NFL Week 6 Picks 2021 (October 14-18)

Another week of the NFL is set to be played with the majority of the games taking place over the course of several hours on Sunday.

Bye Weeks have begun and there are not a lot of games that appeal from the NFL Picks point of view.

I will be at the game at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday as my Miami Dolphins come to town, but it may not be the most enjoyable spectacle. However, I do hope to build on the recent run which has produced four winning weeks in succession as the season has gotten off to a very positive start following the horrible Week 1 beginning.

Jacksonville Jaguars vs Miami Dolphins Pick: Fans in Europe are going to be excited about the return of the NFL to London, especially after missing out last season as the world had to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic. They will remain excited despite the fact that the four teams heading over to London are amongst the worst in the NFL and most will be heading back to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in Week 6 hoping to see a much better game all around than the one between the Atlanta Falcons and New York Jets.

It is not easy to try and suggest that will be the case when the Miami Dolphins (1-4) and the Jacksonville Jaguars (0-5) meet, but these two teams are familiar to fans in London and they will feel there are some positives ahead of this Week 6 game which can lead to a strong outing.

This was supposed to be a season when the Miami Dolphins took the next step in their development and returned to the PlayOffs, but four straight losses have knocked the confidence of the team. Tua Tagovailoa is back at Quarter Back after sitting out the last three games, but the Offensive play-calling is going to have improve markedly if the Dolphins are going to be able snap their poor run.

Brian Flores has done a good job as the Dolphins Head Coach, but a dual Offensive Co-Ordinator plan has simply not worked, while the Miami Dolphins continue to be linked with a move to trade for Deshaun Watson. That isn't going to help Tua Tagovailoa, but there hasn't been enough from the second season Quarter Back to believe he is the answer for a franchise that has been waiting for a long time to replace Dan Marino.

It has been difficult for whoever has been lining up for the Dolphins behind this Offensive Line which has struggled all season. The Offensive Line has not only struggled in pass protection, but they have also not been able to open big holes on the ground and the Dolphins may struggle to impose themselves on the Jacksonville Defensive Line and that could be key to helping figure out how this game will break down.

Miami are likely going to need Tua Tagovailoa to be close to his best if they are going to win this game and it is hard to know how he is feeling having just returned from a serious injury that saw him miss time. He will be without DeVante Parker and Will Fuller is also absent, which will make it more difficult to expose what has been a vulnerable Jacksonville Secondary.

Tua Tagovailoa should be able to make some plays, but he will benefit massively if the Dolphins can earn a few yards on the ground and avoid being in third and long spots. The Jaguars may not have the best pass rush, but they should still be able to get to Tagovailoa who is not the most mobile of Quarter Backs and it may end up being the best way to stall drives and force Field Goals rather than giving up Touchdowns to the Dolphins.

The Jaguars are used to playing in London as an organisation, but Urban Meyer will be the latest Head Coach leading the team on this side of the pond. The Head Coach has struggled in his first season as a Head Coach in the pro ranks, while off field issues have only clouded the respect the players have for him and there are rumours that Urban Meyer could be fired with a Bye Week coming up.

We will learn plenty about how the locker room feels about Urban Meyer during the course of this game in London, but you have to like the chances of the Jacksonville Jaguars moving the ball and scoring enough points for the upset. Trevor Lawrence looks to be improving, but the Jaguars may not need the rookie Quarter Back to have to push too hard considering what we have seen from the Miami Dolphins Defensive unit.

Xavien Howard looks like he will be missing on this side of the ball so Lawrence should be able to find his Receivers in the Secondary, but the main game plan has to be establishing the run. The Dolphins Defensive Line has struggled to stop the run all season and James Robinson is coming in off a game when he produced a yard shy of 149 on the ground against the Tennessee Titans.

James Robinson and the Jacksonville Jaguars should be able to establish the run against the Miami Dolphins and that will only up the passing lanes for Trevor Lawrence. The Quarter Back has made some mistakes, which are to be expected, but he should have some time in the pocket with his mobility and especially if the Jaguars are able to run the ball as expected.

With one of their top Defensive Backs on the sidelines, Miami may then struggle to stop Jacksonville making some big plays through the air and I do think the Jaguars are in a position to snap their long losing run which has extended to twenty games after the blow out home loss to the Tennessee Titans in Week 5.

Both franchises are familiar with the London game on the schedule, but both have failed to cover the last two times they have played in the United Kingdom capital. The Dolphins did blow out Jacksonville on the road in 2020, but the Jaguars had more yards on the day and this Miami Defensive unit has not played to the same kind of level.

There is a fear that the Jacksonville Jaguars players may have given up on Urban Meyer and feel like a poor performance could see the Head Coach canned, which may see them offer very little effort in this one. However, I do think the Jaguars match up well with the Dolphins on both sides of the ball and trying to snap the ugly twenty game slide should be motivation enough and will be added to by the fact that the Jaguars will be looking for revenge for the blow out loss in 2020.

Having a full Field Goal start looks appealing enough here.

Green Bay Packers @ Chicago Bears Pick: The NFC North Divisional lead is on the line in Week 6 when the two leading teams meet at Soldier Field. The Green Bay Packers (4-1) and the Chicago Bears (3-2) are the only two teams in the Division with a winning record, and both are 1-0 in the Divisional games thanks to a win over the winless Detroit Lions.

Tough road wins were secured in Week 5 so there is momentum behind both teams, although the Chicago Bears know they have more to prove to the nation and to their main Divisional rivals. They have never beaten the Green Bay Packers in the four attempts against Matt LaFleur and there is a marked difference about the level the Offensive units can produce on any given Sunday.

Both Defensive units have played well in their own way, but this is an area in which the Green Bay Packers are a little banged up. The question is whether Justin Fields and the Chicago Bears Offensive unit can take advantage and I have to admit that I think they will struggle to score points if the Defense is not able to create short fields for them.

Justin Fields is clearly going to be a decent Quarter Back, but the rookie is having teething problems early in his career and I am not sure the Bears Offensive game-plans are the most impressive. The pressure is going to be on the young player because the Chicago Bears could be down to a third string Running Back in this game and that may make it that much more difficult for the Bears to exploit what has long been an issue for the Green Bay Defensive Line.

Clamping down on the run is something that is still very much a work in progress for the Packers Defensive Line, but the Bears are already without David Montgomery and look to missing Damien Williams this week too. In the last three games, Green Bay have looked a little more stout against the run, which will give them further confidence, and the it may force Justin Fields to beat them from third and long situational spots.

We have seen inconsistent throws from Justin Fields already this season and he is not being helped by the Offensive Line which does not offer a lot of time in the pocket. Going through his progressions and working those out at the same time as seeing time run out rapidly has hurt the Quarter Back and Green Bay have a pass rush that can get to Fields and stall drives.

