Featured post

NBA Playoffs 2026- Conference Finals Game 1-4 (Monday 18th May-Monday 25th May)

We are going to be down to the final four teams in the NBA once Game 7 of the Second Round Series between the Detroit Pistons and Cleveland ...

Showing posts with label February 5th. Show all posts
Showing posts with label February 5th. Show all posts

Thursday, 5 February 2026

Premier League Darts Night 1 Picks 2026 (Thursday 5th February)

The first World Ranking tournament of the 2026 season was won by Luke Littler, but fans of the sport have to be really glad to have seen the likes of Gerwyn Price and Luke Humphries push him all of the way.

Ultimately they came up short, which is a disappointment for a sport that has been dominated by Littler over the last twelve months, but the fact that neither rolled over for the top player in the World can only be a positive.

We will get to see how much of a positive the rest of the top names in the field will take from those Semi Final and Final matches at the World Masters when the Premier League begins on Thursday and is played through to the end of May.

Luke Littler has appeared in the Premier League twice before, but he will not be the defending Champion this year having won on his debut, but beaten by rival Luke Humphries last year.

These two players have faced one another in the Final in each of the last two years and are expected to be the dominant forces in the tournament again.

It is Luke Littler who has topped the final standings in each of the last two years having competed in 15/32 Finals in the weekly events and he has only lost his first match seven times- a player who clearly gets stronger and stronger as he builds the matches under his belt continues to be the one to beat, although he is expected to be followed into the Semi Final by Luke Humphries who has finished second in each of the last two years before splitting title wins.

Both should be capable of moving through to the next Semi Finals at the O2 Arena in May, but picking another two players to head through with the two Lukes is a tougher task.

With some of the external criticism clearly getting to Stephen Bunting, you have to believe the World Number 7 is going to be playing with additional pressure having continued to proclaim he deserves his place in the Premier League. He finished bottom of the standings last season and things could spiral for Bunting if he is not able to make a fast start in 2026, and it is hard to make a case for him to finish in the top four.

The other five players making up the eight all will have their backers- Josh Rock is making his debut in the Premier League, but is clearly talented enough to find some consistent rhythm to become very dangerous, while Gian van Veen is going to go very close if he can deal with the nerves of playing in this format every week for the first time.

Michael van Gerwen did not have a good World Masters, but he reached two Finals in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia last month and has so much experience in the Premier League, while Gerwyn Price looks to have continued his consistently good form and is the one player that seems to be avoid being intimidated by the current top two in the World Rankings.

And Jonny Clayton is a former winner- this is his fourth appearance in the Premier League and he has yet to miss out on the Playoffs, which makes his short odds for finishing bottom look disrespectful.


Unsurprisingly Luke Littler will go into the Premier League as favourite, and he will likely be a favourite to win every Night over the course of the tournament.

He has not won on Night 1 in either of the last two years and Littler would have put in a lot of mental effort in winning the Masters on Sunday, which could leave him vulnerable.

However, he is in the weaker half of the draw and you would make him the favourite if he can beat Gian van Veen in the Quarter Final.

Michael van Gerwen is perhaps the most intriguing price to earn a spot in the Playoff in May, but there will be no outright selections after thinking about backing Josh Rock to finish bottom in his debut season, but believing things could unravel for Stephen Bunting for a second year in a row.


Jonny Clayton v Josh Rock: Both players had a decent showing at the World Masters, but would have been disappointed with how the tournament ended.

Jonny Clayton may be particularly aggrieved having blown a big lead in the 4-3 defeat to Gerwyn Price, while Josh Rock did reach the Quarter Final before being crushed by Luke Littler.

Both will be looking to make a fast start to the Premier League and these are the kind of Quarter Final matches that can make a big impact in the final standings. The likes of Luke Littler and Luke Humphries will have the consistency for enough deep runs so the points that can be produced against the others are that much more important, which puts some pressure on both Clayton and Rock.

The Welshman is a former Premier League Winner and that experience may give him the edge- he looked to be scoring a little better than Josh Rock at the World Masters and Clayton may just have the stronger finishing that gives him the edge in this opening 2026 Premier League match.


Luke Littler to win & over 3.5 180s: After the crushing win in the World Championship Final, Luke Littler will be keen to keep the dominance going against Gian van Veen, one of his potential big rivals on the Tour over the coming twelve months.

He started slowly when these two met in Saudi Arabia last month, but Luke Littler rallied and he has the consistency of the power scoring that can take him away from the World Number 3.

Gian van Veen does push Littler with his own heavy scoring, but he has been feeling a pressure facing his old rival and matches have tended to fall away from him.

Big 180 hitting encourages Luke Littler to do the same and you have to expect the top player in the world to continue to hit those big trebles in this Quarter Final.

Luke Littler remains the big maximum hitter on the Tour and was in strong enough form to win the World Masters on Sunday.

Perhaps that means he has some fatigue to shake off, even four days later, which is maybe the best chance Gian van Veen will have in winning his debut match in the Premier League.

It all feels unlikely though and Littler should be able to find at least four maximums in any winning effort on Night 1.


Gerwyn Price over 2.5 180s & 1+ 180 checkout: There is no doubt that Gerwyn Price feels inspired when it comes to battling either of the two Lukes at the top of the World Rankings.

He got the better of Humphries in Saudi Arabia and beat Littler in Bahrain last month, while the Ice Man was a dart away from beating the latter in the World Masters Semi Final last week.

The layers are very much aware of the form that Gerwyn Price has been putting together over the last twelve months and the head to head with Luke Humphries and Luke Littler.

This is reflected in the price for this Night 1 Quarter Final and it should be noted that Gerwyn Price has won the last five matches against Luke Humphries in the best of eleven Leg format. During that time Luke Humphries has won a best of thirteen Leg match as well as beating Price in the Grand Slam Semi Final 16-13, but the shorter formats have tended to lean in favour of the Welshman.

He is odds against to reach six Legs first on Thursday, but that is also down to the respect that Luke Humphries deserves after putting in some top quality performances at the World Masters.

Luke Humphries is keen to build on that run to the Final and he was throwing with real confidence last week, which suggests this is a Quarter Final that could go nine or more Legs.

Instead of backing a winner, it may pay out to look for Gerwyn Price to hit a couple of statistical marks.

He continues to hit plenty of 180s and Price will be looking to put a combination finish or two on the board in his bid to earn another victory over Luke Humphries.

