NFL Week 7 Picks 2024 (Thursday 17th October-Monday 21st October)

Another NFL week is in the books and the NFC North continues to impress with each of the four teams now two games above 0.500.

Can all four teams really make the Playoffs later this year? It still looks incredibly unlikely when you think that there have been a lack of Divisional games played between the four teams and that naturally will begin to thin out the chances of all making history and reaching the post-season.

This weekend there is a big game between the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings which begins that process, but all four NFC North teams have to be very happy with the form shown.

Three are most likely going to make the post-season and you would still lean towards the Lions, Vikings and Green Bay Packers being those three teams rather than the Chicago Bears. Beating up on bad teams has pushed the Bears to 4-2, but they have to face all three Divisional rivals and that is when we will learn a lot more about Caleb Williams and the whole Chicago team.

The Bears enjoy a Bye Week, as do the Dallas Cowboys after the capitulation against the aforementioned Lions in Week 6.

Jerry Jones was not happy that journalists are even questioning where the Cowboys are heading, but there will be questions when continuing to be dominated at home. At least they are playing in a Division where they are far from out of things at 3-3, especially if Dallas can use the Bye Week to get healthier.

The trade deadline is now fast approaching and some of the pieces are beginning to be moved on the board.

Dsvante Adams has gotten his wish to not only be traded from the Las Vegas Raiders, but to join old friend Aaron Rodgers at the New York Jets. He has been missing with a hamstring issue in recent games for the Raiders, but unsurprisingly is expected to suit up on Sunday as the Jets look to get their season turned back around.

Soon after the news broke, the Jets main AFC East rivals, the Buffalo Bills traded for Amari Cooper and that could be a huge boost for Josh Allen and the passing game.

Moves will be made in the coming days and we are already beginning to see a separation of those who believe they can contend, and those that may already be thinking about 2025.

Another week of NFL Picks have returned with a positive number and that makes this a strong start to the season.

There is still too much of a road to run to get carried away, but the selections have been managed well and Week 7 will hopefully keep the positive momentum going.

It is the last weekend of London hosting a game, although that looks a poor game on paper, while there are some big games to be played throughout Week 7 and that can only be good news for fans of the League.

Putting some winners down alongside those big games will just be the icing on the cake.

Denver Broncos @ New Orleans Saints Pick: This is a non-Conference game, but there is little doubt that the New Orleans Saints (2-4) hosting the Denver Broncos (3-3) was picked for Thursday Night Football in Week 7 for one reason.

The return of Sean Payton.

Despite leading the New Orleans Saints to their sole Super Bowl win and turning around a franchise that had been more associated with losing, Sean Payton's departure in 2022 has not been received very well inside the building by those in management nor in the stands. Some have even indicated that the ceremony to mark Drew Brees' time as Quarter Back of the Saints should not have been held on this night, even though it was the Head Coach-Quarter Back partnership that proved so successful for the Saints.

Sean Payton is not concerning himself too much about the reception he is likely to face having seen his Denver Broncos team lose last time out to snap a three game winning run. There is still work to do in order to get Denver back onto a path of consistent winning, and that is the focus for Payton.

The storyline about the return might have been huge if New Orleans had been able to sustain the form they showed in recording back to back blowouts to open the season at 2-0. Injuries have piled up since then and the Saints were just embarrassed by Divisional rivals Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 6 as they fell to a fourth consecutive defeat.

Spencer Rattler made the start at Quarter Back and had some ups and downs, but that was to be expected. The Saints will need Derek Carr back quickly and Head Coach Dennis Allen has to be fearing for his long-term prospects without his starting Quarter Back, especially if the team do not show a lot more effort than they did against the Buccaneers.

At least they are not facing an Offensive powerhouse on Thursday Night Football with Denver still learning how to get the best out of their own rookie Quarter Back, Bo Nix.

There were some positives from Bo Nix during the three game winning run- he did not throw an Interception in that time- but the Broncos know that you need more from the Quarter Back position in the modern era. That does not mean you want to put a rookie in a tough spot, but the defeat to the Los Angeles Chargers to fall back to 0.500 underlined the point about needing more when the chips are down.

On Thursday night, Denver may actually have more success Offensively than they have for much of the season and that is very much down to the injuries the Saints have on this side of the ball. Motivation will be found by wanting to shut down their former Head Coach who is known for his Offensive mind, but the Saints Defensive Line will have to be a lot better than what they have shown during this losing run.

Limited pass rush pressure has been produced and this Broncos Offensive Line have kept Bo Nix pretty well protected, while Denver have to believe they will be able to effectively establish the run. Stopping the run has been a season-long problem for the Saints, but it has really been highlighted when they have not been playing with a big lead and the Denver Broncos have to believe they can keep Bo Nix in favourable field positions.

Bo Nix has yet to really have the passing numbers that the likes of Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels have produced, but he should be in a good position to keep the chains moving. This Saints Secondary have struggled to make plays with little pass rush pressure on the opponent Quarter Back and even Nix should be able to exploit the holes that have opened up.

This can only be a positive for the Denver Broncos who can then turn the game over to the Defensive unit that has powered the 3-3 record.

It all starts up front for the Broncos and the Defensive Line have proved themselves to be pretty stout against the run. That may have been tested if this was Week 2, but the Broncos have to be a big favourite at the Line of Scrimmage considering the injuries that have slowed down the New Orleans run blocking capablities.

Even Alvin Kamara has been banged up and the Saints are struggling to get in front of the chains, something that may be even more difficult with Spencer Rattler at Quarter Back rather than Derek Carr. There is a feeling that the Broncos won't need to load the box to contain the run anyway, but the option may be there if they don't believe Rattler can do enough to keep them honest through the air.

One positive for Spencer Rattler is that Patrick Surtain II is unlikely to suit up, although the Quarter Back will need his Offensive Line to give him time to hit the Receivers down the field if he is stuck in third and long spots. That time is unlikely considering the pressure that the Denver Broncos have gotten up front and it could lead to further Interceptions thrown by a rookie that is perhaps not ready for this stage.

Again, it should be noted that the New Orleans Saints could be playing with a lot more energy and motivation against their former Head Coach. The fans will certainly be a little more pumped, despite the four losses in a row, but all of that may not be enough to get the better of Sean Payton, who will have plenty of motivation of his own.

His Defensive unit can step up and make the big plays to give the Broncos the edge and even the Denver Offense may be able to do more than usual against an injury hit opponent.

Being set as the road favourite is not something the Denver Broncos have been used to in recent times, but they do look to have a real advantage at the Line of Scrimmage on both sides of the ball and that should put the AFC West representatives in a position to win and cover.

Jacksonville Jaguars vs New England Patriots Pick: The last of the three games to be played in London takes place in Week 7 of the 2024 season and this does look the weakest of the three that were sent over the pond.

The Jacksonville Jaguars (1-5) have been a regular feature of the London games and they have stayed for consecutive games after being crushed by the Chicago Bears in Week 6. It was a really poor outing and Head Coach Doug Pederson is under real pressure with changes potentially being made before the team heads back to the United States.

After the stunning capitulation at the end of the 2023 season, the Jaguars could not have asked for a worse start this time around and they are already firmly behind the black ball. You don't spend the money they did on extending Trevor Lawrence's contract at Quarter Back without expecting Playoff runs every season, but Jacksonville will need to produce something special over their remaining eleven games to move back into contention.

Things are bad for Jacksonville, but the same can be said for the team in transition that will play as the 'visiting team' at Wembley Stadium. The New England Patriots (1-5) have lost five in a row since their upset win over the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 1 and they have now moved into the Drake Maye era with the rookie taking over at Quarter Back from veteran Jacoby Brissett.

