (301 Units Staked, - 13.54% Yield) 

College Football Week 14 Picks 2022- Championship Week (December 2-3)

The final week of the College Football season is Championship Week as the Bowl Games are also set up- of course the big question is which four teams will be invited into the College Football PlayOff.

Some of the decisions will be much easier for the Committee if the 'right' teams win their Championship Games this weekend, but it could quickly become a real challenge for those members if another tumultuous week comes out of the wash.

USC Trojans vs Utah Utes Pick: Beating the same team twice in a season is a huge challenge for any team playing in College Football or in the pros, but that is what the Utah Utes (9-3) will be facing as they look to secure back to back Pac-12 Championship title wins. After a 7-2 record in the Conference, the Utes have benefited from the removal of Divisions this season as they would have finished behind the 8-1 USC Trojans (11-1) when both were members of the South Division last season, and that despite being the only team to beat the Trojans this season.

This is a big game for the higher ups in the Pac-12 Conference as they will be looking to see if they can send a team to the College Football PlayOff- with the way things have broken down over the last month, the USC Trojans have pushed into the top four of the last set of Rankings and look to be in a position of 'win and you're in' when it comes to the eventual top four teams invited into the PlayOff.

It would be a remarkable end to the season for Lincoln Riley and Caleb Williams in their first season in Southern California having both arrived from the Oklahoma Sooners in the off-season. Lincoln Riley had considerable success as Head Coach of the Sooners and guided them to the College Football PlayOff on three occasions so it was a surprise to see him head off to the USC Trojans, but even more so when he was able to transfer Quarter Back Williams with him.

No one would have really expected Riley to have the kind of impact he has had with the Trojans, who finished 4-8 last season and who have not enjoyed a double digit winning season since 2017. However, the Head Coach has been able to get plenty out of an Offensive unit that had eight returning starters and have been able to add Caleb Williams and was has been a potentially Heisman winning season to the mix.

Even in the defeat on the road at the Utah Utes, Caleb Williams and the USC Offensive unit had a huge game and they will feel a neutral setting in Las Vegas gives them a big chance to earn some revenge. Things will never be easy against a Kyle Whittingham led Utah Defensive unit, but the Trojans have to feel like they can replicate the huge yards they produced in the defeat in Salt Lake City.

Both the Florida Gators and UCLA Bruins have also had wins over the Utah Utes and the Bruins had over 500 total yards in that defeat too. In more recent times, the Utes have at least limited the Oregon Ducks Offense, although Oregon have not been playing at the same kind of level that the Trojans have found on a week to week basis.

Running the ball will be a challenge for the Trojans, but they established the ground game well enough in the defeat to the Utes in October. However, ultimately it is going to come down to Caleb Williams at Quarter Back and some of the big questions may be whether he has the confidence to handle the occasion knowing what is on the line for the Trojans.

Nothing suggests Williams will capitulate here and I think this could be another bow to hang on the Heisman Trophy he is now the favourite to win.

USC should have success moving the ball, but they will need the less experienced Defensive unit to step up and make some big plays. The Trojans Defensive Line will be pushed around by the Utah Offensive Line, who have opened monster holes in recent games, and that will at least give Cameron Rising at Quarter Back a chance to replicate the big performance he had in the narrow win over USC at home.

In recent games Cameron Rising has not really had to do a lot to win them, but he cannot afford to be as inaccurate as he was in the defeat to the Oregon Ducks. On that day Rising threw 3 Interceptions, which proved to be critical in the three point loss, while he only managed 170 yards in the loss.

It was a much different story when throwing for 415 yards and 2 Touchdown passes against the USC Trojans and I do think this game will follow that path more than the one against the Ducks. For all the plaudits received by the Trojans this season, the Secondary has been vulnerable and I do think Cameron Rising will have time to make his throws into his Receivers behind the Offensive Line that have protected him.

Overall it has been a good season for Cameron Rising so I do think he can have a good game in this Pac-12 Championship Game in Sin City. His experience of playing in this Championship Game last season cannot be underestimated and I do think the Trojans Secondary is one that can struggle to stop the pass, so I expect Quarter Back Rising to make sure the Utah Utes are competitive.

Cameron Rising did not have the best numbers in the Pac-12 Championship Game win over Oregon, but he will be feeling confident having played as well as he did against the Trojans earlier this season.

I expect this to at least help the narrow underdog and I do believe Utah will head into this game in Las Vegas with a lot of confidence in themselves and what they can achieve. That can be hard to shake, no matter how good the USC Trojans are, but it is also hard to ignore the fact that the Utah Utes are 0-4 against the spread in their last four games against a team with a winning record.

We have also seen the adjustments Lincoln Riley has been able to make following a defeat in the regular season when playing the same opponent again during his time with the Oklahoma Sooners- he played the same team twice in a single season four times and Riley and the Sooners won the second game four times, while also producing a 3-1 record against the spread.

In the two games lost in the regular season, Lincoln Riley oversaw two Championship Game wins and covered the spread both times and I think he will have prepared the USC Trojans that they can just about top Utah Utes this time. The game in the regular season was won by the Utes with 48 seconds left on the clock and it was a two point conversion that took them over the line, but this time I expect the Trojans to score the last points in a win that will take them into the College Football PlayOff.

TCU Horned Frogs vs Kansas State Wildcats Pick: I have already made the point this week that it is incredibly difficult to beat the same team twice in a season, but like the Pac-12 Championship, the Big 12 Championship will be settled in a rematch. This happens in the Conference regularly in the current format which sees all of the teams face one another in the same standings and three of the last four Championships have been won by the team that LOST in the regular season.

That bodes well for the Kansas State Wildcats (9-3) as they bid to end the TCU Horned Frogs (12-0) unbeaten season for a second time. When they met in Fort Worth in mid-October, the Horned Frogs were forced to recover from a big deficit to beat the Wildcats at home, but this Big 12 Championship Game will be played on the neutral field owned by the Dallas Cowboys.

Neutral field games are tougher, but you would imagine the TCU Horned Frogs will be well supported with just 18 miles between their campus and the Stadium hosting the Championship Game. The Horned Frogs will be looking to confirm their unbeaten season and earn their spot in the College Football PlayOff on Saturday, although they will be well aware that the Committee may look down on them unfavourably if they are not able to win the game.

Sonny Dykes and the Coaching staff will feel that is harsh on the Horned Frogs, but they control their own destiny having escaped some tough positions to remain unbeaten through the course of the season. One of those was against the Wildcats when trailing by 18 points in the first half, but the blow out win over the Iowa State Cyclones in Week 13 will have certainly made the Horned Frogs feel much happier ahead of the Championship Game.

The Horned Frogs had not really been ticking along as comfortably as they had been earlier in the season, but Max Duggan and company have to be feeling better after the win last week. They will also look back on the win over the Wildcats and the way they played in the second half as a huge amount of encouragement in their bid to win again.

After some recent troubles, I do think the Horned Frogs will be able to establish the run in this game, which is important for Max Duggan at Quarter Back. Being in front of the chains should make it easier for Duggan to attack this Wildcats Secondary and the Kansas State Defensive Line have struggled to clamp down on the run consistently all season.

Throwing against the Wildcats from third and long spots is a tough challenge for any team, but if Max Duggan is playing in front of the chains, I expect him to have another strong outing. He threw for 280 yards and 3 Touchdown passes in the home win over the Wildcats in October and I do think the Horned Frogs will have a relatively solid outing again.

The bigger impact may come from the Defensive unit, who have really improved in each passing week as TCU have run the table.

