ATP Finals Day 2 Tennis Picks 2025 (Monday 10th November)

A couple of tie-breakers needed to go in favour of the two selections made on Sunday at the opening of the ATP Finals, and that was key to seeing both return as winners.

It is a much more positive start to the ATP Finals compared with the WTA Finals last week in Riyadh, but that tournament ended with some strong results to produce a profit and so there is still plenty of work to do before the end of the 2025 season.

Two more matches are set to be played on Monday as both Groups conclude the opening round robin in Turin.

The selections from the two Singles matches can be read below.

Taylor Fritz - 2.5 games v Lorenzo Musetti: Playing at the ATP Finals is a big achievement for any player, but there was a clear motivation for Lorenzo Musetti to make his debut at the tournament being hosted in his home country.

That meant taking in a tournament in Athens last week where Lorenzo Musetti had to win the title- he reached the Final on Saturday, but was beaten by Novak Djokovic, although it was later announced that the Serb would not take part in the ATP Finals and so Musetti comes into the draw.

He would have preferred a bit more rest after playing an almost three hour Final on Saturday and being scheduled in the Day Session at the ATP Finals in Turin on Monday. Motivation is high and that will help Lorenzo Musetti in finding some energy, but it looks a tough spot for him, even when beginning this tournament facing an opponent he has beaten in each of the last three meetings on the Tour.

The last of those was at the Paris Olympics and that was on a clay court, but Lorenzo Musetti also holds a big win over Taylor Fritz in the Wimbledon Quarter Final in 2024 and that will give him confidence even if he has not faced the American over the last sixteen months.

The sole previous hard court meeting between the players was won by Taylor Fritz who reached the Final in Tokyo since the US Open, but who had some disappointing tournaments in Shanghai, Basel and Paris. The last two tournaments were played on indoor hard courts, but Taylor Fritz has reached the Semi Final and the Final in his two previous appearances in the ATP Finals and only Jannik Sinner got the better of Fritz in the tournament last year.

It does feel that the Taylor Fritz serve is going to be key to the outcome of this opening Group match.

Lorenzo Musetti has had a big year and did reach a peak career World Ranking back in June, but he is just 1-6 against top 20 Ranked opponents on the hard courts this season. His numbers have suggested he has been struggling to compete with the very best players on the Tour and Lorenzo Musetti just put in a huge week of tennis to merely make it to Turin, which could leave him short of the energy needed in this opening outing.

Improving the return continues to be the challenge for Taylor Fritz if he is going to take the next step and win a Grand Slam title, but he should find a way to get into the Musetti return games in this match. That should give the World Number 4 an opportunity to create the Break Points to put himself into a position to won and cover the handicap line set on Monday and Taylor Fritz looks more likely to do that and snap his three match losing run to this opponent.

Jannik Sinner - 4.5 games v Felix Auger-Aliassime: If he serves as he did in the Paris Masters Final, Felix Auger-Aliassime is going to make short work of covering this handicap mark.

However, all of the pressure is on his shoulders having lost each of the three hard court matches played against Jannik Sinner this season and now facing to face the defending Champion in a tournament where he is going to be getting some huge support from the stands.

Felix Auger-Aliassime did give Sinner a scare in the US Open Semi Final but the World Number 2 was perhaps not fully healthy in that match. And even then, Jannik Sinner was able to recover from an awkward second set to come through in four sets and he was pretty comfortable in the win over the Canadian in Paris a little over a week ago.

In two of the three hard court matches played over the last three months, Felix Auger-Aliassime has not been able to do much against the Jannik Sinner serve. This has kept the scoreboard pressure building on him and it was only some wasted chances in the Paris Masters that prevented the Italian from pulling away in that Final.

Jannik Sinner took the first Break Point on that day, but he was not able to take any of the next five played across two games and that just allowed Felix Auger-Aliassime to build some rhythm and confidence.

There is no doubt that the Auger-Aliassime serve is a major weapon, but his hold percentage has dipped to below 80% when only considering matches against top five Ranked opponents on this surface in 2025. His return remains erratic to say the least and that is also very notable when Felix Auger-Aliassime has gone up against the biggest names on the Tour.

As long as Jannik Sinner continues to serve at his current level, he will be relatively comfortable protecting this shot and that should allow him to play with some aggression on the return.

Felix Auger-Aliassime will be asked to serve at his absolute best level to stick with the World Number 2 and we have seen him fall away a couple of times, which makes the effort in Paris feel like the exception to the norm.

It is a big spread, and one that could become awkward very early in this Group match, but Jannik Sinner looks capable of covering and he will want to lay down an early marker to rival Carlos Alcaraz, who had a solid win on Sunday in his own opening match.

MY PICKS: Taylor Fritz - 2.5 Games @ 1.80 Bet Victor (1 Unit)

Jannik Sinner - 4.5 Games @ 1.70 Bet Victor (1 Unit)

ATP Finals: 2-0, + 1.72 Units (2 Units Staked, + 86% Yield)

NFL Week 10 Picks 2024 (Thursday 7th November-Monday 11th November)

We don't really have the kind of blockbuster moves at the trade deadline in the NFL as you can get with the other US sports, but it is still a good time to assess the potential of teams and, more importantly, what teams believe they are capable of achieving.

With that in mind, some of the top NFL teams have made moves to strengthen their prospects for January and February and the likes of the Baltimore Ravens, Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills and Detroit Lions look poised for big things.

However, if there is one thing we know about the NFL, it is that nothing is decided in November and there are always teams capable of getting very hot in December and rolling right through to a Super Bowl win. Despite all of the naysayers and some of the boo birds that seem to be accompanying every game they play, the Philadelphia Eagles are moving into a dangerous position to make a run as long as they can stay healthy.

Teams like Pittsburgh, Houston and San Francisco will have plenty of supporters behind them, although the lack of experience around Washington perhaps means we are yet to learn how far the Commanders can go. Two games with the Eagles in the NFC East will certainly paint a better picture about their prospects and there are some teams that have not been mentioned that have every reason to believe in their own capabilities having set a solid foundation from the first half of the season.

The Week 9 NFL Picks returned a very slight positive number, but it is a positive number and secures a really productive first half of the 2024 season.

As well as things have gone, it is very easy for fortune to turn and so it is key to not get carried away and to maintain some focus in the weeks ahead.

At the moment the tighter selection process has worked out well, but focusing on moving forward and not getting too far ahead of myself is the key to ensure another winning season from the sport. The NFL can be a very erratic League at times and spreads are being put together by very smart people, so it is a good start, but only a start.

In Week 10 we do have a selection from Thursday Night Football as two AFC North teams face off for the second time this season and further Picks will be added to this thread.

Cincinnati Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens Pick: The Cleveland Browns look like they are out of contention in the AFC North, but the other three teams in the Division have made moves before the trade deadline, which suggest they are looking to have an impact in the Playoffs in January.

Two of those teams face each other on Thursday Night Football in Week 10 of the 2024 season and it is the second time the Baltimore Ravens (6-3) and Cincinnati Bengals (4-5) will face off. The Ravens won in Overtime when visiting the Bengals in what was a really fun game, but one that Cincinnati will feel they lost rather than the Ravens won.

Baltimore may have a different kind of mind towards that, and Lamar Jackson has continued his recent dominance of this Divisional rival. Sweeping the season series would likely have the Ravens feeling they cannot finish behind the Bengals in the standings and would make up for the disappointing loss to the Cleveland Browns.

Both of these teams put up 41 points in victories in Week 9 as they prepare for a short week, although one in which both Baltimore and Cincinnati will be pretty familiar with what the other wants to do.

Ultimately it then comes down to which of the two teams can impose their will on the other a bit more effectively and the balance of this Baltimore Offensive unit makes them very, very dangerous. Head Coach John Harbaugh has been praising the impact of Derrick Henry and feels the Ravens are considerably more dangerous with a Running Back of that elite level compared to where they have been previously.