Gerwyn Price had six triple digit checkouts in his four matches at the Masters and he looks capable of finding at least one in this Quarter Final to go with some big maximum hitting.


Michael van Gerwen to Win & Stephen Bunting most 180s: In a race to six, you would naturally feel the player hitting the most maximums would win.

In a lot of cases that will be true, but two of the last four races to six legs between these two players has seen the player with more 180s actually go on to lose.

Last week at the Masters, Stephen Bunting's maximum hitting was not the issue, but his finishing has been and he has lost to Michael van Gerwen twice last month, which is going to be an obstacle to overcome.

It wasn't the Masters that van Gerwen would have expected, but there are definitely stronger signs coming into the latest edition of the Premier League after missing the Playoff last year.

There have been more maximums thrown by MvG last month than we have come to expect from him in recent times, but he is still a little short of his absolute best. He still scores well enough and will also finish with some authority that may give him the edge in this Quarter Final and it is a big quote for the Dutchman to win a match in which he throws fewer maximums.

Stephen Bunting will likely need to win three or four Legs to ensure this happens, but both matches in the Middle East last month ended with ten Legs played and that may be enough for the former 'People's Champion' to hit the most maximums, even in a losing effort.

MY PICKS: Jonny Clayton @ 2.25 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)
Luke Littler to Win & Over 3.5 180s @ 2.00 Bet365 (1 Unit)
Gerwyn Price Over 2.5 180s & 1+ 100+ Checkouts @ 2.90 Bet365 (1 Unit)
Michael van Gerwen to Win & Stephen Bunting Most 180s @ 3.20 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Darts 2026: 5-6, + 0.79 Units (11 Units Staked, + 7.18% Yield)

Wednesday, 4 February 2026

Tennis Picks 2026 (Thursday 5th February)

It has been a tough week and another match that saw the fine margins seemingly working against the selections will sting.

The tournaments are into the Quarter Final stage for the most part ahead of a set of events that will have some of the biggest names on the Tour involved.

That means this is not the time to press and on Thursday there will only be the one selection from the Quarter Final matches to be played in Abu Dhabi- another setback may mean calling time on this week and going again in a few days time.


Clara Tauson v McCartney Kessler: The Quarter Final Round at the WTA 500 event in Abu Dhabi that begins the Middle East swing looks wide open after Belinda Bencic was forced to withdraw from the tournament.

An illness means the defending Champion remains unbeaten in Abu Dhabi, but she cannot retain her World Ranking points, while also opening the door for the remaining eight players in the tournament.

Both Clara Tauson and McCartney Kessler have to sense an opportunity to pick up a title and some vital Ranking points- both are currently inside the top 32 of the World Rankings, which means direct entry into some of the biggest tournaments as well as being Seeded when it comes to Grand Slam tournaments. It cannot be underestimated the importance of those Seeding places early in those Slam events and both would appreciate maintaining those spots after failing to reach the second week at the Australian Open.

Neither player has dropped a set in Abu Dhabi, although it is McCartney Kessler who has had to come through two matches to reach the Quarter Final. Both wins are going to give the American confidence and she will be looking to continue to serve well, especially on the second serve, to try and keep the pressure on all those who stand across the net.

This is also going to be a key part of Clara Tauson's game after a dominant opening win.

Her first serve has done more damage compared with McCartney Kessler's, but Tauson can sometimes be put under a bit more pressure when throwing in too many second serves.

However, that first serve has been a big enough weapon to put Clara Tauson to win a lot more matches than she loses and it is going to be the key to the outcome of this Quarter Final.

Neither player can really state they have been as effective on the return of serve as they would have wanted to be when it comes to play hard court tennis. That does put more pressure on the delivery to make sure the scoreboard does not get away from them, and it is Clara Tauson who has tended to have a slightly superior return game of the two players.

There is not going to be much in this match with both capable of taking the racquet out of the hands of the other behind a strong serve.

You just have to believe a bit more in the experience of Clara Tauson as long as she can get around 62% of her first serves in play- she was very good in the Second Round win, but an average of around 60% over the course of the last twelve months may still be good enough to edge past McCartney Kessler as the narrow favourite in this Quarter Final.

MY PICKS: Clara Tauson @ 1.91 William Hill (1 Unit)

Weekly Update: 0-4, - 4 Units (4 Units Staked, - 100% Yield)

Wednesday, 5 February 2025

Tennis Picks 2025 (Wednesday 5th February)

The sporting world never slows down and it is Simona Halep who has become the latest former Grand Slam Champion that has announced her retirement from tennis.

As the Romanian told the home fans, she has achieved all that she set out to do and winning the French Open and Wimbledon and also earning the World Number 1 Ranking and Simona Halep has to be credited for the career she has put together.

Injury has perhaps hastened the exit from the sport, but Halep sounded pretty happy about her decision and that is all any player can do when moving onto the next stage of their career.


The tournaments being played this week continue on Wednesday and there are a couple of selections from the events in Abu Dhabi and Rotterdam.

Alex De Minaur got the week off to a winning start, but hopefully that can be backed up with a couple more winners to just keep things ticking over.


Daria Kasatkina - 2.5 games v Ashlyn Krueger: Reaching the Quarter Final in Adelaide and following up with a Fourth Round run at the Australian Open means World Number 11 Daria Kasatkina has made a positive start to the season.

Twelve months ago, Daria Kasatkina reached the Final here in Abu Dhabi before a couple of disappointing early exits in Doha and Dubai and this is a month where she will be looking to move back into the top ten of the World Rankings.

An administrative error has led to some headlines that Daria Kasatkina would have preferred to avoid- her name was placed alongside the Spanish flag during the draw ceremony and that led to some believing Kasatkina may have switched allegiance from Russia to Spain, which has since been denied and an apology issued to the player.

It was already going to be difficult for Kasatkina to return home and this has not really helped at all, so it will be a challenge for the player to focus on her tennis.

The hope has to be that Daria Kasatkina will benefit from this match taking place in the middle of the week and a few days after the draw ceremony had been run. Her performances on the hard courts this season and over the last twelve months makes Daria Kasatkina a solid performer on the surface and she will be expecting to get the better of Ashlyn Krueger.

The 20 year old American is an improving player on the Tour and reached a new career high World Ranking at the end of last month.

A tough three set win in the First Round will have given Ashlyn Krueger a boost and she has reached the Quarter Final in both Brisbane and Adelaide before losing early at the Australian Open. The draw was a tough one in Melbourne against Ajla Tomljanovic who had the fans behind her, and the next step for Ashlyn Krueger in her development is to find more successes when facing the better players on the Tour.

