NFL Week 6 Picks 2023 (October 12-16)

There is still much of the long NFL regular season to be played, but things are beginning to settle into something of a pattern and you can start thinking about the teams that are potential Super Bowl Champions and those who have to consider moving some players around at the trade deadline.

Teams like the Denver Broncos and Minnesota Vikings could really be ready to take phone calls and listen to conversations about some of their better players on the roster- Kirk Cousins is almost certainly going to be involved in trade rumours right up until the deadline, unless he is, of course, moved on sooner.

Outside of the best teams, there are a lot of teams that will believe they can beat any opponent they face on 'any given Sunday' and half of the thirty two teams are at 3-2 or 2-3 after five games are played (eighteen of thirty-two teams would have that record if the Chargers and Browns had not been on a Bye Week in Week 5 when holding 2-2 records).

Only two teams remain unbeaten and both are in the NFC- not many would bet against the Philadelphia Eagles and San Francisco 49ers meeting in the Championship Game for a second year in a row- while three teams sit just below those 5-0 records at 4-1.

The AFC North and AFC South look like Divisions that are going to be hard fought right down to the wire in the regular season and it could mean that only one from each is able to make the PlayOffs, while the NFC South has three teams with winning records, which is a surprise through five weeks.

As we have already seen through the first five weeks of the season, every week things can change in terms of an outlook as to who the best teams in the NFL are, but right now you would find it hard to look past the San Francisco 49ers, Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins, Buffalo Bills and Philadelphia Eagles as the stand out teams that could win the Super Bowl.

Injuries are going to be the key though and that is where the Bills fans might be a little worried with some top Defensive names set to miss some time.

On ther other side there will be little sympathy for the New England Patriots and the struggles of a franchise that have not been the same since Tom Brady left. A long Dynasty looks to be at the end of the line under Bill Belichick after back to back embarrassing blowouts and the veteran Head Coach does not look like he has the answers to get things back on track.

Mac Jones has been bad, but the Patriots have not been competitive in any facet of their Football over the last two losses to the Cowboys and New Orleans Saints and a new era could soon begin in Foxboro.

The aforementioned Broncos and Vikings have been disappointments, while the Carolina Panthers have expected this to be a rough season as they enter Week 6 as the last team without a victory. Earning that this week looks incredibly unlikely, but the NFL can spring up plenty of surprises and that is why we keep watching.

Denver Broncos @ Kansas City Chiefs Pick: Games between Divisional rivals are rarely ending in blowouts and that is certainly the case when the Kansas City Chiefs (4-1) and Denver Broncos (1-4) have met, despite the fact the Chiefs have won fifteen in a row in this series.

The Broncos were 8.5 point underdogs at home and 13.5 point underdogs at Arrowhead Stadium in 2022, but they were only beaten by 6 and 3 points respectively. Denver are now 4-1 against the spread in the last five between the teams and the performances last season are giving the players something to hold onto as they prepare for this Week 6 game on Thursday Night Football.

At this moment in time the Broncos need to find the positives wherever they can as they continue to struggle under the guidance of new Head Coach Sean Payton. The former New Orleans Saints Super Bowl winning Coach was supposed to come in and quickly turn things around for the Broncos after their 5-12 record in 2022, but there is clearly a lot of work to be done.

Just to underline the point, Sean Payton would have been embarrassed in Week 5 when the Broncos were beaten by double digits at home against the New York Jets. Losing to Zach Wilson and the Jets by that margin is hard enough to take, but would have been all the worse for Payton considering the 'horrible' job he felt Nathaniel Hackett had done as Head Coach for the Broncos in 2022, the same Hackett who is now the New York Offensive Co-Ordinator.

You just know the Jets enjoyed the result and the Denver Broncos have looked lost all season- even their one win over the Chicago Bears came in a game that Denver were down by 21 points before rallying, while no one will have forgotten what happened in Miami in Week 3.

At least the Denver Offensive unit have been able to have some success and that should also be seen in this Thursday Night Football game. The Offensive Line has not been the best when it comes to pass protection, but Denver have been able to run the ball effectively through Jaleel McLaughlin, an Undrafted rookie who has really sparked the Broncos on the ground.

He has made very good use of the carries that have been given to him over the last couple of weeks, although the Broncos will need to be competitive to make sure Jaleel McLaughlin is given a few more in this one. The Running Back has shown he can be a good safety blanket for Russell Wilson in the passing game too, and McLaughlin could have a strong game against the Chiefs Defensive Line which can be broken open for some solid gains on the ground.

It is also key for the Denver Offensive Line to be playing out of third and manageable spots and also develop play-action calls for Russell Wilson. The Quarter Back is clearly not as dynamic getting out of the pocket as he once was with the Seattle Seahawks and Wilson has absorbed far too many Sacks already, which will be a problem against this Kansas City pass rush if in obvious passing situations.

The pressure up front has really helped the Kansas City Secondary, who have held their last three opponents to an average of under 200 passing yards per game. It is key for the Broncos to be able to run the ball as they have been, but just as important is making sure they do not fall too far behind and have to have Russell Wilson throwing the ball to keep up with their Divisional rivals.

Running the ball is not something that Andy Reid enjoys, but even the Kansas City Chiefs have to appreciate the monster holes being allowed by the Denver Broncos. Unlike the Chiefs, the Denver Defensive unit have shown little ability to stop teams through the air and there should be a comfortable balance of play-calling for Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs throughout this game

The Broncos Defensive Line have allowed 5.9 yards per carry this season and almost 190 yards per game on the ground as they have struggled to stop teams from crushing them up front. Kansas City may not have the speedsters at Running Back like some teams, but Isiah Pacheco knows how to move and you have to expect Pacheco to have a big game, while Patrick Mahomes is also capable of moving the chains with his legs.

