WTA Finals Day 4 Tennis Picks 2025 (Tuesday 4th November)

We are about halfway through the WTA Finals and the Groups are already beginning to be rounded out.

One Semi Finalist has been confirmed after Elena Rybakina beat Iga Swiatek and that means the World Number 2 has another big match coming up against Amanda Anisimova to determine who will finish second in the section.

By the end of the Tuesday, we may have a second Semi Finalist confirmed and there are two good looking matches on deck- this is also the week when the ATP Finals lineup will be concluded as the last remaining place is up for grabs.

Lorenzo Musetti needs to win the tournament in Metz to play in the ATP Finals in Turin and that is a big ambition for the Italian, although the edge has to be with Felix Auger-Aliassime after his run to the Paris Masters Final.

Coco Gauff - 2.5 games v Jasmine Paolini: After opening losses, the pressure is on Coco Gauff and Jasmine Paolini to earn the victory in the second match to keep themselves in contention for a place in the Semi Final.

There will have been real disappointment in the way each of the players performed in the defeats to Jessica Pegula and Aryna Sabalenka. However, the format of the end of year Championship does mean that both Gauff and Paolini have a pretty quick opportunity to earn some redemption and the tournament is far from over after a single defeat.

Winning a set in her opening defeat will have given Coco Gauff something to hold onto, but the World Number 3 will be the first to admit that she made far too many mistakes in her loss to Jessica Pegula. The Double Faults have been a year long issue for the 21 year old and the whole of her game collapsed around the unforced errors that she was handing out at an alarming rate.

Most will expect Coco Gauff to be better in this second match and especially as she won the big title in Wuhan after the relatively disappointing US Open.

Jasmine Paolini looked out of sorts in her opening Singles loss and she has since been beaten in the Doubles event too.

The Italian spoke to the media and seemed in positive mood, even if the body language was very much unlike her in the opening defeat to the World Number 1.

She did reach the Semi Final in the last two hard court events played, which will give Jasmine Paolini some real belief to take into this match, but one of those runs was ended at the hands of Coco Gauff. That defeat has snapped a run of three straight wins over the higher Ranked player, and also means Gauff has won three of the four hard court meetings between the two.

Coco Gauff gave up 16 Double Faults in her loss to Paolini in Cincinnati, but reduced that number by more than half in the Semi Final win in Wuhan. The serve is a work in progress and it does feel like Coco Gauff is never that far away from losing confidence in her delivery, especially that second delivery, which is always going to be concerning for her and her supporters.

However, Coco Gauff did enjoy a really successful Asian swing and that will have given her belief, while she won the title here in Riyadh last year.

This may give her the edge in this important match, especially if Jasmine Paolini is still not quite up at her very best level. The head to head against the Italian on the hard courts cannot be dismissed and the World Number 3 may just do enough to get over this line set.

Jessica Pegula + 4.5 games v Aryna Sabalenka: There is a real rivalry between Jessica Pegula and Aryna Sabalenka and they have faced off in some huge matches on the hard courts over the last couple of years.

In 2024 they met in the US Open Final and in September they met in the Semi Final at the same tournament with both matches being won by Aryna Sabalenka in competitive outings.

Most recently Jessica Pegula snapped Sabalenka's long dominant run in Wuhan by coming from a set and a break down to win that Semi Final and you do wonder if that will give the American confidence with the window to win a Grand Slam title closing.

A win over Coco Gauff has put Jessica Pegula in a good position in the Group, but it was a battling match and the World Number 5 will need to recover in what is going to be another tough contest.

Aryna Sabalenka had a much more routine win in the opening Group match and the World Number 1 is always full of belief in her ability to beat any opponent across the net. Her head to head with Jessica Pegula will give the Belarusian plenty of confidence, even if she was beaten most recently.

The expectation is that Aryna Sabalenka will win this Group match, but she may have to serve better than she did on Sunday if she is going to cover this handicap line.

There is always a chance that you could run into the World Number 1 on a day she produces her very best level, but Jessica Pegula has enjoyed the fight against Aryna Sabalenka. Even winning a set in a losing effort may keep Pegula in a strong spot to Qualify for the Semi Final in Riyadh and she is capable of doing that and avoiding a really comfortable defeat in this second round of Group matches.

MY PICKS: Coco Gauff - 2.5 Games @ 1.80 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Jessica Pegula + 4.5 Games @ 1.91 William Hill (1 Unit)

WTA Finals: 2-4, - 2.13 Units (6 Units Staked, - 35.50% Yield)

College Football Week 10 Picks 2023 (November 4th)

The opening College Football Rankings were revealed between Week 9 and Week 10 and the majority of people would not have argued with the top four teams at this stage of the season.

The order of those teams was a bit more surprising, but the regular season and Championship Games are still to be played and over the next month things are going to clear up. The fact is that two Big Ten East teams are unlikely to be invited into the four team PlayOff and so the game between the Michigan Wolverines and Ohio State Buckeyes is looking bigger and bigger in each passing week.

Both teams are big favourites to win in Week 10, although the Wolverines have yet to play the Penn State Nittany Lions, and the winner of this Division is likely going to be close to a three Touchdown favourite against whoever they face in the Big Ten Championship Game.

Defending Champions Georgia Bulldogs will have not been happy with their opening Ranking, but the feeling is that it could work in their favour. They have not looked the most motivated or focused in the regular season, but the Bulldogs are massively talented and remain unbeaten with a big chance to effectively close the SEC East this weekend.

They will be playing with something to prove and we have reached November when the big games comie thick and fast. There are big Conference games everywhere you look and the entire College Football landscape could look very different at the end of Week 10 and going into Week 11.

Worrying about Rankings at this stage would be a mistake for any team and so Head Coaches have tasked themselves with trying to make sure players are focused and ready to compete with every week an opportunity to go 1-0 and keep their goals right in sight.

Ohio State Buckeyes @ Rutgers Scarlet Knights Pick: The first College Football Rankings of the season were released this week and it did come as something of a surprise to see the Ohio State Buckeyes (8-0) as the Number 1 Ranked team. They do hold a strong victory over the 7-1 Penn State Nittany Lions and the win over the Notre Dame Fighting Irish is looking stronger after good results produced by the Irish, but there is plenty of work to do between now and the end of the season for the Ohio State Buckeyes to have a shot at winning the National Championship.

The big game looming for the Buckeyes is the one against the Michigan Wolverines with the winner of that one likely to be playing for the Big Ten Championship and almost certainly going to be selected for the PlayOff.

That game against the Wolverines is scheduled for the end of the month so the Buckeyes have to keep their eye on the prize. Impressing the Committee before the Wolverines game could be a help as even a one loss Ohio State team may be considered stronger than some of the others around as long as that sole loss is to the Wolverines.

Ryan Day and his players will not contemplate losing to Michigan, let alone any other team, but they will have to respect Rutgers Scarlet Knights (6-2) who are already Bowl eligible. The 3-2 Conference record means the Scarlet Knights are not in contention in arguably the toughest Division in College Football, but they will have nothing to lose in this home game and you cannot underestimate the motivation of wanting to play spoiler for their rivals.

Comfortable losses to the Wisconsin Badgers and Michigan Wolverines suggests the Scarlet Knights are not able to compete with the best teams in the Big Ten. Even the narrow win over the Michigan State Spartans is not all that impressive considering the way the Spartans have seen their season unravel, although it should be noted that Rutgers are still unbeaten at home.

The big question for the Scarlet Knights is whether they are going to be able to score enough points to be competitive in this game. It was not the case when they faced the Michigan Wolverines and the Buckeyes have been very strong on the Defensive side of the ball all season.

Even recent victories have been put together thanks to some strong work Defensively, which has made up for some of the inconsistencies seen on the Offensive side of the ball.

However, those have been against the likes of Penn State and Wisconsin and both of those teams look to be stronger than the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. All credit has to be given to Head Coach Greg Schiano who has once again made this school far more competitive than they had of been between his two stints leading the team, but there is still a considerable talent gap to bridge to the very elite teams in the Conference and wider College Football landscape.

Being the Number 1 Ranked team could be a potential distraction for the Buckeyes, but the players will be reminded that they have achieved nothing yet. Instead Ohio State will be sent out to make a statement to their biggest rivals that they are ready to surge into the PlayOffs and they can produce a big win on the road.

Oklahoma Sooners @ Oklahoma State Cowboys Pick: A long historical rivalry is coming to a close for the foreseeable future when the last Bedlam game is played in Week 10 unless these two teams meet again in the Big 12 Championship Game. The Oklahoma State Cowboys (6-2) are going to be hosting rivals Oklahoma Sooners (7-1) for the last time before the latter move to the SEC and these two teams are currently in the top three in the Conference standings having produced identical 4-1 records.

For 113 years, every season has seen the Cowboys and Sooners meet so it is a real shame that this could be the last time it happens for a while.