Derrick Henry was contained to some extent in the win over Cincinnati earlier in the season... That is until he ripped off a huge run that set up the victory for the Ravens! In recent games the Bengals Defensive Line have actually played the run pretty well, so they may have some early success when it comes to hitting Henry, although the fact that Lamar Jackson is also very capable of moving the ball with his legs will just keep the Bengals guessing.

It was actually Lamar Jackson's arm that impressed most in the win over the Bengals on the road and 4 Touchdown passes with almost 350 passing yards kept Baltimore battling before coming through in Overtime. Diontae Johnson may have more of an impact in this one having arrived in a trade from the Carolina Panthers and failing to earn a catch in Week 9, while Jackson could have yet another strong showing against this Bengals Defensive unit.

Joe Burrow actually played better than Lamar Jackson in the first meeting having compiled almost 400 passing yards and with 5 Touchdown passes. However, it was his late Interception that proved costly with the Bengals driving deep into Baltimore territory and when already holding a 3 point lead.

He would love to have that back, but Burrow could pick up from where he left off against this Ravens Secondary that has struggled to defend the pass. It will be down to the Quarter Back considering the issues the Bengals have in establishing the run and the Ravens Defensive Line remains the strength of the unit on this side of the ball.

Having a returning Tee Higgins would help, while it feels very important to have Orlando Brown Jr back at Left Tackle- out of the two, Brown Jr is perhaps more likely to suit up and that will be important to try and keep the pocket clean for their Quarter Back, especially if he does not have his full complement of Receiving options.

You still have to believe Joe Burrow will make some big plays, but the pressure will be on without a running game and with Ja'Marr Chase perhaps having a few more eyes focused on him without Tee Higgins.

Facing a relentless Baltimore team, the pressure could force Burrow into an errant throw, and that may end up turning the game in favour of the hosts.

Lamar Jackson has dominated this Divisional rival and there is every chance the Ravens have a big enough lead to avoid the backdoor cover when all is said and done on Thursday Night Football.

Carolina Panthers vs New York Giants Pick: Both teams look certain to miss the Playoffs again and there are likely going to be big changes at the end of this season for the New York Giants (2-7). A bit more patience may be needed with the Carolina Panthers (2-7), who won in Week 9 to at least give themselves a boost as the two teams head to Munich for the last NFL game to be played on European soil until 2025.

With both teams sharing the same record, some will feel it is a real surprise to have the New York Giants down as a big favourite, but there is a reason that is the case.

The Giants have lost four in a row, but those have been against the Cincinnati Bengals, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers and Washington Commanders. Only the Bengals have a losing record right now of those four teams, but there is every chance they will rally to become a Playoff team, while the other three teams all look on course to reach the post-season.

Keeping that in mind, it does mean the Giants have perhaps been a victim of the schedule as much as their own poor Offensive play and this is a big opportunity for Daniel Jones against a much weaker Defensive unit than he has face for a while.

Losing Saquon Barkley in the off-season looks a worse decision when seeing what he is doing with NFC East rivals Philadelphia, but the Giants Offensive Line have still been able to open up some solid running lanes. Tyrone Tracy Jr has benefited and he should be able to put up some decent numbers on the ground in this one, while Daniel Jones is also capable of moving the ball with his legs from the Quarter Back position.

It should mean the Giants are playing out of third and manageable spots on the field, while this may be a rare game in which the New York Offensive Line is able to give Daniel Jones some time in the pocket. Running the ball has not been a problem, but the pass protection has not played up to the same level, although in this game in Munich they are facing a Panthers team that have simply not been able to get to the Quarter Back with any consistency.

Daniel Jones will not have to hold onto the ball for too long if he and Tracy Jr can pound the rock on the ground, and the Quarter Back does have some Receivers who can create space against this Carolina Secondary.

Covering a big number like this one is about scoring points, which has been an issue for the Giants, but they may feel that they can protect those points that they are able to produce on the scoreboard. The New York Defensive unit has played much better than the other side of the ball and they will feel they match up pretty well with this Carolina Offensive unit that has Bryce Young starting at Quarter Back.

It has been possible to run the ball against the New York Giants, but it may not be as easy for a banged up Carolina Offensive Line to create the holes that others have been able to do. Chuba Hubbard looked in good form in the Week 9 win over the New Orleans Saints to snap out of something of a funk, although the game plan for the Giants may be to play up closer to the Line of Scrimmage and see if Bryce Young can beat them through the air.

The Giants Secondary have actually played pretty well so they will be confident, especially with the Panthers short in the Receiving corps. There is still an inconsistency about Bryce Young, while the Giants have a pass rush that could have the Quarter Back scrambling around for time in the pocket.

Throwing Interceptions continues to be an issue for Bryce Young and the feeling is that the New York Giants can make enough plays on this side of the ball to move into a position to win and cover. Backing bad teams to win games by comfortable margins is something that I have looked to avoid this season, but this is a spot where the New York Giants may just take advantage of a Panthers team that put in a lot to beat a Divisional rival in Week 9.

New York match up pretty well on both sides of the ball with what they are going to be facing and Daniel Jones can just ease the pressure and talk around his future by helping the Giants to a solid win in Germany before heading into their Bye Week.

Atlanta Falcons @ New Orleans Saints Pick: After two weeks and with 91 points scored, the New Orleans Saints (2-7) could not have imagined where they would be at the halfway mark of the 2024 season.

Seven straight injuries have ended with Head Coach Dennis Allen fired and the Saints have traded away Marshon Lattimore. Instead of thinking about the Playoffs, the New Orleans Saints might already be considering their Draft Position for next year as injuries have piled up throughout the roster.

Next up is the Atlanta Falcons (6-3) who have taken control of the NFC South.

This is what was expected from the Falcons after bringing in Kirk Cousins as the starting Quarter Back and five wins in six games have given the team a real lift. Winning in Week 10 would push the Falcons to 5-0 within the NFC South and it would mean they are also a considerable way to securing at least one home Playoff game in January.

It is never the best position to be siding with the public when they are pumping a road favourite as much as they are with the Falcons in Week 10, but there looks to be a considerable advantage for the road team who will enjoy playing under the Dome.

Derek Carr has returned at Quarter Back for the Saints, but he was not able to inspire a win at the Carolina Panthers and was heavily criticised for a pass that left Chris Olave out to dry. The concussion suffered by the young Receiver has ruled him out this game and New Orleans will have to lean on their Offensive Line to try and keep themselves in front of the chains.

This should be possible against the Falcons Defensive Line, while Derek Carr may be offered more protection than any New Orleans Quarter Back has been used to. One of the problems for the Falcons is having a Defensive unit that has struggled to make consistent stops, and that will need to be improved if they want to have a deep run in the post-season, but it is also going to be challenging for New Orleans with the injuries to keep things ticking over.

An interim Head Coach has inspired teams to big performances and there is no doubt that the Falcons are expecting that to happen.

However, the New Orleans Defensive unit has been hurt badly with injuries restricting their ability to make plays and you have to believe Kirk Cousins can expose the holes that have been evident.

The Falcons should find an easy balance on the Offensive side of the ball and it will be very tough for New Orleans to prevent the road team from moving up and down the field. Kirk Cousins can lean on the running game behind the Offensive Line, while there is a chance that Drake London will be back to just offer another Receiving threat for the Quarter Back to utilise.

When these teams met back in September, the Falcons were perhaps fortunate to come away with a win, but the teams have moved in vastly different directions since then. Despite the firing of their Head Coach and the expected reaction to that, the Saints made moves ahead of the trade deadline that may have all feeling that 2025 is already the focus and the Atlanta Falcons may just have too much scoring power for an injury hit New Orleans team to do with.

