Boxing Picks 2025- David Benavidez vs Anthony Yarde (Saturday 22nd November)

The undercard made up for what was a one-sided main event at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last Saturday and the real positive news was the announcement that plans are being made for a couple of big cards here next year.

Everyone is anticipating that we will have the Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua fight that the fans want to see, even if it is four or five years too late, but the latter is expected to be out in February in Riyadh.

Before that Anthony Joshua is going to have to deal with Jake Paul and the expectation is that he is going to blitz through an opponent who looks to have bitten off far more than he can chew. He looked relaxed, but focused, and Joshua should be given a slightly tougher challenge in February, although not one that is expected to derail the super fight that could be the perfect way to end what has been a solid career.

Some very good main events have already been announced for the first two months of 2026, but Boxing is Boxing and the news about Subriel Matias potentially failing a drugs test and putting his World Title fight against Dalton Smith in jeopardy is a blow.

It hurts for Smith, who was hoping that World Title fight would be on the card in Riyadh this weekend, and the hope is that any potential suspension for Matias would mean a vacant Belt can be won in January. He needs to be active having last been out in April at a time when entering the peak of his career, and Dalton Smith vs Adam Azim continues to be the fight that so many do want to see with the two both hoping to have World Titles for a Unification at the end of next year.

Of course Dalton Smith is much closer to holding a World Title having a fight lined up to do that, but both are on a good path and the hope is that the Sheffield man gets his shot in January.

This week a loaded card takes place in Saudi Arabia with four very solid fights on the main feature.

The timings are not terrible for fans in the United Kingdom with the main event due out at 2am and this looks to be the best card left in 2025, although there are decent fights still to take place before the end of the calendar year.

David Benavidez vs Anthony Yarde

He has come up short in two previous bids to become World Champion and you have to believe that this is going to be Anthony Yarde's last chance to get over the line.

Credit has to be given to Yarde for challenging Sergey Kovalev in Russia and then Artur Beterbiev in London, but this World Title bid against David Benavidez looks every bit as difficult.

For starters David Benavidez is six years younger at 28 years old and the unbeaten WBC World Champion has moved into the Light Heavyweight Division without missing a beat.

He will have to weather some of the early storm that Anthony Yarde can bring, but David Benavidez is going to be confident he can outlast an opponent who has had his gas tank questioned.

Since putting in a big effort against Artur Beterbiev and enhancing his reputation even in a defeat, Anthony Yarde has perhaps not capitalised on his profile. This is just the fifth fight since January 2023 and Yarde has not exactly been in with some of the top names in a tough Division, while the Mexican Monster has put together a much more solid overall resume, even if not being in with the top, top name like Artur Beterbiev.

It is not for a lack of trying, but David Benavidez will be hoping that he can push forward in 2026 by adding Anthony Yarde to his list of victims.

The two should gel together very well and this has every chance of being a really exciting fight.

David Benavidez has not had a Stoppage since moving up into the Light Heavyweight Division, but there have to be some questions about Anthony Yarde's ability to keep up with the pace that is going to be set by the WBC World Champion.

Anthony Yarde has been to the cards in consecutive fights, but those have been against a much lower level of opponent than the one that will be faced in Riyadh.

He impressed in the effort against Artur Beterbiev and it would not be a big surprise if Anthony Yarde does the same in this one through the first half of the Twelve Rounds scheduled.

However, that is where David Benavidez can take over with his pace and tempo and the Champion may be able to force Yarde into another Stoppage defeat.

In the next couple of months, the face of the Lightweight Division could have significant changes with the IBF World Title to be defended in January.

Before that, the WBO World Title will be decided between Abdullah Mason and Sam Noakes and this looks like a potential headline stealer.

Both are unbeaten and have a huge amount of Stoppages in the victories that have been produced.

Abdullah Mason is seen as one of the brightest young fighters in the United States, but he has yet to hear the bell for the Seventh Round, while Sam Noakes has won British, Commonwealth and European Titles and at 28 years old is coming into the peak of his power.

The expectation is that neither is going to be taking a backwards step and this could very soon become a shoot out.

The younger fighter is the favourite, but Sam Noakes looks very dangerous and he is likely going to be confident if this fight does go longer than expected having completed Twelve Rounds twice before.

However, it is the athleticism of Abdullah Mason that may make the difference and could leave the 21 year old as the last one standing, even if Sam Noakes is able to offer him a real scare.

Eddie Hearn is expecting to extend his contract to promote Bam Rodriguez and the Number One Junior Bantamweight can Unify this Division by picking up a third World Title to go along with his WBC and WBO Belts.

There is no doubt that Fernando Martinez is coming into this one with the confidence of an unbeaten fighter, but the Argentinian WBA World Champion is 34 years old now and not nearly as active as his opponent.

The quality of the recent wins cannot be ignored, but Bam Rodriguez is younger and stronger and he can wear down Martinez in this one.

Fernando Martinez can make the first half of the contest competitive, but keeping up with the Bam tempo will be tough and that has seen a number of recent fighters just break down in the second half of the bout.

This very much feels like the direction of travel in this World Title fight.

The chief support on the Night of Champions card looks like one that could easily be given the main event slot.

Devin Haney is moving up to try and become World Champion in a third Division, but he has been given the task of facing Brian Norman Jr who looks to be the standout in the Welterweight Division that has recently seen the likes of Jaron Ennis and Vergil Ortiz Jr depart for Light Middleweight.

It has long been one of the top Divisions in Boxing, but the current group of Welterweight Champions have a lot to prove.

Brian Norman Jr is the leader of the current pack, but Devin Haney will feel this is a very winnable fight and he could soon be looking to Unify, and earn redemption, against Ryan Garcia who is expected to fight for the WBC World Title in February.

However, we are still trying to work out how much was taken from Haney in the manner of his defeat to Garcia, even if the latter was later found to have failed a drugs test that meant a victory turned into a No Contest. Unfortunately for The Dream, the eyes on that fight will have tarred him with a defeat and his performance against Jose Carlos Ramirez was really worrying, even if Devin Haney won easily.

He looked worried about engaging with Ramirez, who is not nearly the puncher that Brian Norman Jr is, and the question is whether Devin Haney is going to want to 'run' as much as he did in that fight at Times Square earlier in the year.

Devin Haney has something to prove, but so does Brian Norman Jr who is facing his toughest opponent.

The last two wins have been eye-catching, while Norman Jr broke down previously unbeaten Giovani Santillan to pick up an Interim World Title before being made full Champion.

He is 24 years old and Brian Norman Jr is still improving, while being the naturally more comfortable at Welterweight.

This has to be a factor and Devin Haney is unlikely to be able to keep firmly away from the World Champion for as long as he did against a faded Jose Carlos Ramirez.

There is confidence in the Devin Haney camp and he has upset the odds before, but the scars from the Ryan Garcia defeat may be on display if Brian Norman Jr starts landing that left hook.

It looks like another quality fight on what is a high-quality card, and the World Champion looks like he could have a little too much for a Devin Haney who may not be the Boxer he once was.

MY PICKS: David Benavidez to Win Between 7-12 @ 2.87 Sky Bet (2 Units)

Abdullah Mason to Win by KO/TKO @ 2.10 William Hill (2 Units)

Bam Rodriguez to Win Between 7-12 @ 2.37 Bet365 (2 Units)

Brian Norman Jr to Win Between 7-12 @ 5.50 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Boxing 2025: 24-73, - 45.02 Units (124 Units Staked, - 36.31% Yield)

College Football Week 13 Picks 2025 (Saturday 22nd November)

Two weeks remain in the regular season and so teams are fully in the mindset of jockeying for Playoff positions, while others have smaller, but no less important ambitions by earning Bowl eligibility.

Week 14 tends to be the one where so many rivalry games are set, which means there are some walkovers in Week 13.

However, that does not mean the schedule is missing big games and time is running out for teams to impress the Playoff Committee, while others are beginning to play politics behind the scenes. The likes of the Miami Hurricanes have to be pushing the win over Notre Dame as a big reason they should be included, although a loss in the next two weeks will end any reason for that.

The top of some of the Conferences could be decided by the end of Week 13, so there is a real importance attached to some of the games to be played and there are six selections below from another big day in College Football in the penultimate week of the regular season.

Miami Hurricanes @ Virginia Tech Hokies Pick: If you like looking at permutations around the Championship Game participants and, ultimately, the College Football Playoff, the ACC Conference may sate your appetite.