Motivation is not going to be a problem and the Oklahoma State Cowboys will feel they have momentum behind them too having won four in a row. That includes securing the tiebreaker against the Kansas State Wildcats, who are also at 4-1, and a win in Week 10 would put the Cowboys in a strong position to at least play for the Conference Championship, even if two losses are unlikely to earn them a PlayOff place.

Finishing the Oklahoma Sooners hopes of being to do that would be sweet for the Cowboys fan base and this looks to be a tough test for the Sooners who saw their unbeaten record ended by the Kansas Jayhawks in Week 9. The wins over Texas and Iowa State means the Sooners are still in a decent position of their own to earn a spot in the Big 12 Championship Game, and they can really begin to push towards that with a win on the road.

Dillon Gabriel came up short at the end of the loss to the Jayhawks, but it was really the Oklahoma Defensive unit which let them down. That unit is going to be tested throughout this game by the Cowboys who look to have settled into a rhythm Offensively as they have piled up the yards in recent Conference wins.

Oklahoma State's Offensive Line have dominated in the trenches and they are expected to open up some huge holes for the running game, while they have also been very good at giving Alan Bowman plenty of time in the pocket. The Quarter Back has produced some decent numbers from the position, but it is Ollie Gordon II at Running Back who has been a star of the team.

In recent games, the Sooners have been struggling at all levels when it comes to their Defensive work and you have to believe that Bowman and Gordon II are going to be able to move the chains for the Cowboys.

That means it will be up to the Sooners Offense to try and keep up with a high-powered opponent and the reality is that Dillon Gabriel and the Sooners should be able to do much of what they like on the day. The Cowboys have not really been able to stop the run or the pass with any consistency, while the pass rush is unlikely to be one that rattles Gabriel at Quarter Back.

However, the Secondary have taken risks and they do find a way to turn the ball over and any extra possessions could be key to the outcome of this rivalry game. You still have to give the Sooners the edge, but the Cowboys are playing really well from an Offensive standpoint and can go toe to toe with the soon to be SEC Oklahoma Sooners.

The team who has the ball could have a drive to win the game, but either way, the feeling is that the Oklahoma State Cowboys can score enough points to keep this within the point spread set.

Florida State Seminoles @ Pittsburgh Panthers Pick: Being unconcerned about the College Football Ranking in early November is clearly the right approach, but the Florida State Seminoles (8-0) might know that their margin for error is much tighter than some of those in and around the top four.

They are the only unbeaten team in the ACC, but the Seminoles do not have a direct rival and one defeat would llkely see them slide out of the top four. And a one loss Florida State team may not look as appealing as others with a loss on their record, which means the Seminoles need to keep impressing.

Overlooking the Pittsburgh Panthers (2-6) would be a mistake, even if the team are 1-3 in the Conference, especially as they are the team that handed the Louisville Cardinals their sole loss for the season. The Panthers were embarrassingly blown out by the Notre Dame Fighting Irish last time out, but that was a defeat that quickly got out of hand with turnovers and Special Teams plays.

Heavy losses to the North Carolina Tar Heels and Virginia Tech Hokies are also on the record, but the Panthers are at home and they will certainly be good enough to take advantage if the Seminoles are looking ahead to games against the Miami Hurrcanes and Florida Gators later this month.

The Seminoles have impressed Offensively, but it is the Defensive side of the ball which makes them very dangerous. Being able to stop teams and force turnovers will impress fans, and the PlayOff Committee, and the Florida State Seminoles will feel they can match up well with Pittsburgh on this side of the ball.

Controlling the trenches is key and Florida State's Defensive Line should be able to clamp down on the run and force Pittsburgh to turn to the air against a Secondary that has made big play after big play.

Head Coach Pat Narduzzi did sound frustrated after the Pittsburgh performance against the Fighting Irish and the players may have something to prove, but they are unlikely to have much more success Defensively as they will have Offensively.

The Panthers Defensive Line can be tough to run against, but they will not have faced too many teams like the Seminoles which has the kind of balance that makes it very difficult to pick your poison. While Pittsburgh can make some plays against the run, they are going to be facing a Seminoles Offensive Line that has dominated the trenches and who have a Quarter Back in Jordan Travis who can make some plays with his legs.

Ultimately it is the Travis arm that has been impressing and there have been considerable holes in the Pittsburgh Secondary which are going to be attacked. Jordan Travis is well protected and, while the Panthers have been able to create turnovers through Interceptions, the Quarter Back has been careful with his ball placement and that has helped the Seminoles move the ball up and down the field with real consistency.

Florida State may have had a big turnover since their blowout home loss to the Pittsburgh Panthers in 2020, but it is a result that the players are likely to be aware of ahead of this Week 10 game. That should serve as a reminder that nothing can be taken for granted as to the outcome of this game, but also a motivation for the Florida State Seminoles to roll through the gears and win by a wide margin on the road, much like they did at Wake Forest last week.

Missouri Tigers @ Georgia Bulldogs Pick: The Georgia Bulldogs (8-0) ARE going to make the College Football PlayOff as long as they win the SEC and do not lose more than one game doing so, but the defending Champions have been searching for motivation throughout this season. Being placed as the Number 2 Ranked team in College Football may just do that for them and the Bulldogs have a big chance to impress the Committee in Week 10.

They are strong home favourites as expected, but the Bulldogs are hosting the Missouri Tigers (7-1) who are overachieving as far as pre-season selections are concerned. Instead of fighting to avoid the basement of the SEC East, the Missouri Tigers are the Bulldogs last realistic challengers in the Division and a win on Saturday will actually give Missouri the inside track to the SEC Championship Game.

That would be a remarkable achievement and there should be no shortage of confidence for a team that is 3-1 in the SEC this season and who have won back to back games since losing to the LSU Tigers. It is a defeat that will have been noted by the Georgia Bulldogs, while it could also be argued that Missouri have been working their way through a decent schedule, one that looks much more difficult over the next few weeks.

Games against the Tennessee Volunteers and Florida Gators are to come, but the biggest test in the Conference is still the Georgia Bulldogs.

The Tigers will appreciate that this is probably the best Defensive unit they will have faced through the first ten weeks of the regular season and it is going to be difficult to move the chains. Missouri like to run the ball, but doing so against the Georgia Defensive Line has proven to be very hard work for all in recent games and even a dual-threat Quarter Back like Brady Cook may not loosen the Bulldogs up front.

Georgia have not really generated a lot of pressure up front, but the talent of the Secondary has meant it has remained a big ask to consistently throw against them. Brady Cook is enjoying a very good season as the Missouri Quarter Back, but he will have to avoid mistakes in this one to give his team any real chance of the upset.

They will also need the Defensive unit to play their part, but there have been some holes in the Missouri Defenses in recent games.

Over the course of the season the Tigers Defensive Line have been very good at controlling the line of scrimmage, but that has been less evident in recent games as Missouri have gotten into their SEC schedule. With a dominant Georgia Offensive Line in front of them, the Bulldogs may find it much more comfortable to run the ball right at the Missouri Tigers and just make things that much easier for Carson Beck at Quarter Back.

Injuries have removed some of the best Receiving weapons that Beck has, but others are stepping up. Carson Beck has also been given plenty of time in the pocket by the Offensive Line, while running the ball efficiently should just give the Missouri pass rush pause for thought and it is a game in which Georgia can really make a statement.

Last season the Tigers were only beaten by 4 points at home by the eventual National Champions, but that is a game that will be firmly on the mind of the Georgia Bulldogs. Personnel may have changed, but there will be enough voices reminding the players what could happen if they look too far ahead, and that should be key in making sure we get a full effort from the home team.

In the last six years, these two SEC East rivals have met three times in Athens and Georgia have crushed Missouri by 25, 27 and 33 point margins. This current Bulldogs team should find it very easy to get to the motivation levels needed to try and produce a big win here and they can cover the point spread mark set.

LSU Tigers @ Alabama Crimson Tide Pick: There is a big game in the SEC East to be played earlier on the day, but arguably an even bigger one in the SEC West later in the evening. The Alabama Crimson Tide (7-1) have kept up their push to not only return to the SEC Championship Game, but they are Number 8 in the opening College Football Rankings and will still believe winning out will be enough to earn them a spot in the PlayOffs later in the year.

Winning out will likely involve winning a road game at rivals Auburn and beating the Georgia Bulldogs in the SEC Championship Game, but that will count for nothing if the Crimson Tide fall to the LSU Tigers (6-2).

Two losses already means it is incredibly unlikely for the Tigers to be able to push their way into the PlayOff picture, but they are given plenty of respect with a Number 14 Ranking and LSU are 4-1 within the SEC. Winning in Tuscaloosa will put the Tigers in a position to represent the SEC West in the Championship Game instead, but they have suffered a loss to the Mississippi Rebels, who currently split the Tigers and Crimson Tide in the SEC West Divisional standings.