Over the last twelve months, the American has an 8-12 record on the hard courts when facing top 50 Ranked opponents, and the key will be improving the returning aspect of her tennis in those matches.

She will feel she can get her teeth into the Daria Kasatkina service games, but this is a test for Ashlyn Krueger having lost to this opponent in the Second Round in Abu Dhabi last year. In that match it was Daria Kasatkina who took her chances when the Break Points were earned and her hard court performances over the last month do give the higher Ranked player an edge.

Wins over Marta Kostyuk and Paula Badosa last month in Adelaide means Krueger deserves to be given a lot of respect and especially having had a win under her belt here in Abu Dhabi.

However, Daria Kasatkina may still have an edge on the hard courts between these players and the World Number 11 can win this Second Round match and put the controversy from earlier in the week behind her.


Jiri Lehecka-Hubert Hurkacz over 23.5 games: A serious injury hampered Hubert Hurkacz through the second half of the 2024 season, even if he was somehow able to play through the pain.

He did reach the Quarter Final in Cincinnati, but Hubert Hurkacz played just five more matches in 2024 and the off-season was important for the World Number 21. Some solid performances were produced at the United Cup, but Hubert Hurkacz will be disappointed with the lack of an impact at the Australian Open before the First Round win here in Rotterdam.

This is going to be a very tough match for Hubert Hurkacz against an opponent who is close to cracking the top 20 in the World Rankings for the first time.

Last month Jiri Lehecka was able to win a title in Brisbane and he reached the Fourth Round at the Australian Open before being beaten by Novak Djokovic in a more competitive match than the straight sets defeat would have suggested. The current World Number 24 was an impressive opening winner in Rotterdam and Jiri Lehecka has really been making the best use out of his serve.

It has led to 92% of his service games being held and Jiri Lehecka will feel he can certainly keep on top of the Hubert Hurkacz return, which has been something of a weakness for the Polish player.

The 4-4 record on the hard courts is one thing, but Hubert Hurkacz has only broken in 13% of return games played and that number is not going to be offering much encouragement against the serve he is facing in the Second Round on an indoor hard court.

This may mean there is some pressure on Hubert Hurkacz to serve well, although he has shown himself to be a player that can do that with 90% of service games held on this surface over the last month.

Jiri Lehecka and Hubert Hurkacz met here in Rotterdam twelve months ago and there was just a single break of serve in a three set match with both dominant behind that shot. More of the same can be expected when they meet again in the Second Round in 2025 and there is every chance that both of the opening two sets may need tie-breakers to separate the two.

Any need for a third set should see the total games line comfortably surpassed, but the serving power of Lehecka and Hurkacz could see this inflated line beaten even in a straight sets win for either player.

MY PICKS: Daria Kasatkina - 2.5 Games @ 1.83 Bet365 (1 Unit)
Jiri Lehecka-Hubert Hurkacz Over 23.5 Games @ 1.80 Bet Fred (1 Unit)

Weekly Update: 1-0, + 0.83 Units (1 Unit Staked, + 83% Yield)

Friday, 5 February 2021

NFL Mock Draft 2021 First Round- First Edition (February 5th)

We have yet to crown a 2020 NFL Champion, but that is going to be decided in Tampa Bay on Sunday 7th February and I mentioned in my Championship Game Picks thread that I would hopefully have time to create a couple of Mock Drafts before the actual 2021 NFL Draft takes place in April.

This is actually a pretty early time for the first Mock, but I am looking to have at least two more with one taking place in the week when the new NFL season officially gets underway, and the other in the days before the Draft is scheduled to take place on Thursday 29th April 2021.

A lot will change between now and then with trades and team needs changing depending on how Free Agency develops. For the first Mock Draft I am planning to keep teams in their current spots and I will then add any Mock Trades and moves in the second Mock Draft I put together in mid-March.

In the days leading up to the 2021 Draft I think we will know the likely order teams will be selecting at, although things can change markedly on the night.


I will have a thread up for the Super Bowl Pick on Sunday, but this should be published before that so I am selecting Kansas City in Number 32 and Tampa Bay in Number 31 as the Chiefs are favoured to win back to back Championships.


1. Jacksonville Jaguars- Trevor Lawrence: the arrival of Urban Meyer as Head Coach of the Jaguars has raised some questions as to what Jacksonville will do with the Number 1 Pick in the 2021 Draft.

Meyer's links with Ohio State have pushed the Justin Fields narrative, but I think it would be one of the biggest surprises in Draft history if the Jaguars do not select Trevor Lawrence here.

The Quarter Back looks like a generational talent and has long been considered as the player who will go as Number 1 whenever he declares for the Draft.


2. New York Jets- Zach Wilson: for a long time the question was whether Trevor Lawrence or Justin Fields will go first, but there is a growing movement behind Zach Wilson of BYU being the second Quarter Back that goes in the Draft.

I have him down with the New York Jets in this opening Mock Draft selection, but there is a huge disclaimer at play.

First up I think the Jets are going to be firmly in the discussion for any trade that can be worked out for Deshaun Watson and that will mean this Pick is moved to the Houston Texans who could go a number of positions instead of Quarter Back, especially if they like Sam Darnold enough to have him part of the trade.

The Jets have a new Coaching staff that have no connection with Darnold, but they might like him enough to take a big time talent on the Offensive Line to prevent their Quarter Back from seeing 'ghosts'.

Or perhaps the Jets new Coaching staff decide to take the Quarter Back I have selected here and start a new era at the position in 2021.


3. Miami Dolphins- Penei Sewell: like the Jets I expect the Miami Dolphins to try and entice Deshaun Watson to South Florida and that would mean this selection is no longer theirs.

I also think the team are likely to pass this selection on to a team who might be desperate to take one of the top Quarter Backs, but if Miami are forced to Pick here they could do worse than Penei Sewell.

Strengthening the Offensive Line for Tua Tagovailoa is one thing, but Sewell looks like being one of the top Linemen in the NFL for years to come and it is so important to dominate the trenches.


4. Atlanta Falcons- Micah Parsons: there are a number of ways the Atlanta Falcons could go.

They could choose to finally Draft Matt Ryan's replacement or they can trade down and stockpile more selections to improve a team that underperformed in 2020.

Micah Parsons may have chosen to sit out the 2020 season, but he can provide an upgrade at Linebacker for the Falcons and is considered one of the top Defensive players in the Draft.