The highest Ranked team in the last College Football Playoff positions remains the Miami Hurricanes (8-2), but they are 4-2 in the Conference and need a lot of help to make it through to the ACC Championship Game. It feels incredibly unlikely that the Hurricanes will be playing in the twelve team Playoff if they are not able to at least compete in the Championship Game, and it is important to at least make sure they finish out with two wins.

Even that may not be enough with Georgia Tech in a position to secure one of the ACC Championship Game spots with a win this weekend, while the SMU Mustangs have a win over the Hurricanes and one fewer Conference defeats on the record.

All Miami can do is focus on winning out with two tough road games to come, although some politics are at play with some wondering how the Hurricanes are Ranked lower than the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, who also have two regular season losses on the record.

The fact is that Miami have beaten the Fighting Irish this season and Notre Dame are not going to have a Conference Championship to win, but those playing politics will be wasting their time if the Hurricanes are to lose in either of the next two games.

First up is a trip to Blacksburg to face the Virginia Tech Hokies (3-7) who are 2-4 in ACC play, but who have announced that James Franklin will be taking over as Head Coach moving into 2026. That is a big time appointment for a school that have been treading water for far too long and underlines the ambitions around Virginia Tech and the players should be motivated to finish up at home on a high.

They would love to play spoiler for Miami, although some fans would be keener to see the Hokies do that next week in a rivalry game at Virginia Cavaliers who are chasing a spot in the ACC Championship Game.

Motivations of players is always going to be different to the fans, but this is a tough game for Virginia Tech who have suffered consecutive double-digit defeats and who are facing a Miami team looking for 'style points' and not just wins.

Kyron Drones is going to have to bring all of his dual-threat ability out of the Quarter Back position to give the Hokies a chance- he is facing a Miami Secondary that is banged up, but finding the time to attack them down the field is the challenge.

That makes the legs important as the Hokies Offensive Line tries to dictate at the Line of Scrimmage, although being able to establish the run against this Miami Defensive Line is going to be a huge test. Even with a Quarter Back capable of moving, the Miami pass rush is likely going to be able to shut off the ends and Virginia Tech will have to convert some third and long situations to sustain drives.

Unfortunately for the home team, the passing game has been erratic at best and it is likely going to be a tough day in the office for the entire Offensive unit.

Running the ball should be less of an issue for the Miami Hurricanes when they have the ball and that is where they should be able to push on and score the points needed to put togehter another impressive win.

Carson Beck has had a solid year at Quarter Back, but he will be well aware that he was brought in to take the Hurricanes into the Playoff- Beck should be able to make plenty of big plays from being put in third and manageable spots on the field and the road team look capable of winning and winning well.

Nothing is ever easy when playing on the road, as Miami know all too well with their 1-1 record on the road, but there is still a real potential for them to make the post-season if they can keep impressing the Playoff Committee.

We should see a top effort from Miami, and there is a real potential for this to be the 'easiest' win at Virginia Tech since 2018, a victory that sparked a three game road winning run against the Hokies.

Rutgers Scarlet Knights @ Ohio State Buckeyes Pick: The Georgia Bulldogs won back to back National Championships in 2022 and 2023, but the feeling is that the ever expanding post-season will make it that much more difficult for teams to be able to do that. There is also a huge turnover in personnel in College Football compared with the pro game, but the Ohio State Buckeyes (10-0) are looking very capable of becoming the first team to go back to back in the era of twelve teams playing in the post-season.

They are not only winning games, but the Buckeyes are crushing opponents and so they are once again being asked to cover a huge spread.

This is the last home game of the season, which will give the team some motivation, although there is a potential distraction of facing old rivals Michigan in Week 14 in a bid to end the long losing run against them.

However, it does feel important for the Buckeyes to focus when taking on Rutgers Scarlet Knights (5-5) who still need one more win to become Bowl eligible.

The Scarlet Knights are just 2-5 in Big Ten play, while they have suffered a couple of heavy losses to the Oregon Ducks and Illinois Fighting Illini.

It is going to be tough for the road team to move the ball with any consistency against one of the top Defensive units in College Football- the Offensive Line is unlikely to force many holes up front and that is going to shift the pressure onto Athan Kaliakmanis at Quarter Back.

He did throw 4 Touchdown passes last time out against Maryland and Athan Kaliakmanis will have been preparing in the Bye Week, but this is the toughest test since facing the Oregon Ducks. In that game, Kaliakmanis managed just 79 passing yards and had 2 Interceptions, while that was also at home against Oregon and this is that much tougher being on the road.

One positive bit of news for the Scarlet Knights is that the Buckeyes are likely to be without the top two Receivers.

Unfortunately the bad news is that it should mean Ohio State are more willing to lean on the run and that against a Rutgers Defensive Line that had been punished going into the Bye Week. They will be rested, which can help, but it is very likely that the Buckeyes Offensive Line control the Line of Scrimmage and they will be able to rip off some huge gains on the ground throughout this contest.

Recent numbers posted by the Rutgers Secondary are perhaps skewed by the fact that teams have not had to throw against them to have a lot of success. Julian Sayin threw for less than 200 yards in the win over the UCLA Bruins, but the Buckeyes will not mind that with the Quarter Back readying himself to have all the weapons back for the big game in The Big House.

Covering this number will be tough considering running the ball also runs the clock, but the Ohio State Buckeyes are showing that good teams win, great teams cover in their 8-1-1 record against the spread. The line was actually slightly higher against the Bruins in Week 12, and Ohio State can show their dominance again before everyone turns their attention to the Michigan Wolverines for a big Week 14 game next Saturday.

Kansas State Wildcats @ Utah Utes Pick: A rare losing record in 2024 will have hurt, but the Utah Utes (8-2) are back on more familiar ground this season. They are 5-2 in the Big 12 Conference and the Number 12 team in the latest Playoff Rankings, but the Utes are going to need to find a way to push into the Championship Game and they need some help to do that.

The focus has to be on maintaining their own form though and Utah know that they have to win out to have any hope, regardless of what help they may, or may not, receive from others in the Conference.

They play the Kansas State Wildcats (5-5) in Week 13 and there has to be a respect for a team that are still chasing one more win to secure Bowl eligibility. This is also a team that has become accustomed to finishing with winning records, even if they are not going to match the win totals reached in each of the last three seasons, and Kansas State have a 4-3 record within the Big 12.

Kansas State have won three of the last four games played, but they are going to be travelling to face one of the tougher Defensive units in the Conference.

Everything begins at the Line of Scrimmage for the Utah Utes and the Defensive Line will feel they can contain the run and force teams to beat them from third and long spots. Stalling drives and winning the field battle is very important, while Avery Johnson will know that this is a Secondary that is going to be looking to turn the ball over with the pressure that the Utes can put on any Quarter Back when pushing them behind the chains.

In recent games the Utes have had big leads and that has forced teams to throw against them- it has allowed Quarter Backs to put up some decent numbers, but Utah's Secondary will have allowed some of those and so Johnson has to expect another tough game.

Quarter Back injuries hurt the Utes last season and they have had issues with the health of Devon Dampier in 2025.

However, this year the Utes have had Byrd Ficklin come into games and his dual-threat ability out of the position has allowed Utah to keep chugging along nicely. Last week Ficklin was dominant on the ground and the Utah Offensive Line have been pummelling teams during this three game winning run, which will put pressure on Kansas State.

The Utes have not needed to throw the ball too much in this winning run, but they will be able to do what is necessary if they are in third and short spots on the field.

Both Quarter Backs are expected to have a chance to shine in this one and the Utah Utes can do that, even if this is a huge spread to take on against what is always a feisty Kansas State team.

The Wildcats were blown out by the Texas Tech Red Raiders at home earlier this month though and they may struggle to keep up with the Utes if being forced into obvious passing situations. Consistency from Utah on the Offensive side of the ball and a turnover or two could just see the Big 12 contenders stay alive, for a few more hours at least, in the race to reach the Championship Game.

Pittsburgh Panthers @ Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Pick: You cannot underestimate the importance for any school when it comes to playing a 'bigger' rival in the regular season, but the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (9-1) have higher ambitions than merely beating the Georgia Bulldogs this season.

Any time they have the chance to upset and bloody the nose of the SEC-residing Bulldogs it is a chance that the Yellow Jackets will want to take.

However, the main focus in Week 13 has to be on the last ACC game on the regular season schedule- if the Yellow Jackets win, they will be playing in the Championship Game in a couple of weeks time and that will leave them a single win away from earning a spot in the College Football Playoff.

