NFL Week 12 Picks 2022 (November 24-28)

With the World Cup having begun, the short week into Thanksgiving Day in the NFL feels even shorter than usual.

Four games a day are tough to deal with at the World Cup- of course you want to watch as much of the tournament as possible.

For now you can read my Picks from the three Thanksgiving Day games in the NFL and I will add further selections here before the Sunday and Monday games are set to be played.

Buffalo Bills @ Detroit Lions Pick: Circumstances were out of the control of the Buffalo Bills (7-3) in Week 11 as Mother Nature decided to drop a huge bucket of snow all over their hometown. It meant having to move their scheduled game with the Cleveland Browns to Detroit and it just happens to be a few days before the Buffalo Bills were scheduled to face the home team Detroit Lions (4-6) on Thanksgiving Day. The Bills were able to rally and beat the Browns in this Stadium on Sunday and they will be looking for a second victory in a row and to snap the Detroit three game winning run.

In a very competitive AFC East, the Bills can lay down a marker before the rest of the Division plays in Week 12 and a win would mean they move to the top of the East. At the moment they share the same record with the Miami Dolphins, but the latter hold the tie-breaker and have what should be a relatively straight-forward game to win out of their Bye Week on Sunday.

Sean McDermott and the Coaching staff will be worrying less about what Miami are going to do and instead will be thinking about the Buffalo Bills and how they are going to get the better of the Detroit Lions. Josh Allen still hasn't looked completely like himself since the reports came out about an elbow issue that the Quarter Back has been dealing with and he failed to throw for 200 plus yards in Week 11, despite the win over the Cleveland Browns.

No one associated with the Bills is overly concerned about Allen and the extra few days should have allowed other players to get over an illness that had swept through the team. The quick turnaround is not ideal, but the Buffalo Bills have been used to playing on Thanksgiving Day in recent seasons and that should mean they are well prepared thanks to a strong Head Coach and other members around him.

Josh Allen did do plenty of damage with his legs last week and I think he will be able to do the same in this one against the Lions Defensive Line which is still giving up over 5 yards per carry through their winning run. Handing the ball to Devin Singletary and James Cook should keep the Bills in front of the chains as teams have been too afraid to load the box and allow Josh Allen and the powerful passing game to take control.

Establishing the run does naturally open up the passing lanes too and there are injuries in the Detroit Secondary which can be exploited by Stefon Diggs and Gabriel Davis. While there are still some concerns about the Josh Allen elbow, he can have a stronger outing than Sunday in the same Stadium and the Buffalo Bills should be able to move the ball up and down the field with confidence.

This is a big spread though and the question is whether this Detroit Lions can continue to be as competitive as they have been in recent games. Three wins in a row in the NFL has to be respected, but the Lions have have actually lost the yardage battle in each of those, although the fans may point to how much they pushed the Miami Dolphins as to their ability to stay with the Buffalo Bills in this one.

Jared Goff has shown he is more than a serviceable Quarter Back in the NFL, but he will need the Running Backs to do their part in this one and try and extend drives. While it has been possible to rip off some gains on the ground against the Buffalo Defensive Line, the Lions have not reached 4 yards per carry in their recent winning run and that is a concern.

They can lean on Jared Goff and ask him to make the plays with his arm, especially as he is playing behind an Offensive Line that has offered plenty of protection. Injuries have also been hurting the effectiveness of the Buffalo Secondary, and so Goff could easily get into a position where the backdoor cover can be secured, especially with this number of points being given to the home underdog.

Playing a clean game and not offering up extra possessions is the key for the Detroit Lions and I do think they are capable of doing that with Jared Goff being given time to scan the field. Winning the game is a big ask, but the Lions have not been blown out at home this season and I think that is important to their mindset, while the three game winning run will clearly give the home team some confidence.

At the same time, the Buffalo Bills have not really been able to pull clear of teams on the road since their opening Week crushing of the Los Angeles Rams. They have played four road games since then and they have been decided by margins of 2, 3, 4 and 3 points and this makes me believe they are being asked to cover too many points here.

Of course the Buffalo Bills are capable of making me look very foolish with their high-octane Offensive firepower, but the Detroit Lions have shown they can be very competitive and may score enough points to make it very difficult for the road team to win by double digits.

I have to respect the fact that the Buffalo Bills crushed the Saints in New Orleans as a big road favourite on Thanksgiving Day last season, but the Detroit Lions are 7-2 against the spread in their last nine at home and I will look for them to produce enough Offense to keep this one within the number too.

New York Giants @ Dallas Cowboys Pick: It is Thanksgiving Day and that means the Dallas Cowboys (7-3) will be hosting a game for the 45th year in a row, although you cannot ignore how poorly they have played on the day as far as against the spread goes. The Cowboys have made a habit of failing to cover as a home favourite so it is difficult to see them in this spot against the New York Giants (7-3) in a huge game in the NFC East.

Both have strong records through eleven weeks of the regular season, but both the Cowboys and Giants continue to chase the Philadelphia Eagles who have a two game lead in the Division. The Eagles hold a win over the Dallas Cowboys too, but the Cowboys have the tie-breaker over the New York Giants after a road win over their Divisional rivals in Week 3.

Losing a grip of that tie-breaker will make it very difficult to track down the Eagles in the Division and force the Dallas Cowboys to think about the Wild Card race, but they are coming into this one with a load of momentum having crushed the Minnesota Vikings. On the same day, the New York Giants were perhaps overlooking the Detroit Lions and they have now lost two of their last three games to slip into third place in what looks an incredibly competitive Division.

We are going to learn plenty about the New York Giants in the next four weeks when they play four Divisional games and so this is a big spot in which they will be trying to bounce back from recent setbacks. First year Head Coach Brian Daboll has admitted that he is looking for a reaction from his players who have just lost some of their Offensive spark in recent outings as injuries continue to affect their performances.

Through the course of much of this season, the Giants have been able to pound the rock very effectively, but in their last three games they have only managed to pick up 3.5 yards per carry. Ultimately stopping the run is the weakness of the Dallas Defensive unit and so the Giants have to be confident in picking up the bigger gains, but it is very difficult for New York and Daniel Jones if they are not able to establish the run, or if the game is out of hand and they have to throw the ball.

Saquon Barkley should have a decent game and Daniel Jones will make plays with his legs, but the New York Giants will have to play a clean game if they are going to upset the home town Cowboys. Any time they are behind the chains, the Giants Offensive Line will be under the same pressure they were in Week 3 when they were not able to give Daniel Jones the time in the pocket to make his plays down field.

Injuries in the Wide Receiver room also means the Giants are struggling for options outside of the rejuvenated Darius Slayton. He can offer Daniel Jones a passing threat, but this Dallas Defensive unit have been very impressive by generating a host of pressure up front and the Secondary then being able to step up and make some big plays.

It just feels like a game in which the Giants are going to struggle to have a consistent Offensive outing and especially if they begin to chase the game. That is a distinct possibility with the Dallas Cowboys looking much more potent now Dak Prescott is back behind Center and they have piled up at least 28 points in three consecutive games.

The two home games since Prescott's return have both ended in strong wins for the Dallas Cowboys and the balance they have Offensively is hard to ignore. Ezekiel Elliot may be having his time managed after a return from an injury, but Tony Pollard has shown he has Home Run speed out of the backfield and the Running Back is a massive threat behind this Offensive Line and in the open field.