Much will depend on how they handle the line of scrimmage, but in the first meeting the Horned Frogs Defensive Line clamped down on Deuce Vaughn and the Wildcats running game, even if they did give up one huge run to the Running Back. You can't expect to hold him back forever, but stopping Vaughn picking up some momentum is the key and TCU have shown they can do that once already and continue to play pretty efficiently on the Defensive Line when it comes to clamping down on the run.

It is expected to be Will Howard at Quarter Back in place of Adrian Martinez again for Kansas State, but Howard has played enough to be comfortable even in this pressurised setting. Will Howard has 13 Touchdown passes with 2 Interceptions on the season and threw for 225 yards in the first game with the Horned Frogs (2 Touchdown passes-1 Interception) in relief of Martinez.

This Horned Frogs Secondary is pretty tough to throw against with any consistency thanks to the ability to force teams into third and long spots and that is going to be a challenge for Will Howard in all likelihood. I think there are one or two holes that Howard will exploit, but it could be another tough test for the Wildcats who live and die by their ability to run the ball.

Kansas State had won three in a row in this series before losing in October and they are a well Coached team who will have learned from that experience.

They have been in good form down the stretch, which also makes the Wildcats dangerous, but I do think they will come up short against the TCU Horned Frogs who look to match up pretty well with Kansas State on both sides of the ball.

Both of these teams have been covering machines at the window this season, but I have to give TCU the edge and this could be one of those rare two wins in a single season over the same opponent for a team in College Football.

Georgia Bulldogs vs LSU Tigers Pick: They may be the defending National Champions and favourites to win it all in January, but the Georgia Bulldogs (12-0) have not won the SEC Championship since beating Auburn in 2017. Since then, the Bulldogs have reached the Championship Game three times and lost each time, although last season they earned revenge over the Alabama Crimson Tide in the National Championship Game.

This year they are perhaps surprised to be faced by the LSU Tigers (9-3), the school that beat the Bulldogs in 2019, especially as the Tigers are in the first season with Brian Kelly at Head Coach. The Tigers have finished 5-5 and 6-7 in the two years since winning the National Championship with an unbeaten team led by Joe Burrow, but they edged out the Crimson Tide for the place in the SEC Championship Game thanks to the tie-breaker of going for a two point conversion and beating Alabama in Overtime.

Last week was a disappointment for the Tigers who were beaten by the Texas A&M Aggies despite being a double digit favourite going into the game. Some will feel they were overlooking the Aggies and focusing on the SEC Championship Game, but it is a defeat that has serious ramifications of keeping LSU out of the College Football PlayOffs even if they were to upset the odds on Saturday.

Not many would have anticipated the SEC Champions failing to make the final four in College Football, but the defeats on the record are hard to ignore. Of course the Tigers could have wins over both Alabama and Georgia on the CV, but two blow out losses to the Aggies and the Tennessee Volunteers are hard to accept, and even more so when you consider the Florida State Seminoles have beaten LSU this season too.

Brian Kelly and his players won't be worrying too much about where they may sit in any College Football Ranking and their sole concern is winning the SEC Championship. This alone would be a remarkable achievement for the school that has struggled without Joe Burrow, although it will take a monumental upset to see that come to fruition.

It is simply difficult to imagine the LSU Tigers having a lot of Offensive success in this one when their unit is powered by a running game that is going to have a tough time establishing anything against this Georgia Defensive Line. The Tigers are going to need John Emery and the Offensive Line to be at their best if they are going to have any chance and that is as much to do with the injury to Jayden Daniels at Quarter Back as anything else.

Running the ball is clearly the ambition for the Tigers, but it doesn't help that their starting Quarter Back is banged up to say the least. They do feel he has escaped a serious injury, but Daniels is not going to be effective running the ball as usual and it is not going to be much fun standing behind this Offensive Line and hoping for protection in third and long spots.

Throwing the ball against this Secondary from those positions are hard enough when fully healthy and I do think Jayden Daniels could be in a tough spot for much of the afternoon.

The pressure may then be on the LSU Defense to step up and try and slow down the Bulldogs on the other side of the ball, but I am not sure they are going to be as effective at clamping down on the run as Georgia are expected to be. The Tigers Defensive Line has played well, but they have allowed huge numbers on the ground in the losses to SEC opponents Tennessee and Texas A&M and I expect the committee run by the Bulldogs to have success and keep Stetson Bennett in a strong position at Quarter Back.

Stetson Bennett is effectively a game-manager for the Georgia Bulldogs at Quarter Back, but he has to be credited for throwing for over 3100 yards this season and has added 16 Touchdowns with 6 Interceptions. Recent outings have not been as consistent as Kirby Smart and the Bulldogs would have liked, but Bennett is capable enough of making plays behind an Offensive Line which will give him time.

He may not need to do a lot, but Stetson Bennett can do what is asked of him and help the Georgia Bulldogs win a first SEC Championship since 2017.

The spread is a big one, but things could get out of hand for the LSU Tigers if they are having to chase and Jayden Daniels is not able to move as much as he would like. They were blown out by the Tennessee Volunteers in Baton Rouge and I am anticipating Georgia to look to make a statement, even if the oddsmakers have tended to get on top of their number.

An experienced Bulldogs Offensive unit should be extra motivated having lost the Championship Game last season in the Conference and I do think they are much stronger on both sides of the ball. A statement win could also give their College Football PlayOff rivals plenty to think about, while Smart and his Coaching staff will not have forgotten the 27 point beat down given to them by the LSU Tigers in the 2019 Championship Game.

I think that all leads to the Georgia Bulldogs looking to win big and covering this mark.

Clemson Tigers vs North Carolina Tar Heels Pick: There was a long period where the Clemson Tigers (10-2) were an annual College Football PlayOff team representing the ACC Conference. However, this looks like being the second season in a row where the Conference will miss out on the final four after the Tigers were upset by the South Carolina Gamecocks last week.

They will still have a chance to win the ACC Championship when taking on the North Carolina Tar Heels (9-3) in what is the final season where Divisions will be used in the Conference. These two teams finished with the best records in the ACC regardless, but late defeats for both the Tigers and the Tar Heels have proved to be fatal in ending their bids to reach the College Football PlayOff.

A crazy final week may still open the door for the Tigers if they can win this game, but it is a long shot and winning the ACC Championship Game will be the big motivation. Some players may be disappointed that they cannot play in the PlayOffs, but that shouldn't take away from winning a Conference Championship considering the Tigers failed to even make the Championship Game twelve months ago.

In fact the Tigers have not won the ACC Championship since 2019 and so there is plenty for the team to achieve even if they have fallen short of their main goal for the season. Inconsistent Offensive performances have really held Clemson back through the course of 2022, but they should feel pretty comfortable matching up against this Tar Heels Defensive unit, which has been struggling.

Clamping down on the run has been one aspect of the North Carolina Defense that has been working well in recent games, but I am not sure the Defensive Line will be able to get the better of the Clemson Offensive Line. Moving the ball on the ground has been where the Tigers have been able to get their Offensive unit going, especially as it has eased some of the pressure on DJ Uiagalelei, who has continued to be a disappointment at Quarter Back.

DJ Uiagalelei is likely going to have an opportunity to have a strong game in this one with the limited pass rush that North Carolina have been able to generate of late and a Tar Heels Secondary that has struggled to make stops. He is very difficult to trust when you think of the completely inconsistent level he has produced throughout his College career, but I think the Quarter Back will be helped by the run and that should see the Tigers continue to churn out the points.