5. Cincinnati Bengals- Ja'Marr Chase: last season it was an easy choice for Cincinnati to select Joe Burrow as the Number 1 Pick in the 2020 Draft, but the injury suffered by the franchise Quarter Back will likely mean targeting improvements on the Offensive Line this time around.

If Penei Sewell happens to drop I think that will be an easy selection for the Bengals, but in this Mock I have him gone by now.

They could potentially reach for another Offensive Lineman, but instead I have the Bengals picking Ja'Marr Chase to give Burrow another big time Receiver and especially with AJ Green likely to be moving on.

He sat out this season so DeVonta Smith has closed in on Chase in the Wide Receiver top prospects list, but I think the fact he played with Burrow at LSU in 2019 and over 1700 Receiving yards would see the Bengals select this Receiver.


6. Philadelphia Eagles- DeVonta Smith: it is a new era in Philadelphia as far as the Coaching staff go and we are yet to hear whether Carson Wentz or Jalen Hurts will be the starting Quarter Back going forward.

The Eagles have fallen quickly from their Super Bowl success, but a big issue last season was the lack of consistent playmakers on the Offensive side of the ball. Injuries hurt and I think the Eagles will look to resolve that early by taking either DeVonta Smith or Ja'Marr Chase in this spot.

In this Mock Chase is off the board, but Smith is coming in off a big season and looks like a Receiver who will be ready to make an impact at the NFL level immediately.


7. Detroit Lions- Kwity Paye: Matthew Stafford is no longer a Detroit Lion, but the arrival of Jared Goff means the Lions are unlikely to be interested in a Quarter Back here as Justin Fields continues to slide.

They could trade down if Fields is coveted by another team, especially as Detroit have a number of holes throughout the roster that need filling with the rebuild starting this season.

If one of the top Receivers falls down the order this is a logical spot for them too, but in a Division with Aaron Rodgers (for now) I think the Lions need more disruption on the Defensive Line and the pass rush of Kwity Paye could be a help.


8. Carolina Panthers- Kyle Pitts: After a year in the starting role as the Quarter Back, Teddy Bridgewater may be wondering if his time with the Panthers is over.

They could easily look to take a Quarter Back here, but the Panthers might also be in the hunt for Deshaun Watson. It would not be a massive surprise if they are do think to bring in another veteran and instead look to improve the Receiving options by taking Kyle Pitts to offer a big target at Tight End.

I am a big fan of Pitts and I think he showed at Florida that he is ready to play at the next level and Carolina can finally replace Greg Olsen who was the long-time TE here.


9. Denver Broncos- Caleb Farley: John Elway may choose to go the veteran route to provide a real challenge to Quarter Back Drew Lock who does not look like the franchise player at the position.

If Justin Fields is available here there may be some interest, but Denver have a number of issues on the Defensive unit that will need addressing.

Patrick Surtain II had a really good season with the Alabama Crimson Tide, but at this stage the feeling is that the decision to sit out the 2020 season has not hurt Caleb Farley's standing and he may be the best Corner Back in the Draft that offers Denver immediate help in the Secondary in a Division where they face Patrick Mahomes twice a season.


10. Dallas Cowboys- Patrick Surtain II: 2020 was a very difficult year for the Dallas Cowboys and it is clear they have some issues to address in the Draft.

There is every chance they could decide to take someone like Wyatt Davis or Rashawn Slater to bolster an Offensive Line which was devastated by injury in the 2020 season, but Dallas also need to upgrade the Defensive side of the ball.

Patrick Surtain II might be the top name on the board that fills a need for the Dallas Cowboys and I think they will select him here.


11. New York Giants- Gregory Rousseau: The NFC East was a poor Division in 2020 and all four teams have plenty of areas that need to improve if they are going to challenge for Championships.

Daniel Jones remains the Quarter Back with the New York Giants, but they don't give him any more help here and instead focus on the Defensive Line.

After sitting out in 2020, Gregory Rousseau does not see his Draft stock hurting too much and he is picked up to give the Giants someone to bring the pass rush.


12. San Francisco 49ers- Justin Fields: in my first Mock Draft I have Justin Fields being the unfortunate player who slips down the board as we tend to see most seasons.

Jimmy Garoppolo's position as the Quarter Back for the 49ers is under threat and I would not be surprised if he is moved on which will leave Kyle Shanahan in a position where he will perhaps look to bring in someone new in the Draft.

Some think Shanahan will be looking for a veteran with the 49ers in 'win now' mode, but in my Mock I think he would find it impossible to pass up someone like Justin Fields who could thrive in the system run in San Francisco.

The slide comes to an end.


13. Los Angeles Chargers- Rashawn Slater: the Chargers have the franchise Quarter Back, but the new Coaching staff will know Justin Herbert needs a little more time to make his plays down the field.

He may have sat out the 2020 season, but Rashawn Slater is well respected as someone who can really offer the Chargers a big upgrade on the Offensive Line and give Herbert some protection.


14. Minnesota Vikings- Wyatt Davis: it feels like the Minnesota Vikings have had a window for success, but that window is beginning to close at a rapid rate.

There are some serious holes to sort out on both sides of the ball, but in the First Round they could look to improve the Offensive Line which did not keep Kirk Cousins on his feet and also drive open some more lanes for Dalvin Cook.

The Vikings could look to improve the Defensive Line as well as the Secondary, but I have them taking the best player on the board who can help them immediately.


15. New England Patriots- Jaylen Waddle: Cam Newton is gone and the New England Patriots could look to replace him with another veteran for the 2021 season.

It has been a long time since the New England Patriots were able to select someone in the First Round as high as this having missed out on the PlayOffs, but there is no doubt that whoever is taking the snaps at Quarter Back is going to need some playmakers.

Last season it was a part of the reason Newton struggled and the Patriots can pick up Jaylen Waddle, a Receiver who can stretch the field with his speed. Injuries slowed him down in 2020, but Waddle showed what he can do when he was on the field and I think he is a good fit for the Patriots who will be looking to take their Offensive schemes forward.


16. Arizona Cardinals- Najee Harris: in each of the last two seasons only a single Running Back has been taken in the First Round of the NFL Draft, but we could have more than that this year.

The first one I believe that comes off the board is Mocked to land with the Arizona Cardinals who have Kenyan Drake heading into Free Agency. While they like Chase Edmunds, picking up Najee Harris gives them the power Running Back to play behind Kyler Murray and one who can be a pass-catching threat too.