There is plenty of intrigue attached to this game because both teams will be pitting their best units against one another.

Where the LSU Tigers have impressed Offensively in their second season under Head Coach Brian Kelly, but they have struggled at times Defensively. On the other hand, Nick Saban's Alabama have continued to play at a high level Defensively, but have not had the kind of consistency expected when they have had the ball in their own hands.

It is all about trying to dominate the trenches as far as the LSU Tigers are concerned and being able to establish the run and keep the Crimson Tide guessing Defensively is very important. Jayden Daniels is someone who can help out of the Quarter Back position with designed runs, but you have to imagine he is not going to completely catch Alabama off-guard after producing almost 100 yards on the ground in their Overtime upset of the Crimson Tide last season.

In that win, Jayden Daniels had 182 passing yards too, but the feeling is that the Quarter Back has improved and may be able to find one or two holes in this Alabama Secondary. Being able to move away from the pressure that Alabama can generate up front will be important, but the feeling is that the LSU Tigers will be able to sustain some drives in this tough road environment, even if Nick Saban has plenty of tape to study of Daniels this time around.

Alabama have been putting plenty of wins together since being upset by the Texas Longhorns, but they have been grateful to their Defensive efforts. They may need a bit more from the Offense if they are going to avoid a second home loss this season, but there is a feeling that they can get what they need after the Bye Week.

Jalen Milroe is the Quarter Back and trying to reach the standards of some of the former players in the position who are now making waves in the NFL. It has been a tough season for Milroe in terms of consistency, but the Tigers have picked up some injuries on the Defensive Line and in the Secondary and that could give the Alabama Crimson Tide Offense an opportunity.

Overall the Offensive Line have simply not played well enough this season and that is a concern, but they are up against a LSU team that has not picked up a lot of pass rush pressure in recent games. Even then, the Crimson Tide have to hope the injuries have just loosened the Tigers up front having entered their own Bye Week looking like a team that can clamp down on the run.

It could mean it is on Jalen Milroe's shoulders to move the ball against the injury hit Secondary and the Quarter Back could have one of his stronger games. The passing game has shown some flashes, although Milroe will have to avoid the Interceptions that can be back-breaking for any team and been a slight issue for this Quarter Back this season.

Taking Sacks has been another issue for the Quarter Back and it could mean another upset is on for the LSU Tigers.

Joe Burrow out-duelled Tua Tagovailoa when the LSU Tigers won here in 2019 as a 5 point underdog and this line is much tighter than that. Many feel Alabama have been 'fortunate' to only have a single loss on the record and this LSU Tigers team looks to be playing with the kind of rhythm that can see them win outright.

Injuries in the Secondary have to be a concern, but Jayden Daniels may be able to help produce enough points for the road team and they can be backed with a start.

MY PICKS: Ohio State Buckeyes - 18.5 Points @ 1.83 Bet Victor (1 Unit)

Oklahoma State Cowboys + 6 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Florida State Seminoles - 21.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Georgia Bulldogs - 15.5 Points @ 1.95 Coral (1 Unit)

LSU Tigers + 3.5 Points @ 1.80 Bet Victor (1 Unit)

Mississippi Rebels - 3 Points @ 1.91 Coral (1 Unit)

Notre Dame Fighting Irish - 3 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

South Carolina Gamecocks - 15.5 Points @ 1.91 Coral (1 Unit)

Arizona State Sun Devils + 11.5 Points @ 1.91 Coral (1 Unit)

Air Force Falcons - 17.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Penn State Nittany Lions - 8.5 Points @ 1.91 Coral (1 Unit)

Auburn Tigers - 12.5 Points @ 1.91 Coral (1 Unit)

Iowa State Cyclones - 2.5 Points @ 1.85 Coral (1 Unit)

Washington Huskies - 3 Points @ 1.95 Coral (1 Unit)

Week 9: 3-7, - 4.27 Units (10 Units Staked, - 42.70% Yield)

Week 8: 3-6, - 3.44 Units (9 Units Staked, - 38.22% Yield)

Week 7: 4-7-1, - 3.47 Units (12 Units Staked, - 28.92% Yield)

Week 6: 5-6, - 1.63 Units (11 Units Staked, - 14.82% Yield)

Week 5: 6-3, + 2.64 Units (9 Units Staked, + 29.33% Yield)

Week 4: 3-5-2, - 2.33 Units (10 Units Staked, - 23.30% Yield)

Week 3: 4-7, - 3.33 Units (11 Units Staked, - 30.27% Yield)

Boxing Picks 2023- Joe Cordina vs Edward Vazquez (November 4th)

It was supposed to be a mismatch, but Francis Ngannou forgot to read the memo.

A closer than anticipated fight took place in Saudi Arabia, although the feeling remains that Tyson Fury was far from his best rather than Francis Ngannou being some sort of world level Heavyweight.

He did better than expected, but the said expectation was pretty low and the feeling is that Ngannou would still come up short if he was to fight any top name that has been bandied about in the aftermath of his Split Decision defeat to Fury.

It will mean any future opponent is unlikely to look past Francis Ngannou and that is going to make things that much more difficult for the former UFC Heavyweight Champion- Eddie Hearn has long spoken about the unknown being a factor for Tyson Fury and that has proven to be the case, even if calls of a 'robbery' feel wide of the mark considering the real robberies Boxing fans have witnessed over the last several months, let alone several years.

Francis Ngannou will get another crack in the ring, which he deserves, and hopefully we all all set on the road to Undisputed in the Heavyweight Division. December 23rd seemed a push, even if Fury had won in a Round, but the gruelling contest last week means that bout with Oleksandr Usyk is now expected to go around February.

Once that date is locked in, it should make things much clearer for those who are hoping to position themselves in World Title fights in 2024- Anthony Joshua is hopefully back soon to keep ticking over in his quest to lure a big name like Deontay Wilder into the ring, but the likes of Zhilei Zhang will hopefully look to build on the momentum earned this year and make sure he is not allowed to become inactive.

It is inactivity that is holding back many in the Division, but the hope is that things will change once the Undisputed World Title and the Belts are locked down for a few months.

The card in Saudi Arabia was decent, although it needed better timing with a long gap between the chief support and the main event.

A Heavyweight night will have given winners, like Martin Bakole, a big platform, but it is up to those victorious fighters to take the momentum forward.

While the crossover card took place in Saudi Arabia, a really good looking Super Featherweight World Title fight was scheduled for Mexico.

O'Shaquie Foster defended his World Title against Rocky Hernandez in stunning fashion- if you have not seen the fight, you need to find it.

The Eleventh Round will win 'Round of the Year' barring something special over the last two months of 2023, while a rematch is something almost all will want to see.

All, but not the winner of the main event in Monaco this weekend when Joe Cordina defends his World Title with the potential Unification with Foster perhaps next on deck. All of a sudden, the Super Featherweight Division looks a good one with Leigh Wood entering and another World Champion in Emanuel Navarrete around, at least for now.

Avoiding an upset will open the door for Cordina to take in those big fights he is demanding, while there is also a couple of cards being run in the United States.

Joe Cordina vs Edward Vazquez

After a couple of big time wins and once again becoming the Super Featherweight IBF World Champion, Joe Cordina would have perhaps hoped for a bigger fight than the one he will be facing on Saturday.

In something of a surprise, Cordina is actually defending his World Title in Monte Carlo, rather than a more logical choice of being in the United Kingdom, most notably in Wales.

The whole feel of this main event is that it is to keep Joe Cordina active and not many will give Edward Vazquez much of a shot at scoring the upset. He has only lost once before, but the American is the naturally smaller man and has only won three of his sixteen professional fights inside the distance.

His power is not going to concern Joe Cordina and the Champion should be able to impose himself in this contest.

Motivation is perhaps going to be the biggest opponent for Cordina this weekend- he has made it clear that the big money spinning fights is the focus and this is not exactly an opponent that is going to have gotten many sitting up and taking notice.

He will have to be aware that an upset would derail a lot of the plans that his promoter may have for him going into 2024, but Joe Cordina is too good for that. Instead the hope for his supporters is that Joe Cordina can round out 2023 with a flashy performance and a statement making win and that has to be the target for the Champion.

Power has been displayed against elite level fighters in his last two wins and there are some big names in and around the 130 pound Division that will be able to give Cordina all he wants in the next twelve to eighteen months. That should keep Joe Cordina invested in producing his best in this fight and the feeling is that the Welshman will be able to break down Edward Vazquez and force a Stoppage at some point through the Twelve Rounds scheduled.

There are some intriguing bouts on the undercard, but the one that looks to have received the majority of attention is the rematch between Ramla Ali and Julissa Alejandra Guzman.

The Mexican upset Ali in devastating fashion when they met in June and it is perhaps a surprise that the latter has chosen to go right back in with her.

Julissa Alejandra Guzman will have taken a lot of confidence from the brutal Stoppage produced and she will feel her power will tell again.