With the Offense likely to have some issues moving the ball, Chicago have to hope their Defensive unit can step up and try and keep the team in the game. It was the Defense that played really well in the back to back wins over Detroit and Las Vegas and Chicago have allowed just 23 points combined in those victories, but this is a game against Aaron Rodgers and the powerful Packers Offense and I am not sure the Bears will have the same level of success.

A fierce pass rush has been the key for the Bears, but now they are going up against a Packers Offensive Line which will be stronger and healthier than it has been. The experience of Aaron Rodgers means he can decipher where the pressure is coming from, while he will also make quick decisions about where he is throwing the ball and that should help ease the pass rush.

Further to that, Green Bay have had success running the ball and they should be able to establish Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon, which forces the Chicago pass rush to just second guess themselves and slow them down another step. Moving the team into third and manageable spots should also mean Aaron Rodgers is able to attack the Chicago Secondary which has one or two holes to exploit despite the struggles of Jared Goff and Derek Carr.

Aaron Rodgers is significantly better than both of those Quarter Backs and I do think the Packers will be able to move the ball and punch in Touchdowns rather than settling for Field Goals.

This is a pretty big spread for a road favourite, but the Packers are 17-5 against the spread in their last twenty-two games here. The favourite is also 4-1 against the spread in the last five in the series between these NFC North rivals and I do think the Green Bay Packers can extend those numbers.

Chicago have to be respected for being a tough home underdog to deal with, but they have a poor record against Divisional rivals in recent games and especially compared with how well Green Bay have matched up against those teams in the NFC North. The backdoor cover is a slight concern, but I think the Packers can score enough points to win here by at least a Touchdown mark and take a strong hold of the Division even at this early stage of the 2021 season.

Kansas City Chiefs @ Washington Football Team Pick: Winning a Super Bowl and then reaching the big game again and coming up slightly short will put a bullseye on the back of any team in the NFL. That is perhaps part of the reason the Kansas City Chiefs (2-3) have struggled to open the 2021 season, although they have not really helped themselves as turnovers have hurt and the Defensive unit have struggled to make any stops.

They will be heading to the nation's capital to take on the Washington Football Team (2-3) who also have a losing record and are coming in off a disappointing defeat to the New Orleans Saints. This may not be a Conference game, but both of these teams are already 2 games behind their Divisional leaders and that means both the Chiefs and the Football Team should be highly motivated to produce a win.

Backing a top Quarter Back off a loss is usually a productive method and Patrick Mahomes is certainly one of top Quarter Backs in the NFL. However, Patrick Mahomes may be the first to admit that some of the Kansas City Chiefs problems are of his own making with too many Interceptions beginning to hurt a Defense that has struggled to get off the field.

Patrick Mahomes should have a chance of bouncing back here and two weeks ago he did lead the Kansas City Chiefs to a road win over the Philadelphia Eagles of the NFC East. He is going to be without a couple of key skill players, although Tyreek Hill may yet suit up, but this should not hinder Kansas City too much and especially not against an underperforming Washington Defense.

In recent games there have been signs that the Washington Defensive Line are beginning to knuckle down when it comes to stopping the run, but the concern about stopping Mahomes has left Kansas City the opportunity to pick up big gains on the ground. Patrick Mahomes himself is able to scramble away from pressure and help move the chains and I do think Kansas City will be able to at least establish the run to try and make life easier for their Quarter Back.

The Washington Defensive Line was supposed to be a strength of the team, but players have not played up to the level that was expected and Patrick Mahomes should have time to hit his playmakers down the field. Even without Hill, I would expect the Quarter Back to have a strong game and I do think Kansas City will score a fair few points, which means it is up to Taylor Heinicke and the Washington Offensive unit to try and keep up with them.

Just like the Chiefs, the Washington Football Team are pretty banged up Offensively and that leaves them vulnerable to the home loss here. Taylor Heinicke has not played badly, but he is a downgrade on Ryan Fitzpatrick and Washington have had issues in getting enough consistency from their Offensive unit to produce a winning record on the season.

Washington's Offensive Line have usually given Taylor Heinicke time to make his throws, but they have not been as efficient opening up holes on the ground. It does mean that Heinicke has been asked to push with his throws to keep the chains moving and the Quarter Back has made mistakes.

Taylor Heinicke will be pleased to see the issues Kansas City have been having stopping teams though and I do think he will be able to hit some of his Receivers, although injuries could mean the top names that he would like to throw to are missing from the game. While I would expect the guys suiting up to make some plays, Taylor Heinicke may not always be confident in those Receivers and that could see him hold onto the ball a little longer than he would normally.

There will be times Taylor Heinicke is able to help Washington move the chains, but in a shoot out I do have to like Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs securing a road win.

The Chiefs are 5-2 against the spread in their last seven following a defeat and this may be a rare cover for Kansas City who have been a money pit since the last few weeks of 2020. The Football Team are 1-4 against the spread in their last five here and I think they may be too banged up to keep up with Kansas City on the scoreboard and the road favourite can cover what is a big mark.

MY PICKS: Jacksonville Jaguars + 3 Points @ 1.86 Bet365 (2 Units)

Green Bay Packers - 5.5 Points @ 1.91 Sky Bet (2 Units)

Kansas City Chiefs - 6.5 Points @ 1.91 William Hill (2 Units)

Detroit Lions + 3.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet Victor (2 Units)

Cleveland Browns - 3.5 Points @ 1.95 Bet365 (2 Units)

Denver Broncos - 4 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (2 Units)

Pittsburgh Steelers - 5 Points @ 1.91 William Hill (2 Units)

Week 5: 4-2-1, + 3.28 Units (14 Units Staked, + 23.43% Yield)

Week 4: 7-3, + 6.46 Units (20 Units Staked, + 32.30% Yield)

Week 3: 7-3, + 6.68 Units (20 Units Staked, + 33.40% Yield)

Week 2: 6-5, + 0.98 Units (22 Units Staked, + 4.45% Yield)

Week 1: 3-6, - - 6.46 Units (18 Units Staked, - 35.89% Yield)

College Football Week 7 Picks 2020 (October 17th)

The current situation is far from normal for anyone and that does mean we are working our way through multiple factors we may not have usually considered when it comes down to the Picks being made from any of the sports taking place.

The same can be said of College Football as outbreaks of Covid-19 are causing postponements and changes in the schedule with more games called off this week. Even then we get into Week 7 and the games that are set to go and some selections from them which can be seen below.

Pittsburgh Panthers @ Miami Hurricanes Pick: There are going to be a lot of teams that run into the Clemson Tigers in 2020 who find the favourites to win the National Championship too hot to handle. That was the case for the Miami Hurricanes in Week 6 of the 2020 College Football season, but they can't allow themselves to take too long to get over things and return their focus to upcoming games.