Managing the game had been the job specification for Brissett and he was largely capable of looking after the ball, but Drake Maye showed he has the higher upside in the crushing loss to the Houston Texans.

Yes, he threw two Interceptions, but Maye had over 240 passing yards and three Touchdown passes too.

One of the main reasons Drake Maye had not been installed into the starting lineup immediately was less to do with high expectations at New England and almost everything to do with the Patriots Offensive Line. They looked like a unit that may not offer a lot of protection for the Quarter Back and that is exactly how things have worked out so the hope was that the Patriots would not have to leave Maye in a position to be beaten up in the NFL.

He will be under duress in this game when New England are in obvious passing situations, but the Jacksonville Jaguars have struggled in most other aspects on this side of the ball. For all of their protection struggles, the Patriots have been able to establish the run and they should have success doing that against the Jaguars, and that should give Drake Maye an opportunity to attack this Secondary.

This might not be the deepest New England Receiving corps, but they will be able to make some plays for their rookie Quarter Back. It also helps that Drake Maye is able to move the ball with his legs and the Patriots should be able to score points in this one, even if they are on a relatively long travelling path in Week 7.

It might be the one factor that can help the Jacksonville Jaguars slow things down having been gashed by the Chicago Bears last week and looking like a team that is struggling for confidence.

The same can be said on the other side of the ball and Jacksonville were punished for far too many drops in the defeat to the Bears. However, they were having some success until the game got out of hand and this is a team that should be able to have one of their stronger outings against this Patriots Defense.

Running the ball should not be a problem with Tank Bigsby getting the majority of carries in place of the injured Travis Etienne- the Jaguars Offensive Line have been pretty effective at moving the ball on the ground and Bigsby has shown he can hit the holes as they develop in front of him, which can only be good news for Trevor Lawrence.

The Quarter Back has a number of solid Receiving options, well solid if they are not dropping passes that hit them in the chest plate. Gabe Davis might have had two Touchdown catches last week, but could have doubled that with stronger hands and this is another game in which the Jaguars should be able to move the ball through the air as well as the ground.

Trevor Lawrence should have time in the pocket, but the key for the Quarter Back is to avoid the turnovers that this New England team have been picking up to remain competitive. If he can do that, the Jaguars might just alleviate some of the immediate pressure on their Head Coach by securing a solid win in London in the second game the Jaguars have played in the UK Capital this month.

You cannot say it is easy to trust the Jaguars as a big favourite considering the really poor numbers being put together Defensively, but New England have struggled to remain competitive within games. Drake Maye has offered a spark, but travelling to London will be tough, especially when facing an opponent that should be well adjusted to the time zone having spent over a week on that side of the Atlantic.

The favourite has won both games played in London this season and Jacksonville are likely to win the turnover battle in this one, which should see them have enough to cover too. As bad as things have been for Jacksonville, the Patriots have arguably had it worse and the Jaguars may be able to score enough points to just keep New England at arm's length.

Baltimore Ravens @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers Pick: Would you stand in front of a buzzsaw willingly? The answer almost certainly going to be 'no', but the Baltimore Ravens (4-2) may struggle to cover this spread on the road, even if they have won four in a row and ground down all in front of them in that run.

They will be looking to do the same against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-2) who bounced back from a disappointing loss to the Atlanta Falcons to beat another Divisional rival in Week 7.

With Derrick Henry behind Lamar Jackson, it is no surprise that an already effective Ravens rushing Offense is pounding out the yards on the ground and stopping Baltimore from doing what they want to do has proven too tough for most. That is not expected to be much different when they face this Buccaneers Defensive Line and both players should keep things ticking along on the ground and ensuring Baltimore are playing in front of the chains.

Doing so has really made things very comfortable for Lamar Jackson when has chosen to throw the ball and the numbers make good reading during this winning run. Running the ball, or the threat of this powerful running game, will just cool down any pass rush pressure teams are willing to invest in as they try and rattle Jackson, and that should also mean the Quarter Back has time to dissect this Tampa Bay Secondary.

The reality is that Lamar Jackson has proven himself to be a very good starter in the regular season and he is really going to be judged in January when the pressure ramps up. He has looked after the ball when he has chosen to throw and the Ravens should be able to have their own way on this side of the ball.

So why go against them?

As good as Baltimore have been Offensively, the Defensive unit are still growing and there is no doubt that the Buccaneers have a team that can score enough points to keep this one competitive.

One concern when Tom Brady left was that Tampa Bay would struggle to find a Quarter Back to take the reins, but Baker Mayfield has more than stepped up. Some salty comments aside, Mayfield has impressed with his maturity and the Tampa Bay Offensive unit have been playing with plenty of rhythm.

He is surrounded by some talented playmakers, although it is Bucky Irving stepping up to complement the running game that will give Tampa Bay the balance to keep on the scoreboard. It is not easy to run the ball against this Ravens Defensive Line, but Tampa Bay's Offensive Line have been opening up some big holes up front and they just need to keep that threat alive to help Baker Mayfield.

The main problem for the Ravens is that they have not been able to stop the pass so the likes of Mike Evans and Chris Godwin should be able to have big games to support their Quarter Back. The likes of Irving and Rachaad White can contribute by leaking out of the backfield and the struggles of the Baltimore Secondary should give the Tampa Bay Buccaneers every chance of a backdoor cover at the very least.

It is never ideal going up against a team playing with the momentum Baltimore have, but Tampa Bay are not exactly struggling for wins.

Lamar Jackson's record against the NFC is another concern, but there is a way the Ravens can win without covering and taking the points looks the call considering how well the Tampa Bay Offensive unit should match up with the Baltimore Secondary here.

Los Angeles Chargers @ Arizona Cardinals Pick: The Monday Night Football double-header looks like it might be a regular feature of the schedule in the coming years and we have yet another one of those in Week 7 of the 2024 season.

The second of those games will be played between teams that play in the West Division of their respective Conferences and the Arizona Cardinals (2-4) will be looking to bounce back from a heavy loss and get back on track.

It was a winning effort from the Los Angeles Chargers (3-2) who will have been glad to hear that Head Coach Jim Harbaugh has not had a serious issue come up after being forced to go to the medical tent in the win over Denver. He will have wear a heart monitor, but Harbaugh should be capable of performing his duties to the full as he continues to lead the Chargers.

Time will be needed for the Chargers to really get up to the level of the Kansas City Chiefs, but there have been positives for a team that finished 5-12 in 2023 and who were not entirely sure how healthy Justin Herbert would be at Quarter Back.

A work in progress will have some ups and downs, but this looks a good chance for the Chargers Offensive unit to put together a solid game. In recent outings, they have struggled to establish the run as well as they would have liked, but playing Pittsburgh, Kansas City and Denver is one thing with the Defensive units they can run out onto the field, and this is not nearly as challenging a Defensive Line.

That should help the Chargers who know that Jim Harbaugh wants to run the ball effectively first and foremost and they should be able to have some success on the ground in this one, which in turn should aid Justin Herbert.

Some key Receivers have moved on and that has perhaps contributed to some of the issues Justin Herbert has had when he steps back to throw the ball. Again, this is not exactly a daunting Secondary to attack and so there is a feeling that Herbert can have a game more in line with the kind of numbers he has been able to put together early in his career.

The Offensive Line have struggled in pass protection as much as run blocking in recent games, but the Chargers should offer more time for Justin Herbert if they can rip off some big gains on the ground. Even if behind the chains, Herbert should be able to avoid the pressure that has been around him in recent games because of the largely ineffective Arizona pass rush generated.

