Boxing Picks 2023- Tim Tszyu vs Brian Mendoza (October 14th)

There have been some exceptional nights of Boxing throughout 2023 and fans have been treated to some memorable endings.

Another one can be added to the list- Leigh Wood's finish of Josh Warrington in a fight where it felt he was massively behind on the cards and looking like he had nothing left in the tank in the Featherweight Division really would have gotten many out of their seats.

Leigh Wood is very likely to be moving up into the Super Featherweight Division after this victory. He looked tired at the 126 pound limit and at this stage of his career it would make sense to have the extra pounds to work with.

An obvious fight to make would be against unbeaten Joe Cordina and it certainly would be one that sells out the City Ground, where Leigh Wood has campaigned to fight for the last eighteen months. Having a bit of time off after the tough fight last weekend would make sense and doing that fight at the home of Nottingham Forest could work at the end of May/early June.

People will also make a case for a rematch with Josh Warrington, who has also spoken of perhaps needing to move up in weight and who showed he has something left in the tank having largely dominated the fight in Sheffield before switching off right at the end of the Seventh Round.

Those two names have to be the frontrunners for the next fight for Leigh Wood who deserves his night out in the Football Stadium in his own City. The rematch with Warrington perhaps makes sense for both ahead of the Cordina World Title fight, but Leigh Wood will have the options in front of him after another stunning win in a fight he looked set to lose having done the same against Michael Conlan last year.

Gilberto Ramirez was also in action last week and looked pretty good in his Cruiserweight debut against Joe Smith Jr, although the latter also showed plenty to suggest he will have more opportunities to get into position to become a two weight World Champion.

Most of the attention will be on Ramirez who has perhaps flattered to deceive in his career, but who looks like he has the size and athletic ability to be a very strong player in this new Division. Criticisms of his attitude are perhaps harsh, but Gilberto Ramirez needs to face a consistent level of opponent having been guilty of too many easy touches in his forty-six previous fights.

Cruiserweight has some very tough fighters currently holding World Titles or in contention to challenge for one of those Belts and so Gilberto Ramirez will have to be focused and willing to put in the hard work needed to win another World Title.

October is a funny month for fans of the sport- there are some crossover events that may draw the attention of the casual fan and those are perhaps making the biggest headlines, but around those cards there are some very good looking fights.

This week we have a couple of Unification bouts in the Middleweight and Light Middleweight Divisions.

The 160 pound Division has long been a top one in the Boxing world, but it looks about as open as it has for a long time with a new King looking to be crowned. It feels possible with the Champions needing on another and the first step to crowning the new star in the Middleweight Division will begin this weekend.

Calling the Light Middleweight World Title fight between Tim Tszyu and Brian Mendoza a 'Unification' may not be technically true, but the latter is the Interim WBC Champion with questions about what Jermell Charlo will do still being asked after his bid to unseat Canelo Alvarez at Super Middleweight.

The winner of that one will certainly be considered the top contender to Charlo if he was to return to the Division in which he was Undisputed before choosing to take on Canelo, although the IBF Mandatory has been called and the Texan has to really think about what the future holds for him.

Tim Tszyu vs Brian Mendoza

After all of the successes his father had in the sport, we are still not sure what kind of ceiling Tim Tszyu has, although most will have to accept that he is still improving fight after fight.

He was upgraded from Interim WBO World Champion into the full Champion when Jermell Charlo chose to step away from his Mandatory and instead face Canelo Alvarez.

No one should think Charlo was 'scared' or 'ducked' considering the obvious motivations in fight a star like Canelo, but giving Tim Tszyu more time to develop and improve could end up backfiring on the American if those two are to ever meet.

All Tim Tszyu can do is to keep on winning and he will be the favourite to beat Brian Mendoza in front of his home Australian fans.

However, the 29 year old has to be given a lot of respect having already produced one of the big upsets of 2023.

Losing to young, talented Jesus Ramos in September 2021 would have perhaps had some believing Brian Mendoza would struggle to move above gate-keeper level, but he has beaten former World Champion Jeison Rosario and then followed up with the huge upset of Sebastian Fundora in April to pick up this Interim World Title.

The Seventh Round KO of Fundora will have given Brian Mendoza a lot of confidence and he does feel he has the power to stop the Tim Tszyu train in its tracks.

You can understand the confidence, but Tszyu has shown a little better defence in his last few fights and will give just as good as he gets.

There is no doubting Brian Mendoza's toughness and he did take some solid shots from Sebastian Fundora. It could mean we are in for a very good watch on Saturday and Mendoza will be dangerous, especially early on, but Tim Tszyu has shown he is the kind of fighter that can break down and grind down opponents, while having a decent chin of his own.

He may have to weather a bit of a storm at times, but the Australian is a fighter who looks to be on the up and not as defensively open as Sebastian Fundora. Brian Mendoza will still believe he has the fight changing power to get the job done again, but there were moments in that win over Fundora where he looked to be getting fatigued and that is a potential issue.

Tim Tszyu is someone who will make Brian Mendoza work hard and it may see him grind down his solid opponent and the WBO World Champion can turn the screw over the second half of the Twelve Rounds scheduled to force a Stoppage.

If things go as planned, the top of the Super Bantamweight Division could have a huge hole at the end of the calendar year.

Naoya Inoue is going to be looking to end 2023 as Undisputed Champion in a second Division and most would expect The Monster to move up another weight class if he is able to do that. This could leave the door open to the likes of Sam Goodman to fight for a World Title pretty quickly in 2024.

Losing on Saturday on this undercard would knock him out of his current Ranking place with the WBO and IBF where he is the top contender to fight for a World Title, but Goodman should have enough to see off Miguel Flores who is heading Down Under behind a thirteen month layoff.

Miguel Flores has four losses on his record and three of those have been inside the distance, although his last outing was a Draw.

Sam Goodman does not have an overwhelming KO record, and has needed the cards in four of his last five wins, but he should be able to turn the screw over the Twelve Rounds set for this bout. The 31 year old Flores is going to be game, but that might work to Sam Goodman's favour and he can break down the veteran as the Australian looks to impress ahead of a potential World Title bid in the next few months.