Travis Kelce might be held out in this game after suffering an injury in Week 5 and with the mini-break coming up before the Chiefs face another Divisional rival in the Los Angeles Chargers. The latter are expected to rival Kansas City much longer than the Broncos within the Division so Kelce might not be risked, but even then the Quarter Back and this Receiving corps should have some big holes to exploit in the Denver Secondary.

If the road team are not able to stop the run, Patrick Mahomes should be given plenty of time by his Offensive Line to make some big plays down the field and this may be the most one-sided Kansas City win over Denver since October 2020 when the Chiefs won by 27 points.

The Broncos have shown they can produce some late Offensive drives that lead to points and so the backdoor cover is a genuine concern.

Add in the fact that the Kansas City Chiefs have won their four games this season by 8, 31, 3 and 4 points and this double digit spread will feel big. However, in saying that, the Broncos are struggling massively and would have been invested in trying to get one over on former Head Coach Nathaniel Hackett in Week 5 and now have to play this game on the road on a short week.

Emotionally they may not find the plays needed and the balanced Kansas City Offensive unit should be able to pile up plenty of points and cover the mark.

Tennessee Titans vs Baltimore Ravens Pick: The last NFL game to be played in London, England will take place in Week 6 at Tottenham Hotspur and features the Baltimore Ravens (3-2) and Tennessee Titans (2-3). Neither of these teams is playing at the kind of level they may have expected at the beginning of the season and both have suffered a defeat in Week 5 which will have frustrated the players and the Head Coach of each team.

John Harbaugh and the Ravens have taken a different approach to preparing for this game having arrived in London at the start of the week, while Mike Vrabel and the Titans have chosen a much more 'flying visit' kind of approach.

These factors can be key when the teams take to the field and Baltimore have made it clear that they needed to do something different having been blown out in London by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2017. John Harbaugh admitted that he had to take a different approach after remembering what happened the last time Baltimore played in London and he will also be hoping the team can bond after the disappointing defeat to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Errors in the Fourth Quarter proved to be costly for Baltimore and they know they will need to clean those up if they are going to return to the PlayOffs. The AFC North is a competitive Division, but the Ravens still hold a winning record and they will feel confident of being able to turn things around when Lamar Jackson and the Offensive unit build up some chemistry and get into a stronger rhythm.

That confidence might not be as clear in the Tennessee Titans camp, who are the designated hosts in this International Series game, but they are in a relatively weak Division. The Colts and Texans are more competitive than expected, while Jacksonville are the current defending Champions in this Division, but Tennessee truly still believe they can do a lot better than their 7-10 record in 2022.

Mike Vrabel will be the first to admit that his team needs to be a lot better on both sides of the ball if they are going to compete at the top of the Division and a win ahead of the Bye Week may give them a positive shot in the arm.

Winning will not be easy for the Titans against this Baltimore team that looks to match up pretty well with them on both sides of the ball.

Derrick Henry has not been trampling teams as we have come to expect with the Titans Offensive Line struggling to open the kind of holes that have been a feature of the team in recent seasons. Doubling down on the issue is that the Titans will be going up against this Baltimore Defensive Line that have been able to clamp down on the run all season and forced Quarter Backs to beat them through the air.

The Ravens may have lost two of their last three games, but that has not been a Defensive problem with the team holding teams to an average of 260 total yards per game. Making sure that Derrick Henry is not finding the room to carry this Titans Offensive unit will be a big win for Baltimore who will not be concerned about the Tennessee Receiving corps, nor veteran Quarter Back Ryan Tannehill.

Offensive Line problems in establishing the run have been one thing, but Tennessee have not been able to give Ryan Tannehill any time in the pocket and that is a major concern against this Baltimore pass rush. Additionally, Ryan Tannehill is going to be trying to make plays against this tough Ravens Secondary and it feels like it is going to be a long day for the Titans Offensively if they are not able to run the ball, which is the expectation.

This also adds to the pressure that will be felt by the Titans Defensive unit as they look to keep the team in the game for as long as possible.

Like the Titans, Baltimore want to establish the run and the Offensive Line looks capable of helping them do that, especially with Lamar Jackson's scrambling ability a real factor too. Losing JK Dobbins will have hurt, but Gus Edwards is playing pretty well and the Ravens do look capable of having enough success on the ground to control the clock.

There is a hope that more is to come from Lamar Jackson and he could have a decent game throwing the ball, even if the Wide Receivers are still trying to get on the same page as the Quarter Back.

The Titans have been able to generate a decent pass rush, but it will be much tougher to be effective from third and short positions on the field and Lamar Jackson can move away from some of the pressure to give himself a bit more time. Holes in the Secondary could be more glaring if the Titans are not able to stop the run and it does feel like Baltimore are in a better position to bounce back after the respective Week 5 losses.

You have to credit how well Tennessee have performed as an underdog with Head Coach Mike Vrabel at the helm and so it is never easy to oppose them.

However, it feels like a pretty poor match up in the trenches on both sides of the ball for the Titans and this should mean Baltimore have a much better time in London than their last appearance in the United Kingdom Capital.