The successes of Josh Jacobs and Derrick Henry will have teams keen on picking up the latest Running Back off the Alabama production line and it could be the Cardinals who take the chance on Najee Harris as they continue giving Murray as many Offensive weapons as he needs.


17. Las Vegas Raiders- Christian Barmore: there are a number of ways the Las Vegas Raiders could go as they perhaps bid to improve the Offensive Line, while the likes of Trey Lance or Mac Jones could be intriguing to the team.

Some are still not convinced that Derek Carr is the future for the Raiders at Quarter Back with the inconsistencies he continues to display, but eventually it may be decided that the Raiders need to find a way to get more pressure on opponent's Quarter Backs.

Taking an improving player like Christian Barmore could offer the Raiders some penetration on the Defensive Line as they seek a way to improve the pass rush in a Division where Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert could be problems in years to come.


18. Miami Dolphins- Travis Etienne: depending on any move for Deshaun Watson, this is a selection that may have been traded away come Draft Day.

If the Dolphins are still looking to rebuild through the Draft which has proved to be a good policy in recent seasons, I do think they will be looking to improve their Offensive skill players to help out Tua Tagovailoa.

I would love to see Miami make a move for someone like Allen Robinson in Free Agency and that may leave the way open to pick up Travis Etienne in the Draft to improve the Running Back position. Travis Etienne would be a threat catching the ball out of the backfield to give the entire Offense a boost and also the young Quarter Back assuming Tua is back.


19. Washington Football Team- Christian Darrisaw: there is likely going to be a change at Quarter Back this season for the Washington Football Team with Dwayne Haskins gone and Alex Smith looking past his best.

Making the PlayOffs as the NFC East Champion means it is unlikely for Washington to be in a position to Draft one, although Trey Lance and Mac Jones are available in my Draft.

It may be a reach to grab Jones and Lance may be more of a project although both could easily go here. However I have Washington looking to improve the Offensive Line which gave up an eye-watering 50 Sacks last season and taking Christian Darrisaw may give them Left Tackle protection for years to come.


20. Chicago Bears- Rashod Bateman: Mitchell Trubisky may be moved on and that could see the Chicago Bears in for a Quarter Back, while Allen Robinson is heading to Free Agency and could leave.

Assuming the Quarter Back situation is resolved by keeping the unit together or perhaps even working out a way to bring in a veteran, I think the Bears have options in this spot.

The likelihood of Robinson leaving means the Bears will need more help at Receiver and I have them tabbed to pick Rashod Bateman over Rondale Moore with the latter being a bit too similar to Darnell Mooney. Injury concerns also see Moore slipping further down the Rankings for some teams and the Chicago Bears can't afford to take too many risks with the Coaching staff in a precarious spot heading into 2021.


21. Indianapolis Colts- Rondale Moore: with Philip Rivers retired, the Indianapolis Colts are likely going to be looking to bring in a veteran signal caller to compete with Jacoby Brissett for the starting role next season.

This is a team that is capable of winning now and so I think they may look for a project Quarter Back in this years Draft rather than selecting one in the First Round.

Rondale Moore has some concerns about durability, but he is a huge potential playmaker at the next level and will give the Colts a new Offensive threat with some key performers potentially not returning at Wide Receiver.


22. Tennessee Titans- Patrick Jones II: another PlayOff defeat will keep the Titans believing their window for success is still open, although some fans would like to see an upgrade in some key Offensive areas, namely Quarter Back.

For now the Coaching staff believe in Ryan Tannehill who is mainly handing the ball off to Derrick Henry and the problems for Tennessee in 2020 was the inability to rattle Quarter Backs which exposed the Secondary.

A player who is better suited to the 4-3 might be a risk, but the Titans need to find a way to get to the Quarter Back and Patrick Jones II could really help them here.


23. New York Jets- Trey Smith: assuming the New York Jets keep hold of both First Round Picks in the 2021 Draft I think they will be in a position to try and take what they feel is the best player on the board.

I am sure they would love to give my Mocked Pick Zach Wilson some Offensive help with a skill player, but they would have to reach with the majority of the top Receivers off the board and two Running Backs already taken too.

Instead I have the Jets shoring up the Offensive Line with an extremely talented player and along with Mekhi Becton could be the start of a very strong Line for years to come.


24. Pittsburgh Steelers- Alijah Vera-Tucker: Big Ben Roethlisberger's decision in the off-season could determine what the Pittsburgh Steelers are going to do with their First Round Pick.

If Roethlisberger retires they could take a chance on Trey Lance or Mac Jones here, but assuming he is back I think the Steelers will shore up the Offensive Line that may allow Alejandro Villaneuva to leave in Free Agency.

Alijah Vera-Tucker can play from day one and will be the player who could slot in to protect Ben Roethlisberger's blind side for now and anchor the Offensive Line in years to come.


25. Jacksonville Jaguars- Jalen Mayfield: the Jaguars will likely select their franchise Quarter Back with the Number 1 Overall Pick and I think they will look to offer some real protection to Trevor Lawrence here.

Jalen Mayfield looks like someone capable of performing at a high mark at the professional level and I think it will be important to shore up an Offensive Line which gave up 44 Sacks last season.


26. Cleveland Browns- Nick Bolton: the Cleveland Browns finally returned to the PlayOffs at the end of the 2020 season and they will be looking to build on that in 2021.

There is no doubt in my mind that the Browns will be looking to improve on the Defensive side of the ball in the Draft and they need help at most levels.

Nick Bolton could be the selection at Linebacker as the best player of need on the board and his leadership might be crucial in shaping the Defensive unit in 2021 and beyond.


27. Baltimore Ravens- Quincy Roche: you do have to worry about the drop in production after transferring from Temple to Miami, but he still had enough success to encourage the Baltimore Ravens to pick up Quincy Roche at the bottom of the First Round.

They are potentially losing one or two pass rushers in Free Agency and the Ravens need to re-stock that unit, while it should also mean Roche can be given time to develop with his impact mainly felt on passing Downs.

Quincy Roche is capable of becoming someone who can impact the run too.


28. New Orleans Saints- Mac Jones: Defensive reinforcements are likely to be considered by the New Orleans Saints, but I think Sean Payton could look at Mac Jones as the perfect replacement for expected retiree Drew Brees.

Jameis Winston and Taysom Hill are on the roster, but I think Jones will fit the New Orleans schemes and may actually give the Offensive unit a boost compared with the diminishing arm of Brees.

