NFL Week 7 Picks 2025 (Thursday 16th October-Monday 20th October)

You wait several months for the season to get underway and in the blink of an eye you are almost at the halfway mark of the regular season.

Right now you have to feel the top of the NFL has a vacuum to fill with every team showing signs of vulnerabilities and an opportunity for a surprising team to come through the pack looks to be wide open.

The Kansas City Chiefs and Detroit Lions were amongst the best teams in the NFL last season and both look very capable of making a real run, especially if they can get back up to full health. Out of the two teams, the Chiefs are certainly looking pretty good as right now, while the Lions will be hoping the Secondary will be looking much stronger in December when things really begin to matter.

Teams like the Baltimore Ravens are already in a really difficult situation as injuries have piled up, and the same can be said for the Cincinnati Bengals, while the likes of the Buffalo Bills and Philadelphia Eagles have suffered consecutive losses since opening 4-0 and have displayed some worrying issues of their own.

If the Playoffs were to begin today, the Indianapolis Colts, Pittsburgh Steelers, Los Angeles Chargers and New England Patriots would be top four Seeds in the AFC, while the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Green Bay Packers, San Francisco 49ers and Philadelphia Eagles would be in the same position in the NFC.

Not many would be rushing out to back any of those teams to win the Super Bowl this weekend, but it just underlines the openness at the very top of the NFL.

Over the coming weeks the best teams should begin to separate as more games, and thus more data, is seen by the fans.

It will be interesting to see how many of those eight teams mentioned are still occupying top four Seeds at the beginning of December with more than half of the games played and Bye Weeks completed.

The hope is that by then we will also see a big improvement in the numbers for the NFL Picks after another difficult week for the selections made.

Everything came down to the final game of the Sunday action, but the Detroit Lions were well beaten by the Kansas City Chiefs and almost meant a losing week was secured.

The last of the London games will be played this Sunday and the reality is the games have been as poor as expected when the announcement was made ahead of the 2025 schedule being released.

Both the Denver Broncos and New York Jets produced a horrific game in Week 6 and it is very hard to justify the pricing that the NFL have placed for the games they are sending over to London.

They will feel they have saved the best for last, but Minnesota Vikings, Cleveland Browns, Denver Broncos, New York Jets, Los Angeles Rams and Jacksonville Jaguars means the teams coming over have largely been selected from the bottom third of the League. If the NFL wants to continue charging a fortune to watch the games, hopefully they will send over better teams in 2026, but there are other international markets that will also be demanding the same.

It has been a tough opening six weeks to the season for the NFL Picks, but we go again and that all begins on Thursday Night Football in a AFC North Divisional game.

Picks will be added to the thread in the next couple of days.

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Pittsburgh Steelers @ Cincinnati Bengals Pick: There are a number of trends that have to give you pause for though immediately and those are all suggesting that backing the Pittsburgh Steelers (4-1) would be a mistake. The team have just crushed the Cleveland Browns at home to take a firm grip of the AFC North, especially as the main rivals have been decimated by injury, but Pittsburgh have regularly laid an egg in this kind of spot.

Head Coach Mike Tomlin is widely respected, but he has a losing record against the spread when set as the favourite- that is pretty incredible to think about considering he has never overseen a losing season, but you can make a case that the teams considered 'strong' by the public will have to deal with inflated lines.

But how about the fact that the Steelers have a 1-10 record on Thursday Night Football when facing a team that are coming in off a loss? You could suggest that the short week means Pittsburgh overlook some opponents, although a Divisional game should increase the focus.

The last time the Steelers were asked to lay at least this many points on the road was back in 2020 when it happened in three games and they were only 1-2 against the spread.

Face it, the Pittsburgh Steelers are not a team you want to make with this kind of line or on Thursday Night Football having lost three of their last four appearances on the short week outright.

So why do I think the Pittsburgh Steelers will win and cover? They are facing a Cincinnati Bengals (2-4) team ravaged by injury and who are led by Joe Flacco, a Quarter Back who is only getting to grips with what is expected from him and who has had his difficulties facing Mike Tomlin and the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Steelers Head Coach was offering Flacco plenty of praise, while also criticising the Cleveland Browns for dealing the veteran within the Division to a rival that was 'hurting' in that position. Joe Flacco was not able to prevent the Bengals from losing at the Green Bay Packers in Week 6, but he has a few more days to get used to the team and played pretty well in the second to give him some momentum to build on.

Even if Joe Burrow had been healthy, the feeling was that this was going to be a tough season for the Cincinnati Bengals if they could not fix the Defensive problems that had blighted them in 2024. Those have only been magnified with little Offensive output with Jake Browning under Center, but Joe Flacco will find a way to get the ball out to his big time Receivers.

However, the problem in a game like this one is that the Bengals have been incredibly one-dimensional.

Chase Brown has not been able to do much behind this Offensive Line and the Bengals are unlikely to suddenly start ripping off big gains against this Steelers team. After a slow start to the season, the Steelers Defensive Line are looking more like their old selves when it comes to clamping down on the run and they can certainly do enough to make sure Joe Flacco is operating from third and long spots on the field.

The veteran has Tee Higgins and Ja'Marr Chase ready to catch balls and the Pittsburgh Secondary have been vulnerable in the passing game, so you have to expect some positives from the home team. However, the Offensive Line have been struggling in pass protection as much as run blocking and they are going to have to deal with a very strong Pittsburgh pass rushing team that will get to Joe Flacco and stall drives.

And that is ultimately where the feeling is that the Steelers will find a way to win and cover.

The backdoor is always potentially open, especially because we have yet to see the Pittsburgh Offensive Line help establish a consistent running game. They should be able to impose themselves on this Bengals Defensive Line much better than they could against a strong Cleveland Browns team, although there is work to do and Aaron Rodgers is likely going to be key for the road team.

Another veteran at the position, Aaron Rodgers has been pretty well protected in recent games and that has allowed him to keep the chains moving. This week he is facing a team that is expected to be without their best pass rusher and who have struggled to have much of an impact up front anyway, and that should mean Aaron Rodgers has the time to dissect a Secondary that has allowed over 250 passing yards per game.

Recent games have seen the Bengals Secondary declining further and Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers should be in a position where they are moving the chains with a lot more consistency than this Divisional rival.

The Bengals have failed to cover in each of their last three games when set as the home underdog, while a stronger Cincinnati team have lost three home games in succession against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

A final drive is likely going to decide whether the road team covers or not, but they are going into the mini-bye and the hope is that Aaron Rodgers is not thinking ahead to a game with the Green Bay Packers coming up in Week 8.

A late Interception may just secure the cover for the Steelers and they can cover this mark set, even if that means overcoming a number of trends that are going against them in this spot.

Jacksonville Jaguars vs Los Angeles Rams Pick: The last of the London games in 2025 will be played at Wembley Stadium in Week 7 and it features what has become something of a 'home' team for British fans. The Jacksonville Jaguars (4-2) will continue the partnership with London in the next couple of years too and the familiarity of playing overseas should mean the team are prepared for the contest.

Most of the teams playing in London will come over a few days early to acclimatise, but the Los Angeles Rams (4-2) have decided on a completely unique plan.

They beat the Baltimore Ravens on the road in Week 6 and decided to stay in the area rather than heading back to the West Coast- this means being 'only' five hours behind London time, but Sean McVay and the team have decided they will not fly over to England until Saturday morning, just twenty-four hours before kick off and that is something that has not been done before.

Of course it is a 'business trip' as far as the Rams are concerned, but the conditions in Baltimore have been much warmer than London and there will be plenty of people taking notes as to how the NFC West team performs.

On paper this looks a winnable game and the Rams are favourites after the Jacksonville Jaguars suffered a home loss to the Seattle Seahawks last week. However, Los Angeles will be without their top Receiving option in Puka Nacua and that is a big blow considering he has picked up over 35% of the yards thrown by Matthew Stafford this season.

Throwing is going to be tough anyway if the weather forecast is correct- Wembley Stadium does not have a roof and it is expected to be a day of consistent rain, which is going to make things tough right through the game. And so while the Rams will obviously miss Puka Nacua and his production, the game plan may have been one that looks to keep the ball grounded for long periods and rely on a much shorter passing day.

Fumbles from both Running Backs cost the Los Angeles Rams against the San Francisco 49ers and so there will be pressure on Kyren Williams and Blake Corum. But if they can do that, they should give the Rams a chance to at least keep their veteran Quarter Back in front of the chains, while Matthew Stafford's experience of facing all conditions should also be a big help.