Those are situations they can control and an unbeaten run between now and mid-December may offer Miami the chance for redemption in the ACC Championship Game. A lot can happen between now and then so the key for the Hurricanes is to focus on themselves and make sure they return to winning ways in Week 7.

The Hurricanes have played one fewer game than the Pittsburgh Panthers this season, but they are strong favourites to beat a team who are just 2-2 in ACC Conference play. In back to back weeks the Panthers have been beaten by a single point by the NC State Wolfpack and the Boston College Eagles and that will have some wondering why they are such a big underdog in this game.

The reason is fairly simple and that is veteran signal caller Kenny Pickett is trending towards sitting out for Pittsburgh. There is still hope for Pickett who made his first College start for the Panthers against the Miami Hurricanes three years ago and actually beat a then unbeaten opponent, although he has not led the Panthers to wins over this rivals since then.

Kenny Pickett is hurt and he is going to be limited at best in this game which is going to be causing problems for the Pittsburgh Panthers no matter what. They have been decent at throwing the ball down the field, and Miami's Secondary can be exposed, but the problem for the Panthers will be if Pickett is not very mobile behind his Offensive Line and can't escape from the Miami pass rush.

What will make things difficult for Pittsburgh if their Quarter Back is limited or if they have to call on someone much more inexperienced than Kenny Pickett is that they have been struggling to run the ball with any consistency. That does mean any signal caller is operating from third and long spots when facing the Hurricanes pass rush and it could make it very difficult for Pittsburgh to move the ball with some consistency through this meeting.

Running the ball is not going to be easy for the Hurricanes either as they face a Pittsburgh Defensive Line which has restricted teams to 1.7 yards per carry for the season and even to 2.1 yards per carry in their last three games despite the improved level of opponent. Miami have been able to establish the run with their dual-threat Quarter Back D'Eriq King able to rip off yards on the ground himself, but it might be more on him to show his arm can make the plays to loosen things out for the running game.

King will have to be aware of the threat the Panthers have when it comes to the pass rush, but there are holes in the Secondary which can be exposed. He will have to scramble away from pressure before targeting his options down the field, but the transfer has shown he is capable of doing that while an improved Miami Offensive Line can at least give D'Eriq King the time he may need to hit his Receivers.

Miami have blown out Pittsburgh the last two times they have hosted them and this time may be facing an inexperienced Quarter Back.

The Hurricanes have also bounced back effectively from straight up losses of more than 20 points like they had in Week 6. While the Panthers have also been a solid team to back when they have suffered a defeat, I think the Miami Hurricanes will have a bit too much experience for them in this one, especially without Kenny Pickett at 100% in the Quarter Back spot.

Kansas Jayhawks @ West Virginia Mountaineers Pick: Most are expecting the Oklahoma State Cowboys to be the team to beat in the Big 12 Conference and both of these teams meeting each other in Week 7 have already been beaten by the favourites. The West Virginia Mountaineers will believe they have enough to at least fight back and potentially earn a Championship Game, but the Kansas Jayhawks are having another difficult season.

The Jayhawks have lost all three games played in 2020 and they are 0-2 within the Conference, while things have been hard this week with Les Miles not being able to help the team as he quarantines after Covid-19 concerns. There is still a chance that Miles will be on the sideline in Week 7, but not having the Head Coach around all week is not ideal for the players.

Two blowout losses to Conference rivals is arguably more acceptable than losing to Coastal Carolina, but that is where the Jayhawks are. They have been struggling on both sides of the ball and I do think it is going to be a big challenge for Kansas to keep this one competitive.

Miles Kendrick will get the call at Quarter Back for the Jayhawks, but he is going up against a West Virginia Defensive unit that have played well and deserve respect. The young, inexperienced signal caller won't be able to call on much of a running game to put himself in a strong position to at least try and make plays as Kansas have struggled to establish the ground game.

The Jayhawks have only averaged 149 yards per game on the ground at 3.7 yards per carry, but now they have to try and knock the West Virginia Defensive Line around which has given up less than 3 yards per carry. Teams have not been deterred in trying to run against the Mountaineers, but they are holding teams to barely 102 yards per game on the ground and I do think Miles Kendrick is going to be the one under pressure to try and keep the chains moving.

That itself will be a huge difficulty for Kansas considering the West Virginia Secondary have only allowed 166 passing yards per game so far in 2020. They have not been completely happy with their performances, but the Mountaineers can't really expect to play much better than they have up to this point, although this does feel like another game against an overmatched Conference rival.

Holding teams in check on the ground has also given the Mountaineers a chance to rush the passer and I expect them to get after Kendrick in this one. The Kansas Offensive Line has been just as poor in pass protection as they have in opening holes for the ground attack and I think that means we are going to see the Mountaineers control the tempo of this game.

West Virginia might have remained unbeaten if they had more consistency Offensively, but they should have enough to keep the chains moving throughout this one. The key will be getting a little more out of the Offensive Line when it comes to running the ball and I think the Mountaineers should be aided by the season long struggles Kansas have had on the Defensive Line.

This is a team that has given up over 225 yards per game on the ground and I do think it will be difficult for them to contain West Virginia who have Leddie Brown rolling from the Running Back position.

The inability to stop the run means Kansas have simply not been able to get much of a pass rush going while the Secondary might have stronger looking numbers because teams have not needed to make multiple big plays against them down the field. Jarret Doege might be comfortable handing the ball off in this one and see his team drive the ball up and down the field, but I also think the Quarter Back will be asked to take some chances throwing the ball to build confidence for bigger tests in the remaining weeks of the 2020 season.

I like West Virginia here and I do think they are capable of covering a big number.

The Mountaineers have usually been well prepared off a Bye Week and the same cannot be said for the Kansas Jayhawks. Add in an inexperienced Quarter Back and the fact the Head Coach has not been able to be around during the week and the home team might end up with a comfortable win when all is said and done.

Louisville Cardinals @ Notre Dame Fighting Irish Pick: No one can honestly say they have enjoyed 2020 in the way they would have wanted and for sporting institutions there is always the worry that games will have to be postponed when Covid-19 outbreaks occur. The Notre Dame Fighting Irish know all about that having had back to back games postponed, but it has not stopped their momentum as they comfortably dismissed the Florida State Seminoles in Week 6.

Even then Brian Kelly has admitted he feels much happier with what has been a 'normal' week in preparing for the latest ACC Conference game. The Fighting Irish are 3-0 for the season and 2-0 within the Conference after results last week and they look like being the biggest threat to the Clemson Tigers in the ACC.