In reality the 10-2 record has been built on the Defensive unit and that is going to be the key for the Clemson Tigers yet again. They will know all about Drake Maye at Quarter Back for North Carolina considering the Tigers wanted to recruit him, but stopping him will be a tough challenge after the year Maye has had.

The edge that the Tigers do have is on the line of scrimmage and they will feel the Defensive Line can largely shut down the North Carolina ability to establish the run and leave Drake Maye to make the plays through the air. There is no doubting that he can have success, but Maye will be under pressure behind a Tar Heels Offensive Line which has not provided the kind of time he will need in third and long spots and especially not against the Clemson pass rush, which has been getting to the Quarter Back regularly in recent games thanks to the run stuffing ability of the Defensive Line.

Drake Maye won't be shut down completely, but he will have to be careful with his accuracy if he is going to guide the Tar Heels to the upset and that may be too tall a task. Back to back losses will have knocked the North Carolina confidence and I do think the Tigers Defensive unit will step up and make enough plays to give their team the chance to win this Championship Game.

Both teams have been inconsistent at the betting window this season and they can be difficult to trust having underwhelmed for much of the year.

However, the Clemson Tigers are a bit more experienced than the North Carolina Tar Heels and they should have enough Defense to edge to the cover of this spread.

Michigan Wolverines vs Purdue Boilermakers Pick: Winning in Columbus is never easy, but winning by the margin that the Michigan Wolverines (12-0) was very impressive. Barring something strange happening, the Wolverines have to believe they can win the Big Ten Championship and return to the College Football PlayOff for a second season in a row.

Cade McNamara has decided he will be transferring away from the Wolverines at the end of the season, but the focus for the team has to be on the Purdue Boilermakers (8-4) who won the Big Ten West with a 6-3 Conference record. The Spoilermakers have regularly upset teams over the last couple of seasons so overlooking them will be a mistake, while there should be plenty of motivation in Purdue to play hard for their Quarter Back Aidan O'Connell.

In Week 13, Aidan O'Connell threw for 290 yards and 2 Touchdown passes with no Interceptions as the Boilermakers beat the Indiana Hoosiers and took their place in the Big Ten Championship Game. The performance was all the more remarkable considering O'Connell had found out his brother Sean had passed away prior to the game and he has been given some time off to grieve with his family.

Everyone expects Aidan O'Connell to return to play in the Championship Game and his team-mates are going to want to give their absolute all in support of a player that is much admired. This is a crushing time for the Quarter Back and Football may not be his biggest priority right now, but there is also no doubt that Aidan O'Connell will return to the team with full focus and that makes him dangerous.

Of course he is facing a Wolverines Defensive unit that is stout, but Aidan O'Connell's grief can be a powerful motivational tool in sports and I have a real belief that he is going to have a massive performance on Saturday. Ultimately it may not be good enough for the upset, but it will make the Boilermakers dangerous.

Running the ball won't be easy, but I don't think Purdue will move too far away from the game plan being produced this week. They just want to make sure O'Connell is given a chance to throw from favourable down and distances, while the Purdue Offensive Line should offer their Quarter Back a little bit of time in the pocket to hit his Receivers.

It will be a tough day for the Boilermakers, but they can make this competitive, although the Michigan Wolverines should be able to come through with a victory that takes them into the College Football PlayOff.

Blake Corum is still banged up for the Wolverines, while JJ McCarthy has not been asked to do a lot at Quarter Back in keeping Michigan's Offensive unit ticking along. The Wolverines showed how efficiently they can run the ball even without Corum last week in the win over the Buckeyes, but this is another stout Defensive Line they are facing and without the same kind of emotion they would have had going into Columbus.

Only a couple of weeks ago the Illinois Fighting Illini made things very uncomfortable for the Wolverines on the Offensive side of the ball and I do think Purdue can do the same in this one.

It may then come down to JJ McCarthy and his arm to help the Wolverines win the game, although the Quarter Back is going to be facing a Boilermakers Secondary which have stepped up their level of play down the stretch. I do think McCarthy will have success, but it may not be as consistent as will be needed to help Michigan cover what is a pretty big number.

I have to respect the fact that the Wolverines crushed the Iowa Hawkeyes in the Big Ten Championship Game last season after finally beating the Ohio State Buckeyes under Jim Harbaugh so they could come out and crush the Purdue Boilermakers. However, I am expecting the underdog to play at their very highest level to support their Quarter Back and Purdue should be able to reach 20 points, which may be enough to cover.

The Spoilermakers are 5-1 against the spread in their last six games against a team with a winning record and clearly enjoy the challenges of facing the stronger teams. A lack of Championship Game experience is a concern, but the motivation of the Purdue players should help them keep this one close and competitive.

MY PICKS: Buffalo Bulls - 11.5 Points @ 2.00 Bet365 (1 Unit)

USC Trojans - 2.5 Points @ 1.86 Bet365 (1 Unit)

TCU Horned Frogs - 2.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Georgia Bulldogs - 17.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Clemson Tigers - 7.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Purdue Boilermakers + 16.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Boxing Picks 2020- Golden Contract Finals (December 2nd)

Boxing fans can be a strange breed.

Most want to see people take risks and the big fights at a time when they are perhaps yet to prove they are capable of taking the steps to the next level.

But when they do and things don't always go to plan the same fighter is going to be heavily criticised if they do fall short.

Even worse is when fighters are labelled 'quitters' and that is what Daniel Dubois faced after taking a knee to accept the referee's count in his defeat to Joe Joyce. A huge swelling had virtually shut his left eye and it has turned out there is some orbital damage including a fracture which may have led to huge issues down the line for a 23 year old who has to think of his future whether that is in Boxing or not.

I hate how quick people are ready to sharpen their tools to attack others who have put themselves in the firing line for our entertainment. At the end of the day I do think the Dubois corner should have protected their man a little better and perhaps made the decision for him if only so the fighter himself was protected from the fall out, but that is something they will all have to consider.

And of course I hope Daniel Dubois makes a full recovery and is able to resume his career in 2021.

In any Boxing bout there is always a loser and a winner and in this one Joe Joyce has pushed himself along to perhaps fight for a World Title in 2021. He has had to take risks having begun his professional career at an advanced age, but Joyce has shown a solid set of whiskers and a work rate which will make him a tough out for anyone he faces.

Perhaps it will be the Oleksandr Usyk rematch, this time with a WBO World Title on the line, that is in his future, but Joe Joyce has options and I hope he doesn't sit back on this win but uses the momentum to keep his career moving forward.

Much is going to depend on whether Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury are able to sign a deal to face each other next, but by the end of this month and early into January Joe Joyce should have a good idea as to the direction he will next be heading.

Harlem Eubank vs Daniel Egbunike

Two unbeaten fighters meet behind closed doors on Wednesday evening and I have to credit both for taking this test at this stage of their careers.

The bigger name is Harlem Eubank if only because he is the nephew of Chris Eubank Sr, but he is beginning to come into his own and is unbeaten in ten fights, although the power has yet to be displayed consistently with three stoppages in that time.

He did stop his last opponent and knocked down the opponent in the fight before, but Eubank has to pace himself here as he enters his first Ten Rounder.

Being in the same camp with quality operators like Josh Kelly and Michael Conlan means Harlem Eubank is improving too and I think he should be able to out-box the unbeaten Londoner Daniel Egbunike.

The latter is unbeaten in six fights and may have a bit more behind his shots having won 50% of those bouts inside the distance. Daniel Egbunike also won the Southern Area Light Welterweight Title in his last fight and did that having completed Ten Rounds for the second time in a row.