In saying that, Stafford will know it is much harder to throw in the rain and if it is a really wet day, he may not expose this Jaguars Secondary as much as would usually be the case. Even without Nacua, the Rams do have players capable of making plays against a team that has been giving up a huge amount of yardage through the air and so the expectation is that Los Angeles will find a way to keep things ticking over.

Jacksonville have made a strong start to the season, but the conditions could make this a tougher day for them Offensively compared with the Los Angeles Rams. Earlier in the season the Offensive Line had been opening up some big running lanes, but some of that momentum has been lost more recently and this Los Angeles Defensive Line has been built to clamp down on the run with a potential Playoff game against the Philadelphia Eagles in mind.

They have largely been successful at doing that and the Rams do get a pass rush push up front that is likely to rattle Trevor Lawrence if he is stuck in third and long spots. With the expected rain, it would be a really tough spot from which to keep converting, even with the improving chemistry with Brian Thomas Jr, and the Rams Secondary may be looking for a turnover or two in order to swing this game firmly onto their side.

You have to respect the fact that the Jacksonville Jaguars are 4-2 against the spread in their last six games played in London, while there has to be some uncertainty about the approach taken by Los Angeles to fly in as late as they for this Week 7 game.

Being without one of the top Receivers in the NFL is an obvious blow, but the Rams do match up well with the Jaguars and the rainy conditions gives Los Angeles an edge. They are the stronger team at the Line of Scrimmage on both sides of the ball, while Matthew Stafford is going to be throwing against a Secondary that has been having more issues than the Rams Secondary in recent games.

The lean has to be with the Rams in this opening game on Sunday in Week 7 of the NFL season.

Miami Dolphins @ Cleveland Browns Pick: These two AFC teams may already be thinking about the end of the season and how high they can finish in the Draft Order after miserable starts to the 2025 year. They have a combined two wins between them through six weeks and the Cleveland Browns (1-5) and Miami Dolphins (1-5) are about as where so many believed they would be in the pre-season.

Out of the two teams, the Dolphins will be most disappointed having looked like a team on the up a couple of years ago, but the franchise Quarter Back has not really reached the level hoped. Some of that is down to the injuries suffered by Tua Tagovailoa, and the team had begun to lose key pieces on the Defensive side of the ball heading into the new year.

With Tyreek Hill out and perhaps leaving Miami at the end of the season, rumours suggest that the Dolphins will be willing to listen to offers for personnel on both sides of the ball. Jayden Waddle, Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips have all been involved in trade rumours, while Tagovailoa's comments about some of his team-mates after the latest loss will not have gone down very well at all.

There will be more patience in the Cleveland Browns locker room, especially with a rookie Quarter Back leading the team.

However, this is a team that have a very good Defensive unit and that may be the key difference in the game.

Tua Tagovailoa has apologised to his peers for his comments, but he is going to need some of those to step up and make plays for him. De'Von Achane has been an important figure in the Offensive game plan, but he figures to have a tough time running the ball against this Browns Defensive Line and that will shift the pressure onto a Quarter Back who may be playing the rest of the way to prove he is someone the Dolphins should be keeping faith with to lead them in the years ahead.

He should have some success in this game- the pocket has been kept relatively clean in recent games to afford Tagovailoa some time, although throwing out of third and long spots is always difficult. Using De'Von Achane leaking out of the backfield will be important and there have been some areas of this Browns Secondary that can be exploited, which will give Miami a chance.

The reality is the size of that chance depends on how this Defensive unit plays.

It has been bad for much of the season and even when needing a late Fourth Quarter stop against Carolina and the Los Angeles Chargers, breakdowns have allowed those opponents to score points to win games.

They are facing a rookie Quarter Back in Dillon Gabriel who hasn't exactly been lighting things up for Cleveland, although he does have 3 Touchdown passes without throwing an Interception.

This week Gabriel could be helped out by being given a strong running game to lean on- the Cleveland Offensive Line have not been opening up big lanes, but they are up against a Miami Defensive Line that have not been able to stop anyone on the ground. Quinshon Judkins should be able to get things going and putting the rookie Quarter Back in third and manageable is going to make life that much easier for Dillon Gabriel to show what he can do.

We saw against the New York Jets that the Miami Dolphins can get to the Quarter Back and the Cleveland pass protection has not really been as good as the Browns would have wanted. However, Dillon Gabriel may not have to hold onto the ball for too long if they have established the run as they should and there are Receivers capable of making plays against this Dolphins Secondary to keep the chains moving.

Neither team is particularly good, but you have to believe the Cleveland Defensive unit are the one most likely to stall some drives.

The Dolphins are just 4-10 against the spread since 2023 when set as the road underdog and they look to be a team that is preparing to blow it all up and start again.

A Quarter Back who failed to show much leadership skill and key players being linked with trades are distractions and even this Cleveland Browns team may have too much for Miami right now.

Carolina Panthers @ New York Jets Pick: Aaron Glenn will not have been moving to New York and expecting the Jets (0-6) to be ready to go, but the new Head Coach has to be extremely frustrated with how things have developed early in 2025. They have come close to a win or two, but the Jets have also had some really terrible performances and the loss in London to the Denver Broncos might have been the lowest.

It was an ugly game from both teams, but the Jets Offensive unit could not get anything going and they were fortunate to even pick up 9 points considering 6 of those were given away by the Denver Broncos.

Questions have been raised about a Quarter Back change- Justin Fields is clearly a great athlete, but he looks like he will be a career backup at best and Tyrod Taylor is an experienced leader at the position, even if not the long term answer. For now the decision has been to stick with Justin Fields as the Jets look to join the rest of the League in having a win on the board.

They are narrow underdogs against the Carolina Panthers (3-3) who have won three of their last four games, but have been something of a Jekyll and Hyde team depending where they are playing.

All three Carolina wins have been at home, but all three defeats on the road and something will have to change when these two teams face off in the Meadowlands.

Rico Dowdle will be looking to continue his huge surge of form having compiled over 200 all purpose yards in back to back games to lead the Panthers to wins over Miami and Dallas. The Offensive Line deserve credit for opening up some solid running lanes for Dowdle and he is facing a Jets Defensive Line that have had issues stopping the run all season.

However, the home and road rushing numbers are significantly different for the Panthers and that will raise some doubts about their abilities here.

It is very important for Carolina to establish the run and put Quarter Back Bryce Young in the best position to succeed- Young has been chalk and cheese depending on where he has been playing and the one positive for this Jets team is the play of the Secondary with some strong players to call upon.

You have to believe Bryce Young will continue to lean on Rico Dowdle and the Offensive Line though and they should have success moving the ball.

After that miserable performance last week, the New York Jets will be looking to get things going on the ground and see if that can open up the passing lanes. Justin Fields is capable of moving the ball with his legs and Breece Hall is playing well, although the latter is surrounded by trade rumours which can be a distraction.

The recent performances of the Carolina Defensive Line will pose a challenge for New York, assuming the Panthers can take that strength up front onto the road. Clamping down on the run would make things very difficult for the Jets who are without Garrett Wilson and have had erratic displays out of the Fields arm.

Indecision from Justin Fields has led to Sacks, but he should have a cleaner pocket in this one when he does step back to throw.

However, without Wilson, the targets are going to be a little more inconsistent in their own ability and it could be another tough day in the office for Quarter Back and team.

The Jets are two weeks away from the Bye Week, which is when they may be able to make bigger changes, but this is a team that looks lost right now. Players have to be wondering if the Head Coach has given up on things with the decision to stick with a struggling Justin Fields at Quarter Back and they are facing a Carolina Panthers team that have won two in a row.

Playing on the road has been a real chore for Carolina, but this is as good a chance as they will have to end that poor run and the Panthers may edge this one with what could develop into the superior rushing outcomes.

New York Giants @ Denver Broncos Pick: This has to be seen as an incredibly difficult scheduling spot for the Denver Broncos (4-2) who have travelled back from London in Week 6 after getting the better of the New York team that plays in the same Conference. It was an ugly win, but a win, although now the Broncos have to host the New York Giants (2-4) who have enjoyed something of a mini-Bye after upsetting Divisional rivals the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday Night Football to open Week 6.

One issue for the Giants is that they are playing a non-Conference opponent in between an Eagles sandwich, but New York have a couple of rookies on the Offensive unit who will offer intensity and enthusiasm.

Both Jaxson Dart at Quarter Back and Cam Skattebo had huge impacts in the win over the Eagles- Dart had 195 passing yards with a Touchdown and added 58 yards on the ground with another Touchdown, while Skattebo had 98 rushing yards and three Touchdowns.

That is obviously hugely positive news, but this week the Giants are facing a tough Defensive unit that has allowed an average of just 254 total Offensive yards per game and who have been even better at Mile High.