Dallas should be able to establish the run with confidence and being in front of the chains makes things very comfortable for Dak Prescott. The Quarter Back is well protected by his Offensive Line and there are holes to exploit in the New York Secondary with the likes of CeeDee Lamb, Michael Gallup and Dalton Schultz all capable of making big plays, and that is also ignoring the threat Tony Pollard poses leaking out of the backfield.

Avoiding mistakes is the key for Dak Prescott who was guilty of that against the Green Bay Packers in a defeat a couple of weeks ago. In general he has played well on his return from injury and I do think the Cowboys will be able to pull away in this one and then tee off on Daniel Jones as he tries to drag the Giants back into the game.

As mentioned, it is hard to trust the Cowboys on Thanksgiving Day having seen them fail to cover so often as the home favourite and this is a big spread to deal with.

However, the Cowboys have matched up very well with the Giants and have a 9-2 record against the spread in the last eleven between these Divisional rivals, while Dallas are 4-1 against the spread in the last five games when hosting the Giants.

The Cowboys have a 22-8 record against the spread in their last thirty against their Divisional rivals, while the New York Giants are 0-4 against the spread in those Divisional battles. The game may come down to the final possession as far as this number goes, but I think the Dallas Defensive unit carve up Daniel Jones behind his Offensive Line and they can produce another dominant home win after blow out victories over Detroit and Chicago.

New England Patriots @ Minnesota Vikings Pick: There are ways to lose a game and the Minnesota Vikings (8-2) will be looking for a much better all around effort than the one they put into their Week 11 home drubbing by the Dallas Cowboys. The Vikings remain in firm control of the NFC North where the rest of the Division have a losing record, but they have lost a bit of ground in the race for the top Seed in the Conference as they prepare to play the third game on Thanksgiving Day.

This is a non-Conference game, but it will be as important to the hosts as it will be for the New England Patriots (6-4) who are one of four teams with a winning record in the AFC East. They are only a game behind the Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills in the East, and have to face those Divisional rivals three times before the end of the regular season.

The Patriots will be playing on Thursday Night Football again next week and the short preparation time for this game could hurt them, especially after the tough and gruelling win over the New York Jets on Sunday. The Defensive unit played well for the Patriots, but they struggled Offensively and they need to be much better if they are going to compete with the likes of the Bills and the Dolphins within the Division.

Mac Jones has really not pushed on at Quarter Back as the Patriots would have liked, but they should be able to have success running the ball in this one. In recent games the Offensive Line have had some issues opening holes up front, but they may find that a little easier against the Minnesota Vikings than in the games against the New York Jets and Indianapolis Colts.

Finding it easier is one thing, but Mac Jones is going to have to make some plays in the passing game to prevent the Vikings from simply loading the box. The Quarter Back has been guilty of being a little indecisive inside the pocket and the pass protection has broken down around him when he has been left in obvious passing down and distance so it is important for Mac Jones and the Patriots to get the run going.

Rhamondre Stevenson and Damien Harris are a good one-two combo at Running Back, while the former has picked up some significant yards as a pass-catcher leaking out of the backfield and that could be key for the New England Patriots.

Even if not at his best, Mac Jones has to avoid the mistakes and give his Defensive unit a chance of at least keeping the Patriots competitive in this game. Bill Belichick has the Patriots playing really well on this side of the ball and he will have been really encouraged to see the way the Vikings struggled against the Dallas Cowboys last week, especially as Christian Darrisaw has been ruled out on the Minnesota Offensive Line.

If Kirk Cousins and the Minnesota Vikings hope to establish Dalvin Cook and cool down any pass rush pressure the Patriots can generate, they could be in for a hard day in the office. The Patriots Defensive Line have held teams to 3.1 yards per carry in recent games and they will look to clamp down on the strong Running Back and force Kirk Cousins to have to step back to throw.

Last week the Quarter Back was absolutely destroyed by the Dallas pass rush and the New England Patriots certainly feel they will be able to get in Kirk Cousins' face throughout this one too. Pressure can lead to mistakes and that has been an issue with Cousins in his career when the pocket collapses around him and I do think the New England Secondary is capable of holding their own against Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen.

If Kirk Cousins has time, he will be able to make plays down the field with the strong play Jefferson gives him, but it is hard to imagine the Vikings can sort out the pass protection on a short week.

I can't ignore the fact that the Minnesota Vikings have had a strong habit of bouncing back from defeats, but I do think the New England Patriots can make the points count as the road underdog.

The Patriots are 6-1 against the spread in their last seven games overall and I think they match up pretty well with the Minnesota Vikings with their Defensive unit capable of setting up short fields for Mac Jones and the Offense. With Bill Belichick at Head Coach, New England should be able to get the pass rush attacking Kirk Cousins and look for the mistakes that gives the team an opportunity to win here and I think they can be backed with the points with every chance of an outright win on the day.

Baltimore Ravens @ Jacksonville Jaguars Pick: Despite having two games against the AFC South leaders to come before the end of the regular season, hopes are dwindling very quickly that the Jacksonville Jaguars (3-7) will be able to return to the NFL PlayOffs for the first time since 2017. A promising season has now turned into one where the Jaguars were beaten in six of their last seven games before the Bye Week and the extra preparation time may have come too late to save the season.

They are hosting the Baltimore Ravens (7-3) who have a one game lead at the top of the AFC North after recording a fourth win in a row out of their Bye Week. An illness had spread through the locker room ahead of the win over the Carolina Panthers in Week 11, but the Ravens should be healthier overall in terms of that illness.

However, injury continue to hold back the Baltimore Ravens and they are only hopeful that the likes of Ronnie Stanley and Mark Andrews are able to return this week. Gus Edwards could be back to join the Running Back committee used by the Coaching staff, but having Stanley and Andrews back would be a big boost for Lamar Jackson and the entire Offensive unit.

The win over the Carolina Panthers was largely down to the continued progress made by the Defensive unit, but the Ravens may feel there are going to be more chances for them with the ball in their own hands. For starters, the Offensive Line are still opening up holes for the team to run the ball efficiently and they may have some joy against a Jacksonville Defensive Line that went into the Bye Week just struggling to clamp down on the run as they have been for much of the season.

Dealing with a dual-threat Quarter Back like Lamar Jackson proved a big challenge when the Jaguars faced Daniel Jones and the New York Giants, while a returning Gus Edwards would give Baltimore another crease to pound the rock with success.

The absence of Mark Andrews has hurt the passing game with key Receivers already down with injuries, but Lamar Jackson should be able to find some holes to exploit in this one. For the majority of the game the Ravens will want to establish the run, but that will further open the issues in the Jaguars Secondary and I think Jackson will be able to keep the chains moving with his legs and his arm.

Establishing the run is likely going to be key for the Jacksonville Jaguars too and they do have a talented player in Travis Etienne who is enjoying a strong season. However, I have mentioned the progress being made by the Ravens and the Defensive Line have been rock-solid against the run which makes it difficult to believe they do not win at the line of scrimmage.

The overall season numbers are impressive, but the Ravens have been incredibly tough in recent games during their winning run. Over their last three games, Baltimore have held teams to 42 yards per game on the ground and, while I think the Jaguars have some success, I think they can at least force Trevor Lawrence to try and have to beat them through the air.

