NFL Week 6 Picks 2025 (Thursday 9th October-Monday 13th October)

The 1972 Miami Dolphins normally have to wait a little longer before they can crack out the champagne and celebrate being the only team that finished with an unbeaten season for another year, but the Buffalo Bills and Philadelphia Eagles fell in Week 5.

This is the first time in eleven years that there has not been an unbeaten team through five weeks of the NFL season and there is a real feeling that very little is separating a number of teams at the top of the mountain.

The Eagles have a very good record, but have far from impressed, while the Buffalo Bills have not exactly had the toughest of schedules.

Out of all of the teams, the likes of the Detroit Lions have perhaps impressed the most, but we have already seen the huge impact that injuries can have on any team at any time.

It has felt like a season when more injuries have been at play- the Baltimore Ravens look a shell of themselves with the Defensive unit banged up and Lamar Jackson out with a hamstring issue- and there does feel like vacuum to be filled at the top. The likes of the Eagles and Bills should still have enough about them to reach the post-season, but it is Washington, Detroit, Tampa Bay and Indianapolis who are perhaps looking sharper right now.

That also means an opportunity for the likes of the Kansas City Chiefs to fight through the early issues they are having after being dropped to 2-3 with a defeat on Monday Night Football. The AFC really does look weaker without the Ravens operating near to their best and the Chiefs looking like they have taken a backwards step and that could open the door to a team like the Denver Broncos to surprisingly come through the pack.

However, we are only just entering Week 6 and so much Football is still to play before we can think about Playoffs and potential Super Bowl Champions.

There are some who believe that any time a Pick goes down the wrong way that the system has been rigged against them, but it's never the case.

In saying that, it does not mean I was not hugely frustrated with the shenanigans in the Arizona Cardinals game last week.

Having a Running Back drop the ball just before crossing the line for a Touchdown to prevent the Cardinals from leading 28-6 in the Fourth Quarter is one thing, but then to have a player earn an Interception only to Fumble the ball, have a team-mate kick the ball back inside his own End Zone and then give up the recovery to the Titans for another Touchdown meant an epic fourteen point swing in the most foolish of fashions.

Instead of being what looked a comfortable cover twice, the Cardinals managed to shoot themselves in the foot for long enough to lose outright.

Adding to the Miami Dolphins inability to make a Fourth Quarter stop, two potential winners turned out moving in the wrong direction and it has continued what has been a relatively slow start to the season.

Of course there is plenty of time to move the margins back in the right direction for the NFL Picks as the pages search for another winning season from the sport, but starting sooner than later is the ambition and that begins with the Week 6 selections.

Those will be added to the thread across the next few days, beginning with another Thursday Night Football selection from the NFC East.

Philadelphia Eagles @ New York Giants Pick: As one of two teams who lost their unbeaten record in Week 5, the Philadelphia Eagles (4-1) are looking to bounce back on a short week when travelling to the Divisional rivals the New York Giants (1-4).

The loss to the Denver Broncos felt like it has been coming for a while and the Eagles will want to get back on the horse immediately. None of the performances this season have been a complete four Quarter success for the Eagles, but the talent has allowed them to make some big plays at key times to help the team win even when not at their best.

Head Coach Nick Sirianni will not want to panic, but the will want to see the Eagles put a strong game on the board before having something of a mini-break before heading back out in Week 7.

Running the ball more efficiently has to be the focus for the team to help them get back to basics, but it has been a slog so far this season. The Offensive Line has not been able to stay healthy, which doesn't help, and Landon Dickerson will be a big miss, although it should not take too much for Saquon Barkley to find the motivation needed to face his former team.

You have to expect the Eagles can have success running the ball against this Giants Defensive Line, although it may be another day when they struggle for consistency in moving the ball through the Running Back.

Jalen Hurts can take the ball and make some gains with his legs, but the Wide Receivers have not been completely on board with some of the play-calling and the Eagles have made a real effort to get the passing game going. AJ Brown had a big outing in Week 5, although he was not able to haul in the Hail Mary pass that would have kept the Eagles unbeaten.

There have been signs of improvement in the passing game and Jalen Hurts is not expected to be under the same pass rush pressure against this Giants team that have struggled to get to the Quarter Back. In the main the Secondary has still been able to hold up, but this Eagles team will give the New York Giants a significant test, even if they have yet to show the form that took them to the Super Bowl.

Injuries have been an issue for the Giants on the Offensive side of the ball, but they are expected to have success running the ball and especially if Jalen Carter is ruled out for the Eagles.

One of the disappointments early this season has been the play at the Line of Scrimmage on both sides of the ball and teams have continued to run the ball efficiently against the Eagles, which should be the case on Thursday Night Football as long as this game is close.

The problem for the Giants is that the Quarter Back has yet to force teams to respect him, whether that is Russell Wilson or Jaxson Dart operating behind Center. The Giants have beaten the Los Angeles Chargers with Dart at Quarter Back, but they were blown out by the struggling New Orleans Saints in Week 5 and the Eagles could sell out to stop the run and force New York to beat them through the air.

It really doesn't help that Malik Nabers is out and Darius Slayton could also be absent for the Giants, which will take away some key Receivers for Jaxson Dart. The Eagles have not really gotten the pass rush ramped up, but Jaxson Dart may not be able to make much use of the time he may be given against this solid Philadelphia Secondary.

Interceptions could be a problem for the young, inexperience Quarter Back in this primetime spot and the short week of preparation certainly does not favour the Giants.

Last year the Giants struggled when facing Divisional rivals and they have already been beaten by the Washington Commanders and Dallas Cowboys.

The Eagles ended with six wins in seven games against NFC East rivals in 2024 and they have already added to that here and they can bounce back from a Week 5 defeat.

Nick Sirianni does not have a good record when trying to pick his team up from a loss, but the Eagles should still be much stronger than the New York Giants. The spread is one that allows a backdoor cover to be in play, but the Giants have struggled for consistency Offensively and it may see the road team pull away for a double digit win to maintain control of the Division.

New York Jets vs Denver Broncos Pick: The second of three games to be played in London in the NFL will kick off the Sunday action in Week 6.

When the six teams were announced for the London games it was something of a disappointment and the New York Jets (0-5) have been as poor as some feared. They have had a couple of competitive losses in the early tenure of Head Coach Aaron Glenn, but the last couple of defeats to the Miami Dolphins and Dallas Cowboys have been really bad and the team are already on course to finish with the Number 1 Pick in the next NFL Draft as the only one that has yet to win a game this season.

The hope for the Jets is that they can produce better playing outside of the United States, but they were beaten at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium by the Minnesota Vikings in 2024.

This year they are facing the Denver Broncos (3-2) who are heading to London after upsetting the defending Champions Philadelphia Eagles on the road. With Divisional rivals Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers both losing in Week 5, the Broncos are tied for the best record in the AFC West and they have been set as significant favourites.

Denver are expected to be a well balanced team when they have the ball- the Offensive Line have been key in helping JK Dobbins establish the run and they will have seen the successes that the Dolphins and Cowboys have had when pounding the rock against the New York Jets Defensive Line. Head Coach Sean Payton is always keen to establish the run and the Broncos should be in a position to make Bo Nix's life pretty comfortable when the young Quarter Back is stepping back to throw the ball.

Respect has to be given to some of the personnel that the Jets have on the Defensive unit, but they have had a tough time in the Secondary with the team trying to send more men to the Line of Scrimmage to try and stop the run. The Denver Broncos have a good Receiving corps to find spaces down the field and that should mean Bo Nix is able to make plenty of plays with his arm, especially with what is going to be mainly a clean pocket from which to throw.

In what has been a tough season, one of the positives has to be the way the Jets have been able to run the ball with dual-threat Quarter Back Justin Fields and Breece Hall both performing well on the ground. However, this Broncos Defensive Line have prided themselves on being able to locate runners very quickly and it may be one of the tougher days for the Jets.