They go in Week 7 as a big favourite to beat the Louisville Cardinals who have a 1-3 record overall, but who have lost all three ACC games played so far. The Cardinals have lost three in a row, but they have had slightly longer preparing for this test having played during the week in Week 6 while Notre Dame were in the traditional Saturday scheduling plan.

Any team who can turn to Malik Cunningham has to be respected, but the Cardinals have still not been able to really get on track Offensively as they would have liked. The big concern for this team is the struggle to establish the run game and now they have to face a Fighting Irish Defensive Line which has simply not been giving up a lot of big plays.

Last week Notre Dame were not happy with their own Defensive performance, but they should be a lot better playing in back to back weeks rather than having three weeks between games. The Defensive Line will believe they can win on the line of scrimmage which would then put all the pressure on Cunningham at Quarter Back to make the plays needed to keep the chains moving.

You can't dismiss Cunningham's chances of doing that, but this is not an easy team to throw the ball against. Any time he is in third and long spots, keeping the Fighting Irish pass rush at bay will be a huge challenge, while the Cardinals have simply not thrown the ball as efficiently as they would have liked in their three Conference games. Malik Cunningham is a very good Quarter Back, but he doesn't really have the talent around him to compete with this Notre Dame Defense for sixty minutes and it could be a difficult day for Louisville to bounce back.

A lot was expected of Cunningham and a lot was expected of Ian Book at Quarter Back for Notre Dame, although the support the latter is getting means he doesn't have to do as much as he potentially can. At the moment the Fighting Irish Offensive Line have been dominating teams on the ground and that means Book is in a position to make quick throws to keep the chains moving and keep his team in a position to score points on every drive.

The Fighting Irish have put up 6.3 yards per carry so far this season and Louisville's Defensive Line have been giving up 4.9 yards per carry in Conference play which is a major concern for them. It should mean Notre Dame are simply keeping the ball on the ground and picking up some huge chunks of yardage which will put them in a position to do whatever they like with Quarter Back Ian Book.

Louisville can't sell out to stop the run because the Secondary have largely struggled in Conference play too and Book is capable of exposing any one-on-one schemes the Cardinals cook up. Like many teams who are not able to stop the run, the Cardinals have not been able to get anything like a pass rush going and that should mean Ian Book has all the time in the world to make his plays if the Fighting Irish wish him to showcase some of his arm talent.

Last week the Fighting Irish let me down, but I do think they can cover this time around. There isn't a long break between games this week so I expect the Defensive unit to be better all around, while the Notre Dame Offense should keep rolling against this Cardinals Defense.

The Fighting Irish won by 18 on the road last season and I do think they can match that margin here. They are 8-3 against the spread in their last eleven as the home favourite, while Louisville are 1-8-1 against the spread in their last ten as the road underdog. It is a big spread, but I think Notre Dame can cover this week.

MY PICKS: Miami Hurricanes - 12.5 Points @ 2.00 Bet365 (1 Unit)

West Virginia Mountaineers - 21.5 Points @ 1.91 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

Notre Dame Fighting Irish - 16.5 Points @ 1.91 William Hill (1 Unit)

East Carolina Pirates + 3 Points @ 1.91 William Hill (1 Unit)

Mississippi State Bulldogs + 5.5 Points @ 1.83 Paddy Power (1 Unit)

UCF Knights - 2.5 Points @ 1.86 Bet365 (1 Unit)

North Carolina Tar Heels - 13.5 Points @ 1.90 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Week 6: 3-3, - 0.44 Units (6 Units Staked, - 7.33% Yield)

Weekend Football Picks and Fantasy Football 2020 (October 17-19)

The international break is over and that means the return of the Premier League and Fantasy Football.

I will have a few words about GW5 once I put down a few thoughts about the fixtures to be played this weekend.

Everton v Liverpool Pick: Both clubs from Merseyside had made a very strong start to the Premier League season before the final set of games ahead of the October international break.

While Everton have kept their winning run going, Liverpool were being thumped 7-2 at Aston Villa in one of the more staggering results you will see for some time.

The lack of crowds have not helped some of the fixtures and that was the argument made to excuse the Liverpool performance, but it is not the first time since the resumption of play that the defensive levels have not been good enough. They earned a clean sheet at Chelsea, but that came against ten men for the entirety of the second half and even then Liverpool needed their hosts to miss a penalty.

They are giving up some big chances and I think the pressure only increases tenfold knowing Alisson is not between the sticks behind them.

Everton have not beaten Liverpool at Goodison Park since October 17th 2010, but ten years to the day later they look to have as good a chance as ever. They are playing with confidence and Carlo Ancelotti will have some key players back from injury, while Everton have been creating chances for fun in their games this season.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin is a striker in form and Everton will feel they can get at this Liverpool backline which has been surprisingly nervous at times throughout this season.

They might not have beaten them here, but Everton don't lose many games to Liverpool at Goodison Park which is underlined by the fact that 7 of the last 8 here have ended in draws. When they met here in June it was only some poor home finishing which prevented Everton taking the full three points and I think this current squad are playing considerably better than they were back then.

Everton look stronger all around and I would be surprised if they are beaten by Liverpool, despite the fact that the latter should be fuming and desperate to put things right after their embarrassing capitulation at Villa Park.

We should see a really strong Liverpool performance, but defensively they have more questions than answers at the moment and I think Everton are able to avoid defeat at the least.

Chelsea v Southampton Pick: This is the first ever PPV Football game being played in the Premier League and I am looking forward to seeing what kind of numbers the television companies pick up for these fixtures.

Personally I not only find it embarrassing that the Premier League has decided this is the best way to deal with the fact that fans are not allowed inside the Stadiums, but the actual cost is beyond a joke.

Neither the Chelsea or Southampton players will be worrying about that as they look to keep some momentum behind them following positive home wins in the final set of games before the international break.

Both clubs have been playing some strong attacking football, but Frank Lampard and Ralph Hasenhuttl will be more pleased with the clean sheets earned. Southampton in particular have looked much more solid at the back following the 2-5 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur, although those games have been against Burnley and West Brom and this Chelsea team have a lot more attacking threat than those two clubs.

Frank Lampard has perhaps not been allowing his Chelsea team play as freely as they were at the end of last season, although I do think injuries have been partly to blame. There shouldn't be any excuses this weekend with the likes of Christian Pulisic back and possibly starting and I do think Chelsea will find spaces against this Southampton team who do like to get on the front foot themselves.

In recent seasons Chelsea have not had it easy against Southampton and I do think this will be a difficult test days before the Champions League begins. However, I also think Chelsea have been playing well at Stamford Bridge for some time and they have the pace and quality in the final third to eventually break down Southampton.

The visitors will cause problems, but I think their attacking intent will eventually be their downfall in this one.