Two minute Rounds and Ten Rounders make it hard to find the time to find those big punches, but Ramla Ali is going to have to be switched on at all times and backing Julissa Alejandra Guzman to find those shots again looks an inviting price.

Some of the bouts organised for cards in the United States may begin to separate the contenders from the pretenders in the Cruiserweight and Heavyweight Divisions.

However, there is also an opportunity to see Raymond Muratalla who returns for the first time since crushing Jeremiah Nakathila in May.

With Devin Haney likely to be leaving the Division, Muratalla could fighting for a World Title in 2024 as long as he can avoid an upset here.

An unbeaten Mexican will be standing across the ring, one who has seventeen Stoppages in eighteen wins, but Diego Nunez has never fought outside of his home country, nor has he beaten anyone of note.

He is unlikely to take a backwards step, but that may leave him open to the big punching ability of Raymond Muratalla who can round of his 2023 with another early night's work before targeting big name opponents early next year.

MY PICKS: Joe Cordina to Win by KO/TKO/Disqualification @ 2.10 Bet365 (2 Units)

Julissa Alejandra Guzman to Win by KO/TKO/Disqualification @ 3.00 Bet Victor (1 Unit)

Raymond Muratalla to Win Between 1-5 @ 3.75 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

Boxing 2023: 53-90, - 18.77 Units (265 Units Staked, - 7.08% Yield) 

NFL Week 9 Picks 2018 (November 1-5)

Week 8 proved to be a very productive one for the NFL Picks with a 7-1 record meaning plenty of returns but it was also a week in which the Vegas layers had a terrible time.

That does mean you have to be careful in getting behind too many public teams with things likely to go the other way sooner rather than later. It has been a decent year for the layers in the NFL for much of the 2018 season, but Week 8 was so bad that I would expect things to go back in favour of those who set the spreads.

Being a little more careful with the Week 9 Picks is my plan as most teams begin to get halfway through their schedules.


Kansas City Chiefs @ Cleveland Browns Pick: After the week the layers had with the NFL you have to wonder about every tempting spread that is laid out and one of those comes from this game between the Cleveland Browns and the Kansas City Chiefs.

Sharp work has meant the spread has dropped by around 1.5 points since the line first opened and it hasn't been affected by the public being heavily behind the Kansas City Chiefs. Week 8 saw the public dominate across the board so it is a concern that the Chiefs are getting as much action as they are, but they do look the right side to be behind in this game.

The Browns will have found it very difficult to prepare for this game in the manner they would have liked with both Hue Jackson and Todd Haley removed as Head Coach and Offensive Co-Ordinator. A new game plan against a team who have played as well as they have so far in the 2018 season is going to be tough to put together for the Cleveland Browns, although there have been suggestions that the Offensive unit will not be too bothered about seeing the back of Jackson and Haley.

For all the plaudits the Kansas City Chiefs have earned in the 2018 season they are still having some troubles on the Defensive side of the ball. I would expect Cleveland to want to keep the powerful Chiefs Offense on the sidelines for as long as possible and that means a steady diet of Nick Chubb running the ball against a Kansas City Defensive Line who have allowed some big chunks of yards on the ground.

It is all important for Cleveland to run the ball effectively to ease some pressure on Baker Mayfield who has been banged up at Quarter Back. While there are holes in the Kansas City Secondary to exploit, Mayfield doesn't really have a consistent Receiver to target and being hurt has made it more difficult for the rookie Quarter Back.

Add in the pass rush pressure Kansas City generate against a Cleveland Offensive Line and it will be a very difficult day for Mayfield if his team are not able to run the ball as effectively as they would want.

Another crease that could go against Cleveland's ability to run the ball will be if Kansas City continue to churn out the points as well as they have all season. Patrick Mahomes has been a revelation at Quarter Back but he has a number of play-makers that are difficult to contain and the Browns are banged up in key Defensive positions which will make it very difficult to stop the Chiefs with any kind of consistency.

Kareem Hunt should be able to get the run game going against the Browns Defensive Line which has allowed 5.3 yards per carry in their last three games as there has been some decline up front. Tyreek Hill is expected to play which means there could be a number of sweep plays that could be run to keep the Browns off balance, while the Secondary has given up big yards in recent games that will be exploited by Mahomes.

The only real way Cleveland can think about keeping the Chiefs from moving up and down the field has to be finding a way to create some turnovers. The Browns Secondary have picked up some Interceptions of late, and Mahomes has made a couple of poor throws, but overall it feels like the Chiefs are going to be too powerful for the Cleveland Browns.

A back door cover is a concern, but the Chiefs have been very good at cashing at the window and this may be too few points for the home team. The road team is 4-1 against the spread in the last five in the series between these teams and Kansas City are 19-7 against the spread in their last twenty-six road games.

With all the upheaval in Cleveland I think it could be difficult for them in Week 9 and I will back the Chiefs to cover.


Pittsburgh Steelers @ Baltimore Ravens Pick: There was much hope for the Baltimore Ravens after the start made to the 2018 season, but things have taken a turn for the worse following back to back losses to drop back to 4-4. It makes this Week 9 game that much more important for the Baltimore Ravens who can't afford to drop further behind the Pittsburgh Steelers who are leading the AFC North and 1.5 games clear of the Ravens.

The Steelers have won three in a row and they look to have turned a corner while putting the Le'Veon Bell issue to the back of their minds. It has helped significantly that James Connor has been able to fill the gap left by Bell's holdout and the entire team look to have really pulled together to show they are more than one player.

It was never going to be the case that Bell's absence would derail an Offensive unit which has other key playmakers and those have stepped up without the Running Back. Connor has been a revelation running the ball behind a powerful Offensive Line and it is going to be important for Pittsburgh to try and establish the run against this Baltimore Defensive Line that has begun to show some signs of wear and tear.

Baltimore have given up some big points in their last couple of games, but this is still a team who has belief in their Defensive players. That was shown by little action ahead of the trade deadline and the Ravens have been good enough to win in Pittsburgh earlier in the 2018 season that has to be taken into consideration.

The feeling is that Pittsburgh are more in sync with one another Offensively that could make the difference, but the three wins in a row have come against Atlanta, Cincinnati and Cleveland and Baltimore should be a big step up in terms of quality for the Steelers to face. None of those teams can really boast a Defense like the one that the Ravens have although they will likely need some inspiration from the Offensive unit which has been struggling for consistency in the last couple of games.

Joe Flacco had a very good game when the Ravens faced Pittsburgh on the road earlier in 2018 and it feels like much is going to be on his shoulders again when they meet in Week 9. Ty Montgomery has been traded from the Green Bay Packers to give the running game a spark, but Baltimore have not been able to find any consistency running behind their Offensive Line and I think they are going to have a difficult time establishing the run against this Pittsburgh Defensive Line.

All that means is that there is going to be more pressure on Flacco at Quarter Back against a Pittsburgh team whose Defensive Secondary have shown signs of improvement. Some will question whether the teams they have faced have helped, but I also think the team have found some rhythm Defensively and that should make it a little more difficult for Flacco.

The pass rush pressure generated by Pittsburgh could also be a problem even if Flacco has been well protected for the most part in 2018. The Quarter Back has to make better decisions with the ball in his hands though, especially with Lamar Jackson potentially taking over if the slide continues for the Ravens who could be cleaning house in the off-season if they miss the Play Offs again.

Most of the public seem to be firmly behind Pittsburgh here, but I think the Ravens are better than back to back losses would suggest. They perhaps should have beaten the New Orleans Saints a couple of weeks ago and Baltimore have already gotten the better of the Pittsburgh Steelers who are not exactly a strong public team to back when so many are behind them.

Baltimore are 6-1-1 against the spread in the last eight against this Divisional rival and the Ravens are 8-3 against the spread in their last eleven when losing a game by 14 points or more. The Steelers are 2-8 against the spread in their last ten following a straight up win and they are 2-5 against the spread in their last seven against Divisional rivals so this looks an opportunity to back an underrated home team whose record is perhaps not as strong as it should have been.


Chicago Bears @ Buffalo Bills Pick: It might come as something of a surprise to see the Chicago Bears leading the NFC North, but there is very little between the top three teams in the Division. At this moment you can see a situation where two of the four NFC North teams are able to make the Play Offs as long as they don't feast on each other and drop silly games outside of the Division.

That is what it feel like for the Chicago Bears if they are not able to win at the Buffalo Bills in Week 9 as a big favourite on the road. 2018 looks to be another lost season for the Bills who are 2-6 and simply don't have the Offensive power to stay with the Chicago Bears or most opposition they have faced this season.

You can't take anything away from the Buffalo Defense, but it is going to be hard to be motivated with Nathan Peterman back at Quarter Back after Derek Anderson was banged up last week and Josh Allen is still absent. Peterman is the highest argument for lawyers of Colin Kaepernick to suggest their client has been blackballed by the NFL because he is not a serviceable Quarter Back at this level.