Indianapolis Colts @ Jacksonville Jaguars Pick: After back to back games in London, productive games, the Jacksonville Jaguars (3-2) are back on top of the AFC South and have something to build upon. Winning games in the United States has been a bit more difficult for them this season, but the one victory they have earned on home soil was against the Indianapolis Colts (3-2).

This time the Jaguars are hosting having earned the victory over the Colts in Week 1 of the 2023 season. Another win in Week 6 will give Jacksonville the tie-breaker over their current closest rival in the Division and one that has played well enough to believe could be a threat throughout this year.

It will especially be the case if the Colts can win this game and take over the lead of the AFC South and they will be looking to do that behind a Quarter Back who is plenty familair to the home crowd.

Gardner Minshew had a solid couple of years with the Jaguars and will be the starting Quarter Back for the Indianapolis Colts for several games at least while rookie Anthony Richardson is on the IR. Some believe his injuries already sustained in the small sample of NFL games played might cost Richardson the entire season, but Gardner Minshew is an effective backup.

With Jonathan Taylor likely to be given a few more snaps having returned to the team, Minshew may be looking to hand the ball off to his two Running Backs and hope they can put the team on their back. The Offensive Line has already been ripping open some big holes for Zack Moss, but Jonathan Taylor is a special Running Back and could see the Colts look even stronger on the ground.

Both are likely to also play a part in the passing game, but the key will be to keep Gardner Minshew and the Indianapolis Offensive unit in front of the chains.

If they can do that, the Colts should see their Quarter Back have a strong day throwing the ball into this Jacksonville Secondary, while the pocket will also be clean for Gardner Minshew to go through his reads and find those open Receivers.

Indianapolis should be able to move the ball with some consistency, but the same can be said for the Jacksonville Jaguars after some improved performances. Travis Etienne has gotten going on the ground and that is incredibly important to the Jaguars to just give Trevor Lawrence and the passing game an opportunity to put up some solid numbers.

In recent games it has been a little more possible to run the ball against this Colts Defensive Line so you do have to believe that Etienne will have a solid game. We also know the Quarter Back is happy to tuck the ball and make plays with his legs and it should mean the Colts pass rush is just second guessing themselves at times.

Quality Receiving options are creating openings in the passing game and Trevor Lawrence has shown he can make all of the throws so Jacksonville should be able to exploit one or two holes that have opened up in the Colts Secondary. Like his opposite number and someone who helped him when he came into the NFL, Trevor Lawrence may also be able to use the foundation of a strong running game to hit Receivers down the field.

Being at home has perhaps strengthened this line in favour of the Jaguars, but the spot is far from ideal against a Divisional rival that will feel they can keep up on the scoreboard.

They are the first team to play back to back games in London in consecutive weeks so we don't really know how that is going to impact Jacksonville in their return home. It does not help that they are scheduled for a short week when playing on Thursday Night Football in Week 7 and a win over the Colts already may mean there is a bit more motivation in the road locker room to earn a measure of revenge.

Those factors could see the Colts keep this within a Field Goal mark in a game where Gardner Minshew will want to remind the home fans of 'Minshew Mania' during his time with the Jaguars. At the very least a backdoor cover should be possible for the Colts and taking more than a Field Goal worth of points is appealing in this one.

MY PICKS: Kansas City Chiefs - 10.5 Points @ 1,91 Bet Victor (1 Unit)

Baltimore Ravens - 4 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Indianapolis Colts + 4.5 Points @ 1.86 Coral (1 Unit)

Seattle Seahawks + 3 Points @ 1.91 Coral (1 Unit)

Miami Dolphins - 14 Points @ 1.83 Coral (1 Unit)

Detroit Lions - 3 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Buffalo Bills - 14.5 Points @ 1.91 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

Week 5: 4-3-1, + 2.46 Units (10 Units Staked, + 24.60% Yield)

Week 4: 3-5, - 2.35 Units (8 Units Staked, - 29.38% Yield)

Week 3: 4-4, + 0.43 Units (9 Units Staked, + 4.78% Yield)

Week 2: 3-4-2, - 1.36 Units (12 Units Staked, - 11.33% Yield)

Week 1: 5-2, + 2.51 Units (7 Units Staked, + 35.86% Yield)

Boxing Picks 2022- Deontay Wilder vs Robert Helenius (October 15th)

A week can be a long time and especially in a sport like Boxing.

This time last week there would have been a queue of people lined up to knock anyone who may be associated with Boxing or consider themselves a fan of the sport after the debacle around the Conor Benn vs Chris Eubank Jr fight.

A failed test seemingly would not have been enough for the promoters to pull the plug on the event, but a leaked report to the media meant it was almost impossible for the bout to take place.

I say almost impossible because it sounds like Matchroom and Wasserman were going to do all in their power to make the British Boxing Board of Control bend to their will and sanction the fight despite the failed test that had made it into the mainstream, but ultimately the decision to postpone HAD to be made.

It still left a pretty sick taste in the mouth to believe that this fight would have taken place if there had not been a leak to the press, while it does make me wonder how many other fights have been pushed through despite adverse findings in tests prior to the Boxers entering the ring. And after all we have heard from Eddie Hearn when there have been failed tests outside of his stable, it was embarrassing for him to suggest there was no reason the BBBC would have to fail to sanction the go-ahead for the Saturday card.

You don't want to make sweeping statements about Conor Benn's guilt, but it is a terrible look for Boxing to have him not only fail a test, but then to suggest he is a 'clean athlete' who believed the fight should not have been postponed. I think he should have due process, but that should occur before he is allowed to exchange punches with anyone else.