After beating San Francisco in the fashion they did, the Cardinals will be disappointed with their efforts in Week 6 and have to show they have made use of the slightly longer preparation time between games. Kyler Murray has been inconsistent as a thrower, but the Quarter Back should find some room to move the ball on the ground.

Handing the ball to James Connor should be effective too and the Los Angeles Chargers Defensive Line have had a couple of issues containing the run in recent games. The Line of Scrimmage, and dominating there, is always important for Jim Harbaugh, but his Chargers team may have a couple of issues with the run-option that Arizona can scheme together.

If they can move the ball as anticipated, Kyler Murray should be able to have a bit more success throwing the ball than he has had for much of the season. Positive news is that Marvin Harrison Jr is set to be cleared and the Cardinals may just have the playmakers to move into a position to win this game.

The Cardinals are not so easy to trust, especially with the way things have gone for them over the last couple of years, but they may be the team with a bit more consistency Offensively. Turnovers could be important to the outcome of this one, which are always hard to predict, but the feeling is that the Cardinals can find a way to get the better of a team that had a very hard fought win over a Divisional rival in Week 6.

MY PICKS: Denver Broncos - 2.5 Points @ 1.86 Bet Victor (1 Unit)

Jacksonville Jaguars - 5.5 Points @ 1.91 Paddy Power (1 Unit)

Cleveland Browns + 5.5 Points @ 1.95 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)

Philadelphia Eagles - 3 Points @ 1.86 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Miami Dolphins + 3.5 Points @ 1.72 Bet Victor (1 Unit)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers + 3.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Arizona Cardinals @ 2.10 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)

Week 6: 4-2, + 1.67 Units (6 Units Staked, + 27.83% Yield)

Week 5: 4-2, + 1.64 Units (6 Units Staked, + 27.33% Yield)

Week 4: 6-2, + 3.45 Units (8 Units Staked, + 43.13% Yield)

Week 3: 3-3, - 0.23 Units (6 Units Staked, - 3.83% Yield)

Week 2: 4-2, + 1.62 Units (6 Units Staked, + 27% Yield)

Week 1: 5-2, + 2.67 Units (7 Units Staked, + 38.14% Yield)

NFL Week 7 Picks 2019 (October 17-21)

I was lucky enough to have a ticket for the Carolina Panthers-Tampa Bay Buccaneers game that was played at Tottenham Hotspur in Week 6.

One it was a very good game even if the Buccaneers spent much of the second half almost finding a way back into things before making back breaking mistakes to fall to a defeat. Second the new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is very, very impressive both inside and outside the venue and it is easily the best Stadium I have visited in the United Kingdom and surpasses Wembley as far as I am concerned.

There are still two more games to come in London although I am not going to be able to make either. The Houston Texans vs Jacksonville Jaguars game looks the best for those who are hoping to see one of the four NFL games that have been scheduled for the United Kingdom.


Detroit Lions hosed by the Officials: This whole season has shown that the Officials have not been on the ball as we would like to see, while the new rules to challenge pass interference calls have seen the outcome being erratic to say the least.

However the performance of Clete Blakeman and his crew was below even the low standards that have been set by the zebras in 2019.

Being on the nationally televised Monday Night Football highlighted the poor performance which effectively cost the Lions the game against the Green Bay Packers. I get the idea that Detroit should be looking at themselves for settling for too many Field Goals instead of working Touchdowns, but that's beside the point as far as I am concerned.

The Packers would likely have had to settle for a Field Goal on one drive which was extended by a bogus 'hands to the face call', while the game winning drive saw the Packers earn the same call again when it was clear as anything that Trey Flowers was not hitting the face of the Offensive Lineman.

Booger McFarland has taken over from Jason Witten as the main colour commentator for ESPN and he was rightly livid with the performance of the referees. I am not sure what is going to come out of this other than the Packers are 5-1 and Detroit dropped to 2-2-1, but it was an awful look for the NFL.


Is it worth firing Jason Garrett mid-season?: Most NFL teams don't want to fire a Head Coach during the regular season and especially not those who really believe they are destined for the PlayOffs and perhaps more.

Dan Quinn is almost certainly the next Head Coach that will be looking for a new job and I think he Atlanta Falcons will fire him during their next Bye Week.

However there has to be a growing feeling that the Dallas Cowboys should consider removing Jason Garrett who looks very unlikely to be given a contract extension at the end of this season. The Cowboys players are clearly frustrated with the Head Coach and three straight losses while showing Offensive predictability has to be putting the pressure on Jerry Jones to think about making a change and giving his talented roster a much better chance of going deep in the PlayOffs.

If there was a really experienced Coach working under Garrett the change would be easier to make, but Rod Marinelli didn't have a great time in his only other Head Coach role with the Detroit Lions.

For now I believe Jones when he says he is not preparing to fire Jason Garrett, but his mind could easily be changed if the Cowboys lose to Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday Night Football in Week 7. That would make it four straight losses for a lame duck Head Coach wh the players may not be respecting as much as they should and that would make the Week 8 Bye for the Cowboys a potential time to remove Garrett and try and save the season.


How many more big trades will be made before the deadline?: I am not talking about Fantasy Football trades here, but the NFL seems to have taken inspiration from some of the other major sports Leagues in the United States and that has led to more activity ahead of the trade deadline.

Jalen Ramsey was the latest big name to make a move as he heads west to the Los Angeles Rams from the Jacksonville Jaguars.

With teams looking to develop from mere contenders to genuine Super Bowl hopefuls and some veteran teams already in a world of trouble to even get into the PlayOffs I do think there are one or two big names to be targeted. Both the Cincinnati Bengals and Atlanta Falcons may soon be 'selling clubs' and teams like the New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles are always looking for someone to take them up a level so I would not be surprised to see plenty more activity over the next two weeks.

My Top Five

1) New England Patriots: they are the team to beat in the NFL, but I do think there are one or two vulnerabilities about the New England Patriots that won't be seen until they take a real step up in level of competition.

2) New Orleans Saints: Drew Brees is close to returning, but the Saints Defensive unit have stepped up to show they can carry this team as far as they want to go. Perhaps the best team in the NFC, especially when Brees is back.

3) San Francisco 49ers: I had them at Number 5 last week, but the 49ers had the most impressive win in Week 6 when blowing out the Los Angeles Rams on the road. The Defense is for real, but Jimmy Garoppolo still has to show he can make the plays to take the team deep into the PlayOffs.

4) Green Bay Packers: Aaron Rodgers is losing Wide Receivers at an alarming rate, and they did need the Officials to help them win in Week 6. However the Packers are 5-1 and you have to think the Offense will be improved the more time they spend together.

5) Seattle Seahawks: This is very much down to the level that Russell Wilson is producing. I have the Seahawks knocking out the Kansas City Chiefs who have back to back losses and Patrick Mahomes dinged up.

My Bottom Five

32) Miami Dolphins: Losing to the previously winless Washington Redskins leaves them in pole position to earn the Number 1 Draft Pick, but Ryan Fitzpatrick almost secured the come from behind win.

31) Cincinnati Bengals: The Offensive Line is struggling and the Defensive unit can't stop anyone... That doesn't bode well.

30) Washington Redskins: They might have won in Week 6, but the Redskins were a two point conversion away from losing to the miserable Miami Dolphins which shows where they stand right now.

29) Atlanta Falcons: Another team that is struggling to protect the Quarter Back and have a Defense that is struggling all over the field. Dan Quinn is surely the next Head Coach to be removed following Jay Gruden in Washington.

28) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Might be a surprising choice, but Jameis Winston looks like a lame duck Quarter Back and the Defensive unit doesn't make enough plays in the Secondary. Bruce Arians might realise the size of the task in front of him.

Week 7 Picks

Week 6 proved to be a much better week than the last couple for the NFL Picks, but it would have been a very strong week if the Washington Redskins had not blown a 14 point lead over the Miami Dolphins in the Fourth Quarter.

I won't complain too much about a winning week though, especially as the Bengals made up for the Dolphins failure by scoring a garbage time Touchdown to get within the double digit spread set for the game against the Baltimore Ravens.

Hopefully I can build on the Week 6 successes with the selections from Week 7.

Kansas City Chiefs @ Denver Broncos Pick: Go back to the beginning of Week 5 and you would think the Kansas City Chiefs were going to surge clear of the rest of the AFC West after opening the season with a 4-0 run. Things have changed considerably since with the Chiefs heading into Week 7 off back to back home defeats to the Indianapolis Colts and the Houston Texans.

The gap between the Kansas City Chiefs and the rest of the AFC West will be much tighter if they were to lose on a short week in Week 7 as they head to the Denver Broncos for Thursday Night Football. The Broncos are playing with the exact opposite momentum than the Kansas City Chiefs as they have put a 0-4 start to the season behind them and moved back to 2-4 following wins over the Los Angeles Chargers and Tennessee Titans.

Momentum is one thing, but this is a Divisional rivalry that the Kansas City Chiefs have become to dominate since Andy Reid rocked up to become the Head Coach for the Chiefs. After losing the first five games to the Broncos, the Kansas City Chiefs have won seven in a row in the series and that has to be a big reason why they are favoured to win on the road at Mile High Broncos Stadium.

It is also the only reason I can really provide for why the public seem to be so behind the Chiefs to win off back to back losses. Granted Patrick Mahomes covered the spread the only other time he has faced that situation as the starting Quarter Back for Kansas City, but he looks a little hobbled at the moment and the Denver Broncos Defensive unit has shown signs of life in their wins over the Chargers and Titans.

Kansas City might feel they can just ease some of the pressure on Mahomes by running the ball effectively and I do think they will have chances to do that against the Broncos. While the Defensive Line is strong, it has not played up to the level you would have expected and so Kansas City should have an opportunity to at least manage the Offensive drives.

They can't afford penalties to be backed up though as the Broncos pass rush has finally come alive in the last couple of weeks after a miserable start to the season. Now they are getting after the Quarter Back and I do think the Kansas City Offensive Line's obvious weaknesses are beginning to show up with Patrick Mahomes struggling to move away from the pressures as he would do if he was 100% healthy on his ankle.

Patrick Mahomes is still producing some eye catching numbers and he is a player that regularly looks after the ball very well. Tyreek Hill being back allows the Chiefs to stretch the field with consistency, but Denver's Secondary remains a strength of the team and I do think the Broncos have an opportunity here to at least give themselves a real chance of the upset at home.

Vic Fangio and the Broncos have to have seen the blueprint that the likes of the Houston Texans and Indianapolis Colts have laid out the last couple of weeks and that is with a keen emphasis on ball control. The best way to do that is by running the ball and making sure the clock is moving and Patrick Mahomes and the much vaunted Kansas City Offense is sitting on the sidelines cooling off.

In the conditions that we tend to find in Denver, it will also be key in wearing out the Chiefs Defenders, especially those on the Defensive Line that have struggled to stop the run all season. Fortunately for the Broncos they have Philipp Lindsay and Royce Freeman in strong form and I do think Denver will be able to rip off some big gains on the ground which will mean Joe Flacco is doing nothing more than managing this game.

Flacco might also open up his arm in play-action situations against the Chiefs pass rush that has been struggling in recent games. Running the ball has the knock on effect on slowing down those looking to pin back their ears and get after the Quarter Back and I do thin the Broncos can score plenty of points as long as they avoid getting into silly penalty situations.

Joe Flacco has been guilty of some terrible mistakes in losses to the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears which has contributed to the losing record, but he should be left in a good position throughout this game to not have to take too many risks. With the Broncos expected to run the ball with some real consistency, I do think Denver can cover and possibly win this one outright.

Kansas City do have some very favourable trends behind them, but I do think injuries and the inability to stop the run is key to the outcome of this one. The Broncos are 10-2 against the spread on the short week too and remain at home so everything feels set to oppose the public who can't believe that they only need the Chiefs to win by more than a Field Goal to cash in.


Miami Dolphins @ Buffalo Bills Pick: It has been almost twenty years since the Buffalo Bills have been favoured by as many points as they going into Week 7, and the players are well aware of the expectation on their shoulders. Sean McDermott has made it clear that they are not focusing on that but instead looking to keep the momentum of a strong start to the 2019 season behind them as the Bills come out of their Bye Week.

An upset win at the Tennessee Titans helped Buffalo move back to 4-1 and recover from the first loss of the season when going down to the New England Patriots at home. They will be confident they can do enough to earn a Wild Card spot in the AFC considering how well the Defensive unit have played, although Buffalo will be hoping to see continued development from Josh Allen and the Offense.

We might get a chance to see the very best of the Bills in Week 7 as they host the hapless Miami Dolphins. A bit of Ryan Fitzpatrick magic almost helped the Dolphins come back from 14 points down in the Fourth Quarter against the Washington Redskins last week, but a decision to go for two rather than the tie proved the difference, although Fitz Magic will be in play on Sunday.

The uncertainty at Quarter Back is just a small part of the issues for the Miami Dolphins who have parted way with pretty much every valuable piece they had on the roster over the last several months. It is very difficult to see how the Dolphins can establish any kind of consistent Offense in this game barring the Buffalo Bills being very complacent and it might even be asking too much for the Dolphins to get up to 10 points in this one with everything being equal.

An inability to establish the run has seen the Miami Dolphins place Kenyan Drake on the trading block and I really don't think the Offensive Line is going to have much success in this one either. The Buffalo Defensive Line is stout up front and it is going to mean Ryan Fitzpatrick having to make plays from third and long spots to keep the chains moving.

Even that is going to be problematic with the Offensive Line struggling in pass protection and I do think the Bills pass rush is going to be swarming all over Fitzpatrick any time he drops back to throw. The Buffalo Secondary has been very difficult to throw on anyway, and I do think it is going to be a long day for Dolphins fans waiting for points this weekend.

Running the ball is not going to be a big problem for Frank Gore, Josh Allen and the rest of the Buffalo Offensive unit and I think the Offensive Line will be very excited about the prospect of this game. The Bills are producing 4.8 yards per carry and the Dolphins Defensive Line have shown little up front to suggest they are going to slow them down too much.

It will only help Josh Allen and the passing game for Buffalo with play-action likely going to be a factor for them, while the Quarter Back can run the ball himself whenever plays break down in front of him. The biggest concern with Allen is that he can sometimes be a little loose with his throws which leads to Interceptions, but this is the worst Secondary in the NFL especially without Xavien Howard and Allen will really have to play without concern to give the ball away in this one.

Buffalo don't exactly scream a powerful Offensive unit which makes this spread look a big one, but the Defensive unit can limit what the Dolphins are able to produce and that should be key to the cover. The Bills have been good coming out of their Bye Week in recent seasons and Miami are just 3-13 against the spread in the last sixteen road games played.

You could wonder about a backdoor cover, but I think Josh Rosen might be back in the game for the Dolphins by the end of this one and he will be under heavy heat from the Buffalo pass rush which should prevent that happening.