There have been times where Lawrence has looked like the Number 1 Pick that Jacksonville selected, but his Offensive Line protection has been breaking down in recent games and now the Jaguars have to deal with a productive Baltimore pass rush that loves to get to the Quarter Back. That pressure has led to turnovers and the Baltimore Secondary are also playing really well at the moment as they look to hold off the Cincinnati Bengals in the race for the Divisional crown.

Trevor Lawrence has just had issues with his consistency throwing the ball in recent games and I do think the Jaguars will come up short at home, even if it is tough for visiting teams to head to Florida at this time of the year.

On Sunday it could be wetter than normal and that should suit the Baltimore Ravens with their strength at the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball and I do think they can push their winning run to five games.

Covering isn't easy when you have an Offensive unit that have not really been pulling up trees of late, but I can see the Ravens Defensive unit stepping up and making the plays to put their team in a strong position.

Some will point to the Jaguars having a decent record out of their Bye Week, but current Head Coach Doug Pederson was only 1-4 against the spread out of a Bye with the Philadelphia Eagles. Jacksonville are also just 5-11 against the spread in their last sixteen road games and they are 1-5-1 against the spread in their last seven when playing a team with a winning record.

Baltimore have managed to go 4-1 against the spread in their last five road games and I think they will be able to control the clock and make some big Defensive plays to swing this game in their favour too.

Cincinnati Bengals @ Tennessee Titans Pick: The minute you hear a player saying it is not about revenge, you can almost certainly make the case that players have not forgotten about the teams that have ended their season the previous year. That is what will be on the mind of the Tennessee Titans (7-3) and Ryan Tannehill having been beaten as the home favourites against the Cincinnati Bengals (6-4) in the Divisional Round of the post-season having secured the top Seed in the AFC through the regular season.

Both of these teams will be targeting Divisional crowns in 2022 and this is a big game to see where the Titans and Bengals are. Both have been playing really well after disappointing starts to the season and that is underlined by the fact that the Bengals have won six of their last eight games, while the Titans have won seven of their last eight.

This feels like a game that could be key in working out Seeding come the end of the season and the Bengals will know the next two weeks have seen them scheduled to face the two teams they beat on their way to the Super Bowl. Handling the emotions might be as important as anything else, and they could be boosted by a returning Ja'Marr Chase.

Joe Mixon may not be available having entered the concussion protocol, but he was not likely to get much change out of the Tennessee Defensive Line which have been shutting down the run as the wins have piled up. This is one of the best Defensive Lines in the NFL and the Bengals are not expected to have a lot of success with whoever gets the call to start, although the Running Backs are likely to be key figures in the passing game.

The main reason for that is the Titans Defensive Line have shut down the run and the pass rushers have been able to really get after the Quarter Back in third and long situations. They will feel they have a serious edge over the Cincinnati Offensive Line and that will mean Joe Burrow is likely going to be surrounded by pressure when he does drop back to throw, which makes those Running Backs strong safety blankets on which he is likely to rely.

If Joe Burrow can be given some time, he will feel his Receivers have a big edge over the Titans Secondary and the likes of Chase, Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd will be able to push the ball down the field. Teams have been forced to rely on the throw considering how strong the Titans have been at the Defensive Line, but the pass rush pressure, which has been very effective, has not stopped someone like Patrick Mahomes from having a big game throwing the ball and that is a player that Joe Burrow will feel he can match.

Shutting down the Bengals completely is never going to happen in all reality, but I do think the pass rush will at least slow them down at times. Making them settle for Field Goals rather than Touchdowns will be seen as a big win, while you cannot ignore the fact that the despite the yards given up through the air, Tennessee's Defensive unit have held teams to under 19 points per game this season.

That is a number that will always give a team the chance to win games and Ryan Tannehill's return has given the Tennessee Titans a bit more dynamism to the Offensive play-calling. No one will confuse Tannehill with the elite Quarter Backs in the NFL, but he is more than a game manager and that means teams have to respect his passing arm, rather than loading the box to shut down the run.

In recent games Derrick Henry has not been operating at full tilt, but I do think he is still a huge body that will break down the Defensive Line with more and more carries. He has had some big games, but I think the mini-break between Week 11 and Week 12 is key for Henry as he looks to make an impact on a Cincinnati Defensive Line which has been playing well in recent games.

With the plan the Titans have, Derrick Henry will be able to give them a chance to control the clock and to wear down the Cincinnati Defensive unit by keeping them on the field for extended drives. Ryan Tannehill should also be well protected by an Offensive Line which is most happy when it comes to run blocking and the Quarter Back may feel he can make some plays to keep the Bengals honest when it comes to their Defensive schemes.

Cincinnati have a Secondary which is playing well, but Tannehill should be comfortable in third and manageable spots in this game and that is important for the Titans to try and earn that revenge for the defeat in the PlayOffs.

I do like the Tennessee Titans in the spot and I love Mike Vrabel as a Head Coach who has a 6-1 record against the spread in the last seven games where the Titans have been set as the home underdog. He is also 11-3 against the spread in a revenge situation when the Titans are being given points as is the case in Week 12.

The Bengals do have some strong trends which make them hard to oppose, but they are coming in off a tough road win at Pittsburgh and this is going to be another big physical effort. The Titans benefit from having a couple of extra days to prepare and I think the fans will be really up for this game which makes the points with the home team all the more appealing.

Las Vegas Raiders @ Seattle Seahawks Pick: Non-Conference games tend to have a 'lesser' feel than other games on the NFL schedule, but in Week 12 every game matters. That is the case for the Las Vegas Raiders (3-7) who have barely remained alive in the season after a close Overtime win over the Denver Broncos, but everyone associated with the team will feel they need to win at least six of their remain seven games to have a chance of backing into the PlayOffs.

There is no doubt that it is a long shot now, but snapping the three game losing run gives the Raiders a glimmer of hope. The AFC is pretty loaded with talented teams though and the fact is that the Raiders have some tough games left on the schedule, but they can play spoiler with some of the talent that remains on a roster which has underachieved in 2022.

They have to take games as they come and next up for the Las Vegas Raiders is the Seattle Seahawks (6-4) who have lost their lead in the NFC West during their Bye Week. The team were beaten in Munich in Week 10, but this has been a strong season for the Seahawks who have the same record as the San Francisco 49ers at the top of their Division and will certainly be in the mix for a Wild Card spot in the NFC if they can get back on the horse and back to winning games.

Playing at home has proven to be a huge boost for the Seahawks who have a 3-1 record here and they will feel the defeat to the Atlanta Falcons was a game they should have won too.

Geno Smith has been a huge factor in the record having taken over from Russell Wilson at Quarter Back and he looks to have finally found a comfortable home in the NFL. The veteran Quarter Back was not someone that the fans would have had a lot of faith in, but Pete Carroll and the Coaching staff have been comfortable and Smith is playing well and not just simply managing games.

He has been helped by Kenneth Walker III who has come in at Running Back and picked up some huge gains behind this Offensive Line- I fully expect him to have a bounce back game after a couple of tougher days in the office and he should have success against the Raiders Defensive Line which has had issues clamping down on the run.