San Francisco 49ers @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers Pick: They are fortunate to be playing in the relatively weak looking NFC West and the San Francisco 49ers (4-4) will come out of their Bye Week with Christian McCaffrey ready to return. Injuries have perhaps restricted the 49ers and prevented them from building the momentum to really take control of the Division, and there is a slight concern at being 1-2 against NFC West opponents, but more is expected from San Francisco going forward.

Travelling across the country for a 1pm Eastern Time kick off is not ideal, especially with a Divisional rival next up, but the Bye should mean the 49ers are ready.

Add to that the fact they are facing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-5) who have been seriously hurt by injuries to key players and who have lost three in a row.

Baker Mayfield is still playing pretty well at Quarter Back, but losing Chris Godwin for the season and having Mike Evans on the sidelines recovering from a hamstring issue is a real blow for the team. Despite that, Mayfield and the Buccaneers are scoring plenty of points to at least remain competitive, although the Defensive unit have not been able to create the stops that may have turned momentum.

Earlier in the season the Buccaneers may have actually been able to establish the run with some consistency to help the Quarter Back, but that may not be as easy against a fresher San Francisco Defensive Line. They actually went into the Bye Week playing better at the Line of Scrimmage and there is a feeling that the 49ers can make sure they control things up front knowing there are backups playing for the Buccaneers in the Wide Receiver positions.

The Quarter Back has maintained some strong numbers and the Offensive plans have given the Buccaneers a chance, and that has to be respected here. The Offensive Line have opened up the running lanes, but they have been solid enough in pass protection to deserve plenty of respect too so there is an opportunity for Baker Mayfield to at least put up enough points for Tampa Bay to believe they can win as the home underdog.

However, the question really is whether the Defensive unit can step up for the Buccaneers and that is perhaps asking a bit too much of the current team from what we have seen in recent games.

Even without the threat of Christian McCaffrey, the 49ers Offensive Line have really been bullying teams up front and they are likely going to establish the run with a lot more consistency than their hosts. It has been a problem for the Buccaneers during their three game losing run, while the return of Christian McCaffrey also offers Brock Purdy another Receiving threat capable of picking up a lot of yards after the catch.

Brandon Aiyuk is out for the season, although Brock Purdy could benefit from the like of George Kittle and Deebo Samuel having a Bye Week to just get through some of the injuries and illnesses that had been holding them back. With the main Running Back, the 49ers will be that much more dangerous and that should mean Brock Purdy can run the Offensive unit as he wants.

The 49ers Offensive Line have offered plenty of protection for Purdy, who is also going to get the ball out of his hands pretty quickly, and it should mean San Francisco are moving the ball efficiently.

A backdoor cover cannot be ruled out with the way the Buccaneers have continued to play through adversity, but the 49ers are fresh and this is a short week for Tampa Bay having put so much into an Overtime loss on Monday Night Football at the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 9.

Minnesota Vikings @ Jacksonville Jaguars Pick: They may feel there is plenty of room for improvement after the Week 9 win against the Indianapolis Colts, but it is much easier to deal with that after putting a victory together. Snapping a two game losing run will have the Minnesota Vikings (6-2) feeling better, although it does mean they are behind the Detroit Lions in what is a very competitive NFC North Division.

The focus has to be on their own performances and the Vikings will be looking to push their way into the Playoffs at the end of this season, either as a Divisional Champion or as a dangerous Wild Card team.

This looks a good chance to back up the win over one AFC South when facing another and that is because the hosts Jacksonville Jaguars (2-7) are expected to go into Week 10 without Quarter Back Trevor Lawrence. To make matters even tougher, the Receiving corps has been hit hard by injuries and it is going to be a big challenge for backup CJ Beathard to help his team move the ball with any consistency.

Jacksonville might have lost their last two games, but they have been a lot more competitive since the embarrassing loss to the Chicago Bears in London. However, doing the same without Trevor Lawrence is going to be very difficult and especially with this Minnesota Vikings team in front of a backup that may not always see what is coming.

If they could run the ball and take the pressure away from CJ Beathard, it would help, but that is not likely going to be the case for the Jaguars. Instead the Quarter Back could be forced to throw from third and long spots, while trying to work out where Brian Flores is sending the pressure from.

It is a bend, don't break kind of Secondary, but unlikely that CJ Beathard is going to have a lot of consistent success if the likes of Gabe Davis and Brian Thomas Jr are not able to go. Christian Kirk has been ruled out for the season and all in all, this looks like it could be a long day Offensively for a team that is struggling.

Playing out of a primetime spot and having a big Divisional game up next does make this an awkward spot for the Minnesota Vikings. However, Sam Darnold is looking to just round into more consistent form again at Quarter Back and he should be able to offer the Vikings plenty of balance on the Offensive side of the ball.

Aaron Jones has arrived from rivals Green Bay and has shown there is still plenty in the tank as far as the Running Back is concerned and he is playing behind a Minnesota Offensive Line which has been capable of opening up some strong lanes for him. This has really helped Sam Darnold at Quarter Back, although Darnold has admitted he needs to be a bit more careful with the ball as Interceptions have perhaps become too frequent for his and his Head Coach's liking.

Pressure around him has not helped, but Sam Darnold should have a cleaner pocket with the team operating in third and manageable, while the play-action will open up if the Vikings are running the ball as expected. There are holes in this Jacksonville Secondary that can be exploited, and Sam Darnold is fortunate to be playing with some big time Receivers and it should allow Minnesota to pull clear.

If Trevor Lawrence was going to suit up, the Jaguars would have the potential for a backdoor cover, but that is all the more difficult with CJ Beathard behind Center.

The schedule spot is far from ideal, but the Vikings can get the better of another AFC South team and earn another cover on their way to a seventh win of the season.

Philadelphia Eagles @ Dallas Cowboys Pick: It doesn't feel that long ago that the NFC East might have been considered the best Division in the NFL, but that is not the case in 2024.

Even then, it looks like on that could potentially be sending at least two teams to the Playoffs in the Washington Commanders and the Philadelphia Eagles (6-2). Despite the noise coming down from the stands and some of the criticism in the media, Head Coach Nick Sirianni has guided the Eagles just behind the Commanders in the Division and with a big game coming up between the top two teams in the NFC East in Week 11.

It is a game to be played on Thursday Night Football so there is a slight concern that the Eagles could be looking past the Dallas Cowboys (3-5) who are going to be without Dak Prescott at Quarter Back.

A third loss in a row has dropped the Cowboys to a couple of games below 0.500 and Mike McCarthy has to be feeling his seat heating up day by day as the Head Coach. In reality Jerry Jones should be taking plenty of the 'credit' for the way this season has developed, but the axe will fall on the Head Coach who was perhaps fortunate to remain in charge ahead of the 2024 season.

Dak Prescott is out, but Cooper Rush will come in as backup with a 5-1 record as a starter in relief, although he is not going to be benefit from a lot of support around him. In previous outings, Rush might have leaned on the Dallas Offensive Line, but they have struggled to establish the run this season and the improving Philadelphia Defensive Line may be extra keen to clamp down up front and see if Cooper Rush can beat them through the air.

Another issue for the Offensive Line, which is banged up, is that they have not really offered much protection for Dak Prescott and that is unlikely to improve for their backup Quarter Back. The Philadelphia Eagles pass rush could cause massive problems for Rush every time he steps back to throw, especially when stuck in third and long spots, and that pressure up front has certainly allowed the Eagles Secondary to make some big plays.

The experience of Cooper Rush as a starter will at least help, but it looks a good opportunity for the Eagles to make enough big plays on this side of the ball to set things up for their Offensive unit to pull away for an impressive win.

Much like others have managed this season, the Eagles will look to the Offensive Line to just push Dallas around up front and a number of Running Backs have had big outings against the Cowboys already. His personal record against Dallas has been disappointing from his time with the New York Giants, but Saquon Barkley can finally get the better of the team as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles.

Some may have thought Barkley was not worth bringing in, but he has been a key part of this Eagles Offensive unit and can have a very strong outing.