This should mean they are plenty motivated this Saturday as they prepare to face the Pittsburgh Panthers (7-3) who are 5-1 in the ACC and who can move past the Yellow Jackets in the standings with a win.

Fans will have wanted to see the Panthers upset the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in Week 12, but Head Coach Pat Narduzzi made it clear in the build up that the last two ACC games mean more to him and the team. The five game winning run was unsurprisingly snapped in the loss to the Fighting Irish, but Pittsburgh can only be encouraged by the fact they have won their last five Conference games as they prepare for this challenge.

The Panthers have to be excited about what they will be able to do Offensively against this Georgia Tech Defensive unit.

Running the ball has been a problem for the Panthers for much of the season, but in recent games the Yellow Jackets Defensive Line have allowed teams to rip off some big gains on the ground. All the road team will want to do is make sure the young Quarter Back, Mason Heintschel, is kept in third and manageable spots on the field and they can do that with the ground attack.

Being a Freshman does mean there will be some ups and downs in the performance, but overall the Panthers will be very happy with Mason Heintschel.

He is going to be throwing against a Georgia Tech Secondary that have allowed teams to have their way in recent games, although avoiding turnovers is going to be the test that Heintschel has to pass.

Pittsburgh will be confident in the ability of the Freshman Quarter Back and the whole of the Offensive unit, but there is an awareness that they are going to have to dig in on the Defensive side of the ball.

Haynes King will know that it didn't quite work for him when playing with the Texas A&M Aggies, but he has been really good ever since transferring to Georgia Tech. He has proven himself as a real dual-threat out of the Quarter Back position and has more Touchdowns on the ground than through the air (14 to 10).

The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets will feel that added crease offered to them by a moving Quarter Back should see them continue to move the ball behind this Offensive Line, even against a solid Pittsburgh Defensive Line in front of them. It is important to just make sure King and company are in front of the chains, while there is no concern if the Quarter Back has to throw the ball having put up over 2000 passing yards with just a couple of Interceptions in 2025.

Turnovers are going to be so important to the outcome of the game with the Pittsburgh Secondary ready to make big plays for the team, even if they are a team that will bend to the pass.

This has the makings of a close game, especially with so much on the line for both teams, but the narrow edge has to be with the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.

Being at home is a big help, but the Pittsburgh Panthers are just 3-9 against the spread when set as the road underdog in recent yeas. They snapped a run of ten straight losses against the spread when given more than 2 points as a road underdog in the upset of Florida State last month, but this Georgia Tech team have really improved in the three years under Head Coach Brent Key and they can secure a spot in the ACC Championship Game.

BYU Cougars @ Cincinnati Bearcats Pick: They finished with eleven wins last season, and a 7-2 record in the Big 12, but the BYU Cougars (9-1) missed out on playing in the Championship Game. They lost the tie-breakers when four teams finished with the same record in the Big 12, but the Cougars have to be given credit for the season they have been putting together and may only be a couple of wins away from playing in the Championship Game this season, which will also keep a door open for a spot in the College Football Playoff.

Thinking too far ahead would be a mistake and especially with this tough road game at the Cincinnati Bearcats (7-3) in mind.

Back to back defeats have all but ended the Bearcats hopes of making the Big 12 Championship Game, although they can win out and hope that a number of permutations land their way to have a chance to play for the title. However, that feels a long shot and the Bearcats are going to have to be a lot better than in the last two games if they are going to find a way to upset the Cougars.

The Bearcats Offensive Line is the key- they have been able to find a way to establish the run in recent games and this is an important part of this game against a strong looking BYU Defensive unit. In recent games, the Cougars Defensive Line have perhaps given up a bit more room on the ground, although this is still a very tough team to run against and Cincinnati will find it tough to move the chains with any consistency without being able to run the ball efficiently.

Brendan Sorsby has thrown for over 2200 passing yards and has 22 Touchdown passes with just 4 Interceptions, but he will be keen to be in front of the chains. The Cougars have produced a strong pass rush and this is a Secondary that will be looking to turn the ball over, although the Quarter Back will be confident in his own abilities.

He will need help from the Offensive Line, both to establish the run and to keep the pocket clean, while Sorsby has to be more careful with the ball after throwing 2 Interceptions in the home upset loss to Arizona.

The Cincinnati Defensive unit will also be confident that they can at least help out, although they have not been as effective at clamping down on the run. Bear Bachmeier has shown he can be very good with his legs out of the Quarter Back position and that has opened up the passing lanes to keep the Cougars ticking forward.

After losing to the Texas Tech Red Raiders, the Cougars showed how well they can bounce back and how much they still feel they can achieve this season by blowing out TCU in Week 12.

Bear Bachmeier should have success when he drops back to throw- unlike the Cougars, Cincinnati have struggled for a consistent pass rush in recent games and the time given to the Quarter Back should allow him to attack this Bearcats Secondary with some success.

This gives the Cougars a slight edge and they can make that show on the scoreboard and move into touching distance of playing in the Big 12 Championship Game. For much of the season BYU have perhaps been underrated and this line is perhaps shorter than it should be, even if they are playing on the road, and the Cougars can remind everyone why they are the second highest Ranked team in the Conference.

Washington Huskies @ UCLA Bruins Pick: This will not be an unfamiliar match up for the two schools, although the game is going to be played under the Big Ten banner rather than the Pac-12.

The USC Trojans and Oregon Ducks are facing off in Week 13 and have made comfortable transitions into this tough Conference, but that has not been the case for the Washington Huskies (7-3) and UCLA Bruins (3-7).

The host in this game are a little further behind and have a 3-4 record in the Big Ten this season, while the Washington Huskies have a 4-3 record in the Conference.

UCLA have also lost three in a row and you do have to wonder what motivation is left for a team who will be looking for a new Head Coach at the end of the season and who have massively underperformed. Blowout losses to the Ohio State Buckeyes and Indiana Hoosiers have been a reminder of how far from the top of this Conference the Bruins actually are, although they are at home for this game and UCLA have been more competitive in front of their own fans.

Nico Iamaleava missed out last week with a concussion and he could be sitting out again, although this has not been a season that the Quarter Back would have expected after forcing himself out of Tennessee. Even if he is able to suit up, the Bruins are going up against a very good Washington Defensive unit and it is going to be a huge challenge for them with the ball in hand.

The Bruins are not expected to run the ball with any consistency, but they will also be attempting to throw into a Huskies Secondary who have continued to play with real motivation. There are not many teams who can afford to be one-dimensional with their play-calling, which can become a problem when the Bruins struggle to run the ball, and Washington have to be comfortable on this side of the ball.

We should also see a pretty comfortable plan for the Huskies when they do get the ball- they are going to be able to run the ball much more effectively than the Bruins and Washington should be able to rip off some huge gains on the ground in this one. Keeping Demond Williams Jr in third and manageable spots should make things very easy for the Quarter Back, who is unlikely to be faced with any significant pass rush pressure.

It should lead to sustained Offensive drives for the road favourite and Washington should also be more comfortable playing a road game in the Pacific Time slot.

These two former Pac-12 teams have not faced each other in Los Angeles since 2022, but Washington were double digit winners when hosting UCLA last year. Clearing this spread will not be easy, but the Huskies can do enough at the Line of Scrimmage on both sides of the ball to put themselves in a position to win by a solid margin on the road and remain on course for a double digit win season.

MY PICKS: Miami Hurricanes - 17.5 Points @ 1.83 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)

Ohio State Buckeyes - 33 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Utah Utes - 17 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets - 2.5 Points @ 1.86 Bet365 (1 Unit)

BYU Cougars - 2.5 Points @ 1.83 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)
Washington Huskies - 10.5 Points @ 1.91 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)

Week 12: 4-2, + 1.64 Units (6 Units Staked, + 27.33% Yield)

Week 11: 1-5, - 4.09 Units (6 Units Staked, - 68.17% Yield)

Week 10: 3-3, - 0.33 Units (6 Units Staked, - 5.50% Yield)

Week 9: 3-3, - 0.19 Units (6 Units Staked, - 3.17% Yield)

Week 8: 2-3, - 1.18 Units (5 Units Staked, - 23.60% Yield)

Week 7: 4-1, + 2.62 Units (5 Units Staked, + 52.40% Yield)

Week 6: 2-4, - 2.22 Units (6 Units Staked, - 37% Yield)

Week 5: 1-5, - 4.20 Units (6 Units Staked, - 70% Yield)

Week 4: 2-4, - 2.14 Units (6 Units Staked, - 35.67% Yield)

Week 3: 4-4, - 0.36 (8 Units Staked, - 4.50% Yield)

Week 1: 1-4, - 3.14 Units (5 Units Staked, - 62.80% Yield)

Week 0: 2-1, + 0.75 Units (3 Units Staked, + 25% Yield)

ATP World Tour Finals Day 8 Tennis Picks 2020- Men's Final (November 22nd)

What is usually a long Tennis season has been much shorter in 2020, but this is still a big match to conclude the campaign.

