NFL Week 13 Picks 2024 (Thursday 28th November-Monday 2nd December)

Thanksgiving Day Weekend is here and that means the ambitions of teams will begin to clear up.

There are a host of teams that may be thinking ahead to finishing with a high NFL Draft Pick and beginning to turn around their franchises, even if Head Coaches refuse to entertain the idea of tanking. Ultimately they are being paid to win NFL games, even if those above them would prefer to finish with enough losses to secure a top Draft Pick and that kind of split is hard to balance up.

We have seen the New York Giants players unafraid of voicing their opinions having seen Daniel Jones dropped as the starting Quarter Back and later released- to then follow that up by picking the third string Quarter Back to take over as the starter has made it clear that the Giants are not serious about winning games and that is not going to go down very well with the locker room.

Some teams are looking ahead to the future and picking a player that can change their fortunes, but for many teams the focus is on trying to earn a Playoff spot and then making a real run towards the Super Bowl.

There looks to be some stand out teams, but we are only just heading into December during Week 13 and the schedules are designed in a way where the bigger games are played in the remaining weeks of the regular season. Things could quickly unravel for teams who look good, while there always seems to be one or two teams that can pick up a lot of momentum in the final month of the regular season and take that into the post-season where they can upset some of the higher Seeds.

Identifying those potential teams is not easy, but the Miami Dolphins are looking pretty good and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been a team used to making late runs that have led to the Playoffs too.

Week 13 brings a number of primetime games with three on Thanksgiving Day and then the Black Friday game before heading into the weekend.

It has been a tough three weeks for the NFL Picks, although the last two weeks have been more frustrating than anything else.

On another occasion Week 12 would have ended with a 4-2 record, but the Minnesota Vikings blew a huge lead in Chicago and the Arizona Cardinals made a couple of key mistakes in losing in Seattle when they looked to be in a position to win.

Things like this happen, but it is a bit annoying off the back of a couple of rough weeks and the hope is tha the bounce of the ball is a bit more favourable over the next few days to get things turned back around.

Chicago Bears @ Detroit Lions Pick: Seven defeats in a row on Thanksgiving Day might be hard to swallow, especially as the Detroit Lions (10-1) host the first game of the holiday, but this current team is all about breaking new ground. Nine wins in a row have kept them in front of the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers in the loaded NFC North and many feel Detroit might be the best team in the NFL.

Next up is a Divisional showdown with the Chicago Bears (4-7) who have actually handed three of the last seven Thanksgiving Day defeats to the Detroit Lions.

However, the Bears have dropped five games in a row to fall out of contention within the Division, although they could easily have won three of those. The stunning Hail Mary loss to the Washington Commanders has sparked the losing run, but the Bears also have had a blocked Field Goal prevent them from beating the Green Bay Packers and suffered an Overtime loss in Week 12 against the Minnesota Vikings.

At 7-5, the Bears might have been arriving in Detroit filled with confidence, but losing five straight means this is very much a learning season for Caleb Williams at Quarter Back. He had been struggling, but performed well in the last two games against Divisional rivals and that may at least mean he can play with some belief when opening up Thanksgiving Day on the road.

He will have to be aware of the huge challenge in front of him against this Detroit Defensive unit which has been playing with a lot of energy and intensity for three straight weeks. They were the reason that the Lions were able to overcome the Houston Texans in Week 10 thanks to some big second half turnovers and the Lions Defense has allowed just 12 points in their last couple of wins over the Jacksonville Jaguars and Indianapolis Colts.

Stepping up their play from the front, the Lions Defensive Line have made it very tough to run the ball against them and that is going to be problematic for Caleb Williams and the Bears. With an Offensive Line struggling in pass protection, the run has been key to pushing the Chicago Bears into third and manageable spots on the field and subsequently enabled Williams to not have to hold onto the ball for too long.

He does have some veteran Receivers to help out, but Caleb Williams will find it tough to allow routes to develop whenever the Bears are playing from behind the chains. Even without Aidan Hutchinson, the Lions can generate some pressure up front and Williams has made a couple of rookie mistakes in taking Sacks when he should be getting rid of the ball to fight in another Down.

Credit has to be given to the rookie Quarter Back for at least avoiding big mistakes in the passing game, but he will have to be aware of the danger of throwing into this Detroit Secondary when they are expecting the pass to be made. Interceptions could be key to turning this game completely in favour of the Lions, especially if the Bears Defensive unit cannot pick up their own level of play.

They have been involved in some competitive losses recently, but the Bears are giving up almost 400 yards of Offense in recent defeats and that is significantly higher than their early season performances. Now they have to face a Detroit team that has a hugely balanced Offense and that is going to make it very difficult for the Chicago Bears to make stops.

A one-two punch out of the backfield sets everything up for the Lions, although former Bears Running Back David Montgomery could potentially miss out. Even if he cannot go, Jahmyr Gibbs has shown he is more than capable of breaking out a big run or two and is also offering a real threat in the passing game.

The Chicago Secondary has just found it tough to stop teams as they have stepped up their level of competition and it is very likely that Jared Goff is able to turn the Detroit fortunes around on Thanksgiving Day. He is well protected, which means having plenty of time to let his Receivers break open, and Goff has bounced back from his horrific primetime peformance against the Houston Texans.

Playing at home has been very productive for the Quarter Back and Jared Goff has been able to produce cleaner performances here and he should be able to lead the Lions up and down the field.

With the spread where it is, the backdoor cover will certainly be open for the Chicago Bears.