Last weekend the Head Coach would have been criticised for some of the bizarre play-calling for the Eagles when in fourth and inches, but his team still managed to win for a fourth time in a row. Saquon Barkley has just taken some of the pressure away from Jalen Hurts at Quarter Back and the likes of AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith are also available, who also benefit from the running game being as productive as it has been.

The Cowboys have gotten some pressure up front and that pass rush could be boosted by a returning Micah Parsons, although they will need to find a way to contain Saquon Barkley to really have an opportunity to get after the Quarter Back.

With Kellen Moore at Offensive Co-Ordinator, there is going to be motivation from the Eagles to try and really and give the former Dallas Co-Ordinator a boost. That could mean attempting to run up the score here and Philadelphia could really get one over on their Divisional rival with a strong win on the road.

Miami Dolphins @ Los Angeles Rams Pick: If it was possible, the NFL may have seen this Monday Night Football flexed out of the spot, but it will be the Miami Dolphins (2-6) heading West to take on the Los Angeles Rams (4-4).

It is the Rams who are entrenched in a Divisional battle with the NFC West congested, but the season for the Dolphins has been difficult to say the least. There is still a hope that things can turn around for Miami, who have already faced Buffalo twice, but they have lost a couple of close games since Tua Tagovailoa has been able to return at Quarter Back and need to start changing that narrative if they are going to work their way into the post-season.

At this point of the season, Miami's margin for error is almost down to zero with the expectation being fewer than nine wins will not be good enough.

They have looked better Offensively with their starting Quarter Back behind Center, and there is an expectation for Miami to maintain that push on this side of the ball. The Rams have won three in a row, which perhaps was a factor in keeping the core of the roster together through the trade deadline, but they are still a team that can give up some big plays.

During this winning run, the Rams Defensive Line have clamped down on the run, but that is not going to be as easy against a Miami team with big Offensive weapons. Mike McDaniel will always feel that the run can open up the big passing lanes down the field and he will not lose faith in what the Dolphins can do on the ground having seen some consistent performances from his Running Back and Offensive Line.

The Miami Offensive Line have offered some solid protection for their Quarter Back and this is going to be a key part of the game as they look to just ease the Los Angeles pass rush. Running the ball will help and Tua Tagovailoa can employ his Running Backs as catchers out of the backfield, which will just keep the Rams guessing and open up opportunities against this Secondary.

There is every chance that this will be an exciting primetime game considering the challenges that Miami will face when Matthew Stafford and the Rams have the ball.

Injuries have just cleared up for the Rams, which has really given Stafford the chance to lead his team forward, and the veteran Quarter Back will have his top Receivers on the field who are very capable of finding the spaces in the Secondary to exploit.

Running the ball might be more challenging for the Rams, even with Kyren Williams continuing to impress out of the backfield. However, Matthew Stafford is more than capable of leading the Rams forward and he, and his Receivers, can put the Rams into a position to win the game.

With a limited pass rush, Miami will give Matthew Stafford time in the pocket and that should mean both teams are capable of moving the ball and scoring points.

A shoot out would not be a surprise considering the issues in the Secondaries and the Offensive-minded Head Coaches prowling the sidelines and that is the lean for this Monday Night Football game. It is a big number, but the conditions should be comfortable for the Quarter Backs taking to the field and some quick strikes may be produced to help take the game over the line set.

MY PICKS: Baltimore Ravens - 5.5 Points @ 1.86 Paddy Power (1 Unit)

New York Giants - 6.5 Points @ 1.95 Paddy Power (1 Unit)

Atlanta Falcons - 3.5 Points @ 1.95 Bet Fred (1 Unit)

San Francisco 49ers - 6.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet Victor (1 Unit)

Minnesota Vikings - 6.5 Points @ 1.86 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Philadelphia Eagles - 7.5 Points @ 1.95 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Los Angeles Rams-Miami Dolphins Over 48.5 Points @ 1.86 Bet Victor (1 Unit)

Week 9: 3-2, + 0.73 Units (5 Units Staked, + 14.60% Yield)

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

Week 7: 4-3, + 0.73 Units (7 Units Staked, + 10.43% Yield)

Week 6: 4-2, + 1.67 Units (6 Units Staked, + 27.83% Yield)

Week 5: 4-2, + 1.64 Units (6 Units Staked, + 27.33% Yield)

Week 4: 6-2, + 3.45 Units (8 Units Staked, + 43.13% Yield)

Week 3: 3-3, - 0.23 Units (6 Units Staked, - 3.83% Yield)

Week 2: 4-2, + 1.62 Units (6 Units Staked, + 27% Yield)

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

Tennis Picks 2021- WTA Finals (November 10th)

The world changed in March 2020 and the Tennis Tour has only just begun to recover to produce tournaments on a weekly basis.

However, the Asian part of the Tour has yet to return with issues surrounding Covid-19 and that has meant there has been a number of one-year deals given to events around the world. That includes moving the WTA Finals for a one year appearance in Guadalajara and it is a tournament where the players are going to be as unfamiliar with their surroundings as the fans.

There has been plenty of controversy about moving the tournament here and the altitude could play havoc on the quality of tennis that will be seen by the fans. However, it should be a competitive tournament and the absence of Ashleigh Barty means the top eight players involved are separated by just 1700 points in the World Rankings.

We have yet to see a 2022 ATP/WTA calendar produced by the Tours and that says all you need to know about the uncertainty that is hindering a sport that plays in multiple countries throughout the season. The Australian Open is set to return to its usual spot in January, although there is still no clarification as to whether players are going to need to be vaccinated or not if they are to enter Australia and play in the first Grand Slam of the season.

The tournaments in and around the Australian Open have yet to be secured and there should be plenty of news to come.

At least the 2021 Tour is set to be concluded with three top tournaments.

I am looking for three strong events to wrap up the season and over the last nineteen months I have mainly focused on the absolute biggest events with the uncertainty around the other events. It has been a reasonable season, but I am hoping the Tour has a more familiar look and feel next season and one in which outside factors begin to play less and less a part in how events come together.

After the WTA Finals, ATP Finals and the Davis Cup tournament, the next Tennis Picks are likely to come at the events that open the 2022 season before the Australian Open gets underway in mid-January.

Anett Kontaveit - 3.5 games v Barbora Krejcikova: Ons Jabeur has made her mark in tennis with her successes this season and she will be an inspiration to girls in and around the Middle East and Northern Africa. However, it is Anett Kontaveit's strong run since the Olympic Games which has seen her edge out Jabeur for the final place at the WTA Finals.

This is the first time an Estonian player has made the Finals and Anett Kontaveit can thank a ten match winning run to end the season for her place in Mexico. She has won two titles in that run and it meant earning 76 more points over Ons Jabeur, which is just enough to take her place in the field.

The question for Anett Kontaveit is how much energy has she used to earn her spot- she has played thirty matches since the Olympic Games and that is a lot more than the rest of her peers in this tournament. At least she has had a few days off to prepare for this tournament, but Anett Kontaveit has to use it as setting a marker for the 2022 season on the WTA Tour, which remains very open when you think of how little there is in terms of points between the top players.

First up for Anett Kontaveit is Barbora Krejcikova who has had a stunning season in which she won the French Open and has Qualified for the WTA Finals both as a Singles player and a Doubles player. The Czech player lost a couple of matches at the BJK Cup earlier this month and it has been a long seson for Barbora Krejcikova and there has been signs that it is catching up with her.

Barbora Krejcikova is obviously excited about playing her first WTA Finals as a Singles player, but she has lost three matches in a row. The two players in this opening Group match have very similar numbers on the hard courts since the end of the Olympic Games, but the difference between them has been on the return with the aggressive approach of Anett Kontaveit leading to winning 47% of return points played compared with Barbora Krejcikova's 43% mark.