Manchester City v Arsenal Pick: This is a big game in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon and Mikel Arteta is going to be confident he can find the right system to get the better of Pep Guardiola for the second time in the space of a few months.

Arsenal have not really enjoyed playing Manchester City in recent years, but they did enough to beat them in the FA Cup Semi Final in July and there will be a confidence about the team. They have made a strong start to the 2020/21 season and Arsenal will believe their pace in the final third is going to give them every chance to expose a Manchester City defence which has not been watertight at all.

I do expect Manchester City to be better the longer Ruben Dias and Aymeric Laporte have to play with each other, but in the early part of the season there might be some teething problems. We saw some of those when Leeds United got forward against them, but Manchester City have also shown an attacking cutting edge that will give them a chance in this and any match they play.

Being without Gabriel Jesus and Sergio Aguero has been difficult and both are edging closer to a return, but unlikely to be involved this weekend. It is important that both Raheem Sterling and Kevin De Bruyne are fit to play a part because this is going to be a difficult enough game and without them I don't think I would fancy Manchester City's chances at all.

However, if both Sterling and De Bruyne are available there is enough of an attacking push from Manchester City to be able to cause this Arsenal team some problems. The Gunners are far from the walkover they have been in recent seasons and they will challenge Manchester City, but I do think the home team will have the better of the opportunities over the ninety minutes.

Even in the games played so far this season, Arteta seems to be capable of getting results from fixtures where his team have not been at their best. Both West Ham United and Liverpool created some big chances against Arsenal and you have to feel if they are going to allow Manchester City to do the same that the home team will have a little too much in the locker for them.

Arsenal do find a way to hang around in matches which will make them dangerous, but Manchester City should be able to finish off the chances they are likely to create in this one. Even without their top two strikers, Manchester City have been scoring goals and I think they will find a way to edge past Arsenal with perhaps a late goal sealing the deal like Liverpool did when they met The Gunners last month.

Newcastle United v Manchester United Pick: Rumours have been flying over the last couple of weeks after Manchester United's hammering at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur- the majority of those are about the manager and whether he will be given much more time, but most fans are also furious about the poor recruitment strategy at Old Trafford which continues to blight the club.

More panicky decisions were made as the transfer deadline hit and Manchester United are now heading into a big month.

It doesn't help that some have been suggesting that Bruno Fernandes had a major falling out with team-mates and with the manager at half time of the defeat to Spurs.

All in all Manchester United will have plenty of eyes on them to see how they react to the devastating defeat to Tottenham Hotspur. The players have to show they have more pride playing for the shirt than they did two weeks ago, but the challenge is finding the right system to deal without Anthony Martial and Edinson Cavani.

Manchester United will also be travelling to St James' Park this weekend where they have a poor recent record having won 1 of their last 4 visits. Last season they were beaten 1-0 here and Newcastle United have made a positive start to the season which will make them feel pretty good about their chances of earning an upset.

Steve Bruce will be looking to set his team up to be hard to beat and he could have a number of first team defenders back for this fixture having entered the international break with a lot of injuries to deal with. Restricting space and trying to hit Manchester United on the counter attack will be the game plan for the home team and it is a plan that Brighton almost executed perfectly in the last away Premier League game played by the visitors.

Manchester United have won 7 away games in all competitions in succession and they have been scoring goals for fun in those fixtures. However being without Martial is a blow to their chances here and I do think there is something not right at the club at the moment which makes them vulnerable.

The manager could find himself under huge pressure on Saturday evening if Manchester United were to lose again, but either way it does feel like a very difficult game for the visitors to win easily. Big games will come thick and fast for Manchester United after this one, but that puts pressure on them to earn a result in this fixtures to build some momentum towards bigger tests.

It just feels like a tough ask at a ground on which Manchester United have experienced some hardship in recent times. Add in the dent in confidence the players suffered, the missing strikers and Newcastle United's own decent start to the season and this feels like a very short price for Manchester United to get back to winning ways.

Sheffield United v Fulham Pick: Two teams who could not have asked for more disappointing opening month of the Premier League season meet on Sunday in what is a very important game for both Sheffield United and Fulham.

Second season syndrome has been a problem for many clubs in the top flight over the last thirty years, but Chris Wilder will be most concerned that his Sheffield United team have lost 7 Premier League games in a row. That includes 3 losses from the end of last season which suggests the Sheffield United slump is more prolonged than merely the players being worked out in their second season at this level.

A lack of goals is an issue, but Sheffield United have been creating chances. At some point I do think they will be better in front of goal, but the bigger issue may be the fact that The Blades have lost some of their toughness defensively which means they will need a lot more goals to get anywhere near the kind of level produced last season.

Injuries have hurt Sheffield United as has the decision of Dean Henderson to return to Manchester United, but Wilder will know this fixture represents a good chance to get the first points on the board.

Scott Parker did really well in helping Fulham return to the top flight, but his team have struggled on their return to the Premier League. Defensively they have been a mess and new signings have been made to try and improve on that side of their game, while Fulham are also a team who have struggled to score enough goals with none being managed in their last 3 games in all competitions.

The feeling is that Sheffield United have been more productive going forward which could be the key to the outcome of this one. It won't be easy considering the recent form which will have dented the confidence of the players, but Fulham are not exactly firing on all cylinders themselves and I do think The Blades have the cutting edge to eventually begin to take the chances created.

I am not anticipating the highest scoring game of the weekend, but Sheffield United can be the one to earn their first victory of the 2020/21 season.

Crystal Palace v Brighton Pick: Most derby games in England are between clubs that don't have the same kind of distance between them that Crystal Palace and Brighton do, but that has not lessened the intensity between these clubs.

Both teams are likely going to be battling to avoid relegation this season and these games could have extra meaning when it comes to May and the final breakdown of the League table. That won't be lost on the managers and I do think Roy Hodgson and Graham Potter will believe they can still motivate the players who will miss the presence of the fans in fixtures like this one.

On the face of things you would think this is the kind of fixture that would produce a low-scoring, tight, competitive affair. However goals have not been a massive problem when these teams have faced each other and the early form of both Crystal Palace and Brighton suggests we should see chances in this one too.

Crystal Palace have scored in both home games played this season and they have been creating decent chances in some of the fixtures played. They will be aided by the fact they are facing a Brighton team who have conceded 10 goals in their last 3 games in all competitions, albeit against clubs in the 'Big Six' part of the Division.

On the other side, Brighton have actually looked threatening going forward and have scored in every League game played this season and scored at least twice in their last 3 in the Premier League. Before the defeat at Everton they had been unbeaten in 9 away games in all competitions and Brighton have scored at least twice in 4 away games in succession.