However, the feeling is that the Lions will have heard plenty about their losing run on Thanksgiving Day and they will be motivated to show the nation how far they have come in the last couple of years. The Bears have a solid recent record in this Stadium on Thanksgiving Day, and they have been competitive against the other two top NFC North teams, but the Bears were blown out in their last road game against Arizona and they may find this Detroit Offensive unit too much to handle in the first of three games on Turkey Day.

New York Giants @ Dallas Cowboys Pick: When the schedule makers set this game for Thanksgiving Day, the hope would have been that it would be one between two contenders in the NFC East. Instead, the Dallas Cowboys (4-7) and New York Giants (2-9) have vastly underachieved and the latter are perhaps looking to finish the season with the Number 1 Draft Pick.

After deciding to bench Daniel Jones at Quarter Back, who was then later released, the decision to go with the third string QB Tommy DeVito rather than Drew Lock, who has been the backup to Jones all season, has made it pretty clear what the ownership may want. Some of the Giants players have voiced their frustration about the direction being taken by the team, while Head Coach Brian Daboll will do well to retain his job going into 2025.

Six losses in a row have sunk the Giants and there will be some real questions being asked as to why they spent so much money on extending Daniel Jones' contract and allowing Saquon Barkley to leave. They were miserable in Week 12 when being blown out by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and this is a short week to get things right.

At least one positive is that New York are facing a Dallas Cowboys team that has also been in the midst of a miserable run, albeit one that was snapped with the win over the Washington Commanders last time out. Prior to that, the Cowboys had lost five in a row and they will need another big effort from the Special Teams unit to make up for what has been a stagnant Offense without Dak Prescott behind Center.

Cooper Rush has struggled and the Offensive Line has been banged up, so the Cowboys have not been able to rely on a consistent running game to help out. There is an opportunity to have more success on the ground against this New York Defensive Line, especially if players begin to dial it in, but it looks like being another inconsistent night in the office on this side of the ball.

CeeDee Lamb is playing through an injury, while Cooper Rush will receive a significant boost if Jake Ferguson is back on Thanksgiving Day. Brandin Cooks could also be back, which should give the backup Quarter Back an opportunity to at least make some positive plays against this Giants Secondary.

Much like the Cowboys, the New York Giants are going to want to lean on their Offensive Line to open up running lanes for Tyrone Tracy. This should be a good match up for Tracy, although he might not have the amount of carries you would expect after another Fumble, and Tommy DeVito is going to be asked to use his legs to just move away from the Dallas pass rush pressure and keep the Giants in front of the chains.

Teams have been able to run the ball effectively against the Dallas Defensive Line so it looks the clear game plan to use for the Giants, which should in turn give DeVito a bit more time to throw the ball from third and manageable spots. The Quarter Back did not have his best game last week in the blowout loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but this may be an 'easier' spot for DeVito, even if Trevon Diggs is back for the Cowboys.

It looks a tough game to call with both the New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys significantly underperforming this season and with backup Quarter Backs leading the teams out. The Cowboys have dominated this Divisional rival of late with seven straight wins in the series, but Cooper Rush is hard to trust to cover as a favourite of more than a Field Goal.

At the same time, the Giants organisation is making it pretty clear that their focus has become tanking the season and you do have to wonder how players react to that. They did not show up in Week 12, but this is a big national televised spot and you have to believe the Giants can run the ball well enough to keep this competitive, even if they are eventually beaten.

There has to be a concern that this could get very ugly, very quickly for the New York Giants and that their opening couple of drives are going to be very important. If they can at least show some pride, the Giants should be able to make enough plays against Cooper Rush to keep this one close on the scoreboard and make use of the points that are being given to them.

Miami Dolphins @ Green Bay Packers Pick: Barring a huge collapse from the Buffalo Bills, the hope of winning the AFC East is already over for the Miami Dolphins (5-6). However, three wins in a row have just pulled this team back into the mix for a Wild Card spot in the Playoffs and that has to be the target for Miami the rest of the way, especially if they can keep their key players healthy.

Wins over the Los Angeles Rams, Las Vegas Raiders and New England Patriots have built momentum, but none of those teams are above 0.500 for the season as we move into Week 13 of the regular season.

With that in mind, the Dolphins have to know there is a significant challenge coming up for them when travelling to face the Green Bay Packers (8-3) who are very much on course to return to the post-season. There is still a hope that the Packers can move past either the Detroit Lions or Minnesota Vikings or both in the NFC North, and Green Bay are certainly going to be feeling pretty good about where they are at right now after beating the San Francisco 49ers.

There has been a real balance to the way they have been performing Offensively with Josh Jacobs running the ball effectively and Jordan Love continuing to show his development and confidence at Quarter Back. It was the Jacobs power-running that helped the Packers crush the 49ers in Week 12 and also alleviated any pressure that Jordan Love has been feeling, which has led to some big mistakes in the passing game.

Those mistakes have not dented Love's confidence, but playing a clean game against the 49ers will just serve as a reminder that Green Bay can go extremely far if they are able to avoid turnovers.

Green Bay can lean on the Offensive Line in this final game on Thanksgiving Day and they should be able to have some success behind Josh Jacobs, even if the Dolphins have been playing the run better during this winning run than they have for much of the season. Some of that may have been down to the opponents faced though and the threat of the Jordan Love arm should mean the Dolphins have to be aware of the plays being called, which should also also give Jacobs a chance to continue to run hard behind the O-Line.

It should open up the passing lanes for Jordan Love who had an efficient game on Sunday, rather than one where he was putting up huge numbers. Ultimately it is about winning Football games and Love can back up that performance against this Miami Secondary.