There was a time when the Middleweight Division would have featured some of the very biggest names in Boxing and very few times in history will the Division lack the star power it is doing at this moment.

Things could change quickly, but has a Unification in the Division gone as far under the radar as this one in the United States?

Zhanibek Alimkhanuly is trying to position himself as the natural successor to compatriot Triple G and talk about being some 'boogeyman' at 160 pounds is perhaps just to try and build some hype. British fighter Denzel Bentley pushed the WBO Champion all the way to the scorecards, but he was back to blitzing opponents in his crushing win over Steven Butler last time out.

Now Alimkhanuly has an opportunity to add the IBF World Title to his collection when facing Vincenzo Gaultieri who is also an unbeaten World Champion after beating Esquiva Falcao for a vacant Title in July.

Credit has to be given to Vincenzo Gaultieiri for winning as a slight underdog on that day, but keeping off someone like Zhanibek Alimkhanuly feels like a big gap to bridge.

Seven Stoppages in twenty-one wins suggests Gaultieri will not have the firepower to keep his opponent from walking forward and breaking him down and Zhanibek Alimkhanuly can continue to build his reputation with another strong Stoppage in this Unification.

The chief support on the undercard, Keyshawn Davis, is continuing his development in the Lightweight Division. Over the next twelve months, the top of the 135 pound list is going to feel very different with most believing Undisputed Champion Devin Haney is unlikely to return to the Division now he is signed on for a Light Welterweight World Title clash with Regis Prograis.

Shakur Stevenson is set to fight for a vacant WBC World Title, and there are a number of fighters in the Division who will be looking to take a shot at the American.

Keyshawn Davis is only 24 years old so has plenty of time to get ready for his own assault at World Titles and he can get the better of Nahir Albright as he continues picking up experience. The latter has been beaten twice, including against Jamaine Ortiz, but Keyshawn Davis may carry a bit more power and could force a Stoppage in the second half of this bout.

It may not be a card aimed at me, but it would be pretty difficult to ignore the crossover events that are taking place this month.

At least the card headlined by Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou has plenty of Heavyweight action on the undercard, but this one in Manchester on Saturday is very much happy to go with YouTube 'stars'.

Tommy Fury may feel he is above that, but his future is almost certainly going to be taking on more of these 'boxers' rather than looking for professional titles.

He was controversially dropped by Jake Paul when beating the American over Eight Rounds and this one is set for Six Rounds against KSI.

A viral Knock Out will be what the fans will be hoping to see, but it would not surprise me if this is a messy Six Rounder.

KSI is a little reckless, which could leave him open for something big, but Fury has not exactly shown a lot of Knock Out power and a small interest on this one going to the cards with Tommy Fury earning the nod looks the right play.

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

Sam Goodman to Win by KO/TKO/Disqualification @ 2.37 Sky Bet (2 Units)

Zhanibek Alimkhanuly to Win Between 1-6 @ 4.33 Paddy Power (2 Units)

Keyshawn Davis to Win Between 6-10 @ 4.50 Coral (1 Unit)

Tommy Fury to Win By Decision/Technical Decision @ 2.87 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

Boxing 2023: 47-82, - 19.90 Units (239 Units Staked, - 8.33% Yield)

NFL Week 6 Picks 2018 (October 11-15)

The 2018 NFL season has been a good one through the first quarter of the season, but I haven't been spending time patting myself on the back.

Even if I had been the Week 5 I have just suffered through will be a reminder that things can change quickly in the NFL and I am pretty disappointed with my selections to be perfectly frank.

I would love to say I was simply unfortunate, but that would make it difficult to grow from the Picks I made and make sure I am not allowing a loose criteria to be hit.

With that in mind I am expecting much better as we move into Week 6 when the first of the three consecutive London Games are played. This was supposed to be the week when Tottenham Hotspur hosted their first NFL game, but a delay in the Stadium opening means the Oakland-Seattle game has shifted back to Wembley Stadium.

At least the teams' plans won't have been affected too much with the location very similar and so hotels and events booked can still take place as expected. Both teams are coming over from the West coast and it will be interesting to hear what players and Coaches think about the drastic shift in time zone especially with the belief the NFL are still pushing for a franchise to land in London within the next five years.

I have been pretty opposed to that idea for some time, but the NFL continues to try and expand its boundaries in an era when so many feel the sport is one that may not be around for the long-term with all the new rules and a better scientific idea as to what players are going through to entertain the fans.


Week 6 begins with a NFC East Divisional Game on Thursday Night Football and the selection for the Sunday/Monday games will be coming out later this week. The NFL Week 6 post will be the 'Featured Post' this week and I will put out a link on Twitter once the full selections for the week have been made.


Philadelphia Eagles @ New York Giants Pick: In recent years the NFC East was considered one of the stronger Divisions in the NFL, but that has not been the case in the opening five weeks of the 2018 NFL season. The Washington Redskins loss to the New Orleans Saints on Monday Night Football means none of the teams in the NFC East have a winning record going into Week 6 and two of those teams scratching to get back up to 0.500 will be playing on Thursday Night Football.

It has been a much more difficult season for the New York Giants to this point with the questions surrounding Eli Manning's suitability at Quarter Back being raised by the Gotham media on a weekly basis. Odell Beckham Jr's comments ahead of the Carolina game in Week 5 hasn't helped Manning's position and it does feel like this is going to be a lost season for the Giants who were undone in Carolina by a 60 plus yard Field Goal as time ran out.

The defending Champions Philadelphia Eagles have been erratic since winning the Super Bowl and a home loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday means they are 2-3, but only 0.5 games out of the Division lead. There still looks to be enough talent to think the Eagles are going to be the team to come out of the NFC East, but they have to play with a little more care as mistakes continue to put them in a difficult position within games.

Jay Ajayi was traded from the Miami Dolphins twelve months ago, but the Running Back has long had issues with his knees and unfortunately suffered an ACL injury in Week 5 which will rule him out for the season. That is a blow for the Philadelphia Eagles who could potentially go back into the trade market before the deadline at the end of the month, but I do think the Eagles will be able to still make plays on the ground in this game on Thursday Night Football.