Before Crystal Palace's 0-1 win at the Amex Stadium, both teams had hit the net against the other in 5 successive games in all competitions. The injuries in the home team have yet to clear up which could make them vulnerable to an attack minded Brighton team, but Crystal Palace do have some talented forwards that will believe they can expose the soft underbelly of The Seagulls.

Chances are being created in the games these teams have played so far this season and the last 3 at Selhurst Park since Brighton have returned to the top flight have ended with both teams scoring. I think the chances we saw in their two Premier League fixtures last season will be replicated in this one and both teams should find a way to hit the back of the net.

Tottenham Hotspur v West Ham United Pick: This London derby could be a really good one if the early season form of Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United is anything to go by.

Both are coming off very impressive away Premier League wins against teams who finished in the top five last season and I think both Jose Mourinho and David Moyes would have preferred to have avoided a two week break between games.

Tottenham Hotspur have had a tough September with the amount of games they had to negotiate, but Mourinho has helped the squad manage that and the 1-6 win at Manchester United will have given the players a huge boost in confidence. They have earned passage to the Europa League Group Stage and progressed to the League Cup Quarter Final, while Tottenham Hotspur could be boosted by the return of Gareth Bale who is in line for his second debut.

The home form will need improving if Tottenham Hotspur are to return to the Champions League at the end of the campaign, but they were very unfortunate not to have earned more points from their games against Everton and Newcastle United. The latter in particular was a day in which Spurs missed a host of chances before a controversial Penalty cost them three points at the very end of the game.

Now they have to make sure they don't underestimate a West Ham United team who battered Wolves and Leicester City in back to back Premier League games. Those were not undeserved results or The Hammers being more clinical than their opponents, but West Ham United created huge opportunities and have confident players who have taken those chances when they have come up.

Even in the 2-1 defeat at Arsenal, West Ham United dominated large portions of the second half and only slightly better finishing would have perhaps earned them the full three points let alone the just the one from a draw.

David Moyes can sometimes be a little cautious, but the style West Ham United have used in their last 3 Premier League games against top eight opponents suggests he will keep faith in what he has his players doing. The squad is as fit as they have been in months and everyone seems to know their role which means West Ham United can more than just contribute to this fixture.

Both teams scoring would not be a huge surprise, and it would be disappointing if this was not one of the better games to watch this weekend. I anticipate a game where both Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United will go on the attack and look to score goals and it should be one of the higher-scoring games of the weekend.

Leicester City v Aston Villa Pick: There have been some staggering results in the Premier League through the first month of the 2020/21 season and these two clubs have been involved in a number of them.

Leicester City stunned Manchester City 2-5 at the Etihad Stadium before being battered 0-3 at home by West Ham United before the international break. On the other side Aston Villa hammered Liverpool 7-2 at Villa Park two weeks ago and are one of two teams that have won every Premier League game they have played this season.

That start comes weeks after Aston Villa needed to escape the drop on the last day of the 2019/20 season, while Leicester City's defeat to West Ham United came after they had won their opening 3 Premier League games.

With that in mind it can be difficult to know what to expect from teams on a week to week basis, but I do think Leicester City will bounce back and perform much better this Sunday.

They will need to be a lot better because Aston Villa are playing with confidence and have been a much stronger team this side of the resumption of English Football in June. Defensively there have been improvements, but Aston Villa have also looked better in the final third and I do think that makes them dangerous here.

Leicester City did hammer Aston Villa twice in the League last season, but Aston Villa did earn a 1-1 draw here in the League Cup. As I have said, Aston Villa are much improved since these teams last met in March and Leicester City have certainly not been playing like a top eight club over the last five months.

The Foxes have been better at home which deserves some respect, but they have lost 3 of their last 4 here. Leicester City have conceded at least twice in 4 home games in a row and Aston Villa's attacking revival should mean they are able to keep this one competitive.

West Brom v Burnley Pick: I could really pick a number of different ways this fixture could be played out, but that makes it a tough one for Fantasy purposes.

Neither team has looked great at the back, but both have struggled in the final third too.

With that in mind I think it is likely we could see a clean sheet in this fixture for at least one of the teams, but I am not sure which is going to earn it. The upcoming games for both teams suggests their Fantasy assets are not worth much at the moment either and this one fixture I won't be tuning in to this weekend, especially not at the PPV prices they are selling it at.

Leeds United v Wolves Pick: The final game of the Premier League weekend comes on Monday Night Football when Leeds United and Wolves meet in what looks like a potentially good looking game on paper.

Both teams have some strong attacking talents and the football they are able to play means those players are allowed to express themselves.

At the same time there have been one or two vulnerabilities at the back which have been exposed by opponents and that should mean these teams combine for an entertaining game at Elland Road.

Neither manager is one that is going to be happy to settle for a result, although it might be a better point for Wolves than Leeds United on current form.

It is hard to really get a good read on how the teams are playing because of some of the inconsistencies that have been on display. There are times when Leeds United and Wolves have looked really good, but there have also been stretches within games when they have looked vulnerable and perhaps been pushed to the brink.

Out of the two teams it is the losses that Wolves have suffered and the manner of them which is a concern, but I would be surprised if they are not able to play their part here. The Marcelo Bielsa system means they are going to be exposed to the Wolves counter attack, but should also mean Leeds United are able to test a team that have conceded 7 times to Manchester City and West Ham United combined.

The layers don't really seem to agree with me in that there is a real chance of seeing some goals in this one, but I do think both teams will find a way to hit the back of the net. Neither manager is one to really take the foot off the accelerator and that should keep the fixture open and produce at least three goals on the night.

MY PICKS: Everton + 0.5 Asian Handicap

Chelsea - 1 Asian Handicap

Manchester City - 1 Asian Handicap

Newcastle United + 1 Asian Handicap

Sheffield United - 0.25 Asian Handicap

Crystal Palace-Brighton Both Teams to Score

Tottenham Hotspur-West Ham United Over 2.5 Goals

Aston Villa + 0.75 Asian Handicap

West Brom-Burnley Both Teams to Score- NO

Leeds United-Wolves Over 2.5 Goals

Fantasy Football GameWeek 5

It is simple...

WILDCARD!!

I've had a miserable time in the first four GameWeeks and the final straw was watching my squad lose considerable value all over the place. The XG numbers have been decent enough, but I have not gotten enough positive returns from the Picks I made and I have to accept that I was wrong and now is the time to make changes.

I did mention that I would be looking to activate the Wildcard after the transfer deadline closed and that is where I am at.

Some players won't be moved, others will be restored in the weeks ahead, but I am going to make a number of changes to the squad to give it a better all around feel. Hopefully it will be the right decisions this time and I will reveal the full team when the deadline hits.

You can check that out on my Twitter page on Saturday morning.