Establishing the run against this Denver Defensive Line is going to be a huge test for the New York Giants, even with a dual-threat like Jaxson Dart behind Center. Daniel Jones and Justin Fields both have that capability too, so Denver should be pretty well prepared to face this rookie Giants Quarter Back if he does decide he wants to tuck the ball and run.

Making that all the tougher is going to be the fact that the Broncos pass rush has really been dialled up to eleven of late and they have been rampaging into the backfield. It is going to be a huge challenge for the Giants Offensive Line to not only prevent them collapsing the pocket and limiting places for Dart to run, but to give the Quarter Back any significant time for routes to develop down the field, especially with no Malik Nabers in the lineup.

Jaxson Dart has been able to look after the ball, but keeping the chains moving with consistency against this Broncos Secondary will be incredibly tough and the home team have to feel pretty confident about their chances.

In regards to the spread, the question really becomes whether the Broncos can produce the consistency needed with a significant line in front of them.

They were really poor in the second half against the New York Jets in Week 6, but this is a chance for JK Dobbins and company to bounce back. Sean Payton wants his team to run the ball and this Broncos Offensive Line have been very capable of opening up lanes for Dobbins and Bo Nix, while the Giants are not really a team that have shown they can hold up when the rock is being pounded at them.

All things being equal, it should mean Bo Nix is in a position to have a bounce back game of his own against this Giants Secondary that has been torched at times.

The Quarter Back will be protected and there are some experienced Receivers who can make plays for him down the field, while the likes of Troy Franklin can take the top off the Secondary. Being back at home should help Denver and they should be the team having the most consistent success and it could lead to a solid home win.

The Broncos have been productive at home in wins over Tennessee and Cincinnati- the Giants will feel their own Defensive unit is better than those two, but that does not feel like a significantly tougher challenge for Bo Nix and the rest of the team on this side of the ball.

Penalties have actually been a bigger problem for the Broncos and they need to clean those up if they are going to challenge in the loaded AFC West. If they can produce a cleaner game, the Broncos should have too much for a New York team that may already be thinking about a rematch against the Philadelphia Eagles.

MY PICKS: Pittsburgh Steelers - 5.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Los Angeles Rams - 3 Points @ 1.91 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)

Cleveland Browns - 2.5 Points @ 1.86 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Carolina Panthers - 1.5 Points @ 1.92 Bet Victor (1 Unit)

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

Week 6: 3-4, - 1.09 Units (7 Units Staked, - 15.57% Yield)

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

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

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

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

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

2025 Season: 16-17, - 2.33 Units (33 Units Staked, - 7.06% Yield)

Boxing Picks 2024- Adam Azim vs Ohara Davies (Saturday 19th October)

Another fantastic Undisputed fight was produced last week and Artur Beterbiev stands on top of the Light Heavyweight mountain, although Dmitry Bivol is going to want to right that wrong in 2025.

Boxing never seems to be that far from controversy and Bivol fans were certainly pushing the 'robbery' narrative.

Like any term, using it too loosely means you lose the impact of the word and that would certainly be the case if 'robbery' is thrown around every time your favourite fighter loses. It is no surprise that Dmitry Bivol's promoter will feel that way, while the commentating was pretty biased on the night and might have influenced some, but to suggest Dmitry Bivol had won easily seems far from the case.

Cards on the table, I actually scored the fight 116-112 to Artur Beterbiev.

It was close going into the Championship Rounds and in reality that is where the fight was going to be won or lost on my personal scorecard, but Artur Beterbiev seemed to go through the gears and Dmitry Bivol wilted a little bit.

If you think 115-113 is not a bad score, just remember 116-112 means one more Round going in favour of the victor. Those who say they could have seen 115-113 either way or even a draw means they accept there were some swing Rounds and the feeling that Bivol had been 'robbed' seems to be mainly from those in the UK rather than the States and the commentating has to have influenced that.

Boxing scorecards can be poor- in the United Kingdom there have been some shocking scores turned in over recent years, but a Majority Decision in favour of Artur Beterbiev is far from the case. You might have felt Bivol had done enough, which is fair enough, but to completely dismiss the fact that Beterbiev could have one more Round than a 'good' 115-113 scorecard is just mind-boggling.

The fight was a good one and I do think both Boxers will feel they can do better in a rematch, which makes that a natural target for the teams and the promoters. It would not be a surprise if we are to see that in the first half of 2025 and that should allow the contenders the time to line up behind Beterbiev and Bivol.

If reports are correct, David Benavidez and David Morrell are going to face each other in what should be a brilliant fight early in the next year.

And the hope if that Joshua Buatsi and Anthony Yarde can finally meet in what is a monster UK fight, but one that would also have the WBO Interim World Title on the line. The latter is returning this week to shake off the ring rust on a Boxxer run card and that brings the Buatsi fight that much closer to fruition, one that would sell the O2 Arena in London without any issues.

Adam Azim being back in action is also a positive with a big year predicted for the young fighter in 2025 and beyond, while I am looking forward to the return of Tim Tsyzu who is chasing some of the biggest names in the next year.

The main event ended in favour of Artur Beterbiev, but not in the fashion picked on these pages, although it was still a positive night for the Boxing Picks to get the numbers moving back in a positive direction.

With a little over two months left in this calendar year, there is still work to do to secure a profitable year, but it was a positive week and hopefully another one to come.

Adam Azim vs Ohara Davies

The face off with Harlem Eubank was supposed to see Adam Azim return to the ring a couple of months ago, but the contract did not quite make it over the line and instead the step up comes against Ohara Davies.

Big things are expected of Adam Azim and his team are refusing to allow him to be pushed ahead too quickly.

It was the main reason they decided to give up the European Light Welterweight Title rather than face Dalton Smith, although that fight is likely to come sooner than later. We should have Dalton Smith in the Arena for this bout, but Boxxer and Adam Azim will be not be told what to do and the focus is on the career of what looks to be a special talent.

Ultimately the question of how special will be answered as the step up in level is made and he is facing an opponent who has fought previous World Champions.

Ohara Davies was blitzed in the defeat to Ismael Barroso back in January, but his three defeats have been against solid competition. The first was a Stoppage loss to Josh Taylor, the second a Points defeat to Jack Catterall and the most recent was against Barroso, who had Rolly Romero in a lot of trouble before a controversial referee Stoppage.

He is a puncher and will be very familiar with Adam Azim- they are friends outside of the ring, although Davies has taken some offence to being selected as the next fight for the rising star.

It should give him some motivation, but it can be said that Ohara Davies has not really beaten anyone of note for a long time now. The win over Lewis Ritson put him in a position to fight Ismael Barroso, but Adam Azim is far better than Ritson and this is a significant test for Davies to show how much he has left.

You have to wonder if Ohara Davies has lost some of the punch resistance having been hurt so early against Ismael Barroso, especially as Adam Azim is pretty sharp and accurate.

The friendship should not be a major factor in the bout and Adam Azim will be looking to show he is ready to take the next step in his career. He has shown he can move through the gears pretty quickly once in the ring and the price on a first half Stoppage looks worth taking in this one.

The feeling is that Ohara Davies may want to push the pace early to try and rattle the youngster, but that could see him move onto something big and Azim can perhaps beat Josh Taylor's mark to the Stoppage against this opponent.

The undercard features some big names, but it is really an opportunity for the likes of Anthony Yarde and a couple of the female fighters to get active.

The standout looks to be involving other Light Heavyweights not named Anthony Yarde and that is the one featuring Lewis Edmondson and Dan Azeez with the vacant British Title on the line.

We know things can change very quickly in Boxing and it feels a long time ago that Dan Azeez was fighting Joshua Buatsi.

It was a bout that took place in early February, but Azeez came up short and was not at his best when returning in June and perhaps being fortunate to escape with a Draw.

He is facing an unbeaten opponent and they will be familiar with one another having faced off in the amateurs when Lewis Edmondson was able to win a Split Decision against Dan Azeez.

Lewis Edmondson is unbeaten, but he has only been involved in a single fight that has moved past the Sixth Round and this is a considerable step in terms of level.

You know someone like Dan Azeez will look to push the tempo and keep the pressure on and the veteran may have the experience to just break down Lewis Edmondson as this fight moves into the second half of the fight.

All in all, it is suprising to see Dan Azeez as the underdog in this bout and he has to be worth a small interest to come out and pressurise Lewis Edmondson for long enough to break him down. It was Dan Azeez who held this British Light Heavyweight Title before the loss to Joshua Buatsi and he can pick up the Belt again against his unbeaten opponent.

The return of Tim Tszyu is going to be very welcomed, even if he has fallen out of favour with Turki Alalshikh having failed to recover from a gruesome cut in time to take on Vergil Ortiz Jr.