I am not entirely convinced about Mac Jones and whether he will be a top NFL Quarter Back, but I can see the Saints seeing him as the best player available here and look to improve the Defensive positions further down the Draft and through Free Agency if possible.


29. Green Bay Packers- Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah: the decision to not offer Aaron Rodgers Offensive help in the 2020 Draft has clearly not been forgotten by the Quarter Back and what he chooses to do this off-season is going to be huge.

It will shape the direction of the Green Bay Packers for years to come and I don't think Rodgers will be given much support in the First Round of the Draft if he does choose to stay.

Unlike last year, the Packers don't do anything to irritate their future of Hall of Famer as they did in 2020, but for now they can't offer him any additional weapons. Instead the Packers pick a Linebacker who can make an impact all over the field and one who will be important from day one in the NFL.


30. Buffalo Bills- Derion Kendrick: the Bills took a big step forward in 2020 thanks to the development of Josh Allen who was well supported by the team.

I love what the Bills have done Offensively, but I think they will want to improve on the other side of the ball to compete with the very best teams in the NFL.

That was underlined in the AFC Championship Game as Buffalo were beaten for the second time by the Kansas City Chiefs and I think that sees them take Derion Kendrick in the First Round to improve their own Secondary. He is still a developing player, but Kendrick has a nice size at Corner Back, played at a school used to being involved in big games and has shown an improvement between 2020 and 2019 to believe he will get better in the Buffalo zone schemes.


31. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Joseph Ossai: depending on the outcome of the Super Bowl this spot could be taken by the Kansas City Chiefs, but since this first Mock is being put together before the Championship Game I will place the underdog Tampa Bay Buccaneers in this place in the First Round.

There is much to like about the Tampa Bay roster, but some big decisions are going to be needed to be made in the off-season with the likes of Shaquil Barrett, Lavonte David and Ndamukong Suh heading into Free Agency.

If one of the Linebackers is allowed to move on, the Buccaneers could take Joseph Ossai as a replacement- the Longhorn played well in 2020 and looks like he could make a big impact from an Outside Linebacker spot, although replacing the production of Barrett could take some time.


32. Kansas City Chiefs- Samuel Cosmi: injuries on the Offensive Line are likely to have an impact on the outcome of the Super Bowl and the Kansas City Chiefs may be looking for the future at the Tackle spots.

There is work to do for Samuel Cosmi to really impact at the next level, but he looks capable of playing at either Tackle spot and developing into a decent player in the NFL.

Andy Reid may choose to allow another team to trade into the First Round or he may choose to improve what is already a top Offensive unit in the skill positions, but the likely improvements on the Offensive Line is what I have for them here.

Wednesday, 5 February 2020

Tennis Picks 2020 (February 5th)

The first couple of days at the tournaments being played this week have been difficult with players missing Match Points and another making a slow start before rallying one game too late. Put it all together with a couple of poorer selections and it means the week has begun with a poor run of losses.

On Wednesday all of the tournaments being played will get into Second Round action, although there are also some First Round matches that need to be completed. I am sticking with a process that has been very successful over the last couple of years to produce some strong winning records, but I do hope Wednesday can begin the turnaround for this week's game.


MY PICKS: Taro Daniel - 3.5 Games @ 1.80 William Hill (2 Units)
Denis Shapovalov - 2.5 Games @ 1.91 Bet Fred (2 Units)
Pablo Cuevas - 3.5 Games @ 1.80 Bet Fred (2 Units)
Guido Pella - 2.5 Games @ 1.91 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Christian Garin - 2.5 Games @ 1.72 Bet365 (2 Units)

Weekly Update: 0-4, - 8 Units (8 Units Staked, - 100% Yield)

Friday, 2 February 2018

Weekend Football Picks 2018 (February 3-5)

There is a quick turnaround in the Premier League this week after a full midweek set of games and another round of fixtures to come this weekend.

The big games keep coming with the stand out fixture taking place at Anfield this week when Liverpool taking on Tottenham Hotspur, but there is plenty of intrigue around the Premier League with congested top four and relegation battles.

My short piece about Alexis Sanchez arriving at Manchester United can be read here and then it is on to the Weekend Football Picks.


Burnley v Manchester City Pick: There is going to be something of a slow down when it comes to the amount of football some clubs are going to play in February with only 3 League games scheduled. That is all Burnley will have on the schedule as they continue trying to surprise the critics with their results, but for Manchester City chasing success on four fronts it is another busy month coming up.

That is making the injuries to the likes of Leroy Sane and Gabriel Jesus stretch the attacking options Manchester City have, although they haven't missed a beat with 4 straight wins in all competitions. The Premier League title looks firmly in their grasp with a 15 point lead at the top and Manchester City will head to Turf Moor with some confidence and the chance to have a seven day rest following this fixture.

Pep Guardiola won't want his players to become complacent despite the lead at the top of the Premier League table and I don't think Manchester City will take their eye off the ball at a tough ground. They are looking to bounce back from a couple of tough away results in the Premier League having drawn at Crystal Palace and lost at Liverpool and I think Burnley is a good opponent for them.

The home team will look to make life difficult for Manchester City by defending in numbers, but they have found it tough to keep them out. Both previous games against Manchester City this season have been played at the Etihad Stadium, but Burnley have conceded 7 times in those games and defending deep will only be successful for so long.

Burnley have also found it tough against the top Premier League teams with 4 of their 5 home League defeats coming to those teams in the top six places. Arsenal won here earlier in the season and the last 3 Burnley home games have been defeats to Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool and Manchester United and now they face the best team in England.

I think Manchester City are in fine form at the moment, although they have tended to be a little more vulnerable away from home. That might sound strange with 10 wins from 12 away Premier League games, but only 4 of those wins have come by more than a single goal margin so Burnley might have some belief they can frustrate their visitors.

Earlier in the season I would have been more confident in Burnley, but I think they have just hit a poor patch at the wrong time. If they score first it could be a real test for Manchester City to turn it around, but I would worry for Burnley if they fell behind. 

Ultimately I think that is the more likely scenario and I don't think Manchester City will be as poor as Manchester United were in securing the second, killer goal when winning 0-1 here. United had chances that day to finish Burnley off and I think Manchester City will take those as they secure a fifth win in a row.


Bournemouth v Stoke City Pick: The bottom half of the Premier League continues to be very congested and that means a couple of bad results, or a couple of positive ones, can make a big differences to where teams stand in the League table. However there isn't much in the points between Bournemouth in 10th place and West Brom in 20th place as teams continue producing inconsistent results against one another to keep things very tight in the bottom half.