The ATP World Tour Finals are played in London for the last time for the foreseeable future and a good Final is expected to take place on Sunday when Daniil Medvedev takes on Dominic Thiem.

Hopefully the 2021 season will be much more like we have become accustomed to seeing, but for now there is no certainty about anything and we just have to hope better things are to come.

A winning record has been secured at the ATP World Tour Finals, but I am looking to wrap up the 2020 season with one more winner as I make my selection from the Final.

Daniil Medvedev v Dominic Thiem: These two players reached the Semi Final as Seeded, but both were also Seeded to exit the tournament at that stage. Instead it was Dominic Thiem who beat the World Number 1 in three tough sets before Daniil Medvedev beat the World Number 2 in three tough sets and that means both players have little time to freshen up ahead of the Final.

A slight edge has to be given to Dominic Thiem who played six hours earlier than Daniil Medvedev on Saturday, although that may not matter so much when you think the former has spent a lot more time on the court over the week. Both players have beaten Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal over the last eight days, but the numbers are indicating that Daniil Medvedev is playing at a considerably higher level than Dominic Thiem.

The mental advantage may be with the Austrian who beat Medvedev in straight sets at the US Open in September on his way to winning the Grand Slam. Dominic Thiem deserved his win in the Semi Final, although I do think Daniil Medvedev could have pushed him to a fourth and possibly a fifth set if not for a couple of weak tie-breakers played.

Over the last eight days Daniil Medvedev has been returning at a far higher level than Dominic Thiem and I think that will help him earn a measure of revenge over Thiem for the defeat in New York City. In their three previous head to head matches on the hard courts, it is Medvedev who has the slightly better return numbers too and I do think that is going to be an important part of this match.

While Daniil Medvedev has won 42% of return points played and has broken in 30% of return games played, Dominic Thiem is at 29% and 7% in the same categories. The serve has been a big weapon for Thiem in this tournament, but even in that category it is Daniil Medvedev who has the slight edge and I do think he is going to be the fresher player despite going on second in the Semi Final.

The conditions are clearly being favoured by Dominic Thiem who can really ramp up the power on the forehand, but I do think Medvedev is very comfortable too. His win at the Paris Masters has been backed up by his performances in London and I do think the return of serve is going to be key to the outcome of the match with both serving well enough.

It is an area that Daniil Medvedev looks to be the stronger of the two players and I will look for the Russian to win the biggest title of his career and perhaps use this tournament as a springboard to a first Grand Slam title in 2021.

MY PICKS: Daniil Medvedev @ 1.80 Bet Fred (2 Units)

ATP World Tour Finals: 8-6, + 2.68 Units (28 Units Staked + 9.57% Yield)

Weekend Football Picks and Fantasy Football 2020 (November 21-23)

I really enjoy the summer major international tournaments we usually get every couple of years, but outside of that I find the international games during the course of the club season nothing more than a hindrance to the important football.

Like many I will not be too worried that we won't see any more international football until March 2021 at a time when the world may seem a much safer place- personally I was not convinced it was a good idea to play international football during the pandemic which continues to rage in Europe and the United States, but for the main the players have been well looked after.

Positive news regarding a potential vaccine should mean 2021 is a much better year for most of us compared to what has been a really long, and difficult 2020.

It may also mean the fans are able to attend games before the end of the 2020/21 season and that has to be music to the ears of so many. I have greatly missed going to Old Trafford and I am looking forward to returning there as soon as possible, but in the mean time the players have to try and find a way to motivate themselves through the next couple of months.

There won't be a lot of respite for club football with matches coming thick and fast in the weeks ahead through to the next calendar year and that also means the same for those of us playing Fantasy Football.

More on that later.

Newcastle United v Chelsea Pick: I am not a big fan of the international breaks in the calendar in normal times, but I really don't see the need of these breaks and fixtures when there is a global pandemic raging.

It has meant Football clubs have been keeping their fingers crossed that players not only avoid injuries, but avoid picking up a positive test once outside of their bubbles and miss playing time for them.

At the time of writing it feels like both Newcastle United and Chelsea have been fortunate, although the hosts of this opening Premier League fixture do have a long injury list to contend with from prior to the last break. Many of those names are not expected back for Steve Bruce, although he will be hopeful that Callum Wilson can take part having been a huge influence on the Newcastle United team in his short time with the club.

Despite these issues, Newcastle United remain a hard team to read having been able to produce some big performances to earn some positive results and at the same time look out of sorts in other games days later. They have been a mixed bag at home and this is not a ground that Chelsea have enjoyed visiting, but the West London club look to be trending in a positive direction.

You can't always tell what the two week break has done to the momentum of any club, but you also can't dismiss the 4 wins in a row Chelsea produced prior to the November internationals. It is one thing winning games, but Chelsea have scored at least three times in each victory and out-scored opponents 14-1 in that time.

Frank Lampard has also helped the starting eleven find the balance they were missing earlier in the season as they have looked much more secure at the back. The arrival of Edouard Mendy has certainly helped and this looks like a rare opportunity for Chelsea to leave this part of the North East with the points.

Newcastle United have some pace in the forward areas which has to be respected, but they are not as watertight at the back and that is a worry for them. While they deserved to beat Burnley and Everton here, Newcastle United were clearly second best when conceding three to Brighton and four to Manchester United and I think Chelsea are more likely to follow that lead.

Backing the visitors to win a game featuring at least two goals looks a decent enough approach to this fixture.

Aston Villa v Brighton Pick: Two teams who have played some decent football for the neutrals to enjoy will be meeting on Saturday afternoon and I do think it will be another good watch.

Aston Villa and Brighton both want to get the ball down and play some attacking football, although it is Dean Smith's team who have been producing the results. Graham Potter may feel his Brighton team deserve more than they have gotten so far this season, but he has struggled to find the balance between good, attractive football and being competent from a defensive point of view.

Since losing 4-2 at Everton, Brighton have only conceded 4 goals in 4 Premier League games, but at the same time they have hit the net just 3 times. Unsurprisingly that has not led to wins, but Brighton have also been difficult to beat and so underestimating them will not work out well for Aston Villa.

I doubt the home team will do that considering they have lost their last 3 at Villa Park in the Premier League against Leeds United and Southampton. The goals Aston Villa have conceded at home in the Premier League has to be a worry, but they were perhaps a little unfortunate against The Saints who showed tremendous composure in the final third.

Brighton don't feel like they have the same amount of clinical finishing on their recent form and Aston Villa did get the better of them in the Premier League and League Cup last season. An in-form attack is also scoring plenty of goals for Aston Villa and my feeling is that they have too many goals in the side that will give them the edge in this League game out of the international break.

In all 3 games between these teams last season both teams did find a way to hit the back of the net- that may be the case again, but I do give Aston Villa the edge and think they secure the points on the day.

Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester City Pick: This is the stand out fixture in the Premier League this weekend and the one that may begin to tell us a lot more about Tottenham Hotspur and their ability to mount a real Premier League title challenge.

Jose Mourinho's men have impressed through the first two and a half months of the season and they have bounced back from an opening day defeat to Everton to sit in 2nd place. A win on Saturday will mean Tottenham Hotspur will be top of the table for twenty-four hours at least, and it will also give the team a boost ahead of a tough run of fixtures which begin with this one.

You cannot dismiss the points on the board, but you would also be a little foolish if you don't consider the Tottenham Hotspur fixture list so far this season. Only Everton and Southampton sit in the top half of the table from the eight Premier League teams faced by Spurs and that can't be ignored when considering how well they have done.

Recent results have also been earned in somewhat fortunate circumstances with late goals and a little fortune on the side of Tottenham Hotspur. You do have to wonder how long they can keep producing against the stats and I do believe there is a lot for Tottenham Hotspur to prove before they can be considered real title challengers.

On Saturday we will learn more about Tottenham Hotspur as they perhaps are facing Manchester City at a bad time.