Justin Fields will try and extend plays where he can, but his Offensive Line have offered very little time as they have struggled to stop the pass rush. This is an area that the Broncos are expected to have a huge edge and rushing Fields could lead to stalled drives, although credit has to be given to the Quarter Back for not throwing into troubled spots.

However, trying to make plays with the pocket collapsing and pass rushers swiping at the ball can lead to Fumbles and the Broncos should win the turnover battle.

Any extra possessions could see Denver pull clear of the New York Jets- the latter have only lost two of the five games by more than 6 points, but the Jets have simply not seen a Defensive unit as good as the one they are facing in London.

Backing up big wins is not always easy, but the Denver Broncos should have the balance Offensively to do what they like for much of the afternoon.

Dallas Cowboys @ Carolina Panthers Pick: There was a time when the Dallas Cowboys (2-2-1) would have been seen as the top team in the NFC East, but they are chasing the likes of the Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Commanders. Credit has to be given to the team for not feeling sorry for themselves as injuries have piled up and the crushing win over the New York Jets in Week 5 keeps the Cowboys in touch with the two leading teams in the Division.

Games against Divisional rivals are going to be tough, but the Dallas Cowboys have other games on the schedule which look winnable and that includes this one in Week 6.

The Carolina Panthers (2-3) found a way to rally a couple of different times in the Fourth Quarter of the win over the Miami Dolphins.

They can thank Rico Dowdle for a monster performance against the Dolphins and the former Dallas Cowboy will be looking to punish the team for allowing him to leave. It has been possible to run the ball against this Dallas Defensive Line and so it could be another very good day for Rico Dowdle as he looks to put the Panthers in a position to have success.

It will mean needing Bryce Young to build on the momentum from the Week 5 win over the Dolphins and he should have a chance to do that when you think of the numbers that this Dallas Secondary have been giving up. They have not been able to generate much pressure and so Carolina are going to be a position to at least keep the scoreboard ticking over, which will give them a chance for the home upset.

However, it may not be enough to keep the scoreboard simply ticking over and the Panthers could be forced to go Touchdown for Touchdown in this one if the Dallas Cowboys continue from where they have left off in each of the last two weeks.

Dak Prescott may not have Ceedee Lamb, but it has not slowed this passing game, while Javonte Williams is playing at an exceptional level and underlying the reason Rico Dowdle was allowed to leave.

In recent games the Panthers Defensive Line have been stronger against the run, but containing Williams behind this Dallas Offensive Line will not be easy.

And if the Quarter Back is playing in front of the chains, the Dallas Cowboys should be able to keep the ball moving and ultimately make this a game where the pressure will be on Bryce Young to put a consistent performance together.

Turnovers are likely to be key in a game where both teams will be confident with the ball in hand, but Dallas have been playing with a bit more confidence and that can show up here.

They have beaten Carolina three times in a row between 2021 and 2024 and Dallas can keep that streak going, while covering this line set.

Seattle Seahawks @ Jacksonville Jaguars Pick: These two were both involved in late plays that determined the outcome of their Week 5 games- the Seattle Seahawks (3-2) made a mistake that saw them lose to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but the Jacksonville Jaguars (4-1) were able to score a Touchdown late in the win over the Kansas City Chiefs.

The home team will be heading over to London for the annual trip next week, but they will be keen to keep up with the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC South before travelling.

There have been positives about this Jaguars team, which is not a surprise considering they are 4-1, but the record does feel a little flattering. They are going to be tested by a Seattle team that could easily have the same record as the Jaguars if not for a late turnover that cost them a defeat to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 5, and the Seahawks have looked pretty confident on both sides of the ball.

One of the key factors on the Defensive side of the ball is the play of the Linemen and the Seattle Seahawks have been able to shut down the run all season. They will be expected to do the same against a Jacksonville team that have had some issues on the ground in recent games and that will mean the pressure is on the shoulders of Quarter Back Trevor Lawrence.

Some have wondered if Lawrence would ever reach the level that people expected from him, but he is doing what is needed to keep the chains moving. He is averaging less than 200 passing yards per game across the last three games, but Trevor Lawrence may find a few more spaces to exploit against this Seattle Secondary with the connection to Brian Thomas Jr looking stronger as the Wide Receiver gets up to speed.

That should help the Jaguars, but it is tough to continue to throw with success from behind the marker and that may be the case if the run is not something operating with any consistency.

Jacksonville will still feel they can have some success against this Seahawks Defensive unit, but the same will be said when Sam Darnold trots onto the field with the Seattle Offense.

Unlike the Jaguars, the Seahawks should have more success to find some balance in their Offensive game-plan and that is because there have been a few more holes that have opened up against the Jacksonville Defensive Line. Kenneth Walker III had a big day against the Buccaneers impressive Defensive Line last week and he can pick up from that performance against this Jaguars team that have been allowing 5 yards per carry in recent games.

This can only be good news for Sam Darnold who will be attacking a Secondary that has given up plenty of yards.

The Quarter Back is building up a good connection with his Receivers and Sam Darnold has been given plenty of protection by his Offensive Line, which should lead to another big performance. He will have to be aware that this Jaguars Secondary have given up yards by taking risks, but those have also led to the team picking up Interceptions to turn the momentum and Darnold will have to be careful.

If he can, Sam Darnold should be able to put up enough points to help the road team win this pick 'em contest, especially with the Jaguars perhaps thinking about the game in London next week. The Jaguars are also playing on a short week, which is never easy, and Seattle can bounce back from the disappointing defeat in Week 5 by getting back on the horse immediately.

Los Angeles Rams @ Baltimore Ravens Pick: Losing is never fun, but the fans attending the Week 5 game at M&T Bank Stadium made it clear how disappointed they were in the effort of the Baltimore Ravens (1-4). Injuries are a big factor, but the fans will have wanted those coming in to really put in a top effort instead of what they saw as Baltimore were beaten by 34 points against the Houston Texans.

The Defensive unit has been ravaged by injury, but it is the hamstring injury suffered by Lamar Jackson that really feels like a season changing blow. Cooper Rush comes in as the backup Quarter Back, and has experience doing so, but he showed in Week 5 that he is not Lamar Jackson and the team are already chasing in the AFC North.

One positive for the Ravens is that they are playing in what looks a weak Division, while the other is that they are entering the Bye Week after this game.

First off the Ravens do have to deal with the Los Angeles Rams (3-2) who last played on Thursday Night Football and so have had a mini-Bye to prepare for this game before they travel to London for a Week 7 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

In usual circumstances, the Rams Defensive Line would be expecting a tough day in the office as they prepared to face a dual-threat Quarter Back who has a running mate in Derrick Henry to pound the rock. The Baltimore Offensive Line have opened up some decent holes for the ground and pound game, but that task looks very difficult without Jackson and especially not against a Los Angeles Defensive Line that that has been built to stop the run and been doing that pretty effectively this season.

The Rams have also generated a solid pass rush and the pressure is on the Ravens Offensive Line to give Cooper Rush time- the Quarter Back does not have the scrambling ability of Lamar Jackson to move away from the pressure and that will stall the passing game.

Los Angeles have allowed teams to have some success throwing against them, but keeping Baltimore in third and long and then unleashing the pass rush against the backup Quarter Back should stall drives. Avoiding mistakes and giving up short fields has to be a big ambition for Cooper Rush and the entire Baltimore Offense in this game, but it could be tough to put up a lot of points.

It means relying on the Defensive unit to contain the Rams for long enough to give the home team a chance to win.

However, this is a unit that has been hit really hard by injury and it feels like Sean McVay could have a fun day calling the plays.

The Ravens Defensive Line have not been able to stop the run and that is only music to the ears of the Los Angeles Rams as they look to keep the team in front of the chains. A couple of solid Running Backs have been piling up the yards on the ground and the Rams may pick up from where Nick Chubb left off in this one.

Matthew Stafford is likely to be operating in a relatively clean pocket and he can find his Receivers down the field out of the play-action that will be working really well if the Rams are running the ball as expected.