The Packers Offensive Line has given Jordan Love time in the pocket, which is only aided by being able to run the ball and playing from third and manageable spots, while a cold, snowy evening in Green Bay gives the team another edge.

Tua Tagovailoa and the Dolphins are downplaying the impact of the likely conditions, but there is no doubting that Miami have something to prove. This Quarter Back and this team have not been as effective in the cold, and Miami have also struggled when playing against stronger teams in the NFL so the challenge in Week 13 is pretty clear.

The Dolphins would love to find a way to establish the run and ease the burden on Tagovailoa at Quarter Back, but they have not run the ball as they would have liked during their three game winning run. In recent history, the Packers Defensive Line have had issues stopping the run, but they have been playing well enough to believe they can contain the Miami rush on Thanksgiving Day and force Tua Tagovailoa to beat them through the air.

Miami do have very strong Receiving options for their Quarter Back to target, but this is a Packers Secondary that have looked very solid all season. Playing out of third and long spots will mean Tagovailoa could be under some pressure from the Packers pass rush, while he will will also have to be aware of the potential for turnovers when throwing against some of these Defensive Backs.

With the expected conditions, running the ball is likely going to be very important and this is where the Green Bay Packers look to have an edge. The Dolphins still have so much to prove when it comes to playing in the cold and when facing stronger teams and that is where the edge has to be given to Green Bay who can find the big plays to pull clear.

Tua Tagovailoa has given the Dolphins a spark since his latest return from a concussion, but it will be tough to extend the three game winning run. He will make some big plays for Miami, but the cold and snow may just highlight the issues that the Dolphins Offensive Line have been having and Green Bay can just ensure they keep the pressure on the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings in the NFC North with a solid win in the nightcap on Thanksgiving Day.

Las Vegas Raiders @ Kansas City Chiefs Pick: A new tradition has begun in the NFL with a Black Friday offering and this season it is battle between the top and bottom of the AFC West.

The Kansas City Chiefs (10-1) are hosting the Las Vegas Raiders (2-9) and it is no surprise that they have been set as a heavy favourite. That line is likely going to get wider and wider as we approach kick off with this being the sole NFL offering on Friday, and that can be concerning when you think the Kansas City Chiefs have rarely won games easily this season.

Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes are well aware that blowouts in the regular season mean nothing when it comes to the post-season and so they have only done what is needed to keep the wins ticking over. Earning the Number 1 Seed in the Conference is important, but not going to be the be all and end all for the Kansas City Chiefs who are simply using this time to make sure they are ready to fight for another Super Bowl ring.

That was perhaps the reason for the tougher than expected road win at the Carolina Panthers in Week 12, but the Chiefs are back home and can push forward against this struggling Raiders team.

There will be a real battle at the Line of Scrimmage where the Raiders have at least played the run pretty well in recent games. However, the Chiefs Offensive Line have prided themselves on being able to open some big running lanes and the threat of Patrick Mahomes at Quarter Back may mean the Raiders cannot focus on clamping down on the run as they would usually do.

For all of those successes up front, the Secondary has not been able to step up and stop teams from extending drives and we have to expect more of the same on Friday. It is a short week for both teams, but Mahomes performed really well in the win over the Panthers and he can pick up from where he left off against this Raiders team that may be thinking about the end of the season already.

Well the players might be, but Head Coach Antonio Pierce has made it clear that he has no interest in 'tanking' with the Raiders amongst the 'leading' teams for the Number 1 Pick in the Draft.

Like a number of teams struggling, the Raiders have not gotten enough consistency from the Quarter Back position and they would love to be able to take one of the top players coming out of College Football in that position. Gardner Minshew is not going to be ready to go this week, but Aidan O'Connell is back having not appeared in Week 12 and he will get the start ahead of Desmond Ridder.

No matter who was going to get the call, this was always going to be a significant test for the Quarter Back with the Raiders unlikely to be able to establish the run. That means Aidan O'Connell is going to have to perform under some duress, especially considering the Offensive Line struggles in pass protection, and his recovery from a broken thumb will be tested.

After a strong start, the Kansas City Secondary have had some issues when teams have chosen to throw against them in recent games and the Raiders may have some success too. Slowing down Brock Bowers and Jakobi Meyers will not be easy, but the Chiefs may just get O'Connell thinking at times and that is where they may extract a mistake or two from the Quarter Back.

This is the second Divisional game between these two in a little over a month and the Kansas City Chiefs were 7 point winners on the road to continue their recent dominance of the Las Vegas Raiders.

The Chiefs should not have forgotten being embarrassed at home on Christmas Day last year when set as an 11 point favourite against the Raiders, which should keep the home team focused on Black Friday. Prior to that, the Chiefs had beat Las Vegas pretty convincingly twice in a row and the feeling is that they will be able to secure a solid win at home, while giving the Raiders plenty to think about it when it comes to the direction this franchise is heading.

MY PICKS: Detroit Lions - 9.5 Points @ 1.91 Paddy Power (1 Unit)

New York Giants + 3.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet Fred (1 Unit)

Green Bay Packers - 3 Points @ 1.83 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Kansas City Chiefs - 12.5 Points @ 1.91 Paddy Power (1 Unit)

Week 12: 2-4, - 2.17 Units (6 Units Staked, - 36.17% Yield)

Week 11: 2-3, - 1.23 Units (5 Units Staked, - 24.60% Yield)

Week 10: 1-6, - 5.05 Units (7 Units Staked, - 72.14% Yield)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Boxing Picks 2020- Daniel Dubois vs Joe Joyce (November 28th)

While the casual Boxing fan may be most excited about the return of 'Iron' Mike Tyson in an exhibition bout against Roy Jones Jr, the real feeling is that this fight is twenty years too late to be one of real importance.