Hearing the likes of Hearn deflecting the attention away from the facts and using smoke and mirrors to confuse fans in the aftermath of the decision to postpone has caused further embarrassment for those involved in the sport and it is good to see a solid schedule in the United Kingdom and United States on Saturday to get people refocused on the athletes that deserve the spotlight.

It has been three weeks since the last Boxing Picks on this page as Joe Joyce's late Stoppage over Joseph Parker prevented a huge drop in the overall profit for the year.

There are some big weekends left before the 2022 season is completed, but I am looking for a productive conclusion to round off a winning year.

Claressa Shields vs Savannah Marshall

This entire card was supposed to take place in early September, but the passing of Queen Elizabeth II meant a five week postponement to a historic event.

Thankfully we are going to actually have Boxing making headlines for events taking place inside the ring rather than outside like last week, and the all-Women's card at the O2 Arena in London has certainly earned the right for some positive stories.

Top of the bill is the grudge fight between Claressa Shields and Savannah Marshall with all of the belts at Middleweight on the line in London. Much has been made of the fact that Marshall is the sole person to have beaten Shields in a Boxing ring in their amateur days, while the British World Champion has been Knocking Out opponents to build her reputation.

Many of those Stopped have been common opponents with Claressa Shields, who is much more a Boxer than a power puncher, and Savannah Marshall supporters are insistent she will be too big and too strong for the American.

However, there are some questions for Savannah Marshall to answer- this is the best opponent she will have faced in her professional career and she will have to find a way to cut off the ring and get into a position to land her power punches against a slick Boxer. The Brit has also admitted that she struggled to deal with pressure in her younger days and this may be the most pressurised situation Savannah Marshall has been in since fighting at the London Olympics in 2012, when she was beaten in the First Round.

A relatively early defeat in the Rio Olympics would have been a blow too, but Marshall feels she has built her confidence under Peter Fury and she has run through her opponents since turning pro.

It has been much different for Claressa Shields who won Gold Medals at both of those Olympic Games mentioned and who has won plenty of World Titles since turning professional. She has looked for challenges and that has seen Shields enter the cage and move into the MMA arena, but this is a fight that will have been easy to motivate the American and she has been a confident figure throughout.

I think things would feel a lot tougher for Claressa Shields if this was a Twelve Round, three minute World Title fight, but a Ten Rounder with two minute Rounds looks to favour her. Claressa Shields is massively talented, but I do think the 16 minute difference between the Men's World Title fights and the Women's makes it that much easier to believe that Shields will be able to box and move and make sure she is not having to deal with the Savannah Marshall power.

It is Boxing and it is impossible to avoid being hit for the full amount of time in the ring, but I do think Savannah Marshall will likely have needed a bit more time to see if she could have worn down Claressa Shields. The slight underdog is the bigger women and there is no doubting the Savannah Marshall power, but I do think Claressa Shields is technically very, very strong and ultimately she can box her way around the power and find a way to win this one on the cards.

Prior to the build up of this fight I don't think I had the best impression of Claressa Shields and would have loved to see the GWOAT humbled, but she has come off much better than I anticipated. I do have a lot of time for Marshall too and her build to this level has been a lot of fun to watch, but the feeling is that she may come up a touch short and lose Six of the Ten Rounds scheduled.

Seeing this in a rematch would not be a surprise if it is competitive and I don't think either Boxer will be blown away in this one. Savannah Marshall will be dangerous for the full Ten Rounds, but Claressa Shields can stay focused and stay out of real trouble and earn that win on the cards, even in the United Kingdom where the judging can be questionable.

There is a loaded card at the O2 Arena on Saturday, but it is the chief support that will have many fans tuning in.

Both Mikaela Mayer and Alycia Baumgardner could not have sold their Unification any better and there is clearly no love lost between the two American World Champions.

I have a lot of time for Baumgardner, but my head says Mayer is going to be cool enough to stick to her Boxing and ultimately can edge out her younger opponent. Alycia Baumgardner has plenty of power, but I am not sure Mayer is going to get involved in the trenches and instead will look to use her length to keep the stronger, athletic underdog at bay.

There are some questions about the weight and whether Mikaela Mayer has had issues getting down to 130 pounds- she certainly can't have been helped by the delay in this fight from early September- but the shorter format of Women's Boxing may just mean Alycia Baumgardner doesn't have the time to really unleash her power for long enough to earn the upset.

Mikaela Mayer has shown she has a decent set of whiskers in the past, but the odds are plenty short for her to win on the cards, which feels the most likely outcome of this one.

Instead it is a chief support that looks well worth watching and I am very much looking forward to this clash.

Deontay Wilder vs Robert Helenius

A little over a year ago, a Heavyweight Boxing trilogy between Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder ended decisively in favour of the Gypsy King who confirmed his place at the top of the Division.

Deontay Wilder was never convinced that he was allowed to be beaten on his own terms in the middle of the three fights, and he showed plenty of character and belief in his defeat in October 2021. Once again he had Fury on the floor twice, but it was the British fighter who prevailed with an 11th Round Knock Out and Deontay Wilder was left to contemplate retirement.

At one point it looked like that would be the decision that Wilder would make, but I think he actually earned more credit out of his defeat last year than from the majority of his forty-two wins. And once the statue of him was unveiled in Tuscaloosa, Deontay Wilder felt the love of the people that reignited the spark to return to the ring.