This should all add up to the Rams being very comfortable when they do have the ball in their hands and Los Angeles could come away with a strong win.

Teams travelling across the country to play in an early time slot is never easy, but the Rams should have won in Philadelphia in the same spot. They have won at Tennessee before that and they can continue their move East with a win in Baltimore, a cover of this mark and the momentum to take to London for the game at Wembley Stadium next Sunday.

San Francisco 49ers @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers Pick: All credit has to be given to the San Francisco 49ers (4-1) for overcoming a huge amount of injuries and beating rivals Los Angeles Rams on Thursday Night Football in Week 5. They created a couple of big turnovers at key moments to turn the game in their favour, but this is another tough test for a team missing several key figures on both sides of the ball.

Mac Jones will be under Center for this game at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-1) who had an improbable win over the Seattle Seahawks.

Like the 49ers, the Buccaneers are not allowing injury to let them make excuses and they look the team to beat in the NFC South again. There should not be any reason to be looking past a team with a 4-1 record, even with the Detroit Tigers on deck, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers can get the better of another NFC West team.

Mike Evans has been missing, but that has not prevented the Buccaneers from continuing to keep the ball moving with rookie Emeka Egbuka leading the way. He can be very grateful to strong Quarter Back play from Baker Mayfield and this is another game in which the passing game should be working well considering the lack of pressure San Francisco are getting up front without Nick Bosa.

Bucky Irving is out and the Buccaneers have been inconsistent at running the ball, although the 49ers Defensive Line has not been the best at stopping the ground attack in recent games. They will believe they can beat this Offensive Line, but Tampa Bay will not shy away from looking to run the ball and it just keeps teams honest enough to allow Baker Mayfield to work.

Tampa Bay will feel they can dominate the Line of Scrimmage on the other side of the ball and that is where they may have the edge in this game.

Christian McCaffrey is still operating at a decent level, but he has been more of a factor in the passing game of late with the Offensive Line struggling to open up running lanes up front. The 49ers are averaging just 3.1 yards per carry in their last three games and they are not expected to get much change out of this Tampa Bay Defensive Line, which means it will be up to Mac Jones to make the plays needed to keep the chains moving.

To the credit of the 49ers, the passing game has actually been working pretty well with Kyle Shanahan and his Coaching staff finding a way to keep Defensive units off balance.

San Francisco have injuries in key Receiving positions, but players are stepping up and making plays and they should be able to do the same in Week 6. However, the Buccaneers Secondary have been in good form and they will feel they can do enough to take advantage of what may become a one-dimensional game that is being called by the road team and Tampa Bay can force a mistake or two in order to earn the victory.

The Buccaneers have lost four in a row in the series against this NFC rival, including a home loss last season. However, Tampa Bay have covered the spread in the last two against the San Francisco 49ers and this time they can do enough to be the one that comes out on top in this meeting of two 4-1 teams.

Detroit Lions @ Kansas City Chiefs Pick: At the start of the season, this match up would have been right up amongst the leading selections from those predicting Super Bowl teams for next February.

Out of the two teams, the Detroit Lions (4-1) have impressed more than the Kansas City Chiefs (2-3).

Monday Night Football saw Kansas City lose at the Jacksonville Jaguars in dramatic fashion and there is a concern that something is not quite right with this team. The AFC in general still looks wide open and the Chiefs have not lost touch in the AFC West, but this is another tough game and the hosts look a vulnerable favourite.

Patrick Mahomes is Patrick Mahomes and he does have a 16-10 record against the spread following a loss, although just 1-1 this season. He is trying to put the team on his back but Mahomes has some inconsistent Receivers, while injury and suspension has meant his biggest targets have been missing.

The legs have been key for Mahomes, but establishing the run will not be easy considering how well the Detroit Defensive Line have been playing. The Quarter Back can pick up yards on his own and the Kansas City Offensive Line have played well when asked to run block, while the Detroit Secondary are missing Terrion Arnold and so this is an opportunity for the hosts to have success.

It will be hard work though and certainly feels like it will be tougher than what the Detroit Lions will expect when they have the ball themselves.

The Running Back tandem continues to be a big factor for the Lions and they will have noted the huge amount of yards that the Kansas City Chiefs have allowed on the ground. Detroit will want to bully the Chiefs, while keeping Patrick Mahomes and company on the sidelines, and the Lions can certainly make sure Jared Goff is operating from third and manageable spots on the field.

Jared Goff has a few Receivers that are capable of making the plays he needs from them and the Lions should be able to keep things ticking over in this one.

This feels like another game in which turnovers are going to be massively important, but the Lions as the underdog have been strong to back under Dan Campbell. He has already led them to a win as the underdog in Baltimore before the injuries really hit the Ravens hard, and Detroit are 13-5 against the spread when being given points.

Sunday Night Football gives the Lions another chance to remind the nation of their qualities and they look worth backing with the start.

MY PICKS: Philadelphia Eagles - 7 Points @ 1.86 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Denver Broncos - 7 Points @ 1.91 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)

Dallas Cowboys - 3 Points @ 1.95 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Seattle Seahawks @ 1.91 Bet Fred (1 Unit)

Los Angeles Rams - 7.5 Points @ 2.00 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers - 3.5 Points @ 2.00 William Hill (1 Unit)

Detroit Lions + 2.5 Points @ 1.91 William Hill (1 Unit)

Week 5: 3-3, - 0.33 Units (6 Units Staked, - 5.50% Yield)

Week 4: 2-3, - 1.14 Units (5 Units Staked, - 22.80% Yield)

Week 3: 5-3, + 1.56 Units (8 Units Staked, + 19.50% Yield)

Week 2: 3-2, + 0.67 Units (5 Units Staked, + 13.40% Yield)

Week 1: 0-2, - 2 Units (2 Units Staked, - 100% Yield)

2025 Season: 13-13, - 1.24 Units (26 Units Staked, - 4.77% Yield)

Boxing Picks 2024- Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol (Saturday 12th October)

Three weeks have passed since the stunning end to the last Riyadh Season card.

The event at Wembley Stadium was almost certainly not attended by the reported number (reported by the promoters), but it was a massive event all the same. The conclusion with Daniel Dubois announcing himself as a genuine World Champion after a crushing win over Anthony Joshua has kept the Heavyweight Division right in the spotlight as most continue to sit back and wait for the big December card headlined by the rematch between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk.

It is likely to be a card filled with a number of Heavyweight contests with the rumours of a Martin Bakole vs Zhilei Zhang contest looking to be the standout as the chief support (since writing this, the actual undercard was released for the Fury-Usyk rematch and it is underwhelming to say the least).

However, before we get to all that, arguably the very best fight of 2024 is set to take place this weekend when Artur Beterbiev takes on Dmitry Bivol with all four Light Heavyweight Titles on the line.

Make no mistake, this is an absolute elite level fight and the winner is going to be amongst the conversation of being the greatest of all time in the Division.

It is a fight that has long been one that the fans have demanded and the fact it is for Undisputed makes it all the grander.

Will it capture the imagination of the casuals? Perhaps not, but being on a Riyadh Season card means there is a decent undercard attached, especially for British viewers, and Beterbiev-Bivol is going to be one that proper Boxing fans will love.

Fabio Wardley vs Frazer Clarke II should have perhaps taken place back in the United Kingdom, but the money they are likely going to be getting to be the chief support in Riyadh cannot be dismissed.

Chris Eubank Jr is back to shake off the ring rust before moving into big fights in 2025, while Ben Whittaker will be continuing his development with another step upwards and Jai Opetaia is also looking to stay active before beginning to Unify the Cruiserweight Division.

And all of this suggests Boxxer and Ben Shalom are now firmly in with the Saudi authorities having felt rivals Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren were perhaps trying to keep him looking in from the outside.

A slight positive number was returned after the last Riyadh Season card, but it could have been much better.