With some of the misdirection Philadelphia run on the ground, they should be able to take advantage of a New York Defensive Line who have struggled to stop the run all season. There has been some improvement from the Giants in recent games, but they are still giving up well over 4 yards per carry and I do think Philadelphia will look to establish the ground attack to open things up for Carson Wentz at Quarter Back.

Wentz has played ok, but he was going to have some inconsistent moments off the back of an injury that meant he missed the end of the 2017 season and the start of the 2018 one. He has made some very good plays, but Wentz would love to have some more protection from the Offensive Line which has played erratically, although his numbers through the air are still very good.

In this one Wentz may have a little more time with the Giants struggling for a consistent pass rush, while the Secondary have been torched in the last three games and almost giving up 300 passing yards per game.

I do think the Eagles will move the chains with some consistency throughout this Divisional Game, but the Defensive unit need to pick up their play too. The strength of the Defense is on the Defensive Line where the Eagles will figure they can put the clamps down on Saquon Barkley while also getting some significant pressure on Eli Manning who is playing behind an Offensive Line that needs a lot of fixing.

However I do think the Receivers the Giants will be running out on the field could get loose and it is up to Manning to find them having put up some decent numbers against the Carolina Panthers last week. The Eagles have been susceptible to some big passing plays and I do think the Giants can expose those holes even if Manning is not up the level he was when the team won two Super Bowls.

Picking a winner on the spread looks tough with Philadelphia looking the better team, but laying the full three points on the road is a tough ask in a Divisional Game. The short week has made it a little easier for the 'better' team to win these games, but the number looks like one that this game could easily land on and so my attention turns to the total points line.

That immediately looks short to me, although rain is forecasted in the New Jersey area which may make it tougher for the teams to throw the ball as they would like. However I do think the two Offenses are going to be able to move the chains and make some big plays which can make it easier for the total points to be surpassed, while four of the last five between these Divisional rivals have finished with at least 51 points scored.

The last five games hosted by the Giants have seen plenty of points scored and I do think the Offenses can thrive a little more on the short week compared with the Defensive units who have work to do. The over is 6-0 in games between these teams hosted by the New York Giants and I will look for Thursday Night Football to be a high-scoring game with the most likely winner being the road team.

MY PICKS: New York Giants-Philadelphia Eagles Over 43.5 Games @ 1.95 Ladbrokes (2 Units)
Minnesota Vikings - 10.5 Points @ 2.00 Paddy Power (1 Unit)
Buffalo Bills + 10 Points @ 1.91 Boyle Sports (1 Unit)
Carolina Panthers - 1.5 Points @ 1.95 Bet Fred (2 Units)
Cleveland Browns - 1 Point @ 1.95 Bet365 (2 Units)
Pittsburgh Steelers + 1.5 Points @ 1.91 Boyle Sports (2 Units)
Atlanta Falcons - 3 Points @ 1.95 Paddy Power (2 Units)
Jacksonville Jaguars - 3 Points @ 1.91 Ladbrokes (2 Units)

Week 5: 1-6, - 10.10 Units (14 Units Staked, - 72.14% Yield)
Week 4: 5-3-1, + 3.18 Units (18 Units Staked, + 17.67% Yield)
Week 3: 5-5, - 1.42 Units (17 Units Staked, - 8.35% Yield)
Week 2: 6-1, + 9.46 Units (14 Units Staked, + 67.57% Yield)
Week 1: 6-2, + 7.34 Units (16 Units Staked, + 45.88% Yield)

Season 2018: 23-17-1, + 8.46 Units

Weekend Football Picks 2017 (October 14-16)

Let's face facts for a minute.

I am not the only one that finds the international football that takes place during the domestic season to be a pain that has to be dealt with rather than something of excitement.

That is nothing against the World Cup Finals and major tournaments the individual Confederations may run, but I am glad to have domestic football back this weekend.

It doesn't get much bigger than being twenty-four hours out from seeing Manchester United head out at Anfield and that is the opening League game of the weekend. It is a big one and I have written a short piece about Manchester United's stunning September which can be read here.


It has been a decent start to the month, hopefully the following picks from the Premier League can produce another winning weekend.


Liverpool v Manchester United Pick: The biggest game in English Football involves two teams who finished in the top six last season without challenging for the Premier League title. This season there were much higher expectations for Liverpool and Manchester United and both clubs will come into the weekend with something to prove.

For Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool it is all about putting a poor September behind them and using a win over Manchester United to give them some momentum to move up the Premier League table. The German is under a little bit of pressure as fans have begun to grow weary of the excuses and the strange team selections, especially in the defensive areas, which have affected the ability of Liverpool to earn results.

Some of that has not been Klopp's problem with the Liverpool forwards missing hatful of chances in games where they have dropped points both in the Premier League and Champions League. The injury to Sadio Mane is a big blow for a team that have not been as clinical in front of goal as they would have liked, although it may be one where the fans believe it could help Klopp in having a securer system in place for this game.

While there are questions for Klopp to answer, this game has to be seen as the first true test for Jose Mourinho and Manchester United in the 2017/18 season. The fixture list wasn't the most taxing, but Manchester United can only beat what is in front of them and now can prove they are in for the long haul task of challenging for the Premier League title.

The next month could be telling with three of the top four from last season ahead for Manchester United, while the injuries in the middle of the park has to be a concern for Mourinho. It could mean going back to a 3-4-3 system to get the best out of the players that Manchester United have available with Ander Herrera and Nemanja Matic the only two fit midfielders that look to be passed for this fixture.

It is a system that has worked for Manchester United who will feel they have more of an attacking threat this season than they did when travelling to Anfield twelve months ago. The pace on the counter attack of the likes of Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Marcus Rashford/Anthony Martial, and Romelu Lukaku should be able to provide a threat to a Liverpool backline which has been anything but watertight over the last month.