Much is going to depend on which of the players is capable of judging the conditions the best and making sure they are on the front foot by getting the first serve in play. Altitude can be difficult to deal with and that is where the conditioning of the players and the huge amount of matches played by Anett Kontaveit could come back to hurt her.

However, I can't help but admire the strong performances put together by the lower Ranked player. The second serve is a little vulnerable, but I think the long season may affect Barbora Krejcikova a little more than Anett Kontaveit and the matches they have recently played against top 20 opponents on the hard courts favour the latter to come through this match.

I love the fight that Barbora Krejcikova plays with and this is a big handicap mark if she is at her best, but signs at the BJK Cup suggests that is not the case at this moment. Anett Kontaveit has momentum and she has been battering her way past opponents and I think she can keep that up for at least one more match as she makes a positive start to this Group.

Karolina Pliskova - 1.5 games v Garbine Muguruza: Skipping the BJK Cup to focus on a long run at the WTA Finals has to be seen as a positive, but Karolina Pliskova has played little tennis over the last month and this will be the first match since losing at the Indian Wells tournament that was pushed back to October rather than it's usual March position in the calendar.

She clearly wants to do well here, but I am less enthused by the comments about the conditions at the WTA Finals with Karolina Pliskova admitting the ball is flying off the strings in the altitude of Guadalajara. Her game is all about being aggressive and hitting flat shots, but that is not ideal for the conditions and practice is going to be all important for her before taking the court for the opening match at the tournament.

At least Karolina Pliskova is facing an opponent she is familiar with and one she has dominated in the past- they have not met since January 2019, but Karolina Pliskova has won eight of nine hard court matches against Garbine Muguruza.

The Spaniard made a really strong start to the 2021 season and she came very close to beating Naomi Osaka at the Australian Open, but Garbine Muguruza has struggled for consistency since the Olympic Games. In that time, Garbine Muguruza has an 8-5 record on the hard courts, but she did win a title in Chicago before early losses in Indian Wells and Moscow.

Neither player has been lighting up the numbers and the serve is going to be very important for both players. Garbine Muguruza has at least the added motivation of playing the WTA Finals in Latin America where she is going to be well supported having Venezuelan connections and she has won a couple of titles in Mexico before, although those have not been played at tournaments that have to deal with the unfamiliar altitude the players will face in Guadalajara.

In their previous matches, Karolina Pliskova's serve has been the key to separating the two players and that remains the best part of her game. You do have to wonder if she can produce her best in the current conditions, but I think it will also affect the Garbine Muguruza game and the familiarity with what she will face should stand Karolina Pliskova in good stead.

I expect plenty of mistakes out of the racquet of both players, but the Czech player has shown she can deal with what Garbine Muguruza brings to the court and I think she can get off to a winning start in this Group at the WTA Finals.

MY PICKS: Anett Kontaveit - 3.5 Games @ 1.80 Bet Fred (2 Units)

Karolina Pliskova - 1.5 Games @ 1.91 Bet Fred (2 Units)

ATP World Tour Finals Tennis Picks (November 10-11)

The final Singles tournament of the 2019 Tennis season begins at the O2 Arena in London for the penultimate time before a move to Turin in 2021.

The ATP World Tour Finals is played a couple of weeks after the WTA Finals concluded that side of the Tour and I do think the placement of this event should be considered being changed in future years. After a long season we see many withdrawals from tournaments following the US Open and that has happened on a regular basis in the Finals too as players don't want to suffer a long-term injury that may see the start of the 2020 season affected.

Opening a season with the best eight players from the previous year looks a great way to improve things, although I also know the Tennis calendar is plenty packed as it is and moving things around would not be easy. I also expect most players would say they would rather play the event at the end of the indoor part of the schedule rather than a couple of weeks before the Australian Open takes place, but it does seem unfortunate that these Finals are not as strong as they perhaps should be.


In saying that I still expect to see a very good event being played in London this week as the battle for the World Number 1 spot in the end of year Rankings goes down to the wire. Unfortunately it sounds like Rafael Nadal is not anywhere near where he wants to be health wise and I am not sure he is going to be able to last the entire event.

Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer are the leading contenders and look to be in the perfect Group to at least make the Semi Finals. Daniil Medvedev was playing the best tennis at the end of the season and looks the big threat, while Alexander Zverev is the defending Champion having beaten Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic in back to back matches twelve months ago.


It will hopefully be a good event as I also say goodbye to another very strong Tennis season for the Picks which have produced a very positive return. I haven't had a lot of selections following the US Open as I wanted to get reset for the 2020 season, but I should have Picks from most days at this tournament this week.

The first two days will be under the same thread with the first four Group games taking place within that time, but it will hen be a daily thread through the remainder of the tournament.


Novak Djokovic - 4.5 games v Matteo Berrettini: Any season in which you win a Grand Slam title has to be seen as a positive one and Novak Djokovic has to be happy with the two he won in Melbourne and London. However his rival for the end of year Number 1 World Ranking also won two Grand Slam titles and Novak Djokovic is going to have to hope Rafael Nadal is not able to get out of the Group Stage to have a realistic chance of overtaking him and earning that distinction for the sixth time in his career.

The title win in Paris earlier this month has put Djokovic in a strong position both in terms of points and with the momentum he earned. The courts in Paris tend to be very similar to the ones we are going to see in this part of London so the form Djokovic displayed will be very encouraging to his supporters.

Novak Djokovic has also won the title in Tokyo since his surprise exit in the Fourth Round of the US Open and while his season numbers on the hard courts have been very, very impressive, the performances since the US Open have been stunning. The serve has been working particularly well for Djokovic who will always believe he has the return game to hurt any opponent he plays.

That is going to be tested by debutant Matteo Berrettini who has been improving steadily over the last eighteen months and fully deserves his place in London this week. The Italian reached the Fourth Round at Wimbledon and then the Semi Final at the US Open to boost his profile and his game is very much based around a monstrous serve that has seen Berrettini hold almost 89% of service games played in 2019.

His hard court numbers have been impressive for the most part and shows an ability to play on all surfaces, although the big question mark around Berrettini is whether he can return well enough to take the next step in his development. He has broken in 17% of return games on the hard courts in 2019, but I think Matteo Berrettini will be well aware that number needs to hit the 20% range to really start becoming a threat to win a major title.

Matteo Berrettini has had a couple of solid runs in Shanghai and Vienna since the conclusion of the US Open, but he has also lost some surprising matches too. The early defeat to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in Paris means he hasn't really had a lot of experience playing on this surface and certainly not to the level that Djokovic will have had.

I do have to respect the fact that Berrettini has the kind of serve that can make it very difficult to earn the breaks that Novak Djokovic will need to cover this mark. However I also think he will find it difficult to retrieve breaks and Djokovic was returning well enough in Paris to believe he can put his younger opponent into pressurised situations.

A lot is also going to be about how Berrettini deals with a new experience- he struggled at Wimbledon when reaching the Fourth Round of a Grand Slam for the first time and that may be the case here too. The much better all around performances in the latter stages of the US Open shows this is a player with a tough mentality, although I think Novak Djokovic is a man on a mission this week and can use the superior returning to eventually find the breaks to pull clear of Matteo Berrettini in this opening Tour Finals match.


Roger Federer - 3.5 games v Dominic Thiem: He has become a familiar face in the ATP World Tour Finals, but there has long been a question mark about Dominic Thiem's schedule which means he has struggled when reaching the end of the season. Winning the title in Vienna might have changed the narrative somewhat, although the early defeat in the Paris Masters will have been a blow for the Austrian.

He has been placed in a tough Group alongside two of the favourites and Thiem will know he has to make a fast start. For a long time Thiem has looked like a player capable of performing on the hard courts, but inconsistent results means his level remains just above average on the surface.

Dominic Thiem did win the Master tournament at Indian Wells and he has beaten Roger Federer twice already this season including in that Masters Final which will give him confidence, but beating Federer here in London is a big test.