That will only aid the Seahawks all the more in keeping Geno Smith in comfortable spots on the field, while the Raiders lack of a consistent pass rush means he should have time in the pocket. The quality Receivers that Smith is throwing to should win on the outside and I do think the Seahawks will be able to move the ball with a lot of consistency throughout this game.

Running the ball will be key for the Raiders in this game too, but I am not sure they are going to have a lot of success against an improving Defensive Line. There are also suggestions that Josh Jacobs is banged up and I think there will be a real problem for the Las Vegas Raiders as they try and keep themselves in front of the chains.

Adding to the issues are the injuries to the likes of Hunter Renfrow and Darren Waller which has made the passing game that much tougher for Derek Carr. It has been clear for a number of seasons that Davante Adams will get open, as he did in Overtime for the win last week, but the Seahawks have a young, improving and hungry Secondary that have not been giving up much through the air.

That Secondary has been helped by considerable pass rush pressure, although getting to Derek Carr is not easy behind his strong Las Vegas Defensive Line. However, the longer he has to wait and the more the Seahawks can force him to look away from Adams, the better the chances to hit Derek Carr and allow the Secondary to make their big plays.

I really like what this Seattle Seahawks have been able to do in 2022 and I do think they will get the better of the Las Vegas Raiders with the way they match up with them on both sides of the ball.

Las Vegas are only 2-5 against the spread in their last seven road games and had to put in a huge effort to win in Colorado last week, which could leave them short here. I know they can still make the post-season, but it is not going to be lost on the players as to how difficult that will be and I still don't think they are fully behind Josh McDaniels as Head Coach.

Pete Carroll does not have the best record out of the Bye Week in recent seasons, but his team tend to bounce back from losses very effectively and I think that will be the case here. They do have a big Divisional game coming up next, but the Seahawks can't afford to lose ground on the motoring San Francisco 49ers and I think that will see them focused and able to win and cover the spread.

Green Bay Packers @ Philadelphia Eagles Pick: You could see how much the win meant to Nick Sirianni when the Philadelphia Eagles (9-1) outlasted the Indianapolis Colts, who have recently fired his friend Frank Reich. It was also important for the Eagles to bounce back from the defeat to the Washington Commanders as the unbeaten season turned to dust, while the Philadelphia Eagles are very much in a big fight to win the NFC East.

Targeting the Division crown may also lead to the overall Number 1 Seed in the NFC and that is also important to earn the sole Bye in the Conference through to the Divisional Round. Three road games in succession in December by decide their fate, especially as the Eagles will be facing two Divisional rivals in that run of games, but for now they are back on Sunday Night Football against Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers (4-7).

Anyone who thought the big comeback against the Dallas Cowboys may be the spark that would turn the Green Bay season around were in for a big disappointment in Week 11 as they were beaten by the Tennessee Titans at home. The Wild Card race is not over, but the Packers have a tough run to end this season and likely will miss out with a losing record.

Aaron Rodgers has simply not been able to get on the same page as his young Receivers often enough and the decision to trade away Davante Adams has been a poor one in Green Bay. It doesn't help that Rodgers has suggested he has been playing with an injury to the thumb and I do think the Packers will soon turn to Jordan Love and see whether he is the Quarter Back of the future like they anticipated when Drafting him in the First Round in 2020.

We are unlikely to see Rodgers and his Receivers have a lot of success against this Philadelphia Secondary who have been strong all season and who have the experience to blanket the Receiving options Aaron Rodgers has. The entire Packers throwing game have not been operating as we have become accustomed to, but they have been able to run the ball and that has been key for Green Bay when they have come up against the better teams in the NFL.

A couple of weeks ago I would have expected Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon to have a lot of success on the ground, but those days may be behind the Eagles who have added big, experienced bodies into the middle of the Defensive Line. Last week they shut down the Indianapolis Colts on the ground and I think the Eagles have now covered up the one big weakness on the Defensive side of the ball, which makes them one of the favourites to win the Super Bowl.

Jalen Hurts has been given a lot of support from the front office with some of the players that have been brought in to surround him, although the injury to Dallas Goedert is a blow. The Eagles should be able to move forward without the Tight End who should be back by mid-December, and Hurts has still got some solid Receivers in AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith who can turn his passes into huge plays.

I have to give the Green Bay Defensive Line credit for just looking a little more stout against the run in recent games, but this is a tough test for them. The threat of the passing game means they cannot concentrate on shutting down Miles Sanders, while Jalen Hurts is capable of making plays with his legs as much as his arm and that should keep the Eagles in front of the chains.

The Quarter Back is operating behind a big Offensive Line who will give him time to go through his progressions and I do think that will help the Eagles. There has been a slowing in the passing game from the Eagles in recent games, but that may also be down to playing with a lead and beginning to use clock management runs and I think the Eagles will be looking to make a statement having lost on Monday Night Football in Week 10.

Opposing Aaron Rodgers as an underdog has not been a successful play in his career, but this Packers team is well short of those we have seen the Quarter Back leading. The Packers are 2-6 against the spread in their last eight road games and they are facing an Eagles team who have been very confident at Lincoln Financial Field.

Covering will come down to the last moments, but the Eagles have enough to win this one by a Touchdown.

MY PICKS: Detroit Lions + 9.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (2 Units)

Dallas Cowboys - 9.5 Points @ 1.91 Sky Bet (2 Units)

New England Patriots + 2.5 Points @ 2.00 William Hill (2 Units)

Baltimore Ravens - 4 Points @ 2.00 Sky Bet (2 Units)

Tennessee Titans + 3 Points @ 1.83 William Hill (2 Units)

Washington Commandeers - 3.5 Points @ 1.86 Bet Victor (2 Units)

Seattle Seahawks - 3.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (2 Units)

San Francisco 49ers - 8.5 Points @ 1.91 Sky Bet (2 Units)

Los Angeles Chargers - 2.5 Points @ 1.86 William Hill (2 Units)

Philadelphia Eagles - 6.5 Points @ 1.91 Sky Bet (2 Units)

College Football Week 13 Picks 2021 (November 25-27)

The final week of the regular season of the 2021 College Football campaign will be played over Thanksgiving Weekend and there are some huge games to come over the three days.

I will be updating this thread with selections over the next several hours and I will also place the season totals below.

Boise State Broncos @ San Diego State Aztecs Pick: The 9am local time start for this game in Week 13 of the College Football season underlines the importance of it, because the sole reason for the kick off time is to give the teams a national platform on which they can perform.

We can get a little preoccupied by the College Football PlayOff Rankings, but there are a number of schools around the nation that are achieving big things even if they are not going to be in a position to be selected for those final four places. The Boise State Broncos (7-4) and the San Diego State Aztecs (10-1) are both heading up their respective Divisions in the Mountain West Conference and would be meeting again in the Championship Game next week if the regular season had finished up in Week 12.

Unfortunately it does not end in Week 12 and this is a pivotal game for both teams with both barely holding onto the lead in their Divisions- the Broncos are one of three teams in the Mountain Division that have a 5-2 Conference record, while the Aztecs would miss out on the Championship Game if they lose and the Fresno State Bulldogs have won the game they are playing on Thanksgiving Day.

It is a game that could have an impact on the approach of the Aztecs in this Week 13 encounter- if the Bulldogs have been beaten, San Diego State may not want to give too much away to a potential Championship Game opponent, but a Fresno State win means this is a must win game for the Aztecs too.