The game is likely to be tense as it always is when Liverpool and Manchester United collide, but I have had a feeling this is going to be the day the away team can prove they are 'for real'. Liverpool are a very dangerous team at Anfield, but the key is to be resilient in the first twenty or thirty minutes and Manchester United have certainly shown they can do that so far this season as well as in big away games at Anfield and the Etihad Stadium last season.

Manchester United will get chances against this defence and I think they can be backed on the Asian Handicap which will return the stake in case of a draw. It won't be easy and Manchester United can't allow Liverpool to score early when they really begin to flow with confidence, but frustrating the home team early and then hitting them on the break looks like a tactic that can work for Jose Mourinho's men.

It is a great way for the Premier League to get going after the two week international break, but I do think Manchester United fans will be the ones celebrating through the weekend.


Crystal Palace v Chelsea Pick: The international break has given Alvaro Morata the time to try and overcome the hamstring complaint he has been suffering with and Eden Hazard looks back to full fitness for Chelsea. Morata is likely to miss this game anyway, but Chelsea have to feel they can cover for the absence of the Spanish international as well as N'Golo Kante when visiting Crystal Palace.

This always feels like a difficult ground for teams to visit with the home fans making Selhurst Park a loud ground, but it has not been as intimidating for teams on the pitch. Roy Hodgson has been tasked with improving the confidence of a Crystal Palace team that could be without what would have been the three players that lead the way for them assuming Wilfried Zaha joins Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Christian Benteke on the sidelines.

Improved confidence has not happened yet as Crystal Palace have now lost 5 of their last 6 home games in the Premier League including all 3 this season. The teams who have finished in the top four have generally been good enough to win at Selhurst Park against better Crystal Palace teams than the one Chelsea will face here and that is shown by Palace losing 11 of their 12 games at Selhurst Park against the eventual top four over the last three seasons.

Crystal Palace have also been hammered at both Manchester City and Manchester United as they have crumbled once going behind and that has to be a fear against a Chelsea team who have won 6 straight away games in all competitions. The absence of Kante is a blow, but it's one that Chelsea can overcome against this opponent and I think Antonio Conte will put out a team that can score goals here even without Morata.

It would be a surprise if Chelsea can't win here and I am backing them to do so against a Crystal Palace team who concede too many goals. The home team will eventually break their goal duck in the Premier League, but they may have to wait another weekend and I think Chelsea will still have too much firepower, even without Morata, to cover the Asian Handicap on Saturday.


Manchester City v Stoke City Pick: There is a similar level of praise being given to Pep Guardiola and Manchester City at the moment as there was twelve months ago when his side swept all before them in the first two months of the season. Things came off the rail for Manchester City from October going forward and it will be interesting to see if they can continue the kind of form they were displaying in September.

The 0-1 win at Chelsea last time out was a really impressive performance which suggests this squad is better prepared for the long haul than they were last season. Losing Benjamin Mendy is a blow for the system Guardiola has been running, but they will feel they are better prepared to deal with teams who will come to the Etihad Stadium and sit in looking for a result.

That will be tested by Stoke City this weekend as they have recently been something of a bogey team for Manchester City. In their 6 Premier League games over the last three season, Stoke City have managed to earn the victory twice including at this Stadium in the 2014/15 season.

Last season Stoke City frustrated Manchester City in a goalless draw here, but it is a big challenge for them to do the same with some knocks in defensive areas that will hurt them. Losing Joe Allen may mean Manchester City struggle dominate possession even more than expected and I think it will be very much a case of attack versus defence in this one.

Manchester City look like they have the options to break down Stoke City and I would be worried for the away team considering they have conceded twice at Newcastle United and Bristol City in their last couple of away games. Stoke City were also hammered 0-4 by Chelsea in the Premier League at the Bet365 Stadium and I think Manchester City can record another comfortable home win on Saturday.

It is a big Asian Handicap for the home team to cover, but they have looked so strong going forward and I think Stoke City may not have the bodies to prevent Manchester City from another big win this weekend.


Tottenham Hotspur v Bournemouth Pick: I am not a big believer in 'curses' and I think Tottenham Hotspur could easily have won all 3 League games played at Wembley Stadium with a little more luck behind their play. The fact is that Tottenham Hotspur have seen off Borussia Dortmund and Barnsley here in their most recent games at Wembley Stadium and they have been in fine form ahead of the last international break.

They can't really afford to drop more points at home when you look at the fixtures that Tottenham Hotspur have coming up as they face Real Madrid twice in the Champions League and also take on Liverpool and Manchester United. A 'home' game with Bournemouth certainly should be a game this Tottenham Hotspur team should be winning, especially if Josh King is the latest absentee in the away dressing room.

It has already been a difficult start for Bournemouth who have not looked strong defensively and have been struggling for goals. They signed Jermain Defoe to try and rectify that issue, but Defoe has not produced like Eddie Howe would have hoped and this looks like being a long day for Bournemouth.

The side have lost all 3 away League games in the Premier League and Bournemouth have only scored a single goal in that time. The Tottenham Hotspur defence have been solid enough to think they can keep Bournemouth at arm's length in this one, while they have a striker in Harry Kane who is arguably in the best form of any player in the Premier League.

Kane has not been at his best at Wembley Stadium, but he scored for England here ten days ago and followed that up with another goal in Lithuania last week. He is a short price to score again here and I expect Kane to help fire Tottenham Hotspur to a first League win at this ground.

Tottenham Hotspur have kept clean sheets in their last couple of games at Wembley Stadium and I will look for them to keep another in a victory on Saturday.


Watford v Arsenal Pick: The biggest live game coming from the English Premier League might be at Anfield on Saturday lunchtime, but the Watford versus Arsenal fixture later in the day looks like it could be an entertaining one. Coming out of the international break is a difficult spot for both managers in this one as they won't have seen their first team players around the training ground as much as they would have wished, but both Marco Silva and Arsene Wenger have to be encouraged by performances prior to the break.

However you would almost feel that both Arsenal and Watford would be keen to flip this fixture to the Emirates Stadium rather than Vicarage Road. Arsenal have earned 12 of their 13 Premier League points at home, while Watford have earned 10 of their 12 League points on their travels.