Pep Guardiola's men are unbeaten in 9 overall in all competitions and they have not lost any of their last 8 away from home, while Manchester City look to have a much healthier squad. I expect Raheem Sterling to be ready to go and there is a better balance to the Manchester City performances this season than their results may fully indicate.

Defensively they have been stronger in recent weeks, but the impact has been on the attacking side of things as Manchester City have not been creating as much as we have become used to in the last couple of seasons. Possession is still very much something that Manchester City will have a large share of, but there seems to be more control about the way they approaching games.

I would be surprised if Guardiola changes those plans for this fixture, but I would also be very surprised if Jose Mourinho asks his team to be as positive as he has wanted them to be in the early fixtures. My feeling is that he will return to type and that will be focusing on containing first and foremost.

Even in Tottenham Hotspur's win over Manchester City back in February the home team rode their luck before taking advantage of Oleksandr Zinchenko's sending off which changed the entire complexion of the match. I expect this one to be similar with the visitors controlling the ball and perhaps having the best chances, but Manchester City's performances and style seems to have changed and I am not sure the layers have figured that out.

Maybe the goals will return with the injuries clearing up, but this feels like it could be a tight, competitive fixture where a point might not be seen as a poor result for either team. The last 3 Manchester City away Premier League games have ended with two or fewer goals scored, while half of Tottenham Hotspur's 4 home League games have done the same.

A 2-1 scoreline either way is perhaps the biggest danger, but I do think this will be a tight game where even a single goal may be enough to secure the full points.

Manchester United v West Brom Pick: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has seen some of the pressure ease on him in the light of the 1-3 win over Everton, but the manager himself will know that he still needs Manchester United to offer more consistency in their results and performances.

Playing at Old Trafford without the fans has become very difficult for Manchester United and they are both struggling for goals and wins here. The side have not won their last 6 Premier League games at Old Trafford going back to the end of last season and there is a doubt about some of their top striking options who have picked up knocks or are returning from far flung destinations in international duty.

Even then it would be a big surprise if Manchester United cannot end their poor run at Old Trafford in the Premier League against a West Brom team who are having as many difficulties scoring goals. Slaven Bilic is at odds with those above him and his team fell over the line when it came to promotion last season with that form seeping into the start of this one.

There is some pace in the final third which will put some pressure on Manchester United's defence, but the home team have looked largely secure at the back in their most recent games. Big mistakes have proven costly though and it can be hard to trust this defence to avoid those in any fixture they play, but that seems to the most likely way West Brom will score here.

Since blowing the 3-0 lead over Chelsea, West Brom have scored a single goal in 5 Premier League games.

The focus is then on Manchester United to try and break down a defence that is likely going to be sitting deep and making life difficult for the home team. Unfortunately for West Brom, they have not really looked that effective at doing that and I think Manchester United will find one or two good chances that should see them come out on top for the first time at Old Trafford in the Premier League since early July.

A lack of goals is worrying for Manchester United and they may have to settle for a narrow victory here, but I don't think Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is going to care as long as United DO win.

Fulham v Everton Pick: The international break may not have come at a bad time for either Fulham or Everton who suffered disappointing losses the last time they took to the field two weeks ago.

A fast start from Everton looks a distance away in the rearview mirror after losing 3 Premier League games in a row, although it has largely underlined the lack of depth in the squad. The first eleven isn't bad, but Everton have missed the presence of Richarlison and James Rodriguez has also been dealing with a knock.

Both should be available for selection on Sunday and Everton do look to have a positive fixture list in front of them.

In saying that Carlo Ancelotti won't be taking anything for granted in this visit to Fulham who beat West Brom in their last game at Craven Cottage. Before that it has been a struggle for Fulham to reach the level needed to win League games and Scott Parker will have been thinking about the Ademola Lookman Penalty miss against West Ham United which cost his team a point.

Lookman should be inspired to take on his former team this weekend and I do think Fulham can create chances against this Everton team. They have lacked a consistent cutting edge, but Fulham have been better in recent games and I think that can see them get after an Everton team who have conceded at least twice in their last 5 Premier League games.

However, I also think Everton will be better going forward with their full complement of attackers likely to be available. While Fulham have shown some improvement going forward, they are still vulnerable defensively and I think that will show up here as both teams are likely to hit the net.

A 1-1 draw doesn't really do a lot for either manager and I think this is going to be one of the fixtures that feature at least three goals this weekend. That has occurred in 3 of the 5 home games Fulham have played and in 3 of the last 4 Everton away games and a 2-1 victory either way is not going to surprise too many.

Sheffield United v West Ham United Pick: A tough run of fixtures have really not helped Sheffield United in what has been a poor start to the season, but Chris Wilder needs a result soon.

He is not likely to be under pressure from the board, but Wilder himself will understand it is a results business and consolidating Sheffield United's place in the top flight is the main ambition for the season.

This looks a more winnable fixture for Sheffield United who have been a little unlucky in some of the fixtures played this season. A lack of goals has been a real problem for Sheffield United since returning to the Premier League and this season the defence has not been able to make up for that this time around.

West Ham United are certainly playing better than their current League position may suggest and David Moyes has guided them through a very difficult part of their schedule. Now things are looking 'easier' but the continued absence of Michail Antonio is a blow to the system and this is a fixture that I am not really getting a feel for.

I could make the case for any result, but it could be one where Fantasy players look to target West Ham United assets with better fixtures still to come too.

Leeds United v Arsenal Pick: The second of the scheduled Super Sunday games in the United Kingdom comes from Elland Road and involves two teams looking to bounce back from a poor result two weeks ago.

Leeds United were beaten 4-1 at Crystal Palace, although they harshly had a goal disallowed when 1-0 down, while Arsenal were crushed 0-3 by Aston Villa at the Emirates Stadium.

Both teams will feel this represents a good chance to bounce back from those defeats, although neither team has shown a lot of consistency.

In their last couple of home games Leeds United have lost to Wolves and Leicester City, although they were unfortunate in the former and made some massive mistakes to fall into a big hole in the latter.

Arsenal did win at Manchester United in their last away Premier League game and their only losses have come at Anfield and the Etihad Stadium, but Mikel Arteta's team have struggled to create a host of chances.

At least they have defended better in the most part and taking the Aston Villa result as an exception rather than the rule. That will give Arsenal a chance, but this Leeds United team have been positive going forward and look to have goals in the side which may be enough to earn a result in this fixture.

Goals should be in the offing even if Arsenal have struggled to really put a lot of shots together as they continue to learn a new system. Leeds United can't always be trusted to make the best of their chances created either, but I do think they have enough to earn a result here and Arsenal look plenty short as the favourites to win this fixture away from home.

Liverpool v Leicester City Pick: There have already been some questions about how the Liverpool squad were going to cope without their best centre half, but losing Joe Gomez and Mohamed Salah in the international break has really stretched them heading into this Premier League weekend.

Mohamed Salah should be back in time for the next League game at the end of the month, but the loss of Gomez is huge for Liverpool who will have to dip into their Under 23 squad if either Joel Matip or Fabinho miss time in the weeks before the January transfer window.

Those two should pair up for Liverpool on Sunday against the League leaders, but the home team are also likely going to be without Trent Alexander-Arnold. That means three of the preferred back four could be absent and Brendan Rodgers may not have a better chance to win at Anfield as the opposing manager.

Liverpool have looked a little vulnerable at times at Anfield, although they have ground down teams and worked their way to 4 wins from 4 in the Premier League. However, Arsenal, West Ham United and Sheffield United have all taken the lead at Anfield before being narrowly beaten and now they are facing a Leicester City team who have won every away game played in the 2020/21 season.

That has to be an encouragement for Leicester City who have pace and quality in the final third and I do think they will head to Anfield with some confidence. The squad looks to be in good shape for this fixture and Jamie Vardy will be fresh having called time on his international career.

It took an injury time Penalty for Liverpool to beat Leicester City here last season and despite the strong run against this opponent at Anfield I feel Liverpool will find it tough to earn the result here. Losing Mohamed Salah takes away a big threat and Leicester City have scored plenty of away goals this season which suggests they can find a way to the points.

A couple of weeks ago you could have backed Leicester City with a big start, but that has changed as Liverpool have lost key performers. Even now you can still look to get behind Leicester City to avoid defeat and I do believe they are good enough to do that and end Liverpool's perfect start at Anfield in the Premier League.

Burnley v Crystal Palace Pick: A difficult start to the season has left Burnley in the relegation zone, but the players will still believe in manager Sean Dyche and results should follow.