Hamzah Sheeraz really impressed and is almost certainly going to be heading into a World Title shot next, but the upset of Mark Chamberlain would have disappointed him, his promoter and Turki Alalshikh.

Overall it has been a decent year, but there is still plenty of work to do over the final quarter of the calendar year to produce a profit from the Picks.

Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol

He won his IBF World Title in November 2017 and Artur Beterbiev made a number of defences before beating Oleksandr Gvozdyk in October 2019 to add the WBC Title to his collection and then Joe Smith Jr in June 2022 to pick up the WBO Title.

Inactivity has been down to injury and that has restricted Beterbiev to a single fight in 2022 and 2023, although he is set to head out for a second time in 2024 having crushed Callum Smith in January.

He is now unbeaten in twenty, while Dmitry Bivol is unbeaten in twenty-three and won his WBA World Title in November 2017.

Like his compatriot, Dmitry Bivol has made a number of successful defences of his World Title, but it has been typical of Boxing that we have not been in a position for these two to have met much earlier than October 2024.

If it wasn't for injury, this fight would have already have taken place back in June, but Artur Beterbiev needed time to get over meniscus surgery and that has perhaps contributed to Dmitry Bivol hardening as favourite after the original date had seen both fighters in a 'pick 'em' spot.

Dmitry Bivol does have that win over Canelo Alvarez too, which some will perhaps rate as the best either fighter has produced. Both have victories over Joe Smith Jr, but the best win that either has put together has to be Artur Beterbiev's crushing success over Oleksandr Gvozdyk in 2019.

None of that matters now with both fighters extremely confident in their chances of cementing their name in Boxing history.

You have to be worried about Beterbiev's latest injury- he is 39 years old and in recent years the biggest challenge has not been his opponents, but the body breaking down on him.

Some have suggested the relatively short postponement from June to October may not be enough time for Artur Beterbiev to get past a ruptured meniscus and there has to be a worry about that. We have seen how tough it can be for athletes of a certain age to overcome injury problems and it is something to keep in mind ahead of this massive fight.

There is so much to like about Artur Beterbiev on his pure ability in the ring.

His perfect Knock Out record may paint a picture of a pure banger, but Beterbiev is not really someone who will produce a 'one hitter quitter' and instead uses smart Boxing to get into range where he can begin to break down an opponent. There is no loading up on the punches, but timing and execution is spot on and that means every punch Beterbiev throws looks and feels hurtful.

The crushing win over Joe Smith Jr in Two Rounds stands out in recent outings, but the American came to fight fire with fire and ultimately he was not able to stand up to the power the Unified Champion brings. However, five of the last six wins produced by Artur Beterbiev have been in the second half of the contest, which backs up the fact that this is a far better Boxer than some think and someone who is patient and willing to break his opponent down without rushing the work.

Dmitry Bivol is going to be well aware of his compatriot's strengths, but he should have plenty of faith in his own Boxing ability to counter Beterbiev.

However, you do have to believe that Bivol is going to need to show enough punch power to earn the respect of Artur Beterbiev if he is going to head back to Russia with all of the Light Heavyweight Belts in his possession.

Prior to his win over replacement Malik Zinad, an overmatched opponent, Dmitry Bivol had not stopped anyone since 2018 and that natural willingness to coast towards a decision is perhaps telling us something. While we have not seen him hurt that often, you do have to wonder if Dmitry Bivol is perhaps not as sure about his ability to take a big shot as he would like to be and being unwilling to really push for a Stoppage when way clear on the cards is with that reasoning in mind.

He has shown plenty of durability and conditioning, but being hit by Artur Beterbiev will feel different compared with anyone else that Dmitry Bivol will have faced.

Can he box well enough to keep Beterbiev from getting his work done?

This is the key question and one that ultimately that Dmitry Bivol may struggle to pass.

Father Time is one opponent that every Boxer will eventually fail to beat and that is the secondary concern with Artur Beterbiev, as well as the injury issues he has had in recent years.

However, it is hard to look past Beterbiev until we see that happen and his footwork and boxing IQ is underrated and that could put him in a strong position to hurt Dmitry Bivol. As one of the better finishers out there, Beterbiev is unlikely to rush his work and instead will continue to break down the man in front of him and my feeling for some time has been that the older of the two Russian men will have too much when this fight eventually happens.

A year ago the confidence would have been higher of course, but in what should be a great event, Artur Beterbiev may come through with yet another opponent wilting in front of him and the pressure the three Belt holder brings to the ring.

In something of a surprise, the undercard for this event features plenty of talent associated with Boxxer rather than solely Matchroom and Queensberry.

While there has been clear statements that no one was being 'blacklisted' when it came to the events in Saudi, most fans felt Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren were keeping Ben Shalom out of the loop and even some of the interviews in fight week ahead of the card at Wembley Stadium saw the two older promoters 'bullying' the new kid on the block.

None of this matters to the Saudi authorities putting the money into these cards though and so Boxxer have a heavy presence on this event.

One of the big names on their roster will be in Riyadh as Ben Whittaker continues stepping up his level of competition and looking to show he is more than just a showman. There is no doubting his skills, but Whittaker perhaps needs to show that there is plenty of spite to go along with that if he really is going to make the kind of impact on the sport that so many believe he will.

The last two fights have gone the distance and so there is little doubt that Ben Whittaker will be able to get through the Rounds.

He is up against Liam Cameron who was last out in June losing a Split Decision to Lyndon Arthur, although Cameron felt he had done enough to win. That is perhaps not quite the case, even if Liam Cameron performed better than expected and the veteran has never been Stopped.

Fatigue had clearly gotten a hold of Liam Cameron in the defeat to Arthur and that is where Ben Whittaker can try and impress by turning the screw and forcing this fight to end inside the distance. Finishing, rather than entertaining, has not always been the focus for Whittaker, but this is a big card to show his talents and to prove he should be invited back and that means an exciting finish could go a long way.

The chances will be there for Ben Whittaker to find the combinations to get the referee to step up, although those will begin to show up a bit more in the second half of this contest.

Another Boxxer promoted fighter, albeit one that has been under the Matchroom and Queensberry banners previously, will be looking to shake off the ring rust as Chris Eubank Jr returns for the first time since September 2023.

When last out, Eubank Jr was beating Liam Smith and avenging a loss to the Liverpudlian, and there were plenty of reports suggesting Canelo had reached out to face the British fighter.

The offers were turned down with Chris Eubank Jr feeling he needed at least one fight before taking on such a challenge and rumours suggest that he will be a leading name to be Canelo's next opponent if he can get through this contest.

Kamil Szeremata is fighting for the second time this year, but he has dropped his level since losing consecutive fights against Gennady Golovkin and Jaime Munguia. In both he was beaten down and Stopped and the fast hands of Chris Eubank Jr may be too much for the Polish fighter to handle.

He may not hit as hard as either of those two names that have beaten Szeremata, but Chris Eubank Jr should still have the power to break down this opponent and pushing his resume forward to be the next challenger to Canelo Alvarez.

There is every chance that Chris Eubank Jr will begin to turn the screw in and around the same kind of time that Golovkin and Munguia closed the show against Kamil Szeremata and he will certainly have the motivation to push on and secure the Stoppage.

The first two names representing Boxxer look like they will be able to pick up solid victories, but it is going to be a much tougher task for Jack Massey.

He has earned his opportunity by upsetting Isaac Chamberlain in June and Jack Massey has shared a ring with Heavyweight Joseph Parker and managed to go the distance before losing a tight Decision.

A lack of opportunities before beating Chamberlain had slowed his career, but Jack Massey has been given this shot against Jai Opetaia and it looks a considerable challenge for him.

The British fighter has also gone the distance with Richard Riakporhe before losing another Decision, but it could be argued that he is facing the most dangerous puncher when going in with the IBF World Cruiserweight Champion.