Goals haven't been a big problem for Watford under Silva, and they will believe their home form is going to be improved in the coming weeks and months. The concern has to be that Watford have conceded at least three goals in 3 of their 4 home games in all competitions this season, although they have created chances in each of those games.

Silva will be the first to tell you that you can't win many games when conceding that amount of goals, and Arsenal have the talent in the final third to certainly create chances and score here. However The Gunners have yet to score away from home in the Premier League and have a number of defensive injuries in the squad which may make them vulnerable at Vicarage Road.

Watford will certainly feel they are better going forward than they have been defensively thanks to injuries they have suffered at the back too. That does make it feel like a fixture where there could be goals at both ends and I think the attacking play may dominate, even coming off a two week international break with little time to prepare for this fixture.

Last season Arsenal won 1-3 here and I can see the same number of goals being shared out between these teams on Saturday. Generally games between Watford and Arsenal have featured plenty of chances and goals and I think the defensive issues both are dealing with means the attacking players win on the day in what should be an entertaining clash.


Brighton v Everton Pick: The television companies who have paid for the rights to broadcast Premier League football have agreed to show every team in the League so there are some weekends when 'Super Sunday' doesn't look like great viewing.

That might not necessarily be the case this weekend in either game, but for the neutrals the problem has to be the lack of goals the teams involved have been scoring.

First up is Brighton hosting Everton and it does look like being a game where not many goals are going to be offered up. Chris Hughton and Ronald Koeman focus on getting things right at the back and hoping that can inspire something going forward and I think Brighton and Everton may end up cancelling one another out.

I certainly don't think there will be a lot of chances produced with Brighton missing Tomer Hemed and Everton looking short of confidence. The home team have plenty of questions about how many goals they are going to score this season with the current squad, while Everton have not been able to replace Romelu Lukaku's goals and look pedestrian in possession.

Neither team will be trying to give much away in this one and I am looking for a tight and competitive game to be the outcome. It wouldn't surprise me at all if a single goal is all it takes to decide the winner and I think the team falling behind would find it very difficult to respond.

I am not expecting a lot of goals and I do think one of these teams will fail to get on the scoreboard. Brighton may have scored in their last couple of home games, but Hemed scored half of the four goals scored in those games and is missing, while Everton have failed to score in 4 of their last 5 Premier League games.

Backing at least one team to fail to hit the target looks a decent enough price to back here.


Southampton v Newcastle United Pick: There are some similarities between the second game on Sunday and the one played across the south coast at Brighton earlier in the day.

Both Southampton and Newcastle United will be pleased with some aspects of their performances and disappointed by others and I think the two teams have had their issues in front of goal which could show up here.

Mauricio Pellegrino and Rafa Benitez are two more manager in the English Premier League who look to set their teams up to be difficult to beat and then look for something to come good in the final third to help them win games. Goals have been the problem for both Southampton and Newcastle United though and it would be a big surprise if there are a lot of goals for the fans to enjoy on Sunday.

The layers recognise the issues the teams have had in front of goal while they are now playing opponents who haven't given away a lot in their own final third. Southampton have to be concerned that they have not scored in 4 of 5 home games this season, while Newcastle United have not scored in 2 of 3 away games.

Neither team has been watertight defensively which may be some reason to think the other can take advantage, but I am not expecting to see a lot of chances for the two teams in this one. Early goals can change the whole feeling of a game of football, but I will look for one of the teams to fail to score in this one with defences coming out on top for much of the afternoon.


Leicester City v West Brom Pick: There are some teams that always seem to cause problems for others and West Brom visiting Leicester City has been one of those over the years. They are unbeaten in 8 trips to Leicester City and have won 6 of those, although the current form has not been the best for The Baggies.

In saying that, Leicester City have not exactly been piling up the wins but they can be excused when you think of the early fixture list they have been negotiating. Leicester City have lost back to back League games to Chelsea and Liverpool, but Craig Shakespeare will know there won't be as many excuses for failing to beat West Brom.

Shakespeare has to be feeling some pressure with Leicester City potentially kicking off inside the bottom three of the Premier League. The owners have made it clear they feel The Foxes should be much higher up the League table so they may not tolerate being stuck in the bottom three for too long.

A relegation scrap cost Claudio Ranieri his job as manager just months after taking Leicester City to an improbable League title so Shakespeare will realise time may not be on his side unless they can earn some results. The side have won 8 of the 13 home games under Shakespeare though and it has taken some of the best teams to leave the King Power Stadium with a result in that time.

West Brom can't be considered to that level, but they have to be respected with a manager who knows how to earn results in the Premier League and also the fact The Baggies have played so well when visiting Leicester City. That does make them a dangerous opponent who won't give a lot away and look to frustrate their hosts before hitting them with a sucker punch.

There is every chance they can do that again, but I think Leicester City are better than their current results which have been affected by who they have played. This is a much more manageable game for them and I think West Brom have perhaps overachieved early in the campaign with a couple of narrow games going their way.

At odds against I will look for Leicester City to secure a vital three points for their slightly under pressure manager. They look to have more goals in the side than West Brom and being at home should be an advantage, even despite the recent history against The Baggies.

MY PICKS: Manchester United 0 Asian Handicap @ 1.97 Bet365 (2 Units)
Chelsea - 1.25 Asian Handicap @ 1.99 Bet365 (2 Units)
Manchester City - 2.25 Asian Handicap @ 1.86 Bet365 (2 Units)
Tottenham Hotspur Win to Nil @ 2.25 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Watford-Arsenal Over 3.5 Goals @ 2.45 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Brighton-Everton Both Teams to Score- NO @ 1.83 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Southampton-Newcastle United Both Teams to Score- NO @ 1.95 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Leicester City @ 2.05 Bet365 (2 Units)

College Football Week 7 Picks 2017 (October 14th)

Week 6 was a really difficult one for the College Football Picks but I have to say I could have done with a little more luck after seeing Kansas State miss the cover because the Texas Longhorns kicker missed his Field Goal at the end of the game.