Weekend Football Picks 2016 (October 15-17)

The October international break is over and there is one more to come in November before the domestic action can have four months of uninterrupted action. I am not a massive fan of the international break and it does seem like more and more people are beginning to lose interest in those games judging by the reaction the breaks tend to get.

The Premier League is back this weekend though and this round of games ends with the huge Liverpool v Manchester United fixture which opens up a really tough run of fixtures for Manchester United. They face Liverpool, Fenerbahce, Chelsea and Manchester City in the space of ten days which could really determine the kind of season United fans are expecting.

Pick up four points in the League and win both Cup games and everything is rosy... Pick up one or fewer League points and lose both Cup games and the world will be falling in over Old Trafford for the second time this season.

It is a big week for Jose Mourinho coming up, but there are plenty of other big games to enjoy before we get to the main event on Monday, a game that can't come quick enough for me (I can't be the only one that has felt this two week break has lasted longer than the three months we have to wait between May and August).


The picks had a huge September, but a poor start in October has yet to be fully recovered through the international break. There is work to do to make it back to back winning months, but I won't change the style of the picks and instead will look for what worked in September to keep working through this month and hopefully the rest of the season.

Bouncing back from a terrible October 1st-2nd weekend has been the task throughout this month and hopefully this will be a winning round of picks from the Premier League before we head into Champions League and Europa League action during the next week.


Chelsea v Leicester City Pick: The Premier League weekend opens with an interesting looking live game between Chelsea and defending Champions Leicester City. Both teams have arguably underachieved to open the Premier League season and their ambitions to finish inside the top four might already be questioned by some.

I have said for a while that I felt Chelsea had been overrated thanks to people seeing the results rather than the performances from the opening games of the season. They were fortunate to beat West Ham United and Watford and I have not been surprised by the drop off in results over the last month.

Some of the performances have to be really concerning for Antonio Conte who is rumoured to be a little disappointed by his relationship with notoriously fickle owner Roman Abramovich. The Italian changed the system for the last game to make Chelsea a little more solid, but the return of John Terry might be more important for them having conceded seven times in games against Swansea City, Liverpool and Arsenal.

While Chelsea have been questioned, Leicester City's expected drop from the standards of last season have continued with some poor results over the last month. They have been hammered in both away games and the style of play is no longer a surprise to opponents who have worked out how best to force mistakes from a side that overachieved hugely last season.

The goals being conceded by Leicester City, particularly away from home, has to be a big concern for Claudio Ranieri and set pieces could be a big worry for them this weekend against Chelsea. I do think Leicester City can be dangerous going the other way for a Chelsea team that have relied on Gary Cahill and David Luiz at centre half without John Terry. Whoever partners the former England captain looks to be a mistake in the making and Leicester City have the pace to trouble this older backline.

Their game in the English Football League Cup produced four goals last month and I think we are going to see at least three here. Both teams have shown they can score goals, but also look vulnerable at the back, and I think we will see both teams score.

Chelsea do look the more likely winners, but rather you than me picking them at the short odds they are at and I think backing goals at a slightly higher price is more appealing. Coming out of an international break does raise different questions as to the conditioning of players who will have been away all over the world over the last two weeks, but I think there is enough reason to believe both teams cause the other problems to expect goals.


Arsenal v Swansea City Pick: This has been a fixture that has troubled Arsenal in recent seasons and it might be coming at an awkward time for them off the back of the World Cup Qualifiers. It does look like they have avoided any injuries and could have some big names back including Aaron Ramsey, but Alexis Sanchez has been playing in South America and could be potentially rested.

That was the case after the last set of World Cup Qualifiers as Sanchez was employed off the bench, but you would still expect this Arsenal team to have enough quality to see off Swansea City.

I would have said the same in the last four seasons though but Arsenal have not won any of their last 4 home Premier League games against Swansea City and surprisingly lost 3 of those games. However they might be catching Swansea City at the right time too as Bob Bradley comes in for his first match in charge and the away side have been in poor form heading into the last international break.

They have troubled teams at times with their quality, but Swansea City have lost some big names in the summer and I think Bradley will need some time to get his ideas across. That is especially the case in this short week when players will be returning from their Qualifiers and the American might not have as much time to work with the squad as he would have liked.

Arsenal went into the international break in very strong form and they have been scoring plenty of goals at home with at least two in every game here this season. With Swansea City perhaps still working out what the new manager will want, I will back Arsenal to break the recent poor trend against this bogey team and beat Swansea City by a couple of goals to keep pace with the Premier League leaders.


Crystal Palace v West Ham United Pick: This London derby is going to be played in front of the television cameras on Saturday and I think the neutrals could enjoy the match. Both Crystal Palace and West Ham United have enough quality in the final third to cause the other plenty of problems and neither team has been that impressive defensively.

The Hammers come in with the worst defensive record in the Premier League so far and there hasn't been a lot of signs of things improving on that front. Injuries haven't helped and that means Slaven Bilic will look for his quality players in the final third to make up for those deficiencies.

On the other hand Crystal Palace have yet to keep a clean sheet in the Premier League this season but they have scored 11 times in their last 5 League games. Players like Andros Townsend, Wilfried Zaha and Christian Benteke have been in fine form and have to be looking forward to taking on this West Ham United defence which has conceded at least twice in 4 of their 5 away games in all competitions.

They have scored in each of those games, but it is no surprise West Ham United have been struggling when you think of the goals being conceded and Bilic is still trying to find the right formula defensively.

Goals have been a feature of this fixture in the last two seasons with at least four scored in all four League games played. I think both Crystal Palace and West Ham United can play their part in this one too and I am backing at least three goals to be shared out in this one with Crystal Palace the more likely winner on the day.


Middlesbrough v Watford Pick: There have been a couple of ways I considered going with this game and that was backing Watford with the start on the Asian Handicap or backing at least three goals to be shared out.

However I have ultimately settled on Watford getting something out of this game as I believe I am surprised they have been set as the underdog in this match. Actually more importantly is how big an underdog they have been set as considering they went to Burnley as a pretty solid favourite and I would suggest Burnley have shown they have more of a home field advantage than Middlesbrough at the moment.

Middlesbrough have not won any of their last 5 home games going back to last season and have been beaten in their last couple of League games here. The Watford defeat to Burnley stands out, but this is a team that has respectable results at Southampton and West Ham United and have also had good recent results at The Riverside Stadium with 3 visits unbeaten.

There is no doubting that Watford can be hard to get a read on when you think of their performances so far this season, but those inconsistencies make them dangerous. With Middlesbrough yet to really get to grips with life in the Premier League and not a team that is going to score a lot of goals, I think Watford to avoid defeat should be shorter than it is.