He has become active with this being the fourth fight in thirteen months and Jai Opetaia has gotten rid of Mairis Breidis with two wins over the former World Champion. In between the wins over the Latvian, Opetaia has crushed a couple of British opponents, although neither Ellis Zorro nor Jordan Thompson are perhaps as good as Jack Massey.

The Champion hits very hard and he has shown he can find his range and rhythm very early on, although there is plenty of evidence to say that Jai Opetaia carries his power and that may be how this one ends.

Jack Massey has shown his grit and determination and he will likely try and weather the early storm and to work his way into the contest. The feeling is that Massey will eventually begin to break down as the power and quality of the Champion begins to shine through and it may see the corner or the referee decide that there is no need for the Challenger to take more punishment.

The chief support on this big card is a very good looking rematch between Fabio Wardley and Frazer Clarke after an exciting bout between the two in London back in March. The draw felt a little harsh on Clarke, but he had been put down in the fight and also lost another point for hitting low.

It would have been hoped that the rematch would have taken place in the United Kingdom, but you cannot begrudge the two heading to Riyadh knowing the winner will be given a lot of opportunities under this promotion.

Even the losing fighter will feel they will have other chances to recover, but neither Wardley nor Clarke are contemplating losing.

Both have promised to pick up from where they left off and it will be interesting to see what they have been working on and what, if any, adjustments are made.

Fabio Wardley certainly showed he had the power edge in the first bout, but he fatigued late on and that may have been down to the nose injury suffered. He was bleeding pretty well too, which could not have helped the energy levels, although Wardley may have found a Stoppage if his Knock Down had come even thirty seconds earlier than it did.

By the end Frazer Clarke was throwing out some big bombs of his own, and he did hurt the British Champion, although you have to wonder how much of that was down to Fabio Wardley slowing down as the fight took its toll.

There is every chance this is going to be another firefight and that could be dangerous for Frazer Clarke, especially early. Fabio Wardley would have learned plenty from the first fight and may show a bit more willingness to wait for the counters and not get too carried away early, but pressure is key for the current British Champion and this time he can follow up the big punches and find a way to end this rivalry inside the distance.

This is the chief support and it can live up to that billing with the feeling being a younger Fabio Wardley can put together something to force Frazer Clarke to buckle in the rivalry.

MY PICKS: Artur Beterbiev to Win by KO/TKO @ 2.75 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Ben Whittaker to Win Between 6-10 @ 3.00 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

Chris Eubank Jr to Win Between 5-8 @ 3.30 William Hill (1 Unit)

Jai Opetaia to Win Between 5-8 @ 2.87 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

Fabio Wardley to Win by KO/TKO @ 2.62 Bet Fred (1 Unit)

Boxing 2024: 27-48, + 8.65 Units (101 Units Staked, + 8.56% Yield)

College Football Week 7 Picks 2024 (Saturday 12th October)

There continues to be a lot of uncertainty about the future of College Football with a number of plans being discussed behind the scenes that could completely change the landscape.

None of that matters to teams and players performing in 2024 and the sole focus has to be in trying to win Conference Championships and/or earning a spot in the College Football PlayOff and having a chance to win a National Championship.

However, avoiding all distractions is never easy and a number of the higher Ranked teams were beaten in upsets in Week 6 to just change the outlook of this season.

It might not have been the 'biggest upset of all time' in terms of the raw numbers, but the Alabama Crimson Tide going down to the Vanderbilt Commodores for the first time in forty years shook up College Football. The fact that defeat was just seven days after beating the Georgia Bulldogs just made the upset that much bigger in the eyes of the fans, although Alabama were not the only ones to be downed last week.

Two other highly Ranked SEC teams were also beaten when Tennessee and Missouri went down and all three of those teams have dropped several places in the top 25 Rankings ahead of Week 7.

Without playing, the Texas Longhorns moved back to Number 1 and they are followed by top unbeaten teams in Ohio State, Oregon and Penn State, although those three Big Ten teams will begin to jockey for position in Week 7 when the Buckeyes travel to Oregon to take on the Ducks.

The Miami Hurricanes are another highly Ranked unbeaten tea, but they have been a little fortunate in each of the last two weeks and most would likely pick the Clemson Tigers as the team to beat in the ACC.

As Week 6 proved, looking too far ahead is a big mistake for teams, players and fans and there should be a refocus after seeing some big named College teams beaten.

Once again, there are some big games on deck in Week 7 and the Picks can be read below.

Missouri Tigers @ Massachusetts Minutemen Pick: They were Ranked pretty highly, but it should not be ignored that the Missouri Tigers (4-1) had been set as the underdog when travelling to Texas A&M last week. Even then, it was an embarrassing capitulation from what had been an unbeaten team and Missouri fans and Head Coach Eli Drinkwitz will be expecting a big reaction.

The Tigers dropped to 1-1 in the Conference, but they will return to SEC action in Week 8 and have been given this opportunity to 'get right'.

It is no disrespect to Massachusetts Minutemen (1-5), but this is a huge step up for a team that has lost five of six games to begin the 2024 season. Outside of the blowout at the Buffalo Bulls, the Minutemen have been competitive, but they have also not played a Power 4 team like the one that will be heading into town.

There is an excitement about being given an opportunity to face a team from the SEC, but the Minutemen Defensive Line are going to have a really tough time competing with this Missouri Offensive Line. Being able to stop the run has been difficult for the Minutemen all season and now having to try and block off those lanes against a much stronger Offensive Line is likely going to make it a long day in the office for the Linemen.

Everyone knows that the Tigers want to pound the ball on the ground and then use that to open the rest of their playbook- this was not possible for them last week in their defeat, but Missouri should be much more comfortable on this side of the ball in Week 7 and that should see them in front of the chains and keeping drives ticking over.

Brady Cook has not had those stellar Quarter Back passing numbers, but he is capable of making enough plays where Missouri need them, while also being able to tuck the ball under his arm and run.

As the level of opponent has stepped up, the Missouri Defensive unit have perhaps not been as convincing as they have looked earlier in the season and that was evident in the defeat last week at Texas A&M. However, this is not going to be an Offensive unit that overly concerns the Tigers and they should be able contain this Umass run game.

Taisun Phommachanh has shown flashes of his ability in recent games and his ability as a dual-threat Quarter Back could help the Minutemen make a few plays, but he could also find the pocket collapsing if the home team are stuck in obvious passing situations.

Playing a clean game could help Massachusetts keep this one closer than the spread suggests, although the play is backing the road team to bounce back. The Tigers were embarrassed by the Aggies in Week 6 and that is gong to mean there is plenty of motivation to just put a big win on the board before returning to Conference play.

One concern with a number like this one is that the backdoor cover will be available if Missouri do begin to turn their attention to upcoming games with Auburn and Alabama. However, the Minutemen look like they could be worn down by the SEC power of the Missouri Tigers and this may end up being a strong win for the Power 4 team.

Oklahoma Sooners vs Texas Longhorns Pick: After a week in which they were sitting back and watching the chaos unfold, the Texas Longhorns (5-0) return to action against a familiar rival, albeit they are meeting under the SEC banner for the first time.

The Red River Rivalry against the Oklahoma Sooners (4-1) will be played at the Cotton Bowl Stadium and could have major ramifications for how the season plays out.

For all of their positive start, this is only the second SEC game for the Longhorns who have been moved above the likes of Alabama, Tennessee and Georgia after all three of those teams have been beaten over the last couple of weeks. However, there is still a considerably tough path to tread for Texas if they are going to play in the SEC Championship Game in their first season in the Conference and they will be more than aware of how little motivation is needed for the Sooners to want to upset them from that path.

The Sooners are 1-1 in the Conference having lost at home to the Volunteers, but recovering to beat the Auburn Tigers on the road in Week 5. Like Texas, Oklahoma have been on a Bye Week to prepare for the latest running of the Red River Rivalry, alhthough there have been more issues to clear up as far as the Sooners Offensive strategy goes.