Both Bournemouth and Stoke City will come into the weekend in a more positive frame of mind after recent results and I think both Eddie Howe and Paul Lambert would have targeted this fixture as a potential win.

That should mean both managers play attacking line ups in a bid to win the fixture.

Bournemouth are getting the edge from the layers after a really impressive 0-3 win at Chelsea during the week and having a 4 game unbeaten run at the Vitality Stadium to protect. They have won their last couple of Premier League games here, but Bournemouth remain vulnerable with goals being conceded far too regularly for the liking of Eddie Howe.

However Bournemouth score goals and that should put the pressure on Stoke City who have picked up 4 points from the last 6 available. All of those were earned at home though and Stoke City have not travelled that well in recent weeks with 6 losses in their last 7 away from home including a 2-1 loss at League Two Coventry City.

Paul Lambert is trying to take the team back to basics by producing a strong foundation and has been rewarded with back to back clean sheets. Those have come against the likes of Huddersfield Town and Watford though and I think Bournemouth are a much more confident team going forward.

The home team have scored at least twice in their last 4 home games in all competitions which makes Bournemouth dangerous. They have also conceded in their last 7 at the Vitality Stadium and I think there will be chances for these two teams to combine for at least three goals on Saturday.

Since Bournemouth were promoted to the Premier League, 4 of the 5 games against Stoke City have seen at least three goals shared out. The lack of goals Stoke City have scored of late is a concern, but Bournemouth are not watertight at the back and I will look for this fixture to produce at least three goals.


Leicester City v Swansea City Pick: The Riyad Mahrez situation proved to be a distraction for the Leicester City players who have not been happy with the way their team-mate has tried to force a move away from the King Power Stadium. That has to have contributed to the 2-1 loss at Everton during the week and it looks unlikely that Mahrez will be involved this weekend having missed training during the week.

You can understand the frustrations Mahrez has to be feeling having been prevented a move to Manchester City, but the attitude has rubbed up his team-mates the wrong way. It might be a tough road back for Mahrez to be accepted again, but Claude Puel won't be too concerned about selecting the player if he does resume training.

That issue is going to rumble on in the run up to the Premier League game against Swansea City on Saturday and Leicester City can't afford to be distracted against an improving opponent.

Swansea City have beaten Liverpool and Arsenal in back to back League games which has taken them to within a point of safety in the Premier League. Carlos Carvalhal has improved the belief of his players and has Swansea City well organised, although the majority of the better results have come at home.

Taking the results from home and bringing them onto their travels can be tough for any team and Leicester City have been very strong at home in recent weeks. Defensively they are also well organised and I think Leicester City have a little more about them in the final third which can prove to be a difference maker for them on Saturday.

Leicester City have dominated Swansea City in recent years with 7 straight home wins against them and I am looking for the home team bounce back from their loss at Goodison Park. They have 3 clean sheets in a row at home and Leicester City have dismissed Huddersfield Town and Watford in their last couple of League games here.

As improved as Swansea City have been, they have yet to show that same quality away from home and I think Leicester City are able to get the better of them on Saturday. I was hoping Swansea City would be a little over-rated having beaten Liverpool and Arsenal at home, but the layers are yet to be full believers in their full revival and I have to agree with that.

With the goals Leicester City have been scoring coupled with solid defensive performances, I will look for the home team to win this one.


Manchester United v Huddersfield Town Pick: It was a tough night on Wednesday for Manchester United as they were beaten very comfortably by Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley Stadium. That was as poorly as Manchester United have played in any game under Jose Mourinho and I expect to see a big reaction on Saturday as they return home for the latest Premier League game.

The opposition looks a good one for Manchester United as they host Huddersfield Town who have been really struggling in recent games as they have slipped back towards the bottom three.

The Terriers looked a little lost with what they wanted to do in the 0-3 home defeat to Liverpool on Tuesday and they have lost 4 straight Premier League games with the majority of those coming fairly comfortably.

Defensively they have lost some of the structure that was working well earlier in the season and Huddersfield Town will likely defend deep and hope to frustrate Manchester United in this one. However that has not been working as well of late and Manchester United have some special players who can unlock the defence that Huddersfield Town will have on Saturday.

The key for Manchester United will be to put Huddersfield Town under pressure from the outset and force them to go deeper and deeper. The away team have been making a few more mistakes defensively which can hurt them here and I think Manchester United have played well enough in recent weeks to get back to winning ways by bouncing back from the Tottenham Hotspur defeat in the right way.

Manchester United have not been scoring as freely as they would like which is a concern when it comes to this Asian Handicap. However they have recently beaten Stoke City 3-0 at Old Trafford and the likes of Newcastle United, West Ham United and Crystal Palace have been beaten comfortably at Old Trafford this season.

Huddersfield Town have lost 3 of their last 4 Premier League games by three or more goals, and half of their 8 away League defeats have come by three or more goals. I will look for a big reaction from Manchester United on Saturday and back them to cover a big Asian Handicap in the home win.


Arsenal v Everton Pick: There should be plenty of positive voices in the Arsenal home support after the deal to bring in Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was completed during the week. However many others will have remembered the really poor performance in the 3-1 loss at Swansea City on Tuesday evening and another poor showing from Arsenal will not be tolerated.

It will also be devastating to their chances of finishing in the top four in the Premier League, but Arsenal have been better at home. They have the attacking quality to give Everton plenty to think about even if Sam Allardyce is going to want to set his team up to be hard to beat.

That has not been the case for Everton in recent weeks with 3 straight away losses and they had not been in great form prior to the 2-1 win over Leicester City on Wednesday evening. Theo Walcott has been though and he could come back to haunt an Arsenal back line which has looked vulnerable, although the most likely result is an Arsenal home win over a team they have dominated in recent years.

With the likes of Mesut Ozil, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Aubameyang in the attacking positions, Arsenal should cause plenty of problems and make up for any defensive lapses they have been producing.

It may also mean this is a high-scoring game with both teams potentially scoring in the fixture. Everton have not been blessed with goals away from home, but they will have some spaces on the counter attack, while they have been conceding a lot of goals for an Allardyce team in recent weeks too.

Arsenal do score and concede goals for fun at times, but I do think they have played well enough at home to win this one. The Asian Handicap looks on the money with good reasons to back either team, but I think backing Arsenal to win a game featuring three or more goals looks a decent price here.