I credit both Tyson and Jones Jr for wanting to still get out there and display their skills for charity, but real Boxing fans have to be much more excited about the bout in London between Daniel Dubois and Joe Joyce which may be setting up the next big challenger in the Division.

The loser of that fight between two unbeaten Boxers can come back, but the winner may be on the brink of challenging for a World Title in 2021 as the Number 2 Ranked fighter in the WBO Rankings, the one title that is most likely to be vacated by Anthony Joshua assuming he can make a deal with Tyson Fury for a Unification.

We also have a decent looking Matchroom USA card on Friday and Tony Yoka, another big Heavyweight prospect, is in action before looking to move onto bigger and better things in 2021.

I give a lot of credit to the Boxers and promoters that are still putting together some brilliant bouts during a difficult time and it looks a very strong end to the calendar year as well as the Ryan Garcia vs Luke Campbell bout scheduled for the first weekend in January.

We are being spoiled so enjoy it.

Tony Yoka vs Christian Hammer

Boxing is as much about making a statement on the way up the World Rankings as it is about winning and that is why so many veterans do get these opportunities to become 'gate-keepers' to any Division.

Christian Hammer would probably not be too impressed if he was ever to read himself described that way, but he has long looked like a Boxer who is very good to a point but who has struggled to push past the best fighters he has been in the ring with. Tyson Fury stopped him in the Eighth Round, but he has gone the distance in losing comfortable Decisions to Alexander Povetkin and Luis Ortiz.

A then unbeaten Marius Wach stopped him in Six Rounds and if someone asked me what is the best win on the Hammer resume I would likely say either Erkan Teper or David Price.

Those are decent enough wins, but Olympic Gold Medal Winner Tony Yoka will feel he can go further than both Teper and Price.

The Frenchman destroyed compatriot Johann Duhaupas in a single Round in September and that is an impressive win considering the kind of company Duhaupas has kept in the past. However it is clear his better days are behind him and early wins over Alexander Dimitrenko and Michael Wallisch are decent enough from Tony Yoka although neither of those wins will have put a lot of fear through others in the Division.

Stopping Christian Hammer will at least get people to take some notice and I do think Tony Yoka will be able to do that even if the underdog decides he is going to try and get to the final bell.

I think Yoka may hit harder than Ortiz and Povetkin and his size will mean it will be difficult for Christian Hammer to keep him off him throughout the Ten Rounds. Christian Hammer has shown toughness though so I would be surprised if this is an early night for Tony Yoka like his recent fights have been and instead he may have to grind down Hammer like he did to David Allen.

Only two of the eight professional fights Tony Yoka has had have ended past the Fifth Round, but I think this is going to be another as he has to take his time and wear down a tough and game opponent. I do think Christian Hammer's best days are now behind him and he has had a single Round in over eighteen months which could mean he could get caught cold, but I think he holds himself together before being stopped in the Seventh or Eighth Round.

Daniyar Yeleussinov vs Julius Indongo

A lot of people are quite high on Daniyar Yeleussinov, including promoter Eddie Hearn, and he has a chance to continue increasing the stature of his name when placed as the main support bout on the Daniel Jacobs card in the United States.

Eddie Hearn has made it clear that to really start putting bums on seats you have to be more exciting and that has to happen early in the career before going in with the big names at 147 when Yeleussinov can display his Boxing skills against the better opponents he faces.

I do think this is something that has been taken on board by the Kazakhstan fighter and he has stopped his last two opponents having needed the cards in four of his first seven wins. Now he gets to try and showcase his power and skills in facing a former 140 pound Champion who is moving up to 147 for this bout.

Julius Indongo is well known to British fight fans for beating Ricky Burns on the cards in an upset in April 2017, but he has found the next level very, very difficult. In his next bout he was stopped by Terence Crawford in Three Rounds in a Unification and then was able to fight for the vacant WBC Light-Welterweight Title when the American moved up in weight.

Unfortunately for Indongo he was then stopped in Two Rounds by Regis Prograis and this will be the first time we see him in a ring since August 2019.

Daniyar Yeleussinov has fought twice since then and he is the naturally bigger man who will have a chance to make a statement by following Crawford and Prograis by putting Julius Indongo down in this one too. I do think he is going to stand in the pocket and look to trade with an opponent who has shown he is someone who may not be able to take the shot on the whiskers like he would want.

Being a little ring rusty may also see Julius Indongo struggle to keep his opponent off him and I think we will see a big performance from the favourite to show he is ready to go with anyone in the Division. There are some huge names in the Division, but fans will only clamour for Yeleussinov to be in with them if he does put a third stoppage in a row on his resume and against a former Champion with the easy comparison made to two big American names.

It is up to Daniyar Yeleussinov to show he should be amongst those big names and I expect a relatively early night for the Kazakh who has not been past Five Rounds in either of his last two fights.

Daniel Jacobs vs Gabriel Rosado

He may be suggesting that Gabriel Rosado has not earned a fight with him, but has talked himself into this one, but that doesn't mean anything for Daniel Jacobs unless he looks really good on Friday.

Better than expected efforts in losing to Gennady Golovkin and Canelo Alvarez has raised the Jacobs stock, but he is looking to get back into contention for a World Title shot as Jacobs has moved up and operating at the Super Middleweight level.

The win over Julio Cesar Chavez Jr was controversial if only because the Mexican retired on his stool without really being troubled by Jacobs and the fans were quick to blame both Boxers on the night. A Split Decision against Sergey Derevyanchenko and Unanimous Decisions over Luis Arias and Maciej Sulecki have not really gotten the fans going and so it is up to Jacobs to put on a more entertaining performance here.