In his limited starts and relief outings for the Buffalo Bills, Peterman has been a turnover machine and there had been a suggestion the senior Bills players were going to have a full mutiny against the Coaching staff if Peterman was going to be given the chance to play with Allen injured. That sparked the signing of Anderson, but Buffalo are out of options in Week 9.

Khalil Mack could be missing for the Bears which is a blow to the pass rush, but the Bears have remained a strong Defensive team that should be able to stop LeSean McCoy and then force Peterman to beat them through the air. Most teams understand the Bills best Offensive weapon is in the backfield so stopping the run has been important to any team they have faced, and most have had success against the Buffalo Offensive Line.

McCoy could have some success at times, but it is going to be very difficult for the Buffalo Bills to move the ball with any kind of consistency in this one.

It may not be such an issue for the Chicago Bears especially if the Bills Defensive players get worn out from spending as long on the field as they may have to do if the Offensive unit can't move the chains for much of the afternoon. Both Jordan Howard and Tariq Cohen should be able to have big games running the ball for Chicago which should make Mitchel Trubisky's life much easier at Quarter Back even if he is looking like someone who may become the biggest weakness of this team.

Trubisky has had some decent numbers through the air, but it is his scrambling ability which has helped the Bears keep the chains moving. He should have some success throwing against a decent Bills Secondary, especially if Chicago are able to move the ball on the ground, but Trubisky has to be wary of the pass rush that the Bills can generate while they are motivated.

The spot is a tough one for Buffalo playing on a Sunday after Monday Night Football against a Divisional rival. With Nathan Peterman back at Quarter Back I do worry that the players could easily quit on him and the Bears have every chance of covering a big road number. Buffalo could struggle to score more than 10 points barring mistakes from Mitchell Trubisky and Chicago should be able to create a turnover or two to help them edge over this spread.

Buffalo are 3-12 against the spread when losing by double digits at home like they did on Monday Night Football. There are trends that oppose the Chicago Bears who are not exactly a road favourite I want to back, but most things are pointing to a comfortable Bears win.


Los Angeles Rams @ New Orleans Saints Pick: The New Orleans Saints and Los Angeles Rams both come into Week 10 as Divisional leaders and games like this could have huge implications as to how the Seeding will pan out in the NFC Play Offs come January. The Los Angeles Rams are going to be playing in January as NFC West Champions, but the New Orleans Saints have a real challenger in the NFC South where the Carolina Panthers are only a game behind in the standings.

That won't be the concern for the Saints as they return home after playing four of their last five games on the road and winning tough battles in Baltimore and Minnesota ahead of this one. New Orleans do feel they have something to prove with the Rams taking some of the Offensive limelight away from the Sean Payton-Drew Brees partnership which has been leading the way for the NFL in Offensive playmaking over the last few years.

There is much respect for what Sean McVay is putting together for the Los Angeles Rams and Jared Goff, but you know Payton and Brees have been thinking about finding some new creases to their own Offense to impress the viewers.

It looks like being a really fun game with both teams capable of scoring big points. The Saints will feel their balance can at least keep the Rams guessing with both Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara likely to find bigger spaces when they look to run the ball than they have for much of the season. For all the talent invested on the Los Angeles Defensive Line, they have not been able to control the run as well as they would like, while Kamara figures to be a real threat catching the ball out of the backfield too.

That is key for Brees who is going to be seeing a pass rush in his face from the Rams, although this is a Quarter Back who can get decipher Defenses as well as any in the NFL. He can throw the ball very quickly to those spaces too and Brees is someone who tends to look after the ball so I expect the Quarter Back to have a similar success as Aaron Rodgers did in Week 9 when coming close to leading the Green Bay Packers to an upset of the Rams on the road.

You should expect the Rams to have some real success throwing the ball too with Goff comfortable in the system built around him, while also having the returning Cooper Kuup to boost his Receiving weapons. As well as the Saints Secondary played against the Minnesota Vikings last week, this is a team who have brought in Eli Apple from the New York Giants to help a team whose young players have perhaps not kicked on as well as hoped.

Where the Saints do have success is on the Defensive Line with a strong ability to clamp down on the run which means they could give Todd Gurley some problems this week. Gurley has shown he is a Running Back who can wear down those Offensive Linesmen over the course of 60 minutes so he will get his numbers, but the Saints could at least force a few third and long spots and then get after Goff even without Marcus Davenport.

The Rams Offensive Line has had some difficulties protecting Goff so the Saints will believe they can stall drives if they can keep tabs on Gurley for much of the game.

I do like the Saints as the home underdog to end the unbeaten start to the season for the Rams. The home team is 6-0 against the spread in the last six between these teams and New Orleans have a very strong 24-5 record against the spread in their last twenty-nine home games against a team with a winning road record.

They thrive against the better teams in general as shown by a very strong 46-20-1 record against the spread in their last sixty-seven games against teams with a winning record overall. The Saints remain a very tough team to beat inside the SuperDome too, and I will take the points with New Orleans.


Green Bay Packers @ New England Patriots Pick: You couldn't really ask for a better Sunday Night Football offering than seeing Tom Brady lead the New England Patriots into a showdown with Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers. The best Quarter Back of all time versus the most talented Quarter Back of all time is how it will be billed and this is likely the last time we will have the pleasure of seeing Brady versus Rodgers barring a Super Bowl between these teams sooner rather than later.

The promos for this match up have not been disappointing and there is a big game feel about this game even if it is a non-Conference game.

The New England Patriots were just on primetime when blowing out the Buffalo Bills on Monday Night Football and that has helped them move back to their familiar position of leading the AFC East. A bigger focus for the Patriots will be trying to earn the Number 1 Seed in the AFC so every game remains important for them.

It is a big game for the Green Bay Packers too as they are in the midst of a really tough NFC North battle and dropping the game in Los Angeles last week in the manner they did will hurt. Aaron Rodgers will be expecting his team to shake things off and get back on the horse immediately, but the decision made by Ty Montgomery to run the ball out of the End Zone with under two minutes left has cost him his place with the Packers and he was traded to the Baltimore Ravens.

That decision is a good one for the likes of Aaron Jones who will now be the leading Green Bay Running Back and he has a good chance to begin with some strong numbers. Whenever you have a Quarter Back like Rodgers you know teams are going to be very worried about the pass, but the Packers have shown considerable balance on the Offense all season and Jones should be able to produce on the ground against a Patriots Defensive Line who have given up 4.5 yards per carry over their last three games.

Ultimately Bill Belichick will know that finding a way to slow down Aaron Rodgers is the key, but that is going to be some challenge for the Patriots. The Secondary have some talented players, but they have not played up to the level you would expect of New England and Aaron Rodgers is someone who can carve up most Defensive units he faces.

Rodgers can scramble away from any pressure and remain very effective throwing the ball and he has been very good at avoiding Interceptions this season which means you have to think Green Bay move the ball well for most of this game.

Tom Brady is expected to have a big game too, but he may be without Sonny Michel and Rob Gronkowski which will make his day a little more difficult. Without Michel you would think the Patriots are going to use screens and quick passes in place of a running game and expect to see James White used in a way to get him into space and matched up with players who can't keep up with his quickness.

There are some young players with a bright future in the Green Bay Secondary, but trading away Ha Ha Clinton-Dix was an interesting move. While they have depth, Clinton-Dix may be their best player in the Secondary and so it is going to be tough for the Packers to stop Brady and the Patriots even if Gronkowski sits.

The Packers played very well in Los Angeles last week against the Rams and gave their team a chance to win the game, but without Clinton-Dix it will be interesting to see how they cope.

Even then I do think getting the points with Rodgers and the Packers for a second week in a row is appealing. There is every chance a late drive to get within the number is possible for the Packers and I do think the match up is one that will make Green Bay difficult to be stopped Offensively.

Make no mistake about it- I hate backing against Tom Brady in Foxboro where his Patriots have cashed plenty more times than they haven't in recent years. As much as Brady states his admiration for Rodgers, he would love to put a big number on the Packers to underline his own status, and that makes Brady dangerous. However I think Aaron Rodgers as a big underdog is always worth a second look and I will back the Packers with the points.


Tennessee Titans @ Dallas Cowboys Pick: Monday Night Football may not be putting together the elite of the NFL, but these two teams are still very much in contention in their respective Divisions. At the halfway mark of the regular season you are beginning to lose opportunities to recover from losses though and I think both the Tennessee Titans and Dallas Cowboys know the huge difference between a 3-5 record and a 4-4 record.

Both teams head into this Week 9 game at 3-4 and both are coming off their Bye Week and looking to get things turned around. The Dallas Cowboys clearly feel they are closer to doing something significant this season having been one of the active teams at the trade deadline when giving up a First Round Draft Pick to bring Amari Cooper from the Oakland Raiders and perhaps giving Dak Prescott someone reliable to whom he can throw the ball.