Los Angeles Rams @ Atlanta Falcons Pick: Any time a team loses three games in a row in the NFL there are going to be some big questions that need to be answered, but the Los Angeles Rams have been busy trying to change things with big trades made over the last week. The most notable might be the decision to bring in Jalen Ramsey to help an ailing Secondary, but the Rams need their top players from 2018 to begin to step up if the current NFC Champions are going to have a chance to defend their crown in the PlayOffs.

The home loss to the San Francisco 49ers off the back of a road defeat to the Seattle Seahawks are huge blows for the Rams and sees them 2.5 games out of the Division lead in the NFC West. Another defeat will begin to have some question whether the Rams are good enough for a PlayOff berth, especially if they are beaten by a team with way more issues than themselves.

Los Angeles have lost three in a row to fall to 3-3, but the Atlanta Falcons have dropped four in a row to fall to 1-5 and the feeling is the window for this current team to compete is firmly closed. Matt Ryan can still produce some big numbers, but Atlanta look like a team going through the motions and with a lame duck Head Coach who is not getting the best out of his team.

Dan Quinn has tried everything to turn things around, but a defeat to the lowly Arizona Cardinals in Week 6 just shows where the Falcons are right now. They are struggling in the trenches on both sides of the ball and any team that does that is going to have issues winning Football games.

Some of the Offensive problems for Atlanta are down to the fact that they have not found a way to establish the run and I expect to see more of the same in Week 7. The Falcons are only producing 3.5 yards per carry over their last three games and the Los Angeles Defensive unit's big strength is the Defensive Line which has clamped down on the run no matter who they have faced.

Secondary concerns have seen Ramsey brought in from the Jacksonville Jaguars and Matt Ryan will feel his has enough skill players in the Receiving areas to make some big plays through the air. His problem remains operating behind an Offensive Line which has struggled in pass protection and while I think Ryan will have some big moments, I also think drives are going to be stalled by Sacks and Penalties for the Falcons.

Offensive Line concerns have also been affecting the Los Angeles Rams, but they will be boosted by the likely return of Todd Gurley who missed the defeat to the San Francisco 49ers last week. The Rams have been decent when it comes to establishing the run rather than in pass protection for Jared Goff and I do think the likes of Gurley and Malcolm Brown can at least slow down any pass rush that the Falcons are able to generate.

It will still be mainly up to Goff to make his plays through the air to help the Rams get back to winning ways and I do think he is going to be experience having a bit more time than he has during the three game losing streak. Atlanta have very little pass rush pressure being put together as the Defensive unit has struggled in all aspects of their game and I do think Goff will be able to have a bounce back performance after a terrible Week 6 effort.

There has been very little sign of the Falcons slowing anyone down through the air and I do like the road team here.

I have to respect the fact that the Falcons have beaten the Philadelphia Eagles at home in 2019, but Dan Quinn looks to have lost his team and I am not sure the excitement levels will be as high as they were in Week 2. And especially not when you think the Falcons have dropped four in a row and likely will be parting with the Head Coach in the next few weeks.

Los Angeles have covered in their last five road games and they are 10-3-1 against the spread in their last fourteen when coming off a double-digit loss at home.

Matt Ryan has been very strong in his role as the starting Quarter Back as the home underdog and covered in that spot against the Eagles. That has to be respected, but I do think the overall team might be a little down with no confidence in the Head Coach and the Rams can win a high-scoring game here.


Houston Texans @ Indianapolis Colts Pick: The Tennessee Titans and Jacksonville Jaguars look to have some serious issues that need to be cleared up and that leaves the Houston Texans and Indianapolis Colts as looking like they are in a straight fight to win the AFC South.

Both teams have winning records with the Colts half a game behind the Texans having been on a Bye Week in Week 6. Both teams are also coming in off upset wins over the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium and the layers are finding it very difficult to separate the Colts and the Texans.

Houston are playing with the confidence that comes with back to back strong Offensive performances and they will have full belief in their ability to earn some revenge over Indianapolis who beat them in the PlayOffs last season. In fact all three games played between the Texans and Colts in the 2018 season were won by the road team and I would not be surprised to see that as the outcome of this one too.

The Texans have found a very good balance on the Offensive side of the ball with Carlos Hyde showing there is still something left in the tank. He has been helped by the legs of Duke Johnson and Deshaun Watson in giving the Houston Texans 5.1 yards per carry in their last three games and I do think the Indianapolis Colts have struggled to shut down the run without inspirational Linebacker Darius Leonard who will be missing again in all likelihood on Sunday.

An ability to pound the rock is huge for the Texans as it just opens things up for Watson and the passing game which has shown huge leaps in the last couple of weeks. Both DeAndre Hopkins and Will Fuller have shown they can make big time plays for Watson and this Colts Secondary have had some issues stopping the pass.

Their main Defense to the pass has been ball control through their own Offensive unit and that will be the challenge for the Colts again having kept Patrick Mahomes on the sidelines for the majority of the second half in their Week 5 upset. Over the course of the 2019 season you would think the Colts have shown enough to establish the run here too, but the Houston Defensive Line is improving in each week and I don't think it is a foregone conclusion.

Marlon Mack and Jacoby Brissett offer the same kind of threat as Hyde and Watson for the Houston Texans, but the Texans will feel they have a better chance of at least controlling the Line up front. Forcing the Colts to have to rely on the arm rather than the legs of Brissett is the key, but even then there is no suggestion to think Indianapolis won't have their moments too.

Brissett has been well protected by the Offensive Line in recent games so he should find time to attack a Houston Secondary that has given up some big plays. TY Hilton is a huge Receiving threat for the Colts and I would not be surprised if these two teams do have moments where they are moving the ball up and down the field.

However I am leaning towards the road underdog Quarter Backed by Deshaun Watson who has a very strong record as the road underdog in his short NFL career. Back to back road games is tough on any team, but I really like the way the Houston Texans have been operating and I think they can make a few more plays on the Defensive Line to at least force some stops.

The Coaching edge is with Indianapolis, but the road team has improved to 8-1-2 against the spread in the last eleven between these Divisional rivals. It isn't much of a line, but I will take the Houston Texans as the road underdog in what should be a fun Divisional game.

MY PICKS: Denver Broncos + 3 Points @ 1.95 Ladbrokes (2 Units)
Buffalo Bills - 16.5 Points @ 1.91 Sky Bet (2 Units)
Los Angeles Rams - 3 Points @ 1.95 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Houston Texans + 1 Point @ 1.91 Sky Bet (2 Units)
Oakland Raiders + 5.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Dallas Cowboys - 3 Points @ 2.00 William Hill (2 Units)

Week 6: 6-3, + 4.84 Units (18 Units Staked, + 26.89% Yield)
Week 5: 4-5, - 2.72 Units (18 Units Staked, - 15.11% Yield)
Week 4: 3-6, - 6.54 Units (18 Units Staked, - 36.33% Yield)
Week 3: 5-2, + 3.28 Units (12 Units Staked, + 27.33% Yield)
Week 2: 3-4, - 2.70 Units (14 Units Staked, - 19.29% Yield)
Week 1: 4-4, + 0.16 Units (15 Units Staked, + 1.07% Yield)


Season 2019: 25-24, - 3.68 Units (95 Units Staked, - 3.87% Yield)

Boxing Picks 2018- Demetrius Andrade vs Walter Kautondokwa (October 20th)

This should have been one of the more intriguing fights this month when Billy Joe Saunders was set to defend his WBO Middleweight Title against Demetrius Andrade in Boston.

The fight looked to be an almost pick 'em bout and the winner would certainly have moved into the mix with some top fights to come.