Some have suggested that Daniel Jacobs is not convinced about his own chin which means he won't take unnecessary risks to finish off opponents, but Gabriel Rosado looks made for a big win for the favourite.

That is not taking anything away from Rosado who is better than his record would indicate, but he has only won two of his last six bouts. You know you won't get a backward step from Gabriel Rosado, but he has hit the canvas many times in his career and there is a feeling that his skin is now a little cut vulnerable which makes this a tough fight for him.

As I said, I think he is made for a big win for Danny Jacobs and I do think he will be able to put enough shots together as long as this one lasts to eventually not need the cards.

It may mean a cut preventing Gabriel Rosado from really getting motoring and it may see the corner or the referee having to call it a day. Daniel Jacobs has to know another Decision win is not going to be something the fans will be looking for and he has to show there is a lot left in the tank by getting on the front foot and finishing off a fighter when he is on top.

I would not be surprised to see this one being competitive through the first half of the bout, but Daniel Jacobs should take control by then and force a stoppage in and around the Championship Rounds.

David Adeleye vs Danny Whitaker

The main event of the show might be a blockbuster Heavyweight bout, but David Adeleye will soon want to be headlining a card like this one himself.

The 3-0 Heavyweight has had a decent amateur background and has sparred with the likes of Daniel Dubois and Tyson Fury and many are tipping up Adeleye as a future World Champion.

At 24 years old there is still some learning to do, but I think he can continue his devastating start to his pro career as he looks for a fourth win and a fourth stoppage. You can't ignore the fact that David Adeleye has needed One, Two and then Three Rounds to win his first three fights so this Six Rounder may go a little longer than the layers believe, although I tend to think the bookmakers have got it right with this undercard bout.

Danny Whitaker has scheduled this fight and then faces Kash Ali in mid-December and his defeat against a rebuilding Nick Webb might show the kind of limitations 'Big Dawg' will have in the professional ranks.

A 4-1 record is decent enough without delving into the level of opponents Danny Whitaker has faced and you do have to be worried about the fact he has not stopped any previous opponent. That suggests he won't have the power to worry David Adeleye who will be looking to showcase his talents to a wider audience and I do think he should be good enough to steamroll Whitaker who was down once and then stopped by Nick Webb in the First Round last December.

Not many have gotten Phil Williams out of there, but David Adeleye managed to stop him in the same Round as the rapidly improving Fabian Wardley and I do think the Londoner will be able to hurt Danny Whitaker quickly in this bout.

I would be very surprised if this one hears the bell for the Third Round.

Daniel Dubois vs Joe Joyce

When this fight was first spoken about I was a little sceptical that either fighter would really want to take it on.

My thinking was that Daniel Dubois was on a path up the World Rankings where this one doesn't really push him on as he may have wanted, while Joe Joyce has decided to turn professional very late and so would surely be positioned to try and get to the top in the shortest way possible.

While the two were unbeaten I did feel their paths would not cross despite being under the same promotional banner, but I have been pleasantly surprised that we have gotten to where we are on Saturday.

In my mind Daniel Dubois looks like he is destined to go very far as a professional and at 23 years old he is only going to improve. We have all heard the rumours about how he fared with Anthony Joshua in sparring, but Dubois has also shown his punching power in winning fifteen fights in a row and fourteen of them through stoppages.

The win over Nathan Gorman is the most impressive one Daniel Dubois has managed so far and it is going to be very interesting to see how Joe Joyce reacts when faced with this kind of hitting.

Daniel Dubois won't have to look too far to get a chance to have a crack at Joyce who was a decent amateur and controversially missed out on an Olympic Gold Medal. Joe Joyce is twelve years older than Dubois, but he has only had eleven professional fights and will instead look to use his vast amateur experience to upset the odds in this one.

As I have mentioned, Joe Joyce has been fast-tracked thanks to his late decision to turn professional and so it can be argued that he may have fewer pro fights than Daniel Dubois, but the competition has been much better. Joe Joyce has wins over Bermane Stiverne, a former World Champion, and Bryant Jennings, who challenge for World Titles a couple of times and the demolition of Alexander Ustinov also impressed.

A high work rate and punching output has made Joyce dangerous and able to wear down his opponents, although he has also shown he hits plenty hard enough to put them over. However I don't think Joyce is the fastest Heavyweight out there and his tactics do mean he takes more shots than he needs to.

So far that has not been an issue, but I do think there is Dynamite in the hands of Daniel Dubois and being where he expects you be is very dangerous for Joe Joyce. Daniel Dubois is also quite clever in setting up his shots behind the jab and we will find out all we need to about Joyce very early in this one.

I have to say I was really impressed with the way Joe Joyce looked on the scales and he was only slightly heavier than when he beat Jennings. He might be looking to match the speed of Daniel Dubois who can be explosive, but I wouldn't be surprised to see Joyce trying to put the pressure on and perhaps walking into something very, very big.

Most are of the belief that either Dubois wins early or Joe Joyce could drown him in deep waters late, but I do think Daniel Dubois wins at the end of the night. I do think Joyce is going to be there for Dubois to hit and no one has really been able to stand up to the power of the young man aside from a very durable Kevin Johnson.

Maybe Joe Joyce is as resilient as that, but I think his style is perhaps tailor-made for Daniel Dubois. A few weeks ago an early stoppage was a big price, but it has come in now although not far enough as far as I am concerned.

Badou Jack vs Blake McKernan

It has been over three years since Badou Jack last won a fight, but he remains amongst the top names in the Light Heavyweight Division even though this bout is taking place at a catchweight.