A couple of other teams had their chances for the cover which would have turned the week in my favour, but you can't win them all and it is all about trying to bounce back in Week 7.

That is what a number of the teams that were expected to make the College Football Play Offs will be thinking too with Oklahoma and Michigan both upset at home in Week 6. Outside of Alabama and Clemson, and perhaps Washington, it does look the final four is not a clear cut selection this time around.

The Crimson Tide and Tigers have looked dominant, but the Washington Huskies have a tough Conference to negotiate while the Big 12 is almost certainly going to end up being one where teams are going to beat each other through the season.

Ohio State would likely get in if they can win the Big Ten, but that is not an easy Conference either as Penn State will have plenty to say about things as will Wisconsin and that makes the rest of the season extremely interesting for the neutrals. It puts plenty of pressure on the Head Coaches though with some seats beginning to warm up as expectations are not met as expected.

Those issues will be resolved on the field in the weeks ahead, but the focus for me is getting the season back on track with the Week 7 picks from the College Football slate of games.


Connecticut Huskies @ Temple Owls Pick: After an embarrassing loss to the Memphis Tigers in Week 6, the Connecticut Huskies (1-4) will have needed to take a long, hard look in the mirror at themselves and what they have inside themselves. This is a difficult road game for the Huskies at the Temple Owls (3-3) who did snap a two game losing run when beating the East Carolina Pirates on the road in Week 6.

It was going to be a difficult year for the Huskies who are in the first season under Head Coach Randy Edsall who is back in his second go around with Connecticut. While they did bring back a number of starters, the problem is that the team were going to learn a new system that they have not been built for and that has shown up so far in 2017.

They've not been competitive enough for Edsall's liking and Connecticut are in for a challenge at the Temple Owls who have underachieved so far this season, but who are better than they have shown.

A problem for the Huskies has been that they have been a little too one-dimensional when they have the ball in their hands and that has made it easier to game plan against them. Connecticut have really struggled to run the ball with any consistency and that might be a difficulty for them again, even though Temple's Defensive Line has not been as strong as it has been over the last three years.

It just puts a lot of pressure on Bryant Shirreffs who may have 9 Touchdowns and only 3 Interceptions this season but who is also still trying to lead the Huskies to a first win of the season. Shirreffs should have some real success throwing against the Temple Secondary although the Connecticut Offensive Line has not been at their best in pass protection and the Owls should be able to crash the backfield with some consistency.

Being affected by a pass rush is a good way to see drives stalling, but it won't be all going Temple's way as they have had their own issues Offensively. Like Connecticut, Temple have struggled to find any consistent running game to help out their Quarter Back and that does put the pressure on Logan Marchi, although Marchi does have something to prove here.

At one point it looked like Marchi would be signing with the Connecticut Huskies, his home town team, but a change in management meant the commitment was withdrawn and the Quarter Back signed with the Temple Owls. Marchi should be able to find some holes in a Huskies Secondary which has given up close to 400 passing yards per game across their last three games, although Temple's Offense has been anything but consistent themselves.

However Marchi should have slightly more time than Shirreffs behind his Offensive Line and I think the motivation of a Quarter Back who has something to prove to the Huskies can prove to be a difference maker. Temple are 10-1 against the spread in their last eleven games with Connecticut and I do think the Owls can cover in this one.


Kansas Jayhawks @ Iowa State Cyclones Pick: Everything has to be screaming out 'trap game' for the Iowa State Cyclones (3-2) who moved back to 1-1 in Conference play by winning in Norman against the Oklahoma Sooners as a huge underdog. The situation this week sees the Cyclones as a very big home favourite and that change in dynamic has seen many teams fail to lift their play over the history of American Football games.

Coming off an upset win for a team like the Cyclones can also be tough for the players to replicate the effort needed. Like I say, everything points to a trap game.

However I do think the Iowa State Cyclones can cover a big number against the Kansas Jayhawks (1-4) who are simply hoping to improve on their 2-10 record from last season. This may have been one of the games that the Jayhawks would have circled as a possible win, but they have been struggling for the consistency you need and that has seen Kansas lose four games in a row and been beaten by at least 22 points in each of their two Conference games.

The problem I see for the Kansas Jayhawks is I think they may struggle up front when they either have the ball or are playing Defense. Offensively they have been able to run the ball, but the Jayhawks are being faced up by a very good Iowa State Defensive Line which has played well against better teams than the Jayhawks.

Kansas will feel they can throw the ball effectively against the Iowa State Secondary, although that will depend on whether they have found the answer at Quarter Back. Peyton Bender and Carter Stanley both had plenty of time behind Center last week in the loss to the Texas Tech Red Raiders, but neither stood out.

While they will have their chances to move the chains whoever gets the start at Quarter Back, it will be tough to keep Iowa State from making a few plays in the backfield. The pressure that the Cyclones have generated has led to Interceptions, and that has to be a problem for either Bender or Stanley considering the picks they have thrown when they have been asked to make plays with their arms.

Moving the chains with consistency should not be a big problem for the Cyclones unless they have been reading their press clippings instead of focusing on the game in Week 7. The Cyclones might not have the best rushing numbers just yet, but that might have something to do with the opponents they have faced and the Kansas Defensive Line has had real problems in stopping the run.

That is partly down to the fact the Secondary have given up big plays all season with over 300 passing yards given up and either Kyle Kempt or Jacob Park could have a big passing day. Park missed out with an injury last week so Iowa State may stay with the hot hand in Kempt who helped earn the upset over the Sooners and he could back up his performance with another big passing day here.

Kansas just haven't been able to generate the same kind of pass rush as Iowa State and I think whoever begins at Quarter Back should be given time to throw the ball. I also expect a stronger running day from the team and I do like the Cyclones to win this one and cover a big number.

The home team is 4-0 against the spread in the last four in this series and the Jayhawks are now 4-8 against the spread as the road underdog with David Beaty as Head Coach. I am a little concerned with how the Cyclones will respond to a huge upset that grabbed the national headlines in Week 6, but I think they are clearly the superior team here and I will look for them to pull away from the Kansas Jayhawks in the second half.