Big fights remain and a couple of big wins could see Deontay Wilder placed in a WBC World Title fight against Tyson Fury- that is perhaps not really the route anyone wants to see the American go, but the likes of Oleksandr Usyk, Anthony Joshua and Andy Ruiz Jr are intriguing bouts for Wilder and, importantly, likely to pay him very well.

None of that will matter if Deontay Wilder is not able to beat Robert Helenius, but I do think this is a decent enough match up for the former World Champion.

Robert Helenius was last out on the Wilder-Fury 3 undercard when beating Adam Kownacki for a second time, but this is a big step up for someone who has never really fulfilled some of the expectations that were on his shoulders when he turned professional. He may have won three in a row heading into this bout, but that run started after a Stoppage loss to Gerald Washington and I do think Helenius will struggle to keep Deontay Wilder from unloading on him.

The Nordic Nightmare is technically very good and the fundamentals and size have seen Robert Helenius cause problems for opponents, but each time he has stepped up he has been beaten.

There are going to be a couple of demons to exorcise for Deontay Wilder, and we don't really know how much the back to back losses to Tyson Fury have taken out of him.

However, I do think he will be well prepared for this kind of fight and I think the selection of Robert Helenius is clearly something his team would have thought about. It may take Deontay Wilder a couple of Rounds to shake off some of the ring rust and Robert Helenius is fighting with confidence, but at some point Wilder will detonate the right hand on someone who does not have the best head movement.

Power tends to be the last thing to go and I do think Deontay Wilder is still an exceptional finisher, especially back down at 214 pounds where his speed and athleticism can be a real advantage.

Robert Helenius is likely going to cause some problems early with his solid fundamentals, but Deontay Wilder can find his way and secure a finish around the midway mark of his comeback. The one hitter quitter is never that far away when Wilder is in the ring, but only one of his last six fights have ended before the Seventh Round and a little bit of time may be needed before putting his opponent on his back.

They are asking for more PPV money in the United States for the Wilder comeback, which is not a surprise, but at least they have put together a decent looking undercard.

A potential future Heavyweight Champion Frank Sanchez can sometimes be a little difficult to watch as fans clamour for him to step on the gas when dominating opponents. He is a quality technician, but it would be disappointing if he does not have an early night against Carlos Negron, who has a couple of very early losses on the record.

Two of the leading Bantamweights meet when Gary Antonio Russell and Emmanuel Rodriguez run it back after a no contest due to an accidental head-butt back in August 2021.

Both have had a tune up fight since then and will feel that the World Titles are going to become fractured in the Division once Naoya Inoue likely Unifies in his fight against Paul Butler in December. The winner of this one will certainly be in line to fight for one or two of the vacant belts and I think it will be a close, competitive contest.

Emmanuel Rodriguez has shown he is much more than when being wiped out by Inoue in the World Boxing Super Series, while Gary Antonio Russell remains unbeaten. The edge has to be with the latter, who may be a bit quicker and ultimately that slightly more confident with the unbeaten record behind him.

This is the toughest fight of his career, but Russell can show he is ready to move his career on and I think he will likely win this one on the cards.

The chief support to the main event sees the return of Caleb Plant and I expect him to have too much for the veteran Anthony Dirrell- there is no love lost between the pair, but Dirrell is a tough nut to crack and I think Plant will showcase his skills on his way to a Decision.

Devin Haney vs George Kambosos Jr II

Rematch clauses are all the rage in World Title fights, but some are simply not called for.

This feels like one of those after Devin Haney completely bamboozled George Kambosos Jr four months ago and took a Unanimous Decision to become the Undisputed Lightweight Champion.

Ultimately the Australian decided to take up the rematch clause and has promised to be better having failed to make weight the first time when they met in June. He looked pretty tight at the weight, but the images of Devin Haney have been even more startling compared with his look before the first fight and it is almost certain that the World Titles will break up after this one.

If Devin Haney wins, there is a big fight for him against Vasyl Lomachenko, assuming the Ukrainian returns with a win later this month. However, it might be too dangerous to try and boil down to 135 pounds again and it may make more sense to try and become a two-weight World Champion in a solid Light-Welterweight Division where the belts have split up after Josh Taylor's Unification.

For now the concentration is on this fight and I am not sure how much will have changed in four months.

Of course the weight drain is a concern, but I think George Kambosos Jr has problems making the limit too and so it may be much of a muchness. The quicker and longer Devin Haney looks to be too much for the home fighter, even if I am expecting a much more gung-ho effort from what was a surprisingly timid Kambosos Jr last time out.

Before seeing how much the weight looks to have drained him, I felt Devin Haney may be able to step on the gas this time and finish off George Kambosos Jr, who is much more likely to be willing to put himself in dangerous positions to try and get his own shots off. We did not see that last time out, but there is no rematch to fall back upon in this second fight so the expectation is that the Australian will leave it all in the ring.

Much is going to depend on how Haney feels after twenty-four hours of rehydration, but I also think Kambosos Jr looks weak at the weight.

The smart thinking is that Devin Haney may just do enough to get to the scorecards again and earn another Decision win, but there might be some mileage in taking a small interest in George Kambosos Jr emptying the tank and The Dream being able to put a combination or two together to end this one late.

Both Moloney brothers are fighting on the undercard again and I think both will win before moving onto bigger fights in 2023.

Jason Moloney can't underestimate his Thai opponent Nawaphon Kaikanha, but the latter has never fought outside his own country and this is a significant step up.

I expect Moloney to win this one and in impressive style.

Andrew Moloney is on a three fight winning run after ending on the wrong side of the trilogy with Joshua Franco and he should be able to extend that against veteran Norbelto Jimenez.