A VADA test has put an end to that Title fight though as the Commission refused to give Saunders a licence to fight in Boston and that means Andrade is fighting for the now vacant WBO Title.

We could see Saunders and Andrade at some point in 2019, but it is disappointing to see this fight set aside for now.


There are a couple of other cards of interest this weekend with the World Boxing Super Series continuing in Orlando and a potential Gennady Golovkin opponent fighting in Las Vegas where Ryota Murata takes on Rob Brandt in the main event.

Anthony Yarde is also out again as the British Light Heavyweight prospect takes another step in his development before entering 2019 looking for the big fights in a loaded Division.


Last weekend was another positive one for the Boxing Picks with three winners from the five Picks which keeps the momentum going.

Terence Crawford was the big winner last week as he underlined his pound for pound status, but I was not overly impressed and I really do think Errol Spence Jr will be the man to stop his run. As far as I am concerned I think Spence is the best in the tough Welterweight Division, although it would be nice if someone steps up to the plate and gives the Texan his chance for another big fight.

Being more active would be good for Spence too and I am hopeful 2019 is going to be the year when he really announces himself at the very top of the sport.

We also heard the huge deal that Canelo Alvarez signed with DAZN which will begin with a move up to Super Middleweight to challenge Rocky Fielding. That looks an interesting clash on the size difference alone, but Canelo should be able to pick up a Title in another Division and then it will be interesting as to the direction he goes with some huge possibilities both up at Super Middleweight and back down at Middleweight.

Anthony Yarde vs Walter Gabriel Sequeira

The Light Heavyweight Division looks a very strong one both Worldwide and in the UK domestic scene and one of the leading prospects is Anthony Yarde who returns to the ring on Saturday.

There are a number of people arguing that Yarde is being protected and needs to step up his level of competition but the fighter is happy with his development and not worrying about anyone else. He continues to show he can finish fights before reaching the cards and it will be interesting as to how soon it is before Frank Warren puts Yarde in with someone like Frank Buglioni.

Joshua Buatsi has been impressing with two strong finishes since Yarde has last been in the ring and there will be comparisons between the two undefeated fighters. That would have especially been the case last week when Buatsi was able to stop Tony Averlant in the First Round, a fighter who had gone Seven Rounds with Yarde back in February.

The triangle theory rarely applies in Boxing, but casual fans will look at those two fights and put them side by side.

Yarde himself has made it clear he doesn't care what others think but is doing the best for his own career and that makes all the sense in the world to me. While he has been a strong favourite in his last few fights, Yarde has not exactly been fighting against no-hopers and he should be happy with the development.

He is in for another test on Saturday against Walter Gabriel Sequeira, although one that Yarde is going to be able to break him down as far as I am concerned.

This is only the second time Sequeira has fought outside of Argentina, but I expect him to be rugged and at least put a few more Rounds into the bank for Yarde. The last couple of fights have seen Yarde break down opponents on his way to a Seventh Round stoppage and I think this fight will go a similar distance.

Backing Yarde to come through in the second half of this Ten Rounder looks the selection here even if most will be looking for the British fighter to produce a stunning win much like Buatsi has in his last two outings.

Yunier Dorticos vs Mateusz Masternak

The Cruiserweight World Boxing Super Series Season Two got underway last week in a snooze-fest in Russia, but Yunier Dorticos is back after impressing in Season One.

The Cuban doesn't do boring fights and his Knock Out power is very, very impressive.

Of course you have to question how Dorticos feels after suffering the first professional loss of his career in a Fight of the Year candidate against Murat Gassiev. He did look to run out of gas a little bit in that fight, but Gassiev is better than Mateusz Masternak even if the Pole is coming in off a five fight winning run.

It does feel like Masternak has a limit to his abilities and his step up fights against Grigory Drozd and Tony Bellew. He was stopped late in one, and looked close to being stopped late on in the other and I think it could be argued quite convincingly that Dorticos is the biggest puncher Masternak has faced.

There have been plenty of early stoppages on the Dorticos record, but I do want to give Masternak some credit for the toughness he can display. It may also take Dorticos a few Rounds to build his rhythm up having been out of the ring since February, but eventually I would expect the power to wear down and break down Masternak.

Demetrius Andrade vs Walter Kautondokwa

The Billy Joe Saunders situation will overshadow this WBO World Title fight but neither Demetrius Andrade or Walter Kautondokwa will be losing any sleep over it.

The winner will likely know they are going to have to face Saunders at some point in 2019, but they will also be well placed to take on some of the other big names in a tough Division with Canelo Alvarez the ultimate prize at the moment.

For now the concentration has to be on this fight for Andrade and I think he is going to know about as much about Walter Kautondokwa as most do outside of Namibia.

Kautondokwa is unbeaten and has Knocked Out 16 of 17 opponents, but only one of those fights have taken place outside his home country. You can't rule him out being a surprise, but at 33 years old it would need to be a big surprise although Julius Indongo came out of Namibia and reached a Unification with Terence Crawford on his journey through the Lightweight Division.

I expect Kautondokwa to be tough and Andrade to just have to figure out a few problems against an orthodox fighter after preparing for a southpaw. That may take a few Rounds but then I would expect Andrade, who has shown some power up at Middleweight, to begin to pepper Kautondokwa.

The Namibian is likely to be a tough character, but it's hard to know much more about him and I think Andrade is going force a stoppage late in the fight. There will be some unfinished business against Saunders to settle in 2019, but for now Demetrius Andrade can call himself a Middleweight World Champion by taking home the WBO Title.

Ryota Murata vs Rob Brant

There is much on the line for Ryota Murata when he defends his WBA 'Regular' World Title at Middleweight in Las Vegas. This is the just the second time he will be fighting in the United States and Murata is looking to make a statement with suggestions he is being lined up for a fight against Gennady Golovkin in the spring of 2019.

That would be a huge fight for Murata with Bob Arum discussing taking that to Japan, but he can't afford to overlook Rob Brant who was last seen in a real competitive fight in the World Boxing Super Series last year.

The American decided to move up to Super Middleweight to compete in that tournament, but he was beaten in the Quarter Final and has come back down to Middleweight. Brant has had just one fight since the loss to Juergen Braehmer and that last a single Round so I am not sure preparation is ideal to take on a big hitter like Murata.

Brant has shown toughness, but he hasn't really stepped up to this kind of level of opponent too often.

He has to know he may be the home fighter in terms of the country of the fight, but Murata is the one being positioned for a big fight and that likely means going to the cards would be a defeat for Brant.

I am not sure he will take the risks needed to win this fight and it just depends whether he can stand up to the Murata power.

So far that has been a tough ask for the majority of the Murata opponents and he has found a way to break down fighters. It won't be easy to do that against a decent boxer like Brant, but Murata may begin to find more and more success which leads to a corner pull out or a referee intervention once Brant looks to be some way behind in the fight.

MY PICKS: Anthony Yarde to Win Between 6-10 @ 2.75 Sky Bet (2 Units)

Yunier Dorticos to Win Between 7-12 @ 3.00 Sky Bet (2 Units)

Demetrius Andrade to Win Between 7-12 @ 3.50 Sky Bet (2 Units)

Ryota Murata to Win by KO, TKO, Disqualification @ 2.80 Paddy Power (2 Units)

Boxing 2018: 31-50, + 24.44 Units (125 Units Staked, + 19.55% Yield)

College Football Week 8 Picks 2018 (October 20th)

The College Football season is always difficult to predict, but it would still have been a huge surprise for fans of this sport to see the Week 7 results that have opened up the potential for teams chasing a Play Off berth at the end of the 2018 season.