Games between these rivals have tended to be very competitive and that will see plenty backing the underdog who are being given plenty of points in this one. Nine of the last ten games between Texas and Oklahoma have been won by fewer than nine points and both teams are going to be well prepared and waiting to compete in what should be another raucous atmosphere.

As stated, it has been a very tough season for the Sooners Offensively and the decision has been made to go with Michael Hawkins at Quarter Back having originially been splitting time between him and Jackson Arnold behind Center. It was Hawkins who was much more productive in the loss against Tennessee that saw him have complete control in the win at Auburn, but this is another huge challenge for the Sooners on this side of the ball.

The Offensive Line has not really been able to help the Quarter Back as would have been hoped and they are not likely going to have to a lot of success pounding the ball on the ground against this Texas Defensive Line. As the quality of opponent has ramped up, it is looking even tougher for the Sooners to establish the run and that is putting a lot of pressure on the Quarter Back to make plays.

Michael Hawkins is not expected to get a lot of time in the pocket with the Longhorns pass rush able to pin back their ears and get after the Quarter Back and so he will have to move around and try and extend plays. This can be dangerous against a Secondary that has played at a high level and who have found big turnovers to keep the pressure on opponents.

Of course this is only the second SEC game for the Longhorns so they may feel they are still in 'prove it' mode, especially considering the upsets that were recorded in this Conference last week and with the sole victory being against the struggling Mississippi State Bulldogs.

This is a considerable step up and the rivalry makes it that much tougher, while Texas will also be dealing with a 'Quarter Back controversy' if things do not go as planned.

Arch Manning is always going to draw a lot of interest merely through his surname, but the performances in place of Quinn Ewers have got the College Football nation talking.

However, it cannot be ignored that Ewers began the season as the starter, has won fourteen of sixteen games leading the Texas Longhorns and that includes in incredibly hostile environments like Alabama and Michigan. These stack up to make Quinn Ewers an expected top five Draft choice and there is little doubt about his capabilities as he looks to get one over on Oklahoma after losing to them last year.

The feeling is that Arch Manning may be used at times with his dual-threat capabilities making this Longhorns Offensive unit that much more dangerous.

But Quinn Ewers is healthy and he will be able to quieten down any outside discussion, even when facing his toughest Defense of the relatively young season. Running the ball will be challenging, but there is a lot of faith in this Texas Offensive Line, while Ewers should find spaces to exploit in the Secondary.

Young Tennessee Quarter Back Nick Iamaleava had almost 200 passing yards in the road win over the Sooners, but Quinn Ewers is a stronger Quarter Back right now and is surrounded by playmakers that should keep the chains moving. His Offensive Line will provide some time and Ewers just has to play a cleaner game than when the Longhorns were beaten by Oklahoma in 2023 to push his own team clear.

Rivalry games can do funny things to teams and you cannot ignore how competitive games between these two schools have been on the football field. However, it was two years ago when the Longhorns blew out Oklahoma in a game where Quinn Ewers had 289 passing yards along with 4 Touchdown passes and the feeling is that the last weekend upsets will just refocus Texas and help them produce a statement win ahead of the big game with Georgia in Week 8.

Mississippi State Bulldogs @ Georgia Bulldogs Pick: Let's not mess around at the beginning of this Pick- the battle of the Bulldogs will be won by Georgia and it would take an upset that surpasses any other we have seen this season if this game ended any other way.

The fact that the Georgia Bulldogs (4-1) have already been beaten in the Conference is only going to keep them that much more focused, even if they are hosting the struggling Mississippi State Bulldogs (1-4). A win over the Auburn Tigers allowed Georgia to bounce back from the defeat to the Alabama Crimson Tide and move to 2-1 in the SEC, while Mississippi State were dropped to 0-2 in the Conference before heading into their Bye Week.

Even with the additional preparation time, Mississippi State are going to struggle to make this very competitive.

However, this is a monster line and there are some reasons to back the underdog Bulldogs to find a way to avoid the complete and utter blowout. You cannot ignore the schedule and the Georgia Bulldogs are heading into a pivotal game at the Number 1 Ranked Texas Longhorns in Week 8 before their own Bye Week.

This could lead to some of the key starters being pulled from this game and so the backdoor cover is absolutely going to be available, even as the Mississippi State Bulldogs as freshman Quarter Back Michael Van Buren Jr to lead the team.

Everything is a work in progress in what is Jeff Lebby's first season as Head Coach of Mississippi State and there is no doubting that is has been a disappointing start. The team have struggled Offensively, but they did score 28 points in the loss to the Florida Gators and you can certainly say that there have been signs that this Georgia Defensive unit is not as strong as some of the recent editions.

With all that in mind, there is little doubt it is going to be a real learning day for Quarter Back Michael Van Buren Jr, although the Offensive mind of his Head Coach will give him some chances to make plays. Having enough time in the pocket has been a problem for the Mississippi State Quarter Back, regardless of who that has been taking the snap, but if the backups come in, Van Buren Jr should have some limited successes.

When Georgia have the ball, they should be able to do much of what they want and Trevor Etienne is likely going to be a focus either running the ball or catching come out of the backfield. This looks a good chance for the Georgia Bulldogs Offensive Line to put in a big, big performance against the struggling Mississippi State Defensive Line and that should only make things extremely comfortable for Carson Beck.

The Quarter Back will be able to put up some very strong numbers against this Secondary, although Carson Beck is expected to be pulled out of the game if Georgia have taken a big lead. Even then, Beck will have plenty of time to throw against a Secondary that has allowed almost 300 passing yards on average across their last three games.

Mississippi State are not generating a lot of pressure, but it should be noted that the team were beaten 17 points against Florida and 22 points against Texas. Jeff Lebby has certainly got his team to compete, while the distraction of playing in Texas next week may make it very hard for Georgia to win by a five Touchdown mark.

Michael Van Buren Jr is going to have a tough afternoon, but avoiding turnovers will be key to give his Defensive unit a chance and the spread just looks far too big, even with the disparity of quality between the teams.

Florida Gators @ Tennessee Volunteers Pick: Every team will face setbacks and the character can only be shown by how those teams respond.

They were big favourites on the road, but the Tennessee Volunteers (4-1) were not able to hold onto what felt a big lead over the Arkansas Razorbacks and ultimately were handed their first loss of the season. It has dropped Tennessee to 1-1 in the Conference, and also dropped them in the Rankings, but all is not lost and things will look a lot different if Tennessee are able to bounce back and put a winning streak together.

The next visiting team is going to be the Alabama Crimson Tide, but the Volunteers will have to focus on this rivalry game first against the Florida Gators (3-2) who may have just cooled down the very hot seat on which their Head Coach had been sitting. It still feels a change will be made come the end of the season unless the Florida Gators really pick up their standards, but two wins in a row since losing to the Texas A&M Aggies will have everyone feeling better.

Florida's players will try and stay focused while the latest big hurricane rips a path through the State, and winning back to back games has just settled the team down. Billy Napier will be feeling stronger too and the Gators have dominated the Tennessee Volunteers in recent years, which will also give the road underdog real belief.

Once again it has to be noted that these rivalry games tend to be very competitive and three of the last four in this series has seen the underdog cover, even if they have been beaten outright.

The Gators will have been encouraged by the Defensive breakdown of the Volunteers in their defeat last week in Arkansas, especially as they were a stop away from winning that game. However, that will also mean Florida's Offensive unit have played their best game of the season, especially as they are facing a much tougher test than when beating the Mississippi State Bulldogs and UCF Knights.

This time Florida are facing a Volunteers Defensive Line that have been able to clamp down on the run and who will be looking for redemption. Running the ball has not come easily to the Gators and so it could be down to Graham Mertz to try and put up points with his arm.

Graham Mertz has put together a decent stretch of outings, but this time he is facing a Tennessee Secondary that is much stronger than his last two opponents. While there should be some time for Mertz when stepping back to throw, he will have to be aware of the potential of having a pass Intercepted, while the Volunteers will be much better at home when it comes to those critical moments.