It has been a long time since Jimenez was Stopped, but I think Andrew Moloney is looking to get back in the mix with the top Super Flyweights in the World and he can put his punches together to end this one before the final bell.

MY PICKS: Claressa Shields to Win by Decision/Technical Decision @ 2.25 Bet Victor (2 Units)

Deonaty Wilder to Win Between 5-8 @ 3.30 Paddy Power (2 Units)

Frank Sanchez to Win Between 1-5 @ 1.80 Sky Bet (2 Units)

Gary Antonio Russell to Win by Decision/Technical Decision @ 1.91 Coral (2 Units)

Devin Haney to Win Between 7-12 @ 6.00 Paddy Power (1 Unit)

Jason Moloney to Win Between 1-6 @ 3.10 Paddy Power (1 Unit)

Andrew Moloney to Win by KO/TKO/Disqualification @ 5.50 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

Boxing 2022: 31-55, + 12.91 Units (151 Units Staked, + 8.55% Yield)

College Football Week 7 Picks 2022 (October 15th)

I needed a couple of weeks off from the College Football Picks to just reassess my approach after a pretty miserable Week 4.

The relatively short season means there are plenty of big games being played every week, but only seven selections have felt good enough to get over my threshold and I am looking for the start of a strong run to close out the regular season before the Championship Games are played.

Over the last couple of weeks we have seen some big name schools capitulate and others rise after a miserable 2021 season- that is the nature of the ever-changing landscape of College Football and it means adjustments have to be made much faster to avoid falling into a hole.

Penn State Nittany Lions @ Michigan Wolverines Pick: The winner of the Big Ten East will not only be a big favourite when it comes to the Big Ten Championship Game, but they are also very likely to be invited into the College Football PlayOff. Both the Michigan Wolverines (6-0) and the Penn State Nittany Lions (5-0) are unbeaten and feeling like they can be the team to reach that PlayOff, although the Ohio State Buckeyes are likely to have a big say in matters having entered their Bye Week unbeaten.

These two teams cannot spend any time worrying about the Buckeyes with a game against them to come, but instead the focus has to be on the unbeaten team facing them in Week 7 of the College Football season.

Both teams have impressed so far, but the Michigan Wolverines are playing with the extra point of trying to prove that last season wasn't just a flash in the pan. Jim Harbaugh's team have lost some hugely talented players to the NFL, but they have not allowed that to distract them too much and the Defensive unit looks to have reloaded effectively.

Most would have expected the Wolverines to drop off on this side of the ball, but the unit looks like it is capable of matching the very effective unit of 2021 and that would be a huge boost for Michigan in their bid to return to the PlayOff. This may be the toughest test of that Defense in 2022 so far, but every sign points to the fact that the Wolverines are capable of stepping up against a Penn State team that were restricted to 17 points two weeks ago.

A problem for the Nittany Lions is that the Offensive Line may not be able to establish the run in the manner they would want against this Michigan Defensive Line which has been in fine form all season. Making teams one-dimensional eases all decisions for a Defensive unit and the Wolverines have been able to clamp down on the run and produce the kind of Line that we have become used to seeing in Ann Arbor.

While they may give up a few more yards than their season average against a talented Penn State team, I do think Michigan can have enough success to force the pressure onto Sean Clifford's shoulders at Quarter Back. The Nittany Lions Offensive Line has been able to protect Clifford when he has stepped back to throw, but they have not faced a pass rush like the one that the Wolverines are able to generate and that may mean making errors when attacking this Michigan Secondary.

Shutting down Sean Clifford and the Penn State Offensive unit completely is unrealistic, but I do think the Wolverines have enough of an edge on this side of the ball to at least restrict them on the scoreboard. Clamping down on the run and making some big plays through the air could force Penn State to have to settle for Field Goals rather than Touchdowns and that should give the home team the chance to win the game and cover what is a pretty big spread.

The line of scrimmage is always a big part of the game in these big College battles and that is on both sides of the ball- while Michigan will feel they can at least win up front on the Defensive side of the ball, the Penn State Nittany Lions have to be pretty happy with what they have seen from their own Defensive Line when it comes to shutting down the run.

Of course Penn State have not really faced anyone like Blake Corum so far this season and the Wolverines Offensive Line remains a massive strength for the home team. My lean is with the Wolverines to just impose themselves when it comes to the run blocking and I think that will make life all the easier for their Offensive unit compared with Penn State's.

Blake Corum should have another decent day and being in third and manageable should be a huge bonus for JJ McCarthy at Quarter Back. Since coming in as the starter, McCarthy has played with confidence and there are definitely big holes in the Nittany Lions Secondary that can be exposed by the Quarter Back who just produced his best game of the season.

Third and manageable also controls the Penn State pass rush and I do think the Michigan Wolverines are the stronger team and can show that on the day.

Michigan were beaten in the Big House by Penn State a couple of seasons ago, but earned revenge with an important road win last season.

I have to respect how Penn State have played as the road underdog under Head Coach James Franklin, but Michigan are 7-3 against the spread when set as the home favourite since the beginning of the 2021 season and I think the Wolverines Defensive unit makes the plays to help their team cover and remain unbeaten.

Arkansas Razorbacks @ BYU Cougars Pick: After finishing with a winning record in 2021 for the first time since 2016, Sam Pittman and the Arkansas Razorbacks (3-3) are dealing with increased expectations. The Head Coach has admitted his team are banged up and desperate to head into their Bye Week following this game, but Pittman will be looking for the Razorbacks to try and snap a three game losing run which has dropped them back to 0.500 for the season.