Over the last couple of weeks we have seen pre-season favourites to reach the College Football Play Offs fall and put themselves under immense pressure. The Oklahoma Sooners, Washington Huskies, Auburn Tigers, Georgia Tigers, Penn State Nittany Lions, Miami Hurricanes and West Virginia Mountaineers have all been beaten.

Out of those teams I think you can draw a line through Washington, Penn State, Auburn and Miami.

Georgia will have to win out and likely beat the Alabama Crimson Tide to win the SEC Championship to have a chance to reach the Play Offs again. Winning out will be the same scenario for the Oklahoma Sooners and West Virginia Mountaineers, although the Texas Longhorns will have something to say in the Big 12 despite a terrible looking loss to the Maryland Terrapins on their record.

I think it would be fair to say the Pac-12 is likely done as a potential landing spot for a Play Off team, while Notre Dame's chances have increased tenfold.

Right now I would suggest Alabama, Notre Dame, Ohio State and Clemson will be making up the four teams, but a single loss could change all that.

Looking to capitalise will be Georgia, Florida, LSU, Michigan and any one loss Big 12 Champion.

That means there are still some twists and turns to come as we enter Week 8 of the 2018 season and all of the teams involved will know how much is at stake with each passing week in the books.


Oklahoma Sooners @ TCU Horned Frogs Pick: These two teams may have contested the inaugural Big 12 Championship Game and it was the Oklahoma Sooners who got the better of the TCU Horned Frogs twice in the 2017 season. Both games were dominated by the Sooners and they are coming out of a Bye Week in a big to get their 2018 season back on track.

Dropping the Red River Rivalry Game to the Texas Longhorns in the final seconds of that game two weeks ago would have hurt, but the Sooners are looking at the positives and the way they fought back in the Fourth Quarter to get so close to extending their unbeaten season.

Oklahoma can still reach the Play Offs but the pressure is on the Sooners to win out beginning with this trip to the TCU Horned Frogs.

The Horned Frogs are already out of contention as far as the Play Offs go and it has been a more difficult start to the season than they would have imagined. The team were beaten by the Texas Tech Red Raiders last time out which has dropped them to 1-2 in the Big 12 Conference and 3-3 overall.

That home loss came on Thursday night in Week 7 so the Horned Frogs have had some time to prepare for an angry Oklahoma team who will be looking to prove a point out of their loss to the Longhorns.

It has to be expected that the Horned Frogs will be able to move the chains against his Oklahoma Defensive unit which is giving up over 450 yards per game over their last three games as the competition has ramped up. The Sooners have been stout against the run by holding teams to under 4 yards per carry and TCU may not have a lot of success against them on the ground, but I expect the Horned Frogs will be able to make some big plays through the air.

The key in this game is going to be how well the Horned Frogs Defensive unit copes with one of the more high powered Offensive teams in College Football. TCU have played really well on that side of the ball, but Oklahoma will have noted that Ohio State were able to score 40 points against them and last year the Sooners were able to score 79 points in two games against TCU.

That was with Baker Mayfield at the helm, but Kyler Murray has filled in admirably for the Quarter Back who now plays with the Cleveland Browns in the NFL. Murray's scrambling ability gives Oklahoma another threat and I do think he will put the Sooners in a position to win this game.

The spread is a big number when you think of the Defensive issues the Sooners have had, but I think they will bounce back from the loss to Texas and will have been itching to get back to winning ways. Last season they crushed TCU twice and the Sooners are 26-12 against the spread in their last thirty-eight games coming off a loss.

TCU are now 5-17 against the spread in their last twenty-two home games and they are 1-6 against the spread in their last seven against a team with a winning record. I think the Sooners are going to be focused and have just a little too much Offensive power as they continue their run of winning true road games and beat out the Horned Frogs again.


Maryland Terrapins @ Iowa Hawkeyes Pick: The Big Ten West Division looks like an open one and the Iowa Hawkeyes will be hoping they can fill the spot in the Championship Game. The self-inflicted loss to the Wisconsin Badgers means a key tie-breaker is against them, but the Hawkeyes can't worry about that just now and will be looking to keep the wins coming in Week 8.

Last week they crushed the Indiana Hoosiers on the road to improve to 2-1 in Big Ten Conference play and the Hawkeyes are now one of four teams with one loss in this Division.

They can't afford to treat the Maryland Terrapins lightly considering the Week 1 win the Terrapins had over the Texas Longhorns who have looked like one of the better Big 12 teams out there. However it can be difficult to know which Maryland team will turn up on any given week as they have been blown out by the Temple Owls and Michigan Wolverines and Iowa have to be considered as fitting in somewhere between those teams.

Take away a turnover filled loss to the Wisconsin Badgers and you can see the confidence developing in the Iowa dressing room, but they have to be careful with this Terrapins team. Turnovers have been huge for Maryland throughout 2018 and they picked up five more in the win over the Rutgers Scarlet Knights a week ago, although Rutgers are perhaps the weakest team in the Big Ten by some distance.

Kasim Hill threw three Touchdown passes last week for Maryland, but the key to their success is going to come behind the Offensive Line and whether they can split open the holes up front for their Running Backs. This is the strength of the Iowa Defensive unit though and it will be interesting to see if the Terrapins can establish the run as that will determine their success or failure in this game.

It won't be easy for the Hawkeyes to produce the Offensive output they have in recent games, but they will feel they can match what the likes of Temple and Michigan have been able to do. Nate Stanley continues to show improvement at Quarter Back to give Iowa some momentum but the Maryland Defensive numbers have to be respected and I think it could be tight in the first half as the battle of field position commences.

Eventually I am of the belief that Iowa will have too much for Maryland with their stronger Offensive numbers likely to dictate the way the game goes. If they stay stout on the Defensive Line I think Iowa will be very difficult to beat and this Maryland team are too inconsistent for them.

Maryland's inconsistencies are highlighted by their 5-16 record against the spread following a straight up win. Take away the win over Texas and you can see Maryland do struggle against the better teams they face and the Terrapins are now 4-11 against the spread in their last fifteen games against a team with a winning record.

The Hawkeyes are now 7-1 against the spread in their last eight games overall and they have a strong 6-2-1 record against the spread in their last nine home games. It is a big number but I do think the Hawkeyes are the better team and they can continue their move up the Big Ten standings.


Houston Cougars @ Navy Midshipmen Pick: The Navy Midshipmen were supposed to be one of the leading contenders in the American Athletic West Division but it has been one of the stranger Divisions in College Football. Navy and the Memphis Tigers both have losing records and that has left the door open for the Houston Cougars who have won both of their American Athletic games so far in the 2018 season.

The Cougars will head to Annapolis trying to take a stranglehold of the Division and a place in the Championship Game by winning on the road against Navy.

That has never been an easy task for any visitor as Navy will always play hard, but the Cougars will feel they match up pretty well with them. Last season Houston finished 7-5 in Major Applegate's first season as Head Coach, but they have every chance of surpassing that number of wins and also competing for the Championship for the first time in three seasons.

Navy will not be surprising any team by running the triple option Offense, but the struggles of the Quarter Backs have still not been helpful to their cause. Those struggles could be particularly evident if the Houston Cougars continue to produce some strong run stuffing displays on the Defensive Line which has given up just 2.8 yards per carry on the season.

Of course that will be tested by the Midshipmen, but this Houston team should be comfortable with what they are expected to be faced with. I doubt very much the Defensive Line is going to give up just 116 yards on the ground as their season average has been, but Houston can at least contain Navy and that gives them every chance of stalling drives and forcing Field Goals instead of allowing Touchdowns.