There will definitely be a hope in Dallas that Cooper can spark an Offensive unit who have been inconsistent to say the least. Allowing Dez Bryant to leave in the same year as Jason Witten retiring and heading to the commentator booth has left Dallas short of reliable weapons for Prescott to throw to and that is where Cooper's arrival is expected to be a difference maker.

Injuries on the Offensive Line have not helped the Dallas cause as they have not been able to run the ball through Ezekiel Elliot as well as they would have liked. Some of that could also be down to the fact that teams have not respected the passing game, but the Cowboys have still had some trouble getting Elliot going and that may not be any different on Monday.

For all the problems that Tennessee have had this season the Titans Defensive Line is where the strength of this team lies. The Titans have been tough to run the ball against and they will be looking to clamp down on the run up front and force Dak Prescott to find an immediate connection with Cooper and move the ball through the air.

Prescott has been guilty of holding onto the ball too long and keeping him in third and long situations will give the Titans a chance of bringing the pass rush to him. You have to believe it is something the Cowboys will have worked on during their Bye Week to get Prescott to speed up his reads, but this looks like a game in which Dallas won't find it easy to move the chains with consistency as Tennessee have seen their Secondary also produce some solid outings.

The key to the game is whether the Titans can get their own Offensive unit back on track as they have struggled to protect Marcus Mariota and allow the Quarter Back the time to make his plays downfield. Mariota has not been able to scramble as well as he would have liked, but the passing game has really struggled with the Offensive Line having a number of injuries up front.

Tennessee will have used the Bye Week to get a little healthier on the Offensive Line and they will need to be strong to keep the Dallas pass rush away from Mariota. The Cowboys certainly have the players who can win up front and that is a concern for Mariota who doesn't have the consistent Receivers he can look to in order to move the chains consistently through the air.

The Titans have also got to be trying to get back on track running the ball which is the key to the entire Offense. Both Dion Lewis and Derrick Henry have had their chances to take over the Running Back job, but neither has really impressed enough to have the bulk of the carries and both look set for a tough game against this Cowboys Defensive Line.

On the face of things this looks like being a low-scoring game and that makes the points given to the underdog look very appealing. Add in the factor that only the defeat to the Baltimore Ravens was a game in which Tennessee were not competitive and the other six games played in the NFL have all been tight and closely contested and you can see why the points look intriguing.

However Dallas have been much better when they have played at home this season and their numbers have been improved across the board here. Dallas are 3-0 in Arlington and they are 13-6 against the spread in the last nineteen games off a Bye Week.

Tennessee have not been as good off a Bye Week with a 2-5-1 record against the spread in their last eight in this situation. The Titans are 11-23 against the spread in their last thirty-four road games and they are 9-27-3 against the spread in their last thirty-nine games against a team with a losing record.

As long as Dallas can come out and dominate up front on the Defensive Line I think they are going to have a little too much for the Titans and I like them here. The sharp money has driven this number down from the opening line, but I think it is now low enough to back the Cowboys and I will look for them to win and cover on the Monday Night Football.

MY PICKS: Kansas City Chiefs - 7.5 Points @ 1.95 Betfair Sportsbook (2 Units)
Baltimore Ravens - 1.5 Points @ 1.95 Bet Fred (2 Units)
Chicago Bears - 10 Points @ 2.00 Paddy Power (2 Units)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers + 6 Points @ 1.95 Betfair Sportsbook (2 Units)
Washington Redskins - 2.5 Points @ 1.95 Boyle Sports (2 Units)
New Orleans Saints + 1.5 Points @ 1.95 Betfair Sportsbook (2 Units)
Green Bay Packers + 5 Points @ 1.95 Betfair Sportsbook (2 Units)
Dallas Cowboys - 4.5 Points @ 1.95 Betfair Sportsbook (2 Units)

Weekend Football Picks 2018 (November 3-5)

There is one more big week of domestic and European action before the final international break of the 2018 calendar year.

While there will be plenty of fans looking forward to watching their teams play this weekend, the Football Leaks that came out on Friday made for stunning reading. It is such a shame that the sport is as corrupt as it is and the promotion of a European Super League which is being pushed by the biggest clubs in England, France, Spain, Germany and Italy could have a profound impact on European Football in the coming years.

A European Super League has felt like it would be inevitable since the changes made to the Champions League in recent years, but the back handed way the rich are trying to get richer leaves a sour taste in the mouth.

At the moment you would think these teams are all going to remain in their domestic Leagues, but I wouldn't put anything past them in a bid to rinse more money out of the game.


This is another busy weekend of Premier League Football with games to be played from Saturday lunchtime through to Monday evening. We could see big impacts made at the top and bottom of the Premier League by the end of the weekend ahead of the Champions League and Europa League Match Day 4 games to be played next week.


Bournemouth v Manchester United Pick: Not many would have predicted this Premier League game in early November would be featuring two clubs in the top eight of the table and even fewer would have tipped Bournemouth to be heading into the fixture higher in the table than Manchester United.

That says as much about the poor three months Manchester United have had as it does about how well Bournemouth have been playing under Eddie Howe.

Make no bones about it- this is a huge test for Manchester United at the start of a week in which they have to visit Juventus in the Champions League and then Manchester City in the Premier League before the final international break of the calendar year.

At least the recent Premier League performances will give the fans some real belief that Manchester United have turned a corner. Games against Newcastle United and Chelsea have seen huge improvements in the second half and Manchester United could have easily won both of those, but the more heartening game may be the start made against Everton.

In recent games it has been a criticism that Manchester United have started slowly as they have trailed at half time in 3 games in a row before leading against Everton. Making a fast start could be key at the Vitality Stadium as they take on a confident host who remain unbeaten here in all competitions.

Bournemouth are dangerous as highlighted by the fact they have scored at least twice in 7 of their 8 home games in the 2018/19 season. Eddie Howe's style suggests they will take the game to Manchester United and I don't know many United fans who will believe they are capable of securing a clean sheet here.

However Bournemouth are a team that can be attacked and Everton, Leicester City and Blackburn Rovers have all scored at least twice in fixtures here. This is also the first really big test for Bournemouth this season having negotiated a comfortable fixture list to this point and, while I have been impressed, I am looking to see how they deal with a team with plenty of quality all around.

Defensively it is hard to see how Manchester United keep Bournemouth out though as Jose Mourinho himself admitted the side just cannot keep clean sheets at the moment. On the other side of the field I do think Manchester United have looked dangerous going forward in recent Premier League games and I am going to back at least three goals to be shared out by these teams with a lean towards Manchester United winning the game at a big price.

Not many of the top six from last season will be odds against to win at the Vitality Stadium so the price on a Manchester United win is very appealing. The only negative is that they have not been consistent enough to back at those prices and will need to score at least twice here to win so goals looks the most likely outcome of this fixture.

Fantasy Star: Anthony Martial- the form the Frenchman is displaying means he is the biggest threat going forward for Manchester United who have to be favoured to win here.

Alternative: Callum Wilson- Bournemouth score goals and in Josh King's absence it is going to be Callum Wilson who leads the line and is on penalty duties.


Cardiff City v Leicester City Pick: One week after owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha tragically lost his life in a helicopter crash that also killed four other people his football club will take to the field against Cardiff City in what is surely going to be an emotional occasion for everyone inside the Stadium.

It is tough to really know how the Leicester City players are going to react and I imagine Claude Puel will be keeping a very close eye on the group and picking those who look to be dealing with matters the best. Human nature means we all respond differently to difficult times, but the players agreed that they needed to play this Premier League fixture in honour of the owner who had been such a big support to them and the entire city during his time with the club.

Neil Warnock has to be urging his players to avoid the sentiment of the occasion and instead focus on trying to earn an important three points in their fight against relegation. That isn't going to be easy for the Cardiff City players, and this fixture is going to come down to which of the players deal with the entire day the best.

That simply is a factor that can't really be determined until the game kicks off and certainly makes it more difficult to know how the fixture will develop.

There is obviously going to be a high motivation in the away dressing room to put on a big performance for their owner's family who will likely be at the Cardiff City Stadium. In recent games Leicester City have been playing well enough to believe they can become the latest club to get the better of Cardiff City who simply have not defended anything near the level they need to if they want to avoid an immediate return to the Championship.

Cardiff City have conceded at least two goals in 5 straight home games in all competitions and Leicester City have shown they have an appetite for goals away from home. They might have seen their run of at least two goals scored snapped at 3 away games in a row when losing at Arsenal, but anyone who saw that game will have noted the amount of chances Leicester City can create with slightly more composure in the final third.

I think we will see that on Saturday as they look to produce a big performance and Leicester City have shown they can be a very dangerous team when pulling in the same direction. The home team will try and use the occasion to their benefit, but Leicester City are the stronger team and I think they produce one of their better games in the trying situation they find themselves in.