Daniel Egbunike won't be worried about facing an unbeaten fighter having taken the 0 of the last two opponents he has faced and the experience of going Ten Rounds both times may give him a mental edge. While Harlem Eubank will be looking to make sure he doesn't gas out going Ten for the first time, Egbunike will have the confidence of knowing how to work these bouts.

Even then Harlem Eubank is the naturally bigger man having previously been operating at the Welterweight level and I do think he will be perhaps a little more skilled than Daniel Egbunike.

I think that will show up here and the money seems to be coming in on the favourite who has shortened in price the closer we get to this bout.

I do think Eubank will want to go for the stoppage, but I also think the first Ten Rounder may mean he is not prepared to take unnecessary risks as he wins what should be a comfortable Decision on the cards.

Ricards Bolotniks vs Serge Michel

The Golden Contract has been a fun tournament, but I don't think many would have picked this as the Final when Ricards Bolotniks and Serge Michel meet on Wednesday.

Both have upset fighters on their way to the Final, but that means they have a lot on the line when they face one another.

Winning the Golden Contract would be a huge boost to the careers of fighters who have perhaps underachieved so far. Ricards Bolotniks has won seventeen of his twenty-three previous fights, but the five losses is a concern.

He will be encouraged by his wins over Steven Ward and Hosea Burton, but Serge Michel is a well rounded Boxer who has a strong amateur experience and only a single loss on the record.

The German crushed Liam Conroy in the Semi Final, but the surprising stoppage loss to Ryan Ford will have hurt the momentum he was trying to pick up earlier in the career. Serge Michel has bounced back to win three in a row since then and he hits plenty hard enough to believe he can crack through a rugged opponent who won't be hard to find.

Eight of his eleven wins have come via stoppage and Serge Michel also knocked down Tommy Philbin twice in a comfortable Decision win against him.

I do think the Ten Rounder does knock off some time to really go for the finish, but Serge Michel should still have time to get it done inside the distance. Ricards Bolotniks has upset the odds twice already in this Golden Contract tournament, but I think Serge Michel is the biggest hitter he has faced and also has the amateur experience to pick those shots and break down his Latvian opponent.

Ryan Walsh vs James Dickens

This has all the makings of a really good Featherweight Final in the Golden Contract tournament which is concluding this Wednesday.

Both Ryan Walsh and James Dickens have impressed on their way to the Final and this really does feel like a crossroads fight for both.

The winner can go on and earn a couple of big opportunities, while the losing fighter may feel this is a level they are not likely to surpass. That is the harsh reality of Boxing at times and that means both Walsh and Dickens have a lot on the line in this one.

You can't really argue with the form of the two fighters nor their past resumes- both have good wins in this tournament, but I do feel Ryan Walsh has the stronger resume and looks to have been successful at a slightly higher level than James Dickens.

Ryan Walsh had to give up his British Title to take part in this tournament, but he could pick up a European Title if he wins this one. He has been facing a number of decent names in this Division over the last three years and some of the wins have been franked by the form shown by those vanquished opponents.

I do think this is going to be massively close with the southpaw stance of James Dickens and the work rate of the Liverpudlian certainly something that will make him very competitive.

A close Decision looks to be on the cards, but I think Ryan Walsh may have the more impressive and notable moments in the Final which helps him sneak the success in what is regarded as a genuine 50-50 fight.

MY PICKS: Harlem Eubank Win by Decision/Technical Decision @ 2.20 Bet Victor (2 Units)

Serge Michel to Win by KO/TKO/Disqualification @ 3.20 Paddy Power (2 Units)

Ryan Walsh to Win @ 2.10 Bet Fred (2 Units)

NFL Week 13 Picks 2018 (November 29-December 2)

I am away this week but I have been able to write out a few thoughts about the NFL Week 13 games and Picks which can be read below.

With the way this week is going, I might only have the Picks from Sunday and Monday selections, but it all depends on how long I have to add the thoughts I have written down.

In Week 14 I will have the season updates.


New Orleans Saints @ Dallas Cowboys Pick: The Dallas Cowboys and New Orleans Saints are both leading individual Divisions in the NFC, but there still looks to be a big gap between these teams. The Saints are dominating the NFC South and will be disappointed if they are not able to secure a top Seed in the Conference, while the Cowboys look like the best of a pretty poor bunch in the NFC East.

I think both teams are going to be in the Play Offs with the Saints closer to securing a post-season berth and they could take a big step towards that at the end of this Thursday Night Football game.

Both teams are off big Thanksgiving Day games and so both should be well prepared for this one too.

However it is going to be a big challenge for the Cowboys to slow down Drew Brees and the New Orleans Offensive unit who have been blowing opponents away since a Week 1 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The best hope Dallas has is by stiffening up on the line of scrimmage and containing Alvin Kamara and Mark Ingram and hope they can put Brees in third and long and get after him with a strong pass rush.

It is difficult to see that happening with Dallas giving up 4.3 yards per carry in their last three games and both Kamara and Ingram could be a pass catching threat coming out of the backfield. The Cowboys Secondary has really not played up to the level that makes me believe they won't be able to slow the passing game of the Saints and Brees throws the ball so quickly that any pass rush could be negated by a strong Offensive Line.

This all adds up to pressure being on Dak Prescott to keep the points coming for the Dallas Cowboys who have scored at least 22 points in each of three games since the surprising defeat to the Tennessee Titans at home. Prescott has managed to force the ball through to Amari Cooper to get the passing game looking like it is returning to form and that has opened things up for Ezekiel Elliot.

Elliot has been running the ball pretty well, but the Saints have been proud of stopping the run in recent games. There has also been an improvement in the play of the younger players in the Secondary and that has seen New Orleans step up and make some big stops that has given their Offensive unit a chance to take complete control of games.

The Saints have not been as strong on the road, but they are 20-7 against the spread in their last twenty-seven away from the SuperDome. They are also facing a Cowboys team who are 5-11 against the spread in their last sixteen against a team with a winning record, while they are also 2-7 against the spread in their last nine hosting a team with a winning record on the road.

New Orleans are 8-3 against the spread in their last eleven of this series and I think this is a team who has too much firepower for the Dallas Cowboys. If the Saints go two scores up it will quickly mean Dallas move away from the game plan and I think that is when New Orleans will make some big Defensive plays to give their Offense a chance to pull away in this one.

MY PICKS: New Orleans Saints - 7 Points @ 1.91 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Green Bay Packers - 13.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (2 Units)
Carolina Panthers - 3 Points @ 1.91 Ladbrokes (2 Units)
Indianapolis Colts - 3.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet Fred (2 Units)
Denver Broncos - 4.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Cleveland Browns + 5.5 Points @ 1.91 Boyle Sports (2 Units)
Seattle Seahawks - 9.5 Points @ 1.91 Ladbrokes (2 Units)
New England Patriots - 4.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet Fred (2 Units)
Pittsburgh Steelers - 3 Points @ 1.91 Boyle Sports (2 Units)

Weekend Football Picks 2017 (December 2-3)

Have a quick look at the fixtures of the top clubs in the English Premier League that are coming up and you can see why December is going to be such a difficult month to get through. Managers will have to rotate the players they have to keep everyone fresh and happy with so many weeks having multiple games scheduled.

With the modern day football stadiums as they are, it will take a lot for any games to be postponed these days at the very highest level and teams have to take things day by day to make sure they are in a position to earn as many points as possible in the Premier League.