Burnley have been struggling in most aspects of their play, but I do think they will begin to pick up results. That may not start this week though against a Crystal Palace team who have won twice in a row at Turf Moor and who may be a popular pick to make it a hat-trick of victories here.

Roy Hodgson's men have ridden their luck at times in those wins here, but I can't really trust Crystal Palace who have been hit or miss all season. They are just likely to win for the third time here as they are to lose 2-0 and show very little going forward and with that in mind I think it may be a fixture in which I employ a defender from the visitors in my Fantasy Football team this week.

A lack of goals in the Burnley squad is a worry for Sean Dyche, but he has shown he can quickly turn things around for his team even when they hit a rough patch and I would not be surprised if either team comes away with the points.

Wolves v Southampton Pick: The last game of the Premier League weekend comes on Monday evening from Molineux and I think two teams who are pretty secure at the back and perhaps not creating as many chances going forward are going to be involved in another tight battle.

Southampton have been scoring plenty of goals so that may be surprising to hear them described like that, but they are missing Danny Ings who is a major source of goals for them. They are showing clinical finishing from the chances that are being created in recent games which makes them dangerous, but this Wolves team are very well organised and hard to break down.

Losing Conor Coady would be a huge blow for the home team though as his presence is key to the three man central defence that Wolves like to play with. That may offer the visitors more opportunities, but I think the system is important for Wolves and they will feel they can contain Southampton here.

On the other side Wolves have not been as strong going forward as they would like to be- they do have pace and quality in the final third, but they are not creating a lot of good chances. That is going to be a challenge for them against a Southampton team who have looked much better defensively ever since conceding five in their home defeat to Tottenham Hotspur.

Since then Southampton have kept 4 clean sheets in 6 Premier League games. Wolves have kept clean sheets in 3 of their last 5 and I think it would be a surprise if one of these teams are not producing one on Monday in what could be a tight fixture decided by a single goal either way.

MY PICKS: Chelsea & Over 1.5 Goals

Aston Villa - 0.25 Asian Handicap

Tottenham Hotspur-Manchester City Under 2.5 Goals

Manchester United Win to Nil

Fulham-Everton Over 2.5 Goals

Leeds United + 0.5 Asian Handicap

Leicester City + 0.5 Asian Handicap

Wolves-Southampton Both Teams to Score- NO

Fantasy Football GameWeek 9

The international break came at a time when my Fantasy Football team had a very strong GameWeek 8 and it has led to some problems.

Injuries and players losing spots in their first teams have meant changes have needed to be made, but I was fortunate to be able to carry two transfers into GameWeek 9.

I made a decision to use one of those before the international games were played, and that was bringing in Diogo Jota in place of Riyad Mahrez- the price changes that were likely going to take place meant I wanted to get in front of that transfer as Jota looks to have pushed himself into the Liverpool first team and Mahrez has slipped backwards in the Manchester City pecking order.

However it was not a decision that has really worked out as well as I had hoped with Christian Pulisic and Leandro Trossard looking like doubts for the next GameWeek. To add to the issues Mohamed Salah has returned a positive Coronavirus reading which means he is out on Sunday and potentially missing GW10 too.

I have decided I will carry Salah through another GW and then re-evaluate what I want to do with him, but it also means I need to make another transfer in GW9 to make sure I have a full eleven playing this time unlike a couple of weeks ago.

The obvious player that needs to be moved out is Christian Pulisic who has been hit by the injury bug all season- replacements for him are plentiful although I am looking to make decisions which will benefit my team in the long-term.

Essentially I do not want to take a hit this week, but I think I am going to have to accept at least one or maybe two in the coming couple of GWs in order to change the look of the squad as I want. That is another reason I do not want to take out Salah as I feel he is a player I am going to want to bring back in and it feels like a wasted move unless I plan on going without him for a number of weeks.

In my opinion Liverpool are going to have to find a way to outscore teams before the January transfer window allows them to strengthen defensively and that will make Salah and the likes of Jota important to them.

Making the right moves is not easy with so many managers admitting they are going to need to rotate their starting elevens to keep players from logging too many minutes and thus facing long injury issues. There are a couple of clubs I am targeting for the relative long-term, but I am comfortable with where my squad is for the main part.

The two Manchester clubs look to have a very good set of fixtures coming up and those could be the ones who can make the difference in the weeks ahead. However you have to consider the balance needed to deal with Premier League and Champions League commitments and so I am mainly going to look to target those names once this week is out of the way.

Manchester United do have the home game with West Brom which will be appealing to attack, but their main assets are priced up high enough.

However it is Pulisic who needs to be moved out for now and I have to use the next few hours to have a real think about how I am going to do that best to make sure I have eleven starters this weekend.

NFL Week 11 Picks 2020 (November 19-23)

I will update this thread in the coming days ahead of the full selection of NFL Picks from the Sunday and Monday games in Week 11.

Arizona Cardinals @ Seattle Seahawks Pick: When you take a lot at the NFC you do have the feeling that the NFC West is going to provide at least three of the seven teams that are expected to make the PlayOffs. Only one will be guaranteed to host a PlayOff game and that is the Divisional Winner which means the importance of the Divisional Games will not be lost on any of the leading teams looking for a run towards the Super Bowl.

This week on Thursday Night Football we do have the chance to enjoy a really important game as the Seattle Seahawks host the Arizona Cardinals. Both teams are at 6-3 in the NFC West, but the Cardinals are 2-0 in the Division and the Seattle Seahawks are 1-2 which really means the importance of this game is very much with the hosts.

Another defeat for the Seahawks would mean they have dropped three games in a row having gone down to the Buffalo Bills and Los Angeles Rams in their last couple of games. Russell Wilson has been huge at Quarter Back, but his last couple of performances have not been up to scratch and Seattle have also been beaten by the Cardinals this season to only add to the importance of winning this one.

While the Seahawks have been trending downwards, the Arizona Cardinals beat the Bills with a 'Hail Murray' in Week 10 to earn the victory in four of their last five. It was a close game, but Arizona probably deserved to win even if the manner was quite stunning.

Kyler Murray and DeAndre Hopkins already have a very good chemistry and they are likely to pick up from where they left off with that last second win over the Buffalo Bills. Injuries have ravaged the Seattle Secondary and that has meant they have given up some big plays throughout the season and in recent weeks even the 'bend, don't break' formula has not been working for them.

The ability to scramble means Murray is able to get away from pressure and make plays down the field and he is not afraid to use his legs to move the chains down the field. He is arguably the most dangerous Quarter Back in the NFL at the moment with the balance he is able to put together on the Offense and he should be able to have some success throwing throughout this game.

However there are one or two areas in which Seattle have shown some improvement which may give their whole Defensive unit a boost. While they have struggled to defend the pass, the pass rush has been able to get to opposition Quarter Backs and the Seahawks Defensive Line has also been able to clamp down on the run in recent outings too.

It may at least give the Seahawks a chance to slow down a couple of drives and force Field Goals rather than Touchdowns and may offer Russell Wilson the chance to bounce back after a couple of difficult games.

At one point Wilson was the frontrunner for the MVP award by a considerable distance, but that is not the case now. He is still playing well, but perhaps forcing too many throws and making some bad Football decisions which is a huge cost for any Quarter Back.

Russell Wilson did have a very good game against the Arizona Cardinals in the narrow loss to this Divisional rival in the desert earlier this season. With Chris Carson back at Running Back I do think Seattle will be able to have some success moving the ball on the ground in this one against an Arizona Defensive Line which has given up 5 yards per carry across their last three games.

The Running Back has missed some time, but his threat may at least offer Russell Wilson some balance Offensively which can see him expose the injuries in the Arizona Secondary. The Seattle Offensive Line has not been protecting Wilson as well as they would have liked, but running the ball also means the Quarter Back does not have to hold onto the ball as long as usual, while the Cardinals have struggled to generate much of a pass rush.

The potential absence of Tyler Lockett will be a blow for Seattle, but DK Metcalf can bounce back in this one after a below par showing in Week 10. The big Wide Receiver was shut down by Jalen Ramsey in Week 10, but he has shown he is not likely to have two bad games in a row and only a big holding flag prevented him from winning the game for Seattle when playing Arizona in the first meeting in 2020.

Arizona do have a decent record in this part of the North West in recent years with wins in three of their last four in Seattle. However that has not helped them complete the sweep of the Seahawks and I do think the home team will bounce back after the two road defeats suffered in succession.