Roger Federer has perhaps not had the season he would have liked and especially not after coming so close to winning Wimbledon and having to settle for a Runner Up spot. However his love for the game has not lessened at all and Federer should be fresh after deciding to skip the Paris Masters following a title win at home in Basel.

Over the course of the year Federer has continued to show he is a very effective hard court player and the slight improvement when it comes to the return numbers has been important for him. It has led to a reversal of the sliding trend when it came to percentage of return games in which he found a break and that should be important in this match for Federer despite the two losses to Thiem in 2019.

It can be difficult to break down the Dominic Thiem game if the Austrian is at his very best, but he has been holding 85% of service games on the hard courts compared with Roger Federer's 91% number. I do think Federer is going to have the majority of break point chances in this one too, as Federer did when losing the Indian Wells Final to Thiem.

Twelve months ago Federer dominated this match in the Group Stage here in London- while I am not sure it will be as easy as it was that day, I do think Federer can find the breaks of serve he needs to just edge over this line. As I've said all season, it is a line that is just low enough for me to be interested as I still believe backing Federer on the 4.5 line in these best of three set matches is very risky in a lot of situations.


Daniil Medvedev - 2.5 games v Stefanos Tsitsipas: After yet another fairly exit at a major tournament, Stefanos Tsitsipas suggested the younger players on the Tour are struggling to match the intensity of the big three of Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.

One player stepped to the fore and refused to let reputations bother him and Daniil Medvedev is playing about as well as anyone in the men's game going into his maiden ATP World Tour Finals. I have no doubt that this is the first of many appearances Medvedev will have in the end of season event and the US Open Finalist has recovered from that disappointment to win two titles since then.

The early exit at the Paris Masters won't really be a major concern for Medvedev who might have to be the favourite to get out of this Group. The opening match against Stefanos Tsitsipas is going to be an intriguing watch because to say these two players don't see eye to eye is a huge understatement.

You wouldn't really call it a rivalry when you think Medvedev has won all five previous matches played on the pro Tour. However everyone of those matches has been highly competitive and I do think it is entirely possible that is the direction this match is heading in on Monday afternoon.

I can understand why Daniil Medvedev is favoured to win when you consider the record against his opponent, but the stats have very much backed that up. He is a far superior returner than Tsitsipas and has the powerful serve to back up and consolidate those breaks of serve too.

When you put these players together you can see that Medvedev has been slightly more productive when it comes to protecting his serve, but the big edge on the return has to be the key to the outcome of this one. When they met in Shanghai last month it was the slightly better returning which proved to be the difference on the day, although it was the first time in five matches that Tsitsipas earned more break points than Medvedev.

However it was Medvedev who did win more return points and he has been in better form since the end of the US Open than his Greek opponent.

Out of the two players I do think Tsitsipas will be more appealing to the crowd with the greater shot-making and the mercurial way he approaches his tennis. Daniil Medvedev is more down the Novak Djokovic route of being very strong all around, but perhaps a little robotic in the way he plays which is not something which warms up the crowd.

I don't think Medvedev cares one bit about the way the crowd may react judging by the way he was trolling the US Open crowd after wins in New York. It propelled him to the Final in that tournament and I think the superior play of Daniil Medvedev will ultimately show up on the day.


Alexander Zverev + 3.5 games v Rafael Nadal: There were one or two doubts about whether Rafael Nadal was going to take part in London at the ATP World Tour Finals, but I think the ambition of finishing World Number 1 has been motivation for the Spaniard. An injury in Paris meant Nadal was not able to take to the court for his scheduled Semi Final in the one tournament he has played since winning the US Open, and that makes his participation in London a touch surprising.

At this stage of the season Nadal has decided he can invest all he wants to with a two month break between the end of the season and the Australian Open beginning. I am not entirely convinced he is close to being fully fit though and Alexander Zverev has to look to take advantage.

This has been a difficult season for Zverev who won the ATP World Tour Finals twelve months ago but has not kicked on in any kind of way that was anticipated. Being back in London at the O2 Arena should give Zverev a boost, but he has continued to play below the kind of level we would have thought he would be operating at.

The German has played pretty well since the end of the US Open, but I do think the confidence is not in a great position. Even then I have to believe that Zverev knows there is a big opportunity in front of him despite losing all five previous matches against Rafael Nadal.

If Rafael Nadal was at 100% I think he would be a strong favourite to win this match considering how well he has played on the hard courts. His serve has been a big weapon for him, but that injury and his poor performances in London in this ATP World Tour Finals in previous years has to be a concern for those backing him in this opening match.

He has been considerably stronger than Zverev in the previous five matches between these players, but Nadal might have to play to the moments in this one rather than every point as hard as he would like. That could give Zverev a chance to rattle through some service games and I would not be massively surprised if the underdog is in a position to win this match outright.

However instead of that, I do think taking the games with the underdog is worth a play in this Monday evening match. My feeling is that Nadal might end up winning when all is said and done, but I think Zverev can take a set and he can push his higher Ranked opponent on a court where the youngster has beaten Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer before.

The two previous hard court matches between these opponents have been competitive, and I will look for the underdog to use the games to keep this one close too.

MY PICKS: Novak Djokovic - 4.5 Games @ 1.80 Bet Fred (2 Units)
Roger Federer - 3.5 Games @ 1.72 Bet Fred (2 Units)
Daniil Medvedev - 2.5 Games @ 1.72 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Alexander Zverev + 3.5 Games @ 1.80 Bet Victor (2 Units)

Season 2019: + 97.43 Units (1619 Units Staked, + 6.02% Yield)

Boxing Picks 2018- Oleksandr Usyk vs Tony Bellew (November 10th)

There are some huge fights still to come before the end of the 2018 calendar year, but the biggest event that is going to take place in the United Kingdom comes from the Manchester Arena when Tony Bellew looks to cement his legacy as an all-time British great.

He will do that if he can beat Oleksandr Usyk, the undefeated, undisputed Cruiserweight World Champion with big ambitions of his own.

The World Boxing Super Series concludes the Quarter Final fights from the Season Two tournament on Saturday too, but all eyes of the Boxing world will be on Manchester where we also have a potential eliminator for a shot at Vasyl Lomachenko. Anthony Crolla would love to bring Lomachenko to Manchester in the New Year, but it all depends on whether he can win on Saturday.

David Allen, Josh Kelly and Ricky Burns are also on the undercard at the Manchester Arena ahead of a fight I am very much looking forward to.

David Allen vs Ariel Esteban Bracamonte

David Allen may not be the best technical Boxer out there but he has built himself a big following and is happy to get back in the ring whenever he can.

We may only be around seven weeks out from the end of the 2018 calendar year, but Allen is expected to be going out at least twice with one of those fights taking place on Saturday.

It has been a fun time to back David Allen having been behind him when he beat Nick Webb at the O2 Arena back in July and then stopping Samir Nebo in the First Round last month.

I think it will be another early night for The White Rhino on Saturday as this looks another tick-along fight before a bigger test for Allen in December. His opponent comes from Argentina and will be fighting outside his own country for the firs time in this his tenth professional fight.

Three of the last four Ariel Esteban Bracamonte fights have ended in the First Round including his one defeat. You can't always tell how these fighters will travel and I think David Allen will look to put Bracamonte under pressure from the off and can get another early stoppage to put on his resume.

Backing Allen to get this done in the first couple of Rounds was a productive selection last month and I think it could be the case again on the undercard at the Manchester Arena. At that point I expect Allen to be put in with a live fighter next month as he looks to reposition himself for a shot at the British or Commonwealth Title.

Ricky Burns vs Scott Cardle

This fight has been taken on short notice by Ricky Burns but it is a real crossroads fight for both the Scottish hero and Scott Cardle whose last meaningful fight saw him stopped in Second Round by Lewis Ritson.

It has the makings of a decent fight but I think Burns is still a level above Cardle and I do like his chances to win this one.