Losses to Marcus Browne and Jean Pascal in his last two suggests the 37 year old has seen his best days, but the latter was a Split Decision and he had Pascal down in the Twelfth Round.

I like Jack and I do think he is a decent Boxer who has made the most from his talent, while I expect he will be going into a rematch with Pascal in the first half of 2021. All of those plans won't mean anything if the Swede is beaten on the Mike Tyson-Roy Jones Jr undercard in Los Angeles this Saturday.

On paper it looks a tough test against American Blake McKernan who is unbeaten in thirteen fights and who has been operating at a heavier weight class. However he is going to be at his lowest weight on Saturday and a quick look through the McKernan record shows he has yet to really step outside a very comfortable level.

The last three wins have been against fighters with winning records, but Blake McKernan has never come close to facing someone who has long operated at World level like Badou Jack. While the American is talking a good game, Badou Jack has only been able to laugh and smile at the suggestions this will be his toughest fight.

A new trainer means Badou Jack should be looking to make a statement and there are some serious level differences between these two. He has long been considered a slow starter, but I don't think it will take Jack as long to warm up to the task in this one and if he is going to be sitting down on his shots to try and steal the show then this could and perhaps should be a very early night for him.

The record shows Badou Jack has some serious power, but he has not stopped anyone inside Four Rounds in seven years. However I do think a look at the names he has fought in that time suggest it is down to the level of opponents he has taken on and this time Badou Jack looks to be in a more routine bout before pushing on for bigger and better things in 2021.

Blake McKernan is likely to be game as an unbeaten fighter who has some amateur experience, but this is a big step up and I am not sure he will be there for too long.

MY PICKS: Tony Yoka to Win Between 6-10 @ 2.75 Sky Bet (2 Units)

Daniyar Yeleussinov to Win Between 1-5 @ 3.00 Sky Bet (2 Units)

Danny Jacobs to Win Between 7-12 @ 2.80 Paddy Power (2 Units)

David Adeleye to Win Between 1-2 @ 1.80 Sky Bet (2 Units)

Daniel Dubois to Win Between 1-6 @ 2.25 William Hill (2 Units)

Badou Jack to Win Between 1-4 @ 2.75 Sky Bet (2 Units)

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.

College Football Week 13 Picks 2020 (November 27-29)

Week 13 of the normal College Football season is usually a pivotal time of the regular season, but that is not the case in 2020 like so many other things we have taken for granted.

Instead the regular season has been pushed towards mid-December when the Championship Games are also expected to be paid, although you can still make or break a season on Thanksgiving Weekend.

Games have been spread from Thursday through to Sunday this week with rivalry games still on the board and you can see my selections below.

I will be adding to this thread over the next couple of days too.

Nebraska Cornhuskers @ Iowa Hawkeyes Pick: The Big Ten West is firmly in the grip of the Northwestern Wildcats, but that doesn't mean the Iowa Hawkeyes and Nebraska Cornhuskers will be allowed to coast towards the end of the 2020 regular season. The Hawkeyes are still very much in a position to be called up for a Bowl Game next month, while the Cornhuskers have to show they are still behind beleaguered Head Coach Scott Frost who has failed to revitalise this proud school.

A 1-3 record is a big disappointment for Nebraska even if two of those losses have come against the Division leaders in the Big Ten Conference. It is the defeat to the Illinois Fighting Illini which will have really worried the Athletic Director at Nebraska and I do think Frost is very much on the hot seat and will be fired if he is not able to turn things around.

Quarter Back problems continue to blight the Cornhuskers and they are going to announce a starter closer to this game, but whether it is Adrian Martinez or Luke McCaffrey it is going to be a difficult day for Nebraska. They are facing an Iowa team who are motoring with three straight wins behind them to bounce back from a poor 0-2 start to the 2020 season and the one point defeat to Northwestern will have already shown the Hawkeyes that they are amongst the best teams in this Conference.

Usually the Quarter Back could turn around and hand the ball off with the hope that Nebraska would be in front of the chains, but that looks like a tough task against this Hawkeyes Defensive Line that have clamped down on the run. Both Martinez and McCaffrey are able to make some plays scrambling with their legs, but it feels like it is going to be a difficult day running the ball for Nebraska and becoming one-dimensional against this Defensive unit would be a big challenge.

There are one or two holes that teams have exploited against Iowa's Secondary, but it has not been a good year throwing the ball for Nebraska who have been a little loose with their control that has led to turnovers. The pass rush is especially an issue for Nebraska's Offensive Line which has not been able to protect whoever has been behind Center and any time they are behind the chains they have to feel the pressure is coming.

It is going to make it difficult for Nebraska to score a lot of points against this Iowa Defensive unit and that could be a major problem if the Cornhuskers are not able to slow down the run when they are on Defense.

Last week the Fighting Illini ran all over Iowa and there is no doubt that the Hawkeyes are going to be trying to do the same. The Offensive Line has opened up big holes for Mekhi Sargent and Tyler Goodson and both are coming off big performances against the Penn State Nittany Lions so should be able to pick up up from where they left off in Week 12.

They have been strong running the ball in their three game winning run and Iowa are not expected to find a lot of resistance from the Nebraska Defensive Line. For much of this game I imagine Iowa are going to be in front of the chains in down and distance and that should mean play-action throws are available for them if they look to move the ball through the air too.

There has been a limited pass rush being created by Nebraska and I just think they are going to have a tough time stopping their hosts much as they did when facing Illinois last week. Add in the turnover margin that Iowa have and I do think the Hawkeyes will make the plays to cover what looks a big spread on paper.