For Boise State things are very simple and they have to win this game in a bid to hold off their rivals in the Mountain Division. Next week won't matter if they don't win this game and that should keep the Broncos focused as they look for a fifth win in a row, but they will know how good the San Diego State team are having been beaten just once this season.

The line of scrimmage is going to be dominated by both Defensive Lines in this one and I do think it is going to be very difficult to run the ball against either. All season, the Aztecs Defensive Line have been incredibly stout up front, but the Boise State Broncos Defensive Line have stepped up their own level as the season has progressed and neither Offensive Line has shown they can get the better of a team with the successes each has had on the other side of the ball.

That suggests this is going to be a low-scoring game, but San Diego State have also had issues finding consistency with their passing Offense. It is the Defensive unit that have stepped up and produced this 10-1 record for the Aztecs, and it is going to be a tough day for Lucas Johnson at Quarter Back considering what we have seen from Boise State.

However, there have been one or two signs of wear and tear from the San Diego State Secondary and Hank Bachmeier should be able to have some success against them. The Boise State Quarter Back has been given a little more protection than San Diego State will offer Lucas Johnson and I think that will make the difference on the day as the Boise State Broncos reach another Mountain West Championship Game.

The road team is 4-1 against the spread in the last five between these Conference rivals and I do like the fact that the Boise State Broncos have covered in their last five road games.

San Diego State will be motivated by being a home underdog, but I think they have not played as well as they would have liked in recent weeks and the momentum is with Hank Bachmeier to out-duel Lucas Johnson in a game where neither team is going to have a lot of fun running the ball. The Aztecs may also have lost some of their motivation if the Fresno State Bulldogs have been beaten on Thanksgiving Day and I will look for the Broncos to win and cover on the road in this vital Week 13 game.

Iowa Hawkeyes @ Nebraska Cornhuskers Pick: The top three teams in the Big Ten East have lost just four games combined this season, but the Big Ten West could have a Divisional winner that has as many as four losses on their own. The Iowa Hawkeyes (9-2) will be looking to prevent that happening, but they will need to head to Lincoln and come away with a win over an underachieving Nebraska Cornhuskers (3-8).

Simply reaching Bowl eligibility has been beyond the Cornhuskers in 2021 and they have yet to surpass the three wins earned in 2020 despite playing three games more this time around. Another loss will be tough to swallow for Head Coach Scott Frost, although it sounds like Nebraska are going to give him another season to try and turn the school around despite overseeing his fourth losing season in succession after taking over as Head Coach.

You have to credit Nebraska for the kind of effort they have put in when losing to the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Wisconsin Badgers over their last two games and especially as those two teams may end up making up the Big Ten Championship Game. They have actually produced more yards than the Badgers in the loss in Week 12, but Adrian Martinez is set to miss out at Quarter Back.

Logan Smothers will be getting the call at Quarter Back and he has limited experience at this level, which does make things a little more difficult for the Nebraska Cornhuskers. It is unlikely that the Offensive Line will be able to get Smothers into third and manageable spots often with the way the Hawkeyes Defensive Line have been playing, but the Iowa Secondary has not looked as strong and so there is an opportunity for the Quarter Back to produce some strong tape that could be key to winning the starting job in 2022.

Ultimately there isn't as much pressure on the Cornhuskers with this a shot to nothing and Logan Smothers has to try and take the field with the same mindset. There are holes for him to exploit in the Secondary, but Smothers is going to have to be careful with his throws against a ball-hawking team that will be looking to set the Hawkeyes up in short field situations.

Iowa may need that as they have continued to struggle Offensively and it has been the main reason they have not been able to exert control of the Big Ten West ahead of the final game of the regular season. A win will shift some considerable pressure onto the Wisconsin Badgers who will be playing on Saturday, but Iowa would be foolish to believe this is going to be anything but an easy game.

The Hawkeyes will also be playing with a Quarter Back that began the season as the backup, but Alex Padilla has performed well enough to keep Spencer Petras on the sideline. The Quarter Back has earned the win in the last two starts, but Iowa have lost the yardage battle in both of those wins and I do think they are vulnerable here.

Iowa's Offensive Line have not really been able to establish the run as they would have liked and the Cornhuskers may play closer to the line of scrimmage to make sure they are forcing the Hawkeyes to beat them with the Alex Padilla arm. While the Cornhuskers Defensive Line have not played as well as they would have liked in recent games, they will feel they can at least force some stops up front and that can give them a chance of avoiding a nine loss season for the first time in over sixty years.

Alex Padilla has at least managed games well enough to give the Hawkeyes a chance to win here and I think that is important even if the team are averaging just 155 passing yards per game in their last three games. Like the Hawkeyes, the Cornhuskers Secondary have given up some big plays in recent games and without the Interceptions to make those stats look better, but you do have to wonder if Padilla has the confidence or the experience to exploit the holes through the air.

Games between these Divisional rivals have unsurprisingly been competitive and I think this one will be no different. The chance to play spoiler should be motivation for the home crowd that does turn up at the Memorial Stadium, and I do think the Cornhuskers have been a little unfortunate to not have a much stronger record.

The spread is a narrow one in favour of Nebraska and the Hawkeyes are 2-8 against the spread in their last ten as the road underdog. As bad as the record is, the Cornhuskers are 8-2-1 against the spread in their last eleven games after a loss and I think they can put in one more big effort which gives them a chance of the narrow win to close out this season and give Scott Frost some momentum to take into the 2022 season, a big one for the Head Coach.

Colorado Buffaloes @ Utah Utes Pick: A place in the Pac-12 Championship Game has been secured by the Utah Utes (8-3) thanks to a 7-1 record in the Conference and they have won four games in a row. They will be favourites to become Conference Champions and Utah may yet match the eleven wins they secured a couple of seasons ago, even if they were not able to win the Conference that season.

Winning the Conference Championship for the first time will make this a very special season for the Utah Utes and they won't want the momentum to slip ahead of the Championship Game. They are big favourites to beat the Colorado Buffaloes (4-7) who have not had a winning season in a full year since 2016.

Colorado finished 4-2 last season in a Covid-hit year for College Football, but an upset on the road will mean they have another 5-7 record in a full season having finished at that mark in 2017, 2018 and 2019.

The Buffaloes will have to be respected having won two of their last three games, while Colorado also covered the spread as a big underdog in their defeat to the Oregon Ducks. However, they are going to be facing a very tough Utah Defensive unit who have picked up their level down the stretch as they look to peak at the Championship Game in Week 14.

Controlling the line of scrimmage has been a huge part of the successes the Utah Utes have put together and I think that will be the key to outcome of this game too. It has been very difficult to run the ball against the Utes Defensive Line and I think the Colorado Offensive unit has not really been playing well enough to think they will have much more consistency than recent Utah opponents have failed to produce.

On the other side of the ball, Colorado have struggled to stop the run themselves and Utah should be able to have their way running the ball as much as they like. That just opens up the passing game against a vulnerable Colorado Secondary and I think that leads to Utah putting together another big Offensive outing against a Pac-12 opponent.

Passing the ball will be a tough challenge for the Buffaloes too and I do think Utah will be able to continue their recent dominance of this opponent having won their last five games against Colorado by an average of just over 22 points per game.