We also have a round of Champions League Football and the League Cup Quarter Finals scheduled in December and it is a very, very busy time of the season.

On Friday the World Cup Finals draw was put together and once the initial excitement of the draw was over I have to admit I was a little underwhelmed with the Groups and the potential matches we are going to see. That opinion is likely to change once the domestic season is in the books and knowing more football is to come in the summer, but for now I have to say the Groups just underline how far international football has fallen as far as I am concerned.

England should be very happy with the draw they have been given though as they are matched up with Belgium, Tunisia and Panama and I would fully expect them to get through to the Second Round. In fact the way the draw has panned out I think anything less than a Quarter Final spot would be an underachievement for England, but we can stick the World Cup on the back burner until May.

The Premier League has scheduled matches over two days this weekend and the big game of the weekend comes on Saturday afternoon when Arsenal host Manchester United. The Picks from the Premier League games played this weekend can be found below.

Chelsea v Newcastle United Pick: Only some really quality last ditch defending, a decent display from the goalkeeper and some poor finishing from Chelsea helped Swansea City leave Stamford Bridge with a 1-0 loss on Wednesday. That was a Chelsea team that had a few changes made to the starting eleven to freshen things up, but a returning Eden Hazard may not be good news for Newcastle United in the first match of the Premier League weekend.

There were some concerns that the Chelsea players had lost a bit of faith in Antonio Conte after some inconsistent results, and the 3-0 loss in Roma was a particularly worrying day in the office. However they have since recovered with some strong performances and Chelsea have managed to produce a 5 game unbeaten run during which time they have won 4 games.

Conte is a perfectionist though and I am sure he wants to see his players produce a little more clinical finishing, but I do think they will have the chances to win this game handily enough.

Newcastle United might have restored some confidence in the 2-2 draw with West Brom on Tuesday after coming from 2-0 down, but they are conceding goals at an alarming rate at the moment. With the games coming thick and fast and the likes of Jamaal Lascelles and Paul Dummett sidelined, Rafa Benitez can't freshen up his side as he may like and I think Chelsea can prove to be too good for them.

As I said before Newcastle United visited Manchester United a couple of weeks ago, I don't know if this squad is going to be good enough to contain the top teams in the Premier League. Chelsea certainly fit that billing and I will look for them to do the same as Manchester United and win this game by at least a two goal margin and cover the Asian Handicap.

Brighton v Liverpool Pick: There has to be a lot of respect given to Brighton for the hard work they are putting into their games and the defensive resiliency they have shown. Chris Hughton will want that to be the foundation for their successes and earning 17 points already means Brighton have made a big step towards survival in their first season back in the top flight for over thirty years.

Games like this one have to be seen as a 'free hit' for the Brighton players but it does come at the end of a tough week when they have put in a lot of hard work. Unlike the top sides in the Premier League, the Brighton squad depth is not one that can see a host of changes made to keep the side fresh and I think the work done this week could catch up with them

It will always be a difficult game to face a Liverpool side who have been scoring goals for fun in recent away games having managed at least three goals in 4 of their last 5 on their travels including all 3 since the 4-1 loss at Tottenham Hotspur.

The space that Liverpool get away from home is certainly going to be exploited with the speed and quality they have in the final third and I do wonder if Brighton will be able to stay with their visitors. Brighton have proven tough to beat here, but they haven't hosted too many of the big names and Manchester City did win 0-2 here.

With the goals Liverpool are producing, I think Brighton will have to take chances at some point and that is where they could be caught out on the counter attack. I will look for Liverpool to keep the goals coming and I will back them to win here by a couple of goals knowing the stake is returned in case of a win by a single goal margin.

Brighton will make life tough, but I think they will go behind and then get caught later on and I would be surprised if Liverpool don't win here to at least return the stake.

Everton v Huddersfield Town Pick: It was a huge game for Everton on Wednesday and you could get a sense of that from the crowd which was not at the usual levels you would expect in a night game at Goodison Park. The 4-0 win would have pleased the majority, but many are still not convinced Sam Allardyce is the positive managerial appointment they were looking for and that contributed to a fairly flat atmosphere.

David Unsworth and the players have to feel they did their best to raise the roof with a strong 4-0 win over West Ham United, but there was a touch of fortune about the result. It took a penalty to break the deadlock, and a penalty save from Jordan Pickford at 2-0 at the beginning of the second half was a key to the outcome.

There is still work to do for Everton to make sure they can begin climbing the table, but they may not be able to really get into what Sam Allardyce wants until a few weeks are passed. Even with that in mind, the confidence coming out of the win over West Ham United can't be underestimated and Everton are facing a poor travelling Huddersfield Town team.

Huddersfield Town work very hard which can make it difficult for Everton, but they have yet to really put a strong goal threat together away from home. The 4-0 loss at Bournemouth and 5-0 loss at Arsenal are concerning results and this game comes at the end of a tough week for The Terriers.

You can see why Everton are favoured to win the game, but I am not convinced they have completely turned a corner. They have won back to back League games at Goodison Park to get the fans behind them, but Everton still look a little nervy at times and they were fortunate to be facing a team with confidence issues of their own on Wednesday.

While I don't think confidence is an issue for Huddersfield Town, I do think there may be a lack of real quality that can be shown up without their fans really getting behind them as they do at the John Smith's Stadium. That energy can get 10% more out of players that they perhaps don't find away from home and I think Everton look a huge price to win this one with another clean sheet.

That price is worth a small interest rather than backing Everton to simply win and I will look for the home team to earn another vital three points in their move away from the bottom three.

Leicester City v Burnley Pick: Both Leicester City and Burnley have produced the kind of results that will make them believe they are capable of finishing best of the rest behind the top six in the Premier League. While Sean Dyche won't entertain this thought at all, some Burnley fans may even feel they can break into the top six with the results they have already earned.

That would be a remarkable achievement for Burnley who continue to bounce back from setbacks in the most positive of ways. After controversially being beaten by Arsenal, Burnley were back to winning ways at Bournemouth and their away form this season has been as good as it was disappointing last season.

Burnley have remained incredibly well organised and that has made them very tough to beat this season. Only Manchester City have won by a comfortable margin, but even then it took late goals to put Burnley away and I do think they can pose problems for Leicester City.

The Foxes have been in good form and they had a very impressive 2-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur on Tuesday. It can only give them confidence having now won 3 of their last 4 games at home, but I think Burnley will make it tougher than Spurs did who defended poorly for the goals they conceded and had plenty of chances to earn a result.

It feels like a really close game that won't have much between the teams, and both have had some strong results at home/away respectively this season. The draw is a real player, but Burnley may have the better opportunities to win here with their organisation likely to frustrate a Leicester City team who want to hit teams on the counter attack.

Backing Burnley with the start on the Asian Handicap will return half the stake if Burnley are beaten by a single goal margin, but I think they can do better and earn a result here. With wins at Chelsea and Everton already this season and draws at Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool I do think Burnley will feel they can get some kind of result here and I like them with the start.

Watford v Tottenham Hotspur Pick: This is a big game for Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday as they try and get back on track in a League where the top teams look like they are not going to be dropping a lot of points. The Premier League title challenge looks long gone after 3 straight away losses, but the top four has to be the goal for Tottenham Hotspur and they can get back on track for that.

It won't be easy at Watford who showed they have plenty of heart and desire when recovering from 0-3 down against Manchester United and get back to 2-3 before a late goal finished them off. Marco Silva's future at the club has been set for the next few months at least and the players have looked like they have really enjoyed playing for this manager who wants to play attacking football.