He wants to get back into a position to either have a rematch with Anthony Crolla, or perhaps be in an eliminator of his own, and Burns showed he still has something in the tank when losing to Crolla in a good fight.

The question for me is how much does Cardle have in the tank? He came out firing against Lewis Ritson in what were questionable tactics and I am a bit uncomfortable with how long he can last in this one if things start going wrong for him.

At least Cardle won't be overwhelmed by the power of Burns as much as he was against Ritson, but an accumulation of punches could have the referee or the corner thinking about pulling him out of this one.

Burns has fought at a much higher level than Cardle and I think he is going to be too good for him here. The latter could be competitive at times, but I expect Burns is going to pull away in the second half of the fight and he can win a comfortable Decision as long as Cardle is not asked to pull out of this one early.

Anthony Crolla vs Daud Yordan

This looks to be an eliminator for a shot at Vasyl Lomachenko so there is plenty of the line for both Anthony Crolla and Daud Yordan.

The smart money looks to be going down on the home fighter winning this one on a Decision, but Crolla has been making it clear that Yordan deserves plenty of respect.

And so he should be some solid road wins already under his belt, although I do question Yordan's punch resistance.

That's not to say Anthony Crolla is the biggest puncher in the world, but his intense pressure can break opponents and four of his thirteen career stoppages have come in his last eleven fights.

Like I say, the most likely outcome is Crolla gets this done on a Decision, but I am going to have a small interest on the Manchester man pressurising Yordan into a stoppage in the second half of this fight.

Oleksandr Usyk vs Tony Bellew

All the marbles are on the line in this Cruiserweight World Title fight and more and more are willing to openly state they are backing Tony Bellew to cause the upset against Oleksandr Usyk.

I am not one of those.

As strong as the wins over David Haye are for Bellew fans to hold onto, Haye is someway off where Usyk is these days and I think Bellew is going to have to produce a career best effort to win this fight.

The Bellew run at Cruiserweight and Heavyweight is impressive, but he has had close Decisions over Nathan Cleverly and Mateusz Mastarnak and this is clearly a much tougher fight than those two. Wins over Haye (twice), BJ Flores and Ilunga Makubu are good ones for Bellew but not half as good as his Sky backers would want you to believe.

Now he faces the undisputed best at this weight and a fighter who is coming in off two huge wins already in 2018. Oleksandr Usky was challenged by Mairis Breidis, but I think he showed he has a decent set of whiskers on him before completely shutting down Murat Gassiev.

I think both of those fighters would give Bellew all he could handle and I may even think Breidis could beat him. There is clearly some power in the Bellew punches, but I think that may be a touch overrated too and I am looking for Usyk to show why he is considered one of the pound for pound kings in the sport.

Usyk is not a concussive puncher and four of his last six have gone to the cards- I don't think Bellew will allow anyone to stop this fight barring the referee, but I also think Usyk will look to control the tempo and it will be difficult for him to stop the Liverpudlian who will put it all on the line in this one.

I don't know if Bellew has much more than a puncher's chance in this one, but I don't think Usyk is someone who will be caught too many times. He is smart enough to cancel out the Bellew tactics and I think Usyk will come through with a win on the cards even in a country where there have been some strange calls in recent times.

There are some out there who think Usyk forces the stoppage, but I think there are some big things in the pipeline for him and he won't push for it as Bellew tries to close the gap in the second half of the fight. I expect maybe one big push in the final couple of Rounds if Usyk has beaten the fight out of Bellew and the British fighter looks to at least get to the cards, but ultimately I think this will come down to a Usyk points win as he did in the last two World Boxing Super Series fights.

Usyk looks to be too smart to be dragged into a war and I think his adjustments will see him pull away in the second half of the fight.

MY PICKS: David Allen to Win Between 1-2 @ 2.75 Ladbrokes (2 Units)

Ricky Burns to Win by Decision/Technical Decision @ 2.25 Sky Bet (2 Units)

Anthony Crolla to Win Between 7-12 @ 5.50 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

Oleksandr Usky to Win by Decision/Technical Decision @ 2.75 Ladbrokes (2 Units)

Mairis Breidis to Win by Decision/Technical Decision @ 3.00 Sky Bet (2 Units)

Krzysztof Glowacki @ 2.10 Bet Fred (2 Units)

College Football Week 11 Picks 2018 (November 10th)

The College Football regular season has moved into the middle of November and that means we are down to the final three weeks of the season.

Some teams have already secured their Championship Game spots, while others continue to play with the pressure of knowing one more loss would put them out of contention for a College Football Play Off berth.

Last week saw the LSU Tigers beaten by the Alabama Crimson Tide which has effectively put them out of the running barring something crazy happening over the next three weeks. Both the Alabama Crimson Tide and Clemson Tigers look good for the Play Offs and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish are going to be hard to ignore if they remain unbeaten.

It could mean we will come down to the Big 12 Champion and the Big Ten Champion fighting it out for the last spot that will be available, but something like Georgia beating Alabama and winning the SEC Championship would make them hard to ignore as a one loss team.

That could actually make them a stronger one loss team than either the Big 12 or Big Ten Champion and mean the SEC is given two places in the Play Offs along with an unbeaten Clemson and Notre Dame team.

I'm looking too far ahead to be honest and none of the Head Coaches of the leading teams will be worrying about anything but winning out. That is the only way they will feel they have a best chance of making the Play Offs and so the attention has to be given to the Week 11 games that are on deck.

Week 10 proved to be another winning week for the College Football Picks and my Week 11 selections can be seen below.

South Carolina Gamecocks @ Florida Gators Pick: The Georgia Bulldogs have already secured the SEC East Division but that doesn't mean the South Carolina Gamecocks and Florida Gators can go home and not worry about being competitive. It doesn't matter the Division is gone as the two Head Coaches of the Gamecocks and Gators look to turn around their programmes and produce a winning culture.

The Florida Gators had been well in the mix for the SEC East title until they dropped back to back games against the Georgia Bulldogs and Missouri Tigers. At least they are already Bowl eligible and with four games left to play Florida can still get things turned around and finish with a 10 win season after winning just 4 games in 2017.

South Carolina have three games left and still need to win one more game to make sure they eligible to go Bowling this season too. They have to win out if they want to match the nine wins they earned in 2017 before the likely Bowl Game, although that will also mean South Carolina potentially playing spoiler for rivals Clemson Tigers who they face on the road in two weeks time.

There have been signs that Florida's Defensive Line has just been worn down over the course of the season, although this unit have underachieved for much of the 2018 campaign anyway. Injuries to the South Carolina Running Back corps is a slight concern, although no one is set to miss this game and the Gamecocks have been much stronger at running the ball in 2018 compared with 2017 which is important for them this week.

It will keep things simpler for Jake Bentley at Quarter Back who had a fine game in leading the Gamecocks to a win over Florida last season. Bentley is not going to have an easy game against this Secondary, but he should enjoy some success as long as the Gamecocks can establish the run as I think they can and that will put South Carolina in a position to win this game outright.

I like the Gamecocks with the start on the spread in this one and that is mainly down to the inconsistent performances we have seen from the Florida Offensive unit all season. It has become such an issue that Head Coach Dan Mullen is not going to name his starting Quarter Back until much closer to kick off, while the Offensive Line has been a little up and down with their own play as they look to help the team establish the run.

The Gatos are better at home so I would expect them to give the Gamecocks something to think about, but South Carolina's Defensive Line has been capable of making some big plays up front. If they can do that here and then disrupt whoever starts the game behind Center, I do think South Carolina can give Will Muschamp the chance to win a game in this Stadium for the first time since being fired as Florida Head Coach.

Keeping Florida in third and long will be a win for South Carolina more often than not and I do like the Gamecocks. The Gamecocks are 6-1-1 against the spread in their last eight on the road, while Florida are just 3-9-1 against the spread in their last thirteen following a loss.