Unlike Navy who are trying to find some Offensive consistency, Houston have a very good balance on the Offensive side of the ball and should be able to move the chains throughout the game. Running the ball has been very effective for the Cougars and a team who have been churning out 6.2 yards per carry over the course of the season should be able to create chunk plays against the Navy Defensive Line.

It should mean another comfortable day for D'Eriq King at Quarter Back who has been able to run the ball himself. Even when King drops back to throw the ball I would anticipate he is going to be well protected by his Offensive Line against a Navy pass rush which has been almost non-existent all season.

Navy are home so you have to respect that and the home team has won all three games in this series over the last three years. Navy are also 18-8-1 against the spread in their last twenty-seven games at home and they will play hard and make it very tough for the Cougars.

However I do think Houston have more momentum and look to match up very well with Navy here. It is a big test for Houston playing on the road and they have a poor record against the spread on the road, but I will look for the Cougars to shown their strength on both Lines in the trenches which leads to a statement win.


Mississippi State Bulldogs @ LSU Tigers Pick: Any team that goes to Death Valley knows what to expect but the Georgia Bulldogs were still caught out by the LSU Tigers who are overachieving so far in 2018. The Tigers reside in the very tough SEC West, but they have managed to produce a 3-1 record in the SEC Conference games and that means the LSU Tigers are looking to make sure they are still in a position to win the Division after Week 8.

The Tigers will be heading into the Bye Week following the home game with the Mississippi State Bulldogs and they will come right out to face the Alabama Crimson Tide. LSU will be hosting the game with the Crimson Tide which means they currently own their own destiny in making it to the SEC Championship Game, although one more slip up will likely end their those chances.

LSU were beaten by the Florida Gators a couple of weeks ago before bouncing back and stunning the Georgia Bulldogs who reached the College Football Play Offs last season. Ed Orgeron had been on the hot seat as the Head Coach of LSU prior to the beginning of the 2018 season, but the upset over Georgia gives the Tiger every chance of surpassing the nine wins they earned in 2017.

Winning this game will go a long way to achieving that, but the Mississippi State Bulldogs are anything but a walkover for the Tigers. Mississippi State have perhaps not reached the heights expected of them and they are just 1-2 in the SEC this season, although the Bulldogs come out of a Bye Week which followed the home win over the Auburn Tigers.

The Bulldogs have to find a way to control the LSU Offensive unit who have been one of the most balanced in the whole College ranks. Since moving into SEC play the Bulldogs Defensive Line has not been as strong against the run as they would have liked and they are going to be challenged by this LSU rushing attack which has produced almost 250 yards per game on the ground in their last three games.

If Mississippi State can keep LSU in obvious passing downs and distance, they will feel they have a chance to at least stall some of the Tigers drives. The Secondary haven't played badly, but the Bulldogs have excelled at getting to the Quarter Back and the LSU Offensive Line has not been as strong in pass protection as they have in opening holes for the running game.

It does have to be said that Mississippi State will feel they can push around the LSU Defensive Line too and controlling the clock with be key for the visitors. The Tigers have not played as well since coming up against SEC opponents, although the Secondary remains strong and shouldn't have too many issues dealing with Nick Fitzgerald when he drops back to throw.

Fitzgerald is a dual threat Quarter Back though and he can spark the passing game by helping the Bulldogs establish the run in this one and I do like the visitors the points they are being given.

There is a revenge angle at play after the LSU Tigers were blown out by Mississippi State last year. However the emotion of coming off the big win over the Georgia Bulldogs can even that out and it is Mississippi State who have covered the spread the last four times these team have played each other.

You can be forgiven for finding it tough to oppose the Tigers who are 9-1 against the spread in the last ten Conference games. However I do think this is going to be a very close game and the LSU Tigers might just struggle to pick themselves up from the emotional win over the Georgia Bulldogs last week.

The switch from a healthy home underdog to a healthy favourite can be tough for young players to deal with and I will take the points here.


USC Trojans @ Utah Utes Pick: The Pac-12 has almost lost its chance of having a Play Off team in Week 7 when both the Colorado Buffaloes and Washington Huskies were beaten. One of those losses came at the hands of the USC Trojans who have recovered from a poor 1-2 start to the 2018 season.

The Pac-12 South Division has a big game in Week 8 as the Trojans go on the road to take on the Utah Utes who are half a game behind USC in the standings. After losing the first two Pac-12 Conference games played, Utah have bounced back to beat Stanford and Arizona and the Utes and Trojans were expected to be the best teams in this Division in 2018.

There is going to be plenty on the line when the Trojans visits Utah in Week 8 and I have to say I do like the underdog with the number of points being given to them. Both teams have strong Defensive units that can set them up for the win and I do think a potentially low-scoring game makes getting a converted Touchdown worth of points look very appealing.

USC and Utah have two common opponents in 2018 and the performances of the teams have been very similar which suggests there isn't much between the Trojans and the Utes.

Over the course of the season the USC Defensive Line have not been as stout as they would have liked in stopping the run, but there has been an improvement in the last three games. They have held teams to under 3 yards per carry in the last three games, but I do think Utah will have some success running the ball against them although will still need Tyler Huntley to have a big game at Quarter Back.

Huntley is off a big week, but he is going to be challenged by this USC Secondary who have been tough to pass against for the most part. It has been more of a struggle for them in recent games but I wouldn't worry too much for the Trojans who also generate a strong pass rush to put some pressure on Huntley in this game.

USC have a young Quarter Back of their own in JT Daniels and he is going to be asked to have a big game for them too. Like USC, Utah have a Defensive Line that pride themselves on being able to stop the run which means Daniels will have to make the plays with his arm to keep the chains moving.

Daniels can do that against a Utah Secondary which has given up over 350 passing yards per game in their last three games. However he has to make sure he looks after the ball in a tight game that could easily swing one way or the other depending on the turnovers number as well as the field position in which they occur.

The pass rush could be a problem for the young signal caller, but he can help USC get into a position to win this game.

I do have a concern that USC tend to be over-rated in these tough road games and Utah have some strong trends that favour them. However they are very closely matched as I have mentioned and I will take the points in this one.

MY PICKS: Oklahoma Sooners - 8 Points @ 1.91 Paddy Power (1 Unit)
Iowa Hawkeyes - 9.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet Victor (1 Unit)
Wisconsin Badgers - 24 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)
Michigan Wolverines - 7 Points @ 1.91 Bet Victor (1 Unit)
Houston Cougars - 11.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet Victor (1 Unit)
Washington Huskies - 17.5 Points @ 2.00 Betfair Sportsbook (1 Unit)
Mississippi State Bulldogs + 6.5 Points @ 1.91 Paddy Power (1 Unit)
UCF Knights - 21 Points @ 1.91 Paddy Power (1 Unit)
Ohio State Buckeyes - 12 Points @ 1.95 Betfair Sportsbook (1 Unit)
USC Trojans + 7 Points @ 1.91 Bet Victor (1 Unit)

Week 7: 5-5, - 0.45 Units (10 Units Staked, - 4.5% Yield)
Week 6: 5-5, - 0.59 Units (10 Units Staked, - 4.5% Yield)
Week 5: 5-3, + 1.55 Units (8 Units Staked, + 19.38% Yield)
Week 4: 7-4, + 2.41 Units (11 Units Staked, + 21.91% Yield)
Week 3: 5-5, - 0.55 Units (10 Units Staked, - 5.5% Yield)
Week 2: 6-5, + 0.52 Units (11 Units Staked, + 4.73% Yield)

Season 2018: 33-27, + 2.89 Units