Purdue Boilermakers @ Wisconsin Badgers Pick: You might begin to pencil in the Wisconsin Badgers (5-0) for the Big Ten Championship Game if they are able to see off the Purdue Boilermakers (3-2) at home in Week 7. The Badgers may have gone 11-3 last season, but they came into 2017 with even more expectation for the season ahead as they are much more experienced this time around.

A look at the remaining schedule may see Michigan as the only team between Wisconsin and the Championship Game that can prevent the Badgers from being unbeaten going into that one. A crushing win at the home of the Nebraska Cornhuskers should have given Wisconsin plenty of confidence and they should be too good for the Purdue Boilermakers.

Jeff Brohm is clearly doing a good job for the Purdue Boilermakers but it is going to be a work in progress in the first year as Head Coach here. They have played Louisville and Michigan tough already, but it does feel like Wisconsin are better than both of those teams and also have home advantage against them.

Much of the competitiveness for the Purdue Boilermakers have come from how well their Defensive unit have played, but Offensively they have had some real problems. Running the ball has simply not been effective for Purdue and they are unlikely to find too many gaps in the Wisconsin Defensive Line to exploit and that means it will be up to David Blough to show he is worthy of his place as the Purdue starting Quarter Back.

Blough has struggled and was pulled last week as he has been in the losses to Louisville and Michigan, but this time back up Elijah Sindelar did impress in Week 6. That may mean Blough is on a short leash if he does start, but this is a tough Defense to play against as Wisconsin's pass rush should be able to exploit the problems Purdue have had in pass protection.

With a limited rushing attack to complement him, Blough could have a pass rush all around him which could lead to more mistakes from the Quarter Back, and certainly make him throw quicker than he would like when trying to complete third and long spots. It all adds up to Purdue looking to their Defensive unit to try and at least keep this game competitive and stick with Wisconsin.

Much will depend on how much Purdue can limit the impact of Jonathon Taylor at Running Back who has sparked the Badgers Offensive output behind a strong Offensive Line. While the numbers have been decent against the run from Purdue this season, this is a much different test for them against one of the finest Offensive Lines in College Football and I do think Taylor will be established against a Defense that has allowed over 150 rushing yards per game.

Taylor's strong showings on the ground means Wisconsin don't have to lean on Alex Hornibrook at Quarter Back and that has made it easier for him to produce 10 Touchdown passes with 4 Interceptions this season. The turnovers are an issue for Hornibrook if the Badgers are going to perhaps get into the College Football Play Offs, but he has been given time to make plays and will likely be in third and short spots for much of the afternoon.

The Boilermakers haven't found a consistent pass rush which should aid Hornibrook a little more with Taylor likely helping move the chains.

Wisconsin are 10-1 against the spread in the last eleven games in this series and the last nine wins have come by at least 17 points per game. The Boilermakers have been a solid road underdog to back in recent seasons, but Brohm's WKU were only 3-5-1 against the spread in that spot and I will back the Badgers to highlight their power on both sides of the ball at the line of scrimmage to help them win and cover the number.


Auburn Tigers @ LSU Tigers Pick: The SEC is not looking as powerful as it usually does with only three teams that people would commit behind when picking potential winners and in a position to make the Play Offs. There is a chance that two teams could make the Play Offs from this Conference, and one of the leading schools has to be the Auburn Tigers (5-1) whose sole loss to the Clemson Tigers hardly is one that will go against them.

Since that loss Auburn have been in fine form and they have blasted three of the weaker teams in the SEC. While that does mean there are bigger tests to come for Auburn, the LSU Tigers (4-2) may not be one of the stronger teams in the Conference despite winning at the Florida Gators in Week 6.

It is always a tough task for any team to travel to Baton Rouge and beat the LSU Tigers here, but the Auburn Tigers look to be the superior team and will be expected to show that off.

One surprise has to be the way the LSU Defensive Line has struggled to stop the run this season and this is an area where the Auburn Tigers should be able to use their Offensive Line to dictate things. Kamryn Pettway may have been the stand out Running Back for Auburn at the start of the 2017 season, but he has been hit by injuries and even that has not slowed down the Tigers which means they should be able to establish the run in this game.

Establishing the run is important in a couple of ways for Auburn- they will be keen to keep Jarrett Stidham in third and short situations and it will also be able to slow down the LSU pass rush which has been a strength for them. Being able to run the ball against this Defensive unit has helped the LSU Secondary numbers, but Stidham will feel he can make enough plays to keep the Auburn Offense moving forward.

LSU may have won last weekend, but the Offensive unit continues to be stuck in first gear and they could have a really long day trying to stay with Auburn if the latter play as well as they can Offensively. The home team has been able to run the ball this season, but Derrius Guice is banged up at Running Back and the Auburn Defensive Line have proven to be one of the better ones out there as they have stopped teams getting going on the ground.

That is a key battle to the outcome of this game- if Auburn are able to slow down the LSU rushing Offense they will feel they can very much dictate the way this game goes, while the home team will know they can't rely on an inconsistent passing Offense if the run is stuffed.

Danny Etling has helped LSU barely average over 200 passing yards per game and now face an Auburn Secondary that have used the strength of the Defensive Line to restrict what teams have been able to produce against them. Stopping the run and playing tight coverage has worked for Auburn, although they would love to get a pass rush going to force Etling into tougher throws.

Even if they can't, Auburn have to feel they have the Secondary to prevent this LSU team from having a huge day through the air. This is a LSU team who have been really struggling Offensively all season and when Etling has been forced to throw from tough spots it has also led to Interceptions.

The home team are 7-1 against the spread in the last eight in this series, but Auburn look the stronger team can can break that trend. Auburn are also 6-3 against the spread as the road favourite under Gus Malzahn and I like the road team to cover this number as I pick yet another favourite in Week 7.


Oklahoma Sooners v Texas Longhorns Pick: The Red River Rivalry is always going to be a big game for the Oklahoma Sooners (4-1) and the Texas Longhorns (3-2), but it could be a huge one when it comes to determining the College Football Play Off final four. The Sooners were expected to be one of those teams after beating Ohio State in Columbus, but a huge upset loss to the Iowa State Cyclones has put them in a precarious position.