There is a potential for Utah to look ahead to the Championship Game and pull starters if they are in a very strong position in the game, but I also think a final home game should mean the Senior players get a chance to shine. It should lead to a blow out in favour of the Utah Utes as they look to win a first Pac-12 title next week.

Utah have a strong record as the home favourite, while the Buffaloes are just 2-7 against the spread in their last nine games as the road underdog. I think those trends are extended here and I will look for the Utes to produce a big win on the day.

North Carolina Tar Heels @ NC State Wolfpack Pick: This has been an underwhelming season for the North Carolina Tar Heels (6-5) who will be Bowl eligible, but who have fallen well short of pre-season predictions of being favourites to win the AAC Coastal Division. The Tar Heels have only produced a 3-4 record in the Conference, but they will be keen to at least play spoiler for a rival.

The Tar Heels will be heading to Raleigh to take on the NC State Wolfpack (8-3) who can still earn their way into the AAC Championship Game. The home team have to win on Friday and hope the Boston College Eagles can beat the Wake Forest Demon Deacons, but the Wolfpack have to concentrate on what they can control and that is making sure they put in a huge effort to beat North Carolina in their final home game.

Sam Howell was considered one of the top Quarter Back prospects in College Football, but he has not really played up to the level that the Tar Heels fans would have been hoping. He was banged up in Week 12 and missed out, but Howell is expected to suit up against the tough Wolfpack Defensive unit and North Carolina are going to need him to be at his best.

In recent games the Tar Heels have been able to run the ball efficiently, but it has not been easy to do that with consistency against the Wolfpack Defensive Line and I do think that is going to be a key to how the underdog will play. If they are not able to run the ball, North Carolina may leave Sam Howell in a difficult position to keep the chains moving, especially dealing with an injury and behind an Offensive Line that has struggled in pass protection.

Being in third and long would be a massive win for the NC State Defensive unit and the Secondary has benefited from the Defensive Line clamping down on the run. They can generate a fierce pass rush and the Wolfpack should be able to rattle Sam Howell and force drives to stall and potentially even flip field position.

Running the ball has been an issue for the Wolfpack, but they may have a little more success in this one. With the passing game producing at a high level and facing a Tar Heels Secondary that has been struggling down the stretch, there could more room for the NC State Offensive Line to exploit up front and I think they will be able to have more Offensive consistency than their rival.

There will be some pass protection issues, but I do think the Wolfpack have been very happy in home surroundings and they can put themselves in a position to cover what is a relatively wide spread for a rivalry game. The Wolfpack should be motivated to earn revenge for a blowout loss to the Tar Heels here two seasons ago, while the chance to earn a Championship Game spot will keep the fans behind the home team.

North Carolina have a 1-4 record against the spread in their last five games as the road underdog, while the NC State Wolfpack have won nine in a row at home and are 5-1 against the spread in their last six as the home favourite.

It should be a competitive game, but the Tar Heels have lost by at least a Touchdown margin against the Pittsburgh Panthers and Notre Dame Fighting Irish in recent games. The NC State Wolfpack are a strong team and especially in Raleigh and I think they can win by a similar margin to those two Ranked teams as they then turn their attention to backing the Boston College Eagles.

MY PICKS: Boise State Broncos - 3 Points @ 1.91 William Hill (1 Unit)

Nebraska Cornhuskers - 1 Point @ 2.00 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Utah Utes - 24 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

NC State Wolfpack - 6 Points @ 1.91 William Hill (1 Unit)

Michigan Wolverines + 7.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Boston College Eagles + 6.5 Points @ 1.91 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

Virginia Tech Hokies + 7 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Clemson Tigers - 11.5 Points @ 1.91 William Hill (1 Unit)

USC Trojans + 7 Points @ 1.91 William Hill (1 Unit)

Weekend Football Picks and Fantasy Football 2020 (November 27-30)

Games keep coming thick and fast for all those clubs involved in European Football and it is up to the rest of the Premier League to take advantage of any fatigue that those top teams are feeling.

Qualification for the Knock Out Rounds of those European competitions have been confirmed for a number of the Premier League clubs this past week which should mean more of a chance to rotate squads and ensure players are going into the next month in the best physical shape as possible.

Managers may bemoan the schedule, but the Premier League has sold itself to the broadcasters and so any complaints should be with their own clubs rather than those paying the big bucks which in turn gives the managers and the players the kind of money that they are on.

Over the coming weeks the Fantasy Football deadlines are going to be at weird times so it is something to make a note of- this week and the next Game Week are both set for a 6:30pm deadline on a Friday, but things will get more awkward as the festive period games come around.

I'll have a few words about the Fantasy Football plans for GW10 below- first let's get on with my views about the Premier League games to come over the next four days.

Crystal Palace v Newcastle United Pick: The Friday night offering from the Premier League may not be the most appealing for the neutrals as Crystal Palace and Newcastle United meet and that may be especially the case if Wilfred Zaha and Callum Wilson miss out.

The former is expected to be absent for Crystal Palace, but Wilson looks set to return for Newcastle United and that should at least give Steve Bruce's men a little more threat.

Both Bruce and Roy Hodgson are likely to set their teams up to be cautious defensively and I do think it is going to be a fixture where chances and goals are going to be limited.

It is perhaps no surprise that the recent meetings between these clubs have been tight and competitive and there have been seven total goals scored in the last seven between them. Both games last season ended 1-0 in favour of the home team and I can't ignore the likelihood of that being the scoreline again on Friday.

A clean sheet for one or both clubs can't be ruled out either, although Crystal Palace are not defending as well as Roy Hodgson would like. Even then I am not sure Newcastle United are going to be able to take advantage, while the home team are clearly not the same threat going forward without Wilfred Zaha.

6 of the last 7 between the clubs have seen at least one of the teams fail to find the back of the net and that looks the most likely outcome of this fixture too.

Brighton v Liverpool Pick: The late Wednesday evening kick off followed by the early Saturday lunchtime kick off has been bothering managers of clubs involved in European competition all season. This time it is Jurgen Klopp who will have to face that fixture having heard Ole Gunnar Solskjaer complain about the same situation earlier this season.

Ultimately they can't be annoyed at the broadcasters- the Premier League has been made the wealthiest League in the world by the money accepted from the broadcasters and so they have to dance to the tune being set by them too.

The players can't allow manager's complaints to affect their own performances and so there will be no excuses for Liverpool if they can't win on the south coast this weekend. They played at home on Wednesday so tiredness should not be a factor, while rotations were made to keep some key players fit to play.

Liverpool will have their attacking players ready to go and that is important against a Brighton team who have played better than their results would indicate.

For large portions of the season it has been the lack of goals holding Brighton back rather than their defensive organisation, but it is hard to believe they can contain Liverpool. With that in mind the best defence may be attack and Brighton have pushed both Chelsea and Manchester United in League games here already this season.

Graham Potter will recognise that the Liverpool defence is vulnerable and he has his attacking options available now Leandro Trossard is back from a knock. They should get forward and cause one or two problems for their visitors, and I do feel this could be enterprising game of football from both teams.

Liverpool have not been at their very best away from home this season, but the fixture list has not been that kind either. Draws at Everton and Manchester City will be seen as positive results and I do think they will have enough in the final third on Saturday to earn the points.