All of those losses have been in the SEC and that means the Razorbacks are in the basement position in the loaded West Division, one that is regularly filled with some of the best teams in College Football.

Injuries are not an excuse, but they do provide a backdrop as to why Arkansas are perhaps not playing as well as they would like. They were narrowly beaten by the Texas A&M Aggies before more comfortable losses to the Alabama Crimson Tide and Mississippi State Bulldogs, although the Razorbacks may feel this is an 'easier' game when travelling to take on the BYU Cougars (4-2) in an important game on the road to becoming Bowl eligible again.

The Cougars look healthier than Arkansas, but they were well beaten by the Notre Dame Fighting Irish last weekend, despite having one last possession to try and tie the game. Ultimately they were outgained in terms of yardage by a considerable margin and the Cougars have been well beaten in a road game at the Oregon Ducks before losing in Las Vegas to the Fighting Irish in Week 6.

BYU do hold a home win over Big 12 Baylor Bears though and I do think the healthier squad gives them a better chance of bouncing back compared with the Arkansas Razorbacks who may be looking for a reprieve by heading into the Bye Week. The Razorbacks could be without starting Quarter Back KJ Jefferson for a second game in a row having missed his presence in the defeat to the Bulldogs last week, while the Secondary have taken considerable hits all season.

There is no doubting that the BYU Cougars have the qualities to hurt the Razorbacks when they have the ball in hand and the balance shown on the Offensive side of the ball makes BYU very dangerous. They have been able to run the ball efficiently in recent games and I expect them to establish the ground game against a Razorbacks Defensive Line which has been worn down from their last three SEC games and have allowed 227 yards per game on the ground at 6 yards per carry.

With a depleted Secondary in front of him, Jaren Hall can have a big game for the Cougars at Quarter Back and managing a game from third and short situations is only going to make life that much easier for him.

I don't think you can dismiss the road team out of hand because of the injuries and I do think Arkansas have an Offensive Line which is very strong at grading the road in run blocking themselves. The Razorbacks should be able to have success against this BYU Defensive Line, although the home team may be able to sell out to stop the run if KJ Jefferson is having to sit out another game at Quarter Back.

Malik Hornsby did not really have the best game in relief of Jefferson last week and the Cougars Secondary have played well this season. It may allow them to use more men around the line of scrimmage to try and force Arkansas to take to the air and I do like the home team to win this one.

Sam Pittman has never lost a non-Conference game since taking over as Head Coach of the Razorbacks and that has to be respected, and that run includes a win over the Cincinnati Bearcats. However, his team are just 2-8 on the road straight up in his two and a half seasons in charge and I do think the Cougars being healthier gives them a better chance at bouncing back from a Week 6 defeat.

Recent BYU trends are anything but encouraging, but I do think they have the edge on Homecoming in Provo and I think they win this one.

Stanford Cardinal @ Notre Dame Fighting Irish Pick: You don't have to look too far into the history books to recall a time when Stanford Cardinal (1-4) were winning double digit amount of games in each season, but recent years have been much tougher for David Shaw. The Head Coach is unlikely to be fearing a firing, but Shaw is overseeing another season in which a losing season is likely and that would mean the Cardinal having had one of those in three of the last four years.

The one point loss to the Oregon State Beavers would have really hurt last week, but at least Stanford showed some signs of life after being blown away by the USC Trojans, Washington Huskies and Oregon Ducks earlier in the season. However, four losses in the Pac-12 means a hard road is ahead for the Cardinal if they are going to turn things around and somehow win six games to become Bowl eligible.

It is a long shot as an experienced team has struggled and they have to visit South Bend this week against an improving Notre Dame Fighting Irish (3-2) team that have won three games in a row. Brian Kelly has left, but new Head Coach Marcus Freeman will have been disappointed in the defeat to the Marshall Thundering Herd that has likely ended Notre Dame's hopes of making the College Football PlayOff.

He had not been left with a bare stock, which would have stung in the opening two losses, although the improvement is clear in recent games. Marcus Freeman will be demanding more and he recognises that he is likely going to be Coaching against a Stanford team bringing their best effort in what could be considered their most important game left in 2022.

Notre Dame should be able to move the ball efficiently when they have it though and that is because the old days of a solid Stanford Defensive Line look well behind the Cardinal. They have given up huge amount of yards on the ground in each of the last two seasons and this current Stanford Defensive Line has allowed 237 yards per game on the ground at 6.5 yards per carry in their last three games as the competition has ramped up.

I have little doubt that the Fighting Irish Offensive Line will be able to bust open some big running lanes in this one and that makes things much easier for the Offensive Co-Ordinator when it comes to calling the game. There have been one or two holes in the Stanford Secondary, while the Notre Dame Offensive Line has been able to give Drew Pyne plenty of time in the pocket to make his plays down the field.

There are still one or two inconsistencies with the play-calling and the execution on the Offensive side of the ball, but the feeling is that the Fighting Irish will be able to do as much as they would like in this one. That shifts the pressure onto Stanford and whether they can put an end product some of their more productive drives and try and keep this one close.

Issues on the Stanford Offensive Line have not really helped Tanner McKee who has thrown 10 Touchdown passes and 5 Interceptions on the season- those issues have made it difficult for Stanford to run the ball as they would have liked and they are not expecting to get a lot of change out of this Fighting Irish Defensive Line, which means McKee will have to rely upon his arm to keep the chains moving.