Watford only lost 1 of their 7 away games at the teams that finished below them last season in the Premier League and so I am going to suggest the defeat to Burnley is an outlier for them. They won plenty of those away games, 4 out of 7, so some might want to take Watford straight up at a big price.

Personally I think they can be backed at the price to avoid defeat and that is the way I am will lean on Sunday.


Southampton v Burnley Pick: This is the second of the Sunday live Premier League games and I have to say that I think Southampton can prove too strong for Burnley and cover the Asian Handicap in the win.

One of the big problems Burnley are going to have is scoring enough goals at this level and missing Andre Gray is a blow to their team. Facing a Southampton team that haven't conceded many goals in recent games without Gray is going to be even more difficult for Burnley and the question then becomes whether they can keep out the home team.

After a slow start, Southampton have begun to score goals at home though and so it is hard to imagine Burnley keeping them at bay having been outplayed at Chelsea and Leicester City already this season. Both of those clubs beat Burnley comfortably at home and Southampton will feel they can match the comfort level by scoring at least twice and making sure they are tight at the back.

You can't always tell how a team will react to a two week international break and how that affects momentum, but Southampton have been in stronger form than Burnley of late. I expect they can make it 4 wins in a row against them at St Mary's and I will back Southampton to cover the Asian Handicap with a two goal win on Sunday.


Liverpool v Manchester United Pick: The last international break was followed by the Manchester derby and this one is going to be followed by an even bigger fixture as Liverpool host Manchester United in the premier, pardon the pun, game in the top flight.

There is some real excitement at Anfield around the Jurgen Klopp revolution and that should make for a cracking atmosphere on Monday Night Football. Both clubs have the additional preparation time which means players returning from South American World Cup Qualifier duty should have enough time to be fully ready and healthy for this game.

Both squads look to have their full complement of players available and this has all the makings of yet another classic under the lights between these old rivals.

Jose Mourinho has to know that he needs to play two midfielders alongside Paul Pogba in this one against a speedy counter attacking team like Liverpool and I would be surprised if we see any other system deployed. I can see him using players like Jesse Lingard, Anthony Martial or Marcus Rashford in wider positions to employ their pace on the counter attack with Zlatan Ibrahimovic leading the line after two weeks of rest.

The decision he makes is going to be critical in this game as Manchester United have to contain Liverpool in much better fashion than they did Manchester City last month in the opening half hour of this game. Playing those three midfielders should at least offer the side some protection against this Liverpool team which is more settled and easier to pick the starting eleven.

I do think the key to the whole game is how Manchester United can do in the first half hour in an intense atmosphere against a side that loves to start fast. Liverpool have been 2-0 up in their opening two games at Anfield within 31 minutes so this time is going to be very important for Manchester United who will know they will create chances against this vulnerable backline.

They can't afford to sit back as they did against Manchester City and allow Liverpool to dictate the play and come onto them. That cost Manchester United in the opening thirty-five minutes of the Manchester derby and I think it could be an incredibly long evening for the Red Army if United were to concede in that time period to this Liverpool team.

Liverpool's false nine position has worked very well this season and this is a team that I have picked to be very good when playing in the big games. They have started beating the poorer ones too which makes them a genuine title challenger and they will feel confident they can beat Manchester United.

I do find it hard to see how Manchester United keep a clean sheet here, but I also think Manchester United will create chances on the counter and can score. Liverpool are understandably the favourites considering their form going into the international break and strength of their wins over top quality opponents, but I think Manchester United have every chance of winning if they are level or ahead after thirty-five minutes.

This does feel like a match that will produce a winner and I think that might come after both teams have scored at least one goal each. Backing at least three goals to be shared out looks the call, but I will be the first to admit I would bite your hand off if offered a 0-1 Manchester United win right now.


Newcastle United v Brentford Pick: You might have to get used to seeing Newcastle United at very short prices to win their home games in the Championship, but I actually think the price this week is a little disrespectful to Brentford. The Bees might have lost the majority of their away games in the League, but they have been competitive in those.

Brentford have already earned a point at Villa Park in the League and so they won't be intimidated by visiting St James' Park, while they have scored in 8 of their last 10 away games in the Championship. They are facing a Newcastle United team that have gotten plenty of clean sheets at this level, but Brentford will use Huddersfield Town as a standard of how to play here.

I do think Newcastle United will win this game, but I do feel Brentford are going to play their part too. I think both teams will likely score, but I am going to back at least three goals to be shared out by the teams.

Newcastle United could potentially cover this on their own if they are firing on all cylinders like they have been a couple of times this season, but the feeling that Brentford will score too makes it an easy choice for me to back goals in this one.


Norwich City v Rotherham United Pick: On the face of things it looks like Norwich City and Rotherham United are moving in opposite directions in the Championship and I have to say I like the home team this weekend to win this game. They have been scoring plenty of goals in recent games at Carrow Road and now face a Rotherham United defence which has conceded goals for fun away from home.

I really can't see any other result than a Norwich City win, although the one concern has to be the fact they have struggled to beat Rotherham United at home in recent years with 4 draws in their last 5 at Carrow Road.

It would be a big surprise if Rotherham United can do that here and I think Norwich City will have too much and eventually wear down their visitors. That should lead to Norwich City winning this game by at least a couple of goals and I will back them to cover the Asian Handicap while moving to the top of the Championship for at least Saturday evening.

MY PICKS: Chelsea-Leicester City Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.70 Betfair Sportsbook (2 Units)
Arsenal - 1.5 Asian Handicap @ 1.81 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Crystal Palace-West Ham United Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.85 Betfair Sportsbook (2 Units)
Watford + 0.25 Asian Handicap @ 2.01 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Southampton - 1.25 Asian Handicap @ 1.90 Bet365 (2 Units)
Liverpool-Manchester United Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.80 Stan James (2 Units)
Newcastle United-Brentford Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.75 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Norwich City - 1.25 Asian Handicap @ 1.81 Bet Victor (2 Units)

October Update: 9-15, - 6.35 Units (44 Units Staked, - 14.43% Yield)

September Final: 43-28-1, + 35.17 Units (133 Units Staked, + 26.44% Yield)

August Final: 31-38-2, - 9 Units (124 Units Staked, - 7.26% Yield)

Season 2016/17: 73-66-3, + 26.17 Units (257 Units Staked, + 10.18% Yield)

Season 2015/16: 133-174-2, + 0.89 Units (669 Units Staked, + 0% Yield)

Season 2014/15: 159-208-5, - 20.22 Units (647 Units Staked, - 3.13% Yield)

Season 2013/14: 164-185-3, + 15.84 Units (577 Units Staked, + 2.75% Yield

Season 2012/13: + 4.42 Units (415 Units Staked, + 1.07% Yield)