The approach from the home manager should mean Brighton are doing a lot more than simply trying to contain Liverpool and so the most likely outcome is an away win in a game that features at least two goals.

Manchester City v Burnley Pick: We have yet to really see Manchester City at their very best in front of goal, but that won't be much comfort to Burnley.

Pep Guardiola insisted the goals will come for his team after a narrow win at Olympiacos when Manchester City were wasteful in front of goal, but he may only have been saying that knowing Burnley were next up for his team.

That is no disrespect to Burnley, but they have been clearly second best when facing Manchester City in recent seasons. They have already lost 0-3 at home against this opponent in the 2020/21 season and Manchester Cit have beaten them 5-0 in 3 straight at the Etihad Stadium.

A well rested Manchester City team who have the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Ferran Torres and Sergio Aguero to come into the starting eleven should have too much for Burnley. While not creating as many chances as in previous seasons, Manchester City have been looking good at the back too and I do think they are going to have too much all around for Burnley.

Nick Pope is missing for the visitors which won't help and Burnley have not been scoring enough goals to believe they can threaten this Manchester City team.

A win on Monday would have been a huge boost for Burnley, but it is really difficult to imagine this fixture going any other way than a relatively routine home win.

Burnley have only scored a single goal in 6 against Manchester City and have failed to score in 5 of their last 7 Premier League games. I expect those trends will likely continue here as Manchester City secure an important three points and look to build momentum into the hectic December schedule.

Everton v Leeds United Pick: Carlo Ancelotti and Marcelo Bielsa arrived in England with big reputations and both have been tasked with reviving clubs who have not been reaching the levels that the fans would have been expecting in recent seasons.

Both Everton and Leeds United have been amongst the very best teams in England in recent enough memory and both have potential to at least return amongst the elite.

Leeds United fans might want to temper some of the enthusiasm for a top flight finish and the key for the club is simply consolidating their place back in the Premier League. There has been enough encouragement to believe they can do that, but Leeds United are still struggling for consistency in the final third as far as scoring goals is concerned.

The approach of their veteran manager means Leeds United will leave opportunities to be exploited at the back and the likes of Leicester City and Crystal Palace did that to devastating effect. While Leeds United were better against Arsenal, the visitors had their chances too and I think Everton will feel they can do the same.

Everton have missed some key players in recent weeks which have dented their confidence and their performance levels. They were much better against Fulham and Everton do score goals, although there has to be some concern that they have conceded at least twice in 6 straight Premier League games.

At home they have largely made up for that and I do think there will be opportunities for both teams in this fixture. The layers understand there are likely to be goals, but I would be surprised if they are wrong in this Premier League game between two teams that will want to get forward for much of the ninety minutes played.

West Brom v Sheffield United Pick: There is every chance that the losing manager from this fixture could be out of a job fairly shortly and the importance of the three points won't be lost on either Slaven Bilic or Chris Wilder.

It is hard to really have a good feeling about the direction this match will take- West Brom have struggled at both ends of the field, but the same can be said for Sheffield United and it may be the case of seeing which set of players is still behind their manager which makes the difference on the day.

Sheffield United are perhaps underachieving and arguably have deserved more than they have gotten in the early part of the season. The numbers suggest they will still turn things around, but the poor form has seeped over from the last campaign and I do think they need to 'prove it' rather than pointing at the underlying statistics.

The poor form from the end of last season was also something West Brom are dealing with which is a surprise for any team that is automatically promoted from the Championship. They did back over the line rather than really earn their own place in the Premier League and The Baggies have looked short of the quality needed to survive at this level.

Both clubs will want to get to the January transfer window in a better place and both managers may feel if they are in touch with the teams above them they can then bring in reinforcements to build the second half of the campaign.

At this moment I don't think either team can be trusted to earn a result and this one game I will be looking to analyse after the fixture is played rather than before.

Southampton v Manchester United Pick: Not many would have picked Southampton to be going into this Premier League game against Manchester United in late November sitting higher in the table than the 20 time former Champions.

It is all credit to the work done by Ralph Hasenhuttl, his staff and the players that Southampton have bounced back from a really poor start to the season to sit just outside the top four. They have looked good going forward and found the right blend defensively as Southampton have locked up 3 clean sheets in a row at St Mary's with three 2-0 wins in a row.

That makes them dangerous and Southampton have not missed a step without Danny Ings having beaten Newcastle United and then drawing at Wolves. Che Adams looks more comfortable at this level with a season under his belt and Manchester United could be short of defensive numbers which is something Southampton will look to exploit.

However it would be dangerous to not pay attention to the counter attacking ability Manchester United have and playing away from Old Trafford has seen the players rally for their better performances. Manchester United have won 9 of their last 10 away games in all competitions and have been scoring a lot of goals in those fixtures which makes them a threat to a Southampton team who do offer chances.

The Saints have been better defensively, but they have played West Brom and Newcastle United at home while picking up those clean sheets. They have also kept Everton quiet, but that was a team missing two of their first choice front three and Manchester United are much healthier and stronger than those three teams.

Games between these clubs have been competitive in recent seasons and I think this one will be the same. Goals have generally not been an issue when Southampton and Manchester United face each other with all 4 since Ralph Hasenhuttl took over on the south coast ending with both teams scoring.

3 of those 4 games have finished with at least three goals shared out and I think the attacking players on the field will help produce that here. I feel Manchester United may edge to the points, but it won't be easy and I think there will be goals at both ends of the field in this fixture which should be an attacking one for the ninety minutes.

Chelsea v Tottenham Hotspur Pick: The big game in the Premier League sees the current 3rd placed side take on the leaders on Sunday afternoon and it is the chance for Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur to show they are ready to compete for the title over the coming months.

The win over Manchester City was a very big one for Tottenham Hotspur last week and they have shown they can be perfectly set up to produce the goods on their travels too. Those results will be encouraging to Jose Mourinho and keeping a clean sheet in beating Manchester City will really have him believing his can help Spurs move to the next level after their achievements under Mauricio Pochettino.

I do think Tottenham Hotspur had to ride their luck at times in the win over Manchester City and in recent games they have perhaps had the fortune on their side. It is a positive winning games when perhaps not at your complete best, but Tottenham Hotspur are going to have to be very good to beat this Chelsea team.

Frank Lampard's team are flying at the moment as they continue to score goals but also look a lot more balanced defensively. Injuries are clearing up which is giving the manager plenty of options and they do look like they have goals from many areas which makes Chelsea very, very dangerous.

Unlike Tottenham Hotspur I do think Chelsea have yet to really have a stand out win with their biggest game ending in a home defeat to Liverpool. A draw at Manchester United was a decent result, but Tottenham Hotspur have won at Old Trafford and beaten Manchester City so perhaps will feel they have proved their credentials a little more than their hosts.

I am not sure that is going to matter though and especially not when you think Chelsea did the Premier League double over Chelsea last season as Frank Lampard got the better of Jose Mourinho. It should be a really good game, but my feeling is that Chelsea are perhaps going to be the more positive and that may lead to the points.

Tottenham Hotspur should be very dangerous on the counter attack, but they have lost a key player in Toby Alderweireld and I am not sure they can continue to soak up the pressure and hope teams are not clinical in the final third. As good as Manchester City are, their attacking issues have been well documented in the 2020/21 season but that is not a problem for Chelsea who have been scoring goals for fun over the last month.