With that in mind, it may be up to the Florida Defensive unit to step up their own level and look to try and make things difficult for a freshman Quarter Back who has just had a couple of tough starts. Nick Iamaleava has massive potential, but he will be hoping that the Offensive Line can produce a much better effort all around and get this Volunteers team dominating on the ground.

Last week the Gators were able to control the Line of Scrimmage against the Knights as they earned the victory, but this Defensive Line have struggled at times and this is an even bigger test. It is going to be a key part of the outcome of the game, but the Volunteers have to believe they can keep Iamaleava in front of the chains and that should keep the drives ticking over.

Negating the pass rush pressure would really help Nick Iamaleava and there are one or two holes that can be exploited in the passing game. Of course the Tennessee game plan will be to avoid putting too much pressure on their Quarter Back, but they can do that by grinding down Florida on the ground and it could be a bounce back week in which the Volunteers remind everyone why they are amongst the favourites to reach the College Football PlayOffs.

Nothing is ever easy in rivalry games and this is a big spread, but Tennessee do look the stronger team on both sides of the ball and Florida are perhaps a touch overrated. The last two games on the schedule have been kind to Billy Napier and the Gators, but they were beaten by 24 points by the Miami Hurricanes and 13 points by the Texas A&M Aggies and both of those games were at home.

Winning on the road at Mississippi State is one thing, but doing so in Knoxville should be another altogether and Tennessee might just show their worth by not only coming out victorious, but by an impressive margin too.

Ohio State Buckeyes @ Oregon Ducks Pick: There are a couple of other teams in the Big Ten that will certainly feel they can have a say in the final shakeup, but for many this could be the first of two meetings between the Ohio State Buckeyes (5-0) and the Oregon Ducks (5-0).

Previously this would have been a non-Conference game that could still have a big impact in what team would be invited into the College Football Playoff. The expanded Playoff picture means even the losing team will have an opportunity to recover, but this is a very big game and the Buckeyes and Ducks have both begun with 2-0 records in the Conference.

Both teams are very much relying on strong Defensive units to set the standard for any game in which they are involved and that is likely going to be the case in this primetime spot.

The Ducks have home advantage in this Conference game and they have a very experienced Quarter Back in Dillon Gabriel who has looked comfortable in this uniform. It helps that he is playing behind an impressive Oregon Offensive Line that have offered Gabriel all of the time he has needed by being strong in pass protection, while also bullying teams up front and opening up some significant running lanes.

Having that experience behind Center feels really important for Oregon considering the Defensive unit they are facing this week.

The only criticism yoiu may have of the Oregon Ducks so far this season is that they have been very strong through a weak schedule- it is not their fault of course and they have to beat what is in front of them, but you have to wonder if that has left them short of the tests needed before facing a team like the Buckeyes.

You could argue the same about the Ohio State schedule, but the performance of the Buckeyes Defense is much harder to dismiss with the team being very strong at the Line of Scrimmage. The Buckeyes have put together a solid pass rush too, which has helped this Secondary restrict the yards being allowed through the air, although Ohio State will be aware that this is the toughest Offense they have seen.

Much the same can be said when the Buckeyes have the ball in their hand- they have an experienced Quarter Back in Will Howard and a powerful Offensive Line that wants to set the tempo right out of the gate. There have been some big gains made on the ground, and the Offensive Line has offered Will Howard plenty of time to make his plays down the field.

The Ducks have been able to clamp down on the run, but their Defensive Line will face the biggest challenge so far this season. Earlier in the season there were one or two more holes that could have been exploited and Ohio State will certainly test to see if there has been proper work done to fill those issues.

There have also been a few more passing yards available to teams when facing the Ducks and that is where the difference could be made in this game, even with two very experienced Quarter Backs on the mound. We do know the Oregon Ducks can bring pressure, but the Buckeyes should be able to give Will Howard some time and he has some big playmakers that can step up and win their battles to find some spaces.

Ryan Day is under some pressure as the Ohio State Head Coach to show he can win the big games- his record against Ranked opponents is not very impressive, but this is a good chance to turn some of the narrative around. It is going to be a competitive game, but the Ohio State Buckeyes feel like the best team in the Big Ten and they can make a few more bigger plays Offensively to move into a position to win and cover, even in a tough road environment.

Turnovers are likely going to be a big factor, but all things being equal, the Buckeyes may be the ones who come out on top and they can head into their Bye Week with some real confidence behind them.

MY PICKS: Missouri Tigers - 27 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Texas Longhorns - 14 Points @ 2.00 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

Mississippi State Bulldogs + 34 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Tennessee Volunteers - 14 Points @ 1.91 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

Ohio State Buckeyes - 3 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Clemson Tigers - 20.5 Points @ 1.91 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)

Pittsburgh Panthers - 3 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

BYU Cougars - 3 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Colorado Buffaloes + 3.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Week 6: 3-2, + 0.82 Units (5 Units Staked, + 16.4% Yield)

Week 5: 0-5, - 5 Units (5 Units Staked, - 100% Yield)

Week 4: 3-2, + 0.73 Units (5 Units Staked, + 14.60% Yield)

Week 3: 3-5, - 2.35 Units (8 Units Staked, - 29.38% Yield)

Week 2: 2-4, - 2.26 Units (6 Units Staked, - 37.67% Yield)

Week 1: 4-2, + 1.64 Units (6 Units Staked, + 27.33% Yield)

Boxing Picks 2019- Oleksandr Usyk vs Chazz Witherspoon (October 12th)

Between now and the middle of December there are some very good looking cards with some big time main events that have been put together for Boxing fans (and no I am not including the YouTube fight in that). It is an exciting time as we should have a number of strong weekends to look forward to, although that is not the case this weekend.

Instead it is more of a time to have a quick look at some names that are going to be involved in big fights either at the end of this year, or more likely in early 2020. Two World Champions are in action who have been chasing Unifications without any success in drawing the other Champions into the ring and they will be getting ready to ensure they can put mandatories out of the way and also keep the ring rust from gathering around them.

The main fighter of interest though has to be Oleksandr Usyk who finally makes his debut at Heavyweight, although it has been a difficult road to get here with the Undisputed Cruiserweight king being out of the ring for almost a full twelve months.


Before I get into the Boxing Picks from this weekend and the three main fights I am concentrating on, I have to say a couple of words about Errol Spence Jr.

Most should know I am a huge fan of the Texan so it was a real shock to the system to hear of the car crash he had been involved in on Thursday.

It sounded bad and then the video made it clear it was very bad- but thankfully Spence Jr had some sort of guardian angel looking out for him that he was able to come out of the accident without a broken bone. Things will take time for a full recovery so I doubt he is out in January as was rumoured for his fight with Danny Garcia, but those things matter little when he could easily have lost his life on the night.

Hopefully we will get to see Errol Spence Jr sooner rather than later though and you have to wish him the best for his recovery.


I only had the one pick last Saturday and it turned out to be a losing one after backing Gennady Golovkin to find a late stoppage against Sergiy Derevyanchenko. It was a very close fight, but I think the early Knock Down in favour of GGG just about kept him in front, although it is clear the best days are now past him.

Unsurprisingly Canelo Alvarez is now talking up a third fight with GGG and I think that has to be next for the latter if it is ever going to happen. A rematch with Derevyanchenko could easily go the other way and I think the likes of Billy Joe Saunders and Demetrius Andrade would be confident in beating Golovkin now too.

Right now I am anticipating Canelo will announce that the trilogy with GGG will be completed on Cinco de Mayo weekend in 2020. First off the Mexican superstar has a huge fight with Sergey Kovalev coming up early next month in his move to Light Heavyweight, but regardless of the outcome I do think Alvarez will be targeting Golovkin and a chance to put an exclamation point on their rivalry.

Josh Warrington vs Sofiane Takoucht

After beating Lee Selby and Carl Frampton to win the World Title and underline his position, Josh Warrington just about got the better of Kid Galahad in an awful fight to clear his IBF mandatory.