Iowa are 3-1-1 against the spread in their last five games at home, while Nebraska are 1-6 against the spread in their last seven on the road. The Cornhuskers are also 2-5 against the spread in their last seven as the underdog and I am going to back the home team to cover here.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish @ North Carolina Tar Heels Pick: They are in the foursome that makes up the first College Football PlayOff, but the Notre Dame Fighting Irish will come out of their Bye Week knowing the hard work is still in front of them. The Fighting Irish are the only unbeaten team in the ACC Conference, but they are likely going to have to play the Clemson Tigers with Trevor Lawrence in the Championship Game next month and that will decide which of those two teams will make the PlayOffs.

Brian Kelly is not going to worry too much about the long-term implications of a Championship Game, but he will be well aware that a defeat before that game will put Notre Dame in a difficult position to be invited into the PlayOffs. Their best bet is to remain unbeaten in the regular season and then hope even a defeat is not costly in the Championship Game with other Conferences perhaps struggling to put up better teams.

On paper this looks to be the most difficult game left for the Fighting Irish in the regular season. They are visiting the North Carolina Tar Heels who have a 6-2 record and may yet feel they could push into the Championship Game consideration in this Conference as long as they are able to win this game.

Mack Brown has to be really pleased with the way his Tar Heels have performed on the Offensive side, but he will also be well aware that his team have to have improved Defensively during the Bye Week to earn the upset.

Slowing down Ian Book won't be easy with the Quarter Back coming on leaps and bounds for Notre Dame in the 2020 regular season. He has been aided by a strong running game and the Fighting Irish have found a perfect balance Offensively which makes it very difficult to believe the Tar Heels will have improved enough to be able to slow them down.

One element which could be a factor is that the Notre Dame Offensive Line may be missing a couple of starters which may just weaken them in this one. At least they have had some time to try and bring the replacements up to task, but the Fighting Irish have to be aware of the North Carolina pass rush which has been very productive.

The full strength Offensive Line may have been able to protect Ian Book, but the replacements could have a tougher day and that will give the Tar Heels some chance to slow down drives. However it may be clutching at straws as the Fighting Irish are expected to be able to run the ball and then look for Book to make the throws which has raised his stock in College Football throughout 2020.

North Carolina will be trying to keep up behind Quarter Back Sam Howell who has been a huge part of the successes the Tar Heels have had this season. He has been helping the Tar Heels average over 550 yards of Offense per game in 2020 and the Tar Heels will believe they can at least test the Fighting Irish as Clemson did in the high-scoring defeat the Tigers suffered.

I do think Howell will make some big plays for the home team, but the key to the outcome of this game will be the line of scrimmage and whether North Carolina can impose their running game on this Notre Dame Fighting Irish Defensive Line. All season the Fighting Irish have been able to clamp down on the run and force teams to become a little one-dimensional which leads to a fierce pass rush getting to the Quarter Back and turnovers to be created.

The Tar Heels have been very good on the ground and their Quarter Back is able to scramble with his legs too, but I do really like this Notre Dame Defensive Line. Even though they won't completely shut down North Carolina, I do think they can make enough plays to put the home team in obvious passing down and distance and that would be a big win for the road favourites.

As good as the North Carolina Offensive Line has been when it comes to opening up holes for the running game, they are not as effective when it comes to pass protection. It is an area where the Fighting Irish can get some joy to either force Field Goals or Punts and that could be the key to Notre Dame winning this game and covering the mark.

The road team has covered in the last four games in this series.

Notre Dame are 5-1 against the spread in their last six as the road favourite. You have to respect the fact that the Tar Heels have a 4-1 record against the spread in their last five as a home underdog, but I can't help feel that they are going to struggle to stop Notre Dame Offensively and not be able to keep up on the scoreboard despite the powerful Offense run by North Carolina in 2020.

Maryland Terrapins @ Indiana Hoosiers Pick: Covid-19 issues have meant the Maryland Terrapins have not been able to play a game for almost a month and cancelling the game against the Ohio State Buckeyes means they are not in control of their own destiny in the Big Ten East. The Terrapins are 2-1 in the Conference and they did bounce back from the shellacking handed out by the Northwestern Wildcats, but there has to be a slight concern that they are not battle ready to take on an opponent like the one they face in Wee 13.

Wins over the Minnesota Golden Gophers and Penn State Nittany Lions means Maryland have beaten teams with a combined 2-8 record, but the Indiana Hoosiers are 4-1 in the 2020 season.

In Week 12 a poor start meant Indiana were playing catch up against the Ohio State Buckeyes and while they made a game of things, it was a hole that was too difficult to overcome. There is still so much to like about the Hoosiers in 2020 and Head Coach Tom Allen has made it clear to the players that there is still so much to play for if they can secure a strong end to the season even if the Big Ten Championship is beyond them.

The Hoosiers are back home this weekend having played their last two games at Michigan State and Ohio State. There has been much to like about them this season, but Tom Allen would love to see the Offensive unit produce a little more balance in their play rather than relying on the arm of Michael Penix Jr as much as they have, even though the Quarter Back has stood up in the face of all challenges faced.

They have simply not been able to run the ball with any consistency which has meant looking for Penix Jr to step back and throw the ball down the field. There is a feeling that Indiana can find one or two more holes up front against this Maryland Defensive Line, but they have shown they can be hard to stop through the air anyway and I expect Michael Penix Jr to have another very big game.