Add in the road team going 3-1-1 against the spread in the last five in this series and I think the Gamecocks are the team I want to get behind here.

Mississippi State Bulldogs @ Alabama Crimson Tide Pick: The Alabama Crimson Tide have shown time and again in the 2018 season that they are going to be very hard to beat as the defending Champions. The dominant 29-0 win on the road against the LSU Tigers, a team considered to be amongst the elite in the nation, has underlined that point and the Crimson Tide have secured a spot in the SEC Championship Game.

Nick Saban won't be interested in that and any complacency will be met firmly by the Head Coach who has led the Crimson Tide to multiple National Championships.

Next up for the Crimson Tide is the Mississippi State Bulldogs who have become Bowl eligible thanks to back to back wins although they have still have to be considered an inconsistent team. The Bulldogs have put a couple of solid wins together, but it is hard to ignore the fact they scored just 16 combined points in their three losses to the Kentucky Wildcats, Florida Gators and LSU Tigers and now have a considerable step up in play.

The Bulldogs have to hope their hosts are perhaps in a letdown spot having dominated the LSU Tigers on the road in what many considered to be the biggest test of the season for the Crimson Tide. However that is just the latest in a run of really strong wins for the Crimson Tide and I don't think there will be a problem for them to get up for this game.

Tua Tagovailoa is dealing with a knee issue which has been a concern for some time for Alabama, but he is not expected to sit out and has shown his standards are not slipping. Last week he threw his first Interception of the season, but that didn't stop the Quarter Back from throwing a couple more Touchdown passes and he is all set to break the single season record set by AJ McCarron in 2012.

With three home games to go I think Tagovailoa will throw the four Touchdown passes he needs to snap the record by the end of the game next week against the overmatched The Citadel. However I expect him to be at least half way to breaking the record this week by throwing at least two more Touchdown passes while Alabama should be able to establish the run as their Offensive Line continues to bully opponents.

That is no disrespect to the Bulldogs Defensive unit who have played really well all season, but Kentucky were able to score 28 points against them and a limited LSU Offense managed to score 19. This is the best Offensive team the Bulldogs will have faced and the Defensive unit will need some help from the Offensive team to at least give the Defensive team some rest.

Nick Fitzgerald remains in charge of the Offense but the Quarter Back has been very inconsistent and especially so when facing the better teams in the College Football ranks. He is a dual-threat Quarter Back and may need all the running his legs can give him to try and keep the Alabama Defense off-balance, but Fitzgerald will need to play at a level he has yet to reach this season.

Running the ball against Alabama is not easy and even a dual-threat Quarter Back is going to have it tough with the speed the Crimson Tide have on the field.

It feels like it will be a difficult game for Mississippi State and I think Alabama can cover what is seen as a big number on paper. The Crimson Tide are 4-1 against the spread in their last five at home against the Bulldogs and they have been very strong all season and not looked like coming close to a loss.

They have covered in their last three games and I think we will see another strong win from the Crimson Tide here.

Auburn Tigers @ Georgia Bulldogs Pick: Back to back wins over the Florida Gators and Kentucky Wildcats has earned the Georgia Bulldogs another trip to the SEC Championship Game. If they can win out this season they will go into that Championship Game against the Alabama Crimson Tide with just one loss on their record and a win over the Number 1 Ranked team would surely mean the Bulldogs would be going back to the College Football Play Offs.

They reached the final four as SEC Champion twelve months ago when they earned a revenge win over the Auburn Tigers in the Championship Game having been beaten by them in the regular season.

This year's edition of the Auburn Tigers have been a big disappointment to be honest and while they have secured back to back wins to become Bowl eligible, Auburn are also just 3-3 in Conference play.

Offensively it has been a chore for them all season and that is not going to chase between the hedges against a home team like the Georgia Bulldogs who will want to show the Committee how strong they are. In general Auburn have been able to run the ball in their games, but they struggled last week and it isn't going to be much easier for them against the Bulldogs who look to be stronger in the trenches on both sides of the ball.

Jarrett Stidham did have a good showing against the Texas A&M Aggies but the Quarter Back has found things tougher on the road and this Georgia Secondary have continued to show how good they are.

Even though I believe the Tigers could struggle, this is a big spread for the Bulldogs to cover simply because their own Offense has not been playing to the level that was expected. They are off back to back strong showings, but Jake Fromm has to prove he can compete with the better teams out there and this Tigers Defensive unit is one of the better ones out there.

However it has to be said they have not been as strong on the road and I would expect the Georgia Bulldogs Offensive Line to find a way to help the team to establish the run. The Tigers Defensive Line have allowed 4.9 yards per carry on the road and Georgia should be able to take advantage of the situation.

Running the ball is all important for the Bulldogs as it will slow down the Auburn pass rush and also give Fromm better down and distances to manage.

I think they do that and I think that sets Georgia up fo an impressive win in this one. The favourite has gone 7-2 against the spread in the last nine in this series and Auburn are 0-5 against the spread in their last five visits here.

Georgia have some very strong numbers at home against the spread, while Auburn are 2-6 against the spread in their last eight against a team with a winning record. On the other side is the Bulldogs who are 8-2 against the spread in their last ten against a team with a winning record and I will back the home team to win and cover in this one.


Clemson Tigers @ Boston College Eagles Pick: The best chance the ACC Conference has of sending a team to the Play Off has to be seeing Clemson Tigers go undefeated and their best remaining test perhaps comes in Week 11.

This week they face the Boston College Eagles on the road and a win for the home team will actually put them in pole position to reach the Championship Game ahead of Clemson. In that situation I can't see how the Play Off Committee could have the Tigers over any one loss team from either the Big Ten or Big 12 Conferences and so there is plenty of pressure on the shoulders of the Clemson players this week.

The layers aren't taking any chances though with the Tigers set as a big favourite on the road and recent form suggests they will be able to cover. I am not disrespecting a very good Boston College team who are 7-2 for the season and 4-1 in the Conference knowing if they win out in the ACC they will be playing in the Championship Game against all the odds.

Boston College's performances means the public are quite split on the spread and that is only a good thing when I favour a favourite as I do with the powerful Tigers.

In the last two games between these schools, Clemson have won by 46 points and 27 points and the Tigers have moved to another level after scraping past the Syracuse Orange by winning their next four games by at least 34 points per game.

Both Trevor Lawrence and Travis Etienne have thrived at Quarter Back and Running Back respectively and the balance of the Tigers Offensive unit makes them very dangerous. The Eagles Defensive unit have been very good throughout the season, but they are going to be challenged in a way they have rarely been challenged and the defeat to Purdue Boilermakers gives me some insight into how much success the Clemson Tigers will have, especially as they are stronger than Purdue in most aspects of the Offense.

What has made Clemson so successful this season is that their Defensive unit is able to also step up and make sure the Offensive players don't need to score too many points to win games. That relaxation has allowed the Offense to explode in the last four games and it is going to be tough for the Boston College Eagles to really challenge the Tigers when they have the ball.

You know you are going to get a lot of running from the Eagles as they look to establish the ground game, but this Tigers Defensive Line has really played at a high level. It is going to make it very difficult for the Eagles to consistently move the chains and once they are in a position where they have to throw the ball to stay with the Tigers I think Clemson take over this game completely.

The road team has gone 5-1 against the spread in the last six of this series and though I am impressed with some of the trends which favour Boston College, I think the Clemson Tigers could have a stand out win this week to underline their Play Off credentials.

MY PICKS: South Carolina Gamecocks + 6.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)
Illinois Fighting Illini + 17.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet Victor (1 Unit)
Ohio State Buckeyes - 3.5 Points @ 1.95 Bet Fred (1 Unit)

Alabama Crimson Tide - 23.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet Victor (1 Unit)

Georgia Bulldogs - 13.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet Victor (1 Unit)
Clemson Tigers - 18.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet Victor (1 Unit)