There are some strong trends favouring the underdog and road team in this series which is going to see the Cardinals well backed, especially off their late win in Week 10. However Seattle are 32-15-4 against the spread in their last fifty-one games off a loss and they are 5-2 against the spread in their last seven as the home favourite.

The Cardinals have been a team who tend to play up to the level of opponent they are facing and I do have to respect how well they have played as the underdog under Kliff Kingsbury. Even with that in mind I do think Russell Wilson is ready to bounce back from a couple of sub-par performances and I will back the Seahawks to win this vital NFC West rivalry game and get back on track.

Cincinnati Bengals @ Washington Football Team Pick: It says everything about how poor the NFC East is that the Washington Football Team come into Week 11 with a worse record than the Cincinnati Bengals, but are in a much better place when it comes to potentially reaching the NFL PlayOffs in January.

Not often will you see a team with a 2-7 record going into Week 11 of the NFL season and they only 1.5 games out of the Division lead, but that is the case for Washington in the NFC East where all of the teams have losing records. They have a big game coming on Thursday as they earn the Thanksgiving Day spot at the Dallas Cowboys, but Ron Rivera has to make sure Washington are focusing on the Week 11 game as they look to put the pressure on their Divisional rivals.

The Cincinnati Bengals have the same number of wins as Washington, but they have a tie on the board which means they are holding a 2-6-1 record. No one expected the Bengals to push towards the PlayOffs with a rookie at Quarter Back, and they are coming off a blow out loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, but Cincinnati have to be happy with the majority of what they have seen from their team in 2020.

Joe Burrow is going to have a learning curve with a losing team, but he has shown enough to justify going with the Number 1 Pick in the last NFL Draft. He has found a real connection with fellow rookie Tee Higgins, although Burrow might have to do without the Wide Receiver this week.

Tee Higgins may be missing, but Joe Mixon is trending towards a return and that will be important for Joe Burrow and the entire Cincinnati Offense. The Offensive Line have played well to open holes for the backup Running Backs, but Mixon is a solid player at the position and he should have a chance to put up some good numbers against the Football Team Defensive Line.

It is really important to get the run established for the visitors who have struggled to protect Burrow when he drops back to throw, and now facing a Washington team who love to get to the Quarter Back. That pressure up front has helped the Secondary make some big plays, but if Cincinnati are able to run the ball it should give Joe Burrow a real chance to move the chains through the air too and at least make Washington have to score enough points to beat them.

That won't be easy for Washington despite the strong second half display from Alex Smith which suggests the Quarter Back has firmly put the terrible injury which has cost him two years of his career behind him. Alex Smith should have an easier match up than Joe Burrow as he is likely to be well supported by a ground game, but also should be dealing with a relatively clean pocket for much of this game.

However Alex Smith has not always looked comfortable throwing the ball down the field and instead has looked for short passes to be turned into significant gains. That has seen his Running Backs become heavily targeted when they seep out of the backfield and we should see more of the same on Sunday in Week 11.

It might be a winning combination in this game, especially if Burrow is without his big target in Tee Higgins.

I don't find it easy backing Washington because they are 2-7 and have been beaten twice by the pretty poor New York Giants team. It makes them hard to trust, but they do look to have a good match up against the Bengals even if the Thanksgiving Day game against the Dallas Cowboys could be a potential distraction for the home team.

Ron Rivera has made it clear that all of the remaining six games are going to matter to Washington if they are going to make a surprising run into the PlayOffs, but much will depend on whether the Defensive Line can rattle Joe Burrow into mistakes. If they can do that, Alex Smith should have the balance on the Offensive side of the ball which allows him to move the ball with some consistency and give the Football Team a chance to win.

The trends are pointing to the Cincinnati Bengals who have been a strong underdog to back and the Washington Football Team have not covered as a favourite in any of their last four games in that situation. However, I do think Washington may have the slight edge thanks to the balance they can find Offensively and I will look for them to head to Dallas with some confidence.

Philadelphia Eagles @ Cleveland Browns Pick: There is another NFC East versus AFC North battle to be played in Week 11 of the 2020 NFL season and that is a game in which the Cleveland Browns will be hosting the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Browns moved to 6-3 for the season when beating the Houston Texans at home last week, although there would have been a huge amount of people in Vegas either cheering or crying at Nick Chubb's decision to step out of bounds before scoring a Touchdown inside the last two minutes in that game. That meant the Browns failed to cover, but Chubb wasn't concerning himself about that and instead his focus is on making sure Cleveland keep winning games.

Nick Chubb returned from an injury and with Kareem Hunt they are forming a tandem that will be difficult for any team to stop. The 3-5-1 Philadelphia Eagles may be leading the NFC East, but this is a team who saw their two game winning run ended by Divisional rivals the New York Giants in Week 10 and whose Defensive Line have shown little appetite to stop the run in recent games.

That has to be a major concern when going up against the Browns Offensive Line which has been very strong all season when it comes to opening up lanes for Hunt and Chubb. Both players should have another strong game coming off big performances against the Houston Texans and Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt are also going to be important parts of the passing game as Baker Mayfield looks to exploit the screens to help keep the chains moving.

Baker Mayfield has been well protected by the Offensive Line too, but it does feel like a game in which the conditions will mean a heavy reliance on the ground game to keep the chains moving as far as the Browns are concerned. That should ease any Philadelphia pass rush and also mean Mayfield is able to make quick throws when ahead of the chains as Cleveland look for another win over a team they should be beating.

The Eagles are perhaps better than their record suggests, but even as they are getting healthier they are struggling to put the consistency together that they need. This should be a game in which they show better than they did in their defeat to the New York Giants, but it is hard to trust the visitors who can't seem to get out of their own way.

Miles Sanders is back and he will be complemented by Boston Scott and the two Running Backs should have a chance to help the Eagles move the ball on the ground. Again, the conditions will dictate the importance of being able to run the ball and for much of the season the Eagles have been able to do that with success.

It is so important to stay competitive and ease some of the pressure that Quarter Back Carson Wentz is clearly feeling as he perhaps tries too hard to make good things happen. Usually that has resulted in bad things happening and Wentz will know he is likely to feel the heat from the Cleveland pass rush whenever he is in third and long spots which increases the importance of being able to run the ball.

There are healthier Receivers to throw to as well as for Carson Wentz, but he has not really been making the best decisions and this may be a difficult game for the Philadelphia Eagles.

Cleveland have not always been a great favourite to back, but they are 4-1 against the spread in their last five against a team with a losing record. The Eagles have some really poor trends going against them too and I think the Browns can make enough plays through either Nick Chubb or Kareem Hunt to see them over the line.

I do think an Eagles team with more talent than their record would suggest are capable of turning things around and become a dangerous PlayOff team, but that may have to wait another week.

Detroit Lions @ Carolina Panthers Pick: There might only be a game between these two teams, but at 4-5 the Detroit Lions have to feel better about their chances of perhaps earning a PlayOff spot compared with the 3-7 Carolina Panthers. Some of that feeling has to be down to the fact that the Panthers have lost five in a row and the Lions have won three of their last five which makes it feel like Detroit have some momentum.

Both have banged up Quarter Backs which is not going to help their cause, but the Detroit Lions look to have Matthew Stafford available this week. The same cannot be said of the Carolina Panthers who are expected to be without Teddy Bridgewater in Week 11 which means either PJ Walker or Will Grier will be asked to start.

The injury that Stafford is dealing with is a concern especially as the Lions will be back out in a few days time against the Houston Texans on Thanksgiving Day. It may mean he is not able to throw as well as he can, but Stafford will know he can lean on the Detroit rushing attack which has shown life ever since D'Andre Swift took over as the starting Running Back.

The Running Back should have a real good chance of a strong outing against the Panthers Defensive Line which has been gashed in recent games. They gave up some big plays to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 10 and Swift will feel he can pick up from there as well as being a real threat catching balls coming out of the backfield.

It is going to make the Detroit Offense dangerous as long as Matthew Stafford is feeling he can still make all the throws. If that is the case he is facing a Secondary which has given up some huge yards in recent games and the limited pass rush pressure that the Panthers generate should mean the Quarter Back is able to pick his spots and make sure Detroit are moving the ball as they would like.

The injury to Teddy Bridgewater does lessen the ability of Carolina to keep up if this develops into a shoot out.