The fact that Tszyu signed up to fight Ortiz Jr after the cut suffered against Sebastian Fundora tells me everything about the character of the Australian, a very likeable fighter.

Even taking on Fundora on short notice should be given a lot of respect and Tim Tsyzu could have easily asked the referee to stop the fight after suffering a cut that bled profusely almost immediately. Instead, the Champion decided to do all he can to avoid losing his unbeaten record and he deserves the chance to bring a World Title back Down Under.

It is the IBF World Title on the line and the hope is that Tim Tsyzu can get back to winning ways before targeting big names in a loaded Light Middleweight Division. Terence Crawford and Errol Spence Jr have joined the Division, while the rematch with Sebastian Fundora will be something that Tsyzu will target.

However, it is very important to not overlook the current IBF Champion, even if Bakhram Murtazaliev has perhaps not fought anyone of this level before. He is unbeaten and anyone who has watched him fight should be aware of the potential of the Champion.

Sixteen Stoppages in twenty-two wins has to be respected and there is every chance that this is going to be fan-friendly contest.

It may end up being a battle of wills and the bout should be highly competitive, although the edge has to be with Tim Tsyzu who may be slightly better at the same things that Bakhram Murtazaliev will want to do. The toughness of both cannot be underestimated and so a small interest in the former World Champion winning this one in a competitive Decision looks the call.

MY PICKS: Adam Azim to Win Between 1-6 @ 2.87 Paddy Power (1 Unit)

Dan Azeez @ 2.30 Bet Fred (1 Unit)

Tim Tsyzu to Win By Decision/Technical Decision @ 3.00 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

Boxing 2024: 30-50, + 12.44 Units (106 Units Staked, + 11.74% Yield)

College Football Week 8 Picks 2024 (Saturday 19th October)

We may have moved beyond the need to see unbeaten teams, or even those with a single loss, playing in the College Football Playoffs, especially with the expanded post-season in place.

However, losing twice in the regular season will make your case to join a twelve team Playoff that much harder to make and so there is a big week coming up for some of the leading SEC teams.

Texas are hosting Georgia and Tennessee are hosting Alabama in big games, while the Big Ten has seen some of their top teams move above those from the SEC.

It is still October though and that means there are plenty more twists and turns to come with big games in the ACC as well as the SEC in Week 8.

Two winning weeks in a row is a positive for the College Football Picks, but the early selections were disappointing and so there is work to do to really get this season turned around. Week 7 was a good start and building on that is the key over the next few weeks, beginning with the selections from Week 8 that can be read below.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish @ Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Pick: The problem remains for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish (5-1) that being an Independent means the lack of a Championship Game can go against them. In previous years, the margin for error was much tighter for the Fighting Irish, but even an expanded College Football Playoff needs work for Notre Dame to enter and especially after a really disappointing defeat that is already on the slate.

With that in mind, they cannot afford another as the Fighting Irish prepare to travel to Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (5-2) who are just 3-2 in ACC Conference play. The chances of playing in the Conference Championship Game diminished after losses to Syracuse Orange and Louisville Cardinals, but the Yellow Jackets have won two in a row since that latest defeat and will be plenty motivated to keep the positives moving forward.

This may not be an official home game for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, but will be played very close to the campus. Despite that, the Fighting Irish will have plenty of fans ready to support them as Head Coach Marcus Freeman looks for the team to turn good performances into great ones.

Having a dual-threat at Quarter Back should help the Fighting Irish establish the run and the power of this Offensive Line is likely going to make a big difference. In recent games, as the Georgia Tech Defensive Line have played a stronger level of competition, the Yellow Jackets have just found it that much tougher to clamp down on the run.

However, they have played well enough to force Riley Leonard to have to make some plays with his arm if the Notre Dame Offensive unit are going to keep things ticking over in this game. The likelihood is that Leonard will have enough time to expose some of the holes that Georgia Tech have in the Secondary and that should put Notre Dame in a position to keep the scoreboard ticking over.

It is clear that the battle at the Line of Scrimmage will be important on both sides of the ball and that is very much the case when the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets have the ball. Running the ball effectively has always been a part of what the Yellow Jackets want to do and they have been strong at establishing the run, but this week they are coming up against the Notre Dame Defensive Line that has proven to be highly effective at stopping the run.

This will be much tougher for Georgia Tech if they have to go with a backup at Quarter Back- Haynes King is a doubt having been forced out of the game late on last time out, and without him, the Yellow Jackets will have a tough time throwing the ball.

Notre Dame could double down on stopping the run and they do have a pass rush that could prove to be effective if they can put the Yellow Jackets into third and long spots. That rush has certainly helped the Secondary make some big plays and this feels like a game in which the Fighting Irish can produce the kind of statement win that could impress when the College Football Playoff members are revealed.

The early loss has certainly made it harder to trust the Fighting Irish, but recent form has been stronger and they can control the Line of Scrimmage for long enough to secure a win by around two Touchdowns.

Alabama Crimson Tide @ Tennessee Volunteers Pick: The topsy-turvy game against the Georgia Bulldogs ended with an important win for the Alabama Crimson Tide (5-1), but they have not built on that victory over one of their main SEC rivals in the manner they would have expected.

Following the victory, Alabama were upset by Vanderbilt Commodores and they were fortunate to avoid being dragged into Overtime in a narrow win over the South Carolina Gamecocks in Week 7.

Those who believed the team would just continue the successes of the Nick Saban era without Nick Saban may just be questioning what can be achieved this season.

The narrative can change very quickly in College Football and a road win over the Tennessee Volunteers (5-1) would certainly have people taking notice of the Crimson Tide in a much more positive light.

Much like Alabama, Tennessee opened the season in strong form before an upset loss to Arkansas Razorbacks and then producing an Overtime win over Florida Gators last time out. That leaves both teams at 2-1 within the SEC and it will be a tough road back towards the College Football Playoff for the team that loses.

It certainly increases the pressure on both teams ahead of a big SEC game in Week 8.

One of the big issues for the Tennessee Volunteers has been the Offensive shortcomings in recent games and this is going to be a tough test for them, even if Alabama have not been playing to the level that they have set in recent years. For starters, the Volunteers Offensive Line will struggle to open the running lanes agains this Alabama Defensive Line and that will put some additional pressure on Nick Iamaleava.

The freshman Quarter Back has just hit a slight wall in recent games, but he will be facing a Crimson Tide Secondary that has struggled when moving into the SEC games. Nick Iamaleava might not have a lot of time to allow plays to develop though and that will be key for the Alabama Crimson Tide to finally begin to show their talent even at the SEC level.

Defensive breakdowns have certainly been a factor in seeing Alabama struggle in recent games, but the Offensive unit have something to prove too.

One of the big disappointments in recent outings is the play of the Offensive Line as Alabama have been contained to 4 yards per carry in SEC games. Expecting to get back on track against this Tennessee Defensive Line looks to be asking too much of the Alabama Crimson Tide and that will put additional pressure on Jalen Milroe, even if the Quarter Back is much more experienced than the one that Tennessee will be using in this big Week 8 game.

Jalen Milroe has to be confident in helping the Crimson Tide move the ball through the air, although he will have to be aware of the pass rush pressure that Tennessee will generate. In recent games the Volunteers Secondary has given up a fair few yards, while they have also lost Linebacker Keenan Pili, and that should give Jalen Milroe an opportunity to have another strong game at Quarter Back.

Being a bit more careful with the ball is going to be important in what could be a tight, competitive game, and Milroe will need to clean up this side of this game. He has thrown 4 Interceptions in the last three games, including two last week against the South Carolina Gamecocks, and there is little doubt that Tennessee will be targeting the turnovers in this one.

There are some real similarities with the way things have gone for both the Tennessee Volunteers and Alabama Crimson Tide over the last month. Both teams have already been beaten in the SEC so it is a tough path for the losing team to tread, which will only add to the tension on the day.

Ultimately it feels like the experience of Jalen Milroe may just help Alabama edge out Tennessee and Nick Iamaleava and Alabama's Defensive unit may also be motivated to want to prove something. Nothing will come easy, but the Crimson Tide can edge past the Volunteers and cover this spread on the way to moving to 3-1 within the Conference.

Georgia Bulldogs @ Texas Longhorns Pick: It might be the first season that they are a member of the SEC, but the Texas Longhorns (6-0) have looked the best team in the Conference through seven weeks. Playing in this Conference will always give teams the opportunity to prove how good they are and there are some big games coming up for the Longhorns after crushing the Oklahoma Sooners in Week 7.

The Sooners might have joined Texas in moving from the Big 12 to the SEC, but the Longhorns have the much stronger squad so the blowout was not a massive surprise.