Another problem with being ineffective on the ground is that Tanner McKee has to throw from third and long spots and the Cardinal Offensive Line have offered little protection to allow routes to develop down the field. In this one they are facing a fierce Notre Dame pass rush which has ramped up their play in this winning run and I do think Tanner McKee will have some drives falter as he continues to try and make plays under pressure.

I do think Tanner McKee can make some big time throws, but the consistency is likely to be lacking and I think that helps the Fighting Irish pull away for a big win.

Notre Dame are 6-2 against the spread in the last eight against Stanford and have won three in a row by 19 points or more.

The Fighting Irish are also 6-3 against the spread as a home favourite since the start of 2020, while Stanford are 3-8 against the spread as the road underdog in their last eleven in that spot. The Cardinal were crushed by Notre Dame at home last season, but David Shaw has not had the best record in revenge situations against the spread and I will back the home team to secure a big win.

Nebraska Cornhuskers @ Purdue Boilermakers Pick: The Big Ten East is likely going to send a team to the College Football PlayOff with Ohio State, Michigan and Penn State all unbeaten and expected to be favourites to win the Big Ten Championship Game irrespective of which of the three make it to that Championship Game.

At the same time, the Big Ten West could not be any wider open with three teams sharing a 2-1 record within the Division and that doesn't include the Minnesota Golden Gophers or the Wisconsin Badgers.

Two of those three teams will face off in Week 7 of the College Football season as the Purdue Boilermakers (4-2) host the Nebraska Cornhuskers (3-3). After only just missing out on the Big Ten Championship Game last season, Purdue have entered 2022 with plenty of experience on both sides of the ball and tough back to back road wins at the Golden Gophers and Maryland Terrapins has gotten them back on track in the Division.

A narrow loss to the Penn State Nittany Lions is the only setback suffered by the Boilermakers who won nine games last season and are a solid team under Head Coach Jeff Brohm.

Things seem more settled for the home team, but the Nebraska Cornhuskers are playing well under interim Head Coach Mickey Joseph who took over from Scott Frost after a 1-2 start to the season. Mickey Joseph oversaw a thumping by the Oklahoma Sooners, a result that has not aged well at all, but the Cornhuskers have beaten the Indiana Hoosiers and Rutgers Scarlet Knights out of a Bye Week and can put it all on the line in this Week 7 game ahead of a rare second Bye Week.

You do have to feel that the Cornhuskers still need a big improvement if they are going to upset the odds and win this game in West Lafayette, especially as they gave up more yards than they earned against Rutgers in Week 6. The Nebraska Offensive Line is struggling to open big holes for the running game and I do think they are going to struggle to establish any consistency in this one against a Purdue Defensive Line which is backing up the performance of last season.

That means it will be up to Casey Thompson at Quarter Back to keep the chains moving for the road team and that will be far from easy if playing from third and long situations. The Offensive Line have not been the best in pass protection, but Thompson will have chances to exploit the Boilermakers Secondary if he does find a bit of time considering the recent numbers produced by Purdue.

Ultimately the Cornhuskers are likely going to have to lean on the Defensive unit if they are going to be in a position to upset their hosts and they have allowed just 35 points in two games out of their Bye Week. Granted, those have been against two teams who are a combined 1-5 in Big Ten Conference play this season, but Nebraska will play with some confidence.

Much could come down to the line of scrimmage on this side of the ball too- in recent years Purdue have been criticised for the lack of consistency running the ball, but the feeling is that this Offensive Line is playing better than recent editions and there are one or two cracks in the Nebraska Defensive Line which can be exploited.

Being in third and manageable would be a big advantage for Purdue and their Quarter Back Aidan O'Connell and it would also mean he is given a little more time to make his throws. Aidan O'Connell has had one or two issues with Interceptions that need to be cleaned up if the Boilermakers are to make the Championship Game, but the Quarter Back does have a high completion rate and he is throwing against a Nebraska Secondary which has been allowed over 240 yards per game in their last three.

Games between these Big Ten West rivals have tended to be close and competitive in recent years, but I do think the Boilermakers can pull away in this one thanks to their control at the line of scrimmage.

The Cornhuskers have been a team that have thrived when placed in the road underdog role in recent years and that has to be respected considering how many points they are receiving in this game. However, Purdue are 10-0 against the spread as the home favourite of more than 13 points in Conference games and I do think they have a more consistent pathway to Offensive success in this Week 7 Big Ten game.

The road team may be 5-1 against the spread in the last six in this series, but I think Purdue will have enough to win this one by two Touchdowns on the day as they likely dominate at the line of scrimmage.

MY PICKS: Michigan Wolverines - 7 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

BYU Cougars @ 1.91 Bet Victor (1 Unit)

Notre Dame Fighting Irish - 16.5 Points @ 1.92 Bet Victor (1 Unit)

Purdue Boilermakers - 13.5 Points @ 1.85 Bet Victor (1 Unit)

Miami Hurricanes - 7.5 Points @ 1.95 Bet Victor (1 Unit)

Washington Huskies - 14.5 Points @ 1.95 Bet Victor (1 Unit)

Oregon State Beavers - 3 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Week 4: 4-8, - 4.31 Units (12 Units Staked, - 35.92% Yield)

Week 3: 5-3, + 1.64 Units (8 Units Staked, + 20.50% Yield)

Week 2: 3-5, - 2.33 Units (8 Units Staked, - 29.13% Yield)

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)