Fantasy Star: Jamie Vardy- I expect Leicester City to honour their owner in the best manner possible.

Alternative: Ben Chilwell- gets forward from defence and I think Ben Chilwell could also have the chance of earning a clean sheet.


Everton v Brighton Pick: Both Marco Silva and Chris Hughton have to be very happy with the starts their Everton and Brighton teams have made to the Premier League, although the fans of both clubs are likely disappointed they are not involved in the League Cup. There is just a point separating these teams in 9th and 11th place respectively, but you have to believe home advantage gives Everton a real edge in this contest.

The teams have contrasting home/away with Everton playing well here, while Brighton have continued to struggle on their travels. Some fans will point out the 0-1 win at Newcastle United last time out, but Brighton had lost 8 of 12 away games in all competitions prior to that win and it can be argued they were somewhat fortunate to escape with the three points in that fixture.

Brighton have won 3 games in a row by the same 1-0 scoreline, but all of those have had a touch of fortune on their side and I can't see how that can be sustained. The defence may have 3 clean sheets, but teams continue to create chances against them and Everton have shown they have a good idea where the goal is.

Everton have now scored at least twice in their last 2 home Premier League games and their attacking football has been rewarded in recent games with the points they have earned. Even last weekend at Old Trafford they fashioned some decent positions, while Everton can't expect Brighton to produce the same intensity Manchester United did.

There is a threat from Brighton because they are in a confident frame of mind, but I can't see them sustaining the charmed life their own goal has been leading. I expect Everton will prove too good going forward and I think the home team can be backed to win a fixture that features at least two goals with the chances they are likely to create and the expected opportunities Brighton should be able to find against the home defence.

A few months ago it ended 2-0 in favour of Everton in the corresponding fixture and a similar margin of victory would not surprise me.

Fantasy Star: Richarlison- he is currently being played in the Number 9 position and Everton should be an attacking force at home.

Alternative: Gylfi Sigurdsson- the Icelandic midfielder has been in good form of late and is a real avenue for goals and assists.


Newcastle United v Watford Pick: I think most of us will be looking at Watford and wondering how long they can maintain the standards of football they have been producing in the first three months of the 2018/19 season. Twelve months ago they made a similarly impressive start under Marco Silva before really losing their way around early December, but Javi Gracia has pulled his team out of a poor run of form.

Winning at Wolves and then beating Huddersfield Town at home has given Watford new momentum as they sit in the heady heights of 7th in the Premier League table.

Inconsistencies still exist though and there have been games where Watford have looked really impressive and others where they have struggled wildly. The 0-4 defeat at home to Bournemouth is a real case of the latter, but those games have not been as frequent as in previous years and that means all credit has to go to the manager.

One thing Watford have maintained is a strong sense of a team that can play very good attacking football and one that will create chances. Even in losses they have managed to do that and that makes them very dangerous for a Newcastle United team who have been far from convincing going forward.

However The Magpies have to point to the last home game with Brighton and I would suggest a similar performance will get them more rewards in future. There is still a feeling they don't have a striker they can rely on at the moment which is going to temper any enthusiasm you can have for them, but Newcastle United could be more dangerous against a Watford defence that has been far from convincing themselves.

Even with that in mind I am surprised you can back Watford on the 'Draw No Bet' handicaps at a bigger price than Newcastle United. They have won back to back games which will give them confidence and the last 2 trips to St James' Park have seen Watford come away with the three points.

You can't ignore the fact that Watford look to have a lot more goals in the side too and I think The Hornets can be backed to win on the handicap knowing the stake will be returned in the event of a draw. If Watford can score twice here, as they have on their previous two games at Newcastle United, I fear the home side will be ready to take their sixth consecutive home defeat to open the 2018/19 Premier League season.

Fantasy Star: Roberto Pereyra- he was the right call last week and could be Watford's main creative threat in this one.

Alternative: Jose Holebas- the defender has been a real attacking threat for Watford and could return this weekend having missed out last weekend. Newcastle United's lack of goals means there is a clean sheet chance here too.


West Ham United v Burnley Pick: There is no doubting that West Ham United look incredibly short to win this game considering their run of 3 losses in their last 4 games since their incredible win over Manchester United.

However the layers seem to have cottoned onto the fact that The Hammers are actually not playing that badly and it feels like a matter of time before results turn their way. Last weekend it took a very late leveller from Leicester City to prevent West Ham United and an inspired Hugo Lloris somehow kept them at bay when they hosted Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League a couple of weeks ago.

There is some pressure on Manuel Pellegrini to get a result here considering he rested so many players in the 1-3 loss to Spurs in the League Cup, but they could be facing Burnley at the right time.

A few months ago Burnley came here and won 0-3 so they should be respected by the home players, but the performances in 2018/19 have been way short of the standards produced last season. They may have picked up some vital points of late, but Burnley are not playing as well as those results suggest and I do think West Ham United should have too much all around for them.

It is hard to trust an erratic team like West Ham United, but they are creating more chances than Burnley and you do have to feel another win is not too far away. Missing their first choice central midfield is a blow, but I am not sure Burnley are playing well enough to capitalise while back to back heavy losses to Manchester City and Chelsea will have dented some of the confidence of the players.

Sean Dyche may not have expected much in terms of results from those two games, but the manner of the defeats would have hurt and I will back West Ham United to find a way to a narrow win in this one. Odds on quotes don't appeal to me here, but I can't imagine West Ham United winning this game if they concede twice and I don't think they are capable of battering too many teams at the moment.

With a tight win expected, you can find a big price on West Ham United winning a game that doesn't feature a lot of goals.

Fantasy Star: Marko Arnautovic- he was rested during the week in the League Cup and the Austrian is the main West Ham United threat.

Alternative: Fabian Balbuena- a threat from set pieces and West Ham United could become the latest club to keep a clean sheet against Burnley.


Arsenal v Liverpool Pick: I have never liked watching Liverpool win any game of football, but I was looking forward to seeing a very big price for them to win at the Emirates Stadium after Arsenal put together an 11 game winning run in all competitions.

Anyone who has been following the Arsenal performances will know there were a number of games in that winning run where this team had ridden enough luck to cover a full season, but the layers seem to be of the same mindset as I am.

Ultimately it boils down to an Arsenal defence that simply isn't as good as it should be for the tactics employed by Unai Emery and I really do fear for them against this Liverpool dynamic attack. I would be surprised to see Emery change his own tactics which means Arsenal will push high up the pitch and leave gaping holes behind the defence in which they are expecting Rob Holding and Shkodran Mustafi to beat out Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah in foot races.

Hector Bellerin's potential absence only makes the back four that much slower and the likes of Watford and Leicester City have shown what athletic, quick attackers can create against Arsenal.

Going forward Arsenal have looked good, but Liverpool's defence is much improved from the one that came here and conceded three goals in eight second half minutes to blow a 0-2 lead. Last season the back five had Simon Mignolet, Ragnar Klavan and Dejan Lovren, but this time you would think Alisson and Virgin Van Dijk plus an even more improved Joe Gomez make a significant difference.

Liverpool have played Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea and Manchester City in the Premier League and conceded just twice- the two London clubs both hosted Liverpool which makes that number that much more impressive. Arsenal have created a lot of chances with a strong attacking unit left over from the Arsene Wenger regime, but there have been games where they have simply showed more composure than opponents and that has been enough to turn things in their favour.

A couple of weeks ago you may have had some doubts about Liverpool's attack having seen them score just 4 goals in 4 games. However those fixtures were against Chelsea (twice), Napoli and Manchester City and I would say this Arsenal team is significantly weaker at the back.

Honestly I think this could be a big defeat for Arsenal... Liverpool to win by two or more goals is a big, intriguing price.

That might be being greedy though despite what I feel could be a real statement win from Liverpool as they expose the soft underbelly of Arsenal which has just about been unexposed by clubs in recent weeks. Liverpool are much stronger going forward than many Arsenal have faced in the last couple of months since back to back losses to Manchester City and Chelsea and I will back the away team at odds against to win here.

As a Manchester United fan I would love to be wrong, but my judgement of this football game is that Liverpool win and win well.

Fantasy Star: Mohamed Salah- I think Liverpool could expose the Arsenal defensive vulnerabilities so all of the Liverpool attackers are worth a back. I've listed Mohamed Salah here on current form as the goals have begun to flow again.

Alternative: Roberto Firmino- Salah and Sadio Mane have earned recent praise, but it could be time for the Brazilian to grab some headlines of his own.


Wolves v Tottenham Hotspur Pick: There are three live games on Saturday in the Premier League and the last of those is being played on Saturday evening as Wolves host Tottenham Hotspur. Part of the reason for the schedule is the Champions League game Tottenham Hotspur have to play on Tuesday night, although the Premier League have created a Saturday evening slot which will come into play from the 2019/20 season.