In Week 8, the test feels that much more significant against the Georgia Bulldogs (5-1) who have bounced back from the close loss to the Alabama Crimson Tide to win two games in a row. That has improved the record to 3-1 within the Conference and a win over the Texas Longhorns would make Georgia one of the favourites to play in the SEC Championship Game, but there is pressure on a team that will be targeting the National Championship.

Losing would put the Georgia Bulldogs in a tough position with plenty of SEC games still to play, even if the College Football Playoff has been expanded to include twelve teams in 2024. They still have the kind of talent that will appeal, but losing three games in the regular season would make it very difficult to be included in the College Football Playoff so this is a huge game for Georgia.

There is no doubt that the Bulldogs have plenty of talent and are capable of winning anywhere they play in College Football, but this Offensive unit has to also accept that they are in for a huge test of their credentials. Some will feel that the Bulldogs have not been looking to give too much away in their wins over Auburn and Mississippi State, but it is also hard to ignore the issues the Offensive Line have had in trying to open running lanes.

Doing so against the Texas Defensive Line feels like it will be that much more challenging and that will likely mean Georgia need to lean on Quarter Back Carson Beck much like they have in recent games. The numbers produced by Beck have been impressive statistically, but having to force throws has led to multiple Interceptions and that is not going to cut it against this Texas team.

Even playing a clean game does not guarantee anything for Carson Beck and the Georgia Bulldogs- any third and long spot will see the Longhorns fire up the pass rush, which can stall drives, while the Texas Secondary have not given up a lot of yards even when teams have been forced to throw to keep up on the scoreboard.

The experience of Carson Beck will help the Bulldogs and the same can be said for Texas who have Quinn Ewers back behind Center.

In recent years, the Bulldogs have really had high-calibre Defensive units and those have provided plenty of talent for the NFL. However, the Bulldogs will be well aware they need to be better than what they have shown in 2024 if they are going to find a way to slow down the impressive Longhorns Offense.

The Longhorns will want to run the ball and that will open up the playbook- they will be expecting some resistance from the Bulldogs, but there have been plenty of signs in recent games that it is possible to establish the run.

This will be music to the ears of Quinn Ewers and the Quarter Back could have another really big day as he continues to show why he is likely to be a very high Draft choice when that Day comes around next year. He has been extremely well protected, and Georgia have not really been finding a way to get home on the Quarter Back of late, and that should mean Quinn Ewers has the time to really exploit this Georgia Secondary.

Teams have been able to put up some big yards against the Georgia Bulldogs and the Longhorns certainly have the talent to pick up where others have left off.

It is a big game and the pressure on the day will have an impact, but Texas should be able to use the home crowd to settle down that much more quickly.

A healthy respect for the Georgia Bulldogs and all they have achieved in recent years has to be given, but the Texas Longhorns want to become the next elite College team. Quinn Ewers and the edge on the Line of Scrimmage on both sides of the ball should just swing this pendulum in favour of the hosts and Texas may produce their most impressive victory in 2024.

Iowa Hawkeyes @ Michigan State Spartans Pick: College Football's landscape has changed and there are going to be further changes made in the coming years, but the one big Conference approach is perhaps not as appealing as the Divisions within Conferences that we have been accustomed to seeing.

Some teams feel it will have given them a better chance of making the College Football Playoff when the twelve teams are picked later in the year, but for others the pathway feels more difficult.

The Iowa Hawkeyes (4-2) are a team that may not benefit having played in two of the last three Big Ten Championship Games, especially when you think that three of the current top four in the College Football Rankings are playing in the Conference. The Hawkeyes are one of six teams with a 2-1 record within the Big Ten, but they are all chasing three teams with perfect 3-0 records and so another loss cannot really be taken right now.

They travel to the Michigan State Spartans (3-3) who are coming in off a Bye Week and will have tried to make adjustments having lost three in a row. Two of those were to top Big Ten teams in Oregon and Ohio State so Michigan State may believe that they are set to face an 'easier' run, although they have lost twice in a row to the Hawkeyes.

Avoiding distraction will be challenging for the team and the fans with the Michigan Wolverines on deck, while the Spartans have perhaps been a touch predictable in their play-calling over the three game losing run.

It doesn't help that the Spartans Offensive Line have struggled to open the running lanes and they are not expected to have a lot of success on the ground in this one. Being in third and long spots is tough work for the best of Offenses and it has certainly put the pressure on Aidan Chiles at Quarter Back.

His numbers haven't been all too bad in terms of passing yards put together, but Chiles has perhaps had to push the boat out at times and that has led to far too many Interceptions. The Quarter Back will have some spaces to exploit in this Iowa Secondary, but Aidan Chiles is going to have to avoid the pass rush pressure that the Hawkeyes bring, while also should be noting the turnovers that they have created.

This may mean it will be a tough day for the Spartans when they have the ball in hand, while they will be hoping that the Bye Week has given them a chance to work out how to be more competitive at the Line of Scrimmage on the other side of the ball. Earlier in the season, the Spartans Defensive Line were pretty good against the run, but that has not been the case as the competition has ramped up and stopping this Iowa Offensive Line will be tough.

We all know what the Hawkeyes will want to do with the run, but the Hawkeyes Offensive Line have proven to be big enough and strong enough to push open some big running lanes. Kaleb Johnson is likely going to have another strong game at Running Back and just keep the pressure away from Quarter Back Cade McNamara, a former Michigan Wolverine who will be hearing the boos every time he snaps the ball.

He has not needed to make big plays in recent games, but Cade McNamara should have success when he is asked to make plays against this Michigan State Secondary. The Offensive Line will give McNamara time and he has been careful enough with the ball to ensure the Iowa Hawkeyes can control the field position and it may lead to another solid win over the Spartans.

Like many teams, Iowa struggled Offensively against the Ohio State Buckeyes, but they have been better when playing teams below that elite level. That is certainly the case in Week 8 of the regular season and the Hawkeyes may win the turnover battle to move into a position to cover this tough spread for any road team to surpass.

Road favourites can find it tough in College Football, but the Hawkeyes do look capable, especially if the Michigan State Spartans are looking ahead to the big rivalry game with the Michigan Wolverines. The turnovers could be key and Iowa may just do enough to secure a win by a Touchdown mark at the least.

MY PICKS: Notre Dame Fighting Irish - 13.5 Points @ 1.86 Bet365 (1 Unit)
Alabama Crimson Tide - 3 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Texas Longhorns - 4.5 Points @ 1.85 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)

Iowa Hawkeyes - 5.5 Points @ 1.85 Bet Victor (1 Unit)

Indiana Hoosiers - 6.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Iowa State Cyclones - 13.5 Points @ 1.91 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)

Week 7: 6-3, + 2.55 Units (9 Units Staked, + 28.33% Yield)

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

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

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

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

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

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

NFL Week 6 Picks 2020 (October 18-19)

I am looking to have a fuller thread in Week 7 of the NFL, but it has been a busy time over the last week.

After some very strong results to open the season, I have something to build upon going forward.

Detroit Lions @ Jacksonville Jaguars Pick: Matt Patricia has to be feeling the heat underneath his seat as Head Coach of the Detroit Lions and he can't be encouraged by the improvements in the NFC North which has seen both the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears make fast starts to the season. Even in an expanded NFL PlayOffs, the Detroit Lions being 1-3 through their Bye Week is a massive concern with losses to both of those Divisional rivals already in the books.

The Head Coach can't afford too many more and with changes begun to be made in other NFL Head Coaching spots, the pressure is on Patricia to get things turned around this week. The Lions are on the road, which is never an easy place to play, but they have had time to prepare and they are facing a Jacksonville Jaguars team who are 1-4 on the season and coming off a loss to a previously winless Houston Texans team.

To make matters all the tougher for the Jaguars they are severely banged up on both sides of the ball which is going to make it very difficult to win games. You can lose a skill player, maybe two, but you can't lost multiple of your best players and expect to be competitive in the NFL.

Scheduling changes can occur at any time and it is something teams have to be prepared for on short notice in 2020, but assuming all goes well the Jaguars have a Bye Week coming up in which they will be hoping to get some key players back. Unfortunately it may mean in Week 6 that they are not willing to risk anyone who is a little banged up and it may leave the Jaguars short.

In usual circumstances you might actually like what Gardner Minshew would have been able to do against the Detroit Secondary which has struggled with injury and massive holes all season. However it looks like the Jaguars are going to be down their top Receivers on Sunday and that will make it difficult for Minshew to move the chains with any consistency with his arm alone.