As soon as that fight was over Warrington was desperate to get in with one of the other Champions, but for one reason or another the Leeds Featherweight has not been able to seal the deal. Oscar Valdez has seemingly moved up to Super Featherweight, Leo Santa Cruz is going to be on the Deontay Wilder-Luis Ortiz undercard and for the sixth year in a row Gary Russell looks set to only have one fight within a calendar year.

It has to be a frustration for Warrington who has been given a chance to return home for this bout with Sofiane Takoucht. Only one of the last ten fights Josh Warrington has had has been outside of Leeds, but he was desperately looking to head State-side this time around.

His opponent is Ranked in the top ten of the IBF World Rankings, but Warrington's mood in missing the big fights won't have been improved when noting that the IBF have put Kid Galahad in an Eliminator position to earn a rematch with the Leeds man. The first fight was very close, but it was not a very appealing watch which was partly down to the tactics employed by Galahad and I am not sure Warrington will be holding the IBF World Title if forced to go in that direction.

This all means he has to win this fight and do it in the style to entice one of the other Champions into the ring with him. Josh Warrington himself realises time is of the essence and that he can't allow his career to drift at this point, while the chance of having a rematch with Carl Frampton is not that appealing to him now without more belts being on the line.

It can't be a distraction to him when taking on veteran Sofiane Takoucht who will head to Leeds with nothing to lose. To be perfectly honest he is not someone who should pose a lot of problems for Warrington having struggled to move above European level and there is nothing in his eight fight winning run to suggest he can step up and beat Warrington at this stage of his career.

Takoucht is a southpaw which could make things awkward for a while, but I fully expect Josh Warrington to keep the pressure on and break down this opponent. The record suggests Warrington will do well to stop an opponent who has never been stopped before, especially as Warrington has only stopped six of twenty-nine previous opponents, but five of those have come in the last thirteen times he has stepped into the ring.

The punch output should remain strong for Twelve Rounds and I would not be surprised if Warrington can put enough together as the Frenchman tires to force a stoppage here. He wants to make a statement so I do think Warrington will be looking to put the exclamation point on this one against an opponent who has stopped less than 40% of his opponents who have largely come at a much lower level than this.

Backing Josh Warrington to stop opponents would have been a short route to the poor house in his career, but Takoucht is a step down from his recent opponents and I think that helps here. Tiredness and a potentially kind corner/referee should be in play here and I will have a small interest in Warrington winning this fight between the Seventh and Twelfth without the need to go to the cards.

Dmitry Bivol vs Lenin Castillo

The main talking point on the Chicago card on Saturday is the debut of Oleksandr Usyk at Heavyweight, but Dmitry Bivol is also in action as he defends his WBA World Title.

At the moment there are rumours that Bivol is soon going to be elevated into the Super Champion status for the WBA, but there are similarities with his situation and Josh Warrington's at Featherweight. What I mean is that this is not the fight Bivol wanted as he chased the other Champions in the Light Heavyweight Division only to be left out in the cold as one Unification takes place next weekend, while the other Champion takes on a big challenger for a big payday.

Dmitry Bivol became the full WBA Champion in 2017 having not really faced too many top named opposition at that point, but he has stepped up his level while defending this belt. Wins over Sullivan Barrera, Isaac Chilemba, Jean Pascal and Joe Smith Jr are all exceptional ones, but all are the types of fights you might give someone building up to a World Title shot rather than when they are defending Champion.

This is all vital experience though and I am not going to criticise Bivol for failing to stop any of the last three of those opponents. They are durable fighters and Pascal's win over Marcus Browne showed that he still has something left, but on Saturday it should be a different story as Dmitry Bivol looks to remind people of his name before the other Champions return to the ring over the next month.

Lenin Castillo does not have a deep resume and his two previous losses have both come against unbeaten fighters including a points defeat to Marcus Browne in August 2018. He did Knock Down Browne, but I am less sure how impressive that is when we saw the American's whiskers fail him in his surprising defeat to Pascal two months ago.

There is clearly some pop that has to be respected and Castillo might be durable enough to become the fourth fighter in a row to go the distance with Bivol. Much will depend on his attitude really as he didn't really show a lot of aggression in the fight with Browne and didn't look to be really convinced he should be fighting at a higher level.

With that in mind I do think there is a possibility that this fight could just see Bivol pressing with Castillo looking to cover up and make sure he gets to the scorecards. That is a big price here, but I think Bivol has a little more power than Marcus Browne and he is the better Boxer who will pick his shots a little smarter than Browne did in that fight with Castillo. It could open the Dominican fighter up for something big that puts him in a difficult place and I think my lean is that Bivol will find the combination to get rid of this opponent somewhere in the second half of the fight.

Dmitry Bivol has shown he can carry his power late into the fight with the Twelfth Round stoppage of Sullivan Barrera, although the majority of his stoppages have been early on. In this one he is going to need time to break down Lenin Castillo while being aware of his power early and I think that is what we are going to see.

Oleksandr Usyk vs Chazz Witherspoon

The long anticipated Heavyweight debut of Undisputed Cruiserweight king Oleksandr Usyk takes place in Chicago this week.

In an alternative timeline, Usyk would have beaten Carlos Takam back in May just a few weeks before Anthony Joshua retained his World Titles in a win over Andy Ruiz Jr. We would then be heading into the fall with the most likely scenario being a Joshua vs Usyk World Title bout, but the chips have not landed that way for either fighter.

While Joshua continues preparation for a rematch with Ruiz Jr to avenge his defeat in June, injury has kept Usyk out of the ring for almost twelve months but the Ukrainian is finally ready to return.

Instead of the fight with an unbeaten Tyrone Spong, Chazz Witherspoon has stepped in at short notice and we only need to look back at Madison Square Garden on June 1st to note how things can go wrong if a fighter is overlooked. In saying that, Witherspoon is 38 years old, has had two Rounds in eighteen months and was disqualified against Chris Arreola and stopped by Tony Thompson and Seth Mitchell when hoping to be a contender.

The last of those was in 2012 so it is not wrong to suggest that Witherspoon is someway past his best and unlikely to really give Usyk too many problems. The bigger question is how many Rounds can Witherspoon get through having failed to hear the bell for the Fourth Round against Arreola and Mitchell.

Chazz Witherspoon is on an eight fight winning run against lower level opponents, but only three of those fights have needed the bell for a Fifth Round. He is going to go into the bout bigger than Usyk, but Witherspoon is not one of the giants of the Division and I think the superior quickness of the Ukrainian is going to see the American realise he is out of his depth pretty quickly.

Oleksandr Usyk probably needs some Rounds, but I think this debut is to make a statement and I can see him looking to pop Witherspoon from angles which takes away any semblance of belief the latter may be coming into the fight with. However this is not a one punch KO artist and even in his early Cruiserweight fights it took a couple of Rounds to warm into the task at hand and only 25% of Usyk's wins have come inside the first four Rounds.

You can't forget some of the high level opponents Usyk has fought though and Witherspoon can't really sit alongside those. The American is saying all the right things, but at 38 years old this is not really the time for Witherspoon to take on someone who is going to be quicker than him and clearly the superior boxer who will be just levels above him.

While the Ukrainian is not someone who is expected to stop opponents very early as he warms up to his task, I am not sure he is going to find a lot of resilience here. Chazz Witherspoon might have an early go, but I think the first time Usyk gets a few shots off we might be close to the end and I am going to look for the Ukrainian to secure his first early stoppage since beating Johnny Muller in 2015.

MY PICKS: Josh Warrington to Win Between 7-12 @ 3.00 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

Dmitry Bivol to Win Between 7-12 @ 2.75 Ladbrokes (2 Units)

Oleksandr Usyk to Win Between 1-4 @ 1.91 Sky Bet (2 Units)

Boxing Picks 2019: 21-40, + 5.87 Units (93 Units Staked, + 6.31% Yield)