It can be tough on the fans in these late starts, particularly the away fans, but I think Tottenham Hotspur will just be happy to be playing on a surface that resembles a Premier League football pitch.

Playing away from Wembley Stadium has been a recipe for success for Tottenham Hotspur so far this season with 5 wins from 6 away Premier League games, but this is a very difficult place to play. Wolves have come into the top flight and really imposed themselves in matches and having taken points from both Manchester clubs I don't think they will be too worried about having to face Spurs.

Back to back Premier League defeats will have dented the confidence of the players, but Wolves were very good at Brighton last week and deserved much more than they got. They will feel they can get after this Tottenham Hotspur defence which has looked a little vulnerable without leader Jan Vertonghen and Wolves have created enough chances in their Premier League games to believe they can pose more issues for this opponent.

Defensively there have been some lapses though and I also expect Tottenham Hotspur to have some success. The returns of both Christian Eriksen and Dele Allis is a huge boost for Tottenham Hotspur and this is a team that has got a threat going forward and I think the game is going to be an entertaining one.

Tottenham Hotspur look short to win at a ground where Manchester City did not this season, but I can understand the layers not wanting to give too much away on their price. For a moment Wolves intrigued me with the start on the Asian Handicap, but that is short enough too considering they have lost back to back League games and failed to score in either.

The chances created and those that Tottenham Hotspur have given up suggests that streak will be snapped at two games, but I think the away team will have their opportunities too. Backing both teams to score looks like it has every chance of being the right play and that is where I will head with this selection.

Fantasy Star: Harry Kane- the England international is the biggest threat for Tottenham Hotspur and the returns of Christian Eriksen and Dele Alli could boost the creativity of the side.

Alternative: Matt Doherty- don't lose faith in the left wing back who has been close to adding to the one League goal he has scored so far this season.


Manchester City v Southampton Pick: The injury to Kevin De Bruyne would have cast a shadow over Manchester City's dominant performance against Fulham in the League Cup, but they have shown they can live without their Belgian star.

There is no doubt that Pep Guardiola would love to be able to call on De Bruyne, but the likes of David Silva and Bernardo Silva have stepped up their play without him and I don't expect Manchester City to suddenly drop off a cliff.

It would be a huge upset if that was to happen on Sunday at the Etihad Stadium as Manchester City go for a fourth straight win here and fifth overall since the goalless draw at Anfield. Defensively Manchester City have looked very composed and that does not make for much optimism for a Southampton team who have only scored more goals than Huddersfield Town so far this season.

Lacking goals has become a long-term problem for Southampton which is a surprise with the likes of Danny Ings, Nathan Redmond and Charlie Austin in the squad. It has also perhaps led to a lack of composure in the final third as shown in their goalless draw against Newcastle United when critical errors occurred at inopportune times as Southampton surely should have been scoring.

You do feel teams will always have one or two chances when they visit the Etihad Stadium simply because of the way Manchester City play, but the home team have been displayed strength when put under pressure. They have kept clean sheets in 6 straight Premier League games and I am confident they are likely going to have a seventh once this fixture is concluded.

While I think there is a good chance Manchester City keep a clean sheet, it would b a huge surprise if they were not able to score. Even without De Bruyne there is plenty of attacking threats sprinkled around the side and Southampton have conceded at least twice at Everton, Liverpool and Wolves in the Premier League this season.

Manchester City may not blow Southampton away, but it should be noted that both Liverpool and Chelsea have beaten them by the same 3-0 scoreline this season. I will just look for Manchester City to keep their run of clean sheets going by backing them to win this fixture without conceding.

Fantasy Star: David Silva- with Kevin De Bruyne ruled out for five weeks, David Silva can continue to shine in the creative midfield spot.

Alternative: Aymeric Lapore- Man City should be able to earn another clean sheet and Aymeric Laporte has scored two goals already this season.


Chelsea v Crystal Palace Pick: There is only one live offering from the Premier League on Sunday and that comes from West London as Chelsea prepare to host Crystal Palace.

I really think this is a difficult game for Roy Hodgson and his players as they have continued to show little consistent attacking threat. Last weekend they were much better against Arsenal, but Crystal Palace needed two penalties to salvage a draw and the Arsenal defence is significantly poorer than the Chelsea one.

In saying that Chelsea have struggled for clean sheets and both Manchester United and Derby County have scored twice in recent visits to Stamford Bridge. That may be a slight concern for Maurizio Sarri, but as long as Chelsea continue to provide the attacking threat they have been I believe the Italian will be very comfortable with the performances being produced.

Eden Hazard could return this weekend, but Chelsea showed they can handle things without the Belgian by scoring seven goals over the last week. Willian is a huge threat and Ross Barkley is beginning to exert more and more influence in centre midfield and the entire team look much happier being asked to play the way Sarri wants.

The Crystal Palace defence is far from watertight and I think they are going to have a difficult time in trying to contain a Chelsea team who have scored at least twice in 6 of their 8 home games under the Italian manager. Crystal Palace have conceded twice in each of their last 2 away Premier League games and I think Chelsea will be on the front foot in this one for much of the contest.

Wilfried Zaha can pose a threat with his pace and trickery, but it should not be enough to derail Chelsea in keeping tabs with the Premier League leaders. Eden Hazard can be a big performer on his return to the starting eleven and I will look for Chelsea to prove too good with a win by two or more goals on the day.

Fantasy Star: Willian- Eden Hazard may not get a lot of minutes and Willian has been thriving under Maurizio Sarri.

Alternative: Alvaro Morata- he has been scoring goals and is expected to lead the line with Olivier Giroud ruled out.


Huddersfield Town v Fulham Pick: Monday Night Football comes from the John Smith's Stadium and there is no doubting the importance of this fixture between Huddersfield Town and Fulham.

Two clubs inside the bottom three playing in November might not be a critical time of the season, but neither Huddersfield Town or Fulham dare to lose this game. In fact you may even argue that both David Wagner and Slavisa Jokanovic have to win this game for different reasons.

Jokanovic's case is simply that he needs to win to remain in his job as manager of Fulham. The 0-3 home defeat to Bournemouth has put Jokanovic on the brink of being shown the exit and you have to imagine a defeat here and one at Liverpool next weekend is likely going to be results where the board say enough is enough.

David Wagner is less likely to lose his job even if Huddersfield Town were to be relegated, but he will be conscious of the fact that anything less than a win would speed The Terriers towards the trapdoor. They have already failed to beat Cardiff City at home this season and a failure to beat another relegation rival will make it very difficult to know where the points are going to come from.

They are facing a Fulham team who have really struggled at the back and even a Huddersfield Town team that have yet to score at home should be able to take advantage. It has been a mix of poor finishing and some misfortune which has prevented Huddersfield Town from scoring goals in the last couple of games here and I do think that can be turned around against a Fulham team who just don't defend well.

On the other hand I am fully expecting Jokanovic to stick by his principles and set Fulham up to attack. They have shown they can score goals in the Premier League and the manager will likely live or die by his principles at this stage of his tenure when all the pressure is building on him.

It does feel like a game that will produce at least three goals.

That may be a surprising suggestion, but Fulham really do defend so poorly that I am expecting Huddersfield Town to find some good chances in this one. Remember Cardiff City had scored just four goals in 8 Premier League games before doubling that against Fulham, while the West London club have conceded at least twice in all 5 away games played in the League.

Huddersfield Town have only kept one clean sheet, so Fulham have to feel they can create chances having scored twice at Brighton and Cardiff City. The last time these teams played in the same Division two seasons ago saw them share out at least five goals in both League games and I think we are going to see goals when they meet on Monday.

At odds against I think backing three goals or more to be shared out is an option.

Fantasy Star: Steve Mounie- this could be a game with little entertainment and it's hard to pick a fantasy player who could thrive. This is a selection opposing Fulham and their porous defence.

Alternative: Aleksandar Mitrovic- he hasn't scored in his last four Premier League games, but Aleksandar Mitrovic could be the biggest threat to Huddersfield Town having scored at Tottenham Hotspur and Brighton in the League.

MY PICKS: Bournemouth-Manchester United Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.75 Betfair Sportsbook (2 Units)
Leicester City - 0.25 Asian Handicap @ 1.85 Bet365 (2 Units)
Everton & Over 1.5 Goals @ 2.00 Ladbrokes (2 Units)
Watford 0 Asian Handicap @ 2.00 Bet Victor (2 Units)
West Ham United & Under 3.5 Goals @ 2.30 Boyle Sports (2 Units)
Liverpool @ 1.95 Bet Fred (2 Units)
Wolves-Tottenham Hotspur Both Teams to Score @ 1.72 Bet Fred (2 Units)
Manchester City Win to Nil @ 1.80 Paddy Power (2 Units)
Chelsea - 1.5 Asian Handicap @ 1.85 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Huddersfield Town-Fulham Over 2.5 Goals @ 2.05 Bet365 (2 Units)