He should be well supported by the run game though and that could be the key to the entire game as Jacksonville look to control the clock and wear down the Lions. The Detroit Defensive Line has struggled to stop the run all season and James Robinson could have a big game as long as the Jaguars have not fallen behind multiple scores and need their Quarter Back to rip off some big yards through the air to get them back into the game.

As long as it is close Robinson should be a big factor, but at some point you would expect the Lions to dare Minshew to beat them though the air with his third, fourth and fifth string Receivers. Even a porous Secondary like the one Detroit have should feel they can make some big plays against the Receivers they are facing in Week 6 and that should mean they are willing to take more chances to keep Robinson in check.

Offensively Detroit should be healthy and feeling really good about their chances of doing whatever they feel like in this one. The Jaguars are missing key players right across their Defensive unit and they have been seen to be vulnerable to both the run and the pass so you would hope the Lions have been well prepared to take advantage of that.

Injuries on the Defensive Line have made it very difficult for the Jaguars to stop the run and especially as they are also without Myles Jack at Linebacker. We have yet to see Detroit find consistency with their own ground game, but you would think the Bye Week has given them a chance to at least right things with that part of their Offense, while Jacksonville have to respect the Quarter Back who is opposing them which means they can't sell out to stop the run.

Matthew Stafford might be coming down towards the end of his career and there may even be rumours that he might call it a day sooner rather than later, but he is still very effective from behind Center. His Offensive Line has not always been offering the best protection, but Stafford will have time in the pocket if Detroit are able to establish the run and there are holes in the Jacksonville Secondary which have been exposed by teams in recent weeks.

He should have his full complement of Receivers ready to go in this one and if CJ Henderson is missing for Jacksonville the Secondary just doesn't have the talent to be expected to slow down Stafford. I expect Detroit to move the chains at will and effectively take the game away from their hosts while doubling their overall wins and road wins for the 2020 season.

I hate backing the Lions as a road favourite because they have simply not performed in this spot, but I think this is the best chance for them to do so. I just don't believe Jacksonville can keep up in what is likely to be something of a shoot out and so will back the road team to come away with the victory and the cover.

Cleveland Browns @ Pittsburgh Steelers Pick: At the start of the season I really felt the AFC North could provide three PlayOff teams over the coming months and none of the top three have really disappointed. The Cleveland Browns have bounced back from a Week 1 defeat to win four in a row, while the Pittsburgh Steelers are one of four teams in the NFL that have yet to taste defeat in 2020.

These Divisional rivals meet in a big Week 6 game and it is arguably more important for Cleveland who are 1-1 within the AFC North while the Steelers have yet to play a Divisional Game. With that in mind it is perhaps a disappointment for the Browns that they look to be hurting at just the wrong time with a number of players on the Offensive side of the ball banged up ahead of this game.

Baker Mayfield has made it clear that he is going to play regardless of having to deal with the pain after taking a big hit last week. The Browns never looked doubtful about being without their Quarter Back, but Mayfield can't be at 100% and that makes the potential absences of the likes of Odell Beckham Jr and Jarvis Landry that much more difficult to deal with.

Even if the Receivers are good to go, you can't imagine either being completely healthy and now they have to face a very strong Pittsburgh Secondary which is physical at the line of scrimmage and capable of running with their opposite numbers.

It may be down to the passing game to get the chains moving because the Browns are continuing without Nick Chubb and their rebuilt Offensive Line will be challenged to try and get the better of the Pittsburgh Steel Curtain. Last week we did see the Philadelphia Eagles find some big gaps on the ground, so Cleveland may feel they can have some success, but there was not consistent running room on the ground. Kareem Hunt is a quality Running Back and more than a backup to Chubb, but his biggest impact may come in the short passing game rather than being able to rip off huge runs throughout this game.

The ability to stop the run has allowed Pittsburgh to pin back their ears and unleash a fierce pass rush, but in usual circumstances I would believe this new look Cleveland Offensive Line would be able to keep the pocket clean. However I do think Baker Mayfield may not be able to fully scramble when the pressure comes his way and so the best bet for the Browns may be to throw the ball into screens and quick slants to ease any pass rush the Steelers throw at them.

Baker Mayfield has been effective enough as the starting Quarter Back, but his numbers have not been spectacular as Cleveland have been able to have a lot of success on the ground. At less than 100% I do think he will have a tough time, especially as Mayfield is likely going to be asked to do more than usual, and the Steelers have shown they have one of the best Defenses in the NFL despite the points given up to non-Conference opponents Philadelphia in Week 5.

Last season it was the Defensive unit which sparked the Steelers, but they have opened 4-0 for the first time since the late 1970's thanks to the return of Ben Roethlisberger. There was a considerable drop off to the second and third string Quarter Back twelve months ago, but Big Ben has returned and he looks to be enjoying his Football as he appreciates he has reached the back end of his career.

Like Cleveland, Pittsburgh have enjoyed the success they have had on the ground to push the team forward, although Roethlisberger has shown he is capable of carrying the team Offensively if so required. James Connor might not be able to have the biggest game running the ball traditionally, but Pittsburgh showed last week they are able to just find a crease or two on the ground to make some big plays and I think they will have success even against a much-vaunted Cleveland Defensive Line.

Also like his opposite number, Ben Roethlisberger is going to able to exploit screens and quick passes in place of a running game to keep the Cleveland Defensive unit off-balance. There are some quality Receivers in the Pittsburgh camp that will feel they can take those short passes to the house and last week it was the turn of Chase Claypool and he may be a key weapon again if the Steelers are not able to get some of their other Receivers back on the field.

Injuries are an issue for Pittsburgh too, but I do think Roethlisberger is playing well enough to find a way to get the ball into the hands of some of the quick players he has on the outside.

I do like the Steelers even if they can sometimes be hard to trust as a favourite.

They have a strong home record against Cleveland and the potential banged up nature of Baker Mayfield may be tough to overcome for the Browns. Cleveland have not been as strong on the road as they have at home and they have not covered in their last four games against AFC North Divisional rivals.

At the same time Pittsburgh are 7-3 against the spread when playing Divisional rivals and I do think this is a team that can make the plays on the Defensive side of the ball which helps them overcome this mark.

Atlanta Falcons @ Minnesota Vikings Pick: There have already been two Head Coaching changes in the NFL and it is perhaps no surprise that one of those came in Atlanta where the Falcons have started poorly again. Dan Quinn was surprisingly given a little more time to try and turn things around after a strong end to 2019 and the players are clearly going to be disappointed they could not help their former Head Coach, but ultimately Quinn had to part ways with the Falcons who are 0-5 for the season.

In a very tough NFC South, the Falcons already look like they are too far away to really have a chance to earn a Wild Card spot. Atlanta are also going to be feeling the pressure of the players playing for their jobs now the Head Coach and General Manager have been let go and no one can feel safe when owner Arthur Blank won't be even get behind long-time Quarter Back Matt Ryan.

Injuries have been a real problem for the Falcons who are going to take on another underwhelming team in 2020 when they visit the Minnesota Vikings. Mike Zimmer has to be another Head Coach who may be fearing what the future holds for him and you have to imagine the seat underneath him will be heating up through the Bye Week if the Vikings were to lose this one.

Minnesota are 1-4 for the season and that leaves them some way behind the Bears and the Packers within the Division. However, Mike Zimmer has to be most upset by the fact that his team have lost by a single point to both the Tennessee Titans and Seattle Seahawks who are a combined 9-0 for the season and things would have looked markedly different if the Vikings had won those games with the opportunities they missed.

This week there will be no excuses for Minnesota even with Dalvin Cook set to miss out and that is largely because they are facing a Falcons team that have been decimated Defensively. Alexander Mattison should ensure that Minnesota are not missing Cook as much as they perhaps should and he can have a big outing against the Falcons Defensive Line which has allowed 4.4 yards per carry in recent losses.

The Vikings will be a team who will want to establish the run first and foremost, but Kirk Cousins is also throwing the ball well enough to believe he can become the latest Quarter Back to take advantage of all of the injuries in the Atlanta Secondary. Being placed in third and manageable spots will just mean things open up for the passing game and Cousins will be chomping at the bit to go at a Secondary allowing over 300 passing yards on average over their last three games.

Kirk Cousins should also be under little to no pressure when he does drop back to throw considering how little pass rush Atlanta have generated and it feels like the home team will be able to do pretty much all they would like to in this one.

However, Atlanta may feel there is a chance for them to have a strong Offensive day especially if they can get some key players back, most notably Julio Jones on this side of the ball. Matt Ryan is still more than a capable Quarter Back and this Vikings team have dropped off from the kind of Defensive levels they have shown in recent seasons under Mike Zimmer.