I expect this will be a tough, competitive fixture, but my feeling is that Chelsea are going to nick the points at Stamford Bridge. I think they are going to have the better chances and with Timo Werner, Hakim Ziyech, Tammy Abraham, Mason Mount and Kai Havertz likely going to be involved that they won't be as wasteful as the likes of Burnley, West Brom and Manchester City have been against Tottenham Hotspur.

Arsenal v Wolves Pick: The last game on Sunday in the Premier League comes from the Emirates Stadium as mid-table Arsenal and Wolves look for a positive result to take them further up the League standings. Both managers have to be a little disappointed with their current positions, but they will also feel their current teams are a work in progress.

It would be a real surprise if this is a fixture which produces a lot of goals as both Arsenal and Wolves have been struggling for consistency in the final third. Neither is creating a lot of chances and that has meant a lack of goals being scored too.

Arsenal have failed to score in their last 2 Premier League games at home and have ended on the losing side both times. They have improved defensively, but not enough to believe they are going to have a host of clean sheets and I do think that could be an issue for them going forward.

They are simply not getting forward in the manner fans have become accustomed to seeing and so Arsenal always feel a short price to win games for me.

On the other hand Wolves have hardly set the scoreboard alight and they have failed to score in 2 of their last 3 away Premier League games. They were clearly second best against Leicester City and West Ham United which does make it hard to believe in them, but Wolves are a tough team to break down when at their best and I do think the return of Conor Coady is a huge boost for them.

Wolves and Arsenal have played some very competitive games since the former returned to the Premier League and both games at the Emirates Stadium have finished 1-1. Late goals have secured those draws and I do think this one will be another fixture that could easily end with the points shared out.

A well rested Wolves team could potentially make it three wins in a row for the visitors in the Premier League on this ground, and I do feel backing the away team with the start is the way to go. It would be a disappointing result for Wolves to lose and I think they are solid enough to contain a goal-shy Arsenal which should be enough to secure a point at the very least.

Leicester City v Fulham Pick: Those teams involved in the Europa League look to make short work of their Group Stages because they are very likely to be given a Thursday-Monday-Thursday schedule in these Covid-19 times.

This week it is Leicester City being asked to do that, but the draw in Portugal on Thursday means they have secured their spot in the Last 32 of the Europa League. They are likely to win the Group and Brendan Rodgers will be pleased he got some rest in for some of his key players.

The goals conceded since the November international break is a concern for Leicester City, but they should not be expecting the same threat from Fulham as Liverpool and Sporting Braga have provided. While Fulham are showing some signs of improvement, they are still struggling for enough goals and they are conceding too many.

Away from home Fulham have shown some stubbornness of late, but Leicester City are a team who can be very dangerous going forward. I expect the home team to have too much in the final third even though they have suffered some disappointing results at home and only have a Penalty scored in 3 at the King Power Stadium in the Premier League.

That has to be a concern for Brendan Rodgers, but a returning James Maddison is the key to unlocking teams and I think that is important for the home team who perhaps rely on the counter attack a little too much.

Leicester City do have 3 clean sheets in a row at home and Fulham have not found a consistency in the final third to suggest they can break that streak for The Foxes. However I do think they have a threat which means Leicester City will have to try and get forward to make sure there is not a late twist in the fixture and that should see them win a game which features at least two goals.

Late goals saw Leicester City beat Fulham 3-1 when these teams last met two seasons ago and I think a late one might be needed to secure the points in this one too.

West Ham United v Aston Villa Pick: The last game of the Premier League weekend has all the makings of a really good one with both West Ham United and Aston Villa overachieving early in the campaign.

West Ham United and Aston Villa are separated by a single place and a single point and I do think this fixture is going to be as closely contested as the two draws they played out last season.

Michail Antonio and Ross Barkley are big misses for both teams and perhaps takes away some of the attacking element they are bringing to the table. However West Ham United have shown they can cope without their talisman and Aston Villa created enough chances against Brighton last week to believe they will be able to cope.

Both teams are looking sharp going forward and they are dangerous from set pieces so I am expecting more goals than we saw when they faced each other in the 2019/20 season. There were chances created in both of those games, but I think West Ham United and Aston Villa have improved this time around which should mean better and more efficient attacking football being on display.

A 1-1 scoreline can't be ruled out, but David Moyes and Dean Smith will be targeting more than that so I don't think either team will settle. In recent games both have been creating plenty, but perhaps not looking completely convincing at the back and their opponents have the talent and quality to expose any issues.

An early goal would certainly get this fixture going and I think there will be at least three goals shared out and not only because I have three or four Fantasy players involved in this one either.

MY PICKS: Crystal Palace-Newcastle United BTTS NO

Liverpool & Over 1.5 Goals

Manchester City Win to Nil

Everton-Leeds United Over 2.5 Goals

Southampton-Manchester United Over 2.5 Goals

Chelsea - 0.25 Asian Handicap

Wolves + 0.5 Asian Handicap

Leicester City & Over 1.5 Goals

West Ham United-Aston Villa Over 2.5 Goals

Fantasy Football GameWeek 10

The Fantasy Football season is still one I am very interested in even though the way the Premier League have decided to broadcast the games continue to irritate me.

I would have much preferred the 3pm slot on a Saturday to feature a number of League games and they could have been broadcasted on the various channels Sky and BT Sport hold, but the one game per time slot does take away some of the enjoyment of the FPL game.

Now you have to really wait and see how the weekend shapes up whereas you could at least have a bit of a feel for any GameWeek on any given Saturday previously. We are going to have to deal with this situation through December as the fans continue to wait to return to Football grounds in any kind of number and my biggest fear is that the Premier League will look to use the Spanish model of scheduling League games going forward.

GameWeek 9 was not the best for my team, but I did mention a short term pain for a long term gain- it did not help that Jack Grealish did nothing as my Captain except get himself booked, but the return could have been a lot worse if not for the Chelsea clean sheet and both Diogo Jota and Che Adams bringing back some decent returns.

But what did I mean by short term pain? I removed Christian Pulisic in favour of Tomas Soucek and that means I have the spare cash to bring in a Manchester City player as I indicated I would last week.

Manchester City have not really played as well as they would have liked going forward, but they are capable of much more and the fixture list looks extremely positive over the coming weeks. Home games against Burnley, Fulham and West Brom can't be ignored and you would think Manchester City are going to get things turned around in the final third.

The bigger issue has to be Pep roulette- can you honestly predict which players will play the majority of minutes in that time? I would have thought Sergio Aguero would have been a good shout, but he is only recently back from an injury and instead the best assets look to be Raheem Sterling and Kevin De Bruyne.

Some have tipped up Joao Cancelo who has been playing well, but Benjamin Mendy and Oleksandr Zinchenko can play at left back so I am not sure about his playing time either!

Last week I suggested it may be time to take the first hit of the season to double up on the Manchester City assets with those fixtures in mind, but I am unconvinced now.

My decision is likely going to come down to KDB or Sterling coming in with Leandro Trossard, but it is one I will think about right up until the 6:30pm deadline. Whoever I pick is likely to go in as my Captain this week and the decision to hold Mohamed Salah last week looks to have been a correct one too.

Even now I won't rule out a hit, but again I will be thinking through the scenarios until the deadline is set to be hit.