He is coming off a career best 491 passing yards and there are some big holes in the Maryland Secondary that Michael Penix Jr will be expecting to exploit. The Offensive Line may not have opened big holes for the run, but they have given their Quarter Back the time he needs to hit his Receivers and I think that will be something we see in Week 13 as Indiana look to score at least 35 points for the fifth time in six games in 2020.

The Indiana Hoosiers should be able to have success Offensively, but I do think Maryland will have their own positives even though we cannot be exactly sure of how the Terrapins have been dealing with all the adversity they are facing off the field. I do think Maryland will have the chance to establish the run in this one, especially with the dual-threat from Quarter Back, although the Hoosiers Defensive Line is arguably the strength of the team this side of the ball.

Taulia Tagovailoa, Tua's brother, is running the show for Maryland and he has shown he can scramble for First Downs as well as throw for them. Over the course of the season Indiana's Secondary have played pretty well, but they have been exposed for some big plays in their more recent games although that might be partly down to the fact that the Hoosiers have played a better level of competition.

With that in mind I do think Tagovailoa is going to make some big throws in this one, but he has to be aware of the Indiana pass rush which is likely going to get the better of the Maryland Offensive Line. If the Terrapins fall behind the chains it could be difficult for the Quarter Back, although Taulia Tagovailoa has put together a two game stretch where he has the most passing yards in over twenty years.

Even though I do think Maryland will have some very good drives, I do think the Indiana Hoosiers can bounce back from their Week 12 loss at Ohio State and show they are one of the better teams in the Conference. The home team is 4-0 against the spread in the last four in this series and the Hoosiers can keep that trend going.

Indiana have covered in their last six games as the home favourite and Maryland have not played that well when set as the road underdog. The Terrapins won in Happy Valley earlier this month, but they were blown out by the Northwestern Wildcats and I think the Indiana Hoosiers will be able to make enough plays to cover this mark.

Mississippi State Bulldogs @ Mississippi Rebels Pick: These two teams are out of contention in the SEC West, but that won't mean the rivalry game between the Mississippi Rebels and Mississippi State Bulldogs has any less intensity to it. The Egg Bowl has been won by the Bulldogs in the last two seasons, the 2019 win coming in controversial fashion, and two first year Head Coaches will be looking to make a real mark for the fans to savour.

The Mississippi Rebels have won two games in a row and have scored 113 points in those wins over the Vanderbilt Commodores and South Carolina Gamecocks. Those wins have moved the Rebels to 3-4 for the 2020 season and they will have been buzzing during the Bye Week as they get set to host their rivals.

Mike Leach has not has the early impact he would have wanted with Mississippi State, but the Air Raid Offense took a bit of time to become established in his last job with the Washington State Cougars and the same will be the case in the SEC. They might have a 2-5 record, but outside of the blow out loss to the Alabama Crimson Tide this has been a fairly competitive team and that makes the points being offered to them look appealing.

A part of the reason for the spread is clearly the last two wins for the Rebels which has seen them score points at will. Those have to be respected, but they were big favourites in both games and have done what was largely expected of them.

The Rebels should be able to continue piling up the points in this one, although they might find their Offense looking a little one-dimensional if Mississippi can't get things moving on the ground. They have managed to do that for much of the season, but the Mississippi State Defensive Line have been able to clamp down on the run and that will mean the home team will have to take to the air.

It is likely to be a successful approach because the Bulldogs Secondary have not been able to slow down any opponent and Mississippi have been piling up the numbers. Matt Corral has been well protected by his Offensive Line and I do think he will find some big holes in the Secondary which he can exploit as he continues to help the team average over 350 passing yards per game in 2020.

Avoiding turnovers will be a key for Corral if the Rebels are going to win this one easily, but as poor as the Mississippi State Secondary have been they have been able to force Interceptions and extra possessions could be so important in this rivalry.

Mike Leach is looking for his team to simply show some improvement in each passing week this season with the belief that the Bulldogs will be much better for it in 2021. He has been largely pleased with what he has seen and even the close loss to the Georgia Bulldogs did not dent his spirit.

One aspect that the Head Coach would love to see an improvement from is the running game, but they have struggled to get anything going on the ground all season. As poor as the Mississippi Defensive Line has been when it comes to stopping the run, it is hard to trust a Bulldogs team averaging a ridiculously poor 21 yards per game on the ground on average this season.

KJ Costello and Will Rogers have both had time at Quarter Back for the Bulldogs and it would not be a surprise to see both playing their part in this one. The Offensive Line has been a little weak when it comes to pass protection too, but I am not sure Mississippi have the pass rush to really get to the Quarter Back and it should be a big day throwing the ball.

The Rebels have a Secondary which has given up big plays through the season too, but they may be looking to take advantage of any mistakes that either Costello or Rogers make. In recent games the Bulldogs have been taking care of the ball much better than they were earlier in 2020 and that should mean they have a chance to score plenty of points too.

I would have loved to have gotten double digit points in this one, but I am still happy enough with the amount of points being offered to Mississippi State.

The underdog is now 6-2 against the spread in the last eight Egg Bowls and the road team have gone 4-1 against the spread in the last five. Mississippi State have some poor trends as the underdog which is a concern, but I will look for them to keep this one close with their ability to make enough plays through the air to stay with the hot scoring Rebels.

MY PICKS: Iowa Hawkeyes - 13.5 Points @ 2.00 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Notre Dame Fighting Irish - 5.5 Points @ 1.91 William Hill (1 Unit)

Indiana Hoosiers - 12 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Mississippi State Bulldogs + 9.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet Fred (1 Unit)

Rutgers Scarlet Knights + 11 Points @ 1.91 William Hill (1 Unit)

Duke Blue Devils - 1 Point @ 1.95 Bet365 (1 Unit)