Carolina are not helped by the face that Christian McCaffrey is going to be missing again and you have to feel that Detroit will be looking to clamp down on the run and force an inexperienced Quarter Back to try and beat them through the air. That won't be easy because the Lions have struggled to stop the run, but Carolina don't have a big threat at Quarter Back which should make it a little more comfortable for the Lions to try and load the line of scrimmage.

I still think the Panthers will find some good gains on the ground and while the game is close they can keep up that method of attack. That should also mean whoever starts at Quarter Back is able to make some plays against a Detroit Secondary which has not been very good this season.

A part of the reason has to be the very little pass rush that is being generated by Detroit, but they might have more success if there some uncertainty from the Quarter Back for the Panthers whether that is PJ Walker or Will Grier.

The Panthers are 1-7-1 against the spread in their last nine at home and I do think the Detroit Lions can win here. You can't be feeling that great about backing the Lions to win on the road as the favourite, especially not with a Thanksgiving Day to come, but I do think they have more momentum than their hosts and they should be focused on keeping their PlayOff hopes alive through another week.

I will look for them to make some big plays against the Carolina Quarter Back late in the day which will move this game in their favour as the Lions get back up to 0.500 for the season.

Tennessee Titans @ Baltimore Ravens Pick: There will be revenge in the air in Baltimore as the Ravens get set to take on the Tennessee Titans, the team who ended their Super Bowl ambitions back in January. Both teams are coming off important losses in Week 11 so there is a motivation to bounce back from that too, while you can't underestimate the chance of earning the tie-breaker with both the Ravens and Titans sitting in 2nd place in their respective Divisions at 6-3.

The spot looks like being a wash with both having very important Divisional Games in Week 12 which could end their chances of winning their Divisions. However, the Baltimore Ravens are scheduled to play on Thanksgiving Day and that short turn into their big game with the Pittsburgh Steelers could take away some of the focus from this one.

I am not anticipating that to be the case as the Ravens have lost two of their last three games and have to be really focused to make up for some of the banged up players on both sides of the ball which is affecting their level of performance. Lamar Jackson is still considered one of the top Quarter Backs in the NFL, but there is no doubting that 2020 has been a lot more difficult for him than 2019 and that can't be ignored either.

The passing numbers are considerably down on last season and part of the problem has been the injuries on the Offensive Line which means Lamar Jackson is not getting the same kind of protection as he was twelve months ago. Those issues on the O-Line have seen teams get to Jackson and bring him down in the backfield, but I do think the match up should be better for the Quarter Back in this one as he throws against a weak Tennessee Secondary.

Tennessee have simply not been able to get to the Quarter Back as well as they would have liked either and it should mean Jackson is able to make some big plays through the air.

That is important for Baltimore who have also struggled to run the ball as well as they would have expected to with the injuries on the Offensive Line contributing to those struggles too. Lamar Jackson does have Mark Ingram back with him and he is still making plays with his legs, but Tennessee have been showing a little more toughness when it comes to defending the run in recent games compared with the season as a whole.

I do think Tennessee will have to accept that Baltimore are going to make some plays against them, but I also like the chances of the Titans showing much better than their last performance when blown out by the Indianapolis Colts. The Titans were on a roll, but they have lost three of their last four games and Ryan Tannehill has been struggling, while the Offensive play-calling can be questioned.

The bottom line is that the Titans have to try and lean on Derrick Henry more than they have in recent games, although staying with Baltimore is the key so the can remain balanced Offensively. Derrick Henry should have a lot of success running the ball against the Ravens Defensive Line which has shown some signs of wear and tear when it comes to clamping down on the run.

Even if they can get to Henry early, the Running Back has a habit of breaking down bodies and then running over them in the second half and I do think he can have a decent game here. That will make life much easier for Ryan Tannehill whose numbers in the last three games have been very, very average.

Despite the injuries, Baltimore are still capable of making plays in the Secondary, but the struggle to stop the run has eased their pass rush compared with the early season form. That will be music to Ryan Tannehill's ears and he does have some big time Receivers who can step up for him and help the Titans continue to move the chains.

In recent weeks Tennessee have struggled against the spread, but they are not being over-rated in this one as far as I am concerned. They have had a little more time to prepare for this Week 11 game and Tennessee are also facing a Baltimore team who are 5-13 against the spread in their last eighteen as the home favourite.

Getting almost a full converted Touchdown worth of points looks appealing with the road team who can control the clock. Mike Vrabel needs better from his Special Teams unit, but if he gets that I do think the Titans are going to have every chance to cover against a banged up Baltimore team who may be looking to protect bodies before their Thanksgiving Day game at Divisional rivals Pittsburgh.

New England Patriots @ Houston Texans Pick: Every week in the NFL there are one or two spreads you may look at and wonder why the line is as small/big as it is- in most cases I move past those games and look for better options.

My reasoning for that is if a line looks too good to be true then it usually is, but I am finding it very difficult to move past the New England Patriots as a narrow favourite at the Houston Texans. A win in Week 10 has moved the Patriots back up to 4-5 for the season and they remain keen on chasing down a PlayOff spot, while the Houston Texans were losing again and are 2-7 on the season with both wins coming against the even more awful Jacksonville Jaguars.

Bill O'Brien is gone as Head Coach, but his moves continue to be heavily criticised. He won't be around to face his mentor Bill Belichick, but interim Head Coach Romeo Crennel is well aware of the Patriots organisation and will be motivated to get one over on Belichick himself.

The Texans were beaten at the Cleveland Browns last week which means they have dropped three of their last four games. With the First Round Pick in the next NFL Draft going to the Miami Dolphins thanks to one of the bonehead trades O'Brien made in his time as Head Coach and General Manager, it should mean Houston are focused on trying to put as many wins on the board in the weeks ahead even if the PlayOffs are beyond them.

Deshaun Watson at least gives the Houston Texans a genuine franchise Quarter Back and the team has to be built around him. This is a player capable of digging deep and having the monster game that is likely going to be needed for Houston to win this game, but Watson is not helped by the fact that the Texans have a limited ground attack to at least ease the pressure on him.

The injury to David Johnson means Duke Johnson will take the majority of carries, but Deshaun Watson is capable of making some plays with his legs too as he will look to keep Houston in front of the chains. The Offensive Line should at least give Watson time to throw down the field if he is forced to rely on his arm instead, although the New England Patriots look to be getting healthier Defensively and this has not been a Secondary that has been easy to throw against.

I do think Deshaun Watson is capable of still making some big throws, but I worry about the Houston consistency Offensively and they are now taking on a New England team who may have a spring in their step after back to back wins. They have played well Defensively, but Cam Newton looks to be getting healthier and the rushing Offense may be boosted by the potential return of Sony Michel this week.

Bill Belichick and Josh McDaniels have tailored the Offensive unit around the strengths of Cam Newton who took over from Tom Brady and there have been signs that they can make enough positive plays to get back into the PlayOffs. The big Quarter Back is capable of running with the ball, but he has been given a boost by Damien Harris in the backfield and having Sony Michel back too makes New England dangerous.

This is particularly to a Defensive Line like the one Houston are trotting out onto the field, one that has really struggled to stop the run in recent games. I find it difficult to believe that will change markedly in this Week 11 game and it should mean the Patriots are set up to win.

Cam Newton is expected to be well protected against this limited Houston pass rush and that should see him able to employ play action to hit Receivers down the field. The Texans Secondary have perhaps got some stronger numbers by the sheer fact that teams can run all over them and so don't need to pass as much as they might do otherwise, and I do think New England can move into a position to win a third game in succession.

The Texans are 1-5 against the spread in their last six games as the home underdog and they are just 4-10 against the spread in their last fourteen in this Stadium overall. New England are Coached well enough to usually beat those teams they should under Bill Belichick and Houston are set for a Thanksgiving Day game which may be where the focus is for the players to show the nation they are better than their record.

The line is under a key number 3 and I think New England are worth getting behind to cover in this one.

MY PICKS: Seattle Seahawks - 3 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (2 Units)

Washington Football Team - 1.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (2 Units)

Cleveland Browns - 2.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet Fred (2 Units)

Detroit Lions - 1.5 Points @ 1.91 Paddy Power (2 Units)

Tennessee Titans + 6.5 Points @ 1.91 Paddy Power (2 Units)

New England Patriots - 2.5 Points @ 1.95 Bet Fred (2 Units)

Los Angeles Chargers - 9.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet Fred (2 Units)

Minnesota Vikings - 6.5 Points @ 1.91 Sky Bet (2 Units)

Kansas City Chiefs - 7.5 Points @ 2.00 Bet365 (2 Units)