Unfortunately the injuries at the back have meant Watford have been conceding goals and chances at an alarming rate and that has to be a problem when facing Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday. Even though they were beaten at Leicester City, Tottenham Hotspur had so many clear cut chances to score and you have to think it is a matter of time before they can get things turned around and start gobbling them up.

I expect there will be plenty of opportunities at both ends of the pitch in this one and I am going to look for goals as I did during the week. Tottenham Hotspur look very short when you consider the current form, but I also think there is the chance of backing at least four goals to be shared out in this one.

That happened twice in the League meetings between Watford and Tottenham Hotspur last season and I can't ignore the fact that it has been a feature of Watford's games against the top teams this season. That number would have been hit in 4 of 5 games against the top six from last season including against Manchester United on Tuesday and the defensive injuries do mean both teams look better in the final third than when it comes to defending.

It is a big price for at least four goals and I think that can be the outcome of this one.

West Brom v Crystal Palace Pick: Alan Pardew has been given the top job at The Hawthorns and will get to face his last club in his first match in charge of West Brom. While Pardew is excited about the potential in the squad he has inherited from Tony Pulis, I have to agree with the manager that it will take a little time for everyone to get up to speed to his demands.

Crystal Palace look a little further ahead with Roy Hodgson as the performances have picked up in the two months he has been in charge. With improving performances have come improving results and a win for Crystal Palace here would potentially take them out of the bottom three when so many had already put a fork in the club after a terrible start to the season.

However it won't be easy to win here with the struggles for goals Crystal Palace have had away from home, They have yet to score in the League on their travels, but The Eagles have definitely become a little tougher defensively and that gives them every chance to earn a result.

West Brom had a decent reaction to Pulis' sacking and this feels like a match where the two teams could cancel one another out. I backed Crystal Palace to earn a draw at Brighton during the week and it does feel like the points could be shared in this one too.

Games between these clubs tend to be well fought out and I don't think there is a lot between them. I considered backing Crystal Palace with a small start on the Asian Handicap but a lack of goals is an issue, but I think they can get something here and backing the draw for a small interest has to be worth backing.

Arsenal v Manchester United Pick: Two of the top four meet on Saturday afternoon in the biggest game of the Premier League weekend and the importance of the three points will be lost on neither of them. The motivations and goals for the season are different for both Arsenal and Manchester United with the former likely seeing the top four as the best they can achieve while Manchester United continue chasing rivals Manchester City in a title bid.

Arsene Wenger won't be conceding the title challenge at this point of the season, but they do look a long way behind Manchester City and anything other than a win would likely be curtains for that. However Wenger has been getting the best out of his Arsenal side to hink they can win this one and the confidence of the players is key.

Even with Alexandre Lacazette on the sidelines, Arsenal have options in the forward areas to trouble Manchester United who have not defended as well away from home as they have at Old Trafford. That showed up in allowing Watford back into things at Vicarage Road and the absence of Eric Bailly, Phil Jones, Nemanja Matic and Marouane Fellaini does remove some of the defensive cover for the visitors.

It would still be a surprise to see Manchester United as open as they were at Stamford Bridge in the 1-0 defeat at Chelsea, especially as that will play into Arsenal's hands. Instead I expect Manchester United to be a little more solid and expect to create chances against Arsenal on the counter attack as Jose Mourinho tries to earn his first really big away win as manager of Manchester United.

Arsenal will play the same way they always do at home as they try and get forward and create chances, but the loss of Lacazette is a blow for them. If Alexis Sanchez is limited by his hamstring issue then there will be more problems for Arsenal, but the 12 League game winning run at the Emirates Stadium should give The Gunners plenty of confidence.

I do think there will be chances for both clubs in this fixture, but I am also anticipating another close game between them. Manchester United's record in away games at the big clubs under Jose Mourinho has been talked about plenty, but they have been close in a couple of those to turn things in their favour.

I would be surprised if one of the 0-0, 1-1, 1-0, 2-0, 0-1, 0-2 potential scorelines do not come out of this one. I have a sneaky feeling Manchester United can get a result here against an Arsenal team who have won 12 straight home games but only played two top six clubs in that time.

The first goal could be all important, but the better option looks to be there being less than three goals to be scored in this one. That has been huge in Manchester United away games at the big clubs, while the last couple of home games Arsenal have played against teams from the top six have also finished less than three goals.

This should be a tense fixture with both clubs knowing what is on the line for them and I will look for less than three goals to be shared out.

Bournemouth v Southampton Pick: The one worry for Southampton coming out of their 2-1 loss at Manchester City has to be the effort they put into a fixture which saw them undone in the 96th minute. The players do have an extra day to recover from their exertions than they would have expected, and playing in a south coast derby should make sure there is enough adrenaline pumped into the players to get them going for this one.

The Saints will get a chance to play their football with the way Bournemouth approach things and I do wonder if there may be a little more positive attitude from Mauricio Pellegrino here. You can't blame him for trying to make things as hard as possible for Manchester City, but the fans will expect to see more concerted attacking in this fixture and I do think Pellegrino will set Southampton up to do that.

It will certainly help the overall appeal of the game with Bournemouth likely trying to get forward as much as possible themselves. The goals have begun to come for Bournemouth with all of the attacking options they do have and they will feel they can at least test a Southampton team who have not produced a lot of big results in recent weeks.

The performances have been better which means Southampton should be able to play their part in an entertaining game and I think both teams are capable of creating chances. It is an important three points on offer in this one as both Southampton and Bournemouth try to steer clear of the bottom three and I do expect a positive attitude from both managers which should translate onto the field.

The layers are not expecting a high-scoring game, but I do think goals could be the outcome of this one. The last two at Bournemouth have both featured at least three goals and 3 of the last 4 away Southampton games have done the same. Last season we got four goals at the Vitality Stadium between these teams, but I will settle for one fewer here at odds against.

Manchester City v West Ham United Pick: The moment when I lost confidence in David Moyes as manager of Manchester United was hearing him speak ahead of a match with Newcastle United and suggesting the goal was to 'make life difficult for them'. Later that same season Moyes suggested that Manchester City were the standard for Manchester United despite taking over a team that had been Champions the season before his arrival.

That negative mindset ended any chance of success as manager of Manchester United and I do worry for West Ham United as I can imagine that the mindset of Moyes will be to try and spoil the game and hope for something than truly believe he can help The Hammers earn a result here.

The negativity will likely spread to the squad who are coming in off a hammering, pardon the pun, at Everton during the week. Injuries in key areas in the centre of the defence does not bode well for West Ham United and I think they could have a long day in the office if they concede early in this one.

There have been signs that Manchester City are not firing on all cylinders at the moment, but the style of football has worn down opponents and three late winners highlight that. Leroy Sane was missed badly against Southampton, but could return to the squad this weekend, and I think Manchester City will have large periods with the ball which can make them very dangerous throughout this one.

Late goals will breed confidence and Manchester City smashed West Ham United three times last season. I have a feeling this could be one of their better days in the office in recent games and I will look for Manchester City to record a fairly comfortable win on the day.

Goals have not been flowing as well as they were, but West Ham United have looked really poor in recent weeks and the defensive injuries means they have struggled to keep the back door shut. Joe Hart would love to have a big game but unfortunately for the goalkeeper he is unable to play against his parent club, although that might not be a bad thing having been criticised by the new manager for his part in the Everton goals on Wednesday.