Todd Gurley has shown some signs of having something left in the tank after moving to the Falcons in the off-season and he has helped the Falcons pick up some solid yards on the ground. He should be able to have success against the banged up Minnesota Defensive Line which has not been able to slow teams down as much as they would have liked on the ground and it will be important for the Falcons to at least give Matt Ryan manageable Down and distance to work with.

That is especially the case if down a Receiver or two and especially behind an Offensive Line which has not been at its best in pass protection. If Matt Ryan is left in third and long spots, you would have to think the Vikings pass rush is going to put the veteran under pressure and get to him while forcing mistakes or Sacks.

Despite being behind, Matt Ryan's recent numbers have not been that impressive but there is an opportunity for him in this game. The Vikings Secondary has not played up to the level of recent years, but much depends on how Ryan is feeling after seeing Dan Quinn removed as Head Coach and whether the Receivers are healthy enough to make plays for him.

You do have to wonder if the Falcons are feeling sorry for costing their likeable Head Coach his job after the start made and if that is the case they could find it hard to motivate themselves. All of the suggestions are that the locker room were behind Dan Quinn and the 0-5 start could just see Atlanta struggle against a Minnesota team that could easily be 3-2 rather than 1-4.

Minnesota are 4-0-1 in their last five against the spread against the Atlanta Falcons.

The Falcons have been very good as a road underdog in recent games in that spot, but the Vikings have a very good record under Mike Zimmer when coming off a loss. It feels like this is going to be a close game, but one where the Vikings might just have the greater balance on the Offensive side of the ball as they find a way to get their second win of the season and stay in touch with those teams who are looking to earn a PlayOff spot later this year.

New York Jets @ Miami Dolphins Pick: I will be the first to admit that I never saw a situation in which the Miami Dolphins would be such big favourites to win any NFL game in 2020 barring facing an opponent who had the majority of their players on the Covid-19 exemption list. However, a strong start to the season, relatively, coupled with the fact that the New York Jets are the visitors to South Florida makes the Dolphins the team to beat in Week 6.

They are 2-3 on the season having taken the San Francisco 49ers to the cleaners in Week 5 and the Miami Dolphins can put it all on the line in Week 6. Usually I would consider this a letdown spot after beating the NFC representatives in the Super Bowl a few months ago, but the changing schedule means the Dolphins are actually going into a Bye Week and that should keep the players focused on the momentum they have built up.

Things have been much tougher for the New York Jets who are 0-5 and surely going to part ways with Head Coach Adam Gase sooner rather than later. It is quite staggering that Gase has been allowed to stick around as long as he has and the Jets look a mess with injuries on both sides of the ball meaning they are not really being very competitive.

Facing a Divisional rival should always pump up a team, but Sam Darnold will be missing again in Week 6 which means former Super Bowl winning Quarter Back Joe Flacco gets the call again. Joe Flacco is someway away from the form that helped take the Baltimore Ravens to the Super Bowl title and he is very much a backup these days and he showed very little in the blowout home defeat to the Arizona Cardinals last time out.

To make matters more difficult for the Jets in general, Le'Veon Bell was released this week and quickly signed up by the Kansas City Chiefs. While it has to be said that Bell has been a disappointment in New York after signing a big contract, it has also got to be noted that he was never on the same page as Adam Gase who admitted he would not have signed him days after walking into the Head Coaching role here.

If Bell was around you might feel the Jets could establish the run in this one but instead it will be a heavy dose of the veteran Frank Gore. He may still have some success, but the Dolphins have to be keen on stuffing the run and forcing Joe Flacco to try and beat them through the air.

The New York Offensive Line has struggled when it comes to pass protection and the Miami Dolphins will feel they can get after a largely immobile Joe Flacco in this one as long as they can keep the Jets in obvious passing positions on the field. The Miami Secondary has played well, and they are definitely going to feel they can get the better of the Jets who have little of note outside of Jamison Crowder.

Moving the ball could be an issue for the Jets, but that should not be the same problem for the Miami Dolphins who have Ryan Fitzpatrick leading the way. The veteran Quarter Back is no fool and will understand he is a placeholder at the position for the Dolphins, but that means Fitzpatrick is going out to have fun and it has led to some strong performances already in the 2020 season that is keeping him in as the starter.

Ryan Fitzpatrick has needed to lead the Dolphins because the new look backfield that was signed in the off-season have simply not performed at the level Miami would have wanted. They have not been consistent running the ball whether they give it to Matt Breida, Jordan Howard or Myles Gaskin and I don't think they will get a lot of change from the Jets Defensive Line.

However, Fitzpatrick is someone capable of making plays with his legs when things break down in front of him and he has also been well protected by the Dolphins Offensive Line when it comes to the pass. A strong Offensive Line will also feel they can get the better of the Jets pass rush which has not really shown up this season and that should mean Fitzpatrick has time to hit some decent Receivers down the field that are going up against a porous New York Secondary.

I expect Ryan Fitzpatrick to have another strong showing and he can lead the Dolphins to a big win and a cover of a number they have simply not been used to dealing with in the last four years.

Miami will be looking for revenge for losing the last Divisional game against the Jets, but they did beat them by 8 points here last season. The Dolphins have won their last four home games against this AFC East rival, while the Jets have a pretty horrible 8-20-1 record against the spread in their last twenty-nine when coming off a straight up loss of at least 14 points.

They are 1-4 against the spread in their last five road games and face a Miami team who are 3-1-1 against the spread the last five times they have been set as the home favourite. I like Miami to get the better of the Jets in this one too.

Green Bay Packers @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers Pick: This is not just a potential NFC Championship Game at the end of the season, but any chance you have to see the likes of Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers duelling one another can't be missed.

Of course the Quarter Backs don't actually play one another, but it will still be fascinating to see how two guaranteed Hall of Famers will approach this game.

Aaron Rodgers is coming in off a Bye Week so should be suitably prepared as he leads the 4-0 Green Bay Packers into battle in Florida. On the other side Tom Brady played on Thursday Night Football in Week 5 which means the Buccaneers have had some additional time to get ready for this one and his team will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing defeat to the Chicago Bears which has dropped Tampa Bay to 3-2 for the season.

Both teams will know how important this one is to give them a mental edge if they are to resume battle in January, while the Seeding at that time could also be affected by this one result between Conference rivals.

Tampa Bay have to be feeling better about their chances with their big name Receivers back having played Chicago without Chris Godwin and with both Mike Evans and Scotty Miller limited. Having the extra time to get ready for Week 6 should mean all three are in a much better place physically and Tom Brady has to have seen some of the holes the Green Bay Packers have in the Secondary with injuries affecting them.

It is also possible that the Buccaneers can establish the run to just ease the pass rush pressure Green Bay do generate. While Ronald Jones and Leonard Fournette have not exactly pulled up trees this season, the Packers are still a team who have not played the run that efficiently and it should mean Brady is allowed to operate from good Down and distance for much of the game. The Buccaneers won't be too concerned if they are keeping Aaron Rodgers on the sidelines for long drives either, although Bruce Arians will be demanding his team punch those drives with Touchdowns and not Field Goals.

That it what the Buccaneers will need if they are going to beat the Green Bay Packers who have been operating at a high level Offensively all season. Aaron Rodgers is clearly playing with a point to prove and hasn't missed a beat even with the likes of Allan Lazard and Davante Adams missing time.

At least this week Rodgers will get Adams back who was close to a return before the Bye Week- even a poor choice to criticise the doctors decision prior to the game against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 4 won't have affected Adams' place in the starting line up. With the protection Rodgers has been given all season, he will feel he has the time to find the likes of Adams and Robert Tonyan down the field and the Quarter Back could have a big game.

The Buccaneers have been able to generate strong pass rush pressure which is going to have to be respected, but I am not sure they are going to be able to rattle Rodgers in his current state of mind. Instead I expect the Quarter Back to have a good day throwing the ball to keep the Green Bay Packers in with a chance of the road win.

It will be down to Rodgers because the Buccaneers have a Defensive Line which is capable of limiting the damage teams do on the ground. You can't ignore how well Green Bay have run the ball all season so they might crack open some lanes for Aaron Jones, but his biggest impact may be as a pass catcher coming out of the backfield.

At this time it is hard to oppose Green Bay who look to be playing with confidence and should be well rested ahead of this big Week 6 game, but Tom Brady rarely fails as a home underdog. The former Patriots star has his full complement of Receivers back which should be a big boost for Tampa Bay and the balance on the Offensive side of the ball could be key in determining the outcome of this one.

Tom Brady is also coming in off a loss and I saw an incredible number which says his teams are 14-1 against the spread when off a defeat and set as the underdog as they are here.