The last 3 Everton away games, all losses, have seen that number hit, while Arsenal have won back to back games at the Emirates Stadium with three or more goals scored.


Crystal Palace v Newcastle United Pick: Any fixture involving teams in the bottom half of the Premier League table playing against one another have a big feel and that is the case on Sunday when Crystal Palace host Newcastle United. These two teams are only a few points clear of the bottom three and the losing team is really going to feel the pressure increasing on them.

That may see both Roy Hodgson and Rafa Benitez take cautious approaches to a game where any point earned could prove crucial at the end of the season.

In all honesty there is more pressure on Crystal Palace who will know how important the home games are to them, while Newcastle United can use this as a 'free shot'. However, Newcastle United fans are ready for outright protest against the direction of the club which has to filtering down to the players who may feel they need a big performance to keep the fans behind them.

Crystal Palace have been playing better at home under Roy Hodgson, but you have to also respect a Newcastle United team who have recently won big away games at West Ham United and Stoke City. Those wins at relegation rivals shows this Newcastle United team can produce in tense moments and Crystal Palace will have to acknowledge the capabilities of the away side.

Even with that in mind, I do give the edge to Crystal Palace with the amount of goals they have been scoring at Selhurst Park since Hodgson took over as manager. There is some real quality in the final third which can challenge a Newcastle United team who concede plenty on their travels, while The Magpies have not been as clinical in the final third.

I think Crystal Palace will show that superiority in the final third in this fixture and they can find a way to earn the three points. It will be close and Newcastle United's results at the London Stadium and Bet365 Stadium show what they can do when they get things right, but I think Crystal Palace have been in decent form and can back that up with an important three points.


Liverpool v Tottenham Hotspur Pick: The race for the top four and getting back into the Champions League looks like the most interesting battle at the top of the Premier League with Manchester City miles clear at the top. Two of the teams chasing those places meet at Anfield on Sunday when Liverpool host Tottenham Hotspur in what has all the makings of a good game of football.

Both teams will look to approach things in a similar manner with strong pressing from the front to try and force the other into mistakes. Both Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur will feel they can have success doing that, although the home team will look to exploit spaces with a quick counter attack too and Tottenham Hotspur may feel they are superior defensively.

That is going to be important for Tottenham Hotspur if they are going to earn a result at Anfield but they have struggled when facing the top teams away from home. They have already lost at Arsenal, Manchester United and Manchester City in the Premier League and you would have to say that Tottenham Hotspur played pretty poorly in all of those games.

Liverpool are also a dangerous team at home as they showed in their 4-3 win over Manchester City and 4-0 crushing of Arsenal, but both Chelsea and Manchester United showed organisation can produce a result here. I don't think Tottenham Hotspur will be as defensive as both United and Chelsea began at Anfield, which will encourage Liverpool, but they have the attacking talent to cause problems for a vulnerable Liverpool defence too.

I was initially leaning towards Liverpool who have a decent home record against the top clubs in recent seasons and have beaten Tottenham Hotspur in 5 of their last 6 meetings at Anfield. I still think they are the more likely winners, but Liverpool have not looked completely at ease in the last couple of weeks and they concede enough goals to encourage Tottenham Hotspur and make them believe they can get a result here.

Tottenham Hotspur's poor away record against the current top six can't be ignored and they have been beaten at Old Trafford, the Emirates Stadium and the Etihad Stadium already this season. That again seems to suggest Liverpool are the right team to back, but I can't ignore the performances since the Manchester City win.

Instead I am going to back at least four goals to be shared out by two attacking teams who will feel they have the threat in the final third to unlock the defences on show. Liverpool have seen that number hit in their home games with Arsenal and Manchester City this season, while Tottenham Hotspur's trip to Manchester City ended with at least four goals too.

These two teams shared out five goals in their fixture at Wembley Stadium and both teams will likely create enough chances to have a chance to reach four goals here. Both teams have shown they can take the opportunities which come their way and I will back goals to be the outcome of this one.


Watford v Chelsea Pick: The final game in the Premier League this weekend is played on Monday night as Watford and Chelsea search for the three points in their relegation/top four battles respectively. Playing the last game of the weekend can increase the pressure on teams if results have gone against them in the earlier fixtures and that could be an issue when Watford and Chelsea kick off.

Injuries have been hurting both clubs, while Chelsea have had a very busy January which has stretched the squad to breaking point. As far as Antonio Conte has been concerned, he has been let down by the Chelsea transfer policy but some new arrivals have come in during the January transfer window.

One of those is Olivier Giroud from Arsenal and the Frenchman could easily be given the chance to to start on Monday with Alvaro Morata struggling. He will give Chelsea the focal point they have been lacking, although the players have to show a better attitude than they did in the 0-3 home defeat at the hands of Bournemouth.

Chelsea have not played that well away from home in recent weeks, but they have been hit and miss with a strong performance resulting in a 0-4 win at Brighton and a poor one ending in a 2-1 loss at Arsenal.

They definitely have the talent to hurt a Watford team who have been out of form and having limited players available for new manager Javi Gracia. However Watford have been tougher to play at Vicarage Road compared with their recent away form, and goals have been easier to come by in front of their own fans.

With the injuries Chelsea are dealing with defensively, Watford can cause problems here and I think they have the talent to score against The Blues. Defensively they will be challenged by the likes of Eden Hazard, Pedro and Willian and this has the makings of a high-scoring game.

7 of the last 8 between Chelsea and Watford have ended with at least three goals shared out including the last 3 Premier League games overall. The last 5 at Vicarage Road have all finished with at least three goals and 4 of the last 6 Chelsea away games have also finished with that number and this game should go the same way.

The recent lack of confidence both teams are experiencing could make it more difficult for the chances to be converted into goals, but there should be opportunities at both ends of this one. Backing at least three goals in a game that could go either way looks the way to approach this fixture.

MY PICKS: Manchester City - 1.5 Asian Handicap @ 1.85 Bet365 (2 Units)
Bournemouth-Stoke City Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.91 Betfair Sportsbook (2 Units)
Leicester City @ 1.85 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Manchester United - 2 Asian Handicap @ 1.91 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Arsenal to Win & Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.86 Boyle Sports (2 Units)
Crystal Palace @ 2.05 Bet Fred (2 Units)
Liverpool-Tottenham Hotspur Over 3.5 Goals @ 2.60 Betfair Sportsbook (2 Units)
Watford-Chelsea Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.90 Bet Victor (2 Units)