The Big 12 Conference has added a Championship Game to try and boost their Conference chances of making the Play Offs, but that also means the Sooners being 1-1 in Conference play is a difficult position to be in already. Lose to the Texas Longhorns and Oklahoma are not only 1-2, but seeing their rivals move to 3-0 in the Conference which simply will not be acceptable to the fans.

Both teams have first year Head Coaches going into this rivalry game and it won't be lost on either as to how much is on the line. Baker Mayfield will be looking to guide the Sooners to back to back wins over the Texas Longhorns, but the Quarter Back may be the first to admit that he hasn't always had his best football for Texas.

Mayfield will be hoping the Sooners can win the battle on the line of scrimmage as they try and find a way to establish the run against a Texas Defensive Line that has been performing at a high level. It hasn't just been the ability to stop the run, but the Longhorns have been able to produce an effective pass rush which is what they will like to show off here, although the Oklahoma Offensive Line has certainly been performing to the level that many expected of them in pre-season.

That will be a battle up front, but the Sooners will feel the Offensive Line can do enough to give Mayfield the time when he does step back to throw and to keep the team in third and manageable spots for much of the afternoon. Mayfield has had his difficulties against the Longhorns before, but he should be comfortable against a team that have given up almost 300 passing yards per game in their last three games. The Quarter Back will have to be careful about the Interceptions that the Longhorns have picked up, although it does feel Oklahoma can move the chains with some consistency.

It does feel like Texas may be a little more one-dimensional than the Oklahoma Sooners having struggled to run the ball all season. They won't find a lot of room up front against this Defensive Line and that is an issue when you think the Longhorns could have to play Sam Ehlinger, the freshman, for a second game in a row. Shane Buechele missed out on the win over Kansas State last week with an injury which means Ehlinger could be the Quarter Back again.

He was very good in the win over the Wildcats in Week 6, but this would be a huge test for Ehlinger in a huge rivalry game that won't be lost on the freshman. The Sooners should be able to bring some pressure up front if the Longhorns are unable to establish the run as expected, but they have also allowed almost 300 passing yards per game over their last three games which has to be encouragement for whoever begins at Quarter Back.

Ultimately the fact that Texas have struggled to run the ball much more than Oklahoma is likely to make the difference in this game. However it has been a rivalry game that has been close and competitive in recent years and it is Texas who have covered the last four times in the series.

It also Texas who have played better in the neutral site games in recent years compared with the Sooners. As much as I think Oklahoma will want to come out to prove a point after their upset home loss in Week 6, I also think Texas will be encouraged by recent wins and I will take the points with the underdog in this one.


Toledo Rockets @ Central Michigan Chippewas Pick: Only an outstanding year from the Western Michigan Broncos prevented the Toledo Rockets (4-1) from reaching the MAC Championship Game and that means two years in a row they have barely come up short. This year the Rockets have what many consider to be the best team in the MAC, but they do have to beat out the defending Champions Western Michigan to get to the Championship Game.

It doesn't give the Rockets much room to falter in Conference play as they have found the last couple of years when perhaps having the best team. Conference losses can be devastating when it comes to the tie-breakers at the end of the regular season, but this is a big test for Toledo when they visit to the Central Michigan Chippewas (3-3).

The Chippewas are only 1-1 in the Conference which means they can't really afford another loss if they have a genuine belief they can win the Championship. However Central Michigan have shown they are perhaps not quite good enough to compete with the very best teams they face and that may be the case again in Week 7.

Central Michigan did snap a three game losing run with an upset win over Ohio last time out, but this is another big test for them. Being able to attack Toledo at the line of scrimmage may be the key to the game for the Chippewas as both teams have perhaps underachieved when it comes to running the ball/stopping the run.

The Rockets certainly were hoping to be stronger on the Defensive Line, but there are questions as to whether this Central Michigan team are good enough to expose the holes that Toledo have on the Defensive Line. If the Chippewas can do that, they will be able to set up Shane Morris to attack a Secondary that have played well.

Morris has 11 Touchdown passes and helps Central Michigan average 275 passing yards per game, but that doesn't tell the full story for the Quarter Back. He has also thrown 9 Interceptions in that time and the Toledo Secondary have been a ball-hawking one that have managed to create turnovers which could be important for them.

I would expect Toledo are going to be much more confident with their own ability to run the ball against Central Michigan and Terry Swanson should be able to have another solid outing for the road team. Swanson's task is to make sure Central Michigan respect what he is able to do on the ground which will slow down any pass rush and also bring the Safeties up a little closer to the line of scrimmage, both good pieces of news for Logan Woodside at Quarter Back.

Woodside is considered the best Quarter Back in the MAC and he has helped Toledo average almost 325 passing yards per game while throwing 11 Touchdown passes and 1 Interception so far this season. The Chippewas Secondary have made some big plays to turn the ball over, but Woodside should be able to have a big game along with Swanson at Running Back which should give Toledo the balance to win this one on the road.

Toledo have covered the last seven times these teams have met in the series and they are 5-1 against the spread in their last six games as the road favourite. Add in the fact that Central Michigan are just 3-10 against the spread as the home underdog and I think the balance of the Toledo Rockets can help them win and cover this one on the road.


I've added three more picks below.

MY PICKS: Temple Owls - 9.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)
Iowa State Cyclones - 22.5 Points @ 1.95 Paddy Power (1 Unit)
Wisconsin Badgers - 17 Points @ 2.00 Paddy Power (1 Unit)
Auburn Tigers - 7 Points @ 1.86 Bet365 (1 Unit)
Texas Longhorns + 9 Points @ 1.91 Bet Fred (1 Unit)
Toledo Rockets - 7.5 Points @ 1.95 Bet Fred (1 Unit)
Alabama - 31.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)
South Florida Bulls - 24 Points @ 1.91 Paddy Power (1 Unit)
UCLA Bruins - 2.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet Fred (1 Unit)