All in all it does look a really difficult day for West Ham United and I can't see how they will be able to contain Manchester City. It will need a lot of luck from The Hammers to stay in this one, but I think they could have a really long day if they fall behind early in this one and I will look for Manchester City to cover a big Asian Handicap in the second of the live Sunday games.

MY PICKS: Chelsea - 1.5 Asian Handicap @ 1.81 Bet Victor (2 Units)

Liverpool - 1 Asian Handicap @ 1.83 Bet Victor (2 Units)

Everton Win to Nil @ 2.75 Bet Victor (1 Unit)

Burnley + 0.75 Asian Handicap @ 1.84 Bet Victor (2 Units)

Watford-Tottenham Hotspur Over 3.5 Goals @ 2.75 William Hill (2 Units)

West Brom-Crystal Palace Draw @ 3.20 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Arsenal-Manchester United Under 2.5 Goals @ 1.91 Sky Bet (2 Units)

Bournemouth-Southampton Over 2.5 Goals @ 2.25 Betfair Sportsbook (2 Units)

Manchester City - 2.5 Asian Handicap @ 1.81 Bet Victor (2 Units)

Weekend Football Picks 2016 (December 2-5)

If you think where the November totals were just two weeks ago, you would not have predicted positive numbers to end the month but a strong two weeks has turned things around. That means adding to the season totals as two positive months and two negative months has put me in a decent position knowing I've had considerably more success in the second half of the season compared with the first over the last three years.

I don't want to take anything for granted as previous performance isn't always an indication for future success, but I am comfortable with how things have gone to this point.


December is always a tough month for players and making picks as the games come thick and fast and making the right adjustments in regards to team strengths can be tough. Watch out for players being rested at this time of the season to keep them fresh for the five months in 2017 that determines where silverware goes, but managers will do well to note how important this time of the year can be, particularly in England.

It is a month with domestic football around Europe up until the weekend of the 17th/18th December before most Leagues shut down for a short 'Winter Break'. The English Leagues continue with games scheduled for Boxing Day, New Year's Weekend and Monday 2nd January where a lot of the players will be tested.

Personally I love this time of the year for the football we get to see, although December has been proven to be something of a graveyard for my picks even if last season was one of the better Decembers I have had. Hopefully I will be getting the month off to a really strong start this weekend which can build some momentum before we head into the final Champions League/Europa League Group matches next week.

A number of teams will be playing twice a week right through to the weekend of the 17th/18th December when they will have eight days to get ready for the Boxing Day fixtures.


Manchester City v Chelsea Pick: There has been a lot of high praise given to Antonio Conte in recent weeks which is a far cry from when he was favoured to be the next manager to lose his job in the Premier League after the 3-0 loss to Arsenal. I think the Italian should be given credit for the change of formation which is getting plenty of positives out of Eden Hazard and Diego Costa, but you can raise some questions about their 7 game winning run in the Premier League.

They scored early against Manchester United and Southampton, but both of those teams had opportunities to get back into the game which could have changed the whole feel of the game if they had taken them. Last weekend Chelsea were far inferior to Tottenham Hotspur in the first 45 minutes and being fresher helped them turn that game around as well as scoring right on half time when they might have been out of the game by that point.

It is hard to ignore the results, but Manchester City is a completely different test to what they have faced away from home since the 3-0 loss at Arsenal. Chelsea have beaten Hull City, Southampton and Middlesbrough in the League, but they have also lost at West Ham United in the Cup in that time and having odds against quotes on the home team look very appealing.

Manchester City might have drawn 3 home games in a row, but Chelsea won't sit back and make life awkward as much as Everton, Southampton and Middlesbrough did. In all seriousness, Manchester City had enough chances to win at least two of those games and the win over Barcelona shows what this team can do when they are facing a team that might be a little more positive and thus leave some spaces.

Tactically it should be a fascinating game and Manchester City's poor defensive record would be a big concern for Pep Guardiola. However the Spaniard has had a full week to prepare his men for this one and the freshness won't be a concern as it became for Tottenham Hotspur last Saturday.

I simply also don't think Chelsea are as good as their recent results suggest and I do think Manchester City will prove too strong on the day. The home team will create enough chances to win this one and it is all about whether they can punish Chelsea when they come unlike the likes of Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur in recent weeks.


Crystal Palace v Southampton Pick: This has to be a huge weekend for Alan Pardew whose run to the FA Cup Final as Crystal Palace manager at the end of the 2015/16 season papered over the really poor form in the Premier League. Despite a huge outlay financially in the summer, Crystal Palace have not been able to get out of a consistent slump and are on the brink of falling into the bottom three.

I do have to think the Chairman at Selhurst Park and others in power might be waiting to see if Pardew can turn things around having had faith in him before. However a fall into the bottom three might see a little bit of panic creep into any decision about the manager's future at the club and another defeat on Saturday would ramp up that pressure.

You simply can't avoid that when overseeing 6 straight losses and not when Crystal Palace managed to blow a 3-4 lead at Swansea City last weekend in an eventual 5-4 loss as The Eagles conceded twice in injury time. The goals being conceded at the moment has to be a big concern for Pardew especially as they are facing a Southampton team full of confidence after 2 wins this week and one that doesn't concede a lot of goals.

There is definitely an attacking threat in the Southampton line up that will feel they can expose the soft underbelly of their hosts, but I do think this is a side that is not as strong away from home as they are at St Mary's. The win over Arsenal in the English Football League Cup Quarter Final came against a much changed home team and you can't easily ignore the 2-1 loss at Hull City in a game Southampton took the lead.

However the recent Crystal Palace form makes it tough to believe in them too much either and the vulnerabilities that both have shown suggests the layers may have got it wrong with odds against quotes for at least three goals. 4 of the last 7 fixtures between these two teams have featured at least three goals and the goals being conceded by both at home/away respectively suggests the attacking players will have their chances to improve those numbers.

Crystal Palace are likely to want to tighten up at the back considering recent performances, but Pardew might have to rely on his own attacking players to help the club out of trouble. At odds against I think the chance of seeing goals has been underestimated because of Southampton's lack of goals in recent games, but I think that may change here.


Stoke City v Burnley Pick: There are a few teams in the Premier League from who you simply don't know what kind of performance you are going to see from game to game. Stoke City are one of those and that has contributed to a really inconsistent start to the season for Mark Hughes' team who have plenty of quality but from players who can produce 9/10 performances one week and 5/10 the next.

The football is more enjoyable these days but the results have not been as positive at times as shown when Stoke City were beaten 0-1 by Bournemouth here two weeks ago. This is not the fortress it used to be under Tony Pulis, but Stoke City are able to produce results on their travels more than they ever could under their former manager.

This is the kind of game Stoke City should be winning when they host Burnley, but the layers are taking no chances with the price on the home team. That looks very short to me when you think Burnley have been able to hold out at Manchester United recently even if they did ride their luck in that one.

A real issue for Burnley is finding enough goals to win games and that leads me to my pick. They have only scored in 1 of their 6 away games in all competitions this season and even that was through a penalty at Southampton. Burnley have had some tough away games, but they have also failed to find the net at Accrington Stanley from League Two and at West Brom and I do think Stoke City can become the latest to keep them out.

At some point I would think Stoke City will create their opportunities to win the game, but a small interest on them winning with a clean sheet is the call.


Sunderland v Leicester City Pick: Last week David Moyes took some criticism from the media for the defensive shape Sunderland played with at Liverpool, but most fans would have recognised any points from that game at Anfield would have been considered a bonus. This week there will be a different feel with Sunderland at home and facing a team that is surprisingly considered a relegation rival when Leicester City visit the North East.