Green Bay have looked really good through the first four weeks, but I think they may come up a little short against a Tampa Bay team who might control the clock and make the big plays to win this one as the underdog.

Kansas City Chiefs @ Buffalo Bills Pick: Teams around these two have had Covid-19 issues which has meant the Kansas City Chiefs and the Buffalo Bills have had to move their own games. The scheduling has meant that this game between two of the top AFC teams has had to be moved from Thursday Night Football into an early Monday Night Football slot, but the players might be happy enough with a little extra preparation time to get through.

Both teams saw their unbeaten records disappear in Week 5 as the Kansas City Chiefs were upset as huge home favourites against Divisional rivals the Las Vegas Raiders. That dropped the Chiefs to 4-1 for the season, although they remain top of the AFC West, while the Buffalo Bills were embarrassed by the Tennessee Titans in a rare Tuesday Night Football slot to also fall to 4-1, although they look like they are playing in a much weaker AFC East.

None of that will matter to two teams who will believe this is a chance to give themselves a potential tie-breaker when it comes to Seeding later in the season when the PlayOffs come around. Three teams have already won five games in the AFC so the losing team will definitely feel they have lost a step and may also then be forced into a tougher than expected Divisional battle so there is plenty on the line for the Bills and the Chiefs who are looking to bounce back from those losses mentioned in Week 5.

Buffalo can't be any worse than they were in the defeat to the unbeaten Tennessee Titans and Sean McDermott will feel his team have something to prove. The wins over the Las Vegas Raiders and Los Angeles Rams can't be dismissed, but the Bills will also know many saw them blown out in a primetime spot and now they have another one against the Super Bowl Champions.

Josh Allen has largely been a huge success in the early weeks of 2020 and I don't think anyone should get off the Quarter Back's bandwagon based solely on the performance against the Titans, which was comfortably his worst one of the season. This season Allen has been much better with his arm and has not used his legs as much as he has in previous years with the Buffalo Bills and that has given his team a different look.

He will be challenged against the Super Bowl Champions who have actually played the pass pretty well, although the Defensive Line has work to do to improve their run Defense. The Chiefs might not feel the likes of Zach Moss and Devin Singletary are going to fully expose their issues on the ground though and it feels like the Buffalo strength is going against the Kansas City strength on the Defensive side of the ball.

There might be some pressure on Josh Allen if he is in obvious passing situations, but largely he has been well protected. That should mean the big Quarter Back is able to hook up with a returning John Brown as well as big off-season signing Stefon Diggs, although Allen will have to be careful with the ball against this Chiefs Secondary which has been able to create Interceptions.

I do think Josh Allen and the Bills will have success in this one when they drop back to throw, but they are going to need some Defensive help back if they are going to find a way to shut down Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs. This Offense has to be upset with some of their own levels in the defeat to the Raiders in Week 5 and I do think Mahomes is someone that is very difficult to slow two weeks in a row.

There have been a couple of games where he has not looked completely comfortable, but the slightly longer time to prepare than they would have expected for this game has to be a big edge for Andy Reid and his Quarter Back. Patrick Mahomes has also been given a shiny new weapon in Le'Veon Bel which should aid the Kansas City rushing attack that has largely struggled for consistency in 2020.

Bell and Clyde Helaire-Edwards should be able to have some success in this one on the ground against a Bills Defensive Line which has given up an average of 130 rushing yards per game in their last three games. That will especially be the case if the Bills decide they are going to stop Patrick Mahomes beating them through the air, although the Defensive unit have not played up to the levels advertised so far this season.

A lack of a pass rush and a Secondary which has allowed some very big yards through the air is not a good combination for the Buffalo Bills ahead of taking on Mahomes. They could have a key player back in Tre'Davious White to try and help against a Chiefs team that will be missing Sammy Watkins, but White can't be at 100% and I do think there are enough weapons for Patrick Mahomes to exploit which gives them a slight edge in the game.

It is a big number for a road team to cover here, but I do think the Chiefs are more likely to do that than the Buffalo Bills. Both teams are well coached and bounce back from losses, but Kansas City are a solid road favourite in recent times, while the Bills are 3-7 against the spread in their last ten as the home underdog.

This is a 'prove it' game for the Bills which will increase their motivation, but the Kansas City Chiefs won't be overlooking a potential PlayOff rival. I can see both Quarter Backs having strong showings, but ultimately I will be looking for Mahomes to out-duel Allen in a high-scoring game and that should be one where the Chiefs show why they are the Super Bowl Champions.

Arizona Cardinals @ Dallas Cowboys Pick: A devastating injury suffered by Dak Prescott means the Dallas Cowboys will be without their starting Quarter Back for the remainder of the 2020 season. They don't have a terrible backup option in Andy Dalton, but there is no doubt that Prescott can do things that the former Cincinnati Bengal will not and the Cowboys are a team who have needed to score a lot of points to even get to 2-3 for the season.

They remain the team to beat in the NFC East where no other team has won more than one game through the first six weeks of the season. A win on Monday Night Football will move Dallas back up to 0.500 for the season and they will then be able to go into back to back Divisional games with some confidence.

However the Cowboys are going to be the home underdog in this big game against the Arizona Cardinals who have been difficult to get a read on in 2020. The Cardinals are 3-2 for the season which means they are trailing the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC West, but this is a team who have beaten the likes of San Francisco, Washington and the New York Jets while losing to the Carolina Panthers and Detroit Lions.

None of those five teams can really be considered amongst the best in the NFL with injuries meaning none have a winning record through to this point of the season. Only the Panthers are even at 0.500 and that makes it tough to judge the Arizona Cardinals and really know what to expect of them in the weeks and months ahead.

Arizona have to be feeling pretty good about what they can do Offensively in this game- while they have not had the most consistent output from Kenyan Drake at Running Back, Kyler Murray is able to scramble from the Quarter Back position and that has helped the Cardinals put up some strong numbers on the ground. They should have success moving the ball on the ground against the Dallas Cowboys, although the return of Leighton Vander Esch is massive for the Cowboys.

The Linebacker may help strengthen the Dallas Defensive Line when it comes to defending the run and at least forcing the Cardinals to beat them through the air. Ultimately the Cardinals should be able to at least stay in front of the chains in this game and that will mean Kyler Murray is able to make some big plays through the air against a Cowboys Secondary which has been awful to say the least.

In recent games Dallas have looked a little better at defending the pass, but that is partly down to teams protecting leads and using the run to keep the clock ticking. The other factor is some of the short fields Dallas have been giving up, and I do think Murray will have a strong showing as he hooks up with DeAndre Hopkins.

In saying that I am not expecting Dallas to have a massive drop off without Dak Prescott in this game, although it will be a factor later in the season against better teams. Andy Dalton may not have the same movement, but he is capable of handing the ball off to Ezekiel Elliot who should be able to break off some big runs for the Cowboys unless Arizona are selling out to force the backup Quarter Back to beat them.

That might be a problem for the Cardinals because they look like they are going to have trouble putting a pass rush together to at least give Dalton something to think about. The Cowboys have some quality Receivers that Dalton will be able to hit like he used to do with AJ Green in Cincinnati.

Andy Dalton will recognise that the Cardinals have a decent Secondary led by Patrick Peterson, but he will also believe his Receivers are able to win their one on one battles on the outside. The chemistry may not be the same as the one that Dak Prescott had, but I do think Andy Dalton can make enough plays to have the Dallas Cowboys in an appealing position as the home underdog.

Having key names back Defensively and playing without their starting Quarter Back for the first time should be a real motivational tool for the Cowboys. They could also catch the Arizona Cardinals looking ahead to a really big game with the Seattle Seahawks in Week 7 and a third road game in a row is not ideal in the current circumstances.

Dallas are 4-0 against the spread in their last four games as the home underdog and Arizona are not used to being favoured and dealing with that expectation to win games. I am going to look for the entire Dallas roster to rally together and 'want' this one more than the Cardinals who may feel it is going to be a comfortable day in the office now Dak Prescott is missing.

MY PICKS: Detroit Lions - 3 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (2 Units)

New England Patriots - 7.5 Points @ 1.95 Bet365 (2 Units)

Pittsburgh Steelers - 3 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (2 Units)

Minnesota Vikings - 3.5 Points @ 1.95 Bet Fred (2 Units)

Tennessee Titans - 3.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet Victor (2 Units)

New York Giants - 1.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (2 Units)

Miami Dolphins - 8.5 Points @ 1.95 Bet Fred (2 Units)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers + 1.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet Fred (2 Units)

Kansas City Chiefs - 4.5 Points @ 1.91 William Hill (2 Units)

Dallas Cowboys + 1.5 Points @ 1.86 Bet Fred (2 Units)