The poor performances that Leicester City have produced away from home is a big concern for Claudio Ranieri and recent weeks has seen the side slide down into the bottom half of the table. Even games at home have begun to bog Leicester City down and this is a very difficult game for them.

While Sunderland have conceded plenty of goals at home, they have also found a way to score goals here and have to believe they can take the game to Leicester City. It is that belief that potentially plays into Leicester City's hands as they might be able to have more success on the counter attack than they have for much of this season.

That will make Leicester City a dangerous proposition this weekend, but Jermain Defoe will believe he can help Sunderland get on the scoreboard too. The away side have really been struggling defensively and Sunderland could pose a real threat from set pieces but the home team have also had defensive problems.

With that in mind, I do think this is a game that could feature three goals at least as the two clubs involved chase an important three points to get their seasons turned around. At odds against I think you can back this game to have at least three goals shared out.


West Ham United v Arsenal Pick: Games between West Ham United and Arsenal at Upton Park were highly entertaining in recent seasons, and I feel the move to the London Stadium will not take away anything from what these teams could produce. Both suffered disappointing English Football League Cup Quarter Final exits on Wednesday, but the changes made suggested they both had one eye on this big Premier League game which will have an impact at both ends of the League table.

There have been a few signs that West Ham United are willing to turn a corner, but they can't afford to be as sloppy as they were in the 3-2 loss at Tottenham Hotspur a couple of weeks ago. That is going to be punished by Arsenal and I do think The Hammers are giving up too many chances at the moment which is going to lead to problems.

After initially struggling in their new home, West Ham United do come into this one with a 4 game unbeaten run and that includes being the only team in recent weeks to beat Chelsea. That should give West Ham United some confidence, but defensively they have only kept one clean sheet in their last 5 home games in all competitions.

A team like Arsenal might be missing the influence of Santi Cazorla, but they have shown they have goals in the side and should be able to expose those vulnerabilities. However I do think West Ham United can play a part in this one too with the defensive frailties Arsenal have shown in recent weeks and that makes it a fascinating League game on Saturday afternoon.

I do think the extra quality Arsenal have shown in recent games gives them an edge in this one. Darren Randolph will need to have a game of the highest standard as he produced at Old Trafford last week but he is facing an Arsenal team that have scored at least twice in 4 of their last 6 away games in all competitions.

I will have a small interest in Arsenal continuing their recent dominance of this fixture away from home and I will back them to win a game where both teams do score.


Bournemouth v Liverpool Pick: This is a big game on Sunday for both Bournemouth and Liverpool and there are a couple of questions for both teams to answer. The home team have had a few sloppy results recently most notably the 1-2 loss to Sunderland here despite taking the lead, while Liverpool are missing a huge part of their attacking threat in Philippe Coutinho.

Confidence is a big issue for teams like Bournemouth, but I also believe their style of play makes it easier for the better teams in the Premier League to play against them. Unlike some of the other clubs in the bottom half, Eddie Howe will want his side to express themselves in every game they play and I think that has contributed to the fact that they were beaten in 7 of their 10 home games against teams that finished in the top half last season.

A draw with Tottenham Hotspur and a win over Everton this season might suggest things have changed, but Bournemouth will give Liverpool the space to operate and I think that makes it a tough afternoon for them.

Even though Coutinho is out of the line up, Liverpool have players like Sadio Mane and Roberto Firminho who can provide the quality to win this game. They do look stronger than Bournemouth and while I think Liverpool have some tougher tests ahead before the end of the year where Coutinho's absence might be an issue, I am not sure that shows up here.

I do think it will be a tighter game than the layers imagine, but Liverpool are likely to come away with the three points and I will back them to do that.


Everton v Manchester United Pick: This is a big game for an out of form Everton and a Manchester United team desperate to put a winning run together in the Premier League.

Being at home should give Everton a little more confidence as they have kept their best performances for Goodison Park but they have been struggling to really put Ronald Koeman's ideas onto the field. It can be hard to understand what Everton are trying to do at times when they get into the final third but facing a Manchester United defence that is not at full strength should help them in that regards.

There is still talent in the Everton squad and they haven't been beaten in the Premier League at home which makes them dangerous.

However Manchester United have to feel they can start winning games consistently if they maintain the standards of their play. Another home draw might look like a bad result, but Manchester United dominated West Ham United as they have Burnley and Arsenal and only a second goal has been missing in those games to earn the wins.

Defensively Manchester United have made mistakes which have seemed to be punished every time they have occurred. That is going to be an issue at Goodison Park but I think Manchester United can create chances in this one and will feel they can win having earned more away wins in the Premier League than they have at Old Trafford.

It does have to be pointed out that Everton are yet to concede twice at home in the League this season but Manchester United can become the first team to do that if they can show their Cup clinical finishing in the Premier League. On the other hand I do expect Everton will cause more problems than they did for Southampton last weekend and this could be an entertaining game.

I do think both teams will score and I have a gut feeling Manchester United win this game. That leans me towards picking this game to feature at least three goals which has happened in 4 of the last 5 games between Manchester United and Everton and at odds against I feel this is a real possibility again this weekend.


Nottingham Forest v Newcastle United Pick: This could be quite an interesting game for the live television cameras on Friday as Nottingham Forest have just shown improved form of late and they might be catching Newcastle United at the right time. The visitors were in action with a strong looking line up on Tuesday night at Premier League Hull City and having been forced all the way to penalties could easily lead to some fatigue to be addressed.

Nottingham Forest are a side that will get forward and create chances and that makes them dangerous, although Newcastle United have scored plenty of goals at this level themselves. The Magpies will feel they can expose some holes in the defensive areas of Nottingham Forest too and that makes it a game that could feature at least three goals.

Both teams have scored in every Nottingham Forest home game in the Championship while Newcastle United have scored at least twice in their last 3 away games in the League. They have had clean sheets in those games but the fatigue I mentioned can help Nottingham Forest earn some opportunities and play their part in this one.

The 1-1 scoreline could be a concern, but Newcastle United haven't played out too many draws this season and I will back at least three goals to be shared out.

MY PICKS: Manchester City @ 2.20 Bet Fred (2 Units)
Crystal Palace-Southampton Over 2.5 Goals @ 2.05 Bet365 (2 Units)
Stoke City Win to Nil @ 2.70 Bet Victor (1 Unit)
Sunderland-Leicester City Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.95 Bet365 (2 Units)
Arsenal to Win and Both Teams to Score @ 3.20 William Hill (1 Unit)
Liverpool @ 1.80 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Everton-Manchester United Over 2.5 Goals @ 2.05 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Nottingham Forest-Newcastle United Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.80 Bet Fred (2 Units)

November Final: 40-38-3, + 5.76 Units (159 Units Staked, + 3.62% Yield)
October Final: 29-41-2, - 21.23 Units (139 Units Staked, - 15.27% Yield)

September Final: 43-28-1, + 35.17 Units (133 Units Staked, + 26.44% Yield)

August Final: 31-38-2, - 9 Units (124 Units Staked, - 7.26% Yield)

Season 2016/17: 142-145-8, + 10.70 Units (555 Units Staked, + 1.93% Yield)

Season 2015/16: 133-174-2, + 0.89 Units (669 Units Staked, + 0% Yield)

Season 2014/15: 159-208-5, - 20.22 Units (647 Units Staked, - 3.13% Yield)

Season 2013/14: 164-185-3, + 15.84 Units (577 Units Staked, + 2.75% Yield

Season 2012/13: + 4.42 Units (415 Units Staked, + 1.07% Yield)